GKD Preview: Lovely Shelf & Tech Talk

I’m so excited to share samples made with the new Gina K. stamps that will be released this Thursday, Dec 3rd!  First of all, she has 2 beautiful new cardstock colors, which I’ve used on 2 of my samples today.  The first is on this card using Nina’s set Lovely Shelf, a beautiful collection of feminine images to cover card occasions for all the women in your life: from mom to friend and everything in between!  I used the new Ocean Mist blue on this card, which coordinates so nicely with the blue in the Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper I used.  I stamped the vase on the Ocean Mist cardstock with London Fog ink, cut it out and added some stardust glitter pen on the swirls. I stuck a flower inside the vase that was colored with Stardust Glitter pens {Meteor}, if you color and quickly use a waterbrush on it, you can spread your color around {click for a close-up}. 
My next sample is using Melanie’s new set Tech Talk, which is a great computer set which will appeal to all the techies out there as well as bloggers and stampers because let’s face it – the majority of the general population works with a computer, laptop or more than 1!  We have 3 laptops and 2 desktop computers here.  All I need now is a cell phone with internet access (but I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon!)  On my first card, I used the little coffee mug and put smiley faces on 1-inch circles and made windows on the card front so they peek through. 

I kept my card design clean & simple to draw attention to the mugs (plus, I had a small canvas to work with – 4.25” card).  Here is the inside , now you can see the front a little better.  I love this set!  Now I will have some stamps to make cards for John, who I hope will appreciate them! 

 

 
On my next card, I made a wood ‘desk’ with woodgrain technique for my computer to sit on!  I love the ‘You’ve Got Mail’ sentiment in this set; it reminds me of when John and I first ‘met’ on-line 12 1/2 yrs ago.  My sister had AOL and I got email and whenever I got an email from John, I would hear that greeting – my heart would skip a beat, you know how it is with a new romance!  I know this card is a tad bit girly with the hearts, but I did manage to make it a somewhat masculine background and kept the colors simple (the green in the Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper is a perfect match for the new Gina K. Crème de Menthe color!

For even more ways to use these fabulous stamp sets, please check tonight's featured Illustrator's blogs:

Nina Brackett {Lovely Shelf}
Melanie Muenchinger {Tech Talk}

Then, visit our Designer's blogs participating in the previews tonight:

GinaK, Carolyn, Cathy, Cindy, Donna, Emily, Erika, Jessica,
Lee, Lynn, Tami, and Theresa

We also have two of our special Center Stage Spotlight Designers joining us with samples as well:

Cheri Weston
Melissa Shultz

Joy Ornament – TE CHA announcement!

I have a fun ornament I made using the clear favor circles from Taylored Expressions.  I’m here to show you that you can use them for more than just inserting candy.  I got 10 for $5, so I can make more!  I used my Wings of Joy set to display inside the clear ornament.

What I did first was cut all around the  plastic until I had a shape to resemble an ornament.  Then, I cut my image with a circle nestability and it fit perfectly inside.  Then, colored it in and was ready to assemble it! 

 

Then, I put another circle of pattern paper from Jolly by Golly so it was decorative on the back and I signed it.  I didn’t have to use any tape because the circles fit snuggly once the 2 halves were joined.  But before I did that, I added some clear microbeads so it became a shaker ornament!   Lastly, I taped the outside edges with sticky tape and covered it with decorative ribbon around and put a loop with silver cord and tied a bow on it.  Another gift down---

Exciting news from TE!  Taylor and members of the Baker’s Dozen Design Team are heading to CHA in January (yours truly as well!) We are so excited to meet one another as well as other stampers who we may or may not chat with on a regular basis but may know of!   If you’re not aware of what CHA is, it’s the Craft and Hobby Association supershow they have twice a year and it’s open to the general public to attend – that’s YOU!  Mark your calendars for Jan 22 –23 for a grand ole time in Anaheim, CA!  You will have a chance to shop the retailer’s booths, learn new techniques and do lots of make & takes!  How fun!!  The show is 12-8 pm on Friday and 10:00-6:00 on Saturday. 

Click here for more info and to purchase your discounted tickets as a Taylored Expressions customer and friend! Just click on the image to the left on the CHA website to purchase your tickets and be sure to enter the promo code CRAFT15 to receive the discount!  Hope to see YOU there!!

Think Snow

While some of y’all are thinking snow already where you live, I still see people walking around with shorts & flip flops around here!  Gotta love it! 

Here is a sweet matchbook style card I made using the new line of MFT stamps Pure Innocence, Think Snow.  I used papers from Basic Grey Eskimo kisses and paper-pieced all her winter clothes.  This card was so fun to make and was one of the first to be bought when I took my cards to sell at John’s work. 

Hope you have a great day!  I’ll be back Monday night with my first preview for Gina K. Designs release that is on Thursday! 

CAS Christmas Mint

Here are a few clean and simple cards I made using Vintage Borders and Christmas mint papers!  I added some beautiful gold-lined ivory organdy ribbon as well as some light sponging on the Nestability shapes {Labels 7 on left and Labels 4 on right} with ranger antique linen distress ink.  I love big sentiments – it allows for a quick card and makes a nice statement. 

Don’t miss out on great savings throughout the GKD store – good through Sunday, November 29! 

Congratulations to the new CenterStage Spotlight design team for this next release – sneak peeks start on Monday evening at 10:00 p.m. CST!  See ya then

Black Friday with Taylored Expressions: Perfect Packaging

Here’s a fun way to beat the headache from all the psycho shoppers (no offense if you were one of them!) out at 4:00 a.m. to get the latest & greatest for Christmas!  Taylored Expressions is having a great sale for you!!

I have to admit I am not much of a shopper in the traditional sense of a gal’s stereotype.  But when it comes to on-line shopping in my favorite stores – well, that is another story!!  No searching for parking, bumping into people or standing in lines!  Taylor has come up with a great sale of 15% off everything in the store  for you along with the debut of one-of-a-kind TE apparel – aprons and t-shirts! The sale lasts through Monday, November 30! 
Taylor asked some of her stamping friends to make a creation using her fabulous Perfect Package card boxes and I am happy to share what I made!  When I visited my hometown of San Leandro, CA (which also happens to be the headquarters of the famous Ghirardelli Factory-most people think it’s San Francisco but it’s not – that is just the biggest RETAIL store of course because of all the tourists it’s there).  I had to be sure I stopped there and get some chocolates!  You can get great chocolates & gifts for a fraction of the cost at the stores!  I discovered a yummy new Peppermint Bark with Dark Chocolate!  I nabbed a 36-count container (unwrapped) for just $5!   Oh, and I was introduced to the most delicious new flavor of milk chocolate with hazelnuts!  YUM.  My chipboard snowflake is from the Christmas key ingredients (sorry, those are out of stock right now)and I covered it with stardust glitter & a button.   There are mini chipboard snowflakes in stock though.  They are so fun to use!

I decorated the top of my box with the Home Sweet Home set and sentiment from Season’s Sweetings.  I used the Jolly by Golly paper by Cosmo Cricket.  Here is the simple insides of my box – I put the chocolates inside some wax paper and sealed it with a bird from the Wings of Joy set. 

Feast your eyes on this chocolatey goodness inside!  Look how quickly you can dress up a simple gift with the PERFECT PACKAGING (pun intended) and a few stamps, cardstock & embellishments! 
Be sure to spend some time hopping around to the following talented ladies’ blogs & be prepared to be inspired! 
Alex Maldonado
Amy Rohl
Beate Johns
Bev Gerard
Charmaine Ikach
Cindy Haffner
Debbie Olson
Jami Sibley
Jen del Muro
Jen Tapler
Jenn Balcer
Jennifer Buck
Jessica Diedrich
Joan Ervin
Joanne Basile
Linda Duke
Lori Craig
Rose Anne Reynolds
Sankari Wegman
Sharon Harnist
Sherry Cheever
Taylor VanBruggen

In honor of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the two biggest shopping days of the year!), Taylored Expressions is offering 15% off everything in the store! Just use the promotional code TEBlackFriday upon checkout to receive the discount. You don’t want to miss up to 50% off all JustRite products, Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Tiny Twinkles, and the new TE Shirts & Aprons! Click here to go to Taylored Expressions to shop!

Gobble ‘til you Wobble

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans who are celebrating this deliciously blessed holiday! 
In honor of our holiday, I have a cute Thanksgiving cuppie card to share with you.  I sent this to my niece and nephew earlier this week– Gabby opened it last night and cracked up about it just like I thought she would as her mommy pointed out all the Thanksgiving food on cuppie’s plate.  I made this card months ago using Taylor’s sketch TESC81 because I like to work ahead of time whenever I can! 
I used A Year of Sweets 3, A Year of Sweet Sentiments and Basic Grey Mellow pattern paper.  This double edge brown & cream polka dot ribbon is some of my favorite ribbon in the TE store!!  It is soft & pliable and comes in great colors – look at how great my bow looks!
I hope that wherever you are celebrating and whoever you are with – you thoroughly enjoy every minute of your day and stop to think about your blessings.  One of my blessings is sharing my creations with all of you, and reading all the warm fuzzies I get from your comments - so thank you for visiting me! 
**In honor of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the two biggest shopping days of the year), Taylored Expressions is offering 15% off everything in the store! Just use the promotional code TEBlackFriday upon checkout to receive the discount. You don't want to miss up to 50% off all JustRite products, Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Tiny Twinkles, and the new TE Shirts & Aprons {read Taylor’s post from Wednesday for full details & pictures}. Check back  tomorrow for my Special Taylored Expressions Black Friday Post that will go LIVE at 2:00 a.m. CST – just 16 hours from now!

STVSC40: A Shabby Cardinal compliments of Carolyn King!

Here is my sample for this week’s sketch challenge at StampTV – compliments of the very sweet and talented Carolyn King!  I lifted one of her cards with her permission to use the sketch for the challenge because I absolutely adored this card of hers!  She was so sweet about it, she even said she would make a new card using the sketch & post it on her blog today! 
I used Asela’s new set, First Christmas (first time to ink the cardinal), along with some digital papers (Vintage Holly) by Emily.   I sponged around the focal image & card base with ranger antique linen distress ink.  I finished off my card with some gold-lined ivory ribbon tied with the wonderful bow-easy! 
I hope you will play along with the sketch this week – you have your chance at winning a free set valued at $24.95 or less!  Can’t beat that just for doing what you’re going to be doing anyway (stamp!) 

Calendar Grid/Bits & Pieces Blog Hop

I am happy to present my project for a special designer blog hop using Tami’s new set Calendar Grid & Calendar Bits & Pieces. 
For my project today, I chose to highlight just a few of the stamps in the bits and pieces set – the small menorah image and sentiment, “Happy Hanukkah” for some home decor {Verve Stamps Home for the Holidays challenge}.  Last week, I made a card using this set for a co-worker of my husband’s who is Jewish, which she really liked (I failed to take a picture of it before she purchased it though) and she mentioned to him that it was too pretty to give away and she thought about displaying it in her home.  I thought that was nice but told John to let her know I can make something that is really home decor for her to display.  This is what I came up with.  I also used Tami’s other set, Special Delivery for the postage outline.  After I stamped, I lightly rubbed some silver metallic rub on paste using a mask I created.  I used the textile cuttlebug folder on the blue cardstock and finished it off with silver cording in the inside.  The frame is from Dollar Tree which I purchased over a year ago (a lot of them because I knew the deep frame would allow me to make lots of nice decor and not be limited with dimension). 
For more inspiration, please visit Calendar Bits and Pieces illustrator, Tami Mayberry, then to the following Blog Hop Participants from the Gina K Designs team:
Carolyn, Erika, Jessica, Lee, Nina and Theresa
The GinaK Designs CSS team:
Deb, Sharri, Sue, Melissa

and Tami's guest designer:
Jennie Harper
Make sure you stop by Gina's blog to leave your comment for a chance to win this amazing stamp set for free! Remember to check our Idea Center for even more samples, tutorials, and links!

November Key Ingredients with TE

I’m happy to share a creation I made using this month’s key ingredients subscription!  For those of you who have signed up for it, you may already have yours in your hot little hands and you can play along in our challenge!  We’d love to see what you make – just leave a link on Taylor’s blog post so we can check it out.  Here is info about the key ingredients subscription!  I guarantee you will LOVE it!!

Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, Taylor challenged the Baker’s Dozen to share a Thanksgiving themed creation with you.  Since I visited my family a few times this year, it was most fitting for me to make wall hanging highlighting the memories.  The wall hanging was found at Dollar Tree, and all I did was cut & glue on the Basic Grey Indian Summer pattern paper and embellish with ribbon, Kaiser wine rhinestones and skeleton leaves that came in the kit.   I made the Thankful title with my Brayton font by JustRite stampers.  After I stamped and cut out the letters, I colored over them with a few copic markers and then my atyou spica glitter pens.   I love to get wallet size photos made so I can make creations such as these as gifts, or slip some inside cards. 

(FUNNY STORY about the picture on the right) If you’d like to take a closer look at the wall hanging, you can click on the photo.  No one was with us on the night before I left to take our ‘family picture’.  But, I knew I had a timer on my digital camera, however had no clue how to operate it.  It took us more than 10 mins. to get this picture!  There were countless photos of just ME in front of the camera as I was quickly walking away after what I thought was ‘setting’ the timer!  We were all cracking up as I sat down in front on the floor and waited for the camera to take the timed photo – to no avail!  Amazingly my niece & nephew kept still and waited patiently for us to take the picture the whole time.  All of y’all who take pictures of kids know what a feat it can be to get them to look at the camera AND smile, let alone more than 1 kid at the same time, huh?  Finally my brother-in-law Frankie (on the right) figured out which setting I was not getting right and fixed it.  Then, this perfect picture was taken!  It was such a fun memory and imagine my surprise when I noticed EVERYONE smiling & looking directly at the camera (even my nephew who is smiling with his BOTTLE in his mouth! HA!)

I am so grateful for my family – and miss them so much!  I am grateful for every one of them who is special in their own way.  I enjoy my visits with them, surprisingly each one gets better than the last!  I so enjoy my niece & nephew and how sweet a few days after I left my niece said to her mom, “I want my Auntie Donna to come visit, but how will she get here?” I miss how quickly my nephew started to warm up to me and came to me to read him a book and sit on my lap.  Since we are getting close to building our house, I figured it would be fun for me to make myself something to hang in my new craft room.  I always get very emotional around the holidays and long for their company.  I look forward to the day they visit us and we can share our new home with them and make new memories!!

Now back to my project.  I loved using the skeleton leaves in the kit (it was my first time)!  They are so delicate and pretty, all I did was put a glue dot underneath them, and covered them with some Hall Pass Bag-o-Buttons which coordinate so nicely with this kit (I was happy about that!)

I used a few sentiments from the new Whimsical Wishes set Celebrate Life.  I sponged a little chocolate ink around the sentiments. Here is a link to the Nov 20th key ingredients subscription in the TE store! 

Be sure to check out the wonderful Baker’s Dozen Thanksgiving themed creations they have to share with us:

Charmaine Ikach
Karen Giron
Jodi Collins
Laura Fredrickson
Sharon Harnist
Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for visiting today – I hope you have a wonderful day & weekend!!

Fabulous Fall Kits with Taylored Expressions!!

I'm so excited to participate today in the Taylored Expressions Fabulous Fall Blog Hop! Taylor has put together some really awesome Key Ingredients Kits at an incredible discount for you! These kits are limited in quantity and slightly different from the regular KI's – so if you like them – you better not hem and haw about getting them – just add them to your shopping cart ASAP!  For more details see Taylor's blog today. 

My cards today feature the Petals and Paisleys Kit. It was super fun to work with because for one, all the papers are so fun & fabulous (by S.E.I)!  Two, they come with coordinating ribbon and you know the quality ribbons Taylor has in her store & kits, and this does not disappoint!  Three – great matching prism cardstock and lastly,fun puffy stickers so you can do as little or as much stamping with them as you want! 

For my cards, I did a little stamping with the new Celebrate Life set.  I used the same layout with all of the cards, but varied it so each card looks different.  These cards were real easy to put together.  You need to know, also that when you purchase any of the kits, you will get a full color inspiration sheet with the 6 cards that the 2 designers came up with for their cards for the particular kit!  So, if you purchase the Petals and Paisleys kit, you will see the cards I made, as well as what the beautiful & talented Sankari Wegman made!   Score!!  I can’t wait to see what she made!!   

I hope you enjoyed my cards!!  On this last one, I did very minimal stamping (just the stems on the flowers). By the way, the chocolate brads I have on the frame puffy sticker on this card are not in the kit.  Here are links to all the kits and the ladies who have creations to share with you – then have fun SHOPPING!!

Morning Meadow – Charmaine, Denise
Penelope’s Potpourri – Karen G., Taylor
Petals and Paisleys – Sankari and me
Winnie’s Walls – Karen M., Jodi

See ya tomorrow for my TE November 20th key ingredients subscription post!! 

Some blog awards to share

I don’t have a post for today ready, it’s been a crazy busy week!  I will be back tomorrow and Friday with some special TE posts (a Fabulous Fall hop with the Baker’s Dozen and the November 20th Key Ingredients subscription) which I still have to make, yikes!  talk about being a Last Minute Lucy!

I received this ‘One Lovely Blog Award” from April at Sugar Daisy – she is a sweet gal who visits my blog, and much to my surprise when I visited her back for the first time, I noticed I am one of her 6 favorite blogs to visit, how awesome is that?!  I am truly flattered, thanks, April!  I appreciate the award! 

  This next very colorful award came from my friend Randi – Randi’s a New Creation, who is just a sweetheart of a lady.  She is a four-time Cancer survivor, who used to be a teacher and adores her grandchildren!  She has a wonderful feature at the end of all her posts where she shares her daily blessings – I just love that!  She also is quick to share her faith and serves on the Stampin’ Sisters in Christ challenge team.  Thank you, Randi!!

Hope you have a wonderful day! 

A CAS Non-traditional Vintage Christmas card

Here is a clean and simple non-traditionally colored Christmas card I made using Nina’s Vintage Borders and wreath from Lord of the Season. 

I made this card a few weeks ago but haven’t shared it yet.  I used the color challenge (cc242) black, melon mambo and kraft {but I used Soft Sand}. I also used the Mojo Monday sketch from that week too (mojo110).  My embellishments are simple on this card, just a few buttons from the neutral button assortment – I just love the abalone looking one on the right. 

Hope you have a great day – thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Birthday hop for Nancy!!

Happy Monday, folks!  Today’s card is one I made especially for Nancy McKinney {Cardworthy}, illustrator of Whimsical Wishes stamps for Taylored Expressions!  Several of her friends and fellow Baker’s Dozen design team members, with the help of Karen M. have organized a special hop to celebrate Nancy!! 

My card was made using For the Love of Cupcakes, which Nancy illustrated with the help of sketch inspiration by Beate for this weekend’s sketch {WSC106}, which I thought would showcase the fun cupcakes she drew.  I paper-pieced the cupcake liners with papers from the September 20th key ingredients.  On the cupcakes, I made the ‘icing’ with white opal liquid pearls.   
I hope that you will spend a few moments hopping around to feast your eyes on the wonderful inspiration the following ladies have to share with you today:

Karen Motz
Dana White
Michelle Leishman
Janet Rossi
Wendy Bond
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Sankari Wegman
Charmaine Ikach

I hope you have a wonderful day, Nancy and thank you for sharing your talent for illustrating with TE month after month!  I always marvel at your creations and LOVE working with them! 

Before you go - be sure to check out Taylor's blog - her and half of the Baker's Dozen are doing a Product Focus on the Binder Boxes in the TE store - they can be used for MORE than JUST storing your STAMPS!

RAK Blessings to share

I have to share some RAK’s I’ve been blessed with this past week by my sweet stamper friends! 

The first one is from Carolina Buchting, wishing me peace during this time that we’re dealing with our sick dog, Shelby.  This card is a beauty, a classic clean & simple card that has the signature Carolina-style with half-back pearls, and wonderfully tied pretty ribbon.  I miss you, Carolina! 

This next card is from fellow Baker’s Dozen dt member Charmaine Ikach, isn’t the image on this card a riot?  She also mailed this card for the same reason Carolina did.  I just adore this card, Charmaine is so thoughtful-I just KNOW that if we lived closer, I would be hanging out with her & her sweet kids all the time, even baby-sitting for free for her & her DH to go on dates.  Maybe one day I will take her up on the offer to visit if we ever make it to her neck of the woods! 

This last card is from my fellow GKD team member, Lynn Mercurio.  Isn’t it a beauty?  This was a sweet thank you for your friendship type card, which touched my heart – she said she is ‘blessed & uplifted by my friendship’ – well I am too, Lynn.  Kindred Spirits – I wish we lived closer to one another, I’d love to hang out! 

*Our Shelby is doing pretty well; in spite of her diagnosis a week ago.  The cough suppressants we give her have allow her (and us) to get some good sleep during the night.  Her coughing was always worse in the evenings.  I am cherishing every moment I can with her, not letting a moment pass me by that I can let her know how special she is and how much I love her.  

Thank you for blessing me with your friendship, ladies!!   I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy days to think of me and send me a huge hug in the mail – I am humbled. 

Some Holiday fun cards!!

I stamped all day today and had a lot of fun!  Mainly because I have new MFT stamps to play with from their most recent release!  I missed out on a few days’ stamping because I’ve felt under the weather with either allergies/sinus or a cold – I’m not sure which!  Sometimes the symptoms overlap with these but I’m on the mend, it just wiped me out. 

The new MFT stamps are so cute – Cool Yule {the polar bear} that I won the night of the release by correctly and swiftly answering a trivia question in the thread – woo hoo!  The other is from the new Pure Innocence line (she is out of stock right now) – I thought these girls were too cute to pass up, so I got all 5 of them!  I used Jen’s SFYTT from today, and made the cards with the same papers (Jolly by Golly by Cosmo Cricket), Sage Shadow by SU! and Choice Buttercream by TE.  The chipboard snowflake on my polar bear card is from the Christmas key ingredients, I put glue on it and sprinkled some star dust glitter on it.  The white felt snowflake on the little girl card is by SU! and the button is also from the key ingredients.  I LOVED paper-piecing these cuties!!   2 more cards for my stash! 

Hope you’re having a great weekend…

First Christmas Hop with GKD!

It’s time to hop around with GKD DT and CSS using Asela’s new First Christmas stamp set. 

For my first card, I wanted to combine a few sets to make little ornaments on a tree.  I used Winter Foliage for the ‘tree’, mini framed friends for the dog & cats in the small ornaments from First Christmas and sentiment from Festive Frame.  This represents our dog Shelby and two cats Chica & Elsie (but the only true color representation is the black & white cat-oh well!) I still like how it turned out and on the inside (sorry I didn’t take a photo) is the gingerbread couple to represent all of us.  I added various colored rhinestones to the tree to act as ‘lights’.  This card was fun to make because I love combining stamps to showcase their versatility! 

My next card is another vintage card I made with the same colors as my vintage deer card from a few days ago but with the gingerbread couple from First Christmas inside the Festive Frame. 

Are you ready for more eye-candy tonight!? Stop in at Asela Hopkin's blog (our featured Illustrator tonight) and see what she has prepared for us.

Then, check out these GinaK Designer's blogs for their projects: Carolyn, Donna, Erika, Jessica, Lee, Melanie, and Theresa

as well as our CenterStage Spotlight Designer's blogs:
Deb, Sharri, Diana and Karen

Remember, the Idea Center has lots of tutorials, photos, and links that will provide even more ideas for you with this stamp set!
And, if you haven't already done so, be sure to leave a comment on GinaK's blog for a chance to win this stamp set tonight too! If you have already purchased this set, you may swap it out for any other GinaK stamp set valued at $23.95 if you’re chosen as the winner.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Fall Blessings

Here is a card I made using yesterday’s SCS sketch challenge {SC254} and today’s Ways to Use it {WT244} a Faux Feel – I used Faux Silk. 

The stamps I used for my faux silk panel are from the new TE set Celebrate Life.  Stamped on tissue, crinkled it up and laid it out on top of the layer with glue.  So easy, but I hadn’t done it in so long, it’s a neat look.  I used the August key ingredients on the card too. 

Side note: It’s rare I make a card & post it on the same day the challenge is issued – but I did today!  I was bad & stamped before I did my math homework – but as soon as I was done & before I got dinner together, I finished my homework.  School Update: I missed getting an A on my last test by ONE POINT!  Ugh – I was so frustrated with myself.  Test 4 is coming up soon and then finals – yippee!  The semester kind of flew by for me.  I already registered for next semester; I will be taking 2 classes in the evenings 4 days a week – yikes!  One of the classes includes a lab so I will be at school for 3 hours in the evening! 

Mega Set Calendar Preview with Gina K. Designs

Today the Gina K. Designs team and CSS gals are previewing the mega stamp set Calendar Grid & Calendar Bits & Pieces by Tami Mayberry!    This stamp set is so versatile; not only can it be used to make calendars, it can be used to document dates and add journaling to your scrapbook pages and make invitations to special events!  I’m sure between all the talented ladies on the dt and css and various GKD fans will come up with many more ideas that I haven’t thought of! 

For my first project, I created a gift calendar for Christmas.  The patterned paper is not adhered behind the calendar, it is just laid on the metal picture frame and magnets are on the backs of the calendar, month and year in addition to all the little images to mark special events during the month (on this one, the cupcake for my DH’s birthday) and leaf signifying it’s Fall.  I picked out several months of Basic Grey pattern paper to coordinate the different seasons.  I thought this would be fun to make for my step-SIL and her family, I think my step-niece who is 6 yrs old will have fun putting it together each month. 

Here is January’s calendar to show you how you can mark a bridal shower with the umbrella image.  How fun, Tami thought of all the events!!

 

 
Speaking of bridal showers, it gave me an idea to make a simple Engagement congratulations card to send to Dee Marie on STV who recently was proposed to by her boyfriend (that is Mary Anne’s daughter).  I used the little cake image with bride & groom on top, along with the small border that coordinates with the labels 1 Nestabilities by Spellbinders.  I used our new Kraft cardstock which is such a great color & texture like all pure luxury cardstocks!  Chocolate Kiss and Rocket Red were used as well double-stitch ribbon which came in the Signs of Autumn stamptv kit (a great match for the kraft cardstock!)  I embellished my card with some neutral and holiday buttons. 

For some helpful tips on how to use the Calendar Bits & Pieces and Calendar Grid stamp sets, please be sure to check out Gina's blog and StampTV for a helpful video on just how quick and easy it can be to use! Both of these sets as well as the PDF version of the Calendar Grid image will be available for purchase tonight over in our online store.

The following ladies all have projects to inspire you with this mega stamp set, be sure to check them all out: 

Gina K Designers:
Carolyn King
Cathy Tidwell
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Melanie Muenchinger
Nina Brackett
Theresa Momber
Tami Mayberry (illustrator)

Our fabulous Center Stage Spotlight Team:
Melissa Cash
Sharri Seffens
Sue VanDeVusse

Festive Frame hop with Gina K. Designs

Tonight we are showcasing samples using Melanie’s new set, Festive Frame, which I know will be a timeless stamp set for years to come!  

Since I was not able to participate in the release previews of this set, I have 3 samples to make up for it!  My first one started out with me stamping the festive frame on vellum paper and coloring the back with markers for a soft, stained glass feel.  Then I had difficulty figuring out what I was going to adhere it onto and decided to place it on a pure luxury white base weight card.  So it almost looks like a one-layer card but not quite!  I like the elegant simplicity this set lends itself so a card.  I just topped the poinsettia with some small pearls as well as added a few bling & dazzle sateen flowers with pearl centers, and a sentiment in the frame.  

My next card is made adding Carolyn King’s Warm Winter Wishes set, release from last month.  I just love her snowman that you can add sentiments to the heart he’s holding!  I wanted to make this a cool card, with the blue poinsettia’s to match his hat & scarf.  The frame outline was filled in with a silver zig painty pen.  In the Navy cardstock was a great mat for this image in keeping with the cool blue theme.  The sentiment was stamped on silver lining cardstock.

For my last card, I decided to go with a vintage feel with the festive frame by coloring my poinsettia’s cream & brown, which I really love!  I added some antique linen distress ink and the frame, poinsettia & reindeer harness are accented with opal liquid pearls.  I used rocket red & chocolate kiss cardstock for my mat layers and the card base is pure luxury ivory. 

Melanie Muenchinger, illustrator of Festive Frame has invited a couple of her friends to join in on the blog hop tonight and is also giving away a Bow-Easy and ribbon away, so be sure to leave a comment on ALL the blogs of those participating with samples because Melanie will choose a random commenter from one of the blogs to win: 
Joan Ervin
Linda Payne
Wendy Price

Then, check in on these GinaK Designer's participating in the Blog Hop tonight:
Carolyn King
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Lee Murphy
Theresa Momber

and our fabulous Center Stage Spotlight Team:
Deb Felts
Diana S. Queen
Melissa Cash
Sharri Seffens

And, don't forget to check in on GinaK's blog so you can leave your comment to be entered as a chance to win this stamp set, too! 

After you're done hopping to all the Designer's blogs stop by Gina K's Idea Center here: Festive Frame for lots more ideas on how to use Melanie's stamp set.  See ya tomorrow for Tami’s special mega set reveal beginning at Gina K’s blog at 10 pm CST. 

Stylin’ Birthday

Here is a card I made using new TE stamps, Sweet Indulgence is what I used on this fun green card!  I used all supplies from the Spa Key ingredients (except the green rhinestones.)  Of course I paper-pieced this card because I LOVE that technique, with the papers in the key ingredients.  I also added swirls on the sides of the card from Luxurious Labels. 

Personal Stuff: Today is my love’s 36th birthday – he took the day off from work so we can get out & enjoy ourselves.  Since he loves to Geocache, that’s what we plan to do in addition to running a few other errands like take 2nd pmt installment to our architect so he can work on putting the plans in CAD and work on the elevations {exciting} and then I am treating us to lunch.   We also plan to spend the evening with our best friends (she is the friend who opened up her cake shop last Sept).  Dan’s mom died over the weekend so we want to take them some meals. He was her primary caregiver and they are always so busy working – since they moved to another city last year, we don’t get together as often as we’d like. 

Hope you have a wonderful day.

RAK and comment blessings

I’ve been remiss to share a few RAK blessings I got and I apologize to the ladies who I am blessed with their friendship! 

The first purple beauty is from none other than the RAK queen herself, Jessie Rone – on her note it said something like, it’s been a while since I send you a card so here is one.  Well, it’s been longer since I sent her one, I think!  Anyway, this card is just perfect for me since I have been blessed with the opportunity to go back to college (previously my only regret in life, that I never finished and that won’t be the case anymore!)  One thing is for sure, I do have to believe in myself – one of my apprehensions in returning was if I was going to finish what I started, I’ve been notorious for starting things and not finishing them when my interest wanes.  Thank you for this beautiful card, Jessie!  I so appreciate you!

My next card is one I received a few short weeks ago from Jennie Harper, isn’t it great?  It is to congratulate me for following my dreams of going back to school, it is so thoughtful of her!  I love the new Basic Grey Indian Summer dp she used on the hoodie (sure makes me wish I had a hoodie like it!) Thank you for being so thoughtful, Jennie! I love my card! 

THANK YOU!!  I want to give a special Thank You to each and every person who has responded either directly on my pos, sent a personal email, posted on Facebook, a forum or has called about our precious dog Shelby’s diagnosis over the weekend.  I appreciate every word of encouragement, every prayer offered up for us and most of all, for the time taken to let me know you care.  It was great hearing from people who’ve never commented on my blog before – it’s always great to see who my readers are.  Shelby seems to be doing well, the cough suppressants are keeping her coughing to a minimum and we’ve all been getting some good rest during the night (well except for me, like a mama I wake up every time she coughs, check on her in the middle of the night to give her love and make sure she is o.k. and get up to give her a pill when it’s time) but I am not complaining.  I would do it for anyone I love. 

Sad news to share...

I took our beloved 13 yr old dog Shelby to the vet yesterday for an exam dur to a nagging, worsening cough.  The chest x-rays shows she has a malignant tumor on her lung.  I went alone to the vet with her and was relatively calm for the diagnosis but a few tears welled up in my eyes as the Dr. told me the news.  Meanwhile, Shelby was walking around, looking at me wagging her tail, oblivious to the terrible news.  I broke down when the Dr. left the room and Shelby was taken away to get her nails clipped.  I talked briefly with a few of the receptionists there, one of the gals Brittany knows all our pets.  She was sad.  I came home and had to break the news to my DMIL - she just hugged me and we both cried.  I waited all day to hear from John (busy day at work) when he finally called on his way home.  He wanted to hear the news - it was so hard to say.  I cried all day, on and off and ended up with a nagging headache.  I tried to take my mind off of it for a while and read Eclipse (Twilight Series) and took a great nap.  Then, I did what I usually do when I'm upset - I cleaned the house.  I only got as far as the kitchen though, but the floor got swept and mopped (it was long overdue) and I baked for the neighbors. 

When John finally got home, we spent some time being sad and then took Shelby for a small outing to deliver our goodies to the neighbors.  It was good to have a little visit.  My DMIL was so sweet, she went out to run a few errands and snuck my short grocery list and bought the items on it as well as some 'comfort' food for us which was so thoughtful.  In addition to that, she treated us to Chinese delivery so I didn't have to cook.  Shelby was sent home with some cough suppresants which have been controlling her coughing, we all got a pretty good night's sleep and I was able to get up in the middle of the night to give her pill when it was time - her coughing episodes are usually rougher during the night. 

It seems surreal; but I am well aware that animals, just like people, do not live forever.  It's just hard to stomach when someone (regardless of the species) is suffering, although when you look at the video I took of her this morning, you might not guess she has a terminal illness.  It's my intention to cherish the remaining time we have with her, as undetermined as it is, according to Dr. Rafferty.  What I am nost sad about, is that she will not likely move out to our property with us when we have the house built, so I know that moving day will be filled with mixed emotions and I need to prepare myself for it.  Shelby has truly been the most sweet, even tempered, mild mannered precious part of our family and I'm not quite ready for her not following us around the house all day. In fact, as I write this, she put her head up and looked at me with her sweet, loving eyes.  It just breaks my heart to think of the days I will not have that. 

Snowglobe couple

I just love SCS, there are always fun challenges, great member companies, fantastic gallery uploads, informative threads and great resources!  This week they are having a Holiday Blitz with different holidays projects to make and a Snow Globe card is one them.  I've been wanting to make one for a while now and figured it was time to venture out!  Libby did a great job laying out all the steps, which were easy to follow. 

This card is made using Winter Friends by Gina K. Designs and Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly papers.  You all know I love to paper-piece so naturally when I first laid eyes on this snow couple, that's what I dreamed of doing.  It was so fun 'picking out' their clothes- ha!  I used star dust stickles for the snow capped top and stamped snowflakes from the StampTV Holiday Cheer kit with white ink on the front of the acetate.  The ribbon I used is the new gold-lined white organdy. 

I hope you have a creative day and a fabulous, relaxing weekend!!

TE Release Day: Celebrate Life

Here we are again with the final peeks on release day for Taylored Expressions!

We have a stamp set for Autumn as well as other times of the year called Celebrate Life, it has something new to TE stamps, some solid images!  I'm not usually a fan of solid images but sometimes I like the fun & quick cards that can be made without having to color your images!  This card was made in about 10 minutes!  I used fellow dt member Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch {SSSC42} which I've been wanting to participate in for months now!  This is a tall card, 6.5" square cardstock scored in half, so it will fit in a business size envelope.  I love tone on tone stamping, which is what I did with the dandelion stamp on the cardbase.  What I love about solid images is that you can stamp up a whole sheet of cardstock with images and cut it up to make many cards which is what I could have done with the main image panel, but I just made one for this card, stamping several of the leaves and dandelions in coordinating colors and sponging the edges.  I added a quick greeting with the words Autumn and Blessings and some gold rhinestones.  The pattern paper behind the stamped image is just a peek of Indian Summer by Basic Grey.

My next project is a 6" scrapbook page I made to give my sister of her and her kids at the Pumpkin Patch last month.  I used Sept 20th key ingredients for the page and paper-pieced the big pumpkin in the set with the plaid paper (fun, huh?)  This page went together so quickly, it was great!!  I love the images in this set, and even stamped directly on the paper for a fun look on the bottom.  I used JustRite fonts Curlz and Times New Roman for the page title and hand-wrote the date at the bottom since I forgot to leave room on the title.  I know this will be a fun go to set for me and many others, and not just for the Fall, it's all about Celebrating Life which is what we should do EVERY day of the year!!

Lastly, I know I've been promising pictures from my visit with my niece & nephew so here is one we took at the same pumpkin patch!  It's so hard to get more than one kid to look at the camera at the same time!  Their mommy took this picture and didn't realize Gabby was not looking at the camera, but it's still a cute picture because she has an adoring look on her face for her little brother.  I enjoyed watching them interact with one another, it's just so sweet!  I adored every minute I was with them - they are SO precious! 


Before you head to the TE Store to shop, be sure to check out all the inspiring products the design team have to share with you:


Taylor VanBruggen Charmaine Ikach Dawn Easton
Denise Marzec Jackie Pedro Jodi Collins Karen Giron Karen Motz Laura Frederickson Lori Schmidlin Sankari Wegman Sharon Harnist   and Jami Sibley

TE Sneak Peek: Sweet Indulgence

Cuppie indulging in some sweet activities such as spa day, primping at home or sipping a good cup 'o joe!  This set will be a MUST HAVE for all you cuppie fans! 

I had to use my cuppie relaxing and enjoying a good cup 'o joe (or sweet hot chocolate) lounging on a polka dot lounge chair!  I used Taylor's sketch challenge from last week {TESC89} which was perfect to showcase the fun papers in the Spa Key ingredients - I just love these papers and ribbons!  I couldn't resist paper-piecing this adorable image because of all the fun papers.  It's just super like this (and makes for minimal coloring!

The 3 sets and Spa Key ingredients will be available for purchase tomorrow at 10 am CST at the TE Store - just wait until you see the other set that will be released and the wonderful specials Taylor always has!!

Be sure to check out all the sweet creations made by the rest of the design team today:

Taylor VanBruggen Charmaine Ikach Dawn Easton Denise Marzec Jackie Pedro Jodi Collins Karen Giron Karen Motz Laura Frederickson Lori Schmidlin Sankari Wegman Sharon Harnist