Gina K. Thankful For You Shopping Special!!

I know y’all love a good sale, right?  Especially those of you who are die-hard Black Friday early bird shoppers – it’s so not for me!  I remember one year my oldest sister and I got out early to Michael’s but that was not before 7:00, ha!  Today I have a Gina K. card for some challenges this week to share with you, along with her Black Friday special which runs through Sunday 11:59 pm CST. 

My card is for this week’s sketch STVSKSP3 and today’s color spotlight challenge STVCSP3 to use Green Apple, Ivory and Ocean Mist.  I cheated a little and didn’t use the Ocean Mist cardstock because I wanted my card to be clean & simple and used aqua vivid ink instead.  I used the butterfly from the Hope is Faith set and sentiment from Inside & Out. I used some turquoise mix buttons and stardust stickles on the butterfly.  This card came together so quickly & I love it!!

Have fun shopping! 

Fall Sock Monkey

Here's my Fall Sock Monkey - using Jen's SFYTT 083008 and OCCC color challenge 082308: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Ruby Red & Really Rust. I had to scale my card to standard (Jen's was a square. I loved coloring him different colors to match! See the little pumpkin he's holding up? It's from Family Accessories! Cute, huh?? The leaf is from the Level 3 set Holiday Happenings Bunde.

I just realized I didn't 'ground' Sock Monkey so it seems he's floating on air. Oh well; it was supposed to be my night to take off from stamping since I marathon stamped 3 1/2 days but I couldn't resist not using Sock Monkey another day (I hadn't used him since last week). Oh and I stamped the sentiment crooked - my card looks homemade now {that's what I tell my customers when they mess up, see I mess up too - I'm human!}

Page Plans Sketches: A Cowgirl and Precious Girl

There is a special suprise at Page Plans this week: all the DT uploaded a card AND a layout sketch! So here are my two. I truly love this tall card, but usually shy away from them because of all the open space that tends to happen. Well because of all the great elements in the sketch, I was able to fill it all up and probably wouldn't have thought about all the ways by myself. I added cuttlebug embossing for more texture on the bottom portions. This card showcases the Paper Pretties Stamp of the Month for August (you can get it early if you sign up for the club) called Howdy Girlfriend. I just realized I didn't put a sentiment anywhere. Guess sometimes you fill up the whole card and it's forgotten. I can always add something to the inside and let the front image & details speak for themselves.

I believe I should start utilizing the layout sketches out there more so I can actually get some of my scrapbooking done. This was great because now I have a cute page to send my sister of her precious little girl learning to drink from the water hose. In the first picture you can see she is helping to water the flowers with her Nina Andrea & Nino Micky and was getting all wet! Then, he decided to show her how to drink from it and boy can you see the excitement!?!? The Joys of being a kid, finding delight in the little things. How do we lose that over the years as we grow up? I always want to find joy in the little things. She is a joy to me for sure. Just hearing her little voice yell, "love youuuu" on the phone makes me smile on the inside and outside!! I remember there was a time she just listened to me on the phone and now she is talking to me. It's priceless. I used my inspiration for this card from Week #1 Color Throwdown blog.

Card Details
Stamps: Paper Pretties Howdy Girlfriend
Cardstock/Inks: Palette Burnt Umber, Really Rust, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Hemp twine, Large pewter eyelets, fire circle rhinestones, cb embossing folders, small star punch, brads, metallic rub on paste
Scrapbook page details:
Stamps: Fresh Cut Notes,
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Sage Shadow, Creamy Caramel, Basic Grey Infuse
Accessories: Primas, Thickers, Pink Taffeta ribbon & brad, clear rhinestones

Feline Sisters

Sometimes you just never know how a moment in time will affect your life on a daily basis. Two times it happened (within 6 months of each other). The first was after a Pampered Chef kitchen show (November 2000) and a kitten walked up to our doorstep. She had no collar and was about 3 months old. We welcomed her into our home (we had 2 dogs already) and never let her go after she hung around for a few days & realized she needed us. We named her Chica (she is an american shorthair - the one on the left).

The second time, May 5, 2001 a little black & white kitten no more than 8 weeks old ran across 4 lanes of traffic & we rescued her from a certain death from the cylinder between 2 tires of a van (these are the short versions). We almost didn't keep her but couldn't bear thinking of her untimely fate if she was not adopted from the shelter we gave her to. We ended up adopting her and named her Elsie (my mistake thinking the Borden cow was black & white, she is brown & tan).

These 2 cats did NOT like one another at first...and with 2 large dogs it was a rough few days acclimating them to the new arragangement. All these years later (short one dog who ran away from home one night) we can't imagine life without them. Elsie is forever at my side and Chica well she loves you when you have food. But you'd never know looking at the picture above they didn't get along at first.

I was delighted to see Melanie made 2 cats leaning on one another in her Cuddles and Hugs set by Gina K Designs. I was so excited to color them like my fur babies! I will be sending this card to someone special who loves cats. I used the SCS sketch challenge (SC181) from last week as well as the color combo (CC171 Kraft, Soft Sky & Basic Black); they were perfect for a simple card with a simple message - but will make a grand statement to this cat lover!

Not so Pink Cat Color Challenge

Lauren posted a color challenge as Designer for Pink Cat Studio today and I was inspired to make a beach scene using my Dress Up Lily (Gabby) stamps! The website is not responding for me to link it for you but if you click on I Love the Kitty you can go to the website to look at the stamps). I really should be packing (or resting) but this was priority tonight! My last time to stamp in a week & a half (insert sad face) but it's o.k. I'll be replacing this time with family, friends, good times away from the busyness that is my life at times.

Colors are Night of Navy, Cool Caribbean, Barely Banana, Old Olive or similar. I stamped (partial) Lily and drew in her bathing suit-a little wonky on the right when I went to fill it in with my marker but that's o.k. don't we all have one side of our bodies a little bigger than the other anyway? Makes her look more 'real' see her little belly button?

I used watercolor paper so it would be easy for me to draw my beach - the other stamps are from a SU! retired set Sparkling Summer, lots of fun! I ended up putting some stardust glitter pen on the chair & umbrella and stardust stickles on the beach ball (popped up with dimensionals) but forgot I used a water based marker on those so it bled just a tad. Oh well. Wasn't starting over. Finished it off with Summer Fun from SU! Everyday Flexible Phrases.

We hit a record high today for this date - 95 degrees. Not surprised at all. It is my Godson Avery's birthday today (the big 13) I called him before he left for school and asked if he was excited. He said, "I guess" boys are funny. I look forward to seeing him when we're on vacation, it may turn out to be just a few hours but I will enjoy every minute of it. He is such a great kid.

Ruff Day?

I actually did the CC166 (Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie & Ruby Red) the day OF the challenge! I usually run about a week late on these. But, of course I'm posting it the day after because when I was done with my card, we ate dinner, watched a movie-Death at a Funeral it was a tad bit slow at first but turned out to be quite HILARIOUS then last week's Grey's.

I used my Skoober creature image from Starving Artistamps Doodlefactory Collection and colored him with copic markers. My dp is DCWV glitter stack, in which I mimicked the circles with cardstock and added the Ruff Day sentiment (from A Little Love - SAB years ago) it just totally looks like Skoober had a bad day.

Since my DH loves these creatures I told him the card was for him but not really because he doesn't get to keep it. He sounded kinda sad at first but he said I should give it to someone who needs it. Of course he could have today; he's working so hard at his job trying to line things up for his absence when we're on vacation next week and woke up with a crink in his neck (a trip to the chiropractor was what he needed & got in at 5:00) At least Skoober made him laugh.

Celebrating You!

Sending this card to a special lady this week; used my neglected Bud Basics by Stampin' Up! and CC159 for my colors - Whisper White, Soft Sky & Basic Gray it's such a pretty combo! I also used my Pretty Pattern Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms. I love Stampin' Up!'s taffeta ribbon - it ties so easily and is just luxurious.

Flower in the Window

Here's a quick card I made last night right after work. Yea for Daylight Savings Time! I can take good outside photos during the week again!

This is for the Color Challenge from Gina K's release party the other night. Taken with Teal, Pumpkin Pie & Soft Sky. I left it without a greeting so I can keep it in my stash so in case I need a card quickly I can personalize it for what I need.

I used my How Sweet It Is (Stamps for a Cause set by Gina K) which I love because $7 of each purchase goes directly to both Juvenile & Adult Diabetes. I can't wait to send a set of cards to a few family members who are affected by this disease & stamp the back of the cards with the stamp explaining the donation paragraph. It will be the ultimate gift of 'Thinking of You' because I had you in mind when I made my purchase. I'm sure they will appreciate it. Now, to find the time to do it...