I've Been Thinking About You

Happy Friday Peeps,

Here's a sweet little 4.5 inch square card that I made last evening full of fall colors. I pulled out a couple of small Gina K stamp sets and the Wreath Builder system, which is always so FUN. The September Monthly Mix Challenge is Fall and that's what I had in my mind when designing this one.

 

The images I used to make the wreath are from the freebie set from Gina's last release. I stamped the larger flower in Honey Mustard ink, the leaf images are stamped in Faded Brick, Fresh Asparagus and Jelly Bean Green (one of my fave green shades). The greeting on the outside of the card is from the Doodle Greetings set.

Here on the inside, the greeting is from the Hearty Greetings stamp set and is stamped in Honey Mustard ink. The small heart is from the same set and it is stamped in Faded Brick.

I hope you have a nice Friday. I'm thinking about all of my fellow western state neighbors who are in the path of these horrible wild fires, especially all of those who have lost their homes. I'm live on the coast in northern San Diego county and we've had smoky skies due to a fire in our east county area as well as smoke drifting down from the norther CA fires. Every year seems to be worse than the year before. We are all so grateful for the brave fire fighters on the fire lines. 

Thanks for looking in,

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: Take Care, Hearty Greetings, Doodle Greetings sets all by Gina K. Designs

Paper: Gina K Designs Jelly Bean Green and white card stock, Taylored Expressions textured gold card stock

Ink: Gina K Designs Honey Mustard, Jelly Bean Green, Fresh Asparagus, Faded Brick

Other: Gina K Designs Wreath Builder system, Misti, Die-namics Inside and Out Stitched Circle die, Gina K Foam squares, Pretty Pink Posh yellow and green gems, Gemini Jr 

Flower Child

Hello peeps,

I did some late afternoon stamping and coloring today. I hadn't inked up this new stamp that was in the last Gina K Designs release yet and when I saw the fall color palette for the new Sunday Stamps Challenge, I knew it would be fun to color the stamp in these colors.

After stamping the image using Gina K Amalgam black ink, I colored it with colored pencils and used Gamsol to help with blending. (I call it coloring in the Gina K way.)

After coloring the image, I used the Gina K Master Layout 2 dies to cut the white image panel and the dark brown mat. The card base is the old SU Really Rust card stock.

I kept the inside of my card fairly simple by stamping the flower image in the upper corner and the greeting in the center. Like the front, I matted the focal panel.

Have a great Thursday and thanks for looking in,

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: Flower Child set by Gina K Designs

Paper: Gina K white and brown card stock, SU Really Rust card stock

Ink: Gina K Amalgam black, Charcoal Brown, and Honey Mustard

Other: Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils, Gamsol, Misit, Gina K Master Layout 2 dies, Die-namics stitched oval die, My Minds Eye gold enamel shapes, Gemini Jr., Gina K foam squares

I Like the Way You Roll

 Happy Saturday evening,

I hope you are having a nice and relaxing weekend. I had some chores to do this morning, but after finishing, I spent a few hours in my craft room playing with another new Gina K Designs stamp set from her recent release. 

This set is sushi themed. Kind of like me and coffee, which I don't like, but I love coffee themed stamps, I'm not a sushi fan either, but I just couldn't resist this super cute set. Using the current Freshly Made Sketches layout, here's my first card using it. 

I have a bunch of japanese paper that I got years ago at a department store in downtown Honolulu. I pulled out this pretty red with flowers to use for the center panel. It's cut with the Gina K Designs Master Layout 2 die and matted with a piece of Blueberry Bushel card stock. The sushi rolls and the soy bottle are stamped using Memento tuxedo black and colored with Copics, then cut out using the corresponding set dies. I used a SU embossing folder to make a "bamboo" tray. The sentiment banner is also a die from the GK Master Layout 2 die set. The greeting is stamped using VersaMark and heat embossed using white EP.

For the inside, I used the Gina K Designs Fan stencil with SU Pistachio Pudding ink. I stamped more images from the set and made another "bamboo" tray using an older SU die.

I think this one turned out super cute, but that's what happens when the stamps are super cute.

We are headed over to friends to have a social distancing dinner of pizza and salad, and of course, some wine. Thanks all,

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: I Like The Way You Roll set by Gina K Designs

Paper: Gina K heavy white card stock, SU Blueberry Bushel and Crumb Cake card stock, stash patterned paper

Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Pistachio Pudding, VersaMark, Gina K Cherry Red

Other: Gina K Designs dies, SU die, SU embossing folder, SU candy dots, foam tape, mini Dimensionals, Misti, Gemini Jr, white EP, heat tool, Gina K Fan stencil

Wishing You Peace

Hi again peeps,

I have another quick post to share a card that uses this week's Mojo Monday sketch and images from the new Gina K release. This stamp set is called Lovely Lotus. 

As you can see, I turned the sketch on it's side for my card. The lotus is stamped with Memento tuxedo black and colored with Prismacolor colored pencils in the "Gina K" way using Gamsol. I used the set dies to cut out the images and I've used Gina's new Master Layouts 2 set to make some of the layers on my card. The patterned papers are from Honeybee. 

Here's the inside of this card, again using colored pencils and Gamsol. The greeting is stamped on velum and overlaid. All images are from the Lovely Lotus stamp set.

Thanks again,

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: Lovely Lotus set by Gina K Designs

Paper: SU Not Quite Navy and Whisper White card stock, Honeybee patterned papers

Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Not Quite Navy, Prismacolor colored pencils, Gamsol

Other: Lovely Lotus set dies, Gina K Designs Master Layout 2 dies, SU embossing folder, Misti, Gemini Jr, Pretty Pink Posh gems, foam tape, Gina K foam squares

 

A Paper Hug Inside

 Hi and happy Monday,

My Sunday night after dinner stamping. I still wanted to get a card made for Kim's Freshly Made Sketches! challenge before the link deadline, and I decided to make a holiday card to add to my 2020 stash. Using a variety of SU card stock in blue shades for the vertical striped element and Gina K stamps and a stencil, here's my entry. A snowman offering paper hugs.

To make the stripes, I used the Pink Fresh Studio Pop Out Diagonal die and card stock in five different SU blue shades. They are glued to a 5.5 x 2 inch strip of card stock. For the background, I used a Gina K stencil, blue ink and a blending brush. The snowman, candy cane, and letter are stamped on Whisper White card stock and colored with Copics, then cut out with the corresponding dies. They are layered onto ovals cut with more Gina K dies. I used the same stencil to add the background to the oval, and I used the same Gina K ink cube, just with a heavier application of ink. After gluing everything in place, a few Pretty Pink Posh blue gems were added for sparkle.

For the inside, I used sentiment stamps from the same Gina K set, stamped using the Powder Blue Gina K ink cube.

Yay, another holiday card to add to the stash.

Thanks for stopping in.

Colleen                                                                                                                                     

Supplies

Stamps: Winter Hugs set by Gina K Designs

Paper: SU Whisper White, Shimmery White, and various Blue card stocks

Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, Gina K Powder Blue ink cube

Other: Pink Fresh Studio Diagonal Stripe die, Gina K Winter Hug set dies, Gina K Layering Set #1 oval dies, Gina K stencil, Picket Fence blending brush, Misti, Gemini Jr, Gina K foam squares, Pretty Pink Posh gems, red enamel heart

Thank You

 Happy Friday afternoon peeps,

I have been enjoying Gina K's Stamp and Chat videos since she started them a few months ago. I don't watch them live since they are on while I'm usually working, so watch them later via YouTube. I've learned some fun techniques, and she is always so fun as a person. I watched Wednesday's video yesterday and decided to make a card after we finished dinner last night. The technique is coloring with water color markers. Gina used Zig Clean Color markers and since I have them, I did too.

The stamp sets that I used are from Gina K Designs. I used Tim Holtz watercolor paper as she did. For the markers, I used two purple shades, two yellow shades and two green shades to color the flowers. The layout is this week's "retro" CAS(E) this Sketch!. 

Gina's technique is to use a darker shade at the bottom of the petal and then blend it up using a lighter shade. She doesn't use water. I like how easy the Zig markers blend in this way. I've tried the same idea, but used a water brush to blend up and it was basically a hot mess. I'm pretty happy with my first try results here. Gina used white EP on her flower image prior to coloring. I used the Gina K Designs Black Amalgam ink without embossing and it worked great with no bleeding of the black ink. After the coloring was completed, I used the light blue Zig marker to outline the images for contrast.

Here is the inside of my card. I used regular white card stock, the black Amalgam ink and Copics to color the flower here.

I am still trying to get used to this new blogger. It's kind of driving me crazy, but at some point it will become routine again.  I hope you all have a great Friday evening and weekend, and thanks for stopping in.

Colleen

Supplies

Stamps: Friendship Flower set and Scripty Encouragement set both by Gina K Designs

Paper: SU Whisper White and Black card stock, Tim Holtz water color paper

Ink: Gina K Black Amalgam ink, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers (084 Deep Violet, 081 Light Violet, 050 Yellow, 051 Lemon Yellow, 042 Turquoise Green, 040 Green, 036 Light Blue), Copics

Other: Misti

Christmas in July - Gina K

Happy Monday Peeps,

I hope your holiday weekend was relaxing and safe. I spent most of the day on Saturday making Christmas cards.

I'm loving the Slimline cards and decided to make some for Christmas. I had my latest kit from Gina on my desk which inspired me to pull out my Gina K Christmas sets and see what I could come up with. I ended up with three cards, so far, and I'm loving them all. The Gina K July Mix Challenge is Christmas.

These are all made with mostly Gina K supplies.  Here are pictures of the three, including the insides of each.

Front Card 1:

Inside Card 1:

Front Card 2:

Inside Card 2:

Front Card 3:

Inside Card 3:

I'm thinking I will duplicate each of these, since they turned out pretty cute. Maybe make a total of 5 each to add to my 2020 Christmas card stash, which is currently pretty light.

Thanks for looking in, and have a good week!
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Christmas Silhouettes set, Warmer With You set, Winter Hugs set all by Gina K
Paper: Gina K card stock in various colors
Ink: Gina K ink cubes in various colors, Memento tuxedo black, Copics,
Other: Gina K corresponding set dies, Gina K oval layering oval dies, Gina K stencil, TE blending brushes, Misti Stamping tool, Gemini Jr, Gina K connect glue and foam squares, Nuvo glitter brush, misc yellow rhinestones and red pearls

Hello

Happy Hump Day Peeps,

Last night after dinner I was playing around with the Gina K Designs Wreath Builder system. I usually don't like what I make as I really need more practice, but last night my my attempts were good enough to share. I made two cards, one using one of the sets designed to use with the Wreath Builder system and the other, just a regular stamp set by Gina K.

No challenges, just stamping  for fun. Here we go:

This card made with the spring Wreath Builder stamp set.

This card made with the new Petals and Wings stamp set.

Thanks for looking,
Colleen


Supplies
Stamps: Spring Wreath Builder set and Petals and Wings set by Gina K Designs
Paper: SU Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black, Regal Rose and Brocade Blue card stock
Ink: Gina K Design ink cubes Jelly Bean Green, Dusty Rose, Plum Punch, Powder Blue, Moonlit Fog, Amalgam Black, SU Real Red, VersaMark
Other: Misti, Gina K Wreath Builder system, white EP, heat tool, Die-namics Stitched circle die, Spellbinders Circle dies, blue Baker's twine, enamel dots, foam tape

Shell-abrate Your Inner Mermaid

Hi peeps,

A quick post for the cards I made for Day 9 of the Spring Card Camp 2020. This class was taught by Channin Pelletier and it was all about using stencils and Distress Oxide inks to get two card panels.

I used a Gina K stencil to make my cards. The second, watercolor panel turned out rather light, but still usable as a background for this mermaid tail stamped image from Ellen Hutson.

Both cards use the same focal image, with different sentiments on the outside of the card. On the watercolor panel card, the sentiment is heat embossed with white EP. On the ink blended card, the sentiment is stamped on velum with black ink. I did use that little trick that Channin showed, sandwiching the velum between extra die cuts. I will definitely be using that more often. To finish the cards, I added some clear glass beads to the ink blended panel and some sequins to the watercolor panel.

Here is the inside sentiment, used for both cards.

This was a fun technique to learn. I think I may give it another go.
Thanks for looking,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Inner Meremaid set by Julie Ebersole for Ellen Hutson
Paper: SU Whisper White and Coastal Cabana card stock, Bristol watercolor paper, Vellum card stock
Ink: Distress Oxide ink in various blue shades, VersaMark, Memento tuxedo black, Zig Real Brush water color markers
Other: Gina K Water Droplets stencil, Inner Mermaid set dies, Die-namics Rounded Corner Stitched Rectangle die, clear glass beads, blue sequins, Misti, Gemini Jr, liquid glue, ink blending tool, white embossing powder, heat tool

2020 Spring Card Camp Day 4 Projects

Hi all,

After getting home from work yesterday afternoon, I sat down to watch the day 4 class video and make my projects. These looked to be fairly quick and simple, and fun to make. The class was hosted by Julie Ebersole, one of my favorite card makers.

I made four cards, two using the technique that Julie was teaching and two using the extra die cut piece. Coloring on all images was done using Polychromos colored pencils.

Here are pictures of the two pairs of cards.

Set number 1 is coffee themed:

Set number 2 is kitty themed:

The steps to make the first card is to stamp an image that has a corresponding die onto the front of the card, then cut out the image with the die. Re-stamp the image though the die shape onto the inside of the card. Open the card, cut a mask for the image and stamp more images around the masked image. Color them up and finish the card. Use the first die cut image to make a second card.

On each of my pairs above, the cards with the Baker's twine are the first cards with the die cut front.
Here are the insides of each of those cards.

I'm having so much fun participating in these classes and now I'm looking forward to Day 5!

Thanks for looking and have a great day,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Latte Love set by Lil' Inkers and Frisky Felines by Gina K
Paper: Neenah Solar White card stock
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Hero Cup O Joe, Polychromos colored pencils
Other: Misti, dies from the above stamp sets, Gemini Jr, Baker's twine

2020 Spring Card Camp Day 2 Projects

Good morning to all,

Monday again. My week looks to be mostly hanging out a home and practicing "social distancing." I'll have a few on-line training classes to do for work, but no plans to have to go out and about. That could change, but for now, I am staying put.

I have my Day 2 projects for the Spring Card Class 2020. So far, I'm having fun learning some new techniques, or at least ways to use stamps and ink in non-traditional ways. Day two's class was presented by Christina Werner and the technique was ink blending on the stamp using Distress Oxide Inks. A little time consuming maybe, but I like to play.

I used some Gina K stamps, Neenah Desert Storm card stock and Distress Oxide inks in a large variety of colors to make my two cards. The idea is to use a half sheet of card stock, mark the center and stamp the images so that you end up with two card fronts by cutting the sheet in half once the stamping is completed.

The larger flower and leaf images are ink blended. I used some smaller images from the set to fill in some areas. These are stamped using just one color of ink as they are too small to do the technique.

Here are the individual cards fronts and insides.

Card 1:

Card 2:

I'm looking forward to Day Three. Luckily, I have time to play.
Thanks for looking,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Gina K sets Embroidered Flowers, A Big Hello, and Just Because
Paper: Neenah Desert Storm
Ink: Distress Oxide Ink
Other: Misti, Die-namics Wonky Stitched Rectangle die, SU Stitched Rectangle die, Hero Infinity Curved Rectangle die, enamel shapes, foam tape, Gemini Jr

Just Wanted To Say

Hello,

I promised another card using the Paper Players sketch for this week. As time is running out on the challenge, I thought I'd better get it posted. As I said in my earlier post, a great sketch deserves more than one card. Today's card is the first of the two that I made, but I decided to post the gingham themed card first. I just thought it was fun!

I really do like this card also. The colors are beautiful IRL. Like in yesterday's post, I've used Gina K stamps and inks. This is one of her more recent stamp sets called "A Happy Hello." It's flowers and a butterfly, with a very large Hello sentiment and has coordinating dies. I had watched one of Gina's videos where she uses this set and the same ink colors and it turned out so pretty, I wanted to give it a try. So, I guess this is really a CASE of Gina's card in the video. The video is called Inking Techniques - 3 Fun Ways. You can find it here.

I used two Gina K ink cubes. Jelly Bean Green and Tranquil Teal for the flower stamping.
For the three colors in the background, I used three Distress Oxide Inks in shades that complimented the Gina K colors and blended them with a blending brush. I sprayed them with water after blending, although that really doesn't show once the stamped panel was added. For the butterfly, I stamped it two times with Gina K Amalgam black ink, then with VersaMark over that to heat emboss with clear EP. I did two layers of heat embossing so the butterfly is super shiny. It is cut out with the set die and popped up with a dimensional. The sentiment is heat embossed with white EP on black card stock. This little die is an older Die-namics label die. I added some gems that match for embellishment.

Here is the inside of the card. Hello is heat embossed using the same technique as the butterfly.

These colors really are striking with the black accents.

On a personal note, I've come down with shingles! Luckily, I figured out what was going on as soon as I saw the rash and got the anti-viral drugs. So far, it's a fairly light case and no blistering. It's on my back and spreads around to my side at waist level. Since it's not too bad, I've been working. I've heard some get a super horrible breakouts that blisters and that it's very painful, so I'm feeling fortunate. Ice and Alive help with what pain I do have.

Have a good Friday all, and thanks for looking,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: A Happy Hello set by Gina K
Paper: Tranquil Teal and Jelly Bean Green card stock by Gina K, SU Basic Black card stock and X-Press It Blending card stock
Ink: Gina K Jelly Bean Green and Tranquil Teal cubes, Gina K Amalgam Black ink, VersaMark
Other: clear embossing powder, heat tool, SU Stitched Rectangle dies, Die-namics Label die, Gina K Happy Hello dies, Gemini Jr, Misti, Dimensionals, TE Blending Brushes, teal gems

Hope Your Day Is Wonderful

Hello and Happy Saturday to all,

I had some time in my craft room early this afternoon after finishing my Saturday chores. Mostly laundry and some grocery shopping after being out of town for work last week. I decided to use this week's Freshly Made Sketch to make a birthday card for my stash.

I like to work with these tilted panels and I decided that this time I would use the top panel for my stamped image. This Gina K flower fit perfectly with room at the bottom for the sentiment banner too.

I started with a white card base that is covered completely with a piece of Lawn Fawn patterned paper. Next I cut the white tilted piece and stamped the flower image using a Gina K Slate ink cube and colored the flowers with Copics. After gluing on the scalloped edges, I used foam tape to pop the tilted panel over the card. The sentiment is from the same stamp set and it's heat embossed using white EP. I used paper flowers for the round sketch element at the end of the banner. I haven't used them in years, and these seemed to go well with the stamp and background patterned paper. A few silver pearls for embellishments finishes the front.

For the inside, I kept things simple. I taped off all but one flower in the same image and used it to complement the Happy Birthday sentiment.

Yay, another birthday card for my stash. Always good to have a few extra.

Thanks for stopping in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Bitty Blossoms set by Gina K and Fine Line Florals set by Concord & 9th for the inside sentiment
Paper: SU thick Whisper White and Gumball Green card stock, X-Press It Blending card stock, Lawn Fawn Spring Fling patterned papers
Ink: Gina K Slate ink cube, SU Gumball Green, Copics, VersaMark
Other: White embossing powder, hear tool, Misti, Gemini Jr,  paper flowers (not sure from where), Queen & co pearls, TE small scalloped border die, foam tape, liquid glue

Merry Christmas

Happy Sunday morning,

It's a fairly lazy Sunday morning for me, but a little later I'll be packing my suitcase and work stuff. I am working this coming week in Denver, CO. The weather app says it will be cold! That will be a change since we've been having these late season "Santa Ana" winds with temps in the high 70s to mid-80s. Time to pull out my boots!

I ordered some new stamps and supplies from Gina K and in my box was a free stamp set called Winter Flower. It's a sweet little poinsettia and leaves and I couldn't wait to ink it up. Using Julie's Mojo Monday 502 sketch, I made three cards. Clearly, I love this sketch!

The flower is stamped on water color paper using MFT Hybrid black ink and watercolored using Zig Real Brush water color markers. Once they dried, I fussy cut them out. On the card above, I used some really old SU DSP (so old I have no idea of the name), chocolate chip and Groovy Guava card stock. The circle layers are Spellbinders Scalloped and Die-namics Cross Stitched dies. The scalloped borders are TE and the snowflake embellishments are SU.

I made two others with totally different papers and colors.

On the pink card, the backgrounds are made with a background stamp and matching embossing folder both from Taylored Expressions. Both the flower and background are water colored with Zig markers.

The white flower card is made using more retired SU DSP and the card base is embossed with the SU large dots embossing folder. The flower is water colored with Tim Holtz distress inks and an aqua painter.

I love the look of all three. They started with such a great sketch.

I hope you all have a good week ahead and thanks for looking in,
Colleen

Supplies
Stamps: Winter Flower by Gina K, Taylored Expressions Circles Background
Paper: SU Whisper White heavy weight and regular, Pretty In Pink, Smoky Slate, Groovy Guava, and Chocolate Chip card stock, various older SU DSP
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip, Real Red, MFT Hybrid Black
Other: Taylored Expressions Scalloped Border die, Die-namics Cross Stitched circle, Spellbinders Scalloped Circle and basic circle, Mama Elephant Inside Scalloped circle dies, Taylored Expressions Circles Embossing plate, SU Large Dots Embossing Folder, gold Stickles, SU and My Minds Eye enamel shapes, aqua painter brush, Misti, Gemini Jr