Gina K Designs March Release Sketch Challenge

I am adding a quick post tonight. I made this coffee card for the Gina K Designs March Release Sketch Challenge being hosted by Lee Murphy. 

I used the coffee mug from the Signs of Autumn and the sentiment is from Heartily Yours Additions.  I have been trying to make a point of doing more stitching on my cards. I really love the look and never seem to get my sewing machine out.  I stitched around the border of the yellow panel with a straight stitch. And I used a zig zag stitch to attach the ribbon to the two Wine strips.

Stamps: Signs of Autumn & Heartily Yours Additions

Paper: Pure Luxury Base Weight Wine with Everything, Sweet Corn, and White

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers {R59, E37, E31}

Other: Labels 8 Nestability Die, Paisley Embossing Folder

CSS Challenge Blog Hop

It's time for another CenterStage Spotlight Challenge Blog hop!

Hostess: Jessica Fick {Design Team Coordinator}
Theme: Stamp and color the image on Patterned Paper { any occasion card acceptable, it doesn't have to be Christmas themed} { image may be cut out and layered, but must be stamped and colored on patterned paper}
Requirement: any GinaK Designs stamp set; Glitter
Bonus Challenge: decorate the inside of your card to coordinate

I am so excited to be participating in this blog hop for Gina K Designs. It is such an honor to be a part of the CSS Design Team.  This challenge was quite a "challenge" for me.  I had a hard time deciding what paper to use and then what stamp to use.  So when in doubt I make something with coffee.  Can't go wrong with that in my opinion.
 

Everything I used on this card came from Gina's store.  The card stock is Fresh Asparagus and Tan Leather (love that stuff).  The pattern paper is from the Cosmo Cricket Paper Pad, Nutmeg.  The coffee stamp is from Signs of Autumn.  I colored the image using Copic markers and coated the mug and steam swirls with a Sakura Glitter Pen.  The copper brads were in the Autumn Kit of the Month.  The ribbon is Stitched Fresh Asparagus.  The button is from the Autumn Assortment.  I tied it onto the ribbon with some twine.  I sponged the edges with Vivid Tuscan Tan ink.  I also outlined other areas with the Sakura Glitter Pen.

I hope you enjoy the hop.  Now check out what all the other talented ladies in this group created for this challenge.

Participating Designer's links:
Brenda Turner
Carla Suto
Carolina Buchting
Cheri Weston
Deb Felts
Geri Utterback
Giovana Smith
Gina Krupsky
Janice Melton
JenMarie Taylor
Jennie Harper
Joy Hadden
Karen Knegten
Kay Simmons
Linda Payne
Lori McAree
Melisa Waldorf
Melissa Cash
Melissa Shultz <--You are here, that's me!
Nina Brackett
Pam Imholz
Peggy Wainman
Selma Stevenson
Shannon Bracken
Sharri Seffens
Sue Morris
Sue VanDeVusse
Sue Walsh
Tina Gilliland

One Layer of Caffeine

Cat hosted a one layer challenge over at SplitCoastStampers for Gina K Designs release party. What a challenge. I usually use lots of layers or at least dimension. But, I am very happy with this card.



One Layer cards require good sturdy card stock as the base. I used Pure Luxury Soft Sand Card Stock from Gina K Designs. I stamped the coffee cup and sentiment using Memento Rich Cocoa. I colored the coffee cup image with a white and brown Koh-I-Noor colored pencils blended with baby oil. I had to add a few buttons and some ribbon to finish it off. What do you think?

Stamps: Signs of Autumn & Thanks A Million
Paper: Pure Luxury Soft Sand
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Other: Koh-I-Noor colored pencils, striped ribbon, chocolate buttons. & linen thread

Caffeinated Autumn Mood

I have two cards to share with you today. Both represent some of my favorite things.


In the Mood for Autumn
I love autumn weather. It is so much cooler and less humid than summer. And I just love the colors; Reds, Oranges, Browns, Yellows with hints of Green. To get in the Autumn Mood I pulled out some old and new autumn stamps and this fabulous felt leaf and swirl border I bought at Big Lots the other week. Here is my autumn card:

Stamps: Signs of Autumn StampTV Kit, So Grateful
Paper: Pure Luxury Green Apple & Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie & So Saffron
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, greens and browns for sponging, Copic markers
Other: bronze brads from kit, Nestabilities Die, green printed ribbon from stash, felt border

Caffeine Keeps me Going
I have to admit my one true weakness is coffee. I like it hot, iced and frozen. I found a new coffee set at Stampede (my Local Stamp Store) the other day. I love this phrase in the set. If you can't read it, it says:

"I don't have a problem with caffeine, I have a problem without caffeine!"

Yep, that's me. Gotta have my cuppa' joe every morning and a decaf at night.

I made this CAS (Clean and Simple) card using images and a phrase from the set. I like that the coffee mugs are large and lots of room for paper piecing.



Stamps: Coffee Cafe {TPC Studio}
Paper: Pure Luxury Soft Sand, Basic Gray {SU}
Ink: Basic Gray Dye Ink, VersaMagic Perfect Plumeria, Aegean Blue, & Spanish Olive, Copic Marker for coffee in mugs
Other: mini brads, small piece of blue ribbon from stash

So Grateful for Autumn

My favorite season is Autumn. It represents an end to Summer heat. I am not too fond of hot weather. So when Gina K Designs released this new kit with all things Autumn, I had to have it. Here is a card I made with the yummy basket of apples and some sprigs of wheat.



I decided to color them green instead of red. The rebel inside of me. ;o) The patterned paper is from the kit. I also used Soft Sand card stock from Gina K Designs' Pure Luxury line. I love the color and the weight of this card stock. It is perfect for Autumn cards. The bronze brads are from the kit as well. I used Prismacolor pencils and baby oil to color the basket. I used Copic markers for the apples. Oh, and the little nails on the basket are self adhesive nail heads also from Gina K Designs.

Being a huge fan of Gina K Designs, I want to remind anyone reading this that she is releasing new sets and other fun stuff tomorrow night. Come to the party in the Member Forum area of Splitcoaststampers.com. I am in the EST time zone, so it starts at 8:00 pm for me. I look forward to seeing lots of my stampin' friends there. For more information about Gina's parties, check out this thread.