I've been absent for a while and I apologize if you've been checking out my blog. We are in the midst of a large project at work and I've been doing some things in the evening from home. And then last Monday my sister was admitted to the hospital and they found a cyst on her brain. Very scary! I've been trying to visit her every evening. So haven't been doing much stamping. I did manage to get a card made for the Gina K Designs June Release Party. Lee challenged us to use Pink and Chocolate. Not much of a challenge for me. ;o) I love them together. Here is the card I posted the other day. I had issues with blogger and IE so that is why I am posting this even later than I wanted to.



Stamps: Eclectic Summer StampTV Kit
Paper: Chocolate Kiss Pure Luxury CS {Gina K Designs}, dotted pattern paper from K & Company Saffron collection. pink floral pattern paper {unknown}
Ink: VersaMark, Dark Brown Chalk Ink
Other: Copper embossing powder, chocolate brads, glitter pen, stickles

IC #84 - What a Catch!

I made this modern looking card for the Inspiration Challenge over at splitcoaststampers.com. The challenge is to choose inspiration from this Lovely Package blog. I chose the Safeway Fruit Sodas. I really like the clean simple look with the bright yummy colors.
Surf on over to the challenge forum and try it out yourself.

Stamps: Eclectic Summer & Eclectic Summer Sayings from StampTV Kit {Gina K}
Paper: Pure Luxury White {Gina K}, Brushed Silver, Tangerine Tango & Basic Black {SU}
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & StazOn Black
Other: Copic and Bic Markit Markers, Colluzzle circle template, & gingham ribbon

Woven Background

I've been wanting to make a woven basket background ever since I made my red basket the other week. I had some scraps left from an attempt to make a Chocolate Kiss basket. I wove the 1/4" strips and even wove a piece of ribbon in the center. I finished the woven piece by adhering strips of card stock to the shorter ends and ribbon to the longer ends. I added some pewter brads to one of the short sides. It took me forever to figure what layout to use for this one. I really like what I ended up doing with it. I thought the basket of flowers from Eclectic Summer would look great with the basket weave background. I colored the basket and flowers with Copic markers. I stamped the flowers a second time, colored them and added mini blue rhinestone stickers to the center of each flowers. I cut out the second set of stamped flowers and adhered them to the original with foam tape for dimension. It may be hard to tell, but I also stamped the large flower from the same set with white on the Baja Breeze layer. Then I sponged the edges with Not Quite Navy ink.

Stamps: Eclectic Summer, Eclectic Summer Sayings
Paper: Pure Luxury White & Chocolate Kiss {Gina K}, Not Quite Navy & Baja Breeze
Ink: Rich Cocoa {Memento}, Not Quite Navy {SU}, Dark Brown Chalk Ink {ColorBox}, White Chalk Ink {VersaFine}
Other: pewter brads, mini blue rhinestone stickers, striped & dotted ribbon

Playful, Fun, Relaxing Summer

Many people that live around me are so excited that warm summer weather is right around the corner. While I love images of summer (flowers, butterflies, ice cream), I loathe the hot humid weather. When the temperature reaches anything above 70, it is way to warm for me. But as I said I love images of summer. So I will enjoy summer through paper, rubber and ink. :o) I made this card for a challenge I am hosting over at StampTV.com. It is based on a card I shared last week during the preview blog hop for Gina K Designs May Release. Please stop by StampTV.com and check out my challenge. And browse around at the other great areas in our fun little community that some call "home". You have a chance at winning FREE stamps. Thought that would catch your attention. See you there!

Stamps: Eclectic Summer & Lazy Days of Summer
Paper: Pure Luxury White (Gina K) & Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Marigold Morning (SU)
Ink: Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Tangelo (Memento ) & Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze (SU)
Other: Copic Markers, ribbon, light blue brads

Go Fly a Kite - MMSC3

I actually created this card for Theresa's color challenge at StampTV.com, but I did not use only blue, so I did not submit it for the challenge. I still like how it turned out and thought I would share it. I used the kite stamp from Eclectic Summer in the NEW StampTV Kit. The pattern paper is from the kit too. It is from Basic Grey Lime Rickey. Very fun designs! The card base is Not Quite Navy and the embossed piece is Baja Breeze sponged with Not Quite Navy ink. I stamped the kite image onto Pure Luxury White and colored it with Prismacolor colored pencils, baby oil and blending stumps. I cut out the little ribbons on the tails and replaced the stamped tail with a piece of black hemp. I carefully glued the ribbons onto the tail. Very tedious work, but worth it. The sketch is again from Midnight Madness Sketch challenge blog.

Tomorrow night I will posting the tutorial for the Woven Paper Basket that I made last week for the Gina K Designs Pre-Release blog hop. I will be put the finishing touches on the tutorial after work, so expect it around 10pm EST. Sorry it is taking so long. We had gorgeous weather this past weekend and I took advantage of that instead of stamping all day Saturday. And Sunday I spent the day with relatives that I have not seen in a very long time. It is coming! :o)

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

MMSC3 - Eclectic Sketch Challenge

A very kind woman over at SCS commented on my card and asked me to check out a new challenge blog, Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge. This is the third week. I decided to give the sketch a try. I used a stamp from Gina K Designs new StampTV Kit Eclectic Summer. I stamped the image on Pure Luxury White base weight card stock and colored the image with Prismacolor colored pencils, baby oil and blending stumps. The card base is Marigold Morning {SU Retired}. The pattern paper is Basic Grey Urban Prairie. I did a little stitching with my sewing machine and added a few accents to complete the sketch. Here is a link to the sketch.

Stamps: Eclectic Summer {Gina K}
Paper: Pure Luxury White, Basic Grey - Urban Prairie, Marigold Morning {SU Retired}
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Birthday Fish

This fish card was born out of scraps on my stamping table. I had the piece of digital paper printed out and the circle already cut out to use on something else. Then I noticed the fish I had colored earlier matches the beautiful teal paper. And the cut out circle looked like a window. So I cut the card base from a color I have not used in years, Gable Green. It looks amazing with the teal paper. I also had a scrap of transparency on my table as well. I put that between the layer of paper and card stock to make a window. I added the faux stitches with a white gel pen and then decided I needed a lot of dew drops for the bubbles. The bottom was bare at first until I noticed my white ric-rac. Looks like seaweed at the bottom of the ocean. I hope you enjoy my fish card. Have a super Saturday.

Stamps: Eclectic Summer & Eclectic Summer Sayings
Paper: Pure Luxury White & Digital Paper { Gina K Designs}, Gable Green {SU}
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Other: white gel pen, ric-rac, dew drops, transparency, Prismacolor pencils, baby oil and blending stumps

Gina K Designs - Preview Day Three

Today is the day to preview the NEW StampTV Kit "Eclectic Summer". This kit is amazing. Since the kit is packed with fun summer stamps, beautiful card stock, ribbon and brads; I decided to show you TWO projects out of the many that I've made with this kit.

First is a little basket I made by weaving strips of the red card stock.



I then stamped the flower image from the set onto Pure Luxury white base weight card stock. I cut them out using a Nestabilities flower die. I colored them with Prismacolor pencils, baby oil and blending stumps. I trimmed them and cut each petal apart to the center of the flower. I mounted them on some nave wire that I've had stashed for years. (Note to self, I need to use this on more projects with this kit!) The ribbon, white brads and sentiment are also from the kit.

Here is a close-up of the tag and the weave of the basket.




Would you like a tutorial on making this basket? I am thinking about making one if you are interested. Please leave a comment if you are interested.

To stay with the red, white & blue theme I am sharing a quick and simple balloon card I also made with the kit.


Everything I used to make this card is from the kit except the pencils, baby oil, and sewing thread. Yeah, I actually dusted off my sewing machine and stitched some of the layers.

I love, love, love this kit. I know I will be using the stamps in this set often. And the card stock & ribbon are so luxurious.

Now go check out the rest of the previews and get ready to party on Thursday night 7 - 10 CST in the Gina K Designs Member Forum on SplitCoastStampers.com.

Gina
Theresa
Carolyn
Joanne
Jessica
Erika
Melanie
Emily

Supplies:
Stamps: Eclectic Summer, Eclectic Summer Sayings {Gina K Designs}
Paper: Pure Luxury White, Rocket Red, In The Navy {Gina K Designs}
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Riding Hood Red, Night of Navy {Stampin' Up}
Other: Ribbon & brads {Gina K Designs}