A Special Anniversary Hop With Melanie!!!!!!!!

I'm soooo very happy and extremely honored to be a part of this very special celebratory Anniversary Hop with Melanie!!!! And I get to help showcase her newest Tech Talk stamp set!!!! I mean...........seriously...........EVERYONE needs this computer stamp set!!!!!! There is just so many designs.........soooo fun!!!!!!

I decided to attempt a masculine theme........I so rarely do those..........but I still found a way to sneak in a little bit of bling!!!! LOL Just a bit of Stickles here and there!!!!! ;)





This desk design is Melanie's own........and she's got the pattern available on THIS BLOG POST HERE.........you've gotta give it a try!!!! Since this card is for my hubby to keep at his office I just had to include a photo of me!!!! LOL My DD helped me shrink that down to the correct size to fit right into the frame image in this set!!!

Melanie Muenchinger is celebrating two years of blogging and illustrating for Gina K Designs, and today she has invited 25 designers and YOU to join the party! First hop through the following designers' blogs using every set she has created since January 2008, from the first to the 25th! Then go to Melanie's' blog to leave a comment for a chance to win a number of different prizes! So let's get hopping!

Here we go!

Just So Hippy-Charmaine

Just So Hoppy-Donna

What’s in Your Tin 1 & 2-Donna

Hip Hop Accessories-Bee

Jumping for Joy-Barb

Cuddles and Hugs-Jessie

Little Tees-Cat

Just So Sporty-Pam

A Year of Flowers-Theresa

Say it with Flowers-Selma

Have a Cookie-Carolina

Tee Talk-Gabby

Hand in Hand-Ally

The Best Things in Life-Shannon, Sankari

A Charmed Life-Cathy

Wee Tees-Libby, Laura Jean

Arranged with Love-Selma

Sporty Accessories-Tina

Inspiration Mosaic-Jennie

School Sports Spirit-Melissa

A Year of Leaves-Geri

Hip to Be Square-Karen

Festive Frame-Linda

Tech Talk- Lee



Finally, Nina and Jessica from the GinaK Senior Design Team have joined in, too! You can also get in on the hop yourself and increase your chances of winning a prize by creating your own project with any one of Melanie's sets and linking it in the Mr. Linky in her post, see full details here. Hope you can join the fun! Enjoy your first hop of the year!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

New Design

Well, it's no longer autumn. Officially. Frankly, it's been winter for a really long time here in CO. But now, oh now indeed, winter is "really" here. Therefore, it really was unacceptable to continue sporting an autumn design on the blog.

I'm really not sure why people feel compelled to announce that the blog design has changed, when it should be perfectly obvious. Perhaps they want to reassure their followers that no, you're not just hallucinating; this blog really did change overnight, and what you're seeing now is not the result of some eruption of insanity. Maybe they just want to draw attention to their change so more people will comment on it.

Such speculation is entirely beside the point.

New blog. Very shiny. Enjoy. ^_^

~ Sincerely,
the ridiculously talented art student responsible for all this wintry delightfulness

*******My darling art student daughter is responsible for the awesome new blog design AND the above post!!!!!! Thank you sweetie!!!!!!*******

Gina K. Designs December Customer Hop!!!!!!

It's the monthly Gina K. Designs Customer Blog Hop!!!!!!!!! Check out the details on Gina's Blog, and using one of the new sets specified from now thru Dec. 28..........and then create away and link your creation to Gina's Blog!!!!!!!!



I chose a CAS design.......yes..........GASP!!!!!!!!! Seriously.....and y'all who know me know that this truly **is** CAS for me!!!!!!! Even though I did sneak some bling in there!!!! LOL I used Rupa's new set, Warm & Wonderful........the sentiment is one of my favorites as I truly, truly ADORE snow and the beauty of snowflakes!!!!!! I used Pure Luxury White and Kraft along with my favorite Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses dp!!!!

I hope you truly enjoy the wonderful creations and get inspired to STAMP!!!!!!!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Gina K. Designs........Tech Talk!!!!!!!!!

You've got mail!!! Only Melanie with her non-stop creative brain could come up with such a cute laptop stamp set!!!!

I decided embossing onto Pure Luxury Black Onyx would be fun with the laptop and mouse images........and then the white cuttlebugged shelf could really look like a countertop!! Have to have some cute little personal items too.......y'all just KNOW I have a pink coffee mug, don't ya??!!!! LOL Some fun dp and bling.......and I'm a happy stamper!!! LOL

For more inspiration with Tech Talk tonight, check out these links:

Melanie Muenchinger {Illustrator}
Jessica Fick
Donna Baker
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Nina Brackett
Sankari Wegman
Theresa Momber

Melissa Shultz {CSS Designer}
Peggy Wainman {CSS Designer}
Tina Gilliland {Guest Designer}
Karen Knegten {Guest Designer}

The Tech Talk discussion on the StampTV Idea Center is a valuable resource filled with tips, sample projects, and tutorials. Melanie's tip sheet, free PDF template as well as the Card Kit is available in the discussion as well.

If you haven't already, stop by GinaK's blog today to leave your comment on her blog for your chance to win today's featured stamp set or any other stamp set valued at $23.95 of your choice!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Gina K. Designs..........Life Is Good!!!!!!

Have you seen??? One of the new Gina K. Designs sets, Life Is Good..............well, I do believe Theresa came to visit me without me knowing and then made this log house just for me!!!! LOL

I sooooooooo love this cabin!!! And I masked it to stamp the mountain from Happy Camper so it reallllllly looks a lot like my house!!!! Snow and everything!!!! I was going for a kind of 'rugged' look so I used the Distress Stripes cb folder, kinda like logs in the bg. I used Pure Luxury Cardstock in Cranberry Tart, Chocolate Kiss and White. I used my favorite Polar White Flower Soft for all the wonderful snow!!! I really do struggle with masculine cards, but Theresa's sets sure do help me in that area!!! Although I still get my bling on there!!!! LOL

For even more inspiration tonight with the Life is Good stamp set, check out these links:

Theresa Momber {Illustrator}
Jessica Fick
Nina Brackett
Melanie Muenchinger
Lee Murphy
Erika Martin
Emily Giovanni
Colleen Schaan

Cheri Weston {CSS designer}
Melissa Shultz {CSS designer}
Peggy Wainman {CSS designer}

Geri Utterback {guest designer}
Brenda Turner {guest designer}
Linda Payne {guest designer}

The Life is Good discussion on the StampTV Idea Center is also a valuable resource for tips, samples, and tutorials. Theresa's tip sheet and the Card Kit is available in the discussion as well.

And, finally stop by GinaK's blog today to leave your comment on her blog for your chance to win today's featured stamp set or another stamp set valued at $23.95 of your choice!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Gina K. Designs Hop With Lovely Shelf!!!!!

Welcome to a fun Gina K. Designs Hop!!! A Lovely Shelf indeed!!!! Nina has designed such an elegant and sweet set.........so homey, yet so delicate and dainty!!! Just perfect for Thinking of You cards, Get Well cards.......cards between girlfriends!!! I just love it!!!
I thought I'd make just a tiny Teapot Shelf this time......and using Basic Grey for paper piecing along with Pure Luxury Green Apple and Sweet Corn.........I wanted it a bit more simple so I just stamped the sentiment on the bottom of the panel. There are so many very lovely possibilities and you'll so enjoy this fabulous hop and get lots of wonderful and creative ideas!!!!

For even more inspiration with the Lovely Shelf stamp set, please visit these designer's blogs:

Nina Brackett {illustrator}

Jessica Fick

Carolyn King

Donna Baker

Emily Giovanni

Melanie Muenchinger

Theresa Momber

Peggy Wainman {CSS designer}

Cheri Weston {CSS Designer}

Vanessa Menhorn {Nina's Guest Designer}

The StampTV Idea Center is also a valuable resource for tips, samples, and tutorials on how to use all of GinaK's stamp sets. Check out the Lovely Shelf stamp set discussion HERE. The Lovely Shelf Card Kit information can be found there as well.

And, finally remember to check in on GinaK's blog tonight to leave your comment on her Lovely Shelf post so that you can be entered to win Nina's stamp set or any stamp set valued at $23.95 or less!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

ETSY Inspired #66........Marmar!!!!

Just wanted to share all the deets............I didn't get time to create a card for this week's shop as I'm trying to pack up hubby and I for a last minute business trip PLUS get our DD ready to go off to college!!!!!!!!! It's official.......she starts classes January 11 and so will be moving into the dorms before then.......there is sooooooo much to do!!!!!!!!! Plus I finally am getting my doc appt. on Wednesday.........although I won't complain about losing weight!!! LOL But I definitely wanted to share all the info so y'all can play along!!!!!!!

The shop is Marmar...........check out the fun and funky items and get inspired!!!!!!!

The sponsor for a prize is the sweet Character Cafe!!!!!!!

Stop by the ETSY Inspired Challenge Blog for all the extra info and pics of the prizes you can be eligible to win just by playing along and linking up your creation to the Challenge Blog!!!!!!! I'll be back next Saturday with a sample along with the next shop!!!!!

Check out the lovely and talented DT gals:

Ashley
De
Emily
Heather
Jackie
Joy
Kelly (Dec Guest)
Kerry
Shannon
Tiffany

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Tech Talk With Melanie!!!!!!!!!!

It's TECH TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I am soooo incredibly honored and thrilled to be Melanie Muenchinger's Guest Designer for her new stamp set, Tech Talk!!!!!!!!! This set is just another example of Melanie's incredible style!!!!!!! I know y'all are just as tied to your computers as I am!!!!!!!! Chatting, e-mail, socializing, Stamp TV, crafting, surfing, watching videos, and OF COURSE looking up Recipes!!!!!!!! I LOVE foodie websites!!!!

So I just had to create a little kitchen scene...............you know...........laptop on the counter while cooking away!!!! Or baking!!! Okay, okay, okay..........I picked a super simple recipe for this little laptop image.......but a more complicated recipe just wasn't gonna fit so you could still read it!!!! LOL I even covered it in Crystal Effects so it looks more like a real computer screen!! I used the DCWV Sweet Stack and the new GKD Pure Luxury Creme de Menthe and Ocean Mist match wonderfully!!!

Here's Melanie's new set, just click on it to take you to the Gina K. Designs site to buy it............seriously...........is it fun or what???!!!! Thank you Melanie........for your fabulous and creative talent and for asking me to help showcase that!!!! YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!


~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Gina K. Designs Sweet Treats Hop!!!!!!!!

Oh don't you know it's TREAT time!!!! That wonderful time of year when it's cold and snowy outside and it just feels good to bake!!! And eat of course!!!! LOL So glad you could hop along on this Sweet Journey with Gina K. Designs!!!

I made my recipe project a 5x5 page as I'm putting together a little recipe book for a gift. I probably should have decided where to punch the holes for the rings BEFORE I created it.......but oh well........I'll figure it out!!! LOL I made my Old Fashioned Shortbread.......it's just a tad different from traditional Shortbread in that I just have to add a touch of vanilla!! And you really need to make these when you have company because they are just soooo rich you can't eat many!!! I used Melanie's cuuuuute Have A Cookie stamp set and some of my favorite Basic Grey dp. The glass has Crystal Effects all over it but it's hard to catch that in the light. I'm writing out the recipe below in case it's too difficult to read here. Enjoy the Holiday Baking time and get some fabulous new recipes to try from this hop!!!!!

Lee's Old Fashioned Shortbread

1 pound of butter
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. confectioner's sugar
3 c. flour
1/2 c. cornstarch

Cream butter, sugar, vanilla until smooth. Mix together flour and cornstarch and add to creamed mixture. Pat into ungreased 15x10 baking pan. Pierce several times with a fork. Bake at 325* for 40 minutes or until golden brown.

Several members of the Center Stage Spotlight Team have joined together to share a special Christmas Treat Recipe Blog Hop event with everyone tonight! They have whipped up some treats in their kitchens and their stamp rooms over the past few weeks so we could compile our very first Recipe Book for StampTV!

Check out these designer's blogs for the sweet projects they've designed around their treats:

Carolina Buchting
Carla Suto
Deb Felts
Donna Baker
Giovana Smith
Jennie Harper
Jessica Fick
Joy Hadden
Karen Knegten
Kay Simmons
Lee Murphy
Linda Payne
Lori McAree
Melissa Cash
Pam Imholz
Selma Stevenson
Sue Morris
Sue VanDeVusse
Sue Walsh
Vicki Dutcher

Then, stop by GinaK's blog for a super sweet give-away she has tonight in honor of the hop!

The Recipe Book will be available as a free download PDF on StampTV tonight as well. Look for it on the Freebie Tab link.

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

ETSY Inspired #65.............So Stinking Sweet!!!!

It's Saturday.........so that means another fun ETSY Inspired Challenge!!!!!! This week's shop is a cute soap shop called So Stinking Sweet!!!


I chose this beautiful autumn grouping........I LOVE autumn colors!!!!!


For my card I used the brand new Gina K. Designs stamp set Lovely Shelf. And using some Fall colors in the cardstock and dp really make those look like autumn flowers!!! I used Gina's Pure Luxury Cardstock in Green Apple, Chocolate Kiss and White. I used the Basic Grey Indian Summer dp and, of course, chocolate pearls!!!

Make sure to visit the ETSY Inspired Challenge Blog to check out all the details on how to play along and be entered to win a prize from our sponsor of the week!!! You won't want to miss all the talented DT gals too with their beautiful samples!!!!!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Gina K. Sneak Peeks Day #3.............Sweetest Memories!!!!

Day #3 is here!!!!!!!!!! Which means a Gina K. Designs Release Party here on SCS Thursday nite starting at 7 p.m. Central Time!!!!!!!!

I decided to use this beautiful quote from Gina's new Sweetest Blessings stamp set and frame it with Melanie's Festive Frame......I used Shimmerz on the flowers although I had a struggle catching the shimmer with the dark, snowy skies we have!!!! I used some Stickles for the berries and flower centers and just one tiny bow!!! Aren't you all proud of me on my bling restraint????? LOL Pure Luxury Cardstock in Rocket Red and All Spruced Up along with some dp from Basic Grey Nook & Pantry seemed to just call out to me in this festive month!!!!

For even more ways to use this fabulous stamp set, please check tonight's featured Illustrator's blog:

GinaK {Sweetest Memories}

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

Carolyn,
Cathy,
Emily,
Erika,
Jessica,
Lee,
Lynn,
Melanie,
Nina
Tami,
Theresa

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Gina K. Sneak Peeks Day #2.............Life Is Good & Warm And Wonderful!!!!!!

Here we go.............a fabulous and fun day 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I used another new amazingly detailed set by Theresa called Life Is Good........and oh yes it is!!!!! LOL It's a stunningly gorgeous set of winter images!!! I just LOVE this log home......probably because I live in one!!! LOL And it was so perfect for a snowglobe scene.........I ADORE snowglobes although I only have a couple.......they are just beautiful!!! So I bit the bullet and attempted the Snow Globe Card on Splitcoast. I stamped the snowflakes on the acetate overlaying the image and used Flower Soft as snow on the cabin and the ground and roof and the top of the snow globe.



And Rupa has a perfectly adorable winter set called Warm And Wonderful!!!!! I decided on this jacket and hat duo to decorate a Tea Bag Holder Card on Splitcoast I also loved. This is so simple I plan to make a bunch of these little cheery winter hellos and send them out!!!!! LOL

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

Theresa Momber {Life is Good}

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

GinaK,
Carolyn,
Cathy,
Cindy,
Donna,
Emily,
Erika,
Jessica,
Lee, (that's me!)
Lynn,
Melanie,
Nina


We also have one of our special Center Stage Spotlight Designer joining tonight:

Peggy Wainman

~ Have A Creative Day! ~