Sunshine's Crabby!!!!!!!! LOL

It's still Sum...Sum...Sum...Summertime!!!! And Sunshine's Stamps has added sooooo many images you have got to check out!!!! Make sure to check out both Sunshine's Blog AND the Sunshine's Stamps ETSY shop!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so his name is officially Lester Lobster..............but I cracked myself up with my "PUNNY" title for this post!!!! ROFL!!!! Yep........."I kill me!".............yes, I AM old and just love those 80's sitcom references that I fondly remember watching as a teen!!!!! ;)

So I used some really fun SU designer paper, Pink Flamingoes.........so perfect for the summery look!! I was going for the bubbly look with Stickles and sponging. And hey! I didn't color him pink and re-name him Lisa or anything this time!!!! LOL Now go check out Sunshine's images that come in a major variety!!!!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

ETSY Inspired............It's Conical!!!

I'm stampin' with my awesome friends, Misti and Christi at our hotel in Texas while our hubbies and kiddos are busy geocaching!!!! What a fun little weekend getaway!!!!

WooooHoooo!!!! What a beautiful shop for this ETSY Inspired challenge.......Red Crow Arts!!! You'll just love browsing and then playing along with this challenge on Ashley's Blog!!!!


I chose this sweet ceramic flower wall pocket...........it's a cute conical shape!!!!

And so...........can you see what my inspiration was??? YEP!!! It's the conical shape!!!! Now doesn't my blog post title make sense???? Isn't it hilarious??? Aren't I just toooo funny??? LOL Get it?? Conical?? Comical?? Yeah, I know........prolly not, but you're stuck with me anyway!!!! ;) But I soooo love these adorable Happy Hoppers that I just had to make a card with them!!! I also love practicing my Copic coloring!!!


Now HOP on over to Ashley's Heart Hugs Designs for all the details!!!! And then visit the rest of the fun DT for even more Etsy Inspiration!!! And don't forget to join us next Saturday for a Big Birthday Blowout for the ETSY Inspired challenges!!!! Info on Ashley's blog and more to come soon here!!!!!


De Swanick
Emily Niehaus
Heather Schlatter
Jackie Bowman
Joy Stagg
Kerry Angeles
Kristen Dyer
Shannon Bracken
Sherry Campbell (August Guest)
Tiffany Johnson
Tonya Hopkins


~ Have A Creative Day! ~

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

Are you ready for the final peeks before the big release party!!!??? Gina K. Designs has done it again!!!! But surely that's no surprise!!!! LOL

This first card uses the amazing new set by the talented Theresa called Autumn Beauty.....and it's truly a fabulous Autumn set!!!! Don'tcha just love that scarecrow??? Yeah, yeah betcha thought it would be PINK!!!!!!!! BWAHAHA!!! Just wait...............it will be!!!! LOL I attempted a cornfield scene.......I have a lot to learn, but I'm finding scene cards are pretty cool to make!! I have discovered one thing that's really bugging me about my sponging..........I only have the large-holed sea sponges and it doesn't make the nice, even shadowing! So Daubers are on my next Gina K. order!!!! LOL I used some Crystal Lacquer to make the sunshine really SHINE!!! LOL

This next card uses Nina's set, Elegant Verses...........now I just framed one of the beautiful verses because I'm soooooooo addicted to my new Label 4 nesties! LOL But these verses go amazingly well with her other sets!!! As well as many other Gina K. sets!!!

Now here's Gina's new Free with 3 set...........recognize it?? Yes.........this is called Tropical Blooms and it accompanies last month's free set Tropical Windows just PERFECTLY!!! So I figured I would get in some masking practice and use Melanie's Inspiration Mosaic!! I wanted to incorporate most of the Pure Luxury cardstock papers too!! So I used Green Apple, Rocket Red, Chocolate Kiss and White cardstock........I also tried to use similar colors on the flowers to the new Moonlit Fog and Soft Sand. Then I used my set of Copic Atyou Glitter Pens on each bloom!!! Add some velvet and bling..........come on.........you KNOW I didn't use PINK today anywhere but I CAN'T give up the BLING too!!!!! LOL

To see more inspiration with the stamps previewed today, visit Gina's blog, the illustrator of Tropical Blooms as well as Theresa Momber, the illustrator of Autumn Beauty, and Nina Bracket , the illustrator of Elegant Verses.

For even more projects with tonight's two stamp sets, these Senior Design Team Members are participating in previews today: Asela, Carolyn, Cindy, Donna, Emily, Erika Jessica, Kurtis, Lee, Lynn, and Melanie as well as our CenterStage Spotlight Design Team members:Shelly Wilson and Charlene Merrick

Our Release Party starts Thursday night at 7 pm CST. Please join us for contests questions, challenges, lots of chatter as well as a ton more samples shared by the Senior Design team members and our CenterStage Spotlight team too. See you tomorrow night!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Gina K. Sneak Peeks Day 2!!!!!

WooooooooHooooooooo!!!!!! Are you feelin' the excitement?????? Another fabulous Gina K. Designs peek!!! First up is a second, yes SECOND, set from the amazing Melanie!!!! You all who have and ADORE her Tees and Onesies and Hoodies............well, get ready!!!! You're gonna love Sports, School, Spirit!!!!

Now y'all KNOW I had to make a PINK Letter Jacket!!!!! I roughed it up a bit to make it look a little like worn suede. HA! At least that's what I hope it looks like! LOL I just went girly girly with the Basic Grey Lemonade dp!!! I LUV that stuff!!!! And bling.............YES, bling!!!!!! But not too much.......just some Stickles on the edging and buttons of the jacket!!


Now on to the second adorable set!!! This is from Rupa and is called Back To School!! Lots of fun and cute images and wonderful sentiments to show the appreciation that our educators deserve!!!!!!

I stamped the images and then Nestied them........yes, I make up words!!! LOL I colored with my Copics........I'm getting there! LOL I used the Red and the Silver Spica Pens to glitz them up a bit! And I found these giant clips at Wally. And I had to show at least one in a book, so I grabbed one of my daughter's books to show that they really do fit and lay nicely flat in the book!!

I'm dedicating my posts with all the releases to my dear, sweet friend Cat!!! Most of you know her as Cathy on the Gina K. Senior Design Team!!! She is soooo very sweet!!! Well, she's had a mild heart attack and is recuperating at the hospital......she's got a ways to go and she misses being a part of this release so very much as creating gorgeous cards and projects is just a part of who she is!!! If you'd like to send a card to her, Theresa thru Stamp TV is collecting them to send to her.........contact her via private message for the addy!!!

For more inspiration with the stamps previewed today, visit Gina's blog as well as Melanie Muenchinger, the illustrator of Sports, School, Spirit.
For even more projects with tonight's two stamp sets, these Senior Design Team Members are participating in previews today: Carolyn, Cindy, Donna, Emily, Erika Jessica, Lee, Lynn, and Theresa as well as our CenterStage Spotlight Design Team members: Tina Gilliland and Vicki Dutcher

Don't forget about our Release Party on SCS starting at 7pm CST on Thursday, August 27th. There will be contests, challenges, lots of chatter as well as a ton more samples shared by the Senior Design team members and our CenterStage Spotlight team too. We'd love to have you join us!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Gina K. Sneak Peeks Day #1!!!!!

Ohhh yes it's almost Autumn!!!! Even though we've had an unusually cool and wet Spring and Summer.......it's been hot enough this past week to make me long for Fall!!!!! LOL Now how many of you already have Melanie Muenchinger's stunning A Year Of Flowers stamp set??? Oh it's fabulous!!! Well.......you KNOW she's done it again because she's always a rip-roarin' success!!!! This stamp set is called A Year Of Leaves.

There are a variety of beautiful leaves and some meaningful sentiments, so I created a little framed card.........getting some more Copic practice in! LOL I kept the Fall theme with the pumpkin cuttlebug folder and the gorgeous Gina K. Pure Luxury Pumpkin Spice and Green Apple and Chocolate Kiss cardstock!!! I don't know if you can tell, but I used the Pure Luxury Ivory layering weight for the sentiment. Couldn't resist at least a touch of bling!!! LOL

Oh now to Asela's beautiful stamp set, Fruitful Harvest...........I also have had lots of relaxing and enjoyable Copic practice!!! Except when I realllllllllly mess up the image and toss it into the trash!!! LOL I used just a bit of Stickles and some chocolate pearls to jazz it up a bit.......I liked the yellow cardstock with the raffia looking cb folder!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!!!

For more inspiration with the stamps previewed today, visit Gina's blog as well as Melanie Muenchinger, the illustrator of Year of Leaves and Asela Hopkins, the illustrator of Fruitful Harvest.
For even more projects with tonight's two stamp sets, these Senior Design Team Members are participating in previews today: Carolyn, Cindy, Donna, Emily, Erika, Kurtis, Jessica, Lee, Lynn, and Theresa as well as our CenterStage Spotlight Design Team members: Denise Kelemen and Geri Utterback

Our Release Party will be held once again over on SCS starting at 7pm CST on Thursday, August 27th. There will be contests, challenges, lots of chatter as well as a ton more samples shared by the Senior Design team members and our CenterStage Spotlight team too! You won't want to miss it!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

ETSY Inspired #50...........Pink Tweet!!!!

Time for another FUN and fabulous ETSY Inspired Challenge!!! The adorable little shop is Mrs. Kwitty's and it's got lots of inspiration!!!


I picked this sweet little pink birdie for my inspiration!!!

I used this TWEET little stamp from my new Unity Stamps Hodge Podge of Happiness Kit!!!!! The pink really does match better IRL....kinda funky light this time! I just wanted to keep it simple and I LOVE my new Label 4 Nesties!!!! Now come on and get all the deets on Ashley's Blog and play along!!!

This week Mrs. Kwitty's Cottage is giving out an awesome prize made just for this challenge! It's a sweet little covered notebook with these adorable little set of matching vintage button paper clips. In addition to the wonderful giveaway from Mrs. Kwitty, we have a sponsor this week! Our sponsor is Ildi Co. They have a bunch of really fun and unique stamps. They are offering up 3 digital stamps of the winner's choice and a 10% off coupon for their next purchase. So, two awesome prizes! Now check out the talented ladies:

De Swanick
Emily Niehaus
Heather Schlatter
Jackie Bowman
Joy Stagg
Kerry Angeles
Kristen Dyer
Lee Murphy
Sherry Campbell (August Guest)
Shannon Bracken
Tiffany Johnson
(Tonya's having a family emergency, please send her good thoughts)

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

It's A Limelight Papercrafts Sketch Challenge!!!!

Welcome to another fun Limelight Papercrafts Thursday!!!!

Here's a simple sketch........circles!!! And the product today is.......stickers!!! I confess I rarely use stickers, but how can I resist when not only are they darn adorable, but they're Basic Grey Lemonade Woolies stickers!!!!

I used the Pink Cat Studio 13 Sweet Treats stamp set.........and how can you go wrong with such sweeeeeeet summer treats??!!!! LOL And the ice cream cone from the Lemonade stickers....well it's perfect with both the image AND the Lemonade dp!!! Wrapped it all up with the bright and fun Yellow Textured Ribbon and of course topped it off with Kaisercraft Pearls!!! Now you come play along and enter to win a super prize!!!

**Use the sketch above and dress it up with STICKERS!! Flat or chipboard, all are game!

**Key word for SCS upload is LLPC028

**Post a comment with a link to your card right here on Mandy's Blog by Sunday, August 23, at midnight (or before winner is drawn Monday a.m.).

**PRIZE ~ One lucky winner will receive a package of Cosmo Cricket Earth Love Icon Rub-ons! (Winner is chosen randomly from all participants.)

8/17/09 - 8/23/09Now is the time to stock up on stickers for this week's Sketch and Product Challenge AND to try out those NEW embellishments, like Pops or Woolies, from Basic Grey!Now through Sunday, August 23, receive 20% off:

All Stickers! (Including Chip Stickers)
The Entire BG June Bug Line!
All Basic Grey and October Afternoon Clear Stamp Sets!
Cosmo Cricket is coming TUESDAY!!!

Check out the other sweet DT Inspiration listed on my sidebar!!!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Come Play An ETSY Inspired Challenge!!!

Happy Saturday!!!! I'm sorry my post is a tad late.........the campground internet went out and we had to drive around until we could "score" some internet from a diner!!!! LOL Well, come join in and play along!!! The ETSY shop featured today is Melissa Kate.

I picked this fun and cute Olive design............because I had the PERFECT image I couldn't wait to use!!!!

I soooo adore my mousies!!! And this one just brings a huge grin!!! It was so fun to color.....getting more practice with my Copics!!! LOL And perfect for color and bling and layers, oh my!!! I hope you can see the Crystal Effects on the glass.........the whole glass is super shimmery IRL!!!

Now check out the ever adorable and sweet Ashley's Blog and get the details for playing along as well as some details to the TWO prize winners for this week's challenge!!! Also check out our super FAB DT girls:

De Swanick
Emily Niehaus
Heather Schlatter
Jackie Bowman
Joy Stagg
Kerry Angeles
Kristen Dyer
Sherry Campbell (August Guest)
Shannon Bracken
Tiffany Johnson
(Tonya's having a family emergency, please send her good thoughts)

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Special Gina K. Hop With Nina!!!!

Another spotlight on a talented artist for Gina K. Designs!!!! This is such an elegant stamp set!!!!

I used Melanie's Inspiration Mosaic as a background...........oh just 'cuz!!! LOL I thought this silvery/gray dp would go well with the elegance of black and red for this image...........I popped up both the mosaic bg and the bird cage. I used the red and clear Spica Atyou Pens for some glits and then just a touch of velvet ribbon and bling!!

For more inspiration with her Elegant Post stamp set tonight, please see Nina Brackett's blog. Nina has also designed two gorgeous digital paper pack that coordinate perfectly with her stamp set. They are called Grungy Elegance and Simple Elegance.
Nina has asked her friend Silke Ledlow and Melissa Czapor to join in her blog hop tonight. We also have several of GinaK's Senior Design team members participating: Gina, Melanie, Cathy, Donna, Emily, Erika, Jessica, Lee, and Theresa and Kurtis.

And finally, be sure to check out our CenterStage Spotlight Design team members' blogs: Brenda Turner, Shannon Bracken, and Sue Walsh for even more great projects!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

It's A Gina K. Hop With Melanie Muenchinger!!!!

It's a special Gina K. Designs artist hop!!!! Ohhh you all know how very much I've been in love with Melanie's style and stamps since she came out with her very first set!!! Well, this one is NO exception!!!! This is the most AMAZING and versatile stamp!!!!

I personally have just LOVED making some fun Quilts with this design!!!! I used the Junebug Basic Grey dsp and just made little knots with green cording and little dots around the edging with red Stickles. Now enjoy this hop and get some amazing and fabulous inspiration from the Senior DT along with some Guests!!!

For even more inspiration, be sure to check out Melanie's blog.

Melanie also has several guest designers joining in on the hop tonight:

Jennie Harper, Tina Gilliland, Linda Payne, and Jenny Charboneau

These GinaK's Senior DT members have Inspiration Mosaic projects on their blogs as well: Gina K. Cathy, Emily, Erika, Jessica, Donna, Lee, and Theresa

and finally, don't forget to check out our CenterStage DT members:
Shannon Bracken and Brenda Turner

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

ETSY Inspired Saturday With Butterflies!!!!!!!!!

It's a beatiful ETSY Inspired Saturday!!!!!!! The gorgeous and fabulous Volume Twenty Five is the shop for this week's challenge!!! Look around and I bet you'll find some familiar images....this gal does some designing for Unity Stamps and Stamping Bella!!!!

I have to send up a HUGE thank you and big HUGS to my awesome friend Misti - A Card A Day!!!!!!!!!!! I've just been so wiped out lately and was out of town, so when I got home she offered to make the ETSY Inspired challenge sample for me!!!! Now isn't THAT just awesome???!!!!! Thanks Misti!!! I owe ya!!!! ;) This fun butterfly is the image Misti picked........and I admit I love it too!!!

Now here is her card!!! Isn't it gorgeous??? She really has mastered the CAS technique and I learn a lot from her style!!! The colors are so wonderful too and it's perfect for the inspiration piece she chose!!! I love this Gina K. Designs butterfly from Take Flight!!! It's just so dainty and detailed!!!!

Now check out Ashley's Blog for all the deets to play along!!!!!! There's even special info about that FABULOUS Bogo Blog Candy from last week still being available!!!!!!! Also stop by the entire Etsy Inspired DT for lots of amazing samples to get your mojo goin'!!!!

De Swanick
Emily Niehaus
Heather Schlatter
Jackie Bowman
Joy Stagg
Kerry Angeles
Kristen Dyer
Shannon Bracken
Sherry Campbell (August Guest)
Tiffany Johnson
Tonya Hopkins

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

LimeLight Papercrafts Sketch and Project Day!!!!!

It's the SIXTH!!!!! You know what that means!!! Yep..........it's the Limelight Papercrafts Six Chicks project day!!!! And it also happens to fall on a Limelight Sketch Thursday!!!! WoooHooo!!!! It's a TWOFER!!!! LOL

First..........here is the Sketch from Mandy........and it sure is a cute one!!!! The product focus today is paint.........any kind.......Shimmerz and Blingz, Paint, Watercolors.......show us what you've got!!!

Our Six Chicks theme is Back To School!!!! Yep........it's amazing how fast the summer is flying by!!! So we were to make a gift for either a student or teacher returning to school. I chose to make a teacher gift........you KNOW you want your teacher impressed with you and your kiddos from the beginning of the school year! LOL I also made the sketch card to go along with the gift.

I used the absolutely cutie patootie Kiki Kitty Stamps!!!! I found these little favor boxes and decorated them with the fabulous Kaisercraft Pearls and Rhinestones. I also couldn't resist the Light Blue/Brown Reversible Ribbon. For my paint I used December Sky and Pink Shimmerz......oh I am sooooo addicted to Shimmerz!!!! Well, I'm sure you ALLLLLL know how I love my blingy, glitzy embellies!!!!! LOL I did take just a bit of a liberty with the sketch so I could mat my kitty image with another nestie!!! LOL I also used Pink Twill on the card....I LOVE this pink twill!!! I also just had to use some of my favorite BG paper, Bittersweet!!!!

Now go take a peek at the other FABULOUS LimeLight Chicks for inspiration and then play along for a chance to win a prize of one bottle of Shimmerz PLUS one bottle of Shimmerz Spritz in the winner's choice of colors!!!!!

Limelight Papercrafts Blog ~ Mandy

Live, Laugh, Love, Create ~ Lorie

My Little Creative Escape ~ Lisa

The Inked Spot ~ Ryann

Caffinated Cropper ~ Amy

I Heart Art ~ Tiffany

Now here are the deets for playing along:

**Use the sketch above and dress it up with PAINT!! Shimmerz, watercolors, craft paint...whatever ya got!

**Key word for SCS upload is LLPC027

**Post a comment with a link to your card on Mandy's Blog by Sunday, August 9, at midnight (or before winner is drawn Monday a.m.).

**PRIZE ~ One jar of Shimmerz paint AND one bottle of Shimmerz Spritz of the winner's choice! (Winner is chosen randomly from all participants.)

NOW FOR MY LIMELIGHT BASIC GREY WINNER!!!!!! TerriAvidReader..................you win!!!! Please contact me with your e-mail addy so I can get the info to you for that Wisteria Basic Grey paper pad from the sweeeeeet Mandy!!!! And Congratulations and thank you to all for playing along!!!!!

8/3/09 - 8/9/09With every order of $25 or more, choose one free jar of Shimmerz Paint! Simply enter your choice in the Comments line of your order. If no choice is made, we will include our choice of Shimmerz Paint.

*June Bug and Lemonade Do Me a Favor Kits $5
*All ColorBox Cat's Eye Ink Pads $1
*Unity Stamp Co. Birdie Inspiration $19

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Gina K. Blog Hop With Theresa!!!!

A rose..........for Theresa.............for Memories..............

Thresa's set, Timeless Treasures, is so beautiful and perfect for masculine cards, mementos, scrapbooking, elegance, etc!!!! Theresa is amazingly talented!!! But you all knew that!!! I decided to stamp the pocket-watch like it was looking back in time......and what a perfect sentiment in the set too!!! I used Basic Grey dsp and the Chocolate Ribbon from the Stamp TV kit.


To see even more inspiration from Theresa's gorgeous Timeless Treasures stamp set, please visit Theresa Momber's blog where she's giving away a set as Blog Candy!!!!!

She has two guest designers to joining in in the blog hop tonight:
Cathy Edgar and her mom -Geri Utterback

as well as these GinaK's Senior Design Team members:

Melanie Muenchinger
Cindy Lawrence
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio

and our CenterStage Spotlight Design Team members:

Brenda Turner
Shannon Bracken
Sue Morris
Sue Walsh

~ Have A Creative Day! ~

Sunshine's Stamps...........A Big Rig & Ice Cream!!

You heard that!! Some more fun Sunshine's Stamps images!!!!

Now Malcolm here is really a milk truck..........however, hubby needed a thank you card for a company they do business with. Hubby works in the Oil & Gas industry. And their wells are located on the Colorado plains amongst the cattle ranches!!! So how perfect to turn Malcolm into an oil truck!!! And even a spot to put the company name!!!! I kept the color scheme to black and white since it's a company owned and run by brothers..........no girly pink or bling!!! LOL

Now for the yummmmmmmmy ice cream!!!! An adorable old-fashioned ice cream truck called Mr. (or Ms.) Smoothie!!!! Now I couldn't resist some pink and bling here!!!! LOL I used the Basic Grey Lemonade dp and some of the new SU In-Colors. I colored with my Copics since as long as the ink is dry after you print your digistamp, you shouldn't have any issues with coloring!! I used a bit of Stickles here and there for some glitz!! And I used a sentiment from an older SU set.


Visit Sunshine's Blog and see how you can get some of these fun images too!!!! She also lots of fabulous samples and great ones from the DT to share too!!!!

~ Have A Creative Day! ~