Making Mischief

Celebrate someone's birthday with a sweet little cupcake ("Square Pegs"), it looks so sweet and innocent...
and then show them all the "trouble" you went through to make it! bwahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I'd been thinking how fun it would be to have these two battling it out in the kitchen but hadn't gotten around to it. I used my Perfect Pattern Pop Up Oven template printed on glossy cardstock and added Theresa's kitten and Mouse from "Purrr-fectly Delightful". I added a flour crock and dials from "Have a Cookie" and upended the jar, sponging Cream White directly onto the floor and countertop, as well as stamping the pawprints. DP is Basic Grey Sugar Rush, I framed up a few little flowers from another print in the pack with the picture frame fom "Tech Talk" and "hung" a couple askew, like they've been all over those counters! ( I know some of you are laughing while others totally have the willies right now!) I didn't mean to use this many sets, but once I started I couldn't stop, ya know? )*

Well. I'm sure you've all heard the saying "when the cats away, the mice do play"? As luck would have it, while I put the finishing touches on this card, I thought my kids were resting in their beds (where I'd sent them after being too rowdy playing when they were supposed to be home from school sick, and they are sick, but apparently not that sick!) but instead they got up and into a bottle of Super Glue my husband left out over the weekend....(dramatic music here) I will never know exactly what happened, as both their stories are very different and fault the other, but my 4 year old's arms were completely covered in glue (looked like long, ropy burn victim scars) and he had a 9 volt battery stuck to his mouth. My older son had it on the tips of his fingers but is still holding out that he was nowhere near the glue. Hmmph. After two hours of bath and scrubbing William threw up in his bed, and I got to change the sheets on his top bunk bed, one of my least fave chores. woo.hoo. It was quite a "sick" day here, let me tell you. Hope your day went better than mine!


*I totally could have gone further and had the cat outnumbered by an army of mice, one half in half out the jar, etc but didn't want to freak anyone out, based on a few release party comments I think there may be some musophobes reading (afraid of mice, had to look that one up!)

Week 3 with Lee Murphy!

I meant to post this beautiful wintery window card Lee made last week but got so caught up in the holidays, I missed it , oops! Still, you could use this same layout with "Tech Talk" and the "Hip to Be Square" window frame to peep into an office at any time of the year, just changing out the pattern for your screen saver, here she used Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses and it has such a fun color palette of pastel pinks, blues, and green with a little red and cranberry thrown in! I love the scalloped valance she made at the top! Cardstock is Pure Luxury and greeting is framed on Fancy Tag die cuts. Teacup and Rose are from "Lovely Shelf".

There are so many exciting things coming up!! First a GINORMOUS blog HOP for all my sets on Friday, January 1st that you will NOT want to miss, with tons of special guest designers and blog candy (several prizes, hip hip hurray!!!) Then next week new stamp sets from our Gina K Designs release, new cradstock and embellishments and new templates! Squeal, so excited for 2010!!

Unclaimed Candy!

I had to draw a new winner for my latest blog candy, the new winner of my Tech Talk set is:

Lisa808 said...
You are a genius! This card is over the top. Thank you so much for the template. And, thank you for the chance to win this awesome and versatile stamp set.

December 19, 2009 9:25 AM


Congrats Lisa! Please send me your snail addy no later than Tuesday, Dec 29th, I would like to put this set in the mail by Wednesday. Thank you!

More posts to come, I have family in town and we are enjoying our time together. Lots of new goodies in the house I am working on in secret to prepare for our new release, plus a new template, you are gonna flip when you see it! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

His and Hers

Today a sweet little his and hers hot cuppa' card!

I made the steam by inking up the mouse cords in light gray and stamping, then stamping off, then adding the little heart in between. The mugs are pieced from this clothesline paper (Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend), I chose a pair of jeans for the taller man's cup and the little slip for the lady's! (stamped Dad's and mom's under each to make that perfectly clear, hee!) Everything here just says "married couple" card(although the design could easily be adapted for two friends), the clothesline print makes me think of weeks and month and years of laundry, a whimsical way of showing couplehood and growing old together, would make a fun anniversary or Valentine. I added the pencil and punched puzzle pieces (EK Success punch) to suggest rainy weekends spent indoors drinking coffee, doing the crosswords and working jigsaws together... ahh, heavenly! Dotted mat is Basic Grey Junebug and base is Pure Luxury in the Navy, all stamps are from the "Tech Talk" set. Pencil is cut from the Boyfriend pack, heart die is Cuttlebug.

Enjoy the day! I pray you have a very safe and happy holiday! Merry Christmas!!!

Keeping up with Blogging Buddies

Okay, I am already planning some new years' resolutions, to do a better job of staying in touch, and to be more organized, specifically, keeping all my snail and email addys in one place so I don't have to keep emailing more organized friends for others addys!! SO I altered this little address book I found at the dollar store with my "Tech Talk" set, because I want to keep this specifically for addresses (email, snail and blog) and birthdays for those friends that I keep in touch with by computer.
It had a striped purple and white binding and I thought it would be much easier not to have to cover that part since it will be opened and closed a lot, but I had almost no DP with purple in it!! So I found some Basic Grey prints (the front of the album is 6x6 so it was the perfect size) that had light pinks and greens in the patterns to complement the purple.

I wanted to use purple somewhere to tie it in though, so I grabbed one of my trusty white paper flowers and colored it with a Copic, although it looks brighter in this pic than the binding they really do match, I promise! I had fun stamping the different techie greetings all over the front and adding all the envelopes to get me in the snail mailing spirit!

Inside I stamped some different images and greetings onto the purple liner that came inside the cover to coordinate with the front.

It has a ton of lined pages in the back too for journalling, this was perfect for adding all the birthdays. I stamped the month on top of each page using Calendar Bits & Pieces and then numbered the lines accordingly.


This project went really fast and it takes up very little room on my desk, I am excited to fill it up and then put it to good use! :)

I am linking today's project in our customer blog hop for all our new Gina K release sets from this month, if you would like to play along for a chance to in a free set create your December Blog Hop project or use one that you've already created with these new sets:
Tech Talk
Life is Good
Lovely Shelf
Warm and Wonderful
Sweetest Memories
or
the StampTV Holiday Cheer Kit

and add the direct link to your project in the Mr. Linky on GinaK's blog. Then, on your blog entry, refer people back here toGina's blog so they can hop to the next name on the list. Read the full details over at Gina's! Hope you'll play along!

Week 2 with Lee Murphy: Out the Window!

Another brilliant "Tech Talk" project from the incomparable Lee Murphy today, when she sent me this card yesterday, I was a little slow on the uptake, even when she wrote it was inspired by the dreaded "blue screen of death"( if this has never happened to your computer (consider yourself fortunate!) , it basically means your computer is beyond help) Even reading that, I was so busy admiring her cracked glass technique, noticing the little ribbons on the side, totally" got" that the computer was just messed up so it had a broken screen..but then I wondered , "hmm, why did she only do the cracked glass on one side....?"

OHHHHH! because she threw it through the ("Hip to Be Square") window, bwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahaha! so then I really "got it", hee! Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or not, I'm sure you can all relate to feeling like hurling your 'puter through the window when it's not cooperating with you! Too clever of her, once it "clicked", I can't stop hearing the glass shattering! ;) Looks like she did the right side of the computer stamped over the window before cracking the glaze, then just cut out and popped up the left side of the computer before it passes through, I love it!!

Inside of course it was imperative she stamped lots and lots of (((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))! :) You need 'em when that happens!

Let's go see another "Tech Talk" project from Lee!

Tech Talk Blog Hop

Are you ready to hop with "Tech Talk"?? I've got candy tonight, plus an original template I've designed as a free gift for ALL of you, free, come look!
Here is a card using Pure Luxury Creme De Menthe as base and the cover of my Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend pack, I was able to get all these swatches from the front piece and then just flipped down the corner to cover up the little price! :) I stamped "hello" from the set in the corner and held it down with a paperclip, in keeping with the office theme and "you've got mail!" greeting (stamped and punched out with 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circles). I folded up a tiny envelope from Pure Luxury White and stamped my little heart on the flap, then added a few pieces of notebook paper I cut out from the same patterned pack.

Now for the really fun part, a pop up desk inside!!! Do you LOVE it?? Check out the little dotted drawer pulls, these are part of the pattern and can be left as is like you see here or used as a guide to cover with nail heads, adhesive pearls, rhinestones, etc! This desk is SO simple to make when you download my pattern for free at the end of this post. Instructions for assembly are included along with ideas for how to modify and decorate it, and I am just SO excited what a great complement this is to the "Tech Talk" stamps!! :)

First, line the inside of your card with mats 4"x 5 1/4" (you don't have to, but adding carpet and wallpaper will really complete your scene), these are two more prints from the DP pack.

Here you can see my desk cut out and scored along the front and back edge as well as the flaps. The back flap will be secured behind and below the desktop, but you can also flip it up like a bulletin board or back splash, I will show examples of this later.

Now open your card flat and cover just the back flap of the desk with adhesive and press onto the top inside of the card, with the bottom edge meeting the inside score of your base.

Push the desk back and add adhesive or Scor-Tape to the little flaps.

Press the inside bottom of the card against the desk. This method for adhering the desk ensures that the desk surfaces will be at right angles when you open it and the card will shut properly, closing flat.

Open up, and voila! You're ready to decorate your desktop! :) I kept today's simple just adding the computer stamped on Moonlit Fog and a few more sheets of the notebook DP. Here without the accessories, I hope you can begin to imagine the possibilities for this template that go beyond a desk: kitchen counter, workshop, vanity etc. Of course I'll be back to show more of these options! ;)

Download the free template here. Please remember this is a copyrighted pattern, no selling, submitting for contests or publications, etc and please be sure to give me credit when posting pics of creations made with it. Thanks, I hope you enjoy it!

Please leave a comment below if you would like to win a signed copy of the "Tech Talk" set! I will announce a winner tomorrow night.

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

Melanie Muenchinger {Illustrator}
Jessica Fick
Donna Baker
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Nina Brackett

Theresa Momber
Sankari Wegman

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 very valuable resource filled with tips, sample projects, and tutorials. My tip sheet, this 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 second chance to win today's featured stamp set or any other stamp set valued at $23.95 of your choice!

Great Teacher

The computer and other techie elements from "Tech Talk" blend beautifully with Rupa's "Back to School" set , perfect for a great teacher OR great student!

Only the mug (stamped with "A+") and round teacher label are popped up. I used a grey Copic to make the shadows under the paper clips and other objects. The pencil cup is paper pieced with Basic Grey Junebug, card base is Pure Luxury In the Navy. I stamped the little heart from set onto Kraft CS and then popped it up over the little apple on the label.

A very special teacher in our life this year is Ms. Daphne, William's preschool teacher. She really notices every little thing he does throughout the day and tells me all about it when I come to get him, and really appreciates what makes him unique and special. I tell you she dotes on him like he is her own grandchild! We love you, Ms. Daphne!! (She is getting a candle this Christmas!) ;)

Mosaic Monday

Hello! Today I used the "Inspiration Mosaic" frame to improvise a very modular looking shelving unit, and snuck a few key images from other GinaK Designs sets to fill it out: computer mug, picture and pencil can from "Tech Talk", and made a nature photo and screen saver from "Life is Good". Instead of masking the trees into each, I just stamped them and then stamped the screen and picture over them, and cut out the rectangle to mount on top like I was piecing. the pencil cup is pieced with Basic Grey Granola. Card base is Pure Luxury Kraft. it still needed one small something so I added the little baseball from "Sporty Accessories" into one of the nooks. Oh! and I replaced the heart on the keyboard witha smiley! TIP: An easy way to do this instead of omitting inking up the ehart is to cut out the button and then turn it aorudn and tamp the face on the bck, the piece is symmetrical so you can glue it onon the keyboard that way. :o)

Have a great day, blog hop tonight! :)

Guest Designer: Lee Murphy

Everyone knows Lee right??? Yeah, I know she's on our design team now, she found a permanent spot with us before I got to pic her, but I'm so glad I waited for the "Tech Talk" set because it is just soooo LEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;) She is just one of the bestest blogging buddies around, and such a talented stamper!

Lee has a blinged up shaker to share with us today, these little stars she found to put inside the screen are so cute! :) I hope you all saw the totally over the top pop up she created for the party, I am still hyperventilating over how fabulous that was, look!!!!! Just gotta share it again in case you missed it!!

Here are her answers to some craft questions about Lee:
FAVORITE TECHNIQUE: I do enjoy so many techniques.......but I have to say one of my favorites is Copic coloring.......although I still have a lot to learn.........I just love coloring and blending!!! And layers........I ADORE layers with lots of bling!!! Is that a technique??? Well, I'm calling it one!!! LOL

COLORS/COLOR COMBO: I will always enjoy Pink & Brown......it was an early favorite of mine!!! But I've expanded and now I'll take PINK with pretty much anything!!!! LOL

FAVORITE GINA K SET BY MELANIE: Seriously??? DUDE!!!!! I have to choose??? There is NO way I can pick just one.......I probably can't pick just 2 or 3 either!!! LOL Well, Just So Sporty with the hoodie is definitely one of my faves.......Little Tees.....OMGosh it's just precious!!! I reach for Festive Frame a LOT!!!! And this new Tech Talk is sooo fun!!!! Ya know.....I could go on..... Sorry.......can't pick just one!!!!

FAVORITE GINA K SETS (FROM ANY ILLUSTRATOR) Again with the impossible questions!!!! LOL I will always just adore Warm & Cozy Christmas with those precious little ones!!! That was my first stamp set I got to use when I was asked to be a Guest DT over a year ago!!!! Okay, NO......I seriously will not allow myself to mention any others because then I really won't be able to stop!!!!

CRAFT SUPPLIES I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Everyone.......all together now........BLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yep........y'all know it!!!!!!!!!! LOL

I’VE BEEN STAMPING FOR (HOW LONG): I officially have been stamping for 3 years now!!!! But I'm telling you my first 6 months I was LOST!!!! So much to take in and no idea where to start!!!! Thank GOODNESS I found the Gina K. forum on Splitcoast!!!!!

I GET MY INSPIRATION FROM: Honestly.....living in the mountains all I do is look out my window........in any season........I am truly blessed with scenery, nature and, of course, my amazing family!!!!

THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I’VE LEARNED ABOUT STAMPING/CARDMAKING ARE: One: to do what I love and not what somebody decides what's "in" or "out" of style!!!! Two: to share with others what I create from my heart.....a handmade thinking of you can be so powerful!!

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING GOALS ARE:

1. To finally get my entire stamp room organized!
2. To get over my cowardice and actually submit something!
3. To try some new techniques.
4. To send out more of my cards.
5. To make my first Tutorial.
6. To really learn how and get my zillion photos scrapbooked!

FAVORITE THING TO MAKE THAT AREN’T CARDS: Treat holders......of any kind!!! They're such a great, inexpensive, special little hostess gift or thinking of you gift!!!

SOME OF MY STAMPING/CRAFTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: I have enjoyed being a part of a lot of wonderful companies and challenge blogs.......and for now being on the Gina K. Designs DT is just me living my dream!!!! I feel so blessed and honored!!!! And a big HUG to Melanie for believing in me long ago and reaching out to me when I didn't really know what I was doing!!! LOL Thank you so much!!!!

I'll be writing more about how I came to know Lee and share more projects of hers next week, for now let's go see what she's got on her blog, have a great weekend everybody!

Alter it! Mouse Pad

Blah.
Better!!!

This was the mouse pad my husband gave me to go with my new computer. Well, what kind of stamper would I be to let this big, bare space go to waste?? All it took was some StazOn, stamps are obviously from "Tech Talk". I put the computer smack in the middle and then had fun collage stamping the other smaller images and greetings all over it. finished it in less than 5 minutes, I think I used about 15-20 stamps from the set! I like this sooooo much better, the little emoticons and LOL!'s bring a smile to my face, which is often since I loooove to be on my computer!! :)

Now I have to make some other coordinating desk items, will be sure to share! ;)

Have a great day! Next up, a guest design spot! :D

Computer Holiday Shaker!

Here is a simple shaker I made with "Tech Talk" , crafting plastic for the screen, Doodlebug glitter, and Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly papers. Simply cut out the screen on the stamped computer and adhere the plastic to the underside, I stamped {fun} from "Sweetest Memories" on it beforehand (because what's more fun that a shaker??) with Stazon. Make a continuous row of pop dots around the edge and pour some glitter into the center. Adhere a coordinating piece of paper to the underside, and mount on your card.

Here you can see the glitter spread out when the card lays flat. Cardstocks are Rocket Red, White, and Ocean Mist. This was really easy to make, and I just love the effect! The aqua glitter is so fun as snow with this swirling printed snowflake paper.

Have fun today, whatever you do!
:)

"Tech Talk" Tip Sheet

"Tech Talk" is a really fun set for guys and gals of all ages, for anyone who loves their 'puter and all their friends who live inside it! Please refer to this image sheet of the set as you read through the tips below...

Great for guys cards, birthday, father's day. Make him a manly office to match, or make it look like your place along with a "you've got mail!" Create valentines for anyone with the heart and heart theme throughout the set.

Works beautifully with Nina's "Lovely Shelf": add some of these feminine elements like the vases and lamps to round out the desk scene when creating cards for your lovely lady friends and relatives. Also try putting the shelf above the screen, or put the mugs and pictures on the shelf.

The style of the images in this set will also work with many of Rupa's sets, like this birthday card above with the cupcake from "100% Sweet", the coffee them in my new set with the mugs and sentiments is also a nice complement to "My Cuppa Joe", have fun mixing an matching these! Using "Back to School" is the obvious choice to create a laboratory or classroom! :)

"Inspiration Mosaic" behind the computer makes a really cool modern little background or with accessories stamped into the boxes, a bookcase! The little circles, squares and lines from this set are perfect touches for a "Tech Talk" project corner or homemade patterned background.

The words, relationships and hobbies from "Tee Talk" (ex "I'd rather be blogging" fit the screen, as do most of the greetings in our other Gina K Designs sets, and the rest of your stamp collection!

Make some "computer wear" with the jargon and emoticons from this set stamped onto the "Little Tees" shirts or "Just so Sporty" sweats! Or for a future techie baby by stamping them on the "Wee Tees" onesie!

Stamp your favorite images or sentiments onto the screen. Create a reverse mask like in this post to add images easily.

You can also sponge ink into to the screen to add color or create a glowing effect.

Pop up the heart button on the keyboard.

Have the fun with the various emoticon faces, just stamping on on the screen will speak your message loud and clear! Add a coordinating sentiment inside the card.

The sentiment also looks great stamped above or going or up or down the side of the computer. the small greetings would look great on a popped up tag as well.

Paper piece the screen with DP or a photo to make the ultimate screen saver.

Use the emoticons or acronyms like LOL! to make your own custom designer papers to match

Create the office or craft room of your dreams but putting a beautiful wallpaper background of DP behind the computer! Add a picture frame cup of pens, and mug to complete the scene. Use geometric and bright prints and colors or vintage and traditional papers to make a more sophisticated one.

Ground the images with one line by placing a straight edge over the middle of your computer screen and desk accessories then draw aline across with a epn, now you have the dimesnion of a wall and desktop. Easy peasy!

Stamp your favorite little images or words in the picture frame or add a real photo! The easiest way to put the photo in is to stamp the frame right over your picture and cut the little rectangles out to piece over your stamped image on CS. Try this with pictures from postcards, magazine etc to really personalize it for the recipient. Do this to make beautiful screen savers for the computer too.


Lefty and righty mouses have been provided. ;) Add the cord or make them wireless, you choose!

Cut a little parallelogram out of your favorite patterned paper to go under the mouse for a mouse pad.

Cut out and pop up the mouse to make it look like it's front of the keyboard for more dimension.

Make a cute dangling charm out of the mouse like Cat did by cutting out both the left and right one and adhering them back to back with a piece of real cord running through, looks good from both sides!

Make a shaker by cutting out the screen, stamping you image or greeting on acetate and putting your favorite shakey stuff inside.

Add a tiny bow or flower to the corner of the screen to make it look more girly.

Add small scraps of paper adhered just along the top edge around the sides of the screen stamped with the little emoticons, like sticky Post it reminders!

Place a piece of acetate over the screen or use Crystal Lacquer to give it realistic shine and smooth texture.

Add some bling around the perimeter of the screen. Put a rhinestone, pearl, or nailhead over the heart on the keyboard.

Stamp the small faces, words or other images onto the mugs or try paper piecing the mugs.

Cut the little easel part off the left of the picture frame to use the facing front or put a collection of them above the computer like they are hanging on the wall.

Combine the different words in the set or other words from collection under "password".


Create a pop up of the laptop opening inside you card by cutting out the image, scoring where the screen meets the keyboard, folding and then adhering the laptop to the inside of the card. See Melanie's blog for the tutorial.

Add a raindot heart over the heart on the keyboard. Omit the heart when inking up the stamp (can do on the mouse as well) if you want to bypass the heart element completely and add your own little stamp or embellishment.

Tech speak translation:

TTYS= Talk to you soon!

omgosh= oh my gosh

WTG= way to go!

LOL! = laughing out loud

:) smile (the tiny ones with circle, dashes or etc in between are added noses!)

:( sad

;) wink

;P silly, sticking tongue out

: O open mouthed, wide eyed ( use this with omgosh!) :)

: l hmm, blank expression

Makes wonderful gifts, tags and gifts wrap for teachers, techies, teens and tweens!

Decorate desk sets and office supplies with the different images and greetings, think mouse pads, stationary, memo pads, pencil holders, your stapler etc! With a little Stazon you could put a smiley just about anywhere! :)

Create the perfect gift card holders, especially for online shopping! Adhere the gift card inside and cut out the window of the screen on the card front so the amazon.com logo (or whatever!) shows through.

More tips to come plus some special projects (I have a plans to create a pop up desk for the isnide, just need to get a template made so I can share it with you here, going to be so! cute!) and a blog hop on the 18th! You will LOVE this set!

Speedy Recovery

Thanks everyone for coming to the party last night!! :) Here is one of my favorite cards I shared with "Tech Talk", it also uses Nina's lamp from "Lovely Shelf". I made this card a little larger, not because my scene wouldn't fit on an A2, but I just LOVED this flourish on the Basic Grey June Bug DP I wanted to use the majority of the 6x6 sheet! Also it allows me to show off more of the beautiful new Creme de Menthe Pure Luxury above and below it! :) After stamping the element of the scene onto Pure Luxury White and coloring (the pencil holder is pieced with another sheet of June Bug. I cut the bottom straight and then made a line through the middle and cut around the top, popping it up over the DP. The small mats of black above below and under the desk really provide a beautiful contrast wit the lighter color. TIP: I love how using mats the same width and color of the laptop screen frame really tie them all together! The rectangular screen doubles like a framed tag on your cards when you have a greeting in the center. :)

I enjoy the feminine touch the DP and lamp give this scene, just because you have gadgets in your office doesn't mean it has to look like a computer lab! ;) A few more details were cutting along the bottom with some decorative edged scissors and adding adhesive pearls, then coloring a sateen flower and adding to the top. Oh, something else fun: the raindot hearts fit perfectly over the heart on the keyboard, click for a closeup! ;) Inside says "Praying for a speedy recovery!" (I really got taste of praying for recovery in a computer kind of way over the summer when my hard drive died and I was not able to get ANYthing off of it, years of stuff, booo! So although it wasa totally frustrating thing, this pun of this sentiment kind of cracks me up, hee)

The only person I know who is sick right now is ME! (throat! huuuurts!!) But I will wait to send this card to someone else, I know it won't be long with flu season...

Being under the weather the last few days I have not yet completed my tip sheet for the new set, but I will share very soon here as well as posting it to the STV Idea Center. More to come, have a great weekend!

"Tech Talk" Winner!

and the random winner of the "Tech Talk" set from my sneak preview blog candy is....

Cammy said...
This set is awesome and I love your cards! I've made some fantastic friends on SCS and the pleasure to meet one of the girls & her family this fall. It was such a great day! Everyone had a blast -- husbands, kids & most of all moms.

(It doesn't hurt that hubby is in IT, so this set would be perfect!)

November 30, 2009 10:11 PM

Please email me your snail mail addy within 48 hours Cammy and I will send it out to you! I just loved reading her comment and everyone else's about the lifelong friendships you have forged through the wonders of modern technology! :)

I'm off to the party! please come, by now it's in full swing!!!

Sneak Peek: "Tech Talk" and "Lovely Shelf"

Hello! Today we are previewing new Gina K sets from Nina and I, and I couldn't be more pleased that we are showcasing the two together, as you will soon see how perfectly they coordinate! :)
First, a little about my newest set "Tech Talk": the perfect set for making cards for the techie men in your life that they can really appreciate or for all your online "besties"! Whether a computer is more for work or pleasure for you, it's become a huge part of all our lives, and even if you don't consider yourself someone who is "technically savvy" (and I'm not certainly not!) if you think in emoticons or "LOL!", this set is for you! (I saw a funny quote recently on Selma's blog recently that completely captured the spirit of this set: "I love my computer, my friends live in it." SO! TRUE!!!) I've seen other computer stamps in the past, but none I felt were really suited for both masculine and feminine cards...you're going to LOVE all the options this one provides! :)

Here I made a card/Valentine for my husband, the greeting stamped onto the screen is one of many from the set. He, like most men, likes things really plain, so I used neutrals (Soft Sand base) and kept "his desk" very minimal. Isn't that fun making a quick scene with the mug and picture frame images?? I stamped the open frame over a photo of myself, trimmed it out and adhered over the center of stamped image as if I were paper piecing.
Now for the fun part inside of the card for a surprise reveal, a few changes to my new scene and a pop of red, I couldn't leave it that plain, could I?? I stamped this little heart from the set all over both desktops (hee!), changed out the "DAD'S" on the mug to a little smiley emoticon and substituted this photo of us nuzzling at our wedding in the frame. I love this Valentine! Hang on for a more feminine desk set in a minute... ;)

Next, I have a card using Nina's new "Lovely Shelf", she is just an illustrator after my own heart with these elemental sets she designs! It has, of course, a shelf and lots and lots of other lovely things to pile on top. Today I stamped the shelf upside down, this way the brackets can look more like bookends or turn the shelf into a serving tray, so I added a teapot, cup and vase. Super sweet and simple! And how do you like that beautiful card base color?? It's the new Gina K Pure Luxury Ocean Mist and I am in heaven!!! It freshens up any color you pair it with, here I went with clean Black Onyx and White. The scalloped mat behind it looks great with the all the curvy details in these images. I added just a touch of color to my pot and cup for shading and vase of flowers with pastel Copics.

Now do you see where I'm going with these two sets? Plunk another one of her vases next to my 'puter (pink!) from "Tech Talk" and add some fun and funky DP (Basic Grey Lime Rickey) and you've got a hip and cheery card for a friend! Don't these images look like they came from the same set?? The clean lines and open images make them all amazingly simple to color, too! There's that Ocean Mist for the base again! A little tip for creating some dimension for your "desk": use a straight edge and draw a line behind the computer and other images you've stamped into your scene with a pen (I did this on the hubby card above too) Now you've grounded all your objects in a snap! On this card, I cut out everything above the line so my DP would be like a wallpaper backdrop behind the images. Showing the DP below too makes for a more interesting layout and also makes the desk look like a more modern counter top. ;)

Something else simple and fun for inside: I cut out a second computer I colored, scored between the screen and keyboard, and adhered it to the card, adhering the back of the screen to a little "box I made with a strip 1" x 4 1/2", that I scored at one inch intervals and then adhered the little half inch left over. When you stick this into the scored middle of the card, the computer will open and close as you open the card and give you a 3D scene...

I also added lots of flowers from the vase to the screen with the masking technique, I love all the possibilities this screen provides go crazy making your favorite "screen savers" with stamps, DP, postcards, whatever!

So you don't have to drag out the Post Its every time, I recommend stamping the computer onto scratch paper and cutting out the screen. Now you can place this over your image stamped on CS and go to town adding whatever you like. Remove your mask and color as desired.

Below is one last pic of it so you can see the dimension and pop up mechanism. I added the vase and mug again more subtly to the background in Versamark this time and a couple more sentiments from my set above and below. Oh, BTW, I can't believe I almost forgot: how do you like my keyboard I designed? In my perfect world I wouldn't make any more typos: just send some love out with one click! LOL! Just another little bit of whimsy (as well as all the hearts hiding in the set!) that I hope you'll really enjoy when creating with this...

Would you like to win "Tech Talk"? Please leave a comment here telling me about an online friend you've made (I know you have some if you're reading this, and will need this set to make them some special cards!) I will draw a winner randomly and announce it Thursday before the release party. I have been blessed meeting hundreds of wonderful women online in the past two years of blogging, too many to mention here, but I will tell you about a special one later in the week who is guest designing with my set this month! ;)

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

Nina Brackett {Lovely Shelf}
Melanie Muenchinger {Tech Talk}

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

GinaK,
Carolyn,
Cathy,
Cindy,
Donna,
Emily,
Erika,
Jessica,
Lee,
Lynn,
Tami,
Theresa

We also have two of our special Center Stage Spotlight Designer's joining us with samples as well:

Cheri Weston
Melissa Shultz

More previews tomorrow, thanks for visiting! :)