I’ve been extremely busy in Texas with my internship that I haven’t been able to post any projects to my blog in two months, or even update on my status! I’ve been working with Vision Forum in the Creative Media department, producing emails, web banners, product cover art, etc., and am excited to be serving their ministry! I’ve also been assigned reading material, speeches, manual labor, and much more—it’s been an extraordinary experience that has stretched me to mature in so many different ways.

Currently I am back home in Minnesota for a couple weeks break before I head back down to Texas to complete my internship. So I have time to enjoy my family and I even stamped a card today!

I made up this card for a challenge that Momma gave me last night—make a card using only two colors: black and white.

The main image is from the “Block Greetings” stamp set released by Gina K. Designs in the past two months—Momma purchased it while I was gone, and it looked like the perfect image to use  for a classy black and white card! I stamped it onto Pure Luxury white cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, trimmed and matted it with PL Black Onyx cardstock, and then mounted it to the PL White cardbase with dimensionals. The sentiment was stamped in black ink and a piece of black ribbon was added to complete the card.

Supplies:

Stamps: Block Greetings (GKD), Spring Florals (GKD)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD)
Paper: PL White (GKD), PL Black Onyx (GKD)
Accessories: Black Ribbon, Dimensionals

We’re previewing two stamp sets today. The first is “Buds & Vases” by Melanie Muenchinger, and the second is “Lovely Labels 2″ by Nina Bracket.

I created the card using two stamps from Melanie’s stamp set Buds & Vases, and the sentiment from Nina’s stamp set Lovely Labels 2. I stamped the vase image onto Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, and then stamped the rosebud image over it using the same ink. I colored the images with Copic markers and I tried to create a watercolor look by leaving white highlights, “squishing” the light colors outside of the lines, and blending the colors more than usual to create the washed-out effect. The copics that I used are: RV10, RV21, RV23, and RV29 for the rosebuds; YG11, YG63, and YG67 for the leaves and stems; BG01, BG05, and BG10 for the water and vase; and YR20, YR23, W-3, and 0 for the background and shadow.

I stamped the sentiment onto a scrap of PL Ivory cardstock, trimmed it, and mounted it to the cardbase using dimensionals. For a finishing touch, I added a length of black gingham ribbon.

Supply List

Stamps: Buds & Vases (GKD), Lovely Labels 2 (GKD)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD)
Paper: PL Ivory
Accessories: Copic Markers (GKD), Black Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals

This second project, I created using Nina’s Lovely Labels 2 stamp set, along with her Simple Elegance DigiPaper pack. I first printed out the Simple Curry Rosettes digi paper onto PL White cardstock at 60% and trimmed it to fit my PL Ivory cardbase. Using mustard and saffron ink, I sponged over the digi paper to created a soft yellow overtone.

The label image and sentiment were stamped onto PL Ivory cardstock using Rich Cocoa Memento ink, trimmed, and mounted to the cardfront with dimensionals. A length of cream organdy ribbon finishes of the project.

Supply List

Stamps: Lovely Labels 2 (GKD)
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento (GKD), More Mustard (SU!), So Saffron (SU!)
Paper: PL White (GKD), PL Ivory (GKD)
Accessories: Simple Elegance DigiPaper Pack (GKD), Cream Organdy Ribbon, Dimensionals

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For more samples with tonight’s new stamp sets, please visit these participating designer’s blog links:

• GinaK
• Nina *Illustrator of Lovely Labels 2*
  
• Melanie *Illustrator of Buds and Vases*
  
• Jessica
• Theresa
• Tami
• Cathy
• Lee
• Lynn
• Kurtis

I stamped the flower image on three small squares of colored cardstock using coordinating inks and then mounted them to the Kraft cardbase using dimensionals. I stamped the sentiment using black ink below the squares, and drew the horizontal line with a ruler and a gray marker.

Supply List

Stamps: Fanciful Tags (GKD), Faithful Florals (GKD)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD), Olive Vivid (GKD), Aqua Vivid (GKD), Really Rust (SU!)
Paper: PL Ocean Mist (GKD), PL Green Apple (GKD), Really Rust (SU!), Kraft (SU!)
Accessories: Going Gray marker (SU!), Dimensionals

I stamped the watering can image on Pure Luxury White cardstock, masked over it, and then stamped over the mask with the fence and wheel image. I then colored the image with Copic markers: C-1, C-3, C-5, C-7, E08, E43, E47, YG91, YG95, W-3, W-5, YR23, Y28, G000, G00, BG10, and 0.

I tore the right side of the cardstock and after rolling the edges, I layered it on a piece of PL Black Onyx cardstockl. I wrapped a length of twine twice around the PL Green Apple cardbase and then mounted the main image with dimensionals. I finished the card by stamping the sentiment on a piece of PL White cardstock, trimmed it out, and then mounted it to the main image with dimesnionals.

Supply List

Stamps: Farm Life (GKD), Fanciful Tags (GKD)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD)
Paper: PL Green Apple (GKD), PL Black Onyx (GKD), PL White (GKD)
Accessories: Copic Markers (C-1, C-3, C-5, C-7, E08, E43, E47, YG91, YG95, W-3, W-5, YR23, Y28, G000, G00, BG10, 0) (GKD), Hemp Twine, Dimensionals

For all the information about how to enter your card into this month’s challenge, please visit GinaK’s blog, then check out these participating designer’s blogs for more inspiration using the newly released stamp sets available through GinaK Designs:

• Jessica Fick
• Theresa Momber
• Nina Brackett
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Tami Mayberry
• Carolyn King
• Cathy Tidwell
• Lee Murphy
• Kurtis Amundson
• Miesje Flach – our CenterStage Spotlight designer!

The main sentiment was stamped onto a piece of Pure Luxury Soft Sand cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink, and the floral image was stamped behind it using Sahara Sand ink. The main image was adhered to a piece of PL Ivory cardstock with a scallop border, and a thin strip of PL Smokey Slate cardstock was glued on the bottom of the main image.

The Grand Damask image was stamped onto PL Fresh Asparagus cardstock using Olive Vivid ink, and the cardstock was then adhered to the PL Ivory cardbase. I mounted to the main image to the cardbase with dimensionals, and added two silver rhinestones in the upper corner.

Supply List

Stamps: Faithful Florals (GKD), Grand Damask (GKD)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD), Olive Vivid (GKD), Sahara Sand (SU!)
Paper: PL Ivory (GKD), PL Fresh Asparagus (GKD), PL Soft Sand (GKD), PL Smokey Slate (GKD)
Accessories: Silver Rhinestones (GKD), Dimensionals

The grand damask image was stamped onto Pure Luxury Cranberry Tart cardstock using Champagne Dazzle VersaMark ink. I stamped the label frame image onto PL White cardstock  using Aged Mahogany Ranger ink, and stamped the sentiment inside of it using Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I added a length of bella fiber to the cardbase, mounted to label frame with dimensionals, and added two mini rhinestones for embellishment.

Supply List

Stamps: Fanciful Tags (GKD), Grand Damask (GKD)
Ink: Aged Mahogany Ranger (GKD), Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD), VersaMark Champagne Dazzle
Paper: PL Cranberry Tart (GKD), PL White (GKD)
Accessories: Bella Fiber (SU!), Silver Rhinestones (GKD), Dimensionals

I haven’t played with watercolor crayons or pencils in a while, so i decided to try watercoloring a scene using Theresa Momber’s Farm Life stamp set from Gina K. Designs. The tree and fence image was stamped onto Pure Luxury White cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and then colored with watercolor pencils. I tried to blend yellows and green in the tree, aquas and blues in the sky, & browns and grays for the trees and fence posts. After coloring the image with pencils, I brushed over the colors with water to blend them together.

The sentiment was stamped onto a scrap of PL White cardstock and mounted to the cardbase with dimensionals. For a finishing touch, I added a length of linen thread to the top of the card.

Supply List

Stamps: Farm Life (GKD), Fanciful Tags (GKD)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD)
Paper: PL White (GKD)
Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Linen Thread (SU!), Dimensionals

This simple card was made using the new You Are Not Alone stamp set from Gina K. Designs along with the Fanciful Tag stamp set by Nina Brackett available from Gina K. Designs.

The main image was inked with Copic markers; YG95,  RV29, Y21, and W-3, and then stamped onto a piece of Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock that I saturated with the colorless blender Copic marker. I stamped the sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink below the image and then secured a piece of Bella Fiber around the cardstock after I punched to edge of the paper with a 1/16″ hole punch to secure the fiber. The main image was then mounted to the PL Soft Sand cardfront.

Supply List

Stamps: You Are Not Alone (GKD), Fanciful Tags (GKD)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD)
Paper: PL Soft Sand (GKD), PL Ivory (GKD)
Accessories: Copic Markers; YG95, RV29, Y21, W-3, 0 (GKD),  Bella Fiber (SU!), 1/16″ Hole Punch (SU!), Dimensionals

The two stamps sets being previewed today are “Lean on Me” and “You are Not Alone”, both by Gina K. I appreciate several of the thoughtful sentiments in the You are Not Alone stamp set as well as the circular floral images. The flower images in the Lean on Me set are also fun along with the cute text used on the sentiments.

Supply List – “Perfect Preparation”

Stamps: You Are Not Alone (GKD)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD)
Paper: PL White (GKD)
Accessories: Copic Markers (GKD)

Supply List – “Polka-dot Floral”

Stamps: Lean on Me (GKD), Vintage Backgrounds (GKD)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (GKD), White (GKD), Rose Red, Summer Sun
Paper: PL Ocean Mist (GKD), PL White (GKD)
Accessories: Silver Shirt Pin, Cream Organdy Ribbon, Dimensionals

For more samples with the stamp sets being previewed tonight, please check out these participating designer’s links:

• Gina *Illustrator of Lean on Me and You are Not Alone*
• Jessica *Designer of Lean on Me card kit*
• Melanie
• Theresa -
• Tami -
• Cathy
• Nina
• Lee
• Kurtis
• Suzanne
• Bev
• Colleen
• Valerie
• Sankari
• Miesje - *our CenterStage Guest Designer!*

You are invited to join us for our Release party tomorro night, August 26 from 7-10 central time for contest questions, challenges, and chatter along with tons more samples!  The party leads up to the new products featured this week on our blogs being available for purchase online through GinaK Designs at 10 pm.  See you there for all the fun!

I used one of the floral images from the Stamp TV kit along with a sentiment from Nina Brackett’s new Fanciful Tags stamp set – I really like the size of her sentiments!

Supply List

Stamps: Autumn Splendor (GKD), Fanciful Tags (GKD), Vintage Backgrounds (GKD)
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento (GKD), Olive Vivid (GKD), Old Paper Ranger (GKD)
Paper: PL Fresh Asparagus (GKD), Pumpkin Spice (GKD), PL Ivory (GKD)
Accessories: Brown Ribbon (GKD), Copper Brad (GKD), Sewing Machine & Thread, Dimensionals

This card uses one of the bold images from the Stamp TV kit and demonstrates the versatility of the Stamp TV Kit.

Supply List

Stamps: Autumn Splendor (GKD)
Ink: Aged Mahogany Ranger (GKD), Aqua Vivid (GKD), Pear Tart Memento (GKD)
Paper: PL Soft Sand (GKD), PL Chocolate (GKD), PL White (GKD)
Accessories: Sewing Machine & Thread, Dimensionals

For more samples with the stamp sets being previewed tonight, please check out these participating designer’s links:

• Gina
• Jessica
• Melanie
• Theresa
• Cathy
• Lee
• Kurtis

You are invited to join us for our Release party this Thursday night, August 26 from 7-10 central time for contest questions, challenges, and chatter along with tons more samples!  The party leads up to the new products featured this week on our blogs being available for purchase online through GinaK Designs at 10 pm.  We hope you’ll make plans now to be able to join us in all the fun!