For the Lovebirds

My husband and I are going to try to do a quick shopping trip today. We window shopped with the girls last week, so we already know what to get them (but they have no idea). And I need to shop for our 2 Christmas dinners.

I used to love shopping way back when, but when it involves driving in the snow, and not finding everything you're looking for (like celery), pay twice or more than US prices ($4/lb for a skinny turkey), and driving back home in more snow...then it's not so fun anymore. I used to dislike Walmart or K-Mart or anything like that, but now I wish we have one nearby! Now, if I'm really wishing...I'd love to have a Costco here :-). Then, I wouldn't need to dedicate two precious shelves of my teeny-tiny freezer for our chocolate chips and pecan stash :-).

Well, on to my card for today. This is for Stamp TV's Color sketch challenge to use Bubblegum Pink, Black and white. I used one of my first GinaK sets called Elegant Post. The sentiment is from Heartily Yours Additions. The papers are Webster's Pages' Hollywood Vogue.

I'm participating in a VERY special blog hop tomorrow for a dear friend, so see you then!

My Favorite Vacation

Gina issued the GinaK Designs DT a challenge to create a card inspired by a favorite summer memory. Hands down, my favorite summer vacation was 2 years ago when my whole family spent 2 weeks exploring Israel with many of our dear friends. It was an experience we will never forget. A friend told me that visiting Israel would change the way I would read my Bible from black and white to full color. She was so right. That experience just brought more meaning to the stories and lessons I read in the pages of Scripture.

Let me give you a short tour of that life-changing trip. First pic is with me and my DH showing the Temple Mount view from the Mt. of Olives.

This is the Sea of Galilee at sunset.

My girls thought it was very interesting to stand where David bravely faced and defeated Goliath. Of course, they had to gather some smooth stones like David did for souvenirs. (In case you're wondering, my youngest stayed in the hotel with some friends the whole time because she was too young to endure the high temps outside).

This was inside the Mt. Sepulcher church in Jerusalem.

This is Qumran where a shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Finally, my favorite photo from this trip. The road we're walking on in this picture was literally the road where Jesus walked because it's the road that leads to the Temple.
Here are my cards using my latest sets, Fine Furnishings and Fine Furnishings Additions. I followed the color scheme of the many places we saw: yellow (or gold), black and Kraft. The music background is from the Vintage Borders set. The elegant sentiment is from Elegant Post. I used Wild Dandelion for my card base. I also used the Spellbinders Fancy Tags for an added elegance.

Here is a simpler card with the classic chandelier and couch image from Fine Furnishings.

For all the specific details on how to enter your card in Gina's Design Team challenge, please visit GinaK's blog. Then, stop by these participating GinaK Design Team members' blogs for their projects for tonight's hop:

• Jessica Fick
• Nina Brackett <<--you are HERE!
  
• Theresa Momber
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Tami Mayberry
• Cathy Tidwell
• Lee Murphy
• Donna Baker
• Kurtis Amundson
• Carolyn King
• Emily Giovanni
• Erika Martin
• Kay Simmons
  

Finally, I have to share this interesting photo. Because everything's kosher, the meat and dairy are served from two different counters at a McDonald's in Jerusalem. It's amazing how the hamburger and fries taste the same no matter where it's located in the world. I hope you enjoyed my mini-virtual tour of my favorite vacation.

OWH Memorial Day Blog Hop

EDIT: The drawing has concluded for this giveaway. The winners are announced HERE. Thank you for your participation.

Welcome to the Operation Write Home's Memorial Day Blog Hop. I'm so glad you could hop along with us. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to honor both God and our troops. I want to honor Christ for His goodness in allowing us to enjoy our freedom, which we sometimes take for granted and that many people in this world can only dream about. May we not forget how blessed we are!

And of course, I want to thank all the men and women and their families who faithfully and sacrificially serve our country for the sake of our freedom. You will always have my never ending gratitude and prayers. Thank you and may the Lord bless you and keep you.

Here is a precious photo of my Grandparents. My grandpa served in the US Army during the Second World War and is one of the very few living survivors of the Bataan Death March. My dear Grandma passed away 2 years ago, but he's still as sharp as a tack living in the Philippines. You could write a book about his life experiences. I thank God for him and am honored to have him as my Grandpa.

I have lots of cards, freebies and blog candy to give away, so make sure you scroll all the way down ;-). I suggest you start the hop at Operation Write Home so you don't miss all the beautiful cards everyone is showing. I have 5 cards to show you today. They highlight two companies that are offering some generous discounts or prizes here on my blog in honor of this hop and Memorial Day.

The first card uses the GinaK Designs' Fine Furnishings Additions stamp set. It's one of the newly released stamp sets (along with new cardstock colors and beautiful patterned papers). All the cardstocks, buttons and most ribbons and patterned papers I used below were purchased from GinaK Designs.

This one uses the Lovely Labels and Elegant Post stamp sets by GinaK Designs.

This card uses a sentiment from GinaK Designs' Spring Mix set. The embossed background is a sneak peek of an art stencil by Layers of Color. The art stenciels are beautiful and have ornate designs that I love. They will be released in mid-June. I dry embossed the stencil here using my Cuttlebug, then sponged some ink.

Next up is a card using Layers of Colors' Touch of Elegance set (background) and the same sentiment and Lovely Labels from GinaK Designs.

And another card using the Touch of Elegance again. It also includes a digital patriotic verse that you can download for FREE at the Layers of Color website. You will find other free digis there.

Now for the Goodies...Layers of Color is not only giving away free digis, but they are also offering 10% OFF ALL ART STAMPS on Memorial Day weekend, May 29 - 31 only! They will also DONATE 10% of ALL SALES during this 3-day weekend to Operation Write Home, where you can send those cards to be distributed to American men and women serving our nation. Check out the Layers of Color blog for more info.

My Blog Giveaways:

A Layers of Color stamp set of the winner's choice.

And on behalf of GinaK Designs, I have three stamp sets to give away to one winner:

Welcome Home

Gone Fishing
Quite A Catch

How do you win:

All you need to do is leave me a comment below. If you want two more chances to win, you may:

• visit the Layers of Color website and leave me a comment which stamp set is your favorite
  
• visit the GinaK Designs website and leave a comment here which stamp set catches your eye.

I will pick the two winners from all the comments below and announce them on my blog on Tuesday! If you've made it this far, thank you! Now, I will send you to the next stop of the hop:

TONI
http://kharliebug.typepad.com/the_digi_shack/2010/05/owh-blog-hop.html

HAPPY HOPPING!

Layers of Color Loveliness

I am a blessed paper crafter for having the opportunity to work with some fabulous stamps by Layers of Color. Today I am showing a card they featured last week. This uses the Butterfly Collector set. The sentiment is from Elegant Post by GKD. The papers are from the Basic Grey Origins collection.

Here's a sneak peek of my card for this week's Guest DT spotlight over at the Layers of Colors blog.
I hope you are all having a good week.

Happy Anniversary in Pink and Brown

Before I show you today's post, I received several inquiries about Limelight Papercrafts' international shipping policy. They DO ship overseas, but you have to email them your order. You cannot do it from the online store directly. Mandy is so easy to work with. I even ordered some 12 x 12 papers and requested that she cut them small to fit in a flat rate Priority Mail envelope.

Hi, all...thank you for leaving some love for Heather yesterday. I can't wait to highlight more of her work here on my blog. Come back tomorrow as I introduce a new Designing Friend. She's a familiar face and I know you will love her and her work, too.

Today's card is made with Vintage Backgrounds (herringbone and text patterns) and Elegant Post (sentiment). I only used GKD Ivory on this card and Chocolate Brown ribbon and button.

The flower was made by die cutting (using Nesties) some tissue paper that was in a box of plates I bought last year. I saved them and now they make pretty flowers. They have these really cute patterns on them, so perfect for these flowers. I just stitched the center or you can use a brad. Crumpled them a bit, applied ink using sponge daubers, and voila! Quick, easy and cheap embellishment!

Only a few more days left for my challenge. I hope to see you submit your work. One random winner will get a $20 gift certificate from Stampin' Up demo, Lisa.

And LOOK HERE. I hope you visit there to show your support...heehee.

Stamp It! Card

I'm so excited to share a card with you today that has just been recently published in Stamp It! Cards Magazine 2010. I'm not exactly sure what page it's on, since I don't have my copy of the magazine yet. But, I've been told it's there :-). This card is truly special because it's my very first published card using one of my stamp designs. The birdcage, bird and sentiment are from Elegant Post.

I also have a Christmas card in this issue and they featured my Elegant Verses stamp set, along with stamps from other companies. What an honor! Have a good Wednesday!

Melanie's 2-year anniversary blog hop

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!

Here is my card using A Year of Flowers, my favorite Melanie set. I stamped the flower images on Really Red textured cardstock using white pigment ink and cut them out. The sentiment is from my Elegant Post set. My husband and I will be celebrating our 14th anniversary in two weeks. It's hard to believe; it feels just like yesterday. These last 14 years have been the best years of my life. God is good! This card will go to my wonderful and ever-so-patient hubby :-).

Now, 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!

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, 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!

GinaK Designs' Lovely Shelf Blog Hop

ETA: For another inspiration using Lovely Shelf and Rupa's Warm and Wonderful set, make sure you stop by Moxie Fab's Tuesday Trigger post today!

Welcome to the Lovely Shelf Blog Hop. Thank you for joining us today, amidst your busy holiday schedule. I hope you will find inspiration in the cards you will see during this hop that will motivate you to create during the Christmas break.

I wanted to show the versatility of Lovely Shelf by creating 2 types of cards. The first two are CAS (clean and simple) cards that took no more than 15 minutes to make. Here is one of them with the rose image. I stamped it on Ivory cardstock, then colored with Copics. I embossed the sentiment from the Elegant Post set and drew the lines with my Inkssentials white pen. The card base is Soft Sand. A little pearl is the only accent right where the lines intersect.

This one uses another flower image, as well as the sentiment, from the Lovely Shelf set.

The other style of cards that I've been trying to get better at making is the shabby chic style. I just love lace, ribbons, pearls and buttons that I'm naturally drawn to this style. My first card follows the colors from Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry paper pack.

The card base is Ocean Mist. I sponged all my panels and card base, as inspired by the sponging-extraordinaire, Theresa Momber. It just adds softness to your card. The yellow flower was stamped with the quote from Theresa's Life is Good set. The swirly chipboard is by Tim Holtz. This may be the very first time I've ever used a chipboard on my card. It's sponged with Vintage Green Vivid ink.

I wanted to make another card with the same layout using softer colors. Here I used K&Co Madeline paper pack. The card base is Soft Sand and the pink panel is SU's Regal Rose.

For more inspiration, make sure you visit these GinaK Designs DT blogs:

Jessica Fick

Donna Baker

Emily Giovanni

Lee Murphy

Melanie Muenchinger

Theresa Momber

Peggy Wainman {CSS designer}

Cheri Weston {CSS Designer}

And last, but certainly not the least, is my Guest DT:
Vanessa Menhorn

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 Lovely Shelf or any of my stamp sets valued at $23.95 or less!

Introducing Lovely Shelf

I tried to stay up as late as possible last night at the Release party, but I finally crashed around 3AM (only about an hour after the party started). My aging body can't do all-nighters anymore :-). It was worth it, though. It's so fun chatting with so many different people from different parts of the world.

Here is my latest stamp set by GinaK Designs called Lovely Shelf. It's a versatile set that has a shabby feel.

And some coordinating papers:

The Regal tones match GinaK Designs cardstocks: In The Navy, Cranberry Tart, Sweet Corn, All Spruced Up and Vibrant Violet. This pack also comes in quarter packs, so you print 4 of the papers in 1/4 size page at a time.

The Earth Tones match the following GinaK Designs cardstocks: Black Onyx, Chocolate Kiss, Sweet Corn, Green Apple and Pumpkin Spice. This also comes in 1/4 page option.

Here are a few cards I made with the Lovely Shelf stamp set and papers. You can see how well they match GinaK Designs cardstocks papers. This one with All Spruced Up.

This with Pumpkin Spice...

And Green Apple...

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I have some crafting time planned with the girls from our church tomorrow. I can't wait.

StampTV CSS Blog Hop 2

It's time for another CenterStage Spotlight Challenge Blog hop!

Hostess: Jessica Fick {Design Team Coordinator}
Theme: Stamp and color the image on Patterned Paper { any occasion card acceptable, it doesn't have to be Christmas themed} { image may be cut out and layered, but must be stamped and colored on patterned paper}
Requirement: any GinaK Designs stamp set & Glitter
Bonus Challenge: decorate the inside of your card to coordinate

Here are my cards...I am loving all the shabby style cards that seem to be very popular at the moment. It's very different from my usual style, but am enjoying trying new things. The butterfly is from Take Flight, the "love" sentiment is from Many Wishes. I sponged the edges of the Kraft card base. The PP is from DCWV. I stamped the butterfly on it, then colored with Copics. I stamped it again, then mounted on top of the other. I highlighted both the image and sentiment with a glitter pen. The frame is a die cut using Labels 1 and sponged with Vivid Tuscan Tan ink.

Here's a close up of the glittered butterfly and sentiment.

Another attempt at shabby chic cards...I stamped the music stamp from Vintage Borders on the text paper, then distressed it. The scalloped border is also from Vintage Borders. The butterfly is from Take Flight, the silhouette botanical is from Tropical Flowers and the sentiment is from Elegant Post. I stamped the butterflies in a distressed brick red DCWV patterned paper, then colored with Copics. I highlighted the butterfly and distressed text papers with a glitter pen.

Participating Designers' links:

Brenda Turner
Carla Suto,
Carolina Buchting,

Cheri Weston
Deb Felts
Geri Utterback
Giovana Smith
Gina Krupsky
Janice Melton,
JenMarie Taylor,
Jennie Harper,
Jessica Fick
Joy Hadden,
Karen Knegten
Kay Simmons,
Linda Payne,
Melisa Waldorf,
Melissa Cash,
Melissa Shultz,
Pam Imholz,
Peggy Wainman,
Selma Stevenson,
Shannon Bracken,
Sharri Seffens

Sue Morris
Sue VanDeVusse
Sue Walsh,
Tina Gilliland

Have a great weekend, everyone. I'll be back Monday with GinaK Designs new release previews!

World Cardmaking Day Blog Tour

Dobro došli i sretan dan za izrade čestitke!
Welcome and happy world cardmaking day! (On Oct 3, that is.)

One of my favorite Bible verses is Psalm 34:8, "O taste and see that Lord is good...." And God has truly shown His goodness to me in countless ways everyday. I'm excited to share two of them with you today. First, I have been blessed to live in Croatia, my beloved adopted country for the past 11 years. It's known for its coast, but I love living in the northwestern part surrounded by God's beautiful creation. I am so excited to participate in Moxie Fab World's blog tour and especially because I get to represent Croatia. Though I am originally from the Philippines, I have come to love what I now call home. Isn't it gorgeous?

(Click on the picture for a larger view.)

The other way God has shown goodness to me is by bringing so many instrumental ladies in my life who introduced me to the wonderful world of CARDMAKING. I have been blessed many times over by this craft and I want to bless others with it. I have introduced many of my Croatian and Bosnian friends to this great hobby and they love it, too. That makes me happy :-).

For today's World Cardmaking Day Moxie Fab celebration, I decided to show you a set of cards designed to be given as a gift. Not only do I love cardmaking, but I also love card-sending and card-giving! I still take pleasure in sending messages the old fashioned way, through hand-written notes and cards. My family sends about 300 per year. And because I enjoy it so much, I want to encourage friends and family to do the same. And what better way to do that than giving them their own handmade cards to send to others?

(Please click on the picture to see a larger view. Supplies are listed at the end of this post)

These detailed images are my own illustrations (to be released Oct 1 by GinaK Designs), look great stamped as they are and allow me to make quick, elegant cards. The sentiments were stamped on ivory CS strips. I then cut a slit on each side of the stamped image and inserted the strip through. And here's the packaging for them using a clear plastic box decorated simply with a bow and a tag.

I plan to celebrate WCMD by making more of these note cards with some friends, so I can share my love of cardmaking, card-sending and card-giving with others. So what about you? Here are some ideas:

• Stop by the WCMD website where you can get lots of ideas to celebrate.
• Make cards and upload them on the WCMD gallery and be eligible to win some fabulous prizes on the Papercrafts Connection and Moxie Fab blogs.
• Enter the WCMD contest and you may be published in the March/April 2010 issue of Papercrafts Magazine.
• Visit Moxie Fab World blog everyday this week to get more ideas from cardmakers from all over the world. There are prizes awarded everyday.
• Grab a 25% off coupon code for your entire purchase found in the blogs listed HERE and go shopping in the PaperCrafts online store.
  
• Finally, LEAVE A COMMENT on my blog, on Moxie Fab World and the other participants' blogs today (and everyday for the rest of the week) to be eligible to win some amazing products. International commenters are welcome. Limit one comment per blog please. Comments will close on Oct 4 at midnight and the winners will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Thank you for visiting Croatia and I hope you will experience the beauty of this country in person someday.

-------------------------------
All supplies are from GinaK Designs, unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: All images are from Lord of the Seasons set (to be released October 1st);
The sentiment stamps are from Elegant Post, Many Wishes, Eclectic Summer Sayings sets, "for you" from Stampin' Up!
Papers: Pumpkin Spice, Green Apple, Soft Sand, Chocolate Kiss, Black Onyx, Rocket Red and Stampin' Up! Pink Pirouette, Summer Sun
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Stampin' Up Old Olive, Really Rust, Real Red, Cream Pigment
Others: Ribbons by Michael's and Stampin' Up!, buttons by Buttons Galore, Spellbinders Labels 1 die, SU Curly Label punch