Stampin' Mama: A mama that stamps

Playing with patterned paper & the "Best Fishes" set - GinaK

I've been having so much fun with patterned paper and finding ways to use it that are "totally outside the box."

When I sat down to use the Best Fishes set (one of the newest sets from GinaK Designs), I wanted to do something totally different. I was thinking "waves" and started paging through the big pile of patterned paper that's been sitting on my desk since right after the holidays. I usually keep all of my papers in my 12x12 storage shelf that the hubby built me, or in an over sized milk crate that easily fits the 12x12 size (I like to put my wrapped packs of 12x12 papers in the milk crate). Having this big stack of paper on my desk takes up a little bit of my crafting "real estate," but it's also great for inspiration and new ideas. I have been doing so much with that paper, it's almost as if the paper fairy came and sprinkled some fairy dust on them! I just start paging through the papers and the muse will hit and the creativity flows. It's amazing what leaving a pile of paper out will do for my creative urges. I suggest you try it sometime!

I started with a Tempting Turquoise cardbase which is always appropriate for an undersea themed card.

I free-cut waves of striped patterned paper and mounted them on a piece of white Pure Luxury cardstock. I had some grass patterned paper and free-cut some funky seaweed out of it. I've had that paper sitting around for a while, wondering WHAT IN THE WORLD I was going to do with it. It's great for this! I was also thinking that it would be a fun border to do on outdoorsy types of scrapbook pages, too. 

Usually, I would stamp an image onto white cardstock and then color it in. I wanted to try something a little different this time. I stamped the seahorse onto a piece of Gable Green (gosh, how long has it been since I've use THAT color?) and then colored over it with my Copic markers. The only part of the image that I didn't color over was the eyeball. I like that when I cut it out, the slight border of cardstock left around the edge of the seahorse is the Gable Green cardstock, rather than a bright white.

I added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the little fin on his backside and on the side of his head. I mounted him on top of the card with pop-dots. The little bubbles floating up from his mouth are also from the Best Fishes set. 

The greeting (from the same set) was done on Tempting Turquoise and free-cut. 

Do you have any patterned paper that hasn't seen the light of day in a long time? Take it out and set it on your desk, page through them when you're looking for some inspriation and let your papercrafting muse take you where it wants to go. It's fun!

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama 

Scrapbook Page - Puppy Love (GinaK stamps - Warm & Fuzzy)

 

8 x 8 inch scrapbook pages are so much fun. Especially when you have those lone pictures that don't really belong with others and when you want to put together an album of random moments.....or even themed moments. I created this page with one of the stamp sets from GinaK's release this month. 

This is yet another one of those pictures that turned out a little blurry, but I wanted to use it anyway because I realized that it's the only picture that I have of our puppy and me when we first got her. You see, when we got the puppy, I was in the midst of my 8 weeks of staph, bacterial and fungal infections, medication allergies and the hives from hades. The last thing I wanted to do was hold a wriggling puppy. Well, I wanted to, but it was painful. I picked her up and turned the camera on us and this was what I got because she was wriggling around too much and trying to get free. Come to think of it, she's 8 months old now and she's STILL all over the place. *wink*

The set that I used on this page is called Warm & Fuzzy. It's a new set from Asela Hopkins and it's absolutely adorable! Looking at the images makes you want to snuggle with them. 

I used some of my hoarded Cool Caribbean cardstock that retired a couple years ago from SU. I sponged around the edge with Close to Cocoa ink. The Cool Caribbean was a perfect match for the patterned paper found in the Lucky n Love paper pack, though. I cut around the design in the bottom corner of one of the 6x6 inch pieces and mounted that in the corner of my Cool Caribbean cardstock.  The word, "Love," was part of the design of the paper and it worked great to use that as part of my title. I hand wrote the word, "puppy," above it.

I also used a piece of striped paper from the paper pack as a mat for my photo.

I printed my journaling on River Rock cardstock (yet another color that I've been hoarding since it's retired).

I stamped the little puppy on Pure Luxury cardstock and colored it with Copic markers, cut it out and mounted it on my page with pop-dots (I'm so in love with pop-dots). 

The stamped words under my photo also come from the Warm & Fuzzy set. 

So, has anyone taken me up on my challenge to use their blurry photos? I'd love to see your pages, if you have! 

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama 

Scrapbook Page - Oh, the anticipation! (GinaK - Sweetest Blessings)

 

I used a blurry picture on the post I made the other day with the new cupcake set and for this page, I did the same thing. I'm actually really enjoying pulling out those pictures that I held off using, thinking that it would be so out of place to use a blurry picture. After all, how often do you see a blurry picture on a layout in scrapbooking magazines? Pretty much NEVER. But let's face it. There are going to be those times when you have the perfect moment in front of you, one that you will never get back, but you end up with a photo that isn't perfect according to professional standards. And really, I'd rather have a non-professional and blurry photo of a perfect moment than to have nothing at all. So, in that vein, why NOT scrapbook it? Why hide it away in a box somewhere, or worse yet, never print it out at all?

I created this page as the sample for my sketch Challenge that I did at GinaK's release party last week. The Challenge is over, but don't let that stop you from using THIS SKETCH and creating your own scrpabook pages or even cards! And make sure to check out what everyone else did with this sketch ---> Sketch Gallery  I was blown away by the creativity! 

I used the new Sweetest Blessings set, which was illustrated by the newest illustrator for GinaK Designs -  Mary Duffek. Being that I come from a family of foodies (my parents were int he food business FOR YEARS and I followed right behind them), cakes and cupcakes comprise one of the major food groups for us. This set is SO appropriate for me! Every family gathering revolves around food, but the most anitcipated part of the event is the dessert. And really? Who doesn't love cupcakes?

I created this 8 x 8 inch layout on Perfect Plum cardstock and used the cupcake stamp to create my own custom background paper with Perfect Plum ink.

The patterned paper I used comes from the 6 x 6 Let it Bloom paper pack. 

I stamped my cupcake images on Pure Luxury cardstock, which is amazing for coloring with Copic Markers. I added a little bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter and popped them up on my layout with pop-dots. 

The journaling and title were done on Taken With Teal cardstock.

I'm seriously considering turning these 8x8 pages into a birthday album. It's a fun size and a great way to use the pictures that might not end up in a bigger album.

So, do you have any blurry photos that you've wanted to scrap but have been hesitant to? Why not take them out and show them in all their blurry and priceless glory? I dare you! *wink*

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama

Journaling 101 Online Course Design Team Bio - Miriam Thomas

 

Today, I'd like to introduce you to one of the AWESOME members of the Design Team that I've put together for the Journaling 101 Online Scrapbooking Course.

Today's Design Team Spotlight is on Miriam Thomas.

Miriam was introduced to me by a mutual friend....who just so happens to be Claire Daly, one of the other Design Team members and also a former Design Team member of the Soulology Project course that was held this past fall. One of the things that I love about the internet is the ability to make friends through friends. When Claire told me about Miriam, I headed right over to her blog to take a look and was so excited to find someone that I thought would be another perfect addition to the team. When I saw Miriam's pages, I knew I had found what I was looking for! When I asked her to join the team, I was ecstatic that she said YES!

Miriam's style reminds me so much of my own. I have often thought that I really didn't have a style to peg down, but when I saw Miriam's pages, I realized that I DO have a style. Our styles are very similar.

What I love about Miriam's pages is not only the creativity that you can see that she absolutely loves to be a part of, but also that she LOVES to tell her stories. Journaling is an important part of scrapbooking for Miriam and it shows on her pages. She has an amazing way with words and an even more amazing way of tying her creative elements, photos and words together for a truly inspiring story telling experience.

I asked Miriam to tell us a little bit about herself.

In her words:

My journey with scrapbooking commenced some time ago. Even as a child I loved playing with paper and colour and I was the type of child who had selected the colours for my title page long before I had selected the topic for my school projects.  

I was first introduced to scrapbooking as a hobby through Creative Memories.  My first scrapbooking project was our Honeymoon photos from 1999.  Since then I have accumulated a lot of scrapbooking supplies and seem to have more product then I have time to create pages but it is something I am passionate about….so I MAKE the time.

Now as a Mum of four children aged between 6 years and 9 months my scrapbook pages are centred around capturing those special moments as a family.  I hope that in years to come my children will treasure their albums.  I find that already they are excited to see what I have created. I find that I have to scrapbook a page for each child in one sitting otherwise I have children upset that they don’t have a new page for their albums.  Already my oldest son is drawn to the journalling on the layout and he takes great interest in reading what I have written on his pages.

Last year I signed up as Stampin’ Up Demonstrator and it has been wonderful being able to share what I love with people other than my families.  It is exciting being able to help them create projects and “capture special moments” in their lives too..

I don’t think I could describe my scrapbooking as any particular“style”.  Sometimes my pages are bright and colourful and other times the colours are quite neutral.  Generally I don’t over embellish my pages- but I also like to ‘play’ and ‘experiment’. My pages vary from only have one photo and other times there are multiple photos on the 12x12 page.    For the most part, my scrapbook pages are quite “Simple” with the focus on describing the emotions and telling the stories behind the photos.

I asked Miriam to share one of her favorit pages with us.

Isn't she amazing? There's so much texture, great photography and story telling, all going on at once, yet it's not overwhelming and just the right amount!

If you've been thinking about taking this course and you want to take your scrap-booking and journaling to the next level, make sure to check out the course information and register today!

Class starts on January 26th!

Click here to find out more ---> Journaling 101 Online Scrapbooking Course

And the winner is....

 

Thank you for all the comments on my recent scrapbook pages this week and also for entering in the drawing for a free tuition to the Journaling 101 Online Scrapbooking Course.

I'm so excited that class is starting this coming Monday, the 26th. I can't wait to see what the students create with the assignments and to show them what the amazing Design Team has created for them!

There's still time to sign up for this course. I'd love to have you join us! CLICK HERE to register!

So....the winner for the free course is.....

Shazza Bishop!

Hi Erika, I would love to learn more about preserving my photo memories, by picking up some tips and ideas from your Journaling 101 scrapbooking course.
I also love Girlie's "Chocolate poses", lets face it....A day without chocolate is a day without sunshine......
Cheers
Shazza

Posted by: Shazza Bishop | January 21, 2009 at 03:26 AM  

Shazza, I'll be emailing you. :) 

Have a great day, everyone! 

-Erika

GinaK Sneak Peek - Day 3 (Sweetest Blessings, Tag Lines & Sweet as Sugar Digi paper)

 

Don't squint....your eyes are just fine. Yes, that's a blurry picture on my scrapbook page. Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.

When I took this picture and then saw it on the computer afterwards, I was so bummed that it turned out blurry. It wasn't like I could go back and have this moment over again to recreate a new digital picture. The moment happened and it was gone. What I saw was what I got. After agonizing over it and looking at it for the longest time, it grew on me and I loved the effect. It was blurry and hazy, but it was also a bit ethereal. And being that Zach is autistic, life is blurry, hazy and a bit ethereal. A little out of focus, but shining nonetheless. And who says you can't scrapbook blurry pictures? I make the rules up as I go in my albums. *wink*

Today is Day 3 of the GinaK sneak peeks! Tonight is the Release Party over at the GinaK forum on SCS. It starts at 7 pm Central Time and it's always a raging good time! 

The set that I used for this scrapbook page is called "Sweetest Blessings." If you love anything with cupcakes, cakes, desserts....then you're gonna LOVE this set and the greetings that go with the images. 

And speaking of scrapbooks.....make sure to pop on over to THIS POST to enter my Give-Away for a free tuition to the Journaling 101 Online Scrapbooking Course.  

This is an 8 x 8 inch scrapbook page done on More Mustard cardstock. I stamped the cardstock with the cupcake image with More Mustard ink for a tone on tone background effect. The patterned paper that you see in each corner of the cardstock, as well as the photo corners I punched out for the photo, is from the Imported Rythym paper stack. I cut around the designs for some visual interest. The paper packs are 6x6 inches and I used up almost a whole sheet for this page, although it went a long way because I cut it almost in half and then put them in opposite corners. It makes the paper look way bigger than it really is. 

The cupcake was stamped on Pure Luxury cardstock and colored in with Copic Markers. I trimmed it out, then mounted it on a piece of the patterned paper from the Imported Rythym stack and mounted it on my page with pop-dots.  

I love that with stamps, you can create your own background paper AND your own embellishments! it's so hard to find coordinating products to use on your pages. With stamps, you never have to worry about that!

  

And speaking of cupcakes...

The next two things are also sneak peeks. One is a new set called, "Tag Lines." This is the new "One free with 3" set. When you purchase 3 stamp sets from GinaK, you get this set for FREE this month! How awesome is that?

The other sneak peek on this card is Gina's new Digi paper pack called, "Sweet as Sugar." I have to admit...I've never used digi programs or digitally printed paper before now. These designs print out really nice and the colors are so vibrant!

I used Summer Sun for the card base and all the layers on top are from the digi pack. I used some ribbon from Costco's and the words at the bottom are from the "Tag Lines" set, stamped with Ruby Red and punched out using the Word Window punch.

I know those little cupcakes look like they were stamped from the "Sweetest Blessings" set, but actually....they're from one of the digital printed papers (technically, it was the 80lb. Pure Luxury cardstock it was printed on). There are two sizes of cupcakes printed on these papers (yes, plural!! There's a sheet of red cupcakes and a sheet of orange cupcakes!). I cut out a small one from each of the papers.

I mounted the cupcakes on my card using pop-dots and after I did it, I felt like something was missing. I decided to put some Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the cupcakes and WOW. That was totally what it needed!

I love that a card like this LOOKS like it took a ton of work, but the only stamping I did was the words at the bottom! It was incredily easy and fast to put together.

Make sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has done with these sets and papers.

Joanne Basile

Jessica Fick

Kurtis Amundson

Mary Anderson 

Cindy Lawrence

Melanie Muenchinger 

Theresa Momber 

Carolyn King 

Donna Baker 

Emily Giovanni  

GinaK 

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama

GinaK Sneak Peek - Day 2 (Warm & Fuzzy and Best Fishes) & Give-Away

  

Today is Day 2 of the new GinaK sneak peeks.

The two sets that the design team are sneak peeking made me think *itty bitty Valentine's cards* as soon as I saw them. The images are so cute and on the smaller side so they work perfectly for the smaller "love note" size of 3x3 inch cards.

For the past few years, my kids and I have made their Valentine's cards together. I can't wait to show them these cards in the morning, along with the stamp sets to see which images they'll choose for their cards this year. Yes, we're using the two new GinaK sets this year for our cards. How can we not?? They're PERFECT for it!

The first set is Asela Hopkins' new set called "Warm & Fuzzy." I'm all about the cut puppies and kitties in this set. And of course, throw in a cute little birdie and I totally melt. Now that we have a doggy of our own (can you believe she's already 8 months old now??), I go all melty when I see anything with a cute little puppy on it that I can use on cards and especially scrapbook pages.

I know my daughter is going to want to make her own Valentine's rather than using the ones I've made here, so I already have plans for our Tovah-doggy to give this card to her doggy friend next door. They love to play outside together and she looks for her whenever she goes out side for a potty break. Hey, doggy friends need Valentine's cards, too!

I used a 3x3 inch card from Close to Cocoa cardstock. I used a strip of patterned paper (Die Cuts with a View) and cut it with my scallop edge punch. I stamped the image on Pure Luxury cardstock, which is OH-SO-LUXURIOUS when you're coloring with Copic Markers. It's no wonder Gina named it Pure Luxury cardstock. I love the look of using the Cool Shadow Copic to go around the image. It gives it such a arm glow (yes, even though it's called Cool Shadow - haha!). I mounted it on Riding Hood Red cardstock and stapled a couple of little ribbon "flags" on the side. You know how I love my pop-dots, so I mounted this on my card with pop-dots. The little self-adhesive rhinestones are the perfect touch of bling. 

This second set is a new GinaK set called "Best Fishes." While I have all kinds of plans going through my head for scrapbook pages of snorkeling excursions and beach photos....this is also a perfect set to use for kids' Valentine's cards for the simple fact that girls or boys can use it for the opposite sex and not have to worry about it being too mushy. You know how kids are in 3rd and 4th grade. The other "species" has coodies and the last thing you want to do as an 8 year old is have the boy with coodies think you love him because all you had were mushy and sappy Valentine's cards. (Yes.....I was the same way at that age!)

Using blues and greens and a message that essentially tells a boy, "hey, you're cool," without having to be picked on that you have a "new boyfriend" (imagine that being said in a sing-songy 8 year old girl voice!). I know my daughter is totally going to dig this set and idea for her Valentine's cards.

This card uses the same layout concept as the Warm & Fuzzy card above, only withthe exceptions of putting the ribbon "flags" on top (I didn't want it to look like the fish was spitting ribbon out of his mouth) and I left a bit more room for the greeting at the bottom. I used the rhinestones on this card, as well. 

Make sure you check out the other Design Team Member blogs for their sneak peeks:

Joanne Basile

Jessica Fick

Kurtis Amundson

Mary Anderson 

Cindy Lawrence

Melanie Muenchinger 

Theresa Momber 

Carolyn King 

Donna Baker 

Emily Giovanni  

Asela Hopkins

GinaK 

And don't forget to hop on over and enter yourself in my Big Give-Away Post that I posted yesterday!

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama 

GinaK Sneak Peek - Day 1 & GIVE-AWAY! (Perfectly Polished and The Best Things in Life sets)

 

Sneak peeks for the new GinaK Designs sets are always a fun and anticipated time of the month for me! I love seeing the new sets she's debuting, and I especially love being able to ink them up and use them as soon as they arrive in that oh-so-familiar brown package on my doorstep. Well, it's that time of month again! They're here and we're sneaking peeks for you Tuesday through Thursday of this week on the Design Team blogs and on Thursday night, we're having one of GinaK's famous Release Parties in her Forum over at SCS. It's taking place on 1/22 at 7:00 pm (Central Time) and you don't want to miss it. Fun challenges (I'll be heading one of those up), chats, contests and good old fashioned friendship! If you've never been to a GinaK release party, you have no idea what you're missing and I highly recommend it! One of the best parties on the planet!

Oh....and make sure that you read all the way to the bottom of this post because there are give-aways going on at different GinaK Design Team blogs that you don't want to miss out on.

The first set that I'm sneak peeking is the new "The Best Things in Life" set by one of my favorite illustrators: Melanie Muenchinger. This is such a versatile stamp set, especially for scrapbooking! And I know I've said it before about the new sets from GinaK coming at just the right time for just the right pictures....but it happened again! When I took out this set to work with it, I also took out my envelope of pictures (that are always patiently waiting to be scrapbooked) to find some that would work well with this set and as soon as I pulled out those chocolate covered smiles of my daughter, I knew, once again, that I had waited to scrap these pictures for a reason.

And I know that Melanie probably had actual chocolate candies in mind when she made this set...but really? Could these stamps not be more perfect for these pictures?

I also used Melanie's Have a Cookie set with this page. The little chocolate chip stamp was a great way to create my own custom background cardstock for this page. (CLICK HERE to see another page using the "Have a Cookie" set.)  

I pulled colors from the photos to create my page (green and turquoise) and then added a little bit of yellow for a pop.

The textured paper is from Provo Craft and I've been hanging onto that for YEARS. I used it as part of my personal campaign to stop hoarding and start using! *wink* The patterned paper is from Die Cuts with a View. The flowers were a gift from my friend, Nicole (from SugarPlum Paperie) and they were the perfect match for my colors!

Speaking of scrapbooking....make sure you read all the way to the bottom of this post because I have a great give-away that has everything to do with scrapbooking!

This next sneak peek uses Rupa Shevde's newest set. This is called, "Perfectly Polished." It's full of everything girly and pampering! It's a perfect set for teens, for the little girls in your life that love to dress up and wear make up, and also for your girlfriends that love to be feminine.

Lately, I've been all about the non-card items. I love exploring that side of using my stamps. I was sitting at my desk, thinking of a way that I could use this set that wouldn't be a card. I wanted to do something very different. I started thinking about all the things I have on my shelf and in my stashes around my studio and how I could use them with this set. The metal CD tins made me think of jewelry and I remembered that some of the tins I had bought at Joann's had those thin foam pads in them that are great for keeping your CDs from getting scratched. I put the two thoughts together and BAM! A travel case for earrings!

I used more patterned paper from the Die Cuts with a View stack and my Coluzzle cutting system to cut the circle for the lid. I embellished it with a length of stitched pink grosgrain ribbon and self-adhesive rhinestones in two different sizes. 

I stamped the mirror image on Pure Luxury cardstock and then colored it in with Copic Markers. I shaded around the image with the Cool Shadow Copic. On the inside of the mirror, I used a 2-way glue pen and dusted it with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. It's hard to see in a flat picture, but this project sparkles SO much! I love it! I cut the image out with the oval template and Coluzzle Cutting System.  I then mounted it on some patterned paper and used a pair of scalloped edge scissors to trim around it. The words, "For you," come from this set, as well. I used one of my Copic Markers to color one image at a time and stamp it on either side of the mirror stem. I attached this to the top of the tin lid using pop-dots so it gives it some dimension.

So, what's inside of this tin? Well, that handy foam pad is perfect for attaching earrings to!

Some tins are thick, so you can fit bulky earrings in it, but other tins are thin, so you have to be a little more choosy with the earrings you put in so that the lid will close correctly. This tin is on the thin side, so I chose earrings that were rather flat.

Have you ever traveled and brought jewelry along with you, only to have to toss it into a ziploc baggie or a plastic tote box with the rest of your make up and toiletry items? It can be a pain to try to find that matching earrings or they get looped up with other earrings....or even broken because a bottle of shampoo knocked against it. The CD tins are a perfect alternative to having your earrings in a safe (and cute) place. They won't get squished, bumped around, tossed around or broken. They'll be right next to each other so you won't have to search for its twin.

So....that Give-Away I was talking about? It's all about scrapbooking!

The Journaling 101 Online Scrapbooking Course is starting NEXT Monday, the 26th and you don't want to miss it! It's a great learning experience, not only with learning to effectively journal on your scrapbook pages, but there is a ton of creative inspiration in this course, as well! 

I'm giving a FREE course tuition (a $75 value!) as a give-away prize to one lucky person!

All you have to do is leave a comment here on this post and I'll pull the winner on Friday morning!

Check out all the course info and registration here: Journaling 101 Online Scrapbooking Course

And make sure to check back tomorrow and Thursday for more sneak peeks and photo project ideas using your stamps!

There are other give-aways happening  on the GinaK team! Check these out!

** Asela Hopkins is doing a give-away for her newest set - CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

** Melanie Muenchinger is awarding a prize for her Hand-in-Hand Challenge

** Joanne Basile is heading up the Get Messy Challenge over at SCS...and the prize is a GinaK set!

** GinaK herself always offers up prizes of the new sets during Preview week! Check out Gina's Blog for a chance to win one of the new sets!   

And for sneak peeks from the other Design Team members, check out these blogs:

• Joanne Basile
• Jessica Fick
• Kurtis Amundson
• Mary Anderson 
• Cindy Lawrence
• Melanie Muenchinger 
• Theresa Momber 
• Carolyn King 
• Donna Baker 
• Emily Giovanni  

• GinaK 

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama

Early Bird registration ends today!

 

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day for the Early Bird registration special!

Check out all the info for the upcoming course here:

Gifts from the Heart 3-day Online Course

Have a Happy and Creative Day!

I don't normally do this, but I just wanted to share a couple of quotes and a picture in my "happy place" (my studio) because today is an incredily happy day for me, for no other reason than because I love life.

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good."     ~Author Unknown

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.     ~Howard Thurman

Have a happy and creative day!

-Erika

(Stampin' Mama)