Monday, March 24, 2025

Inspired by Challenge #328

 
It's been a while since I've joined Inspired by Challenges and thought I'd
enter their latest challenge--#328 Inspired by Pillows.
 

How cute are those pillows? Here's how I was inspired.


Yes, it's the pillow in the foreground with the pink blooms. I can just feel the 
texture of the chenille looking flowers.
 
Reverse Wonky Rectangles (I wish Spellbinders would bring this one back)
was cut and run through the dotty embossing folder then topped with
assorted blooms and leaves. I decided to frame the card at the last
minute and finished off with the sentiment and pearls on the flowers. 
 
 Ok, off to link this up. Thanks so much for stopping by!


Sunday, March 23, 2025

Color Throwdown Challenge #829

 
I'm nearly down to the deadline for Color Throwdown Challenge #829--blue, lime green,
and green.


I remember starting a card with somewhat similar colors but never finished it
because I was sure I was stenciling it wrong. 
 

At first I didn't like how the leaves and berries overlapped each other. Using blues
and greens looked better than when I used red and green which left brown spots.
This time because the two colors blended well, I thought it fit perfectly with the
challenge colors. 
 
I ran the panel through a quilted cover plate, added the sentiment and a few
blue sequins. And a bit of spatter for good measure.
 
I'm off to link this up. Thanks so much for stopping by!



Thursday, March 20, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #678

 
Hello, hello!
I'm back and still feeling a bit jet lagged but happy to be making a card for  
Freshly Made Sketches #678 courtesy of Cécile. It's an artsy one, isn't it?
 

 I wanted a grid pattern under the dragonfly and resorted to inking some color over 
an embossed grid surface.
 

 
I spattered some green ink then adhered the dragonfly. A Honeybee Stamps 
sentiment and green gold sequins finished off the card. 


Traveling is fun but it's always nice to come home, even if it meant tackling three
batches of laundry--just for two people!
 
Thanks so much for stopping by!
 
 

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #676

 
Here's Freshly Made Sketches #676 courtesy of Kim.

 A lot of possibilities for those circular elements but I ended up going citrus and 
happened to have several Greetery Citrus Slices already premade. Yay!


I embossed some texture before adding the frame and fruits. I tucked in a few leaves
and finished off with the simple sentiment

I'm pleased as punch when I can use premade goodies on my card, especially when
it's down to the wire to enter AND I remembered where I put them. (Wink!)
Thanks so much for stopping by!



Thursday, March 6, 2025

The Flower Challenge #100 -- Add Circles

 
 The Flower Challenge is celebrating its 100th Challenge! The theme for this
milestone is Add Circles and several DT members are generously offering prizes 
to add to the festivities!
 

I was going to make a shaped card but the design was "side heavy' and it was stressful
 trying to balance the card, so I decided to add the element to a card base.

 
flowers and leaves from white card stock. The inks were applied using the color 
palette inspired by Rachel Arribas (@rachelrdesigns). I didn't have the exact
 Pinkfresh colors that she used but it was close enough and I was happy with it.

 
I layered two circle dies and made a frame before adding the flowers and leaves.
I stamped the sentiment and ran the card base through a dotty embossing folder 
then popped the circular element on top.

The challenge has just started and if time (and my grand kids!) permits, I may 
enter a second card before the deadline. Thanks for stopping by!



Friday, February 28, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #675

 
Freshly Made Sketches #675, courtesy of Linda, is open to so many possibilities.
 

I took the botanical route.

I found a discontinued Pinkfresh Studio die set (Dainty Blossoms) and put my 
Zig Kuretake markers to work. Following the sketch, I embossed a panel, then 
adhered the stems and leaves.


I wanted a strip sentiment so I reached for  Simon Says Stamp Reverse sentiment with 
quite possibly the smallest font I've ever seen.

Off to link this up--I'm early for a change. Thanks so much for stopping by!
 
 
 


Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Time Out Challenges #283 -- Birthday Celebration CASE the Designer

 
A while back, my card was chosen as the winner for a collaboration challenge with 
Time Out Challenges and JUGS but because of time constraints I wasn't able to join them 
for a guest spot.
  
Fast forward to the end of 2024 and Stephanie Lanzalotto asked if I would participate 
in Time Out Challenges CASE the Designer and I humbly accepted the invitation to be
their muse.


 
 
 Time Out's Challenge #283 marks their 11th Birthday Celebration and yes, there's a 
generous sponsor and prize! The winner of the challenge will receive a $25 Store credit
 to Gina K Designs and you have until March 12th at 5:00PM London time to enter. 

The theme is BIRTHDAY and I went with a favorite card sketch from Freshly Made
Sketches, courtesy of Karren.
 

 
I used my go to craft mediums--stenciling and embossing and rather than a birthday 
sentiment, I went with an all occasion "celebrate" so the card can be used for other
celebratory occasions as well.


 Please visit the Time Out Challenge blog for all the details. Join the celebration, 
CASE my card, and you could be shopping at the Gina K store! 

Thanks to Stephanie and the TIME OUT team for the invitation to be your muse. 
I can't wait to peruse the gallery and see the entries!
                
                   
               Supplies used:
               Altenew Flower Bed Stencil
               Concord & 9th Defined Bundle
           
            
 
 

Friday, February 21, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #674

 
Jen M. brings us Freshly Made Sketches #674.
 

Here's what I came up with using products from five different companies.


Luckily, I had (and found!) MFT's scalloped edge dies and trimmed out a floral
design from patterned paper. After adhering it to a brown card base, I ran the panel

I added the sentiment and finished off the card with an extra Pinkfresh Studio butterfly
that was hanging around, and some iridescent sequins.

Not sure why I used a dark card base. Could be because it's gloomy and cloudy here today.
Ok, off to link this up. Thanks, always, for stopping by!


Thursday, February 13, 2025

Freshly Made Sketches #673

 
Freshly Made Sketches #673 is a clean and simple one from Jen T.
 
 
I attempted to follow the sketch design, but I blame "the bird."
 
 
I'm a huge fan of bird dies and when I saw Memory Box's "regal birds" I couldn't wait
to order them. Birds wearing crowns?  I die.

I followed the colors of their example in the store then perched him on a berry branch.
I added a little texture with a doily embossing folder, adhered him to an arch,
and stamped the sentiment before popping up the element. 

I hope you (and Jen) can see the sketch, Off to link up this little guy.
Thanks so much for stopping by!


Thursday, February 6, 2025

Color Throwdown Challenge #826

 
This week's color palette for Color Throwdown Challenge #826 is pink, brown, and white.
I must admit that I'm not a fan of pink, but paired with brown changes my perspective.


Here's my card using supplies from Altenew's Chocolate Flowers Kit. I was drawn to the 
3D embossing folder and Amy Tsuruta enabled me to get the whole kit after I saw her
fun card. I love that the flowers are another of Altnew's Zero Waste dies which makes
me feel good about not wasting card stock.


The "chocolate" was embossed, trimmed, and adhered to a card base then decorated
with flowers and leaves that were cut from white card stock and colored with pinks 
and beige. An Altenew sentiment and some sequins finished off the card.

Off to link this up--I'm early for a change. Thanks for stopping by!