It's CHA Time

I am so blessed to work with some of the best companies in the Scrapbooking Industry. And if you are at CHA, then you need to check out these booths, while you are there!

I used the new Wow! Embossing Powders on my red heart. Suzy West has done an incredible job putting together wonderful collections of powders in the best colors and different textures. All I can say is this ain't your mamma's embossing powders! Be sure to check them out at Booth #2700 and join in on the Wow Party!

Epiphany Crafts is a rock star in the embellishment world. Their tools and epoxies are always a sell out, and it's no wonder....they are so easy to use! I used the Shape Studio Tool Round 14, and the Bubble Caps Round 14 to make my own custom epoxies. They have added some new tools that you are going to go crazy for, so please stop by Booth #2978.

Finally, Worldwin Papers have the best cardstock around! I used their Kraft paper as the base of this card, and I love, love, love it! They are introducing new products geared towards the beginner scrapper that otherwise might be overwhelmed. But, if you are an avid scrapper, don't let that stop you - their CutMates paper will let you cut the most intricate shapes perfectly using your Cricut or other die cutters. Be sure to check them out in Booth # 1950.

I'll also have work in the Sakura Hobby Craft Booth #844 and the Alumilite Corp Booth #2252. Please be sure to stop by all of these booths and tell them that Gini Cagle sent you!

Love Shack

The Valentine's Release from CottageCutz is so adorable. I'm thrilled to share a card with you today using the Love Shack Die. This is so cute it just makes me smile every time I see it! This is a pretty simple card, but when you want your die cut to be the star of the show that's all you need!


Challenges:
Simon Says: Anything Goes
Stamp and Show: Name of a Song

Friends With Flair Friday Hop

There is so much excitement going on right now over CHA - and I really wish I were going to be there! At least my work will be there in several booths -including the Sakura Hobby Craft Booth. Sakura will be introducing the new Terri Sproul Mixers - a fantastic way to add color into the Sakura Crystal Lacquer. I've used some of these on my card today - the Red Satin and Gold Dust. I was able to paint this onto my paper and stamp right over it. It gives a really cool, almost metallic look. I know you are going to love it!


Speaking of love...did you notice the stamp set that I used? Kokeshi Cuties from Unity? This is such a fun set, and I loved combining the set with these gorgeous origami papers.

Have a great weekend!

Challenges:
Unity: Friends With Flair
Simon Says: Anything Goes

Golden Cameo

The design team from Creative Paperclay® Modeling Material, was lucky to get to choose a mold from Articus Studio Design to play with! They have so many cool molds, I had a hard time making up my mind, but finally decided on the Cameos Flexible Rubber Art Mold.

I used the Delight™ air dry modeling compound, and pushed it into the mold and let it dry before I removed it. I used the new Terri Sproul Mixers/Sakura Crystal Lacquer to color the cameo, with an elegant, Old World feel.



I can see so many possibilities for these molds - jewelry, home decor, any kind of paper craft....

I hope you will check them out and give them a try. You will love how they work with the Creative Paperclay!

Delight™ Air Dry Modeling Compound
Sakura Crystal Lacquer
Terri Sproul Mixers - Gold
Lifestyle Crafts die
Kanban Crafts Metallic Glaze Salerno - Beige CRD9754
Kanban Crafts Crystal Glittered Acetate

Challenges:
Love My Tapes: sketch
Simon Says: Anything Goes

With Love

Do you love making paper flowers? I really do - and there are so many wonderful tools to help you make gorgeous flowers at Scrap-Mart! I began with some Heartfelt Creations stamps - which coordinate with Spellbinders dies - so you don't have to spend tons of time fussy cutting your petals. To help shape my flowers, I always use the McGill mat and tools. You simply lay your flower down on the mat, take a ball tool, and start at the outer edge of the petal and pull towards the center. This instantly gives your flowers beautiful and natural shaping. Since we are still stuck with winter, I think it's great to bring spring early with some paper blossoms!

Heartfelt Creations Bella Rose Die
Heartfelt Creations Carnation Florals 1 Stamp set
Heartfelt Creations Carnation Florals 2 Stamps Set
Heartfelt Creations Inspire Me Sentiments Stamp Set
Spellbinders Carnation Creation Shapeabilities
Quickcutz 4x4 Heart Doily Die
McGill Paper Blossoms Craft Molding Mat
McGill Paper Blossoms Paper Tool Kit and Case
Grand Calibur Die Cut Machine
Distress Ink
ScrapCake Papers - The Bright Side of Life
Wow! Embossing Powder - Suzy West Earthtone Blueberry
Kaisercraft Sparklets

Challenges:
Sisterhood Sundays: Photo Inspiration
CPS: Sketch

Best Buds!

Hi Scrappy Friends! I have a layout to share today that celebrates the friendship my sister Lori has had with her best friend Rachel for the past 30 years. It's hard to find true friends and I would say that they have both been blessed !

I thought it would be fun to use the title "Best Buds" as a play on words for all of the lovely flowers I made using one of the newest dies from CottageCutz - Sweetheart Flowers Layered. This is a wonderful flower die, that you can combine in so many different ways for so many different looks. Mine are a little on the distressed side, with lots of crumpling and shaping, and and heat embossing. But here's the package, to give you an idea of another way to make these flowers.


If you would like a chance to win a $25 gift certificate for CottageCutz, then be sure to check out our monthly challenge. This month, all you have to do is make a scrapbook page using any CottageCutz die. Easy Peasy!

I used the Wow! Embossing Powder in Regular Peach, not only to emboss my flowers, but also the stamped scalloped circle using the Brocade stamp (also from Wow), and the chippie letters.

Challenges:
A2Z Scraplets: Sketch

MFT and Scor-Pal Hop

Welcome to the Scor-Pal and My Favorite Things hop! I hope you are ready for a ton of inspiration! You can find the entire list of designers that are participating, along with the prize details, on the Scor-Pal Blog.




For my project, I decided to change the tea-light card holder up a little bit, to make it the perfect way to present some Kisses for Valentine's Day. So here's a peak at the inside of my project.





To begin, cut a cardstock base 10 1/4" x 8"(I used WorldWin Papers - Kraft). With the long side placed on the upper fence of the Scor-Pal, score at 1/2", 1 1/4", 2 3/4", 3 1/2", 5", 9 1/2"

Next turn the paper a quarter turn, so that the short side is now along the upper fence. Score at 3/4" and 7 1/4"

Trim as shown below.

Cut a window on the third panel in, leaving a quarter of an inch margin around the edges. Use Scor-tape around the opening, and attach a piece of clear acrylic for the window.

Fold the box portion of the card inwards, and use Scor-Tape on the outer flap to anchor the box to the card base. **I added patterned paper, and my candy kisses to the inside of the box before closing the box up.

For the front of the card, cut a base of 6 3/4" x 6 1/2 ". With the longer side at the top of the Scor-Pal, score at 3/4". Put Score-tape on the under side of the tab, and attach to the base of the card. Decorate the front and inside as you wish.

For my project, I used MFT's Ladybug from the Pure Innocence line (which I completely love every stamp in this collection!). I colored her with Copics, but she was a little too bright for the vintage look I wanted, so I swiped the entire image with Tea Dye Distress ink. I love how this looked with the Kraft paper. MFTs also has a wonderful line of dies - the Die-Namics! I used the Dizzy Border. Look how delicate those cuts are! Just fabulous!

Just Another Brick In The Wall

I have an Urban/Grungy Valentine card for you today. I've been seeing so many cool projects with brick backgrounds, and wanted to give it a try. I had the Tim Holtz brick embossing folder, so that's where I started. I painted one side of the folder with Tickled Pink paint from Creative Inspirations. I ran a piece of Echo Park paper (with text graphics) through the folder - to give a graffiti look. Next, I rubbed Pumice Stone Distess ink over the wall, to tone it down a bit and highlight the details. I used stamps from Unity to finish out my city card.


Here's a picture of the brick wall before it was added to the card, so you can see the textures.

Have a great week!

Peacock Proud

It's cold and dreary here - so I thought a bright card might be just the bit of cheerfulness that we could use! I'll admit, it's much brighter than I normally design with, but isn't that what Peacocks are all about?

Kanban Birds of Paradise stamp
Kanban -The Cavendish Ladies Pin Stripe - Chiffon Pink CRD9848
Kanban - Guilded Cage - Blush PCT9950
Kanban -A4PRL240FU
Wow! Embossing Powers: Copper Regular, Suzy West Collection - Presidio Purple
Want2Scrap Pearls

Challenges:
Card Patterns: Sketch