Challenge Share!

Hi all,

Sorry I am a little behind in my blogging.  But I wanted to share some pics from a person who submitted her challenge cards.  3 pieces of paper and your card bases.  

Lori Lein!  Great Job.  Thank you for taking the challenge and letting your creative juices flow. 

So next on my list Thanksgiving cards then onto Christmas.  Also I will be doing something a little different for placing Close To My Heart orders.  Stay tuned.

Send me your email address if you would like to be on my email list.

Have a great week.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

gigi.zone.cards@gmail.com

http://gigizone.ctmh.com

Back to Basics 104 - America and a challenge! Repost

Honey & Honey Bees what is more American than that?  But this is a different challenge. I took a few sheets of paper, cut into different sized and created until my brain was tire.

So I took 2  12 x 12 sheets of each:

     Patterned paper doubled sided
     Dark color Solid
     Light color Solid

I cut these into different sizes, using a patterned from one of the CTMH instructions books.

Then I took a coordinating color of 8.2 x 11 and cut them in half to use as my base for the cards.  I put a few embellishments on the table, beads, flowers, etc.

Then I sat down with my glue runner in hand, mixed and matched papers and added embellishments.  After working a few hours this was the result.

Over 20 cards made, I did created some duplicates which are not in the pictures.  I left most of the sentiments blank so that I would add them when I needed to suit the occasion.

So now I have a good supply of cards on hand and should not run out for a while.

So what do you think?  Here is the challenge.  Try your hand at this, and send me your results.  I will post them on my blog. 

What a way to end National Stamping Month.

Stampingly yours,


Gigi

Back to Basics 103 Ireland

Ok, maybe I am stretching the Ireland focus a bit, but this is how I see it.  The wind at your back, the sun on your face, the rain on your fields, you know the poem.    That is what I see when I look at this card.

I think it is somewhat hard to find a vertical sentiment stamp, so if you see a nice one, buy it!  I stamped on the edge inside the card and cut the cover short. 

This allows the sentiment to be seen when the card is closed.  So I hope you have enjoyed Ireland, at least my take on Ireland.

Basic and simple, and nothing beats a good sentiment.  What's your take on Ireland?  I'm getting a little tired all of this traveling.  I think I better head home.  Next, last in the Back to Basics series for now we head to America.

 Back to Basics 104 America.

Stampingly yours,

Gigi

Back to Basics 102, Asia

Well the second installment of Back to Basics is Asia.  I don't know what it is but there is something intriguing about Asian culture.  Maybe it is the beauty of the people, the kimonos, the simplicity of life.  I really can't say.  I like to thinks it has something to do with their culture, you know, peace, tranquility, joy, luck etc.  So here is my interpretation of Asia.

I have once again reached back into my old stamp stash.  I have had these for quite a few years.  I do like this paper, but my original plan was to make my own.  I have a large stamp of bamboo and my intent was to use that stamp to make my own background paper.  But i saw this in my stash and thought this would be a good time to use it.  But never forget how easy it is to make your own background paper.

The three squares are attached by foam tape to give them height.  The words are stamped underneath.  I like this card because you can use it for many different occasions, Good Luck, Congratulations, Happy Birthday, Friend or others.

Background printed paper on the card base, then a 2 layer rectangular strip, attach the letters and wrap a piece of raffia around it. 

Don't get caught up on having the same stamps, this card is versatile.  You don't even have to keep it to Asia, this could be any country with a different choice of stamps.  Or if you prefer to keep it Asian, use a fan, bamboo, panda bear or any stamps that have an Asian flair to them.

This is also a goo card to open either direction.

Card base
Printed or stamped backround paper
3 shades of corresponding cardstock
Raffia

I think maybe we should head to Ireland, in Back to Basics 103. 

Let me see your Asia and I we can meet in Ireland next week.

Stampingly yours,

Gigi

Back to basics - 101!

Well as many of you know I have been saying how far behind I was in my card making endeavors.  So while at home on my staycation I decided in order to catch up with a good supply of cards on hand I needed to get back to the basics.  What this means is back before all the exciting fancy things.  When all I used were stamps, paper and maybe a piece of twine or ribbon.

Don't get me wrong I love my Cricut.  but I need to really crank out some basic cards that I could use for any occasion and in a hurry.  So over the next few post I will show you these basic cards I created.  The exciting thing I did was use mostly old stamps I have had for years and hadn't used in quite awhile.

I was thinking of doing an around the world series, but stopped after only a couple of continents.  lol

 But the first continent was Africa.

In this card simple double layer on the card base, basic solid topped with a patterned piece,  the pottery stamp I have probably had for 10 years,  it is also a double layer and I have used foam tape to add height

Another advantage of a basic design is it is flexible.  This design can be easily altered and work for a card opening right to left as well as bottom to top.

Something I more recently have been doing is adding a graphic stamp inside the card along with the sentiment.  I think this adds a nice touch.

I also had a single pot that I thought would be nice using the same background paper.   Same exact concept, the only difference, was a used a clear embossing pen and added a copper tinge around the rim with a color powder, I think it was Perlex or something.

In this card I put a piece of twine on the pot instead of around the card.  I also used the same stamp inside the card.

If you don't have a corresponding piece of patterned paper, don't forget you can always create your own by using a large background stamp or using a smaller stamp and stamping it randomly to create your own background paper.

So here is what you cant get from basics 101.

Cards bases
1 sheet solid contrasting paper
1 sheet pattern paper or paper stamped with a background stamp
twine
1 large stamp
1 corresponding smaller stamp
Hands taped stamp Sign and date

You will have at least 4 back to basic cards. Don't forget to alternate directions. 

Well in Back to Basic 101, we have visited Africa, I think in Back to Basics 102 we should visit Asia.

Don't forget to send in your back to basics card.

Stampingly yours,

Gigi

Customer Spot Light!

Spot Light on Lori Lein!

Lori and I have had many conversations about inspiration, use of paper and multiple cards with what is at hand. 

Lori has given us a great example.  She has used 1 piece of pattered paper to create 3 totally different cards.  One of the time saving as well as inspirational items I like to do is to take a color selection, add a patterned paper and create until there are no usable scraps left.  You will surprise yourself at how much you can create with a limited amount in front of you.

Thank you Lori.  If any of you have examples related to any of my blogs, please email them to me.  You may be the next Customer Spot Light!

Be sure to stay tuned, new post are on the way.

Scrapingly yours,

Gigi
gigi.zone.cards@gmail.com
http://gigizone.ctmh.com/
http://gigi-zone.blogspot.com/
360-970-4427

A Chocolate Affair!

Here is a quick post.  Do you like chocolate?  Here is a Chocolate Affair stamp set and you can get it for free!

This stamp set has a value of 17.95, but can be yours free if you place a $50.00 order with CTMH during the month of August.

Sorry I didn't have time to create this week, but wanted to share this amazing special.  If you would like to place an order you can call or email.  I have an order going in on August 24th,  If you prefer you can always order on line at the Gigi Zone's Close To My Heart website at http://gigizone.ctmh.com/.

Be sure to share your creations.  This stamp set is only available this month.

Have a great week.

Stamplingly yours.

Jetti

The Gigi Zone

http://gigizone.ctmh.com/

http://gigi-zone.blogspot.com/

gigi.zone.cards@gmail.com

 

Just Because...

Just Because cards...

There are two great benefits of Just Because cards. 
      1)  There is nothing sweeter, nicer or kinder than sending a card just because.  Just to let someone know your are thinking of them for no particular reason, lets then know you appreciate them and care for them.
      2)  To help have a stash of cards simply make just because cards, decorate the outside and then when you need one just add your Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Get Well or other sentiment to the inside.

As simple general sentiment on the outside can hold so fit many occasions.

Of course I like to use Close To My Heart products most of the time.  Then I am sure to have everything matching and you know how I am with colors matching.  LOL

So try this and tell me what you think.

Know I have a piece of exciting news.  I have the new CTMH Artbooking cartridge.  I am going to be working on a couple of projects using it.  I know I do a lot of cards, but I am thinking I will do one card and one scrapbooking project for my blog. 

There is also a special running the month of August if you place a $50.00 order you get the Stamp Of the month FREE!  Yeah.  A Chocolate Affair stamp set would be yours for free.

I would also like to build my blog, so I will be offering a random drawing for a CTMH stamp set!  This will be my kick off to the new Fall idea book.  So stay tuned, more details to follow.

Thanks for stopping by,

Scrappingly yours,


Gigi
Jetti Byrd
CTMH Consultant



Thank You & Thank You!

It is never to late to say Thank You!



Sending a thank you card seems to be becoming an lost art.  We give them for wedding, baby showers but what about the other things?  What is a friend takes you to lunch, calls just see how your doing or just because.

Send a thank you just to show them that you appreciated their concern, time, their friendship.

These were quick and simple cards,  I only used 3 sheets of card stock,  the print was double sided so I flipped to make the cards look different.  

No mater what anyone says, add a little embellishment never hurts.

So I hope you will take a minute to tell those who take time for you that you appreciate them and their friendship.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

Ooh La La !

One, Two, Embelishments & a Corsette

This corset card was so easy and it was a lot of fun.  This may be my new go to card for the girls.

I used the "Tie the Knot" cartridge Cricut cartridge to cut a two layer corset.

1 Solid sheet of card stock - Card
2 Sheets of patterned paper - Polka Dot & Stripe
Embellishments, a ribbon and button
Embossing folder - optional

I cut the two layer corset out. Top layer out of solid paper, under layer out of stripe paper
Run the solid cut through a Sizzix with an embossing folder.  I selected something lacey, curly, flowering what ever you like.

Cut your card base out of the solid, layer the other solid on top of the base.
Add foam tape to the corset and attach. 
Embellish with the ribbon and button.

Create a greeting and attach.  I also use foam tape here to add height.

So this was my first quick take on a corsette cards to you have any ideas?

Create a Corset card and send it to me.  I will post on the Gigi Zone.

Scrapingly yours,

Jetti

Surgar and Spice and Everything Nice

Little Girl Baby Shower Cards

So those of you who know me, know that I am a stamper at heart.  But there are times when I need a card and have printed paper.  That is when you go for the embellishments.  As you can see the little dresses were printed on the cardstock.  So,  I loved the paper and decided to go with embellishing.  The card on the left I added studs to the dresses, the card on the right I added jewels.

I also added ribbons, buttons, slides and Of course a stamped sentiment.  These cards were not hard to make, but I think they make an impact.  Try your hand at embellishing printed paper and let me know what you come up with.

Now I want to let you know what is ahead over the summer.

Blogs...
         Boy Baby Shower Card
         Thank You Cards
         Bridal Shower Corset
         Wedding Cards
Not necessarily in the order.

Close To My Heart

        Last change for Buzz and Bubble paper,  July 30th
        New idea book  August 1st
        Artbooking New Cricut Cartridge
       
So I hope you enjoyed and that you will stop by to visit throughout the summer to see the upcoming items.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

Buy a Stamp and 100% of the proceeds will go to the American Red Cross to aid Oklahoma tornado victims.

Hi all,

I wanted to share this exciting stamp. Close to My Heart is donating all of the proceeds from the sales of these stamps to the American Red Cross for Oklahoma Tornado Relief.  Yes, 100% of the proceeds will be donated.

  Here are some thoughts and ideas...

• The Stamp is $2.95
• 100% of the stamp price will be donated to ARC for Oklahoma Tormado Relief
• You can buy as many as you want
• They make a great gift 
• The cutest thank you gift you can give
• Save them for stocking stuffers
• An easy way to donate to 
• All the proceeds will be donated

It is a smaller stamp, about the size of the monogram stamp in the current catalog, but what a prize for a donation.

I will be placing an order in June, so send me an email if you would like to buy this stamp and help to donate.

Thanks.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

Gigi.Zone.Cards@gmail.com

OUTSIDE IN?

So here it is, I tried to think outside of the box.  Normally the inside of my cards are lightly colored with a sentiment in the center and my personal note below.

But I tried something daring.  I love this dark printed paper (Close to My Heart - available from me).  I like it so much that I wanted to use it inside the card as well.

So as I toyed with different ideas using a piece and layering a lighter color on top.  However that just didn't give me as much of the print as I wanted to see.  So I used a larger sheet.  As I continued to ponder I ending up with the inside that traditionally I would used on the outside.  Hence Outside In?

I do think it looks different but still not sure if I made a good choice.  What do you think?  Have you tried an Outside In?  If so let me know I would be happy to share.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope to hear from you soon.  Remember you can email, comment and of course choose to shop with me at gigizone@ctmh.com.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

PS I have a friends that has a great blog candy give away, stop by and see here.  http://memascrafts.blogspot.com/2010/04/blog-candy-giveaway.html

A Bunny Easter!

Hi all,

I went to an upline meeting for Close to My Heart yesterday.  This was one of the cute projects we made.  They did one in pink with a bow, but having a grandson I brought mine home and did it in blue.  This is so adorable and it is just the right size to  put a little something, something in the box.  Of course I will be looking for a Chuggington or Thomas the train something.

We used the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to do the cuts.  It is ovals, circles, a hart and an ornament cut.  Super easy to do.  the bow tie is my favorite cut for a bow/ribbon with the Artiste.

Here is a picture from the back.  A cotton ball for the tale.  If you look you can see there is a lot of sponging.  Now I have normally had trouble sponging, but I have figured out what my problem was.  I keep finding this more and more.  It is the supplies that you use.  I for one usually think oh it doesn't matter but I have to admit, Close to My Heart keeps proving me wrong.  I cut 1/4 of the CTMH round sponge and used it to sponge, it was surprising how easy and even it seemed to be.  But here was the test.  I wanted to sponge the nose black and I did not want to waste my CTMH sponge on just a little thing, so I used another round sponge I had bought somewhere.  I cut a piece and inked it and started to sponge the nose and the sponge started to crumble into pieces.  It left little specs of sponge.  YUK.  So here I am again telling you if you want to make quality crafts use quality products.



 Now here is the fun part take some liberties.  make it your own.  Bend an ear, make it all polka dot, put a hat on it.    This is just the starting point of your creativity.

So remember these things.

• The basic is the canvas
• Making it your own is the creation
• Use quality products.
• Order Close to My Heart from the gigi.zone (lol)
• Have fun

I will be adding the other project we did soon.  If you would like the full instructions with cutting and size information.  Just ask.  email, post, or pm.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi
gigi.zone.cards@gmail.com
gigi-zone.blogspot.com
pinterest.com/gigizone
To shop visit gigizone.ctmh.com


You asked so here they are.

Bunny Box -  Designed by Tracey Sanders

Directions by Naomi Smith

Supplies:

White Daisy Cardstock

Blush Cardstock scrap

Hollyhock inkpad and sponge

3 D foam tape

Piercing tool

Adhesive

Black fine tip felt pen

¼ inch hole punch

2 Smoothie Bigger Brads - any pink that coordinates

 with Hollyhock ink will work – wiggle eyes are cute too.

2 Licorice Opaques

Optional - Paradise Paper Flowers and a large round sparkle

                    ribbon tied in a bow etc.

Cutting Guide:

Cricut Art Philosophy: - Cut all from White Daisy Cardstock

Handled Box

Cut 1 pg 23 - Shift - Font layer Fit to page (6 1/4 inches)

Nose:

Cut 1 pg 26 - 1 inch <heart1>

Head:

Cut 1 pg 27 - 4 inches <shape 6>

Cheeks:

Cut 2 pg 21 - 1 1/2 inches <circle1>

Cut 2 each

Ears:

pg 32 1 1/4 inches <oval2>

1.8 inches <oval2>

Feet:

1 inch <oval2>

1 1/2 <oval2>

Small scrap of Blush cardstock (2x2 will be more than enough)

Directions:

1.       Assemble the Handled Box using a strong adhesive

2.       Cut off one tip of <shape 6> as shown in photo

3.       Using the ¼ inch hole punch, punch 6 circles for the paw pads

4.       Edge Sponge all pieces as desired with Hollyhock Ink

5.       Assemble as shown using 3—D Foam tape to pop up the cheeks

and nose

6.       Add eyes using Bigger Brads and Opaques

7.       Draw on the whiskers with the fine tip black pen

8.       Glue on a cotton ball on the back of the box for a tail.

9.       Embellish with flowers, sparkles, ribbon etc.

10.    Fill with flowers, candy, gift card, etc.

Men & Flowers? Flowers & Men?

So many of you have the issue of trying to do masculine cards.  Well I have tossed the stereotypes away.  I created a card for a male coworker that was leaving and ...wait...yes.....yes, I did it!  I used FLORAL PAPER.  OMG!  Did I break the rules or what?

What I decided is that flowers can be OK if the coloring and the texture are correct.  So what I used was only one jewel.  I used earth accents, these pine cone items I found outside.  Try to tone down the fancy script, use simple fonts, and limit them.

Take a trip outside, think about leaves, twigs, maybe even pebbles.  The point is have your accents add the strong touch, use darker, warm colors.

So this was my finished product.  What do you think was it masculine enough or did I miss the mark?  The tan flower had a piece of cone as it's center.

What do you think, leave a comment, let me know if I have missed the mark so I don't do it again.  Looking forward to reading your comments.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

The Total Complete Package!

As I have often said you can't beat corresponding papers.  This is especially true with pattern papers.  In this project there are 3 different patterned papers.  I for one who has issues if everything doesn't match would be pushed over the edge if I had to find patterns that match.  I am from the era where you didn't even match stripes and prints. lol  Well thank goodness that era has passed.  Whenever possible buy your papers in coordinating sets.  (Like CTMH offers).   This allows ease when adding layers of patterns.  Also I like to use inks where the color corresponds.  Although basic black always works, using a colored ink, (Cocoa in this example) adds depth to your project.

What I have done with this card is use a embossing folder to emboss the back of the card.  It adds a touch of elegance and texture.  The interesting thing with this is the folder print seems to match the floral pattern and they are totally different products.  So be sure to look through your supplies and see what may match that you were totally unaware of.



What to do with scraps and the perfect sentiment.  Let me just say you can never have to many sentiments.  You can mix and match sentiments, be creative with them.  If you are someone who usually does your craft shopping at craft stores and doesn't usually shop with a stamp company like Close to My Heart, you may want to take a look at the sentiment stamp sets offered by CTMH.  They are amazing and you definitely get your money's worth with the Chatter Card sentiment sets that have lots of sentiments in each set.  You can get 6 to 28 sentiments in a single set and when you add in the amount of sentiments you can combine and arrange the possibilities are unlimited.  These sets range from 9.95 to 17.95 and cover most every event you can think of.

Now those little scraps, USE THEM!  For pattern scraps cut out a pattern and add it to the lower right hand of the corner inside your card.   This certainly adds elegance and breaks up the solid inside of the card.  Don't forget you can also embellish your scrap to as I have added a chocolate pearl.  You can also use the scraps to embellish your envelopes. 

Here is the finished project.  Using coordinating paper, embellishments, patterns and scraps you can create an elegant project that makes an amazing gift.  Yes, I said gift, because a hand made project is a work of art!

I hope this inspires you to look at your projects and think of the total package and sharing your works of art.

Happy New Year!

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi