Winners

Wow,

What an awesome week I had showing my Unity Designs.  I hope you enjoyed the week as will.

Drum roll please!!!!!!!!

The winners are Lori Lien and Alyson Esposito please message me your mailing info for your prizes you have two weeks

GIU Day 5

GIU Day 5

Thank you, Unity.

This stamp set if very special to me, because this was when I first heard of Unity stamp company and it was my first purchase.

Being a woman of color, i long for stamp sets that reflect me and my heritage.  This set was a pleasure to find.  I do have to remind people just because we are of color doesn't mean we all dress in traditional garb.  We dress just like everyone else.  We sit on the beach, look at the ocean, have moments of solitude, think deep thoughts.  I was happy to see Unity's choice with this stamp set.

The strength of a woman of color.  We are the same, we take the burdens, we stand for what is right, we stand strong, we are the gatherers,  we start our journeys.  Just like all the other women.  Our difference is we do this while being challenged about our purpose, work twice as hard to be considered just as good , so we can be viewed as equal.  Most will not see or understand because as women this is not what our hearts are we are the nurturers, but this is how things are.

We women of color show our strength by also understanding that those views don't define us. We defines our selves, we reach out our hands in friendship, because we know this is where our strength is. We understand that it is the journey that make us strong. 

Thank you Unity for the stamp set and for the opportunity to be a GUI girl.  May you continue to be women of strength in your business, within your family and as you continue to create inspiration in you sentiments and to show portraits of women of strength in your stamps.

GIU Day 4

GIU Day 4

Part of our strength is that we take the burden from all we know.  It overwhelms us, but we continue to take it.  Believing in our inner strength to take care and handle it.  To fix it, because we are the fixers.

But we need to realize as strong women we must also understand not everything is supposed to be fix.  Some times there really is a reason for the burden, for things to seem as thought they are falling apart.  These are the challenges that help us grow.

Part of being strong is understanding when to watch and take the opportunity to grow from an experience. And to understand sometimes watching and learning is the strongest thing to do.

Be still and understand there is a reason for everything and that understanding keeps us strong.

GIU Day 3

GIU Day 3

Take the journey! You are a woman of strength.  You set your own pace, you now who you are.

You cannot wait to follow others. you cannot let others set your pace.  You must be the one to start your journey.  You stand tall with an open heart.  You hold the dreams of a mother, daughter, friend.  Your are the positive force.  It is through your faith and determination that your journey will be a success.

And when they look at you, they will see who you are, what you stand for and the light that shines in you and they will follow.

The strength of a woman take the journey!

GIU Day "2"

GUI Day "2"

Inspiration is one of the most amazing things Unity offers with it's sentiments.  I wish I could own them all.

Staying with my theme of inspiration and strength for women I chose this set for day two.  I love that it is a picture from the back.  We do not see even a hint of her face.  This is important because beauty is in the eye of the beholder and no matter what our appearance right along with what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared with what lies within us.

Let what lies within you be your guide.

Don't forget to comment for your chance to win.  Also be sure to join the Gigi Zone Paper Crafting fb group too!

GIU Day 1

This week is all about Unity stamp and what I like about the,  I am this weeks GIU girl "Growing In Unity.  I will share my art each day for 5 days and my also my thoughts on Unity Stamp company.

Here is the exciting part.  If you comment on my blog site you will have the chance to win  25 random stamps from Unity!  Yes that is correct, 2 random winners from the comments on the blog at the end of the week will receive 25 random stamps from Unity stamp company. 

So here we go... GIU Day '!'.

I have never considered my self whimsical when stamping.  Although I love ferries I buy them but have a hard time actually using them.  I always think stardust, moonlight and stars, which is not usually my style.  However, when I got the Unity Ferry stamp all of the sudden I could think of an adventure that was not about stardust but about inspiration, which is more my style.

I like to inspire and remind women of their strength, for we are a force of nature.  Nothing can stop us.  We must dream big and go after our goals.  That is what my GUI week will be about. The inner strength of women.

When I reflect on this card I see a fairy who is a gathering in the woods to provide for her family, but knowing she is powerful and not only beautiful.  She is understanding the dream of what will become her future.

I know that is so overboard, but that is just how the Gigi Zone operates.  I hope this makes you imagine what your future could be.

Don't forget to comment for your chance to win!

Organization:

Organization

 "Always a Work in Progress"

Ok, here is the story.  I am always looking for a way to get better organization.  I am a long way from where I want to be but, I thought I would share where I am at.  

This first option is an old greenbar printer stand.  My company was going to trash this.  SCORE!  Look outside of the box when thinking of storage and organization.

I have my Sizzix on top, followed by my Cricut Cartridge Organizers (show later), then my Cricut, Printer and Sewing Machine.  This really saves a lot of room.  I am working on possibly painting it black as that is most of my decor.

I love cases with lots of squares to put my embellishments in.  This one holds my CTMH embellishments, I have the name of the color in the cubby so I can stay color coordinated.

 I hang my cutting mats on the wall and my ribbon holder next to it. I find this is the best option for cutting mats.

This is one of my favorites it is the standard storage drawers that are sold all over.  I love it because...

It holds these little boxes that I also got from a business that was tossing them.  They get items shipped in them and then toss them, so I got quite a supply.  You can open the drawer and see everything separated.

 I have been a stamper for a few years, so I used to buy wood stamps.  I am now sold on CTMH acrylics.  so I will show you how to store those a little later.  I noticed when my woods were in a drawer  I would forget what I had and not use them.  So I put them on this DVD shelf and now I am always looking at them and use them more often.

Never underestimate the power of pegboard.  You can not beat the price of the amount of organization you can get from a 2 by 4 foot piece of pegboard.  You can always change it around, add or remove items.

I love cricut cartridges but hate how much room the boxes took up so I got these and they stack together and fit on my printer stand.

I love a good book shelf.  I use lots of baskets and cases and stack them on the book shelf.  When it is in eye site I investigate and use it!

This is another of my favorites, the CTMH ink/marker case.  Being able to see my inks and markers at glance let's me decide my colors easily.  Plus it has a handle and I can carry them from room to room.

This is one of the funniest.  I use one of those jewelry holders to hold my punches.

Now for my acrylic stamps I use these storage boxes from CTMH.  Each one hold between 12 to 15 stamps sets.  I am in the process of creating nice tags to label each of the boxes.

My all time favorite project for organization is my paper storage rack.  I bought cube sets from Walmart and zip ties and created this 3 column paper holder.  Because it is 3 columns it more stable than just a single tower.  I put the shelves in different directions to help sort and a couple of them hollow to hold my albums.

So this is where my room is right now.  Next?  I have taken a picture of each of my acrylic stamp sets and plan to put them in a photo album with organizing tabs, so I can page through to see and remember what I have. After that the woods.

Thanks for checking out how the Gigi Zone organizes.

Send me your suggestions or let me see what you have done.

Remember you can talk to me for all your Close to My Heart needs

Have a crafting good week.

Gigi

 Www.gigizone.ctmh.com

Celebrate 30 with Close to My Heart

Just wanted to share this months special. www.gigizone.ctmh.com  Take a look.  I'm having a drawing for a free stamp set.  Any one placing an online order in June will be eligible.



Email me with questions.



Craftingly yours,



Gigi

gigi.zone.cards@gmail.com

www.gigizone.ctmh.com

Celebrate 30 with Close to My Heart

Just wanted to share this months special. www.gigizone.ctmh.com  Take a look.  I'm having a drawing for a free stamp set.  Any one placing an online order in June will be eligible.



Email me with questions.



Craftingly yours,



Gigi

gigi.zone.cards@gmail.com

www.gigizone.ctmh.com

Spotlight on the United Kingdom Anita & Zoe

Anyone for a spot of tea?

I saw these and was amazed at how cute and realistic they are.  Maybe because I love china, old, new, hand painted, it doesn't matter.  I just love china. 

Anita and Zoe are sisters.  They live in Leicester in the UK, they have both been crafting for a few years.

The decided to get together at the beginning of this years, as two heads are better than one.  They bounce ideas off of one another have come up with some great projects.

Zoe loves coloring in and making cards with digi stamps, Anita has a silhouette cameo and just loves making 3d projects.  They both do different projects but get together to bling up their items and comment on each others work, then the ideas just start popping.  They now have a page on Facebook called "Exleybees Handmade Cards and Boxes".  They hope to have a web page sometime this year.

I don't know about you but I am ready for a cup of tea.

Thanks for stopping by the Gigi Zone.

Craftingly yours,

Gigi

Gigi Spot Light - Sweden - Christina Hagstrom

"Hello Sweden"

Tina Hagstrom

If you are a paper crafter and in groups on fb or follow blogs there is no way you haven't see the card boxes that have been posted.  Tina seems to have mastered this.  I was really impressed with the theme of her boxes.  Her art and colors reach out, draw you in and make you want to hear a story the card is telling.

Please enjoy her work.

Her friends call her Tina, Christina Hagström, lives in Gothenburg, Sweden.  She has been a crafter all of her life, but a paper crafter since 2005.

She mostly makes cards but she also love making boxes and other things.  She is a stamp designer and a design team member of Vilda Stamps (vildastamps.com).

 

If you like to see more of Tina's creations, visit her blog:

handmadebytina.blogspot.com

I hope you enjoyed.  If you would like a change of being on the Gigi Zone spotlight, please submit a sample of your work and a short bio by email to gigi.zone.cards@gmail.com.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

Welcome to the Gigi Zone's Spotlight

 "Hello United Kingdom"

As promised I am starting Gigi Zone's Crafter Spotlight.  This Spotlight is for a artist that caught my attention with the amazing flowers she creates.  They took my breath away and I wanted to share her work.  She is from the United Kingdom,  I am happy to share what crafters are doing all over the world as well as in the US.  Please enjoy and feel free to comment.

Annie Christie lives near Halstead, Essex, United Kingdom. She loves making cards and has been making them for about 7 years. She has tried various techniques but now is mostly enjoying die cutting.  She likes the clean crispness and the professional accurate finish you get at the end. 

Her favorite cards to make are for Women as she enjoys decorating her cards with pretty papers, flowers, ribbons, lace and pearls.  She loves nature and that’s why she likes incorporating flowers into her work.  The flowers make her happy and she hopes that they do the same for the recipient.  She doesn't know a lady who doesn’t just love flowers and the thought of bringing a smile to someone’s face as they open one of her cards is her aim!  She does make cards for all occasions, celebrations,  men and children too. 

Annie runs classes for some wonderful ladies, they have a fabulous time, welcoming new friends, enjoying each others company, having a giggle, sharing their thoughts and generally just being happy!!! There are never enough hours in the day to craft, it is very addictive and very good for the soul!

 

She also produces and sells card packs which can by made in the style of those shown on her website.   If you would like any further information, Annie on her website www.handmadecardsbyannie.co.uk.

GIGI'S SPOTLIGHT IS COMING

There are going to be a couple of changes at the gigi.zone.   As most of you know I am a Close to My Heart Consultant but that is not what the Gigi Zone is all about.  I love CTMH products of course they are the best and that is why I sell them.  But above all I am a paper crafter.  I love paper crafts.  All kinds with all products.  My blog has always focused on projects and challenges.  I will continue this, you will also always be able to purchase CTMH products by selecting the link from my blog.  But it is time for a little change.   I am a member of a few groups and I see such beautiful work from all over the world.  So I have decided to share the inspiration.  I will continue to post my projects, suggestions and challenges, but in between I will do Crafter spotlights. 

I will select Gigi's Spotlight based on what I feel are unique and creative entries. It may be a particular project that peaks my interest, or it could be your style.  Needless to say your work will have impressed me in some form.

I will showcase some of their work with their bio and information they wish to share.  I will consider all submissions, the final decision on will be the gigi.zone's,  submissions may not be posted as submitted, editing may take place. 

If you are interested in being  one of Gigi's Spotlight, please follow the criteria listed below. 

1) Like the Gigi Zone Paper Crafting facebook page

2) Follow my blog at http://gigi-zone.blogspot.com/

3) Submit a bio, a sample of you best work, and directions if you like to gigi.zone.cazrds@gmail.com

Feel free to email me with any questions.

Thanks and I hope you will be in the spotlight soon. 

Craftingly yours,

Gigi 

I wanted to repost this blog because I love this CTMH paper and I need motivation this weekend

If you are a following this paper looks familiar. I usually don't post the same paper but this is one of my favorites. So this is a project I created for a gift certificate. I love adding dimensions to my cards, so with the extra thickness it can be a challenge using a a envelope.

So with this project I decided to make a box to hold a gift certificate. Since this project would be hand delivered I could also make additional dimensions to the outside of the box.

When you slide the box open there is the gift certificate. Both the butterfly and the flower are 3d

This is a gift certificate but you could very easily make a card holder for a gift card and use holiday paper. Perfect gifts box for the holidays two gifts in one.

One last thing back to Second Chance Paper. These are no rules when you paper craft, I have found myself afraid to use the same paper as if it is breaking the rules. It's ok to use the same paper combinations over and over at least till you run out of the paper. If you like it that much there is a good chance the recipients will like it as well.

I will try to post something soon, maybe a Christmas card to keep in the spirit.

Scrappingly yours,

Gigi

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