Valentine's Day XL LOVE Tag by Guest Designer Heather Hudson

Hello Friends!! Heather here today and I am sooooo excited to be Guest Designing here at Gina's Designs!!

I just love her chipboard pieces!! My first project of the month is my

Valentine's Day XL LOVE Tag!!

Here are a couple close ups of my piece.

You can see below one of the hinges I used.  I simply painted it with white gesso and then added some green to look like leaves. I also gave it a touch of blue for some depth.  My whole piece was covered with Clear Gel Tar from Golden Acrylics (you could use a gloss medium, in the same way).

I covered the Scribble Bird Frame in white gesso and then multiple colors of paint. I applied the gel tar and then doodled.  I decided to doodle on pretty much all of my tag pieces using a Pigma Black Micron Pen.

 As soon as I saw the brick sheet of Gina's, I knew I would be using some of the bricks for sentiment blocks...yummy!!  You can get a pretty good look at my doodling below.

I just love the typewriter letters in GOLD!!  The best part is that you can order the letters that you WANT...wooo hooo...so no more letters you don't use...that go...hmmm...what can do with this??  LOL

Here are the links to all the fabulous pieces of chipboard I used:

Chipboard Decorative Tags X Large

LOVE - Faux Typewriter Keys Gold 

 Brick Wall 

Scribble Frame Birds 

Hinge Straps Shape Set

I have also used 

Really Reasonable Ribbon Red Micro Gingham, Red Seam Binding and Juliet Lace.

All images and papers are ones that I designed.

Tiny Hearts Digital Papers Bitty Set

Tiny Conversation Hearts "words"

Medium Conversation Hearts

Romantic Heart Focal and Text Boxes

Scallop Romantic Valentines Day Focals

Chocolate Valentine's Day Tickets

I hope you have enjoyed my post today!!

If you would like to see this tag in the making with more detailed directions of what I did to Gina's Chipboard Pieces, hop on over to my blog and check out the steps.

Thank you for visiting us at Gina's Designs today!!

See you Next Wednesday!!

Hugs!!

Heather

Artist Trading Blocks by Nancy

Hello Friends!  Nancy here to share my version of our Artist Trading Blocks.   Our team members have been sharing these all this month, and it's been amazing to see all the different versions of these fun and versatile blocks.  I decided on a bird theme for mine.  I used the large block separately and left the top cover open,  and I stacked the smaller ones together.  The blocks are made of chipboard and come ready to assemble using the pre-scored fold lines.  I used red line tape to assemble my blocks.  Once assembled,  I covered the blocks completely with gesso to help build a firmer and sturdier surface.  I also "frosted" over the seams lightly with modeling paste and a painters spatula, then I painted and inked the edges.  I used matte Mod Podge to apply the paper, and I also put a heavy coat of the Mod Podge on top of the paper.   My end result were blocks that are very solid and sturdy like wood!

I chose digital papers in a colorful bird theme from Ephemera's Vintage Garden to cover my blocks.  For the feet, I glued wooden spools to the bottom of the blocks then painted them with gesso followed by Tim Holtz dabber paint in copper.  I toned that color down with Gilder's Paste in Verdigris and in Patina.  I also rubbed on some extra gesso to further distress the feet.

  Following the prep work, I had a lot of fun decorating my blocks with  3-D birds, nests and eggs from the floral dept. at JoAnn's.   I felt that I needed some greenery so I die cut vines and ferns, and then I coiled some green floral wire by wrapping it around the handle of a large artist's brush and poking the straight end of the wire through the birds nest, then bending it and attaching it to the bottom of the nests on both blocks.  To the top of the coils I added eggs on the large block and the letters "FLY" on the smaller set.

Gina's Designs Products Used:

Artist Trading Blocks

Bird Watching Shapes Set

Faux Typewriter Keys - Gold

Other:

Design Paper by Ephemera's Vintage Garden -  Spring Chic Collection

Vine Die by Marianne Creatables

Fern and Leaf Die by Marianne Creatables

Leopard Butterfly by Renea Bouquets

Photo Collage by Mary

Hello everyone! I was asked to make a display for my niece's senior recital at college. It was a joint recital with her boyfriend.

The memo board is the back base. All chipboard pieces first had a coat of gesso applied and then different purples in different thicknesses.

Here is a close up of one of the treble clefs and the different embossing colors used.

While the embossing was still hot, I used a music stamp and stamped onto each of the letters.

I had also altered three binder clips for food markers.

Gina Design Products

Memo Board

Music Symbols Shape Set

Music Title Shape Set

Say Cheese Shape Set

Filmstrips 1 Shape Set

Faux Typewriter Keys White

Steampunk Shrine by Kathi

Hello everyone!  Thanks for stopping by, it's Kathi here to share with you my House Shrine Box, 

Supplies Used:

Gina's Designs Lasercuts:

House Shrine Box, 

Steampunk Lady, 

Steampunk Fan, 

Gears Shape Set

Steampunk Frame, 

Faux typewriter keys, 

Dressforn & Wings ShapeSet, 

Small Skeleton Clock/hands, 

Gothic Chandelier, 

Steampunk Hearts

Other Supplies used:

Metal Butterfly from Craftsupplies1

Metal Key,

Metal  Gears and washers.

A Layout by Shanna and Wall Art by Marfa

Hi everyone!  Today we have two projects to share.  First up is Shanna with a super cute layout featuring several of our chipboard shapes.

Good morning everyone, Shanna here. I have a special layout that I made for Gina's Designs. More importantly I made it for my mom. 

Of course having two grandbabies she had to share the love equally. I made a layout of my daughter for my mom for Mother's Day so it is only fair to equal it out and make her one of Avery. 

I so love the Pink Paislee papers I used and the amazing chipboard pieces that really helped make this layout pop!

Items Used:

Gina's Designs Lasercuts 

Faux Typewriter Keys - White

High Fliers Shape Set

Words Frames - Travel

Chip Clip Assortment 

Next up is Marfa with one of our new wall art keys.  These keys come in several styles ready for you to alter, or as some of the team members have done, attach to another project.  Either way, these large sized keys are impressive.

Hello chickadees!  Today I want to show you a very unique project that I created for Gina's Designs.  It is a key!  This key opens the door to your imagination!  Only metaphorically speaking, of course...lol  I don't have a ruler right now, but this key seems to be about 10 inches in length, which is a great size for wall art.  I have the Hot Air Balloon Key, but Gina offers more designs that are really pretty.  I also used a few other pieces from Gina's Designs, but you can find all the links at the bottom of this post.  

I used hot glue to put everything together.  There are layers and layers of Lumiere paint and a gold paint pen as well.   I added Liquid Pearls to the balloon for an extra shot of color.  Ever though this is wall art, I'm not going to put it on the wall.  This key is going next to a lamp in my living room.  My living room furniture, although not Steampunk, seems to go very well with this key.  It was easy to put together.  I got to play around with paint and get my finger dirty (always a plus!).  Now I have a very cool, unique ornament for my living room.  So I suggest that you check out the shop, get your own key and open the door to your imagination!

Supplies:

Key Wall Art Balloon

Butterfly of Gears

Wings Assortment

Gears Shape Set

Other Supplies:

Liquid Pearls, Lumiere Paint, Gold Paint Pen, Hot Glue

An Altered Glass Bottle by Marfa and a Layout by Mary M

We have two projects on the blog today, and first up we have Marfa to share an upcycled item.

Hi everybody, I'm Crafting Marfa, and I want to show you my latest altered project for Gina's Designs.  I love to re-purpose things because I'm one of those people who believes in conservation.  If I can save something from going to the trash, I will.  This glass bottle came full of scented oil.  Once the oil was used up I knew that I wanted to keep the bottle but I just didn't have the right project for it.  This month, with all the love and Valentine's projects around, I was suddenly inspired.  This is a Design Team project created for Gina's Designs and it now decorates my bathroom.  It was very easy to put together.  I used a gold paint pen to add some nice gold accents to the bottle and to the typewriter letters.  I also covered the wooden key with the gold pen and hung it inside the bottle.  I glued everything with hot glue.  This is a decorative bottle, so hot glue works fine.  If you plan to handle this bottle often, then I suggest that you find a sturdier type of glue.   So look around your house and find some bottles that you might otherwise throw away and give them a second life.

Gina's Designs Supplies:

Faux Typewriter Keys

Wooden Decorative Keys

Next up today is Mary with a layout.  Mary has used lots of technique on this one.

Hi everyone it's Mary with a layout I created using the February Sketch Challenge as well as my beautiful niece for inspiration.

The mask was embossed with black embossing powder and then while it was still hot, I sprinkled glitter over the top of it.  All the flourishes are painted with a custom paint color I made and sprayed with Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays.

Yes, this butterfly is one of Gina's chipboard pieces! Before the gesso was dry, I gently bent the wings up, sprinkled it with several colors of fine glitter, and then glued it on top of a metal butterfly.

I used a script stamp on the flourish to the left.

Thanks for stopping by Gina's blog today. For more information on how I did this layout, please stop by my blog HERE.

Gina's Designs Products

Masks Shape Set 

Delicate Frames & Ornaments Shape Set

Fantasy Frame & Flourishes Set

Other Products
Paper: K&Company Value Pack
Glitter: Martha Stewart: Lapis Lazuli, Aquamarine Crystal, Turquoise, Florentine Gold
Paint: Folk Art:Brilliant Blue & Craft Essentials:White
Feathers
Lindy's Stamp Gang: TiffanyLou Blue, Blue Hawaiian Blue
Metal Butterfly: ButterBeeScraps
Embossing Powder: Ranger:Black

New York City layout by Dawn Rene

Hello! Dawn Rene here today! This week the design team is creating projects using chipboard shapes from "Nancy's Garden Collection."

I selected the "Lamp Posts 1" to use in my layout. However, instead of using the lamp posts in a garden setting - I decided to use the lamp posts on a city street! So I added the lamp posts on my two page layout of my visit to New York City last year.

I also included Gina's Designs Geometric Corner chipboard shapes which were made exclusively for the Scraps of Darkness kit club. I added the silver faux typerwriter keys as well (which I love)!

I covered the lamp posts and the geometric corners with Tattered Angles "Naturally Aged Paint System - Bare Metal." I recently purchased Viva Decor Inka Gold - Hematite, so I added a little bit of the Viva Decor Inka Gold in Hematite on top of the Tattered Angles mists to try it out. Have you used the Viva Decor Inka Gold before? It is so smooth and creamy - it goes on easily and covers the chipboard very well. But it is very messy if you use your fingers - next time I will use a wet one to apply it!

            

Supplies Used

* Lamp Post 1 (Nancy's Garden Collection)

* LFaux Typerwriter Keys Silver

* Gina's Design - Geometric Shapes (Scraps of Darkness March 2013 Kit)

Make it Manly: Steampunk Collage Layout by Nancy

Hi everyone, Nancy here with a collage styled layout.  In keeping with the manly or masculine theme for this week I chose to create a Heritage/Steampunk style.  This theme was a little bit out of my comfort zone.  Yikes!....no flowers!,  but I really enjoyed the challenge.  Once I began looking through my gorgeous chippies, the project came together easily.  I'm really happy with the end result.  I think this would make a great gift for the man in your life when mounted inside of a 12 x 12 shadowbox frame under glass.

I used a variety of techniques on this layout.  The vintage photo came from a free collage sheet I'd downloaded.  I printed it out then cut it into four strips and mounted the strips on a mat.  I think it gave the photo a little more interest.  The chipboard pieces were colored using different techniques.  The hot air balloon was colored with gelatos, I punched holes in the bottom section of the balloon with my cropodile and connected it to the top section with jump rings.  The antique car was embossed with stampendous shabby black embossing powder. The clock faces were inked with Prima chalk inks in various shades.  The hinges were given a rusty look with Tim Holtz distress embossing powders in vintage photo and antique linen.  The clock hands were embossed in copper.  The antique bike was inked in black and trimmed with a little gold rub n buff.  I really enjoyed incorporating all the collage elements with the chipboard pieces.  I hope you like it and that I've inspired you to try something different.. 

Supplies used:

Hot Air Balloon from Steampunk Shape Set

Faux Typewriter Keys (in gold color)

Antique Car from Guy Thing Shape Set

Clock Faces (coming soon in sets of different sizes)

Hinges (coming soon)

Gears from Gears Shape Set

Antique Bicycle from Guy Thing Shape Set