Old Bird ATC Pocket Letter

It's the first Friday of September (already!) which means it's my turn to share a tutorial using magnifique products from Gina's. Woo hoo! This month I thought we'd do some nitty gritty paper crafting and create a sort of pocket letter.

I've been seeing these pop up all over my timeline and wanted to give it a try. 

What is a pocket letter, you ask? Janette Lane, the creator of Pocket Letters™, explains on her site:

"Basically, you fill all the pockets of a 9 Pocket Trading Card Protector and send the whole page to someone who wants to swap with you... You fill the pockets with anything you like (stickers, tea bags, a note, washi tape samples, pictures, etc.) A short note or letter is included and tucked into one of the pockets. Then the Pocket Letter is folded up and sent in a standard 10 size envelope."**

I am a huge fan of ATC's (Artist Trading Card: miniature works of art measuring 2.5" x 3.5") so I've created a cohesive set of birdy themed cards to fill those little pockets with. You can source your own public domain images, or purchase a collage sheet with all of those vintage birds and sentiments available HERE.

When creating your own piece, consider other little bits and pieces to tuck into those sleeves. Stamps, ephemera, feathers... little bits that match the theme or look of your cards.

Also consider the sleeves themselves. I've added clear stickers to the exterior.

Of course you could just create these pretty ATC's and trade/give them separately. There's nothing wrong with spreading the crafty love around.

If you're not keen on making these little bits of art, you may want to check out the tutorial anyway as it includes creating the textured background seen below.

But enough blabble! HERE is the video tutorial. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a shout. I'm happy to lend a hand or answer any questions you have. Seriously. Don't be shy ;)

THE SUPPLY LIST

From Gina's:
Cardstock Doily Set 1
Cardstock Doily Set Intricates
Steampunk Fan
Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set
Pen & Ink Shape Set
Faux Metal Number Plates
Herringbone Small

Other things you'll need:
For the Birds Collage Sheet or your own vintage bird images
Cardstock
Paper (I used pages from an old book)
Decorative scrapbook paper
Glue
White acrylic paint
Watercolour paint
Stamp pad
Clear stickers
Foam spacers
Ultra fine glitter
Tim Holtz Long Mini Brads 
Jute twine
Washi tape
Buttons, stamps and other small embellishments and trinkets
ATC Pocket Pages

**For more information on Pocket Letters you can visit Janette Lane's YouTube Channel or join the Pocket Letter Pals Network

Christmas House by Guest Designer Marla Rizzo

Hi Everyone, Marla here sharing my 2 Story House from Gina's store. I made it into a Christmas theme and I just love how it came out!

I used paper to cover it and some trims and of course lots of Snow Tex to add that just snowed look.

 I altered some items from the "Christmas Shape Set" that Gina has to make a snowman, penguin & Gingerbread man. With the addition of them it turns this little house into a special Christmas Dollhouse.

 Thank you for stopping by today!

Check out my video for all the details! 

Marla Rizzo

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrvZcfHMVB8idZx_BYynoSw

~Gina's Designs Products~

2 Story House

Christmas Shape Set

Cardstock Doilies

Other products:

Craftsupplies1 flowers & Lace

Graphic45 12 days of Christmas paper

Snow Tex

Red and Blue Christmas Cards by Melissa & A Wintery Layout by Nancy

Today we have double the fun on our blog, with two designers up to share their projects. First up is Melissa with some fun Christmas Cards.

Hi everyone! Melissa here with two cards for Gina's Chipboard Laser Designs.

I thought the chipboard here added so much to the design; that makes it fun to work with.

To decorate the chipboard I first prepped them with gesso.  The leaves are Utee sprinkled on wet chalk ink that I then melted with a heat tool. The scroll at the top is is just gold leaf paint brushed on.  

The snowflake on the right is silver leaf paint. I added a couple pieces of bling.

Thanks for looking!

Chipboard used:

Snowflake Shape Set

Flourished Frame Bella

Papers from Reminisce and Kay & Company

Prima and Petaloo flowers

Prima bling

Vintaj metal

Jaquard Pearlex Powder

Plaid Liquid Gold Leaf paint, also silver

Distress Crackle Paint-Clear Rock Candy

Tsuineko chalk ink

Viva Modeling Cream

A few pointed back Swarovski crystals

Silver Stickles

Now over to Nancy with her gorgeous layout!

It is with great regret that we announce that today is our last project from Nancy.  Nancy has been with Gina's Designs from the beginning and had shared freely of her talent and time.  Nancy, we appreciate you so much and look forward to having you return as a guest with us in the future.

Hi Everyone, it's Nancy here!  Today I'm sharing a Vintage styled layout with a Winter theme.  I decided to frame my layout in a 12 x 12 wooden shadow box from Michael's, giving me more space to play with my chipboard shapes, embellishments, and mixed media techniques.  

I began by painting the unfinished wood frame with gesso.  When it was dry I used Mod Podge to adhere some of the design papers that I had printed onto tissue paper.  I then used some of my stencils to add texture.  I added even more texture with pieces of the Diamond Texture Sheet from Gina's Designs and some of our Intricate Doilies.  I embossed the pieces of chipboard texture sheet with Stampendous shabby blue and then I rubbed on gold Gilder's Paste.  The doily pieces were adhered to the frame with Mod Podge and when dry, I applied gold Gilder's Paste.  A closeup of the frame's textures is shown below:

I added texture to the chipboard tree from our Winter Shape Set with my goal being to give it the look of being glazed over with ice.  I first painted the tree with gesso.  I followed that with a coat of white pearlescent paint by Folk Art.  When dry I added Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint in Clear Rock Candy.  I then added Vintage Photo Distress Ink and wiped it off so it stayed mainly in the cracks.  I followed that by applying a white puffy dimensional paint and drew it on in a tree pattern.  While wet I sprinkled on clear glass beads and Tim Holtz Distress Glitter.  On the snowflakes I simply applied Stampendous shabby embossing powders in white and in ivory.

For the sled, also from our Winter Shape set, my goal was to try to make it look old and worn.  I began with a light coat of gesso applied using a fan brush so some of the natural chipboard showed through.  I added just a touch of light blue Prima Chalk Ink to the slats.  I then drew wood pattern on the slats with a Tim Holtz Distress Pen in Vintage Photo which I then blurred and blended with a water pen.  For the sleds framework, I first painted it with a brass paint dabber, then "rusted" it with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Embossing Powder.

Thanks for looking!

Gina's Designs Products Used:

Winter Shape Set

Snowflake Shape Set

Cardstock Doilies - Intricates

Texture Sheet - Diamonds

Other:

Printable Digital Paper by Crafty Secrets (Vintage Christmas Kit)

Flowers by Tresors DeLuxe and Prima

Dragonflies by Renea Bouquets

Elegant Masks by Lynne & Altered Tin by Shanna

Today we have two fabulous designers up to share their fun and exciting projects. First up is Lynne to share her altered masks.

 

 Hi! Lynne here with  my latest project; I've been having fun decorating my new scrap room and decided to make these to hang on one of the doors using the Masks Shape Set.

I used pieces from the Mini Flourishes-Bella Set and the Feather Shape Set and used papers and embellishments from the November Scraps of Elegance kit  to finish them.

 

                     I painted the pieces with acrylic paint then brushed them lightly with white glitter paint.

     

                The fussy-cut dangles were finished with Glossy accents to add strength and a metallic look. I had so much fun with these that I just might finish the other masks in the set for my door too-there's no end to the creative ways you could decorate these great pieces!

Gina's Products used
Mask Shapes Set
Feather Shapes Set
Mini Flourishes-Bella

Other Items Used
Marion Smith & Blue Fern Studio papers
Glossy Accents


Next up we have Shanna with a vintage style project...

Hi everyone. Shanna here today to share a fun altered tin. 

I don't know about you but I love to repurpose things. Especially things that are sturdy like cookie tins, the shortbread cookie tins too. 

So first I covered the tin with paper. Then I used a doily that I painted with some Distress Paint. I also  painted the chipboard pieces from the Vintage Seamstress Shape Set. 

The sewing machine got an awesome coat of crackle paint to really make it vintage.

I finished off the tin with some flowers from our Craftsupplies1 cross promotion. 

Items Used:

Vintage Seamstress Shape Set

Cardstock Doily Set 1

Thanks for stopping by today!

Artist Trading Blocks by Dianna and a Layout by Donna

Hello Crafters!  Today we have two projects to share, first up are more of our Artist Trading Blocks.  We hope you've been enjoying all the different ways these blocks can be decorated.

 Hi all, it's Dianna here, and these are Gina's Designs Artist Trading Blocks. I went for a Steampunk Style. The bottom block is distressed corrugated paper torn to expose Gina's Designs gears painted in gold and bronze then inked with Tim Holtz's distress inks.

I fell in love with The Butterfly of Gears and had to use it on the front.  The second block is distressed paper with gears that turn on brads.




The top block is a permanent clock but the other sides are held with magnets so that the top block can change with the seasons, literally.



I used Gina's Designs Spooky Shape Set and Spiderweb Shape Set.






Items Used
Gina's Designs

Butterfly of Gears
Cardstock Doily Set Steampunk
Clock Hands Shape Set
Steampunk 2 Shape Set
Steampunk Shape Set
 Sketelon Clocks
Spooky Shape Set
Spiderweb Shape Set



Tim Holtz
Distress Ink
Stormy Sky
Black Soot
Vintage Photo
Tea Dye


Next up is Donna with a 12 x 12 Layout called "Believe".

Hello friends! Today I am sharing a layout created for Gina's Designs, which is very close to my heart.

I used two of the stackable labels to make a cross, using gold tinsel embossing powder. I added one of the white cardstock doilies, under the round sentiment, and placed it on top of the cross with a few pop dots.  I then placed a crocheted doily underneath the cross. 

I have been saving the gorgeous chipboard wings for something special! I embossed the wings with a pearl like embossing power called Angels Dust Ruby. I tried to capture some of the beautiful colors and shimmer from the embossing powder in this photo.

I used dry fine star dust glitter for the word Believe.

Gina's Designs Products

Stackable Label Shapes

10 Words

Wings Assortment

Cardstock Doily Set 1

Other Products

Kaisercraft BeaYOUtiful cardstock collection

Prima resin angels

Prima photo frames

Prima Valentine red vine

Angel Wings Ruby embossing powder

Gold Tinsel embossing powder

Stardust dry fine glitter

White chalk ink

Pearls

White doily from Etsy

Thank you so much for stopping by Gina's today. Don't forget to make time to create something beautiful!

Scrapbook Layout by Marfa and another Wall Art Key by Shanna

First up today is Marfa with a meaningful layout she is calling "Funky Colors"

Good morning crafty friends!  I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend.  Today I want to share with you a simple scrapbook layout, but it means a lot to me.  The hands that you see in the photos belong to my mother and me.  We get our nails done every couple of weeks.  It's one way in which I pamper my mother, who is totally selfless and never does anything for herself.  My mom is someone who always thinks of other people first.  If she knows you're in need she offers to help even before you ask, so every couple of weeks I take her with me and we get our nails done.  

When I received my design team package from Gina's Designs and I saw this  Pallette and Brushes Set I knew right away that I wanted to use it on this layout.  I simply colored them with acrylic paint and a sharpie marker.  I added Crackle Accents to the bristles of the brushes, just for fun.  I also liked the idea of using flowers for the "paint" on the palette. 

Gina's Designs Supplies:  Pallette & Brushes Set

Other Supplies:

Webster's Pages paper: Clean and Simple Sunday Picnic Pedal Pushers

Acrylic Paint

Prima Flowers: Perles Romance Novel

Crackle Accents

Free Printable Project Life embellishments


Next up is Shanna with another of the Wall Art Keys that the team has been decorating this month.

Hey everyone!  Shanna here today to share with you a wall art piece. I had so much fun playing with the key. My thought was to make it an inspirational piece. 

"The key is to treasure the voyage."

First I painted everything black. Then I decided to paint the balloon along the lines of teal and vintage metals. 

I then altered the gears by doing a layer of gesso, layers of Twinkling H20's and then adding some Glass Bead Gel, completing the gears some Tattered Angels Paints. 

The base of the key got a layer or Croco Paint giving it that old metal rusting off look. Then I finished off the key with metal flowers and some chit chat pieces.

Items Used:

Key Wall Art - Balloon

Cardstock Doily Set - Steampunk

Gears Shape Set

Tea Time Wall Art by Heidi and a Coffee Sleeve Mini by Deann

Hi everyone!  Today we have two really cute and fun projects to share.  First up is Heidi.

 Hello!  Heidi here with a little piece of art for the home that I made this last weekend.  I had these wonderful little tea cups from Gina's Designs that I knew I wanted to create something with.   When I found this cute little sentiment, I knew exactly what I would make with them. 

Here is a little close up of the tea pot and the tea cup.... with a little sparkly liquid! 

Gina's Designs: 

Tea Time Shape & Border Set 


Next up is Deann with an adorable mini album!

Good morning, Deann here!  Today I want to show you what you can make with coffee sleeves.  We all enjoy our morning coffee, and here's a chance to recycle too!  

 I began by making the covers. I cut 2 pieces of  chip board a little bigger than the coffee sleeves  and cut one side with a TH on the edge die . Covered with paper and a Texture Sheet Swirled Hearts from Gina's Designs .Then I added a Cardstock Doily Set 1  and  the word dream from the Delicate Frames & Ornaments Shape Set . On top of that I added 3 layers of lace to the spine side of the cover and lots of flowers .

 For the inside of the mini I used one of the Freebie Friday printable s Another Vintage Freebie Friday  from Gina's Blog

 These are the tags from all of the pages.

I hope you give it a go ! They are so fun and easy to make . Not to mention you will be recycling !

(((HUGS)))

Deann

Gina's Designs Products used -

 Texture Sheet Swirled Hearts 

 Cardstock Doily Set 1 

 Delicate Frames & Ornaments Shape Set .

 Another Vintage Freebie Friday 

A Canvas by Kathi and a Layout by Melissa

We have two gorgeous layouts to share today.  Kathi is up first with her mixed media layout created on a canvas and by following our February sketch challenge.  You can find the monthly sketch challenge in our gallery in the categories section located at the upper right of the gallery home page.  Play along for the chance to win a $10 gift certificate to the store.  Winners are chosen randomly by drawing.  Watch for a new sketch displayed on the first Monday of each month right here on the blog.

Hello, Kathi here wishing a very happy day to everyone!!! I am so glad that you have decided to drop by today and would love to see you here everyday! We enjoy showing you the many ways we use the gorgeous products from the Gina's Designs.

I created this canvas following our February Sketch Challenge, I had a lot of fun creating the canvas by prepping the canvas then using the Texture Sheet as a mask.  In the following video, I will show you how I created the canvas. Enjoy!

Video

Thanks for visiting today.  Come back soon to see more of my creations as well as creations by the rest of the Design Team.

Gina's Designs Products Used:

Texture Sheet - Swirled Hearts

Feathery Flourishes

Cardstock Doily

Regal Corners

Other Supplies Used:

Graphic 45 French Country paper

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst spays

Grab a Guy Gold

Tiger Lily Red Orange

Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio Sprays

Sandra Dee Sepia

  South Shore Sand

Prima flower Spray

Venice Lace Trim


Next up is another gorgeous layout by Melissa.

Melissa here with a layout featuring Gina's Designs Lasercuts.  For my layout I chose this beautiful French advertising image.  I thought the chipboard elements nicely complemented and framed this feminine image.  I painted the chipboard in subtle tones of pink and gray to compliment the colors in the image.

Gina's Designs chipboard used:
Fanciful Elements

Other products used:
Pink Paislee paper
Lumiere paint
Twinkling H2os
Prima Bling
DCWV paper

5 Drawer Storage Cabinet by Mary

Where the heck has January gone? I cannot believe it is February already! Today I have this amazing five-drawer storage cabinet.

 I really love this cabinet and the storage it provides.  The drawers are nice and deep and you can hold a lot in each one!
This cabinet goes together quickly and easily! I papered the front of the drawers, and the top and sides of the unit with Kellerkurtz & Company (I think right now it is my favorite paper stack!) Before gluing the paper down, I distressed the edges with Walnut Stain. I adhered the metal filigrees with E-6000 and then applied the handles on top.

In the top left corner I adhered one of the doilies which I distressed with the Walnut Stain.
This is a great storage cabinet, and a beautiful and useful project you can complete in a few short hours.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! See you next week!

Gina's Designs

5 Drawer Storage Cabinet

Cardstock Doily Set 1

Other Products
Paper: KellerKurtz & Company (the Paper Studio)
Metal Handles: ButterBeeScraps
Metal Filigree: Craft Supplies 1
Ink: Tim Holtz - Walnut Stain
Glue: E-6000, Aleene's Tacky Glue

Cards by Marfa for the man in your life

Hello gorgeous!  This is Crafting Marfa today.  I want to show a couple of cards that I made for my honey.  His birthday is only a week after Valentine's Day, so I wanted to be ready for both!  Most people love receiving handmade cards, and these are cards that can be made by beginners, or by crafters that don't have a lot of spare time, or even by children.  So don't wait, grab your supplies and make some pretty cards! I am using gorgeous Valentine themed paper by The Robin's Nest.

The guys in my life are definitely not into frilly stuff...lol, but fortunately, Gina's Designs has a lot of manly designs to work with.  For the birthday card I used the Miniature Shapes Set-Guy Things and the High Fliers Shapes Set.  For the Valentine's Day card I used the ADORABLE Intricate Doilies Set, the Doily Set 8 Inch, and the String Alongs-Hearts set.    

The Happy Birthday sign is a border punch by Martha Stewart.  I just cut the letters out, most of them were attached to each other, so that made it easier to glue to the card.  I colored all the chipboard shapes with a silver paint pen, then added Crackle Accents to the shapes on the Valentine's Card.  The finishing touch was to spray Glimmer Mist for extra sparkle.

Gina's Designs Supplies:

Miniature Shapes Set-Guy Things

High Fliers Shapes Set

Cardstock Doily Set-Intricate

Paper by The Robin's Nest

Silver Paint Pen

Crackle Accents

Glimmer Mist