Hello there my friends. I'm starting a new series on my blog called Change It Up.
There are two reasons why I'm starting this. The first is for inspiration for you. The second is for when my mojo go-goes, I can CASE somebody else to get those creative juices flowing again. There isn't going to be any set day or anything like that, just whenever.
For today's card, I'm CASEing Gina Krupksy at Gina K. Designs and Stamp TV. Gina is so real and awesome and Stamp TV is a pretty cool place to hang out with some very nice people. What I've always appreciated about Gina is that she keeps it real, all the way. She keeps stamping fun, simple, shows wonderful techniques and her line of stamps is unbelievably affordable. She doesn't saturate her line of products. She has a quarterly Stamp TV Kit that comes with 2 large stamp sets that you can get months and years of use out of. She does weekly videos with her design team. Her other illustrators release a stamp set each between Stamp TV Kit releases and they each do a weekly video with them as well. Videos are filmed of new and old stamp sets weekly for a total of 3 videos weekly. Tutorials galore here folks.
You could spend about $100 a quarter and have every single product in her store. She has her own card stock and inks, which are some of the best on the market. Her Clearly Gina K line of photopolymer stamps are of the highest quality and I haven't had one stain on me yet. Gina really makes this hobby completely affordable and within budget. I've been using her products since late 2007 and she's come such a long way with her business, staying on trend, and the insanely popular Stamp TV. That concept was pure genius. She is definitely a trendsetter. Bottom line, you're not bombarded with new products all of the time and you can truly enjoy what you have for a long time and I like that, a lot, and Gina also does tutorials on them for a long time too. Die-cuts are included in the Stamp TV Kit as a general rule and cut files are offered for free that you can use with your Silhouette. It's just a good place to be to hang out, meet new friends and there's always somebody willing to help.
As Copic markers gained popularity, Gina kept in mind how expensive they are and that not everybody can afford them. Do you know what she did? She found a completely cost effective way of showing you how to use Bic Markers instead as they are also alcohol-based. Who would have ever thought that you could pick up a huge pack of these markers that we've all used for years and never gave them a second thought to use on our craft projects? Not me! You can get 50 markers for like $35. Then Spectrum Noir came on the scene. She did her homework and is now carrying and using these extremely affordable alcohol-based markers in the store with their colored pencils. Gina also has on board her resident Spectrum Noir Colorist to teach you how to use your investment.
Die-cutting machines have come so far to the point where you press a button and your cut is done for you. Gina still uses the very first die-cut machine that I know of, her trusty Cuttlebug. I think she just picked up another machine, that I forgot the name of, and that was only to be able to do more techniques and cut different materials.
Gina has 2-3 other illustrators, all with their own distinct style and audience. Gina K Designs is definitely not generic. No matter what your personal style is, there is something for you at Gina K. Designs.
Below is the new Stamp TV Kit of Autumn Wishes that was just released and you also get incentives. See that big and beautiful roll of gold cording? I've had my roll forever and Bella got a hold of it and chewed it up. It's a knotty mess right now. I was pretty bummed about that, but now I'm winding it up on an antique spool, or at least I have plans to.
The stamp sets in the Stamp TV Kit are completely different which just gives you more stamps to play with!
Here is Gina's Need a Lift Card Project.
And here is my card with a lot of pictures because I couldn't make up my mind what I liked the best.
I changed several things to make it mine. I rounded some corners, left off the sentiment and stamped it on the inside, added enamel dots, added tiny dots to my critters rather than using a Blender Pen, I did more blending with my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers, added twine to the left side of the card and put that panel up on foam tape. I originally used the Blender Pen for the texture on the wheelbarrow as Gina did. I didn't like how mine turned out so I added another layer of GB8 to even it out and I think this looks much better.
For the inside of my card, I didn't waste any of the beautiful Autumn Wishes 6 x 6 Patterned Paper Pack. I used the leftover small strip, rounded the corners and used it at the bottom of my card. I stamped half of the sunflower with Honey Mustard ink using a simple masking technique, the same that Gina uses in her video; stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and the leaf with Jellybean Green.
Go and check out Stamp TV for some fabulous tutorials. I especially love watching the older technique videos and bring those back to life too.
Thank you so very much for stopping by to visit me today and God bless you!
Proverbs 5:18.
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