Cappuccino that is!!

I was up all night last night! Really! I never went to bed. I was finishing a brand new plate of stamps that went to the plate maker this morning. And... about thirty new stamp designs will hit the www.stampingfreak.com this week!!  But the thing that really kept me up was reading all of your wonderful MOJO-inducers! I loved all of your suggestions! Next time I am mojo-less, I will have lots to do to get it back. I'm sure everyone here enjoyed reading all of these great stimulators of Mo.

In this blogentry:
1. Winner of the Giga Prize/runner ups
2. A Note to My Fellow Bloggers
3. A Shaker Card Tutorial
4. A Note About New Stamp Designs
5. An Exciting Bit of News Clue #1!
6. Giga and Megas are in!

So, do we have a Giga scalloped punch winner? You bet we do! It is... Melissa!

stampin_melissa wrote:
Mojo? What's that? LOL! When I've lost my inspiration, I just love to browse Splitcoast Stampers website. Eventually, I'll find something that I really like and think I can CASE. I'll also get out my Technique Junkies newsletters and browse. I guess I just browse when I can't figure out what to do!

Now, if I actually won a Giga Scallop Circle I have several ideas I could start on! LOL! Hugs to you GinaK for your inspiration and generosity!


Congratulations on your HUGE win- no pun intended!

And for my four runner ups- these four mojo-makers get a pack of 20 Gina K. Designs Ultra smooth envelopes:

Danita (Moberkitty) wrote:
Losing my mojo - happens far too often! Sometimes I'll just go to the stamp room, put on some Gilmore Girls DVD, pull out a stamp set or two and just make some OSW's. Sometimes that gets the mojo flowing...sometimes it doesn't. But at least I'll have some cool OSW's to use later!
Thanks for your blog - I love it!!!

 Judy DiScipio wrote:
When I don't feel inspired I look through the Stampin' Up! catalog... one page at a time. When I have finished my mind gets inspired and I am able to start stamping a project. I don't know exactly how this works [my mind isn't letting me in on its secret] but it does work. After discovering your blog and subscribing to it, I learned about the Giga Circle and Oval Punches. I went everywhere I could think of online but couldn't find any that were in stock. I thought I would get myself a punching gift. I am loving reading your blog... and by the way, you are looking marvelous!!!

Maureen wrote:
I just take out my old Stampin' Success magazines and before I know it I am ready to hit the stamp pads!! There are so many great ideas - and since I own just about every set - the stampin' gets easy.

 Chrissy Hooker wrote:
To get my mojo back, I CASE other cards from the net until some ideas strike. Thanks for the great giveaway!

Congrats to all the winners. Email me your address and I will get those prizes right out.  tgkrupsky@charter.net . I hope you are enjoying these little fun giveaways and I hope your learning a lot from each other's great comments! I sure am! Another contest coming soon. Stayed tuned for that!


Message to my Fellow Bloggers

I love the readers of my blog and many of you have blogs that visit often. I love to see what's new in your world too. I posted a thread on Splitcoast regarding whether or not it is proper etiquette to ask permission first before you link to someone's blog. (I hadn't done that in the past.) There were mixed opinions. Then, a few of you emailed me to apologize for linking my blog to yours. with out asking! Ughh! I about fell on the floor! Apologize!! Apologize??? I am flattered beyond belief when I see that you added me to your favorites on your blog- NO PERMISSION REQUIRED! So there it is. In writing. LOL! But seriously, we are one big happy family and to share each others info is great!


Shall we Shake it up a bit?
This is quite a long tutorial, mostly because it has 1432 pictures. But it kinda' needs that many to really see how to do it. Shaker cards are so fun! I love cards that have some movement in them and shaker cards give you that movement and a little sound too. (shake-shake!)

So here are the steps to make that shaker card displayed up top!

First, I used my cuttlebug embossing folder to emboss some Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip Card Stock



Next, I used my Giga scalloped Circle punch to punch out the frame of my card.


Then, I used my coluzzle to cut a circle out of the center.



As you can see in the picture above, the circle size that I am using is colored. That's the one I use all the time so the color makes it easy to see. I just used a sharpie to highlight around it in blue. Then, I don't have to guess which top line matches which bottom line.

Here is my other coluzzle circle, highlighted for all sizes:


And here is my cut out frame.



Before you use the transparency or window sheet to make your window, go wash it with soap and water. This will eliminate all static and your shaker stuff won't stick to the window. It really works!

Now, cut out a piece of window sheet, a little bigger than your frame and glue it to the frame.


Then press the frame with glue on to the window sheet and let it dry for a minute or two.


Once it's dry, you can trim away the excess window sheet, just be careful not to snip off a scallop!



Then, using a double sided foam tape, you can get this at Walmart in the hardware department or in the tape department, make a rim of tape. Make sure each piece touches the last so there are no escape routes for coffee grounds.



Then peel off the backing.


Next,stamp your image or greeting and then punch it out with a Giga scalloped circle in Vanilla. Make sure you punch it so the greeting or image is up high so when you fill your frame with shakey stuff, it doesn't cover your image or words.



Then, place some shaker stuff, in this case, coffee, in the center your circle. Keep it away from the areas where you will adhere the frame.




Place your frame on top.



Press it tight and then shake it up and it will fall to the bottom.



Now, you little shaker frame is ready to be attached to your card like so:



I used paper from the Angel Company called shabby chic. Would you believe that's all one piece of paper. All I had to do was trim it! The stamps are from Creative Mode and are available at www.stampingfreak.com . I added some hemp and some copper brads. Then, I stamped the coffee cup and colored in the stars. I cut it out and put it on my card with mono-multi glue.

So that is today's shaker card tutorial. If you make one, comment here and let us know where we can see it!

NEW DESIGNS!!

The new Gina K. Designs stamps are here and will be posted this week on www.stampingfreak.com! The boxes went out to our design team so check my blog and their blogs for new samples all month long! Check for a sneak peek on Wednesday right here for a new Valentine's Day sample!

Clue #1 about something exciting coming soon!

"We are working on something new for you, and let's just say, you will be watching your creativity grow!!!"

PUNCHES ARE IN!!
Available tomorow- Giga scalloped Circles, Giga Scalloped Squares and a couple of Giga Scalloped Ovals plus Megas, super Jumbos and those coveted Hearts!! You're going to want those hearts. I have a sample that you're going to love using that one, and it isn't even for Valentine's Day!

The special of the week- It's back!!! Buy a Giga, Mega and Super Jumbo punch and get a free Ultra clean! Offer good while supplies last! Special ends Saturday, January 13th, 2007 so grab your punches soon! And a whole load of Giga Scalloped Ovals are on their way. They should arrive in another week or two. Stay tuned!

Well, that's about it for today. I hope you enjoyed today's entry. If you want to subscribe to my blog, there is a place on the right where you enter your email address and hit subscribe. Then, every time I do a new update, you'll get an email with the new info.


Have a wonderful night! I am going to bed. I have two nights worth of sleep to get in by tomorrow! LOL!

Love ya'
Gina K