GRS Color Challenge and Chef's Choice Giveaway

It's color challenge time on the Gourmet Rubber Stamps blog and today I am sharing two cards using the fun color scheme below.  I went with a coral instead of the pink...looks like the rebel in me is coming out!  :)

Be sure to scroll all the way down, because we are giving away one of the April Appetizer sets away to one lucky person!  

For this card I used the new Say It Big Appetizer set to create this quick and easy card. Mask off the area in the center and then swipe different colors of ink across to create an ombre effect.  Remove mask and stamp sentiment in black ink.  Add a few dew drops and your done.  Easy peasy!

For this one I masked off lots of different sizes of circles and sponge ink to create the fun dotted background.  Next, I stamped the KJ Butterfly in aqua ink randomly. I stamped the butterfly again in coral colored ink onto a scrap of white cardstock and added the sentiment from the Everyday Sentiments set in aqua ink and layered with some coordinating scraps.  The sentiment panel is popped up on foam tabs.

Here is the inspiration photo, see I told you I changed it up a bit!

Be sure to visit the rest of my teamies blogs as they have some amazing cards to share with you!

GRS Blog

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Melissa Cash

Lori Barnett

Joy Stagg
Meridith Ethington

Are you ready to WIN????

We have a fun announcement that you are going to LOVE!  Today we are starting the "Chef's Choice Giveaway" for each of our monthly color and sketch challenges.  It's super easy to enter and I know you'll want to win the great prizes we have planned!  Here's how you can enter...

1) Just leave a comment on any of the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Facebook posts between April 25th-27th.

2) Visit each designers blog & leave comments between April 25th-27th on their challenge post.  (The blog list will be posted on each blog or click on the photos above.)

3) If you want an extra chance to win,  play along on our challenge and post your lovely creation to our Facebook page.   We'll add your name for another entry to win.

On April 28th, we will select one of our designer's as our Chef's Choice Blog.  The winner will selected from the comments left on her blog and on her card posted to the GRS Facebook page.

The Chef's Choice winner will receive one of the recently released Appetizer sets & will be announced on the GRS Blog & Facebook page.  You'll have one week to claim your prize

GRS Appetizer Time

Whoo hooo!  It is the 15th of the month and that means that it is time for the next Gourmet Rubber Stamps Appetizer release.

 I want to share a card I created with the Say it Big Appetizer set , this set has four large sentiments that will work well as the focal image on a card as I did below.

For this card I let the sentiment say it all! You could easily change up the colors/embossing on this one and make this card masculine.  

Want to make this card?  Here are the basics:

1.  Fold a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of white cardstock in half with the fold on the left edge.

2.  Trim 1/4" from top right edge.

3.  Emboss top of card with embossing folder of choice.

4.  Add coordinating print paper strips to bottom right edge of card.

5.  Stamp Happy Birthday on piece of print paper.

6.  Layer sentiment piece to two coordinating print layers. 

7.  Wrap twine around left edge of sentiment stack and tie with bow.

8.  Roll scraps of print cardstock to create the candles.  

9.  Insert twine into candles for the wick and adhere to sentiment panel.

Ta Da!  Quick and easy and ready to go the next time you need a birthday card.  

Be sure to visit each of the the DT blogs for loads more inspiration.

GRS Blog

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Jennifer Ingle

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Taylor Usry
Melissa Cash (you are here)

Lori Barnett

Joy Stagg
Meridith Ethington

Oh,Happy Day....

Oh, Happy Day!

I am loving the beautiful weather we have been having and that was the inspiration for this bright and cheery card.

I am sharing a quick and easy card with you today.  Even with all of the layers,this card will come together in a snap. 

  Here's how:

1.  Adhere orange and white panels to white top folded A2 (4 1/4 x 5 1/2) card.

2.  Adhere print panel to aqua panel and adhere to card.

3.  Stamp KJ Butterfly randomly in aqua, yellow and orange inks on a white panel and adhere over print panel with dimensional foam tabs.

4.  Stamp Happy Day from the Everyday Sentiments set in orange ink onto a white strip and cut end into a fish tail.

5.  Adhere sentiment panel to orange cardstock strip and cut end in a fish tail and adhere to front of card.

6.  Embellish sentiment panel with a button and bow.

See, I told you it would be easy!  If you give this layout a try, be sure to post it onto the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Facebook page for us to see.

Spring Damask

Hi!  Wow, we have had some nice days this week and that makes me a happy, happy girl!  

Today I am sharing a Spring card with you.  I just love the chartreuse and pink together, it screams Spring.  

I used the pretty Damask image from the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Rustic Floral Appetizer set and the sentiment is also from GRS and it is called Create The Future.

I started with a top fold pink card and added the white embossed panel and print panels with Tombow Stamp Runner.  Next I wanted to pop up the decorative panels but I didn't want extra height so I used Tombow Power Tabs instead of Foam Tabs.  The Power Tabs are about 1/3 of the height of of the Foam Tabs which makes for a great option to have.

The wrinkle ribbon and beaded trim are from May Arts.  For a finishing touch I added a paper flower to the knot of the bow with another Power Tab.  

Power Tabs are thin and very strong so I am sure this card will reach its destination with no problem.

So Very Kind

This is my second post today, please scroll down and check out my cute 3D project.

The card I am sharing with you today is for this months Gourmet Rubber Stamps color challenge.  I substituted ivory for the gray in the inspiration picture, but other than that I stuck to the colors.

I love, love the inspiration photo below and knew what I wanted to do as soon as I saw it.  I used the Rustic Floral Appetizer set from Gourmet Rubber Stamps and embossed it with white powder.  I added color to the stem and leaves with a little Guacamole ink from Clearsnap and for the blossoms I used Tombow's Dual Brush Pen in #126 (Light Olive) and then I smeared the inks a bit with a baby wipe to give that watercolor effect.

 Here is our awesome color inspiration:

Be sure to hop on over to the following blogs and check out the projects from the rest of the team!

GRS Blog

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Jennifer Ingle

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Taylor Usry
Melissa Cash
and don't forget our fabulous guest designer:
Jeanne Streiff

Recipe:

Stamps: Rustic Floral-Gourmet Rubber Stamps

Cardstock:  Dark Chocolate, Ivory-Gina K. Designs, Ivy-Bazzill, Dk Grn-American Crafts

Inks/Markers:  Guacamole-Clearsnap, Rich Cocoa-Memento, Versamark-Tsukineko, Light Olive Marker-Tombow

Adhesives:  Foam Tabs, Stamp Runner-Tombow

 Extras: Leafy Die-Memory Box, Ivory Crochet Trim-May Arts, Brown Ribbon-??, Petite Oval/Scallop Dies-Spellbinders, Textile Texture EF-Cuttlebug, Diamond Stickles

Little Girls and Boys

Good morning!  

I am thrilled to be sharing four cards that were created with the two new Appetizer sets from Gourmet Rubber Stamps.  The sets are called Magical Birthday and Have a Ball.  Take a look, I think you will love them!

Today, I am sharing a few quick and easy cards with you. The first two would be great for the special little girls in your lives. 

Both cards were created using the Magical Birthday Appetizer set from Gourmet Rubber Stamps.  I inked up the butterfly using green, pink and orange pigment inks from Clearsnap and embossed it with clear powder. For the Unicorn, I inked up the stamp with blue, aqua and purple pigment inks from Clearsnap and embossed with clear powder. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the the GRS Happy Birthday Truffles set.  I used Tombow Stamp Runner to adhere the print panels to the solid cardstocks for both cards and the striped panels were lifted up with Tombow Foam Tabs.  The pretty ribbons are from May Arts.

Now, I wouldn't want to leave the boys out, so these next two cards were created using the Have a Ball Appetizer set from Gourmet Rubber Stamps.  For the first card I stamped the image/sentiment with black ink onto white cardstock and then layered the sentiment to a red scrap of cardstock.  The black panel is embossed, although you can't see it in the picture.  For the basketball card, I stamped the image/sentiment in Clearsnap's Candied Yam Chalk Ink onto Kraft cardstock and added a navy layer under the sentiment panel.  The embossed and sentiment  panels were added to the cards using Tombow Stamp Runner and then the sentiment panels were popped up with Tombow Foam Tabs.  Although these cards are for the wee boys in our lives, I added just a bit of ribbon from May Arts to each one.  Nothing to fru fru for the boys though :)

Be sure to stop by the following blogs and check out the teams amazing creations.

Gourmet Rubber Stamps

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Jennifer Ingle

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Taylor Usry
Melissa Cash
Jeanne Streiff (Guest Designer)

Wildflower Friend - GRS Sketch

Hi there! 

 It's the 10th of the month and you know what that means, it is time for the GRS Monthly Sketch.

 The sketch this month was pretty simple and straight forward, so I decided to throw caution to the wind and give my main image panels a little twist (or two).  

I started with a white card base and added some yellow print paper from Glitz Designs and  covered the entire front of the card.  Next I stamped the new GRS Wildflower stamp from the Laura Hunter Series in dark blue ink and layered it to some navy cardstock.  I added a little Scattered Straw Distress ink to the edges of the image and some Diamond Stickles to the flower.  I finished off the card with a leafy stem and tied button.  You know...I have said it a million times....no naked buttons. :)

We would love to have you play along and add your creation to the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Facebook page for everyone to see.

Please be sure to stop by each of my teamies blogs and our amazing March Guest Designer,  Jeanne Streiff's blog too!

Gourmet Rubber Stamps

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Jennifer Ingle

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Taylor Usry
Melissa Cash (you are here)
Jeanne Streiff - March Guest Designer

Would you like to be our next Guest Designer?  If so, check out all of the details HERE.

Butterfly Dreams

Hi there!  Welcome to one of two Gourmet Rubber Stamps releases this month.  Today I am sharing a card from the GRS Laura Hunter Series.  

Laura's images are classic and beautiful and I know you will love them.

I tried something a little different with this card.  I started by stamping the Butterfly image onto some white cardstock and then inked up the entire thing with Colorbox Pigment inks from the Jelly Beans Queue and then covered the image with a glue pad and then added Warm Highlight glitter from Elizabeth Craft Designs over the top.  Next, I used  a Tombow Mono Zero Eraser to remove the glitter from the butterflies and then I added some Glossy Accents to give them shine and dimension.  The image is layered onto orange cardstock and then popped up onto some yellow print paper with Tombow Foam Tabs and then added to a purple card base using Tombow Stamp Runner.  I finished the card with some pretty purple ombre ribbon from May Arts.

Please be sure to stop by the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Blog and the design team blogs below to check out their amazing creations.

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Melissa Cash
Jeni Allen

Just wanted to say...GRS Feb Color Challenge

Just wanted to say:

Hello and happy Monday to you all!

Today I am sharing a card I created for the Gourmet Rubber Stamps February Color Challenge.

I started with the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Just Wanted to Say set and decided to create a Center Step Card although I changed the size to be a 4 1/4" square card. I started with a red base card and added print papers using Tombow Mono Dots Adhesive on each of the panels.  I stamped the adorable telephone and the sentiment with red ink onto some white cardstock.  The telephone panel was then added to a blue panel and popped up using Tombow Foam Tabs. I finished off the card with some twine and a button.

February colors:

Isn't that a great kitchen?

Be sure to stop by these amazing blogs and check out the creativity using this month's colors.

Gourmet Rubber Stamps

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Jennifer Ingle

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Taylor Usry
Melissa Cash (you are here)

See you soon!

Something Incredible

Hi there!  I must be thinking of warm Spring days by the colors I chose for today's card.

Lately, I have been fascinated with all of the things you can do with background stamps.  Sometimes, I think they get overlooked.  I know I have quite a few and don't use them as often as I should.  Watch out, I might be going through a new phase!

I embossed this beautiful Flyaway Coverall stamp from Gourmet Rubber Stamps with Versamark Ink/White Embossing powder.  Using sponge daubers I applied three colors of Distress Inks in random sections.  I used Tombow Mono Adhesive Dots to adhere the Flyaway panel to a Light Aqua panel and then Tombow Power Tabs to adhere the Lt. Aqua panel to a Mint colored card.  Power Tabs can be a nice alternative to Tombow Foam Tabs when you want a little less lift than you would get from the foam tabs.

The Something Incredible sentiment is stamped with Distress ink onto white cardstock and layered to a Mint label diecut and then popped up onto the image panel with Tombow Foam Tabs.  

Floral Gift Card Sleeves

 Giving a gift card?  Why not create a little sleeve for it that was specifically designed for the recipient?

You will need a piece of cardstock that is 3 1/2" by 5".  Score at 2 1/4" and 4 1/2"

Fold on score lines and add Tombow Mono Multi to the 1/2" section and fold over to create the sleeve.  Easy Peasy :)

Depending on how you want to decorate, you can create your sleeve either going horizontal or vertical.

I used the flower from the Friends set from Gourmet Rubber Stamps.  I stamped the flower in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored it in with Tombow Dual Brush pens.  I used:  #020 Baby Peach for the center and #772 Blush for the petals.  I attached the flower to the   front cover with Tombow Foam Tabs.  Tombow Power Tabs were used to hold the ribbon leaves into place.  I covered the center of the flower with Tombow Mono Aqua to give it a pretty shiny center.  

 I used the Gourmet Rubber Stamps Thinking of You set for the front of this sleeve.  I inked up the flower on the stamp with Tombow Dual Brush pen #856 Chinese Red and the leaves with #076 Green Ochre.  I used foam tabs to adhere the image panel to the sleeve.

I hope you will think about making sleeves the next time you want to give a gift card.

Queen Bee and Bubble Sentiments

Wooo Hoooo! It is release day at Gourmet Rubber Stamps!

Today we are sharing two new Appetizer sets with you. 

First up is: Queen Bee

This set has an adorable hive and honeycomb background along with two great sentiments that are especially for Mom.  I stamped the honeycomb in a caramel colored ink and the hive in black ink.  I picked up a bit of the caramel ink with a waterbrush and colored the hive, going over the outer edges a second time to add a little depth. The sentiment was added with black ink.  The ribbon was black/white check so I ran the ribbon over the caramel ink pad to tint the white checks and have a perfect match.

Next is the Bubble Sentiments set

This set has four great sentiments in thought bubbles.  The nice thing about these images is that they have a bit of that chalkboard look to them that is so popular right now.  I can't wait to try them on dark cardstock with some white ink.  I paired the You Rock sentiment with the typewriter and sentiment from the GRS Just Wanted You to Say set. The typewriter and sentiments were stamped in Slate ink which aids in that distressed look.

Be sure to stop by the GRS Blog and each of the GRS DT blogs today and check out their amazing offerings with these two new sets.

Gourmet Rubber Stamps

Deb Felts

Jeni Allen

Jennifer Ingle

Kelli Palmer

Kendra Wietstock

Stephanie Lee

Melissa Cash (you are here)...thanks for stopping by. 

Be My Valentine

Hi there! 

 It's the 10th of the month and that means it is time for the GRS February Sketch Challenge.  

It has been quite awhile since I created anything with a vintage feel but this pretty Truffles Elegant Valentine set from Gourmet Rubber Stamps just screamed vintage to me so I had a little fun using some pretty vintage print papers and rich cranberry cardstock and ink.  A little crochet trim and some pearls finished it off.

Be sure to stop by the blogs of my fellow teamies and check out their awesome sketch inspired creations.

• Deb Felts

• Jeni Allen

• Kendra Wietstock 

Kelli Palmer

• Jennifer Ingle 

• Stepanie Lee

• Melissa Cash - you are here

Be sure to play along and share your creation on the GRS Facebook page, we would love to see what you create and share the love with a comment or two.

Happy Birthday and some BIG News!

Hi there!  Can you believe it is February 1st already?  I sure can't.  It seems like it was just Christmas.  Today I am sharing a card I created with the adorable Happy Birthday set from Gourmet Rubber Stamps.  I just love how whimsical this cake is and the font on the sentiment is AWESOME!

Ya ready for some big news?  A few weeks ago, my pal Kendra Wietstock e-mailed me and asked me if I would like to join the GRS Design Team.  Well, it didn't take me long to say yes.  I can't wait to get stampy with the amazing team at Gourmet Rubber Stamps.  

You will find them all listed in my sidebar on the right.  Be sure to stop by their blogs and tell them I sent ya!

I stamped the image in Rich Cocoa Memento ink and colored it in with an assortment of markers and glitter pens.  It really does sparkle in person!  The sentiment was also stamped in the Rich Cocoa ink and attached to the card with a button that was tied with a pretty pink ribbon.  The larger brown layer was popped up onto the pink base card.

Be sure to check back soon for more great Gourmet Rubber Stamp creations!

Be Mine Valentine Boxes

Happy Friday!  This week on the Tombow blog the DT has been creating ABC (anything but a card) and I am sharing a couple of Valentine treat boxes that I will fill with little candies.

The boxes were cut using a Silhouette cut file.  I used Tombow Mono Multi on the side flap of the box and held it for a count of 10 and this was perfect to hold the box closed.  The bottom of the box has flaps that fold into little slots, but I wanted to make sure that nothing would fall out the bottom so I added a little Mono Multi between the flaps just to be sure that the bottom was secure.

For this box, I stamped the heart from the Gourmet Rubber Stamps  Elegant Valentine with some red ink onto a scrap of white cardstock and then over stamped with the sentiment (from the same set) in black ink and then cut out with my Petite Oval Nestabilities and adhered with a Tombow Foam Tab.  For the lace knot, I cut a Tombow Power Tab in half and secured the ribbon to the box.  That baby isn't going anywhere! :)

For this box, I did the same procedure for the Be My Valentine panel except for I used Circle and Lacy Circle Nestabilities dies.  Before I added the sentiment panel, I used some Tombow Mono Adhesive Dots onto the backside of the lace and then wrapped it all of the way around the box.  The sentiment panel is popped up onto a Tombow Foam Tab.