Final Gina K Preview Day and Blog Candy!

Wow! What a week of amazing previews---Tonight the Gina K Design team is showing projects created with Warm Winter Wishes (illustrated by me!) and Holiday Hospitality (the one free with three set!).

I am so thrilled today to show you a few things I made with my new set Warm Winter Wishes. But first, I want to share the story behind the set. [You can also click on the Alzheimer's Association link under "find it fast" to read all the previous posts related to this.]

Here is the post I wrote last year to introduce the first set, Whimsical Autumn, I drew to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association:

In Loving Memory Of Clare Lyons "Mamo"

September 26, 1916 - July 1, 2008

For those of you who read my blog, you know that my grandmother passed away in July. I wrote about it here. What you may not know is that for the past 12 years of her life, she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. After she was first diagnosed, she moved into my parent’s house where I was living with my daughter. I saw first-hand how devastating this disease can be. I saw my grandmother go from a completely independent and meticulous women to a completely dependent person who lost all of the wonderful memories her life created. In many ways, my family has been saying goodbye to my grandmother for years...as her energy diminished, her weight plummeted and the memories of her life were erased from her mind. I had just finished drawing the images for this set when I received a call from my mother telling me that my grandmother passed away. Although part of me was rejoicing because she suffered too long…the selfish part of me was wishing for just one more visit...After returning from Pennsylvania and getting back to work—I had a resurgence of energy for this new set. I decided the best way for me to honor my Grandmother’s memory was to give back. And so, 100% of my proceeds from this set will be sent to the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Always.

So this year, I decided that I would do it again. Whimsical Autumn allowed me to donate more money that I ever could on my own and it gave me such personal satisfaction....so I illustrated Warm Winter Wishes for this year. And, just like Whimsical Autumn, I will donate 100% of my proceeds from the sale of this set to the Alzheimer's Association in my grandmother's memory. Always.

This year's set includes a snowman that is holding a heart. There are small words you can stick inside the heart or you can leave it empty. Here is the FIRST card I created with this set. I sneak peeked it a few days ago but wanted to show it again today. All images are in Warm Winter Wishes:

I stamped the snowflakes (they can also be stars, the sun, etc.) in pink for this winter card. I used a sentiment from the set and stamped the snowman twice so I could layer the image. I added the little "Hugs" inside the heart.

Materials used: Stamps- Warm Winter Wishes (Gina K Designs - will be released October 1!)Memento black ink; stickles (ranger); designer paper- Jolly by Golly (Cosmo Cricket); ribbon (Michael's).

Next, I created a card with the snowman again but this time I paired him with Hip to Be Square so I could have him outside the window. I used some of the new Vintage Holly digital paper for the background. For this card, I left the heart empty stamped the sentiment below.

The beautiful ribbon is from the Holiday collection of ribbons that will be available on Thursday as well!

Materials used: Stamps-Warm Winter Wishes, Hip to Be Square (Gina K Designs); Memento black ink; Copic markers; cardstock-white (Gina K Designs); digital paper- Vintage Holly (Gina K Designs); ribbon (Gina K Designs); markers-black/red (SU!); corner rounder punch (Creative Memories); other-silver snowflake.

Next, I wanted to create a card for another holiday--to show you that many of the images can be used all year. I used the block "LOVE" stamp for this design. I stamped the sentiment block in staz-on ink over the clear hearts and then mounted them to the card using some of the red brads from the new Stamp TV kit:

I added the sentiment and some more beautiful ribbon that you will find at Gina K Designs. The metallic gold cardstock (new!) and the rocket red cardstock are also from Gina K Designs.

Materials used: Stamps-Warm Winter Wishes (Gina K Designs); Memento black ink; Staz-on ink; Heidi swapp ghost hearts; red brads (Gina K Designs); cardstock-rocket red, metallic gold (Gina K Designs); ribbon (Gina K Designs); designer paper-Everafter:Something Borrowed (Cosmo Cricket).

Finally, here is another card I created with this set. This little coffee/tea/hot cocoa mug is also in the set. I used the block "LOVE" stamp to create a background and stamped the mug on top. I stamped the mug again and layered it over the first image.

I stamped the sentiment, inking it with markers so I could use two colors. Finally, I added some chocolate ribbon that comes in the Stamp TV kit this month.

Materials used: Stamps-Warm Winter Wishes (Gina K Designs) ink-Memento black ink, gray (SU!); Copic markers; cardstock-kraft (SU!), rocket red, pure luxury white (Gina K Designs); ribbon (Gina K Designs); black adhesive rhinestones.

Blog Candy: So what do you think? I hope you like this new set---and before I send you off to see all the amazing things my teammates have designed......leave a comment on this post for your chance to win Warm Winter Wishes. (Subscribers can post twice!) Random.Cara will select a winner tomorrow night (Thursday at 6 p.m. CENTRAL time!)

Then, head over to GinaK's blog to add your comment to her blog entry for a chance to win the stamp sets being previewed tonight our blogs!

Here are the rest of the links to the Design Team Members participating in the hop tonight:

Cathy Tidwell
Cindy Lawrence
Donna Baker
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Jessica Fick
Kurtis Amundson
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Melanie Muenchinger
Nina Brackett
Tami Mayberry
Theresa Momber

CenterStage Spotlight Designers:

Joy Hadden
Lori McAree

We'd love to have you join us at our Release party tomorrow night over on SCS starting at 7pm CST. There will be lots of chatter, samples, contest questions, and challenges - you won't want to miss it! Check out Theresa's discussion if you're new to our Release parties for some helpful information to get you started.

Thanks so much for stopping by!