Melanie Muenchinger turns TWO!!! The blog hop!

Hello and welcome to Melanie's 2nd birthday as illustrator for Gina K.! I was lucky enough to have been a guest designer for Melanie's Tee Talk set. It combines PERFECTLY with Little Tees & Just So Sporty...2 sets I proudly own and even go with Wee Tees spotlighted by my good friend Laura Jean (you'll find her on the hop!). Thanks Melanie for stalking me...lol...on Splitcoast Stampers when I had my TWO swaps with your awesome sets! Thanks most of all for having included me to guest design for your set! Congrats on your two years! Here's to MANY more!

I made a quickie card for the hop because I'm fighting a cold...so my all was not into it! But here is a slide show of some of the work I've done with Mels sets!


Can you believe it...

Melanie Muenchinger is celebrating two years of blogging and illustrating for Gina K Designs, and today she has invited 25 designers and YOU to join the party! First hop through the following designers' blogs using every set she has created since January 2008, from the first to the 25th! Then go to Melanie's' blog to leave a comment for a chance to win a number of different prizes! So let's get hopping!

Here we go!

Just So Hippy-Charmaine

Just So Hoppy-Donna

What’s in Your Tin 1 & 2-Donna

Hip Hop Accessories-Bee

Jumping for Joy-Barb

Cuddles and Hugs-Jessie

Little Tees-Cat

Just So Sporty-Pam

A Year of Flowers-Theresa

Say it with Flowers-Selma

Selma X2

Have a Cookie-Carolina

Tee Talk-Gabby

Hand in Hand-Ally

The Best Things in Life-Shannon, Sankari

A Charmed Life-Cathy

Wee Tees-Libby, Laura Jean

Arranged with Love-Selma

Sporty Accessories-Tina

Inspiration Mosaic-Jennie

School Sports Spirit-Melissa

A Year of Leaves-Geri

Hip to Be Square-Karen

Festive Frame-Linda

Square Pegs- Lee


Finally, Nina and Jessica from the GinaK Senior Design Team have joined in, too! You can also get in on the hop yourself and increase your chances of winning a prize by creating your own project with any one of Melanie's sets and linking it in the Mr. Linky in her post, see full details here. Hope you can join the fun! Enjoy your first hop of the year!

Happy New Year everyone!

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!!

WOO HOO...GO ARIZONA CARDS!!! Ok...so I know Steelers are favorite...but I'd rather see the Cards win! Who knows...maybe? LOL! Anywho...we here at the Arriaza household are HUGE football fans...so Super Bowl is a big deal to us! It would be even bigger if it was our Oakland Raiders...but not since that KICK IN THE STOMACH LOSS have they come back! To think they were favorite to whoop Tampa Bay...which I give props to their defence...but loss VERY BAD. It's like the Raiders didn't even show up! Oh well...I wont say anymore because it's like pouring salt into a still open wound! SOOOOO moving on! :P

Like I was saying...we are huge football fans and so I made this card for my wonderful awesome man...Oscar! My honey until death does us part of 10 years now (11 on Feb 21.) turned 42 yesterday. It was his birthday and he had to work my poor tired thing. But today we are headed to my MIL's to not only watch the Super Bowl...but to also celebrate BOTH our birthdays! Mine is tomorrow! I will be turning 32 and I'm still not ashame of admiting it! Once I turn 35 though...I'm not guaranteeing ANYTHING! I'll probably be 35 until I die...LMBO!!!

It's crazy to even think that Oscar has been my lovey dovey honey buns for 14 years now (15 in November)!!! Holy carap...I was 17??? He sure did cradle nap me...he was 27! DANG OSCAR...WAS I THAT FINE LOOKING??? LOL! I need to dig thru pics to find a pic of me at 17 and wodner what he saw in me...lol. Hey...it's pretty awesome though to do all that math and realize that he aint going anywhere...and neither am I! For living in California...the state of the Barbie dolls with the tans and fake boobs...that says A LOT!!!

Anywho...I'm babbling! So...lol...back on track...I made this card for my hubby using our teams colors...and what better to acompany that silver and black jersey but frothy mugs of beer??? Oh...and check out that football!!! I kicked BUTT on that football! I had to toot my own horn on that...sorry! Some of you who visit Melanie's blog probably saw this card featured there right? Well...thanks to Mel and her KICK @$$ stamps...I was able to make this special card for my honey. Along with that...using another fabby set by Gina K.! Along with that...I made him a CUTE keychain using Just So Sporty by Mel using shrinky dinks! Check it out!

Supplies:
CS/DP: BBlack, BGray, mirror by vendor unknown, RRust, VVanilla, & Bright White, & Rockstar DP (Shrinky Dinks for keychain)

Ink: BBlack, Prismas, Vintage Photo, & Old Paper

Stamps: Just So Sporty, Tee Talk, & My Tailgate Or Yours

Embellishments: laces ribbon

Others: Dots(?) CB folder, Rectangle Curved Nesties, Ticket corner punch

Hugs,

Gabby

All dresses up and ready to go New Years Eve 2008!

Happy New Years Eve to all! So what is everyone doing tonight? I'm staying home with my family and making vegeterian lasagne and watching TV. We hardly ever go out anymore because it's just too hard to be taking my parents out now a days...but I think us staying home waiting for the clock to strike midnight is all we need. What's better than that? Of course in years past we would go out to parties and what not...but those are years in the past now...lol. ETA: Since I posted this on auto-pilot, the initial meal was a veggie sagne...but now we're having a country fried meal! I'm making friend chicken, homemade mash, corn on the cobb, and made from scratch biscuits!!! YUMMM...and instead of going out, we're having a potluck with the middle house and front house tenants! This should be fun...they always make their traditional meals. Good thing it's New Years EVE and I can pig out! LOL...but on Jan. 1st...I'm laying low from the foods that are NOT good for me. SOOO...here's to healthy eating in the New Year!!!

What are your New Year traditions?

Us...at midnight we eat 12 green grapes and make a wish (could be the same one) for each grape.

We get a box of poppers and let the kids go nuts (so mom could have work in the morning).

And of course...we hug each other. I cry...lol!

Any resolutions?

HA...I have plenty:

1. Lose weight (even though this is an every year thing) :P

2. Be a better person

3. Work on ME!

4. Spend more time with neglected friends

5. Be a better mom, wife, & daughter

6. NOT spend so much money on stamping stuff!!! *GASP* I know huh? But it's true...I sometimes spend too much on crafting stuff in general to keep up with trends knowing very well that I CAN work with what I have! I already have too much and sometimes things I spend money on and then don't even get used...it's horrible. More of my money SHOULD be used on my kids and my wardrobe! :S

I know there's more things I need to work on...but I'll share just that...lol. Your turn!

Prismacolor markers used:

Supplies:

CS/DP: BBlack, BGrey, Bright White, Silver foil CS, & Rockstar DP

Ink: BBlack, GGrey, & Prismas

Stamps: Little Tee's & Studio G (January)

Embellishments: polka dot ribbon, per-adhesived flat back bling, & silver wire

Others: Cuttlebug Dots folder, Coluzzle, circle punches, & star punch

Hugs,

Gabby

My brain is working overtime...

...so I made this card featured today! With everything cleaned and half way cooked for tomorrow...I have nothing else to do! The gifts are wrapped, the kids are cleaned and fed...so as I sat here bored out of my mind...I put my hands to good use! I had these designs in my head for Melanie's tee's last night as I went to bed. This is when I get good ideas...although sometimes when I wake up...I've forgotten! Not the case this morning! I drew out what went thru my mind and BOO-YAH...these creations came to life...and EXACTLY as I had seen them in my head. That's a new one! Usually what's in my head never comes out like what goes on paper...not this time!!! YAY...my inner Santa is giving me an early gift to unwrap! The other card I made I'm gonna out-pilot for New Years Eve...I'm SOOOO excited for you to see that one...so please come back then! For now...here's the card I made to share today! I'm sure many can relate to the sentiments...lol!

So you can't decide whether to be naughty or nice...well...neither can I! LOL! Hence this card! Santa will have to deal with whatever Gabby he gets tomorrow night when he come to drop off the goodies! ;) LOL! Hey...didn't I tell you these tees are so much fun to play with??? You gotta get them if you don't have them...you will NOT regret it! I promise! And I'm not saying it because I was a guest designer for Melanie...I'm saying it cause I mean it!

Here I stamped the first tee on to Ridin' Hood Red, then the next on Kiwi Kiss, and the last on Bright White then colored in with Prismacolor "Buff" for the flesh. Notice the cleavage? ;) The naughty tee had it's sleeves cut off to make it sexy looking and gave it a neckline...down to there...yeah! Then I hand drew the Santa belt and went in with the Liquid Applique' to create the puff. The nice tee I colored in the sleeves with Prismas and stamped the trees from Studio G (December). Added some Stickles and WA-LA insta Christmas tee!!!

I bet you're wondering where this "energy" came from...well...it came from going to Maria's blog! She's always making these gorgeous creations and they're always so bold and "full"! Maria was my upline when I was a demo...she also became my friend when I found her on eBay and invited her to my MSN card group. Her work is EXQUISITE! It's thanks to her that I grew in my stamping abilities. I hadn't visited her blog in AGES...but thanks to the newly discovered widget...the following one...I decided to jump on over!

Anywho...I hope you've enjoyed this blah blah for the evening...lol.

Prismacolor markers used:

Supplies:

CS/DP: KKiss, RHRed, Bright White, & Christmas DP SU 2007

Ink: BBlack, KKiss, RHRed, & Prismas

Stamps: Little Tees, Tee Talk, Twisted Sentiments, Studio G (December), & ...and then I said!

Embellishments: sheer white ribbon, gold cord SU, & Liquid Applique'

Others: Scalloped Edge punch, circle punch, scalloped round punch, white gel pen, daubers, & Crop-A-Dile

Hugs,

Gabby

Well...I did something right!!! LOL!!!

Yeah...I bet you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about...well...I was "monkey-ing" (as my dad puts it) with the computer. Yesterday when I posted...I couldn't even see my background OR see my pictures or upload pictures to show. Well...I was monkey-ing with it this morning and TA-DA! I could upload pictures!!! *knock on wood for it to continue* SO...I'm happy at least about that. LOL!

Ok...here is another project I made using the tutorial for the Bella Rose Tote (which BTW I am SOO sorry for those who couldn't see it). Melanie mentioned it on her blog when she posted my project as guest designer that the link was only viewable by thoe who subscribe to SCS. I made it similar to the last one I made because they're "Twilight-is" colors and my DS's teacher is a Twilighter. Oh...she LOVED IT!!! After I was done with it...I wanted to keep it...lol. It comes with a notepad...made the rings with the BIA that I've been neglecting...a Post It notes holder, R.S.V.P. pen, and a bookmark. These totes are too much fun to make. Whatcha think?

Supplies:

CS/DP: BBlack, RHRed, Bright White, & Black & White series DP from Making Memories

Ink: BBlack

Stamps: Little Tee's, Tee Talk, & Studio G Alpha

Embellishments: FLOWERS!!!...bling, baubbles, ribbon, fibers, & Build-A-Brad

Others: Clip, coaster, Post It notes, chipboard, notepad, & bamboo skewers

Hugs,

Gabby

Sneak Peeks: Melanie Muenchinger's Little Tee & Just So Sporty COMPANION!!!

You will never believe my surprise when I received this set from Melanie as a Thank You for promoting the Little Tee's and Just So Sporty on my blog and for hosting 2 swaps on SCS. I was super stoked!!! I felt like if I was receiving an autograph from HIM (my favorite band of all time) or something...lol. And what awesome honor to be making these sneak peeks for you all!!!

As you have seen before in my previous posts...I LOVE these 2 sets from Melanie Muenchinger! Little Tee's and Just So Sporty are SO MUCH FUN and very versatile to use! You've seen me make regular tee's, sleeveless tee's, pant & shirt sets, PJ's...I could go on on the limitless things you can create from these sets. If you think I'm lying...check out Melanie's TIP SHEET!!! NOW...the newest companion for these sets will be on sale at MIDNIGHT at Gina K.!!! You get a bunch of extra sentiments you can use for the sets Little Tee's and Just So Sporty! It even has some fun ones you can use to make postcards...or even stamp outside an envelope. You can even do the innies and outies!!!

This Forks, WA tee I made here used said stamp. It says "Somebody in _____ loves you". How cool is that??? You can customize it you ANY city or ANY place your heart desires!!! My desire was Forks or course...lol. I used Studio G's Alphabet set series 3 to add the city and state. I can't say I'm SUPER happy with this card because I've been in a creative slump lately with not getting enough sleep and what not prepping for LV's JB concert Saturday. Not my ususal style...but still worth showing to promote Mel's new set which by the way is called "Tee Talk". I just did a basic print out of a map showing forks and the zip code seal and just went with it. Like the apple brad? LOL! I think it's cute...what do you think?

Suppies:

CS/DP: PPoint, RRHood, & Bright White from Wausau Papers

Ink: BBlack, RRHood, & Prismacolor Marker in Crimson Red

Stamps: Little Tee's, Tee Talk, & Studio G Alphabet series 3 set

Embellishments: apple brad

Others: circle punches in 1 3/4 & 1 1/2

Here is another card I made. Getting more to my style...yet NOT EXACTLY what I had envisioned. I wish I would have used a lighter colored DP for the "I'd rather be stamping" sentiment "printed" on the PJ's. I wanted them to look kind of like my new PJ's...but failed. I will try again once the concert madness is over and done with! Wouldn't you rather be stamping too than sleeping??? Well...I haven't been sleeping...but I haven't been able to do some stamping either! *blush* I went to an old reliable sketch as my brain was malfunctioning to come up with a better layout than the ones I've had recently. See...I told you these sets are versatile! I made the PJ pants with the same tee stamp...just cut off the arms and made the pants using a black marker pen. It also has an under shirt "for extra warmth" lol! Next project I'll be using the Just So Sporty hoodie and throw back jersey!

Supplies:

CS/DP: CChip, Bright White, VVanilla, & Basic Grey DP Mellow

Ink: BBlack

Stamps: Little Tee's & Tee Talk

Embellishments: SU ribbon

Others: Dimensionals, scalloped edge punch & paper snips

If you have Little Tee's or Just So Sporty...or BOTH...Tee Talk is a MUST HAVE!!! Pick it up at midnight after the release party at Gina K.! Don't have either...take advantage of the 1 free with 3 special Gina K. offers! Wanna chat it up a bit on the release party thread...join us HERE! You may even have a chance to win this set with the challenges and contests!!! See you there!

Tees & Hoodies & Sentiments OH MY

Well...MelMel AKA Melanie Muenchinger of Gina K. is at it again! She is releasing a new set of sentiments to fit in the Little Tees and Just So Sporty sets and I am super stoked! I just can't get enough of these sets and LV the same! Here are a few cards made by both myself and LV as we get ready for the upcoming release!!! What do you think? Do you like these hoodie and tees? Look for the I {heart} my Tees banner and click on it! Also...if you're up for a challenge...buy some! ;) In the near future I'll be hosting an SCS swap for these in case you're interested!!!

This one here is one I made for a challenge MelMel is hosting to be able to win the new upcoming set. I made it for my mom as she is my super hero. Even though she's going thru what she's going thru...she is still full help when it comes to my dad. This woman is unbelievable! She also dresses like this...so I had to make something fitting...lol. I stamped the tee 3 times...once on the DP and twice on the Kiwi CS. I just trimmed here and there to put the outfit together! I also added buttons using flat back rhinestones. Cute huh?

Ugh...for some reason...blogger picture upload isn't cooperating with me...so these pictures are coming out HUGE so I had to manually resize! Sorry if the pictures may look grainy! Hope they get it together soon!!!

Here is a tee card LV made...I think I mentioned this one before...the one she made using glow-in-the-dark paint...it's adorable! She stamped the shades and then went over the eye part with the paint. Leave it in the light for a while and then shut off the lights and WOW...lol...it glows!!!

Now here is a hoodie card she made. Since she ran out of her shrinky dinks...she resorted to stamping a small guitar I picked up for her at ATS. Boy did she give me work on this one. I had to snip it for her! AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! It was horror as I had to do 6 of them...lol. Either way I love how this card of hers came out! Could you believe she giving ME coloring tips to "inner shade" as she calls it using Prismas??? Yeah...I can now hang my head in shame! LOL!

Prismacolor Markers used:
Supplies:

CARD 1~

CS/DP: PPirrouette, RRHood, Bright White from Wausau Papers, & Bella Rose DP

Ink: BBlack & RRHood

Stamps: Little Tees & Just So Sporty

Embellishments: flat back rhinestones & pink ribbon

Other: ScorPal, CB, & folder

CARD 2~

CS/DP: BGrey, BBlack, BWhite from Wausau Paper, & DCWV Rockstar DP
Ink: BBlack
Stamps: Little Tees
Embellishments: sheer silver glitter ribbon
Other: glow in the dark paint by Tulip

CARD 3~

CS/DP: BBreeze, C2Cocoa, BWhite from Wausau Paper, & DCWV Rockstar DP
Ink: BBlack & Prismas
Stamps: Just So Sporty & Guitar (vendor unknown)
Embellishments: brown and white polka dot ribbon
Other: jump rings