Somebody Sang "Be Our Guest" to Me.......

I am always on the interwebs, looking for instruction and inspiration, learning new ideas all the time.  What I like BEST is finding those souls out there who not only are wicked talented, but are also SUPER generous.  These are the people who do hundreds of free online tutorials, and expect nothing in return, other than a peek at what you, yourself are doing with the info. 

Enter Melanie Muenchinger.  Melanie (not Mel, thank you) is a very talented designer and artist, as well as a wife and mother, and a HUGE support system for this burgeoning cardmaker.  I "met" this super talented gal at GinaK Designs StampTV, through our chatting back and forth during a release party, and by commenting on each other's work over these few months.  When I won a prize with my FIRST posting at StampTV, her Gifts from the Sea set was my pick out of everything else there.  I talk about it and show you a sample in my blog post, Spoils of the Winner. 

She is a such a super inspiration to me, and SO kind and supportive.  In fact, and HERE'S THE BIG, BIG NEWS!!!!, Melanie has asked me to be a guest designer for her JUST released stamp set The Vine.  I got this email from her from out of the blue, and she asked if I would be interested in getting a sneak peek at the new set, and would I like to have one?   WOULD I?  (hair lip, hair lip....)   I am such a fan of her work, of COURSE I wanted to work with this new set!!!

Next thing I know, the stamp set arrives on THE DAY of the release party, and I quick-like-a-bunny whip up a card with this set and post it HERE (lousy photo with my phone) at StampTV during the party, thinking I am getting the scoop on everybody.....SUDDENLY, other people are congratulating me on being Melanie's GUEST DESIGNER.  Wha?  What's that?  Hey, that's a cool thing, right?  HEY! I'm hanging with the cool kids!  (And if you know me, you know that is so NOT me...)

ANYWAY---I AM a guest designer!  You need to scoot over to Hands, Head and Heart, and see my sample card that I did with The Vine.  I'll wait for you right back here.  Go on.....(but come right back....)

Okay!  So you're back!  Wasn't that FUN?  Isn't she amazing?!   SO, while you were gone, I made these--

 On a GinaK Designs Pure Luxury 120# white cardstock base, I versmarked the vine image several times, and embossed with clear embossing powder.  I then sponged on Studio G ink to make the background, leaving the center brighter than the edges.  I stamped the vine onto green cardstock from The Paper Co., and on green plaid DCWV paper, and cut them out, and did the same with the flowers.  Then I layered everything together, popping up just about 2/3 of everything with foam squares.  I think I counted 27 squares in all!!  Then I used Stickles to glitter up the flower centers.  The sentiment was done with the same ink as the background.  I had such a great time, adding "just a few more" flowers for about 30 minutes.  Luckily, I had just bought some new foam squares, so I had no issue with running out of them!

On this card, I again used GinaK Designs 120# white for the base, then layered up pink and green cardstock from The Paper Company. This is a value pack of paper, and while it's not really the best for making card bases, I really like it for layering.   

I used a piece of light green CS from DCWV, and ran it through my ever trusty Cuttlebug with the Swiss dot embossing folder, and did the punched edge with an EK punch. I layered that with a piece of DP from AC Patterned Papers, the "Play" set on top.  Don't you love the Nestabilites Labels Four die with that paper?!  Works perfectly with the sentiment, too.  I sponged versacolor Split pea on the white piece while the die was still on to get the pretty framed edge.  I colored and cut three stamped images of the flowers out of the same CS I used to layer up the background, and did the same with the vine from the green.These are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and I filled in the designs with Inkssentials Glossy Accents for some shine, and again popped it all up with foam squares.    

 Did you like the one I did at Melanie's blog?  They are all really different, right?  I love how versatile stamps can be.  This set also coordinates with Melanie's Branching Out set, also available at GinaK Designs., so the possibilities are just about endless. 

I could not be more honored to do this, my first Guest Designer spot, with Melanie, and I have to let the world (or at least you, dear reader) know that she has been, continues to be a great mentor and inspiration. 

Having this opportunity has revved up my inspiration level to a hot 11, and I hope I did her artwork proud.  Many thanks to her, and especially to you for stopping by.  Come back again!

All Best-

Richard