Here's Donna

Hey Y'all!!

Donna here from Geek Squad Crafting!   I'm so happy to introduce myself to you today as a Design Team Member of SSInkspiration.  Some of you may remember me from a little while ago...if you do...Good Eyes!!  :)

I was so thrilled to be back with SSInk this year to stretch my creative brain and flex my crafty muscles again!!   I LOVE my Stampin' Up! products and I love to share them with my customers and y'all!!

Just so you can get a little glimpse into my life....

I am an AVID reader....and am currently helping some dear sweet friends launch 4 new books!!
I have become quite the Book Launcher as of late.  They are mostly Christian Reading, Memoirs, and Devotionals.   I belong to a fantastic online tribe of women who love Jesus and each other and this is my #the4500 t-shirt that we had made.  Jen Hatmaker had no idea what she was getting herself into when she released For The Love a few years ago... ;)

This is my heart...my other half Dave...I am pretty sure neither of us is ever going to grow up.





These are my GOOFBALL kids!  Ryan, Natalie, and Derek.   They keep me ridiculously busy with all their sports and school activities.  I wouldn't trade the insanity for the world!!


My crafting style can be summed up in one word....... Ecclectic.
I love ALL THINGS old and vintage, but I never craft that way....kinda weird eh?   I love love love to color...like for real LOVE to color.  So most everything I make involves either coloring, or taking something plain and making it pretty.  I am a math/science nerd who LOVES all things orderly and strategic....unless its my crafting, then its wonky and fun!   :)   I am a hot mess and it's super awesome

Why yes.....We're moving so my "craft room" is literally anywhere I can set up right now.  Currently in my kids' playroom while they're in bed.  hee hee   all this will be gone in an hour!!

  I LOVE THIS CHICK!! :)  I kept this simple and used some Crumb Cake ink on my new hexagon embossing folder and then colored the chick with my blender pen and Emerald Envy, Pumpkin Pie, Hello Honey, Dapper Denim, and Watermelon Wonder ink pads.  (coloring and crooked....yes!!!)

I really loved this stamp set.  I usually feel like more is better when it comes to layers and such.  I am proud of myself for this single layer card!!  The new Cool Treats suite is so awesome.  AND I used up scraps...which is super important when the Designer Paper is so SWEET!!

Thank you so much for letting me entertain you today.  Be sure to come back tomorrow for some awesome Design Team offerings and play along with our challenge this week!

Special Edition Blog Hop!

Good Morning Happy Stampers!

Today is a VERY special SSInkspiration Blog Hop!

Kim Ryden has been working hard these last 9 months cooking up a gorgeous little human, and we could not think of a better way to say CONGRATS!!! than to have a Virtual Baby Shower!

All of this month's Blog Hop contributions are special gifts from us, The Design Team, for our special friend Kim and her precious little man, Micah!

We love you friend!

Rest up and we'll see you (and more pics of little Micah!) after your recovery time.

Enjoy the hop, and be sure to stop by Kim's page and leave her some baby congrats!

Blog Hop Participant List:

1. Diana at Stampin Fun with Diana
2. Bree at Craft-Somnia Momma
3. Jenny at Jenny G Paper Crafts
4. Kathy at Kathy's Stamping World
5. Melissa at The Stamp Doc
6. Jennifer at Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life
7. Heidi at Stuck on Stampin'
8. Donna at Geek Squad Crafting

March Madness !!

Good Morning Happy Stampers!

I hope you are all refreshed and rejuvenated after the weekend of INTENSE college hoops! 

Phew!

I know I had some nail biter moments over the weekend.

Those games.

WOW!

Maybe you're not a sports fan like me ... But I'm sure you know a few?  Maybe that tall hunky guy sitting next to you on the couch?  Or that tall smelly teenager down the hall?  (ha or the tween like in my house!)

This time of year can be a roller coaster of emotions and some SERIOUS bonding and bonus time with your Fanatic Significant Other!

I'm not gonna lie...I pull this stamp out of retirement each and every year.  

When I was at convention and they let all of us demos make their very own hand-carved stamp..I totally JUMPED! at the opportunity.

My husband is a Hoosier (I know....I pity me too) and if any of you are Indiana fans, you KNOW that IU is super (read TOTALLY) picky about their logo and sponsorship.  So the very first stamp I carved was of the IU logo.

I break it out for every March Madness season and make my Hubs a cute card (it's usually a sympathy card cuz they have been sucking it up lately on the basketball circuit!! haha)

This year however....my sad little Wolverines are sitting at home while we anticipate a GREAT matchup Friday with IU and North Carolina (UNC)

So, instead of a sympathy card....

here is my peace offering..

He can have it in June....when I'm not so raw about my team being out of the tourney so early this year ;)

Happy March Madness, from my crazy house...to yours!! ~ Donna

 

 

I am going to join Donna in wishing my team was still in the big tourney but they sadly are not. It hasn't been the best of years for our team but everyone tends to love an underdog which Wichita State was this year. They did make it through the First Four and won their next round but just couldn't get the baskets to drop during Saturday's Miami game. I decided to use the WSU colors and made my card Yellow and Black. The sentiment might make it seem like they are still playing but rather it is to celebrate some great seniors who gave it their all and were a joy to watch over the last four years. I can send this card to my favorite Shocker who just happens to be my daughter.

 

 

 

Tonya Ball~ Stamp with Tonya

 

 

 

February 2016 Blog Hop

Happy early Valentine's Day!  It's all about the LOVE today over at SSINKspiration!  We are showing you our favorite love themed projects and we are so excited to share!

As you hop along, please be sure to comment and show some love on every blog! We are always excited to hear from our followers!  You will find a full list of our Design Team Members who participated in this blog hop below!  

Blog Hop Participant List:

1. Jenny at Jenny G Paper Crafts
2. Diana at Stampin Fun with Diana
3. Breelin at Craft-Somnia Momma
4. Leanne at Literally My Joy
5. Kim at Stamping with Kim
6. Donna at Geek Squad Crafting

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Good Morning Happy Stampers!!

I hope this finds you safe and warm, us Midwesterners are FREEZING today!

What a great day to sit inside and plan ahead for the loviest, doviest, day of the year, Valentine's Day!!

Do you have a special Valentine that you make cards for?  

Short on some ideas? 

Check out some Old and some New product used by our Design Team.

Love is definitely in the air!!

Pamela Wu - Stinky Tofu

Jennifer Gregorsky - Jenny G Paper Crafts

Leanne Johnson - Literally My Joy

Diana Eichfeld ~ Stampin' Fun with Diana

Donna Smit ~ Geek Squad Crafting

New Catalog Countdown Day 1 - Occasions and Sale-a-Bration 2016

Good Afternoon Happy Stampers!!

Today is the final day of our NEW CATALOG COUNTDOWN!
Are you still just as excited as we are??!!

THE 2016 OCCASIONS CATALOG AND SALE-A-BRATION CATALOGS ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE!!

Are you just joining us today for the first time?  Check out the rest of our countdown posts listed at the bottom of this page.  You do NOT want to miss a single sneak peek sample!

Have a favorite new product yet?
We know...there are Just...Too...Many!

Be sure to check out each DT Blog to find out what products were used, and how.

Jennifer Gregorsky - Jenny G Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick ~ Craft-somnia Momma

Donna Smit ~ Geek Squad Crafting

Diana Eichfeld ~ Stampin' Fun with Diana

Kim Ryden ~ Stamping with Kim

We hope you enjoyed this New Catalog Countdown as much as we have!
Want a recap of all the countdown posts?
Here you go!
Have an Inkspired Day!

Day 5 - Catalog Countdown Post
Day 4 - Catalog Countdown Post
Day 3 - Catalog Countdown Post

Day 2 - Catalog Countdown Post

Quick and Easy!

Good Morning Happy Stampers!!

Can you believe we are almost one week into 2016 already?  

Did you have some time off over the holidays?  Was today your first day back to school/work?  Are you already exhausted, like me, and need a nap?   

We're here for you!!!

We know you're still resting from the holidays, still busy, and you sometimes need a simple and adorable card for someone, we hope you will love these!!

Jennifer Campbell- Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life

Donna Smit ~ Geek Squad Crafting

Leanne Johnson - Literally My Joy

Kathy Alt ~ Kathy's Stamping World

Tonya Ball~ Stamp with Tonya

New Catalog Countdown Day 3 - Occasions and Sale-a-Bration 2016

Good Afternoon Happy Stampers!!

Today is the third day of our NEW CATALOG COUNTDOWN!
Are you still just as excited as we are??!!

Are you just joining us for the first time today?  Check out the rest of our countdown posts listed at the bottom of this page.  You do NOT want to miss a single sneak peek sample!

Have a favorite new product yet?
We know...there are Just...Too...Many!

Be sure to check out each DT Blog to find out what products were used, and how.

Jennifer Gregorsky - Jenny G Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick ~ Craft-somnia Momma

Darcy Johnson ~ Dj's Stampin' Place

Donna Smit ~ Geek Squad Crafting

Kim Ryden ~ Stamping with Kim

DO NOT MISS tomorrow's post, there will be some more amazing SNEAK PEEK projects!!

Day 5 - Catalog Countdown Post
Day 4 - Catalog Countdown Post

New Catalog Countdown Day 4 - Occasions and Sale-a-Bration 2016

Good Afternoon Happy Stampers!!

Today is the second day of our NEW CATALOG COUNTDOWN!
Are you still just as excited as we are??!!

Are you just joining us today for the first time?  Check out the rest of our countdown posts listed at the bottom of this page.  You do NOT want to miss a single sneak peek sample!

Have a favorite new product yet?
We know...there are Just...Too...Many!

Be sure to check out each DT Blog to find out what products were used, and how.

Jennifer Gregorsky - Jenny G Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick ~ Craft-somnia Momma

Pamela Wu - Stinky Tofu

Darcy Johnson ~ Dj's Stampin Place

Diana Eichfeld ~ Stampin' Fun with Diana

Donna Smit ~ Geek Squad Crafting

DO NOT MISS tomorrow's post, there will be some more amazing SNEAK PEEK projects!!

Day 5 - Catalog Countdown Post

New Catalog Countdown Day 5 - Occasions and Sale-a-Bration 2016

Good Afternoon Happy Stampers!!

We are SO excited for today!!
Not only is it THE NEW YEAR!! (whoo hoo 2016!)
It is time for another NEW Catalog Countdown!!

This is the time of year when we kick back, enjoy our Christmas/Winter season glow...and then hunker down in our craft rooms dreaming of Spring and new product.

Jan 5th.
Mark your calendars.
The New Occasions Catalog goes live.

(We will wait while you let that sink in...)

And then...as if that wasn't enough cause for celebration....

Sale-a-Bration starts too!
For every $50 you spend with Stampin' Up! during SAB, you will earn FREE EXCLUSIVE PRODUCT!!
And this is ON TOP of your regular Stampin' Rewards.

We know....it's a lot to take in.
Take a peek at our Sneak Peeks for today while you process the amazingness that will happen in just a few short days!!

Here are some Sneaky Peeky samples our Design Team created to highlight our favorite products in the new catalogs.

Be sure to check out each DT Blog to find out what products were used, and how.

Jennifer Gregorsky - Jenny G Paper Crafts

Breelin Renwick ~ Craft-somnia Momma

Kim Ryden ~ Stamping with Kim

Darcy Johnson ~ Dj's Stampin' Place

Donna Smit ~ Geek Squad Crafting

DO NOT MISS tomorrow's post, there will be some more amazing SNEAK PEEK projects!!

Contraband Day!! Use ANY Stamp/ink/paper you want!!

Today is Contraband Day!  That means we are using old retired Stampin' Up! Merchandise OR things from other stamp companies (GASP!) to create today!

We hope you enjoy!

Jennifer Gregorsky - Jenny G Paper Crafts

Laura Pizzirusso - Crafty Chicks Creating

Donna Smit ~ Geek Squad Crafting

Technique Tuesday ~ Watercolor and acrylic blocks

Good Morning Happy Stampers!

We are so glad you stopped by today!  We have a super fun technique to share with you today and we are so excited to share!

Watercolor and Acrylic Blocks

Okay:  so there are multiple ways to do this so follow along and check out the two ways we're showing you today!

With Re-inkers:

 Grab the biggest block you have to cover the size of paper you are looking to watercolor.  You want your block to be BIGGER than your paper;

Randomly add your favorite colors in little drops all over the block (don't forget to not wear white while doing this technique!)  After you have your ink spots where you want them, spritz water from a spray bottle onto the ink (I may have gotten a little heavy handed with the reinkers, but its okay...keep reading!)

 THIS WILL BE MESSY!!  you will have a LOT of ink/water on your block.  Don't worry.  You can make use of this!   You can take any flat/smooth stamp you have and use your block as an ink pad.  Here I just stamped off onto my grid paper (see the 4 square type stamped images?)  but you wont waste them like I did....USE THEM!! :)

 after you stamp a few times your block will look like this  Then you'll want to lay down the paper you are using for the background.  Lay the paper face down.  Gently run your fingers along the paper to soak up all that watercolor goodness.  Your paper WILL CURL a little bit if you are using anything other than Watercolor paper.  Don't worry.  It's going to flatten out when it dries.
  You should be able to get a few different pieces of paper out of this if your paper is smaller like mine.  To maximize your ink, after each piece of paper, spritz again with water to get the ink to spread again and to lighten the ink concentration.

  Here is the last one.  How fun and light is that?!!  (notice my block is now pretty devoid of ink)  I was able to get 4 stamped images and 3 watercolored pieces of cardstock out of that ONE mix of ink/water!!  

Now....I know you want to RUN out and try this, but check out a less messy, more subtle way to do this with markers!

color your block with markers.  I made these striped on purpose.  You can use all one color, or make any sort of pattern you'd like!

spritz with water (I may have accidentally spritzed this with Stampin' Mist, hence the bubbles...its all good though, cuz it totally works and I like the bubbles!!)

  Lay your paper down on the block and rub very gently.  This is so much fun!!

Make sure you let your paper dry before stamping over top of it.  I used Staz-on or you can use the new Archival Black ink by Stampin' Up! to be 100% sure it won't bleed into your image if you're in a hurry.

Once you get this amazing technique down, the possibilities are endless!!

Here are the cards I made using these pieces!

Check out what our amazing Design Team created using this fun and funky watercolor technique!

Pamela Wu - Stinky Tofu

Kathy Alt ~ Kathy's Stamping World

Sara Grafton ~ Craft Break

 

Melissa Stout ~ The Stamp Doc

Jennifer Gregorsky - Jenny G Paper Crafts