gg designs' Gazette

2012-01-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

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The Mind Boggles!!!
Since starting to explore the idea and practice of doing an art project every day, I have collected so many resources I scarcely know where to begin.

While not a scrapbooker or a journal keeper, both of these approaches offer good support for the "every day/something" idea. I'm including a link here for the class Julie Fei-Fen conducts.....Thanks Sally B. for leading us to this valuable resource.

Just a quick browse and I see she uses two of my very favorite things.....carving and Zentangles. We will definitely be talking more about Zentangles...but to give you a start, check out:

Zentangle Home Site

These are the folks who started it all and it's caught on like wildfire!

I just love the idea that they have taken "doodling" to the extreme, made "fine art" out of it, and have figured out a way to make a living doing it! A wonderful, creative success story.

Heather (see comments below) provides another link for "Daily Inspiration. "Julie [Zentangle Originator] . . . is part of a jump start creativity series . . ."

http://nathaliesstudio.com/tutorials/creative-jump-start-summit-2012/

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Have lots more places to share with you but for now a bit of "housekeeping."

Have not yet figured out how to make the "Comments" section more prominent. IT is where the heart of this blog resides! The last post had many very informative comments and ideas to get us all off to an especially creative New Year...........if you don't read them, you will miss out "big time." So, until I can decide a better way to handle these....make them easier to find and harder to overlook....please make sure you read them and add your information and comments as well. Otherwise this won't work. You'll just hear from me and that is apt to get really boring, really quickly!

To entice you toward more participation.......this month a Grab Bag will be given to one of the folks who've posted comments. So, get your name in there!

Have lots more exciting things "in the wings" but this is enough for now.

Thanks for checking out gg designs Gazette.....see you again soon.

ggd

Charlotte

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Don't forget to read (and add to) the COMMENTS below!

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2012-01-01T08:54:00.000-08:00

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Happy New Year!

Hope you year is starting sans hangover but with lots of promise.

Would it discourage you to know I've already broken one of my New Year's Resolutions?

Well, actually it wasn't a "resolution." Like diets I don't do them anymore. BUT, I do make plans.

My plan was to have a "Morning Ritual" in place. The ritual was to involve some kind of drawing/art project, a "daily do" of some kind. The problem was, I became so engrossed in the "how to" and found so many interesting books and ideas that I haven't settled down with just one.

Thought I'd enlist your aid......learn from your experiences.

Have you done any "One Every Day" for a year, or a month or a week?

What was the result? Did it change your mind set? If it was an art project, how did it help you (if it did)?

For now, I have one book I think I might be able to do daily....if not necessarily in the morning.

It's a small, unintimidating book that I got from Amazon:

It's only about 5 x 7 1/2" (I thought it might be bigger) and has each page divided in two....so you can see, it won't be a terribly time consuming "start." It's not "art" paper and looks like it might be too thin for some of the pens I like to use (most notably, Sharpies) but it's a start. Perhaps it can hold pencil sketches...not so apt to show through. It's little enough, it might actually get done on a reasonably regular basis.

Have several other books I've got lined up. We'll talk more about those in coming posts.

But, enough about me.........what about YOU?

Any particular plans for 2012? Any new art endeavors?

How about sharing ONE resolution? Then, if you want to use us for accountability (as I am obviously doing with all of you) check in regularly with us (all of us, ggd, the readers, the kind folks adding comments) and let us know how it is going.

Many of you are primarily stampers and again, primarily, card makers. But, it's very unlikely that is your only creative interest. Tell us about your other interests....better still, show us. Let's make this a fun creative year together. We are happy to post pictures of your work and connect to your blog.

There will be a monthly give away (sometimes a contest, sometimes a drawing) so "stay tuned."

Again....Happy New Year!

ggd

Charlotte

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2011-11-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

Purchases and Prizes

As many of you long time gg designs followers know, ggd makes stamps but does not use them as much as you might expect. (We prefer to leave the wonderful presentations and the multiple uses up to the customers...and the results are always surprising and lovely.)

We buy even fewer stamps.

But, occasionally we see a stamp (or stamps) we just can't pass up.

Such is the case with Wrenay Kann's very special "12 Days of Christmas." We featured these during a Cyberstampers' Holiday Celebration years ago and somehow neglected to purchase them at that time.

Recently we decided that was a huge mistake on our part and we had to have them. (Won't necessarily use them, but definitely had to own them.) They came and are absolutely as special as we had remembered. Each section is approximately 2 1/2" square.

It took quite a search to find Wrenay (thank you everyone who helped) but it was definitely worth it. If you are interested, write to her by clicking on the illustration of thegreat "12 Days" set above.

AND...we were taken by not one but two "must have" stamps. The second is definitely a "just for fun" item and not necessarily for the holidays but certainly appropriate for any gift giving.....particularly hand crafted gifts.

We used it on the bottoms of some small Thanksgiving Day treats and it was a lot of fun when the Granddaughters discovered that the bar code wasn't really a bar code. I expect to get a lot of mileage out of this one! It really looks authentic.

gg designs made a faux bar code some time ago. It's fun but not as convincing as the Inkadinkado one.

(Reads "Not a Bar Code").

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So much for the Purchases, now for the Prizes!

Remember Arlene Faber's layout challenge?

(Seems like a l o n g time ago, doesn't it?)

Sally B .

and Yogi sent their entries right away, but (sadly) no one else took the bait!!! Either you were much too busy with Thanksgiving preparations or you weren't tempted by the prize (snif! snif!)........however you still have a minute of two!!! The prize(s) will be awarded on November 30.

Even if you don't particpate, come back to cheer on Yogi and Sally for their efforts. (Or, is "art" really an effort?)

Have a good "winding down" Holiday Weekend.......and come back and play!

gg designs

(Charlotte)

P.S. If you are an avid Day after Thanksgiving Shopper we wish you luck and hope your trip keeps you in the Black, not the Black and Blue......it sounds pretty scary out there!

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2011-11-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

Just a quick
Happy Thanksgiving
Wish.......

Will be back at the keyboard in a couple of days.

Enjoy your holidays everyone.

gg designs
(Charlotte)

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2011-11-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Card Crafters Do Not Live by Stamps Alone!

Check out these cards from Arlene Faber:

Arlene does "needle tatting" which she says is much easier than using the traditional tatting shuttle.

Fab writes:

I finally got around to scanning a couple of the note cards that I make for sale. The borders are done with the Cuttlebug embossing folders. The flowers are tatted. One card has stamped leaves and the other has tatted leaves.

She adds--They are nice for short notes of all kinds, sympathy, get well, thinking of you sort of things. Tie a bunch together and they make a nice hostess gift.
I sell them twice a year at a craft fair we hold here in Sun City. Lots of clubs participate and sell some of what they make. There will be knitted and crocheted items, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, quilts, tablecloths, wood items and stained glass. There are also books for sale written by resident authors and the train club will let folks come in to run the multiple track train layouts. Al ot of work and a lot of fun too. Usually lasts 3 days in November and 2 days in about March.

If you are interested, leave a comment for Fab and she will reply.

Also, a You Tube browse will net several instructional videos showing the technique.

As Fab says, she used the Cuttlebug for embossing the edges. (For those without a Cuttlebug, a row of simple tatting down the edge would be a nice finishing touch.) The gift packets she describes are, as she says, an extremely appropriate hand crafted hostess gift for the holidays.

Are you involved in any holiday boutiques or craft fairs? If so, do you have a specialty? A favorite pattern or project? Do you make something you get requests for year after year?

Please share with us all, to help make the holidays more personal and more fun without breaking the bank or exhausting the participants!

Thanks Arlene. You've triggered a project idea for gg designs........and if it ever sees the light of day, we'll share it here.

gg designs (Charlotte)

Comments: (Email sent to gg designs--see side bar for link)
Simply gorgeous, Arlene! Your notecards must sell very well, and make for happy recipients, who hopefully appreciate your time and creativity!
Linda (Blackbird)

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2011-11-09T13:21:00.000-08:00

We're not very good about.......
reminding you of ggd stamps.

Yogi is great about showcasing ggd stamps......earlier this month, the tea set and now the poppies.

Below are a few ggd images that would be appropriate for fall and holiday stamping. If you are interested, we will be placing an order on November 15. (We place special orders the 15th of each month) and they should get here in time for some of your upcoming stamping needs.

Raggedy Ann Andy

Rocking Horse

Peace .

Noel .

Folk Angels Stained Glass Doors

Paper Cut Snow Flakes Angel

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Many Thanks .

Autumn When you need a really BIG Thank You!

Blessings Angel
and Bless Your Year .

Cheers. and Christmas 1 & 2.

These are samplings from the catalog. If you are interested click on the illustration or its title to go the the listing page for pricing and examples of customers' uses.

gg designs (Charlotte)

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2011-11-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

Responses to Challenge

Here is Arlene Faber's multi-purpose layout. This sketch is worth keeping on top of your card stock to remind you of what can be done with those small pieces of paper that are just too good to throw away.

Pre-punch circles to have at the ready. Cut some of the smaller pieces into appropriate rectangles and your card is on its way to completion almost before you are ready to start!

Here's what Yogi (Grunwald) did for this challenge:

Can you tell which of the layout's Yogi leaned on most heavily?

Yogi, being Yogi....with all her experience and talent, is not afraid to improvise (a lesson for us all) but use of the sketch elements is subtle but clear.

A click on the card will take you to Yogi's site with directions and closer views of various of the cards parts. It's easy to get happily lost in Yogi's site, there is so much to see, but don't forget to come back here!.

If you didn't return, you'd miss this lovely fall card:

Of the contest, Sally B. writes:

So glad you are doing a contest at your site! It got me motivated, anyway.

And of the card she adds:

I am happy with this entry, except:

Here is my entry into the contest. Unfortunately, the colors do not come through on the scan. I also have a digital camera, and if anyone has any suggestions about how to make the card look better, I'm open to them.

About the card: My creation is using the wonderful outline provided at your website. All stamps except the colors, which are really not quite visible. I used glaze pens which really show off the card and shine! I am happy with the fulfillment of the assignment, except for the fact that people cannot see the glaze shine and the layered coloring.

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Thanks to Yogi and Sally for being so quick to respond and getting us off to such a good start.

Now that they've broken the ice, we hope to see more from the rest of you.

Contest will close at the end of the month so there is plenty of time for you to create some special Thanksgiving Holiday cards to enter. How about place cards for the festive holiday table? Nobody said they have to be full size cards. It's using the layout to jump start your project that we are hoping for.

It's a great and versatile design. We hope you'll all find good use for it.

Thanks for checking it out..........I'll now rush to my "in-box" to wait for all those many, many cards that are about to descend !!!

gg designs, Charlotte

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2011-11-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

Resurrecting Arlene Faber's Great Layout!

You saw this in action in the previous post....but did you notice how easily it could be used in ANY direction you want to turn it?

This was used in a RubberstampChat challenge (click to go to the archived pages & samples) and there were many great designs created using it in several ways.

Let's use it again.

We'd love to see your Fall themed cards using Arlene's layout with gg designs images if you have any or other images if you do not have appropriate ggd ones available.

The winner (by your votes or, if the results are too close, by random drawing) will receive the tea set images Yogi used so well in her card featured by Vamp Stamp News.

Use the email link in the side bar to send gifs or jpegs to gg designs.

Good luck everybody!

gg designs (Charlotte)

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2011-10-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

Yogi Does It Again! (And Again! And Again!)

Frequently published and often featured, Yogi (Grunwald) has two cards in the current Vamp Stamp News. One is on the cover and (we are so proud) uses a gg designs image (among others).
Clicking on cover picture will take you to Yogi's site. If you've never been there before, you are in for a treat. Yogi gives pertinent details and "how to" information about her projects. AND she provides tutorials. There's lots of valuable, fascinating information to be savored.
Not only does Yogi teach on her own site, she has provided tutorials for gg designs participants as well. Plus she teaches with virtually every comment* in various "Challenges" and now here in this newer version of the Gazette.

*Here is a recent answer from Yogi...that deserves being printed and saved, it's such a succinct design "how to."

Yogi said...Hi Sally

You ask a tough question and there's no short answer. But when in doubt, keep it simple.
Work with the 1/3's rule - divide your card into imaginary 9 squares, this will prevent you from putting something smack in the middle. Not saying that doesn't work, but it takes a bit more skill to carry it off successfully.
Think about what you're trying to say either pictorially or with words, make one of them your focal image and place it within 4 to 6 of those squares.
Make sure you have contrasts to add interest - can be contrast in color, texture (smooth CS contrasts with an embossed or textured CS) or with various ribbons, twine or other doodads; shiny with matte etc. Even in monochromatic cards, interest can be created with position and contrasts.

Look at your card and ask the question are you happy with it, if the answer is yes - leave it alone. If the answer is no - why don't you like it?

And then some people analyze too much and don't like anything they make...

Look at the 2 cards in this post. Both are wonderful examples of the 1/3 rule as well as using things in 3's, have quite a bit of contrast in color scheme, but have still kept it simple adding that touch of ribbon or those shiny squares.

Look at the 2 cards (by Linda Blackbird and Deb Lovett)

in this post. Both are wonderful examples of the 1/3 rule as well as using things in 3's, have quite a bit of contrast in color scheme, but have still kept it simple adding that touch of ribbon or those shiny squares.
Thursday, September 22, 2011 5:55:00 PM

Here's a link to her lettering Tutorial:

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Do you visit or subscribe to Vamp Stamp News?
It's hard to believe there is anyone in the crafting world who does not know about this magazine.....but just in case........check it out.
It's been around for a long time and has grown along with the interest and versatility new materials have brought to the craft of stamping/scrapbooking and paper crafts.

Again, congratulations Yogi and thanks.

gg designs (Charlotte)

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Q--Vivian Reilly asks: Are the stamps that Yogi Used for her AsianTea Card available? I don't recall seeing them before and I couldn't find them in your catalog.

A--They are listed under OTHER/kitchen in the catalog. If you click on the small image above it will take you to the page.
Comments: I love Yogi's art. She's a true artiste. She's something else. All her cards look complete and that's something I've never been able to learn to do.

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2011-10-20T16:05:00.000-07:00

With Apologies to Sally Bowen!!!

Sally thanked Yogi for her help* and followed up with a link to one of her projects applying Yogi's layout information and advice.

Questions

She also asked: You will see that I used Yogi's layout! How do you keep those embossing dots from covering the card as well as the image?

For a closer look at Sally's card and to see more clearly what she is talking about, click on the image above.

We're sorry it took so long to post Sally's question. Hopefully an answer....from Yogi or any of you who've worked with the embossing dots.....will come much faster.....via comments here, or a note to gg designs and we'll post your answers.

* If you missed it, Yogi wrote a comprehensive answer under "Comments"--a virtual tutorial--to one of Sally's questions.

Answers

Note added 10/21/11: Be sure to check the answers below (at the very bottom of this post) in the "comments" section. Lots of help (for a problem ggd didn't even know about)!
Isn't it nice to have such great cyber-friends? Such generous brains to pick!
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More A's--

Hi Char!

Don't know if responses are supposed to go through email or if I was supposed to leave my comments elsewhere. You've probably taken great pains in explaining the proper procedure here and I missed it. (It won't be the first time I've been told where to go....and, to take my suggestions with me!!!)

Anyway...on to Sally's question about the specks on her beautiful card.

There are nifty little anti-static bags on the market. They're inexpensive and they last a long time. I use one by Suze Weinberg called 'Puff Static Away'. A swipe across your paper before stamping eliminates static cling and moisture. Those pesky stray powders will fall away when you tap the excess powder off before embossing.

I've used cornstarch before, but the mysterious powder in the purchased bags seems to work better for me. Both will leave a bit of powdery residue on the cardstock, but it can be easily brushed away after you've embossed the image.

If it's your heat gun that's blowing the powder around, make sure you use pigment ink, tap the excess powder off, and then start heating from UNDER the cardstock. To keep from burning your fingers, hold the cardstock with a clip, and keep it flat until the powder melts. You can finish off embossing from the front, if necessary.

You also might want to try stamping in colored pigment ink, but embossing in clear powder. Clear stray specks aren't as obvious as colored ones.

Hope this helps!

Linda (Blackbird)

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As you may have noticed, gg designs is not producing new images with much regularity these days. The catalog items are still available and there are many stamps to choose from but lately we've become interested in "tall skinny" (or short fat?) cards that fit in standard business size (#10) envelopes.

In the pre email 60's sending cards was very popular and card racks were everywhere......in grocery stores, restaurants, deli's, gas stations.....everywhere! Among our favorites were tall skinny cards with humorous designs and captions. As time has passed, we became less interested in biting humor but still like the "success story" surrounding this particular (then) peculiar card shape. Seems a company (actually a husband and wife team) became recipient of a large supply of standard size business envelopes. Not wanting them to go to waste, they designed cards to fit the envelopes. (This was before recycling/repurposing/reusing were in vogue but "making do with what you've got" was pretty much a necessity for small businesses.)
Loved the idea then, and now. A box of business envelopes and a ream of cover stock is a pretty inexpensive way to keep yourself (card) crafting.

We know no special stamps are necessary and this format can be utilized using any stamps you may have but ones that fill the card with one stamp are a lot of fun.

Below is a carved Halloween design (made to fit a #10 envelope) ggd used.

It was originally carved for an exchange ggd regularly participates in. One of the things we particularly enjoy is the ease of putting together the cards. Using permanent black ink they are printed on cover stock and "painted" with inks or watercolors. The "coloring" is relaxing, stress free and can be done in limited space (i.e. while watching TV!).

Look for more of these to show up here and (if there is an interest) in the Catalog.
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Just for fun......While searching for the illustration of the tall, skinny card above, we ran across this card from a "Challenge" last year. The challenge was to design a Halloween card without using the traditional orange and black.

This is what Michelle Morlan came up with!

With pink plastic wrap background (a technique from Deb Lovett's tutorial) and MBM (Made by Michelle) sillhouettes plus a ggd image *(the tiny bird trying its best to scare you) Michelle met and mastered the Challenge.
* Click here to see the tiny bird and meet the rest of the flock.
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Help out Sally with her dots dilemma if you can and let us know what you are up to......particularly for the upcoming family holidays.

Need help with any of your projects?

Have anything you are working on that you'd like to share?

Let us know.

gg designs (Charlotte)

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Answers

Be sure to check "Comments" below for answers to Sally's question.
ALSO....If you prefer, send your answer or comments to gg designs (link in side bar) and we will add them to the Gazette.
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2011-09-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

Don't Forget to Check the "COMMENTS"

That's where we (I...still struggling with those dread personal pronouns vs. the editorial "we") hope the excitement will be. Where you will "connect" with other ggd readers and hopefully where the meat for future discussions will start.

Why gg design's Gazette?
As we state (in the side bar) there is a feast of creativity out there. Some of us are visual learners, some love reading about new things, some (like me) respond to word of mouth to lead us to the "goodies."

I do not represent myself an any kind of an authority on things creative and my heart responds to the needs of "newbies" or those for whom the creative adventure is always new.

So......my intent is to pass along information I hear (mostly from you....all of you) and see....in print, on line, in my inbox.....or to give you just a tiny bite, a little taste of a new technique or an old one that may have dropped off your radar while you went on to other, more complicated, challenging things.

There will be lots of links......lots. And hopefully lots of information shared among you. Make it yours! Ask Questions! If you use any of the techniques you learn from each other here, let us know how it went. Of course we'd love it if you acknowledge the source, give credit to your "teacher" (we'll be adding links to existing "Challenges" and presenting new ones as people step up to share) but that's not necessary. What you learn here, what you are encouraged to try, we hope will be a pleasant experience along your creative path.....wherever that takes you.

One of my favorite places to go when I need a jump start on a project is

Patricia Morris' Inspirations pages.

The other day I was browsing and (sorry, can't recall which of her many videos this was in) she did a very simple thing. Probably one we've all done but have somehow put aside and forgotten.
She was using one of her lovely background pages with a subtle butterfly in the corner. She cut around the wing to give it just a little more definition. Made it really stand out. I almost said "pop" which is one of those overused (imho) terms of approval! I'm trying to wean myself and say what I really mean : )

With Halloween fast approaching, bet that would be a quick and easy way to make those jack-o-lanterns or ghosts or witches scarier!

Sorry, didn't mean to go off on a tangent but just want to invite you, encourage you, to participate with gg designs by leaving comments, offering suggestions and asking your questions.

By the way....Yogi mentioned that the "Subscribe by Mail" link (in the side bar) was hard to find......so it's now moved up so it "stays" by the current post.

Thanks Yogi.

Come join us, folks!

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2011-09-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

A Gift!

http://tinyurl.com/3ryj9oa

This was posted in a carving group to which I belong.
I loved it and have shared it with everyone.

It has nothing to do with stamping, printing or carving.......it's just a lovely moment in a day that I'd like to share with you. (Is this how videos go viral?)

Enjoy!

Charlotte

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2011-09-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

Two Participants with Questions

Viewers? Participants? Customers? I think of all of you as "friends" in a 21st Century kind of way. (Even though it doesn't feel all that "techie.")

In any case......two Cyberfriends are asking for some help.

Elizabeth Perini asks:
Hey where can I get more Vivid ink pads? Is that Clearsnap?
A Google search nets a pageful of references but I think Elizabeth is looking for more personal, helpful suggestions.
Do you use Vivid Inks? Do you have a favorite supplier? On-line or "in town?"

Please talk to Elizabeth.....she's mid project and would really like some support with this search.
Elizabeth....an answer....that you may not like! While browsing the Internet to find a source for you I ran across this information from Stamp A Mania:

All Vivid Ink Products 50% Off! Vivid has been discontinued by the manufacturer. When they're gone, they're gone!

From Yogi, who always makes time to lend a helping hand!--I have 1 Vivid stamp pad - a bright red, that I bought years and years ago when I first started all this stamping stuff. It sits in my drawer unused. So I pulled it out and surprisingly enough it's still juicy... It is by Clearsnap.
Check her comments at the bottom of this post. She has information about her favorite inks. Very helpful Elizabeth, since you may be having to make a change.

AND we have a message from Sally Bowen:
When someone puts a design of a card up, I'm confused about what to do with it. What elements are appropriate for each area? I can never think of anything interesting to put into the extra design spaces, besides the main focal point. Can anyone help me to get inspired by ephemera and such things and how to use it effectively on a card? What is your process for deciding what to put where?

Sally, Yogi has virtually written a tutorial to answer your question. Might just be a good idea (for all of us) to print it out and keep in with (y)our stamping supplies!

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Everyone please post your help in the comments section.

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Elizabeth's question is pretty straight forward

while

Sally Bowen's requires more thought, more personal sharing. And, in a way, is very complex. She's basically wanting to learn about the "Anatomy of a Project." The order, the gyrations, the way of experimenting....the "How to" from you about how you put a card or other project together.

This is, of course, very personal and perhaps very difficult to articulate.

But OH how INTERESTING and helpful.

Each person's process will, of course, be very different, one from the other..........but, whatever you are able to share will be a great help to Sally..........to ALL of us!

Please give it a try!

Perhaps a sketch for reference will help.

This sketch was designed by Arlene Faber for a Rubberstampchat Challenge. (If you don't know about this fun stamping community be sure to visit. It's FULL of ideas, helps and fun!) We chose Arlene's sketch because of its versatility...it can be turned ANY direction and work equally well.

Below are some examples using Arlene's layout.

RubberstampChat Challenge

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We'll be adding more to this post in the next few days so be sure to "follow" the Blog. We hope, eventually, not to be loading your email boxes with too many messages. It can, we know, be very irritating. For now, we will still be notifying you via email when this page changes, but gradually we will give that up in favor of saving the callouses on your delete finger!

Thanks for your help.

Charlotte (ggd)

2011-09-09T06:41:00.000-07:00

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Where to go from here......to start a "Collaborative Blog."

It seems just to "start" somewhere.....anywhere.....is the way to go.

So.............think of this as a place to ask questions....and answer them. A place to post things of interest to you. (If they are of interest to you, they will also be to someone else.)
gg designs is going to start with TWO ideas.....
Love "success" stories. Not the labored ones so much, but the serendipitous ones that are sparked while doing something else. Here are two "home made" items now produced commercially, that "grew" out of a specific experience.

First..... This Tyvek Billfold:

Remember Duck Tape Billfolds....popular not too long ago?

Somebody took the idea and translated it into a Tyvek Billfold. (Tyvek is very strong and waterproof and extremely useful)

ggd was so intrigued we tried it. Easy enough, with a little patience. Actually, easier than the duck tape version but, if you don't want to tackle creating the billfold from scratch and would prefer just creating the design, here's a short cut:

http://tinyurl.com/3mh66vm

Or just click on the blank billfold above

While you're there, check out the huge (and fun) variety of already completed designs at

http://tinyurl.com/3atz4jo
or click on any of the colored versions.

We think these would be great full size or in a"mini" version to hold gift certificates (one of the most popular gifts these days).

* * * * * *

Second on the list of "wish I'd thought of that" (or, I thought of that, wish I had acted on it) items.........

While we've never been very good at it (seem to need more structure, predictability and control than they offer) monotypes have always held a fascination. Once, while checking out the procedure one more time, we found a book"Making Monotypes Using a Gelatin Plate."

Not sure what the allure was here, except that it was a bit reminiscent of the Hectograph or "ditto machine" procedures which produced purple, smelly, barely readable hand outs. (Talk about dating yourself!)

Anyhow, after mixing up a number of batches of gelatin, with inconsistent results, that craft got abandoned and stuck away somewhere.

Recently however, at a sale at Cloth, Paper, Scissors (more about this addictive site later) ggd found premade and reusable gelatin plates called "Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plates."

Commercially Made Gelatin Printing Plate

The video below shows the whole process. Looks so simple we're tempted to try it again!

Gelli Arts Gelatin Printing Plate Demonstration

After watching this demo, browse other YouTube gelatin print, monotype and collograph printing demos to find limitless ideas for background papers and exciting print images for your cards and other projects.

We didn't initially like the "looseness" of monotype but it is perfect for backgrounds. (Some of the You Tube samples and examples will have you running for the gelatin!) So....to the adventurous among you who want to give it a try, we'd love to hear about your experiences with it and see some of your results.

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No, ggd doesn't get any compensation for steering you toward these items. Just really excited to be exploring what's "out there."

While our personal interest is still stamp carving, and it would seem a departure to be exploring Cloth, Paper, Scissors, it is surprising how much information and many products are adaptable and useful to stampers and carvers and paper and collage artists.

Will be talking about and exploring CPS because ggd now gets almost daily emails with inviting new books/mags/products etc.

This is where we are starting. Where we go will be up to you. Tell us what you want to know or what you've discovered that you just have to share!

Let's have fun!

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2011-05-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

To Continue or Not to Continue

It's embarrassing how little energy I've had recently for keeping up with gg designs.

Debating if this is a time to close up shop or to find a new direction and reinvigorate the Gazette and Catalog and gg designs in general.

Over the years it has been very rewarding, for many, many reasons. (None of them financial, unfortunately, since this was the first dream/goal.....to create a small, retirement income.)

It soon became apparent that wasn't going to happen, even at its activity height.....the "good old" massively under appreciated "Cyberstampers" days.

BUT......we've made many good cyber friends. Had a great time exploring various techniques presented by customers and followers. And have used some of them successfully in our personal (very limited as everyone knows) stamping adventures.

One of the most satisfying aspects is seeing the ways customers use gg designs' images. Ways that we would never, could never have envisioned.

Hate to give that all up.

Giving some thought to offering grab bags until the current in stock supply of rubber is depleted but leaving the Catalog in tact. There are so many wonderful samples and techniques gathered over time that it would be a shame for them not to be available to anyone who's interested.

OK....not decisions.....just ruminating.

Thanks for listening........if you have any ideas, let me know here, or better still, at the Gazette.

I'm at a crossroads, pondering directions. Input appreciated.

Charlotte

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2011-04-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

How Embarrassing!

Can't believe it's been so long since I've updated this blog.

Nothing much new going on at gg designs but NEW things ARE in the wind after Easter/Spring Break, etc.

A new gg designs customer is busy making her own designs and when she is completely comfortable with the process, will be sharing her work, the process (and her frustrations with it). You won't want to miss this....so....be sure to go to the Gazette and sign up to be notified.

Meanwhile, Michelle Morlan has carved a new set of stamps we'll be sharing with you. You will be impressed.

Until then, if you have any projects you'd like to share, we'd love to discuss them with you.

Enjoy the lovely Spring weather.

Charlotte

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2010-12-31T17:22:00.000-08:00

HAPPY
NEW
YEAR!

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2010-12-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

Ever wanted to make your own stamps?
Check gg designs Gazette for information about a reasonably priced kit that lets you make your own stamp in under half an hour.
No special lights. An easy process.
For a limited time, gg designs will pay the postage for your supplies.
Check it out.........buy yourself a holiday treat or..........there is still time to add this to your Holiday Wish LIst!

Join the fun!

Charlotte

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2010-11-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

Where DOES the time go?

Here we are flirting with the end of 2010 already.

You all know how quickly the time slips away when holiday time preparation kicks in. It is upon us!

At gg designs we are visiting artists' work spaces. No contest, no competition, just checking out how/where people do their creative projects. Join us and take a peek.

Also browse around a bit. The sales page has been updated and you may find items you can use for your holiday projects.

Thanks.

Charlotte

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2010-08-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

Yogi "Does it Again......" A another great tutorial! She has put together a gesso/tissue paper technique to make some beautiful background papers. You'll want these for all your cards. They are truly lovely. And while they look really posh and elegant, Yogi says they are easy.......and provides a step by step tutorial to talk you through it. Join the folks at gg designs to see what you can do with these wonderful papers. gg designs

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2010-07-11T11:25:00.001-07:00

2010 is Half Gone!!! Scary! But....in the half full/half empty perspective that means we have six more 2010 months to plan, create, learn........from generous instructors and from YOU! Visit gg designs' Gazette to help us decide what we will do next. Put in a request for a special tutorial, ask questions about approaches you haven't quite mastered.........and.........most importantly...........share your favorite techniques. It's a fun group. We don't bite. We laugh a lot and we'd love to have you actively participate with us in creating a fun, safe place for your card, stamping and paper craft project experiments. Let's make everything old, new again this month......with ideas and projects you used successfully some time ago but haven't used for a while. Share them. Most of all........come out and PLAY! Charlotte

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2010-06-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

Deb's Back........ with another of her great background techniques! Visit the Gazette for her clear instructions and samples of a plastic wrap procedure for producing spectacular color/texture backgrounds. Join in. Give it a try. If you run into trouble, Deb is always ready to help. Join us at gg design's Gazette!

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2010-04-27T18:16:00.000-07:00

New Challenge Posted Come join the fun! The May Challenge is posted (a tad early) and already is seeing lots of (lovely) action. Won't tell you --here--what it is. You'll have to check out gg designs' Gazette to find out. It will be worth the trip! Charlotte

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2010-04-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

ATCs Posted All of the participants in Deb Lovett's Spray Starch ATC Swap have received their exchange cards so they are now posted for all of us to enjoy. Visit the Gazette to see them "life size" and come back on the weekend to check out the next Challenge. It's been great fun. Would even have been more fun if YOU had participated. Charlotte

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2010-04-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

Did You Win? Winners of the Spray Starch event have been announced. Winners were chosen by random drawing so if you participated by sending scans of your work you are eligible. Check back next week to see what the next event will be. Thanks. Charlotte

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2010-03-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

Spray Starch Continues Deb is sponsoring an ATC exchange. There's still time to join and the deadline isn't until April 8 so come on over to gg designs and join in. It's fun but it also will net a selection of samples using the spray starch technique. Great to have on hand to refresh your memory when you want to use the spray starch later on. It's been a great challenge. Lots of wonderful samples. Thank you Deb. Charlotte

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2010-02-27T19:08:00.000-08:00

The Spray Starch Challenge Continues There has been lots of activity, many questions and samples and many resolutions. Come join us for this great technique invented by Deb Lovett. Master it (it is really simple) and you'll have a "background friend" for life! Come on over! Charlotte

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2010-02-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

February Tutorial Check out Deb Lovett's Spray Starch tutorial. It's the basis for this month's challenge and looks like it will be a LOT of fun. Also....we still want to "meet" you via our "Meet the Artist" section. Anytime someone is willing to share information on their hobbies, their lives....anything you want to share with us......it will first appear in the Gazette and then be placed in the "Meet the Artist" section to be saved and shared over time. (Note: You can always revise your profile....so if your teenager objects to the newborn picture you put up when he/she first arrived, feel free to update it! Nobody wants a pouty teenager around.) Our ETC. page is another place to show off your projects, your pets, your family....whatever is your latest passion. AND when you pick a number, it gives viewers a chance to win that month's prize. Sometimes we forget about this page.....so keep us on our toes. Send in your contribution. The monthly prize winner will thank you. Charlotte

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2009-12-31T18:52:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! Come join us at the Gazette in January for "Show and Tell" month. A time when we explore stampers' other hobbies....no crafter can have just one! Come share you favorites with us. Again.............. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Charlotte

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2009-12-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

Again--A Challenge Closes and Another Begins Arlene Faber won the Watercolor Challenge. She did a series of carnations in various colors. Worth taking a look at the archived (don't you love that word?--a euphamism for "I can't throw anything away!) Watercolor Challenge. Worth checking out as well....the two sketches Arlene provided for December. One is for gg design's monthly Challenge and the other for a ggd sponsored Challenge at Rubberstampchat's forum. Check the Gazette for information on both. You can enter one or both. Prizes are shown at the bottom of the Gazette page. More prize options will be added later in the month, before the winners (by drawings) are selected. This is a busy time but a brief card making time out might just restore you for tackling the rest of the holiday preparations and chores. Have a great December everyone. Charlotte

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2009-10-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

The Great Paper Bead Making Saga! It started innocently enough.....a suggestion on using leftover scraps from the Watercolor Technique Ida Abshier is teaching. But......it got out of hand! Not sure WHY? But hours of web browsing and checking out various tools and techniques available we are now hooked! Well, for the moment at least. We found dozens of bead roller tools on the Internet, each claiming to be "new" and "original." That may be a stretch, since quilling and the tools for it have been around for eons and most of the bead rolling tools started from the quilling slot tool. But, that aside, we now own a bunch! Not saying how many.....it's too embarrassing! But obsessive "I've got to buy everything to make up for not knowing enough" folks will understand. Need to backtrack a bit......The bead making actually started with a project for my granddaughter. Wanted to make some "jingles" for a dress for her Kaya American Girl Doll. Tried a few things but it really didn't work. The attempt did, however, remind us of a tool from years ago, a bead winder. And an Internet search did find this picture of something called "The Bead Crafter." Unfortunately it's no longer available. (If you happen to have one, eBay has requests for them.) The site (paperbeadcrafts) that had the picture also had directions for home made versions. It's a great place to visit to learn more than you ever wanted to know about paper bead making! I tried a few. QUITE a few of the home made versions but there was something not quite right with every one. Finally.....and I don't know just how the search led me there.....I found a "Bobbin Winder" on eBay. I LOVED the look of it so sent for it thinking/hoping it might work. I LOVE gadgets and this filled the bill. The vendor didn't understand how I intended to use it for bead rolling but offered to make "adjustment" suggestions. Careful....not something to offer a gadget happy crafter!!! With my vague description, he made some bead winders out of dowels and cotter pins and even made a "holder" I had described. (Something out of my past....a long forgotten craft I still can't quite remember.) First....did I say I'm a "messy" crafter? I am! And no matter how careful I am, I end up gluing my beads to the roller much of the time. Somewhere on the Internet (I can't find the site again so I apologize for not being able to give credit where credit is due) someone suggested using hollow (baby proof) Q-Tips to wind beads. They don't stick!!! You cut off the cotton swab ends and wrap around the plastic. LOVE THIS! (Sometime in the future, I'm going to try plastic toothpicks in a dowel to see if that works. We'll see.) With my bobbin winder-turned-bead-wrapper and a dozen dowel/cotter pin rollers (with Q-Tip straw covers) and their base I have a dandy mini bead factory! I tend to make as many beads as I have rollers available at a time. When the beads dry I remove them (unless I am going to add a coating or additional glaze) and start another batch. I AM SPOILED. If I had my "druthers" I'd have several bead rack holders for drying and a bunch more winders. But, you have to stop "somewhere!" Somehow I lost site of the fact that what I really needed now was a roller that would wrap the heavy weight watercolor paper many of us are using to experiment with Ida Abshier's watercolor project. AND....a heavier tension pin version which this nice person included in a batch for me to test.....filled the bill almost perfectly. (He's an engineer and "almost" as a specification makes him crazy!) What I'm aiming for now is a non-stick (somehow) bead roller (which is really just a version of a quilling tool) that fits my bobbin winder (the 3/8" inch dowel works) and a long tension pin that has a large enough slot for the heavier paper. With water color paper and heavier paper stock options for how large to make the beads would be nice. Though, as I consider this, I am not sure the watercolor weight paper would work in the bobbin winder. It's quite heavy and probably needs to be hand rolled. There's a limit to "primative automation" capabilities.

This "saint" who put up with all my indecision is named Chuck. If you are interested in his bead roller/quiller tool or his bobbin winder there is a link on the Gazette page or you can check out his web page .

==================================================== 10/26/09 NEWS FLASH!!!! Drying Rack has been added!!! Now, sets of THREE Bead Rollers and the Drying Rack are available on Chuck's Web Site. OR you can get Three Bead Winders and the Drying Rack at a lower "combination" price. Just check the web page . The new, heavier/longer bead roller is terrific. Works very well. : ) And, you might also want to ask him about the bobbin winder. He personally doesn't think it's necessary to make paper beads. It really isn't, but it's a help (with thinner papers, not with the heavy weight water color and card stock) and is lots of fun if you are fond of gadgets! ==================================================== Gosh.....all this to support a "hint." Wonder what I'd get into if I were starting a project from "scratch?" The funny thing is, a look at Aubrey's Beads and I just want to buy strands of beads from there. They are beautiful and a strand or two would provide embellishments for a long time. I've lost sight of the idea that originally this was a way to make use of scraps! Anyway, my bead making career is just about over. Not sure where all these neat tools will take me next.....I'm SURE they will be helpful in future projects. Come on over to the Gazette and check all this out. Beads are not the focus of this Challenge. The Watercolor technique is. And, while Ida is indisposed (behind her ailing computer) Yogi Grunwald has sent us tips from her experience with the technique. Come on over....come out and "play." Charlotte

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2009-10-06T15:32:00.000-07:00

One Challenge Closes Another Opens The Veneer Challenge winner has been announced and the samples and information have been "archived." They remain available and you can always find them to use the tutorials or check samples for ideas. Just visit the Gazette Front Page and scroll down to the table with links to previous Challenges. Now that the Veneer Challenge is completed a new challenge is presented. : ) It never stops, hopefully! Ida Abshier, "Queen of Watercolor" is showing us all how to use her fluid, lovely, watercolor technique. There is a tutorial to start you out but in addition, Ida will be answering questions throughout the challenge.....which, due to its difficulty, may last six weeks. Try it.....if you have questions, submit them to gg designs and Ida will address them. This really is a lovely technique that looks deceptively simple. It's a lot of knowing when to stop and the "less is more" philosophy. Ida will hold our hands while we experiment. It's a lovely technique to have at your disposal. A tad frustrating in the beginning but you will definitely be glad to have this "tool" available. After every one's had a chance to get started, we'll discuss different ways to use it.....and.....what to do with the "rejects." (There will be plenty!) Join the fun! Charlotte

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2009-09-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go? The Wood Veneer Challenge is in full swing.....first week and many samples already. It's clear that most of these were not done specifically for this challenge but instead by people already familiar and comfortable with the material. If you've never worked with it before, give it a try. Jeanette Water's great tutorial will get you on your way and the samples already posted will inspire and encourage you. Check them out at gg designs Gazette. Here's a quick peek (below) but there are more examples in the Gazette. Come join the fun. Charlotte

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2009-08-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

Slice 'n Dice Winner Announced Ida Abshier was winner of the drawing (among the participants in the July/August Slice 'n Dice Challenge). Here's her entry....but you'll really have to go the the Challenge page to get the full impact!

Check out the Gazette and the Slice 'n Dice Challenge. Thanks. Charlotte

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2009-07-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

Slice 'n Dice Challenge Exciting!!! As the samples flow in, the excitement mounts. Rarely in a challenge have there been such diverse directions taken by an equally diverse group of stampers. Even though I do not participate in Challenges, even those sponsored by gg designs, this particular event has definitely influenced some of the projects I've been working on. Most customers know that I am not a stamper. Strange, huh? But, from the first stamp party I ever attended, I knew I was more interested in designing the stamps than using them. So, putting my designs, mostly carvings, on the Internet was a great way to keep on carving. (I now have a set of shelves in my garage, filled with a decade of carvings.) Also, when in an art class eons ago, a strange thing happened. Everyone was working at their own pace, in there own style until one day, the instructor decided to paint along with the class. BIG MISTAKE! From then on, students' work in the class became "clones" of the teachers' work. Think the teacher was flattered but an important learning experience was lost. Both of these events led to my early decision not to display my own work. A good thing, too. The work of the stamp artists using my designs so out classed what I would have done with them, how I saw them, it would have been exceedingly embarrassing!!! So....thank you stampers, for making gg designs look so good! Now to sort of break my own rule! This Slice 'n Dice project sent everyone in their own unique direction. (My hope for most challenges.) But this one couldn't/wouldn't be contained. While I do not participate in challenges or post my own work on the site, I do belong to a couple of carving exchange groups. While I was preparing ATCs for one of these groups I suddenly became aware that I was handling these in a totally different way than usual. And I knew the Slice 'n Dice approach was responsible. While I did not apply it in the way the tutorial directed (few of the participants did) its influence became obvious to me. These are the carved pieces I started with. Had nothing much in mind except experimenting with various background textures. As you can see, the carved pieces are various sizes and there's really no rhyme or reason apparent. This is the result: None of the carved pieces was used "in total." Just little smippets, randomly stamped. It's hard to tell which stamp was used where. I'm usually much more anal about having a plan and sticking to it. This was a whole new-happy- experience. I'm not showing the finished ATC, since most of the recipients in this exchange have not yet received their copies. BUT....I'm here to suggest you file the URL to the Slice 'n Dice Challenge away if you are not yet ready to try it. Plan it for a quiet time (what's that?) or a time when you are "stuck." (We all know what that is!) While I would love to have you participate in this month's challenge, it's much more important that you stash the information away so you can use it to "spread your wings" sometime when you really need it. It is such a freeing experience. You'll never look at your stamps in quite the same way again. Linda Blackbird, who originally introduced me to this technique wrote (of the entries so far): Oh my gosh, Char...These girls bring 'Slice and Dice' to a whole new level! Such creativity! What a treat to see so many different spins on the idea. Even though the technique didn't originate with me, thank you for using it as a catalyst for these wonderful creations....They are all truly inspiring! Here are the URL's to start you off: July Slice 'n Dice Challenge http://www.ggdesigns.net/Gazette/Challenges/JulySlicenDiceChallenge.html and Linda Blackbird's "Slice 'n Dice" Tiles technique http://www.ggdesigns.net/Gazette/ClassesSamplesPg1.html Come on over t0 the Gazette and join us! We're having lots of fun!!! Charlotte

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2009-07-03T15:20:00.000-07:00

First Slice 'n Dice Samples are POSTED! And are they ever FUN!!!

Check them out and JOIN IN!!! There's no WRONG WAY to do them, just any number of different ways. We'd love to have YOUR samples! Thanks. Charlotte

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2009-06-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

Whoops!!! Where DOES the time go?

Didn't post the Father's Day (Male Male) challenge : ( Shame! Shame! BUT.....do have the July Challenge up and ready to tempt you. Check gg designs Gazette for the "rules" and description. It was posted early (but unfortunately, this notice was not) to give everyone a head start. Come join us for this VERY CHALLENGING project. Charlotte gg designs

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2009-05-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day All! Here are some of the lovely Mother's Day cards sent by ggd readers. Thought you might enjoy them. You can see them full size by going the the Gazette. Thanks to everyone who shared their samples.

This is Charlotte, back at the keyboard. Thanks again to Heather for keeping up with the blog while I was incapacitated. Happy Mother's Day to all. Charlotte

Something I threw together

2009-04-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

I threw this together this afternoon with some scraps of Colorbok scrapbook paper. My favorite set- Heather's Blossoms (named after me!) and I love the rounded "Thinking of You". It fits perfectly in a 1.5" diameter round punch.

Happy Tuesday

2009-04-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Heather here. Happy Tuesday! I whipped up a quick thank you card tonight using gg's butterfly kit. I'll be posting a card from Yogi tomorrow (sorry about the delay Yogi!)

Great article about blogging

2009-03-28T07:25:00.001-07:00

Heather here! Craft Critique has posted an excellent article about craft blogging. You can check it out HERE. In interest of disclosure, I am a staff reporter for Craft Critique, so I might be biased, but there is some good information on their site. Heather

Happy Spring!

2009-03-22T18:49:00.001-07:00

Heather here with a "Happy 1st day of Spring" greeting for all of you! I went shopping today in Gettysburg, PA. Although it was chilly out (50 degrees), the stores were full of Easter and Spring STUFF. All of the bright colors- especially the yellows- really caught my eye. In contrast, several stores had Winter STUFF on clearance- dark browns, blacks, and heavy fabrics such wool. I started thinking: it is so easy to make a seasonal card using the traditional colors for that season. But is it possible to create a spring card with a Fall color scheme or dark Winter tones? How would it look to have a Winter card with a bright beach palette? I will be answering that question this week and posting some artwork so you can judge for yourself! Heather

Update on Charlotte

2009-03-19T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! This is Heather and while Charlotte is out of commission I'll be posting stuff here on the gg designs blog. Charlotte's daughter sent an e-mail update this morning and said that Charlotte had her surgery yesterday and she was doing well and is in good spirits.

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2009-03-02T02:09:00.000-08:00

February Winners Announced..... ........and new challenges are posted in the Gazette. Check it out! There's plenty of time to plan for the next challenges, one for March and one for April. Then too, give some thought to trying your hand at a sketch for May. It's great fun, but not (quite) as easy as it looks. The results are exciting as you start to see other stampers' "take" on your layout. So....plan ahead a little and join the fun at gg designs! Thanks. Charlotte

Stamping Tips....

2009-02-12T13:53:00.001-08:00

Stamping Tips.... I'll share mine if you share yours! This is Heather and I'll be talking to you more next month during gg's hiatus. The other day I e-mailed Charlotte and mentioned that my 8-year-old daughter stamped her own Valentine's with a little "coaching" from me about using unmounted stamps and stamping clean crisp images with large images. Charlotte thought it would be a great idea to compile a list of stamping tips for stamping clean, crisp images. Here are a few of my favorite stamping tips:

I mostly use unmounted stamps attached to acrylic blocks with poster tape. I use an old mouse pad under my stamping surface and that extra cushion helps me stamp a cleaner, crisper image. The extra cushion helps compensate for slight imperfections in the rubber.

To ink large images, I lay the stamp rubber side up and use the inkpad to dab the color onto the stamp. It is much easier to make sure I inked the the stamp completely.

Now- what are your favorite stamping tips? Leave a comment or send an e-mail: STAMPSggdesigns@aol.com and I'll compile a list for all! Heather the MooseLover

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2009-02-08T13:54:00.000-08:00

Lots of Cards! Lots of Action! Lots of FUN!

Would you believe, cards by the dozens? Well...that may be a slight exaggeration but Arlene Faber sent cards from her Wednesday morning group.....a dozen cards in all. We'd love it if you'd come take a peek and leave a comment or two for the artists. They'd love to hear what you think. AND....don't forget, there's plenty of time to add your work too.

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2009-02-03T09:21:00.001-08:00

Jeanette Waters started our day off right!

She sent us her entry for Heather's February Challenge.

Here it is....

For a full size look and a look at the sketch that prompted it, visit the Gazette or click on the link above. We'd love to have you join us. gg designs images are not necessary for this challenge so use any stamps you have. Of course, if you happen to own some appropriate ggd stamps we'd love to see those used.....but, again, it's not a requirement of this particular challenge. So come on...party! Charlotte

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2009-02-02T13:25:00.000-08:00

Did you ever give a party....

and no one came?

Snif! Snif!

We have two challenges and an open letter to Janet Detter Margul and we need your participation. Being a Wallflower on the Internet is AWFUL! Help dry our tears! Come out and PLAY! See the GAZETTE for details. Check these out--they are entries in the last two Challenges.

And there are LOTS more to see when you visit the Gazette! Thanks. Charlotte

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2009-01-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

An All February "Valentine" This month we are using the blog to collect notes and comments to send to Janet Detter-Margul, Cyberstamper's Fearless Leader! gg designs and many of our customers "met" on-line at Cyberstampers events and have been "hanging out" together ever since. A little over a year ago, the site closed down in preparation for a massive overhaul to get ready for a new approach, a forum with many special features. We waited and teased and prodded but nothing happened and now Janet has fallen off our radar. Mail gets returned, messages to Cyberstampers go unanswered and we are worried she is stuck under the Cyber-rubble of the site construction (as opposed to construction site?) demolition. Janet....are you out there? Janet, can you hear us? Where are you? HOW are you? We miss you. So, both here and in the Gazette we are collecting notes and letters to "send" into Cyberspace in the hopes that they will somehow find their way home to her. She taught us a lot, helped us a lot and provided lots of laughter. It's all missed. If you too benefited from all her work, write and let her know about it. Send us a message here reminiscing about Cyberstampers' "Good Old Days." Tell us too what you learned in the classes, many taught by her and many more by her team of teachers. Let's make this a huge February Thank You to Janet. Charlotte P.S. In addition to our composite "Letter to Janet" there are TWO challenges in the Gazette for February as well as a sneak peek at what's coming up in March. One....a Valentine without use of Pink/Lace/Flowers/Hearts and all the expected elements. Two....Heather's Valentine Sketch....any and all the flowery traditional Valentine elements are a go! For the March information, visit the Gazette. Thanks.

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2009-01-16T09:56:00.000-08:00

We Are Having a Lot of Fun

......with Jeanette Water's January Sketch Challenge. Check out the Gazette to see the samples that have been coming in. In addition to the sketch Challenge we've been informally making plans for future events. One, hopefully to be completed in February, is a group Thank You Card to Janet Detter-Margul, founder and fearless leader of Cyberstampers. As many of you know, Cyberstampers has been out of commission for slightly more than a year now. Done in, we expect, by super complicated technology as Janet was revamping the site to make it more interactive and more user friendly. There were lots of wonderful plans but setting them into motion apparently proved more taxing and much more complicated than Janet envisioned. Many of us miss Cyberstampers and are worried about Janet. We also feel badly that her work was so grossly under appreciated. Though we do not know where she is or how to reach her, we are nonetheless going ahead with plans to float a group thank you into Cyberspace in the hopes that it will somehow reach her. If you care to join us, write an email to STAMPSggdesigns@aol.com and we will include your message. AND, come by the Gazette to add your work, your ideas and your comments there. Some of the future plans may include a "No Hearts or Flowers" Valentine Challenge, possibly a "Guy Card" or "Man Mail" Throwdown and some open discussions on making do when you don't have the materials specified for a project, following directions exactly or using them as a starting point and many other topics. We'd love to include your ideas as well, so come join us when you have time. We also want to publicly thank Heather Strenzwilk for her column in and influence on the Gazette. She initiated the first ThrowDown as a way to demonstrate what one actually is. This is what got us off to a good start and has made January at gg designs so much fun. Very soon now, gg designs will be off line for from one to three weeks. We haven't figured out how to keep the Gazette up and running but we are working on it. Possibly we will ask for emails on some of the subjects we'd like to explore and use your information for up coming issues. We won't be able to acknowledge your correspondence until we are back up and running so have to ask for your patience. KNOW you are not being ignored. We will get back to you. In any case....there will be a notice on both the Gazette and the Catalog front pages when the time comes. Meanwhile, hope your 2009 has gotten off to a good start. Charlotte

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2008-12-31T23:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!! Here we are, starting another year. AND zeroing in on the last year of the first decade of the 21st Century!!! How did that happen so quickly? Lots of changes. (Check the ETC. page to see how Linda Reid's grandchildren have grown in this time!) For gg designs and for all of you loyal customers who've been hangin' out with us for much of that time, we've seen many changes in our lives, our families and our stamping interests. As most of you have noticed, gg designs has moved from new carvings weekly to new carvings....hardly ever! Cost of production is high and we can no longer afford the luxury of producing images that are apt to have limited appeal. We have always known we are not for everyone and kind of liked it that way. But with the demise of Cyberstampers and A Monthly Rubber Stamps Club, new customers arrive by fortunate accident of a kindly Google Search. So we are forced to be more conservative about producing many images. With the beginning of yet another year, we are accessing our position and attempting to decide what to do next. We will still order anything from the catalog when someone requests a particular stamp or set and we will offer stamps routinely in the Mini Mall and on eBay. But that's not terribly exciting stuff for image/technique hungry veteran stampers or folks new to the stamping/scrapbooking scene. Unless we can build a small community at gg designs we won't have much to offer our customers. Heather Strenzwilk's sketch challenge got some of us pretty excited. It was fun and had the potential to bring us together more frequently around a theme or a project. BUT we can't ask Heather to carry the whole load. SO.....how about one of you stepping up and sending a "sketch" for us to follow. You don't need to be a pro, just give it a try. We'll publish the first sketch we receive, so speed is more important than skill or experience. Send to "Here's My Sketch."at STAMPSggdesigns@aol.com. Let's make this (possibly) last year for gg designs a "fun and games" time for us all. Heather will still be "playing" with us and keeping us informed on the latest trends but she has some heavy duty family commitments at the moment so we don't want to have her just fill space. Rather, we'd like real questions for her. So write to her and we'll see how far we can all go together. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blogging A to Z Heather Strenzwilk October's "sketches" were a lot of fun. If you missed them you can take a look Here: Heather's Sketch Challenge . Heather's columns will be saved so you can refer to them at will. She has a lot of information and fun to share so we expect this section to grow. Many of you have written to say you enjoyed the intital challenge and are looking forward to more. Don't forget, it's more fun if you participate, both in answering the challenges and posing questions for Heather. Write to her at STAMPSggdesigns@aol.com

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2008-11-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Couple of "Quickies"------ Yay...finally found the "cent" sign on my keyboard!!! Now my--99 c Store can really be my 99¢ Store! These little discoveries (that everyone else in the whole world knows) make me soooo happy. Obviously, it doesn't take much! The 99¢ Store (I LOVE writing that) is still evolving. It will always have 99 "Bins" or images to choose from. Disgarded the idea of adding more and more.....99 is a LOT to browse through. But the images will change frequently and often it's frustrating to come back and NOT find an image you know you saw a couple of days ago. So....we've added a "sold out" row...to show the most recent items that are not available at this time. They can be ordered at their regular price, from the catalog, but they just aren't available at the great bargain price. Also changing.....The minimum number of items has been 15 but since the Post Offices' regulations have changed and anything over 13 oz must be taken in to the PO and handed to a clerk, (mail carriers can no longer accept packages that weight), we are lowering the number per order. Stamps weigh more than you think and add up quickly. Hope that helps you as well as me....and all our budgets! Oh...almost forgot....November 20 is the deadline to order holiday images. Check the Gazette and take some time to browse a bit to see some of the customer holiday favorites and how they are used. Lots of variety, lots of ideas and even lots of directions. ¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢ Wheee! Anyway, if you have time off next week, enjoy! Charlotte

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2008-10-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

Rubberstampchat's Fall Convention Closed Monday All reports seem to indicate that everyone had a good time, picked up lots of bargains and discovered new vendors. gg designs was happy to participate in an on-line event again. It's been a while. And, we must be out of practice!!! Got two customers and their addresses and orders mixed up and spend hours and many, many emails trying to untangle the confusion. It's finally cleared up (we hope) but it wil be a while before ggd regains it's "good customer service/fast shipping" reputation!!! I'm really grateful to the two customers involved for their patience while I tried to sort it all out and finally found the error--mine, of course!!! : ) (Red Face) In any case.....the convention spurred us on to revamping the $$ Store, which is now a TRUE 99c Store. Inventory will change regularly so be sure to check it out from time to time, to find images you may have missed. Once again we are reassessing the "carving schedule" (or lack thereof)! In our hey day, we carved and posted new items weekly but that hasn't happened for a long time. It's fun to carve, but expensive to turn the results into rubber. So, our goal now is a new sheet of rubber monthly. We'll have to wait and see if this turns out to be too expensive/costly to be realistic. But, though carving is relaxing, pleasant, fun, it's like most skills......use it or loose it. And we're not ready to throw in the towel (or the carving tools) just yet. So....check us out--frequently! And harrass us if we don't produce! Thanks a lot everybody. Charlotte P.S. By the way....check out the Gazette to see a first sheet of rubber from talented carver Michelle Morland. It would be great if you'd drop her a word of encourgement (by clicking on the image of her carvings). She has fresh, clean images that are very appealing and it would be super if she is able to "jump in" and join the vast ocean of rubberstamp artists and carvers sharing their skills with the Internet World.

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2008-10-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Update on Heather's Challenge Visit the Gazette to see the submissions and read the directions. A very interesting variety from ONE SKETCH! A big Thank You to Heather Strenzwilk for starting what may be a monthly event and to all the participants. It's no fun to throw a party (or a challenge) if no one comes! Thanks to you, for checking this blog. Charlotte P.S. The Rubberstampchat Forum Virtual Convention continues through tomorrow, Monday, October 13. Check out the sales and ggdesigns' 99c Store.

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2008-10-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

Great Fun..... at Rubberstampchat Forum this weekend! Starting Friday at 9 AM there will be a Virtual Stamp Convention with more than TWENTY vendors presenting sales and new images and merchandise. Check it out! For our part, gg designs is opening a "true" 99c Store. This store replaces the $$$ Store in the MiniMall. The $$$ Store was misleading. Items were placed there because they didn't fit well into other categories....but the were of varying prices....so it really didn't make sense. Apologies to everyone who may have felt mislead. It's "fixed" now, with the opening of the 99c Store. There, nothing is over 99c. If you visit the store through the Rubberstampchat Convention, you may buy as few stamps as you wish. Otherwise, there is a 15 item minimum at the store. Either way, check it out (ggdesigns' 99c Store) and check out ALL the sales from Friday until close of business on Monday. See you there. Charlotte

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2008-10-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

What fun!!! Heather Strenzwilk discussed sketches/layouts and issued a "challenge" in the Gazette this month. Already two people have submitted samples and both seemed to enjoy the process of using Heather's sketch as a "jumping off point" for their designs. Take a look.... Gazette Front Page ......and join in! This is a thinly disguised attempt to lure former Cyberstampers' fans (we miss Cyberstampers' classes and games and fun) out of hiding. We hope Cyberstampers' will be up and running again soon (Janet, we miss you!) but until then come play with us. And....don't foget....Rubberstampchat's Virtual Convention--October 10-13. Lots of vendors, lots of sales. gg designs will be reopening a fully stocked 99c store. Convention Go-ers will get first dibs and free shipping. So, head on over and join Rubberstampchat if you haven't already. Look around and get the lay of the land....then hit the sales October 10--13 and stock up in preparation for the stamping/card making/gift giving times fast approaching. (I didn't say the "C" word!) Hope to see you over the weekend! Charlotte

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2008-09-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

Almost forgot.... The "real" reason for posting today! Rubberstampchatforum will be hosting another of its Virtual Conventions in October. (October 10--13) Will bring more information as plans develop. As for gg designs....a virtual convention is exciting. We have missed them since Cybersstampers' is no longer active. We will be keeping it simple. One store. No discounts, just free shipping! The store.....is the new......99c* Store. For just ages we've had a $$ Store in the MiniMall. But, it never occurred to us that the items "should" have been priced at $1.00! Duh! We are so embarrassed! We shop the Dollar Tree often and like the bargains and the simple math! Why we treated our $$$ Store as a place for "Miscellaneous Items" rather that actual one dollar items we can't begin to explain. A lapse! But now, we are correcting that. All items in the 99c Store will be just that.....99c! There will be numbered bins and what you see in the bin is what you get! Check it out. It's in progress now, but will be fully stocked by the October RubberStampChat's Virtual Convention. (If you are not a member, there will be a link on the Gazette page to take you there.) See you at the convention in October but would love to have you visit the Early Bird page to see what's new now, at gg designs. Thanks. Charlotte * By the way...if any of you can tell me where to find the "cent sign" on the keyboard, you' d make my life a lot simpler! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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2008-09-24T14:38:00.001-07:00

American Girl Dolls Anyone? Can't seem to get enough of them these days. I'm worse than the girls....my granddaughters, Hayley and Hannah. They are my excuse but I'm sure, finally, that it's just an excuse! I spend hours browsing the Internet, particularly eBay, for ideas, patterns to knit/sew/crochet. As usual, I'm collecting more patterns than I'm using. Already own far more than will ever be knit or sewn or crocheted. Now....if only there were a way to combine the AG appetite with stamping!!! Any ideas? Would love to hear from other afficionado(a?)s! (I'm not ready, yet, to confess to another addiction>) "Can we talk?" Charlotte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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2008-09-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

August Has Come and Gone!!! Where does the time go? This month was filled with birthday celebrations of all types and sizes, from the youngest, Hannah--SIX--to the oldest--78! All were fun, all different. Both granddaughters, Hayley and Hannah, had seperate Ice Skating Birthday Parties and it was fascinating to see the confidence of the young at work! At nine year old Hayley's party this weekend, her friend Megan skated for the first time...and was unbelievable good! A budding competition skater born? Pottery, stamping, carving and related pursuits all took a back seat to the fun activities AND to a new "career!" Designer to the American Girl Dolls! Well, "designer" is a stretch. But, as a proper grandmother, I struggled to sew and knit bitty clothes for Julie and Mia (the granddaughters' dolls) and feel pretty much like I have FOUR grandchildren, at this point. Hayley and Hannah picked out their dolls at a special New York trip a couple of months ago. They did all kinds of New York site seeing: Empire State Building; Statue of Liberty; the musical version of Ariel on Broadway; Ice Skating in Central Park; but the highlight was selecting their dolls at the American Girl store there. The big push for birthday doll clothes gifts (primarily soccer outfits with each girls' number on the back) is over and things are gradually settling down to "normal," whatever that is. The company that produces gg designs' stamps is back from their vacation and as long as I don't succumb to the call of a "serger"--for perfecting the doll clothes production (stop me before I buy again!)--carving, new stamp production and new challenges should be front and center...at least for a while. Still trying to resurrect the "houses" project which somehow died aborning. The "pieces" are on my computer desk top taunting me. The weather in Folsom is getting a little more tolerable (i.e., cooler) and, once I get over the shock that another year has slipped by almost without my noticing it, I'll be back in business....hopefully, some fun "monkey business." Want to come out and play? Open to ideas, invitations, suggestions....and challenges! Hope the close of summer holiday weekend has been pleasant for all of you. Charlotte

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2008-08-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Oh My Gosh!!! Did we really forget to blog for the entire month of July? !!! That 100+ Folsom heat really takes it out of us! Snail's pace is our usual speed but in the summer sizzle we are virtually at a stand still. No excuses....today is mild and pleasant. Our youngest granddaughter turned six yesterday and the fun continues with an ice skating party today (too cool, two ways--heat and fun). So, catching up with carving/art and other activities will have to wait still another day or so. After all....we can't even remember what it feels like to be SIX so we have to go watch it in action. Happy Birthday Hannah!

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2008-06-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

House Building Project...... .......is going very slowly! Apologies to everyone who thought this would be an "instant" build! I was soooo excited by the idea and expected it to just flow. But such has not been the case. Just can't seem to get the ideas moving. Sorry too.....because it's been such fun to see your houses, to try to visualize you there, stamping away! Haven't given up on it.......yet......but I'm close to throwing in the...carving knife! Have set a deadline. If, by that time, I haven't hit upon something that will work, I will choose to go on to something else. I did learn! Isn't here something we all know? About....not counting your chickens before they're hatched? It seemed so clear cut, so easy. But I won't again (at least not until I've forgotten this lesson) announce, with such vigor and enthusiasm, a project whose bones are not strong enough to assure completion. If I were a contractor, you've probably have me in court over all the building delays. It's a shame someone could virtually build a house while I'm diddling with how I want this "village" to look. Will get back with an update toward the end of next week. Hope all of you in the midwest are safe and dry. Sounds like a terrible time there. (And here I am fussing about my "little houses.") Have a good weekend. Charlotte

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2008-05-31T19:17:00.000-07:00

Best laid plans.....and all that! Working on "A House for Heather" and am not pleased. Can't seem to get the ideas I see in my head to come out on paper.....so far. The idea stemmed, in part, from the "MiniMall" on the web site. This is a series of little geometric doodles with trees and such to identify the buildings. The gg designs "Neighborhood" was hopefully going to have that same flavor but with carvings instead of computer graphics. So far it's fizzled. But....though discouraged and frustrated (I HATE to disappoint Heather) I am going to use the "Early Bird" page of the Gazette as an on-going look at the progress--or it's lack--of the gg designs "Neighborhood." Usually the Early Bird page is used to announce new images when they are being made into rubber. This time though, it will be a window into the whole process, start to finish, of the birth of a new set of drawings. You can help....by sending scans of your house. Sure, I can Google and get lots of pictures but this is meant to be more personal...to ultimately show where and how all you ggd stampers live. By the time the project is finished, the buildings will probably bear little resemblance to the picture you send. Please don't be offended. This is not meant to be an accurate portrayal, we all have cameras for that : ) We are interested in apartments, duplexes, high rises, farms, mansions and shacks. (Shacks, like old shoes, are much more interesting to draw!) One of the persistant ideas running around in my head as I work in this, has to do with Tricia Morris' "Waterfall Card" project. (Featured on the front page of the June Gazette.) Seems like it would be great fun to make a version of this card with all drawings until you get to the very last page....and then, feature a photo of your house. Think the contrast would be very interesting. If any of you try it, please let us all see your work.......because I think about more card ideas than I actually produce : ) Enuf for now.....back to playing with, cursing at, fiddling and poking at the house idea. Any suggestions are always welcome. Thanks. Charlotte

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2008-05-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

"I Could Use a House" Heather's comment ("I could use a house,") started us thinking...... The same friend who harrassed us to "Blog Something" has been urging carving the buildings in the MiniMall (where everything in stock and on sale is housed). We resisted, but as we explored the "House for Heather" possibility, the idea seemed to make more sense. We will not attempt an "accurate" drawing of Heather's house--or yours! But we'd really like to see pictures of your house. With a collection to spur us on, we would like to try for an assortment of houses. New ones, old ones, modern, Victorian, ranch, city lofts, apartments and styles from all over the country (or countries). Every area seems to have its own particular "look." From this, we hope to make a series of drawings to work individually or together to form neighborhoods that capture your imagination. Send us your pictures, your requests and watch this project grow. Hopefully we will end up with a stamp for Heather and a gg designs village (one building at a time) for everyone. Join the fun! Send your picture to STAMPSggdesigns@aol.com and see if you can spot your house as the "street" takes shape.

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2008-05-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

"Blog Something" Got a note from a friend saying "Blog Something." So here I am. Keep thinking I should have something "important" to say.....but then, if I wait for that wonderful occasion, I might never blog! And, I suppose that wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen--to you, me or the cyber-world at large--but then, I wouldn't have the opportunity to say "I'm stuck!" Just seem out of ideas for images. Often when that happens, someone comes up with an "I NEED this stamp" request and the engines start revving up again. Anybody have a project that "needs" a certain image you just can't find? Anybody have any "this is how I dug myself out of that hole" advice? If you've "been there" what is the "done that" that got you going again? Waiting here with carving tool in hand and mind frozen in place. Help!!! Bye for now. Charlotte

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2008-04-24T23:26:00.000-07:00

Early Bird News..... The long awaited turtles have arrived, as well as a set of assorted crowns to give your folks (of particular interest to scrapbookers) the "royal" treatment and crown them with the glory they deserve. While you are checking out these designs, take some time to visit the Birthday Party going on at RubberStampChat Forum. Lots of sales, lots of specials, lots of buying frenzy fun! Charlotte

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2008-04-24T07:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to RubberStampChat Forum April 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 RubberStampChat Forum will be celebrating their FIRST BIRTHDAY! The festivities officially start at Noon on 4/24 and end at the end of the day on 4/28 and consist primarily of great sales and savings and a few surprises from all the vendors associated with the forum. Check it out when you have time....and wish Amy (of Beeswax Stamps) continued success with this great forum. The forum is a stamper's paradise with "rooms" for every interest. It has filled a real need, particularly for stampers who are unable to get "real world" stores and conventions. Happy Birthday RubberStampChat! Charlotte

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2008-04-18T09:02:00.000-07:00

Can't Believe..... ......that I haven't had anything to say (post) since the 5th! Violating the first rule of good blogging....frequent updates!! Two bits of information..... • The turtles are in production and should be here the early part of next week. And....also next week..... • The Rubber Stamp Chat Forum (see sidebar) is having a "First Birthday" celebration. Happy Birthday to them! Beeswax is the mover and shaker behind this really well done forum. We wish them much more success and will certainly be participating in the four day celebration. All the vendors will be having sales and specials so it's a good place to shop April 24th-28th. We'll be back with more information...as we learn more. And we will certainly have some birthday sales specials during those dates. If you don't know about the Rubber Stamp Chat Forum you may want to take some time to browse. You will definitely want to see all the vendors' sales, so plan to attend. Join the fun! Thanks. Charlotte ===================================================

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2008-04-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

Gazette Updated The Turtle images will go to the plate maker next week. There's still time to get on the Early Bird list if you are interested. And, soon, it will contain a turtle carving from youngest granddaughter Hannah. She's not happy with her drawing (see below) and wants to make it into a carving. I offered to do it for her but she'd definitely a "Please (Grand) Ma I'd rather do it myself," granddaughter. So, she will be trying her hand at it. Her Mother cautions, "I don't want to be visiting any emergency rooms with cut fingers!" No guarantees, but we will be very careful. Her older sister Hayley wants to carve too. But she has bigger ideas in mind than a turtle. We'll have to wait and see what she comes up with when the carving actually starts. The practice has been fun....if a little scary! The Gazette has been updated. It contains samples from Heather Strenzwilk that you are sure to enjoy. Anyway....have a good weekend. Visit the Gazette when you have time. Thanks for stopping by. Charlotte ===================================================

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2008-03-23T14:44:00.001-07:00

The Easter Turtle is in the house! The turtles three are languishing on the Early Bird page as we speak! Curious about all the turtle drawings scattered about the dining room table, my youngest Granddaughter Hannah (who coincidentally happens to be nick named "Turtle,") wanted to help. She took me to task for having black and white turtles. "Turtles are green, Grandma!" And offered the drawing below for your approval. Feel free to change your vote!!! Hope you are all having a relaxing, satisfying Sunday Holiday. Charlotte ========================================================

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2008-03-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

And the Winner Is..... ......still undecided! Even though the "Poll" left the solid carved turtle in the dust, being an habitual champion of the underdog, I just can't leave him behind! (Solid, buisness decision, right?) All three are set to be produced. You can see them Sunday afternoon by visiting the Early Bird page. The accessories, ditties*, are un-turtle-like but there is an explanation. That, too, will be on the Early Bird page. I simply do not know why I agonize over these things so. They take on a life of their own.

My preference is "plain olde" drawing and carving but these days, in order to have stamps produced, computer "intervention" is necessary. The images are transmitted to the manufacturer via a PDF file which means delving into the mysteries of Photoshop and Illustrator. Both are heavy duty, complex, meant-for-professionals, programs. A small draw program would be fine with me, (there aren't any out there anymore). A simple photo editing software would do. (There may be some of those available, but the learning curve scares me off.) What I have is rather like driving a two ton truck when I'm licensed for a stick shift compact! Way too much power. Both programs keep getting away from me!

The worst is over. The stamp sets are almost ready. A few more tweaks and nudges and the sets with their companion stamps will be posted in the Gazette on the EarlyBird page. You've all been helpful. By being there. By being heard. You strengthened my flagging resolve. I've finished the hurdle jumping now--it's done. Imagine how frenetic I could get if I were doing something really important!!! Thanks everybody. Charlotte * Ditties--A technical term : ) coined by customer Linda Blackbird to describe tiny little stamps, meant to be used with a specific image. =====================================================================

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2008-03-21T11:50:00.000-07:00

Blogarithm Update Heard from the folks at Blogarithm. (The service that sends email updates when this page is changed.) A very nice, helpful email. They are in transition (seems to be the way of the Cyberworld these days) and promise their service will change dramatically in fairly short order. At the present, it takes as much as twenty-four hours to send out update notices. That will change. So, my request to all of you (and message to me) is that we all be patient for a little while until they get up to speed. Meanwhile, please leave comments. It's lonely out here all by myself : ( Would love to hear from you. It feels kind of like that "If a tree falls in the forest . . ." dilemma. If I post a blog and no one responds . . . ? ? ? Come back Sunday....to see if I've kept to my carving deadline! Thanks. Charlotte By the Way....Expect things to behave differently if you use AOL. Sometimes items don't load as expected. The slide show indicates it's loading but never does. Often only the first article is shown. It's OK, you won't miss anything earth shattering, but just be aware there are glitches. ========================================

Decisions! Decisions!

2008-03-21T03:15:00.000-07:00

Or choices, choices..... Three versions. Haven't decided on which one or even what size. Care to vote?* Whenever faced with such a quandry, I almost always choose "All of the above." However, there are other "parts" to this set so it may not be possible to produce all three styles. We'll have to see as the work progresses. Should all be done by Sunday....at least that's the tentative deadline. Any suggestions anyone? Thanks again. Charlotte * Someone did "care to vote" and sent an email to gg designs. This prompted including the POLL you'll find in the right hand column. >>> Did everything I could think of to get the poll within this post but it's beyond my limited html tinkering capabilities. Sorry!

Under Construction

2008-03-20T22:10:00.001-07:00

This is a new image being readied for carving. The usual process is to refine the drawing that I intend to use as the basis for carving. This turtle will be transferred to carving material and the carved image will start from there. Sometimes I make the preparatory drawing into a rubber stamp as well. I usually make that decision after the caving is complete. Why a turtle? This one is to fulfill a request from a customer. She wanted a realistic drawing plus some other details that you will see when the carving is finally complete. A hint? He's called a "Turtle for All Seasons." Hopefully he will be in his completed form (along with some "accessories" ) by the end of the weekend. No, he's not an Easter Turtle (although that does spark an idea). Check back to see how it turns out. This is partly a "cliff hangar" but mostly because I'm never sure myself until the carving is under way and first proofs are pulled just how the project will look when it's finished. A Turtle for All Seasons may be named "Spaatz." That's because that was the name of a pet turtle I had as a young child. It was the only pet my Mother would tolerate. He didn't bark or shed and he lived longer than a goldfish that broke my heart by going belly up almost immediately after being brought home. Be back some time over the weekend. Thanks for checking in. Charlotte

The Lizard

2008-03-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Poor Lizard has gone "under the knife," or at least, under the carving tool, again. Since he's decorative and only meant to make you smile, we cleaned up a bit and took the tongue shadow out. Not to keep him from speaking, just to make him look a bit friendlier! That's it....we're through. Plus....this really is a test of a blog delivery system we "thought" we had in place. We're writing updates but no one seems to be getting them. : ( So much for automation! Not right now, but probably by the weekend.....check out the Early Bird page to see if Happy Hank here makes it to the pre-rubber stage. There should be other "friends" there with him as well. Thanks for checking out this blog and for browsing the Gazette and the Catalog. Charlotte

Weekend Carving

2008-03-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

Carving Promised.... Carving Delivered--Happy Lizard! Not much to "write home about" (or to write to you about) but it's a start (after a ...l... o...n... g... dry spell) AND it got me out of my "I hate technology" funk! This "Happy Lizard" is a private joke (pertaining to a pass-along post from a customer--you KNOW who you are!) and brings a smile to my face. He may never make it to rubber but he certainly brightened my weekend. More new images will follow but just wanted to let you know I kept my word. Amazing what committing to the whole world will do for my accountability! We will be back, with more carvings/doodles/drawings. Hopefully some of them will make it to the Early Bird page....which means new stamps are in progress. Thanks for visiting. Charlotte

There WILL Be Carving This Weekend!

2008-03-15T06:58:00.000-07:00

The computer glitches continue....though chipped away at! (OK, all you grammar students may now cringe!) The two problems haunting both the Blog-a-letter (this page) and the Gazette (the Newsletter) were resolved--momentarily! Apparently the site for enrolling to receive automatic updates is not working properly--automatically or otherwise--though it was when you were sent a request to join. The logos have disappeared (even though we have changed nothing) and when the sign up button logo is not present, the button doesn't function. In attempting to replace the offending, non-working culprits, I discovered I was unable to gain access to the site. Not wanting to waste yet another day with fruitless "fix-its" we will take a break from the tech stuff and accept that if you can't sign up, for whatever reason, you must not have been meant to, (sorry again grammar students!) at least at this time. BLOG is definitely a four letter word, an unpleasant one, in my limited cybertech vocabulary! Since I really don't want to spend another compulsive day at the computer I will be turning it off (horrors!) as soon as this post is finished. There will be carving this weekend. This is my low tech therapy to counter to loss of control of things technical. Look for a "proof" next week. While the carving output may never make it to rubber, it may just keep me out of the rubber room! Thanks for listening! Charlotte

More Apologies Are in Order!

2008-03-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

Take a peek at the Gazette Front Page. You'll see a "nothing little piece" that stole TWO CLAY PLAY DAYS and a lot of sleep from me. And you'll get your apology for being bugged by so many update notices. I did it. I forgot that every time I touch the blog, it sends notices of "new" content. This time is wasn't "new," or even interesting, just repetitious. I've been trying to put a tiny little slide show at the bottom of this infamous Blog....so new people can get a peak at some samples. It sounds 1-2-3 simple when you read the directions....that was two days/nights (I've got them all mixed up) ago. Of course, I thought it was ME.........until I found a "help" section that had at least twenty people writing with questions about the same difficulties I was experiencing. Ugh! And no solutions that I could understand : ( Still don't have it resolved. But I couldn't waste ALL the work, so I found a way to put the slide show on the web site. I kind of made it up, I think, but it worked. Not, of course for the Blog, where it's needed. Auuughhhh computers!!! I'm so tired now I'm going to bed at a ridiculously early hour. Hopefully to get a fresh start tomorrow. A fresh CLAY PLAY start! Goodnight. P.S. A new quest....to see if I can make a "practice, " unpublicized blog to use to work out these confusing issues privately.

Still on A "Shakedown Cruise"

2008-03-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

We are working with two programs...one to create and publish the latest information. This is, hopefully, going to be a more effective way to get emails to you. With more information, pictures and fun and also with the blog specific features....the most exciting one, a way for you to "answer back" directly, within the email. (That should keep me on my toes!) The second, is a program to actually mail the blog to you. That's not working so well. Theoretically, there is a way to mail the blog to you AS IS. So far that's not happening. It it's apparently sending the new information but not in the intended format. Using an entirely different layout. Our quest now is to find out how/why this is happening. Also, it is only supposed to go out to you when there is new information. That way you won't be inundated with duplicate emails from gg designs. (Some of you are already irritated by this. I understand and apologize.) My suspicion, my fear, is that everytime I edit or change anything (color, size, placement) as I try to get up and running, you receive ANOTHER copy! Please say it isn't so! BUT, please, if this is happening, write to me to let me know. Thanks again for your patience while I try to work all this out. Charlotte

Let the Fun Begin!

2008-03-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

We've already gotten a few of you upset with us for so many posts....hope this isn't the straw that breaks the camel's back! We ar trying to bring gg designs into the 21st Century......and it's a rough go, especially for someone who can't even use her cell phone reliably. And, program a VCR? Forget it! Anyway, this is just a test post. If it works, we'll be using this vehicle to bring you news of contests, freshly carved images and other "stuff" you may need to know about......or, at least, we (gg designs) will want to tell you about.