Guest Designer - Gini Cagle

Today we have a guest designer, Gini Cagle from Beadz........

I have always loved everything vintage - and that has really influenced my work. Even as a little girl, I collected beaded purses and antique clothes, and had boxes of old photos and ephemera. And yeah, this was all by the time I was 9 years old. So I guess I was that quirky kid that everyone just kind of thought marched to her own drum.  That early sense of style lead to someone who has a passion to create, who is confident in her own designs,  but who also appreciates the historic influences of the past.

I have been crafting all of my life, in one form or another. I was a very successful bead artist. I had my work published in over a dozen books and magazines, and lectured and taught all over the country, but...my beaded pieces took 500-1000 hours to complete. About 10 years ago, I started scrapbooking, when my first nephew was born. I instantly fell in love with the immediacy of the medium (compared to the crazy hours I spent beading!) In the past several years, I have really gotten serious with the craft and love finding new ways to take my pieces to the next level.  It's really funny to look at any of my work, from bead work to paper and to be able to see the same style emerge, regardless of the medium.  I have always loved dimension, and color and layers.  Paper crafting is really a family thing for me. My sister and I used to get together once a week to craft, but now she has moved right next door, so it's one big paper party! I can't leave out that my five year old nephew thinks it's really cool to scrapbook with his aunt and mommy! My husband doesn't ever craft with me, but he is my biggest cheerleader, and is always supportive of what I do. We have been married for a little over two years. We have a fairytale romance - we knew each other in high school and were friends, but went over 20 years without any contact, and reconnected on Facebook and quickly knew we were meant to be together. I work as a dental hygienist, so creating with paper is always a welcomed release!  I absolutely love Cheery Lynn Designs - they have such an elegant style, and cut even the most intricate dies beautifully. I am thrilled to be able to share some of my creations that I've made  with them. 

Gini has created an Inspiration box and coordinating card........

She says...............For the Inspiration Box I used a mini-recipe box template from Scor-Pal.  Instead of using this little box for recipes, I decided to make one with encouraging verses written on the cards. I decorated the cards with various die-cuts to add variety.

Dies used:  Sweet Williams, English Tea Party Doily, Fanciful Flourish, Lace Light Deco Border, Exotic Butterflies Small #2

For the coordinating card she also used Cheery Blossom and Border Carnivale, as well as papers from My Mind's Eye, Bazzill,  and Core'dinations.  The stamp is from Our Daily Bread colored with Copic markers.  What a fabulous gift these will make.

Now I also want to share with you a project Gini created to apply for the Cheery Lynn Design Team call.  It is fabulous and you can visit her blog to read all about it.  She calls this a Victorian Wardian Case. 

Thank you so much, Gini for sharing your creativity with us today.