Gretchen Barron

Harvest Home and Two New Challenges!

Hello everyone! I've got a great card for your inspiration today and I'm excited because it's a two-fer -- I'm meeting two challenges with one card! I love it when that happens. First, this is my Stamping 411 Weekend Sketch card for this week, based on Selene's great sketch. Secondly, I used the Late Night Stampers Challenge colors for this week -- Really Rust, Ruby Red and Old Olive. What great colors for fall ... which is why I decided to use one of my favorite fall sets -- Harvest Home. The sentiment is from Grateful Greetings and accessories include 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, The Eyelet Border Punch, Large Oval and Scallop Oval punches, Stampin' Dimensionals and Blender Pens. I used the Blender Pens and reinkers to do the watercoloring on the stamped image. Ink colors include Pumpkin Pie, Dusty Durango, Old Olive, Really Rust, More Mustard, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and Not Quite Navy.

Ready for the details ...

1. Layer One -- Really Rust cut at 5.25 x 10.5". Score and fold in the middle, making a cardbase that measures 5.25" square.
2. Layer Two -- Old Olive Polka-Dot pattern from the Right Stuff Designer Series Paper, cut at 5" square
3. Layer Three -- Ruby Red cut at 5 x 1" and punched with the Eyelet Border Punch. Attach to card and wrap the ribbon around it, fastening on the back of the DSP layer.
4. Layer Four -- Ruby Red cut at 5 x 2" and attached about 1/3 of the way from the top of the card. I placed it so the focal stamped image could be centered.
5. Layer Five -- Really Rust cut at 3.25" square
6. Layer Six -- Very Vanilla cut at 3" square. Stamp the image with Black Stazon Ink (a MUST when you are watercoloring) and color in using Blender Pens and Reinkers.
7. Layer Seven -- Old Olive punched with the Scallop Oval Punch
8. Layer Eight -- Very Vanilla, stamped with the sentiment and punched with the Large Oval Punch. Attach to the Scallop Oval with SNAIL adhesive and adhere to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
9. Inside of Card -- Very Vanilla cut at 5" and stamped twice with the leaf image and colored in with Blender Pens and Reinkers.

Make sure and check out the Stamping 411 Site to see the other fabulous projects that our Operators have created for your inspiration this week. And then, once you have a chance to create your own masterpiece using this sketch, be sure to go back to Stamping 411 and leave your name and link with Mister Linky.

We all want to see what  you come up with this week!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

How To Create a Scallop Rectangle or Square of Any Size

Good Morning, everyone! This morning I want to show you a fun and quick technique to create a Scallop Rectangle Mat of any size using the Big Shot and the Scallop Square Die. This is so easy to do and adds such beautiful detail to your cards, scrapbook pages and 3-D items. When you cut a piece of cardstock using the Scallop Square Die, you will get a square that is approximately 4 3/8" square. Now, if you want to make a rectangle, instead of a square, it just requires that you run that cut piece, back through the Big Shot. The trick is to count the scallops that you want on each edge. Each scallop on the Die is approximately 1/2" wide. For my example, I wanted a rectangle that was 9 scallops wide (the longest you can get using this Die) and 6 scallops tall.

In this first photo, you can see that I cut it first using a piece of cardstock that is a bit bigger than what I want my finished mat to be (I wanted it to be 6 scallops wide which is approximately 3" so I first used  a piece of cardstock that was 3x5"). Next, I simply lifted the cut cardstock up out of the die and slid it over so that the left side was lined up in the 6th scallop (from the right) of the Die, ran it through the Big Shot again, and there you go -- a perfect scallop rectangle to use on my project. You can make a rectangle of any size

using this technique. You can also make a variety of scallop square sizes. To do this, you simply reposition your first cut on the corner of the die to make your square. (click on the photo on the left to view it as a larger image). In this example, I wanted to make a Scallop Square that had 6 scallops on each side (approximately 3" square). So After making my first cut, I repositioned it so there would be 6 scallops on each side and cut it again, using the Big Shot. This is a little more tricky, because the cardstock tends to "rock" in the cut-out portion of the clear die. To make it a little easier and to hold the cardstock where you want it, you could put just a bit of re positionable adhesive on the back to hold it securely on the foam part of the die. That's it! I can't wait to see what you create with your new scallop rectangles and squares!

And here's what I created for you today! I love the way this card turned out and the colors are so beautiful together. I actually created this for the Late Night Stampers "Take It To the Top" Challenge which begins today. I used a card on page 80 of the Idea Book & Catalog as my starting inspiration. This card uses Kind & Caring Thoughts (a level 3 Hostess stamp set), Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper and a color scheme of Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and Whisper White. The edges of the DSP layers and the stamped layer are all sponged, with adds a great deal of depth to the project. The stamped image is simply stamped-off -- ink it

up once with Elegant Eggplant ink and then stamp it off two more times without reinking -- what a lovely effect. I added 3 Old Olive Brads on the left for a perfect finishing touch! And of course, I didn't neglect the inside of the card!

Well, I think that will be it for today. I've got a great new "Takin' It To the Top Tuesday" project ready for tomorrow -- my new Blog feature where I take one basic card and step-it-up two times with added embellishments, layers and textures. I do hope you'll come back tomorrow to see what I've been up to!

Don't forget to order your Frankie & Friends Halloween Treat Bags Class-Kit-on-the-Go or Tutorial soon so you will have them in time for October workshops and Halloween Gift-giving! You can order or find out more information on THIS post!

A Sneak-Peek at Delightful Decorations

Good morning, everyone! WARNING -- Sneak Peek alert this morning! I decided to get out one of my newest Stamp Sets -- Delightful Decorations -- and it's coordinating new punch for my card this morning. Both of these fabulous new products are in the Holiday Mini Catalog which will soon be available. In fact, customers should begin receiving the catalog in the mail this week and you can begin ordering from it on September 1st! It is jam-packed with so many fabulous new stamp sets, products, embellishments, accessories and tools -- I cannot say enough good things about it. If you would like to receive your own copy and don't have a demonstrator to work with, let me know and I'll gladly put one in the mail for you! Anyway, I wanted to do a card with punches for the Late Night Stampers Punch Challenge this week, and this is the one that immediately came to mind!

I used the Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper along with Taken with Teal, Ruby Red and Sahara Sand Cardstocks. I embossed the ornament images with Versamark Ink and Gold Embossing Powder, punched them with the new coordinating Ornament Punch, and then "hung" them using Gold Metallic Elastic Cord. The sentiment is from Many Merry Messages and the ribbon is 5/8" Whisper White Satin. I added another embossed ornament on the inside of the card. This is such a fun set to use and made so easy with the new punch!

Stay tuned all these week for more Sneak Peeks from this fabulous new Holiday Mini Catalog that is about to be revealed! I guarantee there is something for everyone!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll come back soon!

Blessings, Gretchen

A Pink and Black Challenge

Hello, everyone! This week's challenge on Late Night Stampers is anything Pink and Black, one of the hottest color combinations around!  I began with a Cardbase of Basic Black and added a layer of Pixie Pink with some of the Great Polka Dot DSP from the Petal Party Simply Scrappin' Kit. I also embossed the Pixie Pink layer using the Big Shot and the Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate. I added some 3/8" Black and White Gingham Ribbon and tied a Faux Bow on the side. The stamp set is Flight of the Butterfly. Look how wonderfully the new Butterfly Punch works with this set? The butterflies are attached using Stampin' Dimensionals! An extra butterfly embellishes the inside of the card! How cute!

I invite you to check out my new Simply Scrappin' Samplers! There are three different samplers offered and you will get 1/2 of three different kits in each sampler. It's a great way to be able to purchase lots of the beautiful Simply Scrappin' Kits without investing hundreds of dollars in purchasing them all. And do you know how much you can create out of just 1/2 of a Simply Scrappin' Kit? Literally dozens of cards and several 12x12 Scrapbook pages! As an added bonus, I'm offering add-on packs of coordinating ribbon for each sampler!

Hope you have a great weekend, everyone! I'll be back on Monday with an entire week of Christmas in July (this little bow gives you a sneak peek)! You won't want to miss some of the great projects I've prepared for you, using new Christmas Stamp Sets (and maybe some old favorites), along with great new papers, Big Shot Dies and Embellishments!

See you then! Blessings, Gretchen

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream ... for Ice Cream!

Hello everyone! The Design Team Challenge this week on Late Night Stampers is to design a card that is ANYTHING but the regular size. So I put together this fun little Birthday card today that is unusual in both size and shape ... and, looks good enough to eat!

The first time I saw the new Stampin' Up! Perfect Details Texturz Plate I immediately thought "ice cream cone"! Isn't it perfect (no pun intended) for this! I cut the cone from Creamy Caramel Cardstock by simply folding a 8.5 x 5.5" piece of cardstock in half (like you would do to make a regular card) and then cut on a diagonal (with my Paper Trimmer) from the top right corner to the bottom at the fold. You have to trim a little off the top when you're done to make an even triangle. I ran it through the Big Shot, using the Perfect Details Texturz Plate, cut another piece of Whisper White for the Inside and stamped it with the Birthday Sentiment Stamp.

Now for the delicious Ice Cream recipe (click for a larger image)! I inked up just the frosting part of Simple Birthday Thanks with Black Stazon Ink and stamped it on Pretty in Pink Cardstock and cut it out. I stamped the Cherry again on Whisper White, colored it in with a Real Red and Chocolate Chip Marker and then covered it with Crystal Effects and set it aside to dry. I love how shiny and dimensional it looks -- very realistic. Using a 2-way Glue Pen, I applied Dazzling Diamonds glitter in swirls on the frosting cut-out. I put tiny little dots of Crystal Effects on each of the "dots" on the frosting and then, using tweezers, applied a single Glass Bead to each of the dots. Once the Crystal Effects was dry on the cherry, I cut it out and attached it to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I attached the Ice Cream to the Cone with SNAIL adhesive. Yum, yum ... I think I need to make a trip to the kitchen!

I hope you come back soon for more inspiration and ideas. I've got lots of wonderful projects in store for you!

See you soon! Blessings, Gretchen

Find out more about my 6x12" Designer Series Paper (these are big enough to use for your 12x12 scrapbook pages) and Ribbon Samplers by clicking HERE. Join a Marker Club and earn a FREE set of new In Color Markers as a Gift from me. Check out my latest Class-on-the-Go Kit and Tutorial HERE!

One sketch -- 3 Cards!

Good morning, everyone! I've had a little time to begin playing around with some of the new things I ordered from the new Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog! All I can say is, so many ideas ... so little time! This catalog is packed with great new stamp sets, papers, ribbons, embellishments and Big Shot Dies! If you don't have your catalog yet, let me know -- I'll be glad to get one to you. The catalog is free but if you live out of my area, there will be a fee for S&H. You can find more information HERE! I decided to use this week's MoJo Monday sketch for my cards today. I always get inspiration working from a sketch! So here you go -- One Sketch ... Three Cards!

I fell in love with this stamp set, Greenhouse Garden, the first time I saw it! I just love 2-step stamping -- it's so much fun and makes me feel like a real artist! I used lots of color on this card, as you can see -- Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Real Red, Orchid Opulence, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive. You can also see two of the new Storybook Specialty Designer Series Paper patterns. The sentiment is from On Your Birthday; the ribbon is Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain and I used the Large Oval and Scallop Oval Punches. Of course, there's a little stamping on the inside as well! What fun!

 

From height of summer to Christmas, wow, where does the time go! This set, Gifts of Christmas, is another new one from the catalog. I stamped it in Versamark ink on Night of Navy cardstock and then embossed with Silver Embossing Powder and the Heat Tool. I stamped again on Whisper White Cardstock, embossed and cut out the dove and set it up on Dimensionals to help it standout more. The snowflake is a Sizzlet Die, cut from Brushed Silver Cardstock and then sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. Cardstock colors are Night of Navy, Bashful Blue and Brushed Silver. I already have lots of ideas for this beautiful new stamp set! And yes, it's time to begin thinking about Christmas Cards!

This last card today not only goes with the MoJo Sketch, but I also did it for this week's Late Night Stampers Challenge, Here Comes the Brides ... and Grooms! Utilizing another new set from the Catalog, Wedding Sweet (one of Shelli's Signature Collection sets), I used Very Vanilla and Brushed Gold Cardstocks and embossed the images with Versamark and Gold Embossing Powder. It's difficult to see in the photo, but I used the new Stampin' Up! Perfect Details Texturz plate on this card as well. The ribbon is 3/8" Very Vanilla Satin and the Large and Scallop Oval Punches were used. A bit of stamping on the inside of the card makes it so special when you open it up!

There's a lot going on right now and some great special offers! Here are some highlights -- be sure to check them out!

Click HERE to find out how you can get a FREE set of the new In Color Markers!

Click HEREto see my DSP And Ribbon Samplers from the New Catalog!

Take a look at some of the great Control Freaks SWAP cards HERE. More will be posted soon!

Well, that will be it for now! I hope you were inspired to see some of the great new products that Stampin' Up! offers. Come back soon for more ideas and inspiration! Until then, blessings, Gretchen

Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue!

Good morning, everyone! Our challenge on Late Night Stampers this week is to create projects using the colors Red, White and Blue! I've got a couple to share with you this morning! Do you recognize these "fireworks"? These are actually flowers on one of the new printed Window Sheets that Stampin' Up! sells (they have been in the Occasions Mini Catalog but also will be in the new Fall and Winter Idea Book and Catalog). The first time I saw these, I immediately thought "fireworks" or "sparklers" and so I've used them to create this Red, White and Blue card today. Using Real Red Craft Ink, I stamped and heat embossed directly on the acetate sheet, using the Celebrate stamp from Celebrate Everything. I didn't know if I could do this or not and half-way expected to have a melted, smushy ball of hot acetate on my desk, but it worked! I wouldn't over-heat though! Underneath the acetate sheet, on a layer of Brilliant Blue, I stamped the little speckles using Itty Bitty Backgrounds. I used White Craft Ink and then pounced on Real Red Stampin' Pastels with a Sponge Daubber. Blow and brush off the excess chalk. I attached the window sheet with SNAIL adhesive across the top and then "hid" the SNAIL with the tied ribbon. I'm pleased with how my fireworks card turned out! How about you?

This next card was actually a project that I had some new stamping friends make in a workshop earlier this week. Again, using Real Red, Brilliant Blue and Whisper White cardstock, we created this card with the small and large Star Punches. Such fun! Stamp Sets are Celebrate Everything and Itty Bitty Backgrounds. I added some additional stars and speckles on the inside of the card (no surprise there, right!).

Well, I hope my projects today will give you some inspiration to create your own Red, White and Blue Cards! If you would like to join Late Night Stampers and play along with our weekly challenges, just click on the Owl and Branch logo in the left side-bar of this blog! We would love to welcome you to LNS!

Tomorrow is the BIG day -- the reveal of the new Fall and Winter Idea Book and Catalog! Stop back for some exciting news and fabulous project ideas using new Stamp Sets and Accessories from the newest catalog and Idea Book!

 If you haven't seen it yet, I've got a new Class-on-the-Go Kit -- this darling three-piece Camping Gift Set using the Under the Stars Stamp Set. You can purchase the class Kit or simply order the tutorial! Either way, it's a darling project for summer fun! Click HERE for more information and to place your order today!

Check out other $5 project tutorials HERE.

Click HERE to see all the Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll be back soon!

Blessings, Gretchen

A Sneak Peek at Some Good Things To Come (soon)!

Good morning, everyone! I've been holding off showing you some of the wonderful new in-colors, papers and stamp sets from the new Catalog (to be released on July 1st) because there are so many wonderful, retiring things that I wanted to focus on. But I can't wait any longer! The time has come! This morning's card, created for the Late Night Stampers Sketch Challenge this week, uses some of the fabulous new Razzleberry Lemonaide Designer Series Papers and the cutest-ever polka-dot Grosgrain Ribbon that matches all of this year's new In Colors! These would normally not be my first color choices but I love the Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango together. Look how well the Flower Assortment Brads match the new colors? The stamp set is Great Friend, you've seen it in the Occasions Mini Catalog but guess what, it made it into the new catalog as well! I used the Eyelet Border Punch on the bottom of the floral DSP layer and stamped the butterfly with Versamark Ink, then heat embossing with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. An added butterfly and sentiment on the inside complete this fun, summer card!

Okay now, here's a look at all the new In Colors and new Ribbons! What do you think? Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede! I'm making plans now to again offer Samplers for the new Designer Series Papers and the new In Color Ribbons so you'll want to check back next week for more details!

Have you seen my latest Class-on-the-Go Kit? It's this darling three-piece Camping Gift Set using the Under the Stars Stamp Set. You can purchase the class Kit or simply order the tutorial! Either way, it's a darling project for summer fun! Click HERE for more information and to place your order today!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope I gave you some inspiration and ideas! Please come back soon!

Thanks for looking! Blessings, Gretchen

Heartfelt Thanks Gets a 1-2-3 Punch!

Happy Monday morning, everyone! Our challenge at Late Night Stampers this week is to select one retiring stamp set and create 3 different cards for 3 different occasions -- kind of a 1-2-3 punch! I choose Heartfelt Thanks for my creations today -- a beautiful set that will definitely be missed! Heartfelt Thanks is a 2-step stamp, meaning there are 2 different layers that can be used alone or together, to create a wide variety of looks and styles.

My first card is a simple, yet elegant, Anniversary card, using Shimmery Gold and Whisper White Cardstock. I stamped the floral outline and the sentiment (from Hugs & Wishes, also a retiring set) with Versamark Ink (be sure and use your Embossing Buddy to cut the static - especially important with metallic embossing powders) and then sprinkled on Gold Embossing Powder and set it with the Heat Tool. I used lots of layers for dramatic effect and tied some of the scrumptious White Satin Ribbon across with a bow. Simple, yet elegant!

My next card is much brighter but still a very simple design. I used two different patterns from the Raspberry Tart DSP (yes, it's retiring). The cardbase is Rose Red and I punched the bottom border of the small layer with the Eyelet Border Punch. The sentiment is from Elegant Cheer (retiring) and the ribbon is 3/8" Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin (sadly, yes it's retiring as well). For the floral image, I inked the stamp in Kiwi Kiss ink, rubbed the ink off the flower with a Baby wipe and applied Rose Red ink to the flower with a Stampin' Write Marker. For an added touch, I stamped off the image on the inside Whisper White layer!

One more for this morning -- this one a Thank You card using only the stamps from the set. I used the retiring Parisian Breeze Textured Specialty Designer Series Paper and the Valet Ribbon Originals (retiring). I stamped the first layer stamp with Baja Breeze Ink and the outline with Chocolate Chip. The sentiment is stamped with Chocolate Chip. For a little added interest and texture, I tore the bottom edges of the top two layers (whisper white and Baja Breeze). Again, I stamped just the outline image again on the inside of the card.

Well, there's my 1-2-3 punch for today! If I've convinced you that you need the Heartfelt Thanks stamp set or any of the other retiring stamp sets, papers or ribbons that I've used today, I would be glad to assist you with an order! Just go to my Stampin' Up Website and click "shop now" at the top of the page or call or e-mail me. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll come back soon! Blessings, Gretchen

Check out my $5 project tutorials HERE.

Click HERE to see Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

Two Challenges with One Card!

Oh man, I love it when I can take care of two challenges with one card! This week's Late Night Stampers Color Challenge is to use Kraft, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive and I incorporated this week's MoJo Monday sketch for this card!

The card base is Ruby Red with a layer of Kraft on top that has been embossed with the Swirly Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate. A small piece of Chocolate Chip Dotted Print from Bella Rose Designer Series Paper is layered on top of that and the seam covered with some 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon and a Faux Bow. On a 2.5" square of Kraft, I stamped the Flourish from Baroque Motifs and then layered that on another layer of Chocolate Chip cardstock. The flower from Bella Blossoms (on the Dormant List) was stamped in Old Olive Ink on Whisper White cardstock and then a circle cut out with the Circle Scissor Plus. A larger Circle of Old Olive was used as yet another layer. I stamped the flower again on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock in Ruby Red ink and then applied Chunky Crystal Iris Glitter using Tombo Multi Adhesive for a spot of bling!The flower is adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped with Old Olive Ink and punched out with the Large Oval Punch. And of course, I stamped a bit of the flourish on the inside as well with some Old Olive Ink. This was a fun challenge -- why don't you try your hand at it!

I've got a new Class-on-the-Go Kit available which uses the Simple Friendship Stamp Set and Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper. Your can purchase either the complete kit or the Tutorial only by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to see other Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

Click HERE to see other Tutorials available for $5 each.

Happy Stamping, everyone! Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings, Gretchen