Gretchen Barron

A Bugs and Kisses Valentine

It's understandable, especially when the novelty has not yet worn off a new and beautiful catalog, that we sometimes forget there are other stamp sets available. Stampin' Up! maintains what they call a Dormant List -- a list of beautiful Stamp Sets that are not in the large catalog but are still available for purchase. This year's Dormant list has 36 Stamp sets on it, many of our favorites from the past catalog. So, if you're looking for something you can't find, don't forget to check the Dormant list to see if it's still available. Click here to view and download the 2009 Spring and Summer Dormant List.

Today's card uses Bugs & Kisses. Yes, you guessed it! This is one of the great sets from the Dormant List! Perfect for kids occasions of all kinds, I thought it also worked well here for Valentine's Day.

Also used on this card are all three elements of the Love You Much Bundle, available for purchase for 20% off until January 31st! The bundle includes the Love You Much Stamp Set, Heart to Heart Punch and Candy Lane Designer Series Paper. The sale price is like getting the Designer Series Paper Pack for FREE! Click to learn more.

Materials used are:

Stamp Sets: Bugs & Kisses, Love You Much, Holiday & Wishes

Cardstock and Paper: Candy Lane DSP, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa. Black Stazon

Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Large and Small Tag punches, Linen Thread, Heart to Heart Punch

Remember, I am selling 6x12 Samplers of all the Designer Series Papers in the new catalog! This is a great way to get a lot of DSP without purchasing entire packs. Click here for more information or visit my Online Store Window in the left side-bar! I'll be taking orders for the Samplers until February 1st.

That's it for today! Please stop back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

Blessings, Gretchen

Holiday Mini Catalog Sneak Peek!

Oh, I know you can't purchase from the fabulous new Holiday Mini Catalog until October 1st, but I just couldn't wait to use this beautiful new set, A Cardinal Christmas. Isn't this just amazing? I've got lots of ideas on how to use this but this is what I put together this morning. This is going to be one of the cards that we make in my Christmas Card workshop later this month! The card base is Chocolate Chip with a layer of Garden Green (a color that I rarely use but I love it here). I stamped the plant image in Garden Green ink. The edges of EVERYTHING are inked with Chocolate Chip ink. I added a narrow piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock that was first punched with the Scallop Edge Punch and tied on the beautiful Riding Hood Red 3/8" Taffeta ribbon to cover up the edge of the cardstock. The cardinal is stamped with Black Stazon On ink and colored using a blender pen and ink pads in Riding Hood Red, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie and Real Red.

And just think, not a snip of Double-Sided Designer Series Paper anywhere on this card - LOL!

Well, there is more DSP to use and more stamp sets and more products and so many projects so I do hope you will come back soon for more inspiration. Until then, Blessings, Gretchen

PS -- speaking of DSP -- I am again offering Sampler Kits of DSP and Ribbons. Just click on the links for more information!