Gretchen Barron

Distressed (in a good way!)

Hello everyone! The challenge this week on Late Night Stampers is to create a distressed project -- wrinkle it and wad it and ink it and smudge it and get it dirty! Now I will be the first to admit, this is not my usual style. I like pretty, I like crisp, I like clean, I like bright and vibrant colors. Distress a project ... that's enough to distress me! But, never one to shy away from a challenge, here is one card that I came up with for this week. Once I got into it, it was a lot of fun. I love this new Stamp Set, Music Expressions, and wanted it to look like an old piece of sheet music that you might find in your grandmother's attic! I stamped the image with Black Stazon ink onto Whisper White cardstock (yes, that's Whisper White under all that distressing!). Using my Aqua Painter and a tiny bit of Chocolate Chip ink, I spread and floated the color onto the violin until I achieved the look and shading I wanted. I colored in the little bird with a Blender Pen and some Baja Breeze ink and then floated Creamy Caramel over the whole thing with an Aqua Painter to make it look old. I roughed up the edges with the Distressing Tool that comes in the Cutter Kit, tore it in a few places, and then sponged on more Chocolate Chip ink on the edges. I mounted this on a layer of Baja Breeze cardstock that also was inked on the edges with Chocolate Chip. This is then mounted on a layer of Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper and a Baja Breeze card base.

As you can see, I even distressed the ribbon a bit! This beautiful ribbon from the Valet Ribbon Originals was just a little too bright and soft for a distressed card. I ran the edges lightly over the Chocolate Chip Ink pad and then sponged on a bit more just to give it an aged look. The label is cut from Creamy Caramel cardstock using the new Matchbox Bigz XL die (available April 1st in the Occasions Mini Catalog). It's edges are inked a bit as well. Then, I distressed the inside of the card by inking around the edges and running the Symphony Jumbo Wheel on the bottom. I really love how this card turned out! And it wasn't even too distressing!

I'm taking orders now for the March Big Shot Bonanza Class-on-the-go Kit! It's all about Easter! When you purchase this Class-On-The-Go kit from me, you will receive pre-cut cardstock, DSP and all the ribbon and embellishments to make all four projects -- The Chick and Bunny Cards, One Purse and One Basket. You will supply your own adhesives (SNAIL, Dimensionals, Sticky Strip and Mini Glue Dots), your own inks and stamps. The DSP is from the Tea Party Collection but actual designs and colors may vary with each kit. You will also receive detailed directions with ton's of pictures which will be e-mailed to you (PDF file) along with confirmation when your kit supplies are shipped to you. As an extra bonus, I'm also including a 6x6 Sampler of all of the Tea Party Designer Series Papers (6 double-sided sheets in all)! Those who order the Class-On-The-Go Kit by March 15th will have their kits ship by March 20th. Those who place orders after March 15th can expect their kits to ship within a week of placing the order, in plenty of time for Easter. Cost for the Kit is $25 and may be ordered by clicking on the PayPal Button Below!

Also available now are the Detailed Directions, with pictures, for just the Big Shot Buddy Chick and Bunny Cards. Directions will be e-mailed to you (PDF file) within 24 hours of receiving your payment. Cost for the directions only for the two cards is $8. You may order by clicking on the PayPal Button Below.

Thanks for visiting today, everyone! And I hope all your DIstress goes on your projects, not your life!

Blessings, Gretchen

Today's Featured Designer Series Paper -- Parisian Breeze Specialty

Look at this gorgeous paper! Doesn't it just want to make you want to say "Oh la la!" Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP is one of Stampin' Up!'s new lines of paper that's printed on textured, cover-weight card stock. Just like all the DSP that you know and love, the new Specialty lines are double-sided so you get twelve delicious choices of high-quality, irresistible paper! Because it's heavyweight, it is perfect to use for boxes and other 3-D items, which is what I did with this first project today. This is the darling little box that's made out of four of the Scallop Envelope Die Cuts that you use with your Big Shot Die Cut Machine. These little boxes are quick and fun to put together and now with this Specialty Designer Paper, they are even easier because you don't need to cut the box out of Cardstock and then decorate with DSP -- it's all done with one quick pass through the machine. All I did to make this box was to cut 4 of the Scallop Envelope Dies using the DSP with the Baja Breeze and White Polka Dots on one side and the Chocolate Chip Brocade pattern on the other side. I fastened the four sides of the box together using Sticky Strip. I folded down just the front flap, running a length of 1" Stitched Baja Breeze Grosgrain ribbon underneath and securing with Sticky Strip, bringing the ends to the front and tying a simple bow. The only stamping was done on the tiny Love stamp from Dreams du Jour. I mounted it on a Scallop Square punched from Chocolate Chip cardstock. To keep the box square and make it even more sturdy, I cut a square of contrasting DSP and placed it in the bottom of the box. Now a box this cute would be great all by itself, but when you add chocolate ... who could resist! Who do you know that would LOVE to receive one of these little treasures!

Although the heavier weight of the Specialty papers makes them great for making sturdy 3-D items, they can, of course, also be used for cards and scrapbook pages! For this beautiful card, I used two different patterns of DSP, along with Dreams du Jour and Flower Fancy Stamp sets. The beautiful lacy border on the bottom is from the new Eyelet Border Punch. I also used 3/8" Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon and a couple of Felt Flowers and a Rhinestone Brad. The flower and Butterfly are attached using Stampin' Dimensionals!

One last card today, this time using my new Thoughts and Prayers Stamp set. I stamped the floral image and sentiment on a Top Note Die Cut. I stamped the entire image in Baja Breeze ink and then applied Chocolate Chip Marker over the stems and leaves. When using this technique, you always want to ink up your stamp using the lightest color ink first! The slot for the ribbon was punched using the Horizontal Slot Punch twice, side-by-side. I passed a bit of the 1" Baja Breeze Stitched Grosgrain ribbon through the slot and then gathered and tied it with a bit of Linen Thread. The edges of the Top Note Die Cut and the DSP are inked with Chocolate Chip ink and a sponge. I love the way this card turned out -- so pretty and delicate!

Well, that gives you a peek at the wonderful new Specialty papers from Stampin' Up! Of course, you know how addicted I am to papers, so rest assured, I will be bringing you more ideas and featuring more of the new paper sets on my blog soon. If your favorite hasn't appeared yet, keep checking back, it will soon!

If you would like to order any of the stamp sets, papers and supplies that you see presented on my blog, and don't currently have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator to assist you, I will be glad to help you with that. To order, you can e-mail me or call me and place your order directly with me or you can order directly from my Stampin' Up website here. Just click on "shop now" at the top of the page. Your order will be shipped direct to your door!

Don't forget to check out my DSP samplers. I'm currently taking orders for these through February 1st. You get a BIG 6x12" sheet of each of the DSP papers in each sampler, enough to make dozens of cards and scrapbook pages, without the expense of purchasing entire packs of each collection. You can check out all my DSP samplers here or by clicking on my Online Store Window in the left side-bar.

I hope you stop by again soon for more ideas and inspiration!

Until then, blessings to you! -- Gretchen