Gretchen Barron

It's Freaky Tour Time with Boxes, Bags and Bows!

Hello everyone and welcome to the Control Freaks Freaky October Blog Tour! This month's tour theme is "Boxes, Bags and Bows for the Holidays" and let me tell you, you are in for a fun ride this month! If you're already on the trip, then you must have arrived here from my friend, Robin Spinner's amazing blog! Robin always puts a creative "spin" on her projects (sorry, every pun intended) and this month is no exception!

I've got some fun projects for you tonight and also, very quick projects. I've taken a couple of old favorites -- the Bag in a Box and the Mini Pizza Box -- and I've updated and glammed them-up with the luxurious and fabulous Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper. If you've tried this paper yet, let me tell you that you are in for a treat. Some of it is flocked, some of it is metallic and all of it is so pretty and special.

First, the bag in a box. This little project is so quick and easy to make. I think I complete the bag, start to finish, in less than 20 minutes. Of course, it takes a little more time to create the tag, but the bag is super quick and look how lovely it is in this specialty DSP.

I paired the DSP with Brushed Gold Cardstock and then embossed the Dasher Stamp with Gold Embossing powder on the oval medallion for even more glimmer and glitz! Click HERE for a tutorial on how to make the Bag in a Box!

 Next up is the always delightful Mini Pizza Box. AGain, this little box goes together so quickly and easily and look how lovely it is with the Mocha Morning DSP and the Brushed Gold Cardstock. And what a great little gift box for jewelry, a scarf or even a gift card! I paired it with this matching jumbo tag using the Spirit of Christmas stamp set. And yes, that gold bow is actually created using the Gold Waffle paper. It really is quite easy to work with and a unique touch to add to your holiday projects. Click HERE for a tutorial on how to create the Mini Pizza Box. 

Well, that will do it for this stop on the tour! But do continue on -- there's some fabulous scenery and inspiration waiting for you at each and every stop! I hope you've enjoyed your stay here and I hope you'll come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

And speaking of inspiration, click on the button below to go to the next stop on our tour, our group Mom, Lisa Martz!  I just peeked at her projects and you are going to be blown away by what you see! Thanks again for stopping and Happy Stamping!

Hello everyone and welcome to the Control Freaks Freaky October Blog Tour! This month's tour theme is "Boxes, Bags and Bows for the Holidays" and let me tell you, you are in for a fun ride this month! If you're already on the trip, then you must have arrived here from my friend, Robin Spinner's amazing blog! Robin always puts a creative "spin" on her projects (sorry, every pun intended) and this month is no exception!

I've got some fun projects for you tonight and also, very quick projects. I've taken a couple of old favorites -- the Bag in a Box and the Mini Pizza Box -- and I've updated and glammed them-up with the luxurious and fabulous Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper. If you've tried this paper yet, let me tell you that you are in for a treat. Some of it is flocked, some of it is metallic and all of it is so pretty and special.

First, the bag in a box. This little project is so quick and easy to make. I think I complete the bag, start to finish, in less than 20 minutes. Of course, it takes a little more time to create the tag, but the bag is super quick and look how lovely it is in this specialty DSP.

I paired the DSP with Brushed Gold Cardstock and then embossed the Dasher Stamp with Gold Embossing powder on the oval medallion for even more glimmer and glitz! Click HERE for a tutorial on how to make the Bag in a Box!

 Next up is the always delightful Mini Pizza Box. AGain, this little box goes together so quickly and easily and look how lovely it is with the Mocha Morning DSP and the Brushed Gold Cardstock. And what a great little gift box for jewelry, a scarf or even a gift card! I paired it with this matching jumbo tag using the Spirit of Christmas stamp set. And yes, that gold bow is actually created using the Gold Waffle paper. It really is quite easy to work with and a unique touch to add to your holiday projects. Click HERE for a tutorial on how to create the Mini Pizza Box. 

Well, that will do it for this stop on the tour! But do continue on -- there's some fabulous scenery and inspiration waiting for you at each and every stop! I hope you've enjoyed your stay here and I hope you'll come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

And speaking of inspiration, click on the button below to go to the next stop on our tour, our group Mom, Lisa Martz!  I just peeked at her projects and you are going to be blown away by what you see! Thanks again for stopping and Happy Stamping!

A Flirty Little Sundress and a Matching Purse!

Hello everyone and Happy Saturday! Look at this darling duo that I've got for you today -- a cute little basket that looks like a straw purse, thanks to the Stampin' Up! Square Lattice Impression Folder, and a flirty little tropical sundress! What fun!

The little straw purse was inspired by one that Patti Lee made and shared on Stampin' Connection. Isn't it darling? The embossing makes it look just like a summer straw purse. I used scrap strips of cardstock that I adhered to a sheet of printer paper, using SNAIL adhesive. Make sure you butt the edges up tight to each other and that you use plenty of adhesive on the edges. Once I had created my designer paper, I simply cut out the basket shapes using the Baskets & Bloom Die and the Big Shot. Then I ran it through the Big Shot again using the Impression Folder.

You can find instructions for putting this type of little basket together by clicking HERE.

I decided to embellish my little purse with some flowers from the Tropical Party Stamp set and tie it off with a bow made of Natural Hemp Twine.

But I couldn't stop there! A girl has to have a festive dress to wear with such a darling little purse. So I created this one using Island Oasis DSP and cardstock of Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive.

You can create a template for this dress by cutting a piece of cardstock with the Scallop Circle Die and the Big Shot. Mark off 4 scallops on the top of the circle for the top of the dress and 10 scallops at the bottom (or more for a more flared out dress). Then you just taper your lines down and cut out. Use the template to trace onto the DSP that you cut out with the die and trim away the unwanted pieces. I cut several of the cardstock Scallop Circles and used them to make the layers of ruffles on the skirt and bodice. A little Old Olive Satin Ribbon tied to the side makes a perfect belt!

And I couldn't even stop there! I made a little miniature purse to go with the dress using the Round Tab Punch and a scrap of Pumpkin pie Cardstock, again embossing it to look like a straw purse. The purse handle is created using the Small and Large Oval punches and Old Olive Cardstock. And I added a tiny little Olive Button for an embellishment. The sentiment is from Great Friend, stamped in Black Stazon Ink on Whisper White cardstock and layered on a So Saffron 1 3/8" Circle and a Tempting Turquoise Scallop Circle. Such fun!

Here's another dress, created in much the same way!

The card base is Tempting Turquoise with a layer of So Saffron on top.

The sentiment is from Favorite Thoughts.

I had so much fun creating these tropical treats today!

I hope you find some stamping time this weekend!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you'll come back soon!

Cutest Little Pumpkin (Basket) in the Patch!

How Stinkin' Cute is this little guy! When I saw this adorable little Pumpkin' Basket, originally created by Lynn Put, I knew I needed to make one (or more!). And he's so simple and quick to put together, you will be amazed. Lynn has a great tutorial on her blog so I'm not going to go into the details here. You do need the Big Shot and the Pillow Box Die (you use 3 of the Die Cuts) and the bottom circle is a whopping 4" in diameter -- enough to hold an entire bag of Tootsie Pop's! I did add the leaf's to Lynn's original design, and used the Autumn Splendor stamp set to stamp them, attaching them with Stampin' dimensionals. I think I'll name him Jack. And Jack is all ready to help greet our little Trick and Treater's, come October! Of course, I'll probably have to refill him with candy before then. I can't image these lasting long with my daughter in the house!

Have a great day, everyone, and I hope you find some time to create!

Blessings, Gretchen

Just a reminder that I'm offering a little Blog Candy on THIS previous post. All you need to do is make one of my Sky/Cloud Templates and create a project using it, then link your creation back to my post, using Mr. Linky. Next Monday, I'll choose the winner and will send the lucky person a set of Stamping Sponges and a Ballet Blue Stampin' Pad! I can't wait to see your creations.

If you don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like to order any of the items I've shown on this post, simply CLICK HERE to order Stampin' Up! Products 24-7! (and then click on "Shop Now")

• 113466, Pillow Box Die, $19.95
• 116503, Autumn Splendor Stamp Set, $20.95
• 104430, Stampin' Dimensionals, $3.95
• 104294, Sticky Strip, $6.95
• 109042, Photo Corner Punch, $15.95
• 104403, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, $15.95
• 104390, 1/2" Circle Punch, $5.95
• 102277, Old OliveStampin' Pad, $5.95
• 100702, Old Olive Cardstock, $5.50 (24 sheets)
• 105117, Pumpkin Pie Cardstock, $5.50 (24 sheets)
• 102851, Basic Black Cardstock, $7.50 (40 sheets)

• 112530, Circle Scissor Plus, $29.95

On The Third Day of Christmas (in July) ...

Humm ... how does the song go? On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ... three French Hens? I wonder if those hens would fit in this darling Frosty Gift Bag! Frosty was such a favorite of mine last season that I just had to bring him back for another year. Isn't he just too adorable?

These little Genie bags are so quick and easy to make. If you haven't tried them you really need to. You will be amazed. The base of the bag is a lunch sack. Yep, a simple lunch sack. I used a white one but you can just as easily use the plain ole' brown one -- you know the ones that come in a pack of 100 for your kids lunches!

I cut the Real Red front and back just a bit wider than the sack I was using. I cut the sack down to 5" tall and cut my two cardstock pieces at 7" and used the Wide Oval Punch to make the handle openings. Attach the front and back to the lunch sack using Sticky Strip. Then it's time to decorate!

For this Frosty, I turned the Top Note Die on it's side so his face is wider and not so tall, although I did set the hat a little higher on his head to give room for his face to shine through. I just think he is so darned cute. I used Elizabeth Terrell's wonderful idea of giving Frosty a little friend, the little bird from the Birds & Blooms Sizzlet's Die set (a Stampin' Up! Exclusive Die). I glittered up a Jumbo Snowflake punchie (using a 2-way glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter), added a couple of Stampin' Up! Little Leaves die-cuts and then attached the little bird using a small silver brad to connect everything to his hat. His little front wing covers up the brad quite nicely! You can see the detail of the bird and snowflake embellishment better on this close-up. You can also see here how I did his eyes -- I put SNAIL adhesive on the top and dimensionals on the bottom to give them a bit of depth as they stand away from his face just a bit on the bottom edge. Anyway, I am in love with Frosty and I hope you have enjoyed seeing him as well. Give him a try!

Hope you'll stop by tomorrow for the 4th Day of Christmas (in July)!

See you then! Blessings, Gretchen

On the Second Day Of Christmas ...

On the second day of Christmas (in July), my true love gave to me ... well gee, what could you give to someone in this darling little basket, so easy and quick to make with the Baskets & Blooms Die and the Big Shot! This is a Christmas version of one of my favorite little treat boxes/baskets to make! I created it using Merry Moments Designer Series Paper, Old Olive Cardstock (and just a bit of Real Red for the Tag and Snowflake), and Very Vanilla Cardstock. The Snowflakes were punched with the new Jumbo Snowflake Punch and then coated with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (using a 2-way glue pen). Look at that sparkle? (click on the thumbnail for a larger image). A little more holiday bling is applied with a Clear Rhinestone Brad in the middle of each snowflake. The tag is stamped with the Christmas Punch Stamp Set and punched out with the Scallop Oval Punch (sorry, the Old Olive layer will need to be cut by hand). A little of the new Real Red 5/8" Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon finishes off this darling little box. You could put Santa's Elfs to shame and crank out several of these in less than an hour! See the TUTORIAL on my previous Blog post!

I hope you'll come back tomorrow, on the 3rd Day of Christmas (in July). Great surprises await you!

Blessings, Gretchen

A Bouquet of Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlets in Beautiful Jewel Tones!

WOW -- would you look at these! I was inspired by Angie Page (she won my Wristlet Kit in last week's Blog Tour Contest) who sent me a photograph of a wristlet that she made in Tempting Turquoise and I just knew that I had to try these little gems in some of my favorite Stampin' Up! colors -- Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red, Certainly Celery and Lovely Lilac! Designed to mirror some of today's hottest fashion color trends, these little wristlets are destined to be a hit! I mean, look at that COLOR! The perfect size to hold a small stamp, a sweet treat, a gift card or any small gift, they are great for birthday's, ladies teas, bridal showers and just about any occasion!

They are made exactly like my original Chocolate Chip Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlet with the Big Shot and the Top Note and Box #2 Dies. The embossing is done using Jackie Topa's Faux Alligator-Skin technique. For this set, I am using the Jumbo Grommets from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

I am once again selling these as a kit -- all pieces are cut and scored, ready for you to emboss and quickly assemble using your own Sticky Strip Adhesive, Versamark, EP and heat tool. A PDF file will be e-mailed to you with complete step-by-step directions and photos. Each Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlets Color kit includes pre-cut and scored cardstock, ribbon, hardware and velcro closure -- everything you need to make one of each color wristlet (4 total) and sells for $18, which includes S&H and tax. Click on the PayPal Button below to order yours today! You may also order the original Chocolate Chip kit (set of 4). I order from SU on Mondays and ship the kits to you the following Friday!

Color Options

Jewel Tone Colors (set of 4)Chocolate Chip (set of 4)Option 3

To order just the tutorial for this project, along with some of my other most popular project Tutorials, Click HERE for more information. All tutorials are on sale right now for just $5 each.

Happy stamping (and embossing) everyone!

Blessings, Gretchen

A Tisket, A Tasket ... A Cute Little May Basket!

Good morning! I've seen some of these little baskets around and I don't know how other people have put them together but I discovered an easy, quick way to make these that doesn't require figuring out complex angles and fancy cutting! You begin with the Big Shot and the Baskets & Blooms Die and cut just the two Basket images. I used the fabulous Sweet Slumber Specialty Designer Series Paper for this project. It's textured, cover-weight cardstock that has a different design printed on each side. It's perfect for this type of project and makes it an even easier and faster project to put together!

Cut the little perforated tab off the side of the basket Die-cuts, you won't need it for this project. Cut your cardstock (I used Baja Breeze) at 6 x7" and score 2" from each edge. Trim along the score lines from the edge to the crossing score line on two parallel sides and use your Bone Folder to crease along all score lines. Click on any photo to see a larger image.

Next, apply sticky strip along all four edges on the back side of your basket (what would we do without Sticky Strip?). Fold all the flaps up on your box so that just the middle flap (the one that will attach to the inside of the Basket), is out (this will keep the flaps from sticking where you don't want them to stick - trust me, I speak from experience). Remove the red backing tape from the Sticky Strip, stand the Box Die-cut up and, making sure everything is level and centered, attach the first flap of the box to the back of the Die-cut.

Now, and this is the fun and easy part, simply match the angles of the two side flaps on the box to the angles on the Die-cut and stick them down to the Sticky Strip. How cool is that! Instant angles without having to do the math! If the corners of the box show through the handle of the Die-cut, simply clip them off just a bit. Apply another short piece of Sticky Strip to the edge of the flap that is on the top and stick it all down. Now, you do the very same thing for the other side of the Basket!

How fun is this!!! I told you it was quick and easy! Now, you just decorate however you desire. I used another pattern from the DSP pack to make the Flower Daisies #2 and layered all three of them, topping them off with a fabulous Corduroy Jumbo Brad in Baja Breeze (from the Occasions Mini Catalog). Also from the mini, I stamped the sentiment using the Oval All Stamp Set and punched it out with the Large Oval and Scallop Oval punches. I tied on a bit of Riding Hood Red 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon and ... viola! Finished basket, perfect for gift giving of all kinds I definitely will be making more of these little gems!

Don't forget the Get Connected promotion on now through the end of the month. Purchase $40 from the Occasions Mini catalog and get your choice of any of the "Under $10" items on page 208 of the Spring/Summer Idea Book and Catalog. Click HERE for more details or contact me today to place your order!

Check out my newest Kit On-the-Go, this darling Purse and Set of Cards using the Humor in High Heels set and the fabulous Faux Alligator-Skin Technique. You can purchase instructions only; instructions and Kit; or Instructions, Kit and Stamp Set! Click HERE for more details.

Be sure to visit out my updated Online Store Window with all my current Kit and Tutorial Offers! Kits are available for the Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlets and the Top Note Tea Party Purses along with much more!

I've got to go! Happy Thursday, everyone! I hope you treat yourself to some stamping and creative time today!

Until next time -- Blessings, Gretchen

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! I know I've already listed a ton of Valentine's projects (go to "Categories" in the Right Side Bar) but I couldn't let this day pass without just one more idea to share with you! I found these little playing card candies (they're actually not very little, about 2x3") at a local discount store and knew they would be just perfect for a special Valentine project! To construct this quick and adorable heart-shaped gift box, you use the Big Shot and the Petal Card Die. You die-cut two of the Petal Card shapes using Real Red Cardstock. You cut another piece of Real Red 2 x 5.25" (I made this 2" wide but you can make it as wide as you wish to hold more goodies). Fold that piece in half at 2.6125. Apply Sticky Strip to just two of the "petal" tabs and fold on the score lines. Adhere two of the "petal" tabs to the two sides of your 2" strip. Insert a Jumbo eyelet in each side of the box and secure with a Crop-a-dile and thread 18" of 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon through the holes, securing with a knot on each end. Some of the smaller pictures will explain the process a little better. For this box, I used the Card Games and Happy Heart Day stamp sets. I stamped each image on Whisper White Cardstock using Real Red Craft Ink and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder. The tag was punched out with the Small Tag Punch and mounted on a Basic Black large punch. It's a darling little project that takes very little time to make and you can fill it with all sorts of wonderful goodies! You might note as well the confetti that I made for this photo with the Heart to Heart punch. If you're looking for a way to dress up your table today, punch a bunch of these and throw them around. How cute!

Here's another Heart Box that I made using the A Little Something' stamp set (Level 2 hostess set) and the Love You Much stamp set.

Careful when you start making these fun little boxes. They are as addictive as the candy that goes inside them!

Enjoy everyone and have a wonderful Valentine's Day today! Thanks for stopping by and please come back soon!

Blessings, Gretchen

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 as well that Sale-a-Bration is on! This is the Stampin' Up! BIG sale of the year. With every $50 purchase, you receive a FREE Sale-a-Bration product from the brochure (includes Stamp Sets, Ribbon and Papers). Click HERE to see the brochure online!

And finally, don't forget to check out my DSP samplers. I'm currently taking orders for these through February 15th. 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.

Valentine Heart Bard?

Yes, you read it right. This is a bard! A box and a card, all in one. OK, I just made it up but I think it may catch on! (OK, maybe not). Isn't this adorable??? This little bard is made using the Stampin' Up! Big Shot and the Petal Card Die (pg. 197 in the new Spring and Summer Idea Book and Catalog! What? You don't have a new catalog yet! Contact me TODAY). This little box or card or whatever you decide to call it is so incredibly quick and easy to put together. You cut two of the Petal Cards using the Premium Crease Pad and Shims (I used both shims for my machine but each machine is different so you may need to experiment). Fold up just two of the petals which will then form a heart shape. The two folded petals help to form the bottom of the bard. Then you cut a strip of cardstock 1 1/4" x 5 1/2" which will hold the whole thing together and cover up the two folded petals. Crease the bottom strip in half (at 2 3/4") and attach with Sticky Strip. I used Jumbo Eyelets and 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon for the handle. I stamped the trio of hearts from Love You Much with Real Red Ink on Whisper White cardstock and glittered them up with 2-way glue and Dazzling Diamonds glitter (I did this before punching them out with the Heart to Heart Punch. I attached them using Stampin' Dimensionals! I stamped the Polka Dot Background stamp with Real Red ink on Whisper white cardstock and trimmed to fit the square. The sentiment is from Holidays & Wishes and I applied the last two tiny punched hearts and added a tiny bow with 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon. I cut some narrow strips of Real Red and Whisper White scraps and ran them through my Paper Crimper to lay on the inside of the Bard. I then inserted this little Acetate Treat Box (I actually had some other candy that I had planned to use but my daughter had a friend over and humm ... can't find the candy!).

This was such a fun and quick project and look how adorable it looks hanging on a door knob! Who wouldn't be delighted to open their door and find this cute little surprise waiting for them? What a great way to let someone know you care!

Stop back by later today for all kinds of announcements as the New Catalog is unveiled at Noon (MT).

Also, remember the Love You Much bundle(which includes the stamp set and punch that I used in this project plus a package of Candy Lane Designer Series Paper) is still available at a savings of 20% until January 31st!

Do stop by again soon! And enjoy this beautiful day! Blessings, Gretchen

Wrapping It Up for the Holidays -- Day Four -- a Mini Pizza Box!

Are you getting tired of my Wrapping it Up series yet? Well, bear with me, only a couple more projects to go! Today I have this little Mini-Pizza Box to share with you. These are amazingly quick and easy to put together. One sheet of cardstock, a few score lines and folds and voila!, it's ready to decorate. Here's a Tutorial to help you put one together in no time! I used chocolate Chip cardstock for the box and then cut a narrow strip of Riding Hood Red, punched with the Scallop Edge Punch and sponged with Chocolate Chip Ink, to attach all along the edge. The Cardinal Image is from A Cardinal Christmas. It is stamped with Black Stazon Ink onto Whisper White Cardstock. I colored in the image with re-inkers and blender pens, sponged the edges of the White cardstock and mounted it on a second layer of Riding Hood Red. I attached a bit of Taffeta Ribbon and a bow before fastening it to the box.  This is a great little box for gifts of all kinds and can even be used to hide a gift card! I hope you enjoy making these to wrap up your Christmas gifts this year!

Don't forget there are some great sales going on right now at Stampin' Up! 10% off Retiring Stamp Sets, Free S&H on orders of $70 or more, 20% off sets in the Catalog Sampler with any $20 order and lots of extras that I have thrown in to entice you to place an order! See all the details here.

I'm offering several card sets in my online store that would make great gifts or stocking-stuffers for just about anyone. There are sets of Frosty cards, Monogrammed Note Cards, Note Cards for Red Hat Ladies and some beautiful Inspirational Note Cards with Scripture. You can check them out here or by clicking on the link on the left side-bar. Orders placed by December 18th should arrive in time for Christmas! Just let me know if there's anything you would like!

Don't Forget as well that I'm celebrating 100,000 blog hits this week! Leave a comment and win this fabulous prize package! Click here for more information!

Stop by tomorrow for the final segment of Wrapping Up The Holidays! I'll see you then -- Blessings, Gretchen