Gretchen Barron

It's No Trick! Stampin' Up! Is Handing Out Spooktacular Treats ... and They're 15% off!

No Tricks, Stampin' Up!'s Treat! Wow, I'm excited and I hope you will be, too!   Starting at 12:00 AM (MT) and ending at 11:50 PM (MT) on Monday, October 29th (that's tomorrow), almost every stamp we sell will be 15 percent off. This means all stamps in the current catalogs (2012-2013 Catalog and Holiday Catalog) including Background Stamps Personalized Name Stamps Cookie Press Stamps Single stamps This DOES NOT include Digital Stamp Brush Sets Bundled Sets with Stamps (they are already discounted) Hostess Stamps There are single stamps available now!  And they are also included!  Wow!  Click on the catalogs in the right-hand side bar to see the complete offering.  There are single stamps from several popular stamp sets, along with several brand new, never-before-seen single stamps.  It's enough to make your heart sing! There is no minimum purchase, and there is no limit to the number of stamps you can order. To order, e-mail me at gbarron56@comcast.net or click on the shopping mouse on the right-hand side bar to go to my Stampin' Up! Shopping site. Don't forget! This sale is for TOMORROW, October 29th, ONLY!  After October 29th, the 15% off sale will go away. Don't miss out.

I'm Back ...

Hello dear blog followers! I want to thank you for the many e-mails and expressions of concern that I've received from you during my little "blog sabbatical" these past several weeks. Following the end of Stamping 411, I just needed to give myself a little time and space to regroup. What have I discovered in my time away? I've discovered how much I miss stamping and sharing my creations with others. And I've discovered how much I appreciate this online community which has become such an important part of my life over the past years. And so, after some time to think and some honest soul searching, I'm back and I hope to be sharing many creations and conversations with you in the future.

And I'm beginning with this gorgeous (at least I think so) card that I created for a recent "Over the Top" Christmas SWAP! Can you believe that I made 36 of these? I wouldn't recommend it (mainly because each of those little lacy die cut pieces needed to be poked out individually). But it was fun to create something really special to share.

I began by creating the "music" with the Music Notes Standard Wheel. I stamped with Early Espresso Ink on Very Vanilla Cardstock. I then punched out the circles with the 1 3/4" Circle Punch, layered that on a 2" circle of Eary Espresso Cardstock and then attached it to the Large Delicate Doilies Sizzlet Die Cut out of the Champaign Glitter Paper (wow, is that paper gorgeous).

The Card Base is Cherry Cobbler with a layer of Early Espresso and another of Pretty in Pink. The Pretty in Pink layer is embossed with the Big Shot and the Northern Flurry Folder. The sentiment is from the Rejoicing with You stamp set.

The bird is punched using the Bird Builder punch and Cherry Cobbler cardstock. I inked the edges heavily with Early Espresso ink to add some contrast and definition and added a Basic Pearl Eye. The double bow is tied with Cherry Cobbler Seam Tape Ribbon.

Again, thank you so much for hanging in there with me. I do hope you'll come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

It's Back to Spool Time at Stampin' Up!

Back to 'Spool' Promotion   Promotion Details: While the kids are heading back to school, Stampin' Up! is going back to 'spool'! For the month of September, get a FREE package of 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon-an $8.95 value-for every $40 you spend!   Click on the Shopping Mouse Icon in the right-hand sidebar of this post to order from my online store or e-mail me at gbarron56@comcast.net for assistance in placing your order! Don't miss out on this FABULOUS offer!   Choose from the Following:   126848 Gumball Green 126847 Midnight Muse 236944 Primrose Petals 126845 Raspberry Ripple 126846 Summer Starfruit

Frankie and All His Friends are Back to Spread some more Halloween Cheer!

Frankie and all his friends have come back for another year of monstrous fun, this time as Favor Bags and in a Class-on-the-Go Kit! Pictured above are Frankie, Brenda, Winefred, Gaspar, Manfred and Dougie --  they are another year older and wiser and all ready to inject some fun and frolic into your Halloween preparations!

 

 

 

Each kit includes a coordinating Fancy Favor Box Die Cut, Top Note Die Cuts, all the punchies, ribbons, embellishments and step-by-step instructions with tons of photos to make assembly a breeze (additional supply list is provided below). Time needed to assemble all 6 projects is approximately 2 hours. If you have the Top Note and Fancy Favor Dies, I'm also offering the option to purchase just the Tutorial, which will be e-mailed to you as a PDF file.

 

Additional Supplies you will need to assemble the kits include:

Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Paper Snips, Bone Folder, Crop-a-Dile, sponges, Real Red and Basic Black Stampin' Write Markers, White Signo Gel Pen, Classic Stampin Pads in the following colors -- Elegant Eggplant, Creamy Caramel, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Brocade Blue. A Fancy Favor Box Die Cut is included for each of the 6 characters but you could also put these on cards, use on scrapbook pages or use in other ways. They promise to bring such spirit and personality to all your Holiday projects!

 

 

Each Class-on-the-Go Kit sells for $21.95 which includes S&H and Tax, payable by clicking on the PayPal link below. Shipping to the United States Only. Sorry, no international orders. Kits will ship to you within 1 week, usually within 48 hours. Once your kits ships to you, you will receive an e-mail confirmation from me which will include your PDF tutorial which you may download or print. If you would like to purchase only the Tutorial for $5, it will be e-mailed to you within 48 hours of receipt of payment, usually within a few hours. If you have questions, please e-mail me BEFORE you order.

Please Note: With color changes and discontinued product at Stampin' Up!, I reserve the right to make substitutions as needed in the kits, depending on availability of supplies. Substitutions will not greatly alter the look of the finished project.

I hope you have fun with Frankie & Friends this year! They've promised me they won't cause too much trouble when they arrive at your house!

Choose One:

Frankie & Friends Kit $21.95 USD Frankie & Friends Tutorial Only $5.00 USD

An Asian Flair with Flowering Flourishes

Hello everyone and welcome to Inspiration in Action! This is Friday night and you know what that means ... another Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators. I have some news to share with you tonight! The 411 Operators have been together for more than 3 years, offering weekly sketch challenges and other inspiration and helps on our blog. This sketch challenge will be our last. We've all decided to move on to different things.

 

It's been a fun ride and we hope that you've benefited from the weekly inspiration. Don't worry ... the blog will still remain active and you can continue to refer back to the tutorials and previous sketches for inspiration. We just won't be adding anything new after tonight. I know this will be a shock to many of you but the Operators all feel this is the best thing.

 

We do have one more fun sketch for you however! For my inspiration card, I decided to use one of my favorite techniques ... emboss-resist. I stamped the image from Flowering Flourishes using Versamark Ink and Clear Embossing Powder. After heat setting, I sponged on three different colors (Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie and Night of Navy). I just love the way the stamped images appear! I used the Stampin' Up! Color Coach to select the unusual color combination. I really love the way they look together and the card takes on a bit of Asian flair with it's deep colors and delicate blooms!

 

Other supplies and tools used include the Big Shot, the Oval Accent Bigz Clear Die, the Apothecary Accents Labels Framelets, Antique Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, sponges, the Heat Tool and just a bit of 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon. The measurements for this card are pretty straight-forward. You begin with your Card Base of Pumpkin Pie (5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded) and add another layer of whisper White (4 x 5.25") which has the stamping and sponging on it. All the rest are die cuts and embellishments.

 

And of course, as you know, I love to stamp on the inside of the card. For this card, I used the flourish image and stamped it in two different colors for this wonderful and dramatic effect! Will definitely need to remember to use this technique more often ... isn't it beautiful!

 

Well, I think that will do it for tonight! Even though I won't be offering you Stamping 411 Challenges anymore, I do hope you'll come back soon. I'll have lots of inspiration for you and maybe even a few surprises along the way! Until then ...

 

Blessings, Gretchen

Fun with Autumn Accents

Hello everyone! It's Friday and you know what that means! A new Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators.

This week's sketch is a square card and you know how much I LOVE square cards!

 

I decided to pair two items from the Holiday Mini Catalog -- the Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper and the Autumn Accents Leaf Die. I used some gorgeous fall jewel-tone colors -- Lucky Limeaide, Cajun Craze, Island Indigo, More Mustard and Raspberry Ripple -- aren't they just beautiful together!

 

I embossed each leaf diecut with a different Embossing Folder and the Big Shot -- the Fancy Fan, Perfect Polka Dots and Woodgrain Textured Embossing Folders. Other supplies used include the 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Raspberry Ripple and Stampin' Dimensionals. I inked the edges of the card and the leaf diecuts with Early Espresso Ink.

 

Speaking of Dimensionals, here are some measurements for this card:

1. Layer One -- Raspberry Ripple Cardstock cut at 5.25 x 10.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base.
2. Layer Two -- More Mustard Cardstock cut at 5" square.
3. Layer Three -- DSP cut at 2 x 5" -- attach ribbon across the "seam" -- add Leaf diecuts, bow and sentiment from the Fabulous Phrases Stamp Set.
4. Inside of Card -- (oops, forgot to get a picture) -- Very Vanilla Cardstock cut at 5" square -- decorate with a 1" strip of DSP, ribbon and a leaf die cut (you can see a peek in this side view).

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope I offered you a little inspiration for your weekend stamping projects! Speaking of inspiration, don't forget to check out the other Operator Projects at Stamping 411!

 

Back to School with the Control Freaks!

 

Hello everyone and welcome to the Control Freaks August Blog Tour! This month we are heading Back to School with cards, projects and more focusing on this most wonderful time of the year .... the beginning of School!

 

If you've already begun the tour, then you must be arriving from the blog of Connie Babbert. She had some amazing projects for us!

 

My own baby is starting Junior High TOMORROW! Sniff, sniff! I can't believe it! It's a new chapter in our lives with a new school, new teachers, new expectation and ... A NEW LOCKER OF HER OWN! So, I decided to create some Locker Art for my daughter Bethany to get her year off to a great start!

 

This first piece is a BIG Magnet with her name and Butterflies! I used the Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper Kit for all of today's projects .... it's so bright and fun ... perfect for a tween girl!

 

 

I've relied heavily upon the Big Shot for these projects, cutting out Chipboard shapes for most of the magnets. I began with the On Board Chipboard Sheets, adhering the DSP with Tombo Adhesive and then cutting out the shapes! I love the dimension that the Chipboard gives to these projects! I used the Oval Accent Bigz Clear Die to cut the background shape and the Typeset Alphabet Bigz set to cut the letters. The magnet is embellished with multiple butterflies cut with Beautiful Wings Embosslet and I added quite a bit of bling with lots of Self Adhesive Basic Rhinestones! I attached 4 big, powerful magnet discs on the back of the piece, using Crystal Effects. Believe me, this magnet will never fall off of her locker!

 

Now, when you cut out the shape, you end up with what? A frame, of course! What a great way to use the "negative" shape as a picture frame. I created and decorated it in much the same way, attaching the big Magnet Discs to the back. Before I give it to her, I'm going to add a photo of her and either her best friend or her and Rueby, our puppy! She will be thrilled!

I created the thought bubbles with MDS2, using the Seriously Awesome and Cottage Garden Stamp Brush Sets!

Now, in order to get the die through the Big Shot machine, I had to go with the funky angle but you know ... I kind of like it that way. It definitely adds to the appeal for a tween girl, don't you think?

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, I created a card to give my sweet girl in the morning as she goes off for her first day of Junior High ... Just to remind her that her possibilities are truly endless (the Stamp Set is Word Play)!

 

 

 

That's it for this stop on the tour! If you've not completed all the stops, you'll want to continue by going to Judy DiScipio. You know that she has some amazing surprises waiting for you!

 

 

 

Thanks for much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy the tour and I hope you'll be back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tweet Leaves and Orchard Harvest

Hello blogging friends! Have you missed me? Yes, I've been AWOL for a week or so ... have been on a trip with one of the youth groups from our church! But I'm back and with a fun, new sketch from the Stamping 411 Operators this evening!

 

I am head-over-heels in love with the new Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper. The colors and patterns are so beautiful and fresh! And of course, they coordinate perfectly with each other, which makes our job as stampers soooooo incredibly easy!

 

For this week's card, I've paired the Tweet Leaves Individual Stamp and the Trust God stamp set with the Orchard Harvest DSP. I used the Big Shot and the Autumn Accents Bigz Die to cut the maple leaf out of Very Vanilla Cardstock. Using Stampin' Write Markers (Island Indigo, More Mustard, Lucky Limeaide and Raspberry Ripple), I colored directly on the rubber and then aligned the stamp on the maple leaf die cut -- what a great effect! I sponged all the edges with a little Island Indigo ink to give it more contract and definition before attaching it to the focal square. The sentiment is stamped with Early Espresso Ink (I also used that ink to ink the edges of the two focal image mats). I modified the sketch a bit and decided to go with just a faux bow and a Designer Natural Button instead of the Scallop Circle punchie.

 

Other supplies used for this card include Stampin' Dimensionals, 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon in Lucky Limeaide and a bit of Island Indigo Bakers Twine for the button. Here's some measurements in case you want to recreate this card for your own ...

 

1. Layer One -- Lucky Limeaide Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base
2. Layer Two -- Island Indigo Cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- DSP cut at 3 x 5.25" -- attach ribbon over the "seam"
4. Layer Four -- Early Espresso Cardstock cut at 1.5 x 2"
5. Layer Five -- Very Vanilla Cardstock cut at 1 5/8 x 2 1/8"
6. Layer Six -- Early Espresso Cardstock cut at 2.5 x 3.5"
7. Layer Seven -- Very Vanilla Cardstock cut at 2 3/8 x 3 3/8" -- add faux bow and button or other embellishments as desired.

 

Well, my friends, I think that will do it for tonight! I hope you have plans for a wonderful and restful weekend and if those plans include some stamping time, then even better! To jump-start your MoJo, don't forget to stop by the Stamping 411 Website for more inspiration from the Operators!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you'll be back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

 

 

Trusting God at the Comfort Cafe!

He, He ... sounds like a good book to read, doesn't it? Kind of like Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Well, it's not a new book ... it's this week's Stamping 411 Card!

 

I paired up the Trust God and Blissful Bird stamp sets with the Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper.

 

I did something a little different for the banner that lays in the background behind the focal piece. I used three narrow strips of the DSP (3 different patterns) and put them together to make the banner. I embossed the entire background with the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Impressions Die.

 

Other supplies and tools include the Apothocary Accents Framelets, The Bird Builder Punch, and Stampin' Dimensionals. To make the mat behind the label die-cut, I cut 2 additional labels from Midnight Muse Cardstock and then cut them in half, one across the width and one down the middle, trimmed them and them attached them to the back of the label with SNAIL adhesive. It's an easy technique to do but I'll try to remember and get some pictures soon so I can create a quick tutorial for you.

 

Cardstock colors are Very Vanilla and Midnight Muse and I added another little banner on the inside of the card, for an extra touch!

 

That will do it for today! I want to thank everyone who purchased retired stamp sets and ribbons at my online garage sale! You helped me clear out a lot of space on my storage shelves!

 

Don't forget to stop by the Stamping 411 website and check out the other Operator projects! I'm always amazed at the talent of my stamping sisters!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! I do hope you'll come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

 

 

It's my BIG, FAT, ONLINE Stamping Garage Sale!!!!!

Oh my goodness, my stampin' space is BURSTING AT THE SEAMS! I have got to do some major purging to make room for new things and new ideas! So you know what that means ... it's time for my annual Online Garage Sale! I've listed Stamp Sets, Stampin' Around Wheels and Ribbons below. Coming soon will be DSP, Cardstock, Inks, Embellishments, Tools and more! I've photographed both the front and back of stamp sets so you can see exactly what you are getting. Items are described in detail when necessary. E-mail me with questions you have about specific items. The rules are few and easy ...

1. E-mail me with your list of the stamp sets and accessories that you want -- gbarron56@comcast.net
2. I'll get back with you ASAP to let you know if everything is still available. It's first-come, first-serve! Once I let you know it's still available, I will remove that item from the website.
3. Once I let you know that you were the first to snatch up your items, I'll also notify you with a final price which will include postage and handling. I will do my best to ship all items at the least inexpensive rate. Most items (anything over 13 ounces) will require Priority shipping (a minimum of $5). Depending on how many items you are purchasing, the postage will be calculated and you will be notified.
4. PLEASE NOTE -- I CAN ONLY SELL RETIRED ITEMS TO CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES -- NO INTERNATIONAL ORDERS OR INQUIRIES, PLEASE!
5. I will send you a PayPal invoice for the total of all items plus the shipping and handling. I ask that you pay via PayPal within 24 hours of receiving the invoice. If you do not wish to use PayPal, I will e-mail you with instructions for sending your payment via Snail Mail (check or money order).
6. Once your payment is received, I will do my best to ship it off to you within 24 hours and will notify you via e-mail when I get in the mail.
7. I will do my best to package everything carefully so there is no damage. However, once it's in the hands of the postal service, I is out of my control. If you are concerned about this, you need to let me know that you wish to purchase additional shipping insurance for an additional fee.
8. Again -- Per Stampin' Up Guidelines --  I CAN ONLY SELL RETIRED ITEMS TO CUSTOMERS IN THE UNITED STATES -- NO INTERNATIONAL ORDERS OR INQUIRIES, PLEASE!

That's it! Let me know if you have questions or wish to purchase items. Have fun and Happy Shopping!

Wood Mount Stamp Sets

 

A Good Egg

$12.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

All A Flutter

 $5.00

 

 

 

 

 

   

Beary Nice Wishes

Build a Bear Workshop

 $10.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Berry Christmas

 $10.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bliss

4 Available

$8.00 each

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumpleanos

 $6.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Family Phrases

 $11.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flower Fancy

 $15.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Again

 $8.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love You Much - $12.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Party Hearty

 $12.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pick a Petal

 $13.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Priceless

 $12.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Punch Pals

 $18.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Razzle Dazzle

 $10.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season of Hugs

Build A Bear Workshop

 $14.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Centers

 $16.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things I Love

New, Unmounted

 $8.00

 

 

 

 

 

Three Little Words

 $9.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Together Forever

 $12.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clear Mount Stamp Sets

 

Array of Sunshine

 $8.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Awash with Flowers - Used

 $15.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bold Blossoms

 8.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clearly For You

 $10.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends Never Fade

$8.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Hoopla

$9.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I {Heart} Hearts

(The dotted outline heart is split - does't work too well)

$10.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messages for Mom

$10.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SweetHeart

$9.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take A Spin

$12.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stampin' Around Wheels

 

Language of Love -- Standard

$3.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vine & Bloom -- Standard

$3.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ribbons and Ribbon Bundles

  Artichoke Denim Jean -- $7.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain

3 New Spools Available -- 15 yards each

$3.50 each

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daffodil Delight 1/4" Grosgrain

Partial Spool -- Approx. 12 yards

$2.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Peach Parfait PolyTwill -- 1/2"

New Spool -- $5.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Bundle of Ribbon

5 Yards Total -- 1 yard of 5 Different Ribbons

Colors and designs may vary

3 Bundles Available -- $2.00 each

 

 

 

 

 

So Saffron/Certainly Celery Bundle

10 yards each of 5/8" So Saffron Grosgrain and 1/2" Certainly Celery Poly Twill -- 20 yards total

3 available -- $7.00 each