Gretchen Barron

Easter Blessings!

Easter blessings, everyone! In this midst of this global pandemic, the Easter message of resurrection, new life and hope takes on even greater significance ... a message that is both timeless and timely! I created this video last night to help myself reflect on all the emotions I'm feeling and I offer it to you as a gift. It is my hope and prayer that you and those you love are safe and well on this Easter day and that you feel God's arms of comfort and hope wrapping you in grace and love. Blessings, Gretchen

 

 

 

 

Click HERE for Updated Facial Mask Selections

Center For Disease Control Now Recommends Wearing Cloth Face Coverings (Masks)

Hi Everyone -- it's now official ... the CDC recommends that everyone wear Cloth Face Coverings (masks) to help protect others (and ultimately yourself) from the Covid-19 Coronavirus. This latest recommendation is just one tool in your tool box to help protect yourself and your family. Recommendations include:

• Wear Cloth Face Coverings (masks) when in public settings
• Maintain at least a 6' distance from others when it's necessary to be in a social setting
• Stay home ... venture out only for necessities
• DO NOT wear medical grade N95 or Surgical Masks ... those should reserved only for medical providers
• DO NOT leave your home if you're feeling ill or have Covid-19 symptoms
• Because the virus can be shared even when someone is symptom free and because the lack of testing is still an issue in most areas of the country, ASSUME THAT EVERYONE HAS THE VIRUS!
• Symptom-free DOES NOT MEAN virus-free
• Wash hands frequently with a foaming soap for at least 20 seconds ... don't forget to wash between fingers and the back of your hands
• Disinfect Surfaces in your home often 
• More recommendations and information can be found on the CDC website HERE

My Masks are hand-made by me with the utmost attention to quality and comfort. They are made of 100% natural cotton fabrics but also have a lightweight inner synthetic layer to help filter air particles. A wire is inserted in the top casing to form-fit over the bridge of the nose, making them not only more comfortable but also more functional. They are completely washable and dryable. I have both adult and child sizes and they come in a variety of colors and fabrics to suit your taste, personality and style. Meet my friend, Melissa. She lives in Washington State and received her masks yesterday. When you order from me, your masks will be in the mail within 48 hours, possibly even the same day you order. And, for every mask that I sell, I'm donating another to a medical facility or for use by individuals in need. Scroll down to shop for your masks today. New colors and patterns are being added as needed. If you order a mask that is out of stock, I will substitute with a similar color in order to ship your order as quickly as possible.

If you sew and would like to make your own masks, I've created a tutorial showing my technique which you can download and print out HERE. I'm glad to share it with you!

Thank you so much for shopping here and trusting me for your masks. When you get your order, send me a pic like Melissa did. I would love to see it and you might even see yourself here! We're all in this together and we will get through this! Stay Safe and Stay Well, everyone! Blessings, Gretchen

 

Click HERE for Updated Mask Selections

More Mask Colors and Patterns Now Available!

Hi Everyone! OMG -- I'm sewing as fast as I can! Thank you for all the orders and your support. I've updated the Mask selections and fabrics and everything should be working well now with the website and PayPal shopping cart. After you double click on the "add to cart" button, a pop-up window should open up on your screen. If it doesn't, you need to click on the dialog box that says "allow pop-ups". Once your shopping cart is open, you can continue to add things to it or you can make your payment and finalize your order!

 

 

Thanks so much for your purchases and kind notes. REMEMBER THAT FOR EACH MASK I SELL, I AM DONATING ANOTHER TO SOMEONE IN NEED OR A MEDICAL FACILITY! Your support allows me to continue donating! Thank you so much ... WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER!!!!!

 

Hang in there, everyone! Do all you can to stay safe and protected! Blessings, Gretchen

 

 

Click HERE for Updated Mask Selections

Masks, Masks Everywhere!!!

Hi Everyone -- my goodness, it's been a loooooooong time since I posted anything on my blog! Needless to say, I'm going to have to brush up on my Typepad skills! To quickly bring you up to date, I am no longer a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and can no longer service you in that way. I do, however, have LOTS of Stampin' Up! supplies and retired stamp sets that are available for sale. For up-to-date listings on these items, visit my Etsy store. I have lots of items currently listed and additional items are added frequently. In addition to retired Stampin' Up! items, there are beautiful hand-made cards for Easter, Mother's Day and other occasions as well as hand-sewn and quilted items to help bring beauty and joy into your life.

 

Although I no longer sell Stampin' Up!, I still do love to craft and sew and will be showing you many of my crafty items on this blog in the future. For today, however, I first want to say that I hope you and your family are safe and well and finding creative ways to deal with your Shelter-at-Home experience. As the Covid-19 virus escalates throughout the country and the world, it seems that our need to isolate ourselves will continue far longer than we originally thought.

I an currently making and selling Washable and Reusable Face Masks for personal use. Just today, the National Task Force for the Corona virus Pandemic Task Force (what a mouthfull) has announced that it is considering the recommendation for all citizens to wear Face Masks when its necessary to leave their homes. It may be awhile before the recommendation becomes official because of the current shortage of masks available for medical personnel.  But it seems this will soon be a reality for all of us.

For the past week, I've been making masks and donating them to a local medical clinic and to folks that are high-risk for contacting the Covid-19 virus. To date, I've donated more than 70 masks. In order to allow me to continue making and donating masks, I've decided to sell them as well, with the pledge that I will donate a mask for each one that I sell. So, if you decide to purchase masks from me, you will also be helping me donate them to those on the front line.

My masks are hand-sewn and constructed with an extra synthetic layer fused between two layers of high-quality cotton fabric. I've also inserted a wire on the top of the mask which allows it to be form-fitted to the bridge of the nose, giving it not only a better fit but also making it more comfortable, especially for those who wear glasses. In my previous lifetime, I was a surgical technologist and so I know very well the frustration of having your glasses fog up every time you take a breath because your mask doesn't fit your face well!

 

The masks are completely machine washable and dryable and can be reused and laundered many times. They are durable and sewn with the highest standards. In addition, they are attractive, stylish and colorful. I mean, if we're going to need to wear masks, we might as well do it in style, right? At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

In addition to a variety of colors and patterns, I also have created a smaller mask that better fits younger children. The child-sized masks are reversible and created from colorful, whimsical and fun fabrics

Adult masks are approximately 8.5" side to side with a 9" partially elastic loop to go behind each ear. They measure approximately 6.5" from top to bottom. The smaller child-sized masks are approximately 7" from side-to-side with a 7" look for each ear and measure approximately 5.5" from top to bottom.

The masks are intended for PERSONAL USE ONLY (they are not medical grade quality) and each mask should only be worn by one person and laundered frequently. When taking it out of the dryer, straighten the wire as best you can and tug on both sides of the mask to straighten out and reset the pleats. Each mask is $12 which includes shipping and handling.

 

Please Note: As I run out of fabrics and substitute others, patterns may vary from what is pictured. Also, if an item you ordered is gone, I will substitute with a similar color so that I can get your order shipped in a timely manner! Generally, masks will be mailed within 48 hours of ordering. I'm getting them out as quickly as I can!

 

Thank you for visiting me on Inspiration in Action and please let me know how you like the masks and all the other wonderful things I will be sharing with you here in the future. And most importantly, be safe and stay well! Blessings, Gretchen

 

Click HERE for Updated Mask Selections

Frosted Floral and First Frost -- They're Not Just for Christmas!

Hello everyone! I've got another beautiful card today featuring the amazing Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Papers and the First Frost Stamp Set. I've said it before and I'll say it again ... this is probably the MOST beautiful paper I have ever worked with. The subtle sheen and glimmer adds just the right amount of pizzaz to put this paper over-the-top! And the coordinating First Frost Stamp set is equally as lovely. The addition of the "Congratulations" and "Wishing You All the Best" stamps, truly make this a stamp set for all seasons! It may be in the Holiday catalog as a Christmas set but this is one set that you will be able to use for multiple seasons and occasions!

 

Using your Big Shot and the coordinating Frosted Bouquet Framelit Dies, you can quickly and easily whip up a card that will brighten anyone's day!  Notice the texture added to the background with the Tufted Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (whew! I challenge you to say that fast five times!) and the beautiful pops of color and bling added by the Berry Burst Metallic Edged Ribbon and the Tranquil Tide Glimmer Paper. For a complete list of all supplies used in today's project, click on any thumbnail in the scrolling list below. You can also download and print a PDF file with all the details by clicking HERE.

 

As always, clicking on any thumbnail below will magically transport you to my Stampin' Up! Store where you can learn more details about the products or place an order 24-7!

 

 

 

 

Remember, I'm offering the ORIGINAL Frankie & Friends and Santa & His Sidekicks Kits and Tutorials for a limited time only! Click HERE to read more or place an order for Kits or Tutorials! 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I do hope you'll visit again soon!

 

Back for a Limited Time! Frankie & Friends and Santa & Sidekicks Kits and Tutorials!

Hello my friends! It's been nine years since Frankie & Friends and Santa & His Sidekicks made their first appearance and they are back! For a limited time only, I am making the kits available once again!

 Remember Frankie and all his friends ... Brenda, Winefred, Gaspar, Manfred and Dougie --  they are older and wiser and all ready to inject some fun and frolic into your Halloween preparations!

 

And of course you recognize Santa, Mrs. Santa, Jingle (the elf), Rudolph and Frosty! Aren't they just adorable?

 

Each kit (both Frankie & Friends (6 projects) and Santa & Sidekicks (5 projects)) includes a coordinating Fancy Favor Box Die Cut, Top Note Die Cuts, all the punchies, ribbons, embellishments and step-by-step digital instructions (emailed to you as a PDF file) with tons of photos to make assembly a breeze (additional supply list is provided below). Time needed to assemble each kit is approximately 2 hours. Each Class-on-the-Go Kit sells for $24.95 which includes S&H and Tax, payable by clicking on the PayPal link below. Shipping of kits within the United States Only. Sorry, no international orders.

 

 

Kits will ship to you within 1 week, usually within 72 hours. Once your kits ship 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. Please be aware, many of the supplies listed in the tutorial have long been discontinued by Stampin' Up! but can easily be substituted. If you need suggestions about substitution, please contact me. Each tutorial is multiple pages long and contains dozen of detailed photos to assist you in putting the projects together. If you have questions, please e-mail me BEFORE you order.

 

Additional Supplies you will need to assemble the kits include:

Strong double sided tape; Stampin' Dimensionals; SNAIL adhesive; Paper Snips; Bone Folder; Crop-a-Dile; sponges; Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker; White Signo Gel Pen; Classic Stampin Pads; Cyrstal Effects or Pop-up Glue Dots and Mini Glue Dots. No stamping is required although you will do a lot of sponging.

Although I'm showing these attached to Fancy Favor Boxes, you could also put these on cards, use on scrapbook pages, as gift tags or use in other ways. They promise to bring joy, spirit, personality and a whole lot of cuteness to all your fall and Christmas projects, decorating and gift-giving!

 

To place an order, click on the arrow below and a menu will drop down, giving you the option to purchase different items! 

Choose:

Frankie & Friends Kit $24.95 USD Frankie & Friends Tutorial Only $5.00 USD Santa & Sidekicks Kit $24.95 USD Santa & Sidekicks Tutorial Only $5.00 USD

 

Order other Inspiration in Action $5 Tutorials by clicking HERE! 

Read what others have said about Inspiration in Action Class Kits-on-the-Go and Tutorials HERE!

Thanks, everyone! These little project have delivered a lot of joy over the years and I hope you have as much fun putting them together as I had creating them for you!

 

 

Takin' It To the Top ... with Flourishing Phrases!

Hello everyone and Happy Sunday to you! I hope you've found some time to craft this weekend!

 

Today, I'm bringing back one of my most popular blog features of the past -- Takin' It To the Top! This is where I create three different cards, all using the same basic design and colors, but then showing you how to step-them-up by adding layers, texture and embellishments! 

Today's card uses the Flourishing Phrases Stamp Set, Flourish Thinlit Dies and the Garden Impressions Designer Series Paper Pack. Click HERE for a downloadable list of all the supplies used today. You can click on any image and you'll find yourself magically in my Stampin' Up! Store where you can learn more about each product and even place an order, if you like!

In the first photo above you will find a very basic, but very beautiful card using the colors of Calypso Coral and Berry Burst. There's nothing wrong with it at all ... it's quick and easy and anyone would be thrilled to receive it! But, just look at the second photo above and you'll see what just a little more color in the form of Designer Series Paper, and an extra layer and a bit of ribbon can do to dress up that basic card.

Now, look at the third card. It's the same basic card as the first one, and it has the extra elements of the second one but just look what a little more can do. In the third card, I've made the Sentiment piece a bit larger so that I could punch out the corners with the wonderful new Detailed Trio Punch (I'm really loving this versatile little punch, by the way). I added a little additional pop of color with the Glitter Enamel Dots on the corners and on the Die Cuts. And speaking of Die Cuts, did you notice that I added a larger flower to the sprig used on the first two cards? And I added some texture by using the Petal Burst Embossing Folder. And finally, that beautiful little double bow with the Berry Burst Metallic Edge Ribbon is the perfect finishing touch!

So there you go, from good ... to better ... and beyond! In three simple steps! And by the way, even the third is quick and easy and completely achievable, even from a beginning stamper! It's easy really, with all the beautiful Stamp Sets, Dies, Paper and Embellishments made available by Stampin' Up! Again, click HERE or on the scroll bar below, to find out more details about each of the products used today.

 

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

Holiday Catalog Sneaky Peek #3 -- Frosted Floral Deliciousness!

Hello everyone and Happy Saturday to you! I promised you another Sneak Peek from the 2018 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog today and I don't think you will be disappointed. This is another super simple and fast card but made oh, so beautiful by the Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Paper, the coordinating Tranquil Tide Velvet Ribbon and the First Frost Stamp Set and Frosted Bouquet Dies --- all new products which you will find in the Holiday Catalog when it goes live on September 5th. And, as always, all of the products in this absolutely gorgeous Frosted Floral Suite coordinate perfectly and beautifully together, making YOUR job so much easier. As I said this is a quick and easy card, easily completed start to finish in ten minutes or less! Don't believe me? Just try! I dare you to prove me wrong!

 

As I said in my blog post yesterday, this Frosted Floral Designer series paper is, hands-down, the most beautiful paper I have ever seen or worked with. I hope you can see the shimmery pearlescent glow in the photos! It is quite stunning! And the images and colors lend themselves to use all throughout the year. You won't be limited to just fall and winter holidays with this DSP! I mean, just look at those beautiful floral images? Can you say Weddings? Mother's Day? Birthdays? Spring? Easter? The possibilities are endless! And yet, as you saw from yesterday's post, there are plenty of options for winter and Christmas as well! This is truly a DSP for all Seasons!

 

For a complete list of all the products used in today's card, you may download a PDF file HERE. You can save or print it if you like. Clicking on any thumbnail image from the PDF or the scroll bar below will magically transport you to my Stampin' Up! store where you can learn more about the products or place an order so that you can create something beautiful with The Frosted Floral Suite of coordinating products as well!

 

 

 

That's all for today, friends! I hope you'll stop back soon for more Inspiration in Action!

Holiday Sneaky Peek #2 -- Frosty Morning

Hello everyone and Happy Friday! I know, It's August here and hot with extremely high humidity! But indulge me for just a moment, okay? If you live in a climate where you experience cold, snowy, icy winters then you relate to today's post. You know when you wake up on a cold winter morning and the frost hangs heavy on the trees, making your entire world like like a winter wonderland? Those frosted trees are beautiful to look at, for sure! Now don't get me wrong, I hate to drive on the frosted icy streets, but looking at the trees is something to behold! And that's exactly the image that inspired today's card and my second Sneak Peek from the upcoming 2018 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog (sales period beings September 5th)!

 

 

Today's card uses the First Frost Stamp Set, and the Frosted Floral Specialty Designer Series Papers. This paper is absolutely breathtaking, I kid you not! It is possibly the most beautiful paper I've ever seen in my life. Although today's project uses a gray frosty sheet of paper, some of the papers in this collection come alive with beautiful, vibrant colors and floral patterns. They are definitely papers that you will want to use all year long for a variety of occasions! Just stop back in tomorrow to see what I'm talking about! All of the papers in this beautiful collection have a frost, opalescent finish to them. They really do look like they've been frosted with icy elegance!

 

 

 

For this card, I paired the stamp set with the beautiful Foliage Frames Framelit Dies and Stitched Shapes Dies.  The colors are Fresh Fig and Gray Granite. Click HERE to view, download or print a PDF document that lists all the supplies used in this card. Click on any image in the PDF or on the scrollbar below and you'll be magically transported to my Stampin' Up! store where you can learn more about the products or shop 24-7!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! And be sure to visit again tomorrow for another Holiday Catalog Sneak Peek!

 

 

Holiday Sneak Peak -- Dashing Deer and the Joyous Noel Designer Series Papers

Hello everyone! I'm so very excited to show you today's card! This is a Sneak Peak for the absolutely AMAZING, beyond STUPENDOUS 2018 Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog which will begin on September 5th! This catalog is 55 pages and the most beautiful Stamp Sets, Papers, Dies, Punches and Embellishments you have ever seen! Seriously! If you would like me to send you a catalog, e-mail me and I'll get it in the mail to you lickety split!

 

Ok, on to today's card. Look at this beauty! And the best part is this was an extremely quick and easy card! You wouldn't have guessed that, right? Where do I begin? The deer is part of the Dashing Deer Stamp Set (9 stamps including 4 sentiments) and Coordinating Detailed Deer Thinlit Dies (13 pieces). Using the Big Shot, I cut the deer using 6x6" Glimmer Paper that comes in three new colors -- Copper, Merry Merlot and Tranquil Tide. You can see three of the different DSP patterns in this picture -- the envelope liner, the scalloped oval and the backdrop paper. This is a speciality DSP and it has the most beautiful Copper Foiled embossed images throughout the set. The Sheer Merry Merlot & Copper reversible ribbon is so beautiful and so very easy to work with -- just look at that beautiful bow! It almost tied itself!

 

To see all the products used in this card, click HERE for a downloadable and printable PDF which will also link you to my Stampin' Up! Store where you can shop 24-7! You can also click on any of the images in the scroll bar below to learn more about the products!

 

 

 

 

 

 Well, that's it for today, folks! I hope you enjoyed the Sneak Peek! Stop back soon because I've got so many amazing things to show you !!!!!