Gretchen Barron

From Trash to Treasure!

Don't you just love it when you can take something that would normally be thrown away and make it into something useful, even beautiful! My daughter's current beverage of choice is Strawberry NesQuik (you mix it with milk). Well, it comes in this fantastic plastic container. I just can't bear to throw them away and knew there must be something I can do with them. So when the Late Night Stampers Convention Design Team came up with this week's challenge project, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I took this little plastic container and turned it into a box to store gift tags. What do you think? Would this make a perfect gift or Hostess incentive or ... well, I may just have to keep it myself!

The challenge this week is to make a 3-D or Gift item using the colors Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive (plus unlimited other colors) and at least 1 metal embellishment. For this altered box and tags, I used the sets Best Wishes and More and Best Yet (Level 1 Hostess set). I also used Washington Apple, Maine Blueberry and Green Tea Designer Series Papers. The little envelopes were cut with the Big Shot and the Scallop Envelope Die. It's a pretty simple project to make and lots of fun. So go ahead, rise to the challenge and see what you can come up with this week! You may just turn trash into treasure!

Today is THE LAST DAY for my Online Ordering Special!  The first 5 people to place a minimum $50 order Online through my website (see the link on the side bar) will receive a FREE retired Sale-a-Bration stamp set -- your choice from what I have available! This offer is only good through tomorrow, September 30th, so act quickly and get your orders in!

Don't forget as well that I am once again taking orders for the Designer Series Paper and Ribbon  Sampler Kits. These have been so popular and I continue to have people ask for them. This is a great way to get a little bit of everything without having to buy complete packages of paper or spools of ribbon. This is a limited time offer. Deadline for ordering the Sampler Kits is Sunday, October 5th at 11:59 p.m. (central time). I will place the order with Stampin' Up! on October 6th and you will receive your kits in the mail about 10 days after that. Click on the links above for more information.

Have a wonderful day and don't forget to stop by again soon! Blessings, Gretchen

I Love Autumn!

Have I told you how much I love Autumn? I love the smell in the air. I love the leaves dancing on the wind. I love the crisp, cool nights and the sunny, pleasant days. I love sleeping with the windows open under piles of blankets at night. I love hayrides and pumpkins and multi-colored leaves. I LOVE autumn! And I love this stamp set, Seasonal Whimsy, which gives you the versatility of using it all year long -- fall, winter, spring and summer!

This card began with a Basic Black card base and I added a layer of Really Rust and a small bit of Juntos DSP (from the Spanish Supplement Catalog), separated by a More Mustard 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon and bow. I stamped the large flourish from Priceless so that it would peek out from the corners of the main focal image. I stamped the main image using Black Craft Ink and embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder and a Heat Tool. I sponged on the color and rubbed it in using sponges -- Mellow Moss, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie and More Mustard. This is then mounted on layers of Basic Black, More Mustard and Always Artichoke and attached to the card using dimensionals. I stamped the sentiment with Black Stazon ink and inked up two of the little leaves with More Mustard and sponged on Really Rust and Mellow Moss on the edges with Sponge Daubbers. Inside the card, I attached a layer of Very Vanilla cardstock with another flourish stamped in the corner. It just makes you want to go outside and rake up leaves, doesn't it?

Only two days remain for my Online Ordering Special!  The first 5 people to place a minimum $50 order Online through my website (see the link on the side bar) will receive a FREE retired Sale-a-Bration stamp set -- your choice from what I have available! This offer is only good through tomorrow, September 30th, so act quickly and get your orders in!

Don't forget as well that I am once again taking orders for the Designer Series Paper and Ribbon  Sampler Kits. These have been so popular and I continue to have people ask for them. This is a great way to get a little bit of everything without having to buy complete packages of paper or spools of ribbon. This is a limited time offer. Deadline for ordering the Sampler Kits is Sunday, October 5th at 11:59 p.m. (central time). I will place the order with Stampin' Up! on October 6th and you will receive your kits in the mail about 10 days after that. Click on the links above for more information.

Well, that's it for today. Happy Monday and Happy Fall! I hope you find some time to enjoy stamping and the beautiful Autumn weather. Come back soon for more Inspiration in Action!

Blessings, Gretchen

Christmas Classics Shadowbox Card

I am so in love with these little Shadowbox cards! They are quick and easy to do and such a great way to showcase a special stamp or technique. To make, I cut two pieces of contrasting cardstock to 5.5 x 6". Score all four short sides at .5 and 1". Decorate front and back as desired and cut an opening in the front (I used the Coluzzle Cutting System). Glue the two pieces together with Sticky Strip (important to use Sticky Strip) and you're done.

This card began with a back of Riding Hood Red. The stamp set is Christmas Classics from the new Fall/Winter Idea Book and Catalog. I stamped the sentiment (in Black Stazon Ink) and ornaments (Versamark ink and Gold embossing powder) and also embossed "strings" using a Versamarker. I stamped the star image on Brushed Gold Cardstock with Versamark and embossed with Gold EP and then punched it out with the large star punch. I punched a 1/16" holeand tied a length of Gold Metalic Cord (from the Holiday Mini Catalog), making a bow. I attached this to the back of the card using dimensionals.

The front, oh my goodness, do I ever love, love, love the So Swirly Jumbo Wheel! I loaded an empty cardridge in the wheel and inked it up with a Versamark re-inker. I wheel the versamark on the paper and then coated the whole thing with the Gold EP and heat set it with the Heat Tool. I then cut out the oval using the Coluzzle Cutting system. Follow directions above for assembly! I so love this card and it's rich, contrasting jewel tones and gold sparkle and hope you do too!

I am once again taking orders for the Designer Series Paper and Ribbon  Sampler Kits. These have been so popular and I continue to have people ask for them. This is a great way to get a little bit of everything without having to buy complete packages of paper or spools of ribbon. This is a limited time offer. Deadline for ordering the Sampler Kits is Sunday, October 5th at 11:59 p.m. (central time). I will place the order with Stampin' Up! on October 6th and you will receive your kits in the mail about 10 days after that. Click on the links above for more information.

That's it for today. It's been a busy week but this one looks a little more manageable so I hope to be able to post more frequently! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back soon! Blessings, Gretchen

Happy Fall with a Season of Friendship Card

Good morning, everyone and Happy Fall! With all the excitement and preparation for launching our new SUDDEN_response network to help demonstrators who have lost all or most of their stamping and business supplies, I completely forgot to celebrate the first day of Fall -- my FAVORITE time of the year. I made this little shadowbox card using the Season of Friendship stamp set, new in the Holiday Mini Catalog and available for purchase on October 1st! I stamped the tree image on Natural White Cardstock using Close to Cocoa, Always Avocado, Really Rust, More Mustard and Ruby Red inks. The front of the shadowbox is Really Rust cardstock, wheeled with the Watercolor Vine Jumbo Wheel and Versamark ink. I cut out the oval using the Coluzzle Shape Cutter and inked Really Rust on the opening with a sponge. The sentiment is stamped on Natural White and mounted on Always Artichoke. The chipboard leaves were created by gluing Juntos DSP  (from the Spanish Supplement Catalog) onto scrap chipboard (I use what comes in packages of paper), cut on the Big Shot Die Cut Machine using the Leaves #2 die. I inked the edge of each leaf with Really Rust ink and attached it to the card using SNAIL adhesive. Humm ... I can smell fall in the air just by looking at this card!

To make the shadow box card, I cut the front and back cardstock to 5.5 x 6". Score at .5 and 1" from each short edge of both cardstock pieces. Stamp your image on the back layer, decorate the top layer as you desire (including cutting out the window opening). Fold on the score lines so that you have a bit of a "box" shape and attach the two pieces together using Sticky Strip!

I am once again taking orders for the Designer Series Paper and Ribbon  Sampler Kits. These have been so popular and I continue to have people ask for them. This is a great way to get a little bit of everything without having to buy complete packages of paper or spools of ribbon. This is a limited time offer. Deadline for ordering the Sampler Kits is Sunday, October 5th at 11:59 p.m. (central time). I will place the order with Stampin' Up! on October 6th and you will receive your kits in the mail about 10 days after that. Click on the links above for more information.

Again, Happy Fall everyone! Hope you come back to visit soon. Blessings, Gretchen

Time Is Running Out on These Specials!

Hello everyone! Just wanted to drop you a quick note to remind you of several specials that won't be around much longer!

• Place a $50 order online from my website at www.stampinwithgretchen.stampinup.net, and receive a FREE retired Sale-a-bration set of your choice. Offer available ONLY for orders placed online by September 30th.

• Starter Kit Promotion -- Sign up as a Demonstrator and purchase a mini Starter Kit for $99 or purchase the full Starter Kit for $199 and receive a FREE stamp set of your choice. Offer ends October 11th. I would love to welcome you as part of my growing team of demonstrators.

• Never Before Seen Stamp Sale -- Purchase any of the stamp sets below by September 30th and receive 15% off the regular price

Item Code	Pg. #	Description	Regular Price	15% off Price
111690	32	Snow Swirled	$24.95	$21.21
111586	55	It's a Stretch	$23.95	$20.36
111544	81	Putt Putt	$24.95	$21.21
111626	91	Eastern Blooms	$21.95	$18.66
111672	98	Pocket Silhouettes	$18.95	$16.11
111710	101	Upsy Daisy	$18.95	$16.11
111556	109	Under the Stars	$29.95	$25.46
111644	145	Heard from the Heart	$22.95	$19.51
111570	157	Contempo Alphabet	$40.95	$34.81
109381	23	Felicidades Siempre*	$17.95	$15.26

 

I'm booking workshops now for October and November. Host a workshop (or have a catalog party) before November 30th and receive a FREE stamp set from the Catalog Sampler with $350 in sales. This is in addition to the other great hostess benefits you will earn! Contact me to schedule your workshop!

 

I hope to see you back soon! Blessings, Gretchen

Back by Popular Demand -- DSP and Ribbon Samplers!

Back by request and overwhelming demand, I am once again offering the Designer Series Paper and Ribbon Sampler Kits for a limited time only. This is a great way to get a little bit of everything without having to buy complete packages of paper or spools of ribbon. Deadline for ordering the Sampler Kits is Sunday, October 5th at 11:59 p.m. (central time). I will place the order with Stampin' Up! on October 6th and you will receive your kits in the mail about 10 days after that. Click on the links above or in the left side-bar for more information. You may place the kits you wish to order in your shopping card and pay using PayPal. Thank you for making this such a popular item!

Blessings, Gretchen

The SUDDEN_response Network is born!

Goodness, what a week this has been. Has it only been a week since I received a box of supplies from Selene Kempton, wanting to do something to help replace the things that I lost when my basement and stamp room flooded? Has it only been a week since we identified 4 demonstrators who suffered major losses to their homes, stamping spaces, supplies and businesses? Has it only been a week since HUNDREDS of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from across North American responded to the needs to these stampin' sisters by sending thousands of dollars of supplies to help them get back on their feet! Yes, it has only been a week and what a week it has been! Realizing the need for this type of coordinated effort to allow stampin' sisters to help each other in times of need, Selene, Kathy Chono-Herring and I have become moderators of a new Yahoo Group, SUDDEN_response (Stampin' Up! Demos Disaster Emergency Network). This new group will allow us to build a network of demonstrators who want to help and to have them in place so that they can respond quickly to future needs -- not only from Hurricane Ike but from future storms, fires and other disasters. If you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like to join us in our efforts to reach out to sisters in need, we invite you to join SUDDEN_response by clicking here. There's a little bit of information that we need for the approval process, but once that is in and you receive your approval notice, you will be able to visit the group site, read the updates and respond by pledging (and sending) supplies to help other demonstrators. It is our hope that this network will allow us to respond in a timely manner, sending supplies that are needed but not duplicating our efforts so that more demonstrators can be helped in times of need. In the meantime, we are still trying to identify others who have suffered damage in the most recent storms. If you know of those who have been affected, please send me their contact information so that we can help them get back on their feet! Thank you for sharing this journey!

Blessings, Gretchen

Another Cardinal Christmas!

   

This beautiful set, A Cardinal Christmas, is quickly becoming one of my new favorites. This set is from the Holiday Mini Catalog which you can order from beginning October 1st! I made this card for a recent SWAP and it's also one of this month's Christmas Card Workshop cards! The card base is Riding Hood Red. The second layer is Garden Green with the So Swirly Wheel applied with Versamark ink (it creates a lovely watermark image on the cardstock). a 1" strip of Chocolate Chip is punched with the scallop edge Punch and a length of Riding Hood Red 3/8" Taffeta ribbon and bow are applied. The cardinal image is stamped with Black Stazon ink on just half of the Top Note Bigz Die (cut with the Big Shot). The image is colored in using re-inkers and blender pens and the edges are sponged with Chocolate Chip Ink. The finished cardinal piece is applied over the ribbon and scallop edge strip. The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip Ink, punched with the Large Oval Punch and the edges inked with Chocolate Chip. It's really not a difficult card to make -- I made 40 of these for a SWAP and was able to do them all in about 3 hours. Not bad, huh?

If you're interested in ordering the Designer Series Paper and Ribbon  Sampler Kits, please place your order today! This is a great way to get a little bit of everything without having to buy complete packages of paper or spools of ribbon. Deadline for ordering the Sampler Kits is Thursday, September 25th at 11:59 p.m. (central time). I will place the order with Stampin' Up! on 9-26 and you will receive your kits in the mail about 10 days after that. Click on the links above for more information.

Check back tomorrow for more inspiration! We also hope tomorrow will be the launch date for our new SUDDEN_response site for demos who need help rebuilding their business following a disaster. There is so many wonderful things happening, I hope you will be a part of this outreach effort! Until then, Blessings, Gretchen

Bella Blossoms Challenge Card

Hello everyone! I've been so busy with the new Stamping' Up! Demos Disaster Emergency Network that I feel like I haven't given you much inspiration lately! And, I feel like I haven't had any creative time for a long time! So, let's take care of that, shall we? I stayed up way too late last night to get a little stamping time in but it was so worth it. I just love to stamp and create, it's really therapeutic and relaxing. It helps me work out all the frustrations of the day. I hope you enjoy it that much as well and, I hope you enjoy this card that I have to share with you today. Some of you may remember that I'm on the Design Team for the Late Night Stampers Convention group and our challenge for this week is to create an A-B-C project-- EVERYTHING you use has to begin with an A, B or C! It's really a lot of fun and not that difficult. Just start looking through your catalog and you'll be amazed at all the products that begin with those first three letters of the alphabet! Here is one of the challenge cards that I made last night. This card uses the fabulous (or should I say beautiful since it begins with a "B") Bella Blossoms stamp set and Best Yet (my very favorite new hostess set). I used Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral and Chocolate Chip cardstocks; Cameo Coral, Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip inks; Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon; the Curly Label Punch; and Crystal Ice Chunky Sprinkles Glitter. Hummm ... I think it turned out to be an Absolutely Beautiful Card! What do you think?

A few days remain to order the Designer Series Paper and Ribbon  Sampler Kits. This is a great way to get a little bit of everything without having to buy complete packages of paper or spools of ribbon. Deadline for ordering the Sampler Kits is Thursday, September 25th at 11:59 p.m. (central time). I will place the order with Stampin' Up! on 9-26 and you will receive your kits in the mail about 10 days after that. Click on the links above for more information.

Gotta go for now. Hopefully I'll be able to spend some more creating time later today and I hope you will as well! Please come back soon for more inspiration! Have a wonderful day! Blessings, Gretchen

Stampin' Up! Demos Disaster Emergency Network -- Update!

Hello, everyone! I wanted to get you an update of where we stand with helping demonstrators who've been affected by recent storms and flooding. For the most part, all of the identified needs are met at this time. However, we know there are many more demonstrators who have lost their homes and Stampin' Up! supplies (which for many is a major source of income). We are working to identify these demonstrators and their needs and as soon as we have more information, we will let you know how you can help and what you can send them!

Within a few days, we are launching a new Yahoo Group site -- SUDDEN_response (Stampin' Up! Demos Disaster Emergency Network) which will enable us to handle the requests from demos in need in a much more efficient manor. Keep checking here and as soon as the site is operational, we will give you a link which will allow you to become a member of the group and to respond to the needs of our Stampin' sisters. If you know of demonstrators whose lives and homes have been disrupted by the recent hurricanes and floods or any disaster, please contact us so that we can bring them into this network to receive the care and support of sister demonstrators.

I want to thank everyone who has been so willing to pledge and send gifts to our friends in need. If you click on the links below, you will see the list of thousands of items that are already being sent across the country to those affected. For each person that has already given, I probably have at least one more ready to respond when needed. Your response has been OVERWHELMING! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. When we pull together like this, we are truly embodying the Stampin' Up! Statement of the Heart ...

To love what we do and share what we love,

as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments

. . .in this we make a difference!

I want to also thank Selene Kempton and Kathy Chono-Herring who have joined me as moderators of the SUDDEN_response group. I value their input and their commitment to this journey we share together. I will be updating here on my blog frequently, so please check back often!

Blessings, Gretchen

So far, we've been able to help the following Demonstrators in need. Click on their name for their story and update:

• Marilyn Dollar
• Kara Traylor
• Donna Kirk Smith
• Courtney Fowler