Gretchen Barron

Mark Your Calendar for the Tour de Freaks!

I am thrilled to tell all of you that some of the very talented ladies in the Control Freaks Swap group are going to be doing a monthly blog tour! Our Tour de Freaks, will take place on the 20th of each month. Trust me when I tell you that you will be wowed by this talented group of ladies!

Different members of our group will be participating each month. This month we will be featuring  Connie Babbert, Gretchen Barron, Patty Bennett, Mary Brown, Julie Dinn, Cindy Major, Lisa Martz, Dawn Olchefske, Melanie Schulenberg, Janine Tinklenberg, Shona Watson and Wendy Weixler!  These incredibly talented ladies will be featuring their favorite Stampin' Up! products that are on the Last Chance List. Mark your calendar ... we guarantee a wild ride!

Blessings, Gretchen

Need help with the Basics of Stamping? Visit our new Teaching Blog, Stamping 411!

Check out my $5 project tutorials HERE.

Click HERE to see Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

A Brand New Adventure with Some Stamping Friends!

Good morning everyone! I have BIG news for all of you - I am honored to have been asked to be on the inaugural design team for a new Stamping Blog called Stamping 411! This promises to be an exciting adventure with some of my favorite stamping friends -- Selene Kempton, Robin Merriman, Connie Babbert, Patti Chesky and Lee Conrey. We will affectionaly be known as the "operators" when you call on Stamping 411 for assistance! This is indeed exciting news for everyone! This blog will focus on stamping basics for new and occasional stampers, but will feature tutorials, videos and weekly sketch challenges for everyone! I encourage you to visit the blog on a regular basis for fabulous inspiration and stamping advice.

The sketch shown here is our very first one! You are encouraged to play along with us and then share your creation by linking it back to the Stamping 411 blog when you add your link in your comment. Be sure to use the sketch number (SSC101) if you are posting your creation to SplitcoastStampers. We can't wait to see what you create!

Here is the card that I created for this first first Sketch Challenge! It uses the delicious Parisian Breeze Specialty Textured Designer Series Papers and the lovely stamp set, Thoughts & Prayers. The featured technique is Stamping Off!

Since this is a teaching blog and adventure, I will be providing a detailed step-by-step tutorial each week for my Sketch card. The tutorial has a list of all supplies used, measurements for each layer and photos and instructions for each step in the process. You may download and print this week's Sketch Tutorial HERE.

We do hope you will share this new site with your friends and colleagues. It's going to be such a great resource for beginning stampers to come and learn from some folks that have a long history of stamping experience. Each of us are eager to share with you, and teach you, some of the knowledge, tips and tricks that we've learned along the way. And we look forward to getting to know you as we share this wonderful and fulfilling art form together.

I'm already working on next week's Sketch Challenge! So get busy! Explore the new Stamping 411 Website! Download my tutorial and start stamping! There's a big, beautiful world of stamping waiting for you!

Blessings, Gretchen (one of the Stamping 411 Operators)

Garden Greetings Photo Frame

Hello everyone! I've been inspired the past couple of days by all the cute and bright projects that Sandi McIver has been creating with the Garden Greetings Stamp set so I decided to put my own mark on these cute little flowers and came up with this -- a photo frame! I began with Rainbow Sherbet Designer Series Paper and a Small On Board Book Basics piece of Chipboard. I adhered the DSP with the Anywhere Glue Stick and then ran it through the Big Shot, using the Top Note Die to cut out the opening in the chipboard (and I still have the Top Note piece to use on another project). I lightly sanded the edges to clean them up a bit and then began decorating. I stamped multiples of the flower images on Tempting Turquoise, Gable Green, Green Galore and Apricot Appeal Cardstock, using White Craft Ink. and then embossed with White Embossing Powder and the Heat Tool. The most time-consuming part of this project was cutting all the flower images out (use sharp Paper Snips to make it easier). Each of the larger flowers is actually 3 different layers, cut out in graduating sizes and put back together with Stampin' Dimensionals. I tied a bit of Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon along the top and bottom. I backed the frame with some of the lightweight chipboard that comes in our DSP paper packs, attaching it with Sticky Strip Adhesive. To make the stand on the back, I took another piece of the DSP chipboard and folded it in half, attaching it to the back of the frame with Sticky Strip. I took two strips that were about 2" long and attached them to keep the stand at the proper angle. That's pretty much it! It's not complicated but does take a little time. Of course, I could have made it quicker by punching out the images instead of cutting them but ... oh well!

Check back soon -- there are some fantastic new ideas and inspiration coming your way! You won't want to miss what is coming next!

Blessings, Gretchen

Check out my $5 project tutorials HERE.

Click HERE to see Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

MoJo Monday Sketch

Hi everyone! I tried my hand this morning at this week's new MoJo Monday sketch! I coupled an unlikely pair -- Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper and the Cheep Talk Stamp Set. I think it gives an entirely different look to this cute little set! I began with a card base of Kiwi Kiss and added a layer of Cameo Coral before adding the DSP, 3/8" Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon and Silver Brads. The scallop Circle is from the SU Pennant Bigz XL Die. The stamped circle was punched out with the 1 3/4" Circle punch. I stamped just a corner of the inside for a little surprise as the card is opened.

Do you know it's just a little over 1 month until the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog comes out? Amazing! On June 1st, we will know which stamp sets and accessories will be retired from the new catalog. One thing we do know for sure is that ANYTHING which uses this year's In Colors will be retiring -- that means most of the Designer Series Papers, this beautiful Satin Ribbon and other In Color Ribbons, the ink pads, the cardstock, many of the Simply Scrappin' Kits -- all will be gone in just a little over a month. Actually, once the retiring accessories sell out, they will be gone even sooner. So, since you know these items are going to retire, NOW is the time to order them - before Stampin' Up! sells out on so many favorite. And if you're ordering Designer Series Papers or 12x12 Textured Cardstock, you can still order it right now one sale -- Buy 3 and Get 1 Free -- that's 25% off! You can place an order online HERE (just click on "shop now" at the top of the page) or call or e-mail me and I can assist you in getting that order in. Remember, this offer ends at midnight on May 31st! Stock up today -- you won't be sorry you did!

Hope to hear from you soon! Happy Stamping! Blessings, Gretchen

Check out my $5 project tutorials HERE.

Click HERE to see Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

Until later, thanks for looking! Blessings, Gretchen

Meet Shelli Gardner -- Founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!

Stampin' Up! has just started their own YouTube page which means from time to time, I will be able to bring you Stampin' Up! videos right here on my blog for you to view and enjoy! To meet Shelli Gardner and hear a little of the history of Stampin' Up! (which is celebrating their Twentieth Anniversary this year), view the video below.

Would you like to become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and become part of this great company? Would you like to be on the cutting edge when it comes to new products and techniques? Would you like to earn a little extra money while getting a discount on every single Stampin' Up! product you purchase for yourself? Would you like to earn a lot of money and extra perks by growing your own Stampin' Up! business? Would you like to meet demonstrators and stamping enthusiastists from around the world? Would you like to find an outlet for your creativity? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you really should consider becomming a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. There's never been a better time to sign-up. Until May 31st, you can purchase a special edition Starter Kit for just $75 and quickly be on your way to making your business your own! Click HERE to learn more and to sign-up on the Inspiration in Action team.

Blessings, Gretchen

Summer Scrapbooking

This week's challenge on Late Night Stampers is to make projects with Summer Themes so I thought it would a perfect opportunity to do some Summer Scrapbooking Layouts (not to mention the fact that I am SOOOOOOOOO far behind on my personal challenge of 20 pages for the month of May - Yikes!). This first layout was so much fun to do. Do you recognize the border on the bottom? Isn't it cool and doesn't it look just like waves? That was what I thought the first time that I used the Swirly Decorate Strip Sizzlet Die and saw the negative image that was left after I carefully peeled away the delicate swirl. For this layout, I cut one swirl in Ballet Blue and another in Tempting Turquoise. I used the negative "left-over" (the part that would normally be thrown away) of the Tempting Turquoise and then laid the Ballet Blue swirl over the top for some perfect waves! Looks like Surf's Up! Using the stamp set, Life's a Breeze, I stamped some coordinating beach accessories in Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise and Ballet Blue. Okay -- it's not a masterpiece, I know! But it was a fun page to put together and works well with the light-hearted, fun images of this pre-school Beach-Day party!

This next layout uses one of my all-time favorite pictures of Bethany. It was one of those happy accidents that I just happened to capture during a family Memorial Day picnic in 2005. The photo is so wonderful that I purposely kept the layout clean and simple to focus on the detail in the photo -- from the content look on her face as she bites into the sweet summer goodness to the drip of watermelon juice that can be seen on her chin. Perfect!

I used Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, Glorious Green, Raspberry Tart DSP, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Define Your Life Stamp Set, a Black Stampin' Write Marker and the Serif Essentials Alphabet Die Set.

I hope to be back later today with more (if I get a chance to stamp and play).

Check out my $5 project tutorials HERE.

Click HERE to see Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

Until later, thanks for looking! Blessings, Gretchen

First Day of Kindergarten

Here's Layout #6 in my Personal Challenge for National Scrapbooking Month! This page came together quickly and easily using the Hoppy Memories Simply Scrappin' Kit. I mounted a piece of Textured Bashful Blue Cardstock on a layer of Pumpkin Pie. I pulled the Brilliant Blue and Old Olive colors out of the colors in the photograph. I punched the Old Olive layer with a Spiral Punch Border on one side. The A-B-C letters and the Star are from the Scrapbooking Kit as well as the Alphabet Print DSP that I used to die-cut the "K" -- I attached the DSP to some scrap chipboard using the Anywhere Glue Stick before running it through the Big Shot with the Serif Essentials Alphabet Die. I tied just a scrap of Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon around the "K" before attaching it to the page with Stampin' Dimensionals. This page went together in less than 15 minutes -- not bad! At that rate, I just may make my goal of 20 pages for the month (maybe!).

I've got a new Class-on-the-Go Kit available which uses the Simple Friendship Stamp Set and Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper. Your can purchase either the complete kit or the Tutorial only by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to see other Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

Click HERE to see other Tutorials available for $5 each.

Happy Stamping, everyone! Come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

Blessings, Gretchen

Two Challenges with One Card!

Oh man, I love it when I can take care of two challenges with one card! This week's Late Night Stampers Color Challenge is to use Kraft, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive and I incorporated this week's MoJo Monday sketch for this card!

The card base is Ruby Red with a layer of Kraft on top that has been embossed with the Swirly Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate. A small piece of Chocolate Chip Dotted Print from Bella Rose Designer Series Paper is layered on top of that and the seam covered with some 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon and a Faux Bow. On a 2.5" square of Kraft, I stamped the Flourish from Baroque Motifs and then layered that on another layer of Chocolate Chip cardstock. The flower from Bella Blossoms (on the Dormant List) was stamped in Old Olive Ink on Whisper White cardstock and then a circle cut out with the Circle Scissor Plus. A larger Circle of Old Olive was used as yet another layer. I stamped the flower again on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock in Ruby Red ink and then applied Chunky Crystal Iris Glitter using Tombo Multi Adhesive for a spot of bling!The flower is adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped with Old Olive Ink and punched out with the Large Oval Punch. And of course, I stamped a bit of the flourish on the inside as well with some Old Olive Ink. This was a fun challenge -- why don't you try your hand at it!

I've got a new Class-on-the-Go Kit available which uses the Simple Friendship Stamp Set and Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper. Your can purchase either the complete kit or the Tutorial only by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to see other Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

Click HERE to see other Tutorials available for $5 each.

Happy Stamping, everyone! Thanks for stopping by today!

Blessings, Gretchen

Blog Candy Winner!

Congratulations to Diana Hickey of Bristow, Virginia who won my Blog Candy from this past weekend -- a Simple Friendship Stamp Set and a 6x12" sampler of Pink Flamingo DSP!

Thanks for everyone who checked in this weekend and left a comment. Your feedback is wonderful and I will be working on sets for many of your suggestions very soon. You gave me lots of ideas!

Blessings, Gretchen

Super Quick and Easy Gift Idea!

Here's a super, quick, easy and inexpensive gift idea for Hostess Gifts, Teacher Gifts, door prizes or for just any old occassion! I was inspired by Patty Bennett and the clipboard that she made last week. I didn't have any of the OnBoard Clipboards to use but I did have some Small OnBoard Book Basics and some Jumbo Paper Clips so here's my version!

I used scraps of Tea Party DSP and adhered it to the Chipboard using the Anywhere Glue Stick. I sanded down the edges and then tied ribbon around the board (to hide the seams) and tied a bow on each side (see the photo of the back). The darling paper pads (from the Target Dollar Spot -- I just used half the paper pad for each clipboard -- an even better bargain!) are a perfect match for the colors in the Tea Party DSP. The pads already have two holes in the top so I lined that up onto my chipboard, punched corresponding holes in the chipboard with the Crop-a-Dile, and then tied the paper pad onto the board using some more ribbon (retired SAB ribbon). The clip is decorated with a Sizzlets Embossed flower and a Corduroy Button on the front and several scraps of ribbon tied onto the back of the clip. The entire project went together in less than 10 minutes! How simple is this? And how cute!

Don't forget -- I have a Blog Candy offer that expires tonight at midnight and a new Class-on-the-Go Kit that you can read more about HERE.

Click HERE to see other Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

Click HERE to see other Tutorials available for $5 each.

Happy Monday, everyone! Thanks for stopping and I hope you visit again soon!

Blessings, Gretchen