Yes, that's right -- it's the 20th of the month and that means another fantabulous Control Freaks Blog Tour! If you're already taking the tour, that means you arrived here by way of Patty Bennett's blog. If you're just starting, jump on the bus here and then enjoy a great ride as you visit a total of 12 Great Control Freak Blogs, each one filled with amazing projects using new Stamp Sets and Accessories from the Stampin' Up! Fall and Winter Idea Book & Catalog! I've taken the tour and believe me, you won't be disappointed!
Okay, are we ready to leave? Here's my first project for your inspiration today. I love the new set Greenhouse Garden -- it's one of my favorites from the new catalog. It's a two-step stamp meaning each of the four flowers in the set can be stamped in two different colors making for an endless combination of beautiful flowers. For this card, I used a base of Rich Razzleberry with layers of Dusty Durango and Whisper White. The DSP at the bottom is Razzleberry Lemonade, edged with the Eyelet Border Punch. I made the vase by cutting a scrap of Soft Suede with the Wide Oval 
Punch, trimmed off the bottom and top flat and then embossed it with the Perfect Details Texturz Plate and the Big Shot. I stamped the flowers in Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry and stamped the centers with Black Stazon Ink. The stems are stamped in Old Olive. The sentiment is from the A Beautiful Thing Stamp Set and the ribbon is Dusty Durango 5/8" Polka Dot Grosgrain. Some more colorful flowers embellish the inside of the card.
From summer to fall, my second card uses the beautiful new set, Autumn Days. The cardbase is Crushed Curry and the first layer is Soft Suede. On the Whisper White layer, I used a technique called "Faux Torn Vellum" -- this is one of my favorite techniques to use -- I just 
love the way it looks. You mask off part of your cardstock with torn post-it notes and then just begin stamping, layering images and colors until you get the look you want. I stamped En Francais in Rich Razzleberry and then added the Berry Stamp from Autum Days in Soft Suede. Finally, I stamped the tiny maple leaves in Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry. I then sponged on three colors in a random pattern -- Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry and Soft Suede. Once you have the look you wanted, peel off 
the post-it-notes and Viola! You have a delightful torn vellum look.
Also used on this card is a Very Vanilla Jumbo Grommet, Soft Suede 5/8" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set (for the sentiment), the Modern Label Punch and the Modern Label Movers & Shapers Die and Big Shot, and Antique Brass Brads. The label is attached using Stampin' Dimensionals.
One more project to share today and then it's time to hit the road and travel on to the next stop. This next little bag is all about fun! I cut out a quick bag using the Big Shot and the Stampin' Up! Fancy Favor Die, punched out the star opening with the Large Star Punch and then attached a piece of clear acetate on the inside (so all the treats won't fall out). The little bag goes together quickly using Sticky Strip adhesive. The little Robot is made by piecing together several punch shapes cut from Brushed Silver Cardstock -- Word Window (x4), Curly Label and Small Tag. I drew on the details with a black Stampin' Write Marker. The Star Balloon is the punched-out image from the middle of the bag, attached to a bit of copper wire using Stampin' Dimensionals! I sponged all the edges of the punchies with Black Ink before putting them together. The label was stamped with the Oval All Stamp set and punched out with the Scallop Oval Punch. Quick, easy, and fun and what a great little treat bag for parties and gatherings of all kinds.
Well, that's it for this stop but you've got a scenic journey ahead of you! Click on the image below to go to the next stop, the blog of the fabulous Cindy Majors!
Have a great trip! Blessings, Gretchen
You're so right on when you stated the last project was for fun! I found myself smiling before I even read about it. The second (faux torn vellum) is elegant. Thanks for the instructions! Mary Jo
Posted by: mary jo | July 19, 2009 at 11:01 PM
The Autumn card is gorgeous!!
Posted by: Dawn Olchefske | July 19, 2009 at 11:30 PM
Your samples are stunning Gretchen! Simply Amazing!
Posted by: Julie Dinn | July 19, 2009 at 11:38 PM
I LOVE that garden set and MUST own it. Your card is FABULOUS. The autumn card is stunning!
Posted by: Mary Brown aka stampercamper | July 20, 2009 at 12:23 AM
Beautiful projects Gretchen. Love the fall card especially.
Posted by: Melanie Schulenberg | July 20, 2009 at 05:55 AM
Fabulous projects, Gretchen! I love that amazing "technique-Faux Torn Vellum" also little robot.. using punches.. so cute! TFS
Diana
Posted by: Diana Hickey | July 20, 2009 at 06:27 AM
Gretchen, I love your cards!
Posted by: Natalie S. Meyer | July 20, 2009 at 06:56 AM
What a great STOP! Your projects are amazing as usual. LOVE your BOT!~
Posted by: Wendy Hawkinson | July 20, 2009 at 07:08 AM
Amazing projects! Thanks for the instructions on the faux torn vellum, the card looks amazing. I'm loving the fancy favor die; your punch robot is wonderful. Thanks for sharing. jmniffer
Posted by: jmniffer | July 20, 2009 at 08:31 AM
The punch robot is adorable! Your cards are beautiful! Great blog hop!
Posted by: Lisa M | July 20, 2009 at 08:37 AM
Awesome projects! Love the torn vellum technique and the treat bag is FUN!
Posted by: Mandy | July 20, 2009 at 08:42 AM
Fabulous projects and just love techniques and texture. Great sets too.
Posted by: StampinCathy | July 20, 2009 at 08:47 AM
Thanks for always sharing such wonderful ideas! Love the torn vellum technique!
Posted by: Teri | July 20, 2009 at 09:26 AM
That punched Robot is adorable! I love that little bag. The faux torn vellum is something I've never tried, but now it's high on my list. It looks fantastic. The Greenhouse Garden set is on my Wish List. I love what you did with it and the embossed vase.
Posted by: Jenn D | July 20, 2009 at 09:53 AM
These are so creative, Gretchen! I love the embossing on the "vase" on the first card. And your little robot is so stinkin' cute! Great job!
Posted by: Shona Watson | July 20, 2009 at 12:54 PM
All are lovely Gretchen. TFS
Diane
Posted by: Diane McCornack | July 20, 2009 at 01:11 PM
So fun how we were on the same wavelength with a couple of our projects... you know what they say about great minds .. LOL :) :) Question... did you have trouble getting the grommet thru the ribbon? I'm not very successful with that... Patty
Posted by: Patty Bennett | July 20, 2009 at 01:33 PM
Love the Faux Tearing and your little man is the cutest! lorijane
Posted by: Lori Jane Mittlestadt | July 20, 2009 at 01:47 PM
I might just have to case the faux vellum technique...what a great card...and a nice way to use those gigunda brads that I "had to have" and haven't used yet! Nice job!
Posted by: Helen Osterkamp | July 20, 2009 at 02:02 PM
These are great, love the techniques and the punched robot. thanks so much for sharing
Posted by: Carolyn Sharkas | July 20, 2009 at 02:54 PM
What amazing projects, Gretchen! I am in awe of your faux vellum card. It's gorgeous!
Posted by: Elizabeth M. Harris | July 20, 2009 at 09:11 PM
Gretchen, love all of your projects!! The Faux torn velum is beautiful!!!
Posted by: Kate Cecil | July 20, 2009 at 09:11 PM
Gretchen...absolutely wonderful projects! The little robot is TOO cute and the faux vellum card is beautiful!
Posted by: Connie | July 20, 2009 at 09:19 PM
I really like the faux vellum technique! Of course, I will have to try the little multi-punch robot, too. Great job!
Posted by: Karen | July 20, 2009 at 09:55 PM
Gretchen, I love the intense and daring colour combination of your first card! I covet it, but only in the best of ways:) It's enough to make me order that set! The second card uses this new set in a warm and inviting way - and has just enough complexity to make you look again! Thank you again for all that you share.
Posted by: Carolyn Dieleman | July 21, 2009 at 02:16 AM
the second card intrigued me. thank you for explaining how you did it. just one more thing on "my dumb junk i gotta do list".
Posted by: rush | July 21, 2009 at 01:41 PM
I love the faux torn vellum and have already made a bunch of cards using that technique. It is so easy but I have never seen it before. Thanks for showing us how. Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer Eby | July 21, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Your work is amazing!! I love looking at all your gorgeous projects! You are soooo talented!!!!!
Posted by: Phyllis Johnson | July 22, 2009 at 05:53 AM
Hi Gretchen! I love all of your cards. One question for ya - does the modern label punch "nest" inside the modern label mover and shaker die?
Posted by: Emily | July 22, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Cute, cute punched Robot! Very creative!
Denise Kasanda - Darien, IL
Posted by: Denise | August 21, 2009 at 12:26 PM
I fell in love with the Faux Vellum you posted and saved it to use at a later date. Well, I finally got to play with your technique today - well, not the faux vellum technique, the hand made DSP that you made. I followed your instructions for layering using the same stamps and colors and created a beautiful paper, thanks to you. You can see what I did with here:
http://www.cardscraps.com/blog/?p=414
I made sure that I gave you full credit for that technique, so hopefully it brings some traffic your way.
Thanks for the inspiration and instructions.
Lianne Carper
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=588018828 | September 05, 2009 at 12:21 AM
Hi Gretchen, I see it's been awhile since you posted these wonderful ideas. I have a question for you on the star punch ... how did you get the star to be upright? Thanks for any help you can give!!
Posted by: Wendy | April 27, 2010 at 10:05 PM
Goodness, Gretchen! You've outdone yourself again :). The Greenhouse Garden card is so elegant, and then the robot favor is so darn cute! I love all of them.
Posted by: Erika Clark | May 20, 2012 at 12:04 PM
LOL, I'm just realizing I'm commenting on an old post! Aye, it's been a long weekend! I still love the projects though! Heehee. Erika
Posted by: Erika Clark | May 20, 2012 at 05:18 PM