Gretchen Barron

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream...

... and scream you will when you see this darling new set, Sweet Scoops, in the Summer Mini Catalog! Isn't it darling!

I decided to use Sweet Scoops for today's Stamping 411 inspiration card. It seemed perfect for today's sketch.

I used the bright stripe from the new Island Oasis Designer Series Paper, along with Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Rose Red and Whisper White Cardstocks. The ribbons are 1/4" Grosgrain in Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Rose Red.

Other accessories include Brads, Stampin Dimensionals, the Ticket Corner Punch and do you recognize that Ice Cream Dish? Its the ever-so-versatile Ornament Punch, chopped off and turned upside down. Cute, eh?

I think the Sundae looks good enough to eat!

Here are the measurements:

1. Layer one -- Pumpkin Pie cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded in half to form the card base.
2. Layer Two -- So Saffron cut at 4 x 5.25". Stamp the sentiment on the bottom of the card using Black Stazon Ink.
3. Layer Three -- Island Oasis DSP cut at 4 x 2". Apply the different colored ribbons, spaced evenly from top to bottom.
4. Layer Four -- Rose Red cut at 2.5 x 3.25"
5. Layer Five -- Whisper White cut at 2.25 x 3". Clip the corners with the Ticket Corner Punch. Stamp the Ice Cream with Pumpkin Pie and Rose Red inks. Add the sprinkles with Chocolate chip Ink. Mount to the Rose Red layer and add Pumpkin Pie Brads. If the ends of the Brad prongs extend beyond the edge of your card, snip them off with your Craft & Rubber Scissors. Attach both layers to your card with Stampin' Dimensionals. Tie bows with coordinating ribbon colors.
6. Layer Six -- Punch out Old Olive Cardstock with the Ornament Punch. Trim the top to make a flat bowl. Using a sponge, apply Old Olive Ink to the edges of the bowl. Attach to card with SNAIL adhesive.
7. Layer Seven -- Inside of Card -- Whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25". I stamped with more Ice Cream Cone images using Creamy Caramel for the cones and adding a cherry with Real Red Ink.

I think I need to go get some ice cream now!

Don't forget to check out Stamping 411 and find out what the other Operators have been up to this week. And once you've finished your creation, be sure and go back to this week's post and leave your name and location information on the Mister Linky Widget so we can all see your great work!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you'll be back soon! Gotta go! Ice Cream is calling ...

Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper -- Gone Forever after Today!

Hello everyone! I had to take this one last opportunity to make something with the absolutely gorgeous Sending Love Specialty Designer Series paper! Today is the last day to order it from the Occasions Mini Catalog. It's so beautiful! So full of sparkle and bling! The patterns and colors are fabulous and it will be missed! But, if you love this paper as much as I do, you can still order it today! Click HERE to find out how and to see the wonderful special that I am offering through today for orders placed through me!

As you can see, Sending Love Specialty DSP is not just for Valentine's day! I love this soft pink floral pattern and don't forget, it's already got the glitter on it for you.

Of course, that doesn't mean that you can't add more glitter. Can you see the sparkle & shine on these flowers, added with a bit of 2-way glue and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter?

The stamp set is Kind & Caring Thoughts (a Level 3 Hostess Set); colors are Basic Black, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. I used Regal Rose ink, stamped the floral image once and then stamped it off again without re-inking. The sentiment is stamped in Black Stazon ink. And I added a bit of 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon in Basic Black. The images are also stamped on the inside (without the glitter).

Simple and beautiful, don't you think!

Thanks for stopping by!

Only Two Days Left and Have I Got a Deal for You!!!

Hello everyone! There are just two days left to order from the Occasions Mini Catalog (click on the image above to view the catalog in PDF form)! Just two more days to get all your favorites like Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper, Pink and Red Epoxy Brads and Cordurory Buttons, and On Board Shaped Books. And what about those stamp sets that we've all fallen in love with -- With All My Heart, I {Heart} Hearts, Well Scripted, Vintage Vogue and Garden from the Heart?

Well, as if owning all those things weren't incentive enough, I've got a deal that you can't refuse. From now until 10 PM Central Time tomorrow Night (April 30th), you will receive the following gifts from me with any qualifying order, placed either directly through me or by ordering on my secure online ordering site (click on "Shop Now" at the top of the page"):

• Place an order of at least $50 (before tax and S&H) and receive one FREE Inspiration in Action Tutorial of your Choice. You can pick from any of the available tutorials HERE.

• Place an order of at least $100 (before tax and S&H) and receive the tutorial as outline above, plus one FREE new and unmounted stamp set from the following list: Yummy, Botanical Blooms, Good Neighbor, Whimsical Words, Vintage Labels, Happy Moments and Polka Dot Punches. Click HERE to see photos of the available stamp sets. I have multiple sets of each of these but quantities are limited so make sure and e-mail me both your first and second choices if you qualify for this gift.

• Place an order of at least $150 (before tax and S&H) and receive the tutorial and stamp set as outline above, plus one FREE Garden Giggles, Love Express Train or Whimsical Wings Craft Kit on the Go (which also includes the tutorial). The Kits are valued between $18-20. Plus, with an order of $150 or more, you will also receive $15 in FREE Stampin' Up! catalog merchandise and a FREE Level 1 Hostess Set. That means, if you place an order of at least $150 before tomorrow night, you will receive back more than $70 in FREE incentive gifts!

WOW! I told you it was a great offer! So remember, orders must be placed before 10 p.m. Central Time tomorrow Night (April 30th). This offer only applies to orders shipped within the United States and incentives are offered on merchandise totals before S&H and tax. Your Stampin' Up! order will be shipped directly to you (S&H is 10% of your merchandise total with a minimum of $6.95 and local taxes will be added to your order) and my incentive gifts will be mailed to you from me (tutorials will be sent as e-mail files).

So, place your order by e-mail at [email protected] or ONLINE and then e-mail me with your choices for your free incentive gifts!

Here are some of my favorite projects that I've created using products and stamp sets from the Occasions Mini Catalog! Enjoy!

Vintage Vogue Stamp Set

Scallop Circle On Board Book and the Folk Flowers Decor Stencils

 

 

Tote-ally Tess

Garden from the Heart

   

Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper

I {Heart} Hearts

Have fun shopping, everyone!

Weekend Sketch Challenge IA126

Hello everyone! Thursday means it's time for another Weekend Sketch Challenge at Inspiration in Action. Sketches are a great way to stir creativity when you don't know where to start. So I invite you to play along this weekend! Once you're created your project, make sure and come back to this post and leave your name and the location of your artwork with the Mister Linky Widget below so that we can all enjoy your creativity!

Clean and simple are the words I would use to characterize this week's sketch and cards. There's a large area for your focal image with room for multiple texture, pattern and color in the background and the sentiment is stamped (or attached) off the main image.

So, have fun with this week's sketch and I can't wait to see what you create this week!

I've got two examples for you today. This first one uses the new Watercolor Trio Stamp set that will be available beginning May 1st from the Summer Mini Catalog. The colors are Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose and Whisper White.

I colored directly on the stamps with Markers to get the multi-colored effect. Markers used were Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive. As you can see, I stamped the image off 3 times, which gives you variance in the color and makes the final image look more dimensional (and it's fun to do).

The sentiment was stamped in Black Stazon Ink. I used a bit of the Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper along with the Scallop Border Punch and 5/8" Real Red Satin Ribbon.

And of course, a little stamping on the inside always helps to step up your cards. I stamped a duplicate scene from the front on the inside Whisper White layer.

Here's the second card that I created for you today, using some favorites from the Occasions Mini Catalog (only 2 more days to order these gems), Shades of spring Designer Series Paper and the With All My Heart Stamp Set.

The colors are Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White.

I used the Scallop Trim Border Punch and some 5/8" Satin Ribbon. I also used the Big Shot and the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder to give some texture underneath the focal image. And that Big Flower is punched out with the Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch.

So there you go! You've seen the sketch and some examples! Have I given you enough to inspire your next creation? I hope so, and I hope you'll play along by leaving your information below!

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

Takin' It To the Top with Elements of Style

Hello and welcome to Takin' It To the Top, my occasional blog feature where I take one basic card, step it up a bit and then take it to the top, showing you how to add to your cards and projects with extra layers, embellishments, texture and pattern. No longer just for Tuesdays, and no longer every week, Takin' It To the Top will appear occasionally on my blog, probably 2-3 times each month.

Okay, with that said let me explain what I've done today with Elements of Style, a new set from the Summer Mini Catalog which will be available to order beginning Saturday, May 1st!

The colors are Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery,and Whisper White and I used Rose Red, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink re-inkers and Blender Pens for the watercoloring.

As you can see with the basic card, I used 5/8" Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon with a tied-on faux bow, the Scallop Circle Punch and the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches. And that's it! It's a beautiful card but also very simple without a lot of texture and extras!

Okay, here is the second card, stepped up just a bit. As you can see, I stamped the flourish from the stamp set using Old Olive Ink, so that it peeks out from behind the focal image. I also rounded the bottom edges only, using the Corner Rounder Punch.

I kept the Satin Ribbon but instead of a faux bow, I added a real bow. See HERE for a tutorial on how to make a bow.

I added an extra layer of Rose Red on the Scallop Circle medallion to bring the color up to the top of the card, and used the 1", 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches.

And those are the only changes to the second card.

Okay, now, let's Take it to the Top ...

As you can see, there are only a couple of changes on this final card, but they add more drama and interest to the card and, when you want it to be a really special card, it's nice to add drama and interest.

I used the luxurious and beautiful 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain ribbon. If you haven't used this ribbon before, you will fall in love with it. It is so easy to tie and work with and definitely adds drama to any project. Another changes is that I sponged just a little chocolate chip ink around the edges of the focal layer. And finally, I attached three half-back pearls from the Pretties Kit, using Crystal Effects to adhere them.

And of course, you don't want to forget the inside of the card. Here, just stamping the beautiful flourish, is all you need to dress up the inside as well!

And that's it -- one, two, three cards, all using the same basic layout and materials and each one stepped up just a bit.

It's amazing, isn't it, what just a few extra touches can do to your projects!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you enjoyed this latest Takin' It To the Top feature! Please come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

 

How To Tie a Perfect Bow!

Begin with about 12” of ribbon. Make two loops, hold one in each hand (I'm only using one hand because my other hand was taking the picture -- but you use two hands -- trust me, it's much easier that way).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cross the right loop over the left loop

Fold the right loop down and through the center opening that was formed by crossing the two loops. don't pull tight, not yet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

When

you pass the right loop through the opening, the bow will flip so it will look like you're working on it upside down (actually at this point, I guess you are working on it upside down).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn the bow right-side up and "fiddle" with it until you get it the way you want -- adjust the loops to the size you want, smooth out any wrinkles and twist the ribbon if it's going the wrong way.

Once you get it all adjusted, slowly pull it tight. Do this slowly and you may need to do some more adjusting as you tighten it.

 

 

 

 

 

Fold the end of the ribbon in half and snip it on a diagonal with your Paper Snips. When you let it unfold, you will have a "v" shaped notch cut out of the ribbon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, this may be the most important step of all. Turn the bow over. What you find on the back will probably (at least 90% of the time) look better than the front that you were working on. Don't ask me why. It defies logic. But I've found that the back side usually looks nicer and the ends lay better. Don't fight it, don't question it ... just go with it!

 

 

 

 

And that’s how you tie a perfect bow! Attach to your project with Pop Up Glue Dots or Crystal Effects and enjoy! Click HEREfor a one-page, printable PDF of this tutorial!

Enjoy and Happy Stamping (and bow-tying)!

Let's Go fly a Kite -- It's Easy with My Digital Studio!

Happy Monday Morning, everyone! I'm bringing you a brand new Sketch challenge this morning from Soul Scrappers! What's that? You don't yet know about Soul Scrappers? How could that be? Soul Scrappers is a growing online community of folks who are interested in scrapbooking their memories with an emphasis upon telling your story through journaling!

We've got a ton of resources available for you on Soul Scrappers, there's an online forum to use for help, support and just to get-to-know everyone, and there are several challenges each week to stir your creativity, jump-start your MoJo, and encourage you to learn new techniques and explore new ideas. This sketch challenge is just one of several that are on-going throughout the week. And one of the great things about Soul Scrappers Challenges -- you have two weeks to complete your project and upload it to the website.

So, if you're not already a member of the Soul Scrappers community, run, don't walk, to www.soul-scrappers.ning.com and sign up today. It's free and it's great!

Okay, now that my commercial is over, here's my page to go with today's new sketch. This page came together quickly and easily using My Digital Studio, the great new Scrapbooking and Crafting software from Stampin' Up!

I pulled the colors from the bright colors of the winged kite and the gorgeous blue sky of that April day. This page probably took less than 10 minutes to complete -- start to finish. That's how quick and easy MDS (My Digital Studio) is. All the colors on MDS coordinate perfectly with all the beautiful Stampin' Up! colors that we've come to know and love. And once you create a page in MDS, it's ready to view digitally, to print out on your own home printer, or to have professionally printed and sent to your home. It's oh, so cool!

For more information about My Digital Studio, or to have your questions answered, or if you want to purchase a copy of this great software for yourself, contact me at [email protected].

That's it for today! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Elements of Style Sneak Peek!

Hello everyone! The new Summer Mini Catalog goes live on May 1st and this is one of the great new Stamp Sets you will find there called Elements of Style. It's a beautiful set and I can tell it's going to be very popular.

I used Mary Jo's Technostamper Sketch for as inspiration for this card, TSSC118.

I used the fabulous Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (it's definitely not just for Valentine's), and some 3/8" Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon. The colors are Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Very Vanilla. The ink if chocolate Chip, using Craft Ink to stamp the bird and then embossing with Clear Embossing Powder and the Heat tool. And there's room to stamp the fabulous flourish on the inside of the card.

Thanks, Mary Jo, for a great sketch. It was fun to play along!

Never Again at a Loss for Words!

Here's a little tip for you! Do you know how many thank you, thinking of you and other useful sentiments are included in all the stamp sets you own. Well, I didn't know. And everytime I wanted to make a thank you card, I found myself going back to the same sentiment because I couldn't remember where to find something different.

We'll I did a little organizing a few days ago, and this is what I did. I went through all my stamp sets and stamped each of the sentiments on Whisper White Cardstock and then punched them out with an appropriate size and shape punch, wrote on the back the name of the Stamp Set they belong to, sorted them into categories (thank you, thinking of you, friend/birthday), and then put them on rings.

Now, everytime I want a thank you sentiment, I just pull out that ring and look through the various stamps for just the right size, shape and font. Why didn't I think of this before?

It works like a charm and I will never again be at a loss for words!

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge

Good morning and Happy Saturday, everyone! You know what Saturday means around here -- a new Saturday Sketch Challenge from your friendly Operators at Stamping 411!

SSC148 is pretty straight-forward, with a good sized focal image and lots of room for background texture and images. Note that the focal image is off-center and to the right -- a little different from what you would typically see. There's also an opportunity for a tiny tag, charm or other embellishment on the bow!

So what are we waiting for? Let's get stamping!

I actually did two cards for today's sketch so here is my first one! I just love the stamp set Herb Expressions, although I admit I haven't used it much. The sentiments are so touching and go with so many different images. So, for this first card, I've used that stamp set and combined it with the Stamping 411 Color Challenge for this week -- Melon Mambo, Old Olive and Apricot Appeal. I love these colors together!

I also used the Tiny Tags Stamp set, along with the Medium Jewelry Tag Punch, 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, the Big Shot and the Elegant Bouquet Impressions Folder

Measurements are:

1. Layer One -- Card Base cut at 5.5 x 8.5". Scored and folded in half.
2. Layer Two -- Apricot Appeal cut at 4 x 5.25". I stamped the Rosemary image in Old Olive, making sure I left room for the focal image to go the right of it.
3. Layer Three -- Melon Mambo cut at 2 x 4". After embossing in the Big Shot, I attached with SNAIL adhesive and put the ribbon across the seam.
4. Layer Four -- Old Olive cut at 2.25 x 2.5". Attached to card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
5. Layer Five -- Whisper White cut at 2 x 2.25". Stamped with the Sentiment in Old Olive and sponging ink on the edges. Add the bow and the Medium Jewelry Tag, attached with a loop of Linen Thread.
6. Layer Six -- inside of card -- whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25" and stamped in the corner with a portion of the Rosemary image.

Okay -- are you ready for card Number 2? This gives you a little Peek into some of the new product which will be available beginning May 1st in the new Summer Mini Catalog.

The Stamp set is the incredibly fun and versatile Tropical Party, paired with some great new Designer Series Paper, Island Oasis. Can anyone say "Beach"?

I used Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive cardstock, along with Whisper white. The ribbon is 1/2" Striped So Saffron Grosgrain. I also paired this with the Think Happy Thoughts Stamp Set for the sentiment which seemed to fit so well with the stamped images.

The measurements are the same as for the first card except the focal image is stamped on Whisper White cardstock that is cut at 2" square, mounted on Pumpkin Pie that is 2.25" square. Everything else is the same. I used the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches for the sentiment and stamped the flowers on Tempting Turquoise and Pumpkin Pie cardstocks with matching ink and then cut them out and mounted them with Stampin' Dimensionals.

 

So there you go -- lots of ideas for how you can use this sketch in your stamping this week. And speaking of ideas, don't forget to check out what the other Stamping 411 Operators have created for your view pleasure. You'll be glad you did.

We hope you'll play along with our challenge this weekend. The rules are on the Stamping 411 blog. We'll be watching for your work!