Gretchen Barron

A Colorful Christmas!

Good morning, everyone! it's time for another Tuesday Color Challenge from Utah Divas International! And look at the color that we have for you this week!!!!!

 

WOW -- Pacific Point, Perfect Plumb, Certainly Celery, Tempting turquoise and Baja Breeze! That's a lot of color!!!! It looks beautiful on the bathroom rugs and towels but how will it look on cards and projects? Check out the UDI blog to see the beautiful projects that the Design Team has created to inspire you!

 

Okay, here's my card for this week. A Christmas card, of all things! I love to make Christmas cards in unusual and non-traditional colors so this one certainly fits the bill!

 

I used the Tags Till Christmas set from the Holiday Mini Catalog for the ornaments, stamped them in Versamark Ink, coated them with Heat & Stick powder, heated it up with the Heat Gun and then covered them with beautiful, colorful Fine supernova Glitter for glimmer and bling that will make you run for your sunglasses!

 

And if that isn't enough bling, I also added adhesive Basic Rhinestones to the tops of each ornament for even more WOW!

 

Just look at that shine! It's amazing in real life and I hope it comes through on the pictures as well!

 

Other supplies used include the Petals A Plenty Embossing Folder, The Big Shot, the Ornament Punch, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (Basic Black) and 5/8" Satin Ribbon (Certainly Celery) as well as Stampin' Dimensionals. The sentiment is from the Word Play Stamp Set.

 

Of course, a little stamping on the inside of the card always goes a long way to dressing it up even more! I just stamped a couple of simple ornaments that overlap each other for this card.

 

Well, I think that will do it for today. Do check out the Design Team Cards and once you've created your masterpiece with this week's color combo, make sure and leave us your linking information!

 

Have fun and Happy Stamping!

 

A Peaceful Season

Hello everyone! Friday evening means the revealing of the new Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators! This week's sketch is one of those that gives you a lot of room for doing your own thing.

 

As you can see, to begin with, I turned it on end! I used the music print from the Newsprint Designer Series Paper along with Real Red and Naturals Ivory Cardstock. The ribbon is Real Red 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain with an Antique Brad hot-glued in the center. The stamp set is Peaceful Season, a Level 2 Hostess Set from the Holiday Mini Catalog. I roughed up the edges and inked them for a vintage and weathered look.

 

 

 

The measurements are:

1. Layer one -- Real Red cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to form a card base
2. Layer Two -- DSP cut at 4 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- Real Red cut at 3 x 3.5"
4. Layer Four -- Naturals Ivory Cut at 2.75 x 3.25". Stamp images, ink edges and add bow and Brad.
5. Layer Five (inside of Card) -- Naturals Ivory cut at 4 x 5.25". Stamping on the inside is optional (but nice)

 

That will do it for this card! I told you it was pretty simple and straightforward. But sometimes, those are the very best cards of all! I really love how this one turned out!

Make sure and stop over at Stamping 411 to see what the other operators have created this week. And leave us a link to your creation so we can all see and be inspired by what you do with this sketch!

Have a great weekend, everyone! And Happy Stamping!

 

 

 

 

 

UDI Color Challenge -- Great for Fall!

Good morning, everyone, and Happy Tuesday! It's time for another color Challenge from Utah Divas International! And look at the color we have for you today!!!

I don't know about you, but these beautiful rugs from the Nieman Marcus catalog certainly inspired me. The colors are so rich and vibrant and contrast so lovely against the black!

With that said, here's what I created this week. These colors just shout fall to me so I created this simple, but lovely card using the Day of Gratitude Stamp Set. The colors (of course) are More Mustard, Riding Hood Red, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black and just a touch of Naturals Ivory.

I used the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Impressions Folder for the great texture and embossing on the Basic Black layer. I also used the Ovals Die along with the Extra Large Decorative Label Punch and some Hemp Twine.

Now, before you start e-mail me, here's a quick tutorial on how I created that cool, shaped mat for the sentiment.  It's actually created using the Extra Large Decorative Label Punch. You will need to punch 3 labels of the same color for the mat. For demonstration purposes in my photos to the right, I used contrasting colors so you can see the placement better. Click on the small thumbnail photos to view them larger.

So, you punch three labels and line them up so they are tall on your desk.

Using SNAIL adhesive, run a line of tape along one edge of the first label and then line the second (middle) label up, matching the little rounded "humps" on the top and bottom. Make sure they are straight and even before pressing down to seal the adhesive. Remember, you will be using the same color for your labels.

Now, turn the assembled piece over and do the same thing with the remaining label, lining it up straight and square. And that's all there is to it. The finished label assembly is approximately 2 x 3", so it's a great solution when you need a large image to balance out your card. I found that using it this way, with the first and third labels on the top, produced the best result with fewer "seams" to show on your finished assembly. To finish the assembly, I used the medium oval from the Ovals Die and another Decorative Label punchie for the sentiment, and then added a quick bow fashioned from Hemp Twine.

Well, did I inspired you with both color and a new idea today? I hope so! I'm so grateful that you stopped by and hope you'll take a few moments to check out the Inspiration Cards that the UDI Design Team created for you as well. And don't forget, we want you to play along with our challenge by returning to the UDI site and leaving your links for your own creations!

Now, start stamping! (and have a great day!!!)

Wicked Cool Fun with Lenda, the Late Witch!

You've heard of Glenda, the good witch, right! Well, meet Lenda, the Late Witch! Poor Lenda is late wherever she goes. This year she missed Halloween completely and didn't take flight until the snow started to fly. And ... well ... you can see where she ended up! Head first in a snowbank! Poor, Lenda! The only treats she collected this year were ... snow cones! LOL!!!

Here's a look at the inside of the card! Click to view as a larger image!

Here's what I used for this card:

Cardstock -- Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Whisper white

Ink: Black Stazon, Rich Razzleberry Marker, Marina Mist inkpad and sponge (for clouds and sky).

Stamp Sets: Wicked Cool, On Your Birthday, Frightful Fence Jumbo Wheel

Punches: Large Oval and Scallop Oval

Accessories: Two-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by, everyone! I hope you got a laugh, as well as some inspiration today!

If you're looking for more Halloween ideas, you might want to check out my Frankie & Friends Kit and/or tutorial. These little guys promise to bring personality and attitude to all your Halloween Festivities. Click HERE for more information.

 

It's not too late to place orders for the new ribbon and DSP samplers from the BIG Idea Book & Catalog. I'm taking orders now for a new batch of ribbon and DSP samplers -- supplies will be ordered on Friday so get your order in soon to make the deadline! More information can be found HERE.

 

Also, the Test Tube Gift Card Holders have been very popular and I continue to send out kits as quickly as I can put them together. Have you ordered yours yet?

Wicked Cool Fun with Lenda, the Late Witch!

You've heard of Glenda, the good witch, right! Well, meet Lenda, the Late Witch! Poor Lenda is late wherever she goes. This year she missed Halloween completely and didn't take flight until the snow started to fly. And ... well ... you can see where she ended up! Head first in a snowbank! Poor, Lenda! The only treats she collected this year were ... snow cones! LOL!!!

Here's a look at the inside of the card! Click to view as a larger image!

Here's what I used for this card:

Cardstock -- Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Whisper white

Ink: Black Stazon, Rich Razzleberry Marker, Marina Mist inkpad and sponge (for clouds and sky).

Stamp Sets: Wicked Cool, On Your Birthday, Frightful Fence Jumbo Wheel

Punches: Large Oval and Scallop Oval

Accessories: Two-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by, everyone! I hope you got a laugh, as well as some inspiration today!

If you're looking for more Halloween ideas, you might want to check out my Frankie & Friends Kit and/or tutorial. These little guys promise to bring personality and attitude to all your Halloween Festivities. Click HERE for more information.

 

It's not too late to place orders for the new ribbon and DSP samplers from the BIG Idea Book & Catalog. I'm taking orders now for a new batch of ribbon and DSP samplers -- supplies will be ordered on Friday so get your order in soon to make the deadline! More information can be found HERE.

 

Also, the Test Tube Gift Card Holders have been very popular and I continue to send out kits as quickly as I can put them together. Have you ordered yours yet?

Haunted Aviary!

Hello everyone! It's the weekend and you know what that means! No, not rest, relaxation and good times with friends and family! No, not laundry and shopping and all the errands you couldn't do all week! No, not football games and gymnastic lessons and pancakes for breakfast! No sillies! it's time for another Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge! And look at the sketch we have for you this week!

The three panels bring to mind all kinds of artwork and fun things that you can do with this sketch! And here's what I did ...

Here's my card for this week. I've entitled it "Haunted Aviary". You've heard of bats in the belfry but have you heard of bats in the ... BIRDCAGE??? I guess you know your house is haunted when bats invade the birdcage! I mean look at that poor little orange bird! He looks scared to death! And the owl must be saying "WHO are my new neighbors?" LOL -- can you tell I had fun with this one!

I've used Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait and Whisper White cardstocks. The stamp sets are Aviary and Wicked Cool. Other accessories include the Big Shot, the Spider Web Textured impressions Folder, Glimmer Brads (In Colors), the Large Oval and Scallop Oval punches, 2-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter,  1/2" Poly Twill ribbon in Pear Pizzazz and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Here's the Details:

1. Layer One -- Pear Pizzazz cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base.
2. Layer Two -- Basic Black cut at 4 x 5.25". Embossed with the Big Shot and Embossing Folder. Dazzling Diamonds Glitter applied with the Two-way Glue Pen.
3. Layer Three (all three mats) -- Peach Parfait cut at 1.5 x 3.5"
4. Layer Four (all three mats) -- Whisper White cut at 1.25 x 3.25". Stamp images and attach Glimmer Brads. Attach to card with Stampin' Dimensionals. Run the ribbon across the bottom of the card and attach to the back of layer 2. Tie on a faux bow.
5. Layer Five -- create tag with Whisper White and Pear Pizzazz cardstock and the two punches.
6. Layer Six -- Inside of Card -- Whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25". Stamp images in corner. I stamped the cobwebs with Sahara Sand ink so they would just be in the background and not overpower the other images.

So, there you go -- Haunted Aviary!

You definitely want to check out the Inspiration cards that the other Stamping 411 Operators have created this week. They are AMAZING!!!!!  And don't forget to leave your contact information with the linking tool once you've completed your projects. We LOVE to see what you create with our sketches!

That's it for now. Have a great weekend, everyone! And save some time for stamping amongst all those other things that you do on Saturday and Sunday!