Gretchen Barron

A New Sketch Challenge with Because I Care

Hello everyone and welcome to Inspiration in Action! It's hard to believe another week has flown by and here we are at Friday evening again and time for another Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators!

This week's sketch is another simple one but simple is good, right? Yes, because it's enough to get you going when you are stuck and also allows for your own creative genius to show through.

Since this sketch was a fairly simple one, I decided to dress up my floral image by covering the entire thing in Versamark Ink, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and then heat-setting the entire image for a stupendous burst of shimmer and shine! If you enlarge the smaller image on the left, I think you might be able to see all the glimmer! It really is amazing in real life. Before coating it with Versamark and embossing powder, I used Stampin' Write Markers to color in the images -- Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive. Stamp the image with Black Stazon Ink to make sure it doesn't bleed. I trimmed the cardstock AFTER I embossed the entire piece of Whisper White. I used the Ticket Corner Punch to trim the corners on the Whisper White and Daffodil Delight layers and then added Self-Adhesive Basic Pearls to the corners and tiny pears to the centers of some of the flowers.

The Stamp set is Because I care. I also used the Modern Label Punch, Big Shot, Movers & Shapers Die (with the Modern Label Insert), Stampin' Dimensionals, 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon and Sunny Garden Designer Series Paper.

Ready for some measurements? Here you go ...

1. Layer One -- Poppy Parade Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base
2. Layer Two -- Sunny Garden DSP cut at 4 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- Poppy Parade Cardstock cut at 3.25 x 3.5"
4. Layer Four -- Daffodil Delight Cardstock cut at 3 x 3.25" -- trim corners with punch
5. Layer Five -- Whisper White Cardstock cut at 2.75 x 3" -- trim corners with punch
6. Layer Six -- Add Modern Label Die Cut and Punch Shape with Sentiment -- add bow
7. Inside of Card -- Whisper White cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25"

I can't wait to see what you create this week using this newest sketch! We're waiting for you at Stamping 411 where you can enter a link to your completed project! And while you're there, check out the gorgeous artwork created by the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you'll be back soon!

 

Fun Flowers with Colorful MoJo

Hello everyone and welcome to a couple of new challenges this week - the Utah Divas Color Challenge and the MoJo Monday Sketch Challenge! I just love it when I can combine two challenges in one project!

 

This week's colors for the UDI Color Challenge are a little unusual but look how well they go together -- So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke. I would never have chosen this combo but Oh My! They are beautiful together!

 

Pairing this card with the beautiful weekly sketch from MoJo Monday made this a fun project to do and, if I do say so myself, a lovely bit of eye candy!

 

Do you see all the texture on this card? I used not one, not two, but THREE Impression Folders along with the Big Shot but a trio of elegant embossing. I used Elegant Bouquet on the So Saffron background layer as well as on the top (smallest) flower die cut. I used Perfect Polka Dots on the bottom (largest) flower and Finial Press is used on the Cherry Cobbler Square.

 

Other accessories include Basic Pearls in all three sizes, 1/2" Seam Tape Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler, the Eyelet Border Punch, the Jewelry Tag Medium Punch, a Sweet Stitches Fabric Designer Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals and the Tiny Tags Stamp Set. The perfect little double bow was created quickly and easily with the fabulous Bow Makerthat I received as a gift from my friend, Lee Conrey.

 

I inked the edges of all the Blushing Bride pieces with Cherry Cobbler Ink. The two tiny tags are attached to the bow with a bit of Linen Thread.

 

I had so much fun playing along with both these challenges this week! I hope you'll want to try your hand at this fabulous color combination! For more inspiration, check out the Design Team projects at Utah Divas International.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope I've managed to inspired you and give you a few new ideas! Please come back soon! Until then ...

It's a Polka Dot Birthday!

Hello everyone and welcome to the Control Freaks February Blog Tour. Our Theme this month is It's My Party -- Projects and Ideas for Birthdays!

There are only 14 stops so it won't take you long and I guarantee, it will be well worth your ride. If you want to see some great artwork and be inspired by fabulous birthday ideas for all ages, hop on the bus, put up your feet and enjoy the ride. It promises to be a great tour! If you're already on the tour, you probably arrived here from the blog of my friend and the super-talented, Patty Bennett. Patty always has something surprising and amazing to share!

 

Now I ask, what SCREAMS birthday more than colorful polka dots? And when they are contrasted with a black background, they are even more dramatic and fun!  

I created this dynamic duo with circle punchies, lots of them, using the 3/4", 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches. I just went to town punching out circles from Real Red, Certainly Celery, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie cardstock scraps (it's a great way to use scraps). I then just attached them randomly to Basic Black cardstock with a bit of SNAIL adhesive.

 

I used the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Impressions Folder to do the Embedded Embossing Technique (okay, I know I've used this technique a lot lately but I"m am truly in love with the look it creates).

 

The stamp set (what little stamping I did on this project) is Bring on the Cake from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Other supplies used include Sticky Strip Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals and a sparkly Glitter Brad.

 

I also used the Word Window Punch on the inside of the Gift Card Holder to punch the opening for the all-important Gift Card (oh yeah, what would a birthday be without a Gift Card). As you can see, I added more polka dots on the inside of the Gift Card Holder as well as a Whisper White layer to allow for a personalized and hand-written message.

 

I know you're going to ask (LOL) so I'll tell you now, the Gift Card Holder was created using a base of Real Red Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 11". You score at 4.25, 8.5 and 10", folding on each of the Score Lines. I "lined" the inside of the Gift Card opening (created with the Word Window Punch) with a small scrap of Daffodil Delight cardstock so you get that little "pop" of color and contrast. The entire "flap" of the Gift Card Holder is secured down using Sticky Strip adhesive but be sure and don't apply adhesive to the inside of the slot where the Gift Card Holder goes (I say that from experience -- LOL -- as that is exactly what I did on my first go-around with this Gift Card Holder). Other than that little detour, this was an incredibly easy, fun and fast Gift Card Holder to create. Click HERE for a downloadable PDF template for the Gift Card Holder.

 

The crowning glory on both the gift box and the gift card holder are 3" strips of Pumpkin Pie Cardstock with multi-colored jumbo scallops created with the 1" circle punch and topped off with a colorful bow created from 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon. How cute is this! For the box, I used a different color of ribbon on each of the 4 sides. Click HERE for a downloadable PDF template for the Birthday Box.

 

I love the way this set turned out. It's very festive looking and yet not so juvenile that it would work for any age or even gender for that matter. It's just plain fun! And isn't that what a birthday should be all about?

Well, that will be it for now. I do hope you enjoy the tour. I know you will get TONS of fabulous ideas from my Control Freak Friends. Just click on the button below to go to the next stop, the website of the fabulous Dawn Olchefske. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Enjoy the tour and Happy Stamping! And please, come back again soon!

 

Razzleberry Flower Fancy

Hello everyone! It's Friday night and you know what that means ... a new Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators! This week's sketch is on the right and here's my card to help stir your creativity!

 

The floral image is the Two-Step Stampin' Set called Flower Fancy and the sentiment is from Herb Expressions. I used the Big Shot and the Elegant Bouquet Impressions Folder to add the embossing on the Blushing Bride Layer.

 

Opposite corners are punched with the 3/16" Small Corner Punch. I added a cluster of small and medium sized Basic Pearls to the center of the flower and used the fabulous 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Rich Razzleberry for the beautiful bow. The focal image mat is popped-up with Stampin' Dimensionals!

 

Here's the Measurements ...

1. Layer One -- Rich Razzleberry Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to create the Card Base
2. Layer Two -- Blushing Bride Cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25". Emboss with the Big Shot and Impressions Folder.  Stretch ribbon across and attach to the back. Adhere bow.
3. Layer Three -- Rich Razzleberry Cardstock cut at 2.5 x 2.75"
4. Layer Four -- Whisper White Cardstock cut at 2.25 x 2.5"
5. Inside of Card -- Whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25" with a little stamping in one corner

This was a fun sketch to work with -- simple enough for everyone and yet easy to step-up if that is what you want to do with it! I hope you'll try your hand at this week's sketch! And before you do, be sure and check out what the rest of the 411 Operators created this week at Stamping 411! We promise, you'll come away inspired!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone ... and Happy Stamping!

 

A Tasteful Trim Birthday

Hello everyone and welcome to a new Utah Divas International Color Challenge! I don't know about you but I am declaring the end to winter weather (I know, lots of luck with that!). The past few days have been beautiful here in Central Illinois -- it's nearly 60 degrees here right now. I am ready for spring!

And to help us get there, look at this beautiful bedding set that serves as the inspiration for this week's color challenge using the colors of Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. Talk about spring fever ...

To add a little interest and something different to the background of my card, I cut the Jumbo Ric Rac Shape from the Tasteful Trims Die using the Big Shot and Melon Mambo Cardstock. I inked the edges with Melon Mambo, adhered it to a Certainly Celery background and then smashed the whole thing together with the Square Lattice Impressions Folder and the Embedded Embossing Technique. I just love this look!

Stamp sets include Crazy for Cupcakes and Perfect Punches. Other accessories include the Wide Oval Punch, sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals and Chunky Pink Glitter (retired, sorry!). It's a quick and fun birthday card, perfect for just about any age!

Be sure to check out the other Design Team projects for this week's color challenge at Utah Divas International! We hope you'll be so inspired that you want to play along with us!

Check back soon for more ideas and inspiration! Thanks for stopping!

 

Springtime Vintage Rose

Hello everyone! The Operators at Stamping 411 have a new Saturday Sketch Challenge for you this week! This sketch gives you a lot of space for your focal image.

Here's how I interpreted it! I haven't done the Floating Reinker Technique (Stamping 411 Tutorial on this technique can be found HERE) in quite some time and the new Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper goes so well with the Fifth Avenue Floral set that I decided to give it a try! I used Regal Rose Ink on the Embossed Rose and Baja Breeze on the lily.

Cardstock colors are Old Olive, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. I added a bit of texture with the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Impressions Folder on the Pretty in Pink Layer. Other supplies include 5/8" Satin Ribbon and Stampin' Dimensionals!

Here's the measurements for this week ...

- Layer One -- Cardbase of Old Olive cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded.

- Layer Two -- DSP cut at 4 x 5.25"

- Layer Three -- Regal Rose cut at 1.5 x 4.5"

- Layer Four -- Pretty in Pink cut at 1.25 x 4.25" -- add embossing with Impressions Folder

- Layer Five -- Old Olive cut at 2.5 x 3.5"

- Layer Six -- Whisper White cut at 2.25 x 3.25" -- add ribbon and flower cut-outs

 

Well, that will do it for now. I hope you enjoy this week's sketch and I hope you play along! For more inspiration, check out the beautiful cards and projects created by the other Stamping 411 Operators! Believe me, it will be time well spent!

 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and Happy Stamping!

 

Pure Bliss!

Hello everyone and welcome to the Tuesday Color Challenge at Utah Divas International!

Look at the yummy colors that we have for you today, inspired by this gorgeous chair and pillows -- Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango and Very Vanilla! click on the photo to view a larger image.

Can't you just see yourself curled up in this comfy chair, enjoying a good book or watching a movie -- I sure can!

But alas, you're more likely to find me hunkered down in my stamp studio, creating something like this ...

Here is the card I made using this week's colors with the Sale-a-Bration stamp set, Bliss!

I embossed the More Mustard layer with the Big Shot and the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder. The focal image is stamped with Chocolate Chip Ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and then sponged with More Mustard and Chocolate Chip inks.

The beautiful bow is created with Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon and the littler butterfly is stamped using the Rock & Roll technique and More Mustard and Tangerine Tango Inks. Basic Pearls embellish both the Butterfly and the Bliss tag. Some more sponging and stamping finish off the inside of the card.

I think that will do it for this post! Be sure and check out the rest of the Design Team Inspiration pieces at Utah Divas International! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

Until then ...

Buttons and Bows

Hello everyone and Happy Monday morning to you! I had a little time to play around recently with the Sew Suite stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. What fun this is!

 

If you're not familiar with this new line, there are stamp sets, Designer Series Papers, fabric, buttons, trims, rub-ons and more ... all centered around a sewing theme!

 

I was looking at the Button Card Stamp and thought that it just might fit in the tiny little envelope that can be created with the Big Shot and the Scallop Envelope Die. And you know what ... it was a perfect fit! So, of course, I had to create this little card to show it off!

 

I trimmed the button card along the outside stamping and then mounted it on a layer of Melon Mambo Cardstock and it slips perfectly inside the little scallop envelope. When you add a few of our colorful buttons (attached with a Mini Glue Dot) it makes a darling little gift for the seamstresses in your life!

 

I love the fact that the Scallop Envelope Die gives us a chance to show off both sides of Stampin' Up's! Double Sided Designer Series Paper!

 

I also love the little tape measure stamp that is included with the set. Here I stamped in in Black ink on Daffodil Delight Cardstock and then finished off the end with 1/2" Circle punch of Brushed Silver (after attaching, trim the circle to match the ends of the "tape measure") and then add a Pewter Brad for a very realistic look! How cute is that!

 

Do you  see the darling little double-bow that I created using Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon? My friend, Lee Conrey, recently gave me one of the Bow Makers that, I believe, she and her husband make (correct me if I'm wrong, Lee). Wow, this little gadget works so well! It's amazing! I had such fun making bows ... all kinds of bows ... single bows, double bows, even triple bows! Bows of narrow ribbon and bows of wide ribbon and everything in-between.

 

If you find it difficult to tie your own bows, or if you have arthritic hands which prevent your fingers from making all the twists and turns that you need to do when making your own bow, then you definitely want to check out Lee's Magic Bowmaker! It really works! Thanks, Lee, for your thoughtful and fun gift! 

 

Well, that's about it for this card! I did spruce up the inside a little (surprise, surprise), with a strip of DSP and some more Seam Binding Tape and another fun bow! (click on the photo to view it larger)

 

If you have fallen in love with the Sew Suite product line (or any of the great products available from Stampin' Up!) and don't have a demonstrator, I would be glad to assist you in placing your order. Remember, it's Sale-a-Bration time which means you receive a FREE STAMP SET OR PRODUCT BUNDLE from the Sale-a-Bration Brochure with every $50 you order! What a fabulous deal! Just e-mail me or visit my ONLINE STAMPIN' UP! STORE to place an order!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you received some inspiration or idea to help you in your stamping! And I hope you'll come back soon! Until then ...

Simply Sent Medallion Medley Transformation

Hello everyone! Happy Saturday and welcome to a new Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators!

 

This week's sketch is one of those that helps you get started when your stuck but still leaves you lots of room for interpretation and creativity!

 

When I saw the Simply Sent Medallion Medley card kit in the Occasions Mini Catalog, I fell in love with it, but I knew there was lots more that could be done with these gorgeous, textured images than just the cards in the kit. Today's sketch lends itself perfectly to such a scheme.

 

I trimmed down the medallion motif and the Soft Suede Back cover of the kit card to fit the dimensions of my layers, added some ribbon and a faux bow, attached them to Baja Breeze Cardstock and a Rich Razzleberry Card Base and stamped the sentiment from Curly Cute. And that's it -- instant (almost) card!

 

I did ink up my real Medallion stamp with some Rich Razzleberry ink and stamped it on the corner of the inside of the card, just to dress it up a bit more.

 

Here's the measurements for today's card:

1. Layer One -- Rich Razzleberry cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to form the card base.
2. Layer Two -- Baja Breeze cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- Soft Suede Cardstock (or back of kit card) cut at 2.75 x 3.5"
4. Layer Four -- Cardstock cut at 2.5 x 3.25"
5. Inside of Card -- Very Vanilla Cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25"

 

Now there's more that I could have done to dress this up -- I could have added some more texture by embossing the background with an Impressions Folder, I could have added glitter or brads or pearls, I could have distressed it a bit ... but you know something, sometimes it's just nice to do something quick and simple and I really like how this turned out!

 

You certainly want to pop on over to Stamping 411 at some point to see the gorgeous, and I mean drop-dead gorgeous, cards that the rest of the Stamping 411 Operators have created for your inspiration this week! They are AMAZING!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you've enjoyed your stay and found something to stir your creativity a little this week! And I hope you'll be back soon. Until then ...

Thinking of You Trio -- 3 DSP -- 3 Cards -- 1 Sketch

Hello everyone and welcome to Inspiration in Action. I have a quick and fun card to share with you today, a timeless design that I find myself creating over and over again!

 

This Cardstock Vellum Overlay card always produces a "WOW" response and yet, it's so simple to do. Today, I decided to try this same basic card but to do it in 3 different DSP choices to show how easy it is to change this out and customize it for any occasion.

 

All my cards today use a sentiment from the Word Play Stamp set. All are "thinking of you" cards. And all will be sent to From Our Hearts so that they may be sent overseas to deployed troops to send back to their loved ones with personal greetings! "Thinking of You" cards are among the most in-demand by Martie and her crew of volunteers at From Our Hearts. Their boxes and stock have been depleted. So, if you have it in your heart to help out this wonderful cause, why not take a few minutes or an hour to put together some quick "thinking of you" cards this weekend and send them off to From Our Hearts. You'll find all the details on their website. What a great way to show your support and encouragement for those serving overseas on our behalf!

 

For this first card, I used the Greenhouse Gala DSP, Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon and the Elegant Bouquet Impressions Folder with the Big Shot. To construct all these cards, begin with your cardbase cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded. The next layer is the DSP cut at 4 x 5.25". The next layer is Cardstock Vellum cut at 4 x 5.5" and then embossed with the Big Shot. Wrap and tie the ribbon around the fold and adjust. The ribbon serves double-duty as it hides the SNAIL that is visible through the Cardstock Vellum. Finally, stamp  the sentiment, positioning it where there is no embossing! And that's it -- I told you this was a quick and easy card!

Here's the second card I did with a Cardbase and Ribbon of Marina Mist and Elegant Soiree Designer Series Paper. I changed out the embossing with the Elegant Lines Impression Folder since that design coordinates so beautifully with this DSP. Caution -- this Impression Folder seems to be cut deeper than the others so you may want to use your MultiPurpose Platform with NO TABS when you use this folder! Especially with the Cardstock Vellum, it may cut out the design rather than embossing it otherwise -- probably not the look you're going for!

 

And finally, here is the final sample with Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper and Victoria Crochet Trim Ribbon.

 

See how easy and beautiful this is? Three completely different cards, all using the same design, simply by changing-out the beautiful Designer Series Papers that Stampin' Up! gives us!

 

That's it for today, everyone! I do hope you'll check out From Our Hearts and send some cards their way to help restock their boxes so their next shipment overseas cam go out as scheduled!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope you have a great day and a fabulous week and that you find some time to get creative! I'll see you again soon, I hope! Until then ...