Gretchen Barron

Blissful Bird and Flowering Flourishes

Hello everyone and welcome to another Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators! As soon as I saw these two stamp sets in the new catalog -- Blissful Bird and Flowering Flourishes -- I knew they were definitely on my "must-have" list!

 

I love all of the flourishes in that set and know they will be well loved! And I just think this little bird is the cutest and one that can be used for all sorts of occasions and special events! I've also used the Loving Thoughts stamp set for the vertical strips.

 

This sketch is so much fun and offers a lot of opportunity to make it your own! My colors are Whisper White, Primrose Petals and Pink Pirouette. Other supplies used include the Big Shot and the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, the Scallop Trim Border Punch, 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon, Dimensionals, Basic Pearls and I used the 1.75" square punch to put the "v" shape in the ends of the vertical strips. Of course, I added a little extra fourish on the inside of the card to dress it up a little.

 

Here are some measurements to get you started:

1. Layer One -- Whisper White Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the card base.
2. Layer Two -- Whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- Primrose Petals cut at 4 x 2" -- edge the bottom by using a border punch and add ribbon across the "seam"
4. Layer Four -- the strips are cut from Pink Pirouette and are .75" wide and various lengths. I stamped the words on them to use as a guide for how long they are. Arrange randomly. Add the punched bird, pearls and bow.
5. Inside of Card -- Whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25"

I told you this was a fun sketch! I hope you'll try it out. For even more inspiration, check out the projects created by the other Stamping 411 Operators! I'm so glad you stopped by today and do hope you found a bit of inspiration to use in your stamping! Please come back soon!

New Inspirational Stamp Set -- Trust God

Hello everyone and welcome to a new Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators! Today I want to introduce you to a new Inspirational Saying Stamp set called "Trust God. It's a beautiful set of versatile and practical inspirational sayings that can be used for many purposes and occasions.

 

I combined it on this week's Stamping 411 Inspiration card with Fabulous Florets. I used Twitterpated Designer Series Paper, 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon in Baja Breeze, Basic Pearls and the Big Shot with the new Oval Accent Bigz Clear Die (I just used a portion of the Die Cut). The cardstock colors are Baja Breeze, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White and I added some Old Olive Ink for the stems and leaves.

 

Here's some measurements if you want to give this one a try:

1. Layer One -- Baja Breeze Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base
2. Layer Two -- DSP cut at 2.5 x 5.25" -- add the ribbon
3. Layer Three -- Die Cut -- stamp and ink edges as desired
4. Layer Four -- Baja Breeze cut at  x 2.5 (trim right-hand edge with the Curly Label Punch)
5. Layer Five -- Inside of Card -- Whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25" -- stamp as desired

 

It's pretty simple and straight forward this week. And really, isn't that the kind of cards we enjoy making the most!

 

I invite you to check out the other Operator projects on Stamping 411! There some great inspiration awaiting you there!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that you find some creative time for yourself! Please come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

 

 

 

A Freaky Tour with New and Fabulously Freaky Things!

Hello everyone and welcome to the Control Freaks June Blog Tour! This month we are featuring fabulous new stamp sets, papers and embellishments from the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog! If you don't have the new catty, be sure and contact your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator to get one pronto! After this tour, you'll know you just have to have one!

 

If you've already begun the tour, then you must be arriving from the blog of Yvette Ashe! She had some amazing projects for us!

 

My projects tonight all have a common theme -- they all use the wonderful new International Bazaar Designer Series Paper. This paper is so bright and beautiful and versatile ... I just love it and hope you will as well. The first project is this fabulous gift bag, made with 2 sheets of Designer Series Paper. This is a BIG 7" square bag with reinforced handles to hold quite a load. 

The handles are made with the fabulously freaky and wonderful 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon. I created the Rosette with the Big Shot and the Designer Rosette Bigz XL Die. It's embellished with a Natural Designer Button and a sentiment flag stamped with the Loving Thoughts Stamp Set. I'm so excited about this bag, I think I'll be using up a lot of my retired DSP sheets making them! Click HERE to view the tutorial and download and print your own PDF copy!

 

Next is a card, created again with the International Bazaar DSP. I've used the 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Pacific Point. The stamp set is called World Treasures. The scallop was created with the Big Shot, the Large Scallop Edgelet and the Delicate Designs Embossing Folder ... beautiful, isn't it?

 

The colors are Pacific Point, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White and Pool Party. I've also embellished with Basic Rhinestones and the sentiment is mounted on a die cut using one of the Apothecary Accents Framelets. I also embossed the Whisper White layer with the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

 

One more project for you on this stop ... another card. Now I must say, this card turned out completely different from what I originally intended. Let's just say it was a happy accident, if you know what I mean. I always say there are no mistakes in stamping, only opportunities for creative embellishment. Well, say hello to creative embellishment! LOL!!!

I LOVE the way this card turned out. If you know me, you know I love purple and this Rich Razzleberry card fits the bill. I punched the squares with the 1 3/8" square punch and rounded two opposite corners on each square. The ribbon is 1/8" Stitched Grosgrain. The butterflies were created with the Papillon Potpourri stamp set and coordinating Elegant Butterfly Punch (LOVE IT!) and embellished with Basic Rhinestones. The sentiment is from a new set called Sassy Salutations!

Well, that's all I have for this post! You can advance to the next tour stop by clicking on the button below. It will take you to my good friend, Patty Bennett's blog. I can't wait to see what surprises she has for us!

 

Thanks for much for stopping by! I hope you enjoy the tour and I hope you'll be back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

 

Bright Treasures (with Bling!)

Hello everyone! I guess it must be Friday already since here I am, getting ready to share a new Stamping 411 Sketch with you. I guess .... but oh my goodness, how quickly the weeks are passing! Unbelievable!!!!

 

We've got a fun sketch for you this week! One that leaves lots of room for your creativity to shine! As you can see, I changed it out a little. I left out one layer and reversed the focal image and sentiment (I wanted the peacock to be looking toward the center of the card, not off the edge). I was originally going to use some of the beautiful International Bazaar Designer Series Paper but decided the images were just too busy with the peacock, so will save that for another day. I did, however, pull my colors from that in the DSP -- Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry and Tangerine Tango. How's that for BRIGHT!!!!!

 

To create the peacock, I stamped the image three different times in three colors and then cut out the images, each time using a different layer of "feathers" as my cutting guide. Other supplies used for this card include: The Big Shot and the new Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Stampin' Dimensionals, 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, the Scallop Border Punch, Adhesive Basic Rhinestones, Apothecary Accents Framelets Dies. As you can see, I also did some stamping on the inside of the card.

 

Are you ready for some measurements:

1. Layer One -- Lucky Limeade Cardstock cut to 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base
2. Layer Two -- Rich Razzleberry Cardstock cut to 4 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- Pacific Point Cardstock cut to 1 x 4" -- trim edge with Border Punch and add Ribbon and Bow
4. Layer Four -- Tangerine Tango Cardstock cut to 2.75 x 4" -- Add focal image and sentiment

 

That's it for tonight, friends! Thanks so much for stopping by! I do hope you found some inspiration waiting for you here! And speaking of inspiration, make sure and check out the projects that the other Stamping 411 Operators created this week! Thanks again and I hope you'll be back soon!

Chock-Full of Cheer (in June!)

 

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

 

My inspiration card week uses new DSP and stamps from the new 2012-2013 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalog!

 

I know it's probably a little early for Christmas cards (well, maybe not so much) but I just couldn't wait to tear into this beautiful Christmas Designer Series Paper called Be of Good Cheer. The stamp set, which coordinates, is Chock-Full of Cheer. Isn't it delightful! The colors are Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green and Very Vanilla. The ribbon is the new Stitched Satin in Gumball Green. I stamped the sentiment and another mitten image on the inside of the card.

 

This sketch is pretty straight-forward, although don't be thrown by the several layers. It's really very easy once you break it down step-by-step. Here's some measurements to get you started:

1. Layer One -- Gumball Green Cardstock cut to 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base.
2. Layer Two -- DSP cut to 4 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- Gumball Green cardstock cut at 3.5 x 4.5"
4. Layer Four -- DSP cut at 3 3/8 x 4 3/8"
5. Layer Five -- Cherry Cobbler cut at 1.5 x 2.75"
6. Layer Six -- Very Vanilla cut at 1.25 x 2.5" -- stamp images and embellish as desired
7. Inside of Card -- Very Vanilla cut at 4 x 5.25", stamp as desired.

 

 

I think that will do it for tonight! I hope you've got a wonderful weekend planned and hope as well that you include some creative time in the mix of all you have planned! Don't forget to check out the other  Stamping 411 Operator projects on the website. I'm so glad you stopped by today and hope you'll come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

Fresh as Field Flowers

My goodness, it's Friday already! Honesty, I don't know how the week's can fly by so quickly! Well, Friday night can only mean one thing -- a new Stamping 411 Sketch to inspire you!

 

This week's sketch is a square card which I always enjoy because it gives you more room! My card uses a bit of Floral District Designer Series Paper, the Field Flowers Stamp Set and three brand-new InColors of Gumball Green, Primrose Petals and Raspberry Ripple, along with Whisper White. Other supplies used include the Scallop Trim Border and Corner Punches, 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon and Stamping Dimensionals.

 

To cut the perfect frame using the Scallop Trim Border and Corner Punches, see my Tutorial HERE! Note that for this card, I started with a piece of Primrose Petals Cardstock measuring 4.75" square (finished size is approximately 4 5/8" square).

 

Here's some Measurements to get you started:

1. Layer One -- Raspberry Ripple Cardstock cut at 5.25 x 10.5", score and fold to make the Card Base.
2. Layer Two -- Primrose Petals Cardstock cut at 4.75" -- punch with Scallop Trim Corner and Border Punches.
3. Layer Three -- Gumball Green Cardstock cut at 4.25" square
4. Layer Four -- Whisper White Cardstock cut at 4" square
5. Layer Five -- DSP cut at 1.5 x 4" square
6. Layer Six -- A Small strip of Gumball Green punched with the Border Punch - measuring 1 x 4"
7. Inside of Card -- Whisper White Cardstock measuring 5" square -- stamp and embellish as desired

 

That will do it for tonight! I hope you have fun with this week's sketch. As the weather gets more beautiful and the summer activities kick into full schedule, I know it gets a little challenging sometime to find some stamping time. My wish for you (and myself) is that you are able to find a little creative time during the weekend!

 

For even more inspiration with this week's sketch, make sure and check out the other Stamping 411 Operator projects!

 

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