Gretchen Barron

First Day of Kindergarten

Here's Layout #6 in my Personal Challenge for National Scrapbooking Month! This page came together quickly and easily using the Hoppy Memories Simply Scrappin' Kit. I mounted a piece of Textured Bashful Blue Cardstock on a layer of Pumpkin Pie. I pulled the Brilliant Blue and Old Olive colors out of the colors in the photograph. I punched the Old Olive layer with a Spiral Punch Border on one side. The A-B-C letters and the Star are from the Scrapbooking Kit as well as the Alphabet Print DSP that I used to die-cut the "K" -- I attached the DSP to some scrap chipboard using the Anywhere Glue Stick before running it through the Big Shot with the Serif Essentials Alphabet Die. I tied just a scrap of Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon around the "K" before attaching it to the page with Stampin' Dimensionals. This page went together in less than 15 minutes -- not bad! At that rate, I just may make my goal of 20 pages for the month (maybe!).

I've got a new Class-on-the-Go Kit available which uses the Simple Friendship Stamp Set and Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper. Your can purchase either the complete kit or the Tutorial only by clicking HERE.

Click HERE to see other Class-on-the-Go Kits and Cards that I currently am selling.

Click HERE to see other Tutorials available for $5 each.

Happy Stamping, everyone! Come back soon for more ideas and inspiration!

Blessings, Gretchen

Today's Featured Stamp Set -- Flight of the Butterfly!

I just love the Flight of the Butterfly set! I've loved it since I first saw it at Convention last year. I decided to feature it on my latest Scrapbook page (for my Personal Challenge for May) and on a couple of cards that I offer you today!

For today's scrapbook page (LO #5 in my Personal Challenge for the month), I used a sketch from 52 Sketches 52 Weeks. I used Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Pink Pirouette and Pixie Pink for my colors. I wanted something fun, light-hearted and girly for these photos of Bethany from Easter a few years ago. The "good times" rub-on is one of the retired Urban West rub-ons. The swirl and butterflies were cut using the Big Shot and the Swirly Sizzlets Strip and the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die. The smaller butterflies were stamped with the Flight of the Butterfly set and mounted on-top of the larger Butterfly die-cuts using Stampin' Dimensionals.

I did a couple of cards as well, again using the Big Shot and Beautiful Butterflies Die and also a bit of Tea Party Designer Series Paper. This first one has a card base of Pretty in Pink and a layer of Almost Amethyst. I used the Eyelet Border Punch on the DSP and tied it off with some 3/8" Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon. You can click on the thumbnail of the inside to see a larger image. You definitely want to use the Stamp-a-ma-Jig positioner when lining up the 2-step stamping butterflies in this set!

For this second card I used a card base of Certainly Celery and a layer of So Saffron. I again used some DSP punched with the Eyelet Border Punch. The ribbon is 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain. The scallop rectangle was cut from Regal Rose cardstock, using the Scallop Border Punch. I rounded the corners on the Whisper White inside rectangle.

This is a fun set to use, especially combined with the fun a whimsical colors and prints from the Tea Party DSP set!

Don't forget -- all the Designer Series papers and 12x12 Textured Cardstock are on sale during May -- buy 3 and get 1 FREE! I can help you place an order, just e-mail me!

I've got some wonderful things in store for you for tomorrow's Blog Hop. Don't forget to stop by and see the projects. I'll have a brand-new Class-on-the-Go Kit and Tutorial available as well as a fabulous Blog Candy give-away to celebrate not only the Blog Hop, but my 250,000 Blog Hit! You won't want to miss it! Stop by tomorrow and hop on the bus for the May Blog Tour!

Check out my $5 Tutorial Sale and my Online Store Window!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you come back soon! blessings - Gretchen

National Scrapbooking Month -- LO #4

Well, I'm making progress on my personal National Scrapbooking Month Challenge -- 4 down, 16 to go! Yikes -- I better turn up the steam just a little! These pictures of my daughter have always cracked me up! It was one of the nightgown-mornings where we didn't have anyplace to go or do (those don't happen very often) and she was clowning around at home. These were taken 4 years ago when she was in her "purple hair" stage -- the infamous purple hair was really a purple skirt that I had sewn her for dress-up play but she always had more fun wearing it on her head and tossing it from side to side, like long hair. Anyway, on this day she not only was wearing her purple hair but also her shades and her Minnie Mouse Princess Hat from Disney World along with her Barbie nightgown and some jewelry. Quite an outfit ... and some fun memories!

I used the stamp set, Doodle This and stamped the corner flourish right onto the photograph and the Pink Pirouette layer. I stamped the flowers using Black Craft Ink onto Shimmery White cardstock and then embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and the heat tool. I used the ever-popular new watercolor technique (the one used with the roses -- do we have a name for this yet?) to color in with Pixie Pink, Lovely Lilac and Summer Sun re-inkers. These whimsical images were great for these fun photos and made for a great scrapbook page! Other cardstock colors include Almost Amethyst and Elegant Eggplant.

I'm currently taking orders for my most recent Class-on-the-Go Kit, these darling Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlets in Jewel Tone Colors. Click HERE for more information!

Don't forget, my most popular Tutorials are on sale for a limited time for just $5 each -- the So Tweet Birdhouse and Cards set, the Humor in High Heels Purse and Cards Set, and the Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlets!  Click HERE for more information and to order via PayPal!

To view all my Kits, cards and tutorials currently available, go to my Online Store Window!

Blessings, Gretchen

National Scrapbooking Month Layout #3!

Hello everyone! I got Layout #3 done today in my personal challenge to do 20 layouts this month, during National Scrapbooking Month! Our sweet little doggie, Johann, wore many costumes during his years with Bethany (he died a few years ago) but on this particular day, he was the Bride! I used the Jumble Alphabet again (you can purchase this now for 20% off -- see below) which is a perfect choice for fun pages with kids and pets! I used Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette cardstock, along with Flower Fusion Felt Flowers and Flower Brads. Along the bottom, I created a border with the Eyelet Border Punch and Pretty in Pink 3/8" Taffeta ribbon. The scallop circle is from the Pennant Bigz die!

I hope you'll check out all the Special Promotions available right now to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month! (click on the link to see the details)

1. Buy three (3) packs of Designer Series Papers (mix and match -- your choice), including Specialty DSP (like the Parisian Breeze Specialty that I used today), or 12x12 Textured Cardstock and get one pack free (equal or lesser value). YIKES -- that's 25% off!
2. Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for only $75 with the limited time Scrapbooking Starter Kit. For more information about signing up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, see my Information Page HERE.

3. Buy the new Jumble Alphabet stamp set, a Sneak Peek from the upcoming 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog, at 20% off! This is a set of 52 stamps (double-mounted) on sale for just $35.16. Click HERE to see the stamp images.

I'm currently taking orders for my most recent Class-on-the-Go Kit, these darling Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlets in Jewel Tone Colors. Click HERE for more information!

Don't forget, my most popular Tutorials are on sale for a limited time for just $5 each -- the So Tweet Birdhouse and Cards set, the Humor in High Heels Purse and Cards Set, and the Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlets!  Click HERE for more information and to order via PayPal!

To view all my Kits, cards and tutorials currently available, go to my Online Store Window!

Blessings, Gretchen

Layout #2 in my Personal Scrapbooking Challenge for May!

Good morning, everyone! Well, here we go with Scrapbook Layout #2 in my personal challenge for the month -- 20 layouts to fill up the album that I created yesterday -- all by the end of May! I must say I'm enjoying this journey back into scrapbooking. That was how I got started in all of this, you know! I was a scrapbooker long before I started making cards and other projects.

I created this layout for this week's Circle Challenge on Late Night Stampers! I used the new Jumble alphabet (it's on sale right now -- see all 52 images HERE) and some Bella Rose DSP, along with Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun and Brilliant Blue cardstock. An unlikely color combination, I know, but I pulled the colors out of the photographs. It works, I think! The large circle was cut using the Circle Scissor Plus.

I've also used one of my favorite scrapbooking techniques on this layout -- hidden journaling! See the little circle tab and ribbon above the top photo? You gently pull that out and you'll find the journaling neatly tucked away. Easily accessible but easily hidden away as well! (click on the photo to view it larger).

I hope you'll check out all the Special Promotions available right now to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month! (click on the link to see the details)

1. Buy three (3) packs of Designer Series Papers (mix and match -- your choice), including Specialty DSP (like the Parisian Breeze Specialty that I used today), or 12x12 Textured Cardstock and get one pack free (equal or lesser value). YIKES -- that's 25% off!
2. Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for only $75 with the limited time Scrapbooking Starter Kit. For more information about signing up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, see my Information Page HERE.

3. Buy the new Jumble Alphabet stamp set, a Sneak Peek from the upcoming 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog, at 20% off! This is a set of 52 stamps (double-mounted) on sale for just $35.16. Click HERE to see the stamp images.

Take a look as well at all the Kits that I currently have available for sale at my online Store Window! There's some great projects there that can be used for gifts, for yourself or as class and workshop projects!

Oh, and one more thing! My most popular Tutorials are on sale for a limited time for just $5 each -- the So Tweet Birdhouse and Cards set, the Humor in High Heels Purse and Cards Set, and the Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlets!  Click HERE for more information and to order via PayPal!

Happy Monday, everyone! And Happy Stamping! Blessings, Gretchen

May is National Scrapbooking Month!

National Scrapbooking Month! How fabulous is THAT!!! An entire month devoted to something that we love to do -- Scrapbooking! To celebrate the occasion, I dusted off a little project that I purchased quite some time ago and haven't taken the time to complete yet -- the On Board Chipboard 8 1/2" Album (#112456, $13.95)! I just love this page size for scrapbooking. The pages are square (my preferred scrapbooking shape) and you can make them easily by cutting down an 8 1/2 x 11" piece of cardstock. They don't seem as overwhelming as the 12x12 pages sometimes do. And they are quite large enough to do most anything you want with! I had a great time this afternoon covering and decorating this album with the Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper. Although it took considerably longer than the ten minutes promised in the album instructions, it was time well spent, don't you think! In addition to the Parisian Breeze DSP, I used Chateau Bella Rub-ons (another great product for National Scrapbooking Month), 1" Double-Stitched Baja Breeze Grosgrain Ribbon, The Big Shot with the Top Note Die and the Daises #2 Die (I curled the flower petals using my fingers and my Bone Folder), and a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button/Brad. I also used one of the large silk flowers from the Pretties Kit (died with Baja Breeze Re-inker) to back the DSP Daisy. I used Sticky Strip and SNAIL adhesive to adhere everything to the Chipboard album.

Although I probably won't do the entire album in Parisian Breeze DSP, I did think it would look nice if the first page of the book opened to something that matched so I made this page using the same DSP collection and again, the Chateau Bella Rub-ons. I also used the Valet Ribbon Originals Chocolate Chip Dotted Ribbon and the Scallop Circle Die, along with the Circle Scissor Plus. The more I use the Circle Scissor Plus, the better I like it. Look how easy it was to cut this photograph -- you can see right through the cutter to center your photo and then just zip around it for a perfectly cut-out circle! In case you are wondering, yes, those are tulips from my yard although these photos are a few years old!

Well, since it is National Scrapbooking month, I'm going to challenge myself to fill this album with completed scrapbook pages during May! There are ten page protectors included with the album so that's 20 pages that I will be completing in May! So, make sure and come back often to see what other scrapbooking goodies and projects I will be sharing with you throughout the month!

And speaking of goodies, Stampin' Up! has some Special Promotions available right now to celebration National Scrapbooking Month! (click on the link to see the details)

1. Buy three (3) packs of Designer Series Papers (mix and match -- your choice), including Specialty DSP (like the Parisian Breeze Specialty that I used today), or 12x12 Textured Cardstock and get one pack free (equal or lesser value). YIKES -- that's 25% off!
2. Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for only $75 with the limited time Scrapbooking Starter Kit. For more information about signing up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, see my Information Page HERE.

3. Buy the new Jumble Alphabet stamp set, a Sneak Peek from the upcoming 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog, at 20% off! This is a set of 52 stamps (double-mounted) on sale for just $35.16. Click HERE to see the stamp images.

WHEW! As if that isn't enough, I am offering (for a limited time) my most popular Tutorials for just $5 each -- the So Tweet Birdhouse and Cards set, the Humor in High Heels Purse and Cards Set, and the Faux Alligator-Skin Wristlets -- just $5 each!  Click HERE for more information and to order via PayPal!

Gotta go for now! Thanks so much for stopping by today and remember to come back soon to see more great Scrapbooking Projects and Pages! I promise you won't be disappointed!

Until then -- blessings, Gretchen

"I Wish" MIni Album for Christmas Memories

Look at this darling little mini album that I made this weekend using the I Wish Simply Scrappin' Kit! Projects like this go together so quickly with our great Simply  Scrappin' Kits. The kits are a great value as well! From just 1/2 the kit, you can make this mini-album and at least 10 cards and that still gives you the other 1/2 of the kit to use for your more traditional scrapbook pages in whatever size you use - 12x12, 8.5x11 or 8.5x8.5! If you're not into Christmas albums right now, it's so easy to take this basic design and apply it to one of our other Simply Scrappin' Kits-- you have 10 to choose from! All the products for this project can be ordered online by clicking on the Purple Ordering icon on the left side-bar and then click on "shop now" at the top of my Stampin' Up! website!

For this little project I began with two of the Small On Board Book Basics which measure 5 x 7.5 (it's a great size for a mini album). I decorated the chip board inside and out, front and back using the designer papers and self-adhesive die cuts that come in the kit and adding some additional ribbon. The papers are adhered to the chipboard using Stampin' Up! Anywhere Glue Sticks and the edges are sanded with a sanding block. From there, I cut the inside pages (see a few below) from the Textured Cardstock that is included in the kit and decorated them using the self-adhesive die-cuts. The only "extras" I added were small bits of ribbon and Gold Metallic Elastic cord. I did bind the book using the Bind it All but you could also punch holes with your Crop-a-dile and tie ribbon to hold the book together. Either way, this is a fun, quick and impressive project -- great for gift-giving or keeping for yourself!

   

Remember to take a look at the new Fall & Winter DSP Sampler Kit which includes Juntos, Autumn Vine, Ski Slope and Frosty Day DSP samples. I'm taking order for this as well as other Designer Series Paper and Ribbon  Sampler Kits. This is a great way to get a little bit of everything without having to buy complete packages of paper or spools of ribbon. This is a limited time offer. Deadline for ordering the Sampler Kits is Sunday, October 12th at 11:59 p.m. (central time). I will place the order with Stampin' Up! on October 13th and you will receive your kits in the mail about 10 days after that. Click on the links above for more information.

I invite you to sign my Guestbook, upload your photo and leave a comment! Within the next week I will reach the 50,000 hit mark and anyone who has signed in my guest book at that time will have a chance at winning a FABULOUS prize from me! Go ahead -- it's going to be so much fun to see everyone's picture and to know where you're from!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you find some stampin' time today! Blessings, Gretchen