Gretchen Barron

Oh, Happy Day!

Oh, Happy Day ... it's MoJo Monday on Thursday! Wow, this week is flying by! I know it's already Thursday but I just loved this week's MoJo Monday Sketch so ... better late than never, right?

 

 

This is the first time I've inked up the rubber on the Starburst Sayings Stamp Set and let me tell you .... I LOVE it! Especially paired with the bright, sunny colors from the Flower Pot Designer Series Paper Pack, it certainly does turn any day into a Happy Day!

 

 

I intentionally stayed away from the flowers and bows in this card (I know, that's a rare thing for me), because I wanted it to be generic and usable for a gal or guy! Did I achieve my goal?

 

 

Cardstock colors are Crushed Curry and Tangelo Twist. Other supplies used for this card include the Starburst Framelit Dies and Big Shot, The Chevron Textured Embossing Folder, 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Tangelo Twist, Brights Designer Buttons, Candy Dots and Dimensionals. See the thumbnails below for more information or to go directly to my Online Store and place an order for any of the supplies for this card.

 

 

Have you seen the newest Inspiration in Action Kit and Tutorial -- Gator Goodies Treat Boxes? Check out the details HERE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, you may not know about my new Customer Appreciation Club! From now on (and retroactive to January 1, 2014) customers who order from my online site or place orders with me directly will qualify to earn Customer Appreciation Points which add up to FREE STAMPIN' STUFF! This offer is available to ALL customers (online, local, workshop). Simply keep track of your orders on the form which you can download HERE or by clicking on the image in the right side-bar. Once you've earned 20 points, return this completed form to me, along with a list of the FREE items (up to $30) that you want. I will order them for you and ship (or deliver) them to your home.

Download the PDF form for complete details and to print the form. Remember, you can go back to January 1, 2014 and add any orders that you've previously placed with me (if you need help locating order numbers, let me know).

 

That's it for today! I hope I've given you some inspiration and I hope it's a happy one for you!!!

 

 

 

 

Starburst Sayings Clear Stamp Set

$18.95

Starburst Sayings Wood Stamp Set

$25.95

Flower Pot Designer Series Paper

$10.95

Tangelo Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$6.95

Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

$6.95

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

$5.95

Starburst Framelits Die

$26.95

Envelope Liners Framelits Die

$26.95

Chevron Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$7.95

Tangelo Twist 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon

$8.95

Regals Designer Buttons

$7.95

Brights Candy Dots

$5.95

Stampin' Dimensionals

$3.95

 

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

 

Introducing the "HAVE IT YOUR WAY" Weekend Challenge!

Hello everyone and welcome to Inspiration in Action! I'm excited to share something new with you today -- the HAVE IT YOUR WAY weekend challenge! If you're like me, the weekends are sometimes the best time to escape into your stamping space and spend a little creative time. I know there are always demands on your time and there's always something more to do, but sometimes on the weekends we are better able to carve out a little "self" time for the things we love doing. This challenge is MADE FOR YOU!

My HAVE IT YOUR WAY weekend challenge is designed to be completely flexible, allowing you to customize it to fit your time, your mood, your taste and your interests. You can choose to follow just the SKETCH challenge, just the COLOR challenge, or just the INSPIRATION challenge or any combination of the three! Now, doesn't that sound FUN! From time to time I plan to have guest artists to help inspire you and prizes and blog candy will sometimes be offered for those who participate! Although it's not required (unless you want to be considered for a prize), I hope you will leave a comment with a link to your challenge project so that we can all enjoy your creativity! Now, what are you waiting for? Come on, get stamping and do it YOUR WAY!!!

Here's my inspiration card to get your started!

I used the Trust God, Flower Shop and Petite Petals stamp sets, Afternoon Picnic Designer Series Paper, Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Apothecary Accents Thinlet Dies and Basic Pearls for my challenge card this week.

Here's the Dimensions and instructions:

1. Layer One -- Card Base -- Pear Pizzazz cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored in the middle and folded
2. Layer Two -- Wisteria Wonder Cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25" -- apply half of the Tea Lace Doily.
3. Layer Three -- Afternoon Picnic Designer Series Paper cut at 3 x 3.5". Cut out the label shape from the Apothecary Accents Thinlet Die set with the Big Shot (save the actual label to use for a different project). Apply to card, using Stampin' Dimensionals. Stamp the sentiment through the already applied label. Apply flower or other embellishments. I used a different pattern from the DSP package to line the envelope.

 

So, what do you think! I hope it sounds like fun and I hope you'll want to play along with my challenge each week. I'll look forward to your comments and links to your posts and I promise to leave you a comment when I look at your project!

 

Thanks so much for visiting today. I hope I've left you with some ideas and inspiration to brighten up your weekend, maybe even your week!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon Picnic Designer Series Paper

$10.95

Trust God Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$14.95

Petite Petals

$11.95

Flower Shop

$23.95

Tea Lace Paper Doilies

$2.95

Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies

$24.95

Petite Petals Punch

$12.95

Pansy Punch

$15.95

Bird Punch

$16.95

Envelope Liners Framelits Dies

$26.95

Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$6.95

Wisteria Wonder 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock

$6.95

Basic Pearls Jewel Accents

$4.95

Stampin' Dimensionals

$3.95

 

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

 

 

New Inspirational Stamp Set -- Trust God

Take Care with a New 411 Sketch Challenge

Love & Sympathy with Purple Irisis

A Little MoJo Monkey Business

Hello everyone and Happy Friday morning to you! I have a little Mojo Monday Monkey Business for you today! Yes, I know, it's Friday! I actually made this card Monday evening and THIS IS THE FIRST CHANCE I'VE HAD TO POST IT! That's how crazy busy my week has been! WHEW!!!

As soon as I saw this week's MoJo Monday sketch, I thought Birthday card! All the fun, whimsical scallops just shouted birthday to me! And what fun to use the Sock Monkey Stamp Set for a delightful child's birthday card for this sketch!

I used Celebrations Designer Series Paper and the colors of Pacific Point, Pear Pizzazz, Bashful Blue, Real Red and Whisper White -- now that's a celebration of color!

Other supplies and accessories included the Big Shot, Tasteful Trims Die, Scallop Circle #2 Die, Circle Die, Brads, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, 5/8" Satin Ribbon and Stampin' Dimensionals! I paper pieced Sock Monkey using Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Real Red and Marina Mist cardstock. This was a fun, and fairly simple card and I'm sure it will be enjoyed by some lucky child soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope I've inspired you to test out your MoJo this week! Come back soon!

Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge

WooHoo -- it's time for another Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Operators at Stamping 411! Are you ready?

My Inspiration card this week uses the Fabulous Just Believe Stamp Set. I've chosen the colors of Concord Crush, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive and Whisper White. I colored directly on the rubber with Stampin' Write Markers to get the multi-colored effect on the images.

Additional accessories include the Big Shot, the Movers & Shapers Die (Modern Label Insert) and the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Folder, 5/8" Old Olive Satin Ribbon, The Wide Oval Punch, The Modern Label Punch, a Craft Knife and Stampin' Dimensionals.

Here's the measurements ...

1. Layer One -- Elegant Eggplant cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded in half
2. Layer Two -- Daffodil Delight cut at 4 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- Whisper White cut at 3.75 x 4". Stamp your images and run through the Big Shot with the Impressions Folder to emboss. Using a Craft Knife, carefully cut along the edges of the flower that you want to appear on top of the label.
4. Layer Four -- Poppy Parade cut at 4 x 1". Punch one edge with a Border Punch. Adhere with SNAIL adhesive. Run a strip of ribbon over the "seam" where layers 3 & 4 meet. Attach to the back with SNAIL adhesive.
5. Layer Five -- Wide Oval Punch and Whisper White. Stamp Images and then punch out. Ink the edges with Poppy Parade Ink.
6. Layer Six -- Using the Big Shot and the Movers & Shapers Die (Modern Label Insert) cut one label from Poppy Parade. Stamp the sentiment on Whisper White cardstock and punch out with the Modern Label Punch. Adhere together and attach to the Wide Oval with SNAIL adhesive. Attach entire label assembly with Stampin' Dimensionals, carefully adhering the cut-out flower to the outside of the label.
7. Layer Seven -- Inside of Card -- Whisper White cut at 4 x 5.25". Stamp along one edge.

Well, that's it for today. Please be sure and check out Stamping 411 where you will find other fabulous inspiration cards created by all the operators! Be sure and leave us a link to your project once you've completed it!

Have fun with this week's sketch! Happy Stamping!

New Sketch Challenge on Soul Scrappers

Hello everyone and welcome to a new Sketch Challenge over at Soul Scrappers!  If you don't know about this site, you really need to check it out. There are tons of challenges, inspiration, tips and ideas for your scrapbooking projects!

You can see the sketch on the left ...

And here's my inspiration layout! I just love doing heritage layouts. For one thing, I have an incredible and amazing stock of old family photos that have been digitized and when I transform these photos into scrapbook pages, I feel so privileged to be preserving these precious memories for generations to come.

Now, isn't this better than having them all thrown in a drawer (ahem ... MOM?)

I do hope you'll try your hand at this scrapbooking sketch. Make sure and tag it with "SC18" if posting it in a public forum.

 

I created my layout with My Digital Studio but if you're doing traditional scrapbooking, you might want to check out my DSP and Ribbon Samplers. It's not too late to place orders for the new ribbon and DSP stamplers from the BIG Idea Book & Catalog. I'm taking orders now -- supplies will be ordered each 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?

 

I'm so glad you stopped by today and hope you come back soon! Happy Stamping and Scrapping! 

On the Fourth Day of Christmas ...

Good morning, everyone! Thanks so much for coming back for Day Number 4 in my Christmas in July series. For today's card I'm using the new Designer Series Papers called Holiday Lounge and the beautiful new Gifts of Christmas Stamp Set. I've also used this week's MoJo Monday Sketch (with a few adaptations)! These are certainly non-traditional colors for Christmas -- Taken with Teal and Sahara Sand but I must say I love how this card turned out. As you can see, I gave the Dove more than a little bling with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (applied with a 2-way glue pen) and added some of the luxurious 5/8" Whisper White Satin Ribbon. The three Square Rhinestone Brads on the Photo Corner add a bit more bling and I thought a nice touch. The circles were cut out with the Circle Scissor Plus. And, of course, I added a little something to the inside of the card as well (click on any photo to view a larger image)!

Well, I think that will do it for today! I'm so glad that you stopped by today for a bit of Christmas in July. I hope I'm giving you some ideas and inspiration as you begin to think about your special cards and projects for Christmas -- it's only 147 days and counting!

More surprises await you tomorrow when you visit Inspiration in Action! I look forward to having you back soon!

Blessings, Gretchen

One MoJo Monday Sketch -- Three Cards!

Hello everyone! It's time for another MoJo Monday Sketch (Okay, I know it's Wednesday -- give me a break, okay!), and I created three great cards for you today from this one sketch. I've said it so many times, but I LOVE working from sketches. It gives me a starting place from which to launch my creativity. When I'm stumped or blocked, I always turn to a sketch for inspiration! This week's sketch, in particular, gives lots of choices for using a variety of patterns and textures.

For this first card, I used two different patterns from the new Kaleidoscope Designer Series Papers and the colors of Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal and Bermuda Bay (not the recommended colors for this DSP collection but I think they work very well together). I embossed the Apricot Appeal layer with the new Stampin' Up! Perfect Details Texturz Plate. I also used the Movers & Shapers Curly Label Die and the Curly Label Punch, along with the Scallop Border Punch. The Ribbon is 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain in Bermuda Bay and the Stamp Sets are Greenhouse Garden and Great Friend. Of course, I had to embellish the inside just a bit with some stamping as well! I stamped the inside of the flowers (this is a 2-step stamp set) with Black Stazon Ink.

I am in LOVE with this new Stamp called Dasher. It's one of our new individual stamps and priced at just $8.95 and isn't it beautiful? I envisioned doing just this silver embossing with this stamp the first time I saw it. You can bet this little guy will show up often on my Christmas Cards this year! I used a rather unlikely color combination for a Christmas Card -- Lavendar Lace, Night of Navy, Whisper White and Brushed Silver. The sentiment is from Many Merry Messages and stamped in Black Stazon Ink. I tore two layers of Whisper White and overlapped them to make the snow banks, also sponging just a little Going Gray ink on the edges for some more definition and contrast. Then I tucked my stamped layers down into the snow. The back stamped rectangle uses the new Sparkling Jumbo Wheel with Versamark Ink and Silver embossing Powder. The snowflake is punched using the new Jumbo Snowflake Punch on Brushed Silver cardstock. The background layer of Night of Navy is embossed with the Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate and the Big Shot. Does this get you in the mood for Christmas?

Okay, one more for you today! I had fun with this one using the new Cottage Wall Designer Series Papers, the Simple Friendship Stamp Set and the colors of Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive and Whisper White. I had fun with this one, putting three tiny half-back pearls (from the Pretties Kit) on the body of the butterfly, attaching them with dots of Crystal Effects (click on any photo for a larger image). I used the Eyelet Border Punch along with the 1 3/8" and Scallop Circle Punches and the 5/8" Whisper White Satin Ribbon. Two simple flourishes adorn the inside of the card!

Well, that's going to be it for today. I hope I offered you a bit of inspiration and hope you'll come back soon for more!

Happy Stamping, everyone!

Blessings, Gretchen

MoJo Monday Sketch

Hi everyone! I tried my hand this morning at this week's new MoJo Monday sketch! I coupled an unlikely pair -- Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper and the Cheep Talk Stamp Set. I think it gives an entirely different look to this cute little set! I began with a card base of Kiwi Kiss and added a layer of Cameo Coral before adding the DSP, 3/8" Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon and Silver Brads. The scallop Circle is from the SU Pennant Bigz XL Die. The stamped circle was punched out with the 1 3/4" Circle punch. I stamped just a corner of the inside for a little surprise as the card is opened.

Do you know it's just a little over 1 month until the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog comes out? Amazing! On June 1st, we will know which stamp sets and accessories will be retired from the new catalog. One thing we do know for sure is that ANYTHING which uses this year's In Colors will be retiring -- that means most of the Designer Series Papers, this beautiful Satin Ribbon and other In Color Ribbons, the ink pads, the cardstock, many of the Simply Scrappin' Kits -- all will be gone in just a little over a month. Actually, once the retiring accessories sell out, they will be gone even sooner. So, since you know these items are going to retire, NOW is the time to order them - before Stampin' Up! sells out on so many favorite. And if you're ordering Designer Series Papers or 12x12 Textured Cardstock, you can still order it right now one sale -- Buy 3 and Get 1 Free -- that's 25% off! You can place an order online HERE (just click on "shop now" at the top of the page) or call or e-mail me and I can assist you in getting that order in. Remember, this offer ends at midnight on May 31st! Stock up today -- you won't be sorry you did!

Hope to hear from you soon! Happy Stamping! Blessings, Gretchen

Check out my $5 project tutorials HERE.

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

Until later, thanks for looking! Blessings, Gretchen

Watercolor Technique on Soft Summer

I know how much we've all been going ga-ga over the new Watercolor Technique with the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set, so I decided to try it out on some other stamp sets. You can see my results with the Doodle This stamp set in my earlier post today and for this card, I used the technique on Soft Summer, the beautiful set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I think it turned out beautifully. This is also this week's Mojo Monday sketch!

I used a card base of Chocolate Chip with layers of Bella Rose DSP, Pink Pirouette, more Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. The flowers were stamped onto Shimmery White Cardstock with Black Craft Ink and embossed with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, heat set and then watercolored with Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose and Summer Sun re-inkers (click for a larger image and to see the shimmer from the cardstock and embossing). I cut these out and then mounted them onto the stamped image with Stampin' Dimensionals. The vine and leaves were colored with a Chocolate Chip Marker, a Blender Pen and Kiwi Kiss re-inker. I finished it off with a bit of Kiwi Kiss 3/8" satin ribbon. The chocolate Chip polka dot DSP pattern is punched with the Eyelet Border Punch. The sentiment is from Elegant Cheer.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of this technique. It's just so darned much fun to watch the color spreading across the stamped images!

Don't forget all the Special Promotions available right now to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month! (click on the link to see the details)

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!

Oh, and don't forget the next LNS Blog Tour -- May 15-16th! All the details for your ticket to ride can be found HERE!

Gotta go! Stop by tomorrow for a very special Mother's Day card!

Until then -- blessings, Gretchen

A New Sketch Challenge!

Hello, everyone! There's a new Sketch Challenge on the Late Night Stampers Group this week and you know how I LOVE sketches! This one is sponsored and created by Julie and Carol on the Design Team! Late Night Stampers is a group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators that LOVE to share creativity and inspiration. If you're a demonstrator and would like to join the LNS group, go HERE. Sherrill Graff is the leader of the group and you will love all the fun ideas and support that she brings!

Here's my first card for this week's Sketch challenge. I flipped the design 90 degrees to come up with a landscaped orientation on this card. The card base is Kiwi Kiss and the DSP is the delicious Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper. I also used Rose Red and Whisper White Cardstock. Stamp sets are Heard from the Heart, Sweet Stems and All Scallops. I used the Scallop Border Punch and the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Square Punches. The Stamp-a-ma-jig positioner was used to line up the All Scallops border stamp with the punched border scallops. The ribbon is 3/8" Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon. And as you can see, I embellished the inside of the card a bit as well!

This second card (actually this was the first one I made but that's another story) uses the bold and bright Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper. I tried a new technique (for me) on the left side -- paper pleating! The stamp set is Trendy Trees and the colors are Real Red, Summer Sun, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip and Tempting Turquoise. A bit of 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grossgrain ribbon is tied off with Linen Thread (I love the cinched-look this gives to the wider ribbons). Again, I just couldn't leave the inside of the card alone and had to ink it up a bit as well!

If you would like to order any of the stamp sets, papers and supplies that you see presented on my blog, and don't currently have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator to assist you, I will be glad to help you with that. To order, you can e-mail me or call me and place your order directly with me or you can order directly from my Stampin' Up website here. Just click on "shop now" at the top of the page. Your order will be shipped direct to your door!

Check out my previous posts for information about Marker Clubs that are forming now, a Big Shot Class-On-The-Go that you can order from me, and some great new Easter Sets that are now available from Stampin' Up!

Don't forget as well that Sale-a-Bration is on! This is the Stampin' Up! BIG sale of the year. With every $50 purchase, you receive a FREE Sale-a-Bration product from the brochure (includes Stamp Sets, Ribbon and Papers). Click HERE to see the brochure online!

I'm so glad you stopped by today. Please come back soon for more Inspiration in Action!

Blessings, Gretchen