Gretchen Barron

An Asian Flair with Flowering Flourishes

Hello everyone and welcome to Inspiration in Action! This is Friday night and you know what that means ... another Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators. I have some news to share with you tonight! The 411 Operators have been together for more than 3 years, offering weekly sketch challenges and other inspiration and helps on our blog. This sketch challenge will be our last. We've all decided to move on to different things.

 

It's been a fun ride and we hope that you've benefited from the weekly inspiration. Don't worry ... the blog will still remain active and you can continue to refer back to the tutorials and previous sketches for inspiration. We just won't be adding anything new after tonight. I know this will be a shock to many of you but the Operators all feel this is the best thing.

 

We do have one more fun sketch for you however! For my inspiration card, I decided to use one of my favorite techniques ... emboss-resist. I stamped the image from Flowering Flourishes using Versamark Ink and Clear Embossing Powder. After heat setting, I sponged on three different colors (Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie and Night of Navy). I just love the way the stamped images appear! I used the Stampin' Up! Color Coach to select the unusual color combination. I really love the way they look together and the card takes on a bit of Asian flair with it's deep colors and delicate blooms!

 

Other supplies and tools used include the Big Shot, the Oval Accent Bigz Clear Die, the Apothecary Accents Labels Framelets, Antique Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, sponges, the Heat Tool and just a bit of 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon. The measurements for this card are pretty straight-forward. You begin with your Card Base of Pumpkin Pie (5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded) and add another layer of whisper White (4 x 5.25") which has the stamping and sponging on it. All the rest are die cuts and embellishments.

 

And of course, as you know, I love to stamp on the inside of the card. For this card, I used the flourish image and stamped it in two different colors for this wonderful and dramatic effect! Will definitely need to remember to use this technique more often ... isn't it beautiful!

 

Well, I think that will do it for tonight! Even though I won't be offering you Stamping 411 Challenges anymore, I do hope you'll come back soon. I'll have lots of inspiration for you and maybe even a few surprises along the way! Until then ...

 

Blessings, Gretchen

Fun with Autumn Accents

Hello everyone! It's Friday and you know what that means! A new Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators.

This week's sketch is a square card and you know how much I LOVE square cards!

 

I decided to pair two items from the Holiday Mini Catalog -- the Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper and the Autumn Accents Leaf Die. I used some gorgeous fall jewel-tone colors -- Lucky Limeaide, Cajun Craze, Island Indigo, More Mustard and Raspberry Ripple -- aren't they just beautiful together!

 

I embossed each leaf diecut with a different Embossing Folder and the Big Shot -- the Fancy Fan, Perfect Polka Dots and Woodgrain Textured Embossing Folders. Other supplies used include the 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Raspberry Ripple and Stampin' Dimensionals. I inked the edges of the card and the leaf diecuts with Early Espresso Ink.

 

Speaking of Dimensionals, here are some measurements for this card:

1. Layer One -- Raspberry Ripple Cardstock cut at 5.25 x 10.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base.
2. Layer Two -- More Mustard Cardstock cut at 5" square.
3. Layer Three -- DSP cut at 2 x 5" -- attach ribbon across the "seam" -- add Leaf diecuts, bow and sentiment from the Fabulous Phrases Stamp Set.
4. Inside of Card -- (oops, forgot to get a picture) -- Very Vanilla Cardstock cut at 5" square -- decorate with a 1" strip of DSP, ribbon and a leaf die cut (you can see a peek in this side view).

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope I offered you a little inspiration for your weekend stamping projects! Speaking of inspiration, don't forget to check out the other Operator Projects at Stamping 411!

 

Tweet Leaves and Orchard Harvest

Hello blogging friends! Have you missed me? Yes, I've been AWOL for a week or so ... have been on a trip with one of the youth groups from our church! But I'm back and with a fun, new sketch from the Stamping 411 Operators this evening!

 

I am head-over-heels in love with the new Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper. The colors and patterns are so beautiful and fresh! And of course, they coordinate perfectly with each other, which makes our job as stampers soooooo incredibly easy!

 

For this week's card, I've paired the Tweet Leaves Individual Stamp and the Trust God stamp set with the Orchard Harvest DSP. I used the Big Shot and the Autumn Accents Bigz Die to cut the maple leaf out of Very Vanilla Cardstock. Using Stampin' Write Markers (Island Indigo, More Mustard, Lucky Limeaide and Raspberry Ripple), I colored directly on the rubber and then aligned the stamp on the maple leaf die cut -- what a great effect! I sponged all the edges with a little Island Indigo ink to give it more contract and definition before attaching it to the focal square. The sentiment is stamped with Early Espresso Ink (I also used that ink to ink the edges of the two focal image mats). I modified the sketch a bit and decided to go with just a faux bow and a Designer Natural Button instead of the Scallop Circle punchie.

 

Other supplies used for this card include Stampin' Dimensionals, 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon in Lucky Limeaide and a bit of Island Indigo Bakers Twine for the button. Here's some measurements in case you want to recreate this card for your own ...

 

1. Layer One -- Lucky Limeaide Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base
2. Layer Two -- Island Indigo Cardstock cut at 4 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- DSP cut at 3 x 5.25" -- attach ribbon over the "seam"
4. Layer Four -- Early Espresso Cardstock cut at 1.5 x 2"
5. Layer Five -- Very Vanilla Cardstock cut at 1 5/8 x 2 1/8"
6. Layer Six -- Early Espresso Cardstock cut at 2.5 x 3.5"
7. Layer Seven -- Very Vanilla Cardstock cut at 2 3/8 x 3 3/8" -- add faux bow and button or other embellishments as desired.

 

Well, my friends, I think that will do it for tonight! I hope you have plans for a wonderful and restful weekend and if those plans include some stamping time, then even better! To jump-start your MoJo, don't forget to stop by the Stamping 411 Website for more inspiration from the Operators!

 

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

 

 

Trusting God at the Comfort Cafe!

He, He ... sounds like a good book to read, doesn't it? Kind of like Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Well, it's not a new book ... it's this week's Stamping 411 Card!

 

I paired up the Trust God and Blissful Bird stamp sets with the Comfort Cafe Designer Series Paper.

 

I did something a little different for the banner that lays in the background behind the focal piece. I used three narrow strips of the DSP (3 different patterns) and put them together to make the banner. I embossed the entire background with the Big Shot and the Square Lattice Impressions Die.

 

Other supplies and tools include the Apothocary Accents Framelets, The Bird Builder Punch, and Stampin' Dimensionals. To make the mat behind the label die-cut, I cut 2 additional labels from Midnight Muse Cardstock and then cut them in half, one across the width and one down the middle, trimmed them and them attached them to the back of the label with SNAIL adhesive. It's an easy technique to do but I'll try to remember and get some pictures soon so I can create a quick tutorial for you.

 

Cardstock colors are Very Vanilla and Midnight Muse and I added another little banner on the inside of the card, for an extra touch!

 

That will do it for today! I want to thank everyone who purchased retired stamp sets and ribbons at my online garage sale! You helped me clear out a lot of space on my storage shelves!

 

Don't forget to stop by the Stamping 411 website and check out the other Operator projects! I'm always amazed at the talent of my stamping sisters!

 

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

 

 

It's That Little Bird Again!

 

It's that little bird again, from the Language of Friendship stamp set and the Bird Builder Punch ... I just can't seem to stay away from him ... he's so darn cute! And he works perfectly with this week's Stamping 411 Card!

 

I've paired him up with the Trust God and Flowering Flourishes Stamp Sets and two different patterns from the Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper.  Other embellishments and supplies include the BoHo Blossoms Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals and Self-Adhesive Basic Pearls!

 

 

 

Here's some measurements to get you going if you want to try this week's sketch for yourself!

1. Layer One -- Real Red Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base
2. Layer Two -- DSP cut at 4 x 5.25" -- I stamped the flourishes on the DSP with Real Red Ink
3. Layer Three -- Real Red Cardstock cut at 2.5" square -- attach as a diamond shape
4. Layer Four -- DSP cut at 2.5" Square -- attach as a square
5. Layer Five -- Whisper White Cardstock cut at 2.25" -- attach as a diamond -- stamp and embellish as desired

I hope you have fun with this week's Sketch Challenge! Be sure and check out the Stamping 411 Website for more inspiration from the other Operators!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you come back soon!

Leave the Rest To God!

Hello stamping friends and welcome to Inspiration in Action!

 

I've got a lovely card for you today using the Trust God and Fabulous Florets Stamp Sets. As you can see, the inspiration for this card layout came from this week's Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge.

 

The colors are Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango and Pink Pirouette, along with a little Whisper White. I used the Big Shot and the Apothocrary Accents Framelets set to cut out the lovely label shape which is the flocal point of the card. The sentiment is stamped with Black Stazon Ink, as is the cut-out flower. I colored in that top flower with Watercolor Wonder Crayons and a Blender Pen. After cutting out the flower, I curled the edges slightly using a bone folder and attached it to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals! The stem and Tangerine Tango flowers were stamped directly on the die cut using Old Olive and Tangerine Tango inks.

 

I used two Embossing folders for this card, Perfect Polks Dots and Fancy Fan. Other embellishments include the Scallop Trim Border Punch, Stampin' dimensionals, Self Adhesive Basic Pearls and 1/2" Polka Dot Ribbon.

 

To create the "frame" behind the die cut, I cut two more matching shapes out of Melon Mambo Cardstock, trimmed about 1" from the top and bottom of one and the two sides of the other, and then attached them to the back of the Whisper White die Cut using SNAIL adhesive. Doing this really helps define the shape and makes it stand out! You can see a little peek of the inside of the card which is stamped with another floral image. 

 

That's it for today, my friends! Thank you so much for stopping by today and I hope you'll be back soon! Don't forget to check out the projects the other Operator's created this week on Stamping 411!

 

See you Soon!

Take Care with a New 411 Sketch Challenge

Hello everyone and welcome to Inspiration in Action! It's Friday and that means a new sketch challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators!

 

I used the Take Care Stamp set for my card this week. This set was one that I thought was so cute and then when I got it I was clueless to know what to do with it! Well, I decided to dust it off and give it a try with this week's wide-open sketch! And I must say, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. The more I look at it, it almost looks like you are on the inside of a hollow tree, looking out and down below at a branch with a nest on it! Well, maybe if you use your imagination just a little -- he, he!

 

I used the Big Shot and the Apothecary Accents Framelets large die, cut in Whisper White cardstock. I then used Marina Mist ink and a sponge, along with my CLOUD TEMPLATE, to create the soft clouds. Next I stamped the branch image (Chocolate Chip and Old Olive). The next was stamped with Versamark on Crumb Cake, embossed with Clear Embossing Powder and the Heat Tool and then sponged with Chocolate Chip Ink to bring out the embossing. The eggs were stamped with Pool Party Ink and embossed, using a Versamarker (retired, sorry). Nest and eggs were popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

 

I created the woodgrain background with a brand new Embossing Folder which will be available beginning August 1st in the Holiday Mini Catalog. I began with Crumb Cake cardstock and then inked on Chocolate Chip ink. I tied it all up with a little Linen Thread and put it on a Marina  Mist Card Base (cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded). And that's it! This week's sketch leaves lots of room for creativity. It's a wide-open canvas for your creativity to soar!

 

Speaking of creativity, you'll want to make sure and check out the other Operator projects on Stamping 411! You'll be glad you did!

 

That will do it for now. Wherever you are, I hope you're able to stay cool this weekend. 105+ in Central Illinois today and for most of the days to come! Thank goodness for AC!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you'll come back soon for more Ideas and Inspiration!

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!

 

 

 

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!