Friday, January 29, 2010

Saturday Sketch Challenge 136

Good Evening Stampers!

On a personal note ~ it's always an exciting day when I can meet up with a fellow operator! Today, I had the privilege of watching operator Robin's daughter Emma skate in competition. The girls did such a fantastic job and qualified last night to skate again today. It was so exciting to watch and to be able to be there! Robin won't be joining us this week as a result of being a great mom (in my humble opinion). You can check out her post here and see the way cute costumes! I know when I travel I need about a month to feel normal again ~ so I'm wishing you "God's speed" home tomorrow (after breakfast at the famous Owl diner).

We have another fantastic sketch for you to play with and for me, this one feels pretty clean and simple!

So let's talk measurements. :)

Base: 11 x 4 1/4" scored and folded at 5 1/2" to form your card base
Layer 2: you could use a piece of ribbon, or cut a 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of paper.
Layers 4: Try measuring your stamp block and cut your paper the same size
Layer 3: should be 1/4" larger than layer 4 on two sides.
Add embellishments and you're all done.
Clean and simple, and easy peasy!

Now it's your turn. Never played along with us before? Well, it's easy!

  1. Make a card
  2. Post it online somewhere to your blog or other online forum
  3. Post a link to Mr. Linky (Please be sure to link to your post and not just to your blog so we can find your post a few days later). need directions on that? Check out our posts on "how to use mr linky"
  4. Have some fun and leave comments for each other (and for the operators if you like their work). ~ Everyone loves comments!
And away we go! Here are your operator samples for sketch challenge 136! Please keep in mind that links will close on Thursday morning at 8 AM EST.

Patti Chesky





Gretchen Barron





Connie Babbert





Tiffany Bauer






Selene Kempton






Lee Conrey

Stampers Showcase 135

How do you just pick 5 of these gorgeous creations?
Well this week, it seems that we can't!
Here is your stampers showcase for SSC135!

!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Color Inspiration #108

It's Thursday, and that means it's time for another Color Inspiration Challenge.

Are you ready for a doozy? In my opinion, anything with YoYo Yellow in it constitutes a "doozy".
















Here was my inspiration for this week's combo.....


It's this awesome tie-dyed shirt from Land's End. My kids loved making tie-dyed shirts. It was one of their most favorite activities when they were in scouting.

If you choose to take the Color Inspiration challenge, please leave a comment on this post with a link to your project. We love to check out everything that you make!!!!

Until next time.....Happy Stamping everyone!!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Saturday Sketch Challenge SSC135

How cute are these samples?? Thanks for joining us again this week for another cool sketch challenge!

We hope you had a fantastic week and have a few minutes to play along with this quick and simple sketch.

One set of potential measurements you can try would be:
Base layer: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: 5 1/4" x 1 1/2"
Layer 3: 2 3/4" x 2 1/4"
any shape layer can be any ribbon or embellishment of your choice!

Now it's your turn. Never played along with us before? Well, it's easy!

  1. Make a card
  2. Post it online somewhere to your blog or other online forum
  3. Post a link to Mr. Linky (Please be sure to link to your post and not just to your blog so we can find your post a few days later). need directions on that? Check out our posts on "how to use mr linky"
  4. Have some fun and leave comments for each other (and for the operators if you like their work). ~ Everyone loves comments!
And away we go! Here are your operator samples for sketch challenge 135.
Lee Conrey






Patti Chesky









Robin Merriman








Gretchen Barron









Connie Babbert










Tiffany Bauer










Selene Kempton

Stampers Showcase and SURPRISE!! Blog Candy!

This week is awesome! Can you believe we had over 50 stampers play along?! Thanks so much ~ it was so fun going through all the beautiful creations you made with this week's sketch!

I want to side track for a moment, and let you know... SURPRISE!!!! The operators were secretly offering blog candy this week!

We did a random blog candy drawing @ random.org for this week's players and #18 (Karen Bernier) please email the operators for your prize at operators@e-selene.com.

Karen will receive the CURRENT Level 3 hostess set "the more the merrier". This is a thank you to all that play along every week. Just for playing along and ~ YOU ~ might be our next winner! So ~ thanks for playing!

This week the operators sent in their votes (like usual). However, all the operators could not decide on just 5. Most voted for 8 AND many of the votes did NOT overlap. I was so surprised thinking I was going to have to call for a re~vote, but it all worked out in the math. I will say, many of you got votes who are not on the showcase, so keep those beautiful cards coming!

You are all so talented we could have easily posted all the cards to the showcase this week. See you late tonight for a new sketch!

Here are your stampers showcase.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Color Inspiration #107



I had a big 'ol box of stamping goodies delivered this week. Oh, how I love brand new stuff!!!! LOL!!!

I used a bunch of my new goodies to make this week's color challenge card.

It all started with the pumpkin pie patterned paper. It comes from the Welcome Neighbor 6x6 patterned paper pack that's one of the Sale-a-bration choices this year.

I then grabbed some fun colors to go with it: Bermuda Bay, Close to Cocoa and Apricot Appeal.

I ran the Bermuda Bay base card through the Big Shot with the new Polka Dot Impressions folder.

I added a 2" x 4 1/4" strip of Apricot Appeal on the fold.

The next layer is the Pumpkin Pie patterned paper. It's matted on a 1/8" larger piece of Whisper White cardstock.

I then worked on the focal image. I used the Sale-a-bration set called Good Neighbors. I highly recommend using the Stamp-a-ma-jig for this set (even if you own Clear Mount). My roof isn't sitting exactly on top of the house........oh well, live and learn. The house is inked in Bermuda Bay ink. I used a cotton swab to remove the color from the door. I colored the door with my Close to Cocoa marker and stamped it onto Whisper White cardstock. I stamped the trees in Old Olive and the clouds in Bashful Blue. I then sponged some sky and grass.

Now, it was onto the punches. I used the Scallop Trim border and corner punches to create the frame.

The final touch was some narrow Whisper White grosgrain ribbon.

Are you ready to take the color challenge? I hope so!!!! If you do, be sure to leave a comment on this post with a link to your project.

Until next time....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

How to ~ use the new corner and border punches so they coordinate perfectly

Good Afternoon! When I saw this post on our operator Gretchen's blog, I knew that we should post it to the 411 blog as a permanent staple to add to our "how to" library of posts.

Thanks so much for sharing your talents with us Gretchen!

Gretchen wrote: "I finally finished today what I started quite some time ago, figuring out the dimensions to use when you want a square or rectangle cut with the new Stampin' Up! Scallop Trim Border Punch and Stampin' Up! Scallop Trim Corner Punch. These punches have a larger cutting surface and a sleek new body which makes them easier than ever to punch. You can use them on the table or hold them upside down so you can see what you are punching. And, they lock closed which means you can store them upright in a very small space.

12_18_09_001 Because of the way the punch is designed and the spacing of the scallops, it is possible to cut quite a variety of squares and rectangles and get the scallops to line-up and be even. As you can see in the photo above, I cut 7 different sized squares. You could even go larger than these, for a scrapbook or other project, but for card-making purposes, I thought these would serve us well. The very smallest square that you see on the top of the pile in the photo above, began with a square of Whisper White cardstock that was 1 15/16" square. That's just a pinch, maybe only half-a-pinch, smaller than 2". For this smallest square, you only need the corner punch. Holding your corner punch upside down so you can see what you're doing from the bottom, slip each corner of the square right to the corner of the cutting edge (the "v" shape). After you've done the first corner, just make sure that each corner lines up with the previously punched ones. It's a little difficult to show in the photo but once you do it, you'll understand what I mean. By working from the bottom of the punch, you will be able to see where each scallop lines up with the ones previously punched. There is a 12_18_09_001_detail bit of a learning curve for working with these punches, but I'm confident that once you get them out and practice a few times, you will get the technique down. When you cut this smallest square, you will be able to layer on pieces that are punched with the 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" square punches, as I did in the example on the right (click on the photo to enlarge it). Don't you just love it when everything fits together so easily!

12_18_09_009 For all the rest of the scallop squares and rectangles that I'm going to show you today, you will need to use both the Border and the Corner Punches. You can see in this photo the size square to begin with.

  • 4 3/4" makes a square that has 10 scallops along each side
  • 4 1/4" makes a square that has 9 scallops on each side
  • 3 13/16" (just a hair bigger than 3 3/4") makes a square that has 8 scallops along each side. This is the size that fits perfectly into the guide that is printed on the Scallop Trim Border Punch and therefore makes this a great size to practice on. Once you get this size down, it will be easier to branch-off and make your squares smaller or larger.
  • 3 1/4" makes a square than has 7 scallops along each side.
  • 2 7/8" makes a square that has 6 scallops on each side
  • 2 3/8" makes a square that has 5 scallops on each side
  • And then, the original smallest square that I described above begins with a square that is 1 15/16" and uses only the corner punch.

12_18_09_002 12_18_09_005 Let's begin with the 3 13/16" square with 8 scallops on each side since this is the one that will fit perfectly into the guide that is printed on the Scallop Trim Border Punch, making it easier for you to see and line-up your scallops perfectly every time! First, you will want to punch all 4 corners, as described above, holding the Corner Punch upside down so that you can see what you are doing. Make sure and stop your cardstock right at the edge of the cutting blade so that your finished piece will end up square and not lop-sided. Once each of the four corners have been punched, line up two of the scallop corners over the printed guide on the Scallop Trim Border punch, and simply press down, using the ball of your hand -- easy, schmeesy! Repeat this step for each of the four sides and ... voila! You have a perfect Scallop Trim Border Square. Practice a few times with this size and then you'll be ready to begin making all different sizes.

12_18_09_004 Okay, now that you've got the punching mechanics and technique down, you can begin to make larger and smaller squares. Simply use the dimensions that I've given you above, punch each of the four corners as described above and then, line up just one corner (as opposed to the two corners that you did for the 3 13/16" square above), punch first one side and then slide your cardstock over and line up the opposite corner and punch the other side. As long as you line up your corners, you should come out fine each time.

12_18_09_003 For squares that are smaller than 3 13/16", you will probably find it easier to turn the border punch upside down so that you can see to line-up your scallops. Once the scallops are in-line with the blades, simply punch! Once again, it takes a little practice but it will be worth it as you create beautiful projects using these new and exciting punches!

12_18_09_008 Now, squares are great, but sometimes you want a rectangle. No problem, simply use the same dimensions as above for two sides and use another dimension for the other two sides. In my examples here, I've begun with rectangles that were 3 13/16" x 4 3/4"; 3 1/4" x 5 3/4"; and 2 7/8" x 1 15/16". Any combination will work, as long as you stick with the measurements that I gave you above.

Okay, this is turning into quite a lengthy post but I do have time for a quick card. And I do mean quick -- once you're practiced these techniques, you will be amazed at how quickly you can punch out squares and rectangles!

12_18_09_010 For this card, I punched a Rich Razzleberry Rectangle that began as 3 1/4" x 4 3/4" and a Melon Mambo that began as 2 7/8" x 4 1/4". I attached them together using SNAIL adhesive. The Whisper White mat was cut at 2 1/4" x 3 5/8" and quickly stamped with the valentine stamp from the Wandering Words stamp set (from the Holiday Mini Catalog) and Rich Razzleberry ink. I centered this on layers of Melon Mambo Print and Rich Razzleberry and attached a quick bow with Crystal Effects. That was it -- this entire card probably took me less than 5 minutes to make, start-to-finish!

So there you go! Experiment ... practice ... have fun ... and create!"

Friday, January 15, 2010

Saturday Sketch challenge SSC134

Greetings Everyone! There have been questions coming in about the color challenge! I'm so excited you're playing along with us at stamping411! At this time there is no Mr. Linky for the color challenge.. it's just for fun and for you to try. If you're feeling EXTRA challenged, you could combine this weeks challenge from our Color Queen Patti, with this week's sketch challenge..

So ~ Are you up for it?? Who doesn't LOVE a good challenge!!

Also ~ we have had many ask ~ again ~ if we require ALL SU products for submissions to Mr. Linky. Although the operators choose to use 100% SU products, we encourage you to play with whatever inspires you. I personally look forward to seeing all the different ideas, and you ALL inspire me in one way or another, so go for it.

As a teensy reminder, We humbly request that when you play along, that you refrain from putting sales stuff in your posts, and know that we will too. We're just here to have fun.

:) Moving right along... Here are one potential set of measurements for you to try with this sketch:

Base layer: 11 x 4 1/4", scored at 5 1/2" and folded to make your base
2nd layer: 5 1/4" x 4" cut on the diagonal
Layer 4: Try measuring the block you are stamping with to determine the right size to cut this layer.
Layer 3: should be 1/4" larger on two sides than layer 3.

Now it's your turn. Never played along with us before? Well, it's easy!

  1. Make a card
  2. Post it online somewhere to your blog or other online forum
  3. Post a link to Mr. Linky (Please be sure to link to your post and not just to your blog so we can find your post a few days later). need directions on that? Check out our posts on "how to use mr linky"
  4. Have some fun and leave comments for each other (and for the operators if you like their work). ~ Everyone loves comments!


Selene Kempton




Lee Conrey



Patti Chesky







Robin Merriman






Gretchen Barron







Connie Babbert




Tiffany Bauer