Saturday Sketch Challenge 210

Good Evening Friends!

It's time for another fun sketch from your stamping 411 operators. We have a lot to share tonight so try and bear with me.

First, we would also like to say hello and goodbye! First, hello... If you didn't see the post this week on Wednesday, we encourage you to go check out the cool punch art by our Guest Designer this month Denise Willerton! Thanks for joining us for the month as our guest! We can't wait to see what you'll come up with this month!

Also, we bid a fond farewell to a long time team member and friend Connie Babbert.

Connie writes: "I'm sad to announce my decision to step away from the Stamping 411 Operator Design Team. I have enjoyed my time as an Operator and getting to know the other Operators better. I so admire their talent! I also enjoy seeing what you do with the challenges...and will miss stopping by your blogs every week to check out your creations! But, don't worry, you'll see me again as a participant enjoying the challenges! In the meantime I have Convention, my son's wedding, and my Stampin' Up! business to keep me busy! Thank you for everything! "

Thank you so much Connie! You are a wonderful artist and you will truly be missed by the team and our readers! Wishing you the very best and congratulations on all the wonderful things happening in your family right now. So very cool.

The new catalog is coming out on July first, and it's the Stampin' Up "new year" of sorts. We've been talking for a few months about taking a little break, but wanted to figure out the best way to do that. Did you know... Each of the operators posts at least once a month (on their scheduled date) and every operator participates in the Friday sketch challenge and tries to comment on EVERY entry for every weekly post! In addition we offer techniques, scrapbooking, 3d projects, color challenges and more! From how to read a ruler right on up the stamping dictionary, I really think there is something for every type of stamper here! :D These ladies really are wonderful to work with!

The original ladies here on stamping 411 have been going strong for over two years (which is quite a long time for a design team to go consistently). So, we've decided that this might be a good time for the operators to lighten up the regular workload a little for July.

So, here's what we came up with. We are not requiring the operators to leave comments for the month and we'll be on a small vacation of sorts. However... we will still have the Friday night sketch challenge (with measurements, cause you tell us you LOVE that) and hope that you will play along if you're not off doing whatever it is that makes YOU happy in the summertime! :D We'll be back soon, at full strength again, hopefully with a fresh new set of ideas to share with you. If you happen to see one of us at convention, make sure you stop us and say hello! :D Some inside info... the chatter among the operators this week has been about a potential face lift for the blog, when we come back from our short break. So there are some exciting changes to look forward to ~ please let us know if there's something you like to see us try.

Now, if any of the operators see something cool they wish to share, there MAY be a surprise post here and there, but nothing in the month of July is required of the design team.. Even crafty girls need a break too!

If you can, please pop in to Connie's blog and send her some love.. :D In addition, if you love our guest artist Denise, please don't be shy, I'm sure she's love to hear from you! :D

Whew ~ I think that's all of it! :D Without further "blah blah blah" on my part, let's talk about this week's sketch! This week operator Gretchen Barron stepped up to the sketch board and I have to say ~ Gretchen's sketches always seem to just turn out right for me! :D Thanks for all you do for the team girlfriend!

Here are some potential measurements for you to to try:
For more detailed measurements take a peek on each of the operator blogs (linked below)
Base: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: 5 x 3 3/4"
Layer 3: 2 1/8" x 3 1/8" (matte for the focal point)
Layer 4: 2 x 3" focal point
Layer 5: Some sort of paper strip, decorative border or ribbon.

And that's it! So clean and simple, but a gorgeous modern design.. I'm loving it!

Let's see what our Guest Designer Denise did for this week! Isn't this card adorable? Again, Denise will be with us, sharing her talents through the month of July. We expect to be doing another guest designer in October, so stay tuned for that! By the way, we have not chosen that guest designer, and we usually like to pick from people who play along! (hint, hint). :D

Guest Artist ~ Denise Willerton

Patti Chesky





Gretchen Barron



Tiffany Bauer



Selene Kempton





Connie Babbert




Lee Conrey



Are you ready to play along? We sure hope so! Never played with us before?? Well, it's easy! Sky's the limit!

1. Make a card using your Stampin' Up Supplies!
   
2. Post it online somewhere to your blog or other online forum
3. Post a link to the free linky tool below (please point the link to your post and NOT just your blog).
   
4. Have some fun and leave comments for each other (and for the operators if you like their work). ~ Everyone loves comments!
5. Please note, we reserve the right to remove links with non-Stampin' Up! product, "sales pitches", links to online stores, or requests to join your team. We're here to have fun, learn from one another and share.

We hope you join us this week and play along with this sketch! But don't delay our links will close at 8AM on Thursday morning Eastern Standard Time.

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton