Friday, May 28, 2010

Saturday Sketch challenge 153

What a wonderful week it was!

If you were a blog candy winner... I apparently typed an incorrect address to pick up your prize, I'm so sorry! The correct address is operators@e-selene.com.

Make sure you check out Patti's color challenge posted yesterday. What a gorgeous creation! We've upgraded her color challenge posts to show a linky tool (you've been asking). We'd also love your feedback on the new linky tool with pictures! I know sometimes folks (like me) are resistant to change... but I think it's kind of nice to be able to see the large thumbnails. We'd love to know what you're thinking, and if you have trouble, send an email over to the operators@e-selene.com.

I love simple sketches, and this one is just fabulous! :) We hope you have fun playing along. Onto the measurements... One potential set of measurements for this sketch could be:

Base: 11 x 4 1/4" scored in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 1: 4 1/4" x 3 1/4" **note, try cutting an 8 1/2" piece of paper in half the long way at 4 1/4 and you'll yield 6 pieces from one sheet of paper.
Layer 2: 4 x 3" (maybe cut this one from 12 x 12, with no waste at all!)
Additional layers are ribbon, punches, or hardware embellishments... just have fun and be creative.

Does the thought of cutting your cardstock using measurements baffle you? Well, you can check out the most awesome post on how to read a ruler written by the very lovely and talented Lee Conrey, by clicking here.

Here are your operator submissions for this week.. Aren't they a talented bunch?

Click on the pictures below to be transported to each of the artist's blogs if you wish. :)

Tiffany Bauer




Selene Kempton



Connie Babbert



Lee Conrey




Patti Chesky




Robin Merriman




Gretchen Barron





Kerin Sylvester


Never played with us before?? Well, it's easy! Sky's the limit! Use this sketch to inspire you and let your imagination go wild! (well ~ keep it clean, this is a family show after all).
  1. Make a card
  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!
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 EST.

Stampers Showcase 152

What an awesome week we have had!! Thanks to all who stopped by for our First Anniversary, played along with our guessing game, entered our Blog Candy Loot and of course who played along with us using this wonderful sketch!! Here are your Operators picks for the week.



Make sure to stop by tomorrow to see Sketch 153, check out what the Operators did with it and of course to play along with us!! We love seeing all the beautiful artwork by everyone!!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Blog Candy Reveal

Good Afternoon Friends!

How did you do with guessing our cards? We did not really change our styles, but some of our styles I guess are similar! :) Here's the reveal in slideshow format, were you right?



Our operators also, did not know who's card was who.. They all took stabs off line.

Here's the spreadsheet I created for them during the week. The person guessing is across the top, and the actual answers are on the right hand side. :) Only two of the operators got my card right (tee hee hee)..
Connie's Lee's Kerin Patti Tiffany Robin Gretchen Actual
1 Patti 1 Selene 1 Patty 1 Patti 1-Patti 1 Patti 1 Selene Patti
2 Gretchen 2 Gretchen 2 Robin 2 Robin 2-Connie 2 Selene 2 Gretchen Gretchen
3 Selene 3 Kerin 3 Selene 3 Connie 3-Robin 3 Me 3 Robin Robin
4 Robin 4 Robin 4 Kerin 4 Kerin 4-Kerin 4 Lee 4 Kerin Kerin
5 Lee 5 Lee 5 Lee 5 Lee 5-Lee 5 Kerin 5 Lee Lee
6 Tiffany 6 Tiffany 6 Tiffany 6 Tiffany 6-me 6 Tiffany 6 Tiffany Tiffany
7 Kerin 7 Connie 7 Gretchen 7 Selene 7-Selene 7 Connie 7 Connie Selene
8 Connie 8 Patti 8 Connie 8 Gretchen 8-Gretchen 8 Gretchen 8 Patti Connie


Now On to the important stuff.. how about some blog candy... Not ONE person, guessed them all correctly... We stumped you!! :) Too fun!

Here are the blog candy winners, chosen by random number generation (random.org) from all entries received. To claim your prize, send an email with your snail mail address and phone number to operators@e-selene.com

14 Jennie Mayer Holiday and kisses Bundle
3 Priscilla Whimsical Words Bundle
22 Urban Ladybug Sidekick Bundle
4 Stacy's card Picture this Bundle
62 Always Playing With Paper Tart and Tangy Card Kit Bundle
36 Melissa Huie Very Thankful Bundle
19 veronica Pinking Heart bundle
23 Kathy White's Peacock Note of thanks Bundle


Congratulations to all the winners!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Color Inspiration #125


Can you believe this is the 25th week of the Color Inspiration?

Let me let you know that the submissions for blog candy have closed with Mr. Linky and to expect the reveal of blog candy and who's was who's later today.

Time sure flies when you're having fun!!!

For this special occasion, I thought we would try something different......a monochromatic card.

This week's colors are Chocolate Chip (my favorite), Kraft (soon to be called Crumb Cake) and Very Vanilla (a neutral).

This week, my sample card using these colors was SO easy to make!!! I used one of my favorite new stamp sets: Watercolor Trio. Since it's a monochromatic card, the ink pads did all the work!!! Don't get me wrong.....I love coloring this set with different color markers, but using this stamp set with just ink pads was so easy peasy!!!



Isn't it pretty?

The base card is Chocolate Chip.

The next layer is Very Vanilla cardstock which measures 5 1/4" x 4".

The top portion of the focal image is some of that magic paper. What? You've never heard of magic paper? Well, actually it's called Presto Patterns Specialty paper. But, it sure works like magic. It's thick white paper that has clear embossed designs on it. For my card I just sponged on some Chocolate Chip ink. It exposes the white grid design. SO COOL!!!!

The bottom portion of the focal image is Kraft cardstock which measures 3 3/4" x 5". The leaf image is stamped with Sahara Sand ink. The flower image is stamped with Chocolate Chip ink. The top edge is torn. The edges are sponged with Chocolate Chip ink.

The finishing touch is the sentiment (stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock with Chocolate Chip ink) that has been punched with the 1 3/8" circle punch.

The finishing touch is some Chocolate Chip satin ribbon tied into a classic knot.

Not too many steps, right? Easy peasy? Yes! Elegant? Oh, Yes!

Now it's your turn.......we'd love to have you try our color combination. If you choose to take the challenge, please leave a comment on this post with a link to your project.

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

Card Recipe stamps: Watercolor Trio paper: Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Presto Patterns Specialty paper ink: Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand accessories: Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, 1 3/8" circle punch, sponges

Friday, May 21, 2010

Saturday Sketch Challenge 152 ~ Happy Anniversary and BIG LOOT BLOG CANDY

You may have noticed some special preparations for this week's post, like the most awesome blog candy EVER!!!... and the funky fresh "hack" drawing by yours truly. We've seen some AMAZING talent over the past year and thought for just one week, we should make everyone honorary stamping 411 operators. For those of you that play and DON'T post, we love to hear your awesome stories that a simple sketch could brew such creativity in you. For that.. we thank you.

Every week we offer a sketch challenge for your inspiration and encourage you to change up the sketch as needed.

This week simple sketch is just like every other one ~ but this one has a bit of a twist.... All the operators, have been "assigned" a card that is not their own to post to their blogs. :)

So it's time to see if you can spot your operator's work!

We've got a TON of blog candy for a BUNCH of lucky players... Here's how to enter.. (it's as easy as 1,2,3) (I couldn't resist)

  1. make a card and post it through our NEW linky tool.
  2. Guess which operator made cards 1-8 and leave a comment.
  3. Or do both and you'll be entered into winning blog candy, which will be announced sometime next Friday!
Either one of these things will enter you to win a prize! So.. Here are the mystery cards.. To keep it simple, I'm going to link the cards to the person who's posting them! :) So fun...

Some inside information ~ There's been a flurry of chatter among the operators today, about who's card they ***think*** they have. I'm happy because I'm the only one that actually knows! I hosted a mini swap of sorts. I have all the operator cards here, and took the photos today. My 5 year old daughter, put the creations back into the pre addressed envelopes going out.. so in a few days they will have one clue about who's card is who's.

So ~ none of the operators know who's card is who's and they'll all be guessing on their posts and showing someone else's card! This should be fun.

One hint ~ I can tell you that no one posted their own card this week. :) Maybe that will help! I bet the operators will have as much fun as you! :)

Thanks to Gretchen for sending me this list of potential measurements for this week's sketch, after all, it's date night!

  1. Layer One -- Card base cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded in half
  2. Layer Two -- cut at 3 x 4.5"
  3. Layer Three -- cut at 2.75 x 4.25"
  4. Layer Four -- cut at 1.25 x 4"
  5. Layer Five -- cut at 1 x 4"
  6. Layer Six -- cut at 1.5 x 2.5"
  7. Layer Seven -- cut at 1.25 x 2.25"
Not sure what all those numbers mean? Lee has written a wonderful post on measurements and how to cut your card stock that can be found here.


Card One ~ Posted by Robin Merriman



Card Two ~ Posted by Tiffany Bauer



Card Three ~ Posted by Lee Conrey




Card 4, Posted by Gretchen Barron




Card 5, Posted by Kerin Sylvester





Card 6 ~ Posted by Connie Babbert




Card 7, Posted by Patti Chesky





card 8 posted by Selene Kempton

Now it's your turn, we have a new linky tool. Our old Mr. Linky was a little wonky, and he's retired for greener pastures.

To link to your blog, with a thumbnail, look for the red phrase below that says "Click here to enter". That's the new linky tool, if you have trouble, pop us an email at operators@e-selene.com.

Please try and remember to link to your specific blog entry and just to your blog address. It's fun to use and we hope you'll try it out! I love seeing my creations as a thumbnail, and it even will allow you to crop it down.

If you're linking to SCS, try adding your thumbnail from "file" on your computer, rather than SCS. Remember that links close early Thursday morning!

Don't forget to make your guess on who made what card.. you could win some of the big loot of blog candy we've got going on! Check out that side bar!

Stampers Showcase 151



WOW -- what a talented group of artists we had participate in last week's sketch challenge! The cards and projects were just amazing! Here are the top 5 Operator Pics for the week. Keep up the great work, everyone!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Color Inspiration: Ode to the 80's



Did y'all see Selene's "Ode to the 80's" card the other day on her blog.

It seriously had me thinking of the past. I am a HUGE fan of 80's music. The clothes are kinda scary (although they do seem to be popular again). Seriously, didn't we learn the first time that gelly shoes leave you with stinky feet? LOL!!!

Anyway, Selene's flashback to the 80's was all the inspiration I needed for this week's color challenge.

I chose Basic Black, Pink Passion, Only Orange and Green Galore. Fun, huh?



While I was flashing back to my high school years, I thought I would try a new technique too. This one is called Emerging Color.

Basically, you stamp images onto Glossy White cardstock. Ink up a stamp with Versamark ink, sprinkle on some Clear Embossing Powder and heat until melted. Use your brayer to roll a dark ink (I used Basic Black) over the entire piece of Glossy White. Use a paper towel to buff the image.

Easy peasy!!!!!

It's hard to see in this photo, but the Basic Black cardstock is spritzed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz. It's oh so shimmery!!!!!

Well, even if you're not a child of the 80's, it sure is fun to act like one!!!! Go ahead and "make my day" because if you take the challenge, your project is going to "look awesome.....totally". Sorry....couldn't resist the 80's talk!!!! LOL!!!

Just make sure you leave a comment on this post with a link to your project. We'd love to check it out!!!!

Card Recipe
stamps: Vintage Vogue, Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Green Galore, Only Orange, Glossy White
ink: Pink Passion, Only Orange, Green Galore, Basic Black, Versamark
accessories: brayer, clear embossing powder, Photo Corner punch, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, 5/16" Neutral Brads, 1" circle punch, Modern Label punch, Word Window punch

Friday, May 14, 2010

Saturday Sketch Challenge 151 (SSC151)

Good Evening Friends!

Can you believe we're ONE week away from our 1st Anniversary! We have some special things planned for next week, so make sure you check back with us!

Before We get started... Notice an oval shape?? Oh no!!! you may not have an oval cutter? Well, I want you to use ANY shape.. Maybe you have a star, or if not, use a rectangle. A fun nestable shape.. Whatever you want to use.. Sky's the limit!

Thanks again to all who participate with our sketch challenges and to those who may just gain some inspiration or a technique or two.
On to this week's sketch. One Potential Set of measurements, (clipped from Robin Merriman's card at the top could be)

Base: Basic Gray - 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" folded to make an A2 card measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Layer 1: Presto Patterns Paper - 4" x 5 1/4"
Layer 2: Whisper White - 4" x 5 1/4"
Layer 3: Glossy White - cut with Oval Die and Big Shot

Does the thought of cutting your cardstock using measurements baffle you? Well, you can check out the most awesome post on how to read a ruler written by the very lovely and talented Lee Conrey, by clicking here.

Never played with us before?? Well, it's easy! Sky's the limit! Use this sketch to inspire you and let your imagination go wild! (well ~ keep it clean, this is a family show after all).
  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!
We hope you join us this week and play along with this sketch! But don't delay... Mr. Linky will only hang out until Thursday morning at 8 am EST.

Here are the samples from your 411 operators.


Robin Merriman




Kerin Sylvester




Tiffany Bauer



Selene Kempton





Connie Babbert






Lee Conrey




Patti Chesky






Gretchen Barron

Stampers Showcase 150

Good Morning to you all! What a week of creative sharing here! We have a wonderful sketch for you tonight! In the mean time, check out a few of this week's gorgeous submissions!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Color Inspiration #123

Happy Thursday!!! It's time for another color challenge.

Yesterday, I posted a card to my blog with a really beautiful color combination. I thought I would use those colors for this week's color combination. The problem is that one of the colors I used (Riding Hood Red) won't be returning until July 1st. So, I changed it to Real Red in case you don't own any Riding Hood Red.

So, if you own Riding Hood Red cardstock, feel free to use that. If you don't, Real Red will fit the bill nicely!!

Are you ready to take the Stamping 411 Color Inspiration challenge?

If you make a project with this color combination, leave a comment here with a link to your project!!!!

Happy Stamping everyone!

Card Recipe
stamps: Elements of Style
paper: Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede, More Mustard, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
ink: Basic Black, Old Olive, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red
accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Impressions Folder, Designer Label punch, Photo Corner punch, aquapainter, Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, sponges