Good Evening Friends,

Tonight's stamping 411 post comes with an important announcement that I wrote this morning for stamping 411.  Here is a copy of it.  It really says it all:

For more than three years, the operators here at Stamping 411 have been bringing you weekly sketches, color challenges, inspiration, techniques, tips tricks and more.  I think if you look around the side bar of our blog you'll agree that we have built quite a resource over the years.

In the very beginning, I thought that we could support our customers and friends more effectively together by pooling our resources and efforts, than we could as individuals.  That spurred the idea for 411 or "information" without strings, without marketing.  That original idea has become that shared resource for you and your customers (and my customers) as a go to for an online creative space to play, learn, and share.

This journey has been filled with fond memories, team work. beautiful relationships, friendship and fun.  Of course, like any journey, we hit our bumps in the road and grew as artists and individuals, always moving forward. 

Today, I'm happy to announce that we have decided to take a break.  You might ask why I am happy.  Many (not all) of the operators have had some personal challenges recently that have added so much stress to their lives. Some are having family members who are sick.  Others have has a huge shift in the time that they have to devote to 411.  As a result, it has become something that they have to do instead of the joy and "value add" in which it was intended.  I LOVE seeing people play along and I learn from you.  I really try to make the time to see what you've been up to and take the time to leave you a message that "I was there".  For some of you, I've watched you grow and develop the way that our blog has through the years.  We've grown together!  So tonight, I bid you a fond farewell.  Please don't think of it as a goodbye forever.  We ~ the operators ~ will give ourselves a little break, then re-evaluate.  We plan to leave the resource here for anyone to use and when we are ready come back, perhaps it will be in a different way.  We are taking an extended leave effective this week.  I'll still be by to leave you a comment.  Much love to you from all of your operators and from me.

Selene Kempton

If you want to leave some love for the operators at any time, here are links to their blogs.

Good Evening Friends!

I'm LOVING the sketch by stamping 411 operator Gretchen Barron this week and I don't have too much time to write!  I'm off in the morning to present at the Stampin' Up! regionals in Providence RI.  I'm excited and nervous all at once, hoping that I'll do a good job. 

My segment is the Workshop Wow segment and I've got a few things to show that I hope will wow the crowd, but are still simple enough to demonstrate. 

If you're there, please stop by and say "hi!" to me and give me a hug.  I'll need lots of prayers and hugs!  I'm not normally nervous speaking in public, but a crowd of demonstrators ~ my buddies and peers ~ THAT makes me nervous!  {smiles}

Base: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: very vanilla 3 7/8 x 5 1/8"
Layer 3: Core'dinations paper (I LOVE THIS STUFF) ~ i ran it through the big shot then sanded it. 5" x 3 3/4"
Layer 4: 3 3/4 x 2" designer paper from the mini. 
Then all the fun stamps and layering! 

Wish me luck!  BIG HUGS!
Selene~
Layer 5:

Good Evening Friends!

I have been loving the Toxic Treats stamp set this week.  It's funny, because I dont usually "DO" Halloween. Even when I have done halloween in the past, I always stuck to pumpkins and happy things.

I'm not feeling any different, but I do LOVE this spooky stamp set and paired up with glimmer paper and the new Scaringbone and Houndsooth DSP from Stampin' Up!  It's floating my boat {so to speak}.

When I saw the sketch by operator Gretchen Barron this week, I thought instantly, that the two tipped panels looked like a spooky graveyard.  Plus, it gave me the chance to play with some of the other images in this set.  :)  Both of these images match perfectly with the Decorative label punch.

I have to say the photo isn't doing this one justice.  It's super sparkly and fun in person.  I used the same technique with the paintbrush from yesterday to color behind my coffin on the right.  Then I {fussy cut} the image by hand and added another pop of white behind with the punch.  I used the new gold pen from the mini to add some outline to both coffins and colored the inside of my words on the left panel with the same pen.  Can I just say, these new silver and gold pens ROCK!  The old ones were the type that you had to push down to get them started, then you could end up with a puddle of ink on your project.  These are like markers.  they have  felt tip and will be fabulous for all my projects for the upcoming holiday season.

I cut an inside for this as well and wrote with my gold pen on the dark paper to my friend (whom I already mailed this card to). I like to make two inserts for a card.  One that will fall out that I write on, so that when my friend gets the card, she can reuse it!  I include an envelope, and address some computer paper to show through the back.  Then, I mail it in the clear envelope with the stamp on the OUTSIDE of the package.  That way the post office can cancel the stamp.  It costs about 20 cents extra postage to send it that way, but how FUN to get a card that you can reuse, that you can see through the envelope!?!

I will also say, although I did use a LOT of glimmer paper for one whole layer on the card front, I punched out some shapes out of the glimmer paper, so I wouldn't waste one inch of it!  I LOVE that paper!! So how about some measurements?

Base 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: Glimmer paper 5 1/4" x 4"
Layer 3: Black card stock, 5 x 3 3/4", embossed with the Argyle Embossing Folder
Layer 4: 1/4" strip of the glimmer paper 5" long
Layer 5: scaringbone DSP, 1' x 5"
Layer 6: Two punched out shapes using the decorative label punch.
Layer 7: 1/2 Striped Satin Ribbon (cant you see the witches stockings)  I love this stuff!! :)

That's it for tonight.  please check out what my girlfriends are up to, and maybe play along with tonight's sketch challenge from Stamping 411.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene~

Good Evening Friends! 

It's time for the stamping 411 Saturday Sketch challenge!  This week I needed a baby card for my friend Brenda!  I went to take pictures of her most GORGEOUS daughter Sarah Kathryn and I got to go see them while they were still in the hospital! 

Let me first say this card is SUPER sparkly in person and the feet are completely shimmery.  I just added a dollop of glue from a 2-way glue pen and sprinkled some dazzling diamonds glitter over the top for a wicked cool set of baby feet. 

Getting started on this card, I stamped the baby feet from the Baby Print's stamp set in Pink Pirouette ink.  I layered the congratulations on in wisteria wonder.  That congratulations comes from Stampin' Up!'s "Friendly Phrases" Stamp set.   Sometimes, layering ink, is just like adding a layer of card stock.   It adds dimension to a card without more bulk.  I strayed from the sketch a little to add my bow.  It seemed like the only place it would fit!  I made a faux bow, by looping a bunch of ribbon then tying it up with some seam binding and a gorgeous crystal button.  These are so super sparkly in person!

So How about some measurements?
Base: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2" pink pirouette
Layer 2: wiseria wonder, 5 x 3 3/4"
Layer 3: pink pirouette, 4 7/8 x 3 5/8"
Layer 4: Wisteria Wonder 3 5/8 x 2 1/2", cut with the Finishing touches edgelet on the top to make that gorgeous edge.
Layer 5: Pink Pirouette, 4 5/8" x 2", embossed with the Fancy Fan embossing folder
Layer 6: is the stamped image cut with the new framlit dies from the mini, Window Frames collection, page 30 of the holiday catalog.  With this layer I also paper pierced it and I have a few things to share about that.

I just LOVE the new paper piercing Packs and I strongly suggest if you purchase the guide templates that you get the new piercing tool to go with it.  These are super cool because they are only so big.  You can only push through your paper and template to a certain level and it stops in the template.  So your paper piecing looks even ever time.  Gone is the day when you have one hole bigger than the other if you're not talented enough to pierce the same way every time.  I hope that makes sense.  It's an awesome product tip. 

Finally, to attach my massive bow for one sweet little baby i used 4 glue dots and a blob of liquid glue.  The liquid glue is in the middle and will secure it for the long hall. the 4 glue dots (on different parts of the back of my superbow) will just tack it on the card. 

Have a wonderful weekend!  Hopefully, by the time you're reading this I'll be nestled snugly into my camper with my family for the night!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Good Evening Friends!

It's time for the Saturday Sketch challenge from your stamping 411 operators.  I purchased this stamp set, Countryside (page 85 in the book) because of the newest member of the 411 team Vicki Burdick.  She ALWAYS rocks cards with this stamp set and made me fall in love with it!

So here's some measurements to get started.

Base: early espresso 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: 5 x 3 3/4" more mustard
Layer 3: 4 7/8" x 3 5/8" raspberry ripple, embossed with the argyle embossing folder ~ main catalog page 189
Layer 3a: (skipped one!) is the Orchard Harvest Designer series paper from the mini with the apples pattern, cut to 1 1/2" x 5".  Then I used the square punch to make the flag.
Layer 4: is the apothicary accents largest framelit in the set.
Layer 5: is the CUTEST new punch in the mini the 1 1/4" circle punch behind the button.
Layer 6:  Raspberry Ripple Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit for the big shot.
Layer 7:  Very Vanilla heart punched element to spotlight the apples in the truck.

I love fall time and I typically love cool colors.  I love how stampin' up blended the warm and cool colors together in this new designer paper! The colors just make me so happy!  I just used a blender pen and ink pads to gently color the spotlighted area.  Many times when you see something that's spotlighted, the color is "completely" colored.  I thought this one looked better subtle.  What do you think?

The gorgeous new buttons in the mini finished this off, and I just tied some seam binding through the button to make a bow.

Easy to put together and I just played with the sketch!  Do you want to play along with the sketch this week?  It's easy!  Check out what my friends did with this sketch challenge and make your own card!  I can't wait to see what you'll come up with.  :)

Good Evening Friends!

Boy, have I been a blog slacker!  :)   Last week, I attended Stampin' Up's annual convention, and this week I spent doing {even more} swaps and a Christmas in July card class at my home last night!  After spending a week on the go, walking the stage (yea) and dining out every night, it's hard to come back to reality of cooking meals and balancing work with family life.  All is good!

I'm really looking forward to huddling around the TV tonight for the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympics!  It's amazing to see all the wonderful athletes that are the *best* at what they do!  It's really quite astounding! 

I drew up tonight's sketch and it's reminiscent to some of my first day's as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I remember being at my upline's house and asking (way too) many questions, and wanting to hold my first open house.

She suggested I look through her swaps for ideas.  The diamond, square, diamond for this weeks' sketch came from that first swap card I ever picked up in my hand.  I borrowed (and returned that sample) but I have to say, I've used this layout a bunch of times!  With this sketch, I made the card square and the focal point really pops I think! 

I used this card for my Christmas in July stamp camp last night and although this card was a bit of work, I think the ladies enjoyed making their "vanilla chai tea" card. :)

So first we stamped the focal point on a piece of scrap paper.  We inked up with gumball green, then (a convention trick) we removed the "green tea" from the cup with a blender pen.  It picked the ink right up off the stamp.  Then, we filled the expresso color for the part inside the cup.  "Huff" on the back of your stamp and stamp it onto cardstock.

Next, we used a blender pen, and used it to pick up versamark ink from the pad, to make the cup wet.  Pour vanilla embossing powder on and heat!  We used the new heat gun from SU.  It has two heat settings; Setting one is for drying ink only and setting two is for heat embossing.  The new guns are a lot more quiet!  We could actually still talk with the heat gun going. 

Then, we took the cup over to the big shot and cut it out with the coordinating framelit that is coming out with this set August 1st!  Isn't that the coolest?  If it wasn't bad enough with all of us sniffing our cups, we decided to emboss the steam as well.  Versamark by itself would have probably done the trick, but I wanted it a little bit darker.

Some folks were very concerned about SU retiring all the craft ink, but in class we just ink up in versamark, then ink up in the color we wanted (espresso) and stamped that on the cardstock.  it works just like craft ink.  It does add one small step of cleaning the stamps in between every layer but it works the same.

So one more word about square cards with a 4 1/4" measurement.  If you use the regular medium envelopes, you wont pay the extra postage that is associated with mailing a square card.  Just sayin'

So how about some measurements:
Base: 8 1/2" x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: Espresso 4" square
Layer 3: Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer series paper (brown snowflakes!! woohoo!) 3 7/8" square
Layer 4: 2 3/4" square espresso, (attached to the card on the "diamond" pattern)
Layer 5: 2 3/4" square vanilla, (attached straight like a square)
Layer 6: 2 1/2" square espresso (attached to the card on the diamond)

Supplies!
Stamps: sentiment is from Winter Memories, the coffee cup is from Scentsational Season (holiday mini)
Ink: Gumball green and espresso.  Versamark, blender pens
Paper: Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, espresso, vanilla
Accessories: vanilla embossing powder, stampin sponges. 

Oh and I sponged almost all the layers!  :)

I don't think the photo does it justice.  So here's your smellavision.... IMAGINE how Vanillarific it is. You know the girls in class couldn't stop sniffing their cards, but what happens in the studio, stays in the studio!  In person this card is like a warm sweater in the mid winter. :)  Comfort card.  :)  I'm making myself chuckle here!   I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Rubbah hugs!
Selene

Good Evening Friends!

It's time for another sketch challenge from your stamping 411 operators!  This week I am off to convention, by the time you are reading this it'll be almost time for me to come home.  I'm sure I'll have lots of stories to share. 

I did some SERIOUS damage in the holiday mini catalog.  Every page is packed with products I want (and now have)  teehee!  Here's a bit of what I got so far. 

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes
Ink: Stazon white (stamped on a window sheet)
Paper: white and cobbler, plus the new sandable cobbler paper.
Accessories: Lacy brocade embossing folder and NEW sanding block. 

Measurements:
base layer: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: 5 1/4" x 4
Layer 3: 5 1/4 x 1 1/2"
Layer 4: 2 1/2" circle punch.  I used a circle die for the acetate. It doesn't punch very well and the big shot cuts it like buttah!  :)
Here's how it looks under the hood.  :)

Have a great week!
Selene~

Good Morning Friends,

I can't believe doing this post got away from me!!  That never happens!  I've been back from vacation for only a few days, but I'm getting ready to leave for stampin up convention this week. 

I had a team meeting last night and after they left, I fell asleep on the couch! 

Gretchen has a fun sketch for us this week.  I LEAPED out of my comfort zone with this color combination.  :)

Colors: Midnight Muse, Tangerine Tango and Summer Starfruit, which I have another loving name for that I shouldn't share. :)

I started with a 3 x 4 piece of shimmer white and stamped a background using the new Reason to smile sunflower in tangerine, and stamped the small flower in midnight muse.  Then, I used a blender pen to move the color around.  For the center of the flower, I used the coordinating circle stamp and stamped that in the starfruit color in the center of each of my sunflowers.

I matted that with a 3 1/8" x 4 1/8" midnight muse layer.  

I set that aside and grabbed a piece of the scrap from the shimmer, and stamped my sunflower for the focal point.  I punched it out using my scalloped circle punch.  Notice the funky edge on the flower?  Well, I stuck the piece of card stock back on to a piece of computer paper, and rotated my punch and punched again.  Then just removed the computer paper from the back and sponged it with tangerine tango ink.  I like how it looks similar to the shape of the sunflower.  That GORGEOUS embellishment on top is a summer starfruit dahlia.  My absolute favorite new accessory from the main catalog!  just glue dot it on any flowery project and you're good to go! :)   I added dimensionals to the back of this layer and set it aside.

Next, I cut the "so kind of you" layer. This piece measures 1 1/2"  x 3 1/2" and I just tucked it under the matte for the top layer. 

Under that, is layer 2, it is tangerine tango 4 x 5 1/4", embossed with the fancy fan embossing folder.  :)
And the base layer is shimmer white 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Good Evening Friends!

It's time for another saturday sketch challenge from your operators over at stamping 411.

This sketch is SUPER easy this week.  Do you think the sketch artist is on vacation and wants to keep it simple this week?  Hmmm, could be!    :) 

Seriously, it's the last day of vacation AND it's my birthday!  Yep, 22 years old again...  ;-) 

Besides, sometimes when it comes to card making, less is best. 

So how about some measurements?
Base: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" scored and folded in half at 4 1/4", raspberry ripple
Layer 2: 5 1/4" x 4, whisper white
Layer 3: black 5 x 3 3/4"
Layer 4: whisper white 4 7/8 x 3 5/8"
Layer 5: is cut from layer 2  (teehee) then attached with dimensionals!

That's right, who's gonna know if you don't paint behind the toilet?  What??? Forgive me, that's a joke I use in stamp class all the time.  ~~  To make the focal point, I took layer two, whisper white and stamped the For You, then used the coordinating framelit to punch it out (with the big shot).  Then, just hid the scrap piece in between the layers. No one can see the hole back there in between the layers.  :)

The pretty ribbon has polka dots on one side and you're looking at the back side, sans polka dots.

I'm going to keep it brief tonight, as it is my last day of vacation and my family is at the pool.  (where I will be in a few minutes)!  Have a wonderful weekend!  I'll be back home and on track soon!  :)

Stampin' Love,
Selene

Good Evening Friends! 

By the time you're reading this I'll hopefully be camping! We're heading away for a few days to celebrate Independence Day (and my birthday). 

I was crafting in the wee hours with no one awake in the house when I made this card.  This week's stamping 411 came out of my head, and I honestly didn't have a card in mind, but I LOVE whisper white and lots of layers.  :) 

This weeks' sketch can be simple or more complicated.  I went with simple. :)  Did I mention that I'm diggin all the white?  So first, some measurements.

Base layer 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: 4 x 5 1/4"
Layer 3: 4 x 2 3/8", then scallop edge punched
Layer 4: 4 x 2, embossed
Layer 5: 5" ribbon
Layer 6: 3 strips of Floral District designer paper cut 4" x 3/8 of an inch and punched with a square punch. 
Layer 7: a butterfly, punched with the new butterfly punch out of floral district DSP. 

Dazzling diamonds and a two way glue pen to make it all sparkly and the ultra sparkly new button, with a strip of paper to make a stitch.

Have a great weekend, and an awesome holiday!  :)

rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Good Evening Friends!

It was nice to take a break to make this card earlier this week.  I have been doing a workshop marathon of sorts to help with some year end goals and I feel like I'm stamping 24/7.  :)

My little one hasn't been feeling good.  Between that, and me working like a crazy person life has been a challenge this week.  The good news is, it's almost time for my family vacation, which starts next Friday!  Yea, baby!  To the mountains we go!

Tonight's sketch is so pretty, and I knew I wanted to make something floral.  Although the sketch doesn't call for it, I went a little crazy with the layers.  Okay.. I had a LOT of fun with the layers.  :)  Simon Cowell would be telling me that this is one self indulgent card, and yea I'd agree!  However, I had fun, isn't that why we make cards? 

"dim the lights and away we go"!   
Measurements:
Base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2",scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8", razzleberry
Layer 3: 4 x 5 1/4", whisper white, embossed with the new and oh so pretty fancy fan embossing folder
Layer 4: 2 1/8 x 5 1/8" razzleberry
Layer 5: 2 x 5" floral district designer series paper
Layer 6: Razzleberry 1/4" stitched grosgrain ribbon
Layer 7: 4 1/2" x 3" whisper white, sponged with razzleberry ink on the edges
Layer 8: Razzleberry paper 4 1/4" x 2 3/4"
Layer 9: Whisper white 4 1/8" x 2 5/8"
Layer 10 and 11: cut flowers
Layer 12: paper banner with the sentiment 1/2" tall then trimmed and sponged.

Stamps: Fabulous Florets
Ink: Rich Razzleberry ink pad, Tangerine tango ink pad, baja breeze ink pad
Paper: Floral district designer paper, razzleberry and whisper white card stock
Accessories: Razzleberry 1/4" striped grosgrain, dimensionals, glue dots

Okay.. some notes about this card.. it's kind of funny to stamp leaves using purple ink, but I followed the DSP.  It's really different, ya know?  I tried using just blue flowers, but I DIG the way the tangerine flower of the focal point sets off the design.  Oh such fun!  Well I'm off to the races again!  I'll be back to share very soon!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Good Evening Friends!

With so many elements to this week's sketch challenge, I felt a little intimidated when sitting down to create my card.  I decided to keep it mostly white...  Well, did I have fun!

I don't have a wedding or shower to go to.. but I grabbed the love and laughter stamp set anyway.  hmmm how about a supply list first.

Stamps: Love and laughter
Ink: stazon black and primrose petals (for sponging on the background
Paper: Black, white and 2012-2014 in color designer paper
Accessories: stitched satin in primrose petals, the new dahlia's (my FAVORITE new thing!) the finishing touches edgelits, and floral fusion sizzlits.  (oh my!), Manhattan Flower Embossing folder, and stampin sponges.  Glue dots, dimensionals and tombo multipurpose liquid glue.  :) 

I LOVE this card!  :)

So how about some measurements:
Base: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: 5 x 3 3/4" black
Layer 3: whisper white 4 7/8" x 3 5/8"
Layer 4: 1 1/2 x 5 1/2" cut with the finishing touch edgelit on the big shot. 
Layer 5: primrose petals 2 3/8" x 3 3/8"
Layer 6: 2 1/4" x 3 1/4"
Then the flowers were cut with the floral fusion sizzlit from stampin up's big shot die cutting machine.  I used a glue dot to ad the dahlia.

It's not my normal clean and simple (which I love so much).  However, I am loving the way this one turned out.  TGIF!!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Tomorrow, I'm stamping with my friends from elementary school.  I don't think any of them have ever held a stamp.  I can't wait to share what I love so much with my old friends (who are still quite young).  :)

Have a wonderful weekend! 
Selene~

Good Evening Friends! 

What an adorable sketch from stamping411's operator, Gretchen this week!  I am having so much fun with my new stamps!  yipee!! :)

This is featuring the new Floral District designer paper along side the hostess only stamp set "A Cherry on Top".  I went with the clear mount version of this stamp set and put all 3 cupcake toppers straightly on a clear block.  I inked them up with daffodil colored ink and stamped them all at once!  My cupcake bases, on the other hand are dancing on my card in razzleberry ink, but I'm cool with that.  Look how light, calorie free and fluffy these cupcakes are!  :)  I omitted most of the phrases on the "happy birthday" stamp and trimmed it down to make it very thin.  I just love the retro font on that stamp! 

The rose red bow made of seam binding is just sort of floating there, but i like how it's making a visual table for my dancing cupcakes.  :) 

So how about some Measurements?

Base Layer: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: Whisper White 5 1/4" x 4
Layer 3: Floral District Designer paper 5 3/8" x 4 1/8"
Layer 4: 4 1/4" x 3 1/2", rose red, embossed with the polka dot embossing folder
Layer 5: 4 1/8" x 2 1/8", baja breeze
Layer 6: 4 x 2 whisper white

I had so much fun making this week's card.  Wanna play along with the sketch challenge?  Click here to be amazed at the other operator's awesome talent!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Selene Kempton

Hello Friends!

Oh my goodness! I'm so excited, like a little kid on Christmas about the release of the new idea book and catalog today.  This is a MONTH earlier than I'm used to and somehow this year it's different.  I am SO excited about the new book and all the new things I was able to order.  :)

I'm also SUPER excited that we can finally TELL people that we're adding a new operator to our team on stamping 411.  Vicki Burdick is a super talented lady and I am so excited she's decided to join our design team over there!  :)  This is a good news kind of day!

There are a lot of happy demo's today and there's almost a buzz in the air here at my stamping studio.  Sigh... 

I made a similar card to this one with my stamp club this week, and I had some left over packets.   A few weeks ago, I saw Glenda Caukins? (hope i have the right spelling on that) play along with stamping 411.  I emailed her and asked if I could case her Hershey kiss idea.  She had a chocolate kiss punched out of the blossom builder punch, and mounted on a square of tinfoil.  I took her idea and changed it a bit.  :)

Tip**  Did you know when your punches aren't working that using tin foil, then wax paper can help bring them back to life?   The punches are designed to only cut one sheet at a time, so don't over stuff them, and in between once in a while use both those items to sharpen and maintain your punches. 

Sorry about the retired ribbon on this card.  I need to order some of the scalloped dotted ribbon in melon mambo, but until then I'm using up my stash.  I bought a whole bunch of rolls when I did a wedding this year.  :)  Can't run out of the MAIN element, right?

This week's sketch is a fun one, using a square card.  I always think of my friend (and operator) Patti Chesky when I make square cards, it's her thing.. :)

Measurements:
Base: 4 1/4" square
Layer 2: 3 1/2: square whisper white
Layer 3: 3 3/8" square chocolate chip, stamped embossed and sponged.  :)
layer 4: 2 1/2" x 2 whisper white
Layer 5: 2 3/8 x 1 7/8" chocolate chip

TGIF and happy new catalog day!  Yea!!!
Happiness,
Selene Kempton

Good Evening Friends!


Have you ever seen the most AWESOME card, decided to case it, then not do it justice when you tried to recreate it?  That's how I'm feeling about this card.

I took a cool card I saw on my friend Sandi MacIver's split coast post, and it was so clean and simple and pretty...

When I saw this week's sketch I thought it would be cool to use some of the elements she did..  I embellished a bit more, and I'm not sure I love it. 

What I DO love is the new firm foam ink pads.  4 of the 5 new in colors are shown here.  The ink pad coverage is unbelievable, and I'm going to need all the colors pronto.. :)

I think I don't care for the placement of my ribbon or somthin'  Good days, and bad ones, creatively speaking this card is "just okay" for me.. It's like I'm doing American Idol Card making... This one is not in it to win it.. LOL  I do like where the bird is, in relationship to the flower and he looks like he's coming in for a landing on that nice soft flower. 

I'll come back and look at it again in a week and see if I like it.. :)  What do you think?  Would you make any changes to this one?  I'm off for the weekend camping with my family. I'm bringing all sorts of work with me (like a crazy person).  Walking out the door and putting the laptop snugly in the front seat so i can work on the way up there.

Oh I almost forgot the measurements!!! :)

Base: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: 4 1/8" square gumball green cardstock and 4 1/8" x 1 1/8" strip for the bottom
For layer 3 I cut a piece of cardstock 4 x 5 and then cut the 5" side at 1"

So, I ended up with two pieces of whisper white 4x1 and 4x4"  :)

Finally ~ and MOST IMPORTANTLY, It's memorial Day weekend.  Take a few moments to thank those of you that serve in the armed forces and to their families that have to go months without them sometimes.  Also, for those who make the ultimate sacrifice to make sure the rest of us can live free.  Thank you to our military. 

Love,
Selene~

Good Evening Friends!

I made this card last week for my mom.  I decided to follow the stamping 411 sketch, as I love using sketches as a jumping off point for cards.

This year for mothers day, my brother Paul & I decided to go in on a mutual gift.  He sent me his part of the gift and I made a card from my family and him and his girlfriend.  I wanted this one to be just right.  Even my daughter Alexis was wow-ed with this one.  She's my best critic.  Since I wanted this one to be for my mom, in my mom's style, it makes my heart happy to get this one right. 

If you looked around my mom's house, you'd see the color "dusty rose" everywhere.  When I looked at primrose petals I thought to myself, "yea, this is my mom's color!"  In fact, the couch in her living room is is pretty much these two colors.  With the trending vintage style, this color set is certainly going to fit the trend.

This was a true labor of love.  I started with some shimmer white card stock and stamped my leaves with soft suede.   Soft Suede is an AWESOME alternative to green.  It's a brown that is sort of in the green family, but it's not.  it really works here.

For the primrose layer, I used the "Double Boss" technique.  First, I stamped a background stamp, then I embossed that layer with the tulips embossing folder.  I sponged the tulip frame with primrose ink, then I embossed the same layer again with a different embossing folder (vintage wallpaper).  The result is so pretty! 
To make the bow, I cheated!  I made loops and captured the loops in the middle with my brad.  Then I took a pair of paper snips and busted a hole in the card right by the stem of my flower.  I opened the brad in back of the soft suede layer.

Then, I attached a pearl to the top of the brad.  I had a sheet of pearls leftover, and added random sized pearls to the center of my flower, grouping them together.  it's such a pretty addition to this card, and on top of the shimmer white, it's so breathtaking! 

When stamping the flowers, this is a two step stamp.  I stamped off with the first image on a piece of scrap paper.  Then added the top image by stamping with the color full strength.

The sentiment read, "for my wonderful mother".  Well, I was going to omit "for my" because this card is from 5 people.  When you omit the words, the word wonderful ended up in an odd place.  So I stamped wonderful first, then stamped mother underneath after cleaning the stamp. 

Finally, here are the measurements:
Base: Shimmer White 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: soft suede 5 1/8" x 3 7/8"
Layer 3: Primrose Petals 5 x 3 3/4"
Layer 4: Soft Suede 2 1/2" x 3 7/8"
Layer 5: Shimmer White 2 3/8" x 3 3/4"
Layer 6: A 3/4" strip of shimmer white, stamped and cut with a square punch to make the "V" in the end.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Good Evening Friends! 

It's time for another sketch from stamping 411!

Tonight's gorgeous sketch is by Gretchen Barron.  I had some leftover supplies from club still sitting out in the studio, so I changed a few things, a little nip an little tuck, and created this GORGEOUS card with Herb Expressions.  I purchased this set because of one of my BFF's Gina.  She loves it.  I love what SHE did with it... Then I bought the set.  It sat on my shelf, unmounted until it hit the retirement list. 

After putting it together I realized it has four wonderful sayings that I wished I had actually looked at! Isn't that crazy?

So the technique on this card is super simple.  You ink with a marker ONCE, then huff, stamp a bunch of times, until the stamp runs out of ink.  It looks like my lavender is blowing in the breeze doesn't it? 

The bow is VERY simple.. I cheated.  I made 4 loops, then "captured" the center of my ribbon with a brad.  I punched a hole in the layers beneath and put the brad through, then opened the brad backings to hold it on my card.  I did this before sticking it to my base layer, so the brad back is caught in between the layers we are unable to see.  :)  The satin ribbon is my favorite for really regal looking cards.  I'm going to miss it when I run out (and not before). :)

Measurements. 
Base: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: Wisteria Wonder 5 3/8" x 4 1/8"
Layer 3: Whisper white 5 1/4" x 4:
Layer 4: Patterned paper (wisteria and concord crush) 5 1/4" x 1 1/2"
Layer 5 and 6: Wisteria wonder (embossed with vintage wallpaper) 3 x 3 1/2"
Layer 7: Concord crush 3 x 3 1/2"
Layer 8: Whisper White 2 7/8" x 3 3/8"

Thanks so much for stopping by tonight!  I'm off to a birthday party for my nephew! :)
All DAY dance rehearsals tomorrow for my little one!  :)  Have a wonderful mothers day weekend!

Selene~

Good Evening Friends!

I was so excited when I saw this week's sketch by Gretchen Barron. It fits my style which is more clean and simple.  it's what I float towards always.

We'll be saying goodbye to this set very soon, and I'm not sure that I've properly even said hello!

I've been VERY blessed with some amazing friends.  I've always known that I have the best friends a girl could wish for but it's when we band together to help others that our true mark on the world is left behind.  With some of the challenges I've witnessed others having, and the beautiful outpouring of community and solidarity to help a neighbor in need, I felt the need to make some cards this week.

This card is for a very special and generous friend who went out of her way to help someone.  Isn't that what it's all about?  :)

So I used the Masking technique on this card.  Someone was asking me about how to make it so one set of stamps fits with another, and masking was how I put the hearts in the truck.   So I wrote up some quick directions for you.

After stamping and water coloring the image, I added some dazzling details.  I just love this dimensional shimmery glue!  At $2.50 a bottle, I'm addicted!  :)  I also used the cherry cobbler dazzling details on the tail light of the truck.  So cool! 

Okay.. So how about some measurements:

Base: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4:
Layer 2: 5 x 3 3/4", wisteria wonder
Layer 3: 4 3/4" x 3 1/4", whisper white, embossed with the hearts embossing folder from the mini
Layer 4: 3 x 2 1/2", wisteria wonder
Layer 5: 2 3/4" x 2 1/4", whisper white


I used a retired slot punch to punch the hole for the ribbon and tied a knot. 

Here's another peek at the finished card. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  If you have time, come play along with the operators! 

Rubbah hugs,
Selene Kempton

Good Evening Friends!

It's time for another fabulous sketch challenge from your stamping 411 operators!

This weeks sketch is both simple, and reproducible.

How about I start with some measurements.

Base Layer: Blushing Bride 8 1/2 x 5 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"

Layer 2: 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" Beau Chateau DSP
Layer 3 and 4 are framelet die cuts from the mini catalog, the image is
Layer 5 is the scalloped oval punch
Layer 6: large oval punch with the sentiment from "oval all"

I'm still cryin' over the retirement list with so many sets that I wanted that I didn't get to buy.  I'm sure all will be forgotten when I get my hands on the new book! 

To check out what the other operators came up with, and to see the sketch and maybe play along, check out the stamping 411 blog. 

Rubbah hugs and TGIF!
Selene

Good Evening Friends!

Boy, did I get carried away with the layers on this week's card!  :)

Also, I have to say, this card is SO much more beautiful in person.  It sparkles.  All the white card stock is shimmer white and when you're water coloring, it adds such dimension! 

I'm headed to Vermont on what's expected to be a rainy weekend.  We are in a drought situation in the northeast, so for once I hope it rains.  :)  It'll just be my hubby and I this weekend for much needed time together.  I love being a mom, but realized that my hubby and I were not having date nights.  It's so important to set time aside for that, at least it is for me.   So, I'm really looking forward to the weekend.  I'll be doing a bit of work while he is bowling, but i'll be there to cheer him on. :)

The sentiment comes from a stampin up stamp set called Pursuit of Happiness and I'm SO glad it's not retiring .  This sentiment is one of my favorites. Every chance I get I try to live by these words and live in the sunshine and I find that I go back to this stamp set over and over again.

The rose image comes from the Growing Green stamp set and that one IS being retired.  I get so sad to see all the stamp sets retiring.  They are like old friends, they bring me joy.

I stamped the rose on shimmer white card stock and water colored the image with riding hood red and cherry cobbler markers.  Then I cut out the image, leaving a border all the way around, but I water colored outside the lines, so you cant see the white.  

Here are the measurements for my card of many layers: 
Base: Shimmer white 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
Layer 2: Cherry cobbler 5 3/8" x 4 1/8"
Layer 3: Shimmer White 5 1/4" x 4"
Layer 4: riding hood red 4 5/8" x 2 5/8:
Layer 5: Twitter Patted Designer Paper (from the mini) 4 1/2" x 2 1/2"
Layer 6: Riding hood red 3 x 2 5/8"
Layer 7: Shimmer white 2 1/4 x 2 5/8"
Layer 8: Cherry cobbler 2 1/8 x 2 1/2"
Layer 9: Shimmer white 2 x 2 3/8"
Layer 10: rose cut out in shimmer white and water colored.

I also made a big frumpy bow with the vintage brad.  I am loving these big bows.  I added some pearls to the focal point and to the top right hand side of the card.  although, I'm not sure that the ones on the right show up that well in the photo, they pop in real life.

That's it for me for today!  If all is well, I'm already pool side at the hotel in Vermont, or enjoying a night out with my hubby.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend and some time to play along with the operators this week!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Selene Kempton