Saturday Sketch Challenge 271, and an Important announcement.

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.

Selene Kempton (me)
Patti Chesky
Gretchen Barron
Lee Conrey
Tammy Fite
Vicki Burdick

On to tonight's card and sketch challenge.  

I had a ball with the sketch this week and since this is a "so long for now" week, I made a dedicated to the operators of stamping 411.  Not just one person, every single operator since our inception.  

I wish them all joy and happiness, and just KNOW we will be back as a team doing something special together in the future.  I love each of them and have enjoyed this journey so much.  

So, I wish them all to achieve their dreams.  More than that I wish them the courage to reach for them. This card is made totally with gold card stock, vanilla, and soft suede ink.  The soft suede ink doesn't dry very quickly on the gold card stock, so I embossed it to set and sponged this card like crazy.

I added a gold marker from the mini catalog to the pearls, which I let dry, then added to my butterflies.  I had to put my finger on the main picture to hold the flap down, but it's cool to use edgelits to make a decorative border across the bottom of the card. 

 

Here's a closer view of the sentiment.

This is truly a work of heART and was made with my BFF's in mind.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  :)

Love,

Selene

8/31 Stampin' Up! Watering Can, Sweet Essentials and Papillion Potpourri

Good Morning Friends!  

I haven't completed a tutorial for this gorgeous project yet.  I will work on that when I have some time, but here's another project I shared at the Providence RI regional seminar showing things you can make with the petal cone die.    The person in the background is my muse friend Diane.  I ALWAYS craft better, faster and with more creativity, when I have someone here to laugh with me.  :) 

The original idea that you could make a watering can from a petal cone die came from my friend Colleen Reddy.  She's in my down line and is a busy mom, coach and more.  She told me I needed to make one and perfect it so she could have the pattern.  :)   Love her! 

For now, I'm going to describe it and show you multiple views,  many of you crafty folks won't need step by steps. 

So I cut two petal cone dies, folded them and cut the tip off.  I probably cut about 1 1/2" to 2" off at the tip of the pouch.  When you open them up, you need two to stick together.  Ok, I already said that.. LOL  

On the back of the can, I used one of the strips that came out of the die when I cut the original two petal cones.  It looks like a banner.  I just creased it with my fingers, punched a hole and put a vintage brad through.  On the bottom, i did the same thing.  Pinch with your fingers to make a crease, then cut the excess across the bottom.  

I dont have a picture of the bottom, but I suggest cutting two pieces of heavy cardstock in a coordinating color to 2 5/8" square.  I used tombo multipurpose adhesive, liquid glue to assemble the whole project, and I stuck a full square on the inside of the can and then again on the outside at the bottom where the flaps go in.  I hope that makes sense.  It really makes the can more solid. 

 The butterflies are stamped on peuce (my loving nickname for ) Summer Starfruit card stock with more mustard ink and sponged.  I attached the butterflies with a glue dot in the center, and then added pearls that I painted with the gold marker from the mini.  You do need a few seconds for the paint to dry, but it comes out so vintage beautiful!

This picture gives a great view of the whole project.  I used more mustard ink on more mustard paper and cut an extra banner from the petal cone die to make my "FRIENDS" banner.  This is also a good view of the top of the water spout.  which is a punch from the new 1 1/4" scalloped circle punch from the holiday catalog.

So for the photo below, to get the circle to "stick" properly to the end of the tube, I stuffed a bunch of dimensionals in the tube and sanded it until I had a tube with a flat end, then I used the tombo liquid glue to attach the top. I love the "green tube" glue!

Here's the view of the spout.  I got this technique from my friend Regina Maginnis.  I cut into the scalloped circle all the way around, just a little bit.  I sponged the edges.  Then rounded them in with my bone folder.  I used a summer starfruit dahlia for the inside of the spout and spruced that up with my gold pen to add that vintage gold feel to it.

To make the spout I cut a 3" square piece of paper and rolled it around a pencil to make the shape.  When I got it small enough I used sticky strip to make the "roll".  Next, I used the back of my scissors to pierce a hole through my little petal cone base.  The punches wont fit in there.  I punched another 1 1/4" circle, and used my 1/2" circle punch to punch a few holes until my cylinder would fit through the hole to cover the hole I made with my snips.  I cut the excess of the circle off at the bottom of the watering can.  I also added a strip of sticky strip at the base of the can, so when my cylinder went through my hole, it would have something to stick to inside to make it solid.

I really should try and do directions for it.  It was a labor of love.  First, I need to make another one.  I gave all my projects to Stampin' Up for display at the end of the regionals.  Except for two projects.  One I kept, and this watering can, I gave to a dear friend, Pam.

I am pretty sure this is going to be a hostess gift for all my September and October private class/workshops.  I love making them and they are so pretty when they are finished.  :)  Anyone want to book a private class to make this one? :)

Have a wonderful, restful weekend and hold your loved ones close!
Rubbah hugs,

Selene Kempton

8/30 Stampin' Up! Ghoulish Googlies Designer Kit and Coffin Pouch from the Petal Cone Die, FREE TUTORIAL

Good Afternoon Friends!

I've been wanting to share this cute little coffin project for WEEKS!  However, when Stampin' Up called and asked me to present in Providence, I saved this project for them!

Well, I've finally got my act together here (and the internet back) and I'm ready to show you how to make this STINKIN' CUTE pocket with the coffin die. 

So, if you follow my blog, hopefully you'll remember this project from a week or two ago.  I took the very cool Ghoulish Googlies favor bag kit and made these cute bags at my friend Diane's workshop.

Well, because the kit has 10 bags, and 20 tags that you can stamp and decorate, I decided I needed another project to use up my supplies.  Form sometimes follows function.  :)  If you missed that post you can read about how I made the bag at this link.

The coffin is SUPER simple when you use the petal cone die
and make 4 simple cuts.  Here's how you make the coffin.


1.  Start by cutting out a petal cone die.  I used a half a piece of black card stock cut to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"

 2. Fold up the pouch and place the line that is made by the die on the 3 1/4" mark on your paper cutter.  I like using my stampin up tabletop paper cutter Page 180, item number 106959  because it will go through 3 layers at a time without a problem and with the folds, there are 3 layers here.

3. Flip the die cut piece over & again using that same line, measure at 1  1/4" and cut the top off.  

 

4. So, this is what the piece looks like at this point.  

 

5. Now cut the corners on the 1 1/4" side, to make the coffin shape like this. 

6. Add sticky strip

7.  A little more sticky strip along the flap. I know it is in the pictures, but pull the bottom piece first!

8. Here is what the finished pouch base looks like. 

 9. then decorate the pouch and fill it with something fun.  I made additional samples that I showed at the regionals, including a mummy!  But, the samples went home with Stampin' Up!  and I forgot to snap a photo.  (I know, Boo)... but what can YOU do with a coffin pouch?    

Most of all, I love that I used every shred of material that came in the $8 Ghoulish Goolies kit and I was able to do two projects for 10 people at a private class with a small amount of materials.  LOVE THAT!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and if you like my projects, please leave me a comment and say hi!  (((hugs to you)))

Selene Kempton

8/29 Stampin' Up! Monster Munchies and Illuminate Ink Pad

Good Afternoon Friends!

I'm still catching up, recovering from having no internet connection for two days.  I guess I didn't realize just how much I work!  :)

Today I have another project that I shared with my fellow demonstrators at the Providence RI Regional Seminar.   I didn't hear a THING from the stage, but my friends at the table said that the whole crowd **gasped** then **ooohed** when I took the illuminate pad and smooshed it right on top of the spider web embossed black card stock on this card.  Just smack it down on the card stock and rub it on, direct to paper.

This card went together so quickly!  I love how the panel going across looks like a pumpkin.  I attached a 2" strip of designer paper to a 2 1/2" tangerine tango piece of cardstock, then cut it with the largest piece of the apothicary accents framelits.

I stamped the "happy BOO from me to you" with the new illuminate watermark as well and just cut that with a framlit (from the same pack) too!  I added a really thick coating of the silver dazzling details.  Finally I tied it up with some of the new scalloped tulle ribbon.  This stuff is the BEST!  you just have to be able to tie your shoes and fluff and you get a perfect bow every time! 

I hope you're having a great day today!

Shopping List:
Stamps:  Monster Munchies Stamp Set (wood mount or clear mount)
Ink: Illuminate Glimmer Watermark Stampin' Pad
Paper: Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP, very vanilla, basic black, tangerine tango
Accessories: Crumb Cake 3-1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon, Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies

Thank you for stopping by.

Selene Kempton

8/28 Stampin' Up! 2 for 1 post! Ghoolish Goolies Kit, Other Uses

 Good Afternoon Friends!

Today I'm showing a few follow up projects from my presentation at the Providence RI Stampin' Up Regional Seminar.  I have been without an internet connection and I'm sitting in a restaurant writing this post!  So today I'm going to share two projects that are both made with the goolish goolies kit that is intended for Halloween. 

So ~ let's say you're like me and you buy way too many kits, OR you purchase a kit and find it on November 1st, the day after Halloween passes.  Yes, I'm good for purchasing Christmas gifts and finding them the following July.  There are still so many cool uses for this kit!

In this example I embossed the bottom of the bag and used the direct to paper technique to smoosh the ink onto the bag.  I also stamped the truck from the "i dig you stamp set"??  I'm going by memory here, so I hope I'm correct!  LOL  Anyway, I took the back of one of the tags and punched it out with a heart punch.  then stamped the I dig you and added some glimmer paper (of course)  I think i just need to add this to every project from here on out, what do you think?  :)

So here is the kit. You get so much in this kit.

• 20 printed double sided tags 10 of each in two designs
• 10 galssine bags with die-cut edges: each 3x5" x 1 1/2"
• 50 adhesive-backed googly eyes (ea. 5 mm)
• 10 pieces Pumpkin Pie/Whisper White Baker's Twine, ea. 8" (color exclusive to this kit). 

Colors are Basic Black, Lucky Limeade, Pumpkin Pie, and Whisper White.
I forgot to take a picture of the other project I did with this kit.  It was a really cute christmas card.  I used a christmas tree framelit and cut a tree out of the black and green pattern.

Finally, here's another idea.  You can quickly turn these bags into treats for Christmas.  In both of these examples I cut a piece of paper to insert into the  back of the bag just a little smaller than the inside of the bag, measuring about 4 3/4" x 2 7/8".

So, please say a little prayer I get my internet back soon and I'll keep the projects coming.  I have a bunch of things to share, including a cute coffin box made from the petal cone die.  Happy First day back to school!

Rubbah hugs,

Selene Kempton
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8/25 Stampin' Up! I AM (blessed)

Here's one reason why I'm blessed.  Yes I am!  I'm off to the Providence Rhode Island today for the Regional Seminar!  I'll be presenting a workshop wow today.  I certainly hope I get a "wow" in the crowd.  This is my fabulous team and the page we made at the team meeting this week.  First, we had a healthy dinner while enjoying a slide show with the "visual notes" from our trip to convention.

My hubby helped by cooking and he snapped this great photo of some of my team!  We printed the pictures and each member left with the page.  A few of the girls said they are going to frame the page to bring to workshops!  

Selene Kempton
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8/24 Stampin Up! Friendship Preserves & Wonderfall

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:

8/23 Stampin Up! Yes, I am

Good Afternoon Friends!

The Stampin' Up! convention theme this year is one that I love "I AM".  At the end of convention, for those demonstrators who took all the classes, they awarded us with a special stamp set called I AM.

This week on Tuesday evening my team gathered for an informal post convention meeting.  It started with a grilled chicken and veggie dinner over a slide show of convention photos.  I take "visual" notes because I am a visual learner. 

This card was for one girl on my team.  She actually got three cards and a few packages of the glimmer paper.  I run an incentive program with my first level downline when they are operating at a certain level, I make them cards and give them a small gift of product to reward their efforts.  This exceptional demonstrator has already exceeded this goal for this month too, so I'll be working on a package that I will present to her at the September team meeting.  She is ALL of the things that this stamp set shows.

I saw this layout on split coast and thought that it would really pop with the glimmer paper, which is the incentive product of the month this month for my girls. At the meeting we used the stamp set again to make a "creative" scrapbook page and my hubby got a picture of the small group of us and we printed out the picture.  Everyone left with a completed page.  Some of the girls said that they are going to frame it.  I will share that page soon **promise**, I've been busy getting ready for Saturday.

I have been asked to present at the Providence RI regional conference and i'm a little nervous!  Nothing like presenting to a room full of your peers with a camera guy and everything!  If you're local, I hope to see you, and catch up with you there!

Tomorrow night i'll be back to share the 411 card for this week.  Then it will be off to the races so i can be down in Providence early!  (((hugs)))

Selene~

8/22 Stampin' Up! Friendship Preserves and Orchard Harvest Core'dinations

Good Morning Friends!

I had a wonderful team meeting last night.  This was my swap card.  For this month's meeting we found a random sketch online and used that for the swap.  The cards are gorgeous.  Maybe I'll get to share them as the week goes on.

I think you know how much I LOVE this new 3 1/2" scalloped tulle ribbon. Seriously, just tie your shoes and fluff and you get a gorgeous bow every single time.  It makes me so happy! :)  I have been using up some of my packets from my stamp club so some of my colors have been repetitive, but I don't want to waste supplies.

So next I took my Core'dinations cardstock and ran it through the big shot.  When I did this in club I noticed that on the "normal" setting of tab 1 it made the paper fragile.  So, I tried running it through on the "no tabs" setting and it was much better! I'll be using no tabs for embossing my Core'dinations from now on.  After it came out of the big shot, I sanded the cardstock with the new Stampin' Sanding Block.  I love that you can buy refills for the block separately and keep the one block the better part is, the refills are just under $2.  woohoo!

The stamp set, friendship preserves is sold by itself, or in a bundle with the framelit dies that match perfectly.  When you get the bundle together, it's priced to save you a little money, and that's something I can celebrate for sure! :)  I inked the thanks with markers, then used the big shot to cut the thanks out with the coordinating framelit.  I sponged the outside of that layer with raspberry ripple ink.    Finally I followed the sketch and added some designer paper.  I really like how this one turned out.

I spent some time over the weekend, canning up some of the extra cucumbers from my garden.  This stamp set really speaks to me.  I believe that making strawberry jam, and jarring my own pickles will be new family tradition.  I did all the cutting, my daughter stuffed the jars, and my hubby made the mix and finished the process.  It was an awesome family activity.

I've started to dress up the jars to give as gifts.  It's fun that we grew the cucumbers and did it all ourselves.  When I have one done, I'll have to show it to you.  The new fall fabric has one pattern in particular that is perfect for decorating my jars of dill pickles.

I digress...
How about a shopping list!
Stamps: Friendship Preserves Wood Mount OR Clear Mount
Framelits:  Preserved Framelit dies
OR you can get the bundle (which includes both stamps and framelits) to save money: Clear Mount, Wood Mount
Paper: Orchard Harvest Designer series paper, Core'dinations cardstock, 3 1/2" scalloped tulle ribbon, Stampin' Sanding Block.

See you tomorrow for another fun project share!

Selene Kempton
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8/21 Stampin' Up! Layered Labels

Good Morning!

Just a quick card share today!  I'm getting ready for my team to come over tonight.  I made this for a team meeting several months ago and never posted it.  :) 

This cared is pretty impressive in person, but it was surprisingly easy to put together.  The sponging and pen work make it really pop!

Here's the shopping list for this card:
Stamps: Layered Labels, Wood Mount, Clear Mount
Ink: Basic Black Marker and Raspberry Ripple Ink Pad
Paper: Whisper White and Raspberry Ripple Card Stock.
Big Shot: Apothecary Accents Framelit dies ( page 191), Framed Tulips and Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folders.
Ribbon: 5/8" Organza Ribbon 

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Tuesday!

Selene Kempton
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8/20 Stampin' Up! Dinoroar Kids Card

Happy Monday to you all!

Today I'm sharing a Triple Time Stamping card, I made at my friend Diane's Stampin' Up Workshop!

I guess I should call this "double time" because we didn't stamp the top layer.  That became our focal point.  This was the "boy" card we did at the "mom and me" style private class earlier this month.

This one is pretty easy and the boys in the class (around 8-9 years old) LOVED this card after making the "girly girl" one.

Measurements:

Base: Always Artichoke Cardstock, 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”, scored and folded in half at 4 1/4”

Layer 2: Very Vanilla 4 x 5 1/4”

Layer 3: Always Artichoke Cardstock 4 1/4” x 3 1/4”

Layer 4: Very Vanilla 4” x 3”

Layer 5: Always Artichoke Cardstock 3 x 2 1/4”

Layer 6:  Very Vanilla 2 3/4” x 2

Step By Step Instructions:

Step 1:  Grab a packet and use temporary adhesive to attach layers 4 and 6 on top of one another. 

Step 2: Stamp the green the “t-rex” artichoke ink twice (top and bottom corners (don’t worry about any gaps that show up).  They will be covered by the green mattes when we assemble the card with the permanent adhesive. 

Step 3: Stamp the bird and triceratops in other random areas around the frame and set aside

Step 4: Stamp the triceratops in midnight muse ink on the smallest white piece, then use the blender pen to move the ink around and “shade” the dinosaur.

Step 5:  Stamp the “roar” sentiment in artichoke ink just below that on the same piece (Layer 6). 

Step 6: Attach layer 6 to the layer underneath, add 4 dimensionals to this layer to “pop it up”

Step 7: Attach the rest of the layers to the front of the card, keeping in mind that you shouldn’t turn the white (they line up the way you stamped them). 

Step 8:  Enjoy!

Shopping List Made Easy

Item Numbers	Stamp Set:	US Price	Have √	Order √
122535W/122537C	Dinoroar  ~ Page 64	24.95W/17.95C
129851	Clear Block Starter Bundle C, D, and H	$19.95
	OR
118486	Clear mount block “C” for clear stamps ~ page 7	$6.95
118485	Clear Mount Block “D” for clear stamps ~ Page 7	$8.50
118490	Clear mount block “H” for clear stamps ~ page 7	$8.50
	Ink:
126972	Always Artichoke Ink pad  ~ page 155	$5.95
126860	Midnight Muse ink pad ~ Page 152	$5.95
	Card Stock:
101650	Very Vanilla Cardstock ~ page 156	$8.50
105119	Always Artichoke Card Stock ~ page 155	$6.95
	Accessories:
102845	Blender Pens	$9.95
104332	SNAIL adhesive DISPENSER  ~ Page 177	$6.95
104331	SNAIL adhesive refills	$4.50
106959	Tabletop Paper Cutter ~ Page 180	$45.95

Thanks so much for stopping by today!


Selene Kempton
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