Saturday Sketch Challenge 271 and Important Announcement!

Good Evening Friends!

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 had 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
Patti Chesky
Gretchen Barron
Lee Conrey
Tammy Fite
Vicki Burdick

Now.  Let's get this last party started!

This super cute sketch was done in MDS 2. The designer paper was colored using the new "recolor" method.  You can pick any designer paper and recolor it based on one monochromatic color.  Happiness! To get lots of ideas with regards to MDS, you can check out the online site for the program mydigitalstudio.net and don't forget to ask your demonstrator for help!

So ~ let's jump in!  Potential measurements for this card.
Base Layer: 8 1/2" x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2"
Layer 2: for the blue section on the bottom, you can either layer something on top, or cut something off, so that the background shows through.  The operators this week showed different ways of tackling that element. :)
Layer 3: Ribbon up across the middle (maybe a 5" strip would do?)
Layer 4: a punched shape or two. 

 Selene Kempton

Patti Chesky

Tammy Fite

 Gretchen Barron

Are you ready to play along?  We hope that you are!  Here are our rules for play.

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! I'm leaving linky open for a month because this is our last sketch till we see you again and it's the most current!  

Hugs to all of you,

Selene Kempton

Saturday Sketch Challenge #270

Hello everyone! It's Patti, and do I have a sketch for you!!!!  It's a square card, and you know how much I adore square cards.   I love when Selene and Gretchen design their Saturday Sketch Challenge sketches.  They show how gorgeous cards can be made in all shapes and sizes.  

Here's some measurements to get you started:

1. Layer One -- Cardstock cut at 4.25 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base
2. Layer Two -- Cardstock or DSP cut at 3 x 4"
3. Layer Three -- Cardstock or DSP cut at 1 x 4" -- cover up "seam" between Layers 2 & 3 with ribbon or a border punched strip of cardstock. Add a bow or knot for visual interest.
4. Layer Four -- Cardstock cut 1 3/4" square.  Mat with a piece of cardstock 1/4" larger.
5. Layer Five -- Cardstock cut with 1" circle punch.  Mat with two larger circle punches.

Okay -- now, are you read to be inspired by the Operators and their projects this week?  You'll notice that we are a few operators short this week.  Life has been crazy for many of us!!!   They'll be back with us as soon as they can!!!

Gretchen Barron

Selene Kempton

Patti Chesky

Tammy Fite

Are you ready to play along?  We hope that you are!  Here are our rules for play.

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.

Happy Stamping,

  Patti

Saturday Sketch Challenge #269

Hello everyone! Guess what! It's Saturday Sketch Challenge Time! We've got a fun sketch for you again this week and we hope you'll want to try it out with your own creativity and ideas!

Here's some measurements to get you started:

1. Layer One -- Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base
2. Layer Two -- Cardstock or DSP cut at 3 x 5.25"
3. Layer Three -- Cardstock or DSP cut at 4.24 x 5.25" -- cover up "seam" between Layers 2 & 3 with ribbon or a border punched strip of cardstock
4. Layer Four -- TWO pieces of cardstock cut at 2 x 3"
5. Layer Five -- TWO pieces of cardstock cut at 1.75 x 2.75" -- Embellish as desired!

Okay -- now, are you read to be inspired by the Operators and their projects this week? Let's go ...

Tammy Fite

Vicki Burdick

 Gretchen Barron

Selene Kempton

Patti Chesky

Are you ready to play along?  We hope that you are!  Here are our rules for play.

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.


Blessings, Gretchen

Saturday Sketch Challenge SSC268

Good Evening Friends!

It's that time of the week again!  Time for another Saturday Sketch Challenge.  We hope you have time to play along.

Here are some potential measurements for tonight's sketch.

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

Layer2: 4 1/4" x 2

Layer 3: 4 1/2" x 1/2" or some type of embellishment going across

Layer 4: some shape, die cut OR just a rectangle with your stamped image! :)  Keep it simple or sky's the limit.

Layer 5: the ribbon banner layer

Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy!  You can make this one as easy or as elaborate as you wish!  

Let's see what the design team has for you today.

Patti Chesky

Tammy Fite

Vicki Burdick

Selene Kempton

 Lee Conrey

Are you ready to play along?  We hope that you are!  Here are our rules for play.

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

Saturday Sketch Challenge 267 SSC267

Good Evening Friends!

It's my favorite time of the week!  Saturday Sketch Time!

Thanks to all that play along with us!  I love seeing all the beautiful creations you come up with!

This week's sketch can be as simple or elaborate as you wish!  Just look at the variation in the cards submitted by the operators this week!  They are all gorgeous and so very different!  Happiness!!

So how about some potential measurements for this fun sketch.  (for specific measurements by the operators, please visit their blogs via the links below). 

Base Layer: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
Layer 2:  1 1/2" x 5" with a flag pattern cut into it.  You could use ribbon for this layer or whatever suits your fancy.  if you're using paper, try using the corner of a square punch to get that shape!
Layer 3: focal point.  The image shown is probably about 3 x 3 1/2", but look at your stamps and try making the focal point paper the same size as the block you are stamping with (wood or clear).

Check out these gorgeous samples!!

 Lee Conrey

Patti Chesky

Tammy Fite

Vicki Burdick

 Gretchen Barron

Selene Kempton

 

Are you ready to play along?  We hope that you are!  Here are our rules for play.

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

Saturday Sketch Challenge SSC266

Good Evening Friends!

I hope you are enjoying your summer.  Convention kicked off the week for a mini operator break to give us some time to spend with our families when the weather is so nice outside! We will resume doing "top 5" and other "how to" posts around the 1st of September. 

We are still going strong with our sketch challenge and this week's sketch is pretty fun!  I hope you have a few moments to play along.  With this sketch it may not take you more than that!

If you're gonna try going square, I recommend trying the 4 1/4" square size with this sketch.   You can easily use the focal point on a standard  sized card.  There's no rules!  If you are going 4 1/4" square, could still use the regular medium sized envelope.  You will have a little extra room, but wont have to pay the additional postage that's required for mailing a square card (sneaky sneaky selene'e).  Here's one set of potential measurements.  To find out what the operators did specifically on their creations, just link on over to them.

Base Layer: 8 1/2" x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
Layer 2 and 3: 2  3/4" squares.  (the first one gets applied on the diamond, and the second is a square)
Layer 4: 2 1/2" square (attached on the diamond)

This is a super fun and whimsical layout!  I can't wait to see what you come up with when using it as a jumping off point!

Although we are "technically" on vacation, we still do hold true to our rules for play.  check them out at the bottom before you play along (please).

Let's see what the AMAZING design team has for you tonight!   

Selene Kempton

Lee Conrey

Patti Chesky

Tammy Fite

Vicki Burdick

Gretchen Barron

Are you ready to play along?  We hope that you are!  Here are our rules for play.

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

Saturday Sketch Challenge #265

Hello Stamping Friends! How are you this evening? We hope that you are doing fine and have some time carved out for this week's Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators!

Before we get too far into the post, I need to share an announcement with you! This week is the beginning of the Stamping 411 "vacation". Now don't panic ... we'll still have a weekly sketch challenge. However, from now until the first week of September, we won't be posting any "extras" -- Color Challenges, Whatever Posts, etc. And the Operators will not be leaving comments on your blog during this time period. Well, some of us might but you probably won't see as much of us as possible. We need a little down time and thought this would be a good time to take some.

So, be sure and come back each week for the Sketch Challenge and to see the fabulous inspiration projects that the operators create! And look forward to some really cool things when we get back to full steam in September!

Now, for this week's sketch ...

It's pretty straight-forward this week. Just begin with your regular Card Base (5.5 x 8.5", score and fold). Add a strip in the middle (2" wide) and then a large circle or other shape! Now, you thought this was going to be more difficult this week, didn't you! Fooled ya!

 

And now it's YOUR turn! We can't wait to see where your creativity takes you this week! Just scroll down to see the inspiration projects from the Operator's this week! Click on their name to find out more information about their project.

 

Gretchen Barron

Selene Kempton

Lee Conrey

Patti Chesky

Tammy Fite

Vicki Burdick

Are you ready to play along? We hope that you are! Here are our rules for play.

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. I hope you have a fabulous weekend! Blessings, Gretchen

Saturday Sketch Challenge #264

Hello Stamping Friends! How are you this evening? We hope that you are doing fine and have some time carved out for this week's Saturday Sketch Challenge from the Stamping 411 Operators!

As you can see, there are some layers on this week's card. But, don't be intimidated by them! It's easy when you break it down into steps! Here are some measurements to get you started:

1. Layer One -- Cardstock cut at 5.5 x 8.5", scored and folded to make the Card Base.
2. Layer Two -- DSP cut at 5 x 3.75"
3. Layer Three -- Cardstock cut at 2.75 x 3.25"
4. Layer Four -- Cardstock (whisper white) cut at 2.5 x 3"
5. Layer Five -- Cardstock cut at 1 x 2.75" -- attach ribbon over the "seam" and add embellishments and stamping!

See, that wasn't so difficult, was it?  And now it's YOUR turn! We can't wait to see where your creativity takes you this week! Just scroll down to see the inspiration projects from the Operator's this week! Click on their name to find out more information about their project.

Vicki Burdick

Gretchen Barron

Selene Kempton

Lee Conrey

Patti Chesky

Tammy Fite

Are you ready to play along?  We hope that you are!  Here are our rules for play.

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.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Blessings, Gretchen