Saturday, August 29, 2009

Hey! Its Sketch 114 from 411 :)

...and we're so happy to see you! We're going to jump right in and give you potential measurements for this card.

1. Cut a piece of paper in half at 5.5" (x 8.5") and fold in half.

2. The second layer is cut 4 x 5.25" (to layer on the front of the card)

3. For layer 3, you may want to consider using designer paper. cut at 4" and then at 2 1/2" leaving some room for ripping your edge. I like to do this with my fingers, but there is plenty of tearing edge tools or deco scissors on the market.

4. To add the ribbon, you might use snail adhesive to layer a 5" piece on the front, putting the adhesive on either end, then wrapping it around the back of layer 2 and 3 (already stuck together). You could take another 5" piece and tie that on to make a decorative element, or put something else there completely.

5. For layers 4 and 5, you could create a scene, or if you are using a large stamp, cut the paper (for layer 5) the same size as your wood block, then add 1/4" on two sides, when cutting the matte for this layer.

Thanks for joining us for another quick and simple sketch challenge. We cant wait to see what you come up with!

Here are some creations from our operators.


by: Robin Merriman



by: Gretchen Barron




by: Connie Babbert



by: Tiffany Bauer


Please remember our links close at midnight on Wednesday night!
Saturday Sketch Challenge Participants
1. Cindy Rio
2. Robin Messenheimer
3. Laura Thorpe
4. Sandy S.
5. Kathy White
6. Adair Svoboda
7. Andrea Thompson ~
8. Sharon Carr
9. Jenna Crawford
10. rush
11. Caro
12. Lynn
13. Cannie Hunter
14. Janny Ligtenberg
15. Lisa Kmiec
16. Kathryn Brown
17. Jaydee
18. Reeca L.
19. Gina L.
20. Tory B
21. Diana Robinson
22. Janelle Lavelle
23. Robyn
24. Erna Logtenberg
25. Tee - Teressa Thompson
26. Annemieke Maletzky
27. stamperbeth
28. Maggie Patterson
29. Tamarra Corel
30. Krista Visser-Driessen
31. Nichole Banh
32. Shari Nelson
33. Carole'Anne
34. Lily

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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Stampers Showcase

Thank you to all who visited this week and played along with the operators. Here are your operator picks for Stampers Showcase.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Saturday Sketch Challenge 113 and A New Operator

Before we get started this week, I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to our newest team member Tiffany Bauer.

Tiffany joined in on the challenges almost every week for quite some time, and we kept voting on her cards! The operators talked it over and asked Tiffany to join us! So, welcome! We're honored you want to join our little family.

When asked to write an introduction for the group, she wrote:

"My name is Tiffany Bauer. I am a wife to Jon for 15 years now and a mom of three wonderful kiddos, Kaitlyn 12, Griffen 9 and Jordan 7. We live in a very tiny one street town in Southern Indiana called Dubois, population 800. My true love is scrapbooking but since joining Stampin' Up! 2 1/2 years ago I have been enjoying the art of card making and stamping on everything!! At this past Stampin' Up! Convention I was named the number 85th Top Demonstrator of the Year, awarded my second but hopefully not last Founder's Trip and just returned from my very first but not last incentive trip to Hawaii!!!!! This is one wonderful company to work for and all the demonstrators I have met and will meet are all so wonderful!!!! I feel so very blessed to have a wonderful husband, great kids, a job where I get to create and preserve all my wonderful memories and so many awesome friends and friendships I have made along the way."

Thank you so much for joining our team Tiffany. We're all so excited you are with us!

Now, let's talk measurements! One possible set of measurements for this sketch might be:
Base layer: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"
Second layer 4 x 5 1/4" (to layer on the front with an 1/8 border all around the card.)
Third layer: 4 x 2" to layer across the top. You might consider using a designer series paper for this layer.
Next, add a ribbon, but not where the seam is between the papers.
Finally, Add a focal point. Remember that it might be easier for you to figure out how to measure your paper, by making the layer, the same size as the wood block for the stamp you selected.

We sure hope you have time to play along this week!


Robin Merriman








Thursday, August 20, 2009

Stampers Showcase

Your artwork is amazing ladies.. It's so hard to pick just 5. This week among all the operators there was a tie, so we're posting a few extra. Congrats to all for this weeks' showcase picks! Your cards are fabulous!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Congratulations to Connie Babbert!

Congrats to our very own Connie Babbert who was published in stampers sampler this week for this adorable card!

Rock On Operator!

Here's what Connie wrote about this cute card!

"I used one of my favorite Halloween sets, Eat, Drink & Be Scary and combined it with Good Friends. But my challenge was how to make that cute little bird scary enough for Halloween! I know! Turn him into a crow with Black Chunky Essentials Glitter for his body! I used Heat & Stick Powder adhesive so the chunky glitter would really stay on!

The hat was stamped with Black Craft and cut out. I added a band of Pumpkin Pie cardstock. And I stamped the Eat, Drink & Be Merry with Black Craft on Whisper White, and punched it with the Curly Label Punch. I also punched two black Curly Label Punch pieces and placed them behind the white one for a layered look.

The three different kinds of Designer Paper are retired from a couple years ago (still one of my favorite Halloween papers, but easy enough to replace it with other DSP). The base of the card is Pumpkin Pie. I had a blast making this card…hope you enjoy it!" Connie Babbert

Well, I think it's stinkin cute! Way to go for your accomplishment Connie!

Friday, August 14, 2009

New Sketch and a Surprise!!

Congratulations to our #8 card submission from last week! Tanja, today we drew your name for a free stamp set from Lee Conrey. Just send our operator Lee an email to pick up your Botanical Blooms stamp set!

Well, that was fun! You never know what you might win just for playing along with the operators! We won't always warn you that there's a prize!

Here are the measurements for todays cool sketch. Please keep in mind you can change these to suit your needs/taste.

Take a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock and cut it in half at 5 1/2" This will be your base layer.

Layer 2: 5 1/2 x 2 3/4" ( you can get 6 from one sheet)
The third layer depends on your image. Try measuring the block of wood you are using and use that for layer 4.

Note: you may want to try the technique Omitting for the sentiment. Just ink up a portion of your stamp for one side, then clean your stamp and do the other part of the phrase along the block.. You could use, happy ~ birthday, seasons ~ greetings, merry Christmas and so on...

Have fun! We are looking forward to see what you come up with for this week's sketch. Here's what our operators did!
Connie Babbert






Selene Kempton




Lee Conrey






Patti Chesky


Robin Merriman




Gretchen Barron


Saturday Sketch Challenge Participants
1. Krista Visser-Driessen
2. Sharon Carr
3. Nancy Horn
4. Reeca L.
5. Nancy Horn
6. Cindy Rio
7. Tanja Fussell
8. Paula (Inking Addict)
9. Denise
10. Robin Messenheimer
11. Pam Browne
12. Janelle Lavelle
13. Jennie Maier
14. Sharon Burkert
15. Lisa Kmiec
16. Diana Eichfeld
17. Janice Urke
18. Kathryn Brown
19. Judy Elting
20. RobynAnn
21. Tana Conley
22. Andrea Thompson~
23. Sandy Shippee
24. Germaine Ferrao
25. Lynn Put
26. LeAnne
27. kivonne tucker
28. Tami Black
29. katou
30. Mary Davidson
31. Deb

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Stampers Showcase for sketch 112

Here are your operators picks for this week.

Saturday Sketch Challenge ~ 111

Another Wonderful week! Actually this week 5 of your 6 operators are at the Stampin Up! convention here in hot and sunny Salt Lake City Utah!

We may be busy, but we're not too busy to provide this weeks sketch challenge! I know that I got some of my best swaps from this sketch! I hope that you have some time to play along this week and if you're in Salt Lake city, make sure you find someone with the 411 pin on and say hello!

You can tell I started writing this post before we left.. There were some amazing accomplishments at convention by our operators and we're so happy and proud to share them with you..

Without further delay, lets get down to measurements

Base: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" scored and folded in half at 4 1/4"
second layer: 4 x 5 1/4"
Third layer: 5 1/4 x 1 1/2". Note: if you cut a 12 x 12 to this size, you can get 18 pieces from one sheet!
you can run some ribbon on top to cover the seam, then measure your stamp block for the base of the focal point..

Please note, this is only a guide, and as you can tell our operators take liberties with the sketches! Please have fun! No rules... just go make a card!

Here's what our operators had to share this week:

Gretchen Barron


Connie Babbert




Selene Kempton



Lee Conrey


Patti Chesky


Robin Merriman


Saturday Sketch Challenge Participants
1. Reeca L.
2. Cindy van Oorschot
3. Paula (Inking Addict)
4. katou (France)
5. SAM
6. Tory B
7. Mandy
8. Tanja Fussell
9. Denise
10. Rachel Verbrugge
11. Nancy Horn
12. Rachel V
13. Tana Conley
14. Heidi Michel
15. Jennie Maier
16. Lynn Put
17. Sandra (stamperontheshore)
18. Paula (quiltcat)
19. Lorie
20. Joan Ottevanger
21. Krista Visser-Driessen
22. Joycre Martens
23. Tiffany Bauer
24. Judy D.
25. Carrie Gaskin

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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

We Have a Winner!


Congratulations to Janelle Lavelle of sunny Southern California whose number was randomly chosen as the winner in last week's contest! Janelle will receive a free stamp set and a 6x6 pack of Designer Series Papers!
Good things happen to those who contribute and play along with Stamping 411 Sketch Challenges! Maybe YOU will be the next winner!
Congratulations again, Janelle! The Operators look forward to seeing more of your work soon!