A Peek at The Paper Players, Muffy and Brady the Boy!

It's time for a peek at this week's The Paper Players challenge card.  Join me for the reveal on Sunday...and be prepared for a fun challenge!

Muffy at the Show

Here is a shot Muffy taken at last week's dog show.  Although she was not the big winner, she did place!

She did a great job and we were very proud of her.  However, she still looks like a baby next to the older girls!  She is off again to show this Sunday...and then it will be Brody's turn to go out and strut his stuff at a couple of shows.

Congrats to Brady the Boy

A few weeks ago I posted that I was accompanying Brady to Columbia, Missouri where he was interviewing for a graduate assistantship at the University of Missouri School of Music.  After a busy day of auditions and interviews,  we returned home to await word.  Well...the call came!  Brady was offered the position.  His official duties will be playing trumpet in the faculty brass quintet and giving lessons to trumpet students. He is thrilled at the opportunity that he has been given...and he thanks all of  "Mom's Stamping Friends" who wished him luck!  

Emboss Resist Question

For those of you who had a question about emboss resist after viewing my latest video,  I ink the stamp with VersaMark ink and stamp onto Naturals Ivory card stock.  Next, I heat emboss using White Stampin' Emboss.  At this point, I apply the Crumb Cake ink using a Stamping Sponge, as shown in the video. I hope this helps.  If not, remember I am only an email away!  Until next time...

From Me to You in Thirty Minutes, with Video Tutorial

 Vintage in thirty minutes?  No way!  Well guess what...YES way!  Sure, I used a standard layout and one of my favorite techniques, but I really do like how it turned out.  Be sure to watch the video for some tips and tricks...but please ignore the barking dogs! And because this is a "From Me to You" card, I will provide detailed instructions. Enjoy!

The Stampin' Schach Design Tips:  Quick Vintage Monochromatic Card
The finished card measures 4-1/4" wide by 5-1/2" long.

• Stamp the Floral image from the Fresh Vintage stamp set in VersaMark ink onto Naturals Ivory card stock.  Heat emboss using White Stampin' Emboss Powder.  Using a Stamping Sponge, apply Crumb Cake ink in a circular motion over the surface.  Add  Crumb Cake waterspots with the Waterspot stamp from the  French Foliage stamp set, curl the corner using the Round File from the Distressing Essentials Kit, and don't forget the Pearls!  Distress the edges with the Seven Sided Tool from the Cutter Kit.  Apply Soft Suede ink to the edges with a Sponge Dauber.  (The image mat measures 3" wide by 2-1/2" long.)

• Dry emboss a piece of Naturals Ivory card stock which measures 2-11/16" wide by 4-11/16" long using the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and the Big Shot.  Apply Crumb Cake ink using a Brayer.  Distress the edges with the Seven Sided Tool, Soft Suede ink, and a Sponge Dauber.  Add instant speckles with a Color Spritzer Tool and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker.

 

• Tint a section of Very Vanilla Seam Binding using a Brayer and Crumb Cake ink.  Add Crumb Cake Waterspots.  Make a bow, and position the tails as you like, holding the ruffles in place with Mini Glue Dots.

• Use the Color Spritzer Tool and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker to add speckles to the card base.  Add a few waterspots, and daub the edges with Soft Suede ink.  Assemble as shown!

For more information on how this card was made, please watch the following video:

And there you have it! Quick and easy! I hope you enjoyed today's card.  Won't you please leave me a comment to let me know what you think?  And as always, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away.  Until next time...

Stamp Sets:  Fresh Vintage (W 125115, C 125117  Sale-A-Bration), French Foliage (W 120845, C 121166); Inks:  Soft Suede (115657), Crumb Cake (121030), Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker (120973); Card Stock:  Naturals Ivory (101849); Tools:  Cutter Kit (106958), Distressing Essentials (118762), Big Shot (113439), Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (115963), Brayer (102395), Sponge Dauber (102892), Stamping Sponge (101610), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Heat Tool (100005), White Stampin' Emboss Powder (109132); Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247), Very Vanilla Seam Binding (120999)

Sale-A-Bration Favorites

Sale-A-Bration is my favorite Stampin' Up! time of the year.  Unfortunately, the end is near.  But there is still time to take advantage of earning FREE product for every $50 (not including tax and shipping) that you spend.  Let's take a look back at some of my favorite projects I made using Sale-A-Bration goodies! Clicking on the name of the card will return you to the original post in which the card appeared.

The Power of Three

Happiness for The Paper Players

 

To Bow or Not To Bow

Vintage Regional Card

Quick and Easy Gift Box and Card

 

Quick and Easy Vintage

Thinking of You 

How can you resist this gorgeous Designer Series Paper and the Fresh Vintage and Elementary Elegance stamp sets?  Just CLICK HERE to place your order today! Until next time...

A Sketch Challenge: Happiness for The Paper Players

It's Sunday, and time to play with The Paper Players! This week I am hosting a sketch challenge.  Sketches are the foundation of any card, and I can't wait to see what you "build" upon this foundation.  Your design doesn't need to be complicated...it can be as clean or as complex as you desire, just as long as it follows the basic layout.  Make the elements of the design any shape you wish.  Just use our sketch as a springboard, and have fun.  Enjoy today's "Happiness" card...an easy vintage design!

The Stampin' Schach Design Tips:  Easy Vintage

This card measures 4-1/4" wide x 5-1/2" long.


When creating in a quick and easy vintage style, look for details that exemplify vintage, but can be completed quickly!

• A Beautiful Bow! Very Vanilla Seam Binding was colored a coordinating Poppy Parade color using a Stampin' Write Marker. 

 

• Pretty Pearls! Stampin' Up!'s Basic Pearls can be easily colored using permanent markers, allowing them coordinate with your Designer Series Papers.

• A Flagged Sentiment! I take the easy way out and just free-snip a  "V" shaped notch into the ends of the sentiment banner when making flagged sentiments.  They do not have to be perfect for vintage.  But if you are not confident in your free-snipping skills, just use a square punch!  For this card, I inked up the "Happiness" sentiment  from Loving Thoughts with Poppy Parade ink.

• Faux Brocade! Stamping directly onto textured card stock adds a fabulous "Faux Brocade" look!  Don't you just love the look of the stylized Flowers from the Fresh Vintage stamp set when stamped onto textured Very Vanilla card stock! Of course, a few Basic Pearls are always "pearl-fect" for this image!

I hope that you enjoyed today's card as much as I enjoyed making it!  Won't you let me know in today's comment?  Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one.  Of course, I am always eager to answer any questions that you may have about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use.  Remember, I am only an email away!  Until next time...

Stamp Sets:  Fresh Vintage (SAB-W 125115, C 125177), Loving Thoughts (W 125843, C 125845);  Inks:  Crumb Cake (121030), Poppy Parade (119782), Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Marker (119801  2010 -2011 In-Color Collection); Designer Series Paper:  Everyday Enchantment (SAB- 126154); Card Stock:  Very Vanilla (121078-Neutrals Collection Textured 12 x 12), Poppy Parade (119793);  Tools:  Paper Snips (103579), Big Shot (113439), Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die (120893);  Glitz and Glam:  Very Vanilla Seam Binding (120999), Basic Pearls (119247)

A Peek at The Players

It's Saturday, and we all know that means it's time to take a peek at this week's The Paper Players challenge card.  I am pleased with the way it turned out, and I hope you will be, too! Join me Sunday for the reveal!  Until next time...

Congrats to Muffy

 

I was informed today that Muffy Lin is currently ranked as the #1 United Kennel Club (UKC) Boxer in the country!   Now the show season is early, and I know that this ranking will change after this weekend, but I wanted to share the news with you!  This will probably be the only time I will be able to post that she is "top dog"...since we do not have any UKC shows coming up in the near future.  Other dogs will post wins and garner points while she is away from the UKC ring.  Fame is fleeting, but it is fun while it lasts!

 Wasn't she just adorable in the ring as a 6 month old puppy strutting her stuff?

American Kennel Club (AKC) shows are another story, and Muffy continues her quest for her AKC championship title as she competes this weekend and next in two major AKC shows.  Win or lose, she and her brother are still #1 in our hearts here at The Stampin' Schach!


Thanks for taking the time to read this non-stamping post.  I know that so many of you follow the Twins, and that you would love hearing the news.  Until next time...

Quick and Easy Gift Box and Card

Have you ever needed just a little something for a friend's birthday?  How about a decorated matchbox with coordinating card?  Stampin' Up!'s Matchbox Bigz XL Die, which is the perfect size for a few pieces of yummy chocolate or a piece of jewelry, takes on even more pizzazz when paired with a small gift card and matching envelope.  This easy to make gift card was inspired from one featured during a Main Stage presentation by Donna Griffith at the Milwaukee Regional.  I made a few little changes, and added Basic Pearls.  The emphasis was on keeping this little ensemble quick and easy! I hope you enjoy it!

The Stampin' Schach Design Tips: Vintage Gift Box

The gift card measures 3" x 3".

• Go with the Faux! Faux Sueded Peach Parfait flowers are the perfect embellishment for a Peach Parfait Matchbox! Three flowers were punched using the 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch.  A hole was then punched in the middle of each. The fibers in the card stock were broken down by repeatedly folding and unfolding. In addition, they were curled over the edge of  a bone folder.  Once the paper was softened, each scallop circle was separated into two layers. The layers were then stacked and held in position with a small brad. After spritzing with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch, the flower was shaped.

• Easy Peasy Three-by-Threesy!  The "Frame" from the Sale-A-Bration set Elementary Elegance was inked in VersaMark and stamped onto Peach Parfait card stock.  It was then heat embossed using White Stampin' Emboss Powder! Basic Pearls enhance the Calypso Coral Happy Birthday sentiment, also from the Elementary Elegance set.

• Envelope Envy! A 5" by 5" square of Sale-A-Bration's Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper was transformed into a custom made envelope in seconds with the new Simply Scored Diagonal Plate. 

• A Video View! For more information on making custom envelopes with the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, watch this video from Stampin' Up!

• The Ol' Switcheroo!  In case you are wondering, I did switch out the Poppy Parade Bow for a Pear Pizzazz Bow.  Which do you like best? Any guesses as to which one I prefer?

I hope you enjoyed today's project.  The Milwaukee Regional was certainly inspiring and I have much more to share.  But, what could be more inspiring that talking with Shelli herself! Boy, do I feel short! 

As always, your comments are important to me, and I enjoy our chats! Remember, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away! Until next time...

 

Stamp Set:  Elementary Elegance (Sale-A-Bration); Inks:  VersaMark, Calypso Coral; Designer Series Paper:  Everyday Enchantment (Sale-A-Bration), Nursery Nest; Card Stock:  Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla; Tools:  Big Shot, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die, Matchbox Bigz XL Die, Labels Collection Framelits, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Two Step Bird Punch, Curly Label Punch, Heat Tool, White Stampin' Emboss Powder;  Glitz and Glam:  Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched Poly-Ribbon, Poppy Parade 1/2" Stitched Poly-Ribbon, Basic Pearls

Eleanor and The Paper Players

The talented Nance Leedy is our hostess for The Paper Players this week, and she is challenging us to design a Clean and Simple card Using Buttons.  To be truthful, this was not my first design.  I started with Stampin' Up!'s Brights color palette and tons of buttons.  But it just was not me.  So I started over and truly tried to stay faithful to a clean and elegant design using the new catalog preview set, Everything Eleanor.  Enjoy today's quick and easy card!

The Stampin' Schach Design Tips:  Clean and Elegant

The card measures 4-1/4" wide by 5-1/2" long.

• Buttons! Buttons take on a different twist when topped with a Basic Pearl.  The resulting look adds a touch of elegance! In addition, the Pearls coordinate with the centers of the Rose Red Boho Blossoms, thus pulling the design together.

• Bows!  Add a touch of class instantly with a beautiful bow.  Seam Binding is a perfect choice for enhancing a softly feminine look.

• Butterflies! A Pretty in Pink Beautiful Wings Embosslit Butterfly accentuates the Pretty in Pink buttons, adding just the right amount of a lighter pink hue to balance the card.

Since many of you may not have the Everything Eleanor Flourish which I used, why not try either of these sets, both of which have gorgeous flourishes:  Baroque Motifs, Wedding Sweet.

The Blogger Blues

Hopefully The Stampin' Schach is loading for you again! After several days of troubleshooting, Heather Wright-Porto of  Blogs by Heather, was able to solve my redirecting problem. Heather does an excellent job with blog design and blog maintenance, and I would not hesitate to recommend her in a heartbeat.  What caused the problem will remain a mystery...but let's hope it does not occur again! Heather, I can't thank you enough!  And I also need to thank those of you who kept me posted as to whether the site was coming up and the specific error messages you were receiving!  I LOVE my blogging friends! So clear your cache and cookies, and keep on coming back!


As always, your comments are important to me! I would love to hear what you think about today's card.  So won't you leave a comment today?  And as always, if you ever have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time...

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy
Jenn Picard
Heidi Boos

Sherry Eckblad

Stamp Set:  Everything Eleanor (Not Available Yet);  Ink:  Jet Black StazOn (101406); Card Stock:  Rose Red (102544), Whisper White (100730);  Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Beautiful Wings Embosslits (118138);  Glitz and Glam:  Rose Red Seam Binding (121884), Basic Pearls (119247)

Out West with the Pals...A Masculine Card

Yee haw! Howdy, Pardners! It's Thursday and time to play with the Pals at Pals Paper Arts!  The talented Margaret Moody has designed another fabulous sketch for us.  I have been rearin' to use the Out West set since I purchased it several months ago.  I know...I know...It has been sitting gathering dust all that time.  I just could not find the right way in which to use it, until this sketch came along.  With a huge image space available, I envisioned showcasing the horse image. But to my dismay, the image looked miniscule.  Then I had an "ah-ha" moment!  I was gonna lasso me up a sentiment! I hope you enjoy today's masculine card.  It's perfect for a rootin' tootin' birthday card for the special cowboy in your life! 

The Stampin' Schach Design Tips:  Masculine and Western

The finished dimensions of this card are 5-1/2" wide x  4-1/4" long.

•  Perfect Paper!  What could be better paper for a masculine card than the Well Worn collection!  By turning the "Brick" pattern on its side, you have instant barnboard!  Plus, there is no need to distress this rustic looking paper, thus saving time!

• A Horse is a Horse!  In keeping with the muted tones of the paper, our horse and rider are bedecked in Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, and Soft Suede.  Popping our pony up on Stampin' Dimensionals adds depth to this card! Go gettum', Cowboy!

• Lassoing Up a Happy Birthday!  The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is from the Best Dad Ever stamp set and is the perfect font for a masculine card.  Inked in Early Espresso and stamped onto Very Vanilla, the banner has been pennant-snipped, edge distressed, and speckled using the Color Spritzer Tool. 

 

• Texture!  Naturals Ivory card stock was zipped through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  The absence of any stamping allows the eye to focus on this card's "wow" factor...the lasso!  Tip:  To add more depth, use the debossed side of the "plus" signs!

• Steering You in the Right Direction!  The Steer Head Skull make a perfect embellishment, especially when sporting a coil of Hemp Twine rope!

And there you have it! Won't you please leave me a comment to let me know what you think of today's card? Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one.  And as always, if you have a questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away.  Until next time...


(Please note:  For some reason my blog is experiencing problems.  I am having it checked out.  It appears that some of you can access it, some of you can't.  Arghhh! Technology...what can I say???)

 

Stamp Sets:  Out West, Best Dad Ever; Inks:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker; Designer Series Paper:  Well Worn; Card Stock:  River Walk, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Naturals Ivory;  Tools:  Paper Snips, Big Shot, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Color Spritzer Tool, Sponge Dauber, Blender Pen; Glitz and Glam:  Hemp Twine, Basic Pearls