Stippled Blossoms for The Paper Players

Happy Sunday everyone! It’s time for a little Tic-Tac-Toe fun with The Paper Players.  I hope you have as much fun with this challenge as I did.  Although I was aiming for Patterned Paper, Ribbon, and Purple, I also ended up with Embossing, Green, and Birthday.  What fun! I hope you enjoy seeing my old friend, Stippled Blossoms, again!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips
This finished card measures 4-1/4″ wide by 5-1/2″ long.

  • Purple! The Blossom was stamped in Blackberry Bliss, which was stamped off three times.  The stippling was done with “full-strength” Blackberry Bliss. The leaves were stamped in Old Olive.  Of course, Pearls were added to the centers.
  • Ribbon! A double bow was fashioned out of Blackberry Bliss Stitched Satin Ribbon, for a touch of elegance.
  • Birthday! The Birthday Wishes sentiment from Four You was inked in Blackberry Bliss and stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock.

Unfortunately I selected a Designer Paper which did not photograph well.  This happens to be Very Vanilla Dots from the Neutrals Backgrounds Designer Series Paper Stacks. I loved its creamy color against the Blackberry Bliss flowers.  In person, it is stunning. But the contrast between the dark purple and the light vanilla really did not agree with my camera. I started with my light tent then moved to the porch…

then to my neighbor’s fence…

and on to the rickety bench…

and finally to the evergreen bush outside my front door…

only to decide that the first picture looked best.  Maybe one of these days I will learn to avoid using non-photogenic paper!

I hope you enjoyed today’s card.  After looking at my photographic failures, I actually like it better after I removed the birthday sentiment. What about you? Won’t you let me know in today’s comment? Of course, if you have any questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.  Until next time…

(News Flash:  The next Lesson of the Month will be in September, after I return from Founder’s Circle.  I am working on 113 swap cards, so I definitely have my hands full! Plus…September is Muffy’s Month of Shows. It looks like Muffy and I will be doing some motel stamping!)

The Paper Players Design Team

Stamp Sets:  Stippled Blossoms, Four You; Inks:  Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive; Designer Series Paper: Neutrals Backgrounds Designer Paper Stack; Cardstock: Blackberry Bliss, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla; Tools: Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Paper Snips, Stamp-a-ma-jig; Glitz and Glam: Pearls Basic Jewels, Blackberry Bliss Stitched Satin Ribbon;

The Holiday Catalog is LIVE!


Here it is…the BEST Holiday Catalog ever!

If you would like your own paper copy of this catalog, and you do not have a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, please email me at ann@thestampinschach.com! I would LOVE to be YOUR Stampin’ Up! Pal.  Until next time…

Beauty of the Season for Pals Paper Arts

It’s Thursday, and time to play at Pals Paper Arts! This week, the talented Nicole has a fabulous sketch for us.  When I first viewed this sketch, I thought it would be perfect for the Beauty of the Season image.  I think I have found my idea for this year’s Christmas card! I hope you enjoy today’s card.

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Watercoloring
This finished card measures 5-1/4″ square.

  • Cardinal! The Cardinal on a Branch image was inked with Jet Black StazOn and stamped onto watercolor paper.  I used Cherry Cobbler ink and an Aqua Painter filled with rubbing alcohol to tint it. Simply squeeze a closed stamp pad to form a pool of ink in the lid, and use this as your ink source.  Tip:  Rubbing alcohol dries more quickly than water, and does not saturate the paper.  

  •  Sky and branches! The sky was watercolored in the same manner, using Soft Sky ink, while the branches were watercolored with Soft Suede.  Of course, I could not resist adding a few Pearls colored using a Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities marker.



  • Snowflake! A Brushed Gold Snowflake was created using the Small Snowflake thinlit from the Snowflake Card Thinlits collection. A small Gold Metal Button with a Linen Thread bow completes the embellishment.

I think this will be my annual holiday card. I will remove the snowflake and button, so it will be easier to mail. Each one will be a little different since they are watercolored.  And as much as it would pain me, I would not add all of the pearls.  As for this one, I think I am going to frame it and give it as a gift. What do you think? Won’t you let me know in today’s comments? Your comments are important to me! And remember, if you ever have a question about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.  Until next time…

Stamp Sets:  Beauty of the Season, Endless Wishes; Inks: Jet Black StazOn, Soft Sky, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler, Cherry Cobbler Blendabilities;  Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Brushed Gold, Cherry Cobbler, Watercolor Paper; Tools: Aqua Painter, Big Shot, Snowflake Card Thinlits Dies; Glitz and Glam: Pearls Basic Jewels, Gold Metal Buttons, Linen Thread