It’s Thursday…and need I say more? It’s time to play with the Pals at Pals Paper Arts. This week is a color challenge:  Strawberry Slush, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black. I thought the colors would work perfectly for flowers, so I pulled out one of favorite sets from the new catalog, Choose Happiness. Enjoy!

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

Mini-collage! What a cute collage the images in Choose Happiness make! Who can resist…

• A Blackbird perched on a picket fence created with the Hardwood Banner image?

• Beside a Pear Pizzazz vine, colored with a Blender Pen, ink and a Stampin’ Write Marker?

• And two gorgeous Strawberry Slush Blossoms with Pearl centers?

•  Topped with a thick Strawberry Slush Bakers Twine bow?

• With a Memento Tuxedo Black sentiment atop a stamped-off Pear Pizzazz Border?

Yep…who can resist these cute images!

I love mini-collages, don’t you?  I think they are a delightful change of pace.  Of course, when I was creating this card, I was thinking of those people in my life who are always there for me. I can’t wait to use this sentiment often to let these people know how special they are to me.  It’s something that I need to do more often…

And finally, before I say good-by, I want to share this picture of Lexi Lou.  She LOVES our new grooming table.  In fact, all three of the kids do.  But Lexi especially loves jumping up on it all by herself, after which she barks for me to come and brush her.

So…what do you think of the Choose Happiness set? And what do you think of today’s card? Won’t you let me know in today’s comments?  Of course, if you ever have any questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…

Choose Happiness Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$24.95

Choose Happiness Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$17.95

Big Shot

$99.95

Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$7.95

Ovals Collection Framelits Die

$26.95

Back To Black Designer Series Paper

$10.95

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

$8.50

Strawberry Slush 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock

$6.95

Pear Pizzaz Classic Stampin’ Pad

$5.95

Subtles Stampin’ Write Markers

$28.95

Strawberry Slush Thick Baker’s Twine

$3.50

Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments

$4.95

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$5.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

On Monday, I shared one of my favorite fall cards from the past:

But since so many of the products used to create it were retired, it was time to update this card using new products.  Although it is not exactly the same, the “look” of the card has been preserved.  I hope you enjoy this Blast From the Past Redux!

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

• Pumpkins!  This time around, four pumpkins were added from the Fall Fest set, available in the new Holiday Catalog.  I inked the first one in Cajun Craze, but decided that it was a smidge too dark.  The other three were inked in Tangelo Twist. Rather than toss aside the Cajun Craze pumpkin, I decided to make it the focal point in this pumpkin patch. Always Artichoke stems were inked and snipped out to add a wee bit of color.  In keeping with the spirit of the original card, little Linen Thread bows were added.

• A touch of whimsy! While the original card had a beautiful witch’s hat, the Fall Fest set did not have a hat. Instead, it had a Ghost.  While I toyed with the idea of adding the Ghost image, I opted to ink up the Witch’s Dress and Hat from the new Holiday Catalog set, Tee Hee. Of course, what could be better than hanging them on a clothesline! I happened to have a few of the little clothespins left from a couple of years ago that were just the right size for hanging up the wash.  After all, even witches have to do laundry, right?

• Patterns! A Cajun Craze pattern from the new Color Me Autumn Designer Series Paper, available August 28th, was paired with a Night of Navy pattern from the Regals Designer Series Paper Stack. Because the background color of the Night of Navy pattern was white, I brayered over the top of it with Crumb Cake, to lessen the starkness.

It was fun re-designing the original card.  Although the revised version will never take the place of the original as my favorite, it definitely makes a delightful companion card.  In fact, I am not going to be sending this one out.  With the clothespins, it would be a problem anyway.  Instead, I am going to save it and start a tradition of redesigning as sets, papers, and colors retire.  How fun it will be to watch the transition year after year! So what do you think of the redux? Won’t you let me know in your comments? Your comments are so very 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…

(Need a Holiday Catalog? If you do not have a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, and would like a copy of the Holiday Catalog, please email me at ann@thestampinschach.com or kimschach@msn.com.  I will drop one in the mail for you.  I would love to be your Stampin’ Up! demonstrator!  If you are already one of my customers,  yours are being mailed to you directly from Stampin’ Up!)

Stamp Sets:  Fall Fest (Holiday Catalog—available August 28th), Tee Hee (Holiday Catalog—available August 28th), Gorgeous Grunge; Inks: Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Tangelo Twist, Soft Suede;  Designer Series Paper:  Color Me Autumn, Regals Designer Series Paper Stack, Vellum; Card Stock: Blackberry Bliss, Very Vanilla; Tools:  Brayer, Sponge Dauber, Paper Snips; Glitz and Glam:  Venetian Crochet Trim, Linen Thread, Pearls Basic Jewels; Retired Stampin’ Up! Products:  Mini-clothespins, Hemp Twine