The Retired Lists and FREE Shipping Offer!

Woo hoo! The Retired Lists are now available.  New this year: both stamps and accessories will be available only while supplies last. So please…do not hesitate to place your order!

CLICK HERE to see the Retiring Stamps
CLICK HERE to see the Retiring Accessories

And to add to the fun, Stampin’ Up! is offering FREE Shipping April 21st through April 25th!

I would love to be YOUR Stampin’ Up! demonstrator! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me.  Until next time…

Washi-tastic for The Paper Players

It’s time to play with The Paper Players! This week, we are featuring a Clean and Simple Washi Tape Challenge, hosted by the talented Nance Leedy.  Now I will be the first to tell you, I am not a Washi Tape user, but I do collect it.  So I pulled out my washi stash and stared at it for an hour.  I couldn’t decide if I wanted to use my elegant Watercolor Wonder Washi or my fun and funky Retro Fresh Designer Washi.  I guess I was just being a little wishy-washi!  However, being a fun and funky retro type of gal, I went with the bright colors and created a happy card.  I hope you enjoy it!

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

  • Doing a happy dance…tango style! The Oh, Happy Day circle, from Starburst Sayings, was inked in Tangerine Tango.  This is such a fun color which just screams “HAPPY”!  I cut it out using the Starburst Framelits, and backed it onto a Coastal Cabana circle, for just a hint of color peeking out from behind.
  • Arrow-dynamic!  An Arrow, from the Essential Wooden Elements collection, was covered with Daffodil Delight Gingham Washi from the Gingham Garden Washi Tape collection. 
  • Yipes, stripes! Maybe I went a little overboard with the washi tape, but it was so easy creating this striped background!

I am such a pushover for Tangerine Tango and Coastal Cabana.  The combination is so cheery, and definitely retro!  And couldn’t we all use a little more cheer in our lives?

As I stated at the beginning of today’s post, I have not delved much into the world of washi…and it shows.  I look at the cards of the other Design Team members, and I love what they have created.  I guess I am not a washi woman. How about you? Do you use washi tape often? Won’t you let me know in today’s comment? And remember, 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…

The Paper Players Design Team
 

Stamp Set:  Starburst Sayings; Ink:  Tangerine Tango;  Card Stock:  Coastal Cabana, Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar; Tools:  Big Shot, Circles Framelits, Starburst Framelits; Glitz and Glam:  Essentials Wooden Elements, Gingham Garden Washi Tape, Retro Fresh This and That Washi Tape;

Pals Paper Arts 200th Challenge

On July 30, 2009,  Pals Paper Arts kicked off its inaugural challenge.  Two hundred challenges later, the journey continues. In order to celebrate this milestone, all twenty members of both Design Teams created monochromatic inspiration cards using Margaret Moody’s sketch and a color of their choice.  AND as an extra surprise, ONE lucky participant in this week’s challenge will be randomly selected to receive all twenty Design Team cards.

Members of the Design Team were able select the color we wished to use, on a first come basis. I chose Crumb Cake.  I hope you enjoy my interpretation of this week’s sketch.

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

  • Vanilla! The Crumb Cake patterns in the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack coordinated with Whisper White. But since I was in a Very Vanilla mood, I simply brayered over the designs with Very Vanilla ink! Problem solved!
  • Pearls! The pearled background was created using the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate. Mini-pearls were placed at each intersection for that extra-special touch. 
  • Distressing! Sea creatures from By the Seashore were stamped in Crumb Cake and snipped out with Paper Snips.  To add a touch of contrast, the edges were distressed using  Soft Suede Ink and a Sponge Dauber.

Because this card will be heading to a lucky player this week, I wanted it to reflect who I am.  I think I gave it some of my special touches…distressing, diagonal backgrounds, a banner, water spots, linen thread…and yep, a few pearls!

A Blast from the Past

Our first challenge was a color challenge…Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo.  That was back when Bermuda Bay was an In-Color.  How times…and styles have changed. I am so proud to have been a member of the Design Team since the very beginning.  Here is my first Design Team card and the original post:

As always, your comments are important to me. Won’t you leave me a comment to let me know what you think of today’s card? Would you have been able to recognize it out of a stack of twenty as being designed by 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.  Oh…and be sure to play at PPA in order to win today’s card.  Until next time…

Stamp Sets:  By the Seashore, Loving Thoughts, Gorgeous Grunge, Textures Stampin’ Around Wheel (retired); Inks: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla;  Designer Series Paper: Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack; Cardstock:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla; Tools:  Simply Scored, Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, Paper Snips, Brayer, Sponge Dauber, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder; Glitz and Glam:  Pearls, Linen Thread