It’s Sunday, and time to play with The Paper Players! This week, the talented LeAnne is hosting a Clean and Simple Challenge:  Use a Star on your CAS Card or Project.  At first glance, my By the Seashore card may not look very clean.  It’s just that I randomly stamped all of the “white” space.  And really, there are minimal embellishments…I only used 8 pearls. Enjoy!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Not Quite Clean and Almost Simple
This finished card measures 5-1/2″ wide by 4-1/4″ long.

• Seeing stars! A trio of Brushed Gold Stars were punched using a retired Stampin’ Up! star punch.  There is a Star in the Circle Card Thinlets collection, but I felt it was just a tad too big.  Luckily this little punch was still residing in one of my punch drawers.

• Stippled!  The Stippled Flower image, from Stippled Blossoms, makes a subtle and beautiful background. It was inked with Soft Suede and then stamped off  before being randomly stamped onto the Very Vanilla panel.  Notice the soft tinges of stamped-off Rose Red and Pool Party?  They were added by using the Splotch image from Happy Watercolor.

• Whimsy! The Starfish from By the Seashore was inked in Soft Suede and added as a touch of the unexpected. Among many things, starfish can be symbolic of inspiration…just perfect for a card where the sentiment is “Dare to Dream”.  Of course, every well-dressed starfish needs pearls, so I graciously obliged.

In a perfect world, I would have stamped the Rose Red Argyle image from Clockworks off a second time, but in reality I didn’t.  So I embraced it…and I am learning to like it.  Of course, my favorite element on the entire card is the little circle of pearls on the starfish.  What about you?  Won’t you let me know in your comment today? Your comments are important to me.  Of course, if you ever have a questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.  Until next time… 

Class is now in session!  It’s time to order the February Lesson of the Month! This month will feature the Peaceful Petals stamp set from the Occasions Catalog.  The focus of this month’s lesson will be threefold:  mixing textures and patterns;  uniting color and style; watercoloring using both Blender Pens and Aqua Painters.  Here are the three very diverse cards we will be making, each designed with specific objectives in mind:

Card #1:  Clean and Elegant 

Objectives for Card #1:

• Combining textures
• Creating elegance
• Watercoloring with Aqua Painters
• Using Blender Pens and Inks to shade

Card #2:  Fun and Retro

Objectives for Card #2:

• Using colors and patterns to create a “style”
• Watercoloring with Aqua Painters

Card #3:  Dramatic and Classic

 Objectives for Card #3:

• Using color to create a mood
• Mixing patterns effectively

This month’s lesson includes the following:

• the Peaceful Petals clear stamp set (C 133107, $20.95).  Already own this set? You may substitute any set of any value up to $20.95.  
• three completed cards (envelopes not included)
• emailed pdf project sheets which contain step-by-step instructions and photos on how to complete each card, including measurements
• item numbers for each product used
• a private link to video lessons for each one of the projects, discussing how it was created and demonstrating how to do the techniques used
• email assistance to answer any questions you may have about the cards

This is NOT a card kit. Each card is a completed card designed by me.

• You will have until 12:00 Noon (CST) on the 18th of this month to email me that you will be participating and to pay your PayPal invoice, which will be emailed to you.  My email addresses are: ann@thestampinschach.com and kimschach@msn.com. Either one is fine.  Sets will be ordered after 12:00 Noon CST on the 18th. Once I receive the set from Stampin’ Up!, I will mail it to you.  The tutorials and video links are usually emailed by the 20th of the month.
• The three cards will be mailed as I get them completed.  I create each card personally, and depending upon the number of subscribers, it does take time to complete the set.  
• There is no commitment.  You can subscribe one month, and opt out the next.  However, if you subscribe for three consecutive months, you will receive a surprise valued between $3.95 – $5.95. 

The price for all of this is only $34.95 each month!  Ready to enroll? Email me at: ann@thestampinschach.com
Until next time…

It’s Thursday, and time to play with the Pals at Pals Paper Arts!  This week’s color challenge is bright and white:  Gumball Green, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White.  I inked up the Backyard Basics set, and had fun watercoloring the Floral image using both Blender Pens and Aqua Painters.  Enjoy!

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

• Lovin’ the lilies! The Floral image from Backyard Basics was stamped with Jet Black StazOn onto Whisper White cardstock.  They were watercolored using both Blender Pens and Aqua Painters. Pumpkin Pie ink was used for the petals, while Gumball Green was used for the stems and leaves.  Tip:  Use Aqua Painters for the main sections, and Blender Pens for the shading! 

• Blessings! I love the 1920’s  retro-looking font of the Blessings sentiment from the Take Care stamp set.  Although I originally designed this card to be a sympathy card, it is actually very versatile, depending upon how you decorate the inside.  Since I don’t finish the interiors of my cards until they are sent, this could become: Blessings…on your birthday;  Blessings…get well soon; Blessings…I am thinking of you, and more.

• Patterns and textures!  The banners, made from Pumpkin Pie patterns from the Polka Dot Parade and Quatrefancy Designer Series Paper collections, work so well together.  United by color, the subtle pattern of the larger banner does not clash with the small banner.  Notice how the pattern of the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder coordinates with the pattern of the smaller banner, while the circle pattern of the larger banner mimics the circular focal image.  In addition, the flagged end of the sentiment ties right in with the two banners.