It’s Thursday and time to play with the Pals at Pals Paper Arts.  In this week’s challenge, we have a trio of rich and regal colors for you:  Cherry Cobbler, Midnight Muse,Very Vanilla.  I couldn’t wait to pull out the new Tea Party set again and party up a vintage storm. I hope you enjoy today’s card!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Focus on the Focal Point
This finished card measures 4-1/4″ wide by 5-1/2″ long.

• Hocus pocus on the focus! I worked my magic on the focal point by stamping the Tea Party Oval twice in Midnight Muse, and then by stamping a third one in Cherry Cobbler. With a snip here and there, the focal image is layered and lovely.  Of course, everything looks better with a Pearl or two! 

• Paper velvet! To recreate the rich look of velvet, the new Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions Embossing Folder was zipped through the Big Shot with Cherry Cobbler Core’dinations cardstock.  Doesn’t it look…well…velvety??? I lightly distressed the edges with Soft Suede ink to age it a wee bit.

This really is a simple card to create. Even the snipping is quick to do.  I wish now that I would have either curled the ends of the banner a smidge, or left them off completely.  But, as they say, hindsight is 20-20.
 
Momma Muffy

Poor Muffy has a history of false pregnancies.  Remember when she gave “birth” to Brody’s favorite football last year?
 

Or how about her latex fish this year?

Well, this past Sunday morning at the dog show in Dekalb, IL, Muffy developed mastitis.  She was perfectly fine Saturday.  We noticed it when she was placed on the grooming table.  Yep, during this last false pregnancy, the little stinker had actually been producing milk.  Two veterinarian technicians who were at the show worked on her to express the infection and relieve the pressure.  She enjoyed a comfy trip home with warm compresses, which I kept re-applying throughout the night into Monday. When she went in to see her own vet, there was no evidence of swelling. However, she is on an antibiotic for precautionary measures. Poor little girl! She wants to be a momma so badly!

So what do you think of today’s card? Won’t you let me know in your comment? It will be traveling to Convention with me.  I didn’t have time to create real swaps, so I am bringing the cards that I have created for the various design team challenges. I hope the swappers will be OK with that.  As always, your comments are important to me, and I appreciate your feedback.  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…

Stamp Set:  Tea Party; Inks:  Cherry Cobbler, Midnight Muse, Soft Suede; Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler Core’dinations, Midnight Muse, Very Vanilla; Tools: Big Shot, Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Paper Snips, Oval Collection Framelits, Sanding Block, Sponge Daubers; Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls

Pals Paper Arts is going back to four challenges a month with the addition of a second design team. Woo hoo! That’s double the fun and double the creativity.  Design Team Two, filled with fresh new faces and an abundance of talent, will provide you with inspiration on the second and fourth Thursdays. I have the distinct honor of joining this new team.  Here is a peek at my inspiration card for this week! I hope you will join me Thursday for the reveal!

In the market for retired stamps? Check out my annual Retired Stamp Sale.

Until next time…

It’s here! That time of the year when I purge my “Stampin’ Pantry” of my retired stamp sets. I just can’t keep them all.  Some were lovingly used, while others never saw ink.  I have been the victim many times of seeing something cute made with a set, so I buy it, and then for some reason, never use it.  You know what I mean! As always, there are certain guidelines that we need to follow:

• Sets will be described as “new” or “used”.  Used stamps may having stained blocks.   I will try to describe each set as accurately as possible.
• Sets will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
• If you are interested in a set, please email me at kimschach@msn.com.  Include your zip code so I can calculate your shipping charge.  No phone calls please.
• I will ship the cheapest way possible.  This may be Flat Rate in some instances.  I will NOT be shipping any sets between July 16th and July 21st, since I will be at Convention.
• Payment can be made by PayPal or by personal check.  Please do not make a payment until I send you a confirming email.
• US addresses only.
• This list will be updated daily.  Once a set is sold, it will be removed from the list.
• New this year, you can receive 10% of your total used stamp purchase, before postage, off any Stampin’ Up! order made through me.  For example, if you purchase $75 worth of retired stamps, I will deduct $7.50 from your total purchase from any current Stampin’ Up! catalog. This offer expires August 31st.

Clear Mount Sets—Updated 9:00 AM 7/23

Every Little Bit – new – $12.00
Perfect Punches – used – $8.00Send Me Soaring – new – $8.00
Totally A-maze-ing – new – $6.00

Sale-A-Bration Sets
Madison Avenue – new – $5.50 (3 clear)
Patterned Occasions – new – $5.50 (5 clear)
Vintage Verses – new – $5.50 (3 clear)

Wooden Sets

Good Grid – new – $4.00
Life Shared – new – $5.00
Packed for Birthday – new -$4.00
Packed for Mom – new – $4.00
Parlor Prints – new – $8.50
Tool Shed – like new – $8.50 
Sinceres Salutations – FRENCH – like new – $8.00
Tree Trimmings – blocks stained – $5.00
World’s Greatest – new – $5.00

Happy shopping! Remember to please be patient as I sort through emails. Until next time…