It’s Sunday, and time to play with The Paper Players! This week’s challenge is a theme challenge hosted by the talented Jaydee…Summer Holiday! I know that this Iowa gal would like nothing better than to spend her summer holiday at the seashore. Enjoy today’s summery card.

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:  Midnight Muse and Whisper White
This finished card measures 5-1/2″ wide by 4-1/4″ long.

• Bling! What better way to accent a sentiment than with a bit of bling! A Starfish from By the Seashore, with a single Rhinestone, draws the focus right to the sentiment.  Although I will never make it to the seashore, I can certainly Dream about it!

• Texture! That’s the name of the retired Jumbo Stampin’ Around Wheel that I used to create the delicious Midnight Muse stippling behind the shells.  Although I like to purge retired stamps, every once in awhile an image is such a classic that it begs to live at my house forever.  That’s the way it was with the Texture wheel.  (By the way, I will be listing the sets I have for sale in a few weeks.) 

• Driftwood! Why did I elect to use the Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder for the background of today’s card?  To represent driftwood! To make the design stand out, I rolled the retired Texture Stampin’ Wheel right over the top!

• Gumball! Gumball Green edging, created with the Finishing Touches Edgelits, adds a refreshing “pop” of color!

Storm Damage

Like most of the Midwest, we have experienced our share of severe thunderstorms recently.  On Thursday, the Twins, Lexi and I headed to the basement as 80 mph winds blew down trees and power lines.  We survived unscathed, but our neighbor was not so lucky, as this picture attests. Underneath the limb is a freestanding basketball hoop.

Lexi the Schnauzer

And finally, I leave you with a picture of Lexi doing her impression of a schnauzer.  She is indeed a little character.  I think she did a great job.  What about you?

As always, your comments are important to me.  Won’t you please let me know what you think of today’s card? 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…

Little Lexi’s father passed away Tuesday.  Dallas (International American Canadian Mexican Brazilian Champion Burlwood’s Drive’M Wild Dreamweaver, Sire of Merit) was ten years old. In his prime, Dallas was a show dog extraordinaire.  He was ranked as the #3 Boxer in America the year he was campaigned and was a multiple Best in Show winner.

His death struck me hard.  Maybe it is because he had Cushing’s Disease, just like my Missy.  Or maybe it is because I own the last of the Dallas daughters to enter the show ring.  Or maybe I grieve for the passing of a legend.  The late Anne Rogers Clark, one of the greatest dog show judges of all times, had this to say about Dallas upon seeing him enter the ring:  “When I saw this dog walk in, he gave me goosebumps.”  This was the type of dog he was.  He owned  the ring, and dared you to not give him the win.  Rest in peace, sweet Dallas. Your legacy will live on in your progeny.

I wanted to create a very special card for his owner, Rhonda.  Rhonda is Lexi’s breeder and one of her handlers. This card was designed so that each part represents something very special. 

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

• Starburst! The rays of the starburst were created from rectangles of various designer papers, which were cut into triangles of assorted sizes.  The colors selected were hues of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet…the colors of the rainbow.  This is symbolic of the Rainbow Bridge.  For those of you not familiar with the Rainbow Bridge, I have included the story at the end of this post.

• Paw prints! The Paw Print from the long ago retired set, Bow Wow, was inked in Soft Suede and stamped onto a Very Vanilla heart.  The So Sorry sentiment was also inked in Soft Suede.  Dogs leave footprints on our hearts.

• Angel! The little Dog from Animal Talk was altered to look as close to a Boxer as I could make him.  A white Signo pen was used to add markings similar to those of Dallas.  The wings were courtesy of the retired Affection Collection.  In final tribute, the card base was Rich Razzleberry…a purple hue…the traditional color of champions.

I hope that Rhonda finds some comfort in this card, and the Rainbow Bridge story, which will be included as an insert.  As always, I appreciate your comments…so please, won’t you let me know what you think of today’s card?  And remember, if you have questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away.  Until next time…  

 
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…. 

Stamp Sets:  So Sorry,  Animal Talk, Bow Wow (retired), Affection Collection (retired);  Ink:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso; Designer Series Paper:  All Retiring…Floral District, Tea for Two, Print Poetry, Sent with Love, Regals Designer Series Paper Stack; Card Stock:  Rich Razzleberry, Pool Party, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla; Tools:  Big Shot, Hearts Collection Framelits, Clouds Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Sponge Daubers, Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen;  Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls

One of the hits of  the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog has to be the Big Shot Magnetic Platform (130658, $39.95).  It is designed to hold your framelits and edgelits in place over stamped images…like magic! Remember to add new Standard Cutting Pads (113475, $8.95) to your order, too, as the platform works best with flat plates!

Just watch the new platform in action! Until next time…