It’s time for another dog show weekend here at the Schach house.  Well, it’s actually more than a weekend.  I am leaving today for the Chicago area where Muffy will be showing on Thursday and Friday in the Midwest Boxer Club Specialty shows.  These are the same shows where her sire won Best in Specialty Show several years ago.  Then we head over to Crown Point, Indiana for shows on Saturday and Sunday.  These are majors (big shows)…and if Muffy wins, you will hear me whoopin’ and hollerin’ no matter where you live!

Brody was evaluated Sunday by professional handler, Amy Bieri, to see he could return to the show ring and be competitive.  Her answer was….YES! But he needs to lose 3 pounds.  Don’t I wish I only had three instead of 30!  But he has until this fall to accomplish that.  I have until Stampin’ Up!’s Convention. Here are a few pictures of chunky Brody with his clunky collar!

As is always the situation when I am on the road with the furkids, I will have limited Internet access. However,  I will definitely check my email.  If you have any questions during this time, please don’t hesitate to ask.  And please be sure to check out my Paper Player card on Sunday!  Until next time…

It’s Sunday…and do you know what that means? It’s time to play with The Paper Players! This week the incomparable Nance Leedy has quite the challenge for us:  Use a repurposed or recycled item on your project.  I decided to re-purpose some magazine pages while using the “Faux Cloisonne” technique.  I can’t wait to see what YOU repurpose or recycle!

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

• Faux Cloisonne is as easy as 1-2-3! 1.  Stamp the image with VersaMark onto a magazine page.  I find that fashion magazines like Harper’s Bazaar or Vogue are filled with artsy images in a myriad of colors.  2.  Heat and emboss.   3.  Snip!

• How cool is the result?  The leaves were punched using the Bird Builder Punch…once again from magazine pages.  A Floral Trim flower, tinted Rose Red was added to the middle. Need a refresher on how to tint these flowers?  Click HERE to watch the video.

• Emboss with dies! After seeing this technique on Lisa Eisner’s blog, Crafting with Princess Lisa, I had to give it a try.  Once again, it’s as easy as pie.  Ink the flat side of  framelets (I used the Labels Collection) with VersaMark, and position as shown, with the cutting edge facing up…away from the paper…and zip it through the Big Shot.

• Don’t you love the look?

•   I snipped it out with paper snips, and added a piece of lace from the Artisan Embellishment collection.

• Brayer a layer! Crumb Cake ink, brayered onto a Paper Doily, looks much more subtle than plain white.

What a mess I ended up with! I just had to snap a picture of it.  I usually put things away as I go, but not this time.  Yikes!

Then I couldn’t decide if I wanted to keep the second blossom on, but as you can see at the top of the page, I removed it.  Here is the one with the extra flower: 

Which one do you like the best…one flower or two?  Won’t you let me know in today’s comment?  Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one of them.  Of course, if you have any questions about the cards I create, or the techniques I use, I am only an email away! I will be away doing “dog” business today…Brody gets evaluated to see if he can return to showing, so I will be away from the computer until evening, so be patient if you need to contact me.  And don’t forget…

Stampin’ Up! is offering FREE SHIPPING April 6th, 7th, and 8th. There are still two days to take advantage of this amazing opportunity! Until next time…

Stamp Sets:  Secret Garden, Sweet Essentials, French Foliage, Distressed Dots; Inks: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Rose Red, VersaMark; Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla;  Tools:  Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelets, Heat Tool, White Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Bird Builder Punch, Paper Snips, Brayer, Spong Dauber; Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls, Artisan Embellishments, Floral Trim, Paper Doilies, Pink Pirouette/Rose Red Two Tone Ribbon

Isn’t it amazing when someone you’ve only met through blogging, knows exactly what you LOVE…and what your dogs love too?  That is so true of my friend, Lisa Eisner of Crafting with Princess Lisa.   Lisa and I were able to meet in person briefly after Stampin’ Up! Leadership this past January.  She is so sweet and thoughtful, remembering the entire Schach family on holidays…and me on my birthday.  Since April is my birthday month, she sent along my birthday card with a few goodies from the Easter bunny!

With it’s lace, flowers, distressing and yummy pearls, Lisa tailored my birthday card to include all of those fabulous elements that I treasure on a card.  It has been framed already, and looks perfect on an antique dresser we own.

 

Stampin’ Up! is offering FREE SHIPPING April 6th, 7th, and 8th.  Remember, when you place your online orders with me, you also earn “Shop with Schach” Reward Points.  These points are redeemable through me for free stamps!  

What’s on your FREE SHIPPING order?  I have Best of Butterflies, items for Door Prizes to pass out during demonstrations I will be doing for the Stampin’ Pretty Pals at Convention (I am so excited to be able to do this for members of Mary Fish’s group), and gifts for ALL of my March online customers, including my Paper Pumpkin subscribers.  What fun! 

What do you think of Stampin’ Up!’s FREE shipping offer?  Let me know in today’s comment.  You never know…I just might reward one or two of you with a token of my appreciation 😉  See you Sunday with my Paper Player card.  Until next time…