Today’s finished card measures 4-1/4″ wide by 5-1/2″ long.

• Piece! First, the “Bunny in Balloon” image was stamped directly onto Whisper White card stock with Jet Black StazOn. Then the balloon portion of the image was inked and stamped onto Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery papers from the Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack.  The Pretty in Pink balloon and Certainly Celery bands and zigzag were snipped out and positioned as illustrated.  The same process was followed with the Basket portion of the image and Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink pattern papers.  

• Free-Stylin’! Certainly Celery hills were free-hand cut and the edges were distressed with Always Artichoke ink. 

• Vellum Clouds! The Clouds from Up, Up and Away were inked with Jet Black StazOn and stamped onto White Vellum paper.  These were snipped out and added to the sky!

• Bow Down to the Bow! A fabulous Pretty in Pink satin bow adds a sweet finishing touch!  Sadly this gorgeous ribbon is now retired.

 

Paper Piecing may take a little bit longer, but what dimension it adds to the image!  What do you think? 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 course, I love answering any questions that you may have about the techniques I use and the cards I create! Remember, I am only an email away! Until next time…

 

 

Stamp Sets:  Everybunny (W 122705, C 122707), Up, Up and Away (W 122755,  C 122757); Inks:  Jet Black StazOn (101406), Always Artichoke (105219), Chocolate Chip (100908), Bashful Blue (105209); Designer Series Paper:  Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (117152), Neutrals Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (117157), White Vellum Paper (101839); Card Stock:  Chocolate Chip (102128), Pretty in Pink (100459), Certainly Celery (105125), Whisper White (100730); Tools:  Paper Snips (103579), Sponge Dauber (102892), Bird Builder Punch (117191), Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Blender Pen (102845);  Glitz and Glam:  Pretty in Pink 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (117289), Basic Pearls (119247)

Those of you who follow The Stampin’ Schach know that Muffy and Lexi escaped from our backyard Monday and were on the loose for an hour and a half.  Thanks to the action of the West Burlington Police Department, Lexi was joyously reunited with me, while Muffy was returned by a Good Samaritan.

That afternoon, I went to the Police Station to see if I could make a donation in appreciation for their time and effort.  I was told that it wasn’t necessary, but the secretary said that they would probably appreciate a thank–you card.  DUH! Why didn’t I think of that?

Since Stampin’ Up! does not have any Boxer dog stamps,  I took the only SU! dog image that has pointy ears and selectively inked it to look like a Boxer, albeit an overweight one.  Since Boxers have big lemon shaped eyes, I did make the dotted eyes a smidge bigger.  A huge shout out goes to LeAnne Pugliese.  Her Paper Players design team card was my inspiration. I used the Paper Player layout and paper-pieced the pups, just like LeAnne.  It was from LeAnne that I got the idea to add Muffy’s and Lexi’s white markings with the Signo Gel Pen.  Thanks, LeAnne!

The Stampin’ Up! Design Tips
This card measures 4-1/4″ wide and 5-1/2″ long.

• Selectively ink! A Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker was used to ink the Playful Pup from Animal Talk.  By using the marker, I was able to select which portions of the image I inked.  I left off the spots, and attempted to shorten the tail.  Muffy’s and Lexi’s stockings and faces are courtesy of a White Signo Gel Pen.  

• Back it up!  A Pacific Point Scallop Circle, created with the Perfect Pennants Die, backs up the 2-1/2″ Whisper White circle, allowing just a glimpse of the blue.  Remember to position your paper carefully when you run it through the Big Shot, or you will end up with a flat scallop like I did…Ugh!

• The Match Game! The Chevron patterns and the Stripe pattern, all from the Parker’s Patterns Designer Series paper collection, work well together, especially when matched up!

Although I don’t have a picture of it, the inside is stamped with a simple “Thank You” from Sassy Salutations.  I certainly hope that the officers get a kick out of it. In the end, I think the pups do look like a couple of ornery little Boxer girls. What do you think of today’s card?  Won’t you let me know in your comment today?  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… 

 

Stamp Set:  Animal Talk (W 126390, C 126392);  Stampin’ Write Markers:  Basic Black (100082), Pacific Point (Brights Collection 119702);  Designer Series Paper:  Parker’s Patterns (131021); Card Stock:  Cajun Craze (119684), Pacific Point (111350), Whisper White (100730), Cherry Cobbler (119685); Tools: 2-1/2″ Circle Punch (120906), Big Shot (113439), Perfect Pennants Bigz Die (123126), Paper Snips (103579), White Signo Gel Pen (105021), Owl Builder Punch for hearts (118074); Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls (119247)

Don’t you just love making the occasional quick and easy card?  Even though I am “the more layers, the merrier” kind of girl, I know I do.  I LOVE a well-done clean and classy card, and admire those stampers who create those cards with ease.  Clean and Simple cards take me outside of my comfort zone.  Yet…if I don’t practice designing them, I will never get better at making them.  Enjoy today’s attempt!  And remember to scroll down to read about Muffy and Lexi’s latest adventure.

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

• Pierce! Paper piercing is a perfect way to accent a sentiment. Stampin’ Up! has several templates which make piercing a breeze.  The Feel Goods sentiment was stamped in Midnight Muse onto Whisper White and pierced for a little sass.  But “Layered Ann” couldn’t leave it alone…she HAD to layer it onto Midnight Muse.  But it’s OK…I’m taking baby-steps on my journey to “Clean and Simple Land”.

• Blingy Butterfly! The Butterflies, from Summer Solstice, sport single Rhinestones.  Inked in Calypso Coral, Pool Party, and Raspberry Ripple, two of the trio are actually snipped out and popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.

• Bow! A simple Midnight Muse bow ties it all together.

I think today’s card is pretty clean and simple…for me. What do you think? Won’t you let me know in today’s comment?   And if you would like to read about the latest Boxer escapades, continue on for a rather lengthy story…

Muffy and Lexi’s Excellent Adventure – NOT!

What do you get when you mix two bouncy Boxer girls, loose slats on a vinyl fence, and a bunny?  It’s the recipe for 1-1/2 hours of nerve-wracking search and rescue for two canine fugitives on the run.  (I can only guess about the bunny part, but I know that there is a gang of renegade rabbits who love to torment the furkids, and there were incriminating bunny tracks beside the fence.)

It was Brody who first alerted us to the missing girls when he came up to the patio doors, asking to get in.  The Twins are always together…and there was no Muffy with him.  I immediately looked, and not only was there no Muffy in the yard, there was no Lexi.  A quick glance to the side yard alerted me to the missing slats.  I ran to the front door, grabbing leashes and a coat on my way.  My husband followed on my heels.  As we flew outside, our neighbor across the street opened her door, pointed, and said, “They went that-a-way!”  I continued heading up the block on foot, while my husband, Kim,  jumped in his car.

I made my way to the elementary school, thinking that as much as Muffy loves kids, maybe she would lose interest in the Easter bunny and head to the school.  It was there I was told they were spotted near the city pool…about 3/4th’s of a mile in the opposite direction.  I headed back to the house to call the police, and to get my car. 

Luckily, because of all of the snow,  people were out shoveling.  “Have you seen two Boxers?” I would ask.  I would either get the finger-point or the head shake.  “If you do see them, their names are Muffy and Lexi. Catch them if you can, and call the police.”

For an hour and a half, Kim, I and the police drove and searched.  I was in tears at times. I prayed at times.  I was desparate.  And then my cell phone rang.  The police had found one of the girls two blocks from where I was.  It was easy to spot the location as I drove toward the site.  There were three squad cars, all with flashing lights, parked along the street.  “Are you the owner? Is she mean?” yelled a woman from the front door.  “Yes and no,” I answered.  I hope she didn’t mind that I just went ahead and plowed through the drifts to her back yard.  And there she was…Little Lexi, curled down in the snow.  As soon as I called her name, she ran straight to me and smothered me in puppy kisses.  Once I had her lead on, she greeted the officers with Boxer butt wiggles.  One missing dog down…and one to go.

I drove Lexi home to see if by chance Muffy could have returned.  I had left the garage doors open just in case she decided to wander back.  I will admit that I was worried, since the girls were no longer together.  But as I pulled around the corner, there was a blue pick-up parked in the driveway.  In the driver’s seat sat a man in a stocking cap.  On the passenger’s side sat Muffy.

“She sure is a sweetheart”, the man said.  “She came right up to me when I called her.”  He lifted her out of the truck, and I placed a lead around her neck.

“Won’t you let me pay you something,” I shouted, as he pulled out of the driveway.

“You don’t owe me a thing” answered the good Samaritan.  “I love dogs, and bringing her back safely is reward enough.  But I do want you to know that when I knocked on your front door, your other dog opened it up for me.”  Yep…in my haste, I had forgotten to lock the front door, and Brody can indeed open it.

A remorseful Lexi

An exhausted Muffy