It’s Thursday, and time to play with the Pals at Pals Paper Arts! This week the incomparable Margaret Moody has prepared a fabulous sketch for us.  There are so many scrumptious layers…I LOVE it.  Oozing with texture and pearls, today’s card features watercolored blossoms from my new go-to floral set, Secret Garden.  Enjoy!

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

• Texture twins! Embossed side or debossed side…they are both lovely. The Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder adds gorgeous texture to today’s card.  The Pool Party Netted pattern, from the Sent with Love collection, coordinates perfectly with the Pool Party panel.

• Polka dot pearls! The Calypso Coral Polka Dot pattern paper, also from the Sent with Love collection, adds even more texture with the addition of pearls. 

• Soft and sweet! The various blossoms from Secret Garden were stamped with Jet Black StazOn onto Watercolor Paper.  They were then faux watercolored with Blender Pens and the following inks:  Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, and Pool Party.  Of course, Pearls make the “pearl-fect” embellishment for their centers.

I had a great time watercoloring the flowers for this card.  I don’t do it often, and yet it is so easy with Blender Pens.  Even the paper snipping was pretty simple on this card…time-consuming, yet simple. What do you think of it?  Won’t you let me know in today’s comment?  Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one.  And don’t forget…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 Sets:  Secret Garden (W 129141, C 129144), Loving Thoughts (W 125843, C 125845); Inks:  Jet Black StazOn (101406), Daffodil Delight (126944), Calypso Coral (126983), Pool Party (126982); Designer Series Paper:  Sent with Love (132182); Card Stock:  Watercolor Paper (122959), Basic Black (121045), Whisper White (100730); Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Lacy Brocade Texture Impression Embossing Folder (127819), Paper Snips (103579), Blender Pens (102845), Bitty Butterfly Punch (129406); Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247)

Watercolored blossoms are the focus of this week’s Pals Paper Arts Design Team inspiration card.  Pool Party and Calypso Coral, two of my favorite In-Colors, take center stage. Please join me tomorrow for the reveal.

Stampin’ Up! Promotions

In a few days, 2013 Sale-A-Bration will be just a memory.  March 22nd is the final day to take advantage of  Stampin’ Up!’s biggest promotion of the year.  For every $50 you spend (before tax and shipping), you can choose a FREE Sale-A-Bration product.  Check out the offerings HERE. 

Spring Is in the Air New Catalog Release

Are you ready to try out a new product from the 2013 – 2014 Annual Catalog?  Here is your chance! A Round Array stamp set is available to purchase now! This set coordinates with the Stampin’ Up! 7/8″ Scallop Circle Punch, available in the 2013 spring catalog.  Purchase the A Round Array stamp set and 7/8″ Scallop Circle Punch together as a bundle, and save 15%!

$23.95 – Spring Surprise Bundle (English; clear) – Item #133899 (Stamps and Punch) 
$14.95 – A Round Array Stamp Set (English; clear) – Item #129090
$12.95 – 7/8″ Scallop Punch – Item #129404

$13.95 – Polymer Stamp Set – Item #132956

Sent with Love Purchase the Sent with Love Stamp Set or the Sent with Love Designer Series Paper – or both in a bundle at a 20% discount.

Brody

People watching on a warm March day

Brody has been quite the trooper.  Weekend after weekend, show after show, he has watched either Muffy or Lexi, or both, hop in the van and head to a show.  Heartbroken at being left behind, he would mope around, and sometimes even refuse to eat. I would always feel so guilty, especially as I loaded up the girl’s show equipment.  He always loved the show ring so much.

Brody practicing his pitiful “Woe is me” look

Well…at the end of the month, Brody will get a chance to come along to a show.  Amy, the owner of the Twins’ father (BISS Ch. Happytail’s Dart Impact) is going to evaluate him to see if she thinks he can resume his show career.  It has been almost a year, and two surgeries, since Brody last set foot in the ring. He wears his scars proudly, and like me, he needs to lose a few pounds.  If Amy thinks he can be competitive, we will bring him back for limited showing.  We want him to be happy.

Watching the kids walking home from school

As always, your comments are important to me.  If you have questions about any of the Stampin’ Up! promotions and products, don’t hesitate to ask.  And please…join me Thursday for the Pals Paper Arts challenge! Until next time…

It’s Sunday, and time to play with The Paper Players!  This week we are hosting a clean and simple sketch challenge.  I pulled out two of my nature sets, By the Seashore and By the Tide to create my seascape card.  Enjoy!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Dirty and Simple Seascape
This finished card measures 4-1/4″ wide and 5-1/2″ long.

• Baja Breeze bow! A double Baja Breeze Seam Binding bow adds a delightful feminine touch, as well as interest to the top of the card.

• Pearls! What could more appropriate than Pearls for a seascape card?  The Starfish, from the By the Seashore stamp set, receives a strand down each ray for that extra special touch!

• Be in inspired!  I was inspired by sandy beaches when I created the background for this card.  The retired Textures Stampin’ Around Wheel was inked in VersaMark and heat embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder, while the Sea Fan from By the Tide (in the right-hand corner) was first heat embossed with Pool Party and then with Early Espresso.

 

What do you think of my seascape card?  Won’t you let me know in today’s comment? And remember, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away.  Until next time…