Can a card with inked edges be clean and simple?  It all depends on your definition of clean. If you interpret “clean” as being clean-lined with no torn edges, today’s card is indeed clean.  If  clean means lots of  “white space”,  this card once again meets that criteria.  But as you can see, I did ink the edges.  However, I am going to roll with the non-distressed edges and “white space” and certify this card as “vintage clean and simple”! Which is a good thing, since today’s challenge at The Paper Players is a Clean and Simple Sketch Challenge hosted by the talented Jaydee.  Remember…if it is clean and simple to you, it is clean and simple to us.  So grab those stamps and inks and play along!

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

• Go for the “Natural” look! Naturals Ivory card stock is my favorite choice for vintage-style cards. The slightly speckled appearance mimics the appearance of the Color Spritzer Tool.  It is the perfect backdrop for the Early Espresso Ferris Wheel from Feeling Sentimental.

• Celebrate Sale-A-Bration! Feeling Sentimental, a set that you can select as a Sale-A-Bration perk (beginning January 22) with a $50 merchandise order, includes the versatile sentiment “Celebrate”.  Just think of all of the things you can celebrate…birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and more!

I think today’s card is another candidate for a CAS-MAS card…clean and simple masculine, especially if the Vine Street Textured Impressions Embossing Folder is switched out for the Square Lattice folder.  What do you think? Won’t you let me know in today’s comment? Your comments are very important to me, and I do read each and every one of them. By the time you read this post, I hopefully will be on my way home from a long weekend of dog shows with the girls.  How wonderful it will be to finally be home for awhile! Between dog shows and Stampin’ Up!’s Leadership, I have been away from home for 14 days this January.  Whew! I can’t wait to just stay home and stamp! Until next time… 

Stamp Set:  Feeling Sentimental (Sale-A-Bration), French Foliage; Inks:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; Card Stock:  Naturals Ivory, Early Espresso; Tools:  Sponge Dauber, Brayer, Big Shot, Vine Street Textured Impressions Embossing Folder; Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls

Need a fabulous sketch?  Pals Paper Arts has just the ticket with their challenge this week.  I inked up the adorable Wellies from Bootiful Occasions to create this sweet little card, suitable for anyone who needs a pick-me-up!  I hope you like it!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:  Clean and Cute
This fnished card measures 4-1/4″ wide by 5-1/2″ long.

• Mix and Match Textures! When teaming up textures, I prefer to pair simple with simple.  In this case, I used the Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and the Perfect Polka Dots folder.  

• Faux Watercoloring! The Wellies from Bootiful Occasions were inked with Melon Mambo and stamped onto Whisper White.  To prevent the outline from smearing, Marina Mist was carefully added using ink and a Blender Pen.  The soft coloring adds a touch of whimsey.

 

• Blingin’ the ‘brella! Basic Pearls and Rhinestones were used to embellish the Umbrella from Rain or Shine.  Isn’t that sparkle splendid? It’s like sunshine on dew drops

• Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda!  How about a little Daffodil Delight blossom adorning the umbrella handle instead of Melon Mambo?  The “pop” of color would have been totally unexpected and “delightful”.  As they say, hindsight is 20-20.

What do you think of today’s card?  Do you think the Daffodil Delight blossom would have worked better?  Won’t you let me know in today’s comment?  Your comments are important to me.  I do read each and every one of them.  

Lexi, Muffy and I are off to Des Moines this weekend for a show. 

Lexi Lou

Muffy Lin

Hopefully one of my girls will come home a winner.  Keep your fingers crossed for us please!  You can never guess the outcome ahead of time.  There are so many variables involved.  But regardless of the outcome, in my eyes, they are both beautiful girls.  Brody will be with Dad, cheering on his sisters from home.  

Brody James

He is such a sweetie.  It breaks my heart that we have found more bumps, which we are keeping under observation.  If we are lucky, maybe they will disappear like the one last year. 

Having trouble keeping up with all of the Stampin’ Up! news?  Read about the latest releases.  Until next time…

 

The Latest News from Stampin’ Up!

New Single Stamps
Available through March 31, 2013

Ten newly designed Single Stamps are available through March 31st.  Aren’t these just the cutest?
 

• You can find the stamp item numbers on the flyers.
• Single stamps can be ordered in the online store.
• These won’t be sent in typical cases or packaging; they’ll be packaged in cello bags. If you’d like a case for your stamp, you can buy SU!’s Clear-Mount Stamp Cases that come in packs of four (item 119105).
• This offer is available for clear-mount stamps only.
• The stamps will not come with a Clear-Mount Block.  You’ll need to buy a block separately if you don’t already have one. The recommended block sizes can be found on the flyer.

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin’ Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone can enjoy, regardless of skill level! 

The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin Kit you will receive in your first month of membership. The Welcome Kit includes a free gift…an clear acrylic “D” block!

Getting Started

• Visit www.mypaperpumpkin.com 
• Click Get It. 
• If you wish to be my customer, make sure to select me, Ann Schach, as your demonstrator.
• Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep

How easy is that!
If you want to know more, here’s the scoop:

• Each month Stampin’ Up! will send you a unique, surprise kit with a project…cards, journals, décor, and more! It’s color-coordinated, pre-measured and pre-cut.
• Stamps, paper and ink are included in each kit.  You simply provide your own adhesive.
• Each kit will take about 30 minutes to complete.
• Paper Pumpkin will ship on or around the 15th of the month.  
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month’s kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. For example: If you sign up on May 10th, we’ll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we’ll send your first kit around June 15th.
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month.  This amount includes shipping.  
• You can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
• Starting in early March, Stampin’ Up! will offer a Try-It kit if you’d like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month. 

Dude, You’re Welcome Masculine Card Kits

 

Stampin’ Up! is excited to introduce their masculine stamping kit: Dude, You’re Welcome!  Included in the kit are:

• Four wood-mount stamps (double-mounted) with the perfect sentiment for every occasion
• Twelve 4″ x 6″ postcards in four different (manly) colors
• Twelve gray envelopes
• A Basic Gray Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Item number 132807   $24.95

As part of Stampin’ Up!’s 25-year anniversary celebration, they are bringing back some of the favorite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into 12 sets. One set will be released each month.  All “Best of” stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at $14.95.

Flyer for “Best of” January…Best of Birthdays

As a special incentive to collect the “Best of” stamps, starting in February they are including a collector’s card and 25-year proof of purchase sticker with every “Best of” set. Collect six stickers, and send it in to redeem a FREE set of your choice valued up to $14.95! Free sets must be redeemed no later than April 30, 2014.

Pals Paper Arts Peek

Tomorrow marks another Pals Paper Arts challenge day.  Here is a little sneak peek of my design team card to pique your interest. I think it would be best described as cute.  I will be anxious to hear how you would describe it.  Won’t you please join me for the reveal on Thursday?  Until next time…