Don’t forget that I am offering Blog Candy. One lucky person will receive a Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine.  All  you need to do is leave a comment on this post, or any and all posts between Wednesday, December 19th and Sunday, December 23.  A winning name will be randomly selected at 10:00 PM CST on Sunday, December 23 and announced on Monday, December 24th.  I can only ship to US addresses.  But on December 24th, I will have more Blog Candy which I will be able to send anywhere!

My Favorite Cards of  2012

During my long teaching career, I served as a mentor to many student teachers and first year teachers.  One of the bits of advice I would give them was that they needed to take time for reflection if they were going to grow in their profession.  What worked and what didn’t work with each lesson?  What could they have done better?  What would they change?

Although I am making cards now, I still believe that reflection is important if we are going to improve our craft.  Join me as I take a reflective journey through 2012.  I will be selecting my favorite card(s) from each month. Let our travels begin with the months of January and February.

January

Vintage Regional Card
This vintage style card first appeared on January 30.  With its large rounded corners and vintage patterned texture, I was very happy with this card when I created it.   I loved the spritzing and the daubing, and the sentiment banner.  But upon reflection, I am not so certain about the snippet of  Victoria crochet trim, and the Baja Breeze pleated ribbon seems a wee bit too bright.

February

Happiness for the Pals
Another vintage-style card was my February favorite.  I love the scrunchied ribbon and the mix of patterns.  It is the cover picture for the Stampin’ Schach Facebook page.  But I must say that this card was a close second:

Happiness for the Players
With this card, I began my love affair with Poppy Parade and last year’s Sale-a-Bration products! I even dyed Very Vanilla Seam Binding Poppy Parade.  Nearly 11 months later, I am still very happy with this card.

I hope you enjoyed today’s journey down memory lane…and that you will join me next week as we resume our journey.  I also hope that you will join me tomorrow, when I have the honor of being Mary Fish’s Guest Stamper.  I have a video to share with you, too.  Until next time…

Just a quick little post…my second of the day.  To see my Pals Paper Arts card,  please scroll down.

Blog Candy Reminder

One lucky person will receive a Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine.  All  you need to do is leave a comment on this post, or any and all posts between Wednesday, December 19th and Sunday, December 23. A winning name will be randomly selected at 10:00 PM CST on Sunday, December 23 and announced on Monday, December 24th.  I can only ship to US addresses.  But on December 24th, I will have more Blog Candy which I will be able to send anywhere!

Blizzards and Boxers

As much as Boxers love to romp and play in the snow, they are still inside dogs…and they certainly do not like wind gusts of 50 mph.  After deciding that they did not like the looks of things off the back porch, where you could barely see the house across the street…

Or the look of things out the front windows, where the blowing snow had stuck to the screens…

They decided to just settle down for a long winter’s nap.  Because of her alpha ranking, Muffy got the cushy round bed, where she could curl right up into a ball.

Lexi opted for the “dog chair”, stretching those puppy legs out while visions of Santa Paws danced in her head.

And Brody stretched out on the floor.

For those of you feeling the brunt of this winter storm, stay safe and warm.  Until next time…

It’s Thursday and time to play at Pals Paper Arts!  Margaret Moody has a fabulous sketch for us this week. With snow blowing outside and Christmas right around the corner, today’s card may look out of place…as well it should!  I used paper, stamps and embossing folders from the new Spring Catalog!  I hope you enjoy this fresh and fun Bridal Shower card! 

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:  Fun and Fresh
This finished card measures 5-1/2″ high x 4-1/4″ long.

• Pearly Parasol! The Parasol from the new Rain or Shine stamp set was inked with Calypso Coral and stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock.  Since I like to paper snip, I snipped it out and popped it up onto a 2-1/2″ Very Vanilla Circle that I had embossed using the new Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Of course, I had to add a few Basic Pearls.  Isn’t it a law that all cards must have pearls?  If not, don’t tell me any differently! I love my pearls! 

• Stitching for the “sewing dysfunctional”! The new Cross Stitched Folder from the Needlepoint Border Textured Impressions Embossing Folder collection is perfect for someone like me who can’t sew a stitch!  But hey…I can knit and crochet!

St

• Bridal Shower! What better way to display a sentiment than layering it onto a Crumb Cake base embossed using the Stitched Scallop Folder from the Needlepoint Border Textured Impressions Embossing Folder collection.  You counted correctly…there are two border folders in the Needlepoint Border collection.  That means double the fun!

This card is heading to a former student, Danielle, who is being honored at a Tea Bridal Shower this Sunday.  Although I will not be able to attend, it sounds like so much fun.  I loved that the invitation stated “Hats are Optional”!  Danielle is a model with the Ford Agency, and has had roles in commercials and movies.  Although uncredited, she was Bruce Wayne’s blonde supermodel girlfriend in The Dark Knight.  I love it when my kids are successful!

Did you keep track of all of the new Spring Catalog products used on this card?  Here they are:  Tea for Two Designer Series Paper, Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, both folders from the Needlepoint Border Textured Impressions Embossing Folder collection, Rain or Shine stamp set and Tangerine Tango Ribbon from Sale-a-Bration’s Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack.  What do you think of these new products?  Won’t you let me know in today’s comment?  And don’t forget that I am offering Blog Candy.  For the details, and to see what I am giving away,  please check out yesterday’s BLOG CANDY POST. Until next time…

(Coming Soon:  Twin Talk…Muffy takes over the ‘puter!)
 

Stamp Set:  Rain or Shine (Available January 3, 2013):  Inks:  Calypso Coral, Early Espresso; Designer Series Paper:  Tea for Two (Available January 3, 2013); Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake; Tools:  Big Shot, Tea for Two Designer Series Paper, Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (Available Folder January 3, 2013), Needlepoint Border Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (Available January 3, 2013);  Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls, Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack (Sale-a-Bration, Available January 22, 2013)