One of the perks of attending Stampin’ Up!’s  Leadership was receiving two brand new stamp sets, which are going to be featured in the new 2012 – 2013 catalog.  For Sunday’s The Paper Players card, I was thrilled to use images from a double set named, Everything Eleanor.  I hope you enjoy this peek, and I hope that you will join me for the reveal on Sunday!  

If you would like to recive this card, just leave me a comment.  I will randomly select a winner from all comments left on this post and on the reveal!  Until next time…

Whew!  What an ordeal getting home from Stampin’ Up!’s Leadership Conference and the San Antonio Regional.  Both events were fabulous…but the journey home was not.  My flight, which was scheduled to land at 11:45 AM in Peoria, IL, was diverted to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.  One bus trip and twelve hours later, I was safely in my kitchen!

I do want to share some of the things I learned and created in San Antonio with you.  Today I have one of the Make and Take cards from the Regional.  I must say it was quick and easy and cute, with a couple of neat techniques.  I can’t wait to put my own special twist on it!

• “Leaf” me alone!  The polka-dotted Lucky Limeade leaf (made with the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch) was created using the appropriate ink and the Dotted Kite from the Send Me Soaring stamp set.  Isn’t that a nifty little trick!

• It’s “faux” easy! Stitching is a breeze for those like me who are sewing dysfunctional! All it takes is a White Signo Gel Pen and a Calypso Coral Stampin’ Write Marker.  Tip:  Use a ruler to help make your stitches straight and even.  (Guess who didn’t do this!!!  Oops!)

• Generous curves! The edges of this card were rounded using the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch.  Tip:  Corners a little rough?  Smooth them out with a Designer Sanding Block!  Look at the difference in these before and after pictures!

Before sanding the back edge has a small point

After sanding, it’s smooth

• Flower Power! Four Calypso Coral polka-dotted Heart Petals, punched with the Small Heart Punch, are perched atop two Calypso Coral blossoms which were created with the Blossom Bouquet Punch set in the middle.  A Bitty Button with a Baker’s Twine bow completes the look.  And where did this dotted paper come from? The Dotted Kite and Calypso Coral ink! Tip:  Curl the edges of the petals up to create dimension!

Isn’t this a cutie patootie card?  I like it because it takes me right out of my comfort zone.  You don’t know how much I would have loved to spritz, distress and add a pearl right in the center of the blossom.  But this is not the style to support this.  Hmmm….maybe I should “schachify” it to see what it would look like! Be prepared for a CASE!

Are you ready for Stampin’ Up!’s biggest event of the year?  It’s time for Sale-A-Bration! Starting today through March 31st, you can earn earn a free Sale-A-Bration gift for every $50 you spend on product.  Spend $150 and not only will you earn three free SAB gifts…you will also earn a free tote AND Hostess Benefits.  In addition, you will also earn “Shop with Schach Reward Points”.  Just click on the catalog below to see what you can earn!

Stamp Set:  Send Me Soaring;  Ink:  Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Signo Gel Pen, Calypso Coral Stampin’ Write Marker; Card Stock:  Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake, Whisper White; Designer Series Paper:  Berry Blossoms, Sweet Shop;  Tools: Blossom Bouquet Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Small Heart Punch;  Glitz and Glam:  Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon, Bitty Buttons, Calypso Coral/White Baker’s Twine

It’s Sunday and time to reveal this week’s The Paper Players inspiration card.  Jaydee is hosting a fabulous Clean and Simple “Tag It” Challenge.  The mission:  Create a Clean and Simple card with a tag on it!  At first glance, this card may not look that simple.  But in actuality, it was a breeze to make!  New Occasions Mini products used on this card include the fabulous Hearts Framelits, Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz, Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon, Large Pearls, and the Fashionable Hearts Embosslits! Enjoy today’s card!

The finished card measures 5-1/2″ by 5-1/4″. To convert this card into a mailable form for use in Stampin’ Up!’s square envelopes, simply move the large heart completely onto the card base.

• Smooch your card! Spritzing with Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz adds a delicious sparkle and shine to the Whisper White card base. 

• Frilly heart! For a look to rival a box of Valentine chocolates, a border of Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon was added to a Hearts Framelit made with the yummy Twitterpated Designer Series Paper! Use Sticky Strip for a sticky grip!

• For double the wow, double the bow! Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding never looked more delicious than when used to create a double bow.

• Tag…You’re it! A mini-collage tag is created using the new Fashionable Hearts Embosslits, Basic Pearls, a Trinket Key, and a sweet little Blushing Bride Twitterpated Button!  The “Key to my Heart” sentiment, from the versatile You’re a Gem stamp set, is the perfect finishing touch!

What a fun Valentine card to create! While the base of the card is Clean and Simple, the collage tag adds that little extra touch. What do you think of the Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz?  I was skeptical at first, but I think I like it! As always, your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one of them…so please, won’t you leave a comment today?  And as always, if you ever have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…

 

Stamp Set:  You’re a Gem (W 122268, C 122270); Ink:  Basic Black (101179); Designer Series Paper:  Twitterpated (125406-Occasions Mini); Card Stock:  Whisper White (100730), Cherry Cobbler (119685); Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Hearts Framelits (125599), Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (125601), Fashionable Hearts Embosslits (125596-Occasions Mini), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275), Pinking Hearts Border Punch (117649), Large Tag Punch (119876), Extra Large Tag Punch (119866), Sticky Strip (104294); Glitz and Glam: Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz (125580-Occasions Mini), Large Basic Pearls (125577-Occasions Mini), Basic Pearls (119247), Twitterpated Designer Buttons (125579-Occasions Mini), Cherry Cobbler/White Baker’s Twine (123125), Trinket Keys (121892), Blushing Bride Pleated Satin Ribbon (125570-Occasions Mini), Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (120992)