It’s Sunday and time to “Play with The Paper Players“! The lovely Jaydee has prepared a Clean and Simple Color Challenge for us this week.  Those of you who are regulars here at The Stampin’ Schach know that I am usually not a “clean and simple” stamper.  But you know what…I am becoming a fan of what I like to call “Clean and Classy”.  I hope you enjoy today’s classy card using the Bright Hopes set!

Today’s card measures 5-1/4″ x 5-1/4″ inches.

• Texture!  The Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder adds interest in the wink of an eye, and a crank or two of the Big Shot handle! 

• Turn up the heat! The Tree and Decorative Oval  images from Bright Hopes were inked in VersaMark and heat embossed with Silver Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  Wow! This set was tailor made for heat embossing.  I can’t wait to try it in gold!

• A Pearly Paint Job!  Did you know you can custom-dye your pearls? I wanted Night of Navy Pearls, but I did not have a navy permanent marker.  Soooo…I made another magic potion using Crystal Effects and Night of Navy Craft Ink Refill. I poured out a little Crystal Effects, added a dab of re-inker and mixed the two together.  I then painted it onto the pearls.  It results in a somewhat matte finish, so if you want shine, add a topcoat of Crystal Effects.

• Bow!  Satin is the ribbon of choice for a classy, elegant card.  And it just so happens that I still have some now retired Night of Navy 5/8″ Satin Ribbon.  Basic Gray, which is currently available, would make a wonderful substitution!

• Stamp Set Substitution!  Would you like to make this card, but you didn’t purchase Bright Hopes?  Snow Swirled would make a perfect substitute!

So…what do I think makes a card clean and classy?  It’s simple:  a textured background, a strong central image which is often heat embossed, and a fabulous bow!  What things do you think make a card clean, classy and elegant?  Just let me know in today’s comments!


I hope you enjoyed today’s card. Please let me know what you think in your comment today.  I do read each and every one of them, and I enjoy our email chats!  Speaking of emails, 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…

 

 

It’s Saturday, and time for The Paper Players peek.  As you can see, tomorrow’s card has both dry and heat embossing,  plus pearls!  I hope that you join me for the reveal on Sunday!  Jaydee has prepared a fabulous challenge for us.  And don’t forget to stop by to see the talented stampers selected as our Headliner and Cuts Above!

I want to thank all of you for the comments you have left the past two days.  You will never know how much your kind comments mean to me.  However, there can only be one winner. The all-powerful random number generator has spoken.  This little cutie will be traveling to #65 Christyne!  Here is what Christyne had to say: 

Christyne, just email your address to me and I will bundle up this little gal and send her to her new home!  And if you didn’t win this time around, don’t despair!  I am cooking up more candy for the near future!

Those of you who are regular followers of The Stampin’ Schach know that my son, Brady, is a trumpet performance major.  He does indeed toot a mean horn!  He texted me late Friday afternoon to let me know that he was a winner in Western Illinois University’s Concerto Competition.  Brady played Jolivet’s Concertino por Trompette.  Brady will be a featured soloist with the university’s orchestra next semester.  Brady celebrates his birthday today…and what a fabulous gift this was! 

But wait…there’s more! Brady advanced in the Music Teachers National Association Young Artists Competition.  He will represent the state of Illinois when he travels to Western Michigan University in January.  (And boy do we need to get some new pictures taken!)


That’s it for now! The Twins and I will be off to pick up Brady for Thanksgiving break.  He performs with the Quincy (IL) Symphony Orchestra this afternoon, so the Twins and I will be making a longer road trip than usual. Until next time…

It’s Thursday, and time to play at Pals Paper Arts! This week we are featuring a sketch created by the talented Margaret Moody.  Since it is a classic sketch, I opted for a classic card…and one which is very easy, very quick to create, and yet very elegant.  I hope you enjoy another card created with A Beautiful Season.

Today’s card is 4-1/4″ wide x 5-1/2″ long.

• Pick your paper wisely! The patterns in Morning Mocha Specialty Designer Papers are perfect for creating elegant cards.  With their slight metallic sheen, they coordinate perfectly with Brushed Gold card stock.  And what could be classier than stripes with dots!

• Elegant cards can be made in a snap! Opt for one “wow” element, such as gold embossing.  And to reduce the time, not every part of the image needs to be colored.  I left the bird “natural” and very quickly watercolored the leaves with Always Artichoke and the berries with Cherry Cobbler.

• Go for the bow! A 5/8″ Satin Bow is the only embellishment that is needed to set off the image!

I hope you enjoyed today’s card!  It really is as easy to make as one-two-three! Won’t you let me know what you think in today’s comment? Your comments are important to me, and I enjoy reading each and every one.  As always, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away. Until next time…

(There was a question in yesterday’s comments concerning the watermarks on the coasters I posted on Tuesday.  They were made with the watermark stamp from the French Foliage set.  I LOVE that watermark image!)

Stamp Set:  A Beautiful Season (W 122680, C 122682);  Inks:  Cherry Cobbler (119669), Always Artichoke (105219), More Mustard (103162), VersaMark (102283); Designer Series Paper:  Mocha Morning Specialty (122366);  Card Stock:  Very Vanilla (101650), Brushed Gold (102935), Soft Suede (115318);  Tools:  Heat Tool (100005), Blender Pens (102845);  Glitz and Glam: Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109129), Early Espresso 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (ret)