It’s Thursday and time to play at Pals Paper Arts! This week it is a theme challenge, and what better theme is there at this time of year than “Holiday”!  I took my inspiration from the trees in this photo and created a Center Step card featuring the gorgeous pines from Christmas Lodge and Lovely As a Tree.  I had never made a center step card before I created this one.  I thought they looked complicated.  But you know what…they are not difficult to make at all! I hope you enjoy, “Trees for the Pals”!

(This is a non-standard size card which will be used as a table decoration:  6-3/4″ wide by 6-3/4″ when folded.  I have also included directions at the end on how to make a standard sized Center Step Card.) 

• Terrific  trees! The Tree from Christmas Lodge was inked with Always Artichoke and stamped onto Naturals Ivory card stock.  The edges were distressed with the Seven Sided Tool and inked with Soft Suede.  A few speckles (added with the Color Spritzer tool) and Waterspots (from the French Foliage set) are used to age the image.  Basic Pearls, colored red with a permanent marker, make the perfect ornaments!

• Frilly Chantilly! Chantilly crochet trim forms the perfect vintage bow.  Mini-Glue Dots magically hold the pleats in place.

• Side-by-side!  The Pine from Lovely As a Tree makes a perfect complementary image to the center Christmas tree.  The Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, when used with Cherry Cobbler card stock, forms the perfect border!

• Sentiment-al!  The Merry Christmas sentiment, inked in Early Espresso, adds vintage pizzazz…especially with its pennant ends and pearls!

To make the card base:

• Begin with a 5-1/2″ by 11″ piece of card stock.  1″ in from the 11″ side, make a cut from the 1″ mark to the 6-1/2″ mark.  Flip your paper and do the same on the opposite side.

• Using your Simply Scored tool, score from the edge of the paper to the cut at 1″, 2″ and 6-1/2″.  Do the same on the opposite edge.

• Score between the cuts at 5-1/2″.  I have marked the lines for better visibility.

•  Fold your card base as illustrated.

• To make a standard sized card which can be mailed,  modify the directions above as follows:  Cut from 1″ to 5-1/4″, and score the edges at 1″, 2″ and 5-1/4″.  Score between the cuts at 4-1/4″.

With the silly Twins still galloping around the house, I do not think that we will attempt to decorate a Christmas tree again this year. So I will display this card instead…and keep my fingers crossed that Muffy, my stamping helper, does not decide that it needs even more distressing.


Remember, your comments are so very important to me. So won’t you please let me know what you think of today’s card by leaving me a comment? I do read each and every one! 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…

Stamp Sets:  Christmas Lodge (W 123767, C 123769), Lovely As a Tree (115026), French Foliage (W 120845, C 121166);  Inks:  Always Artichoke (105219), Soft Suede (115657), Early Espresso (119670), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973);  Designer Series Paper:  Frostwood Lodge (124002);  Card Stock:  River Rock (108640), Naturals Ivory (101849), Very Vanilla (101650);  Tools:  Distressing Essentials (118762), Cutter Kit (106958), Paper Snips (103579), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Paper Cutter (104152), Simply Scored (123334), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275); Glitz and Glam:  Chantilly Crochet Trim (118480), Basic Pearls (119247)

It’s hard to believe that it is already Wednesday and time to take a peek at this week’s Pals Paper Arts card. It’s a pretty big peek, but hopefully you will still be a little surprised when you join me for the reveal on Thursday!  It does include something that I have never done before.  Hmmm….what could that be? You will just have to check in and see!  So until next…


What…Muffy quit pawing at my arm.  I am almost done with today’s post and then…

Muffy:  But Mom, I want to type on the ‘puter.  I haven’t got to type on the ‘puter for a long time. 
Mom:  What do you want to say, Muffy?
Muffy:  I want to show people the pretty pictures of me.
Brody:  I want to show people pretty pictures of ME!
Muffy:  That would be impossible Brody because you aren’t pretty!
Brody:  MOM…
Mom:  Brody, you are just going to have to learn to stand up for your own rights.
Brody:  But I can’t, Mom.  Muffy is the alpha dog.
Mom: Well, Brody, you do have a good point.  Muffy definitely is the alpha dog between you two.
Muffy:  Yeah, I’m the alpha.  Just like Mom is the alpha over Dad.  Girls are always the alphas, aren’t they Mom?
Mom:  That may be the case in our household, Muffy, but I let Dad think he is the alpha.  It just makes life easier.
Brody:  I’m gonna tell! I’m gonna tell Dad that he isn’t really the alpha and that you are just make believin’!
Mom and Muffy: NO YOU WILL NOT!!!
Brody:  OK…OK…I was joking. 
Muffy:  Oh just grow up, Brody.
Brody:  I’m trying, Muffy.  But I don’t have any control over that.  I already weigh over 65 pounds.  But I don’t have a chest yet. My butt is getting bigger, but it is not as big as yours, “Muffy Big-Butt”.
Muffy:  I meant don’t be so immature!
Brody:  That is so gross, Muffy.  I am not “in manure”.  That is just about as gross as when you had the yukky dead squirrel tail in your mouth and Mom rinsed your mouth out with the special mouth-cleaner juice for our teeth.  She was mad at you.  I told you not to bring it in the house.
Muffy:  Yeah…well I told you not to tear up Mom’s address book that she left on the table. 
Brody:  She would never have missed it if you wouldn’t have brought her torn up pieces of it.
Muffy:  Yes she would have, Brody.  Do you think Mom is an idiot?
Brody:  Huh??? Do I think that Mom is a what?
Muffy:  Don’t you ever listen?  I said, “Do you think Mom is an idiot?”
Brody: I’m sorry Muffy.  I can’t hear you.  What was that last part?
Muffy:  MOM IS AN IDIOT!!!
Mom:  Muffy Lin…I heard that!  It’s straight to the crate for you!
Brody:  Now who’s in manure, Muffy!  And now I can type on the ‘puter!
Muffy: Try it, Big Foot! You can’t hit the right keys.
Brody:  ifrrauyr wbcpt owun’ pfdsj kgriu oqwk
(This is a beautiful picture of me on the day I earned my United Kennel Club “Champion” title. The judd thought I looked so handsome.  She is smiling at me.)

Brody:  doqwrenjvdfpoqwubgdf-[goihwerugq=
(This is a picture of ugly Muffy when she won her “Champion” title the day before.  I am sure that the judd felt sorry for her.  He looks like he is in shock because she is so ugly.)

Brody:  592wkvoin4n’dfjvbn’qw[fmnweoq[/
(This is a picture of both of us.  I am the beautiful one.  Muffy is the ugly one.  I am with Michelle the Handler and Muffy is with my good friend, Marie.  She is Michelle’s helper.  Michelle has a big smile on her face because she gets to hold my leash.  I think Marie looks unhappy because she has to hold ugly Muffy.)

Brody:  ri0409eivnwloe0595y2hnwllovi-02
(Mom says I have to get off the ‘puter now.  See you next time.)

Welcome to the November Pals Hop! This month, we are featuring Winter, Christmas, and Hanukkah inspired cards and projects! Enjoy the hop and the amazing creations that the Pals have designed.

If you have hopped over from Barb Furlong at The Love of Stamping, I’m stop number 13! I’ll help you “hop along” from blog to blog where you’ll find great ideas for paper projects from the Stampin’ Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up at the end of this post and you’ll be back on track!

Today I am featuring a “bling-a-licious” card and four fabulous tags! They are all quick and easy…just perfect for a busy stamper during the holiday season!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips: Merry and Oh, So Bright
(This card measures 4-1/4″ wide x 5-1/2″ long.)

• Gleam! The Merry and Type “Ornaments” were inked in VersaMark and stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock.  They were then heat embossed with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder, for a look that would rival the Mother Lode!

• Dazzle! A “magic potion” of Dazzling Details and Moonlight Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink was concocted and painted onto the ornaments. To give the appearance dimension, the “Smooched Details” were layered and mounded up on the “quilted” ornament.  A dot of Cherry Cobbler Ink Refill was added to the potion to paint the middle ornament.  For even more sparkle and shine, a pinch of  Dazzling Diamonds glitter was sprinkled over the ornaments while they were still wet.

;

• Bling! Rhinestones were tinted using a red permanent marker and added to the ornament in the foreground and to the sentiment.  The two ornaments in the back were suspended on strands of Basic Pearls.

(Each tag measures 2-1/2″ wide x 4-1/2″ long.)

The inspiration for these tags came from the Louisville Regional, where they were used to illustrate the versatility of the Winter Wishes Stitched Felt from the Holiday Mini.  I did add a few of the special Schach touches, such as speckles, cross-stitching, silver glitter paper, rhinestones, and pearls.  

• “X” marks the spot!  Cross-stitching adds “wow” to this cute, little country tag.  A few Cherry Cobbler speckles, courtesy of the Color Spritzer Tool,  and a Baker’s Twine tie are the perfect touches!

• Pearl-berries! Three Basic Pearls and a tiny Taffeta bow bedeck this warm, fuzzy wreath!

• Baja ice! Nothing pairs better with Baja Breeze than sparkle! Silver Glitter Paper, Basic Rhinestones, and a snippet of  Silver Tinsel Trim, left-over from last year’s Holiday Mini, add sparkle galore!

• Diva-delightful! Silver Glitter Paper adds glam-aplenty.  And for even more sparkle, nothing beats Rhinestones! The result is a tag that is sure to shine in the lights of your holiday tree!

I hope you enjoyed the November edition of the Pals Blog Hop.  But before you hop on over to Linda Fisher at Linda’s Stampin’ Loft,  won’t you please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of today’s projects?  Your comments are so very important to me!  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…

1. Nina Dee at Deesigns by Nina Dee
2. Julie Trevett-Smith at The Stampin’ Affair!
3. Maxine Conrad at Stamp to the MAX!
4. Jessica Ying at YoYoStamping Studio
5. Mike Funke at Stampin-Style
6. Jennifer Takacs at My Stampin Blog
7. Nancy Gleason at My Stampin’ Space
8. Nicole Watt at Impressions By Nicole
9. Mikki Sarkisyan at Mikki’s Creative Corner
10. Kylie Nicolosi at Kylie’s Crafty Corner
11. Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
12. Barb Furlong at The Love of Stamping
13. Ann Schach at The Stampin’ Schach
14. Linda Fisher at Linda’s Stamin Loft
15. Sandie Conner at Pretty Provisions
16. Cindy Hall at Pretty Impact
17. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
18. Angie Blake at Angie’s Musings
19. Kris Kilcoyne at Kween Bee Kreations
20. Camila McManus at OBX Scrapbook
21. Leah O’Brien at Leah’s Stampin’ Corner