Gently Falling for the PPA

It’s Thursday and time to play at Pals Paper Arts.  This week we have a fabulous sketch provided by the very talented Margaret Moody.  Since I had yet to ink up the Gently Falling set, I decided to design a card centered around it.  I hope you enjoy today’s creation, and that you will join us at Pals Paper Arts, where we are offering yummy blog candy!

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The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:  Creating an Elegant Card
  • Choose a classy paper!  Morning Mocha Specialty, with its metallic shine, was perfect for the card I wanted to create.  Coupling it with Brushed Gold card stock achieved the elegant look for which I was striving!
  • Add a touch of embossing! The solid Small Leaf image from Gently Falling was stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed with Stampin’ Up!s new Pewter Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  When that look was just a little too plain for my taste, I then over-stamped in Early Espresso Craft Ink with the corresponding outline stamp and heat embossed with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  See the difference this extra step made!

  • Select the perfect ribbon! I used the new Early Espresso 3/8″ Quilted Satin Ribbon from the Holiday Mini and crafted a formal bow.

  • Place the pearls!  These “Black Pearls” were created in a jiffy with a black permanent marker and Basic Pearls.  They were colored while still on the original backing paper.  No mess and easy-peasy!

  • Finish with a “WOW”!  Because the Brushed Gold looked a little bland, the turquoise hue was achieved by using my trusty Color Spritzer Tool and a Tempting Turquoise Stampin’ Write Marker.  While the speckles were still wet, they were wiped with a tissue. 

This Card Can Be Yours

I hope you enjoyed today’s card.  It does have an elegant, refined look and is easy to create! I can’t wait to see what you design using our challenge sketch.  Remember, your comment today and on the previous post could win you this card if your name is randomly selected! I know it’s not much, but I love sharing my cards with you.  Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one of them.  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…

Brody Update:  Brody Schach had surgery Wednesday to remove a “spot” on his right hind leg.  It will be biopsied to make certain it is not cancerous.  In the meantime, he remains at the vet.  There were some complications because of the location.  Those of you who are Boxer lovers know that Boxers are prone to cancer.  However, at his young age, the vet is optimistic that this is just a benign juvenile fatty tumor, which is relatively common.



Stamp Set:  Gently Falling (W 123802, C 123804—Holiday Mini);  Inks:  VersaMark (102283), Early Espresso Craft (119719…Neutrals Collection), Tempting Turquoise Stampin’ Write Marker (100058); Designer Series Paper:  Mocha Morning Specialty (122366);  Card Stock:  Early Espresso (119686), Basic Black (121045), Brushed Gold (102935);  Tools:  Heat Tool (100005), 1-1/4″ Square Punch (119865), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Pewter Stampin’ Emboss Powder (124114—Holiday Mini);  Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls (119247), Early Espresso 3/8″ Quilted Satin Ribbon (124104—Holiday Mini)

PPA Peek, Free Card and the Stampin’ Pantry

With every Wednesday comes a peek at the current week’s Pals Paper Arts Design Team card.  I had a wonderful time creating this card…and it is pretty simple…for me.  It features three products from the Holiday Mini, as well as one of my favorite Designer Series Papers, Mocha Morning!  Please join me for the reveal on Thursday!

This Card Can Be Yours….
…simply by leaving me a comment on today’s and Thursday’s post! It’s that easy! I will randomly select one of you to receive this card.  I love to share my creations!
Where I Stamp and Store…The Stampin’ Pantry
I have been asked so many times to share pictures of my stamping space.  The fact is, I don’t have a studio, or even a dedicated room for stamping.  I actually stamp on the kitchen island or the dining table.  Many of my supplies are stored in my pantry, where they share space with the Crock Pots and bread machine, or in the kitchen.  I would love to have a beautiful room some day, but for now, I will share pictures of how I make my space work for me.

With a room this small, there has to be a place for everything, and everything must be in its place.

The paper rack works better for storing things like cutting mats and pads of designer paper.

My inks, refills, and daubers share space on an old antique desk. 

Ribbons are stored by style in the ribbon keepers that Stampin’ Up! retired.  I would love to have the rods like so many people have, but I don’t have the place to put them.

Paper is stored in two sizes of simple paper holders, and was once organized by color family.

My apron and demonstrator bag hang from the end of an old wardrobe.

 Older stamps are stored on the shelves of the wardrobe which has had the doors removed.

New releases and “mini” stamp sets are stored in a clock case in the dining room.

Stamps from the Holiday Mini are stored on the top shelf, while sets from the 2011 – 2012 Idea Book and Catalog are on the bottom shelf.

Dies are stored in the kitchen next to the refrigerator.  My husband and son have learned to accept this.

I move my paper cutter and Big Shot out from the pantry and onto the kitchen counter when it is time to create.

My one big concession was removing the gorgeous light fixture which actually went with the kitchen decor and replacing it with this modern fixture complete with special bulbs for less color distortion.  The end result is that it makes the kitchen look like an operating room.  Arghhh!

The lights are positioned right above my island, where I do the bulk of my creating.

And so there you have it.  I took what I had, and made it work for me.  Remember, your comments are important to me.  I do read each and every one! Of course, if you have questions, remember I am only an email away! Until next time…

Twin Talk

The Twins have been bugging me to let them talk about their birthday and their latest shows.  Who am I to argue with two puppies on a mission?  Boxers are so determined.  Here they are!

Muffy:  I love birthdays!  We got birthday cookies with frosting.  Mine had pink frosting and Brody’s had blue frosting.   And…
Brody:  Muffy, I want to talk about my own burfday cookie!
Muffy: Oh, all right you whiner!
Brody:  Mine had blue frosting.
Muffy:  Anything else you want to say about your cookie?
Brody:  No.
Muffy:  What a waste of time, Brody!  I already told Mom’s stampin’ friends that your’s had blue frosting. 
Brody:  But I wanted to tell them.  It was my cookie!
Mom: Twins!  Either get on with the post, or I am going to write it myself!  And Muffy, let your brother be the alpha dog for a change.

Muffy:  Yes, Mom.  See what you caused Brody!  Anyway, we got our birthday cookies.  They were made especially for us.  They were shaped like little birthday cakes.  We also get to eat “big dog” food now, because we are…big dogs.
Brody:  Yeah…and you have greenie beanies mixed in with yours ’cause I heard Mom say you were fat!
Muffy:  I am not fat Brody! I am muscular!  At least I don’t have to have yogurt mixed in with mine like you do!
Brody:  The yogurt has stuff that’s good for my digesteratory system.
Muffy:  You mean digestive system.
Brody:  That’s what I said…digesteracation system.  I want to talk about all of the pretty ribbons I won this weekend in Mishy-gan.
Muffy:  Michigan
Brody:  Yep…Mishy-gan.  I won my classes and got blue ribbons.  Lots of people saw me and the Judd said I had a pretty head.
Muffy:  Once again Brody, I don’t think Naomi and Wynonna were there.
Brody:  Who are they, Muffy?  Do they live in Mishy-gan?
Muffy:  Let’s talk about MY ribbon, Brody!  I won the biggest ribbon ever! It is sooo pretty!  It has pink and purple, my two favorite colors, in it.  I know they made it just for me!  Read what it says, Brody.  Let me spell it out for you.  B-E-S-T  I-N  S-H-O-W!  Do you know what that means, Brody?  Hmm???
Brody:  No, I don’t Muffy, but I am sure you are going to tell me.
Muffy:  Of course I am.  What would you do without me?  It means that I won Best of Breed, then I won the Group, and then I was selected the top dog out of all the dogs.  It means I am so much prettier than you.
Mom:  Muffy Lin! Stop it right now.  First of all, yes, you were Best in Show and you got a fabulous ribbon.  But Muffy, this was a small show and it was different from the other shows you have been in.
Muffy:  How was it different, Mom?  There were judges and other dogs and I ran in the ring and I stood still and looked pretty.  I do that part really well.
Mom:  This was a United Kennel Club show, not an American Kennel Club show.  All of your other shows have been AKC shows.  This small show was perfect for your brother since he isn’t quite as mature as other boy Boxers his age.
Muffy:  You can say that again, Mom!

Yes…The Twins are now eating adult dog food.  Like her Mom, Muffy has a slight weight problem, so she does get a few low-cal veggies to help fill her up.  Brody needs to gain a few pounds, so we mix yogurt in with his kibble to encourage him to eat.  As for the show…Brody had a fabulous Saturday and on Sunday Muffy did indeed win the biggest ribbon of them all!  Oops!  I have to go break up a puppy fight!  Until next time…