A Buried Treasure Layout

The return of Brady the Boy to college is a reminder to me that my favorite time of the year…Fall…is quickly approaching!  As I was searching through the archives, looking at fall cards from past years, I encountered this card and was instantly struck by the layout.  The elongated panels are perfect for some of the newly released stamp sets.  With this in mind, I deemed it a perfect candidate for my Buried Treasures series…those cards of the past worthy of a second look.  This card originally appeared on The Stampin’ Schach back in November, 2009.  Click HERE for the original post.
Think of the updating possibilities!

Layout Options: This layout is perfect for stamp sets that have elongated images.  The following sets come to my mind:  the decorations from Merry and Type, the tall snowman from Snow Much Fun, the giraffe from Zoo Review, the tall pine from Lovely As a Tree, and a multitude of floral sets.  From the Holiday Mini, the skeleton from Piece of Poison, leaves from Gently Falling, and stalks of wheat from Always Thankful are possible choices.  And if you make a horizontal card, why not the sentiments from Hand-Penned Holidays and Festive and Fun?  There are Designer Series Paper options galore, dependent upon the stamp set you select.

Embellishment Updates:  I would stick with the textured panel.  Imagine the new Houndstooth Textured Impressions Embossing Folder on a masculine card.  Or the yummy Snow Burst folder, embellishing the centers with the teeniest of the Basic Pearls or droplets of Dazzling Details!  With a holiday card, imagine a snippet of the new Quilted Satin Ribbons or the Velvet Ribbon, all from the Holiday Mini. 
Techniques: Curl the corners of the central image and distress the edges, too! How beautiful would it be to use the Faux Silk technique on the back panel! Emboss Resist the image! Stamp your image and zip the strip through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice folder.  Just let your imagination soar!
Brody
Several of you emailed me, asking for an update on Brody the Boxer, who had a tumor removed from his leg Wednesday.  Brody had to stay an extra day at the vet’s because of the incision.  The location of the incision on his inner right hind leg, and its size (3″), made it difficult to stitch.  After the surgery, there were some complications.  Hence, the extra day.
I placed an old clean sheet on the couch, and he has spent most of his time dozing.  He is eating well and is in good spirits.  We have been outside several times, and that is a good sign.  He is taking three types of  meds, including drugs to control pain.  He just looks like he has been run through the wringer, but rest assured that I am catering to his every need. 
He did search for Muffy a little, but sleep won over.  Muffy is in Muncie, Indiana at a dog show.  Until Wednesday, she and Brody had only been away from each other for two days since their birth.  Poor puppies!
 
 
I hope you enjoyed this card from my past.  And I hope that you take the time to examine your card making past to see what Buried Treasures you have, just waiting for you to work your updating magic. As always, your comments are important to me, so take a few minutes to let me know what you think about today’s layout…or even to just say “Hi!” And if you ever have any questions about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away.  Until next time…

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!

Ppa107
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…