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…

Tickled Pink for the Players

It’s time to play a color challenge with The Paper Players! This week the talented Anne Marie has selected a trio of colors sure to tickle you pink!  That’s right…Rose Red, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink.  I hope you enjoy today’s card which features the Established Elegance stamp set and the new Snow Burst embossing folder from the Holiday Mini! 
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:  It’s All About the Details
  • Create a collage! The new Oval Frame from the Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders sets the perfect stage for creating a mini-collage. The Dress Form from the Established Elegance stamp set cries out for paper-piecing, while snippets of a doily from the Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper and punched Itty Bitty Rose Red flowers with Basic Pearl centers complete the vignette. 
  • Flourish and texture! A Rose Red Scallop Circle was created with the Scallop Circles #2 Die and the Big Shot.  The Flourish from Established Elegance was then inked with Whisper White ink and stamped around part of the periphery.  Fabulous texture was then added with the Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Let me tell you, this texture is gorgeous!
  • Pennant! Flag! Banner! Whatever you call it, sentiments always look better with a little snip-snip end treatment! A Pretty in Pink Flourish, a few speckles with the Color Spritzer Tool and Pearls complete the look!
  • Bow-wow!  And we are not talking like Brody and Muffy here! This Whisper White Organza bow is the “wow” factor needed to finish this card!
So what do you think?  Is this card “in the pink”?  Let me know what you think in today’s comment! Your comments are so important to me, and I do read each and every one!  And of course, I LOVE answering your questions about the cards that I create and the techniques that I use.  Remember…I am only an email away!  Until next time…

Coming Soon:
*  Twin Talk:  The Twins share their first United Kennel Club experience in Michigan.
*  A couple more retired stamp sets have been discovered.  A very short “For Sale” list will be forthcoming.
*  New Club and Classes information
* The Stampin’ Pantry

Stamp Sets:  Established Elegance (W 122530, C 122532), You’re a Gem (W 122268, C 122270);  Inks: Rose Red (101778), Whisper White (101731), Soft Suede (115657), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Designer Series Paper:  Flirtatious (122360), Subtles Paper Stack (117152);  Card Stock:  Pretty in Pink (100459), Rose Red (102544),  Regal Rose (105130), Very Vanilla (101650); Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Scallop Circles #2 Bigz Die (113469), Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (123130), Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (124114),  Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Sponge Dauber (102892), Paper Snips (103579); Glitz and Glam:  Whisper White Organza Ribbon (114319),  Rose Red Seam Binding (121884), Basic Pearls (119247)

A Daring Adventure for the PPA

It’s Thursday and time to play at Pals Paper Arts!  This week the Pals are having a “Dress for Success” challenge.  The recipe is simple. Just use 1 piece of Designer Series Paper, 1 Punch, and 1 Sentiment. How easy is that!  Having just received the Daring Adventure set, I could hardly wait to ink it up and make a card for my son, Brady.  Since he will be enrolling in his final year of college, I felt that the Helen Keller quote from this set was perfect.  I know that I will miss him immensely, as will the Twins.  But before I get all teary-eyed, let’s move along!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:  Masculine and Distressed
  • Pick your Designer Paper! For my masculine card, I decided on this fabulous geometric design from the Well Worn collection.  I drew my colors (River Rock, Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy) from the colors in the pattern.  Geometric patterns are often great choices for masculine cards.  I opted for a busier pattern since the only major stamping was a sentiment and there would be no competition with an image.
  • Pick your Punch!  I love using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch for masculine creations.  The Linen Thread cross-stitching adds texture and interest.
  • Pick your Sentiment! In this case, the sentiment says it all and was perfect for the motherly advice I was wanting to convey. 
  • Pick the Perfect Details!  I am a fool for the tool…the Color Spritzer Tool!  Soft Suede speckles were added instantly.   A Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede ink were used to age the edges.  Of course, who can resist the “Waterspot” stamp from French Foliage! I inked it up with Soft Suede ink, stamped off once, and then stamped away!
  • Pick the Unexpected!  Whoever said you can’t place Pearls on a masculine card never asked me! I like the interest they add.  Brads would do the same, but the pearls are just so…ME!
  • Pick a Panel! A back panel was stamped with the Lettering, Flourish and Footsteps from Daring Adventure.  A Houndstooth embossed strip anchors and balances the design.
So, what do you think?  I love mixing up styles, and it felt great to get down and dirty after the clean card I created for Sunday’s The Paper Players challenge.  What about you?  Do you like to mix it up, or do you find yourself getting stuck in a rut?  Won’t you please leave me a comment and share your thoughts?  Now that my Internet service provider seems to be providing me with Internet service, I feel as if I am back in the land of the living! I can’t wait to respond to your emails and check out your blogs! Woo hoo!  As always, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I create and the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…

Stamp Sets: Daring Adventure (W 122600, C 122602), French Foliage (W 120845, C 121166); Ink:  Soft Suede (115657);  Stampin’ Write Markers:  Cajun Craze (119678), Not Quite Navy (100059), Early Espresso (119680);  Designer Series Paper:  Well Worn (122359);  Card Stock:  Naturals Ivory (101849), Cajun Craze (119684), River Rock (108640);  Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Houndstooth Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (123134), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Sponge Dauber (102892), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275); Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls (119247), Linen Thread (104199)