It’s time for The Paper Players Challenge! Your task this week is to have Fun with Fabric! According to the Players’ definition of fabric, anything woven will qualify…ribbon, lace, crochet trim and more, as well as traditional fabric itself! As for me, I used all three patterns of the new Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric. I hope you enjoy my “Fabric Friends” card and the three fabric techniques that I am showcasing today!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• Technique One: Fabric with Adhesive Roll! To make the fabric Lattice, I simply ironed the adhesive onto the fabric and zipped it through the Big Shot with the Lattice Die. Next, I peeled off the transfer sheet, and ironed the Lattice onto Not Quite Navy card stock. The texture is phenomenol!
  

  
• Techique Two: Fabric Yo-Yo! Making yo-yo’s are a breeze when using the Big Shot and the 3″ Circle Originals Die! All it takes is a simple running stitch around the edge, pulled tight to pucker, and the yo-yo is complete! I topped mine with a Rose Red Big Designer Button and accented it with Always Artichoke and Rose Red Seam Binding and Victoria and Chantilly Crochet Trim.

• Technique Three: Tear and Fray! A 1-1/4″ strip of fabric was ripped from a larger piece. Using a needle to separate the fibers, I simply removed a few threads of fabric at a time to achieve the frayed edge. I then adhered part of the strip to the card, and with the remainder I made a simple bow which I attached with Mini Glue Dots.

• Glitz and Glam! A trio of Basic Pearls adorn the lattice, while a quartet accents the sentiment. A Trinket Key adds the finishing touch!

I hope you enjoyed today’s card. My favorite part is the fabric bow. Won’t you please leave me a comment and let me know what fabric element you like the best? And remember, if you ever have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away!

Hopefully Blogger has resolved the issues that have been a problem over the past few days. You can imagine how panicked I was when I went to check my blog Saturday morning, and it was gone!!! Can you say “Heart Attack”? Luckily the problem resolved itself around noon. Whew! Until next time…

Stamp Set: You’re a Gem (W 122268, C 122270); Inks: Not Quite Navy (103008), Soft Suede (115657); Card Stock: Rose Red (102544), Naturals Ivory (101849), Baja Breeze (111352), Always Artichoke (105119); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Lattice Bigz Die (115958), 3″ Circle Originals Die (122125), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), 1-3/4″ Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 1-3/8″ x 5/8″ Oval Punch (119863), 3/4″ x 15/16″ Oval Punch (120908); Glitz and Glam: Victoria Crochet Trim (118481), Chantilly Crochet Trim (118480), Always Artichoke Seam Binding (121000), Rose Red Seam Binding (121884), Linen Thread (104199), Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric (121817), Springtime Vintage Big Designer Buttons (122301), Basic Pearls (119247), Trinket Keys (121892), Big Shot Fabric Adhesive Roll (122194)

Yesterday I mentioned that I had received the Stylish Blogger Award from three young stampers:

Holley Sullivan
Carrie Sampsel
Angela Timms

You can imagine my surprise when I had an email this morning from Crystal Rancourt stating that she was giving me this award, too. How sweet! Yesterday I listed four of my favorite blogs. Today, I will list four more. Now remember, there are many, many talented stampers that I love and visit daily. These are just four from a long, long list.

1. Julie B — I love her vintage style!

2. Linda Fisher —Linda is fairly new to the blogging scene. I love how she mixes up vintage and clean and classy.

3. Julie Gearinger — Julie’s designs are always classics!

4. Mary Anderson — A visit to Mary’s blog will reward you with classy cards, fabulous MDS scrapbook pages, and some of the most beautiful photographs you will ever see.

You Never Know…

I hope you enjoyed today’s sneak peek and that you will join me tomorrow for the full reveal! Remember, your comments are important to me. And 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…

Three sweet stampers recently bestowed the Stylish Blogger Award upon me. I am always touched when people think enough of what I do, to honor me in this way. Even though I am retired, the teacher in me still has that desire to teach and inspire. So I would love to thank these three young stampers and I encourage you to check out their blogs:

Holley Sullivan
Carrie Sampsel
Angela Timms

Of course, like all awards, there are certain stipulations. I have to share 8 facts about myself, and pass this on to 8 stampers whom I admire. Now I have shared facts with you before, so I feel that I am running out of facts. However, I will try to share something new. Here goes:

1. I am very sensitive. As I have already shared, I cry at sad commercials. I also cried during the American Idol eliminations. Sometimes I even cry at comments…you are all so sweet. I cry when reading sad stories. I cried at the last episode of Monk. Yet…I am a very positive and upbeat person.
2. I do not have an art background. I never even took an art class while in school. Yet I wish I had!
3. I love to sing! I just wish I could carry a tune.
4. I have to watch my weight. I am currently using Weight Watchers On-line…and love it. I have lost 11 pounds in the last 5 weeks. I want to be svelte for Convention. At my heaviest, when I was expecting my son, I weighed 170 pounds. At my thinnest, during my first year of teaching, I weighed 96 pounds. Yes…I had an eating disorder.
5. I don’t tan. I burn. I have perennial freckles. Growing up I was always envious of those people who had beautiful tans. I don’t wear shorts or capris because of this.
6. I never leave the house without wearing make-up. I am a child of the ’60’s and ’70’s, so I love my eyeliner!
7. I am blessed with a supportive husband. He was one of my best friends in high school. When I went away to college, we ended up going our separate ways until I called him up 15 years later. He has been there for me ever since.
8. My favorite quote is from the poem “Invictus”…”I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul”. I incorporated it into the valedictory address I gave when I graduated from high school in 1972. Yes…I am old! But, I love poetry and wrote poetry when I was younger.

As for stampers I admire, there are so many. I could probably list 800 and still end up forgetting someone. Some of these stampers are new finds for me…some are old friends. I will list four today, and four on my next post. Enjoy these wonderful sources of inspiration.

1. Mike Funke
Mike is a class act in every way. His designs are timeless and classy. I admire his ability to use sets in innovative ways.

2. Curt OBrien
Curt’s work just blows me away! I recently discovered his blog. Besides his fabulous cards, Curt is an awesome photographer and the proud father of two Giant Schnauzers.

3. Cindy Beach
Vintage, shabby, clean and simple…Cindy does it all. Cindy was a fellow Dirty Dozen design team member at the same time I was. I love, love, love her work. I would love to be able to design like Cindy.

4. Regina Mangum
When it comes to cute, no body does it better! Her ability to see things in different ways make her designs fresh! Whether it’s her scrapbook layouts or innovative cards, Regina is an inspiration.

Remember, I will share four more stampers who inspire me in my next post!

Winner of the Rhinestones

The winner of the Rhinstones this week, as selected randomly is:

#49 Vonnie

Hi Ann,
I knew I wouldn’t be dissapointed in your card today. I just love it and all those scallops in the beautiful DSP! Glad to hear Muffy is better. My “girls’ love those human treats…which I am guilty of giving into them this pass year and letting them have. Thanks for your inspiration!
Yvonne

Congrats, Yvonne! I will get your rhinestones in the mail to you pronto!

I am sorry that this has been such a lengthy post. As usual, I just had so many things to say. Arghh! Until next time…