Pals Paper Arts Blog Hop

Welcome to the February PALS HOP! This month we are featuring projects made with Stampin Up!’s Sale-A-Bration items. Even our hop logo was designed using the My Digital Studio CD which you can earn for free during Sale-A-Bration! Stephanie Uzee was the designer!
If you have hopped over from Gina Shaw, I’m stop Number 5 on the PALS HOP and I’m glad you hopped in! I’ll help you “hop along” from blog to blog where you’ll find great ideas for paper crafted creations from the Stampin’ Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the PALS HOP LINE-UP below and you’ll be back on track!

1. Melissa Ordelheide

2. Mary Fish

3. Barbara Chatzkel

4. Gina Shaw

5. Ann Schach

6. Joanna Munster

7. Nicole Watt

8. Stephanie Uzee

9. Joan Norris

10. Carla Bazhenow

11. Dawn Gross

12. Nina Dee

13. Mike Funke

14. Melanie Collins

Bliss for the Hop
The set I selected to showcase on this Hop is Bliss. It’s vintage style is right up my alley! Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy and Very Vanilla get a “pop” of color with Cajun Craze on this emboss resist card. And what could be better than Baja Breeze Glass Glitter finishing off the edges of the image circle! Enjoy!
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Why resist Emboss Resist? The fact that I have used this technique on the last two cards I have designed should be a testimony to how easy it is to do this technique! I inked the “Flourish” from Bliss with VersaMark and stamped onto a 3-3/4″ Very Vanilla circle. I then heat embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder. A Stampin’ Sponge was used to apply Baja Breeze ink in a circular motion over the embossed image. The excess ink was then wiped off. (Hint: For circles of any size, I use the Circle Scissors Plus!)
  • Distress! Age instantly simply by using a Color Spritzer Tool and a Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker. Use a Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede ink to distress the edges of both card stock and designer series paper!
  • Glitz! Baja Breeze Glass Glitter adorns the edges of the image circle. Iridescent Ice Stampin’ Emboss Powder graces the wings of the Cajun Craze Butterflies.
  • Glam! Basic Pearls are used to embellish the Scallop Trim Border, as well as the ribbon and butterflies. A yummy Very Vanilla Satin bow provides the perfect finishing touch!

Please let me know what you think of today’s Bliss card by leaving me a comment. Remember, your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one of them. And don’t forget, if you ever have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Next stop on the Hop, Joanna Munster. Until next time…
Stamp Set: Bliss (W 121851, C 123217—Sale-A-Bration); Ink: Baja Breeze (111833), Soft Suede (115657), Crumb Cake (121030), Not Quite Navy (103008), VersaMark (102283), VersaMarker (100901), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Designer Series Paper: Springtime Vintage (121782—Occasions Mini); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Not Quite Navy (101722); Tools: Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), 1-3/4″ x 7/8″ Oval Punch (119855), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Heat Tool (100005), Sponge Dauber (102892), Stampin’ Sponges (101610); Glitz and Glam: Baja Breeze Glass Glitter (121883—Occasions Mini), Iridescent Ice Stampin’ Emboss Powder (101930), White Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109132), Very Vanilla 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (117291), Basic Pearls (119247)

Always for The Paper Players

It’s February, and “Love is in the Air” at The Paper Players! Our challenge for you this week is to create a romantic project. How simple is that! So dust off those romantic stamps and join us! As for me…I selected the Always set from Stampin’ Up! Since the key and butterfly cast a shadow, here is another view:

I hope that you will join us this week. I can’t wait to see what you create!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Emboss resist! The Heart image from Always was inked with VersaMark and stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock. It was then heat embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder. Next, Crumb Cake ink was sponged over the surface, using a circular motion, and then wiped off. What a beautiful soft and aged affect!
  • Wheelies! The emboss resist technique was also used on the Always in Bloom Stampin’ Around Wheel to make the image really “pop”!
  • Flower power! The shabby chic flower was created using the Birds & Blooms Sizzlits. I used a scrap of Very Vanilla card stock that had been texturized using the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. The edges of the petals were distressed with Soft Suede.
  • Snippets! Snippets of Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon and Victoria Crochet Lace adorn the flower.
  • Butterlies! A bevy of Blushing Bride butterfly beauties, created with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit, accent the flower, as well as the corner of the image mat.
  • Glitz and glam! Basic Pearls embellish butterfly wings! Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz adds sparkle to the flower! The Trinket Key to my heart is the perfect touch!
I hope you enjoyed my “romantic” card. Muffy the Boxer added her own special distressing touch…the tear by the trio of pearls! I will need to make certain that this card goes to someone who understands and appreciates the zeal of puppies!
Blog Candy Winner
A huge “thank-you” to all who left comments during The Paper Players Occasions Mini Blog Hop. We are planning to do this again with the release of the next mini catalog. The winner of my blog candy, as determined by using a randon number generator, was:
#85 Kathy/North Carolina
Another stunner! I love the way the bird cage peeks out from behind the card. Adds so much interesting depth! Yummy blog candy, too!
Kathy, please email your address to me, and I will get your stamp set and pearls sent to you pronto!
As always, I do appreciate your comments. They really do mean so much to me. They certainly gave me a different perspective about my “Bliss” card! So please, let me know what you think of today’s card. 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! Until next time…
Coming up this week:
Tuesday—Pals Blog Hop
Stamp Set: Always (113620), Always in Bloom Stampin’ Around Wheel (113834); Ink: VersaMark (102283), Soft Suede (115657), Crumb Cake (121030); Stampin’ Write Marker: Soft Suede (120973), Pretty in Pink (100045); Card Stock: Blushing Bride (119796), Very Vanilla (101650), Whisper White (100730), Crumb Cake (120953), Early Espresso (119686); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Bird & Blooms Sizzlits (113485), Beautiful Wings Embosslits (118138), Sponge Daubers (102892), Stampin’ Sponges (101610), Heat Tool (100005), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Stampin’ Around Handle (102971); Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772), Linen Thread (104199), Early Espresso 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (119753), Pretty in Pink 3/8″ Taffeta Ribbon (109067), Victoria 5/8″ Crochet Lace (118481), Trinket Key (121892), White Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109132)

Bliss for Pals Paper Arts


It’s Thursday and time to play at Pals Paper Arts! This week it is a Color Challenge, and as I stated in yesterday’s post, boy was it a challenge for me! It forced me to use a color, Riding Hood Red, that I have NEVER used. I had no idea what to do with this color combination of Riding Hood Red, Rich Razzleberry, and Certainly Celery, even though they look so pretty on the PPA “Painted Ladies”. I know when I look at the rest of the Design Team inspiration cards, I will say to myself, “Why didn’t I think of that?” My husband always critiques my cards, and his response to this one was…”Well, it’s not one of your best!” Bless his heart! I knew that, but had no time for a do-over! Don’t you just hate it when that happens?

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Ink and emboss! The Flourish image from the Bliss Sale-A-Bration set was inked with Rich Razzleberry and stamped onto Naturals Ivory card stock. It was then zipped through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to add texture. A few spritzes with the Color Spritzer Tool and Rich Razzleberry and Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Markers complete the look.
  • Distress! A Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede Ink are key tools for distressing! I also brayered Soft Suede over the tulip border to add interest.
  • Mea culpa! Yes…that is Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding. But it “scrunchies” so well!
  • Glitz and Glam! Basic Pearls form the center of the Riding Hood Red flowers, while Basic Rhinestones add bling to the butterfly!

Where Did I Go Wrong

When a good card goes bad, it always important to reflect upon why this occurred.

  • Maybe the impending blizzard suppressed my mojo.
  • Maybe the Twins distracted me.
  • Maybe it was the caffeine from all of the home-made diet mochas I drank.
  • Maybe it was because I waited too late to start.
  • Maybe I allowed a negative mindset to sap my creativity. A positive attitude and success go hand in hand. Did I allow the fact that I am not a Riding Hood Red user influence how I felt about the combination?
  • Maybe it was the fact I was stubborn. Instead of allowing the color combination to direct the stamp set which is used, I was determined to use the Bliss set, come what may.
  • Maybe it was a combination of all of the above!
With all of that said, it’s time to say congrats to #8: Wendy…the winner of the Rose Red Ribbon. This is what Wendy had to say about what takes her out of her comfort zone:
Color Challenges using dark colors take me out of my comfort zone. Sometimes light colors if I don’t like the combination.

Wendy, please send me your address, and I will get your ribbon in the mail pronto!

Please let me know what you think about today’s card by leaving a comment. Your comments are important to me, and I do read each and every one of them. And don’t forget, if you ever have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away. Until next time…

Stamp Set: Bliss (W 121851, C 123217); Inks: Soft Suede (115657), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Riding Hood Red (111836); Stampin’ Write Markers: Certainly Celery (105106), Riding Hood Red (120971), Rich Razzleberry (120970); Card Stock: Naturals Ivory (101849), Riding Hood Red (111348), Certainly Celery (105125), Rich Razzleberry (115316); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (121809), Sponge Daubers (102892), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Brayer (102395), Scalloped Oval Punch (119856), 1-3/4″ x 7/8″ Oval Punch (119855); Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247), Basic Rhinestones (119246), Vintage Trinkets (118764), Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding (122330), Rich Razzleberry 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (119752)