Cinco de Mayo from Celebrando Creatividad


Yesterday I mentioned that I would showcase another set from Celebrando Creatividad. Cinco de Mayo includes this fabulous dancer, as well as an exceptional trio of troubadors that I love! This particular card was part of a Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen gallery featuring invitations. The Cinco de Mayo stamp set can certainly be used to invite your friends to any fiesta!
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:
  • Unlikely Duo! Pumpkin Pie and Real Red? What a fabulous festive combination that just screams…”Come party with me!”
  • Paper Pizzazz! Make the most of this pattern from the Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper collection. Simply snip along the zigs and zags for a look that says “Pass the salsa, please!” And don’t forget to lightly distress the edges (I used Soft Suede and a Sponge Dauber) for a more polished look.
  • Wow factor! A scalloped circle flower perched atop a larger scalloped circle packs a punch…and it is so easy to make. I simply punched ten Scallop Circles from Greenhouse Gala DSP. I sponged the edges with Soft Suede and punched a small hole in the center of each. Next I sprayed each one with spray starch and wadded it into a small ball. After they were nearly dry, I carefully opened them up, stacked them, and added a Pumpkin Circle Fire Brad to the center. Then I scrunched and shaped it.
  • Ribbon! Snippets of Real Red and Pumpkin Pie 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon were layered on top of an Old Olive stay-put bow! Fun and easy!

If you have not taken the time to check out Celebrando Creatividad…why are you waiting? There are several sets, like the ones featured today and yesterday that have applications in everyone’s stamping. Just CLICK HERE to access my Stampin’ Up! catalog page.

Parties and Classes

Are you and your friends ready to have fun while learning a new technique or creating a special card? Sale-A-Bration is the perfect time to host a party or a private class. If you live in eastern Iowa, western Illinois or northern Missouri, please email me today to reserve your date. I am so looking forward to meeting you!

Don’t forget…your comments are important to me. So please, leave me a comment and let me know that you visited me today! 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 Sunday…The First Paper Players Occasions Mini Blog Hop!!!

Stamp Set: Cinco de Mayo (Celebrando Creatividad)
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Suede, Early Espresso; Soft Suede, Sahara Sand and Tempting Turquoise Stampin’ Write Markers
Accessories: Color Spritzer Tool, Old Olive 5/8″ Grograin Ribbon, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbons, Circle Fire Brads, Scallop Circle Punch, Extra Large Scallop Circle Punch, Sponge Daubers

Flores Suaves for the Pals

It’s a Clean and Simple Elements of Style—Bows challenge at Pals Paper Arts this week! How easy is that! Just make your card, keep it simple, and add a bow! For my inspiration card I used the Flores Suaves stamp set from the 2010 – 2011 Celebrando Creatividad catalog, accented with a shimmery Night of Navy satin bow. I hope you enjoy the first card I have made with this set. Hopefully there will be many more!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Unexpected! I love the look of Cajun Craze with Baja Breeze…and if not for the Color Coach I would not have even thought about pairing the two together. According to “The Coach”, Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy are a Dynamic Duo, too. So I thought, “Why not use it as my card base!” Well, duh! I don’t know what I was thinking. Happy as a clam, I pulled out Night of Navy and completed the card. Sorry, Coach…my intentions were in the right place!
  • Texture! One way to add interest to a clean layout is through texture. And what could be quicker or easier than zipping an embossing folder through the Big Shot. Framed Tulips and Perfect Polka Dots do the trick here!
  • Glitz and Glam! Night of Navy Satin Ribbon makes into a yummy bow, especially when smooched with a spritz of Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz! Basic Pearls are the perfect accent for a butterfly! (If you need a refresher on how to make a quick and easy bow, please check out my video tutorial HERE.)

What a wonderful set! I would encourage you to check out Celebrando Creatividad if you have not already done so. Tomorrow I will showcase another card from this catalog.

Ribbon Winner

We have a winner of the Real Red Ribbon! The random number generator came up with #9…AMY FINK! Amy, will you please send me an email with your address, and I will send your ribbon out right away! Next Wednesday, I will have another little give-away!

As always, I appreciate your comments, so please let me know what you think about today’s card. And remember…if you have any questions about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…


Stamp Set: Flores Suaves (112913); Ink: Early Espresso (119670), Soft Suede (115657), Cajun Craze (119671), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Card Stock: Night of Navy (100867), Baja Breeze (111352), Cajun Craze (119684), Very Vanilla (101650); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Sponge Dauber (102982), Paper Snips (103579), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (117335), Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (121809); Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247), Night of Navy Satin Ribbon (120932), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772)

A Peek and Free Ribbon


Here’s a little close-up of my Pals Paper Arts inspiration card, which will be revealed Thursday when the challenge goes live! As you can tell, I have smooched the ribbon. Hopefully, there will be a few surprises when you see it in its entirety!
I am starting my spring cleaning a little early! I have found several retired and unused Stampin’ Up! items which I be using as mini-Blog Candy over the next few Wednesdays. This week I am offering a spool of Real Red 1″ Wide Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, just perfect for embellishing Valentines. I will randomly select a winner from all comments left today through 10:00 PM CST, and announce the winner at the end of tomorrow’s post. As a comment starter, how about sharing your favorite color combination for Valentines. I will start out…I like Red and Gray, or Red and Black.

Twin’s Update

The Boxer Twins are official “Obedience School” graduates! Brody could not attend the graduation ceremonies because his “Dad” had to work. Kim usually has Mondays off, and since I could only handle one puppy, I picked the one who weighs the least! However, Muffy represented the duo quite well. In fact, their instructor said that I could report that Muffy was first in her class! Woo hoo! She did an excellent job…so well that I wondered if I really had my own dog. She is quite the little performer, and seems to know just when to “show-off” and do her best! We still have to keep the two separated so she does not get re-injured. So once again, the house looks like a war zone with barriers set up through the middle. Maybe one of these days, I can get my home decor back to normal!

Sale-A-Bration

Need help placing your order? Don’t hesitate to email me! I will help. Remember, you will receive one free SAB item for each $50 of product you order.
If your Wish List is big, I would love to talk with you about becoming a demonstrator. Email me, and we will set up a time to talk. I will gladly answer any of your questions.

Coming Up:


Thursday…PPA Reveal and Ribbon Winner Named
Sunday…FIRST Paper Players Blog Hop


Until next time…