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!

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)

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!

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)