What a Sunday The Paper Players have planned for you! First of all, this week’s challenge is the ever-popular Anything Goes! In addition, we have our first Paper Players Blog Hop in order to showcase the new products from the Occasion Mini. And if that isn’t enough…several members of the Design Team are offering yummy Blog Candy. If you hopped here from Anne Marie’s blog, I am Stop #2 on the Hop. Stop #3 will be Jaydee. And if you happen to get lost along the way, just return to The Paper Players’ blog, where the entire line-up is posted. Since you have several stops to make today, let’s get straight to my card.

Nature Walk


When I first saw this set in the Occasions Mini, I knew I had to have it! This is the third card I have created with this set. (See the other two Here and Here.) This time I selected a different color scheme and opted to use the blue “Birdcage” pattern from the Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper collection. Enjoy today’s Nature “Blog” Walk card!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• Frame it! The Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder is perfect for adding just a touch of texture. Don’t be afraid to emboss Designer Series Paper, such as I did for today’s card. It works just fine! And don’t forget those to make those tulips “pop” by lightly brayering with Soft Suede ink.
• Emboss it! The “Bird” stamp was inked with Chocolate Chip Craft Ink and then heat embossed with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder to enhance the image.
• Color it! Rosettes from the Occasions Mini can be easily transformed into any hue you wish. Simply use a Stampin’ Write Marker and color away!

• Scrunch it! Seam Binding is so easy to scrunch. Simply pull a thread and schirr along its length. The result…instant scrunchy! I then used Mini Glue Dots to adhere it to the card.

• Oh, bee-have! The adorable Bees are “bee-decked” in their finest glittery Dazzling Diamond Glitter. A Basic Pearl accents the head. Aren’t they just “bee-utiful?

• End with a smooch! Everything was liberally kissed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz for a fabulous sheen!

Blog Candy

For my Blog Candy, I am offering the Punch Potpourri Hostess Level 1 stamp set and Basic Pearls. All you need to do is simply leave a comment on today’s post. A winner will be randomly selected from comments left on this post and announced on next Sunday’s post.

So…leave me a comment and let me know what you think of today’s card. And remember, 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…

Next stop on the Hop, the always fabulous Jaydee!

Stamp Set: Nature Walk; Inks: Soft Suede Classic, Early Espresso Classic, Soft Suede Classic, Chocolate Chip Craft; Stampin’ Write Markers: Soft Suede, Always Artichoke, Marina Mist; Designer Series Paper: Botanical Gazette; Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist; Tools: Big Shot, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Paper Snips, Heat Tool, Color Spritzer Tool, Sponge Dauber, Two-Step Bird Punch, Brayer; Glitz and Glam: Chantilly Crochet Trim, Hemp Twine, Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelet, Iridiscent Ice Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Basic Pearls, Rosettes, Crumb Cake Seam Binding

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!

• 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

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)