Quick and Easy Sew Suite Friend


A few day’s ago, I shared one of my creative goals for this year: Design more masculine cards. Today I am going to share a second of my goals with you: Create more quick and easy cards.

One of the questions that I am often asked is, “How long does it take you to create a card?” Many of my cards do take a lengthy amount of time, but in all honesty, the majority of my time is taken up in the design process. I think and think and think…and then something usually “clicks” and I have an “ah-ha” moment. However, I have always admired those people who can whip out fabulous cards in little or no time. So, as I said, one of my goals is to try and create a few cards each month that can be created in an hour or less. Today’s card meets that criteria. Designed around the Sew Suite collection, this all-occasion card features the Sweet Stitches Rub-Ons!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Rub-ons! The “Pattern Girls” in the Sweet Stitches Rub-On collection are perfect for watercoloring. I rubbed this sweet little girl onto Very Vanilla card stock, and then watercolored her with Blender Pens and the following inks: Pretty in Pink, Blush Blossom, Daffodil Delight, and Tempting Turquoise. It’s so easy!
  • Coordination! Like all of Stampin’ Up!’s Designer Series Paper, coordination is the key. Using the coordinated patterns and card stocks saves time…and looks oh, “sew suite”!
  • Paper work! Make the Designer Paper work for you! Notice how the stitching and needle parts of the Sweet Stitches pattern paper become an integral part of the card’s design.
  • Glitz and Glam: Even quick and easy cards deserve a little bling! A coordinating Sweet Stitches Fabric Designer Brad adds interest and texture. Its placement anchors the sentiment and image. Three miniature Basic Pearls adorn the neckline of the dress and each of the shoes.
Yes…it was hard for me not to pull out the Color Spritzer Tool, Sponge Daubers, and Seven Sided Tool. I was out of my comfort zone for sure. But it was also fun to finish a card while watching Oprah! So what do you think of today’s “Power Hour” card? Be sure to leave me a comment to let me know. And as always, if you have any questions about today’s card or any of the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…


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Stamp Set: You’re a Gem (W 122268; C 122270—Occasions Mini); Ink: Early Espresso (119670), Daffodil Delight (119667), Pretty in Pink (101301), Tempting Turquoise (100814), Blush Blossom Stampin’ Write Marker (100037); Designer Series Paper: Sweet Stitches (121781—Occasions Mini); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Daffodil Delight (119683), Melon Mambo (115320), Tempting Turquoise (102067); Tools: Scallop Oval Punch (119856), 1-3/4″ x 7/8″ Oval Punch (119855); Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247), Sweet Stitches Fabric Designer Brads (121880—Occasions Mini); Other: Sweet Stitches Rub-Ons (121887—Occasions Mini)

Clearly for the PPA


It’s Thursday and time to play at Pals Paper Arts! Today the Pals are back with a fun Color Challenge of Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz and Perfect Plum. Have you ever started on a card and just could not stop? That is what happened to me with today’s inspiration card. The problem is that there are just so many cute images in the Clearly for You stamp set. I “clearly” tried to use them all “for You!” Enjoy this card with its distinct vintage Victorian flair!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Vintage vignette! A vignette is a decorative design or small illustration. On this card, it is the focal point. I inked the “Floral Swirl” image with Perfect Plum and stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock. This was trimmed and placed onto a Pear Pizzazz mat which had been punched with the Scallop Trim Border Punch. The Heron image was inked using Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Markers, stamped onto Very Vanilla, and then fussy cut. Its placement into the vignette resembles the decorative rosette or “headpiece” on antique mirrors. The Butterfly image was stamped onto Baja Breeze card stock, while the Raspberries were stamped onto Very Vanilla.
  • Mat magic! The vignette was matted onto Perfect Plum, which was distressed using the Seven Sided Tool. This was in turn matted onto Pear Pizzazz which had been zipped through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.
  • Bling! Basic Pearls and Basic Rhinestones adorn the focal image, while everything is liberally “smooched” with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.
  • Layer your labels! Decorative Labels and Modern Labels are layered for interest!
  • Ribbons! Baja Breeze Seam Binding is scrunchied (I used Sticky Strip). Three Ribbon Rosettes balance the lower left corner. Hint: Use the “wings” of the Two Step Bird Punch as your leaves.

I am anxious to see what you create with this trio of lovely colors, so please play along. For more inspiration, please make certain to visit Pals Paper Arts.

On Tuesday, I offered Basic Rhinestones as a little blog gift and said that the winner would be selected from all comments received on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thank you to all who commented. I wish that I could send rhinestones to all of you. However, there can only be one winner. Using a random number generator, the winner is:

#2 TIONYA said…

I’m looking forward to the new petal cone die…If you’ve ever made a bunch of those by cutting and scoring…you know what I mean!! I also like the new Eat Chocolate set, and of course that new cupcake punch!! Have a blessed day!

Tionya, will you please email me your address by Noon, CST Saturday, and I will drop your rhinestones in the mail!

I do enjoy your comments, so won’t you please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of today’s card? And remember, if you ever have questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up 24/7

Stamp Set: Clearly for You (W 121911; C 121976); Inks: Early Espresso (119670), Soft Suede (115657); Stampin’ Write Markers: Pear Pizzazz (119801 In-Color Set), Early Espresso (119680); Designer Series Paper: Springtime Vintage (121782—Occasions Mini); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Perfect Plum (101889), Pear Pizzazz (119795), Always Artichoke (105119); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (120175), Decorative Label Punch (120907), Modern Label Punch (119849), Scalloped Trim Border Punch (118402), Corner Rounder (119871), Cutter Kit (106958), Sponge Daubers (102892), Two Step Bird Punch (117191); Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247), Basic Rhinestones (119246), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772), Baja Breeze Seam Binding (122332—Occasions Mini), Rosettes (118774—Occasions Mini)

Plane and Simple

One of my goals this year is to make more masculine cards. And what better way to start the new year than making a card using the Plane & Simple set from the Occasions Mini! This card will be winging its way to a very good friend of mine who celebrated a birthday a few weeks ago. As they say, “Better late than never”!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Vintage is in, and nothing says “vintage” better than distressing! The Seven-Sided Tool from the Cutter Kit was used to distress the edges of the image mat and the More Mustard textured layer. A few spritzes from the Color Spritzer Tool (I used a Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker) and darkening of the edges with a Sponge Dauber and Early Espresso ink complete the look. Need a pictorial review of how to use the Color Spritzer Tool? Click HERE!
  • Masculine doesn’t mean boring! An Antique Brad in the center of the Compass image, small Button Brads and a Safety Pin from the Vintage Trinkets collection add visual interest and texture.
  • Bows for the beau? Perfectly acceptable, especially when made from Hemp Twine!
  • Woodgrain! More Mustard card stock was passed through the Big Shot with the Distressed Plate from the Texturz Plates Collection #4. Early Espresso ink was then brayered over the surface for a totally masculine look.
Don’t forget that I will be selecting the winner of the FREE Basic Rhinestones from the comments that are left on this post and yesterday’s PPA Peek. You have until 10:00 PM CST to leave your comment on either one or both posts. The winner will be announced on Thursday. I do enjoy your comments, so won’t you let me know what you think about my first masculine card of 2011? And never forget that 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…

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7

Stamp Set: Plane & Simple (W 121903; C 121964—Occasions Mini); Inks: Early Espresso (119670), Cherry Cobbler (119669), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Card Stock: Naturals Ivory (101849), Cherry Cobbler (119685), More Mustard (100946), Not Quite Navy (101722); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Texturz Plates Collections #4 (114531), Cutter Kit (106958), Word Window Punch (119857), Brayer (102395), Sponge Daubers (102892), Color Spritzer Tool (107066); Glitz and Glam: Antique Brads (117273), Vintage Trinkets (118764), Hemp Twine (100982)