Stylish Blogger and My Top Picks from the Mini

Recently I was honored by Diane at Rubber ‘n Rafters and Sabriena at Little Miss Scrapalicious with the Stylish Blogger Award. Today I would like to thank both Diane and Sabriena for their kindness. You might remember that a few weeks ago I had been tagged with this same award from Nikki of Bond Girl Creations. One of the stipulations is that I need to share eight things about myself. Here are the original eight facts I shared, and here are eight more:

1. I am a tea drinker. I prefer Irish and English Breakfast, Earl Grey and some flavored teas like Cherry Vanilla and Peach. But I also love Diet Mt. Dew!
2. I could listen to my son play his trumpet forever. Brady and I share a love of classical music. Brady gets his trumpet prowess from his father…I can’t read a note of music, although I always wished I could play an instrument.
3. Fall and winter are my favorite seasons. And I don’t mind snow as long as the highways stay clear.
4. I love a good mystery…whether it is a movie, television program, or a book.
5. My husband, Kim, does the laundry and a lot of the cooking in our household. He does a much better job than I do at both. This started as a necessity from when I was teaching, since I always had so much paperwork. I would grade papers and write up lesson plans, and he would start the meals and laundry. He discovered that he loves to cook. As for the laundrey…neither of us are thrilled with it!
6. Sad things…movies, songs, TV programs, books and even sad commercials, like those for the Humane Society, always make me cry. Brady and Kim are able to predict when the waterworks will turn on! I was even a mess when saying good-by to my sweet friends at the Stampin’ Up! convention. (Love you Mike, Ginger and Kylie!)
7. Teaching is my passion! Whether in a classroom filled with high school students, or on a stamping blog, I love sharing my knowledge with those that are eager to learn. I truly mean it when I say that I am only an email away if you have questions about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use.
8. I can always find the humour in any situation!
And now to pass the award on to eight more stampers…and there are so many deserving stampers out there! I could receive a million of these awards and never get everyone mentioned!
Please stop by and say “Hi!” to these talented stampers!
My Picks from the Occasions Mini
Everyone is always interested in what people are finding intriguing in the Occasions Mini. Although I may be a few days behind everyone else with my list, today is such a wonderful day for sharing. So, in no particular order, here are my favorite things:
Embellishments:
1. Seam Binding…all colors
Very Vanilla (120999)
Cherry Cobbler (120992)
Always Artichoke (121000)
Baja Breeze (122331)
Crumb Cake (122332)
Pear Pizzazz (122330)
Rose Red (121884)
2. Rosettes (118774)
3. Trinket Keys (121892) and Crowns (121891)
Designer Series Paper:
4. Springtime Vintage (121782)
5. Botanical Gazette (121783)
6. Sweet Stitches (121781)
Stamp Sets:
7. Nature Walk (W 121925; C 121997)
8. Easter Blossoms (W 121905; C 122057 )
9. Sew Suite (W 121933; C 122009)
Other:
10. Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (121809)
If you would like to order any of these products, please CLICK HERE.
Thank you for allowing me to share a little of my life with you today! I will be back tomorrow with my Paper Players Inspiration Card. After our break for the holidays, we’re back and ready to share our creativity with you! Until next time…

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…


Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7

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)