When I saw the sketch for this week’s Pals Paper Arts challenge, I immediately wanted to use the Buffalo stamp from Stampin’ Up!’s In Wilderness stamp set. This stamp is one of my son, Brady’s, favorites. He left for college on August 20th, and I am missing him. I find myself thinking about his baby days and the cute things he would do. He was quite the little “Nature Boy” and would collect all sorts of wonderful things, including feathers. He would proudly bring his “finds” to me and I would place them in a baggie for him to keep. The feather which adorns this card is close to 18 years old, and is one of Brady’s “pretties” which I had tucked away. I thought it fitting to use it on this card, which will be for Brady’s birthday. It is a quick and easy masculine card, and I hope that you enjoy it! Now if I could just quit humming “Buffalo gal won’t you come out tonight, come out tonight…”, I would be a much happier woman!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• Friend or Faux! Faux Wood is so easy! To create the Faux Wood background used in this card, a piece of Soft Suede card stock was zipped through the Big Shot with the Distressed Texturz Plate. A little Early Espresso ink was then lightly brayered onto its surface. Tip: Lightly spritz the paper with water to form a deeper impression!
• Distress! It’s easy with the Seven-Sided Tool, a Sponge Dauber, and a little ink!
• Spritz! It’s a breeze with the Color Spritzer Tool and a Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker!
• Stitch! The Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch is a natural for cross-stitching! A little Linen Thread is all it takes!

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up my image when I made this card. Are you Stamp-a-ma-jig dysfunctional? If so, enjoy this quick tutorial with only one tiny little blooper at the end. Heck…I am not even going to sweat this one…at least the camera didn’t flip and the batteries were fresh!

I hope that you enjoyed this masculine card. And I hope that you will join us in this week’s Pals Paper Arts challenge. I always enjoy seeing what you create! And remember, if you have any questions about the cards that I create, or the techniques that I use, please don’t hesitate to email me. Until next time…

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Stamp Set: In Wilderness (W 117040; C 120537); Card Stock: Crumb Cake (120953), Soft Suede (115318), Cajun Craze (119684), Very Vanilla (101650); Inks: Early Espresso (119670), Soft Suede (115657), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Texturz Plate Kit #4 (114531), Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch (119275), Sponge Dauber (102892), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Cutter Kit (106958); Glitz and Glam: Linen Thread (104199), Always Artichoke Deck the Halls Big Designer Button (121002—Holiday Mini);

Until next time…

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I have always been in love with all things “vintage”. My home is decorated with vintage items that I have picked up here and there. Even my wedding dress was vintage-style! So I was thrilled when Stampin’ Up! released so many wonderfully designed vintage stamps and embellishments. Today’s card represents the first time that I have used the Bells and Boughs stamp set. It is also the first time that I have used the new Silver Tinsel Trim. This card was actually designed as a make-and-take for my last workshop, and the ladies did an excellent job!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• Dauber delight! To reinforce the vintage feel, the edges of all layers were stained using a Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede ink. I use Soft Suede because it is not as harsh as Early Espresso or Chocolate Chip.
• Spritz and smooch! Both the image and the sentiment were spritzed using the Color Spritzer Tool and a Crumb Cake Stampin’ Write Marker. The Always Artichoke layer was zipped through the Big Shot with the Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, and then smooched with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.
• Water spots! What could be more vintage looking than a few well-placed water spots? This stamp, from the French Foliage set, was inked in Soft Suede, stamped off once, and then stamped onto the sentiment.
• Chantilly lace! A snippet of Silver Tinsel is sandwiched between two rows of Chantilly Crochet Trim, while another snippet frames the Scallop Circle.
• Blender Pens and Inks! More Mustard, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, and Soft Suede inks are used to tint the Bell image from Bells and Boughs.

I hope that you enjoyed today’s card, and the River Rock, Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke color combination. I also hope that you find a useful tidbit of information or see a design element that spurs your creativity. And if you should have questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, never forget that I am only an email away! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Bells and Boughs (W 120831, C 121142—Holiday Mini), French Foliage (W 120845, C 121166—Holiday Mini); Inks: Early Espresso (119670), Soft Suede (115657), Always Artichoke (105219), More Mustard (103162), Cherry Cobbler (119669), Crumb Cake Stampin’ Write Marker (120967); Card Stock: River Rock (108640), Always Artichoke (105119), Cherry Cobbler (119685), Very Vanilla (101650); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (116824), Decorative Label Punch (120907—Holiday Mini), 2-3/8 Scallop Circle Punch (118874), 2-1/2″ Circle Punch (120906—Holiday Mini), Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack (105826), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Sponge Daubers (102892); Glitz and Glam: Silver Tinsel Trim (120994—Holiday Mini), Chantilly Crochet Trim (118480), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772)