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…

Please Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up!

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)

I am in awe of those among us who are musicians, especially my son. He plays the trumpet with such passion and feeling. Through his music, he expresses that which cannot be said. This card is the prototype for his spring recital invitation. It uses the lovely sentiment from the now retired set, Music Expressions. However, this classic layout is perfect to showcase any of your favorite sentiments. And by switching out the designer paper, it can be used for a variety of occasions. In fact, in the upcoming days, I will be showing you the same layout, with different sentiments/papers. Since the design process is what takes me the most time, it is always fun to take a classic layout, and switch it up to create new cards in less than half the time.

The Stampin‘ Schach Design Tips:

• Paper work! Let the Designer Paper do the work for you! This gorgeous Music Note pattern is from the Newsprint collection. What could be more perfect for a recital invitation! Of course, I spritzed it using the Color Spritzer Tool and a Basic Black Stampin‘ Write Marker in order to age it.
• Classy and Elegant! Nothing says elegance better than Very Vanilla and Basic Black. The sentiment from Music Expressions (retired) was inked in Basic Black and stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock. The multiple matting lends a formal air to the card.
• Glitz and Glam: Faux Cabochons (made from 5/8″ Very Vanilla Brads and large half-back pearls) are adhered to pleated Basic Black 1 -1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. A Basic Black Beautiful Wings Embosslits butterfly has been smooched with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz. A pearl defines the abdomen.

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7
Stamp Set: Music Expressions (retored); Ink: Basic Black (101179), Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker (100082); Designer Series Paper: Newsprint (117166); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Basic Black (121045); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Beautiful Wings Embosslits (118138), Color Spritzer Tool (107066); Glitz and Glam: Basic Black 1 -1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (115615), 5/8″ Neutral Brads (112533), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772), Pretties Kit (retired)

The Paper Players are hosting a sketch challenge this week. Since I have been making some “not cute” cards, according to my husband, I decided to try my best to create something that possessed a “cuteness” factor. So I turned to my collection of stamps and pulled out A Cute Christmas. After all, if it has cute in the title, it has to produce cute cards, right? Have fun with this week’s sketch!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• One-two-three! Using a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker, I selectively stamped the “Snowman” image from A Cute Christmas. For a touch of whimsy, I matted the top two images at an angle! Sometimes “wonky” is good!
• Retro-mania! Real Red and Baja Breeze Stampin’ Write Markers were used to color this little guy’s scarf. See how it coordinates with the delightful retro-style paper from the Candy Cane Christmas collection? Don’t you just love those red glitter polka dots!
• Add a flake for goodness sake! What could be prettier than a punched snowflake? That’s easy. A punched snowflake with a Real Red Glimmer Brad for its center! Notice how the shimmer coordinates with the paper?
• Don’t let your sentiment fall flat! Add dimension with dimensionals! The focus is on the sentiment when it is popped up on a Stampin’ Dimensional.
• Just because it’s there, doesn’t mean you have to ink it! By using a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker, I inked up only the “Greetings” section of the Season’s Greetings stamp from Four the Holidays. The result is a card that can be used any time during the winter season!

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7