A Rose, a RAK and a Rodent


Today I am sharing another card from my Dirty Dozen “How Does Your Garden Grow” gallery. Each month we were asked to select a favorite from the cards that we uploaded, and this was mine. I hope that you like it also! Oh! And for fun, how about a RAK and a rodent, too!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Faux Toile! The “Floral” image from Elements of Style was randomly stamped in Bravo Burgundy onto Very Vanilla to create the illusion of toile. It was “faux” easy!
  • Texture! Try stamping your own Designer Paper and then zipping it through the Big Shot with your favorite embossing folder. For this card I used the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.
  • A rose by any other name! These Bravo Burgundy paper roses look fabulous, and are relatively easy to make using the Fancy Flower punch! The edges were frosted with Very Vanilla ink to add depth. Another option..Smooch Spritz for a little shimmer and glimmer!
Interested in seeing more cards made with these stamp sets? I do have a search option available on my right sidebar!
I do want to share another card with you today, from one of little Miss Muffy the Boxer’s “Puppy Godmothers”, the talented Carla Bazhenow! Carla not only sent a card, but is already spoiling Muffy with new toys! Those of you who are familiar with Boxers know they LOVE their toys…so Godmother Carla is going to be a big hit with her “godpuppy”!
Isn’t this card just too cute? And the inside is typical Carla…just as pretty as the outside. You can see more of Carla’s amazing work at Carla’s Scraps.
And finally, the rodent part of today’s post! I happened to walk past the kitchen window Wednesday morning and did a double take. There, sitting on the head of one of my concrete lawn ornaments, was a ground squirrel. He looked so adorable, that I just had to snap a few pictures. I will apologize for the clarity. It was rainy and overcast, and the pictures were taken through both glass and screen wire. But I think that they will still bring a smile to your face!


I hope that today’s post has brought a smile to your face and has also provided you with a tip or two. As always, I love reading your comments. They are important to me. And of course, if you have any questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, don’t hesitate to email me! Until next time…


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Stamp Set: Elements of Style (W 118611; C 120045), Sincere Salutations (115068); Inks: Bravo Burgundy (105214), Night of Navy (102977), Very Vanilla (104308); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Night of Navy (100867), Bravo Burgundy (105123); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Corner Rounder (119871), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402), Fancy Flower Punch (118073); Glitz and Glam: 1/4″ Grosgrain Night of Navy Ribbon (109036), Pretties Kit (retired)

Happiness Shared

A few days ago I posted one of my favorite layouts for showcasing a sentiment and Designer Series Paper. Today I am back with that same layout and a different look! What I love about this layout is that it is so quick and easy, yet the result is classy! Let me share some happiness with you!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Spotlight! Framing the sentiment from Happiness Shared and popping it up onto dimensionals brings it right to the forefront. A strategically placed Basic Pearl and butterfly, punched with the Beautiful Wings Embosslits, also direct the eye straight to the focal point of this card.
  • Balance! A large Marina Mist Striped Grosgrain Bow grounds the card, as well as balances the design.
  • Bling! Basic Pearls adorn all three butterflies, while Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz kisses the wings of the largest.
  • Fun! Fringe your ribbon for a fun look! Don’t know how? Let my friend, Mary, show you!

Here is the same layout…different look! Notice that with both cards, the sentiment is the main player in a cast of embellishments!

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Need a free Holiday Mini Catalog? Just let me know and I will drop one in the mail right away!

I hope that you enjoyed today’s card! Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think. And remember, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…


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Stamp Set: Happiness Shared (W 117038; C 120534); Inks: Early Espresso (119670), Soft Suede (115657), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Designer Series Paper: Elegant Soiree (117163); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Soft Suede (115318), Marina Mist (119682); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Beautiful Wings Embosslits (118138), Color Spritzer Tool (107066); Glitz and Glam: Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772), Basic Pearls (119247), Marina Mist 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (119751), Marina Mist 1-1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (119772)

Buffalo for PPA61 with Video Tutorial


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…


Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7

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);