Thursday is Pals Paper Arts day here at The Stampin’ Schach, and what a challenge we have for you this week. We are proud to announce that Beate Johns, of Splitcoast tutorial fame, is our Celebrity Guest Designer! What a thrill it is to have her on board this week! As for the challenge, it is a color challenge featuring …

Don’t despair if you do not have exactly these colors…improvise and substitute! What is important is that you join us in the fun!

• Petalicious! Combine die cuts and punches to create your own species of flowers! These little beauties belong to the genus and species, Schachus stampinuppicus! They combine the Island Floral Bigz Die, Floral Fusion Sizzlits, and the 5-Petal Flower Punch! Old Olive Brads complete their centers, while the leaves were punched from the Two-Step Bird Punch. These petals were so pretty, I just had to “smooch” them with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz!
• Stemfabulous! Whimsical stems were created with Stampin’ Up!’s new Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die. A snippet of Hemp Twine is wrapped around and held in place with a drop of Crystal Effects. A little distressing with Chocolate Chip ink accents the edges.
• Pearl-fection! A Tempting Turquoise Beautiful Wings Embosslits butterfly was given the “pearl” treatment with Basic Pearls, while three Basic Pearls accent a corner of the Tempting Turquoise Top Note. And just to be different, only the bottom of the Top Note was texturized using the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.
• It’s all in the details! The wonderful sentiment from Butterfly Prints was inked with Early Espresso and stamped directly onto Designer Series Paper from the Playground collection. It was then punched out with the new Decorative Label Punch. A little distressing around the edges adds dimension. Old Olive 5/8″ Satin Ribbon adds even more texture and interest!

Color Spritzer Tool Pictorial:
I used the Color Spritzer Tool on the flowers and the Top Note of this card. In fact, I use it on most of the cards that I create. If you have difficulty using the Color Spritzer Tool these tips may help!

Experiment to find the perfect height above the paper in order to get the speckling pattern you want. Squeeze quickly and forcefully. Some people experience problems because they squeeze too slowly.

Finished speckles!

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With the end of summer quickly approaching, I wanted to make certain that I shared this cheery card with you. Created for the May Dirty Dozen gallery entitled “How Does Your Garden grow?”, this card features bright colors, some of which are now retired. However, there are definitely wonderful substitutions which can be made!

• Paper go bye-bye? Don’t cry! I used Brilliant Blue and Summer Sun on this card. But can you image how stunning it would look with Pacific Point and Daffodil Delight? I can hardly wait to try it!
• Coordinate your punches and dies! The Two Tags Bigz Die was zipped through the Big Shot with Real Red card stock. It was then texturized with the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. But don’t stop now! Add a yellow Scallop Circle Punch for fun!
• It’s all about the details! Paper piercing adds interest to the scallops, but look what happens when Linen Thread is added to the mix! And it is so easy…just long stitches across the scallop topped off with an Itty Bitty Button. Three additional Itty Bitty Buttons accent the Real Red 5/8″ Satin Ribbon.

Large simple designs, like Awash with Flowers, cry out for bright bold colors and strong details. Don’t be afraid to go for the bold!

Wish List getting to big for its britches? Join Stampin’ Up! and The Schach Pack, and receive the gorgeous Greenhouse Gala Tote for free (a $39.95 value)! Whether you are a hobby stamper or career demonstrator, this is a fabulous tote! I love mine! The Greenhouse Gala Tote promotion ends October 18th. Click Here for more information about the business opportunities provided by Stampin’ Up! If you decide that you wish to join now, my recruiting password, which you will need is: stampinschachRemember, the Pals Paper Arts challenge goes live tomorrow! And we have a surprise Guest Designer in store for you…someone who has rocked the stampin’ world with her fabulous tutorials on Splitcoaststampers. You absolutely must check out Pals Paper Arts tomorrow!Have a question about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use? Remember, I am only an email away! And don’t forget, I love comments! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Awash with Flowers (W 117062; C 120549), Watercolor Trio (2010 Summer Mini); Inks: Jet Black StazOn (101406), Old Olive (102277), So Saffron (105213), Real Red (103133), Brilliant Blue (retired)…substitute Pacific Point (111837); Card Stock: Summer Sun (retired) substitute Daffodil Delight (119683), Brilliant Blue (retired) substitute Pacific Point (111350), Old Olive (100702), Real Red (102482), Whisper White (100730); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Two Tags Bigz Die (115954), Square Lattice Textured Impression Embossing Folder (119976), 1-3/4 ” Scallop Circle Punch (119854), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), 1-3/8″ x 5/8″ Oval Punch (119863), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402); Glitz and Glam: Real Red 5/8: Satin Ribbon (117286), Linen Thread (104199), Bitty Buttons (118761)