Make-Overs…A Quick and Easy Card Update


Have you ever been in this situation? You make a card, but then you never send it? Well that was the situation I was in. I had created the lovely card below for the May Dirty Dozen “How Does Your Garden Grow” gallery. Yet, I never sent it. Usually I make cards without specific sentiments so I can use them for any occasion. But not this time. I had placed the “From Our Home to Yours” sentiment, from the now retired “Bella’s Bloom” set, on the front of this particular card. Why did I do that? My home is never sending out anything to anyone else’s home! However, I always have a need for Thank You cards. So…taking a tip from all of those home and beauty make-over articles, I decided to give this card a make-over, switching out retired product with new, while still using the original card base and watercolored image from “A Peace Within”. Since it always takes me longer to design a card than to actually construct it, the make-over flew together in a matter of minutes!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Save time and product! The original textured Very Vanilla card stock was easily removed from the Brushed Gold mat. I left the gold mat in place and covered it with “Wasabi and Vanilla” Polk Dot paper from the Woodland Walk collection. Less formal…more fresh and funky!
  • I removed the water colored image from its original matting, and layered it onto the same polka dot pattern. It was then matted onto Chocolate Chip.
  • Since the horizontal panel featured retired designer paper and ribbon, a new one was quickly created from the coordinating “Very Vanilla Multicolored Polka Dot” pattern from Woodland Walk and Chocolate Chip card stock. Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, now retired, was replaced with Early Espresso. A snippet of Daffodil Delight 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon was added for a “pop” of color and to accentuate the yellow flowers in the basket.
  • The “Thank You” sentiment from With All My Heart was inked with Wild Wasabi and Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Markers. A Basic Pearl accent was added. A new Wild Wasabi Scallop Oval was punched, paper pierced, and layered onto the original Chocolate Chip Wide Oval. Easy!
I saved resources by re-using some of the paper, and I definitely saved time by starting with my original design. Yes…I could have just switched the sentiment, but as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I do want to send out cards that feature our current product! As for the textured Very Vanilla mat…you will see it again. I saved it for use another card!
Today’s card featured water coloring with Blender Pens and Inks. Because of the many requests that I have received asking me about this technique, I have prepared a video tutorial for you. It will be available on Sunday’s post. And before you get too excited, I will say that there is definitely a learning curve with editing these videos. However, just like water coloring, practice makes perfect, and I sure that I will improve!
Your comments are very important to me, so please let me know what you think about today’s cards. And remember, 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…

Coming Soon:

  • Saturday…The Paper Players Sneak Peek
  • Sunday…The Paper Players Design Team Inspiration Card
  • Sunday…Water Coloring with Blender Pens Video Tutorial
  • Monday…A “Muffy the Boxer” Puppy Video Update
  • Tuesday…The Pals Gigantic Halloween Blog Hop

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Stamp Sets: A Peace Within, With All My Heart; Inks: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Creamy Caramel; Designer Series Paper: Woodland Walk; Card Stock: Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla; Tools: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Blender Pens, Paper Piercer; Glitz and Glam: Early Espresso Satin Ribbon, Daffodil Delight 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls

Punched Flowers for the PPA with Color Spritzer Tool Pictorial


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!
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:
  • 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!





Positioning of the Stampin’ Write Marker in the Color Spritzer Tool is criticial. The tip of the tool is best positioned toward the center of the marker tip.

The screw should be adjusted to that it does not bend the marker tip. If it is too tight, you will not get any speckles.

The distance of the Color Spritzer Tool above the paper is also critical. Here the tool is being held too close.
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!

It was a challenge for me to incorporate Tempting Turquoise in this challenge. I had to think and think and think about what I wanted to do. Has this ever happened to you? The funny thing is that I know I will look at your creations and say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Remember to leave me a comment to let me know what you think of today’s card. I am always available to answer any questions about my cards or the techniques that I use. Never hesitate to email me. Until next time…


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Stamp Set: Butterfly Prints (W 121049; C 120738); Inks: More Mustard (103162), Early Espresso (119670), Chocolate Chip (100908), Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker (100071); Designer Series Paper: Playground (117168), Brights Pattern Stacks (117155); Card Stock: So Saffron (105118), Tempting Turquoise (102067), Old Olive (100702); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Top Note Bigz Die(113463), Island Floral Bigz Die (118871), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die (120893—Holiday Mini), Floral Fusion Sizzlits (115969), Beautiful Wings Embosslits (118138), Decorative Label Punch (120907—Holiday Mini), 5-Petal Flower Punch (119880), Two Step Bird Punch (117191), Cyrstal Effects (101055); Glitz and Glam: Old Olive 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (117292), Hemp Twine (100982), Brights Brads (119740), Basic Pearls (119247), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772)

Awash with Flowers


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!
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:
  • 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)