Gratitude for Pals Paper Arts with Pictorial

There are so many things in my life for which I am grateful, so when I saw Margaret Moody’s sketch for this week’s Pals Paper Arts challenge, I knew that I wanted to use the Day of Gratitude stamp set. This set, from Stampin’ Up!’s Holiday Mini catalog, will be available for purchase September 1st. Like last week’s card, today’s card features the Faux Silk technique (view my pictorial Here). However, it also features a customized texture plate, which I made all by myself. Making your own embossing surface is not original to me, as there are several places on the web which offer tutorials. However, this is the first time in which I have used it, and it is so easy! I have added a very simple pictorial to today’s post to explain how I accomplished the look. Enjoy!


The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • How do you make a “busy” card work for you? Through continuity and repetition! Rich fall colors comprise each and every layer, while the “Leaves” image from Day of Gratitude are repeated on both the Faux Silk background and the image mat!
  • Spritzer Tool gone wild! I knew it would happen some day, and it did! I lost all self-control with my Color Spritzer Tool! The Faux Silk background was spritzed using Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, and Old Olive Stampin’ Write Markers.
  • Brayer a layer! The image mat began as Very Vanilla card stock. I simple brayered a light layer of More Mustard over the surface. The “Leaves” image was then inked in More Mustard and stamped onto the brayered card stock for a tone-on-tone look. Of course, a little spritzing, this time with Soft Suede, was added.
  • Give pearls a whirl! One of my favorite new products from Stampin’ Up! are Basic Pearls! With their self-adhesive backs, they are a snap to apply! They work perfectly on the new Decorative Label Punch, which is making its debut in the Holiday Mini!
  • Need a coordinating Texturz Plate? Make your own. Here’s how:
For this embossing plate, I used the Two-Step Bird Punch, cardboard that came with one of my Big Shot dies, and adhesive (not pictured).
I punched out several of the leaves and wings from a second piece of cardboard.

I then arranged the leaves and wings. After I had the pattern the way I wanted it, I adhered the pieces into position. (I outlined them in black so that you could see the pattern more easily.)

I then zipped my homemade Texturz Plate through the Big Shot using Tab 1, the Silicone Rubber Pad and the Impressions Pad. I did mist the Cajun Craze card stock lightly with water in order to receive a deeper embossed image. Don’t be surprised if you have to experiment with your “sandwich” as it will be dependent upon the thickness of your card board.
So there you have it…an embossing surface that mimics the “Leaves” stamp that I used. I could have stamped the exact same leaf image several times onto cardboard, and cut them out, but that would have been time consuming! So I selected a punch which would coordinate with this stamp set, and let the punch do the work! I lightly brayered a little Early Espresso ink over the surface to make the embossing “pop”. How cool is this!
I hope that you enjoy this week’s challenge! It is such a classy sketch, I know that I will be using it again and again! Remember, if you ever have any questions about the techniques that I use, don’t hesitate to Email Me! I am always ready to help. So before you head off to view the rest of the design team inspiration cards, won’t you please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of today’s card! Until next time…

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7
Stamp Sets: Day of Gratitude (available September 1); Inks: More Mustard (103162), Early Espresso (119670), Cajun Craze (119671), Old Olive (102277); Stampin’ Write Markers: Early Espresso (119680), Old Olive (100079), Cajun Craze (119678); Soft Suede (120973); Card Stock: Early Espresso (119686), Cajun Craze (119684), Crumb Cake…for Faux Silk (120953), Very Vanilla (101650), More Mustard (100946); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Silicone Rubber (114615), Impressions Pad (114615), Two Step Bird Punch (117191), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Brayer (102395), Sponge Dauber (102892), Blender Pens (102845), SNAIL Adhesive (104332), Decorative Label Punch (available September 1); Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247); Other: Tissue Paper

PPA Peek and Puppy, Too


How about a quick peek at Thursday’s Pals Paper Arts card? I know you will love what we have planned for this week’s challenge! So mark your calendars, and join in the fun! Plus I will have a pictorial for you highlighting an awesome technique! You won’t want to miss it! And don’t forget to check out this week’s PPA Artist Picks! They will be sporting our chic new PPA Pick badge!

We Have a Muffy!

Those of you who have been following the Schach family’s quest for a new Boxer baby will be pleased to know that we (really I) have made our (my) decision. My husband and son could not agree on which little plain girl to get from this litter. Brady was adamant that he wanted Muffy #2 from this post, while my husband wanted Muffy #3. So to avoid conflict, I selected Muffy #1 with the white in her face. The other two puppies were so similar in their appearance to Missy the Boxer, that I think I made the right decision in selecting the puppy with more “bling”. And so dear readers, let me present to you “Cimarron’s Do You Know the Muffin Man”, call name “Muffy”.

Muffy at 1 day of age.

Muffy at 1 week of age.

This was the breeder’s “Q” litter, which explains why the video is entitled “Queen”. All eight puppies were given names which began with “Q”. Let’s just hope that I am not too old to raise this puppy! Those of you who are Boxer lovers know exactly what I am talking about! But you know what…the six months during which we were without a Boxer in our lives were six long and lonely months! Starting the end of September, let the fun begin!
Oh no! There is only one week left to order from the Summer Mini catalog! Still a few things on your Wish List? Order today! Until next time…

Paper Players Challenge APP12

I am always in for a good challenge, and this week The Paper Players are hosting an inspiration challenge. Out of all of the challenges, I find inspiration challenges the most difficult. As I pointed out in yesterday’s post, there are certain tips to focus on when interpreting an inspiration photo. As you take a look at the inspiration photo below, provided by the wonderfully talented Jaydee, I will guide you through how I ended up with today’s card!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Since I had no blackberry, strawberry, or cheese stamps (I originally thought it was a banana), I decided to go with color! I selected Very Vanilla, So Saffron, Concord Crush and Poppy Parade. Plus, I opted to go with a French theme, since when I think of cheese, I think of wine, which makes me think of France! Whew! Now I have a starting point for my card!
  • Stamp your own designer paper! I inked the Circle stamp from Artistic Etchings with Concord Crush and randomly stamped onto So Saffron card stock. After a few little spritzes, using the Color Spritzer Tool and a Concord Crush Stampin’ Write Marker, the look is complete!
  • Evening in Paris! The Eiffel Tower was inked in Concord Crush and stamped onto Very Vanilla. This time I spritzed with Crumb Cake, and distressed the edges in Concord Crush. After matting onto Poppy Parade and adding a few Basic Pearls, the image is ready. Except…the Poppy Parade looks a wee bit too orange. However, I just used my Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Write Marker and “reddened” it up a little!
  • It’s all in the details! A fan-fold flower, complete with a Victoria crochet trim center and Antique Brad, makes the perfect accent for the left side of the card. This is balanced by the “Crown” tag on the right!
You may have noticed that this is a modified joyfold card. Beate Johns, of Splitcoaststampers fame, has a wonderful tutorial on making a joyfold card. This is such an easy cardstyle to make, and so much fun!
I hope that you enjoyed today’s card. And I hope that you will join us at the Paper Players challenge this week. Of course, if you have any questions about the cards that I make or the techniques which I use, don’t hesitate to email me. I am always happy to help. Until next time…

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7
Stamp Set: Artistic Etchings (W 118517; C 120573); Inks: Concord Crush (119785); Stampin’ Write Markers: Concord Crush (119801—In-Color Set), Crumb Cake (120967); Designer Series Paper: Designer Series Paper Pack-In Color Level 1 Hostess Gift (121028); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Poppy Parade (119793), So Saffron (105118); Tools: 1-1/4″ Circle Punch (119861), 1-3/8″ Circle Punch (119860), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Crop-a-dile (108362), Sponge Daubers (102892) Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls (119247), Victoria 5/8″ Crochet Trim (118481), Linen Thread (104199), Antique Brads (117273), Very Vanilla 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon (109055), Metallic Eyelets (105319)