Can you believe that it has been a year since Pals Paper Arts began weekly challenges? Yet, here we are at Challenge #54…create a masculine KISS card! A KISS card (Keep It Simple Sweetie) is described as having one or more of these attributes: minimal layers and embellishments, quick to create, and “white” space. Now there may be those of you who are saying that today’s card is NOT a KISS card, but as we have always said at the PPA, “If it is KISSable to you, it is KISSable to us!” And this is simpler than many of the cards I create, coming together quite quickly. So I am calling it KISSable! What makes it masculine is hopefully obvious…the colors, the nautical theme, the jumbo eyelets and twine. As they used to say in the old Irish Spring commercials, “Manly yes, but I like it, too!” I can’t take all of the credit for today’s card as I did solicit the input of my son. It was his keen eye and sense of style that pulled these colors out of my stash! Thanks, Brady!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay! I’m havin’ fun with my Big Shot today!” In a matter of minutes, I zipped More Mustard card stock through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. For a little contrast, Marina Mist card stock was paired up with the Square Lattice folder!
• Twine is fine! Whether you are looking for a distressed, country or masculine theme, Stampin’ Up!’s Hemp Twine does the trick. I just wrapped it around the Marina Mist section of the card and adhered it to the back. No bow…no woes! How easy is that?
• Water color in the blink of an eye with Blender Pens and inks! Marina Mist seas, Cajun Craze cliffs, and a Cherry Cobbler with Basic Gray lighthouse complete this seascape!
• Spritz! The Color Spritzer Tool is an indispensable part of my stampin’ routine, especially when paired with a Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker.
• But wait…there’s more! Three Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets complete the look!

What do you think? Didn’t Brady do a great job picking out the colors? Just leave me a comment, and I will be sure to let him know your thoughts. And if you have any questions about today’s card or the techniques that I used, just shoot me an email! So…get started on those masculine KISS cards and help the PPA celebrate our blogaversary! And…there are changes looming on the horizon for The Stampin’ Schach this fall, so be sure to stay tuned to the never-ending saga of “Days of My Blog”! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Uncharted Territory (W 116952; C 120456); Inks: Basic Black (101179), Soft Suede (115657), Bashful Blue (105209), Cherry Cobbler (119669), Basic Gray (109120), Cajun Craze (119671), Marina Mist (119668), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Card Stock: Pacific Point (111350), More Mustard (100946), Marina Mist (119682), Cherry Cobbler (119685), Very Vanilla (101650); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (120175), Square Lattice Textured Impression Embossing Folder (119976), Blender Pens (102845), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), The Tearing Edge (102930); Glitz and Glam: Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets (108431), Hemp Twine (100982)

I am so happy to announce that I have been asked to be an August Guest Designer for Always Playing with Paper! In case you are not aware of this new challenge blog, I will be joining these talented Design Team members, with whom I am sure you are familiar:

• Lesley of Always Playing with Paper
• Corie of Creations by Corie
• Jaydee of Stampin’ with Jaydee
• LeAnne of Wee Inklings
• Marlene of Hands On

The Always Playing with Paper challenges go live on Sundays. I would love to have you join me this week in their “Vintage” challenge! Vintage has become a very popular style over the past year. Characterized by such elements as multiple layers, lace and often distressing, this has become one of my favorite styles of late. And just in case you have not noticed…there is a little sneak peek of the new Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper! I hope that you will enjoy my cards as I enjoy my tenure as Guest Designer!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• Distressed with distressing? Don’t be! Let the Color Spritzer Tool and Sponge Dauber be your friends! Paired with a Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker, the Color Spritzer Tool provides soft speckling. Age spots may not be good for your skin…but they are perfect for a vintage look. As for the edges of the image mat, I used the 7-Sided Tool from the Cutter Kit to roughen the edges, which I then burnished with a Sponge Dauber and Soft Suede ink.
• Lovely lace! I am so happy that Stampin’ Up! released their new Crochet Trims! Victoria was my choice for this card. A snippet wrapped around the edge of the image mat is embellished with tiny brads shaped to look like miniature buttons and a safety pin, all from the Vintage Trinkets collection. The tiny tags were crafted from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set and Fundamental Phrases.
• Pearly girly! The adorable “Christmas Kid” sports pearl buttons on her jacket, while pearls also adorn the tree. Larger pearls accent the four corners of the Cherry Cobbler Large Scallop Square.
• A touch of gold! Brushed Gold card stock forms a mat for the scallop square, and was used to to create the Large Scallop Circle. A little trip through the Big Shot with the Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder add the touch of texture that I love!
• Smooch your cards! Silver Foil Smooch Spritz add sparkle and shine to the Cherry Cobber square. For the Christmas Kid, I opted to use Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, added to rubbing alcohol, for a finer shimmer and glimmer.
• The Wow! factor! Nothing beats a Scallop Circle medallion with an Antique Brad center! Made from Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper, a little Log Cabin Smooch adds a vintage patina to this vintage-style embellishment!

Don’t you just love the new Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper? I realize that this was only a very tiny peek at the Holly Pattern, but I guarantee that it looks great with Cherry Cobbler! I hope that you enjoyed my first creation for Always Playing with Paper! I am so looking forward to the vintage creations that you design. So won’t you join me in this challenge? And I am interested in knowing what you think of today’s card, so please leave me a comment with your thoughts. Of course, if you have any questions about this card and the techniques which I used in its creation, please email me! Until next time…

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Stamp Sets: Greeting Card Kids (W 119887; C 120633), Fundamental Phrases (114968), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370); Inks: Cherry Cobbler (119669), Pretty in Pink (101301), Basic Gray (109120), Basic Black (101179), Sahara Sand (105208), Daffodil Delight (119667), Garden Green (102272), Soft Suede (115657), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973); Designer Series Paper: Deck the Halls (available September 1st); Card Stock: Always Artichoke (105119), Brushed Gold (102935), Cherry Cobbler (119685), Very Vanilla (101650), Watercolor Paper (105019); Tools: Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Sponge Dauber (102892), Jewelry Tag Punch (117190), 1-3/4″ Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch (118874), Big Shot (113439), Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (116824), Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die (115950), Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die (113469), Cutter Kit (106958); Glitz and Glam: Victoria 5/8″ Crochet Trim (118481), Early Espresso 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon (119955), Antique Brads (117273), Vintage Trinkets (118764), Silver Foil Smooch Spritz (118771), Log Cabin Smooch Spritz (119921), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806), Basic Pearls (119247)