Happy Fourth of July at the PPA


It’s time for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge! This week the Pals have planned an Inspiration challenge for you based upon a fireworks photograph. Of course when I think of fireworks, I immediately think of…The Fourth of July! Today’s card is Americana personified! It is actually the second card that I made for the challenge! I will post the “blingier” first card later this week! Have fun with today’s challenge!

The Stampin‘ Schach Design Tips:

  • As American as Cherry Cobbler! Stampin‘ Up!’s delicious new rich red, takes on a rustic hue when stamped onto Crumb Cake card stock. (Crumb Cake is the color formerly known as Kraft!) Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler…who could ask for a yummier color combination! Add a little Night of Navy, and you have the recipe for “Americana”!

  • Sometimes less is more! A double bow made of Hemp Twine is the only simple accent needed for this texture laden card.

  • Whimsical “Wow”! A firecracker’s hand-stitched flame adds a spark of fun! Linen Thread does the trick! Add a few speckles with the Color Spritzer Tool and a Night of Navy Stampin‘ Write Marker, and you have instant “distress”!

      • Be a “layer player”! The sentiment, stamped in Night of Navy onto Crumb Cake was punched out with the 1-3/8″ Circle Punch and layered onto a Cherry Cobber Scalloped Circle. For a little pzazz, the scallops were pierced with a Paper Piercer.
      The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to get together with family and friends. I am lucky to live in a small community where everyone takes part in festivities uptown. We will begin our day with a pancake breakfast at the Fire Department. My son, Brady, will be playing a medley of patriotic tunes on the trumpet and will open with our National Anthem. There are activities for children, a talent show, a parade, and tons of food! The evening concludes with music and fireworks! Of course, throughout the day there are ample opportunities to just sit and visit. Ah! I love living in a small town!
      I hope that you enjoyed today’s Americana Fourth of July card, and that you will join me on Saturday for the “snazzier” version using this same set. As promised, I have listed my retired stamp sets which I have for sale. Please click HERE to see the sets and pictures. In the meantime, won’t you please let me know what you think of today’s card by leaving me a comment? I do appreciate them. And if you have a question about today’s Americana card, do not hesitate to email me. Until next time…

      Click Here to Order Stampin‘ Up! 24/7
      Stamp Set: Fourth of July (W 118523, C 120063—Summer Mini); Inks: Cherry Cobbler (119669), Night of Navy (102977); Card Stock: Night of Navy (100867), Cherry Cobbler (119685), Crumb Cake (120953); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), 1-3/4″ Scallop Circle Punch (119854), 1-3/8″ Circle Punch (119860), Night of Navy Stampin‘ Write Marker (100069), Paper Piercer (116631), Mat Pack (105826), Paper Snips (103579); Glitz and Glam: Hemp Twine (100982), Linen Thread (104199)

      PPA Peek and Helen’s Gift


      Just a quick little peek at this week’s Pals Paper Arts challenge card! We would love to have you join us in Challenge 49, which goes live on Thursday. Challenges are a great way to sharpen your card making skills while having fun! Although our Design Team is composed of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators who showcase Stampin’ Up! products in our inspiration cards, we encourage everyone to participate and to use any brand of products you wish. Be sure to check out this week’s Pals Paper Arts Artist Picks. They are posted every Wednesday morning!

      You Meet the Nicest People!

      A few week’s ago, I happened to stop by Helen Liu’s Let’s Create blog. I love dropping in to see her latest flowers, gift boxes, and origami. If you have ever visited Helen’s blog, you know that her 3-D creations are exquisite! On that particular day, Helen was featuring quilled earrings that she had made for her oldest son’s art and music teachers. As we were trading emails back and forth, I mentioned that when I was a teacher, I would have loved to have received her beautiful earrings! Helen emailed me back and said that she wanted to make me a pair as a belated retirement gift. I was very touched at her kindness.
      Helen’s package arrived today, and you can imagine my surprise when I unwrapped not one, but two, pairs of earrings, each in their own gift box. They were accompanied by a beautiful gift card, embellished with one of Helen’s spectacular roses.

      Her gift card was stunning, with Beautiful Wings butterflies and a gorgeous miniature rose!

      Helen’s gift touched me profoundly. A random act of kindness, from someone whom I only know through our blogs, brought tears to my eyes. I will treasure these quilled earrings, and I will wear them proudly. You will be able to tell who I am at the Stampin’ Up! Convention, because I will be wearing Helen’s creations. I know that I have said it before, but you really do meet the nicest people through stamping! Please help me spread the kindness by visiting Helen’s blog. She is celebrating her blogaversary, and is offering her handmade embellishments as blog candy!

      And don’t forget…the end is near for these Stampin’ Up! promotions!

      • The $99 Starter Kit ends June 30th. There is still time to become a member of The Schach Pack. Here is just a sampling of what my downline has to say:”Ann is a wonderful friend and mentor. She is very helpful at keeping me up-to-date on Stampin’ Up! changes. She encourages me and supports me to help my business be the best it can be. She is also very creative and talented in her own business which inspires me to be the best I can be. Amy R.” Let me help you develop your creative and business skills. Email me with your questions OR sign up online. My recruiting password is stampinschach.
      • Last Chance Stamp List. Time is running out to order your favorites!
      • Updated Last Chance Accessories List. Many items are still available…some at 25% -50% off.
      • My personal list of Retired Stamps for Sale will be posted July 1st. If you love bargains, you will love this list!

      Please join me next time for Pals Paper Arts Challenge #49! Until then…


      Click here to order Stampin’ Up! 24/7!

      Thinking of You, Bella Toile


      I love this card that I made for the March Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Gallery. It is not often that I can say that about cards that I create. I can always find something that I would change about a card, but not this time. This card stamps up quickly, yet it has an elegant look about it that I like. Although I used the French version of Sincere Salutations, you can easily substitute a variety of sentiments to fit the occasion! Enjoy “Bella Toile, Je Pense a Toi!”

      The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

      • Tap, tap,tapping! When inking up a large background stamp like Bella Toile, ink it up by placing the background stamp face up and then tapping the ink pad on the rubber face. If you find it difficult to hold on to a stamp this size, simply lay it face up and place the card stock on top. Run a Brayer over the paper to make certain that the image stamps evenly. But be careful…don’t let the paper slip! Just ask me how I know…
      • Bling it on! Nothing goes better together than butterflies and bling! Three rhinestones, retrieved from Clear Rhinestone Brads, adorn the body of the largest butterfly, which was created with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit. Another rhinestone forms the “o” in toi, drawing the eye to the sentiment.
      • Bow-licious! Pick the right ribbon for the card! Satin is super for a formal or elegant card, but for fun and casual go with grosgrain! The Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon on this card certainly looks yummy! If you need to replenish your Chocolate Chip ribbon stash, hurry and order! Several varieties of Chocolate Chip Ribbon are on The Last Chance List, while the Chocolate Chip 5/8″ Satin Ribbon is available in the Summer Mini.
      The Final Countdown
      Take advantage of these time sensitive promotions:
      • The $99 Starter Kit ends June 30th. There is still time to become a member of The Schach Pack.
      • Last Chance Stamp List. Time is running out to order your favorites!
      • Updated Last Chance Accessories List. Many items are still available…some at 25% -50% off.
      • My personal list of Retired Stamps for Sale will be posted July 1st. If you love bargains, you will love this list!
      Who could forget that the new catalog goes live July 1st! Online Ordering will be down until Noon MT as Stampin’ Up! makes the transition to the new catalog. Of course with the beginning of the new Stampin’ Up! year, my Hostess Clubs are starting their new cycles. I still have room for new members in the First Wednesday of the Month Club, which meets at 9:00 AM on the first Wednesday of each month. (Creative name, huh?) Please EMAIL me if you are interested in joining. And if you would like to host a workshop, July dates are filling fast. It is never too early to schedule your workshop, and I am currently scheduling through December. I am available for Introduction to Stamping classes, as well as specific technique classes. Please contact me for more information.

      Whew! I feel like I had so much information to share with you today. I hope that you enjoyed today’s Bella Toile card. If you have any questions about the cards that I make, or about the techniques that I use, please email me so that I can answer your questions. And to answer Mary and Chris’s question about the shading around the dragonfly on Sunday’s card, it was achieved by using a Blender Pen and Sahara Sand ink! Thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings…and thanks for leaving a comment. They…and you…are important to me! Until next time…


      Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7

      Stamp Set: Bella Toile (111598), Sinceres Salutations (116239); Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Chocolate Chip (102128), Regal Rose (105130); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Beautiful Wings Embosslit (118138), Wide Oval Punch (112082), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), Sponge Daubers (102892), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Brayer (102395) Glitz and Glam: Chocolate Chip 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (117287), Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144)