Steppin’ It Up…Part 2


Cabochons, texture and shimmer…oh my! Have you ever made a card and wondered how you could “dress it up” a little? Using yesterday’s card as my inspiration, I simply stepped it up a notch by adding a little glam. None of the extra steps are difficult, and they only take a minimum amount of time. Yet, what a difference they make!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Random stamping! Starting with a 5-1/4″ x 5-1/4″ Old Olive card base, I inked up the “Flourish” from Elements of Style with Chocolate Chip, and randomly stamped along the edges. When random stamping, make certain to stamp off the edge in some places! Trust me…it looks better!

  • Wheelies! The Very Vintage wheel was inked with Old Olive and rolled across Very Vanilla card stock. A few Soft Suede speckles were added with the Color Spritzer Tool, while Chocolate Chip ink was sponged onto the edges. A Sponge Dauber and Old Olive distressed the edges even more.

  • Embossing Boss! The Wedding Sweet image was inked with VersaMark and heat embossed with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder. Quick and easy!

  • Zip, zip, zip! In a matter of seconds, a piece of Very Vanilla card stock was zipped through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. Once again, the Color Spritzer Tool and a Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker are used to add speckles, while a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink are used to distress the edges.

  • Shimmer and Glimmer! A few drops of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, mixed with rubbing alcohol, add a fine shimmer of “gold dust” to the Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon. Although I have been doing a lot of “smooching” lately with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, the Shimmer Paint mixture is much more refined and elegant. “Smooching” can sometimes leave spots!

  • Cabochons are chic! Mini Vintage Tags were embossed using VersaMark ink and Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder. Large half-back pearls from the now-retired Pretties Kit were then adhered. Out of the large half-back pearls? Don’t despair! A beautiful look can be achieved using the new large Basic Pearls and surrounding them with smaller ones! It is a look which screams “Yowza”!
The cards posted today and yesterday were part of my second Dirty Dozen gallery. I hope that you enjoyed seeing the “stepped up” version. Which of the two was your favorite? Just leave me a comment, and let me know! And remember, I am always willing to answer any questions about the cards that I create and the techniques that I use. Just drop me an email and ask away! However, remember that I am winging my way toward Utah today and will be away from my computer until Sunday evening. Which brings us to the question…Did I get lost in the Denver airport? I will certainly let you know! Until next time…

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7

Stamp Sets: Wedding Sweet (115466), Elements of Style (C 120045, W 118611), Very Vintage wheel (117693); Inks: Old Olive (102277), Chocolate Chip (100908), Versamark (102283); Card Stock: Old Olive (100702), Very Vanilla (101650), Brushed Gold (102935); Tools: Heat Tool (100005), Color Spritzer Tool(107066), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973), Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Mini Vintage Tags (118763); Glitz and Glam: Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109129), Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806), Chocolate Chip 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (117287), Large Half-back Pearls from Pretties Kit (retired)

Steppin’ It Up…Part 1

This is a week of firsts! My first Stampin’ Up! Convention, my first face-to-face meeting with my upline, my first time in Utah, my first time flying alone! I am not afraid of flying, but I am afraid of terminals. Please keep your collective fingers crossed that I don’t get lost in the Denver airport during my extremely short layover Tuesday afternoon. Coming back Sunday, I will have nearly four hours in Denver to find my gate…no problems there! I will definitely need to bring along a good book to read!

I will have a variety of cards for you to view during my absence, including Stepping It Up…Part 2 on Tuesday, the PPA Sneak Peak on Wednesday, the PPA Reveal on Thursday, my Convention Swap card on Saturday, and Dirty Dozen card Sunday. I will not be taking my laptop with me to Utah, but I promise that I will share plenty of pictures with you when I return!

Today’s card features the Wedding Sweet stamp set, which can be used for more than just weddings, and Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Series Paper! This card was quick and easy to make, and the nice thing about it is that you can easily take the same concept and “step it up a notch”, as you will see with tomorrow’s card!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • “Presto chango alakazam!” Just say the magic words, add ink, and watch the beautiful design appear on the Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Series Paper! I used a Brayer to quickly apply Old Olive ink, and used a paper towel to remove the excess from the white glossy design. (If you don’t have a Brayer, just sponge on the color.) The result mimics the emboss resist technique. For a vintage look, I sponged Soft Suede in the corners. Oh… and if time is a factor…you can skip the magic words!

  • Do the bow-dacious two-step! Use two pieces of ribbon for your ribbon treatment when using Stampin’ Up!’s luscious 5/8″ Satin Ribbon. Adhere one piece to the card base, and use the second piece to make a separate bow. A couple of Mini Glue Dots will hold your bow in place!

  • Add shimmer and glimmer! Heat embossing is a breeze with VersaMark ink and Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder! The gold embossed image from Wedding Suite coordinates well with the Old Olive background and Chocolate Chip ribbon. Did you know that Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon is still available in the Summer Mini catalog? If you love this ribbon as much as I do, you will want to make certain that you stock up!

  • Release your stress by distressing! A Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker and the Color Spritzer Tool does the trick, adding a shabby chic feel in a matter of seconds!
Looking for something similar, but a little more glamorous? Check out tomorrow’s “stepped up” version! Until next time…


Click Here To Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7

Stamp Set: Wedding Sweet; Ink: VersaMark, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip; Designer Series Paper: Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Series Paper Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold, Old Olive; Tools: Heat Tool, Sponge Dauber, Brayer, Color Spritzer Tool, Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker; Glitz and Glam: Chocolate Chip 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (Summer Mini), Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder

A Wedding Invitation for the PPA


Thursday is one of my favorite days of the week because it is Pals Paper Arts Challenge Day! This week our challenge is “Weddings”. We love weddings at Pals Paper Arts and we hope you do, too! Weddings are magical and inspirational…and nothing tastes better than wedding cake! My card today is a concept card created for a wonderful young woman who is anticipating an October wedding. Although she has already selected commercially designed invitations, she wanted 24 hand made cards for relatives and special friends, as well as programs covers. The Elegant Lines embossing folder and the sophisticated color combination of Crumb Cake and Early Espresso are right up her alley. Plus, she adored the little bouquet from the Wedding Sweet set, which has been embossed in gold. The inside will contain a vellum insert with the specifics and a gold-embossed Sweet Swirls border . Of course, I will be on pins and needles waiting for her to return from vacation so she can see it in person. This will be a starting point, and I am anticipating that we will make some changes. Luckily I will have Convention to keep my mind occupied while awaiting her response!!! Whether your creation has something old, something new, something borrowed or something blue as your inspiration…whether it is an invitation, congratulatory card, or a shower card, I am anxious to see what fabulous projects you have to share!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Do you have a buddy? An Embossing Buddy that is! Running this little powder-filled “pillow” across your paper prior to heat embossing removes static, and leaves your embossed image free of those annoying little speckles.
  • Formal or casual? When designing a formal card, select specific design elements to imply a more formal tone. Square corners, multilayer mats incorporating Brushed Gold card stock and gold embossing will help you achieve an air of formality.
  • So many colors…so many decisions! Neutral and Regal color palettes are always good choices for elegance. Pearls, as well as satin or taffeta ribbon, are the perfect embellishments!
  • Less is more! The Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder has such wonderful detail. Lots of extra embellishments are unnecessary!
Weddings are so special! I am thrilled to have the honor of designing cards for two brides this fall. The second wedding will be next summer, leaving me with more time to develop my concept card. I think that I am just as excited as the brides!
I hope that you enjoyed today’s card. Remember, I appreciate your comments. If you have a question about this card or any of the techniques that I use, don’t hesitate to email me. I love answering questions! Now skedaddle on over to the PPA site and take a look at the beautiful inspiration cards created by our Design Team. I will be awaiting your creations! Until next time…

Click Here for List of Retired Stamps for Sale (Prices Reduced)

Stamp Set: Wedding Sweet (115466); Ink: VersaMark (102283); Card Stock: Brushed Gold (102935), Very Vanilla (101650), Early Espresso (119686), Crumb Cake (120953); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119277), Heat Tool (100005), Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109129), Embossing Buddy (103083); Glitz and Glam: Early Espresso 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (119753), Basic Pearls (119247)