Simple Sunday Thank You and Blog Candy Winner

With my retirement parties behind me, I have found myself in need of several “Thank You” cards.  With so many cards to make, I had to have something quick and easy…and mailable.  Although this card is clean and simple, it showcases the beautiful new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Vintage Wallpaper.  And the sentiment is from the new Idea Book and Catalog release, Perfect Punches! And speaking of the new catty, if you do not have a current Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I will gladly send you a  FREE catalog if you EMAIL me by Friday, June 18th.  I will drop yours in the mail as soon as they become available!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • If a color combination sounds like it would be delicious for breakfast…go for it! Just kidding! But don’t you love Crumb Cake (the color formerly known as Kraft) and the new Core Color, Early Espresso together?  And I can tell you firsthand, that you will love the new Color Coach! In my opinion, it is one of the “must-have” items that every Stampin’ Up! aficionado needs in their arsenal of tools…and this is a valid tip! It suggests so many beautiful color combos! Definitely a wise investment!
  • Make every minute count! The Big Shot and a Textured Impressions Folder can add interest to a card in seconds! I know that Vintage Wallpaper will see a lot of use at The Stampin’ Schach!
  • Sentiments in seconds! The Perfect Punches stamp set includes sentiments for every occasion:  Christmas, birthdays, congrats, and friendship, as well as thanks.  And, each one coordinates with a Stampin’ Up! punch.  This would be another new catty purchase that I would place on my Wish List! When I first saw it available for preordering, I wasn’t sure about it.  But you know what…it is the perfect touch when you need a quick and easy card! Plus, you can “punch it up” a notch with layers when a more elaborate card is called for.  How versatile is that!
  • Even simple cards deserve a little bit of  lovin’ bling! And this card receives its dosage with snippets of the Early Espresso 1/8″ inch Taffeta Ribbon!
Card-making can be a family affair! Part of the rationale behind today’s design is that my family can get involved with the process.  My son, Brady, will be my “Big Shot Hero” while my husband, Kim, will be my “MICOP” (Man in Charge of Punching)! That essentially leaves me to assemble and add the ribbon.  Grantedly, this may require that I have to watch whatever is on ESPN, but you know what…I’m starting to like soccer!
Blog Hop Blog Candy Winner
Wow! What an overwhelming response to the Pals Farewell Blog Hop! With 295 comments at the closing buzzer, the winning comment (selected by using a random number generator, courtesy of  Random.org) is:
#201
Trish in Wisconsin said…

“The set retiring that I will miss the most is “Nursery Necessities” and the Wheel that goes with it. I used that set for more than just Baby cards and the Wheel also. I will keep on using it personally so I really won’t be missing it. I do hope that there are some really good New Baby ones in the New Catty. I really love the color combo that you chose to make your Card out of today, and thanks for sharing the cards that you made with “Spring Song”, which is also another one of my favorites. In fact a lot of the Stamps that are going I will continue to use personally. Thanks for the offer of the Blog Candy.     Cyber hugs, Trish in Wisconsin”
Trish, you will have 48 hours to email me your address.  Upon receipt of your address, your package will be mailed to you no later than Wednesday, June 16.  Congratulations, Trish!

News Flash
I just found out that I am the winner of the first Always Playing with Paper challenge for my King of the Grill card.  If you missed seeing it, just CLICK HERE!  Their latest challenge is underway today.  Check them out! 

More Blog Candy Heading Your Way
Don’t be disappointed if you did not win this round of Blog Candy from The Stampin’ Schach.  There is more in store!  This week I will be clearing out my stash of  Stampin’ Up! goodies, and I will be offering more Blog Candy!  Ink pads, markers, re-inkers, card stock, ribbons, brads…my retirement gift to you! So, if you are not a subscriber to The Stampin’ Schach, make certain to sign up today.  You don’t want to miss a thing!
Huge Retired Stamp Sale starting July 1! Stay tuned for more details.  My guess is that there will be close to 40 sets, several which are unused and unmounted. (Shh…don’t let my husband know about these).  Plus, the vast majority are very lightly used…some with only 1 stamp in the set ever inked. (Yikes…don’t let my hubby know about these either!). 
And finally, if you are a Blogger or html person, I need your help.  Since Blogger has redesigned some features, I have been having trouble with “wonky bullets”! My line of text is appearing one line below the bullet.  Who can tell me what I need to do?
Sometimes we can all use a little simplifying in our lives, and today’s card did just that! Please let me know what you thought about today’s card, and that yummy color combo…Crumb Cake and Early Espresso. (I have to go have a snack now!) And remember, I love answering your questions, so please feel free to email me if you ever have any questions about the cards that I create and the techniques that I use.  Until next time…


 Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7!

Stamp Set: Perfect Punches (Wood-Mount 117022, Clear-Mount 120516—available July 1);  Ink:  Early Espresso (119670—available after July 1), Card Stock:  Crumb Cake (120958—available July 1), Early Espresso (119686—available after July 1), Very Vanilla (101650);  Tools:  Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Big Shot (113439), Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (120175—available July 1); Glitz and Glam:  Early Espresso 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon (119959—available July 1) 

King of the Grill

A wonderful new challenge blog made its debut this week, and I could not pass up the opportunity to play along.  Always Playing with Paper is hosting a “Father’s Day or Masculine Themed” challenge, and their talented Design Team has prepared inspiring samples for you to view.  My entry for their challenge showcases King of the Grill.  Although “cartoonish” stamps are not my forte, this one definitely possesses a “cuteness” factor.  And it does allow me to play with my inks and blender pens.  I firmly believe that challenges should do just that…challenge you! And this one certainly did!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Crazy for Cajun Craze! Don’t you just love the “pop” of color imparted by Stampin’ Up!’s new Core Color?  It’s so…spicey! And what about this color trio?  Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, and Cajun Craze are a perfect masculine combination!
  • Use those Blender Pens! To make quick work of line art stamps, like King of the Grill, I simply touch the tip of my Blender Pen to the corner of the ink pad, load up a bit of color, and ta-da! The inks that I used for this “Flying Chef” were Real Red, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Going Gray, Basic Gray, and Creamy Caramel.
  • Pop it up for Pop! The letters “d-a-d”  from the Rough Type Alphabet were stamped onto Cajun Craze and punched out with the 1/2″ Punch.  They were then popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals onto 3/4″ Circles of Not Quite Navy.
    I hope that you enjoyed today’s card, and that you will visit the gals at Always Playing with Paper.  Their new challenge will be posted Sunday! In the meantime, if you have any questions about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, do not hesitate to email me.  And if you like what you see, won’t you consider signing up for my email updates?  Have The Stampin’ Schach delivered right to your in-box simply by completing the subscription form which can be found right below the “Email Me” button on my left side-bar.  And don’t forget that the Pals will be naming the winners of their Blog Candy this Sunday! So stay tuned.  I have so many things planned for you, including a gigantic retired stamp sale featuring nearly 40 stamp sets…and more blog candy! So stay tuned! Until next time…

    My Friends at the PPA are Like Flowers, Plus New Product Peeks

    Those that follow The Stampin’ Schach know that Thursdays are special because it’s time for another Pals Paper Arts challenge! This week is a color challenge featuring two retiring In-Colors, Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry plus a favorite who is being invited to stay as a new Core Color…Soft Suede! And what’s that you say?  Is that a new embossing folder?  Why of course! Have you ever known me to pass up an embossing folder? It’s Stampin’ Up!’s newest Textured Impression Embossing Folder, Vintage Wallpaper! And yes, that’s one of the new stamp sets, Friends Never Fade.  Oh, all right…you caught me.  The scallop circle was punched with the new 2-3/8″ Extra Large Scallop Circle Punch. There were just so many cool things to preorder, I splurged a wee bit!  OK…a “lot” bit, but we will continue this story later. Enjoy today’s offering!

    The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

    • Show-off! It’s OK to be a show-off, if you are showcasing your new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder! Although this is not a clean and simple layout, large blocks of card stock highlight the elements of the embossing.  Don’t you just love this “Vintage Wallpaper” design?
    • Add a dash of dots! Bermuda Bay and Crushed Curry Patterns Designer Series Papers contain polka-dotted patterns. And although these papers are set to retire, as of today, they are still available!
    • Paper piece it! The image from Friends Never Fade was inked in Soft Suede and stamped twice, onto Very Vanilla and Crushed Curry.  The Crushed Curry center was then snipped out and adhered to the first image.
    • Coordinate your efforts!  Snippets of Crushed Curry, Soft Suede and Bermuda Bay 1/2″ Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon add interest and fun!  One side is dotted, the other is solid.  Don’t they look fabulous with the polka-dotted pattern paper? If only I could be this coordinated when I dress up! And although these ribbons will be leaving us soon, they are still available while supplies last until June 30th!
      So there you have it…a little of the old and a little of the new! This card will be given to my good friend, George.  George retired with me this year after 27 years of teaching art.  The “old” of this card symbolizes his former position as an art teacher, while the new symbolizes his journey into a new hobby… stamping and card making! I know that you will love his designs which I will be featuring periodically here on The Stampin’ Schach.  I am so excited!
      And speaking of excited…the next Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Gallery will be unveiled June 15th.  It’s hard to believe, but this will be my fourth gallery. Which means…I can reveal cards from my first gallery, All Creatures Great and Small, here on my blog! Hold on to your horses…we are in for an exciting month of June!
      So as I bid you good-bye, I would like to know what you think of today’s card.  Do you like this Embossing Folder, or is it too busy for your tastes?  Do you think you will get good use out of the new Extra Large Scallop Circle Punch, and what do you think of Friends Never Fade?  (My answers:  Love vintage…yes…I love the sentiment, “Friends are flowers that never fade”.)  And remember, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, I am only an EMAIL away! 
      And one more thing before I go, I would love to thank all of you for the wonderful comments on my Retirement Post.  I loved your words of encouragement, and the advice given by those of you who are retired teachers will guide me through the month of August. And the response to the Blog Hop Blog Candy was incredible.  I really do have wonderful followers and virtual friends.  And just in case you haven’t left a comment for candy, you have until 3:00PM CST Friday.  The post is HERE.  Until next time…
       
      Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7           Stamp Sets:  Friends Never Fade (available July 1);  Ink: Soft Suede (115657); Card Stock:  Bermuda Bay (115317), Crushed Curry 115319), Natural White (102316);  Designer Series Pattern Paper:  Bermuda Bay (115684), Crushed Curry (115686);  Tools:  Big Shot (113439),  Vintage Wall Paper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (available July 1), Extra Large Scallop Circle Punch (available July 1); Glitz and Glam:  Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot 1/2″ Grosgrain Ribbon (115610), Crushed Curry Polka-Dot 1/2″ Grosgrain Ribbon (115614)