It’s Thursday and time for another Pals Paper Arts challenge! As we present this week’s Memorial Day-themed challenge, the Design Team would like to thank all of those who are serving or who have served our country. We are most thankful for your courage, honor, and sacrifice. And I would also like to honor my former students who exhibited the courage to enlist in our armed forces. I am so proud to say that I was their teacher. This card, featuring the “Courage” stamp set, is dedicated to them.

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• When complex images serve as the focal point, make certain that your background compliments rather than detracts. “Courage” is so wonderfully detailed, a simple textured background is all that is needed!
• Watercoloring is a breeze with Blender Pens and inks! Night of Navy, Real Red, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel transform this image in a matter of minutes.
• Enhance a theme with embellishments! Star Designer Brads evoke the image of a three-star general, while Kraft ribbon substitutes for a military tan.

I hope that you will join us this week at the PPA! I am anxious to view your Memorial Day creations. In the meantime, let me know what you think about today’s card by leaving me a comment. And remember, if you have a questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…

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Here’s a little peek at my Pals Paper Arts challenge card which will be revealed on Thursday. As many of you know, the Pals Paper Arts Design Team is a passionate group of Stampin’ Up! demonstrators who love to play a variety of paper craft challenges. We are dedicated to using primarily Stampin’ Up! products in our own challenge designs, but we welcome the use of any brand or product by our participants. It is our goal to inspire our virtual stamping pals, while sharing and having fun! I know that as a Design Team member, I look forward to seeing your creations. It’s amazing what you can learn just by observing the work of others!

Speaking of challenges, I would like to thank the designers at Picture Perfect Creations for selecting my “Life is a Matter of Moments” card as the Grand Creation Winner for PPC-CC#12. Thank you ladies! I will display my badge proudly! This was such a perfect color combination of Sage Shadow, Perfect Plum, Bravo Burgundy and Soft Suede. The card almost made itself! Don’t you just love it when a card does that? If you missed my posting of this card, click Here.

The Design Team over at PPC are trying to increase their following, so please stop in and take a look at their inspiration cards and sign up to follow their challenge blog.

Would you like to receive the SPA treatment? Join my team today as a Stampin‘ Up! demonstrator and I will help you become a Schach Pack Artist! I will not only mentor you in all aspects of your demonstratorship, I will also help you develop your creative skills through special tutorials prepared just for members of The Schach Pack. As a member of The Schach Pack, you will have access to a private blog which will keep you abreast of the latest Stampin’ Up! news. If you are undecided about whether becoming a Stampin‘ Up! demonstrator is right for you, visit the Join the Schach Pack page. And if you still have questions, you can always email me. I would love to discuss with you what Stampin‘ Up! means to me.

Coming Soon: The Stampin‘ Up! Last Chance Stamp and Accessories List will be released on June 1. As soon as the list is available I will post it here on The Stampin‘ Schach! Avoid disappointment by ordering early. I will keep you posted as merchandise becomes sold out.

Until next time…

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During the past few weeks I have had a wonderful time creating my Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Fan Club gallery. Can you believe that this is already my third month? This month’s theme, “How Does Your Garden Grow“, was right up my alley. (You do have to belong to the Fan Club to access this gallery, so if you are not a member and need more information about joining, click Here.) Since I always find the last few days before the deadline a little hectic, I decided to relax today by going “blog surfing”. Of course, I am always on the look-out for a fun challenge. As luck would have it, I discovered the Picture Perfect Creations Crafty Challenges blog today. Their challenge was to incorporate these colors:

Although I have never used all four of these colors together, they are colors that I love and use in various other combinations. Since so many colors were involved, I opted to go with a rather simple layout, allowing the colors to do the talking. I hope that you enjoy today’s card!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• Create your own Designer Paper! The En Francais stamp inked in Soft Suede and stamped off once, provides a delicate background for the “Swirl” image from Elements of Style.
• Go for the “WOW” factor! Bravo Burgundy swirls and 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon draw the eye immediately to the Scallop Circle Flower. There are many tutorials for making this type flower! However, here is one of my favorites: Creations by Corie. I did switch Corie’s directions up a bit by wetting my circles with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz. Then I “scrunched” and dried it. It makes it look a wee bit more “shabby”.
• Don’t forget the bling! Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz provides a soft pearl sheen to the Perfect Plum Beautiful Wings Embosslits butterflies and the Scallop Circle Flower. And what could be finer than a Clear Rhinestone Brad as the flower’s center!

I had a great time with this fun little challenge, and I would encourage you to visit the Design Team Members over at Picture Perfect Creations and view their wonderful inspirations. But before you do, please leave a comment and let me know how I did! And remember, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7
Stamp Set: Elements of Style (W 118611, C 120045—Summer Mini); En Francais (109521); Inks: Soft Suede (115657), Bravo Burgundy (105214); Designer Series Paper: Perfect Plum (112158); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Bravo Burgundy (105123), Sage Shadow (101563); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die (118138), Scallop Circle Punch (109043); Glitz and Glam: Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772—Summer Mini), Bravo Burgundy 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon (109153)