Flowers for the PPA


What could be better than flowers and candy? Why…flowers, candy, and the Pals Paper Arts challenge! This week’s theme is “Flowers” and we are offering blog candy, too! So before you head over to the PPA site to view the wonderful inspiration cards designed by my fellow design team members, let me just share a secret with you. Shhh…don’t tell anybody, but I love the new Elements of Style stamp set! The Baroque “Swirl” stamp in this set is perfect for creating a background, while letting the “Floral” image take center stage. An elegant color scheme of Basic Black and Very Vanilla, as well as a sumptuous Basic Black Satin Bow make this one classy card!

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

  • An act of random stamping! The “Swirl” image, inked with Basic Black and stamped onto Very Vanilla, forms a wonderful background! The only thing that could possibly make it better is zipping it through the Big Shot along with the new Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder.

  • Ink-a-dink! Stampin’ Up! Inks and Blender Pens make quick work of water coloring the Floral image. I selected Regal Rose for the petals, Always Artichoke for the leaves, and So Saffron for the centers. Shading and definition were achieved by using Stampin’ Write Markers of the same hue.

  • Flirty and pretty! A trio of half-back Pearls from the Pretties Kit adds a flirtatious touch, while Basic Black 5/8″ Satin Ribbon adds a touch of “ooo-la-la”!
My Summer Mini picks definitely include Elements of Style and the Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder. Over the next few weeks, I will share more of my favorites from the upcoming Summer Mini. Of course, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, don’t hesitate to email me. I am always happy to chat about stamping! Of course, your comments are important to me, so please let me know what you think about today’s card! Until next time…


Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7

Stamp Set: Elements of Style (W 118611; C 120045—Summer Mini); Inks: Basic Black (101179), Regal Rose (105211), Always Artichoke (105219), So Saffron (105213), Sahara Sand (105208); Stampin’ Write Markers: Regal Rose (105108), Always Artichoke (105113); Card Stock: Basic Black (102851), Very Vanilla (101650); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder (119976—Summer Mini), Blender Pens (102845), Paper Snips (103579); Glitz and Glam: Pretties Kit (109114), Basic Black 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (117285)

PPA Sneak Peek


Thursday marks another Pals Paper Arts challenge, and in keeping with tradition, I am offering you a little sneak peek of my inspiration card. As you can see, it is also showcasing the Stampin‘ Up! Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder. You know me and textured impressions folders…you can never have too many! It is also showcasing the Elements of Style stamp set. I can tell you this already…it will be my “go-to” set out of the Summer Mini Catalog.

Sale-a-bration may be over, but a new promotion has taken its place—Two Step Stampin‘ into Spring! From April 1 through April 30, Stampin‘ Up! is offering the following two-step stamp sets at 20% off:

Item # 113824
Greenhouse Garden
Discounted Price: $20.76

113734
Fifth Avenue Floral
Discounted Price: $19.96

111578
Flower Fancy
Discounted Price: $29.56

113258
Trendy Trees
Discounted Price: $14.36

And there is more! If you host a $350 workshop during this promotional period, you will receive the new set “Awash with Flowers” absolutely free! Email me today to book your workshop!

Here are two cards from The Stampin‘ Schach archive featuring Fifth Avenue Floral and Greenhouse Garden:

At 20% off, how can you resist these sets? Click Here to place your online order 24/7.

If I have piqued your interest with my sneak peek, remember that you can see the entire card live, Thursday at 5:00 AM CST. And thank you for being so patient with me as I work diligently on my latest Splitcoast Dirty Dozen gallery. I guarantee that you will be in for a treat, as I am using several of the new Summer Mini sets. Remember, you must be a member of the Fan Club in order to view the Fan Club gallery. Until next time…

Embossed Resist Folk Flowers for the PPA


How can you resist “Embossed Resist”? This technique was used to create today’s Pals Paper Arts “Color Challenge” card, featuring Stampin‘ Up!’s Folk Flowers Decor Stencils (Occasions Mini—Page 18). These versatile stencils can be used to accent furniture, liven up a wall, and as you can see, they can even be used to create cards! Three lovely hues comprise the palette for today’s color challenge. Although the Design Team uses Stampin‘ Up! products, you may use any brand of product that you desire. And if you don’t have these colors, feel free to substitute similar colors. Everyone is invited to participate in this week’s challenge. Are you ready to play at PPA?

My creation today is a literal hodgepodge of techniques, combining brayering, stenciling and embossing. If you have never tried Embossed Resist, it is quick and easy!

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

  • Let the brayering begin! Brayer Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, and Lavender Lace onto a piece of Very Vanilla card stock.
  • It’s stencil time! Position the stencil over the brayered background, and stencil using VersaMark Ink and a Stampin‘ Sponge. (I cut my sponges into fourths for a more manageable size!)
  • Be an embossing boss! Heat emboss using Clear Stampin‘ Emboss Powder and a Heat Tool.
  • Brayer a layer! Brayer Perfect Plum ink over the top of the entire card face. Remove excess ink from the embossed image using a paper towel.
  • Let me see those pearly whites! Half-pearls from the Pretties Kit add a soft look.
  • The finishing touch! The sentiment from “For All You Do” was stamped in Basic Gray onto a Barely Banana and Lavender Lace brayered background. It was distressed around the edges with Lavender Lace, and layered onto Certainly Celery card stock.

How quick and easy is this! My only regret about this card is that it did not photograph well. In real life, the challenge colors “pop” a little more and the background looks like velour. If you have not tried the Decor Stencils, they are easy to use. With two styles to a package, they are a great value at $12.95!

If you have any questions about this technique, just email me! And as always, won’t you leave a comment and let me know what you think about today’s card? I do appreciate your comments and your support. And I always love seeing what you create for the Pals challenges! Until next time…



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

Stamp Set: For All You Do (115360); Decor Stencils: Folk Flowers (118139); Inks: Lavender Lace (101305), Barely Banana (101170), Certainly Celery (105217), Perfect Plum (101437), Basic Gray (109120), VersaMark (102283); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Barely Banana (102701), Certainly Celery (105125); Tools: Brayer (102395), Heat Tool (100005), Stampin‘ Sponges (101610), Clear Stampin‘ Emboss Powder (109130); Glitz and Glam: Pretties Kit (109114)