Thinking of the PPA


Thursday is always a favorite day for me because I get to share my inspiration card for the Pals Paper Arts challenge. This week Pal Margaret Moody has designed a great sketch for us. So grab your stamps, inks and papers and join in the fun!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

  • Change “Blah” to “Ahhhhh” by adding the perfect details! Paper piercing of a single corner, Vintage Brads on a Modern Label, and Color Spritzing provide a feast for the eye!
  • Terrific texture! Chocolate Chip card stock looks incredibly rich when zipped through the Big Shot with Stampin’ Up!’s Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder.
  • Stampin’ right with Stampin’ Write! Want green leaves with brown branches? It’s simple with Stampin’ Write Markers. I simply colored the leaves with Always Artichoke, and used Chocolate Chip for the trunk and branches. A little “huffing” to remoisten, and your two-toned tree is ready for stamping!
  • Enable your label! One of my favorite tricks is to layer my labels. A Chocolate Chip Designer Label is the perfect backdrop for the punched sentiment!

I am so looking forward to seeing what you design using today’s sketch. Remember, you can take liberties with the sketch to make it work for you! If you have any questions about the cards that I make, or the techniques that I use, don’t hesitate to email me. And remember to leave me a comment to let me know that you visited! And don’t forget, any comments made before 10:00 PM CST are eligible for my BLOG CANDY. To see the original Blog Candy post, click HERE. Until next time…

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7
Stamp Set: Thoughts and Prayers (113252); Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker (100071), Always Artichoke Stampin’ Write Marker (105113); Designer Series Paper: Bella Blue (113974); Card Stock: Kraft (102125), Chocolate Chip (102128), Very Vanilla (101650), Always Artichoke (105119); Tools: Paper Piercer (116631), Modern Label Punch (116630), Designer Label Punch (107590), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Sponge Dauber (102892), Big Shot (113439), Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder (115963); Glitz and Glam: Vintage Brads (109109)

PPA Sneak Peek, Blog Candy, and Brazil Update

As has become tradition, I am posting a peek of my inspiration card for this week’s Pals Paper Arts challenge. I know, I know. You are saying “Ann, this is such a teensy-weensy peek.” Being the softy that I am, here is a little bit bigger peek from a different section of the card.

What? You want more? All things in moderation. You will just have to wait until Thursday, 5:00 AM CST when the PPA challenge goes live. After all, patience is a virtue! Speaking on behalf of the entire Design Team, we invite you to play along. I personally love visiting your blogs and checking out your creations.

New to Stampin’ Up!? Does your Wish List include everything in the catalog? Then you are a great candidate for joining my Stampin’ Up! group, The Schach Pack, as an independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. I will answer all of your questions about designs and techniques, while you increase your buying power by using your demonstrator discount. Just check out the “Join the Schach Pack” page at the top of this post, or email me for more information. Let me give you the SPA treatment…Become a Schach Pack Artist!

Brady’s Adventures in Brazil

One of the most difficult things about Brady’s trip to Brazil is that I have not been able to communicate with him on a daily basis like I usually do. And sadly, the internet speed is very slow. However, I do have a few more pictures to share. The first depicts the city of Salvador from the sea. It looks beautiful. Yet Brady said that a dichotomy exists within the city between wealth and poverty.

The second photo, taken at Salvador’s Porto de Barra, was taken on the group’s first night in Brazil at the “End of Summer Festival”. The stage is actually out in the water! As you can see, it was wall-to-wall people. Brady said that the music was fantastic, heavy on percussion and brass…tailor-made for a trumpet performance major!

Yesterday was the group’s first recording session with the lead drummer from Orkestra Rumpelezz. Lead drummers are the rock stars of Latin musical groups, and this individual is supposedly one of the best. I can hardly wait to hear more about Brady’s experience in the recording studio.

Mmmmm….Blog Candy

If you are like me, you can always use stamps, paper, and a few embellishments. So I have prepared a yummy selection of 50 six by six sheets of retired Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper, an unmounted Gifts of the Earth stamp set, and 4 yards of 1/2″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (one yard each of four colors). This little celebratory gift can be yours by simply leaving me a comment on any of the posts that I make between now and Friday, March 19, 10 PM CST. You could win all of the goodies pictured above! I will simply choose a random comment from all comments made during this time frame and announce the winner on Saturday. The winner will then have 24 hours to email me their mailing address.

Well, it’s off to grade a few Chemistry papers! I hope that you enjoyed your sneak peek and the update on Brazil. Of course, don’t forget the PPA challenge on Thursday. Until next time…

Mmmmm…How ’bout Some Blog Candy

How could I announce being named to the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Design Team without sharing a little blog candy? If you are like me, you can always use stamps, paper, and a few embellishments. So I have prepared a yummy selection of 50 six by six sheets of retired Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper, an unmounted Gifts of the Earth stamp set, and 4 yards of 1/2″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (one yard each of four colors). This little celebratory gift can be yours by simply leaving me a comment on any of the posts that I make between now and Friday, March 19, 10 PM CST. You could win all of the goodies pictured above! I will simply choose a random comment from all comments made during this time frame and announce the winner on Saturday. The winner will then have 24 hours to email me their mailing address.

Brady’s Adventures in Brazil

How is this for a view out of your hotel window? This is what Brady viewed from his hotel room in Salvadore, Brazil. He is spending spring break in Brazil as part of Western Illinois University’s select Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Western students will be able to perform and record with professional Afro-Brazilian musicians. In addition, they will be performing for and teaching underprivileged children for whom they will be leaving behind a quarter-ton of musical instruments. What a wonderful charitable, cultural and musical experience!

Have you thought about becoming an Independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrator?

There is still time to take advantage of Stampin’ Up!’s Sale-a-bration Starter Kit Special. For $169 plus tax, you can join my team, “The Schach Pack”. As a member of the Schach Pack, you can experience the SPA treatment! I will help you become a Schach Pack Artist! Let me use my award-winning teaching expertise to help you improve your stamping skills and improve your craft. I will personally help every member of The Schach Pack become the stamper and cardmaker he or she wants to be. Exclusive technique sheets, tip sheets and tutorials are being prepared just for this purpose. Plus, you will have access to an exclusive blog where we will share ideas, personal successes and friendship. Please CLICK HERE or visit the page at the top of this post, to read more about the Starter Kit special. And if you have any questions about joining The Schach Pack and the services that I offer my downline, please EMAIL ME. I will gladly help you customize your own Starter Kit. I would love to be your mentor.
Don’t forget to leave your comments in order to be eligible for my blog candy! Coming up later this week: Pals Paper Arts Sneak Peek and the Pals Paper Arts Challenge Card. Until next time…