Dream for the PPA


This week’s Pals Paper Arts challenge is “Anything But a Card”. I put a lot of thought into my design for this inspiration project. Since it is a tea bag holder, I decided that Dream Garden, with its oriental flair, would be the perfect set to ink up! I worked with a technique that I rarely use, brayering, and selected a color which I never use…Cameo Coral. Sit back with a nice cup of hot tea, and enjoy today’s “Dream for the PPA”! Mmmm…make mine Peach, please!

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

  • Summer Sun was lightly brayered onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. A 1″ circle was then punched out of a sticky note using the 1″ Circle Punch and positioned onto the previously brayered area. The area was then brayered again with Summer Sun, and the sticky note circle removed.
  • Cameo Coral was brayered onto the top of the cardstock and extended toward the Summer Sun section. For a smooth transition, I sponged additional Cameo Coral into the Summer Sun area.
  • The images from Dream Garden were inked with Jet Black StazOn and embossed with Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder.
A wonderful tutorial by Beate Johns for making the tea bag holder can be viewed by Clicking Here. To learn more about brayering, Michelle Zindorf’s tutorial is a wealth of information. I plan on making several of these to give as little “thank-you” gifts for the tea drinkers in my life. They also work great for flat squares of chocolate!

Have fun with this week’s challenge! Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think about today’s project. And remember, please do not hesitate to email me if you have questions about the techniques that I use or the cards that I make. Until next time…



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Stamp Set: Dream Garden (114395); Inks: Cameo Coral (103035), Summer Sun (100537), Jet Black StazOn (101406); Designer Series Paper: Kaleidoscope—inside of holder (115680); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Textured Cameo Coral (108697—Earth Elements assorted), Basic Black(102851); Tools: Brayer (102395), Stamping Sponges (101610), Heat Tool (100005), Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109130), 1″ Circle Punch (109046); Glitz and Glam: Basic Black 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon (115605)

Sneak Peek for the PPA


The weekly Pals Paper Arts challenge is right around the corner, so here is your sneak peek at my inspiration project. It involves a technique that I typically do not use, and colors that are not in my usual arsenal of colors. I did enjoy creating it, however. Stayed tuned for the complete reveal on Thursday!

Would you like to earn extra money? Do you want to purchase your stamping supplies at a discount? Are you looking to develop friendships with creative people such as yourself? Then you may want to consider becoming an independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrator.

I would love to have you as a member of my group, The Schach Pack. As a Senior Supervisor, I welcome both hobby demos and those who are looking to expand into a new career. And it does not make any difference whether you live in Southeast Iowa or Western Illinois, or even another state! I will keep the lines of communication open through emails and Skype calls. As a demonstrator, you are entitled to pre-order products from mini catalogs, and of course the new Idea Book and Catalog before it is released to the public. As a demonstrator you are privy to tips and techniques showcased on the Stampin’ Connection website and in Stampin’ Success magazine, both of which are exclusive to demonstrators. When you sign up with me, you also have access to a private, password protected blog where we share friendships, ask questions, and receive the latest Stampin’ Up! updates.

Plus, by joining The Schach Pack, I will personally mentor you and help you become the artist or business person that you want to be! I love to teach, and I would like nothing better than to guide you through the Stampin’ Up! experience by providing you with the support you need to succeed. There is still time to enjoy the benefits of joining during Sale-a-bration. Through the end of March, Stampin’ Up! is offering 15% off the Starter Kit price and a FREE stamp set of your choice.

If you have questions or concerns, please email me. Or, if you are ready to join right now, just visit this link. Click on “Start Your Own Business“, the “Join Now“. My recruiting password is “stampinteacher“.

Spring on Fifth Avenue


Fifth Avenue Floral is such a classy stamp set, and perfect for designing spring cards. So when two of my favorite challenges, Our Creative Corner and Crazy 4 Challenges, were sponsoring a Spring themed challenge, I reached for this set without hesitation. Plus, I had been wanting to try the Faux Cloisonne technique, which requires line stamps. What fun! So grab your stamps and a magazine, and try it! I’ll show you how!

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

  • The Faux Cloisonne technique requires a few simple materials. I selected a simple magazine ad in “springy” colors of lavendar, VersaMark ink, White Stampin’ Emboss Powder and an Embossing Buddy.
  • Rub the ad with the Embossing Buddy to remove static.
  • Ink the desired image using VersaMark and stamp onto the magazine page. I strategically placed my stamps in order to achieve the colors that I wanted.
  • Sprinkle with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder and heat using a Heat Tool.
  • When cool, simply snip out with Paper Snips!
  • Sizzling Sizzlits! Little Leaves and Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits are zipped through the Big Shot with textured Mellow Moss card stock. I love both of these little cuties! And what a quick and easy way to add texture and dimension!
  • Details! Details! Details! What could be more perfect than Stampin’ Up!’s Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impression Folder and the Scallop Trim Border Punch to add just the right touch.
  • “I’ll get you, my Pretties!” Halfback Pearls from the Pretties Kit and Whisper White 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon add elegance and finish this card off in style!

    • It has been such a long time since I have had the opportunity to play along with these two challenges, and I have missed it! As I always say, challenges are a great way to stretch our creativity and develop our stamping skills. Plus, it’s always fun to try new techniques. Splitcoaststampers can provide you with a wealth of resources. In fact, I learned about the Faux Cloisonne technique from this wonderful tutorial by Beate Johns.

    Speaking of Splitcoaststampers, have you joined the Fan Club yet? For the past month, I have been preparing projects for Splitcoaststampers Fan Club’s March Gallery, “All Creatures Great and Small”. You do have to be a Fan Club member to view this gallery. To read more about the Fan Club, please click HERE. I would love to have you view and comment on my Dirty Dozen cards!
    As always, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, don’t hesitate to contact me. And please leave me a comment! Whether it’s to let me know what you think about my first attempt at Faux Cloisonne, or whether it is just to say “Hi!”, your comments are very important to me! Until next time…


    Join the Schach Pack! CLICK HERE for details. I would love to be your creative mentor!

    Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7

    Stamp Set: Fifth Avenue Floral; Ink: VersaMark; Designer Series Paper: Sweet Pea; Card Stock: Whisper White, Mellow Moss, Lavender Lace; Tools: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Stampin’ Up! Little Leaves Sizzlits, Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Extra Large Two Step Bird Punch, White Stampin’ Emboss Powder; Glitz and Glam: Whisper White 5/8″ Satin Ribbon, Pretties Kit