Sometimes fate works in mysterious ways. On the day after my beloved Missy the Boxer crossed the Rainbow Bridge, I received an email message from Jenn Balcer at Splitcoaststampers asking me to call her. Since I did not know Jenn personally, I was curious as to why she would want me to call her. As incredible as it may sound, Jenn asked if I would be a member of the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Design Team. Of course, the first words out of my mouth were, “THE Dirty Dozen?” as if there were another. The next words were “Of course!” Can you believe it? I can’t!

So 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. However, at the end of three months, I will be able to begin posting my creations on The Stampin‘ Schach!

In terms of my stamping, all that I have ever wanted is for my work to be an inspiration for others. I know that it is not the most creative nor is it the best, as there are many stampers who are far more talented than me. I know that sometimes the margins are crooked, or that sometimes the images are smeared. But, it comes from my heart and I love sharing it with you. At a time when I so needed a distraction from the pain of losing my best friend, this opportunity arose. I am sure that Angel Missy is wiggling that Boxer butt in happiness for her mom! And so in honor of this occasion, I created a quick and simple thank you card for all of you who take the time out of your busy days to stop by and peruse my work.

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• When short on time, select “Wow” factors that are quick and easy! In this case I decided on a single focal point. Although I pulled out the Blender Pens and inks for this floral image from Asian Artistry, the image was simple enough that it was tinted in a matter of minutes. I used Regal Rose, Always Artichoke, and Soft Suede for the flower itself, while Sahara Sand provided the shadowing.
• Quick and easy cards deserve bling, too! A Pink Circle Fire Brad and Regal Rose 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon are all that are needed on this tailored card.
• Layer those labels! My favorite combination is the Modern Label Punch layered on top of the Designer Label for a different twist.
• Coordinate texture and paper! Polka Dotted Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper looks great paired with Whisper White paper that has been zipped through the Big Shot with Stampin‘ Up!’s Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder.

• Blog Candy Information: How could I celebrate being named to the Dirty Dozen without a little candy? I will have photos and information later this week.
• The latest Pals Paper Arts Challenge card on Thursday: But have you played yet this week? It is a fun color challenge! Click here for details.
• An update on Brady’s trip to Brazil

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The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• It’s hip to be square! And when you do decide to make a square card, remember to cut the card base at 5-1/4″. This way it will slip nicely into Stampin‘ Up!’s Medium Square Envelopes.
• Make your own Designer Series Paper! Small stamps, such as the “Shamrock” image from the Holiday Blitz stamp set work perfectly. Just randomly stamp and in minutes you have created a thematic paper.
• Even simple cards deserve their bling! A green Circle Ice Brad fits comfortably into the “O” of GO, without being pretentious.
• For your finishing touch, a simple knotted bow created from Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, does the trick!

Once I got over my initial grumbling about how I could not possibly ever make a card using these colors, and settled down to face the challenge at hand, the card seemed to make itself. I like it when a card comes together like that!

Bon Voyage, Brady!

My son, Brady, departs tomorrow for Brazil. He will be playing trumpet in a select wind ensemble from Western Illinois University. The ensemble will be giving concerts and presenting refurbished musical instruments to underprivileged children. Although I will miss not having him home during his spring break, he is engaging in a noble cause. Of course, you know how moms are…I am already worried about him. Please keep him in your thoughts over the next ten days

As always, I am looking forward to the cards that you create for the PPA challenge. There is so much talent and creativity! Now, scurry along and start making those “Go Green” cards. But before you go, leave me a comment and let me know what you think about today’s endeavor. And remember, you can always email me if you have questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use! Until next time…

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Stamp Sets: Go Green (117074), Holiday Blitz (114982); Paper: Whisper White (100730), Garden Green (102584), Certainly Celery (105125), Kraft (102125); Ink: Garden Green (102272); Tools: Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402); Glitz and Glam: Certainly Celery 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon (109050), Circle Ice Brads (109111)

If you’ve hopped over from Debbie Pierce’s Stampin‘ Sunshine, I am stop number 15 on the Pals March Blog Hop. I am so glad you hopped in! I’ll help you “hop along” from blog to blog where you’ll find inspirational ideas for papercrafted creations from the Stampin’ Pretty Pals! We will be showcasing all that Stampin’ Up! has to offer! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-Up below and you’ll be back on track! We’re thrilled to have you visit and excited to hear what you think about our Spring and Easter themed hop! Please feel free to leave as many comments as you like along the way! The line-up can be found at the end of today’s post! But now for today’s creation!

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

• Coloring 101! I have been asked many times, “How do you watercolor your images?” In two words, “Blender Pens”. I simply load my Blender Pen directly from the stamp pad and color away! To highlight specific areas, I outline with the coordinating Stampin’ Write Marker. For my Bella Toile flowers, I used Barely Banana, Pale Plum, Regal Rose, and Always Artichoke. For the framing scrollwork, Bordering Blue was my ink of choice.



• Feminine and flirty! Half-back pearls from the Pretties Kit accent the graceful scrollwork while Dazzling Diamond glitter enhances the floral centers. Tombow is the perfect adhesive choice for both of these applications.
• With a snip-snip here and a snip-snip there! People comment that I must have the patience of a saint in order to be able to cut out so many of the images that I stamp. Although patience is a virtue, I just watch a good movie while I cut away! You would be surprised at how quickly the time flies when you are absorbed in a good plot. Before you know it, your cutting is complete!
• The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley! Or to paraphrase Robert Burns, the best laid plans of a stampin’ woman often go astray! Believe it or not, it was not the coloring or the snippin’ that took so long with this card, it was the layout. Originally I was going to overlay the colored section on top of a non-colored stamped Bella Toile image and add Beautiful Wings Embosslit Butterflies. Yikes…It was too busy. So I layered it onto Chocolate Chip card stock, but then it was too plain. Finally I added a few swirlies cut from the Tulipe Bigz Die and the Big Shot, and it was just right. I selected Bordering Blue card stock to match the scroll work.
• The sentiment was inked in Chocolate Chip, punched out with the Modern Label Punch, and layered onto a split Bordering Blue Modern Label.

Spring Tulipe

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

• Designer Series Paper, in this case, the polka dot pattern from Shades of Spring, add a touch of class when placed behind the stencil.
• Coordinating Photo Corners, punched from textured Chocolate Chip card stock and designer series paper, add a finished look to the corners.
• Add the sentiment of your choice. Here I inked up “so very sorry” from Three Little Words, one of the stamp sets that I earned through Stampin’ Up!’s current Sale-a-bration promotion. Popping up the Chocolate Chip Scallop Oval on Stampin’ Dimensionals adds a little something extra.