The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• Dust off those punches! For Mother Bear’s Whisper White body and head, I used the 1-3/4″ Circle Punch. Her ears were made from the Word Window Punch, while her snout was punched from the Large Oval Punch. Her Basic Black eyes are compliments of the Crop-a-dile, and her nose was punched with an ordinary paper punch. Going Gray ink, applied with a Sponge Dauber, defines the edges.
• Oh, baby! This bundle of baby bear cuteness was created by using the 1″ Circle Punch for both the head and body. An ordinary 1/4″ paper punch was used for the ears and the Crop-a-dile provided both the eyes and the nose.
• There’s no business like snow business! Rip that paper, define the edges with Going Gray and ta-da…instant snow!
• Add a touch of whimsy! Who says you can’t combine winter and Valentine’s Day? The Jumbo Snowflake Punch is used to punch a Basic Black and Brushed Gold Snowflake. One of the darling Real Red Epoxy Brads, available from the Occasions Mini, makes a perfect snowflake center!
• Black hearts? Of course, when they compliment the Basic Black Modern Label! Punched with the new Small Heart Punch, don’t they look adorable atop the Real Red grosgrain ribbon?

Sale-a-brate good times, come on! Let’s Sale-a-brate!

How’s that for paraphrasing Kool and the Gang! Now is the time to stock up on Stampin‘ Up! supplies while you earn free gifts. For every $50 you spend on product, you are entitled to one free gift from the Sale-a-bration brochure. With the addition of over 70 stamp sets from the Idea Book and Catalog, there are more free choices than ever before! And multiply these fortunes…spend $150 in product and earn three free Sale-A-bration gifts plus Hostess Rewards! Just Click Here to visit my online store. What could be easier!

I hope that you enjoyed today’s card, and that I inspired you to try Laura’s adorable punched bears. Your comments are very important to me, so please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of today’s creation. And remember, if you ever have a question about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, don’t hesitate to email me. Until next time…

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

Our challenge this week at Pals Paper Arts is a theme challenge. “What is the theme?” you ask. It’s …SNOWFLAKES! First, I will say that I was challenged. What you see in front of you is my fourth try. And you know what…fourth time is a charm! I did change my mind mid-card (isn’t that a woman’s prerogative?), nixing the snowflakes that I was going to stamp in the background behind my little bird. Instead, this is a concept card. Think of a blustery winter’s day. A darling little snowbird is hunkered down on a leafless brown branch, it’s feathers slightly ruffled to protect itself against the cold. Isn’t it amazing where our imaginations can take us? So put your imagination to the test, and join the Pals in this week’s Snowflake challenge.

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

• Plan your punching! I knew that I wanted to make a Scalloped Trim Border Punch rectangle, so I measured out this matting element first. In this case, my Really Rust scalloped rectangle measures 3-13/16″ x 3-1/4″ before punching. Remember, punch all four corners first, then punch the edges!
• Think outside of the box! Who cares that the stamp set is named Spring Song! I needed a snowbird, so I reached for this set which I earned as a Sale-a-bration freebie! Chocolate Chip ink and a Blender Pen transformed a spring shoot into a dead branch, where a few brown leaves were left to rustle in the winter wind. Going Gray, Basic Gray, and Really Rust inks, plus Blender Pens, were used to tint the bird.
• Create texture in a matter of minutes! Zip Very Vanilla card stock through the Big Shot with the Stampin’ Up! Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder. This folder is definitely one of my favorites from the Mini Occasions catalog.
• Did you “wonder” about my snowflake? I added a twist to a Basic Gray Jumbo Snowflake by adding a Really Rust Modern Label. The “Wonder” sentiment is actually “Small Wonder” from Sale-a-bration’s Whimsical Words. I simply selectively inked it with a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker.
• Of course, “it don’t mean a thing, if it ain’t got that bling”! A Filigree Brad with a small Pumpkin Circle Fire Brad center fills the bill!

Winter is not over, at least in Iowa. So dust off those snowflake stamps and punches that you may have packed away, and play @ PPA! Of course, I love your comments, so let me know what you think of my little “Snow Bird”. And remember, you can always email me if you have questions about the cards that I make, or the techniques that I use. Until next time…

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Stamp Sets: Spring Song (115074), Whimsical Words (Wood 118386, Clear 119119—Sale-a-Bration); Card Stock: Basic Gray textured (108693—Neutrals assorted), Very Vanilla (101650), Really Rust textured (108697—Earth Elements assorted); Inks: Going Gray (103274), Basic Gray (109120), More Mustard (103162), Really Rust (102549), Chocolate Chip (100908); Tools: Big Shot (113439), SU! Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (117335—Occasions Mini), Scalloped Trim Corner Punch (118870—Occasions Mini), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402—Sale-a-Bration), Corner Rounder (109047), Modern Label Punch (116630), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (116628), Large Oval Punch (107305), Sponge Dauber (102892), Blender Pens (102845), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker (100082), Signo Gel Pen (105021); Glitz and Glam: Filigree Brad (112577), Circle Fire Brads (109110)

It seems like so much time has passed since I last stamped. Isn’t it funny how a few days can seem like an eternity? However, I felt up to a challenge today, and I must say that the ColourQ Challenge was certainly that! Pumpkin Pie with Melon Mambo, Bravo Burgundy, Pretty in Pink and White? Yikes! Since I had not used my Garden from the Heart stamp set yet, I decided to go for it! And you know what, I ended up liking this combination together. It was refreshing, in an avant garde way! Enjoy a slice of “Pretty Pumpkin Melon”, and I will Whisper a Bravo while you Mambo!

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

• Pack a punch! Punches stole the show on this card. The Pinking Heart Punch provides a delicate Melon Mambo border, while the Photo Corner Punch helps to frame the image mat. The Horizontal Slot Punch gives a twist to the Bravo Burgundy Designer Label, allowing Melon Mambo Ribbon to be laced under it. The “Merci” sentiment from Chic Boutique, inked in Bravo Burgundy and stamped onto Whisper White, is popped out with the Small Oval Punch.
• Ooo la la! A Pink Circle Fire Brad adds bling to a “designer” straw hat! The hat was stamped once in Basic Brown onto Whisper White, and then stamped a second time onto a selection from the Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper collection. The ribbon was then snipped out from the designer paper and adhered onto the first image, a tip gleaned from Mary Fish. Blender Pens and Pretty in Pink and Always Artichoke inks add life to the flowers.
• Butterflies flutter by! The new Stampin’ Up! Beautiful Wings Embosslits die creates the cutest little butterflies! I selected two to accent the sentiment and the image mat.

I am so glad that I accepted this challenge. Challenges often push us beyond our comfort zone, while giving us permission to experiment. I probably would have never paired Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie if not for this challenge. Yet, I like the look! And speaking of challenges, have you played at the PPA yet this week? Remember that you have until Noon (CST) Tuesday to upload your Anything But a Card projects.

I would like to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers these past few days. Aunt Margie passed away peacefully Thursday. Many of you have emailed me with your words of comfort. I am always amazed at how our “Stampin’ Family” is there when we need them. Once again, I thank you so much.

As always, if you have any questions about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, please do not hesitate to contact me. And, of course, I appreciate your comments. So please, won’t you let me know what you think about today’s card? Until next time…

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Stamp Sets: Garden from the Heart (117004 W; 118568 C—Occasions Mini), Chic Boutique (113744); Inks: Basic Brown (104315), Always Artichoke (105219), Pretty in Pink (101301); Designer Series Paper: Sweet Pea (117161—Occasions Mini); Card Stock: Bravo Burgundy textured (108696—Rich Regal assorted), Melon Mambo (115320), Pretty in Pink (100459), Whisper White (100730); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (117335—Occasions Mini), Stampin’ Up! Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die (118138—Occasions Mini), Photo Corner Punch (109042), Pinking Hearts Punch (117649—Occasions Mini), Designer Label Punch (107590), Small Oval Punch (107304), Horizontal Slot Punch (105089), Blender Pens (102845); Glitz and Glam: Melon Mambo 1/2″ Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115611), Circle Fire Brads (109110)