Today was “challenging” around my house! Usually on Saturdays I check out some of my favorite challenges, hoping to find something that strikes my fancy. And lo, and behold, I found two that were intriguing! First, the design team over at Stampin’ Royalty were hosting a Love/Valentine Theme challenge. Since Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, how could I pass up one last chance to design a Valentine? And then, as a bonus, the gals at Crazy 4 Challenges were sponsoring a RED challenge. How could I resist? So, trying my hand at clean and simple, I designed a card that can be created in a few minutes. Enjoy “Butterflies of the Heart”!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

• When you want to be a “Big Shot” with your cards, reach for your Big Shot! In a matter of minutes I zippity-zipped Whisper White card stock through the Big Shot along with the new Stampin’ Up! Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder. And then with great speedy-speed, I did the same thing with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die and Real Red, and again with Whisper White. And because I wanted to crank that handle some more, I passed Real Red through with the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die. (As an added plus, using your Big Shot is a great way to tone up those upper arms!)
• Add antennae! The science teacher in me couldn’t bear to leave my butterfly sensory deprived. Paper Snips and a sliver of Basic Black card stock quickly remedied the problem.
• Bling your bug! What could be prettier than a rhinestone thorax? (Don’t you love it when I speak “science”?) Staying true to my Stampin’ Up! roots, I “dissected” a trio of Clear Rhinestone Brads to produce these shiny beauties!
• Seeing spots before your eyes? Don’t worry. It’s not dengue fever. I took the Whisper White Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits, and punched out a Full Heart. After adhering it to the Real Red Scalloped Heart of Hearts, I popped them up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.

The Stampin’ Schach Reminders

Remember that Sale-a-bration is the perfect time to become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. For as little as $169, plus tax, you could become a member of the Schach Pack, my downline team! I offer mentoring, plus access to an exclusive downline website, and I welcome all types of demonstrators into my group…Hobby, Career and everything in-between. Wouldn’t you like to receive discounts on Stampin’ Up! products, plus join me at this year’s Convention? CLICK HERE for more details, or EMAIL ME if you have questions.

And, if you would like to earn FREE stamp sets, don’t forget to place your on-line order with me. For EVERY $50 of product, you receive free items from the Sale-a-bration brochure. We are both winners when you order from me.

And…don’t forget my delicious Blog Candy giveaway. TWO stamp sets, over 75 sheets of 6 x 6 card stock, silk flowers, brads, ribbon, rhinestone “Celebrate”, a Stampin’ Write marker, and a Clean and Simple Splitcoast Favorite card designed by me. A winner will be randomly selected from all comments left on The Stampin’ Schach from February 12th through February 18th. Help me celebrate my Stampin’ Up! anniversary!

If you have any questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am just an email away! And remember, I love reading your comments, just like I love posting comments on your Pals Paper Arts challenge cards. You can upload your creations through 12:00 Noon CST Tuesday. Who knows…you could be the next PPA Artist Pick! Until next time…

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Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Whisper White Textured (106529—Neutrals assorted), Basic Black (102851), Real Red (102482); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (117335), Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die (117332), Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die (118138), Full Heart Punch (113694); Glitz and Glam: Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Real Red 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (117286)

A week ago I had planned to unveil my delicious Stampin’ Schach Blog Candy when tragedy struck my family. With the death of Missy the Boxer, celebrating was the last thing on my mind. A week has passed, and today marks the 11th anniversary of when we adopted Missy. Your kind words have helped to heal, and although a void still exists, I have reached the realization that I still have many reasons to celebrate. These are symbolized in my blog candy:

• My First Year Anniversary as a Stampin’Up! Demonstrator occurred February 1st! Since paper is the traditional gift for first anniversaries, this blog candy contains over 75 six inch by six inch card stock squares!
• The unconditional love of Missy the Boxer for almost eleven years. There was no buddy like my buddy. Therefore, I have included an unmounted “Snow Buddies” Hostess Level 2 set from the last Holiday Mini.
• A “perfect” 34 year career as a teacher. I have loved every minute of it. Since it was a “plum” job, I have included a new “Perfect Plum” Stampin’ Write Marker!
• A blog whose readers and followers are tied together by their love of stamping and papercrafting. To symbolize this tie that binds, I have included a roll of Certainly Celery Ribbon from last year’s Sale-a-bration Ribbon Bundle.
• Virtual friends whose words have comforted me. What could better represent this than the 2009 Level 1 Hostess Set, “Comfort Food”!
• Valentine’s Day! Real Red Classic Ink to symbolize red roses.
• I have also added a few cute brads, some silk flowers, and bling simply because I wanted to!

In addition, I am also including this card, which was selected as a Clean and Simple Favorite a few months ago on Splitcoast. I feel that it’s sentiment, from Vintage Vogue, is very appropriate in light of my recent life experiences.

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It’s Thursday, and we all know what that means. It’s time for another Pals Paper Arts challenge! With the weather we’ve been having lately, I decided that it was time for a breath of spring. Armed with sketch in hand, I reached for the “Floral” images from Vintage Vogue (my favorite set from the Occasions Mini) and the sentiment from Spring Song, a sweet little set that I earned during Sale-a-bration. Won’t you play along with the Pals this week? We have yummy blog candy for you over at the PPA…Mmmm! Delightful, delicious calorie-free blog candy. And if that doesn’t convince you, just look at this classy sketch:

So grab your stamps, ink, paper and punches. It’s time to play @ PPA!

• Seeing spots before your eyes? Don’t call the doctor yet. It’s just Stampin’ Up!s cheerful Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack. I selected the Old Olive and Rose Red Polka Dotted patterns. I love these two colors together, and the spring look they impart to the design.
• Still feeling a little dotty? That’s because I zipped a piece of Whisper White card stock through my Big Shot along with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder. Not only does it coordinate with the dotted pattern paper, the impressions are so crisp that they “pop” right off the page.
• Oops! Something crimped my style! Free-hand leaves were Paper Snipped from Old Olive card stock which had been passed through the Crimper. After all, the more texture the merrier.
• A quartet of punches makes this card sing! After stamping the sentiment from Spring Song onto Whisper White, it was punched out using the Wide Oval Punch. A Scallop Oval peeks out from underneath, while an Old Olive Modern Label forms the foundation on which to adhere two small blossoms. And who can overlook the impact of the Scallop Trim Border Punch.
• Nothing sings spring like bling! Green Circle Ice Brads are the perfect center for any flower. Their only drawback is that they are addictive. You can’t stop with just one!

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