Today’s card features a variety of products available from the Occasions Mini catalog, and is tailored for those of us whose stamping time is at a premium. Complete in less than thirty minutes, it still possesses enough glitz and glam to raise it above the “same-o, same-o” generic cards! Let’s take a closer look at the time saving steps involved with “Bird Hugs”. What else would you call a card that uses the Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch and Sending Love Hugs?

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• When time is of the essence, don’t reinvent the wheel! This idea for using the Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch and the Hugs notes comes directly from the Occasions Mini catty! Of course, our own personalities shine through in the papers that we use and the colors that we select!
• Save even more time by using Hugs! No cutting needed. And who can resist that delightful little scalloped edge!
• No time to glitter? Don’t worry…be happy! Sending Love Designer Series Paper is “pre-glittered”, making it the perfect choice for a quick and easy card.
• Zip-pa-dee-do-da! Add texture in seconds with the new Stampin‘ Up! Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder.
• When close is good enough, leave that Stamp-a-ma-jig in its resting place, and reach for Stampin‘ Up!s new clear mount stamps…another time saver! With Stampin‘ Write Markers, I quickly inked up “Love You Much” from the Well Scripted stamp set, and stamped it where I wanted it. Now I am not advocating throwing out your Stamp-a-ma-jig, but when image placement does not have to be picture perfect, try this.
• Sweet! Don’t you love the Scallop Trim Border Punch? It adds the right touch of Victoriana to this little Valentine! And it can be yours free from the Sale-a-bration brochure when you order $50 in product from me!

Of course, what would Thursday be without the Pals Paper Arts Challenge? Here is a little peek at this week’s inspiration card:

Challenges are super for helping us improve our stamping and card designing skills. Won’t you join us Thursday for this week’s challenge?

Happy Anniversary, to Me!

February 1st marked my one year anniversary as a Stampin‘ Up! demonstrator. Won’t you join me this weekend and help me celebrate by partaking in a little blog candy? I promise it will be yummy…and calorie free! And if you would really like to help me celebrate, what could be better than joining my group, The Schach Pack, and becoming a fellow demonstrator? Sale-a-bration is the perfect time to join, especially with the Starter Kit special. For more details, Click Here. Whether you want to be a hobby demo, or aspire to have a career, you are welcome in The Pack! I would love to be your mentor.

Remember, your comments and questions are important to me. Please let me know what you think about today’s card. And remember, if you ever have a question about the cards that I make or the techniques that I use, please feel free to email me! Until next time…

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

Stamp Set: Well Scripted (117072 W, 118601 C—Occasions Mini); Inks: Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker (100071), Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker (100052); Designer Series Paper: Sending Love Specialty(117153—Occasions Mini), Sending Love Notes “Hugs” (118779—Occasions Mini); Card Stock: Basic Gray textured (108693—Neutrals assorted), Real Red (102482), Whisper White (100730); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (117335—Occasions Mini), Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch (117191—Occasions Mini), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402—Sale-a-bration); Glitz and Glam: Real Red 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon (109052)

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…

Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7!

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)