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)

It’s Thursday! As you know, that means that it is time to play at PPA! Since this week’s challenge is “Anything But a Card”, I decided to share a trio of Valentine treat boxes that can be prepared in a snap. They all involve easy to use templates and Stampin’ Up!s delightful Sending Love Designer Series Paper from the Occasions Mini!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:

“Ruffled Heart”

• Template, template…who has the template? Mel, that’s who! I printed off this template from Mel Stampz and traced it onto Pretty in Pink card stock. Then I cut a second heart from the beautiful Sending Love Designer Series Paper. This formed the base on which to attach the ruffle.
• Fun and Feminine! Do you suffer from “ruffle-phobia”? I have the cure…a tutorial by Janine Tinklenberg, better known to all as “Jan Tink”. Her tutorial can be found HERE! To be honest, the ruffle would have been easier to create from lighter-weight pattern paper, but I wanted to use Pretty in Pink card stock. Just be aware that you may have to be a little rougher with your ruffling! Tip: Mini Glue Dots can help to keep those pesky pleats in place!
• Satin Sensation! Don’t you love the new Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon? It’s such a rich, yummy color, and just perfect for a traditional bow!
• Glitter optional! Several of the Sending Love patterns are pre-glittered, saving you time and resources. What could be faster and easier?

“Rectangular Box “

• Wowza! It doesn’t get any easier than this! Just cut out a 6-9/16″ wide by 7-1/16″ long rectangle, and cut and score as shown above. The score lines are at the following measurements: 13/16″, 2-3/4″, 3-11/16″, 5-11/16″.

• A simple sleeve created from Sending Love Designer Series Paper, trimmed with Very Vanilla Pinking Hearts, is all that is needed to decorate this Real Red beauty. Top it off with hearts and a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes and you are good to go!

“Lots of Hearts Carton”

• I {heart} the Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit! And a miniature heart is as close as the Small Heart Punch, which will have you singin’ “You’ve gotta have hearts…lots and lots and lots of hearts!”
• Pop it up! This wonderful sentiment from With All My Heart is popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals. What a great way to add depth and dimension!
• Don’t let this template fool you! It is easier than it looks. Try it, you”ll like it!

As always, my Design Team Pals have prepared some delightful creations for you over at the Pals Paper Arts challenge site. Get ready to be impressed! All brands of products and all skill levels are welcome, so come play @ PPA! And remember, your comments are very important to me! I love reading them and answering your questions! So, please…won’t you share your thoughts with me today? Until next time…

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As some of you have noticed, I have been missing in action. It has definitely been a stressful week, marked by the end of first semester and stacks of tests to grade. As those of you who are teachers know, you are under the gun to get grades calculated and posted. It was also stressful since it was time for Brady, my son, to return to college after having spent a wonderful month-long break at home. I so thoroughly enjoyed my time with him, and I will miss him. And at this already stressful time, I received sad news about my Aunt Margie.

I was named after my Aunt Margaret, my father’s sister. At age 82, Aunt Margie has been placed in hospice care. Her kidneys have shut down and she has elected to receive no treatment. I was called and told that she may not last the week. So it was with a heavy heart that I visited her yesterday. It was hard to fight back the tears, knowing that this would probably be the last time, barring a miracle, that I would talk with her. We reminisced about family. We talked about Brady and how she always loved hearing Brady play the trumpet in church. She told me tell him she was proud of him. We talked about when I was a little girl and would stay at her house. We talked about watching “House Hunters” on HGTV, and the beautiful homes that she had seen. We talked about quilting. We talked about the little dog who was laying faithfully beside her. We talked about the trivial happenings of a normal day. And we talked about the inevitable. As I got up to leave, I held her hands in mine, and said, choking back the tears, “Bye, Aunt Margie. I’ll see you later this week. I love you!” One should always believe in miracles…

Thank you for allowing me to share this with you. Sometimes sharing helps. I will be back on Thursday with my Pals Paper Arts challenge. Until next time…