FYI…You are Awesome


One of the stunning selections from the Night & Day Designer Series Paper isn’t paper at all! In addition to the beautiful patterns in this collection, there are two Polka Dot printed window sheets. Paired with the Baroque Motifs set, the result is an elegant card that is delightfully quick to create!

  • Create a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from textured Basic Black card stock. Layer with Whisper White.
  • Ink the “Flourish” image from Baroque Motifs with Jet Black StazOn and stamp onto the Whisper White layer. Attach the Polka Dot Window Sheet with two Red Circle Fire Brads.
  • Ink the “Baroque Square” image from Baroque Motifs with Jet Black StazOn and stamp onto another piece of Whisper White. Snip out using Paper Snips. Add a Red Circle Fire Brad to the middle, and pop on top of the Flourish image with a Stampin’ Dimensional. (You will be placing this on top of the Window Sheet.)
  • Add a snippet of Real Red 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon.
  • Ink the “FYI” image from FYI with Jet Black StazOn and stamp onto a second piece of Whisper White card stock and mat onto Basic Black. Adhere on top of the ribbon.
  • Ink the “You are Awesome” image from FYI with Real Red and stamp onto Whisper White. Mat onto Basic Black followed by Whisper White and adhere to the ribbon as illustrated in the photograph.
Wasn’t that quick and easy! And in case you are wondering who is awesome, it is my son. Brady, a sophomore trumpet performance major at Western Illinois University’s School of Music, was named First Chair in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and lead trumpet in the Jazz Band. Brady is also a member of the WIU Orchestra, which will be accompanying the classic rock band “Kansas” when the group performs at Western in December. “Carry on, my wayward son!”
And do you know who else is awesome? My fellow design team members at Pals Paper Arts, that’s who! In case you haven’t joined in the fun, this week we are challenging you to a color challenge: Ruby Red, Crushed Curry, and Brocade Blue. You have until Noon (CST) Tuesday to upload your project, and then Mr. Linky closes! Who knows…you could be one of the next three “Pals Paper Arts Artist Picks” !
If you are in the Southeast Iowa-West Central Illinois region, be sure to contact me about booking your next workshop. By hosting a $250 workshop, you qualify to select any item from the Holiday Mini Catalog for $10. (Offer does not include My Digital Studio or the Hostess Sets.) But hurry…my calendar is filling fast!
As always, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think about today’s card. Plus, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! I thoroughly enjoy answering them. Until next time…

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Stamp Sets: Baroque Motifs (113490), FYI (114365)
Designer Series Paper: Night & Night (116768—Holiday Mini)
Card Stock: Basic Black textured (108693—Neutrals assorted), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Jet Black StazOn (101406), Real Red (103133)
Tools: Paper Snips (103579), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)
Embellishments: Circle Fire Brads (109110), Real Red 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (109052)

A PPA Peace Within


It’s Thursday, and we all know what that means! The Pals Paper Arts gang are back again, this time with a color challenge:
I’ll get right to the details of today’s inspiration card so that you can hurry and create your own “Ruby Red Crushed Brocade” card.
  • Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from textured Ruby Red card stock.
  • Layer with “Crushed Curry” pattern paper from Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper and textured Crushed Curry card stock, as shown in the illustration.
  • Add a snippet of Brocade Blue 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon at the interface of the two papers.
  • Select the “Squares” pattern from Crushed Curry Patterns Designer Series Paper. Cut a strip 1″ x 5″ and cut a “V” out of one end. Mat onto textured Ruby Red card stock and adhere on top of the Brocade Blue Ribbon.
  • Cut a 2-3/8″ x 3-3/8″ rectangle from the same “Squares” patter paper, and once again mat onto textured Ruby Red card stock. Add three Blue Circle Ice Brads as shown. Position and adhere to the card base.
  • Using the Photo Corners Punch, punch two corners from textured Brocade Blue and adhere in opposite corners of the card.
  • Using the Circle Scissors Plus, cut a 2″ circle from Very Vanilla. Ink the “Basket” image from Peace Within with Basic Brown and stamp onto the Very Vanilla circle. (The StampinSchach Tip: Use a Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement.) Using Blender Pens and the following inks, color the basket and flowers: Ruby Red, Brocade Blue, Crushed Curry, Creamy Caramel, and Always Artichoke. Shade with Sahara Sand.
  • Ink only the “Bird” section of the Basket image with Basic Brown and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Once again using Blender Pens, color with Brocade Blue and Really Rust. Snip out with Paper Snips.
  • Using the Circle Scissors Plus, cut a 2-1/4″ textured Ruby Red mat for the Basket image. Pop the snipped out Bird onto the circle with a Mini Glue Dot. Using Stampin Dimensionals, pop the image mat onto the rectangle as shown in the photograph.

You might recognize this sketch as Mojo 101! I would never have thought to pair these colors together. Yet, by participating in this challenge, I stretched my creative limits! That is one of the things that a challenge will do. So, you know the drill…Leave me a comment or drop me an email, and then head on over to the PPA! It’s fun to play at Pals Paper Arts!

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Stamp Set: Peace Within (114312)
Designer Series Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade (115675), Crushed Curry (115686)
Card Stock: Crushed Curry textured (115538—In Color assorted), Ruby Red textured (108697—Earth Elements assorted), Brocade Blue textured (108696—Rich Regals assorted), Very Vanilla (101650)
Inks: Basic Brown (104315), Crushed Curry (115659), Ruby Red (102259), Brocade Blue (101102), Always Artichoke (105219), Creamy Caramel (103220), Really Rust (102549), Sahara Sand (105208)
Tools: Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531), Photo Corners Punch (109042), Blender Pens (102845)
Embellishments: Brocade Blue 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (109057), Circle Ice Brads (109111)
Adhesives: SNAIL (104332), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683)

The Splendor of Autumn Leaves


Certain things are better late than never, and I hope that this is true about my Mojo Monday on a Tuesday card! I am still loving the Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper and the Autumn Splendor stamp set, both of which are available from the Holiday Mini Catalog. In addition, I added the oak leaf cluster from Lovely As a Tree to complete the Mojo layout. As I have mentioned several times, fall is my favorite season, and this card reminds me why! The colors, the leaves, the crisp morning air…Let’s take a walk through the forest and enjoy the Splendor of Autumn Leaves!
  • Prepare a standard card base from textured Really Rust.
  • Ink the Oak Leaf and Acorns from Autumn Splendor, and the Oak Cluster from Lovely As a Tree with Basic Brown and stamp onto Very Vanilla. (Note: You will need to stamp two sets of the acorns.) Color using Blender Pens and the following inks: Really Rust, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, and More Mustard. Spritz using the Color Spritzer and a Taken with Teal Stampin’ Write Marker. (The Stampin’ Schach Tip: The Circle Scissors Plus is a must for cutting perfect circles easily!)
  • Punch the corners of one of the Acorn images and the Oak Cluster image with the Ticket Corner Punch, and distress using a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink. Mat onto Taken with Teal, and once again use the Ticket Corner Punch.
  • Snip out the second Acorn image using Paper Snips. Distress the edges with Chocolate Chip.
  • Distress the edges of the Oak Leaf circle and mat onto a Taken with Teal circle. (Once again, the Circle Scissors Plus comes to the rescue!) Add the snipped Acorns to the top of the leaf using Mini Glue Dots.
  • Using a paper punch, punch out textured Taken with Teal “brads” and distress with Chocolate Chip. Pop onto the Oak Leaf circle with Mini Glue Dots.
  • Punch a corner from textured Taken with Teal using the Photo Corners Punch. Distress with Chocolate Chip. Add a Yellow Square Fire Brad.
  • Layer the Oak Leaves pattern from Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper onto Taken with Teal. Distress the edges with Chocolate Chip ink.
  • Add a snippet of Dusty Durango Ribbon (solid side up).
  • Position and adhere all of the elements to the card base, popping the image mats on with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A Note about Perfect Chemistry: Oh my gosh! I loved reading your comments and emails about this little card! Many of you shared stories about your favorite teachers. Mine was Miss Smith, my third grade teacher. She was an avid horsewoman, and I wanted to be just like her. Almost half a century later, I can still remember the name of her horse…Taffy Twist! She was the reason why I became a teacher. Although she has long since passed, I just want to say, “Thank you, Miss Smith. You were my inspiration.”
Love a challenge? Don’t forget that the Pals Paper Arts hosts a challenge every Thursday. Mr. Linky closes on Tuesdays, and the Pals “Picks of the Week” are announced every Wednesday. Join me and the other members of the Pals Design Team and view our inspiration projects!
As always, leave me a comment or drop me an email! I do appreciate reading what you have to say. Whether it’s a question about a technique or just to say “Hi!”, I adore hearing from you! Until next time…

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