Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the PPA’s delightful! And delightful it truly is! This week, Pals Paper Arts is hosting a color challenge. Plus, one lucky participant will be randomly selected as our blog candy winner! I will be the first to admit that Crushed Curry, Old Olive and Soft Suede did present a challenge to me. This was because I was bound and determined to create a Christmas card using these three “fall” colors! And you know what..Dasher looks pretty dapper decked out in Soft Suede. Plus, don’t you love the Perfect Polka Dots embossing on the Old Olive card stock? This new Textured Impressions Folder should be at the top of everyone’s “Wish List”! Of course, you know me…I love my border punches. The new Scallop Trim Border Punch has already worked its way to the top of my “go-to” list!

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• Dasher is the star of today’s card! Inked in Soft Suede and stamped onto Very Vanilla, he is sporting a spritzing of Soft Suede, courtesy of the Color Spritzer Tool and a Soft Suede Stampin‘ Write Marker! Opposite rounded corners on the matting enhance the swirls of his antler’s. No matter how you look at it…Dasher is one dapper deer!
• Create “card chemistry”! Tie together the design elements of your creations. The polka dots of the Soft Suede Grosgrain Ribbon mesh perfectly with the Perfect Polka Dots embossed background.
• Dare to be different! Instead of just layering the Jumbo Snowflakes, interweave their extensions. Although the Crushed Curry snowflake serves as the second layer, its “arms” are brought to the forefront for color balance. The Greetings sentiment is notched at one end for variety. Of course, distressing and matting are the finishing touches!
• MacGyver it! Just like the extremely resourceful television hero of the late ’80’s, if you don’t have what you need, create it yourself. Although I did not use a Swiss army knife and duct tape, I did pry up the prongs of a Circle Fire Brad to release the rhinestone which graces the snowflake. And the “Greetings” sentiment actually comes from the “Season’s Greetings” stamp from Four the Holidays. I have really great luck inking up the entire sentiment then taping off the section that I do not want to use! That’s almost like using duct tape, isn’t it?
• Embrace the new! Notice the Crushed Curry border. The new Scallop Trim Border Punch, featured in the Sale-a-bration brochure is a “keeper”, in my book. It imparts a delicate look without going over the top!

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Stamp Sets: Dasher (116816), Four the Holidays (116921); Ink: Soft Suede (115657); Paper: Very Vanilla (101650), Crushed Curry (115319), Soft Suede (115318), Old Olive (100702), Brushed Gold (102935); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (117335—Occasions Mini: available January 5th), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402—Sale-a-bration: available January 5th), Corner Rounder (109047), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (116628); Glitz and Glam: Circle Fire Brad (109110), Soft Suede Grosgrain Ribbon (115612)

Amidst the Iowa blizzard today, I stayed warm and comfy, with Missy the Boxer at my feet. Our mission was to create our Mojo Monday card. Since I love the holidays, I opted to create yet another holiday card, this time using Bridesmaid Specialty Paper. Yes…you read me right…Bridesmaid Specialty Paper! Its Vanilla and Pearl foil were the perfect backdrop for Brushed Gold and Bravo Burgundy, resulting in an elegant card with no extra fuss! What could be easier?

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• It’s Tool Time! Using the right tools always makes the job easier. The Circle Scissors Plus is a “must-have” when creating circular layouts such as this! To create perfect circles with no waste, cut your circles while standing, and use a little SNAIL adhesive to hold your paper in place. I always set my size, then cut a sample out of newspaper first, just to make certain I have the right fit! To perfectly place the “Dove” image from the Gifts of Christmas stamp set, the Stamp-a-ma-jig does the trick!
• Encore! Encore! What is better for distressing the edges of an elegant card than Gold Encore? The edges of the Bravo Burgundy circles were distressed with gold, while the Very Vanilla circles were distressed with both Gold Encore and Bravo Burgundy.
• Sometimes bigger is better! In this case, an over-sized Bravo Burgundy bow made from 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon adds a decadent touch!
• Bring the bling! A misting of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint is the perfect finishing touch! However, be careful when misting stamped images, as they could blur! Easy bling is achieved with Brushed Gold card stock. Why didn’t I buy this sooner?

Missy and I hope that you enjoyed our Mojo card. It probably took us a little longer than usual to create. First, we got sidetracked by a Lifetime movie. Then we needed a snack. Then we had to check our email and blog-hop for awhile. Then we needed another snack. Then we got sidetracked by another movie. Then we had to check our email again. Then we had to snack…Oh, you get the picture! I had better be back in school tomorrow…I probably gained ten pounds today! So, if you have any questions about today’s card, don’t hesitate to email me! And, of course, your comments are always appreciated! Coming up tomorrow: The Pals Paper Arts Challenge! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Gifts of Christmas (115372); Inks: Gold Encore (101017), Bravo Burgundy (105214); Paper: Bridesmaid Specialty Paper (116479), Very Vanilla (101650), Bravo Burgundy (105123), Brushed Gold (102935); Tools: Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Big Shot (113439), Stampin‘ Up! Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder (117335—Occasions Mini available January 5), Sponge Daubers (102892); Blitz and Bling: Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806—Holiday Mini), Bravo Burgundy 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon (109053)

“The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, gave the lustre of midday to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. “ Just like visions of sugarplums, this phrase from ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas was dancing through my head. Featuring the Wandering Words stamp set, the sky of this card was sponged in Night of Navy and Bordering Blue, gradually fading toward the horizon in order to give the illusion of moonlight reflecting from the surface of snow. Dazzling Diamonds add further shimmer to this relatively simple-to-create card. Plus, did you notice the Brushed Silver border? It’s the new Scallop Trim Border Punch which will be available for purchase January 5th! Don’t you just love it? I know that it is going to be one of my favorites!

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• Masks are not just for Halloween! The large Very Vanilla moon was created by punching a 1-3/4″ Circle from a sticky note. This was placed where I wanted the moon to be, and then the sponging began right over the top of it. When the sponging was complete, the mask was easily removed to reveal the moon.
• Dark to light, makes it right! In creating my sky, I began sponging with Night of Navy at the top of the card, switching to Bordering Blue about one-third of the way down. The color gradually fades away to just Very Vanilla card stock.
• Don’t be afraid of the water! After sponging color, dampen your sponge slightly and re-sponge. The result will be a subdued water-color effect.
• Use the Stamp-a-ma-jig to perfectly place Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen!
• “Stamp off ” to create the illusion of depth. The “Grove of Trees” image from Lovely as a Tree was inked in Night of Navy, stamped off onto scratch paper, and then stamped onto the sponged paper. The foreground trees were stamped normally.
• Dazzling Diamonds add shimmer and shine! I apply mine with Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive for a quick “bling” fix. Brushed Silver card stock adds even more shine, and pairs perfectly with the Night of Navy card stock to create a “frosty” feel!

It’s hard to believe that we are less than three weeks from Christmas! If you are like me, your calendar is filled to the brim! However, I hope that you have time to play in the Pals Paper Arts challenge. There is still time to participate in last week’s inspiration challenge, while this Thursday the Pals will unveil a color challenge and Blog Candy!

If you have any questions about the technique used in today’s card, or if you have any questions in general, please don’t hesitate to email me. And, please leave a comment to let me know what you think of today’s card. Your comments and questions are important to me! Until next time…

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Stamp Sets: Wandering Words (116507), Lovely as a Tree (115026); Ink: Night of Navy (102977), Bordering Blue (102265), Basic Black (101179); Paper: Night of Navy textured (108696—Rich Regals assorted), Brushed Silver (100712), Very Vanilla (101650); Tools: Sponges (101610), Tombow Adhesive (110755), Corner Rounder (109047), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402—SAB); 1-3/4″ Circle Punch (112004); Blitz and Bling: Dazzling Diamonds (102023)