I know…I know! I have designed umpteen million cards using the Serene Snowflakes stamp set! But I like it! And besides, this one is a little different in that it fits my “Simply Schach” definition of a card that is quicker and easier than the more complicated cards that I usually create. Shimmer paint, a Texturz plate, and Brushed Gold card stock combine to make a statement in a short amount of time with a minimum of fuss and muss! The time that you save in making this card can be time that you can spend with your family…or seeking out those “Black Friday” doorbusters!

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• When time is of the essence, using a single color of ink can save a minute or two! Bravo Burgundy is a great holiday color and was used to ink both the snowflake and the greeting.
• Become well-rounded! Using the Corner Rounder on all four corners of the image matting adds visual interest in seconds. Likewise, rounding the lower corners of the card softens it.
• Shimmer and glimmer! Add Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint to rubbing alcohol and mist away! I simply purchased an inexpensive travel size fingertip sprayer (2 ounces) and filled it approximately one-third full of rubbing alcohol. I then added 1/4 teaspoon of shimmer paint and shook well. What could be easier? Not only can you “shimmerize” card stock, you can spritz your ribbon, too!
• Save time by misting Very Vanilla card stock with Shimmer Paint before texturizing. In this case, I used the “Quilted” plate from Stampin‘ Up! Perfect Details. Extra deep texture can be achieved this way.
• Mix the “bling“! Who says you can’t combine circles and squares? A round yellow Circle Fire brad compliments the center of the snowflake, while two yellow Square Fire brads accent the greeting.
• Double the label, double the fun! Punch the sentiment from Very Vanilla card stock with the Modern Label Punch, and then punch the label a second time from Brushed Gold.
• Do you suffer from “Saggy Bow Syndrome”? A few perfectly placed Mini-Glue Dots can put that pesky bow in its place!

Would you like a little sneak peek at this week’s Pals Paper Arts challenge card? Of course you do! Do you recognize this stamp set? Tune in Thursday and find out if you were correct in your guess! And don’t forget to mark your calendars for December 1st and our third installment of the Pals’ Holiday Blog Hop! If you liked the first two hops, you are sure to love this one as we highlight cards and projects of the season! If you have any questions about today’s card or about the Hop, please do not hesitate to email me. In the meantime, please feel free to leave me a comment! I truly do appreciate them! Until next time…

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Yummy! Doesn’t this title sound like a scrumptious Thanksgiving dessert? Although it could be, it’s actually three of the four colors in today’s Our Creative Corner Color Challenge! Add Whisper White, and you have the quartet! Our Creative Corner is one of my favorite challenges, and sadly I have not been able to play for a few weeks. So this evening I sat down with one of my favorite Designer Series Papers, Autumn Meadows, and one of my favorite stamp sets, Autumn Splendor, and made this challenge a priority. Coupled with the latest Splitcoast Sketch, SC255, we have the recipe for yet another fall card. So relax, sit back, and have a slice of Close to Chocolate Pumpkin Pie. Unlike what many of us will be feasting on this Thanksgiving, it’s guaranteed to be calorie free! Enjoy!

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

• “Brayer, brayer in my hand, who’s the most creative in the land?” You will be, if you create your own custom background colors, like I did with this card. I simply zipped my Brayer over Pumpkin Pie ink and rolled it in all directions over Whisper White card stock. After a little kiss with the Color Spritzer Tool and the Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker, it was ready to serve as the background for the glorious oak leaf stamp from Autumn Splendor! Chocolate Chip ink and a Sponge Dauber completed the distressing of the edges.
• Make your cards “inkredible” by once again using your brayer! This time Chocolate Chip ink is used to highlight the embossed strip, which was created with the Finial Press Embossing Folder and the Big Shot.
• “ISP” those leaves! “Ink” them using Blender Pens and ink (Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, and a hint of Old Olive); “Snip” them out with super-pointy Paper Snips; and Pop them up on Stampin’ Dimensionals! The Stampin’ Dimensionals and triple matting add so much depth to this card.
• Details make the difference! Ink distressing the edges softens the vivid Pumpkin Pie card stock and lends a masculine feel to this card, while the Pumpkin Pie matting accentuates the brayered Pumpkin Pie panel to create a coordinated look.

I hope that you enjoyed your slice of pie! I definitely enjoyed making it for you! In fact, creating today’s card was therapy for me. All of this distressing helped me to de-stress! You see, my new laptop betrayed me a few days ago. Our relationship was only two months long, but during those glorious weeks, I grew to love him dearly. He “wowed” me with his lightening speed, and his 17″ screen was large and impressive. Just looking at his sleek and shiny case would cause my heart to beat faster. But alas…ours was to be a short relationship. I came home from work Thursday to find a “Dear Ann” message on a black screen. “No Bootable Device….Insert Boot Disk and Press Any Key” it said. But he didn’t have a boot disk. However, I was dedicated to this relationship, and tried every thing to work things out. Using another laptop, I tried six hours of “counseling” with a trained technician to no avail. But in the end, we just could not settle our differences. We will be entering a separation period Tuesday, as the Fed Ex man will be transporting him to the closest treatment facility. And unfortunately, he got my files in the deal! What he’s going to do with my lesson plans and photos, I’ll never know! But I do know, I hate him for what he has done to me and my files. I know..I know…hate is a strong word. Time will heal my wounds, and I will welcome him back home in a month. But I will never, ever trust him again. You can bet your bottom dollar that from here on out I will be backing up his every move!
Telling you my troubles has been quite cathartic, as was participating in these two challenges. And speaking of challenges, have you participated in this week’s Pals Paper Arts Challenge? If not, Mr. Linky will be open until Noon CST for your upload. Thanks for listening to my computer troubles. Because my laptop was new, I was remiss in backing up my files. Please learn from my mistake…I have! And please, leave me a comment about today’s card! I do appreciate them. They are a bright spot in my day! And please do not hesitate to email me if you have questions about any card that I create or technique that I use. Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Autumn Splendor; Inks: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, More Mustard, Old Olive; Designer Series Paper: Autumn Meadows; Card Stock: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Really Rust, Whisper White; Tools: Big Shot, Stampin’ Up! Finial Press Embossing Folder, Paper Snips, Brayer, Blender Pens; Other: Stampin’ Dimensionals