Christmas Punch and Cocoa for the PPA

I always look forward to Thursdays and the Pals Paper Arts challenge! This week we are hosting a sketch challenge designed by talented Pal, Margaret Moody. This sketch is definitely a classic. I knew the moment that I saw it that I wanted to incorporate a repeating motif in the center squares. Since I am already in the holiday spirit, I opted for snowflakes stamped from the Christmas Punch set paired with the beautiful Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Paper. On this cold, crisp Iowa morning, will you share a cup of Christmas Cocoa with me? Or would you prefer a cup of Christmas Punch?

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

  • Common design elements make your card look “pulled together”! The gold snowflakes on the Christmas Cocoa Designer Series Paper look as if they are encircled. Therefore, after stamping the “Snowflake” images from the Christmas Punch set, they were punched out using the 1″ Circle Punch. This was followed by layering them onto 1-1/4″ Circles punched from coordinating paper from the same collection.

  • Burgundy and gold are traditionally elegant Christmas colors, and the perfect choice for a classic card. In this case, Bravo Burgundy pairs beautifully with the gold metallic touch on the Snowflake paper!

  • Invest time into creating the little extras that will set your card apart from the rest! What better way to accent the sentiment than a tiny Bravo Burgundy heart punched with the Trio of Hearts Punch.

  • Sometimes no bling is a good thing! Frequent visitors to The Stampin’ Schach know that I will “bling” anything! However, with this card, no bling was necessary. The understated country elegance of the rich burgundy and gold hues was perfect just the way it was!
Usually I am my own worst critic…I think many of us are this way. However, this card, which was quick and easy to create; which combines a classic holiday color palette; and which follows a classic sketch, is one of my all-time favorite cards. And maybe, just maybe, it lies in the sentiment…”Welcome Christmas into your heart”.
I loved your Pals Paper Arts creations last week. I know that my fellow design team members have really rocked this sketch, and I know that you will, too! So hurry on over to the PPA and check out all of the other inspiration cards. But first, let me know what you think about today’s card by leaving me a comment. Your comments are important to me, as are your questions. Remember, if you ever have a question about any of my cards, or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away! Until next time…

Stamp Sets: Christmas Punch (115366—Hostess Level 2), Heard from the Heart (111644); Inks: Bravo Burgundy (105214); Designer Series Paper: Christmas Cocoa (116770—Holiday Mini); Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Bravo Burgundy textured (108696—Rich Regals assorted); Tools: 1″ Circle Punch (109046), 1-1/4″ Circle Punch (104403), 1-1/4″ Square Punch (104400)

Peek-a-Boo, I See…PPA17

Pssssst! Would you like a little peek at the card I made for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge #17? Would you? Shhhhh! Don’t tell anyone, but here it is:

Hmmm! What could it be? What Designer Series Paper is this? Join me on Thursday, November 19 for the release of Pals Paper Art Challenge #17…and to see the rest of this card.

And, Thursday is also an important date in my life for another reason. Twenty-years ago I gave birth to my son, Brady Kimbel Schach. Although I may forget little things like passwords or where my car is parked, I will never forget the details of that wonderful day…including almost giving birth in the car! Well, a gal has to look nice for delivery, right? So I took a shower, put on my make-up, and prepared for the thirty minute drive to the hospital. After all, the doctor told me that I would probably be in labor for several hours. So much for that theory, because in less than two hours after the first “pangs”, Brady made his presence known. In fact, my husband almost missed the big event, since he was busy with admissions! Even from the start, life with Brady was never dull!

Until next time….

Paws-a-tively Cute


I was asked last week if I would make a birthday card for my friend’s grand-daughter’s first birthday. I hemmed and hawed. As the mother of a soon-to-be-twenty-year-old son, I am not in the habit of making cards suitable for a one-year-old baby girl. But I relented and said, “Sure!” This would be as great of a challenge as any challenge I could enter, placing me squarely outside of my comfort zone. As I colored and snipped the image, I started to have fun creating this sweet little card and working with this wonderful paper!

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

  • Pop it up! After snipping out the image, pop it up on Stampin’ Dimensionals for extra depth! For smaller images, like the party hat, Mini Glue Dots will do the job fabulously!
  • When selecting patterns to layer, florals and geometrics pair just fine without competing against each other. Coordinating colors make the task even easier!
  • Never be afraid of the unexpected! Old Olive would probably not be a first choice on anyone’s color wheel for a baby’s birthday card. However, it works perfectly on this card by balancing the pastels, and making the Old Olive in the pattern paper stand out.
  • Tint the texture! After passing the central circle through the Big Shot with the Stampin’ Up! Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, it was tinted with Blender Pens and Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, and So Saffron inks. The tinted embossed flowers are “pawsitively” perfect with the floral paper.
  • Even baby’s love bling! The centers of the embossed flowers were “dazzled with diamonds” simply by adding a dot of Tombow Adhesive and covering with Dazzling Diamonds glitter. Three blue Circle Ice Brads complete the look!
  • It’s all in the details! The Eyelet Border, punched in Very Vanilla is layered onto Whisper White. Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon hides the interface. The Very Vanilla is perfect with the So Saffron checked paper, while the Whisper White pulls in the embossed circle and the floral paper. The little party hat draws the eye to the sentiment, and is the perfect finishing touch!

I certainly hope that my friend likes this card. It was a delight to create! And speaking of creating, don’t forget to enter your creation into the Pals Paper Arts “Christmas Cheer” challenge this week. Plus, it’s Blog Candy week at the PPA, but you can’t win if you don’t enter! For more details, please visit the PPA! I hope that you enjoyed your visit at The Stampin’ Schach today, and I hope that in some way my card and tips have served as an inspiration to you! If you ever have any questions about any of the projects that I create or the techniques that I use, please do not hesitate to email me. Until next time…

Please Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7!”
Stamp Sets: Beary Best Friends (118052), Beary Nice Wishes (118050); Inks: Basic Black (101179), Pretty in Pink (101301), So Saffron (105213), Old Olive (102277); Designer Series Paper: Pawsitively Prints (118060); Card Stock: Old Olive (100702), Pretty in Pink (100459), Very Vanilla (101650), Bashful Blue (105120), Whisper White (100730); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder (115964), Circle Scissor Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531), Blender Pens (102845), Eyelet Border Punch (113692), Corner Rounder (109047), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683), Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive (110755); Embellishments: Circle Ice Brads (109111), Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon (109066), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter (102023)