This week, the gals at Our Creative Corner are treating us to a color challenge: Handsome Hunter, Blush Blossom, Sage Shadow and Soft Suede. What a quartet to work with! Of course, one of the reasons that I love the OCC challenge is exactly this…they truly force me out of my comfort zone. So armed with card stock and designer paper, I set out to create a card utilizing these colors…a card that I have entitled: “Blushing at the Handsome Shadow over at the OCC“.

• Stuck in the middle? Your focal image does not always need to be centered. With this card, I have offset it to the right to switch it up just a little.
• Develop the theme! In this case, I focused on “Dots” and “Scallops”. A cohesive theme makes it possible to mix and match designer series papers without the end product looking too busy. In this case, we have “Polka Dot Soft Suede” from the Soft Suede Patterns Designer Series Papers paired with Dotted Sage Shadow from the Nouveau Chic collection.
• Dots are further developed by paper piercing the Blush Blossom Scalloped Oval and the Blush Blossom Scallop Edge.
• Don’t forget the special touches! The Soft Suede 1″ Circle, which is serving as the center of the Folded Flower, is enhanced by the addition of a Clear Button which has been threaded with a snippet of Blush Blossom card stock. The dotted side of Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon is the perfect compliment to the Soft Suede pattern paper.
• Hellooo! Dare to be different! Who says that you have to stamp your sentiment on white or vanilla? Don’t you just love the look of the “Hello” sentiment from Pendant Park stamped in Soft Suede ink onto Blush Blossom card stock?

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Stamp Set: Pendant Park (115456), Ink: Soft Suede (115657); Designer Series Paper: Nouveau Chic (115671), Soft Suede Patterns (115688); Card Stock: Blush Blossom (103318), Soft Suede (115318), Handsome Hunter (105122), Very Vanilla (101650); Tools: Small Oval Punch (107304), Large Oval Punch (107305), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), Paper Piercer (116631), Scallop Edge Punch (112091), Big Shot (113439), Folded Flower Bigz XL Die (115970), Stampin Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683); Embellishments: Clear Buttons (105447), Soft Suede Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115612)

Whee! It’s Pals Paper Arts challenge day! This week we have a wonderful sketch challenge featuring the design work of talented Pal, Margaret Moody. I loved this sketch as it allowed me to showcase the Snow Buddies Hostess Level 2 stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog.

Since I can hardly wait to use this sketch again, I am sure that you will be seeing it here at the Stampin‘ Schach in the near future!

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• Snips and Tips! Paper Snips are a must-have for any papercrafter! The Stampin‘ Up! snips are sharp to the very tippy-tip, making them perfect for cutting into tight spaces and around snowmen noses!
• Don’t be embarrassed about embossing! I do it all the time. The Taken with Teal circle, cut with the Circle Scissors Plus, was just too “teal” until snow flurries softened it. And all it took to create these flakes was a little VersaMark, White Embossing Powder, and a Heat Tool!
• Daubers to the rescue! I further softened the Taken with Teal circle by using a Sponge Dauber and Whisper White Craft Ink. Depth and definition were given to the Scallop Circle snow drifts with a smidge of Going Gray ink added with a…Sponge Dauber! I use them on almost every card!
• Look for thematic elements! In this case, the central circle in the layout set the theme. I elected to use the “Circles” pattern from the Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper collection, the Scallop Circle Punch, and the Scallop Edge Punch because of the circles. Even the roly-poly Snow Buddies repeat the circular theme!
• Grateful for the Greetings! Just because it’s there doesn’t mean you have to ink it up! I wanted just a large plain “Greetings” sentiment. Since I didn’t have one, I inked up only the “Greetings” portion of the “Grateful Greetings” sentiment from the stamp set of the same name.

I loved creating this card for you, and I hope that it serves as an inspiration as you create your card for this week’s PPA challenge. So scoot on over to the PPA and see what my fellow Design Team members have created for you. After all, there’s “Snow Buddies” like my buddies over at the PPA! But wait…don’t forget to leave a comment before you head out! You know how much I appreciate your input and your questions! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Snow Buddies (116505—Hostess Level 2 Holiday Mini), Grateful Greetings (116511); Inks and Markers: Jet Black StazOn (101406), VersaMark (102283), Whisper White Craft (101731), Going Gray (103274), Dusty Durango and Rich Razzleberry Stampin‘ Write Markers (116329—In-Colors Assorted), Basic Black Stampin‘ Write Marker (100082), Ruby Red Stampin‘ Write Marker (100075); Designer Series Paper: Holiday Lounge (115676); Card Stock: Sahara Sand (105328), Taken with Teal (101584), Ruby Red (102030), Whisper White (100730); Tools: Scallop Circle Punch (109043), Scallop Border Punch (112091), Modern Label Punch (107590), Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531); Heat Tool (100005), Sponge Dauber (102892); Embellishments: Tempting Turquoise 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon (109038), White Stampin‘ Emboss Powder (109132)

As many of you know, throughout the month of October, Stampin’ Up is offering all-new Deals of the Week! This week’s Deals of the Week features two Bigz dies and an Embosslit. To take advantage of this offer, order on-line today! Offer expires October 19th at 9:50 AM (MT).

Item # 115691 Perfect Setting Bigz XL Die Regularly $42.95 Sale Price $25.49

Item # 116760 Pop-Up Three Tier Cake Bigz XL Die Regularly $39.95 Sale Price $25.49

You are invited! If you live in the Southeast Iowa or Western Illinois area and would like to attend my Stampin’ Up! Open House on Saturday, November 7th from 1:00 to 4:00, please email me today. Technique demonstrations will include watercoloring with blender pens, using the Color Spritzer, and constructing a pillowbox basket. You will create two holiday cards using the Delightful Decorations and Patterned Pines stamp sets. In addition, we will construct a third card in under ten minutes using the Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder and Jumbo Snowflake Punch! All attendees will receive a free gift and light refreshments will be served. And, if you book a workshop with me that day, you will also receive a surprise from the “Book to Look” bucket!