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…

Please Click Here to Order Stampin‘ Up! 24/7!

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!

Happy “Boos-Day” to you! Welcome to the Stampin‘ Pretty Pals first holiday blog hop! The focus this month is “Halloween”, and I will be sharing two projects with you. The first, a card, features the stamp sets, Halloween Hoot and Grateful Greetings. Off course, what is a Stampin‘ Up! Halloween card without the spooky Cast-a-Spell Designer Series Paper.

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• “Glam” up those goblins! Any witch worth her broom wouldn’t be caught on Halloween without her bling! A lavender Circle Ice Brad is color coordinated with her dress, so stylishly tinted with Rich Razzleberry ink and a Blender Pen. And bling draws the eyes right to the adorable frog and the wise old owl.
• Add depth with Dimensionals! The sign was stamped onto Very Vanilla which had been matted onto two additional layers of card stock. After snipping out with Paper Snips, it was popped into the witch’s hand with a Stampin‘ Dimensional. Likewise, the frog and owl mats were also popped up with the “Stampin‘ D’s”!
• Think outside the box! Use your punches in unique and different ways. The matting for the sentiment, “Goblin Greetings”, was punched out with the Scallop Oval Punch.

Pillow Box “Trick or Treat” Basket

As everyone knows, Splitcoast Stampers provides a wealth of ideas. In one of their latest tutorials, they included the directions for a small treat basket created with Stampin‘ Up!s Pillow Box die. In a matter of minutes, I had zipped the die three times through my Big Shot along with Pumpkin Pie textured card stock. To see the tutorial Click Here. However, instead of the traditional jack-o-lantern face, I opted to pull out my trusty punches and the “Cat” and “Bat” images from the Scary Skeleton stamp set. Here is the same basket from a different angle, without the tag (and with Creme Brulee Gourmet Candy Corn…Yum!):

Is this not adorable? I already have plans to make Fall and Holiday ones for our November and December blog hops!

The Stampin‘ Schach Tips:

• When an ordinary adhesive just won’t do, reach for Sticky Strip! It was so easy to adhere the pillow boxes together using this double-sided tape!
• Distress with Daubers! Sponge Daubers are easy to use. Slipping right onto the finger, they make distressing quick and easy. Distressing adds depth and definition, such as the Pumpkin Pie ink used on the edges of the basket. Distressing can also add visual interest. The edges of all of the stamped and punched images were distressed with Pumpkin Pie.
• Link elements with Linen Thread! Although the ovals and circles are adhered to the sides of the basket with SNAIL Adhesive, the snippets of Linen Thread between them add a special touch!

Holiday Hopper Line-Up

1. Kris Kilcoyne (Kween Bee Kreations)
2. Carla Bazhenow(Carla’s Scraps)
3. Linda Callahan (Stampin’ Seasons)
4. Melanie Collins(Oops a Daisy)
5. Mary Fish(Stampin’ Pretty)
6. Tricia Gillam(Soul Stamper)
7. Jill Gregory(Stamping Heart)
8. Liz Hughes(DIY Paper Creations)
9. Kim Lampone (Stamp, Scrap, Get Kreative)
10. Kalshelia Lloyd (Stampin’ Fabulousity)
11. Regina Mangum (The Stampin’ Bean)
12. Margaret Moody(Margaret Moody)
13. Debbie Pierce(Stampin’ Sunshine)
14. Ann Schach (The Stampin’ Schach)
15. Gina Shaw (Cards by Gina)
16. Lourdes Torres (Cozy Crafty Corner)

Click Here to Order Your Stampin‘ Up! Supplies 24/7!

Stamp Sets: Holiday Hoot (111582), Grateful Greetings (116511), Scary Skeleton (113244); Inks: Jet Black StazOn (101406), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Old Olive (102277), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Summer Sun (100537), Soft Suede (115657), Going Gray (103274); Designer Series Paper: Cast-a-Spell (115677); Card Stock: Pumpkin Pie textured (108697—Earth Elements assorted), Garden Green (102584), Very Vanilla (101650), Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702), Basic Black textured (108693—Neutrals assorted); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Pillow Box Die (113466), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), Large Oval Punch (107305), Wide Oval Punch (112082), Scallop Circle Punch (109043), 1″ Circle Punch (109046), 1-1/4″ Circle Punch (104403), Corner Rounder (109047), Scallop Square Punch (112081), Scallop Edge Punch (112091), Tag Corner Punch (107215), Paper Piercer (116631), Sponge Daubers (102892), Paper Snips (103579), Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531); Embellishments: Circle Ice Brads (109111), Basic Black 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon (115605), Pumpkin Pie 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon (109030), Linen Thread (104199), Hemp Twine (100982), Metallic Eyelets (105319), Pumpkin Pie Corduroy Buttons (114342)