Welcome to a new feature at The Stampin’ Schach…a feature which I call “Simply Schach”. Each week I will be posting a card which will be fast and easy to create. You might say that it is my version of Clean and Simple, with a few more layers and a little bling now and then. These are cards that would be great to demonstrate at a workshop or make whenever time is of the essence! I hope that you enjoy the first card in this series, “Patterned Pines…The Simply Schach Way!”

• Create a standard card base from textured Very Vanilla. Use the Corner Rounder on the right hand side for visual interest.
• Ink the Patterned Pines “Trio of Trees” with Garden Green and stamp onto Very Vanilla.
• Add Red Circle Fire Brads to the top of each tree. Layer onto Real Red card stock.
• Select the “Green Galore Damask” pattern from the Merry Moments Designer Series Paper collection and punch the bottom edge with the Scallop Edge Punch. Layer onto the Real Red card stock.
• Add a snippet of Real Red 5/8″ Grosgrain Paper at the interface of the two papers.
• Add a Photo Corner punched from the “Green Galore Damask” into the upper left hand corner.
• Use the Corner Rounder on the right hand corners of the Real Red mat and adhere to the card base.
• Done!

Wasn’t that simple? What we have is a seasonal card with a country feel! (Stampin’ Schach Design Tip of the Day: Like this card, but not the colors? No problem. Just switch out the ink color and select coordinating designer paper and card stock!)

What does this week have in store for you? How about the Pals Paper Arts challenge on Thursday? My design team Pals are serving up some awesome inspiration cards for you! Be sure to join us. Subscribe today at Pals Paper Arts. And speaking of subscriptions, have you subscribed to “The Stampin’ Schach” yet? Please visit my right side bar to sign up.

As always, please leave a comment before you go. I will be anxious to read what you think about the new “Simply Schach” feature. And, if you have any questions, or if you need a copy of the Holiday Mini Catalog, please feel free to Email Me! Until next time…

Please Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7!
Stamp Set: Patterned Pines Hostess Level 1 set (116525)
Inks: Garden Green (102272)
Designer Series Pattern: Merry Moments (115672)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Real Red (102482)
Tools: Photo Corners Punch (109042), Scallop Edge Punch (112091)
Embellishments: Red Circle Fire Brads (109110), Real Red 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (109052)

When my Patterned Pines Hostess Level 1 set from the Holiday Mini Catalog arrived a few days ago, I could hardly wait to ink it up! My first creation featuring this trio of trees utilized a paper tearing technique to simulate Dazzling Diamond topped snow drifts. Iridescent Ice snowflakes tip-toe through a Brocade Blue washed sky to complete the scene. Put on your snow boots, and let’s hike through the Patterned Pine forest!

• Prepare a standard card base from textured Whisper White.
• Layer Whisper White card stock onto Basic Black, followed by Real Red.
• Create snow drifts by tearing pieces of Whisper White paper and distressing the edges with Going Gray. Arrange the pieces to simulate drifts and adhere to the Whisper White mat with Stampin‘ Dimensionals. Coat the edges with Tombow Adhesive and sprinkle liberally with Dazzling Diamonds Stampin‘ Glitter. Tap to remove the excess.
• Lightly color the sky area with a Blender Pen and Brocade Blue ink.
• Ink the “Snowflake Trio” stamp from Serene Snowflakes with VersaMark ink and stamp onto the sky. Heat emboss with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder and the Stampin‘ Up! Heat Tool.
• Ink the Trio of Trees image from the Patterned Pines Hostess Level 1 stamp set with Real Red and stamp onto Whisper White. Snip out with Paper Snips and pop onto the snow scene with Stampin‘ Dimensionals.
• Add a snippet of Real Red 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon.

This card has glamour, glitz, and the just the right pop of red! The Patterned Pines Hostess Level 1 stamp set can be yours! It’s easy! Here’s how:

• A $150 on-line order qualifies you for this set (or six other Level 1 gifts, including a Patterns Paper Pack).
• If you are in southeast Iowa or west-central Illinois, host a workshop with me! For details as to why you should pick me as your demonstrator, Click Here!
• Or I will help you host a catalog workshop. Just Email Me!
• Need a Holiday Mini Catalog? Email me today and I will drop one in the mail to you.

Stamp Set: Patterned Pines Hostess Level 1 Set (116525—Holiday Mini Catalog), Serene Snowflakes (115438—Holiday Mini Catalog)
Inks: Real Red (103133), Brocade Blue (101102), Going Grey (103274),VersaMark (102283)
Card Stock: Real Red (102482), Basic Black (102851), Whisper White (100730), Whisper White textured (108693—Neutrals assorted)
Tools: Heat Tool (100005), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Blender Pens (102845), Paper Snips (103579), Tombow Adhesive (110755)
Embellishments: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (101930), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter (102023), Real Red ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon (109034)

The Color Throwdown crew had an interesting challenge this week: Pumpkin Pie, Close to Cocoa, and Ruby Red! Surprisingly enough, it works. For this challenge I inked up the “Scripted Leaf” image from Lexicon of Leaves. Although Lexicon of Leaves is not currently featured in the 2009-2010 Idea Book and Catalog, it is still available from the Dormant List. Let’s check out how I “threw” these colors down!

• Prepare a standard card base from textured Pumpkin Pie. Distress the edges using a Sponge Dauber and Close to Cocoa.
• Select the “Circles and Dots” pattern from the Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper collection and mat onto Close to Cocoa. Ink distress the edges and layer onto the card base.
• Next form the horizontal block. Select a pattern from Pumpkin Pie Patterns Designer Series Paper and use the Ticket Corner Punch on the right hand corners. (See the photograph.) Ink distress with Close to Cocoa and layer onto Close to Cocoa card stock. Ink distress the edges of the card stock with Chocolate Chip ink. Add a Ruby Red Brad from the Earth Elements Brads collection to the two right hand corners. Add a snippet of Natural Hemp Twine as shown in the photograph. Adhere this block to the card base using Stampin’ Dimensionals. (Stampin’ Schach Design Tip: I crossed the hemp on the front, and adhered to the back. Then I took a separate piece of hemp and tied a bow at the criss-cross on the front for a slightly different look.)
• Ink the “Scripted Leaf” image from Lexicon of Leaves with Close to Cocoa and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Ink distress the edges with Close to Cocoa. Color the leaf using Blender Pens and the following inks: Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, and Ruby Red. Mat onto Close to Cocoa card stock followed by Ruby Red. Adhere to the horizontal mat.

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tip of the Day: Ink distressing can be used to mute colors. In this situation, the Pumpkin Pie was light and bright. With a few strokes from my magic “dauber”, the color became muted and subdued, making a much better mix with both Close to Cocoa and Ruby Red (which I also distressed).

Would I have ever mixed these colors together if not for the challenge? Close to Cocoa and Pumpkin Spice maybe, but throwing Ruby Red into the mix…No way! That’s the fun with challenges. They often take us out of our comfort zone, and in the end, help us become better artisans.

The Stampin’ Schach Bulletin Board:

• Need a Holiday Mini Catalog. Email me your address for your free copy.
• Ready to schedule a holiday workshop? I still have November and December dates available.
• Don’t forget the Pals Paper Arts challenge on Thursday. I love seeing your creations and commenting on your projects!

Thanks for stopping by The Stampin’ Schach today. Your comments and questions are important to me. Please leave me a comment or drop me an email. I do respond to all of the questions that you ask. Until next time…

Please Click Here to Order Your Stampin’ Up! 24/7!
Stamp Set: Lexicon of Leaves (113710—Dormant List)
Inks: Close to Cocoa (103139), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Ruby Red (102259), Chocolate Chip (100908)
Designer Series Paper: Autumn Meadows (116769—Holiday Mini), Pumpkin Pie Patterns (112159)
Card Stock: Close to Cocoa (101341), Ruby Red (103030), Very Vanilla (101650), Pumpkin Pie textured (108697—Earth Elements assorted)
Tools: Ticket Corner Punch (107214), Sponge Daubers (102892), Blender Pens (102845)
Embellishments: Natural Hemp Twine (100982), Earth Elements Brads (106955)