Well, I tried, but I just couldn’t do it! I tried to “leave the leaves” their monochromatic shades of brown. Up bright and early, and comfortably settled in my chair, with Missy the Boxer at my feet, my objective was to create a monochromatic card in order to satisfy the criteria for this week’s Our Creative Corner challenge. However, I just had to “pop” them out a little with my new “neutral”, Old Olive! Yep! Old Olive! My mind was saying, “Nooooooo!” but my heart was saying “Just a little Old Olive won’t hurt a thing, Ann. Go ahead…grab that Blender Pen and ink pad.” Oh, well, I started out with the right intentions. And after spending so much time on this one card, I was bound and determined to finish it! I’m sorry, OCC gals! I am declaring Old Olive to be a shade of brown…at least for today!

• When preparing a square card, always prepare your card base smaller than 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ in order to allow it to fit into the Stampin’ Up! Medium Square Envelopes. I cut mine at 5-1/4″ x 5-1/4″ and they fit perfectly!
• When using two different designer papers, a ribbon or strip of card stock can be used to cover the interface between the two papers. With this card, we see a snippet of Chocolate Chip 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon hiding the borders between two selections from Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper.
• For a rustic feel, the Color Spritzer paired with a Stampin’ Write Marker can be used to distress a background in a matter of seconds. Chocolate Chip was my color of choice!
• It’s all about the details! Why have square corners when you can use the Ticket Corner Punch and add Vintage Brads! Why stamp flat lifeless images when you can pop them up with Stampin’ Dimensionals?
• Carry out a theme! I wanted it to appear as if my wreath was mounted on a board. Mission accomplished by zipping a piece of Very Vanilla card stock through the Big Shot with one of my new favorites, the “Distressed” plate from the Textures Plates Kit #4.

• Place your $75 on-line order with me by 11:59 CST September 30th, and receive the Petals-A-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder absolutely free! The product total must be $75 or more excluding shipping and sales tax. (Available US only.)
• Next Email Me your shipping address.
• Your free Petals-a-Plenty folder will arrive separately from your order in mid-October, in plenty of time to create your holiday cards!

It’s the weekend, and I am finally getting my Mojo on! Inspired by the Mojo Monday sketch, I relied upon my Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions folder to create my background for this card which features my favorite trio of non-traditional holiday colors: Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, and Taken with Teal! Punches-a-plenty also come into play in creating this bling-a-licious card!

The Stampin’ Schach Tips:

• Reduce your workload by using punches whenever possible! I used the 1″ Circle Punch to punch out the “Snowflake” center from one of the Delightful Decorations ornaments. The 1-1/4″ Square Punch and Photo Corners Punch were used to create the dramatic border. And, the Jumbo Snowflake Punch created the large Rich Razzleberry snowflake.
• Texture quickly and easily adds drama to your card! Zip that card stock through the Big Shot with a Textured Impressions Folder.
• Bling it! Rhinestone Circle Brads can always be counted on to add a touch of glamour!
• Go for the unconventional! I love the look of these colors together! I think that they make for a striking card. Don’t be afraid to embrace what you like.
• If you have questions about today’s card, just leave me a comment or send me an email.

• Place your $75 on-line order with me by 11:59 CST September 30th, and receive the Petals-A-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder absolutely free! The product total must be $75 or more excluding shipping and sales tax. (Available US only.)
• Next Email Me your shipping address.
• Your free Petals-a-Plenty folder will arrive separately from your order in mid-October, in plenty of time to create your holiday cards!

Please Click Here to Order Your Stampin’ Up! 24/7!
Stamp Set: Delightful Decorations (116517—Holiday Mini)
Inks: Old Olive (102277), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Taken with Teal (103257)
Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Taken with Teal (101584), Old Olive (100702), Rich Razzleberry (115316)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Petals-A-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder (116824—Holiday Mini), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (116628), 1” Circle Punch (109046), Photo Corners Punch (109042)
Embellishments: Old Olive 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (109054), Clear Rhinestone Circle Brads (113144)

It’s time for another Pals Paper Arts challenge! This week the design team was asked to create a Fall card using the following picture as our inspiration:

• Prepare a standard card base from Always Artichoke.
• Layer with the Always Artichoke patterned paper from the Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper collection. Mat onto Really Rust. Adhere to the card base.
• Zip a section of Really Rust paper from Patterns Pack Designer Series Paper III through the Big Shot with the Distressed Texturz Plate. Mat onto Always Artichoke and adhere to the card base. (Note: Patterns Pack Designer Series Paper III is a Hostess Level 1 gift!)
• Zip a strip of More Mustard card stock through the Big Shot with the Distressed Texturz Plate. Mat onto Always Artichoke. Add three Vintage Brads to the left side. Using the Paper Piercer and Template from the Mat Pack, pierce two rows of holes on the right hand side. Cross-stitch with Linen Thread as shown in the photograph. Adhere to the card base using Stampin‘ Dimensionals.
• Ink the “Pumpkin” image from Gifts of the Earth with Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Using Blender Pens, color with the following inks: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Summer Sun, Elegant Eggplant, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Bordering Blue, Garden Green. Shadow with Sahara Sand.
• Distress the edges using a Sponge Dauber and Close to Cocoa ink. Mat onto Really Rust card stock and pop onto the card base with Stampin‘ Dimensionals.

Please Click Here to Order Your Stampin‘ Up! 24/7!
Stamp Set: Gifts of the Earth (116501—Holiday Mini)
Inks: Creamy Caramel (103220), Close to Cocoa (103139), Always Artichoke (105219), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Really Rust (102549), Summer Sun (100537), Elegant Eggplant (105210), Ruby Red (102259), More Mustard (103162), Bordering Blue (102265), Garden Green (102272), Sahara Sand (105208)
Designer Series Paper: Autumn Traditions (115668), Patterns Pack III (116234—Hostess Level 1)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Always Artichoke (105119), More Mustard (100946), Really Rust (100661)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Texture Plates Kit #4 (114531), Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber (114615), Standard Texturz Impressions Pad (114614), Paper Piercer (116631), Mat Pack (105826), Blender Pens (102845), Sponge Dauber (102892)
Embellishments: Vintage Brads (109109), Linen Thread (104199)