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)

Fall is in the air at Our Creative Corner! The challenge was to create a fall card, and this Obsessive Compulsive Card Creator felt up to the task. Once again, one of my “go-to” stamp sets from the Holiday Mini Catalog, Autumn Splendor, takes center stage. It seems as if I can always create a card that I love with this set. It allows me to touch upon a more primitive style, with ink distressing and natural fibers. Splitcoast sketch SC245 provided the inspiration for the layout, and allowed me to showcase the cross-stitching on the smaller vertical panel.

• Prepare a standard card base from Really Rust.
• Layer with “Taken with Teal Herringbone” from Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper, which has had its edges distressed using Soft Suede and a Sponge Dauber. (Stampin‘ Schach Design Tip: Although I usually use Chocolate Chip for ink distressing, Soft Suede works better with the softer, muted shades in this designer paper.)
• Cut a panel from “Very Vanilla Woodgrain“. Punch the two right-hand corners with the Ticket Corner Punch. Ink distress the edges with Soft Suede. Mat onto Really Rust.
• Cut a panel from textured Really Rust card stock. Use the Ticket Corner Punch on the right-hand corners, and then ink distress with Soft Suede. Using the Paper Piercing Tool and the Paper Piercing Template, punch six pairs of holes. Lace with Linen Thread.
• Ink the Oak Leaf from Autumn Splendor with Basic Brown. Stamp onto Very Vanilla. Using the Color Spritzer Tool and Taken with Teal and Chocolate Chip Stampin‘ Write Markers, spritz the image panel. Using Blender Pens and the following inks, color the leaf: More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Really Rust.
• Use the Ticket Corner Punch on all four corners, and distress the edges with Soft Suede. Mat onto More Mustard, and ink distress the edges. Add Vintage Brads to each corner. A snippet of Natural Hemp Twine completes the panel. (Stampin‘ Schach Design Tip: Notice how the three panels are unified by the brads and the Ticket Corners? Unity and balance compliment this sketch.)
• Position and adhere all elements to the card base.

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Stamp Set: Autumn Splendor
Inks: Basic Brown, More Mustard, Really Rust, Creamy Caramel, Soft Suede
Designer Series Paper: Autumn Meadows
Card Stock: Really Rust, Really Rust textured, Taken with Teal, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Tools: Ticket Corner Punch, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Sponge Dauber, Color Spritzer, Taken with Teal Stampin’ Write Marker, Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker, Blender Pens, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Embellishments: Vintage Brads, Linen Thread, Natural Hemp Twine