Yippee Skippee! It’s time for another Pals Paper Arts Challenge! This week the Pals are hosting a “Theme” challenge based on Halloween! My talented colleagues on the PPA Design Team have prepared some “sweet treats” to inspire you. So check out my Halloween Hoot card, which also features the Branch Out and Grateful Greetings set, and then head on over to the PPA! No tricks…just some absolutely stunning cards!

• Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from textured Basic Black.
• Ink the Witch and Frog images from Halloween Hoot with Basic Black and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, position and stamp the Broom into the witch’s hand. Using the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch, punch a full moon from textured So Saffron card stock and position onto the Very Vanilla background as pictured.
• Ink the Tree image from Branch Out with Basic Black and stamp into the scene as shown. Using Basic Black ink and the Bird image from the same set, position and stamp the bird so that it is silhouetted on the moon. (Tip: Use the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement! Plus, a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker can be used to darken the branches on the textured “moon”.)
• Color the images using Blender Pens and the following inks: Old Olive (Witch’s face and hands, frog); Pumpkin Pie (hair); Rich Razzleberry (hat band, dress ruffle, shoe laces); Summer Sun (frog eyes, broom); Sahara Sand (shading); Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker (grass under tree); Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker (broom).
• Mat the image block onto Basic Black textured, followed by “Old Olive” and “Pumpkin Pie” patterns from the “Cast-a-Spell” Designer Series Paper.
• Add a snippet of Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and three Pumpkin Circle Fire Brads, and adhere to your card base.
• Ink the “Trick or Treat” sentiment from Grateful Greetings using Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black Stampin’ Write Markers and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Using Stampin’ Dimensionals, pop onto textured Basic Black which has been punched using the Scallop Square Punch. Adhere to the card base as illustrated.

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Stamp Sets: Halloween Hoot (111582), Grateful Greetings (116511—Available September 1st), Branch Out (113200—Dormant List)
Inks: Basic Black (101179), Old Olive (102227), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Summer Sun (100537), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Sahara Sand (105208)
Designer Series Paper: Cast-a-Spell (115677)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Basic Black textured (108693—Neutrals assorted), So Saffron textured (108696—Rich Regals assorted)
Tools: 1-1/4 Circle Punch (104403), Scallop Square Punch (112081), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker (100079), Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Write Marker (105115), Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker (100082), Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write Marker (100071), Blender Pens (102845)
Embellishments: Circle Fire Brads (109110), Old Olive ½” Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (113883)

Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper is one of the most beautiful paper collections that I have ever seen. Its metallic sheen is complimented by the luster of the gold Encore! ink which was used to stamp the tree image from Snow Swirled. Paired with a snowflake medallion from Serene Snowflakes, this card is my favorite of all of the Christmas and winter themed cards that I have created this year. The Mojojanette sketch was the perfect starting point for “Another Cup of Christmas Cocoa”. It’s oh, so sweet!

• Prepare a standard card base from Soft Suede.
• Ink the “Tree” image from Snow Swirled with Soft Suede and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Ink the stamp again with Gold Encore! ink. Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, stamp this image slightly to the left of the original image. (Tip #1: This will result in a “shadow” image which is very striking in person. If you have never tried this technique before, please do! I like it better than Gold Encore! by itself.)
• Mat onto Soft Suede. Add a few Red Rhinestones for just the right touch of bling. Although you can “dissect” your Circle Fire Brads to retrieve the rhinestones, I happened to have some small rhinestones on hand, so I did not have to sacrifice five brads.(Tip #2: Because this card borderlines on monochromatic, the red rhinestones, circle brad and ribbon add just the right “pop” of color, transforming an already pretty card into one that is stunning! Try the “color pop” when you want a card to really stand out.)
• Ink one of the “Snowflakes” from Serene Snowflakes with Soft Suede and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Shadow with Gold Encore! ink. Punch out with the 1″ Circle Punch and layer onto a Real Red circle that has been punched with the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch. The scalloped circle was prepared by zipping a piece of Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper through the Big Shot with a Nestabilities die. A Red Circle Fire Brad in the middle completes this element.
• Using the Scallop Edge Punch, prepare a piece of Christmas Cocoa paper. (I selected the “Small Metallic Stripe” pattern.) Position and adhere this to the beautiful “Snowflake” pattern from the same designer paper. Add a snippet of Real Red 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon, and adhere to the card base.
• Position and adhere the Tree mat and the Snowflake medallion to the card base.
• Ink the “Merry Christmas” sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with Gold Encore! ink and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch out with the Word Window Punch and adhere on top of the ribbon.

Stampin‘ Schach Design Tip of the Day: When participating in sketch challenges, it is acceptable to make the sketch your own. In this case, I deleted a bow in order to maintain the clean lines of the card (and to keep from competing with the swirls). The added sentiment achieved the balance I desired. Challenges are meant to be an inspiration, and Janette Olen did a wonderful job in creating this classic sketch.

This is a classic card, with classic lines, which are just perfect for this paper and the Snow Swirled stamp set. Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper will be available on September 1st, as will the Serene Snowflakes stamp set. Serene Snowflakes is definitely a set that will be usable throughout the year, as the medallion on this card illustrates.

Please remember to leave a comment! I do appreciate them, and read each and every one. Your comments and questions help me improve my card making and blogging skills. Never hesitate to email me your questions about any of the cards that I make or the techniques that I use! Until next time…

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Many years ago, one of my passions was collecting paper memorabilia, including old Christmas cards. I would display them on my mantel, as well as nestle some of them within the branches of my Christmas tree. Therefore, you can imagine my excitement when Stampin‘ Up! released the Good Cheer stamp set. Coupled with patterns from the Merry Moments Designer Series Paper collection, the result are cards with a definite vintage flair! With this particular card, I switched out the “Happy Christmas” greeting, which is actually on the main stamp of Good Cheer for the “Merry Christmas” image from the Hostess Set, Holiday Best. I wanted to add a little burst of color and bling, and this greeting afforded me the opportunity. The holly berries on St. Nick’s wreath have also been “glammed up” with Red Micro Beads. Combined with ink distressing, I have the best of both worlds…”vintage bling“!

• Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from textured Very Vanilla card stock. Round the two upper corners using the Corner Rounder. Distress the edges using a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.
• Ink the “Santa and Deer” image from Good Cheer with Basic Brown and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Color the images using a Blender Pen and the following inks: Close to Cocoa, Handsome Hunter, Real Red, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand. Using the Handsome Hunter Stampin‘ Write Marker, accent the holly leaves. Snip out the image with Paper Snips.
• Using Tombow Adhesive, adhere Red Micro Beads onto the holly berries.
• Mat the image onto Real Red, Chocolate Chip, and Real Red that has been zipped through the Big Shot with the Stampin‘ Up! Textured Impressions Petals-a-Plenty Folder (available September 1st!) (Stampin‘ Tip #1: To make the flowers on the embossed card stock “pop”, I brushed over the top with a Sponge Dauber inked with Chocolate Chip ink. Stampin‘ Tip #2: To simulate the vintage look, ink distress all edges with Chocolate Chip.)
• Position and adhere the image mat to a selection from Merry Moments Designer Series Paper. Add a Chocolate Chip scalloped edge to the bottom, punched using the Scallop Edge Punch. A snippet of Chocolate Chip 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon completes the look. Position and adhere to the card base. (Stampin‘ Tip #3: Paper piercing the scallop border allows the Very Vanilla card base to peek through for even more visual interest. I did not adhere this edge to the paper, since I did not want to “smoosh” the paper pierced holes!)
• Ink the “Merry Christmas” sentiment from Holiday Best using Chocolate Chip and Real Red Stampin‘ Write Markers. Stamp onto Very Vanilla, and mat onto Handsome Hunter. Paper Piercing and a Red Circle Fire Brad add interest to the sentiment block. Position and adhere to the image with Stampin‘ Dimensionals.

Stampin‘ Schach Design Tip: When mixing stamp sets, keep in mind the styles of the set. When using a vintage style image, it is best to stay with a vintage style sentiment, such as what we see with today’s card!

What a relaxing feeling it was to be able to create a card today! Last week was a whirlwind, with three days of meetings, an open house, the first two days of students, and taking Brady back to college. Whew! However, I was able to visit the Pals Paper Arts challenges, and leave comments on your entries. Wow! What great projects there are! Of course, there is still plenty of time to participate in the “Anything But a Card” challenge. Mr. Linky will not close until Noon (CST) Tuesday. If you haven’t checked it out this week, head over to the PPA!

I want to thank all of you for your patience as I transition into the school year! Your support and understanding about my reduced blogging have been overwhelming. I always knew that stampers were wonderful people. This just validates what I always knew was true! As always, your comments are very important to me. Please add a comment before you leave! And, if you have any questions about any of the techniques that I have used, don’t hesitate to ask! Until next time…

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