Snowmen Pals—PPA Two

Hooray! It’s Thursday, and that means that it’s time for another Pals Paper Arts Challenge! This week it is a “Sketch” challenge designed by the talented Margaret Moody, a fellow Pal. I love this sketch and will definitely add it to my ever-growing arsenal of “go-to” sketches. My inspiration card for today features “The More the Merrier” Hostess Level 3 stamp set and Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper. Take a quick peek at today’s recipe, leave a comment, and then hop on over and “Play at the PPA!”

  • Prepare a standard card base from textured Taken with Teal.

  • Select the Taken with Teal pattern from Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper, and punch the bottom with the Scallop Edge Punch. Layer this onto textured Sahara Sand, which has also had the bottom punched with the Scallop Edge Punch. Add a snippet of Melon Mambo Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, and adhere to the card base.

  • Ink the “Snowmen” stamp from “The More the Merrier” with Basic Gray and stamp onto Stampin’ Up!s Watercolor Paper. Color as illustrated with Blender Pens and the following inks: Taken with Teal, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Dusty Durango.

  • Mat onto Taken with Teal, followed by Sahara Sand. Position and adhere to the card base.

  • Ink the “Warm Winter Wishes” sentiment with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Punch with the Oval Window Punch, and adhere to a Sahara Sand Modern Label.

  • Once again using the Modern Label Punch, punch a second label, this time from Taken with Teal. Cut this label in half, and layer behind the Sahara Sand tag. Position and adhere atop the Melon Mambo Ribbon.

Remember, sketch challenges are open to interpretations! Feel free to add sentiments and embellishments. So head on over to the PPA, check out the other fabulous inspiration cards, and start creating. I can hardly wait to see what you create this week! Just like last week, I hope to be able to leave a comment for everyone!

Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!

Stamp Set: The More the Merrier Hostess Level 3 (115322)
Inks: Basic Gray (109120), Basic Black (101179), Taken with Teal (103257), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Crushed Curry (115659), Dusty Durango (115654), Melon Mambo (115656)
Designer Series Paper: Holiday Lounge (115676)
Card Stock: Taken with Teal Textured (108696—Rich Regals Assorted), Sahara Sand Textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted), Whisper White (100730), Watercolor (105019)
Tools: Word Window Punch (105090), Modern Label Punch (116630)
Embellishments: Melon Mambo Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115611)

Purple Greenhouse Garden Mojo


I have always admired those stampers who could combine multiple challenges into one card. Today I almost succeeded! Using the Mojo Monday sketch as my basis, I attempted to couple it with the Our Creative Corner “Purple Challenge”. However, I had to add a “pop” of yellow to that sea of purple! The flowers cascading from the circle were stamped from the Greenhouse Garden set. Typically I am not a fan of Two-Step Stampin‘ , but this set has converted me. The pattern paper is from one of my new favorite collections, Cottage Wall!

  • Prepare a standard card base from Rich Razzleberry, and score at the top. Layer with “Striped” Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper, to which a snippet of Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon has been added.
  • Set the Circle Scissors Plus at 2-3/4″ and cut a circle from Whisper White. Stamp with an assortment of Greenhouse Garden flowers, as illustrated. Also stamp a variety of flowers onto Whisper White and snip out with Paper Snips. The color combinations which I used were: Lavender Lace and Rich Razzleberry, Pretty in Pink and Melon Mambo, Pale Plum and Elegant Eggplant, Barely Banana and Crushed Curry, Barely Banana and Perfect Plum. (Tip: Use the lighter inks for the flowers and darker inks for the detail stamps. Of course, the Stamp-a-ma-jig is a necessity for perfect placement of the detail stamps.)
  • Set the Circle Scissors Plus at 3″ and cut a circle from the light “Lavender Floral” paper from Cottage Wall. I selected a section which did not have any pattern on it for my circle. I loved how this color coordinated with the rest of the card, so I just had to use it!
  • Mat the Whisper White circle onto the Lavender Floral circle. Attach the snipped flowers, popping the larger one on with a Stampin‘ Dimensional.
  • Mat a square of Rich Razzleberry textured card stock onto Barely Banana. Subsequently mat this onto a square of “Geometric Orchid” Cottage Wall paper, which has been layered onto Rich Razzleberry card stock. Attach these layers to the card base as illustrated.
  • Adhere the floral circle section as the final step, positioning it on top of the textured Rich Razzleberry. (Because I always like a little “bling”, I added Micro Beads to the centers of the flowers….Adding Micro Beads is so easy! Just use Tombow Adhesive, add the beads and remove the excess.)

I loved the end product, and how it appears that the flowers are cascading from the circle. I hope the Our Creative Corner crew forgives my touch of Barely Banana in the “Purple Challenge”! Speaking of challenges, there is still time to participate in the Pals Paper Arts Challenge. You have until Noon (CST) Tuesday to submit your entry.

Missy the Boxer Update: Missy went back to the veterinarian today for her check-up. She is feeling so much better. We seem to be able to control her symptoms with her meds, which is excellent news! And my rib is feeling much better, too! I do have to watch how I twist, but I am feeling much better than I would have thought in this short amount of time!

I hope that you enjoyed today’s card showcasing the Garden Greenhouse set. Hopefully I will have a creation for you tomorrow. However, over the next two days, I do have to take time out for some medical tests. After age 55, if it’s not one thing…it’s another! Remember, as I always remind you, your comments and emails are important to me! And, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Until next time…

Stamp Set: Greenhouse Garden (113824)
Inks: Lavender Lace (101305), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Pretty in Pink (101301), Melon Mambo (115656), Pale Plum (102732), Elegant Eggplant (105210), Barely Banana (101170), Crushed Curry (115659), Perfect Plum (101437)
Designer Paper: Cottage Wall (115671)
Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Rich Razzleberry Textured (115538—In-Colors Assorted), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Barely Banana (102701)
Tools: Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531), Paper Snips (103579), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Embellishments: Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115613), Micro Beads (104266)
Other: Tombow Adhesive (110755), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)

Bird in a Gilded Cage


The phrase “Bird in a Gilded Cage” popped into my head today. I don’t know why I even thought of it. However, it provided me with the inspiration for today’s card. “Chic Boutique” has become one of my new “go-to” sets of late, so I inked up the “Birdcage” in preparation for a little heat embossing. Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper and custom made “gold” brads were the perfect complement, with just a pop of color provided by Bermuda Bay.

  • Prepare a standard card base from Chocolate Chip, and score at the top. Round all four corners with the Corner Rounder.
  • Layer with a selection from Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper, once again rounding all four corners.
  • Run a strip of Bermuda Bay card stock through the Big Shot, along with the “Small Dot” Texturz Plate from Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds 1. Mat onto Chocolate Chip. Add a snippet of Chocolate Chip ribbon from Masterpiece Ribbon Originals, and adhere to the card base.
  • Ink the “Birdcage” image from Chic Boutique with VersaMark ink. Sprinkle with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder. Tap to remove the excess, and heat with the Heat Tool. Round opposite corners, and mat onto Chocolate Chip, once again rounding opposite corners. Adhere to the card base.
  • Ink the “Flourish” stamp from Chic Boutique with VersaMark, and follow the same procedure for heat embossing. Snip out with Paper Snips. Mat onto Chocolate Chip and snip out again.
  • Ink the “Merci” stamp with Chocolate Chip and use the Stamp-a-ma-jig to place it perfectly in the center of the gilded flourish. “Pop” onto the card base with a Stampin’ Dimensional.
  • For the final “Midas Touch”, gild two Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware Brads by coating them with VersaMark ink, dipping them into Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder and heating. (Be careful, as the Heat Tool gets incredibly hot. I actually held my brads with tongs.) Position as illustrated to add balance.
I wish that you could see this card in person. The gold is so shiny! I have used this same technique to emboss label holders, metal rimmed tags, and more! I know that I will be using it quite often when I begin to make my holiday cards! If you have questions about this technique, please feel free to email me.
As always, your comments and questions are very important to me. Please, don’t say good-bye without leaving a comment! Whether it’s about cards, techniques, dogs, or even cracked ribs…I love to hear what you have to say! Until next time…

Stamp Set: Chic Boutique (113744)
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern (115673)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Chocolate Chip (102128), Bermuda Bay (115317)
Inks: VersaMark (102283), Chocolate Chip (100908)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Corner Rounder (109047), Stampin’ Up! Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates (114512), Standard Texturz Impressions Pad (114614), Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber (114615)
Embellishments: Masterpiece Ribbon Originals (116230), Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware (112454), Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109129)