Gifts of the Earth


This gorgeous image is from the new Gifts of the Earth stamp set, which is available beginning September 1st. The four image set also includes a realistic turkey, as well as a crockery bowl filled with apples. As a collector of crocks, I knew I “needed” this set! The image that I used for today’s card reminds me of fall on the farm when I was growing up. However, I did take artistic liberties and transform the squash into an eggplant, simply because the color looked better than a typical pale squash color! The “fall” colors have me longing for cooler days and apple cider! As an added bonus, this card also fits the wonderful harvest inspiration challenge over at Our Creative Corner. Having said that, I would like to share the “Gifts of the Earth” with you! Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from More Mustard.
  • Select the Always Artichoke “Vine” pattern from Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper, and punch the bottom with the Eyelet Border Punch. Add a snippet of Dusty Durango Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, solid side showing. Layer onto the card base.
  • Ink the “Pumpkin” image from Gifts of the Earth with Basic Brown and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Color using Blender Pens and the following inks: Really Rust (pumpkin, bird); Pumpkin Pie (pumpkin); Old Olive (pumpkin leaf); Close to Cocoa (pumpkin stem, acorn tops, rope on straw, center of sunflower); Creamy Caramel (straw, bottom of acorns, squash stem); Ruby Red (apples); Summer Sun (sunflower, apple highlights); Elegant Eggplant (squash); Garden Green (grass); Bordering Blue (can)
  • Mat the image onto Really Rust, followed by More Mustard.
  • Zip a piece of Always Artichoke through the Big Shot along with the Small Dots Texturz Plate. Layer this onto More Mustard. Position and adhere the image mat onto the Always Artichoke.
  • Add a vertical snippet of Dusty Durango Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, solid side up, beside the image mat. Add three Chocolate Chip Button Latte Buttons which have been threaded with Linen Thread.
  • Ink the “Grateful” sentiment from Falling Leaves with Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch out with the Modern Label Punch, and ink the edge using a Sponge Dauber and Close to Cocoa ink. (Tip: I selected Close to Cocoa, as it is softer than Chocolate Chip, and blends with the Basic Brown of the image.) Layer this onto a textured Chocolate Chip oval, which has been punched with the Large Oval Punch.

If you are a fan of coloring with inks and Blender Pens, this is an excellent set to purchase. Like the Falling Leaves set, it coordinates so well with the Autumn Traditions Designer Paper. I give this set “Two thumbs up!”
I would also like to congratulate my mentor, Mary Fish, of Stampin’ Pretty. Mary has been named Stampin’ Up!s #1 Rising Star and Demonstrator of the Year #24. Mary is as classy as her cards, and is truly deserving of this honor! Hugs to you, Mary! I am proud to be a Pretty Pal!
Speaking of Pals, don’t forget that there is still time to participate in the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge. Jump on over to the PPA and have fun playing!
And as always, before you leave The Stampin’ Schach, please leave a comment or drop me an email! I feel blessed with the large number of friends am making in the stamping community, and I love reading your comments. I know that I end every post by saying how important your comments and emails are to me…and that is because they truly are! So, until next time…

Stamp Sets: Gifts of the Earth (116501), Falling Leaves (115368)
Inks: Basic Brown (104315), Creamy Caramel (103220), Sahara Sand (105208), Close to Cocoa (103139), Chocolate Chip (100908), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Really Rust (102549), Old Olive (102277), Garden Green (102272), Summer Sun (100537), Bordering Blue (102265)
Designer Series Paper: Autumn Traditions (115668)
Card Stock: More Mustard (100946), Always Artichoke (105119), Really Rust (100661), Very Vanilla (101650), Chocolate Chip textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted)
Tools: Large Oval Punch (107305), Modern Label Punch (116630), Eyelet Border Punch (113692), Big Shot (113439), Standard Texturz Silicone Rubber (114615), Standard Texturz Impressions Pad (114614), Stampin’ Up Backgrounds 1 (114512)
Embellishments: Dusty Durango Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115609), Linen Thread (104199), Button Latte Collection (114333)

The Splendor of an Autumn Meadow


From the moment I unpacked it, I knew that the Autumn Splendor stamp set would be the first set I would ink up from my Holiday Mini pre-order. Since the Oak Leaf image was made to curl perfectly within a circle, it only seemed fitting to get my mojo on a second time this week and use the Mojo 98 sketch. Distressing was called for in order to mute some of the brighter colors, and a little jute completes the “natural” look. Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper is the perfect partner for this set. So settle back in your comfy chair and enjoy the Splendor of an Autumn Meadow!
  • Prepare a standard card base from textured Really Rust and score at the top. Layer with More Mustard.
  • Using the Circle Scissors Plus and Glass Mat, prepare a 2-3/4″ circle from Very Vanilla. Load a Taken with Teal Stampin’ Write Marker into the Color Spritzer Tool and spritz away! (Tip: Practice on scratch paper first in order to perfect the technique.) Ink the Oak Leaf image with Basic Brown and stamp onto the spritzed circle. (Tip: You will need to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement.) Using Blender Pens and the following inks, color the leaf: Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, and Chocolate Chip. Distress the edges using a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.
  • Layer the image onto a scalloped circle which was created from Taken with Teal using the Big Shot and Scallop Circle Nestabilities. Mat this onto textured More Mustard followed by Really Rust.
  • Using Stampin’ Dimensionals, “pop” the above layers onto the “Brown Leaves” pattern from Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper, which has had its corners punched with the Ticket Corner Punch. This is then layered onto Taken with Teal, which has had its edges distressed with Chocolate Chip.
  • Layer all of this onto “Very Vanilla/Taken with Teal Faux Wood” from Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper. Add a snippet of Tempting Turquoise 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, knotted and tied off with jute. (Tip: To tone down the Taken with Teal, sponge it lightly with the Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.)
  • Add a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button, through which a sliver of Really Rust card stock had been threaded.
  • Ink the “Acorn” image from Autumn Splendor with Basic Brown and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Spritz with Taken with Teal as outlined above. Color the acorns using Blender Pens and Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel inks. (Mmmm…Cocoa and Caramel!) Distress the edges by using a Sponge Dauber and Chocolate Chip ink.
  • Punch the colored image out using the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch. Layer onto a Taken with Teal scalloped circle, which was cut using Big Shot and Nestabilities. Distress the edges of the Taken with Teal with Chocolate Chip. Position and adhere to the Oak Leaf with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Although this card may look relatively simple, trust me…it takes a lot of time! There is spritzing, distressing, tying, watercoloring, and punching. Of course, each technique is quick and easy in itself. It’s only when you combine several! For my background paper selection, I have my son, Brady, to thank. He was so mesmorized by the faux wood in the Autumn Meadows collection, that he wanted me to use it. Since I only have him at home for another two weeks, I gave in! I think that the Taken with Teal lends the entire card an almost Southwestern look.
Don’t forget to play the Pals Paper Arts Challenge. Mr. Linky will close Tuesday at Noon, CST. So you still have plenty of time to participate. Who knows…You could be one of the three new Pals Paper Arts Artists Pick for Challenge 2! Congratulations to this week’s winners Nancy Riley, Paula Goff, and Leigh Ann. Head on over to the PPA to see these talented designers’ creations!
The Stampin’ Schach Healthy Living Tip: I want all of you to enjoy your stamping and card making for years to come. That is why I am reminding you of the importance of routine screening tests, especially for those of you who are my age…which is a nice age, by the way! Routine tests allow our health care professionals to discover certain problems early on, when treatments are the most successful!
And as always, I love your comments and emails! I read them all, and respond if necessary. If you ever have questions about any of the techniques that I use, do not be afraid to email me and ask. I am the teacher of teenagers…I have been asked a myriad of questions on all topics over the past 33 years…so I can tell you that no question is ever a silly question! How else can you learn? Until next time…

Stamp Set: Autumn Splendor (116503—Available September 1)
Inks: Basic Brown (104315), Chocolate Chip (100908), Close to Cocoa (103139), Creamy Caramel (103220), Really Rust (102549), More Mustard (103162), Pumpkin Pie (105216), Taken with Teal Stampin’ Write Marker (100068)
Designer Series Paper: Autumn Meadows Designer Series Paper (116769—Available September 1)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla (101650), Taken with Teal textured (108696—Rich Regals Assorted), More Mustard textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted), More Mustard (100946), Really Rust textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted), Really Rust (100661)
Tools: Corner Rounder (109047), Ticket Corner Punch (107214), 1-1/4” Circle Punch (104403), Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531), Big Shot (113439), Nestabilities (Non-Stampin’ Up!), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Sponge Dauber (102892), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Embellishments: Tempting Turquoise ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon (109038), Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button (114339), Jute (Non-Stampin’ Up!)

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)