The Thirty-Minute Challenge Card

With the launching of the new PPA challenge blog in less than two days, I decided to get in a little challenge practice of my own! My challenge was to use a stamp set I had not used, use the first Designer Series Paper and card stock in my stacks, and complete the card in thirty minutes! The thirty minute time limit was what concerned me the most. Sometimes I obsess over a card… re-stamping, re-coloring, removing embellishments, adding embellishments. Well, that would not happen in this case. Time would not allow it. So I selected the Country Morning Hostess Level I Set and opened up the drawer where I keep my Designer Series Papers. Luckily for me, Thoroughly Modern was on the top of the pile. Thank goodness it wasn’t Halloween or Christmas paper…That would have been a stretch! I then went to my card stock supply, and Bordering Blue was on top. After a quick check of the clock, it was off to the races! Here is the recipe for the “Thirty Minute Card”:

  • Prepare a standard card base from Bordering Blue.

  • Layer with a selection from Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper.

  • Using the Eyelet Border Punch, punch a horizontal strip from a second selection from Thoroughly Modern. Adhere to the card base.

  • Add a snippet of Soft Suede Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, placing it solid side out, at the interface of the two pattern papers.

  • Ink the “Crocks and Flowers” image from Country Morning with Basic Gray and stamp onto Very Vanilla card stock. Mat with Chocolate Chip followed by Bordering Blue. (Sorry…I cheated by adding Chocolate Chip card stock. But, every challenge is open to a little interpretation!)

  • Color the image using Blender Pens and the following inks: Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Perfect Plum. Crushed Curry, Bordering Blue, and Close to Cocoa. Adhere this mat to the card base.

  • Ink the “Hope You Feel Better Soon” sentiment from Kind and Caring Thoughts Hostess Level 3 set with Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch out using the Large Oval Punch and mat onto a Bordering Blue Scallop Oval using Stampin‘ Dimensionals. Adhere to the card base as illustrated.

  • As a finishing touch, add a Styled Vanilla Brad in the upper right hand corner.

This card actually took right at thirty minutes! I did not stop to contemplate the colors on the image. Normally, I would have stamped the image on scrap paper first, and then experimented with the colors. In this situation, I knew I needed to work with browns and blues. From previous experience, I knew that the Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa look great with the Thoroughly Modern paper so I selected them first. I also love the blue-grey hue of the Bordering Blue, so it is one of my “go-to” colors for flowers.

I actually had a ton of fun creating this card…and that is exactly what a challenge should be…FUN! That is why I and my fellow design team members are so excited about our new challenge blog. We know that it is going to be fun for all! Join me right here at 5:00 AM Central time for the official unveiling of the PPA challenge blog. Soon you will be saying “I Love to Play @PPA!”

Why not try my little challenge on your own? It may be interesting to see what paper combinations you come up with! As always, your comments and emails are very important to me. Please stop and leave a comment, even if it only to say “Hi!” And remember, you can always email me with your questions. Until next time…

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Chic Mojo Birdcage

As you can see, I was a little slow in getting my mojo going for this Mojo Monday Week 97 sketch! However, “slow mojo is better than no mojo”! Sometimes when dealing with a circle element, such as in this sketch, you have to be careful when selecting what stamp to use. The “Bird Cage” from Chic Boutique works perfectly in this case. Since I love to color the Chic Boutique stamps with Rich Razzleberry, a logical selection for the designer paper was one of my new favorites, Cottage Wall.

  • Prepare a standard card base from Old Olive and score at the top. Use the Paper Rounder to round the two bottom corners.

  • Layer with two selections of Designer Series Paper. I used Cottage Wall for the upper layer, and a pattern from Rich Razzleberry Designer Series Paper on the bottom. Once again, round the two bottom corners. (Tip: When using contrasting patterns, it’s usually safe to pair a larger, bolder pattern with one which is smaller.)

  • Add a snippet of Whisper White Satin Ribbon to hide the interface of the two papers.

  • Ink the Bird Cage image from Chic Boutique with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Color using Blender Pens and the following inks: Creamy Caramel (bird); Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry and Bordering Blue (cage). Set the Circle Scissors Plus to cut a 2-3/4″ circle, and cut out the birdcage. Mat this onto a 3″ Old Olive circle, also cut with the Circle Scissors Plus. (Tip: If you have never used the Circle Scissors Plus, you are in for a real treat. You can easily cut any size circle from 1″ to 6″. Plus, I just love the Glass Mat!)

  • Ink the Flourish stamp from Chic Boutique with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Color using Blender Pens and Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Sahara Sand inks. Mat onto Old Olive card stock and snip out with Paper Snips.

  • Ink the “Merci” stamp from Chic Boutique with Rich Razzleberry, and stamp into the middle of the flourish. (Tip: With the Stamp-a-ma-jig, it’s perfect placement every time!)

  • Punch a corner from the Rich Razzleberry Designer Series Paper using the Photo Corners Punch. Adhere to the upper left hand corner.

  • Position and adhere two buttons from the Button Latte Collection as illustrated in the photograph. (Tip: For a more polished look, thread a snippet of card stock in a coordinating color through the button holes.)

  • For a playful touch, add a small button from Button Latte to the top of the birdcage!
I love every stamp in the Chic Boutique set. It was an excellent investment for me, as I have already used it several times. And can you believe it…I am going to have to order more Cottage Wall!
Are you counting down the days until it’s “Time to Play at PPA”? The launch date is quickly approaching for this unique new challenge site. What makes it unique, you ask? Although participants can use ANY brand of stamp set, embellishments, and papers, the design team for this challenge blog will be using only Stampin’ Up! products! Join me right here at The Stampin’ Schach on Thursday, July 30th at 5:00 AM Central time when I will make a link to this new site available to you! Meet the Design Team, view their inspiration cards, and jump into the first challenge!

Once again, I have enjoyed sharing my card with you! And, whether you have a question about a technique that I have used, or whether you just want to say “Hi!” don’t hesitate to leave me a comment or send an email. Your comments are very important to me. Until next time…

Click Here to Order Your Stampin’ Up! Now
Stamp Set: Chic Boutique (113744)
Designer Series Paper: Cottage Wall (115671), Rich Razzleberry (115685)
Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry (115658), Basic Black (101179), Old Olive (102277), Creamy Caramel (103220), Sahara Sand (105208), Bordering Blue (102265)
Tools: Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Glass Mat (112531), Corner Rounder (109047), Blender Pens (102845), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Embellishments: 5/8” Whisper White Satin Ribbon (114616), Button Latte Designer Buttons (114333)

So Thankful for Falling Leaves

I think that as we create cards, it’s important to experiment and extend ourselves beyond our comfort zone. And that is exactly what I did with this particular card. I typically like a “cleaner” card, but I also wanted to create something which looked a little more distressed…a little “earthier”. I love the Falling Leaves stamp set, and I know that it was a good investment for me since I will use it often. Of course I have never met a Designer Paper that I didn’t love, and Autumn Traditions is no different. So even if I was “distressed” with distressing this card, I know that it is one that I will definitely give away!
  • Prepare a standard card base from More Mustard card stock and score at the top. Layer the two lower corners with the Corner Rounder.

  • Layer with the “Fall Stripes” selection from Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper. Round the two lower corners with the Corner Rounder.

  • Select three “Leaf” stamps from Falling Leaves and ink with Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, and Old Olive and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch out with the 1-1/4″ Square Punch, and punch the lower right-hand corner with the Tag Punch. Distress the edges with Soft Suede ink and mount with Stampin’ Dimensionals onto 1-3/8″ Squares which have been punched from the new Texture Cuts Wood Sheets. Add an Always Artichoke Brad in the lower right-hand corner.

  • Cut a strip of “Soft Suede Dots” from the Autumn Traditions collection. Mat onto More Mustard card stock. Punch a Scallop Edge Border from the Soft Suede Dots and adhere to the bottom of this horizontal strip.

  • Add a snippet of Kraft Ribbon, layered with 1/4″ Always Artichoke Grosgrain Ribbon.

  • Adhere the Leaf mats as illustrated in the photograph, and position and attach the horizontal mat to the card base.

  • Ink the “So Thankful” curvy sentiment from Falling Leaves with Soft Suede and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Use the Tag Punch on one end and tear the other end to add texture. Distress the edges with Soft Suede ink.

  • As a finishing touch, add a snippet of Linen Thread and pop onto the card base using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

This card is rich in texture and details! We have brads, two types of ribbons, linen thread, wood cuts and four different types of punches…as well as inking of the edges and a small sample of paper tearing. Sometimes I just get started and I can’t stop! How many times has that happened to you? I really need to try something clean and simple for a change!
If you like to stretch those “creative muscles” of yours like I do, challenges are an excellent source of inspiration. As I have alluded to in earlier posts, there is a new “challenge” coming to town! Soon you will be saying “I love to play @ PPA!” The official unveiling of this new challenge blog will occur at 5:00 AM CST on Thursday, July 30th. Meet the design team, view their inspiration cards, and join in the fun! Just visit the Stampin’ Schach blog on July 30th, and the link will be ready and waiting for you! I am excited and thrilled to be a part of this new venture, and I am personally inviting you to play along with me!

I would like to give a special shout out to Jean at Rogue Thoughts. First of all, Jean alerted me to the fact that I had accidentally removed the Snowman Trio post from the Stampin’ Schach blog, and for this I am truly thankful! Plus, as an added surprise, Jean mentioned my “Through the Garden Gate” card on her blog. Once again, many thanks! As always, I love to hear from you, whether its your thoughts about a card, questions about a technique or product, or just to say “Hi!” Please feel free to leave me a comment, or an Email. Until next time…


Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!

Stamp Set: Falling Leaves (115368)
Inks: Soft Suede (115657), Crushed Curry (115659), Dusty Durango (115654), Old Olive (102277)
Designer Series Paper: Autumn Traditions (115668)
Card Stock: More Mustard (100946), Very Vanilla (101650)
Tools: 1 -1/4” Square Punch (104400), 1-3/8” Square Punch (103375), Scallop Border Punch (112091), Tag Punch (107215)
Embellishments: Kraft Taffeta Ribbon (109068), Always Artichoke ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon (109035), Linen Thread (104199), Rich Regal Brads (106953)
Other: Texture Cuts Wood Sheets (116309), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)