Gingko

The one reason why I wanted the Kind and Caring Thoughts Hostess Level 3 set was because of this particular stamp. As a child growing up, there was a gingko tree in my backyard. It was an unusual tree for the area, and it remains a mystery to this day as to how it ended up on this particular farm. Upon seeing this set, it evoked memories of my childhood. It was in honor of this little tree that I inked up this set and created this card, using paper from both the Autumn Traditions and Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Papers. It is just a plain and simple card, allowing the gingko leaves to be the focal point.

  • Prepare a 4-1/4″ x 7-1/2″ card base from textured More Mustard card stock. Round the corners with the Corner Rounder.

  • Ink the Gingko image from Kind and Caring Thoughts with Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Mat onto More Mustard, followed by Dusty Durango.

  • Select the More Mustard pattern from Autumn Tradition Designer Series Paper, and round opposite corners. Mat onto Dusty Durango, and once again round the opposite corners, as noted in the photograph.

  • Position and adhere these two mats onto a selection from Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper, which has had the right side corners rounded.

  • Add a snippet of Dusty Durango Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon as illustrated.

  • Using the Photo Corners Punch, punch the larger corner from the Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper, and the smaller corner from Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper. Position and adhere to the upper left hand corner of the Gingko image, layering the smaller Thoroughly Modern corner on top of the larger More Mustard corner.

  • For bling, add a Pumpkin Circle Fire Brad in the upper left hand corner of the More Mustard pattern from Autumn Tradition Designer Series Paper.

  • Position and adhere the mats onto a selection from Thoroughly Modern. As the finishing step, adhere the Thoroughly Modern element to the card base.

The Dusty Durango and More Mustard colors are the perfect duo for fall cards. The nice is thing about this card is that it goes together quickly, which is an advantage when time is of the essence.

I also have a second card to share with you today. Richard had his first card making lesson today. You might remember that Richard is the septuagenarian who requested lessons as his birthday present. The card is totally his own design! What a dynamo! I was exhausted after his card making session, while Richard was ecstatic. This card is actually a birthday card for his son, whose favorite colors happen to be black and white! Congratulations, Richard, on your first card!

Are you counting down the days until it’s “Time to Play at PPA”? As a member of the design team, I know that I am anxious for you to meet the other members of the team, and to have you participate in our first challenge. A link to the actual site will be made public right here on the Stampin’ Schach blog on July 30, at 5:00 AM central time. I encourage you to play along, since challenges are perfect for honing our card-making skills. So that you will not miss out on the fun, subscribe to The Stampin’ Schach by using the link on the right!


Missy the Boxer’s Update: Several of you have been emailing me and asking me about Missy’s latest status. Missy had her check-up today. She has lost almost two pounds (wish I could say the same). This is because in situations where there are kidney problems, the individual often develops tummy upsets and does not eat properly. This has occurred in Missy’s case, so she is now taking the doggie equivalent of Pepcid AC to prevent the formation of gastric ulcers. In addition, she has developed a mild ear infection, neccesitating ear drops twice each day…in addition to her eye drops, Estradiol, Clomicalm, and vitamins! However, her kidney function seems to be improving, as is the pressure in her eye! She will have her blood rechecked next week, so stay tuned for the next Missy check-up results!

As always, your comments and emails are important to me. I read each and every one of them, so please feel free to leave me a comment or send me an email. Until next time…


Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now
Stamp Set: Kind and Caring Thoughts (115324—Hostess Level 3)
Inks: Chocolate Chip (100908)
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern (115673), Autumn Traditions (115668)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Textured More Mustard (108697—Earth Elements Assorted Pack), Dusty Durango (115321)
Tools: Corner Rounder Punch (109042), Photo Corners Punch (109042)
Embellishments: Circle Fire Brad (109110), Dusty Durango Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115609)

Through the Garden Gate

No…Your eyes are not deceiving you! The image on this card was not made using a Stampin’ Up! stamp. However, there is a sweet story behind why a non-Stampin’ Up! card is appearing on my blog. Several weeks ago, I had given my son’s elementary band teacher, Sharon, a card for her birthday. She was instrumental in my son’s musical success, and is still one of his biggest supporters. When her husband Richard’s birthday rolled around last week, Sharon told him that she had not had time to purchase a card for him. His response was that he wanted “Ann” to create a card for him, and for his birthday present, he wanted card making lessons. So here is Richard’s birthday card, using the stamp that Sharon provided. As for Richard’s lesson, I have the honor of hosting a private lesson for him tomorrow afternoon. He is a delightful man, a retired biology professor, with a love of English gardens and bagpipes! A lover of bagpipe music myself, Richard has promised me tea and scones, and a medly of ballads on his Highland pipes!

Except for the image, the rest of the card is completely Stampin’ Up!, including the sentiment. Here is the recipe:

  • Prepare a card base from textured Very Vanilla card stock. Because of the size of my stamp, I made my base 5-1/2″ x 5-1/4 “. Score at the top, and round the top two corners using the Corner Rounder.

  • The stamp was inked in Basic Brown and stamped onto Very Vanilla card stock. I then used Blender Pens and the following inks to color the image: Garden Green, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Really Rust, Soft Suede, Mellow Moss, Rose Red, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Perfect Plum,White StazOn. Round the corners with the Corner Rounder, and mat onto Rose Red, once again rounding the corners.

  • Zip a piece of Very Vanilla through the Big Shot with the Stampin’ Up! Finial Press Embossing Folder. Round the corners.

  • Select the “Small Rose Red Dotted” paper from the Thoroughly Modern Designer Paper collection, and round the two top corners. Use the Eyelet Border Punch on the bottom border.

  • Ink the “Peace Within” sentiment from the Peace Within stamp set with Basic Brown and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Round opposite corners with the Corner Rounder and mat onto Rose Red. Once again, round the opposite corners.

  • Cut a strip of Rose Red textured card stock 5-1/2″ long by 1″ wide. Add a snippet of Very Vanilla 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon.

  • Position and adhere as illustrated in the photo. As a final touch, add three Rose Red Buttons from the Fresh Favorites II Collection. For a more finished looked, use slivers of Very Vanilla card stock as “thread”. (Tip: Mini Glue Dots will hold the buttons firmly in place.)
Richard will receive his card from his wife tomorrow. I hope that it conveys the English Garden look that I was trying to achieve. As for me…I am looking forward to tea, scones, and bagpipes!

A Stampin’ Schach Special Announcement: Do you enjoy stamping challenges? Soon you will be saying “I love to Play @ PPA!” Join the design team as we unveil a new official challenge web site at 5:00 AM CST on July 30th! At that time, a link to this new challenge site as well as the first challenge and inspiration cards will be provided right here on the Stampin’ Schach!

As always, I appreciate your comments and questions. Please feel free to leave a comment or Email Me. (And Krista, since you loved the Dragonfly card from Sunday’s post so much, it’s yours. Just email me your address!) Until next time…


Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!
Stamp Sets: Sentiment—Peace Within (114312), Image is non-Stampin’ Up! (Stampendous circa 1994)
Inks: Garden Green (102272), Pretty in Pink (101301), Bashful Blue (105209), Sage Shadow (102532), Mellow Moss (102774), Creamy Caramel (103220), Rose Red (101778), Perfect Plum (101437), Really Rust (102549), Soft Suede (115657), More Mustard (103162), Basic Brown (104315), White StazOn (106960)
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern (115673)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla Textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted), Very Vanilla (101650), Rose Red Textured (108696—Rich Regals Assorted), Rose Red (102544)
Tools: Corner Rounder (109047), Eyelet Border Punch (113692), Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Finial Press Embossing Folder (115963)
Embellishments: Fresh Favorites II (107422), Very Vanilla 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (109055)
Other: Blender Pens (102845), Mini Glue Dots (103683)

Snowmen Trio from Christmas Punch

This little trio of snowmen is from the ‘Tis the Season tag from the Hostess Level 2 Set, Christmas Punch. This little guy just wanted to parade around in his winter finery, despite the fact it is July! Since I am a pushover for snowmen, who was I to tell him, “No!” So I paired him up with the new Holiday Lounge Designer Paper, which is a sampler of non-traditional holiday colors, such as Taken with Teal and Sahara Sand. I happen to be a fan of teal for winter, so it is no wonder that I pulled out this particular pattern. The only regret that I have is that you cannot clearly see the Iridescent Ice embossed snowflakes that I added. But you know how difficult it is to photograph bling! At least you can see an imprint of them! What a better way to enjoy July than with a recipe for snowmen, using this week’s Splitcoast Sketch 238.

  • Prepare a standard card base from Whisper White, and score at the top. Layer with a teal selection from Holiday Lounge Designer Series Paper.

  • Cut a 5-1/4″ by 1-5/8″ strip from a contrasting pattern from Holiday Lounge and mat onto Whisper White followed by Taken with Teal.

  • Ink the “Tis the Season” image from Christmas Punch with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Repeat two more times. Cut out just the Snowmen with Paper Snips. (Tip: Paper Snips are perfect for snipping into hard to reach places, since they are sharp to the very tip!) Color the carrot noses with a Dusty Durango Stampin‘ Write Marker! Use a Blender Pen and the following inks to color the hats: Rose Red, Basic Gray, and Old Olive.

  • Punch three 1-1/4″ squares from Taken with Teal using the 1-1/4″ Square Punch. Add snippets of the following 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbons to serve as the snowmen’s scarves: Rose Red, White, and Old Olive. (Tip: These scarves are actually made from two pieces of ribbon—one piece is vertical to serve as the ends of the scarves, which is layered underneath the horizontal piece. A Mini-Glue Dot is perfect for holding the vertical piece in place. Trust me, it was too difficult to try and tie them!)

  • Adhere the snowmen to the Taken with Teal squares and pop onto Kraft squares which have been punched with the 1-3/8″ Square Punch. Stampin‘ Dimensionals are perfect for adding dimension for this task. Adhere your double matted snowmen squares to the card base as illustrated.

  • My snowmen cried out for a little bling, so two small and one large Turquoise Square Ice Brads did just the trick. (Tip: For perfect brad placement, use the template from the Mat Pack!) And, of course, a few Iridescent Ice snowflakes were added by simply inking the Mini-Snowflake image from the Holiday Blitz stamp set with VersaMark ink and heat embossing.
I never know from one day to the next what set I will ink up. I really was going to try for Halloween, but then I got sidetracked by the Splitcoast sketch, which did not fit my Halloween sets. To quote Scarlett O’Hara, “Tomorrow is another day.”
As always, I love reading your comments and emails. Please feel free to leave me a comment, or if you have questions about any card, please feel free to email me. Until next time…
Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now
Stamp Sets: Christmas Punch (Hostess Level 2—115366), Holiday Blitz (114982)
Inks: Basic Black (101179), Rose Red (101778), Basic Gray (109120), Old Olive (102277), Dusty Durango Stampin’ Write Marker (116329—In-Color Set)
Designer Series Paper: Holiday Lounge (115676)
Card Stock: Taken with Teal (101584), Kraft (102125), Whisper White (100730)
Tools: 1-1/4” Square Punch (104400), 1-3/8” Square Punch (103375), Paper Snips (103579), Heat Tool (100005), Mat Pack (105826), Blender Pens (102845)
Embellishments: Rose Red ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon (111366), Whisper White ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon (109025), Old Olive ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon (111368), Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (101930), Square Ice Brads (109113)