• Prepare a standard card base from Old Olive, scored at the top.
• Layer with a “Rich Razzleberry Floral” selection from Cottage Walls Designer Series Paper to which a snippet of Old Olive 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon has been added.
• Prepare the horizontal strip from Orchid Opulence matted with Old Olive, and adhere to the card base.
• Prepare the vertical block from the “Orchid Opulence Geometric Floral” pattern, and mat with Old Olive. Adhere to the card base.
• Ink the “Dress Form” image from Chic Boutique with Jet Black StazOn and stamp onto Whisper White. Color the stand and fringe using Brocade Blue, Rich Razzleberry, and Crushed Curry Stampin’ Write Markers. Use the Sahara Sand marker to shade one side of the stand. Since I did not have an Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker, I used my Stampin’ Pastels and Blender Pens to shade the dress. I then covered it with Tombow Adhesive, and added Micro Beads. Mat with Orchid Opulence and adhere to the card base as illustrated in the photograph.
• Ink the “Flourish” stamp with Jet Black StazOn and stamp onto Whisper White. Color with the Sahara Sand and Rich Razzleberry Stampin’ Write Markers. Once again, I used my Stampin’ Pastels and Blender Pen in place of the Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker. (I am definitely going to have to order one of these!)
• Ink the “Merci” stamp with Rich Razzleberry and stamp into the middle of the flourish. For perfect placement, use your Stamp-a-ma-jig. Cut out using Paper Snips, and mat onto Old Olive. Once again, trim using Paper Snips. Position and pop onto the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
• For a final “chic” touch, add two Filigree Brads with Pink Circle Fire Brads in their centers.

The colors and sketch used for this card were perfect compliments to this set. Plus, with the beading technique, it was a fun card to create. Isn’t it great when a plan comes together? Remember, your comments and emails are important to me. Stop in and say “Hello” or let me know what you think of today’s card! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Chic Boutique (113744)
Designer Series Paper: Cottage Wall (115671)
Card Stock: Orchid Opulence (100969), Old Olive (100702), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Jet Black StazOn (101406), Rich Razzleberry (115658)
Embellishments: Old Olive ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon (111368), Filigree Brads (112577), Circle Fire Brads (109110), Micro Beads (104266)
Other: Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker (105105), Brocade Blue Stampin’ Write Marker (100064), In-Color Stampin’ Write Markers (116329), Stampin’ Pastels (105542), Blender Pens (102845), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive (110755)

• Prepare a 5-1/2″ square card base from textured Very Vanilla.
• Layer a snippet of More Mustard ribbon from Orchard Ribbon Originals over a 5-1/4″ square of a brown selection from Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper. I selected a “Small Floral and Scroll” pattern. Adhere to the card base.
• Ink the “Tree” image from Pendant Park with Always Artichoke and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Use the Corner Rounder on the upper left and lower right hand corners. Use the Paper Piercer on the remaining corners. Mat onto “Tiny Dot” Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper, followed by Very Vanilla. Adhere to the card base.
• Ink the “Park Bench” image with Soft Suede and stamp onto Very Vanilla, and cut out using Paper Snips. Adhere to the “Tree” mat with Stampin‘ Dimensionals.
• Ink the “Hello” sentiment with Crushed Curry, and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch out with the Word Window Punch, and layer onto a Modern Label which was punched from the Tiny Dot paper. Adhere to the card base as illustrated.
• For a spot of color, use the 1/2″ Circle Punch on the “Rose Red Geometric Print” Thoroughly Modern Designer Paper. The place an acrylic disk from the Build-A-Brad collection on top, and pop onto the lower left-hand corner with a Stampin‘ Dimensional.

What did I like best about Pendant Park? I love the tree, but I feel that it overpowers the park bench, with those adorable squirrels. I truly think that I will more likely use these stamps separately. The “Hello” sentiment will be quite versatile, and a great option to use when one wants a larger “Hello” than found in some of the other sets. As for the Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper, I emphatically love it! Of course you know me and my Designer Papers…I haven’t met one that I don’t love! What will tomorrow hold? Hmm…Peace Within (I’m an animal lover…Who could resist the cat in the chair?), Farm Life (I grew up on a farm…This one was for old times sake!), Perfect Chemistry (I teach Chemistry…Could I pass this one by?), Scary Skeleton (I teach Anatomy and Physiology…I had to have this one!) Oh, you get the point! I can come up with a story as to why I needed every stamp set I ordered! Stay tuned to see what gets inked up tomorrow!

The Stampin‘ Schach Tip of the Day: The central stamp of this set, the tree (or is it a bush?) is a large stamp. Large images like these typically look more balanced with larger “white spaces”.

And Lisa A. and Carla, the lattice from yesterday is absolutely gorgeous when punched from Designer Series Paper and placed on plain card stock. I received this die on Monday, just in time for that evening’s Hostess Club. One of my club members did indeed punch it from Designer Series Paper. She used card stock weight Parisian Breeze, that was in my “retired stash”. Then she popped a second coordinating card stock lattice behind it before adhering it to the card base. It was striking!

Remember, your comments and emails are important to me. Stop in and say “Hello” or let me know what you think of the card du jour! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Pendant Park (115456)
Inks: Soft Suede (115657), Always Artichoke (105219), Crushed Curry (115659)
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern (115673)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla Textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted Pack), Very Vanilla (101650)
Tools: ½” Circle Punch (104390), Corner Rounder (109047), Word Window Punch (105090), Modern Label Punch (116630), Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mat Pack (105826)
Embellishments: Orchard Ribbon Originals (116232), Pewter Build-A-Brad (109128)

How can you prepare a beautiful card in a matter of minutes? With the new Stampin‘ Up! Lattice Bigz Die…That’s how! I love my Big Shot, so I was excited when I received my new catalog and saw all of the wonderful new products for use with it. Over the next few days, not only will I be preparing samples with my new stamp sets and Designer Series Papers, but I will include projects made with a variety of the new Bigz, Embosslits, Embossing Folders, and the newest Texturz Plates. Yesterday it was “D is for Dog”. Today it is “L is for Lovely Lattice”!

• Prepare a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ card base from Textured Whisper White card stock. (Tip: Since there is a lot of white space, using textured card stock adds…well, texture!)
• Using the Eyelet Border Punch, punch a Whisper White strip and a Melon Mambo strip. Add to the card base as illustrated.
• Run a piece of Whisper White regular card stock through the Big Shot, using the new Stampin‘ Up! Lattice Bigz Die. Mat onto Melon Mambo, followed by Bermuda Bay. Adhere to the card base.
• Ink the “For You” sentiment from Great Friend with Bermuda Bay and stamp onto Whisper White. (As many of you know, there was a problem with the original formulation of the Bermuda Bay ink. Stampin‘ Up has taken care of this problem and will be sending out replacements.) Punch out with the Large Oval Punch, and layer onto Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay scalloped ovals punched with the Scallop Oval Punch. (I offset the scallops, and also popped them up with Stampin‘ Dimensionals.)
• Add a snippet of Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon. Position and attach the sentiment ovals.

How easy was that? Yet, it gives the illusion of taking much longer to create. Without a doubt, there is a built-in “WOW” factor with the Lattice die. I debated on whether to add extra “bling” in the form of a Clear Rhinestone Brad, and decided to let the lovely latticework stand on its own merits.
Thank you for all of the kind comments and comforting emails that I have received yesterday and today. It’s amazing how supportive the stamping community is! Sometimes we underestimate the difference the kindness of virtual strangers can make …
So, what is in store for tomorrow? Will the science teacher in me select “Nature’s Nest” or “Perfect Chemistry”? Or will the Iowa farm girl take over and give you a taste of “Farm Life”? Will it be “Pendant Park” or “Peace Within”? To be truthful, I never know where my creative journey will lead! Remember, your comments and emails are important to me, so please leave me a quick comment to let me know what you think of today’s card…or just a quick “Hi!” Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Great Friend (113792)
Ink: Bermuda Bay (115655)
Card Stock: Whisper White Textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted Pack), Whisper White (100730), Melon Mambo (115320), Bermuda Bay (115317)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Lattice Bigz Die (115958), Eyelet Border Punch (113692), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), Large Oval Punch (107305)
Embellishments: Bermuda Bay ½” Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115610)
Other: Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)