A combo Challenge!

I've been meaning to do Julee's Mojo Monday Challenge all week.  I really liked this week's sketch.  Then one of my Swappers Anonymous friends, Sharon, was looking at the preview of the Occasions Mini Catalog and was wondering aloud about the colors they used in the DSP that is coming out April 1st called "Walk In The Park".  She challenged us to use the colors together.  Well, the colors used in the whole pack are Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral, Baja Breeze and So Saffron, but the two multi colored papers only use Gray, Baja and Saffron or Saffron, Coral and Baja.  So I decided to make a card using BOTH challenges, PLUS my own to not add ANY embellishments other than the brads where were on the sketch.  No ribbon.  No glitter.  IT WAS TOUGH!  I used the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set and the Saffron DSP is from the Tea Party pack.  The flower is stamped in StazOn on Watercolor paper and colored with my aqua painter and Cameo Coral ink.  The stamens are colored with a So Saffron marker and washed over with the aqua painter to soften the color a bit.  The brads are on watercolor paper as well.  I used my white gel pen to add a little line of white along the edge of the Baja Breeze strip on the Cameo Coral scalloped layer.

Thanks for looking!

Three more cards from the "archives"....

Here are a few more cards I've done in the past month or so.  The first is a swap card I did in a swap where the theme was to use Kraft cardstock.

The base is Kraft cardstock that is stamped about 2/3 with the Bella Toile background in Versamark and clear embossed.  The sentiment is from "Heard From The Heart" and the image (stamped on Blush Blossom and matted on Riding Hood Red) is one of my favorite sets ever, "Heartfelt Thanks".  LOVE. THAT. FLOWER.  The Ticket Corner Punch, 4 gold brads, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain and Riding Hood Red Taffeta round out the supplies.

This card/gift card holder was for my friend, Leslie, for her birthday.  There have been so many cute folded over Top Note cards out in cyberland lately that I thought I would do one.

The card itself is Pink Pirouette (I think this may be my favorite SU color EVER).  Next is a layer of Creamy Caramel.  The Top Note Die was used on a piece of Chocolate Chip and a piece of patterned paper from the Two Scoops collection by Basic Grey.  When I folded it over, I thought it looked like a little purse, so I sponged the edges to accent that look and added the Kraft Taffeta with the antique copper buckle from the retired Hodgepodge Hardware.  Toss on a glitzy Prima flower and put a rhinestone in the center for a little extra BLING!

The cake and the sentiment are from the "Fun and Fast Notes" set that we got at convention a couple years ago.  The cake is punched out with the Stampin Up scallop circle punch and is layered onto a scallop circle punched with the EK Success 2" scallop circle which is a PERFECT mat.  It is attached to a spiral clip, also from the antique copper Hodgepodge, which is clipped to the gift card.  Cute, huh?

Last one for today is a card I cranked out REALLY FAST yesterday for my brother-in-law, Keith whose birthday is tomorrow.  I wanted something cheery, but not girly.

Since I had some of the cupcakes from "Crazy About Cupcakes" already stamped up from a card I did over the weekend, I started with that.  Pulled the DSP from the Washington Apple pack and mounted it on a Bashful Blue card.  The cupcake was colored with a mix of markers, mostly Stampin Up, but the frosting is Close To My Heart's "brown bag" marker.  The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate chip directly onto the So Saffron mat and then layered on a piece of Pumpkin Pie.  If the post office wasn't so snarky lately about cards with brads and ribbon, I would have added some Riding Hood Red taffeta to this to tie in the last color from the DSP, but OH WELL.

Tomorrow I will post the one card I did during last weekend's VSN over on Splitcoast.  NO STAMPING on it AT ALL, but it came out nicely.  I should be able to post my Swappers Anon swap cards pretty soon too.  I'm hoping my return cards will be in my mailbox tomorrow!

So many swaps....

So little time!  The fact that I belong to a group called "Swappers Anonymous" should be your first clue that I am a Swap addict.  I admit it.  I have a swap problem.  The biggest issue I have with it is that I will go for a while without joining ANY and then all of a sudden I do something INSANE, like join six card swaps, a Secret Sister group and a Secret Cupid thing ALL AT ONCE.  Of course, most of the swapping is because we have a new catalog out.  That accounts for 5 of the 6 swaps.  Add one for Sale-A-Bration and you have six.  I can't post my card that I sent for Lyssa's New Catalog swap as I have submitted it in a contest.  I will show you a piece of it though:

The image is from the Playful Petals set.  It is stamped in Stazon and then colored using Watercolor Wonder Crayons and an Aqua Painter.  The DSP used behind the flower is from the Pink Pirouette Patterns DSP.

Here is the card I did for the SAB swap:

Sorry it's crooked.  My scanner hates me.  If I put cards in against the edge of the glass they come out straight, but the scanning software then crops them and I lose part of the card.  Sigh.  The supplies used for this card are the Botanical Blooms set and the Delicate Dots DSP, both available as free product choices during Sale-A-Bration which is running thru the end of March.  The ribbon is the So Saffron Poly Twill from the current catalog and of COURSE there are brads on there.  I also used the Scallop Edge, Word Window, Key Tag and Wide Oval punches.  Yes, I am a punch junkie.  The flower outline was stamped in Regal Rose and Old Olive and the fill images were done in Pink Pirouette and Certainly Celery.  The center of the flower was colored So Saffron and has little dots of Dazzling Diamonds on it.  The layout was inspired by one of my fellow Swapper Anonymous friends, Kathy.  I made it after seeing this card on her blog.

I will post the cards I did for my three Swappers Anonymous swaps later in the week.  The hostess mailed them back out to us today.  The last swap I did was just mailed to the hostess this week and she won't be mailing them back until Saturday or Monday, so I won't be posting that one until next week sometime.

So what swaps do I have on the horizon?  Well, I still have my Secret Sister swap going thru March.  I sent my pal a package yesterday that I will upload at a later date.  We also have the Occasions Mini starting up April 1st.  I am already signed up for a swap for that.  Then I joined another secret pal swap for Easter. 

The discussions of Convention swaps have already started.  Convention is August 5-8 this year and I already have the cabin booked for my swap-making in July.  The new catalog comes out July 1st so there will be lots of swaps using new sets this Convention instead of TONS of swaps using the few sets that we get to pre-order.  That will be NICE.  In 2006, I attended my first SU Convention and only took 50 swaps (can you IMAGINE?!) with me and over 30 of the cards I brought home had used Blossoms Abound (now retired).  While I *LOVED* that set, after getting SO MANY cards with it, I don't think I used it again after Convention.  2007's over-used pre-order set was Baroque Motifs.  2008 was Dreams Du Jour.  There will still be an over-used set this year if we get a preview list to order from just because it will help folks get going on their swaps a month sooner.  It's also when we get our hands on the new "In Colors" for the first time.  Mmmmmmm.... new colors.....  Every year there is at least one "in color" that I don't know how I will live without.  Cool Caribbean, Soft Sky....  This year's is Pink Pirouette.  I think I will cry having to go back to Pretty in Pink for my "light pink" needs.  It just looks so DARK to me now!  I'll also be missing the Bella Rose DSP.  I'm into my 3rd package of it.  I don't think I've ever USED UP a whole pack of DSP before, let alone TWO whole packs!

Enough dreaming of new product!  Back to the stamp table!  I have 2 birthday cards to mail today.... are they done yet?  Noooooooo.....  Toodles!

So far behind, I don't know where to start!

So my next several posts will have no order to them, I'm just going to jump in and upload what springs to mind!

I'll start with the goodies I sent to my SA (Swappers Anon) Cupid, Pamela.  Being the dork that I am, I did not take pictures of any of the goodies I sent to Pamela before they were packaged up and sent off.  I have a bad habit of doing that.  Pamela did take a couple photos of my goodies and was kind enough to e-mail them to me:

This is what was in the box.  One package for each day, except for Day 3 since I couldn't wrap them together!

This package contained (L to R) a little Ghriardelli Squares box from the tutorial over on Splitcoast, a Fresh-Cut Notes (111882) card, A Genie Bag made with the Top Note Sizzix Die (113463), an acetate box filled with Kraft Caramels, A Card with a Starbucks gift card in it and in front, a roll of Sticky Strip.

This package contained an altered tin filled with chocolates, a wrapped package of microwave popcorn and another gift card.

The last day's packages held another gift card, my reveal card which was done using the "Crimped Envelope" tutorial on Splitcoast, and a milk carton holder (a la Becky Roberts).  I'm sad to say that I no longer remember what was inside the milk cartons.... LOL

Just the milk carton holder. 

Most everything was made using Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red cardstock and I used mostly Bella Rose Designer Paper, but also some Raspberry Tart paper.  The popcorn was wrapped in some LONG retired CTMH paper I had from a wedding themed set of papers.

So that's what I sent to Pamela.  This was my first Secret Swapper exchange with this group of INCREDIBLY talented ladies and I had a SEVERE case of "swappers anxiety" which I have been assured by the group was unfounded.  Next, I will upload some of the card swaps I've been working on.....

Cupid - Day Three - THE REVEAL!

Happy Valentine's Day to one and all!

This morning I got up and opened my third and final bag from my Cupid.  Stop reading now if you are waiting to see who I had....  Seriously..... 

This is how much I love my SA friends and my Cupid.....  It's Saturday morning.  DH is gone (off to take an exam).  I got up, went to the kitchen, got my present, opened it, took photos, edited them and here I am blogging.  I have not even had my tea yet!  ROFL!

Today's Cupid note (sorry, I forgot to take a picture of it) reads, "For someone who is always thinking of others online and in her family - here is something to help you keep all those important to you close at hand".  It is then signed, "I'm grateful for our friendship!  Happy V-Day!"

So, without further delay, I reveal my Cupid, (insert drum roll here).....  STACY!!!!!!

Stacy, you've been a MOST AWESOME Cupid!  And today's present reveals the level of talent you have!  CHECK. THIS. OUT!!!!!! 

I love Love LOVE this Tea Party DSP!  I can't wait till mine gets here!  So, take off the belly band, and THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE....

It's a WAY CUTE little scrapbook made with chipboard coasters! 

SQUEEEEEEEEALLLL!!!!!! 

Isn't it FABULOUS????!!!  I forgot to take a picture of it all laid out like this from the back (oops), but here are the pages, closer up, left to right, front to back....

Pages 1 & 2

  Page 3, with tag!

Page 4 and the back cover

Pages 5 & 6 - LOVE those BIG BRADS!!!!!

  Page 7 with tag

Page 8 and the Front Cover.

All I can say is WOW.  Really.  You all know that I DO. NOT. SCRAP.  I've done some digital scrapping and seem to do OK with that, but as for putting paper and embellishments down and then adding photos?  Just doesn't happen for me.  Not for a lack of supplies either, let me assure you.  I'm OK with that.  LOL.

I am just wowed by all the details in this little book!  All the sponging, the brads, the cut and punched out flowers...

Stacy, Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a TOTALLY ROCKIN' CUPID!!!!!!!

Cupid Gifts - Day Two!

Oooooooo... does my Cupid know me OR WHAT?  Here is today's bag detail:

Yes, that would be using the VERY. LONG. AWAITED "Cheers to You" set from Stampin' Up! that we FINALLY got in the Fall/Winter 2008 Catalog.  I say "long awaited" because the Stampin' Up! Catalog in the UK carried this stamp for 6-12 months before we got it.

Inside my bag were two items plus today's note which read, "For someone with wonderful taste":

The journal has a section for white wine, a section for red and an address book section.  SWEET!  I have another tasting journal, but it is very "structured" - kinda fill in the blank stuff.  This one is journal style.  I can write as much or as little about the wine and don't have to follow a prescribed format.  LOVE. IT.  The second item there is an altered SU embellishment container.  Like what our buttons come in.  Inside the container:

How cute ARE THESE????!!!!  Little wineglass charms! 

Thanks so much to my Cupid!  These are FAB!

Back to the kitchen with me.... Got a baked potato soup going into the crockpot this morning!  YUM-O!

Cupid Strikes! Day One

I belong to a group of ladies on Splitcoast called Swappers Anonymous.  There are about 2 dozen of us.  Over Christmas they did a 12 Days of Christmas Secret Elf exchange, which I did not participate in as I had WAY too much going on at the time.  So, when they decided to do a 3 day Secret Cupid exchange, I signed right up.  Even though I *still* have too much going on.  LOL!  My package arrived earlier this week.  Inside were three bags:

Each of the Cupids sent 3 "gifts".  One to be opened today, one tomorrow and the final one on Valentine's Day.  In the last package we find out who our cupid is.  Here is a close up of the note in the box with the presents:

It says, "Valentine's Day is not just about who we love and who loves us, but also what we love and appreciate.  I hope these gifts remind you of the things you love in the world!  Happy Valentine's Day!"

And here is a closeup of the flap on today's bag:

And what was inside.....

A darling altered tin!  (the kind that the General Foods International Coffees come in)  The tag reads, "For someone sweet with a sweet tooth.".  That describes me pretty well!  And inside the tin.....

CHERRY JELLY HEARTS!  YUM!

I'm sure those hearts will be gone before bedtime tonight!

Thanks, Cupid!