September 20, 2012: Covered Composition Book

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I just adore this little covered composition book by my lovely friend Doreen - this was another item from a recent swap. Soooo pretty!  I can't wait to make a few of these myself.  Doreen is so talented.  :)

 

September 19, 2012: Swap Card

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This card was made by my fabulously talented upline, Heather, for a swap I was in.  Isn't it beautiful?  I always love the way Heather layers elements, and her color combos are top notch.

On another note, I'm struggling with my camera and I think it is time for a new one.  I hope I can limp along until Black Friday - I'm not a BF shopper, but my hubby LOVES to go.  It's the one morning a year gets up early!

October 22, 2011: Class Day!

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I can't believe it - for the very first time, I am completely prepped for my class - the night before!! It's really very exciting. ;-D

This was my only other mystery card in my last swap. Isn't it pretty? The background has a lot of stamping that doesn't show up very well in the picture, but it's really pretty in person. I would never think on stamping ON the Designer Series Paper - and I really should! The color combo is really striking, too. Love it!

I'm off to make something fun. :) I never have the time to craft on my class day, and I am going to take advantage of it!!!

October 21, 2011: TGIF!

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Isn't this a fun card? Unfortunately...I don't know who made it. Every time I participate in a swap I seem to get a few mystery cards. If you made it, let me know and I will edit the post!

I really like it - I love the stamp set, and the punching is so clever!

October 20, 2011: Established Elegance Step Card

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I actually made this card for a swap this past summer, and I ended up making a bunch extra so I had them for other occasions. I even sent one as a birthday card for Shelli Gardner (the co-founder of Stampin' Up!). I hope she liked it!

I used my favorite Crumb Cake as the base for my step card, and accented it with Baja Breeze Seam Binding. My panel is Very Vanilla, and I sponged the edges with Baja Breeze Classic Ink.

For the panel, I stamped images from Established Elegance and French Foliage in Soft Suede, Crumb Cake and Baja Breeze. My embellishment is more images from Established Elegance in Soft Suede and Baja Breeze, punched out with the 1 1/4" and 3/4" Circle Punches, and topped with an Antique Brad. So vintage!

September 30, 2011: Last Day of September!

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My craft room is still torn up - MUCH larger job than anticipated, of course. :) I can't believe it is the last day of September!

This is another card I got in the demo-only swap - so cute! I'm totally embarrassed that I gave it away and forgot to write down who made it. I knew my friend, who is going through a tough time, will love it. If I find out the name of the demo later I'll edit the post.

I'm off to work so I won't break down the recipe, but I do want to point out the clever use of Triple Treat Flower, one of the A la carte stamps - it coordinates with THREE different punches in one single stamp!

I'm off - thanks for checking in!

Elin K.

September 28, 2011: Clever Cute

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This was another favorite of the demo-only swap I participated in. I just love this color scheme! And it's really clever, too. :) the mark on the back says "L Hanson."

The base of this card is Confetti Cream, and it's a fun fold, too - the end of the Pool Party panel tucks under the lip covered by the Calypso Coral strip which is punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.

The Pool Party panel is stamped with the great fun and very dramatic My Friend in Chocolate Chip and Pool Party Classic Ink. I love My Friend - it's so mod! The whole panel is embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and the Big Shot.

The lace along the bottom is the Lace Ribbon Border Punch in Calypso Coral, and the flower is Very Vanilla stamped with Posy Punch (hostess only!) in Calypso Coral Classic Ink and punched out with the Fancy Flower Punch. It's mounted on Stampin' Dimensionals and dotted with a Basic Pearl in the Center. A scrap of the new Polka Dot Scallop Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate Chip is the final touch on this cute card. Thanks L Hanson!

Septe,ber 27, 2011: Jen's Swap Card

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This was actually my all-time favorite from the demo-only swap. I just couldn't believe what a beautiful job Jen did! I love cards like this. It's a fairly traditional layout, but with a ton of wow.

Jen took a base of Naturals Ivory Cardstock and topped it with Elegant Espresso Cardstock and First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper. The center panel is more Early Espresso topped with Very Vanilla, and the sentiment is from A Word for You stamped in Basic Black Classic Ink. The ribbon is 3/8" Taffeta in Basic Black.

The leaves are Garden Green Cardstock cut with the Little Leaves Sizzlit Die and the Big Shot.

The wow factor is, of course, this AMAZINGLY breathtaking rose. Jan stamped the rose from Fifth Avenue Floral (may it never retire) in Versamark and heat embossed it with White Stampin' Emboss Powder on Shimmery White Cardstock. Then she colored it with water, and Aqua Painter and the floating reinker technique. I think she used Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight, but I am only guessing. :) I can say the Shimmery White Cardstock is very important for this technique; it's coated so it is very forgiving with the water, and the shimmer is amazing!

Thanks, Jen - amazing card!!!