The Stamp Workshop

Love You Much Joy Fold

It's just about three weeks until Valentine's day, so I thought I'd post a Valentine's card.  I made this card for a swap.

This card is a Joy Fold card.  To open it, you lift up the flap with the birds on it.  If you look carefully at the picture, you'll see that the bottom edge of the flap is tucked under the ribbon.  This is what keeps the card closed.  The bottom flap then comes down to reveal your message.  You can find directions to the Joy Fold Card in the resource section of Splitcoaststampers.  Click here for a direct link.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Love You Much
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink.Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink
Designer Series Paper: Candy Lane
Ribbon: 5/8" Very Vanilla Grosgrain
Tools: Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Distresser Tool

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com.

Much Love!

Here's the Other...

In yesterday's post, I said I post another card using Love Owl-lways.  Here it is!

I used Stampin' Up!'s paper piercing template from the Mat Pack to make the dots in the corners.  I again used the designer series paper from the Holiday Happenings Bundle.  The heart is colored using Pink Pirouette ink and an aqua painter.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Love Owl-lways
Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Jet Black StazOn
Designer Series Paper: Holiday Happenings
Accessories: Silver Brads
Tools: Paper Piercer, Paper Piercing Template, Oval Punches (Small, Large, Wide)

Enjoy!

Owl-lways for You

I know it isn't even Halloween yet, but here is a Valentine's card for you!  This Owl is from a set in the new Holiday Mini called Love Owl-lways.  There are six stamps in this set.

I watercolored this Owl using an aquapainter (which by the way are on sale for $7.95).  With your stamp pad closed, smoosh the top in a few times.  This will transfer some ink onto the inside cover.  Open your stamp pad.  Use your aquapainter to lift some ink and then apply it to your paper.  Then, paint away!  Be sure to use a permanent ink like StazOn for your stamp.  This will keep the image from running.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Love Owl-lways
Cardstock: CLose to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Basic Black, StazOn Jet Black
Designer Series Paper: Holiday Happenings
Ribbon: Caramel Gingham Ribbon

I have another card using a stamp in this same set that I will post tomorrow, so be sure to come back to visit.  *smile*

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Baby It's Cold Outside - Not!

So here is the snowman that I have fallen in love with!  I feel kind of funny posting this today though.   It's what, Oct 1st.  It's supposed to be nice and cool out. Well, not in SoCal!  Can you believe it's 96 degrees right now???  96!  We are having a scorcher today.  Luckily it's supposed to be about 15 degrees cooler tomorrow.

Here is a card that uses some of the new Alpine Ribbon Originals.  You can find this ribbon in the 2008 Holiday Mini that debuted today.  It's really neat ribbon!  It's felt and a bit thick.  It's stitched with white.  It comes in two 4 yard spools, for a total of 8 yards.  It also comes with another roll of ribbon with another design.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Two Cool Dudes
Cardstock: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, Glossy White
Ink: Night of Navy, Tangerine Tango
Ribbon: Alpine Ribbon Originals
Accessories: Silver Brads
Tools: Blender pen (to apply Tangerine Tango to nose and dots), Ticket Punch, Paper Piercer, Paper Distresser

Trying to stay cool!

Shadowed Daisies

In the Fall Winter 08 Idea Book & Catalog, there are a lot of "silhouette" stamps.  This stamp here is from the set Upsy Daisy.  I won this set at Convention.  Here's a picture of Missi and me during that happy moment!  (Click)

I made this card for, yeah, you guessed it, a swap.  I did up 16 of these.

First I stamped the Daisy image in Pacific point then inked the image with Bashful Blue and stamped again just to the right.  I didn't use a Stamp-a-ma-jig, but it came out pretty good!  This technique is called Shadowing.  So basically what you do with Shadowing is take your image and stamp in a darker color first.  Then take a lighter color and stamp the same image off to the side just a bit.  It makes a "shadow".  Very easy!  This technique works best with solid images as opposed to line art images.

Notice the big oval in the corner.  That's the new Wide Oval punch.  It doesn't have a "mate" so, I just punched the same oval, but in a different color and then layered it offset.  I think it does the job.  lol

I stamped on Glossy White.  I think it's the best cardstock for bold images.  The image doesn't come out with white splotches.  It's a nice even image.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Sanded
Cardstock: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Glossy White
Ink: Pacific Point, Bashful Blue
Ribbon: Light Blue Gingham
Accessories: Dimensionals
Tools: Wide Oval Punch, paper piercer

If you have any questions about this card or need more specific directions, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Go Stamp!

Lots of Great Sample Cards!

This is a card done by Sharon (TexasStampin) on Splitcoaststampers. I hosted a Fall Winter 08 New stamp Set swap and this was one of the cards. There was a pretty good turn out. I had 5 groups with 10 people in each group. The level of the cards that were submitted were amazing!

I wanted to share these wonderful cards, so I created an album to showcase them. You can check out the entire album here.

Have a look at these wonderful cards! I have indicated the creator's SCS user name next to the name of the stamp set they used. When you are done looking, come back here and post a few comments about your favorites!

Enjoy!

Thank You Card

I've finally gotten back into the groove of making cards.  I thought with the kids back in school, that I'd have more time to create.  Boy, was I totally wrong!  I am busier than ever.  I hate to admit it, but I may have volunteered for one too many programs at the school, scouts and all the other things we have going on.

Anyway, here's a card a made for a swap (of course).  It was supposed to be a multi-layered WOW swap.  I hope this is WOW enough for the swap.  What I might think is WOW, might be ho hum to others.

I used the paper from the Level 3 hostess bundle, Holiday Happenings.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Say it with Scallops
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Glossy White, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Designer Series Paper: Holiday Happenings
Ribbon: 5/8" Chocolate Chip Gorsgrain
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Silver Brads
Tools: Scallop Border Punch, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for Ten Minute Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Off to Convention I Go!

So here are my swaps.  It's past 1:30am and I still have a couple more things to do before I leave for Convention.

Even though I don't have much time, I couldn't resist posting to the blog.  So, here is a picture of all the swaps I am doing (I have two album swaps that are not on the table here.).

When I get back, I will post these cards in detail, with close up pictures and directions.

I have decided to bring my laptop with me, but I can't promise that I'll be posting much.  There is so much to do at Convention and my free time "social calendar" is booked!

Well, I'm off to box up these swaps.

See you later!

Celebrate Pocket Card

Here is a pocket card I made.  I like the bright colors on this one.  The hint of pumpkin is just right to break down the monotone blue.

To make a pocket card, start off with a standard A2 size card ( 4 1/4" X 5 1/2").  Score about 1 1/2" down along the open, long side.  Fold over.  Then cut about 1" off of the flap.  Use brads to secure the folded piece to the back piece.  This step forms your pocket.  Cut a piece of cardstock to the desired size to use at the insert.  Decorate as needed.  Done!

These quick cards are great for party invitations and birthday cards.  Maybe even attach a gift card to the insert - a gift card holder!

Here's the recipe for this card:

Stamps: Party Hearty
Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla
Ink: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie
Designer Series Paper: Azure
Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain, Very Vanilla Grosgrain
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie Brads, Dimensionals
Tools: Paper Piercer, Corner Rounder Punch, Scalloped Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch,  Distresser Tool, Pumpkin Pie Marker

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

If you need help with the directions on how to make a pocket card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Finally Some Swaps to Show You!

As I keep saying, I have signed up for a ton of swaps for Convention.  Admittedly, my progress is slow going, but I finally have all my swaps designed and now I am putting them all together.

Here's one of the three ATC swaps that I signed up for.  ATCs are "Artist Trading Cards" and measure 2.5" X 3.5".

This picture is to show the dimension in this ATC.  The main flower is popped up and then the middle flower is popped up on that.  The edges are distressed (of course!).

I'm normally a "lazy"swapper and wouldn't cut the flowers out like that so many times. But, this is a smaller ATC swap and I only had to make 10.  Plus at Convention, swappers are kind of expected to go above and beyond.  I hope this is up to par!

Here's the recipe for this ATC:
Stamps: One of a Kind, Canvas
Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Dimensionals, Silver Brad
Tools: Distresser Tool

If you have any questions about this ATC, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Fresh Cuts ATC

My second ATC.  This one is a bit different from any other that I've done.  The white layer is adhered to the Rose Red layer and then that is raised off the black layer.  But that's not why it's different.

This was made using the largest image in the new Fresh Cut stamp set.  It is a block measuring about 3.25" square.  It is a collage type stamp.  I used a portion of it here in this ATC.  I used Stampin' Write markers to color in the various parts of the image.  I thought there was too much white space, so I used the leaf flourish from the set to stamp in the middle with Rose Red.  I'm not sure how much I like this ATC, but I thought I'd try something different (for me anyway).  My cards and ATCs usually focus on one image and then "fancied" up around it.

You can see that I've distressed the edges on this ATC too.  I can't help it.  Ever feel like your card is naked if you don't have something particular on it?  Well, for me it's distressing.  lol

Here's the recipe for this ATC:

Stamps: Fresh Cut
Cardstock: Basic Black, Rose Red, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Stampin' Write Makers: Rose Red, Orchid Opulence, Mellow Moss; Rhinestone Brad, Dimensionals
Ribbon: Mellow Moss Grosgrain
Tools: Distresser Tool

If you have any questions about this ATC, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Punch Art ATC

My last ATC.  This one actually took me the longest.  It wasn't all the difficult, but I changed my design and I had to do a few over.  Image this ATC without any stamping on it and hand drawn stems.  Yeah, not so pretty.

So this was for a punch art ATC swap.  I chose Tag Punch.  Can you tell that it's a flower pot?  Please say yes!  This swap was a little larger than my other ATC swaps.  This one had 20 spots.  Check out that cute little bow.  I tied 20 of those.  Not bad if I do say so myself!

I like the springy colors on this.  I think it actually works.

Here's the recipe for this ATC:

Stamps: Three for You, Embrace Life (stems)
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal, Gable Green, Pixie Pink, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Apricot Appeal, Gable Green
Accessories: Gable Green Stampin' Write Marker (leaves)
Ribbon: Caramel Gingham Ribbon
Tools: Distresser Tool,Ticket Punch, Small Oval Punch, Small Tag Punch, Three for You punch

Hope you like it!

If you have any questions about this ATC, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Have a flowery day!

Sneak Peek Commentary - Hostess Sets

Okay, so I can't post access to the PDF file of the new stuff Stampin' Up! provided, but I can describe them the best I can and give some commentary...

Hostess sets.  They showed us a few of the Level 2 and Level 3 hostess sets.  They didn't show us all of them.  Here's what we've seen...

FALL FLAIR - Level 2 set, 8 stamps - The flowers and leaves look sketched.  A seven petaled, pointed flower.  A Solid leaf, maple looking.  A carnation looking line art flower.  An arc of dots?  A solid seven petaled flower.  A line art maple looking leaf.  A dandelion looking flower.  Another line art leaf, oak maybe?  Can you tell I don't know flowers and leaves????

DEER FRIENDS/ADORABLES AMIGOS - Level 2, 8 stamps - Available in both English and Spanish.  Round stamps with and image and then words (lower case) that go around the image along the edge.  Cute set.  Looks like the Spanish set has the same wording.  Although I can't tell which size, I am sure these fit into one of the circle punches.  Here are the stamps:

• a cute Santa (head only) with the words "from the guy with the red suit"
• a snowman (head only) "season's greetings"
• a present "a little something"
• an angel (head only) "little angel"
• a Christmas tree "o christmas tree" (in lower case)
• a deer (head only) "deer friend"
• a swaddled baby with a shining star above "o holy night"
• a gingerbread man "sweet treat"

OCCASIONS COLLECTION/COLECCION DE MOTIVOS ESPECIALES - Level 2, 14 stamps - 12 word stamps, a small dotted cirle and a long stamp with 10 bold images each small enough to fit in the circle.  The images are a carved pumpkin, a turkey, a Christmas tree, champagne glasses clinking, a heart, a shamrock, an Easter egg, a engagement/wedding ring, a six petaled flower.  The words are (notice capitalization):

• HAPPY
• halloween
• valentine's
• christmas
• st. patrick's
• thanksgiving
• day
• to you
• wedding
• new year
• birthday
• easter

Hmmmmm.  I don't know that I like that some of the words don't have capital letters like Christmas and Easter.

SERENE SPRING/SERENA PRIMAVERA - Level 2, 4 stamps - A cute floppy eared bunny in a basket with a daisy planted next to it and a little bird on the handle.  It is realistic looking.  Would make for great water coloring.  A flower pot with a bird on it and a butterfly.  Two sentiment stamps "A friend is what the heart needs all the time - Henry VanDyke" and "A kind word is like a spring day."

HAPPINESS ALWAYS - Level 2, 14 stamps -

WINDOW DRESSING/ADORNOS PARA VENTANAS - Level 3, 10 stamps

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS BUNDLE - Level 3, Seasonal Sayings Rub-Ons, Seasonal Icons Stamp Artwork and Holiday Happenings Designer Series Paper

Well dear readers, I am getting tired as it is late!  I am too tired to type more.  But, before I log off, I wanted your opinion on these swaps I am making for Convention.  Tell me what you think...

Don't forget to leave me a comment on what you think about the swaps.

Enjoy!

Are You a Demo Going to Convention?

Hey Demos!  Are you going to Convention?  Well, do I have a swap for you!  This one is super easy.

I am hosting a Decor Elements swap.  For all the details, check out the thread in the Demo Forums on Splitcoast: Decor Elements swap.

Thanks for Looking!

Convention 2006

You might be wondering why I am posting about something that happened almost two years ago.  Well, there are two reasons.  One, I have been revamping my craft room (pictures to come in a week or so), and I found these old swap cards.  And two, I am going to Convention at the end of July, and it is coming up.  I have signed up for a TON of swaps (so many in fact, that off the top of my head, I don't know exactly how many).  So, Convention swaps are on my mind.

Any way, I made these two cards for the Splitcoast dinner.  I was very proud of these cards.  I was a demo for less than a year at this point and for me, they were some of the best cards I had ever done.  This one here on the left used Mixed Bouquet and the Luminous Pearls technique.  If you'd like to see a bigger picture of this one, you can find it here.

The colors on this card are Certainly Celery, Regal Rose and Basic Black.  I just love how black always seems to make colors pop.

Here is the second card that I made.  This one used Natural Beauty and the Heated Pearls technique and crayon resist.  I was very bummed when Stampin' Up! retired PearlEx from their catalog.  There are so many wonderful and beautiful techniques that can be done with it.  I can't seem to remember the colors that I used in this card, but I think it was Always Artichoke, Basic Black, Really Rust and More Mustard.

If you want to see a more detailed pic of this card, you can find this one here.

Oh!  One thing I forgot to mention...

I have started a non-SU blog.  There isn't much on it, since mainly use Stampin' Up! products.  But if you'd like to take a look, visit my non-SU blog at http://sdiegogal.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com.  I'm calling it "The Stamp Workshop Annex".

If you have any questions about these cards, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Reminisce!

French Flower

Here is one of the last cards I did for SoCal Stamp Mania.  To give this card a little dimension, I stamped the flower and then cut it out.  Then I stamped the flower again.  I curled the petals of the flower upward and then adhered the cut out flower with a pop dot.  The center part of the flower was made with the Build-A-Brad brads.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: One of  a Kind, En Francais, Carte Postale
Cardstock: Rose Red, Basic Black, Shimmery White
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Versamark
Accessories: Pewter Build-A-Brad
Tools: Paper Snips

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Bonjour!

Springy Celebration

Here is card number 4 out of the 6 swaps I did for SoCal Stamp Mania.  I don't usually use "Spring" colors, but I thought this paper was just so pretty!

I like to recycle layouts.  Why no reuse what you like??  If you take a peek at a couple days back, this layout is the same as my Happy Silhouettes card.  It is just flipped 180 degrees.

I consider myself to be pretty uncreative so I get my ideas from SplitCoastStampers and Stampin' Up!.  I took this layout from one of the sketch challenges on SCS.  I don't know that I've ever really come out with a layout that was all my own.  The closest I've done to making my own layout is mixing up certain elements of several card sketches.  Good thing I have SplitCoast and Stampin' Up!  SU makes it easy to coordinate my colors and SCS helps me to layout my cards.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Celebrate Everything
Cardstock: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery
Ink: Pretty in Pink
Designer Series Paper: Spring Fling
Ribbon: Certainly Celery Grosgrain
Accessories: Gold Brads
Tools: Paper Piercer, Distresser Tool

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Have a Springy Day!

Happy Silhouettes

Here's a look at another swap I did for SoCal Stamp Mania.  BTW, if you are in SoCal consider going next year!  Meet your stampin' neighbors!

I love making cards with Designer Series paper.  The color combos are flawless and it makes for a quick card!

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Happy Everything
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Sky
Designer Series Paper: Spring Silhouettes
Ribbon: Soft Sky Double Stitched Grosgrain
Accessories: Half Pearl from Pretties Kit 

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Fall Friend

This is the one of the last of the swaps that I did for the Occasions Mini.  This set uses Friendly Flowers.

The largest stamp in this set is a flower that runs about three inches across.  It dominates the entire front of the card if your card is standard size.

I was having a hard time deciding what to do, so it dawned on me to cut the flower down the center and use it more as an embellishment instead of a focal point.  So, this is what I came up with.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Friendly Flowers
Cardstock: Whisper White, Soft Sky, Old Olive
Ink: Soft Sky, Old Olive
Designer Series Paper: Fall Flowers
Ribbon: Soft Sky Double Stitched Grosgrain
Accessories: Silver Brad, Pop Dot
Tools: Distresser Tool, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Pretty Plum Peony

This is another of one of the many swaps I have been working on in the past couple of weeks.  It was for a Spring Summer 08 Collection Swap.

This card was made using Pretty Peony.  It is a two-step stamp set.  Using the two stamps, a bold stamp and a detail stamp, gives the flower and its leaves some dimension.

In order to get perfect placement on the flower and leaves, I used a Stamp-a-ma-jig.  For Tools & Tips Tuesday,  I have prepared a tutorial on how to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  Click this link to view the tutorial:

How to Use Your Stamp-a-ma-jig

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Pretty Peony, Happy Everything
Cardstock: Naturals White, Mellow Moss, Pale Plum textured, Perfect Plum
Ink: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss
 Ribbon: Always Artichoke Grosgrain
Accessories: Vintage Brads
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Distresser Tool, Stipple Brush, Paper Piecer, Mat Pack

Click on the "Order Now" icon on the left hand side to order a stamp-a-ma-jig you any other products.

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Enjoy!

Best Friend

Here is one of the swaps I did for a Occasions Mini Swap.  I had to feature a stamp set from the mini.  I chose to do Full of Life (again).

Does this card look familiar?  It's eerily similar to yesterday's card.  I just changed a few things.  I really like this layout and well, I changed enough that it looks like a totally different card.  Hey, if you find a layout that works, why not?  *wink*

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Full of Life
Cardstock: Naturals White, Sahara Sand, Ruby Red, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
Ink: Blue Bayou
Designer Series Paper: Western Sky
Ribbon: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Grosgrain
Tools: Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Distresser Tool

Don't forget to come back to this blog on March 1.  There will be a link to the Occasions mini posted.

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Fairytale

Here's one of the six swaps that I have been working on in the last couple of weeks.  I made this card for a Occasions Mini swap that Britta hosted on SCS.  (HI Britta!)

The swaps I've been in have ranged from 8 cards to 18 cards.  For this swap, I needed to make 10 cards.  Check out those hearts.  First I stamped it on Whisper White with Basic Black.  Then I stamped it on Real Red also with Basic Black.  Then I cut them out.  I cut out 40 hearts!  I would buy a punch that fit this in a heartbeat.  *chuckle*  Get it?  Heartbeat?  tee hee

The products in the Occasions Mini are available from March 1 - May 31.  Be sure to come back on March 1.  I'll post a link to the Occasions Mini at that time.

For this swap, I made a card featuring the stamp set "Full of Life".  It is a 7 stamp set.  It is a sayings set, meaning there are only sayings and no images.  I like this set.  The fonts in each saying are different for certain words with bold, italics, etc.  Here are the sayings in this set:

• Thanks ... not just for the BIG things you do, but all the wonderful little things too!
• A BEST FRIEND is someone who brings out the BEST in YOU.
• If at FIRST you do succeed, try not to look ASTONISHED.
• Once in a while, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of ORDINARY life, Love gives us a FAIRYTALE.
• Life is what HAPPENS to you while you're BUSY making other plans. ~John Lennon
• May every part of your BIRTHDAY have happy in it!
• a new HAND to hold, a new heart to LOVE, a new LIFE to lead.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Full of Life, Always (hearts), Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
 Ribbon: Basic Black Grosgrain
Accessories: Vellum
Tools: Distresser Tool, Paper Snips

Don't forget to visit this blog on March 1 to see the online Occasions Mini.  You can send an order directly from this website!  To do so, just click on the "Order Now" icon on the left hand side.

If you have any questions about this card or if you'd like to place an order, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com.

A Few Months Old

As you may know, I am an avid swapper.  I'm an avid swapper that tends to over do it sometimes!

Stampin' Up! is releasing a new mini catalog - the Occasions Mini - on March 1.  Usually when a new mini is debuted, demos can preorder a month before the release to the general public.  This is so demos can make samples for their customers to ohhh and ahhh over.

Well, if you remember back when SAB was announced, I joined a TON of swaps.  Well, with this new mini, I joined a TON of swaps.  As a result, my poor blog has been totally neglected.  I am *still* working on a couple of more swaps.  When I'm completely done, I'll post what I came up with.

In the meantime, here is a card I did a few months back.  It was done for a Show Us What You Can Do Swap for a invite only demo swap group that I host.  (Yes, I sign up for swaps AND I host them!  Not to mention that I  help moderate the swap forums on SCS.  But, I am going off on a tangent aren't I?)  Anyway... here's a card for you to take a look at until I have something more recent to post.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: En Francais, True Friend, Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive, Whisper White, Pale Plum
Ink: pale Plum, Purely Pomegranate, Old Olive
 Ribbon: 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain, Whisper White Grosgrain, Bravo Burgundy Grosgrain
Accessories: Bravo burgundy Marker, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Rhinestone Brad, Foam Tape
Tools: Oval Punches, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Ticket Punch

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Peony Thanks

So I have been a swappin' fool lately!  I guess that's what happens when a new catalog debuts, a new mini appears, Sale-A-Bration comes along and Regionals take place.  I can't seem to resist joining swaps to get samples for my customers.

Here's one that I did for Kim's new SS08 swap.  I made three cards for this swap.  Here is one of them.  I was to make a card using Pretty Peony.  Some people think there are way too many flower sets in the catalog.  Well, my feeling is that you can't have too many flower stamps!  They are so useful.  They are appropriate for birthday cards, Mother's day, Valentine's day, sympathy, thank you, get well, thinking of you, miss you, love you, and on and on!

I love these two step stamps.  They look complicated, but it is really easy.  I "eyeballed" these, but if you use a Stamp-a-ma-jig, you get flawless flowers.  I would've used my SAMJ, but  couldn't find the imaging sheets!  Here's s tip: store the SAMJ and the imaging sheets together!  lol

To do two step stamping, you want to use two colors that go well together.  One dark and one light.  Stamp the bold image first using the lighter color.  Then stamp the detailed stamp over the bold image using the darker color.

I kept this card simple because I thought the flower was great without all the bells and whistles!

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Pretty Peony, Sincere Salutations
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery Textured Cardstock
Ink: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Certainly Celery
 Ribbon: Old Olive
Tools: Paper Piercer, Distresser Tool, Stipple Brush

If you have any questions about this card, feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com

Anaheim SU Regionals Swap Card #2

Here is another swap card I made for the organized swap I hosted at Regionals.

I love using designer series paper on my cards.  I have tons of background stamps, but I find that DSP is so much easier!

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Big Flowers, Warm Words
Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive
Ink: Old Olive, Soft Sky
Accessories: Fall Flowers DSP, Soft Sky DSP, Soft Sky Double Stitched Grosgrain, Scalloped Circle Punch, Circle Punch, Brad, Distresser Tool

Feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com with any questions about this card.

Don't forget to look at my blog candy post!

Anaheim SU Regionals Swap Card #1

Friday February 1 was Stampin' Up! Regionals held in Anaheim, CA.  It was the first time they held Regionals in California.  I was very excited to be able to go.  I am going to Convention in the summer time, but I needed a SU event fix!  lol

I hosted an SCS swap in which there were 3 groups of 10.  I got some wonderful swaps and had a chance to chat with and meet some wonderful SCSers!  I wish I had thought to snap a picture of us all!

I do have a whole album of photos that I took including pictures of some of the demos the demo group I am part of, pictures of hundreds of fabulous sample cards and pictures of some of the projects and techniques they showcased at Regionals.  I will post a link to the album once I have it all done.

So, this is one of the swap cards I did.  You might notice that there are certain elements that I almost always use.  They are Designer Series Paper, Distresser Tool, Ribbon, Paper Piercer and of course a stamp SU image.

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Always
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Taken with Teal, Old Olive
Ink: Taken with Teal, Old Olive
Accessories: Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain, Circle Punches, Distresser tool, Paper Piercer, Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper.

Feel free to contact me at Michelle@stampworkshop.com with any questions about this card.

Jami's Swap

Here is that card that I showed you a sneak peek of the other day.

My portion of the swap was to make a card using the new Western Sky Designer Series Paper.

To see all the cards that were in Jami's swap, you can click here: JSWAP108

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps: Always
Cardstock: Ruby Red, River Rock, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
Ink: Blue Bayou
Accessories: Western Sky Designer Series Paper, Circle Punches, Soft Sky Double Stitched Grosgrain, Distresser Tool, Paper Piercer, Pop Dots

One More!

Okay, here is the last of my SAB swaps.  This one was for swapper's club that I host.

You may have noticed that all my cards are "boxy".  I don't know what it is with the rectangles.  I have tried to do circles, squares, odd shapes, but I seem to always go back to the rectangles.  I think they come out okay.  lol

Here's the recipe for this card:
Stamps:Merci, Paisley
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Vintage Brads, Pretty in Pink Grosgrain, Aquapainter, Distresser tool, Certainly Celery Designer Series Paper, Dimensionals

Don't forget - SAB starts THIS Friday, Feb 1st!  Here's a recap of the SAB rewards:

• Customers - FREE SAB set with every $50 purchase!
• Hostesses - FREE SAB set with every $300 sold!
• Recruits - ANY FREE set up to a $47.95 value!

Call or email me to place an order or to schedule your workshop or catalog party!

Wanna Swap?

Are you an ATC addict, or have you thought of maybe giving ATCs a go?  Well then, do I have the swap for you!  I am currently hosting an ATC swap on splitcoaststampers.

This swap is an ATC swap using any new set from the Spring Summer 08 Collection.  Haven't ordered yet?  No problem!  This swap is not due until February 25.  Lots of time to order and to make your ATCs!

What?  You don't know what an ATC is?  Here is my recent post talking all about ATCs: Click here.

I'd love to have my blog readers join this swap.  Check it out on splitcoaststampers.  Here is the link.

Happy swappin!

Jami's Swap Sneak Peek

Here's a sneak peek of a card that I will post by the end of the week.  Why just a sneak peek?  Well, read on...

I am lucky enough to be on Jami's swap list.  Now, this isn't just any list, this is a list with some of SplitCoast's finest talent.  (Not that I'm one of them! ROFL)  So, here I am in a swap that has stampers like jbalcer, tayloredexpressions, camsmom, notimetostamp, genie1314.  Okay, so I am shamelessly name dropping.

Anyway, we aren't supposed to post our swaps until after the cards are swapped out and swappers start receiving them.  So, I am posting just a little portion of it just to prove that I've been working on swaps like I've been saying!

It's always intimidating to swap with some of these ladies, but hey, as long as I do my best, I'm good.  *wink*