Well, Friday was at least, for my friend Mary.  I’m always trying to come up with something special for my friends.  This is the card that Mary got from me for her birthday this year.

Playful Petals Birthday Card

I used the set Playful Petals, which is available online even though it’s not in the catalog.  The base of the card is Almost Amethyst and I also used the Tea Party DSP.  The Ribbon is the So Saffron ribbon from Sale-A-Bration. And the border was created using the eyelet border punch.

Sorry for the silence!  It’s less than 2 weeks to convention and I’ve been a busy bee working on swaps!   Most of my swaps I’ll be waiting to share the week of convention – but I think I can share this one with you now. . . . .

This CD photo album was featured in the Parade of Papers blog hop back in May.  I redid it for a swap that I’m in  at the STAMPIN’ UP! Convention in Salt Lake City!

I’m really happy with how this one turned out.    I used the Tea Party DSP – I’m so happy it made it to the new catalog!  The coordinating accents and paper are in Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron and Almost Amethyst.  The inks used are Always Artichoke, Pink Passion and Almost Amethyst.   If you’d like a copy of the instructions, leave me a comment with your email address and I’ll send it to you.

Here’s the front of the album.

Here’s a picture of the inside of the album:

Here’s some closeups of the picture pages. . . . .

I hope you enjoyed this project!  I’m definitely excited about being at convention.   Today was registration and the fun has already begun!  I’ll be sharing some of the swaps I’ve received when I get home from convention!

Dawnmarie

I’m back from the beach – it was a wonderful week spent with family, just relaxing on the beach, reading, telling stories, and making memories.   I’m fully refreshed and ready to get to swap making – only a little over 2 weeks until I’m in SLC for Stampin’ Up!’s convention!  I’m so excited.

I was looking through some of my favorite blogs for ideas for my Destin pictures.   I really like this father’s day album on Candace’s blog.  I think it would make a great small album for my cousin that got married this week.  There are so many ways you could modify this!  I absolutely love it!  As soon as my swaps are done, I’m going to be trying my hand at this one!

I like the layout of this scrapbook page she did as well.  I can already imagine some of our beach pics displayed this way.

Candace's Scrapbook page

I’m off to stamp some – I’m itching to get inky again!  I’ll be working on Convention Swaps!  I can’t wait!

Yes, I’m still in Destin, FL.  Still sitting on the beach, reading a good book and relaxing with the family – and I’m going to be selfish and enjoy my vacation for 1 more day – so here’s a few more swaps to tide you over.  I promise that Sunday will be one of mine!!

Kit Richie made this card using our new Animal Stories set with Teeny Tiny Wishes. It also features our new coordinating Animal Stories designer series paper too.    Isn’t it so cute!

Kit's card

One more for you – and then I really have to go back to the beach.  Those waves are calling my name. . . . .

This one’s by Aniko Brewer and features the new Razzle Dazzle stamp set.   I love the window pane look she gave it.

Aniko's Card

Hope you enjoyed today’s cards.  It’s back to the beach for me!

Dawnmarie

I’m still broadcasting from sunny Destin, FL!  For some reason, I’m having a hard time making new projects.  The beach keeps calling my name!  I guess that’s what vacation is for – so here are a few more swaps from this month’s meeting all using the new set Circle Circus.

The first one was the most popular one at our meeting – and I can’t remember the name of the lady who made it!  Hopefully someone will tell me so I can put her name on here.  She really did a great job with this one.

This one was done by Mona and also uses our top note die.

Mona's Card

This one was done by Heather – it’s got a great fall feel to it.

Heather's Card

Isn’t this set so versatile!  There are so many things you can do with it!

Well, back to the sun and surf!  More on Friday!

Dawnmarie

So,  I’m still in Destin, enjoying the sun, sand and surf.  It’s absolutely gorgeous here!  I’m loving it.

Today’s projects are two more of the swaps from this month’s demonstrator meeting.  These both use the new level 3 hostess set Asian Artistry.  Aren’t they beautiful!

The first card , made by Bonnie, uses Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Very Vanilla and Basic Black card stock.

Bonnie's Card

The second card by Martyz uses the Raspberry Lemonade DSP.

MARTYZ card

Isn’t the new stuff just wonderful!   If you don’t have the new catalog yet,  make sure to contact me to order one!

Dawnmarie

I’m so excited to be headed to Destin for the next week!    This week I’ve been working on convention swaps that I can’t show you yet!  But I promise to have some projects to share when I return from Destin.

For the next week, I’ll be sharing  some of the cards that I received at this month’s demonstrator meeting swap.  We have some really talented ladies!  These cards showcase new sets from the catalog and they are incredible!

Today, I’m featuring Kathleen’s card ( which was one of the group’s favorites!).  To see more of Kathleen’s work, check out her blog.  This is a wonderful fall card using one of our new sets (that’s also one of my new favorites!)  I really love how she stamped the different Herbs to look like grass.   It’s beautiful!

Kathleen's Card

Here’s a view of the inside of the card:

Inside of Kathleen's card

Recipe:  Stamps – Herb Expressions, Holiday Best;  Paper – Chocolate Chip textured, Dusty Durango,  Whisper White;  Ink – Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango;  Accessories – Dusty Durango Ribbon, Butterfly Punch, White Gel Pen.

Hope you enjoyed Kathleen’s card!

Dawnmarie

Last night was our local demonstrators meeting.  Between the holiday, and having company, and getting ready to be out of town again, I was a little pressed for time to create my swaps.   Luckily, my first order from the new catalog arrived just in time!

I ended up playing with the new embossing folder – Elegant Bouquet – It is so easy to use and makes a great starting point.

Elegant Bouquet Cards

I used some of our new In colors – Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry and random sentiments from the new set Teeny Tiny wishes.  I sanded the image after embossing, and used the white gel pen to  color the centers of the flowers.   The sentiments are layered using the small oval, large oval, and scalloped oval punches.

Here’s a close up of the card to show more of the embossing detail.

Melon Mambo Happy Birthday

I’ve been looking for inspiration for my convention swaps that I absolutely must get started on soon!  Convention is just a few weeks away!   One of my favorite places to look for inspiration is on my fellow demo’s blogs.   I was looking through Paula’s blog  and found this absolutely cute peaks and valley card.  I think I will definitely have to try this for one of my convention swaps!

And here’s some other projects Paula’s done that use our new products!  These are so cute, I just had to share them!

Time to get off of here and get stampin’!

If you loved the stamp set, Season of Friendship, that was in last year’s Holiday Mini Catalog. . . .  I’ve got great news!  It’s back!  It’s in the new catalog and available to be ordered!

This is a fun set and so versatile.    Here’s a fall card made using Season of Friendship.

Friendship Note Card

Here’s the recipe for this card.

Paper:  Old Olive, Very Vanilla, and Kraft card stock.   Ink:  Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust.  Accessories:  Jumbo Eyelets, Tag corner punch, scallop edge punch.

Stampin Addicts has tons of ideas using the Stampin’ Up! Big Shot and is giving away a Big Shot Die Pack as part of the Stampin’ Up! summer celebration. If you haven’t checked it out – Stop by today!