MY SWAPS FOR CONVENTION

Good morning all!!! It is sooooo HOT here in California already - it is 7:30am and already hitting 80 - I think I am going to MELT, ugghhhhhhhhhh!  So, I will be staying in my stamp room today, lol!!!!  I thought today I would share the two swap cards I made for Convention.  I only made two different ones this year since I decided last minute that I was going BUT I think they both turned out cute :-)  The first one is pretty simple (well, they both are really) but I love how it turned out! I used some of the new yummy designer series paper called Paisley Petals - this paper is GORGEOUS, I just love it!! I used the stamp set called Precious Butterflies which is actually a Hostess Set.  Isn't it purdy??!  You can earn this set FREE by hosting a workshop or placing a $150 order - so, what are you waiting for?? *wink* I love all the different sized butterflies you get in this set! I actually stamped directly onto the patterned paper and I quite like the effect! I also used my Eyelet Border punch along the edge of the paper, and added some of the pretty Victoria lace ribbon at the top.  See, pretty simple, right? But, I think it would still make someone smile to receive this one in the mail, don't you?  I am learning that to be pretty, a card does not have to have a million layers on it, lol! But, I still like to make those kinds of cards too *wink*  Here is the recipe for this card - very quick and easy!!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Crumb Cake card stock, Pretty Paisley Designer Series Paper
Inks - Not Quite Navy, Peach Parfait, Old Olive classic inks
Stamps - Precious Butterflies (hostess set)
Tools - Eyelet border punch
Accessories - Victoria lace ribbon

This second card is actually ALMOST a one layer card.  The base of this one is Elegant Eggplant, not a color I normally reach for.  BUT, I wanted to use the new Wisteria Wonder in-color and they go beautifully together.  I took the Wisteria Wonder card stock and embossed it on the Big Shot using our brand new Houndstooth embossing folder - loooovvvve it!!!!!  It makes this card really pop! Then, I used a piece of Rose Red card stock and made that pretty lacy piece using our new ribbon border punch called Lace Ribbon Border punch.  Now, this punch is quite a bit larger than our other border punches so it takes a little getting used to, but once you figure it out, you are punching happily away making beautiful borders for your cards and scrappy pages! I just love it - I mean, I punched 100 of these for my swaps, lol!!! The stamps I used are actually all different - the Baja Breeze circle is stamped with the French Filigree background stamp and the sentiment piece is actually stamped with the Fine Flourish background stamp.  I just love my background stamps, I think they add that perfect texture and dimension that cards need.  The quotation is stamped right over that background and it is also from the Precious Butterflies stamp set.  Such a great versatile set, so much you can do with it. I did add a little Rose Red seam binding ribbon and some small pearls to give it some pretty accents - I mean, every card should have some bling, right, lol??!! Here is the recipe for this card!
Card Recipe:
Paper - Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder card stock
Inks - Baja Breeze, Wisteria Wonder, Rose Red classic inks
Stamps - French Filigree, Fine Flourish, Precious Butterflies (hostess set)
Tools - Big Shot, Houndstooth embossing folder, 2 1/2 inch Circle punch, Designer Label punch, Lace border punch
Accessories - Rose Red seam binding ribbon, basic pearls
I just love swapping and I received some beautiful swaps back this year so I am excited about that!! If you like any (or all, heeheee) the products you see here, you can order them in my online store or contact me and I will be happy to help you place an order! I hope you liked seeing my Convention swaps- I sure liked making them :-)  I will be back tomorrow to share some of the fun gifts I made for my Convention buddies, but until then, go and stamp something, it is the BEST kind of therapy :-)