These are a couple of cards I received or made at a shoebox swap I went to at my Upline's Upline. At a shoebox swap each participant designs a card and brings enough supplies for everyone to make one of their cards. The supplies should fit in a shoebox. Some of the ladies were unable to attend the swap so they sent their cards premade. I love participating in swaps even though I don't very often. The theme for this swap was fall or winter. The first card was designed by Adele. As you can tell my wheeling was a little crooked-I should have used the Wheel Guide!
Isn't this the coolest idea? The cattails are punches from the horizontal slot punch (I think that is the name of this punch). The stems are from the Inspired by Nature stamp set. There was no name on this card so I don't know who to give credit to but I love the cattails so I had to share!! We also made some extremely cool necklaces using rubons and glass tile. Debbie Menez (my Upline's Upline) shared this project with us. I will post photos & details of how to make them.
I have some really cool projects to share but I have to get some better photos. I made a Halloween banner but it is very long and hard to photograph-I may have to photo it in parts!
How about a spring flower card in the middle of fall? Here in Kansas City the weather has been rainy and dreary lately. Seems like we have had very few sunny days this fall. I thought this card would make me think of summer & spring and sunshine. I used a couple of colors I haven't used recently. The flower is from Fifth Avenue Floral. It was stamped on Almost Amethyst with Almost Amethyst ink, cut out and painted with Crystal Effects. The middle of the flower is Pretty in Pink and was punched using the Boho Blossom punch and I put a thick layer of CE on it. I like the nice shiney effect of CE but do not always think to use it. Plus sometimes I get impatient and touch it to see if it is dry and ruin it. The leaves were cut using the Little Leaves Sizzlet. I made the two background panels by using the same flower stamp, Pretty in Pink on Whisper White and Almost Amethyst on Almost Amethyst. Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Teeny Tiny Wishes Ink: Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Stazon Black Paper: Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Garden Green Accessories; Crystal Effects, Boho Blossoms punch, Scallop Circle punch,
One of my favorite colors is pink and I love to pair it with black! This pink is Melon Mambo from SU In Colors. It is such a happy color! I suppose this does look like a Valentine card but hearts, pink, polka dots-they just seem to go together. Anyone remember when 50's clothes made a come back in the 80's? I managed a clothing store and I remember lots of pink & black polka dot shirts, with patent leather belts, wide collars and fake handkerchiefs.
This card was made with some of the new DSP in the Holiday Mini Catalog called Night & Day (which reminds me of the Cole Porter song). I love that it comes with two window sheets! The heart on the right was made by punching with the heart punch and layering a small piece of the polka dot window sheet behind. The white polka dot paper is from the same DSP. I added a few dots with the white gel pen, a little ribbon and a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes.
So here is a little Cole Porter from Fred Astaire.
This is such an easy project to make. The outside panels are chipboard coasters covered with Ruby Red DSP from the Hostess Patterns pack. The inside panels are two 4" x 12" Ruby Red strips that were scored at 4" and 8" and folded accordian style. I used a paper hinge on the outside to hold the two 4" x 12" panels together. I glued the first fold to the inside of the chipboard coasters, added some Sage Shadow panels and decorated the front. I did not have any Sage Shadow ribbon so I used a little strip of paper. The ribbon is the retired Riding Hood Red taffeta (which I miss TERRIBLY!!) and it was simply attached under the front & back panels; it does not go around the back of the photo album. I did not decorate the inside but it could have a Christmas poem on one panel, stamped images, words or photos.
I still use a glue stick to attach paper to chipboard; I think it works best and it dries quickly. I may make a few of these to give as last minute gifts or simply to place around the room to decorate for Christmas. Stamps: Holiday Tag Team Ink: Sage Shadow, Ruby Red Paper: Ruby Red, Sage Shadow, Kraft, Ruby Red DSP
My new favorite thing is . . . . shimmer paint! Look what a little Champagne Frost shimmer paint can do for plain, old chipboard! The shimmer paints are in the Holiday Mini Catalog and come in three flavors: Champagne Frost, Frost White, Platinum. The Champagne Frost and Frost White are translucent and the Platinum is opaque. The Champagne & White can be used as a wash over your projects whereas the Platinum will cover completely. The snowflake on this card is chipboard that I painted with the Champagne Frost using a cheap dollar store paint brush. It dries very quickly and a little paint goes a long way. The embossed piece was embossed using the Finial Press Embossing folder and then I added a little Champagne Frost shimmer paint using a sponge dauber. The card base is Sahara Sand. I can't emphasize enough how easy and how fast the shimmer paint goes on chipboard. You can also mix it with reinkers and either paint with it or daub it on a stamp and stamp. Another cool technique is to ink your stamp with classic ink and then daub on some shimmer paint and then stamp. For those of you who don't like to get glitter everywhere this is an easy way to get a little shimmer!!
Here is one more Charming card! I just can't help it; I love using this set. See the sentiment at the bottom-well the first time I stamped this I stamped the "Happy Birthday" upside down! Yep, upside down and not because the stamp was mounted wrong just because I did not pay attention. Fortunately the word window punch helped with my cover-up! Usually while I stamp I watch my portable DVD player. I know better than to watch anything too intense because I get distracted and make all kinds of disasters! Right now I am watching Alias (thanks to Contessa Kris loaning me her copies) and there are many car chases, fights and breath holding moments. Where are those Disney movies????
I am working on Christmas cards right now but it just seems too early too start posting them. Maybe I will give a sneak peak of what we will be making at the Stamp-a-Stack. Normally, I have my own personal Christmas cards done by October but not this year. I do have about half cut but not stamped, embossed or put together. Oh well there is always tomorrow!!! Paper: Night of Navy, Real Red DSP, Bashful Blue, Ink: Whisper White craft, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Real Red Stamps: Charming, Teeny Tiny Wishes
