And yet - another swap card that I made the other day. This one is for February (my early card since I was late with two of them!). I really like this Valentine’s Day card because it isn’t pink or red. LOL

All images, paper and ink Copyright Stampin’ Up. I used Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal and Whisper White paper, Certainly Celery ink, Sage Advice stamp set and clear embossing powder. The rhinestones are from Target.

See, a quote! I like that I lined up the hearts and the quote against the stripe, but sort of feel like something is missing in the space. I try not to always center everything – a drawback from my Desktop Publishing teacher drilling it into us that center everything is not a good thing. LOL

Oh and you can’t really tell from this scan of the card but the inside of the hearts I filled with embossing powder so they are shiny.

I try to send Valentine’s cards out every year - at least to my Mom, Dad, Grandma and nephews. I’m not sure if I’m going to use this card though. Well I mean, I’d have to make more because I just made the few to send out and one for myself! In my card making I found a LOT of pink paper … so maybe I will have to just go with pink.

Remember I mentioned being two cards behind in my card swap group with friends? Well way back in November my group swap theme was Red ~ just anything red, red card, paper, ink, etc. I picked red as an accent on a welcome card:

All image, paper, stamps and ink Copyright Stampin’ Up. I used Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel and Whisper White paper, Ruby Red and Chocolate Chip ink, Warm Words and Fresh Fillers stamp sets. The ribbon and rhinestones are from Target.

I like this design but feel like something is missing. Maybe something should be on the ribbon? Maybe there should be not as many flowers? I’m not sure. I do like the overall design though.

A lot of the stamps that I own are words ~ quotes or words that make up something a phrase, like Happy Birthday or Merry Christmas. I’ve always been a writer and assume that’s why I am drawn to the words. I like the images, but find I don’t have the patience to color a stamp multiple colors or to even just color something in. I have both the SU chalks and the watercolor crayons (I bought them before I joined SU – the chalks come with the demo kit) and have never used the chalks and only used the crayons a few times. I wish I wanted to use them more, I probably need to find designs that I like and just run with it. I’ve done projects with the watercolor crayons and oh my gosh they are so fun to play with and just beautiful. That’s it, I just need more project ideas!

Yesterday I shared the pink Birthday Card that I sent to be swapped with my team at the demo meeting. I also do a monthly card swap with a few friends back in WA State. We pick a monthly theme and then each make cards that go along with that. I am late with two cards (Nov & Dec) though. To make up for the lateness, I am also mailing my February card early! So anyway, yesterday I sent them each four cards. Here is one ~

All images, paper, stamps, ink and punch Copyright Stampin’ Up. I used Almost Amethyst, Blush Blossom, Apricot Appeal and Whisper White paper; Happy Everything stamp set; Flower punch and Blush Blossom ink. The eyelet came from a pack I bought at Target.

Sidenote about Target: You are stopping by the dollar section when you go right? I love that spot! And of course it is placed perfectly, at the front of the store where you can’t miss it. I think it was right before Christmas that they had the section stocked with scrapbooking/stamping/card making supplies. I grabbed some stickers and eyelets and also grabbed rhinestones that were in their stationary/scrapbooking section that were on clearance.

I am still loving this card design! I liked it so much that I made it my group swap birthday card. I picked paper color and just went with it. The stamp set come with other words - days, life, everything to name a few - and I want to experiment with different words with this design. And probably different embellishments too - flowers won’t work for everything. I need to make a birthday card for my Aunt’s birthday next month so I think her card will be the first I’ll experiment with.

I joined Stampin’ Up a couple of months ago – strictly as a hobby demo. That means I don’t hold parties, actively recruit anyone and just buy for myself. Yes, I am that addicted. LOL

This is the first month that I am making my own swap cards for my team demo meeting. My team is actually back in WA State, I signed up with one of my very good friends there. It is all her fault I love this! She made a set of cards for me for a previous demo meeting so I was a little nervous to make my own.

All images, paper, stamps, ink, eyelet and punch Copyright Stampin’ Up. I used Pretty In Pink, Perfect Plum, Sage Shadow and Whisper White paper, Happy Everything stamp set, Perfect Plum ink, Soft Subtles eyelets and Flower Punch.

I made a pink Happy Birthday card! The design is all my own too. The only thing I was thinking was I wanted a strip or I wanted half of the card to be a different color. I really like how this turned out – simple and pretty. I can’t wait to see what cards I get back!

I feel so bad! I did the last month of the color swap - September, which was red and pink. I took a picture of my swap and never posted it!

I love it! See the little wrinkled packages by the pen and tomato pin cushion? It’s tea! Tea leaves that bloom into a flower when you put them in the water. I still haven’t tried them, it’s just now starting to cool off here so I know I’ll try them soon.

The yarn has been claimed by Alice (DD) for blankets for her groovy girls. Have you seen those dolls? I love them!

I put the candle on my desk and have been buring it a little each day. It’s apple cinn and smells SO good in here. It is a great fall scent.

Okay way back when in August LOL I was matched up with Sam over at Compassion Knits. Sam is awesome! She is such a nice, chatty person. I loved that. I’ve always enjoyed emailing people, it’s fast and easy and if you want to do it at midnight you don’t have to worry about then being awake.

Anyway, Sam and I chatted often during our colorswap month and I was SO excited to realize that she knitted a hat for me!

Of course, two minutes after I opened my package, Alice grabbed the hat and declared it was hers. She does look so cute though doesn’t she? I said she could have it because she seemed to fall in love with it instantly, it’s waiting on her dresser for when the weather cools.

And, sadly, I can’t find any of the other pictures I took of my swap box.

I just went searching one more time and I found them! They were in a totally unrelated folder (I try to stay organized with my pictures, for that someday when I print them LOL)

Sam sent me very cool stuff: boston baked beans (also stolen by Alice), shortbread (I hid that for me!), a couple of craft organizers, and a great little carrier with thread and material - and the lion material is SO cute! I haven’t used it for anything - yet. I have this idea for a bedset for my son. His room right now is the ocean and my Mom is making him a blanket. But he needs more then one (ha, like he only has one LOL) and a lion would be so cute. Especially because he’s been going around roaring lately, because he is of course a lion.

We have another (the last!) project colorswap this month. Look for a picture posted sooner next time!

(As always, click on pictures to make them bigger.)

Finally I am posting about the great stuff that Elizabeth sent me!

Check out the picture here at Flickr - the picture has notes.

I love it all! I love notebooks and the purple one is right on top of my desk already being used. I too am a list maker - have been since I was a little girl. This is perfect! (I should probably take a picture of all of my notebooks. LOL)

The bead book is so great! It has projects and my mind is spinning with the great things I can make. And, even better, I think I have beads that would look great. We (the kids and I) have been using the flower paper punch -they love to punch, I made a couple of cards. We’ve been using the wig jig writer to make loopy candy canes and my daughter is itching to help make bracelets with the beads.

Thank you so much Elizabeth!