Convention Swap: Over the Top Tags

Posted on August 14, 2013 by mauistamper

I forgot to share my last organized Convention Swap project!

Postage Due and Loving Thoughts stamp sets
Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, and Sahara Sand card stock
Vellum card stock
Silver Glimmer paper
Calypso Coral and Sahara Sand FFIP
Big Shot
Dress Up and Window Frame Framelits
Fancy Fan TIEF
Bitty Punch pack, Word Window and 1 inch circle punches
Pearl and Rhinestone Jewels
Stampin’ Sponges
Calypso Coral Bakers Twine

This tag measures 3 1/2 x 6 inches. The two base layers were shaped using the Window Frame framelits – just cut your card stock to the width of the framelit, place the framelit at the top of the panel and run into your Big Shot just far enough to cut the top, then back it out.

Love that glimmer paper – I haven’t used it much lately, but Sparkle Season is coming!!

This swap produced absolutely gorgeous samples – thank you, ladies in Group 1- and a special thanks to my swap angel, Lynn Marshall, who stepped in to actually swap my tags when I developed a time conflict.

Convention Swap: Top Notch Swap

Posted on July 31, 2013 by mauistamper

Too Kind was one of my first “Must Have” stamp sets from the 2013-2014 Annual Catalog. It was an easy choice for a swap:

Too Kind, Petite Pairs and French Script stamp sets
Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Very Vanilla and Crushed Curry card stock
Soft Suede, Old Olive, Crumb Cake and Crushed Curry FFIP
Versamark ink pad
Clear Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Embossing Buddy
Linen Thread
Big Shot
Lattice TIEF
Window Frames Framelits
Paper Piercing Tool (aka Pokey Doodle)
Piercing Mat and Festive Paper Piercing pack
Stampin’ Dimensionals

I was surprised to see how much depth of color I achieved by using clear embossing powder for the second part of the two-step stamping. That’s just Versamark with a dunk in the Crushed Curry ink and embossed with clear. (Do you know that technique? If you don’t have embossing powder in a color you want to use, take a clean stamp and ink it with Versamark. Before pressing onto the paper, press your stamp into your colored ink pad. When you stamp, the color transfers onto the paper first and the Versamark sits on top. Quickly cover your image with clear embossing power and heat emboss!)

This card is the other candidate for my Swap Cards class on August 24th. Your vote will help me to decide!

I only made 20 of these cards and I’m glad that’s all I signed up for. This Top Notch swap yielded another set of gorgeous swaps, and everyone really did put their best effort into creating for their fellow demonstrators. Thanks to all the Top Notch swappers!

Convention Swaps: WOW Cards

Posted on July 29, 2013 by mauistamper

I wanted to do another oval card for one of my swaps. It’s fun, it’s easy, it fits in a standard envelope, and you don’t see too much of it.

The technique is simple. You fold a 4 1/4 x 11 inch piece of cardstock in half at the 5 1/2 mark and place the folded side slightly inside of your oval framelit. This works best with our lighter weight cardstocks, Very Vanilla and Whisper White. The framelit will cut cleanly through two layers of these papers, giving you the card base. Once that’s ready, I like to cut another complete oval out of my featured color of cardstock and adhere that to the Very Vanilla card – I use Tombo, the Wonder Adhesive.

Flower Shop and Express Yourself (hostess) stamp sets
Very Vanilla, Pool Party, and Crumb Cake card stock
Epic Day This n That DSP
Bermuda Bay and Daffodil Delight FFIP
Daffodil Delight Seam Binding
Bermuda Bay 1/8 inch taffeta ribbon
Big Shot
Oval Framelits
Honeycomb TIEF
Lattice TIEF
Pansy Punch
Vanilla Smooch Spritz
Dazzling Details
Tombo, the Wonder Adhesive
Stampin’ Sponges
Stampin’ Dimensionals

On August 24th, I’m holding a class to make two of my swaps. We are definitely going to make the Very Vintage card, but I haven’t decided if I should include this card or the Too Kind swap I’ll be posting in a few days. I’d love to hear what you think!

Convention Swaps: Vintage Card

Posted on July 27, 2013 by mauistamper

I really love swapping at Convention each year. I participate in organized swaps for the challenge and quality of swaps received, and I participate in general floor swapping because it’s such fun and it’s a great way to meet new people.

Today’s card is a swap I made for the Very Vintage Swap run by Barbara Welch. I received GORGEOUS swaps in return – everyone did an outstanding job. Hope they liked my card!

Apothecary Art, Loving Thoughts and Affection Collection stamp sets
Naturals Ivory, Pool Party and Crumb Cake card stock
Crumb Cake FFIP
Pool Party Stampin’ Write Marker
Uniball Signo White Gel Pen
Big Shot
Apothecary Accents and Labels Collection Framelits
Beautifully Baroque TIEF
Finishing Touches Edgelits
Tea Lace paper doilies
Pool Party Seam Binding
Linen Thread
Very Vintage Designer Buttons (how could I not?)
Vanilla Smooch Spritz
7/8″ scallop circle punch
silver brads
Stampin’ Sponges
Stampin’ Dimensionals

This card was a labor of love, and I enjoyed every minute of it. One thing I’ve learned over time is that swaps with small group sizes (this one was only 12) are more enjoyable to create and seem to produce better results. It’s just no fun to make 120 of the same card, at least in my opinion!