Snow Swirled | The Maui Stamper

Isn’t this the perfect message for December?

Snowflake Soiree and Snow Swirled (retired) stamp sets
Whisper White and Marina Mist card stock
Marina Mist and Night of Navy FFIP
Pool Party Shimmer Spray*
Rhinestone Jewels

December is about Believing…believing the spring will come, believing in Santa and all the goodness he represents, believing in the Christ Child born in Bethlehem, born to redeem us all.

*Shimmer spray is made with a few drops of Stampin’ Up! ink refill mixed with 70% rubbing alcohol and Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint. To my deep dismay, Champagne Mist is now retired. However, as I’ve noted before, these calendar cards were made in a class last January when Champagne Mist was still part of our product line – as was the Snow Swirled stamp set. You’re welcome to improvise!!

And…it’s time to look ahead to 2014! We’ll be making the new Easel calendar this Saturday, December 7 at 9am. It’s $13 for the calendar plus easel or $10 if you have your own easel. Contact me ASAP if you’d like to join us.

Finally, stop by this morning and visit me at the St. Theresa Church Cookie Walk and Craft Fair. It’s in Stawasz Hall at 25 West Lipoa Street, Kihei from 8am until noon. Cookies PLUS Crafts? I don’t see how you could resist 🙂

I’m heading back home from Convention today, and it’s time I shared my swaps. I made two different cards for a WOW swap and this is the first of the two:

Pennant Parade and Snow Swirled stamp set
Whisper White, Pear Pizazz and Cherry Cobbler card stock
Pear Pizazz, Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler Classic ink pads
Petite Pennants Builder punch; Medium Jewelry tag punch
Early Espresso Baker’s twine; Cherry Cobbler seam binding
Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions folder
Rhinestone jewels

I was initially afraid this card didn’t qualify as a WOW swap, but two things changed my mind. The first was the reaction I got from a group of demos (OK, they’re my friends and of course they’re biased) and the second was how many steps it took to make 65 of these! I love detail, and I’m not willing to compromise once I’ve found a design I love, so I stamped and punched, and assembled and tied little knots, and ran cardstock through the Big Shot, and layered and embellished until I was cross-eyed. I confess that I don’t enjoy production in quantity, but once a year for convention I make an exception because of the wonderful swaps I bring home in exchange.

My card as I swapped it used the Sassy Sparkles wheel. I know it seems a little early to think of Christmas (and it gives me a little feeling of panic to realize we’re halfway through JULY) but crafters think ahead. With the amount of work this card took, I have a funny feeling it won’t make it into the final voting round for my family card this year! Back to the drawing board…and the year is still young.