Thanks! I appreciate you!

For the past 6 weeks or so, whenever I sign into my Constant Contact account (the site I use to send my newsletters), I've been greeted with "Thanks! You're Awesome! We appreciate your business!"

How awesome is that? Yes, I know that the same message probably appears on EVERY SINGLE account, but it still makes me smile. How often has a big company told YOU that you're appreciated?

Did you place an order in January/February? If so, THANKS!!! I'm a bit late in getting these out, but I wanted to show you what you'll be receiving:

I started off with one of the swap cards that I took to Leadership. I had a few left over and thought they would be PERFECT thank you cards! So, I trimmed down the Lucky Limeade layer and added it to a Very Vanilla card base. I hand cut the typewriters (because YOU are just that awesome!) and added the little thank you banner, both from the You're My Type set.

The Fresh Vintage set is one that I earned for free when I ordered $60 worth of stamping goodness during Sale-a-Bration. There's still 30 days left to take advantage of the Sale-a-Bration offer! I don't often wish for SAB sets to carry over, but this Fresh Vintage set is one that I wish WOULD carry over! It's so versatile and well...VINTAGE!

What do you think?

STAMPS: You're My Type, Fresh Vintage (SAB set, available till March 31st)
INK: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede
PAPERS: Very Vanilla and Lucky Limeade Cardstock; Everyday Enchantment DSP
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Brads, Colour Spritzer, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Stampin'!

What's the definition of CASE?

When I first started my foray into paper crafts (many years ago) as a scrapbooker, the ladies on the board I often frequented said it meant "Copy And Steal Everything". Well...that didn't sound very nice.

Then, someone started saying it meant "Copy And Share Everything". Now that sounded much better.

Recently, someone said it meant "Copy And Selectively Edit". THAT makes sense!

Although a lot of times when I find a card I REALLY love, I don't edit...ANYTHING. I just copy it and I ALWAYS give credit (as long as I remember to remember where I saw it in the first place - old age is NOT to be trifled with!).

Today's card actually WAS selectively edited and it's another Ann Schach. Geez! She must think I'm a stalker - LOL!

You can see her card here and here's mine:

The plan is to use up the retiring In Colours (Blushing Bride, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade) before they become "old news" on May 31st, 2012. Now, don't get me wrong, all these colours are WONDERFUL but since I'm a business demonstrator, I can't be making cards to showcase with products that are no longer available. Besides, I need to make room for all the NEW In Colours of 2012-2014! And no...I have NO idea what they are yet - LOL!

When Ann made her card, she used Poppy Parade and challenged me to use a DIFFERENT retiring In Colour and you can see that card tomorrow.

Today's card features the last of my Poppy Parade (I have a few scraps left) and two full sheets of the Sale-a-Bration Everyday Enchantment paper. I made a total of 12 cards today. I didn't add sentiments because I'll either use them as notecards or give them to a dear friend to use as part of her auction table for a fundraiser she's doing for her daughter.

Since I'd already cut the DSP (I mentioned to Ann that I was very thankful for her card as I had cut my DSP and then lost my train of thought!), I added a piece of Poppy Parade behind it.

I stamped the main image from Fresh Vintage in Poppy Parade on Very Vanilla and layered it on Poppy Parade DSP (from the paper stack) and another piece of Very Vanilla.

AFTER I adhered the image panel (oh! this was VERY clever - NOT!) I decided to add ribbon - sheesh! Good thing I used Stampin' Dimensionals! I added the ribbon and brad and then stuck all the layers to my Very Vanilla card base.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Fresh Vintage
INK: Poppy Parade; Soft Suede for sponging
PAPERS: Very Vanilla and Poppy Parade Cardstock; Everyday Enchantment and Poppy Parade DSP
ACCESSORIES: Brads, Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponges

Happy Stampin'!

Here we go round the blogging bush...

...or maybe not. Never mind - LOL! I was trying to be funny, but maybe it's too early in the day for that?

Anyway...I wasn't going to participate in this blog tour, because having just come back from Leadership and trying to get back into the swing of things, I didn't want to add something MORE to my plate.

However, Patti twisted my arm asked nicely and I just couldn't turn her down! So, I'll be showing you three of the swap cards that I did for Leadership! One is from the Occasions Mini, one is from the Sale-a-Bration brochure and one is from the Idea Book and Catalogue. We're supposed to featuring Occasions/SAB, so I sure hope you don't mind the addition of something from the big catty. You don't, do you?

Here's the first card I did:

It was for general swapping. At most Stampin' UP! events there is general swapping. You make as many cards as you'd like to receive back and walk around saying, "Are you swapping? Are you swapping? Are you swapping?" as many times as you have cards until you've given away all of your and received as many back...or until you're hoarse...whichever happens first. It's great for getting new ideas!

This one was a CASE from the Occasions Mini and another demonstrator (whose name escapes me - SORRY!) and it was a LOT of fun to make. I spent the afternoon stamping with my downline (who also went to Leadership) and even though I made FORTY!!! the time seemed to go really fast while I was creating them. I guess that's what happens when you're stamping with friends.

My second card was made using the Bordering on Romance Set from the Occasions Mini:

This one was for an organized swap. This means you get together with other demonstrators at a pre-determined time and place and swap with JUST those demonstrators. Lyssa organized this swap and it was just AMAZING! Not a bad one in the bunch!

I stamped the image with Staz-On and watercoloured it (times 20!). It was time consuming, but the result was definitely worth it! Then...thanks to Ann Schach and the fact that Santa brought me Sharpies this year for Christmas, I added coloured rhinestones - LOVE this effect! I also used my FAVOURITE paper from the Occasions Mini - Twitterpated. It's a REALLY good thing we got more of it at Leadership, because I just LOVE IT!!!

My third card features French Foliage which can be found in the Idea Book and Catalogue:

This was also for an organized swap, again hosted by Lyssa. Have I mentioned that she's AWESOME?

I started off with a piece of Very Vanilla and scored it using the Simply Scored (BTW, there's a new diagonal plate coming out!) and then stamped and sponged my way to the panel you see on the card. Lots of work, but well worth it!

Now...if you'd like to try out SUDSOL where you can learn LOTS of techniques and see ALL kinds of inspiration, you can start with my gallery here. I host the Chat and Challenge once a month, so you'll see a lot of sketches there, but also LOTS of cards! I've been the featured stamper as well as on the SUDSOL design team in the past.

One of my FAVOURITE parts about SUDSOL is the fact that a LOT of the samples are EXCLUSIVE! This means that if you're a demonstrator, your customers won't have seen the same ideas all over the internet. As SUDSOL members, we share freely, but it's just between us! And did you know that as a demonstrator you can try out SUDSOL for FREE for two weeks? Just click on the link in my right hand sidebar.

I do hope you've enjoyed this stop on the tour and that you'll continue along right to the end.

What do you think?

STAMPS: Fresh Vintage, Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess Set), Bordering on Romance, French Foliage
INK: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede, Island Indigo, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke
PAPERS: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy and Cajun Craze Cardstock; Everyday Enchantment, Twitterpated and Well Worn DSP; Watercolour Paper
ACCESSORIES: Punches, Basic Pearls, Watercolour Crayons, Aqua Painters, Basic Rhinestones, Simply Scored, Sponges, Mini Library Clips, Stampin' Dimensionals

CONTINUE on the Blog Tour
Elaine de Montmorency	Jane Hignite

*DISCLAIMER*
Yes, I know some of the colours look wonky. Photoshop and I are not getting along right now and I'm having to use an online photo editor. Rest assured that the colours I listed in the supplies are accurate. Sometimes what you see is NOT what you get. *sigh*

Happy Stampin'!