Ideas a Plenty!

Last night I attended a Shoebox Swap with other Fox Valley Demonstrators. We each prepared a card or project for the group to make as if it was a workshop or stamp camp. My project you'll see while I am at Convention, at the end of July, as I am using it for a swap. It was cool to meet new people and to talk Stampin' Up! We had fun sharing all of our excitement about the new catalog coming out in August and sadness over some favorites retiring (long live Unfrogettable). Thanks Kelly for organizing this event. I enjoyed being a stamp camper again!

Here are five of 12 cards I made. The diversity was overwhelming. I got use techniques I haven't used in a while and learn a couple of new ones. Also, I learned some neat folds and neat layout ideas. Today, I am going to show a few of them closer up and later show others tomorrow on a post.

This stamp set is called Mark the Date. The celebrate is from Celebrate Everything. We also used sanded background. Paper: Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana, Old Olive. Inks: Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana, Old Olive. Accessories: Gold Brads, Paper piercing tool, Spiral Punch. I love the color combo-- the barely Banana brings the darker colors into summer!

This is my favorite for three reasons. 1) It's purple. 2) It uses a new set called Dreams du Jour, and 3) it uses Dazzling Diamond Dust, a favorite technique of mine!

Stamp Set: Dreams du Jour. Paper: Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Bella Rose Designer Series Paper, Kiwi Kiss. Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Versamark. Accessories: Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Powder Pal, Embossing Heat Tool, Stampin' Write Markers, Paper Snips, Cropadile, Certainly Celery Eyelets, Small Oval Punch, More Mustard 1/4 grosgrain ribbon.

This has a secret compartment. The flower part flips open revealing the Bashful Blue flap that opens to reveal the middle. I am sure to CASE (Copy and Share Everything) this idea in an upcoming event! Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks. Paper: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Naturals White, Gable Green. Ink: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Green Galore, Gable Green. Accessories: Word Window Punch, Night of Navy 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon, 3/4 inch circle punch.

This is another fun card. The blue background pieces are junk mail envelopes! So cool! I love creative ideas like this! Stamps: Nursery Necessities, Wonderful Words. Paper: Ballet Blue, Night of Navy, Whisper White. Ink: Night of Navy, Ballet Blue Markers. Accessories: 1 3/8 Square Punch, envelope insides.

So, more ideas tomorrow. I am so excited to share some of these ideas with my customers!