Last of the swaps

This is the last of the swaps from the Tartan Stampers Mini Convention back in April.

As well as being a very pretty card I also learned a new way to make a flower embellishment. The best way I can describe it is that you cut scallops along a piece of satin ribbon and then attach the ribbon to a circle of cardstock. You then heat the ribbon with a heat tool until the edges start to melt - but not too much, we don't want it to go on fire!

And this sweet little covered notebook was Laura's swap. I loved the little 3d hearts and the colours really make it pop.

 This next card is fab as well. This was Lorraine's swap and another new technique! The background is En Francais and then the floral stamp from Just Believe was stamped in Versamark and then embossed with white embossing powder using the heat tool. The next bit was the clever bit. Colour was added to the background using shaving brushes! I really liked this effect as it was softer than brayering and there was no danger of any hard edges when you use too much ink! Or is that just me!

 And last but not least was Carolyn's elegant scrapbook page that uses the Mocha Morning papers. Can you believe I have a pack of this paper that I have not even opened yet! I think that will have to be added on to my (ever increasing) list of projects to use/make.

 

And remember there are just two weeks left of the Everyday Enchantment promotion.

For every £45 you spend on Stampin’ Up! products, you’ll get a FREE Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad pack—exclusive to this promotion and only available while supplies last. Contact me today to place your order!

Gerberas

Gerbera are my favourite flowers so I was delighted when I stumbled across this fabulous tutorial for making a paper version whilst browsing the internet (as you do!)

Sweet Pea Stamped Art Gerbera Tutorial

I was really pleased with how they turned out. Basically I used pretty much every blue that Stampin' Up! has across the main colour families and the in-colours. There's also a Very Vanilla flower in there which has been stamped with the En Francais background stamp.

Convention Swaps

Part of the fun of Stampin' Up! Convention is swaps. Basically most of the demonstrators who attend make up lots of swap cards all the same and then swap them with other demonstrators. That way you end up with lots and lots of different cards. I absolutely loved taking part in this as I now have approximately 60 gorgeous cards full of new ideas and that are sparking my own creativity.

Here are the swaps I made:These use the Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper. These papers are perfect for this type of card as they are patterned on both sides.


I made up cards using the same design in four different colour ways.




My next design used the Eiffel Tour stamp from the new Artistic Etchings set. I bought these stamps in the clear mount option. These stamps are the same red rubber (NOT clear polymer) as the usual wood mounted stamps but they have a sticker that goes directly onto the back of the grey cushioning foam and then they stick directly onto a clear stamping block. They are fab! I think I now prefer them to the wood mount stamps now.

The sentiments are from the level 3 hostess set Occasional Words - one of the many benefits of being a Stampin' Up! demo is that we have the opportunity to purchase both a Level 2 and a Level 3 hostess set before the launch of the new catalogue.

The brad is from the Hodgepodge Hardware kit and the background stamp is En Francais (mais oui! LOL ). I can't tell you how quick and easy these cards were to make but lets say I started them at 10:40pm the night before I flew down to Convention!


My 3D swaps will follow soon, plus card candy and then some photos of some of the swaps I received in return at Convention. I'll also have them on display if you are coming along to my workshop on Thursday 18 November - my place 10am-12 noon. Please call (07949 101534) or email (thefineartofstampin@gmail.com) as soon as possible if you would like to come along.

Maggie
xxx