Swaps, swaps and more swaps

Yesterday I headed off for a spot of training Stampin' Stars style with my fellow Stampin' Stars demos. I had a fun packed day down in Crawley. There is a slightly serious side to the day - it is after all "training" but training Stampin' Up! style involves meeting other demos, swapping business ideas and project ideas and making a few things too. Needless to say there was a lot of fun and laughter going on too.

Here's the swap that I took with me.

This is a mini version of the picture frame that I made and posted a week or so ago - see Don't Forget your Handbag. The only real difference (apart from the size) is that I used the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder to make the frame instead of the Simply Scored Board that I used on the picture to make the scored edges (you couldn't see them too well in the photo).

I made 12 of these (including one for myself) and here's some of the swaps I received in return. Apologies for the poor photos - believe it or not, the sun was still out when I got home!

Clockwise from top left - Paula, Pat, Carolyn
and Christine 

Clockwise from top - Jackie, Nicky and Gill

Clockwise from top left - Teresa, Stephanie-Emma,
TeeJ, and Rebecca

Those of you coming to class this month will be able to see all these gorgeous swaps in person. The photos simply don't do them justice.

Don't forget your handbag

I am not one of those women who has a huge collection of shoes. But I must confess that my weakness is handbags. Not that I have hundreds - only seven or eight. Some of these I have had for nearly 10 years but I'm just too fond of them to find them another home.

After I'd finished taking the photos for yesterday's blog I realised that there was something extra that could be added. Stampin' Up! doesn't have an accessories die to go with the Dressed Up Framelits die but it does have the next best thing. The Cup Cake Builder Punch. I can hear a quizzical "what?" from some of you, but yes you can make a handbag using a few punches.

Here's some photo's of yesterday's 3D project with the handbags now added. I think that they look super cute.

Stampin' Up! supplies used (See blog from 25 March for original supply list)

Card Stock : Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse and Raspberry Ripple
Designer Series Paper : Print Poetry Stack and Comfort Cafe
Accessories : 3/4" and 1/2" Circle punches, Cup Cake Builder punch, Basic Pearls

Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know which colour way you like the most.

Lots of swaps to share

A couple of weeks ago I took part in a Mini Catalogue swap with some of the lovely ladies on the In Love With Stamping web-site. There were 20 of us but we decided to split into groups of 10, so I made 11 swaps (remembering to keep one for myself and also sending one to Pat who organised the swap as a Thank You since she was not in my group) and received 9 in return.

Here are photos of the 10 from my group (including mine). I have split the cards into groups depending on the stamp set used. I have set this up so that if you click on people's names you will be taken to their blogs.

The cards in this first photo were made using the Create a Cupcake stamp set and matching builder punch. The top card with the cute button was made by Tara Chaplin , the cute handbag (yes a handbag from a cup cake punch) was made by Sandra Roberts and the lovely sparkley cup cake was made by Jo Blackman.

The next set of cards were made using the Charming stamp set. The top one was made by Donna Keene and the bottom one by Leanne Weaver.

The next lovely card was made using the My Friend stamp set and some of the Pocketful of Posies Designer Series Paper by Natalie O'Shea. Natalie is my Stampin' Up! Grandma and I will be working closely with her in February at the Make It Show that is to be held in Farnborough. I will be posting more exciting news about this in the next few days.

This last group was made using the Spiced Paisley stamp set and also the Spice Cake Designer Paper.  Starting at the top and going clockwise we have one made by Elaine Smith, next with the butterfly is the one from Ally Fiddy, the bottom card was made by Clare Gayford and last but not least the one on the left was made by me.

I hope you have enjoyed having a look at the swaps I received.  They are gorgeous and I now have lots of ideas and inspiration for future projects.

If you get a chance, please check back in the next few days to see some more Sale-a-Bration samples.