After having a less than optimal swapping experience in November 2011, I've returned to swapping this month of May. The first swap I joined was for kids' birthday cards, which it seems I never have enough of. So, I found myself wondering what in the world I would start with, when two things came to mind: a fellow stamper's blog with a series using Stampin' Up!'s Sweet Shop specialty designer series paper and the fact that I'd just ordered plenty of products from that product suite. So, I decided to combine the two. I began by taking a second and third (and so on ) look at Catherine Pooler's blog site (www.catherinepooler.com). I decided (as usual) that I wanted to borrow some of the techniques she used in making my cards for swapping. In addition to Catherine's enthusiasm and passion for card-making, I love her simple yet "wow" style. So, I will show you below the cards I made using a combination of Catherine's ideas and my own. I apologize the cards are not properly rotated. I have been putting off this post for 2-3 weeks now, simply b/c I didn't know how to rotate the pictures. I finally decided I would post them as they are.
Initially, I liked the card above better than the one below. So, I made several of the above card to swap.
After I'd completed the cards, I then decided that the bottom card (with the coral strip along the right side) was so much better! Too bad I'd already made several of the top one to swap! And thank goodness I have plenty of product left with which to make as many of the bottom card as my heart desires!
So, I borrowed from Catherine Pooler her use of the houndstooth embossing folder, the scalloped edge border, and the banner containing the sentiment. Thank you so kindly, Catherine!
Then, I was faced with another challenge. As usual for me when placing an order for stamping products, I forgot to order a necessity: the coordinating markers to go with the designer series paper. Of course, I didn't realize this until I sat down with a goal to have the cards made and mailed within 48 hours. So, what was I going to do to "rescue" my card idea? I can't believe I'm going to admit this, but I actually substituted other Stampin' Up! colors, and I cannot tell the difference here! At first, I couldn't tell the difference with the actual cards in front of me, but upon a real close glance, it became more apparent (yet not bothersome) to me.
In the mean time, I've signed up for other card swaps, among them a black-and-white swap (I asked permission to use vanilla and black), a Christmas in July swap with no red or green allowed in their making, and a favorite retired or retiring stamp set swap. I suppose I'd better get busy.
For a future post, I am considering sharing some of my very first ever card designs, which at the time I thought were wonderful. So wonderful that I kept them stashed away in a bag for "keepers" only. Imagine my surprise when the other evening I was going through the "keepers" and said to myself "....I actually thought these were great?!" I couldn't believe my eyes. Stay tuned for more.
