Here are all our swap cards all set out together, ready for swapping:
Our swap theme this month was masculine cards (always challenging!!!), using either sets that are new or carrying over into the 2016-17 Catalog. As demonstrators, we were able to do a pre-order of select new items, and I think you'll soon see which one was a favorite in the group to meet this challenge! ;)
Judy-Ann actually used three brand new stamp sets to create her wonderfully manly creation -- Painter's Palette (easel), Swirly Bird (for the sun, boat and sky in her painting on the easel and for the splatter background on the layer underneath the easel), and Thoughtful Banners ("Happy Birthday" greeting). Judy's card also features Dapper Denim -- one of the new 2016-2018 In Colors!
Fanny also used the boat image from Swirly Bird for her fabulous card, but she combined it with the coordinating Swirly Scribbles Thinlets, and did a bit of sponging of sky and sea to create this fabulous card, featuring a Real Red, Marina Mist and Whisper White color scheme:
The bakers twine adds the perfect touch to her nautical-themed card!
As you can see, looking ahead to the next card, great minds think alike! Margery used a similar layout on her card, but rather than sponging to create her sea and sky, die cut the "waves" with white and added a Bermuda Bay layer behind that (hard to tell from the photo, but it is popped up on dimensionals, as are the boat and sun, to give a fun 3D effect!). Margery's sky is created with the splatter stamp from Swirly Bird, and she managed to use 4 of the new In Colors on her card -- Dapper Denim for the base (and image around the greeting), Peekaboo Peach for the sun and greeting, plus Flirty Flamingo and Sweet Sugarplum on the sails! And, her greeting is created with the new Thoughtful Banners stamp set:
And, I actually also used Swirly Bird and the coordinating Swirly Scribbles Thinlets on my card. I was inspired by a sample on page 152 of the new catalog, to use a portrait orientation, and have my scene be on a narrow bit of paper. Inspired by a painting class the night before I made this card, I decided to sponge on a sunrise sky (with Pool Party at the top, Peekaboo Peach next, and Daffodil Delight) and an ocean with a bit of Pool Party then Dapper Denim. The Swirly Scribbles die cut piece is also Dapper Denim. The Real Red layer is embossed with the Lucky Stars Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. My greeting also comes from the Thoughtful Banners stamp set (stamped in Peekaboo Peach and Dapper Denim), and is punched out with the coordinating Duet Banner punch:
We also had some amazing swaps with continuing sets!!!
Connie S. created this very dapper masculine birthday note card using the Guy Greetings stamp set and Timeless Textures:
And, here's the inside:
Connie also showed us this amazing graduation card she created using the May Paper Pumpkin kit (Many Manly Greetings) and her Large Numbers Framelits:
Plus, Connie shared with us a great demo on how to sponge with a makeup applicator,
which you can store right inside with your ink pad:
Such a clever idea!!!
Christina created this awesome tropical card with the Botanical Blooms stamp set and coordinating Botanical Builders Framelits:
Jana's card also uses the "Happy" from Crazy About You, but she repeatedly stamped it across the top of her card base to create a wonderful background! She also used the Woodgrain Embossing Folder to add a bit of texture, and the new Thoughtful Banners set and coordinating Duet Banners punch to add the rest of her greeting:
Nancy's greeting also comes from the Crazy About You stamp set, and her cool color blocked card has "Happy" embossed with white embossing powder and "Birthday" stamped in Night of Navy, for a very sophisticated look:
Agnes used the perfectly-timed May Paper Pumpkin kit, Many Manly Greetings, plus some wooden accents from the June 2015 Happy Thoughts Paper Pumpkin kit, to create her fun and fabulous masculine cards:
And here's my rendition of the make and take Judy designed for us using the new Swirly Bird set, Swirly Scribbles Thinlets, and Endless Birthday Wishes with Peekaboo Peach, Sweet Sugarplum, and Emerald Envy:
Plus, I couldn't resist showing you this beautiful card I received from Judy, made with the retiring Floral Wings hostess set (don't miss out on this one, only available through May 31st or while supplies last!):
Whew, that was a long post! Thanks for sticking with me through it! Hope you enjoyed the amazing ideas and inspiration from my group as much as I did!!!
If you are interested in joining my SUper Friends group as a demonstrator, there is an amazing special coming up on Stampin' Up!'s starter kit next month (you will be able to choose two additional stamp sets for FREE when you join!) -- leave me a comment or send me an email, and I'll be happy to send you more information about it!!
Also, please contact me if you haven't received your copy of the new 2016-17 Catalog yet and would like one!
Thanks so much for visiting my blog!
- Michelle
