Awesome weekend & more swaps to share!

Hey everyone!  I hope that your weekend was as fabulous as mine was!  I spent my weekend in Leavenworth, WA with two friends of mine.  We had a great time walking, shopping, and eating **way** too much delicious food!  I missed you all on Monday, but if you've ever left your family to fend for themselves for a weekend, you'll understand the catching up I've been doing this week.  LOL

This was the amazing view from our room.  

Here is a picture of the three of us.  Heidi, Rhonda and I.

It was so relaxing to just hang out with my friends!!

Today I have a couple new cards to show you.  They are from a team swap I participated in at convention.  Our team had a delicious dinner at Olive Garden, complete with swapping, and a fun make-n-take.

I designed my swap right after the new catalog went live.  I had just gotten my order, and was very excited to use as many new things as possible.  LOL!

My card features the new Definitely Dahlia background stamp, the new In Color, Mint Macron, and also a new embossing folder called Elegant Dots.  The greeting is from the set called Fabulous Four.  I love that this card really shows off the Mint Macron.  I am in love with that color!!

Here is my top pick from the swaps I received at this meeting.

Surprise, surprise, this card also features the new In Color, Mint Macron.  I love this color!  (I will try really hard not to bombard ya'll with this color too much!  Promise!)  This lovely card was designed by Rashelle Kennett.  I just love everything about it.  Especially the silver thread behind her butterfly!

Well, that is all I have to show for today!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!  Have a great day!!

~Nichole

Top Picks - Convention Christmas Card Swap

Hey there!  TGIF!!  I am so ready for the weekend!  Are you?  Do you have any fun plans?  I am excited to be heading out of town for the weekend with a couple of girlfriends for some chill time.  If I can get my stuff together, it will also include some crafty time!

Yesterday, I shared with you the two cards I made for  Christmas card swap I participated in at convention.  Today, I have my two Top Picks from the cards I received in the swap.

The card on the left was made by Sandy Carlson.  I love that she chose a unique fold for her card!  I love the nice clean look, and strong colors she chose.  

The card on the right was made by Amanda Cardera.  I love how she used the Hardwood stamp to make a door.  Look at the beautiful door knob made using our Antique Brads!  

Well, that's it.  That is what I have to share with you for today!  Be sure to check back next week for more swap shares, and maybe even a picture or two from my girl's weekend!  I hope you have a *fabulous* weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

~Nichole

Christmas Swaps

During convention I participated in two groups different groups of one Christmas Card Swap.  I know it sounds a little early to be talking about Christmas, but I think getting started any time after June 1st is fair!  LOL But, maybe that is just because I do mostly handmade gifts, which all require time that I don't have.  

I was so happy to see that we had a Christmas section in the annual catalog again!  It was gone for a couple years, but has happily found it's way back!  Today, I'll share with you my two cards for this swap, and next time I'll show you my favorite cards that I received in the swap.

Here's the first card I made:

This card features the Wonderous Wreath stamp set.  I love the the effect you get with the 2 step stamping in this set.  I used the new Cucumber Crush In Color for the base of the card, and also for the wreath.  I really like how bright that green is!  For some fun sparkle, I added some gold Dazzling Details to the wreath, and the bow.  

This is the second card I made:

This card has some stronger colors.  I used Old Olive, and Cherry Cobbler.  This card also features the new Merry Moments Designer Series Paper.  I embossed the olive base with our new Brick Wall embossing folder.  

Thanks so much for stopping by to check out what I had to share for today!  

I hope you have a great day!

~Nichole

New Catalog Stamp Set - Convention 2015

I got home from Stampin' Up!'s convention last early last week.  I had such a wonderful time while I was there.  It is always so nice to catch up with demonstrator friends that I only see while at convention. I also really enjoy participating in organized swaps.  

One swap I participated in was for new stamps sets out of the Idea Book & Catalog.  There are so many fabulous new sets to choose from, I had a hard time deciding which set to use.  Which new set is your favorite?  

For this swap, I chose to use the hostess stamp set called Floral Wings.  I love this stamp set, and all the fun possibilities it has.  You can own this stamp set too, just by hosting a free workshop in your home, and having some fun crafty time with your friends!  Just send me a message, and I'd be happy to help you with that!

Here's the stamp set:

Here is the card I made:

I love how Cucumber Crush is such a bright green!  I think it really livens up the sometimes subdued Perfect Plum.  

I also wanted to share my 3 favorite cards I received in that swap.  I was very impressed with the workmanship these other demonstrators showed on their cards.  

The cards are not placed in any specific order.  

The top card features the gorgeous new Definitely Dahlia background stamp.  I love this stamp!  I also love how her card has only one color to it.  Our new Watermelon Wonder In Color is fabulous, especially when mixed with this stamp.  This card also features the new Elegant Dots embossing folder.  I would love to tell you who made this card, sadly - we were not allowed to put our names on these cards, and there was no other identifiers in the envelope.

On the bottom left - we have a beautiful strong colored Wonderful Wings card made by my friend Jackie Bowman.  I just love this woman.  She is so very kind, and funny.  Sadly, I only get to see her when she's causing trouble in the swap lines at convention.  (Our little joke..)  For her card, she also featured the new Fluttering Embossing folder, Sahara Sand Lace Trim, English Garden Designer Series Paper, Butterfly Thinlits, Bold Butterfly Framelits, and the Triple Banner Punch.

Last, but certainly not least is the Marina Mist card, done by Dawn Haskell.  Dawn's card also features English Garden Designer Series Paper.  I love how the paper coordinates so well together, but when used separately you can end up with totally different looks!  This card also uses the Garden in Bloom stamp set. I love that this stamp set has such a soft watercolor kind of look to it.  Dawn has also used the new Lots of Labels Framelits.

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my swap cards!  I hope you have a fantastic day!!

~Nichole

Here are the supplies I used to make my card:

Floral Wings Photopolymer Stamp Set

$10.00

Bold Butterfly Framelits Dies

$17.00

Banner Triple Punch

$23.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$6.00

Pearl Basic Jewels

$5.00

Cucumber Crush 1" Dotted Lace Trim

$6.00

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$7.00

Perfect Plum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

$7.00

Perfect Plum Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin' Pad

$6.50

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