Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Lovely As a Tree Conference Swaps

Happy Tuesday!'

Day 3 of sharing my Conference Swaps.  Today I'm sharing the cards made using the CLASSIC Lovely as a Tree set.  This is the swap I made ...
As I said, this set is a classic.  It is THE most popular set amongst demonstrators, it has been around the longest of all the stamp sets EVER (seriously!) and I hope it never retires.  It really doesn't seem like much at first glance.  Once you start playing with it, though, you realize it's one you MUST have in your stash.  When I first bought my Starter Kit I was talked into getting it.  I trusted the "experts" and got it.  SO glad I did.  It's great for every occasion … even masculine and Christmas!  It's a must.  Period.

Lovely As A Tree - $27.00 clear; $36 wood
From now until March 31st the Sale-a-brations promotions is going on.  For every $60 you spend you can pick a SAB item for FREE!  My next order goes in around Feb 14th.  Canadian customers can email me your orders before then or you can order directly through my on-line store here to have your items delivered directly to your door.  If your order is under $200 and you enter the Hostess Code ZVJDZKFA at the checkout I will mail you a gift to say Thank You :)

Here again is the swap card I made …
Love it!

Whisper White card base - 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Early Espress Banner - 1 1/2" wide by 5" long
Whisper White layer - 2 1/4" x 3 1/2"
Early Espresso layer - 2 1/4" plus 2 ticks x 3 1/2" plus 2 ticks :)

- Use the Triple Banner punch to flag-end the banner piece
- run the banner through the Woodland embossing folder
- stamp the tree image in Early Espresso ink on Whisper White card stock
- cut out the tree using the largest Stitched Shapes oval
- stamp the sentiment (from Rose Wonder) in Early Espresso Ink on the whisper white layer
- Cut 11" of Tip Top Taupe striped ribbon and tie it around the white layer
- attach the white layer to Espresso layer
- attach Banner to base and sentiment pieces to base (o dimensionals)
- attach tree to base using dimensionals - two to the bottom of the oval and then two DOUBLE dimensionals to the top.  By that I mean stack two dimensionals on top of each other to make a "double thick dimensional".  You need two-thick so the image lies flush with the rest of the card.  If you only use one-thick dimensional the tree isn't level.  (It will make sense if/when you make it)

there are a few steps to this one but it's worth it.  I love how it turned out.

Here are 9 other cards made by top Canadian Demonstrators using this awesome set …

Made by Jenilee Pauls ...
Made by Genevieve Ko ...
Made by Jackie Bultje ...
Made by Sylvia Pirnak ...
Made by Sofi Daniels ...
Made by Catherine Black ...
Made by Elizabeth Green …
Made by Kim at www.riverfrontstampin.com ...
Made by Eldonna Epp ...
That's it for this batch of swaps.  I have more cards to share in the days ahead so keep popping back.

Have a stampy Tuesday!


Tam

Monday, January 30, 2017

Remarkable You Conference Swaps

Happy Monday!

As promised, I'm back with another batch of swaps from the Canadian Business Conference.

This batch used an often over-looked set, Remarkable You.  It IS one of the more expensive sets available, at $44.00 for the clear set and $59.00 for the wood, but it is an investment I think is justified.  This set is great for most occasions and can be mixed with other sets if you want different sentiments.  I have mine in wood - I find for the larger images wood sets are the way to go for cleaner stamped images.
Now!  If you would like this set but the price point is out of your budget "have I got a deal for you!" *lol*.  You can get this set for FREE when you purchase the "Starter Kit".  You get to totally customize what you get in your kit.  You pick $165 worth of ANY product you want (it can be all inks, stamp sets, punches … ANYTHING), you only pay a FLAT $135 (no added s/h/gst) AND, during the promotion, you get to pick ANY two stamp sets … ANY value … for FREE!  Who doesn't want a $59 stamp set for free?  To get in on the deal you go here, click on "Join the Fun" and then on "Join Now". The system walks you through fairly easily.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch!

OK … on to those swaps!

This is the card I made ...
I actually CASEd myself from a card I made last year …
Simple, crisp, clean.

For the swap card I wanted to use the new Watercolor Pencils …and that's what I did.
Whisper White card base - 5 1/2" 8 1/2"
Basic Black layer - 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"
SHIMMER White card stock layer - 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"
- Stamp the image and sentiment in Staz-on ink (so it doesn't bleed) on SHIMMER WHITE card stock.  I sued the shimmer paper as it is somewhere between the Whisper White card stock and the Watercolor Paper with respect to being "water friendly".  The water-colour paper was too beige for my liking … and the Whisper White gets too soggy.  The shimmer white allows you to move the colour around a little easier and you don't run the risk of rubbing a hole in it quite as easily as with the regular card stock.
- Scribble around the flowers lightly with the grey watercolor pencil
- Use an aqua painter (not too much water!) to water down the pencil marks, making it look like shadowing
- colour the stamen of the flower with the yellow watercolor pencil
- attach 3 White Perfect Accents
- pop up black layer on dimensionals
Done!

White Perfect Accents - $6.75 ...
 Aquapainters - $22.50 ...
 Shimmer White card stock - $10.00 ...
 Watercolor Pencils - $21.00 (currently out of stock)
From now until March 31st the Sale-a-brations promotions is going on.  For every $60 you spend you can pick a SAB item for FREE!  My next order goes in around Feb 14th.  Canadian customers can email me your orders before then or you can order directly through my on-line store here to have your items delivered directly to your door.  If your order is under $200 and you enter the Hostess Code ZVJDZKFA at the checkout I will mail you a gift to say Thank You :)

Here are 8 other cards made by top Canadian Demonstrators using this awesome set …

Made by Kim at www.riverfrontstampin.com ...
Made by Laurie LaRose ...
Made by Him Stathakos ...
Made by Yvette Marchand ...
Made by Mary Ondic ...
Made by Sue Philip ...
Made by Sofi Daniels ...

Made by Mary Louise Hamill ...
So there you have it!  9 swaps using the Remarkable You stamp set.  If you want it for FREE make sure you order it with your Starter Kit before March 31st!

Pop in again soon.  I have more swaps to share using the Lovely as a Tree set.  Until then, have a stampy day!


Tam

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Dragonfly Dreams Conference Swaps

Happy Sunday!
FINALLY!  I have more-or-less recovered from the Canadian Business Conference I attended last weekend in Toronto!  It was SUCH and amazing event.  The only down side was I came back exhausted, head spinning from all the information and a family that needed a bit of TLC.

Over the last week I managed to get the house back in order, the fridge full of healthy food (when the kids ask "can you buy some FRUIT??" you know things have slipped a little *lol*) a few "must do" items off my list and LOTS of sleep.  Question:  at what point does a "nap" qualify as a "sleep"?  I'm thinking passing out for 2+ hours qualifies as more of a sleep than a nap … and that happened more than once this week.  Thinking I MAY have been a little sleep deprived lately!

ANYway ….. I digress … (part of my charm, right?)

Sunday - the day when I'm up by 7:00 am and can get a few blog posts done whilst the "slug people" dream away until noon …

Today I'm sharing all my Dragonfly Dream Swaps from the conference.  I knew this set was a "keeper" when I first saw it in the catalogue.  I love it more than I thought I would.  It really is a fanTASTIC set for most occasions!  Birthday, Sympathy, Thank You, Congratulations, Just Because … even masculine cards can be made with this baby.  The set and the framelits can be purchased separately or bundled, saving you 10%.  What's even BETTER is that the bundled price is $60.25 …. which qualifies you for a FREE Sale-a-bration item as well, if you buy it before March 31!

Detailed Dragonfly Thinlit Dies - $41.00
Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Set $26.00
Dragonfly Dreams Bundle $60.25
I highly, highly, highly recommend this set.  Get the bundle before May 31st.  After that date one of two thing will happen.  1)  It will be discontinued and you won't be able to get it (which I highly doubt - it's one I fully expect to be carried over to the next catalogue… but you never know!) or 2) it WILL be carried over to the next catalogue but the bundled price will no longer be offered.  Bundled savings only apply when items first appear - after that they are only sold a-la-carte.  So why wait??  Scoop it now, save 10% AND pick a free SAB item (before March 31).  My next order goes in around Feb 14th.   Canadian customers can email/message me your order before then … or order directly through my store here.  If your order is less than $200 please apply Hostess Code ZVJDZKFA at the checkout and I will send you a gift in the mail!

Right!  Having said all THAT … let's get to checking out 10 fantastic samples made by top Canadian Demonstrators using it, shall we??  First up - the card made by little ol' me.
It LOOKS complicated but it really was quick and easy to make!

- Whisper White card base - 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
- Pool Party layer - 5" x 3 3/4"
- Basic Black layer - 4 3/4" x 3 1/2"
- Emboss the sentient and splotches in white embossing powder (I used the splotches from Swirly Bird)
- Cut the largest dragonfly out of whisper white card stock and then, using a finger dauber (or sponge), add Bermuda Bay ink
- Attach a small piece of Tear & Tape to the body of the dragonfly
- wrap/loop Silver Thread around your fingers (three fingers, closed) four times to make a lasso of silver thread.
- attach silver thread to Tear & Tape on the dragonfly
-  "seal" the three to the dragonfly with another piece of Tear & Tape
- Attach the dragonfly to the black card layer (I just removed the top layer of the Tear & Tape so the wings are still loose)
- Attach a White Perfect Accent
- Pop up the Pool Party base on dimensionals
DONE!


Before sharing the other samples in the swap I wanted to show you the great little "Set Sampler" booklets we all got with our swaps.  All the swaps I got for the Dragonfly Dreams set are in this adorable little booklet.  Seriously - these are the "little things" that made the conference so great.  So much time, thought and preparation went into everything.  Wow.

Awesome, no?

Here are the swaps from the other demonstrators in my swap group …

Made by Laurie LaRose ...
Made by Barb Stewart
Made by Elizabeth Green ...
Made by Diane Inkster (my lovely roommate for the Conference) ...
Made by Cheryl Cook ...
Made by Mary Louise Hamill ...
Made by Jo-Anne Rogers ….
Made by Glenda Mollet ...
Made by Winona Semler ...
Aren't they fantastic??  If THOSE don't have you convinced to buy this bundle I don't know what will!  Seriously.  It's a must-have.

Pop in again tomorrow.  I'll be sharing swaps from another great, but often overlooked, set - "Remarkable You".  Until then, thanks for popping in.  Have a stampy Sunday!


Tam

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Conference Card Samples

Happy Wednesday!

PHEW!  I'm back from the Canadian Business Conference but still haven't managed to unpack all of my business materials!  Although I was only gone for 3 nights I seem to have 3 weeks worth of work, chores and "issues" to take care of!

The Conference was hands down the best event I have EVER attended.  It was over the TOP with information, ideas, swaps, laughs … every detail was meticulously planned and carried out .. truly awesome!  I'll definitely be implementing many of the tools and systems we learned about in the coming months.  I am VERY inspired, motivated and excited to blast off my business and truly LEAD a team.  Yes, I have been doing this for 11 years now (ack!) but I am now at a point in my life (and my families life) where I can turn more of my time and attention to my business. My youngest will be done elementary school in June.  That means all that time I spent volunteering, organizing "play dates" (which are now termed "hang dates" I've been informed …), making little treats for all the kids in the class … all the teaching staff …. all that won't exist come September.  Time to move on to something new.  So!  If you are interesting in joint my team, either as a hobby demonstrator, the part time business demonstrator or full time business builder I'd love to have you along for the ride.  The goal is to earn the Incentive Trip for 2018.  It's gunna happen.  Be part of the journey with me!

Now … I am currently sitting at the hospital supporting a friend who is in for some tests.  I planned to share some of my card swaps with you … alas, since I don't physically HAVE the swaps with me I don't know which demonstrator made which card and as such I can't give them credit … so that will have to wait for another post.  What I CAN do is share projects that were posted on the display boards. Again, I don't have noted who created each sample so suffice it to say they are NOT mine.  They are all fan-TASTIC and I am looking forward to CASEing many of them.  Check these out!














































I have my 25 swap card to share with you too.  As I said, I'll do that as soon as I get a chance.  In the meantime, thanks for popping in and have a stampy day!


Tam