More Swaps!

Is there a Swappers Anonymous out there somewhere? If so, "Hello, my name is Cindy, and I am a swap addict."

I can't help myself! I just love seeing what everyone else is making, so I get carried away. This was another card made for convention swapping*. It's a variant of The One That Didn't Make the Cut. I did end up coloring 50 images, but at least I didn't have to cut 150 banners! (Well, not for this card, anyway.)

Stamps: Pleasant Poppies, Pursuit of Happiness
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Shimmery White
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Real Red, Gumball Green, More Mustard, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka-Dots folder, Basic Black 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Blender Pens, Stampin' Dimensionals


* For those who don't know what a swap is, here's a description:  A swap is when people make cards to swap for cards made by other people. It's a great way to see fresh, new ideas. Plus it gives us a chance to show samples of things made with stamp sets we might not have to our customers/stamping friends.

Be careful - it can be addictive!!!

Another "One of a Kind"

Seriously starting to feel the time crunch here since I wanted to mail my cards by Saturday, but what am I doing?  Making pretty "one off" cards when I really should be mass-producing some CAS ones!  *sigh*  When the mojo is flowing, it's so hard to stop!  Check out the gold glitter peeking through the crochet trim (click on image, then click again):

Stamp: Bells & Boughs
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Deck the Halls DSP
Ink: Cherry Cobbler Craft, Blushing Bride Stampin' Write Marker, So Saffron Stampin' Write Marker
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Victoria Crochet Trim, Very Vanilla 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon, Gold Fine Galaxy Glitter, Basics Glimmer Brads

O Holy Night

That is my all-time favorite Christmas carol!  It brings me to tears, when sung with the reverence it deserves.  (Can you tell I'm not too fond of more modern versions?  Two or three divas come to mind...trilling all over the place, which sounds like they're trying to find the right note. I'm not impressed with your vocal range, sweeties!) 

Anyhoo, this is the card I CASEd from Maria Bell's Christmas Stampin' All Year Long blog.  I just love the richness of the colors, and the tenderness of the image.  The spotlight technique really makes the highlighted part special, don't you think?

I didn't have a stamp for the sentiment, so I just printed it off the computer onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  (That's the Monotype Corsiva font.)  Also, I tried the card with the Stampin' Up! Brushed Gold, but it was too muted for the look I wanted, so I used a brighter gold foil cardstock I had on hand.  The image was colored with Copic markers. 

Stamp: Holy Triptych
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, gold foil
Ink: VersaMark, Bravo Burgundy, Copic Sketch markers
Accessories/Tools: Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Big Shot, Movers & Shapers Punch Windows die, Finial Press Textured Impressions die, gold organza ribbon