Convention 2013 Swaps: Part 4

If you're wondering, I swapped between 40-50 cards at convention. 50 is my personal magic swaps number. I feel like 50 makes me feel like I came home with a lot, but doesn't kill me (or my roommates, in this year's case) making them. I talked to some demonstrators who prep hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of swaps for convention. Wow!!

Here's another round of convention swaps.

I'll once aging tout the simple, yet elegant card. Isn't this a beautiful card?

I like how this lady used the polka dot embossing folder. 

Convention was very special this year, but one of the things that I most appreciated and enjoyed was seeing and meeting all the demonstrators from the other side of the world participating in convention this year. These demonstrators earned an incentive trip to SLC for convention. I met demonstrators from the UK, Australia, and France. This swap was made from a lady in France. I feel privileged that she swapped with me. 

I need to make more "Get Well Cards." We received this set, Tag It, at convention this year.  

I. Love. This. Card. I forget constantly to buy this stamp set, but need to as I could put it to good use. I come from a family of car-aholics. I used to joke that my brothers bought and sold cards more than they changed their underwear (sorry for the bad analogy, but you get the point). They, along with my stepdad, love racing cars. I could make them amazing cards with this stamp set. And I could start with CASEing this card. 

I love the colors on this card. I like to avoid any type of yellows, but look how beautiful the Daffodil Delight is against the Not Quite Navy card base. 

This card is beautiful! I appreciate the lady who put all this effort into making this card and swapping with me.

This last batch completes all the card swaps I received at convention. The next post will feature the 3D swaps I received from people who so graciously swapped with me. 

Hope you enjoyed!

Happy Stampin'!

~Cita 

Convention 2013 Swaps: Part 3

I'm continuing posting the swaps I received during Convention in July. I love looking at these from time to time because they are so inspiring.

I love simple cards, and this definitely fits the bill. I also like the use of the Modern Medley DSP. 

I swoon over this card. I love the use of the Modern Medley DSP and the strips of Basic Black cardstock on the left. And the button to hold up the Chalk Talk tag is the perfect splash of color to this card. I'm hoping to CASE this card soon. 

Check out the background of stamped flowers. It's so subtle, but very eye-catching. 

Here's another lovely simple card. I love how this lady punched out a butterfly at the bottom of the Whisper White cardstock.

This is obviously not a simple card, but it's SO STINKIN' CUTE!! Doesn't the punch-art Santa Claus make you happy? It makes me happy, and I don't really like Santa Claus. 

I still have a few more swaps to share with you from convention. Check back soon!

Happy Stampin'!

~Cita 

Convention 2013 Swaps: Part 2

I think swapping is one of my favorite activities at convention. There are just so many talented ladies (and men) out there that inspire me through their swaps. I hope these swaps can inspire you too!

I. Love. This. Card. I love the tree. I love the polka dots that so subtly hint at snow. I love how the "Christmas" is stamped on the window sheet. I love the tree in the background. This is a great Christmas card. I may be CASEing this card for an upcoming class.

Here's another MDS hybrid card.

I love how this lady created the candles. Did you notice that each candle is a different 2013-2015 In-Color?

Here's another amazing butterfly card. I'm amazed at this yellow/gray color scheme that seems to be "in fashion" right now. Gray is starting to grow on me.

I will swap with anyone, even someone who only has a 3x3 card swap left. I'm glad I got one these swaps. Look how this lady punched a mosaic from the DSP and then added the window mosaic sheet in the background. How clever!

There's the second batch of my convention swaps. I have a few more to post, so check back soon to see  more. 

Happy Stampin'

~Cita 

Convention 2013 Swaps: Part 1

I feel like my life has been a bit of a whirlwind for the last month and a half. I travelled most of July, and then have spent the last few weeks trying to catch up on all the things I didn't do. But now, I have things under control and have had a chance to reminisce and reflect on convention. So in the next few weeks I plan on posting about my convention experience, starting with swaps.

I had my swap all designed in June, but I didn't finish my swaps until Friday night of convention and only because my amazing roommates helped me get them done. I was surprised at how many people were still swapping on Saturday. Here's the first batch.

I have to admit, that out of all my swaps, this yellow and gray butterfly swap is my favorite. 

I was really excited to get a MDS hybrid swap. I also love the colors. 

Another great idea: using Mosaic Madness for Halloween cards. Never would have thought about that on my own.

 This swap is beautiful. It reminds me of the ocean.

Santa Claus!!!

I love the simplicity of this swap; however it's still beautiful. You can change the monogram letter and make these for your friends as little gifts.

 The lady who gave me this swap warned me that this swap contained retired stamps, but really, I didn't care. This is such a beautiful card. I love how she created the sun and the background. I'm temped to frame this swap and use it as a decoration in my house.

There's the first batch of swaps. Hope you enjoyed. Check back soon for another batch of convention swaps.

Happy Stampin',
~Cita

Lovely Swaps

I'm going through all my pictures of cards that I have taken this past year (and maybe even further back) and by golly, I'm going to post them all! Be prepared if you are a frequent reader of this blog. Do I even have regular readers? Are you out there? If so leave me a comment.

Anyways, these cards are from a Ladybug Ink swap from sometime within in the last year. I'm thinking they may have been from November of 2011. Yikes! 

~Cita

Happiness and Love

Love is in the air!

Actually, love is always in the air in my household, but this time of year typically brings out all the lovey dovey items out onto the shelves and into the hands of many loved ones. This time of year also brings out my lovey stamps. I made this card for a Valentine's themed swap a few months ago, but I intentionally made it to where this card doesn't have to be used as a Valentine's card. If you are like me, I like to remind my husband that I love him on many other days other than Valentine's Day.

Stampin' Cita Tips:

• Color Scheme: Concord Crush, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, and Blushing Bride
• Stamp Set: Easy Events, Fabulous Phrases 
• Accessories: Stampin' Write Markers, Blushing Bride 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Flirtatious Specialty DSP, Simply Scored, Whisper White embossing powder, Embossing Tool
• Score the edges of the Wisteria Wonder cardstock at 1/8" and 1/4" on each side. This gives the cardstock a framed appearance. Don't adhere your Wisteria Wonder cardstock to the Whisper White cardstock until all the elements are placed on the cardstock.
• Punch circles from the Flirtatious DSP using the circles punches listed in the Accessories bullet.  
• Ink only the image on the birds stamp from the Easy Events stamp set. Use your Stampin' Write markers to color the image. Punch out the birds image using the Decorative Label punch and then sponge Wisteria Wonder around the edges. Use a Stampin' Dimensional to adhere the birds on top of the circles.
• Tie a knot in a piece of 6" Blushing Bride 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon. Wrap it around the Wisteria Wonder cardstock and use tape to adhere it to the back of the cardstock. 
• Stamp your greetings from the Fabulous Phrases stamp set in Whisper White Craft ink. Add Whisper white embossing powder and heat emboss. I found that the words popped out better when embossed and added a nice texture to the card. 
• Finally, when all elements are placed on the Wisteria Wonder cardstock you can adhere it to the Whisper White cardstock.

Hope you find Love and Happiness this Valentine's Day and every day!

Happy Stampin'!
~Cita

Christmas Samples from Regionals (Part 2)

Here are more amazing Christmas-related swaps from the Albuquerque Stampin' Up! regional.

Isn't this beautiful! I love the colors and the embossing.

Yes, this Christmas card does feature the color black.

I love punch art, and this person did a great job on the penguin.

Two awesome sets from the Holiday Mini. I love how the punched scallop is also dry embossed.

It's a door! When I first saw this card, I didn't realize it.

Happy Stampin',
~Cita