Convention Swaps Part 1

Helloooo! Here I am at last, back from convention and with piccys to share. I do have to say that I have been trying to write this post since last Sunday, but for some reason blogger was refusing to upload my pictures - and let's face it, what's a card blog if it doesn't have pictures of yummy cards on it? Before that, I had not had a second to blog as life has rather smacked me in the face since I got home from convention, but you know, it happens sometimes...

So, as variously requested by quite a few of you - here are the swap cards that I made for the Stampin' Up! convention in Sydney a couple of weeks ago. The first one (above) uses the Echoes of Kindness hostess stamp set and Baroque Motifs. The background was made by dragging Pretty in Pink and Sahara Sand ink pads across the cardstock and the flowers were coloured with a White Gel pen. I just love the effect it creates. I was really chuffed as this one ended up on a display board at convention too!

This next one has a really opulent feel IRL (in real life). The stamps from Asian Artistry are embossed in gold and then coloured with reinkers that have been mixed with Crystal Effects. The overall effect is a bit like stained glass.


This card uses the emerging colour technique. The Medallion background stamp was stamped first, then I clear embossed the solid image from Organic Outlines over the top, then brayered basic grey over the whole thing. This card was inspired by some bed linen I wanted to buy from a friend's linen party (hi Tracey!) but I couldn't afford to buy it and go to Sydney! So I made this card instead...

This one is my tribute to the vintage style, and uses the Very Vintage wheel and Vintage Vogue stamp set from the Autumn mini catalogue. There was lots of sponging and distressing to do for this one!

Finally, and I have to say I was losing the will to live after creating 20 each of the previous 4 styles, I had a go at a clean and simple card. This one is my prototype - I can assure you that the ones I gave out at convention were more evenly spaced and straight! (lol!)

OK, so those were my swap cards. I hope you like them. If you would like any more details, or if you would like me to demonstrate one of these cards at a workshop for you and your friends and family email me , I would be glad to help!

I will be back soon with pics of the swaps I received and also of some of the wonderful people I met. Until then take care, and thanks for stopping by.

Claire

Time Flies... and blog awards

Well here I am, finally back to chat to you after a whole month away from my blog - terrible blogging, my apologies. I have been flat out making things I can't share with you - gifts for my secret sister, I can't show you those until we have the "big reveal"later this month and swaps for Stampin' Up! convention in Sydney in a couple of weeks. However, it seems you love me still even when I neglect you for so long... In my inbox this week I have been delighted to receive not one but TWO blog awards - how excitement! But before I talk about those, I should probably show you the one thing I have made lately that is NOT a secret.

This is a photo of my little guy when he was about 18 months. We had some pics taken by a professional photographer who was looking for images for greeting cards. I loved this one, and it has only taken me 10 years to scrap it! The layout is a pagemaps sketch a wonderful source of inspiration, and the whole thing came together really quickly at the girls scrap night I try to get to each month (thanks for the inspiration lovely ladies!) I had trouble getting a good pic of it but hopefully you get the idea.


In this layout I have used a combination of the Urban Oasis, Sweet Slumber and Washington Apple Designer Series Papers, I also used the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel and the Life Definitions stamp set. It's a really simple layout but I am thrilled with how it came together - as I say, the photo does not really do it justice. But I hope you like it.

Now onto the blog awards. The first one I received was a Beautiful Blog award


from my upline Mae Collins - thanks Mae. In accepting this award I need to nominate 10 other beautiful blogs and tell you ten things about myself. OK so here are 10 of my fave blogs to stalk for inspiration:

Tanya Kitto - Stamp n' Chat
Marelle Taylor
Nicole Derendorf - Stamping Down Under
Kirrily Matthews - KM Designs
Gardenia Pepworth - A Little Less Useless
Stamping with Steph
Rainbows by Robin
Bronwyn Eastley - addINKtive designs
Creating Cards with Andrea
Lynda Moss - StampINKins

Phew! That list took a while to compile. Now 10 things about myself hmmm

1. I am married to a chef I met whilst travelling in the UK
2. I have one brother.
3. I have one son.
4. My fave things to do include having lunch with my girlfriends, craft time with girlfriends and having lunch and/or crafting with my mum!
5. I LOVE elephants!
6. My husband thinks my elephant collection may eventually overrun the house and leave us nowhere to sit/sleep/etc (lol!)
7. The best thing about joining Stampin' Up! for me has been the wonderful people I have met both face to face and on line.
8. I am going to my first Stampin' Up! convention in 2 weeks!
9. I spent several months of my 20's backpacking overland from Kathmandu to London.
   
10. I have a pet dog called Snoopy.

Now the other award I received was from the lovely Leah click on her name to check out her gorgeous blog.

I need to nominate some recipients for this blog too - and link to their blogs so here we go:

Andrea Lowcock - EnchantInk
Stampin with Sonia
Susan Hogan - Time to Play
Ann Wills - Crafty Squirrel

Leonie Schroder - Stamp A Latte

Thanks to all of those listed above for the wonderful inspiration they share on their blogs. When my mojo a- go-gos, these are the places I head to so my creative ideas start to flow again!

Hopefully it won't be so long between posts this time - but I'm not promising!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Claire