Swaps and swapping

A big part of any Stampin' Up! event is 'swapping'. This is an exchange of cards (or card fronts, or other small 3D items) with other demonstrators at the event. We make as many as we want to of a design and swap them to receive the same number back. It's a great way to meet new people and share ideas and it's lots of fun!

I decided to create 100 swaps, and I wanted to add a little memento from Yorkshire - of course it had to be a teabag! So I made 100 mini envelopes to hold the teabags and a business card.

I packed all the bits ready to assemble once I got here to America and spent yesterday afternoon gluing the bellybands and adding the leaves.

It's highly unusual for me to have finished something a week in advance, I'm usually Mrs Last Minute!

I have used the Garden Impressions 6" by 6" paper stack, which was the perfect size to make the envelopes with the Envelope Punchboard and really bright and colourful. I used the stamp set Love What You Do for the sentiment and flower decoration, and die cut these with the Stitched Shapes framelits. Lastly, I used the Leaf Punch to add some foliage.

I'm looking forward to seeing the swaps I get back in exchange - of course I will share photos here next week!

Kylie x

I'm in Florida!

I'm so excited!

Next week I will be joining 7,500 other Stampin' Up! Demonstrators at the OnStage Live conference in Orlando, Florida!

Stampin' Up! events are always fantastic fun, we get to see sneak peeks of the new products and upcoming catalogue, watch craft demonstrations, join in with make & takes, and much more. We always leave with a bagful of new product and a head full of new ideas and inspiration.

This one, however, is going to be a truly monumental event because Stampin' Up! are also celebrating their 30th Anniversary.

I have no idea what to expect. But I can't wait to find out!

In the meantime, I am relaxing in Amelia Island on the north east cost of Florida, tortoise-spotting, cocktail-sipping, sunset-watching and catching up on my sleep!

I do need to finish my swaps at some point - maybe tomorrow!!

Anyone else travelling from the UK for OnStage Live?

Kylie x

A new craft group

I have recently started leading a new craft group for over 50s at my local community centre in Shipley.

Before the first session I had no idea what to expect, who would come, how many, and what their interests and abilities would be. Coming up with a craft project was easy though - I thought I'd start with what I know - stamping!

Without a proper budget for materials I needed to raid my stash of card stock and design a couple of cards that would be simple enough for the beginner, but impressive enough to please an avid crafter.

The Painted Harvest Stamp Set caught my eye as I browsed my shelves of stamps - the gorgeous Autumnal images are perfect for this time of year.

We did 2 cards and a bookmark and had a go at stamping, punching, embossing and die-cutting.

I had 8 lovely ladies attend the session, some crafters, some not, but and all enjoyed it and all promised to be back in a fortnight!

Now to come up with the next project!

Kylie x

Dandelion Wishes Watercolour Rainbow

I have been prepping for my upcoming Dandelion Wishes class and really enjoying myself playing with this gorgeous Stamp Set. It has become a recent favourite.

I decided to have a go at embossing the dandelions with clear embossing powder onto watercolour paper and going crazy with the inks! This is what happened....

An unplanned but surprisingly good result!

I make use of my larger acrylic blocks to drop the reinkers onto - easy to clean afterwards too.

To get the drip effect I just added more water and ink to the dandelion heads, held up the paper and let gravity do the work!

Once dried I mounted the watercolour paper simply onto white and black cardstock, but I think I will look for a proper frame.