Saturday, June 2, 2012

STAMPIN' UP! CONVENTION SWAPS

I have scheduled this blog post to publish while I'm away this weekend, attending Stampin' Up! South Pacific's annual Convention.    (Just quietly ..... WOOHOO!!!) This year Convention is being held in Canberra, and there are more than 450 Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around Australia and New Zealand attending.

There are many highlights of Convention, several of which I'll share with you in coming days, with photos.  One of the great parts is 'swapping' with others - we make a card front, or 3-D papercraft item, using Stampin' Up! products, and the idea is to make multiples.  This allows us to swap our creations with others, who in return share their ideas.  I detest making multiples of anything; the mass-production process really detracts from the enjoyment of creating.  However, I broke it down into manageable 'bites' this year, making three different designs.  This allowed me to get to 100 swaps without having a breakdown!  I have gone with tags, rather than cards, this year, and thought I'd share them with you.

My first tag is a very simple one, in soft colours, letting the beautiful Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper do all the 'talking'.  The tag was finished with a coating of Champagne Mist shimmer spray, but unfortunately the sparkle doesn't show in the photo.



Stamps: Clearly For You
Card: Pretty In Pink, Very Vanilla
DSP: Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper
Ink: Pretty in Pink and Soft Suede stampin' pads
Other: Two Tags die, Modern Label punch, sponge dauber, Basic Pearl, Chantilly Crochet Trim, Subtles Flower brad, Champagne Mist shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make shimmer spray)



Next I designed a masculine tag, and made as many as I could until I ran out of the checked Well Worn Designer Series Paper:





Stamps: Up, Up & Away; Short & Sweet
Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze
DSP: Well Worn Designer Series Paper
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and Crumb Cake stampin' pads
Other: Two Tags die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Tasteful Trim Die, Word Window punch, paper snips, sponge dauber, Blue denim ribbon, Linen Thread, Tombow liquid glue



Lastly, I made a tag using some of the In Colors that will retire when our new catalogue comes out.  I've used Mixed Bunch stamp set, and the inlaid embossing technique:



Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz
Ink: Concord Crush and  Pear Pizzazz stampin' pads
Other: Blossom punch, Blossom Petals Builder punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder. 3/4" circle punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Basic Rhinestone, Concord Crush ribbon, Lucky Limeade baker's twine 



I hope you're having ALMOST as much fun as I am this weekend!  I'll be back soon, to share pics of my few days of excitement.



14 comments:

  1. These are lovely...and nothing that I could do this weekend would rival the fun that I am sure you are having!

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  2. Lovely tags Christine. Enjoy the convention

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  3. I love the samps on your first tag. When I looked up my Australia Stampin Up catalogue so I could order the stamps, it shows different stamps for "Clearly for You" page 88.

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  4. These are gorgeous Christine. The first is my favourite. Hope that you have a wonderful time at convention.

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  5. Love your mini works of art Christine! The variety of designs is fabulous. The third one is my absolute favourite - can't wait for my blossom punch & mixed bunch set to arrive so I can try this. Hugs :)

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  6. Loving your tag swaps Christine. I have not purchased this tag punch yet! But after seeing what can be done with it, in particular your gorgeous tags I will have to add it to my longer than my lifetime wish list LOL TFS Cheers Donna Zammit :)

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  7. Margaret, on the first tag I've used two stamps from "Clearly For You". The photo doesn't show it well, but the base tag was stamped repeatedly in Pretty in Pink ink, using the rectangular floral stamp. The sentiment is from that set, too. Hope that clears up your confusion :)

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  8. Love your swaps Christine. Makes me want to go grab out some DSP and get creating.

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  9. Dear, sweet Christine!
    Your swap's were sooo super!!! Love the first one, oh and i really like the male one and well the last is fabbo too!!!
    I really missed not going to convention this year, it was hard knowing it was on and I wasn't there!!!
    What wonderful things did they tell you??? (of course you're sworn to secrets.....)
    Thanks HEAPS for popping in and sharing some comment love, made my day!!!
    Thinking of you lovely lady
    Smiles SHarnee :)

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  10. Gorgeous Tags Christine!

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  11. Beautiful swaps, think my fave has to be the pink!

    x

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  12. I bet everyone was clamouring for these! What a great idea to do tags ... and each of these is sensational! Sigh ... wish I had been there! Hugs xxx

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  13. Fabulous swap tags! Such a pity we didn't get to swap. However, it was fantastic meeting you at Convention!

    Deb

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  14. Carolyn Bennie30 June, 2012 15:41

    Hi Christine,

    I actually got my hands on one of your swaps which I've been admiring since I got home... the male one. LOVE IT!!! Inspirational. Thanks for swapping with me. x Carolyn Bennie

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