WEEKEND AWAY .... STAMPING!

I have just had the most enjoyable weekend, stamping almost non-stop with four friends at our very own beachside retreat!  Even though I'd loaded my car with the contents of about 90% of my craft room, I didn't expect to actually create too much - when I'm in the company of my stamping friends, I tend to talk, eat, absorb what everyone else is doing, and stamp out a few things to make something with when I get home!

Well, I'm pleased to report that in addition to talking, eating, and socialising, I managed to get 20 cards made!!  Most of the cards aren't exclusively Stampin' Up! (I just wanted to play with some of the girls' other stamp sets over the weekend), but I have a few to show you that are mostly Stampin' Up!

First, though, I thought I'd share a few (late night) photos of our set-up.  We had such a great time; shame it happens only once a year.  This was my first time away with Leanne, Kerry, Judy and Claire; I was overseas last July when they had their inaugural "girls' weekend away".  Hopefully I'll get to join in plenty more.

We had a few 'stations' set up with supplies.  Here's the punch table (with a few extras that didn't even get used):

Here are some action shots, so you can see how productive the girls were.  Firstly, Leanne and Kerry:

and Claire and Judy also hard at work  play!:

We spent most of the weekend just stamping, which was such a luxury - no timelines to work to, no children (or husbands) to attend to, and we stopped only to go shopping at a local scrapbook supplies store, and to eat lunch out on the Saturday.  Aside from that, we were bunkered down with our (considerable) craft supplies, and (also considerable) supplies of food.  Does it get any better??!!

Here's a snapshot of most of the cards I made:

and a closer shot of the Stampin' Up! ones (although I did use a non-SU! Sizzix die on the pink card):

I can't take credit for the design of the centre card (as much as I love it) - I was inspired by Judy.  Make sure you check out her blog, if you don't already, and leave some comments on her beautiful work!

At the end of this week I'll have some news to share about a very special fundraiser I'm involved in.  Hope you'll check back, and lend support if you can - there's lots of fun to be had in the process, too, so please join us for a "wheely special" event in August.