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.