Yesterday I posted the first batch of Secret Santa gifts exchanged by some of the members of my downline. At my downline holiday party, we also made and swapped cards. One of my downline members, Darlene, has been asking me for quite awhile (years if you ask her) if we could all use the same stamp set to make our swaps. I hesitated knowing chances were slim that we'd all have the stamp set. We actually picked the stamp set back in July, I think! Most people already owned it - and others bought it - the "oldest" stamp set in the Stampin' Up! catalog - Lovely as a Tree. It's an oldie - and definitely a goody. The swaps made using this set were OVER THE TOP AMAZING! We always hang them up on a board and then vote. There was no voting this time. There was no question who the winner was this month - it was Darlene!!! However, many of these cards were worthy of the "prize" - one of the 2014 Sale-a-Bration items!
Here is Darlene's "card" - I'll be framing it. It's not a greeting card. It's a work of art. It is absolutely stunning. The photo does not do this card justice. There is texture. A couple of the trees appear to be heat embossed. But, she's also used acrylic paint - I'm guessing for the snow. She's hand-sketched the "weeds". She's done all kinds of masking. Based upon the ingredients, it appears she PAINTED the cardinal using Real Red Reinker and a paintbrush.
Next up is Patty Jo's card. She's stamped her trees on Vellum Cardstock using a black pigment ink. I'm guessing (although it's not in her ingredients) that she might have heat embossed some iridescent ice embossing powder/glitter over the trees. I also like that she coordinated the whisper white background with the Winter Frost DSP stripes.
The next card is unsigned. By process of elimination, it might be Ellen's. I don't really remember who made swaps. I love this card, too! Like Darlene, she sketched snow on the trees. I'm thinking she might have used the chalk marker, but I can't be sure. I expecially like the layer of glimmer paper behind the tree.
The only non-wintery/Christmas card was this one made by Shelly. I always love what she comes up with. I love that she used the tree for the background. I love the earth tones. And, I love the way she's sponged/brayered the color behind the flames. I'm not sure if you can tell from the picture, but the flames are coated in Crystal Effects.
The next card was created by Jane. I'm honestly not sure how she stamped the trees. I'm thinking she stamped the trees in white ink. But then I wonder if it's Versamark Resist. I don't think so, though. I love the wintery scene. She stamped the sentiment in Gold Encore Ink.
This next card was created by one of my newest demonstrators, Nancy. This one's a little over-the-top as well. She's sewed a frame around the background of the card. I also love the bow and the linen thread wrapped around the bow to attach the bell. And, I love the doily poking above the top. I never would have thought to do that!
My "upline", Claire, made this next card. It's a great mailable card. I love how she added glitter to only a couple of the trees. Very nice. Very mailable. Very duplicatable!
The final card was created by ME! This one probably looks fairly familiar to you. I cased the card I posted on Saturday. I made the tag a little differently - I used a new punch that'll be in the Occasions Catalog to make the tag. It's SO easy to make cute tag tops now using this punch. I'm sure you'll be seeing me make LOTS of tags over the next few months. The tree is stamped in Silver Encore Ink and heat embossed with iridescent ice heat embossing powder.
Jen didn't do swaps this time..sorry!
Posted by: patty jo | December 11, 2013 at 11:21 AM