February Swap

OK, technically it was January 31st, but it was supposed to be February.  Thank the snow for that - we decided to be proactive based on the weather report.  We figured we had to go for the day that we were pretty sure would be OK - if we waited until the next week, who knew what we would get?

As it was, everybody pulled it together on short notice and we had a great time.  A few had conflicts and couldn't come, but the cards were great!  I hosted and kept the food super-simple - we're all too busy stamping to eat much anyway.



Ruth's card was simple and elegant, and had the most amazing blue/purple paper (it has a shimmer you can't see in the scan).  Shows what you can do with one graceful image.




I told everyone the cards had to be 10 minutes or else!  Grace went for super simple, but the glittery embossing powder really added some glitz.




Janet did super-cute.  A little color, a well-placed eyelet, and you've got a multi-purpose card good for adults or children.




Nancy went above and beyond for her cards - I think I scared her with the 10 minute threat, so she pre-stamped all the images.  We colored them in and assembled, and it's beautiful card.  We've had chickadees at the bird feeder, so I loved this.




Cathie got such a good reception for her bookmark last time, she did it again.  Wouldn't it make a lovely gift along with a book?



Sharon came up with the cleverest easiest "curtains" I've ever seen.  It's a wide ribbon, cut in half, and attached on either side of the square punch out.  It's layered between the green and the white so the inside is clean.  The snowman is inside, and I LOVE the saying.



Sue didn't think she could pull a card together, but I convinced her she HAD to come, it would be fun. Little did she know we had a cake for her birthday!  She came up with a fabulous spotlight-technique card.  I should have scanned the one Rachel made, it's much better than mine.  But it's such an effective technique anyway!




This is one where the scan truly does not do it justice.  Shona designed this card, and while I think she went over the 10 minute limit, we all loved it anyway.  The large white piece is run through a die cut machine, the center "cloud" removed, and then die-cut the outside piece again to enlarge the cut-out area.  Then run it through with an embossing folder, then brayer it all with a rainbow pad, then coat everything (the cloud twice) with embossing powder so it's got a shine to it.  Wow!




I think Dale gets the award for most versatile.  You could use this simple but elegant card for a birthday (male or female), get well, sympathy... I think it's lovely.



I have to admit I had Spring on the brain when I made this one.  Can you blame me?  Bugs and flowers and Spring-ish colors.  Just stamped and matted, but I did add the option of a dimensional paint on the flowers, ladybug spots, and dragonfly.  Just a little shine.

It always amazes me what comes out at these things.  I'm not sure any of these cards even share a color-scheme!  And the variety of techniques we can squeeze into a 10 minute card is really astounding.

In some ways it was easier having the event two days early.  I focused on having the house presentable instead of making food that not many people eat anyway.  Some chips and dip, M&Ms on the table, and Sue's birthday cake was plenty.  And then the house was cleaned up for Rachel's birthday party on Friday.  More on that later.