I finally got the extended cutting pads so I could FINALLY use the Matchbox die that I bought earlier this year! I took the birdie image pretty much from this months' Stampin' Success, heat-embossed it with black detail embossing powder, watercolored it put it on the matchbox. These are really cute, IRL.

Stamps: Twick or Tweet

Paper: Old Olive, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Black, White, Haiku ds, Autumn Traditions ds

Ink: Black, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, More Mustard, Versamark

Accessories: Black detail ep, scallop circle punch, metal-edged tags, black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, aquapainter

Swap Hell

Yes, I'm still in Swap Hell, but I'm hoping that I will soon be done with all my Santa Swaps! Either that, or I'm going to have to find the correct authority to revoke my visa to Swap Land.....

I do have a box of SU! goodies showing up today. I'm going to get started on putting together some Hallloween treat bags and some cute little matchboxes with the "Twick or Tweet" birdie from Twick or Tweet. I FINALLY ordered the extended cutting pads for my Big Shot, so I can FINALLY use the matchbox die that I got last spring!

Nothing like a little procrastination....

Not my usual type of card!

Sort of a weird day and an edgy card -- I think that my creative juices are rebelling against the swap that I'm still working on! I took the inspiration from the book that I CASEd a couple of weeks ago.

I layered Black, Dusty Durango and a sheet from the Night & Day ds. The Bermuda Bay star at the top of the crown has a clear token over it.

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Hope Happens, Gallery

Paper: Black, Dusty Durango, White, Night & Day ds

Ink: Black, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry

Accessories: Photo corner and spiral punches, Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry polka-dotted grosgrain, Build a Brad, dimensionals

Goody Bag!

I made this tag to go onto a goody bag. Last year, my daughter wont he CPJHSA H&H Tack Shop Equitation Medal and part of her loot was a gift from the previous years' winner.

This year, we put together a goody bag of nifty things from our favorite horse show vendor, The Preppy Pink Pony. We did a pink/green/white checked Scout mini-tote filled with pink/green note cards, pink flower sticky pads with pen, rhinestone horse shoe necklace and earrings, ribbon belt with matching headband and some other little stuff. I wrapped the whole goody bag in cellophane, put on a slew of SU ribbons and a pink silk flower and attached this tag with the Old Olive ribbon. My daughter signed the back.

The flower was die-cut using Flowers Daisies #2. I cut two each of each size and sponged the edges to give more depth. Two of the large flowers were attached to each other, then two of the medium and two of the small. Then the small/medium/large section were attached with dimensionals and the edges of the petals curled up. I really loved how it came out!

Stamps: Pony Party

Paper: White, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette

Ink: Old Olive, Black, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

Accessories: Aquapainter, Old Olive grosgain ribbon, rhinestone brad, green glitter from the ultra-fine supernova collection, button from Button Bouquet, over-sized antique brass eyelet, Big Shot and Top Note and Flowers, Daisies #2 dies, dimensionals, sponges, linen

Techniques: watercolor

You can't see it, but I put this little book in at the back....

In SwapLand for a week or so....

Sorry that I haven't posted anything in a week or so, I'm participating in Veej13's New Christmas WOW swap on Splitcoast. I signed up for two groups, so I'm busy rolling out 22 cards. I'm doing the red, white and blue Santa card below. I've put together all the Bordering Blue/Night of Navy layers, including the color emboss. Now I'm getting ready to start watercoloring the Santa image.

If you're a SU demo, here's the link to Veej13's swap. Hers are always great! I don't usually participate in swaps, because I've never been happy with the return. However, Veej13 organizes great swaps and the returns are always fantastic!

Here are her guidelines -- I highly recommend her swaps to demos who are interested in high quality swaps.

• At least 4 layers – not counting the base card

• At least 3 embellishments (brads, buttons, ribbon, glitter, hardware, Sizzix die cuts, punches, pretties, shimmer paint and any other accessories that are currently available)

• All card stock must be cut straight and layered evenly AND firmly attached – take the time to make a card that will make you proud!

• Neatly stamped and colored images

• NO discontinued stamps, ink colors, card stock, designer paper, or accessories

More later.....

A shameless CASE!

I took this lock, stock and barrel from the front of the September 2009 Stampin' Success! This little book is to go into a goody bag that I'm putting together for this year's winner of the CPJHSA H&H Tack Shop Equitation Medal.

My daughter won it last year and has been asked to present the trophy to this years' winner. Historically, the previous years' winner gives something to the new winner. Last year, my daughter got a dozen roses. This year, I"m putting together a goody bag from one of my favorite shops, The Preppy Pink Pony.

The PPP is usually at most of the horse shows that we go to and all the girls (young and old) love the preppy things that they've got: ribbon belts, cute cell phone covers, ribbon flip-flops, purses, monogrammed everything. I thought that it would be nice to put some cute stuff in a little Scout tote with this book. I'm also going to make a tag with Party Pony and the Top Note die that my daughter can sign.

The following upload is the front page of the book. I don't know about the original, but I covered the back and inside covers with a sheet from The Write Stuff ds. The stars are from the star stamp in Extreme Elements and covered with a clear token from Build-a-Brad. The front and back covers are adhered and top-sealed with ModgePodge.

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Gallery, Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Paper: Confetti Cream, The Write Stuff ds, Razzleberry Lemonade ds

Ink: Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry

Accessories: On Board Timeless Type and 5x5 Art Journal, tokens from Build-a-Brad, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry and Dusty Durango polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, ModgePodge, sponges

Inside front page of my shamelessly CASEd book

I put together this little page inside my book to "explain" to the winner what the W was for on the front of this book! I used the tags/pieces from the The Write Stuff ds and stamped the words with the Straight Up Alphabet.

Stamps: Straight Up Alphabet, star from Extreme Elements

Paper: The Write Stuff ds

Ink: Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay

Accessories: Token from Build-a-Brad, On Board Timeless Type, sponges

Rooster Medallion

I had a dreadful day yesterday, so I was playing around with the stuff on my desk trying to keep myself entertained.

I sponged the color onto the Medallion bg stamp because I liked the softer, more seamless look. Thinking about it now, I should have used the spatter from Itty Bitty Backgrounds in Sahara Sand and Soft Suede over the Medallion, too.

Stamps: Country Morning, Medallion

Paper: More Mustard, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Vanilla

Ink: Black, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Really Rust, Sahara Sand, Pumpkin Pie, Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel

Accessories: brads/buckles from Antique Brass HPH, Mustard 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Soft Suede polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, sponges, aquapainter, dimensionals

Techniques: watercolor