I thought about what I wanted to show you today, and decided to show you a card I swapped at Leadership. I originally made over 20 of these to swap in an organized WOW swap I joined, but decided they needed to be full cards instead of just fronts, so they became general Leadership swaps and I made another card instead, which I will show you tomorrow IF I remembered to take a picture before I got on the plane! I know you don't care what kind of swap this card was for, it's jus' plain ol' CUTE! I actually CASED and tweaked this card from one of my downline, Jan's, 13-old daughter! My group of Stampin' Up! downline demonstrators, the "Yes, Ma'am!" Stampers, met on New Year's Day at my house to have a Shoebox Swap. We had a blast, making each others' cards, laughing, and sharing! I tweaked it a bit from the original, using two of the "Heart of Hearts" embosslit hearts instead of one, but basically otherwise it's the same! I used the "Sending Love" Specialty Paper from the Occasions Mini and coated the hearts with Platinum Shimmer Paint – an item that has been carried over from the Holiday Mini (YEAH!).

©Stampin'Up!™1990-2010

I'm really glad I took this photo in my bay window in the afternoon, because you CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE GLITTER THAT'S ON THIS PAPER!!!!!!!

Most of the time glitter doesn't photograph well at all, but I guess natural light helps!

The only thing about using this paper, (besides the fact that EVERY SIDE OF EVERY SHEET IS GORGEOUS!) is that it does take a bit more adhesive if you are not showing the glittery side. The glitter seems to resist the adhesive, so you have to slather it on more heavily. I'm talkin' about SNAIL adhesive, not glue, so since there is 472 inches of SNAIL in every refill, it's still worth it!

Well, that's it for now. If you need to order this beautiful, glittery paper (or any other SU! product), just give me a call, email me or go directly to my SU! website:

618-237-6281

carol@carolpaynestamps.com

www.carolpayne.stampinup.net

I thought about what I wanted to show you today, and decided to show you a card I swapped at Leadership. I originally made over 20 of these to swap in an organized WOW swap I joined, but decided they needed to be full cards instead of just fronts, so they became general Leadership swaps and I made another card instead, which I will show you tomorrow IF I remembered to take a picture before I got on the plane! I know you don't care what kind of swap this card was for, it's jus' plain ol' CUTE! I actually CASED and tweaked this card from one of my downline, Jan's, 13-old daughter! My group of Stampin' Up! downline demonstrators, the "Yes, Ma'am!" Stampers, met on New Year's Day at my house to have a Shoebox Swap. We had a blast, making each others' cards, laughing, and sharing! I tweaked it a bit from the original, using two of the "Heart of Hearts" embosslit hearts instead of one, but basically otherwise it's the same! I used the "Sending Love" Specialty Paper from the Occasions Mini and coated the hearts with Platinum Shimmer Paint – an item that has been carried over from the Holiday Mini (YEAH!).

©Stampin'Up!™1990-2010

I'm really glad I took this photo in my bay window in the afternoon, because you CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE GLITTER THAT'S ON THIS PAPER!!!!!!!

Most of the time glitter doesn't photograph well at all, but I guess natural light helps!

The only thing about using this paper, (besides the fact that EVERY SIDE OF EVERY SHEET IS GORGEOUS!) is that it does take a bit more adhesive if you are not showing the glittery side. The glitter seems to resist the adhesive, so you have to slather it on more heavily. I'm talkin' about SNAIL adhesive, not glue, so since there is 472 inches of SNAIL in every refill, it's still worth it!

Well, that's it for now. If you need to order this beautiful, glittery paper (or any other SU! product), just give me a call, email me or go directly to my SU! website:

618-237-6281

carol@carolpaynestamps.com

www.carolpayne.stampinup.net

While I have been crazy busy, I HAVE  been stamping, just not blogging, so I thought it would be good over the next few days to share some of my creative efforts with you!

This first card is not photographed very well. I think I took it's picture late at night by the light of Christmas tree bulbs or something (now you know my secret, I am a "late night stamper"!) We did a version of this card at my January SAS with the focal point stamped with a retiring dormant stamp set, but I changed it out to stamp some of my Leadership swaps and used "For All You Do"! I loved using the Medallion Background stamp as, guess what?! the background!

©Stampin' Up!™1990-2010

I used the new two-step bird punch for my greeting. Several people have asked me why the punch is called "2-step bird" when there are 3 images punched at the same time: the bird, the wing, and the branchy-leaves. I really don't know why except to tell them the punch does make two parts to the bird, the bird and the wing, and the branchy-leaves aren't a part of the bird at all, so to call it a 3-step bird would be even more confusing! I stamped the "happy birthday" from Teeny Tiny Wishes first in Cameo Coral, then punched the birdie around the words like this:

©Stampin' Up!™1990-2010

ALWAYS stamp first, then punch around the image next!

This next project is part of my hostess gift to all my hostesses this month and next month up until Valentine's Day. I LOVE Melon Mambo and the "I {LOVE} Love Jumbo Wheel, so I've been going crazy with making these little baskets by modifying the Basket & Blooms Die! It can be a little tricky to get the round bottom into the round basket that this die cuts out, so I've modified the die after it's cut out with my paper cutter so it's just a teeny-little stand-up basket!

©Stampin' Up!™1990-2010

I'm also using the new "Medium Jewelry Tag punch" for the "4 You" and some light pink crochet thread to tie. Every hostess also gets a cute little stamp and a Melon Mambo DSP wrapped Ghirardelli chocolate bar. I am also giving each hostess a step-by-step tutorial to make this little box, and presenting it all in a darling reusable shopping bag I purchased in the Memento Mall at Leadership!

If you would like to purchase the tutorial for this cute ensemble, the cost is only $5. Email me you would like to purchase this tutorial and I will email you a Paypal invoice. After I receive payment I will email you the tutorial as an attachment you can download to create at your convenience!

My email address: carol@carolpaynestamps.com

Unfortunately, there is so little time between now and Valentine's Day that I can't offer this project in kit form, but I hope to get one together in time to offer it for Easter, so stay tuned!

That's all for today! I hope to have more to show you tomorrow!