Blogger's Swap.....First Artist - Me!

That fearless Blogger's Swap coordinator, Sarah Moore, was at it again for us! She coordinated a spring time Blogger's Swap and I just got mine back (6 cards total) and they're all amazing! I LOVED what everyone made! I'll be sharing those cards over the next few weeks, so be sure to check back.

For the first card in this swap, I'll start with myself. Wanna hear a funny story??

I've been SO busy lately with deadlines, work, being here, being there, volunteering at my kids' school, school vacation, having my sister's kids here for 4 days, getting my Tutorial Program and some other fun stuff off the ground and so much more. I did my swap cards and sent them off to Sarah and kind of forgot about them because I was so involved in other things. Sarah then announced that they were on their way to all the bloggers that took part and for the life of me, I couldn't remember what I did for the swap! I sat there and wracked my brain and STILL couldn't remember what I made. I just figured that it would be a huge surprise to me when I got my swaps back. Not only would all the other cards from the other bloggers be a surprise to me, but my OWN card would also be a surprise because I couldn't remember what I made!

And it WAS a surprise! When I got the big envelope in the mail, I tore it open, looked for my card and actually said, out loud, "Ah yes, so THAT'S what I made!" haha! I guess I can now start wrapping my own birthday presents and hiding my own Easter eggs. ;)

So.......for this card, I used the Doodle This set, which is in the Spring Mini Catalog. I ADORE this set! SO much fun! I stamped the background with one of the flourishes from this set on the Cool Caribbean cardstock with the same color of ink. I just LOVE tone on tone backgrounds.

I then stamped the big flower from this set onto Marigold Morning cardstock with VersaMark ink. I then sprinkled it with Crystal Clear Embossing Powder and heated it with my embossing gun. I mounted this on top of a piece of Certainly Celery cardstock and then on another piece of Regal Rose cardstock. I then wrapped a piece of Black gingham ribbon around these three cardstock and adhered it to the backside. I then mounted all of this to my Cool Caribbean card.

For the big flower embellishment, I used the Emboss Resist technique. I stamped the big flower on a piece of Almost Amethyst cardstock with VersaMark ink, then embossed it with Crystal Clear embossing powder. Because I used clear powder, it "preserved" the Almost Amethyst color underneath. I then used a stamping sponge to sponge Lavender Lace ink over the top of the embossed image. Because the amethyst cardstock was preserved underneath, the color showed through when I sponged the darker ink over the top. It almost makes it look like I used a color embossing powder.

I cut the flower out using my Paper Snips scissors and mounted this on the Marigold Morning strip with Stampin' Dimensionals to give it a little more dimension.

To finish the card off, I stamped the word, "thanks," (from the Much Appreciated set) with Basic Black ink at the bottom of the card.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend full of your own happy surprises!

Happy Creating!

-Stampin' Mama

Comments

[Lourin]

Beautiful as always. Now, Just think how much fun your Birthdays will be ;)
Keep on Sharing. I love your card and creations.
Hugs, Lourin

[Julie Mutch]

I really like this one, Erika. Gorgeous colour combo and nice layout. I love this set, too. I finally broke down and ordered it...should be here in another week...I can't wait!

Thanks for sharing another great creation with us!

Hugs,
Julie

P.S. I'm with ya on the whole memory thing. I think I lose more memory with each child that I have. I have two girls and I told my DH that we're not allowed to have any more kchildren, because if we did, I fear I wouldn't be able to function at all, since I'd have absolutely no memory left! lol :)

[Mary C. Anderson]

Your story made me smile becuase I can relate to forgetting things. Be careful not to hide your own gifts though becuase you may never find them. :) I have done that with Christmas presens for my husband. One year he recieved on of his gifts almost a month late. Ha-ha. Your card is so pretty Erika. I love the colors that you used. So very cheerful. I'm sure that it was lots of fun seeing all of the other cards that you got too.

IT sounds as though you are out straight with all that you have to do. I hope that you are setting some time aside for you just you. Your scrapbook camp is coming up soon. That will be nice. :)

Mary

[Linda McClain]

Erika - How funny. Gracious, girl, I hope you get to relax sometime soon. Sounds, though, likes lots of exciting eventures for you now. Your card is beautiful. I love the daring bold colors. Linda

[Nicole Seitler]

Love your card! So pretty and sunny. :)