Convention's Best class

Hi all
Sunday I had a lovely group of ladies for the Convention's Best class.  As you might imagine, I had lots of good options of cards to choose from, so I had to make some tough choices.  Actually, I may offer another version of the class to tap into to some of the other great options.  Two of the cards the gals did, you have already seen - my bird/bird house card and the LEAF card.  I wanted the ladies to have several techniques - these two offered watercoloring with the aqua painter and stamp pads (bird) and the other used the new letter stencils (LEAF - coming out on August 1st in the new mini catalog).  Today they were using a dauber to color the letters but soon I will be offering another class where the stampers will get to use another simple and quick strategy... maybe you'd like to join us, too.
So one of the cards we did started out as a variation of one I saw but it ended up so far from the original I'm not sure anyone would actually see the similarity in the two cards!! 

I love the colors ... Bermuda Bay and Daffodil Delight.  Using the Daffodil Delight gave me an opportunity to include the new plaid Washi Tape.  You just tear the tape, giving it a nice casual feel.  I had to add the rhinestone on the greeting ...a little bling!
Now is a good time to mention that if you want to explore the opportunity to be a demonstrator, now is a really good time to take the plunge.  In addition to getting $125 worth of Stampin' Up! product for only $99, from now until the end of August, you also get to choose one of four project kits for free!

The first three project kits are from the holiday catalog and the last option is from the annual catalog. Option Kit Description Item Total Value 1 Build a Banner Simply Created Kit AND Halloween Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit 133507 132698 $29.90 2 Build a Banner Simply Created Kit AND Christmas Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit 133507 132697 $29.90 3 Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit 133463 $19.95 4 Tag a Bag Bundle AND Tag a Box Bundle 131371 131372 $22.45

Folks who sign up with me now, have until the end of December to meet the $300 minimum of sales.  What happens if you don't have $300 in purchases/sales by the end of December?  you go into pending - giving you another month to meet that minimum.  If you cannot make that date, you simply drop.   There is no penalty.  How about you give yourself the gift of self confidence and see what you can do with your love of stamping and scrapbooking.  Invest in yourself and see how you will soar.  I'd love to have you join me in my 16+ year hobby.

lost post is found!!

Hi all
I had pre-prepared a post for you (before I left for convention) to appear the other day but dang!  it never showed up!  Then I retried to post it but alas blogger wouldn't let me do it!  Don't know what I did but suddenly I am good to go again..yeah!!!!  I'm so glad because this card was one of my favorites that I took to trade.

I have never thought of myself  as a bird person but this card really appeals to me.   Hope you like it too.  For some of the cards, I stamped the branches/leaves; for others I used die cuts. The bird house was made from a Deco Labels Collection die cut which I then ran through the wood grain textured impressions embossing folder.  Would you like to make this card?  It will be included in Sunday's stampin session.  Or you can book your workshop and request that your guests get to make it too.

Remember to check out my website and pencil in the dates for the Holiday Stamp a stack classes.  Spots are already filling up!
My older son returned home from a business trip to Korea today...it is nice to have all my chicks back in the roost!
hugs
Peggy

convention trades #8

Hi all
My final convention trade project is here for you, today.

This idea came to me as I was unpacking my last order.  Included in the box was a cool new product which will be available to customers in the next mini catalog in August.  The letters were made using stencils and a dauber.  Across the top of the card is a strip of special burlap ribbon - actually the ribbon is twice as wide as what you see but I cut it lengthwise to get a narrower strip.  I really like this card as it has a very different look from my usual style.
Peggy
The letters were done using a stencil set which is part of the Build a Banner set in the new mini catalog. Love it!

convention trades #7

Hi Stampers
I want to share a fun little treat with you today.   I took some to convention with the intention of giving them to the SU staff - but not sure if that actually happened ...I'll let you know on that one!

This picture shows you both the front and the back.
One of the SU employees did a video showing how to make a treat like this using the Apothecary Accents die cut.  She used two die cuts and trimmed away part of each and overlapped what was left.  It was so cute but I just could not understand why she had to use two...so I went to work.  You know I am a tree hugger and love to rework, reuse, and conserve supplies...yours and mine!  I was able to cut out the heart shaped hole using the heart from the Hearts a Flutter Framelits set and the Big Shot!  I had seen the hearts textured impression embossing folder on a treat and decided it added a nice element to the project.  Nice!  Of course, the small heart was punched out of the glitter paper.  Bet you have some friends who would love this fun treat!
Peggy

convention trades #5

Hi Stampers
Well, today is return home day.  Usually by this time in the convention experience, I am eager to get home and start using the great ideas I have heard/seen at convention.  Of course, I am eager to see my family ...but one of my sons is headed out of BWI just a few short hours before I land there.   He is on his way to KOREA!  Yikes! 
Today I have a card for you that came to me while playing with my hexagon punch.  I have seen lots of things done with the arrangement of the hexagons but I haven't seen this arrangement.

When you take cards to convention, it can be a challenge to keep them safe when everyone is swapping like crazy.  I wanted to pop up the hexagons but I thought they might get snagged while I was handling them so I attached them directly to the card front.  BUT I wanted them to pop!  So I applied the dazzling details around the outer edge.  I like it!
Hope to see you soon so I can share the convention high!
Peggy

convention trade # 4

Hi Stampers
I am sitting here imagining that I am having a great time at convention.  Sorry I am not able to post "live"  and all that jazz but I am not taking my laptop with me to SLC so I have no way to connect.  But if I stumble on an opportunity to post, I surely will.  In the meantime...

This card was an especially fun card to make.  The lattice is attached inside the front cover of the card.  It is fun to use the punched butterflies as 3D and I love the touch of rhinestones.  As you can see, the design on the left side of the card is different on each card.  Where did they come from?  These pieces are what is left after you die cut the lattice.  I played around with the scraps and I love how the pattern enhances the look of the card.  Hope you do too.
Peggy

convention trade #3

Hi stampers
This next card I am sharing is simple but yummy.  I stamped one of the flowers from the Mixed Bunch stamp set (clear, 125537, pg 89, 6 pieces) in the corner.  I stamped the greeting from the Kind and Cozy stamp set (c 129126, 16.95, p 82).  Then I used the Occasions paper piercing pack and piercer to poke holes around the stamped image and around the border of the card.

I put a little glitter in the center of the flower.  Sweet, huh?  Thanks for stopping by!
Peggy