Get Togethers & Card Starters

I’m blessed to have so many great friends on my Stampin’ Team and in August, some of us met up for lunch and stamping one Saturday:

Swapping ideas is a staple activity at any meeting, but we chose to exchange “Card Starters” this time: Some crafters call them card candy, but they are just small focal points you use on a greeting card and I’m sharing a few of them today.

Mary McGill used this Adirondack chair from the Seasonal Layers thinlit dies, which captures the last sunset of summer in perfect form. Used on three different cards, it’s fun to see how a card starter can inspire many different ideas!

Next is Chelle Scott’s gorgeous version of “Deck the Halls” from the Carols of Christmas stamp set: The layer of Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper catches your eye when you see it in person and no matter which way you look at it, it’s a fabulous focal point for a Christmas card.

Mine was a simple label from the Merry Little Label bundle in the new Holiday Catalog, punched and layered on a silver glimmer paper layer. I love how the new Everyday Label punch layers beautifully on the Lots of Labels Thinlits dies.

While my Stampin’ Team is named “Sprinkled Ink”, we have a larger group that meets together in person and online called “Stitched Stampers” which encompasses demonstrators in the Utah area and beyond: We include any demonstrators (and potential demonstrators) who would like to work on their business with like-minded, positive and uplifting folks and there is always room at our table for more stampin’ friends.  Join my team anytime!

Check back for more card starter samples soon…

Now Serving Leftovers: Card Candy!

Why is it that the word “leftovers” has a negative connotation? This is a thought I’m pondering this morning because I am believe that so many things are BETTER the second time. Seriously: Spaghetti is soooo much tastier when left overnight (or two) and the flavors meld together! Even though the number of people in my household is dwindling as the kids grow up and move out, I continue to cook for an army JUST SO I can “cook once, eat twice”. At this moment, there is leftover chicken & rice in the fridge for dinner tonight and a sausage/vegetable skillet ready to reheat for tomorrow’s supper! It makes me happy knowing I just have to push the button on the microwave and have a meal ready to serve 🙂

So when I had “leftover” 2″ squares from the Sampler Swap, I thought about the term “Card Candy” instead of leftovers: Many stampers create Card Candy as little focal points that can be created ahead of time and stuck on a card whenever they are needed. And what a fitting term, as they create SWEET little morsels:

They were super easy and quick to put together with a little card stock and DSP (Designer Series Paper). Looking at them now, I doubt you would think of them poorly as “leftovers”, huh?

So maybe we need to coin a new term for food: I’m thinking “Supper Starters”, “Meal Marzipan” or “Sweet Seconds”. What do you think?
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Sensational Seasonal Samplers

My Stitched Stamper family of SU! demonstrators held a “Sampler Square” Swap for the upcoming holidays. Each of us created a 2″ square to trade using a set color palette and here are the finished projects, mounted on Designer Series Paper for a 12×12 frame.

Halloween (using Witches’ Brew DSP from the Holiday Catalog):

Fall/Thanksgiving (using Sweater Weather DSP from the Holiday Catalog):

Christmas (using Season of Style DSP from the Holiday Catalog): 
Wouldn’t this be fun to do with your friends? To order supplies to make your own, visit my Stampin’ Up! store!
If you are swapping with friends, invite everyone to participate, because it’s great to have “leftover” squares…see what I did with them here 🙂

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Birthday Card Swap

July is a lovely month to celebrate a birthday 🙂 AND it’s a perfect time to share some of the talents of a few of my creative friends who created these birthday cards for a swap during Stamp Club last night! 
 Heather A
Lisa N
 Heidi R
 Stephanie G
 Andrea G
 Claudette F

Shelly S

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CARD SWAP MANIA!

Card Swap MANIA (just like we do it at SU! Convention)
Monday, June 20, 2011
~12:00 NOON~
Here are the rules: 
E-MAIL ME TO SIGN UP~ loni@sfcn.org!! Create 20 +1 (the extra card will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House)  of the SAME card using supplies from Stampin’ Up! (card stock, ink, stamps, accessories, etc). Include an envelope for each card. You can create Birthday or Wedding Cards for this swap and will receive 20 different cards in return!

If you are mailing your cards, include $5 for return postage or send $5 Paypal payment to loni@sfcn.org…all cards will be returned Priority Mail. Cards must be postmarked by June 15th (so we can swap them on the 20th). Late cards will be returned unopened (sorry!). 

Mail to: Loni Spendlove, 860 E 1050 S, Spanish Fork, UT 84660

If you are coming to my house in Spanish Fork for the swap, bring something to share for our light potluck lunch! Last Names A-M bring a salad of any sort and Last Names N-Z bring dessert 🙂 Please leave kids at home (babes-in-arms are welcome to attend with mom). 

NEW: Create a CARD KEEPER book at the swap on June 20th for only $15. This fun spiral bound folder will help you track and remember up with all the special occasions in your life…request your Card Keeper Kit when you RSVP for the swap: loni@sfcn.org
You **can** use retiring supplies and can order on my website until June 13th to get your supplies in time to participate!