HAS Cards

Be sure to scroll down to my July 4 post so that you can post your guess and be in the running for some blog candy!

Surprise! As you know I am in Washington, DC right now. But, before I left I set a little post to surprise you today. I think you'll enjoy it!

I am part of a group called the "Humble Artist Swappers". About a month and a half ago I was creating the card that I was going to be swapping for the June 10 deadline. I posted a photo of the card I was working on, but not quite happy with, here on my blog and asked for your suggestions on how I could make it better. Because of YOUR help I was able to turn my 'okay' card into one I was proud to swap. THANK YOU! (see it pictured below).Below you will find everyone else's cards (feel free to click on any photo to see it larger). They all knocked my socks off!

The guidelines we were to follow as we created our cards for this swap were:

• use at least one NEW patterned paper from the Summer 2010 CTMH Idea Book
• use at least 6 different stamps on your card*have at least 8 layers, stacked on top of each other, in one spot on your card
• use at least 2 different embellishments
• use versamark ink somewhere on your card
• card must be square
• 

"Hi" revisited

Remember this card from about a week or so ago... the one that I asked for your opinions on how to make it better? Well, I listened and guess what...you guys were RIGHT! I just changed up a couple of things and WOW, what a difference.

Unfortunately I can't share the whole shebang with you, but I did take a photo of a corner of the card so you can see a couple of the changes. I'll share the whole thing with you when I'm able. It is for the Humble Artists Group Swap that I am in and the rules are that we are not supposed to share a photo of our finished project until everyone has sent their projects out. That means you should be able to see the whole card in a couple of weeks.

Until then, enjoy the sneaky peeky!

Oh, and how 'bout American Idol? I would have been happy with Crystal or Lee so I was happy. But, I think my favorite overall was Big Mike. I was sad when he went home.

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who commented yesterday with wonderful suggestions on how I could make my card better. I loved all of the ideas and I have incorporated many of them into my card. I will be finishing that card (and 5 more just like it) later this week but won't be posting it for a few weeks. It is for the Humble Artists' Swap group and we are not allowed to post our finished products until everyone has sent in their cards. I promise I will post it once I am allowed. There's that darn patience thing again. Ugh.

Humble Artists

I have a few cards to share with you that I think you'll love! A month or so ago, I referred to a swap that I was invited to be a part of this year called the Humble Artists Swap. It is a small group of Close To My Heart consultants that are known for their great artwork. I was honored to be invited. Today I am sharing some of the cards that I received back in the swap. All cards are made using Close To My Heart products (click here to order from my website 24/7...especially when you're swappin' cards!). Enjoy!

created by Vicki Wizniuk (using Veranda Creative Basics papers):

created by Bren Yule (using Topstitch papers):

created by Emilee Smith (using Caboodle papers):

created by Nancy Ball (using Veranda Creative Basics papers):

created by Tracey Mason (using Topstitch papers):

Here is the card I made for the swap (using the Veranda Creative Basics papers):

Bits and Pieces and THE COUNDOWN BEGINS

Bits and Pieces: I am participating in a swap group called the Humble Artists. We are a small group of Close To My Heart Consultants and I was honored to be invited. I just completed my first swap card but one of the rules of the group is that we can't post our cards on our blogs until they have all been sent out and received by our swap hostess. Darn! So, I decided instead of showing you the whole card (which I will do when the rules allow), I'd just share a couple of bits and pieces of it. That's not breaking the rules, right? I hope not because I really am a certified rule follower (just ask my sometimes exasperated hubby, Dan the Man).

I used the brand new CTMH Veranda papers to make this card. LOVE them...so elegant and soft. I also really love those new Spring Blossom Just Blooms Paper Flowers and the brand new Filigree Charms.

So, I hope you enjoy these little bits and pieces and that they might even just make you look forward to the whole shebang later. I'll even post some of the cards that I get back in this, my very first swap with the Humble Artists. I can't wait to see them myself! I feel like a little girl at Christmas time. I can hardly wait to get them. Isn't it true that it's the small and simple things that make life so much fun?

The Countdown Begins: There is ONE very BIG thing coming up in my life that I have no doubt will be AWESOME! That is the fact that Easton is coming home from his 2 year mission on January 26...that means 20 more days! The countdown begins. Since he is serving in Houston I thought a countdown (like the space shuttles) would be appropriate. We are at 20, Houston. And, we don't have a problem.

Click here to order from my website 24/7...even when you feel a bit like you're going to pieces, or when you're needing something fun an creative to do while you're involved in your own countdown.