Convention 2013 Swaps

Hi there

Wow, wow, wow! I've just returned from the 2013 Stampin' Up! Convention in Brisbane after a fabulous few days reconnecting with old and meeting new friends. There were sneak peaks of the products from the new Annual Catalogue, lots of inspiring stamping demonstrations, classes, make & takes, swaps and 3 great 'roomies' to share it all with. Definitely the best convention yet, for me. Oh and did I mention all the fabulous stamps sets and other goodies (including the NEW Annual Catalogue) that we received as well! I was also super lucky (again!) to win a 'Prize Patrol' gift consisting of a stamp set, a pack of Designer Series Paper and matching embossing folder from the Eastern Influence Suite in the new Annual Catalogue – woohoo. I will be creating something with that very soon. Not only do Stampin' Up! make fantastic products, they are also very generous in showing their appreciation of their Demonstrators.

This is a photo of my lovely roomies Kayleen and Alisha (on the left) with Shelli Gardner (CEO) and husband Sterling and Di and myself on the right. This was taken at the end of Convention as we were getting ready to leave. Shelli is so patient and obliging with people wanting photos.

The reason I haven't posted for a while is that I spent most of my creating time leading up to Convention working on my swaps. This is the first design I came up with using the 'Papaya Collage' stamp set for the first time, together with my favourite 'Stippled Roses' set. I managed to make 30 of these.

Project Details
Stamps	Stippled Blossoms, Perfectly Penned, Papillon Potpourri, Papaya CollageStippled Blossoms, Perfectly Penned, Papillon Potpourri, Papaya Collage
Card stock & Papers	Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla
Ink	Soft Suede, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, Versamark
Accessories	None
Tools	Lacy Brocade EF, Big Shot, Bitty Butterfly punch, Sponge Daubers, Stampamajig, Dimensionals, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer

This is the second design, inspired by some lovely packaging that my friend Kerry gave me. I managed to make 25 of these, although I was still fussy cutting the roses and leaves as I waited at the Brisbane airport for my room mates to arrive!

This is an easy background to create by stamping a sheet of Crumb Cake card stock with the 3 stamps from the 'Flowering Flourishes' stamp set and Whisper White craft ink. Cut the sheet into the size you require, to create a nice random look to your pieces.

Project Details
Stamps	Stippled Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Flowering Flourishes
Card stock & Papers	Rose Red, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Ink	Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White Craft
Accessories	Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Pink Pirouette/Rose Red Two-Tone Ribbon
Tools	Perfect Polka Dots EF, Bitty Banner s Framelits, Big Shot, Word Window punch, Sponge Dauber, Stampamajig, Dimensionals, Glue Dots