Hello Stampers,
I have such talented stampers on my team, Canada Inks Up! and I recently hosted a swap with them. It's a busy time of year so only 10 participated but we sure got some beautiful samples to share with our customers. The criteria for the swap was that one item MUST be from the new Idea Book & Catalogue – either a stamp set, in-colour ink or paper would count.
Here's one of my contributions to the swap. I used the new stamp set called Inspired by Nature (one of the sets available in the $119 starter kit). You can find out more about the promotion in this post. First I stamped the flower image in black on white cardstock. Then I brayered over the entire piece using the new Baja Breeze ink.
Next I tore a strip of paper on both sides and laid it down in the centre of the card masking it from the next layer of ink.
I brayered over the entire piece using the Pacific Point ink and then removed the paper mask . The centre retained the original colour. I added the sentiment "live with passion" in Pacific Point Ink and then stamped the grass image from the stamp set with Versamark ink. The image was layered on black, then on Baja Breeze and finally Pacific Point colours.
I provided two cards for the swap – if you are a regular subscriber to my newsletter this is one of 
the samples from my upcoming newsletter. Sign up today – email me your name and email address and I'll add you to my list.
This time I stamped the grass image from the Inspired by Nature set in Kiwi Kiss (don't you love saying that) on Bashful Blue cardstock and used the faux stitching technique around the outside of the image. I used the Embossing Buddy and swiped over the cardstock so when I stamped the sentiment and applied embossing powder I could be certain it would only stick to the words. The saying was stamped in Versamark and embossed in white. The saying is "good works are links that form a chain of love – Mother Teresa". The blue piece was layered on the Kiwi Kiss (dare you not to smile when you say this) cardfront.
Isn't this adorable? One of my newbies, Michelle Moore, created this card with the Simply Said stamp set and the new Heard from the Heart stamp set paired with the fabulous Bella Rose designer paper. We only had a few things to choose from to incorporate "something new" in our designs and Michelle did an awesome job.
The next card is from another newbie, Jessica Devlin, using the same Heard from the Heart stamp set along with and the Bella Rose paper. I love how Jess stamped the flower and then stamped it again and cut it out and popped it up on top to create some dimension. She also paper pierced a line along the brown piece. So pretty!
Next is my third newbie, Terilee Stokke from Saskatchewan. I thought this was incredible creative. Terilee used the Bella Rose paper for a Christmas card – the colour and the pattern worked beautifully for the season. I would never have thought to do that – I would have thought summer and flowers. The stamp set is a Level 3 Hostess set called Window Dressing - I love how she cut out the top window and stamped snowflakes to look like it was snowing outside. The sentitment is also from the Heard from the Heart set. And she used the new Scallop Punch for the edge.
Lastly for tonight is a gorgeous card from my dear friend Jacoline Fitzgerald, a demo in Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island. Jacoline has been a demo for many years with me BUT she is a swapping newbie – this is her first swap with my group (I think?). The colouring on this card is amazing – check on the shading on the pot and just the blending of colours – this is stunning in person. The stamp set is a new Level 2 Hostess set called Serene Spring and the paper is, you guessed it, Bella Rose designer paper. The cardstock is Pink Pirouette a new In Colour!
I have to save some more for tomorrow's post..check back for the next group – my "old timers".
It can be intiminating to join swaps and I'm just so proud of these newbies for taking the plunge and producing such fine work. I know there are hundreds of you (I can see you on my stats) that visit my blog each day and I know these demos would love to hear your comments.
Happy Stamping!
Alison
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