Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Catherine Carroll

Slim Matchbox Swap

A couple of weeks ago, we had an amazing team weekend in Birmingham. As ever, swaps were a big part of meeting all the new people! I wanted to do something a bit more than a card, and as it was close to Easter a chocolate-containing gift seemed appropriate. Who am I kidding? Chocolate is always appropriate!

Here's what I came up with:

It was really easy to make a slim matchbox tray using the envelope punch board. The sleeve took a couple of attempts to get it right, mainly as I misjudged the thinkness of the naturals ivory cardstock I decided to use.

I kept the decoration quite simple, and the Crumb Cake and Coastal Cabana colour scheme is straight from my favourite Fresh Prints DSP stack. It was just as well I didn't go too over-the-top as I did have to make 22 of them. When will I learn that a card swap is fine?

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Box Swaps

I didn't just take general swaps. I was too slow to get in to an organised swap, but there was a meet-up with some of the top American demos arranged for the international demonstrators attending. I have to say a big thank you to Becky Roberts for all the organising. I wanted to take something special for some of the demos that would be there, as they have given me so much inspiration over the last few years (and have been amazingly generous in blogging and sharing it all!). This is what I came up with:

It's very simple, and perhaps too simple for such inspiring demonstrators! There are a couple of mini bars of Green and Blacks inside - I wanted to share some of my favourite chocolate with them. This is the first time I have used the Naturals Ivory cardstock, and I can't believe I have overlooked it so far. The box flap was cut using the Deco Lables framelits, and the ribbon and butterfly keep the box loosely closed. I didn't want this to end up like my never-opened swaps, so made the closure really simple.

I hope they liked it, but more importantly I hope they enjoyed the chocolate!

Stamp Sets:	Papillon Potpourri
Cardstock:	Basic Gray, Naturals Ivory
Ink:	Whisper White Craft Ink
Tools:	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Deco Labels Framelits Elegant Butterfly Punch
Finishing Touch:	Basic Gray ¼" Stitched Grosgrain, Stampin' Dimensionals

 

 

 

 

Convention Swaps

I've just got back from the most amazing holiday. Not only have I finally been to New York, but I was also able to go to the Stampin' Up! convention in Salt Lake City! As it was the 25th anniversary convention and we were planning on being in the USA anyway, it seemed a shame not to make it part of our trip. I was able to share the wonderful experience with my upline, Michelle Last (incentive trip winner, so this was all her fault really), Lynne Fahey and Nicky Whittall. They are all really amazing friends that I would never have met if it wasn't for Stampin' Up!

So, how about I share the swaps I made? I'm very much a last minute person - I had all the pieces stamped and cut for me to assemble on the plane. I thought that would be the perfect distraction (I hate flying far too much for someone who loves to visit new places...), but then my carry-on was stashed right at the back of a locker way at the back of the plane! Luckily I really struggled with the changing time zone, so my insommnia meant I could finish them at the hotel.

My first swap used Blushing Bride and Basic Gray. With hindsight, maybe there were a few too many elements on this one! 

I also made the same design with Soft Sky and Smoky Slate (I said this was my new favourite colour combo, didn't I?):

I really hoped everyone I swapped these with liked them. The swaps I received in return are amazing!

Check back tomorrow to see my other swap design. For such a special event I couldn't just go with one design now, could I? 

Stamp Sets:	Happy Day, Label Love
Cardstock:	Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, Whisper White
Ink:	Basic Gray, Smoky Slate
Tools:	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Chevron Embossing Folder Artisan Label, Bitty Butterfly, Hexagon punches
Finishing Touch:	Stampin' Dimensionals