January Swap Card

 Well, Keri and I are going to have another crack at getting through an entire year swapping one card every month. We make one for ourselves and one to swap. 

I kicked things off with a Christmas card. Yes, in January. By the time Christmas rolls around, I'm always too busy to sit down and make cards and I've always wanted to use this stamp set from Lawn Fawn. I even tried some stenciling with Distress Ink Oxide. One card at least will be ready to mail out this year.

Keri used a stamp set that she has had for awhile also. Oh Deer by Neat and Tangled. (She's organized and has her stamps labelled and sorted.) Not me, I'm afraid.

It's nice to keep the challenge going. At least I attempt some crafting time each month. Wish up luck for a 12 month streak!

April Swap Card

 So far, so good. Keri and I met again this month and we were both really excited about our cards and we both used die sets.

I used the Spellbinder Pie Perfection set and yes, I had to get most of it! It's going to be fun playing with all the pie combinations and the tin foil pie plate is just too cute. I made a chocolate chip pie and styled my card after something I saw on the Net. I purchased 4 coordinating die sets. 

Keri made a sweet card combining the Lawn Fawn tea cup die and some cute Jolene Boutique bees. Sadly, I used all my bees up for a Loonies for Lindor themed fundraiser.

On to next month. Best get started before golf season starts.

February Swap Card

 This is a record, our swap cards for Feb are already produced and exchanged. We are on a roll. 

I used a new Stamp set from Lawn Fawn called Simply Celebrate Critters. I also purchased the sentiment add-ons. I feel like this set can be used for all occasions but of course, I started with the dogs.

Keri made the sweetest shaker card using a set from My Favorite Things; Meant to Bee. I couldn't find an image to show you.

It's freezing rain here today so looking like a great day to stay inside and craft.

January Card Swap

Keri and I have decided to have a go at our Monthly Card Swap. We each make 2 cards then we get together to exchange. This helps motivate us to get in our craft rooms and pull out those sets that we have never/lightly used. This month we both used MFT products. 

I used MFT New Best Friend and made this card....

 

Keri used the MFT set Polar Pals and came up with this purple cutie...

So great to get back crafting!

March Swap card

 Are we caught up yet? Not quite but if it was due the end of March, I'm not super late posting. 

I used a stamp set from Taylored Expressions to add a new card to the pile of options to send out. I coloured the soup can with Copics.

Keri made this slightly more masculine birthday card by inlaying the letters in different colours, She had to run the die through a few times but then she got lots of options to mix and match. She used Versamark black to heat emboss the happy, I love how that turned out.

July? Card swap

 Hello, anybody out there? It's been awhile. Finally getting back to the monthly cards. Not sure if we will try to catch up or just start from here. It's been a busy few months and the summer is not as conducive to sitting indoors and crafting. Hopefully with Covid on the decline, there will be more regular get togethers and days dedicated to card making and planners. 

I used this sweet stamp set from the Colorado Craft company.  I kept going back to it in the store and didn't know what was drawing me to these bunnies until I looked up the artist. She illustrated Guess How Much I Love YOU? One of my favourite children's books of all time.So I had to have it and made this simple card...... I was thinking of an Anniversary sentiment but decided to leave it blank as it could work for friendship etc.

Keri made this cute card with techniques that she learned from Crop and Create. The stamp set is from Photo Play...

Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going now that we are back to crafting and fall weather.

June Card Swap

 We are going to catch up, I swear, maybe once the cold weather hits but for right now it's too nice to sit inside and scrap. 

We did manage to whip up a couple cards and here they are:

Keri used the new Giant Sentiments: Happy Birthday to you from Lawn Fawn to create this card...

 

What a coincidence! I chose a Lawn image as well...

Here's the stamp set I chose...

It's called Birthday Before and Afters. There you have it, a quick post. Now I'm off to cut the lawn (again)

October Swap Cards

 So I think Keri made her card for the You Pick challenge but as previously stated, I can't find anything or remember where her "real" swap cards is, so I'm going with this. Again, it's a stamp and die set from My Favourite Things and I believe the Celebrate is from Stampin Up.

How cute is that?

I did another Fall card using the Lawn Fawn set....

I love making Fall cards, the colours are always so rich and so nice to work with. Now lets hope my reno is done soon so I can get back to making some cards.

August Swap Cards

 Wow, it's been a hot minute since I've been on the Blog and the entire program has changed up. I guess I'll be learning another new system. Here it goes....

I've had these cards for awhile and never got around to posting. It's been super busy getting ready for my reno and living life. Haven't touched a craft since I did this card. Hopefully a little more time in the craft room once the summer activities are wrapped up.

I decided to get a start on my theme cards for the Fundraiser (which sadly is postponed until next Fall) I used the Lawn Fawn set. Can you guess the theme?

Nicole also used Lawn Fawn. She's our interactive girl, she likes the challenge this type of card presents. It's really cute..

You press down the tab and PRESTO..

Keri used a Stampin Up die set. Isn't it clever to do the sunflower in white?

There you have it. I'm so behind on the challenges but I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet.

July You Pick Challenge

I'm starting August off right with a Blog Post, a card and a new book.

When I'm in a reading slump, I like to go back to Dystopian Young Adult to get going again. This trilogy got a lot of good reviews so I picked it up. Yes, I actually went inside the doors of my library and did a collect from the Entrance. Couldn't go inside but its at least open now.

Keri and I are continuing the You Pick challenge. For her I picked Sunny Studio Sweet Shoppe from my collection and here's what she made....

I just love the glaze on the donut and I never make Shaker cards so this is a real treat!

Keri picked MFT Birthday Chicks for me to use and I made this card..

I even put a little guy inside...

This is the stamp set that I used...

I'd say August is off to a good start!

July Swap Cards

Well it's been a hot minute since I last posted and its been crazy hot this summer. Not terribly conducive to sitting still (at least for me). Pathetically our guest participant had her card done and exchanged 26 days prior to mine. Whoops!

Anyway, it's always such a fun surprise to see what we are getting each month. I chose a Penny Black stamp that I was going to put in a garage sale because I had never used it. I only worked on it here and there a few minutes a day and it came together not too badly. I never do CAS cards so this was a good change of pace...

Keri used a new set from Stampin Up. Who doesn't love goats?

Nice to have a card that's a little more masculine. Isn't' it clever how she knotted the twine instead of tying a bow?

Nicole used a set from Simon Says Card kits from way back when. I think I gave away this bikini die and stamp set and know I'm regretting it..

I've got a few more blog posts ideas so maybe I'll step up my game. Stay tuned.

January Swap Card

We are getting caught up. FUN FACT! Keri and I started this exchange in August 2016. We've fallen behind but we've never missed a month. I think that's pretty good. Surprisingly we both did Lawn Fawn cards.
Keri used the Skating Mice that she actually won in an on-line give away. So cute...

Here's the stamp and die set she used..

I used the Taco Birthday set. I found my card a little basic but I added some stickles to the party hat and some sparkly enamel dots and I thought it ramped it up a bit...

Here's the stamp set that I used....

I'd better get posting. I'm falling behind in my biweekly post goals. Where does the time go?

October Swap Card

We are slowly getting caught up. This month,we got together and swapped 2 cards. The first card was from Keri....

She used a cute little technique where you put some of the stamped images on the inside where they are visible and some on the outside. What a clever idea. Of course, she used the Lawn Fawn Baked with Love stamp and die set.

I used a new set from Pretty Pink Posh called Happy Snowman and the sentiment was from a Hero Arts Sentiment set...

I embossed the snow bank and put glitter around the edges of my snowman and the snowball pom poms are just too cute.

There you have it! Another swap completed. Stay tuned for Nov.

July Swap Card

Whaat? How did I fall so far behind? Life is busy. We did swap these cards awhile ago but I won't lie we are not keeping up (or I should say I am not!)
Keri used the Stampin Up set, I believe is called Cocktail hour to make this gold on gold birthday card...

This might be the set she used. LOL....

But I could be wrong.

I did a cute Fall card using one of my MFT Pure Innocence sets...

I just love paper piecing. Then all your patterned paper coordinates.
This is the set that I used. Its called Sending Blessings.

I'm hoping to visit the My Favourite Things store when I'm back in Florida. It's always a fun roadtrip.

Memories

I've been doing some cleaning and purging lately. I'll confess, I'm not really bad at having a lot of stuff around (except my office and scrapping room) but I'm pretty sentimental in a few ways. I came across these vases that held plant arrangements on our birthdays many years ago. They were given as gifts at the hospital. By my Dad? I'm not sure anymore.  My brother (1958) and myself (1959). Can you believe my Mom kept these and then myself all these years????

I cleaned them up and do you know what? I'm NOT going to get rid of them. I'm going to put them somewhere where I can see them occasionally and be reminded of a very special Mom who treasured her kids and wanted to keep these momentoes.

May Swap Card

We got together a little late this month but we still got our cards done.

Keri used a Taylored Expressions set called Party Grumplings, I think and made this cute card....

She always does such a great job on the inside too...

This is the stamp set she used...

I borrowed an MFT Blueprints die set from another friend (love my dies) and made this simple but striking card...

It's much brighter in person. I left the inside blank but put a little quilt piece in the corner.
This is the MFT Blueprints set that I used...

You can see that they would be many awesome combinations that are possible with this set.

I'm working really hard trying to keep my blog posts coming. Its almost half way through the year so I should be at 25 and I am.Now I need to get going on my reading.