Hello stampin’ friends!

Matt and I are heading to Hot Springs, NC to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary!  Seems like only a few years ago we were married by the Mystic fountain at Universal Studios.    I’m leaving the laptop at home and getting some R&R for a soak in the natural hot Mineral Waters. “Heated deep within the earth, these crystal clear carbonated waters are world famous for their mineral content and legendary healing powers.”  Bring it on!

If you want to read more about Hot Springs, NC here is a link to the history.

Because I’m leaving my laptop at home for our anniversary, I won’t be posting my retired stamps this weekend. (figured that wouldn’t go over well if I had to be updating all day on our anniversary LOL)   I’ll be posting more next Saturday at 10 am (eastern) so check back then.

I thought today I’d share 11 of my favorite swaps I’ve received over the last few months.  If you have been following me for a while, you know I’m lucky to be a part of 11 talented stampers in a monthly swap group.  My box arrives in the mail and I can’t wait to tear it open to see what they have created!

All supplies are Stampin’ Up

Debbi Muche in WI made this card with a great fold.  It’s a sweet way to use the patterned paper in the Occasions catalog called Birthday Bouquet.  Love the colors of Mint Macaron and Blushing Bride together.

Kimberly Allen in NH created this adorable treat holder using Bear Hugs.  There’s come Crystal Effects on the honey to make it shine.   The round orange chocolate candies in the cello treat holder were delicious and were my treat after I took the photo:)

Rhea Hughes (our swap master and organizer for our group) created this pretty card using the English Garden paper.  What I love about her flower is she used the Wink of Stella on the card stock middle flower and it really pops!

I like how Mary Hall used silver foil paper to decorate the heart thinlit.  It would work well for 25th anniversary or gold for 50th.

Jan Cramer made this pretty card with the Sale a Bration freebie, Flowering Fields. What I like is the way she used a paper doily behind the labels to soften the patterned paper behind it.  Had she just mounted the label on the paper, it would have fought for attention and been too dominant.

 I love this card.  Deb Townsend in CA made this and it’s perfection.  She colored and cut out the flower and mounted it on the large Polka Dot embossed white background. I think typically we think of the large dots for more whimsical projects or birthdays but this is perfect here.

Mary Ammar used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp in Soft Sky ink behind the gold foil flower.  It’s perfectly soft and just enough color.  Lovely!

Here’s another my Mary where she used a square of the Neutrals prints designer paper in Sahara Sand and layered the Rose thinlits over top.  Great way to use just a little patterned paper to add a little interest.

Kimberly added just the right amount of sponging (in Cajun craze maybe?)  in the middle of the Botanicals flower.  I love the colors on this one.

Amy Ward used the free Sale a Bration paper, Field Flowers, on just one side of the card.  I think it’s a great Get Well card!

Rhea created a filigree flower by mounting the Bloomin’ Love Heart Thinlit under a window opening using the Floral Frames Framelit.  Clever and really looks great with Wisteria Wonder card stock and coordinating seam binding.

That’s all for me today!  Special thanks to my swap-mates for sharing your inspiration!

Go Stamp Something!

Linda