Beautiful Cards

In today's workshop we focused on absolutely beautiful cards. Some of them were very simple but beautiful in their simplicity, while others took numerous, but enjoyable steps to get to the finished product. Even those in the class today who have never ever put a card together before really seemed to enjoy the process and see their very own creations.

These four cards were all cards that I swapped for at Convention, or are a take on them. Click on the individual links to get the credits, measurements and ingredients, and of course, your comments are always welcomed.

French Foliage -- this was my particular favorite:

I don't believe the photography does the card any justice at all. The colors of the leaves are so rich, I just love it.

This second card was very simple, but the embossing on the card front really makes the card stand out. What do you think?

Pretty Postage Card:

The third card was another favorite because in person it almost has a stained glass effect...

Always Elegant:

And finally, the fourth card was such a breeze, but was clearly a favorite for so many of my ladies -- it is made with a sponge dauber and a stencil. Add a tiny bit of bling and you've got a WOW card in my opinion:

Elegant Trio Stencil:

Thanks for visiting. Be sure and check back next week to see what we make from my next class focused on Occasion cards.

New Technique - Faux Mother of Pearl

In working up my upcoming class, I needed to work on a new technique. I love to teach a new technique at each class, have everyone make a sample to put on their technique ring, and then we make a card using that technique.

There has been a lot of talk lately about the Faux Mother of Pearl so I decided to give it a try. The photo really does not do the card justice. It is really beautiful, so feminine. For ingredients and directions, go to this link.

Love Bird Card made for Convention Easiest Swap Ever

One of the most innovative swaps I participated in was called the Easiest Swap Ever. Unlike the other swaps where you needed to make a card/project per person, this one you are encourage to make a high-end 3-D project, make a step-by-step tutorial, and then send the project and the tutorial to the organizer. Then at convention, she gave you a CD with everybody's tutorials -- easily over 100 of them. I thought I'd share with you my 3-D wedding card. The step by step tutorial can be found here.

Masculine Card Swap

Sometimes it is so hard to come up with a card for a man. I am doing a masculine card swap next week so came up with this design. Click on the link for my inspiration, the knot tutorial and directions to make the card. Don't you just love the little sailor's knot!

Come Join me at Convention 2012!

Its never too late to start planning. What I thought would be a week of a few classes, swaps, and maybe a chance to win a prize turned out to be a week packed full of classes that nurtured my creativity, personal life and my business, so many swaps that I now have new ideas to share for the next two years, and sooooo many prizes that I had to buy a box to ship them back (okay, I did a little shopping at Memento Mall too).

Come join not only convention, but the Late Night Stamper Group to fully expand your experience.

For more information about reserving your LNS spot at a discounted rate, follow this link.

Don't delay, contact me today about how you can become part of my team and have fun at Convention next year!

Post-Convention and $99 Special

Well here I am, sitting at the airport after a fun-filled week of Stampin' Up! Convention. My head is so full of new ideas and designs that it is about to pop! That doesn't even include all of the new products that will be coming out in the new Holiday Mini on September 1st. Boy is it going to be hard to keep that quiet, but it will be worth the wait.

I can now show a couple of my cards from the swaps I did at Convention. This first card was just a card front, but was made for the general swaps. I made about 100 of them.

This is called a bookmark card. Isn't it cute. Lee Ann Grief was the designer of this card. I will upload the link with the ingredients later this week. Go to this "link" to find out how to make this card. If you like this card, please consider joining my blog. I will be posting many more cards like this and I always list all the directions and ingredients for free.

Here is what I swapped for my WOW swap. I also made about a 100 of these, along with the help of many, many friends, customers, family, etc. But I especially can't wait to show you what I swapped it for!

Here is the link that not only shows how to make this card, but more importantly gives the credits of the original designer.

I'll upload the other swap cards I made later. But first I did want to tell you that you have until the end of July to take advantage of the $99 special to sign up with Stampin' Up! as either a hobbyist or a business demo like myself. Think about it. For many of us this is one order!! Then you get your future products at a discount as well as many other perks. One perk is that you will also get a Christmas keepsake box to make ($40 value) from SU. It is ADORABLE. A perk that you will get from me is that 1) you will join a great team; 2) you will also get to attend a year's worth of my general classes for free (a $240 value); and 3) you will get some treats that I brought back from Convention (while supplies last). Demos also get (regardless of whether you are a hobbyist or a business demo) sneak peeks and chances to purchase from catalogs prior to them going on sale to the public, a great support system, and lots of instant friends. Now what could be better than that?

So, the end of July is rapidly approaching...don't delay. Sign up now and save. Click on the link to join and use my password: Purple03.

Show & Tell - Convention Workshop

I so badly want to post photos of the projects I am making for the various Stampin' Up! Convention swaps I belong to, but I'll have to wait. But believe me, the wait will be worth it when you see not only the beautiful cards and projects I am making for swap at Convention, but also some of the projects I take away from Convention.

Be among the first to see what was made, samples of the many card swaps, new products and make some of these extraordinary projects to take home with you by signing up for my July 23rd workshop. You can join my free meetup site and find out more information about this upcoming workshop by going here.

2011-2012 New Catalog is Out!!

That buzz you're hearing is all the new excitement surrounding the new Stampin' Up! Catalog. Yesterday I hosted an Open House in my home. Each lady that came not only received an adorable "firecracker" filled with a prize, but each also received a complimentary copy of the new IBC catalog in both English and Spanish. I always like to give out the Spanish version as well because there are some adorable stamp sets available in that catalog that you cannot find in the English version.

Here is the bowl of "firecrackers" full of prizes:

And here is the stack of new catalogs that were just waiting for homes:

Frustrated that you missed out on getting a free catalog? Join one of my Hostess Clubs and you will get a complimentary catalog. Two Hostess Clubs are forming now, but we need more members to kick them off.

Hostess Club

By joining a Hostess Club, you commit to purchasing a minimum of $25 of Stampin' Up! products per month for six months (before tax and shipping). In addition, you also get the following:

1. A free monthly workshop in my home. In my workshops you will make 5-6 cards/projects to take home. Here is a sample of the card we made in my Open House yesterday:

2. You will get access to a special on-line site which only those in the Hostess Club (and any guests they bring to any workshop) will be able to log-on to which will enable you to get the ingredients, dimensions and directions to any of the projects you just learned at my workshop for that month.

3. Learn a new technique each month. Each workshop I teach a new technique. We will create a "technique card" that includes the directions in which you will place on a ring provided by me. Then we will put that technique into practice by using that same technique in a card or project for you to take home.

4. A complimentary copy of the current IBC catalog in English, Spanish and the current mini catalog.

5. You get the hostess benefits for one of the six months! One of those six months you play the hostess. This is a great time to bring in as many outside orders as you can or invite your friends to come to the workshop that month. As hostess, you will receive all of the credits to earn free product from the catalog. All that is required of you, in addition to your minimum $25 purchase, is that you provide light refreshments.

All workshops are scheduled to be in my home unless you would like to host your month in your home.

Contact me at 713-494-3214 or kayleengc@att.net if are interested in joining a Hostess Club.

If you would like to attend any of my future regular workshops and/or special project workshops, join my free meet-up site. Its a great way to get notices of upcoming activities.