A Touch of Fall

I used the masking technique with the

French Foliage Stamp Set.

Makes me feel a crispness of 

Fall in the air!

(Inspired by Jen Mitchell)

Halloween 1 3/8" Square Punch Sampler Swap

I participated in a 

1 3/8" Square Punch Swap

with my fellow

T.O.P.I.C.S Team 

members.  

I received some fantastic

swaps and wanted to put them in a frame as soon as possible.

There were enough of us who participated that I had 

enough to make another insert for that frame.

I think there might be a Thanksgiving theme in my future!

Penny's 1 3/8 Square Sampler

This has to be one of the most beautiful gifts 

I have ever received.

My sister, 

Penny Thomas,

is so talented.  

I was just tickled to get this beautiful

sampler from her.

She used all kinds of punches and dies

to make each little square

unique.

(Click on the picture to get a better view.)

I am going to be using this idea

to make more samplers for different 

seasons and occasions.

Check back to see a 

Halloween

and

Wedding

version!

I'm addicted!

Shoebox Swap - Me!

My shoebox swap was made using the 

Two Tags Bigz Die.

I made two and adhered them together to form 

 a container for nuggets,

which is tied together with the

3 1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon,

and

Color-Twisted Baker's Twine.

The stamp set is

 Mixed Medley,

which can be coordinated with our 

Circle Punches.

The designer paper is

Be of Good Cheer.

It just needed a little sparkle

so I added a

Rhinestone Basic Jewel. 

Shoebox Swap - Deana Schultz

Deana Schultz 

is one of our adopted 

Pieces of Hearts members.

She couldn't be with us at our retreat,

but sent these adorable

Holiday Critters to us.  

We were delighted to get them.

She made them using the 

Petal Card Double Punch.

There is a bat, a turkey and

Rudolph with his red nose!

Thank you, Deana.

We missed you!

Shoebox Swap - Jayne Singleton

The stamp set,

Winter Memories,

is pretty enough.

But,

Jayne Singleton 

added a beautiful card stock

background called

Core'dinations

that can be antiqued or distressed

with the 

Stampin' Sanding System.

The result is a rich-looking card with real depth. 

Awesome!

Shoebox Swap - Mary Taylor

This stamp set,

Ornament Keepsakes,

used by 

Mary Taylor,

gives you so many ornaments to choose from.

The good thing about this set is 

that it coordinates with the 

Holiday Ornaments Framelits Die!

Add some 

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

and you have a beautiful card!

Shoebox Swap - Laurie Shiell

I just adore the above card made by 

Laurie Shiell.

The stamp set is 

Make a Mitten.

It coordinates with the 

Mitten Builder Punch.

The designer paper,

Be of Good Cheer,

really sets it off.

Laurie is not only a beautiful stamper,

but a beautiful seamstress as well.

She made this little coaster for me

using some of our fabric which has 

since retired.

(Darn!  I loved that fabric!)

Thanks, Laurie!

Shoebox Swap - Sally Nusbaum

Doesn't this card just make you smile?

It was made by 

Sally Nusbaum.

it gave us an opportunity to use the new

 Merry Minis Stamp Set 

and the

Merry Minis Punch Pack.

I love the softly sponged edges in 

Craft Whisper White.

Too cute.

Shoebox Swap - Diane Mikles

Oh my gosh,

this card, made by

Diane Mikles,

has to be seen to be really appreciated.

She used the 

Snowflake Soiree Stamp Set

on three layers.

The bling on the word Believe 

just sets it off.

Classy.

Shoebox Swap - Kim Coulter

We laughingly called this 

"The card that wouldn't end."

The reason being, 

as Kim Coulter 

was tweaking it for us to make,

she kept adding elements.  

As you can see, it all works!  

She used the 

Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set,

Window Frames Collection Framelits Die,

and the Delicate Designs Folder.

We loved it!

Sometimes, more IS more!

Shoebox Swap - Mary Ellen Cope

Mary Ellen Cope

used both the 

Label Collection Framelits Die

and the 

Toxic Treats Stamp Set

to put together her spooky card.

The background paper is called

Howlstooth & Scaringbone.  

BOO!

Shoebox Swap - Judy Sumner

I was blown away to see this card by

Judy Sumner.

I never would have thought of using the 

Adorning Accents Edgelit Folder 

to mimic snow drifts!

Also, the 

Snow Flurry Bigz Die

looks so pretty above those snow drifts!

Pieces of Heart Retreat Weekend - Susan Fields

We just wrapped up one of the most enjoyable weekends I have every had.

The Pieces of Heart Team and friends 

 came to my house

and stamped the weekend through!

We each participated in a Shoebox Swap 

where we have supplies enough for everyone to make a card.

For the next few days I will post those great cards here.

This bright card is from 

Susan Fields.

It uses the Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set, 

Cannery Set Framelits Die

and the Orchard Harvest Designer Paper.

Love that jar!

Masculine Birthday Card

Cased from Mel Sharp

Judy Sumner!

This card was made by my friend,

Judy Sumner,

judysstamppad.blogspot.com.

It's such a happy card, 

how can you not smile when you see it?

And isn't that the result you want 

when you send someone

a card?

Smiling......

New Member of the Pieces of Heart Team!

We have a new member of the Pieces of Heart Team!

Karrilyn Ringnald has been a friend for several years,

and a Demonstrator for Stampin' Up! in the past.

So, I am thrilled to have her a part of our team!

Welcome, Karrilyn!

Can't wait to spend some time stamping

 and laughing with you!

Kim Coulter!

This pretty Christmas card was given to me

by the very talented

Kim Coulter.

That beautiful die cut snow flake,

Snow Flurry,

was fashioned with the 

Glitter Paper in Silver. 

I especially like the embossed background,

Holiday Frame.

Both die and embossing folder can be found

in the new 

Holiday Catalog.

Need one?

Let me know!

217-590-0210

Sally Nusbaum!

Sally Nusbaum is such an 

inspiration to me.

Her personality is magnetic!

Her stamping is fantastic!

I love the way she put a little 

strip of butterflies

on the wagon.

This card is just so stinkin' 

CUTE!

Leslie Carmon!

My convention mate,

Leslie Carmon,

gave us this adorable little pouch

made with our 

Floral District Fabric.

What a nice surprise!

I used it to hold all my receipts while

we were there.  Now it's in my purse.

It snaps closed to keep everything

inside safe.  

She used a piece of metal ruler

inside that purple top piece.  

Brilliant!

In more ways than one!