Behind the Scenes...

 (I am offering this card as a mini workshop in my home on September 27th - see the bottom of this post for details!)

Whenever I have a workshop, class or other type of event, I almost always have my display board available. On it, I have a collection of cards showcasing different stamp sets, color combinations, stamping styles, techniques, etc. I'm often asked if I stamped all the cards myself. While I'd like to take the credit for them, I'm honest and say that a number of the cards were stamped by other demonstrators which I received by participating in a "card swap".

 
The way a card swap works is a number of demonstrators will sign up and then each demonstrator makes one card x the number of participants.  Once everyone is done, we "swap" the cards so we all go home with an assortment of cards.  Most of the time, the card swaps are pretty general and I can stamp anything I want. I recently joined a card swap with the request that some of the products be from our upcoming Holiday Mini Catalogue (available to customers September 1st). There are 12 demonstrators signed up plus I wanted to make a few extra for a couple of my downline who had decided to pass on this swap, so that meant I had 15 cards to make.

I thought it would be fun to let you in on some of the "behind the scenes" work of a swap. What I didn't realize was that the card I designed would take up a LOT more time than I thought and I forgot to take a few pictures of the steps along the way! OOPS! Oh well...I'll try to explain it.

The first thing I do when designing a card is choose a stamp set. I know, sounds like a pretty obvious thing, right?  For me, I can spend a day or more debating what type of card "look" I'm going for and to be successful, it really depends on the stamp set I choose.

For this swap, I hadn't preordered any new stamp sets from the new mini (just some accessories), so I went with one of my favorites, Greeting Card Kids. I started by stamping the imagine 15 times....then, because I decided it would be nice to add some extra dimension to the card, I stamped 15 more with the idea to cut out and "pop up" the additional image.  I absolutely LOVE that Stampin' Up! is now offering clear mount as an option.  It was SO simple to line up and stamp the images close together to save paper! ;)  (Click on all images for a closer peek).

After stamping the images, I decided it would be nice to watercolor them.  I just used my classic ink pads and my aqua painter.

Once the watercoloring was finished and dry, I started to carefully cut out every.single.image. (Just a note - keep in mind this is the start of my THIRD evening working on this swap)

 After cutting out about four or five images, I seriously began to wonder WHY I ever thought this was a good idea.  Do I enjoy the cramping in my hand from holding my tiny scissors?  Maybe it's the headache I wanted from squinting at the delicate detailing knowing that with a single slip I could accidentally chop off this little paper doll's hand or foot?  Oh, and remember how I wanted extra dimension???  Not only did I have to cut out 15 little paper dolls, I then had to cut out 15 jackets and 15 Christmas trees!!!


After an eternity 2 days of cutting, I was finally finished!!!!  (Day FOUR working on my swap cards)

Now it was time to start working on the rest of the card.  I cut out 15-3" circles using my Circle Scissors Plus.  Oops, forgot to take a picture of that step.  Then, I stamped the image in the center of each, watercolored the sleigh and sponged around the edges.

After that, I cut out 15 scallops using my Big Shot and my Circle Scallop #2 die.  SO quick and simple!!!  I'd actually forgotten to take a pic of this step, but was short one scallop, so I took a pic of the LAST scallop I cut! ;)

I sponged around the edges for a little more definition and color.   TIP:  I staple a piece of colored cardstock to the top of my sponges so it's easy to identify which sponge is for which color!  I don't have a sponge for every single color, but use one sponge for browns, one for blues, one for reds, etc.

 

After sponging, I adhered my Vanilla circle on top and started to layer on the "pieces" with dimensionals.

TIP: Those thin border pieces around the edge of the Stampin' Dimensional sheets are AWESOME for popping up small or narrow images!!!

Once my paper dolls were in place, (day FIVE!) I added some color to the tree with my Stampin' Write markers.

Ahhhhhhh....look at those lovely layers...

Ok, so I guess by this point I was tired and just wanted them done 'cause when I downloaded my pictures from my camera last night I realized I didn't have any more from this point on except the finished cards!  Oops!!!

HERE THEY ARE!!!!!!!!!!  I realize there are only 12 in the picture.  One has already been given to one of my downline and the other two are still waiting for their finishing touches.  I was short a couple pieces of cardstock, so the last two will be finished shortly.

I added a small bow using our Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon and some Champagne Glass Glitter (available Sept 1st) under her feet and sleigh.  I stamped the Navy and Vanilla cardstock with a snowflake image, punched the bottom edges, tore the top edge of the Vanilla layer for some added texture, added a thin strip of Champagne Waffle Paper (also available Sept 1st) to the bottom edge and stamped my greeting.  After 6 days of working on them, I was THRILLED with the way they turned out.  Yes, they were a LOT of work, but if I had only been doing one card instead of 15, it wouldn't have been that bad.

Do you like this card?  Would you be interested in making your very own???  I am offering this card as a "mini workshop" event in my home on Monday, September 27th, 7:30pm.

This card is not difficult, it's just a little time consuming, so even if you're new to stamping, this is a card you will be able to accomplish.  

Class cost is $8 (or FREE with a $25 order) and will include all precut cardstock, adhesive, dimensionals and our new accessories!!!

Please RSVP by September 13th to reserve your spot.  Seating IS limited!


 Happy Stamping!!!