Convention Goodies, Swaps & Card Candy!!!

Here it is...the last of my trip/Convention photos!!! I think I must take too many of them, or maybe Blogger is just too much of a SLOW PITA!!! Either way, I'm glad to be just about finished with 'em, lol!!

Here are the stamps we got at Convention:

This super cute embellishment was on my Prize Patrol package!
(And I've decided to finally get the BIGZ die to make these flowers!!!)

I was stoopid in not making swaps for Convention!! So listen to the voice of experience...if you go to Convention - MAKE SWAPS!!!! Because otherwise you will just be standing there, looking dumb, and apologizing constantly. And it really sucks to feel left out when fun stuff is going on!! But...God bless 'em, some people felt sorry for me and gave me theirs anyway!

Aren't they wonderful??? Trust me, I've learned my lesson on swaps!!!

I DID however join one organized swap - for Card Candy!!! It was so thrilling to get sets in return - better than Christmas! Here they are:

Stunning little works of art - every one!!
Thank you so much ladies!!!
YOU ROCK!

Some Convention goodies:

My lanyard and badge

We were given "Make & Take" projects and given time and tools to make them up. #1 I was really too tired to stamp (crazy, I know!), and #2 I didn't want them to get smooshed in my suitcase, so I saved them in their shrinkwrap for the trip home. I'll make them up...eventually, lol! I have Christmas stuff to focus on first!

I also received this awesome binder...

...with the new catalog inside!! So cool!

One of the BEST THINGS we got was this bag!

I knew we were getting it, and as I'm not a bag person, I had every intention of selling it or giving it away. But, yeah...it's wicked awesome and pretty, and oh-so-practical!!! I used it as my carryon for the return home! I didn't want it out of my sight!!!

The gorgeous embroidery is used with some of the new In Colors this year!

I purchased two ribbon key chains in matching colors too!

There are so many zippers and pockets on this thing!
It was designed by a brilliant engineer!

There's a slot to attach it to your suitcase for travel (through your handle) and even a spot for your business card!

So yeah....I'm keepin' it!
(sorry!)

Inside the bag we had these:

Matching the "Grow" theme of the Convention, we had a keychain, pin and matching pen!

Almost forgot! I got this 3D swap too!

I KNOW you've never seen a packet of Kleenex wrapped up so cute!!

I also purchased two card holders. They look like leaves on stems!
And the "bloom" is your card - so cute!!!

Of course, I had to get a mini Eiffel Tower!!
I knew I was buying one before we even left!

And this gorgeous scarf was being sold at Momento Mall.
It was originally given to people who earned a trip to Prague, I believe.
Soooo colorful and soft!

This is the fabric that was included in my Prize Patrol package. It is the Beau Chateau print and matches the paper perfectly!! No clue what I'm going to do with it exactly, but they showed a lot of techniques at Convention using material!! So...we shall see!

And last, but not least....this beautiful ribbon

Someone sadly dropped it on the ground and I found it. I asked all around, but no one claimed it - so it's mine now!!! It's sheer black, with sparkly silver hearts and swirls on it. It's going to be smashing on a card or two...perhaps for Valentine's Day???

And now I am finallllly finished with my trip posts!! And we can get back to the regularly scheduled programming! And perhaps some stamping too!!!!!! I've so missed it!

Art Every Day - Day 2

All finished!
My Card Candy Convention 2011 Swaps!!!
All items used are from Stampin Up and currently available!
Click HERE to shop with me!

Featuring the stamp set "Tags Til Christmas", (# 121169)

Tag Instructions:
Holly Envelope

Punch envelope in Cherry Cobbler, with petal card punch. Fold three sides to form, and secure with sticky strip. Use white gel pen to edge remaining side. Stamp holly image with Always Artichoke & Cherry Cobbler markers, on Whisper White paper. Punch out with small oval punch. Attach image to envelope with a dimensional.

Snowman Shaker Tag

Outside

Inside:

Peek-a-Boo Frame Die

Base: 1 3/4" circle punched from Night of Navy card stock
Image: Stamped in NofN ink, hat colored in with black marker, scarf colored in with Cherry Cobbler marker. Punch out image with 1 3/8" circle punch. Use adhesive to attach punched image to base.
Shaker frame (3rd largest): Center frame over image. Fill with a pinch of Mica Flakes. Remove top liner and cover with acetate circle, punched with 1 3/8" circle punch.
Top of tag: Use peek-a-boo frame (small circle one) and cut out a NofN die cut. Stamp image on Whisper White cardstock with NofN ink. Punch out with 3/4" circle punch. Fold a 1" piece of 1/8" white ribbon in half and attach to back side of image with sticky strip. Add additional sticky strip to the circle, and adhere to the center front of the frame. Using a two way glue pen, draw a circle around the outer edge, and sprinkle with Dazzlin' Diamonds glitter.

December 25th tag

Base: Punch silver glitter paper with decorative label punch
Image: Stamp image with Bashful Blue ink on Whisper White paper. Punch out with large oval punch. Layer image over Bashful Blue scalloped oval layer. Cut 1 1/2" satin ribbon in Bashful Blue, fold in half and cut at an angle. Using a paper piercer and mat, make a hole through image layer and ribbon. Attach small silver brad. Use sticky strip to attach ribboned layer to base.

Santa tag

Base: Cut out Basic Black base with the large tag punch.
Image: Stamp image in Real Red on Whisper White card stock. Punch out with small tag punch. Adhere to base layer. Using Basic Black marker, color in the belt portion. Using Gold Smooch, paint in the belt buckle. Use large pearls for the buttons. Make a 1/8" circle at the top of the tag with a Crop-o-Dile. Attach Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.

Ornament tag

Image: Stamp image in Elegant Eggplant ink on Whisper White paper. Cut out with the ornament punch. Attach medium and large rhinestones as shown. Make a small bow with 1/8" grosgrain ribbon, and attach at the top with a mini glue dot.

Merry Christmas tag

Base: Punch out the base with the decorative label punch, with Early Espresso card stock. Cut into quarters diagonally and set aside.
Image: Stamp image using Always Artichoke and Early Espresso markers, on Whisper White card stock. Using the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370), use the Stamp-ma-Jig to center sentiment on tag, and stamp in Always Artichoke ink. Using a two way glue pen, randomly dot pinecone and branch with glue. Sprinkle with Dazzlin' Diamonds glitter to look like snow. Punch out image with the decorative label punch. Use the cut Early Espresso base shapes to form a frame around your image layer. Fold Always Artichoke seam binding to form ribbon shape; attach to the back of tag with sticky strip. Punch out a blank Whisper White layer with the decorative label punch. Adhere this to the back of the tag, to cover up the ribbon.

After you have made your tags, add dimensionals to the back of them. Carefully add a mini glue dot to each dimensional, being careful to NOT remove the paper backing of the dimensional. This way the glue dot will stick to the acetate lining in the envelope. When you are ready to use your tags, the backing of the dimensional will stay with the glue dot on the acetate, and you will have a ready adhesive to stick the tag to your card or project!

The back side of my sheet of tags:

Pretty nifty, huh???

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Minnie, my crazy cat, decided that the crinkly strips from the mini glue dots were just too good of a "toy" to pass up! She normally doesn't EVER play with anything - cat toys or not - so I had to take some pictures of this rare event!! I guess even cats can appreciate the quality of Stampin' Up products, lol!!

No! No! You can't throw it away!!!!

And finally, finally my swaps are DONE!!! Now I just have to worry about packing - yikes!!!