Open House Card

Today was such a fun day! It started with my Spring Summer 2008 Collection open house where we all made 2 cards -- this being one of them. (I'm saving the other one to post tomorrow or some time next week because over the next few days I will be working feverishly to finish my leadership swaps and I won't want to post those until I return, so I have to leave something in "reserve"). Those of you who studied the OSW cards from yesterday might recognize this layout. I liked it so much I decided to use it again in different colors. I think this is really a fun way to use just a little bit of designer paper to frame out your stamped panel. The card base is pumpkin pie and the designer paper is from the new Bali Breeze pack of double sided designer paper. I stamped the flower image by coloring the stamp with my pumpkin pie and old olive markers. Once the image was stamped I colored in the flowers with my apricot appeal stampin' write marker. Did I mention how much I love our markers? Ha ha -- of course I did. If you don't have a full set you may consider signing up for a spot in my marker club -- a new club is forming now.

Anyway, at the bottom of the whisper white panel I stamped the sentiment from Sincere Salutations. I added some wide old olive grosgrain ribbon and some narrow pumpkin pie grosgrain with a WAXYO cheater knot, of course. I mounted the whisper white panel onto the apricot appeal mat with dimensionals. I then adhered the designer paper to the card base and adhered the stamped panel over the designer paper. I really like the colors and the Asian feel of this card and my open house guests did as well!

After the open house I spent the afternoon stamping with my friend Liz. (Waving hi!) I was so happy she was here. I was working on my swaps for Leadership and it is so helpful to have another pair of eyes to help with a design. I'm really happy with the final product, and I want to thank Liz for saving me from myself and the "what if I added ______" syndrome.

This evening we had our last Christmas dinner. My step-sister is always out of town for Christmas so she usually holds a big dinner the week after New Year's. She's an awesome cook and uses a different theme every year. This year it was Polish food -- not so different for us, since we have it every Christmas Eve, but it was something new for some of the other guests. In any event, everything was great as usual and I just ate myself silly.

Tomorrow we take down the tree and I will continue to work on my swaps. I cannot believe I'll be leaving for California on Wednesday! Woo Hoo!