ShoeBox Swap Artwork

As the introduction of each new Idea Book (catalog) cycle, our group of consultants participates in our ShoeBox Swap.  What is a ShoeBox Swap, you ask?

Each consultant chooses a NEW paper pack, and a NEW stamp set from the NEW catalog and creates a card.  She also provides pre-cut paper pieces and embellishments for all the other participants to re-create her card.  All products used, including pre-cut papers are placed in a ShoeBox, and each box is passed on to the next person to create the card.  

This is a fabulous way to have a bunch of new artwork to show customers...

and the best part...you only had to come up with ONE idea!!!

Here's my card:

I used the Ivy Lane papers, Smoothie Striped Washi Tape, Triangles Durable Studs, Pink Glitter Paper and Big Hug stamp set.  My card is a standard size card, using Bamboo cardstock as the base.

Here are the other cards we were able to create:

 (click on photos to show more detail)

 I will come back and do individual posts of each card with products used.  However, in the meantime, if you have any questions about any card, please feel free to leave a comment below.

ProPlayer Card - Just Hanging Out

One final card from our team shoebox swap...

Yes, all 6 paper packets from the Autumn/Winter 2013 catalog were showcased in our Shoebox Swap.

WooHoo!

Melanie, one of my newest team members, used the ProPlayer paper pack for her card creation.  Mel was so nervous about participating, but she did an amazing job with her card!
So creative, and original too!

Mel used the Artbooking Cricut cartridge to create the frame for her card.
Artbooking: pg64, Photo Mat 1, shift <J>, cut at 4-1/2"
I love how she used the sentiment from the ProPlayer WOTG stamp set "Just HANGING Out", and let it just "hang" out.  She used the Slate Twist Ties to tie it to the frame.  Using one of the embossed metal badge buttons from the ProPlayer Assortment for the "O"...too cool!

I have lots more artwork to post using this paper pack in the next week or so in our Display Board swap. Watch for it...

Laughing Lola cards

More cards from our team shoebox swap...

Kimberly and I chose Laughing Lola for our cards.  The Lola paper pack have several colors that are exclusive to only Laughing Lola, but other colors in the CTMH color palate also coordinate, such as Lagoon and Gypsy.

Kimberly used You Only Live Once (B1434, pg7) stamp set, which is one of the Hostess Rewards stamp sets, only available to hostesses.  The sequin ribbon and shimmer button are both from the new Black Mini-Medley Accent collection.  The tag cricut images are from Artiste and Art Philosophy, and the "Live" image is from Artiste.  The sentiment "Live" is stamped inside the frame from Holiday Tags using Gypsy ink.

My card uses an overlay from the new Artbooking Cricut cartridge.  You can find more details, including measurements and image shapes on my card in an earlier post HERE.  I was able use the same card from my Catalog Celebration, and kill two birds with one stone by creating just one card!

Frosted Cards

More cards from our team shoebox swap...

Both of these gals, Donna and Tammy, used the new Frosted papers for their cards.

Donna's card uses the B&T Duos cut into 1" squares, then each square corner rounded (thanks for doing that part for us Donna!)...that's a big job in itself...but I love the look!  Actually, the only stamping was on the inside where we stamped "Thinking of You" from the Sincere Expressions stamp set, and randomly stamped the snowflake from the new mini Single Snowflake stamp.

Tammy's card uses one of the seven new Hostess Reward Stamp Sets as the focal point on her card (Friend, A1142, pg8).  The inside is stamped with images from the Polar Bear Holiday stamp set in Bamboo ink.

Sarita Cards

More cards from our team shoebox swap...

Now...this is the first time in many years of doing this swap, that 2 people used the same stamp set with the same papers...but the look is completely different!

Vicki and Jodi both used the Sarita papers for their cards...
coincidentally they both used the One-Way Borders stamp set.

First up, Vicki's card.  Did you notice she didn't use any patterned paper at all for her card? However, Vicki's card still has lots of "texture" with the combination of the images in the Borders stamp set and the addition of the Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape and Sarita Textiles in place of ribbon.  The sentiment is from one of the exclusive stamp sets included with the Artbooking Cricut collection.

Jodi's card was inspired by the card on page 27 of the new catalog, starts out with a 5x5 card base (cut cardstock 5x10 and fold in half) in Colonial White CS.  A 5x5 piece of Sarita B&T Duo paper covers the front of the card base.  Jodi used Goldrush, Lagoon and Gypsy inks when stamping just one of the borders multiple times.  The "HeLLo" sentiment is from the Artiste cartridge (pg65, Card, shift <B>, cut at 1-1/4" from Outdoor Denim CS).  Also used on her card is the Neutral Bakers Twine and the Trinket Wooden shapes (still one of my favs!) with the new Aqua Dots in the center.

I hope you come back to see more!

Huntington Cards

More cards from our team shoebox swap...

Both Victoria and Anne-Marie used Huntington papers for their creations.  

I love the Huntington papers...fall colors are my thing!

Here's what Victoria did with her card.  

She used several Art Philosophy (AP) Cricut images for her focal point.

AP Cricut Cartridge: 

pg34, shift <Leaf2>, cut at 2-1/2" from Autumn Terracotta CS and B&T Duo paper

pg34, Layer, shift <Leaf2>, cut at 2-1/2" from Champagne CS

pg56, shift <Leaf4>, cut at 2-1/2 from Olive CS and Saddle CS (leaf veins are dry embossed then sponged with ink to highlight)

pg62, shift <Leaf1>, cut at 1-1/4" from Barn Red CS (cut 2)

pg67, Decorative Layer, shift <Stocking>, cut at 2-3/4" from Desert Sand CS

pg67, <Shape10>, cut at 2-3/4" from B&T Duo paper

The <Leaf2> images were stamped with the flower base image from the Happy Autumn stamp set...I thought this was a very clever idea!  It gives a great texture to the plain cardstock.

Anne-Marie used the Perfect Fit-Thanksgiving stamp set for her holiday themed card.  Her images were cut from the Artiste Cricut cartridge.

Artiste: pg61, Accent 3, <z>, cut at 1-1/4" from Colonial White CS

pg78, Accent 3 <Thnkgvng> cut at 1-3/4" from Colonial White CS

Artbooking: pg75, Photo Mat 2, <Merry>, cut at 3" from Slate CS

Opposing corners were rounded using our new Corner Rounder.   I really like this look, and often forget to do this...it just looks so much more interesting than a standard card with square corners.  

I also like the pop of the Honey CS too.

I still have more to show you...come back and visit again!

BabyCakes Cards

I always look forward to our consultant shoebox swap...for each CTMH catalog release (February and August), our team of consultants gets together and creates artwork using new papers and stamp sets.  Each of us randomly chooses a new paper and a new stamp set to work with (no assignments given out), and we each create just ONE card and then supply all the pre-cut pieces and embellishments for others to create our card.  

The fabulous thing about participating in the shoebox swap, 

is the amount of new artwork we have created when it's over.  

This round we had 11 people participate, so 11 new cards!

Both Theresa and Randa chose to work with BabyCakes papers and each card has a baby theme.

Theresa's card uses the exclusive stamp set that comes with the BabyCakes WOTG scrapbooking kit.  In fact, all the embellishments on her card are included in the kit too...a great value!

Randa's card uses the Wild Wonders stamp set for the main image..adorable!  But she also used the Geometric Background stamp set to create a patterned cardstock piece on the Sunset cardstock.  With just a piece of chocolate grosgrain ribbon for an accent, and a mocha opaque for the giraffe eye.  

Come back to see more!

Frame Flair

This card was designed by Donna Petrie for our team ShoeBox swap.  The For Always papers and the Frame Flair stamp set together speak "elegance".  I love the folded B&T in the lower right corner, however, I don't know if I could explain how to recreate it...it's like an origami fold.  Donna used lots of sparkle on her card too...in forms of glitter paper, glitz glitter gel and a black glitter button.

Girls Rock

Girls ROCK!

Doesn't this card just make you happy?  It's so bright and cheery, uses the Girls Rock stamp set and the Chantilly papers.  The pattern for the card is actually quite simple, although it looks complicated.  

Start with a 12"x5.5" piece of cardstock.  With the paper LONG (horizontal) in your trimmer, score at 2", 4", 8", and 10".  Now rotate the cardstock 90* in your trimmer (vertical or TALL), and cut at 1-1/2" from the 1st score line to the last score line, then repeat the identical cut at 4-1/2" from the 1st score line to the last score line.  

Now it get's tricky...when it comes to the folds.  The top of the card is folded M-V-M-V (M=mountain, V=valley).  The center row is folded on the 2nd score line in a M-fold, then V-fold (opposite from the top and bottom rows - the 1st and 4th score lines on the center row are not folded).  Then the last row is folded the same as the top M-V-M-V.  

When the card is folded correctly, it collapses down to a standard card size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2").  Embellish each section with coordinating B&T and cardstock.  The flowers on this card were cut using the Art Philosophy Cartridge...just cut, stamp and assemble!  So fast, simple and easy!

*Card design by Anne-Marie Pitcock for our team Shoebox swap.

Perfect Fit - DAD

World's Greatest...

Another fabulous card using yet another Perfect Fit stamp set.  I tell you, the Idea Book is loaded with them.  This would make a perfect Father's Day card!  The card showcases the Perfect Fit - Dad stamp set and the Buzz & Bumble papers.  The card measures 4.5"x4.5"...just a reminder if you're mailing a square card...check with your post office, most square cards need additional postage, unless you use a standard A4 envelope. 

*This card was designed by Vicki Price for our Team Shoebox Swap.

Joyful Birthday

Seems we had a birthday theme during our last team ShoeBox Swap.  Everyone chooses a new paper pack and a new stamp set to create with, and I'm always amazed we don't duplicate stamp sets.  This card was designed by Theda Myer, and uses the Joyful Birthday stamp set along with the Later Sk8r papers...another fabulous masculine card.  I like the scissor distressed edges giving the card a more rustic appearance, and the use of the Foundry Pin Clip to hold the star.  Each matted square was popped with 3-D foam tape giving the card lots of dimension. Simple and clean.

Fast and Furious

Got BOYS?  

This card would fit the bill for any boy birthday...every boy likes fast cars and big trucks, right?  The Fast and Furious stamp set accompanied with any Happy Birthday sentiment would work to create this fun card.  Love the tire tracks!

It's difficult to see in the picture - the truck is stamped once in black ink, then again in Pear ink on another piece of paper.  The truck is then cut out and popped up over the black image.  Black Bitty Brads were used for the axles in the wheels too.  You could add a specific number, stamped or cut from the Cricut, for the age in the upper left corner for the specific birthday too.

*This card was designed by Randa Wacaster and part of our Team Shoebox Swap.

Perfect Fit is PERFECT for any occasion

Birthday cards seem to always be on my list to create...and when I do, I make multiples to have on hand at a moments notice.  I love the "Perfect Fit" concept - frames that work with just about any 1-1/4" circle image.  Have you browsed the catalog and noticed just how many images coordinate with the Perfect Fit Frames?  LOTS!!!

This birthday card uses the Later Sk8r papers, along with the Perfect Fit-Frames 2 and the Perfect Fit-Birthday stamp sets.  I'm hooked on the washi tape too...here I used it as tabs, as you would ribbon.  Another reason I love the Perfect Fit Frames stamp sets - each stamp image coordinates with a cricut shape on either of our Cricut cartridges...just cut, stamp and assemble your artwork!

Last of the Shoebox Swap cards...

Last but not least...

Victoria Cox's card using the Avonlea paper and the stamp set from the Avonlea WOTG kit:

by adding a strip of the Silver Shimmer Trim, gives the card some elegant flair.  The Avonlea paper contains 3 trending colors - Avonlea Off-White, Avonlea Teal, and Avonlea Green...exclusive to the Avonlea paper pack.

Finally, a gift card holder (cut from the Artiste cartridge) using some of the new colors (Slate, Whisper, Champagne and Cashmere) by Cathlene Burk.

Cathlene's card uses several images from the new Artiste cartridge, and the "happy birthday" sentiment is from one of three stamp sets that come in the Artiste Collection.  The medallion and sash is cut from the Artiste cartridge.  Different embellishments were used to add some bling to the gift card holder.

Clementine cards

These two cards both use the Clementine papers and they are both so different...again, showing the versatility of the papers.
The first, designed by Kimberly Deines, using the Quick Cards-Bountiful Season stamp and inspired by the card on page 85 of the Autumn 2012 Idea Book:

We first embossed the image (without the sentiment) onto the Colonial White cardstock, then used the Almond Glitz Glitter Gel over the embossed image to "color in" the leaf.  The new Burlap Ribbon is a great embellishment for this card...I think it's an easy go-to ribbon for any of the new paper packs!  I cheated making my stitched lines around the border of the card...I used a chocolate marker, but the stitching on Kimberly's card using a needle & the Neutral Embroidery Floss was a nice touch!

Next, Francine Terzian's card using the Perfect Fit-Frames stamp set:

I have used the Perfect Fit-Frames stamp set on several occasions now...and what I like most about it is how the center circle image has so many different options!  Here we used an image from the Salutation Seals stamp set...others include Perfect Fit-Halloween or Perfect Fit-Holidays just to name a few.

The ribbon is our Color Ready Seam Binding ribbon, dyed to match the Twilight color used in the card.  I use this ribbon all the time, when I need a custom colored ribbon (or in it's original colonial white color!) to coordinate with a card or scrapbook page.

Casual Expressions and Dakota

I have to say...this card speaks volumes to me...I LOVE IT!  I'm a country girl at heart, so I'm loving just about everything I see using the new Dakota paper packet.  I plan to use lots of this paper making those ever so challenging masculine cards...this one is perfect to get me started, created by Anne-Marie Pitcock:

 Anne-Marie used the Casual Expressions stamp set and the Dakota papers.  The Durable Studs (in Round or Square) are the perfect embellishment for this paper too!  I love the dimension of the stars...and it's easy to do.  These stars were cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, then scored down the center of each of the points.  Gently fold the paper on each score line (ink distressing the score lines as you go) and the center of the star becomes raised.  Place a piece of 3-D foam tape under the center of the star and the stars have a 3-D look to them and give dimension to your card.

Have you put any products on your MUST HAVE list, as I share our shoebox swap artwork?  If so, contact me, I'm happy to place an order for you at any time!

La Belle Vie cards

Today, I'll show you two more cards from our shoebox swap, each brings a different look to the La Belle Vie paper.

First, a card designed by Donna Petrie, using the Cup of Cheer stamp set:

I love all the layering Donna used in her artwork.  We used a masking technique and sponging to color in the coffee pot, cup and saucer...lots of work making the original templates to do this technique, but overall worth the effort in the end.  Donna added a bit of bling using Clear Sparkles, and Bitty Opaque Pearl Gems.

Second, a card designed by Vicki Price, using the Jardin stamp set:

Vicki created an elegant victorian themed card.  Using the Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Bling Assortment, and the Flutter Paper Shapes together, pulls off the look she was going for.

Back to School

Being a former school teacher, Randa Wacaster designed this card for our shoebox swap:

Randa used the School Is Here stamp set and the Scholastic paper packet.  The "spiral notebook" look of the grid paper was cut using the "U" key on the Artiste Cricut cartridge.  Using the primary colors in Cranberry, Honey and Outdoor Denim brings a pop to the neutral colored base.  Having the school bus and the letter "B"(cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge) popped from the card, and using Mocha Opaques Gems gives the simple card some dimension.

Moonlight Medallion Card

Here's a card, designed by Peggy Hembree, that also uses the Moonlight paper packet, and the end result of her card looks nothing of fall or Halloween...just goes to show the versatility of the paper packets in the CTMH line.

Peggy's card has a feminine touch by using the Die-Cut cards as the base, and adding a floral image from the Words of Comfort stamp set.  The inside of the card (not pictured) uses the sentiment "tough times are what friends are for" from the Words of Comfort set.  The floral image on the center is stamped onto a Wooden Badge Button, and adding a bit of sparkle the center of the flower using a clear bitty sparkle.  In the lower right corner, the new Black & Grey Assortment sparkles were used.

Halloween Creepy Creatures

A couple weeks ago, we had a team overnight retreat and one of our projects was our semi-annual shoebox swap.  What's a shoebox swap?  Each consultant participating creates a card (and supplies all pre-cut pieces and embellishments) using new papers and new stamp images to showcase the new product in the new catalog, and then we create all the cards!  This round we had 12 people participating...and the artwork was beautiful!

This swap is a free-for-all...I never assign stamp sets or paper packs and we've rarely had any duplications.  This round, we had 3 different Halloween ideas, so I thought I would start by sharing them...just in case you wanted to get a jump start on making your cards.

This was my card...using the Creepy Creatures stamp set, and the Moonlight paper packet. I stamped the vampire off the edge of the paper in black ink, and popped the portion of his cape (stamping on a scrap piece, cutting it out and adhering it to the card).  The bat, I stamped multiple times without re-inking to give the illusion of movement.  I also used black button brads in the sentiment banner.  The ribbon is the new Black Tulle Ribbon, tied in knot and adhered with a glue dot.

This card by Jodi Frank, she took the idea directly from the catalog on page 58.  It's a good reminder...the catalog is a GREAT source for ideas too!  It uses the same stamp set and paper pack as mentioned earlier.  The stars were cut from the Cricut cartridge (Art Philosophy), and layered.  Unfortunately, we had to hand cut the skeleton! LOL

Lastly, this card was designed by LeAnne Dudley.  She used the stamp set from the Moonlight WOTG kit, and the Magic Potions stamp set.  The Artiste Cricut cartridge works with all the images in the Magic Potions stamp set...bonus!  LeAnne also used the Black Tulle Ribbon and a jewel from the Haunted Assortment.  Notice the spider dangling on the right side of the card?