Sorry for the absence! My schedule was crazy there for awhile with four events a week for the last month. I’ve finally recovered and am coming up for air after getting some holiday decorations done around here.

I promised some time ago I’d share some holiday card swaps I’d received and I just never got around to it. So here they are!

Starting top from left to right:

1) Berry ChristmasWreath card was done by my friend Melissa Smith. I copied this for  my Stamp A Stack class and will probably be sending a few out for my Christmas cards. The clever girlie used the round wreath stamp from the set to get her circle first. Then with the poinsettia stamp, stamped over the circle using it as a guide. When you’re done, you can’t even see the wreath anymore — just the pretty poinsettia wreath instead! So smart!

2) The famous Amy Celona was making this card as a swap at convention and glittering up our room, breakfast table, lunch table and attracting all sorts of admirers! I swear I was being attacked by the paparazzi everytime I turned around so many people were taking pictures of this card. So easy, so pretty and definitely something I’m copying for my cards in the next few days.

She just stamped those trees from the Scenic Season set withblack ink and sponge daubered green, yellow and blue softly in the white space. But, it was the glittered mounds that just made this card pop! She’s just too talented, that girl!

3) This awesome card was done by Lynn Wegleitner. She always does such awesome simple projects. This card was a staple in my workshops and card class! And the Delightful Decorations and coordinating ornament punch were very popular sellers!

4) This one is done by me! I loved using the Petals A Plenty Textured Impressions folder — gorgeous! And, it’s also a pretty quick card because you run it twice through the Big Shot. Once for the impression design and again for the Movers and Shapers die using the Holiday Windows die for the opening. A quick stamp of the bird and branch from Berry Christmas and you’re done! I also added a touch color with the Holly designer paper from the Christmas Cocoa pack. Of course, all these products are found in our Holiday Mini that goes away Jan. 4 — sniff sniff! (

Here’s a close-up view of the card:

As you can see, I used the beautiful Celery Taffeta was from the Mistletoe Ribbon Originals in the Holiday Mini catalog. To add a little bling, I added a red rhinestone brad to the center of an Olive button from our Playground Designer buttons pack.

Here’s a view of the card open:

I received a lot of questions on how I made the opening in this card ) . Ha–tricked ya! I placed the tri-folded card in the Movers and Shapers die and cut the hole — which of course went through the whole front and BACK OF THE CARD. But..aaahh…I disguised it with the white card stock in the center and the Mellow Moss card stock in the back. Sneaky…sneaky! )

Well–gotta go clean house. Big dinner with my aunts and uncles here tomorrow for my mom and aunts birthdays! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!! Much to do! Have a wonderful day!