Here are some beautiful samples from the Stampin' Up! Convention using stamp sets from the Spanish catalog "Celebrando Creatividad".  If you would like a copy of this Spanish catalog, I have a few copies left.  Just email me and I can send one to you.

Sadly there is occasionally a need for sympathy cards.  Here are two I made today.  The stamp set "Thoughts & Prayers" is just perfect for sympathy cards or other "thinking of you" occasions….but I don't own that set so had to choose some other options.

I was going to say it is probably still 100 degrees outside here in Houston, but apparently it is only 88 today due to a lot of clouds earlier.  Let's just say it is very hot here everyday, and by the end of August it starts to get you crazy.  Somehow I got to playing around with my "Trendy Trees" stamp set and decided to think about fall.  We're thinking about a fall foliage trip to New England so I guess that is what is on my mind!  Here is a little card I made this afternoon.  Think about fall coming on eventually and cool yourself off!

Here are just a few randomly selected Convention swaps that I liked!  Enjoy!

In my opinion, "swapping" at Convention is one of the really fun things that goes on!  In case you are not familiar, people make just cardfronts, usually, all the same….or at least lots of several different designs, with their name and "recipe" on the back (what stamp set they used, what color inks, paper, accessories) and then you walk around and trade with other demos for what they have made.  This gives you quite a selection of different card ideas, samples of stamp sets that maybe you don't own or more samples of ones you do own, different color combinations, etc.  AND it is an opportunity to meet and talk to other demonstrators as you go around and say "Are you swapping?"  And of course they are!!  Some ladies practically have a storefront of swap choices you can pick from!  But most have maybe two or three different cards to choose from.  Some people also make 3-D swaps, which could be anything but a card….maybe a little box, maybe a notebook, maybe cute packaging for candy.  I didn't get around to making those but I wish I did!  Maybe next year!  And then there are "organized swaps" where you actually sign up in advance to participate and meet at a certain time and place to swap those items.  Some people take a little more time and effort to make something extra special for those swaps.  It is a horrible thing when you finally run out of swaps and have to stop and see others still swapping!  I can't wait for my customers to see these samples and see which ones they really like or what ideas they can get from these swaps!

Here is one of my Stampin' Up! Convention swap cards.  A long time ago I did a black and white swap where obviously we only used black and white.  That has always stuck with me as a very simple and sometimes elegant way to stamp.  This card is stamped on Glossy White cardstock with Black Stazon ink.  You just have to be a little careful as the glossy paper is slippery!  The "medallion" is stamped by coloring on the stamp with various markers.  This was too time-consuming for making 40 swap cards copying this design, so for those I used the Baby Wipe Technique as seen in this post.   I've been using the Rhinestone Brads a lot also.