Cards from the TJNL Swap...

For each issue of the TJNL, we have a swap -- and the cards are fabulous! (The gallery of swaps is here.) I almost always make a card for everyone in the swap. Well, that is not really true -- I usually make three cards or more, and each uses a technique from the NEXT issue, so everyone gets a sneak preview. I love doing these swaps (oh heck, I just like swapping in general). It is hard sometimes, though, since the swaps get 35 people or so each time -- and time is always an issue for me. I give these cards a high priority -- I am committed to making those cards each time!!!

Two of the cards I made for the August swap are here. The one on the right uses the Marker Wash Technique -- these Close To My Heart stamps are perfect with the technique.

The second card (on the left) uses the Cuttlebug Smoosh Technique -- something I have done in the past two posts. Are you sick of it yet? I'm not!

That card uses all Stampin' Up! stamps.

Now for some exciting news...

October marks the 5th year anniversary of the Technique Junkie Newsletter -- and I will be having a GIVE-AWAY-A-DAY every day during October! Watch my blog, my website and the Technique Junkie Newsletter e-groups for details. I have approximately $750.00 in stamps, gift certificates and merchandise from various vendors to give away! Join in the fun -- it all starts tomorrow!

Challenge for a Girl -- Don't look Leigh!

I recently participated in a one-on-one swap where the idea was to "Challenge Your Partner." We were assigned partners and each person had to send items to the other. When you received your items, you were to make a card and return it to the sender.

My partner was Leigh O'Brien. If you are not familiar with Leigh, you should be! She is a great stamper with a phenomenal eye for color and design. Her work continuously inspires me! I was fun to have her as a partner.

Leigh sent me the pile of items shown here, with instructions to make a "girly" card (and to try to use some stamps, to LOL). I am always excited to make girl things -- I have two boys and I live in a testosterone filled world. Well, as you can see, she gave me alot to choose from! I ended up creating the card on the right with her items.

I hope Leigh likes this card -- I loved making it for her!

Leigh posted her creation to me on her blog - go take a look! I had to peek : ) I can't wait to see it in person!

Swallowed by Swaps

Every two months I am swallowed by swaps! I host a swap based on the techniques from the current TJ newsletter. Each time, 30 - 40 people sign up. It truly is a joy to open the envelopes, oogle the artwork, and match cards to cards...

So why do I avoid doing it every time? I should have mailed these out last week -- but it was newsletter mailing week, and the special pricing I am running was in full swing. I truly did not have two seconds to add something to my "to-do" list, much less to actually DO the task.

But why do I put it off until the last minute? Is it the two hours I need to spend opening the packages, photographing everything, swapping the cards out and repackaging everything back up? I'm not sure, but I task avoid it every time. More than likely it is because when I get to the last few piles of cards I realize that I have one or two more to swap out than I have left available. It happens every time (and today was no exception!). I know how to fix the problem of course, but I always feel like a big dope -- I think maybe that is what I am avoiding! Repetitive stupidity.

The irony of this is that I love the cards I get from the swaps, and I actually enjoy swapping out the cards (up until the time I realize I am an idiot -- that part I don't like LOL). I even enjoy making the cards -- I try to participate in every swap and make a card for every swapper. This time I made four kinds, 40 in all -- but those were done weeks ago. Maybe i just don't like when it is over! In any case, you can see the swap cards from this issue here.

Here are two I really like! The one on the right was made by Korin Sutherland and uses Close To My Heart Stamps. Korin used the Reverse Prints Technique to make her card.

The card below was made by Cathy Johnstone using Stampin' Up! stamps for the Flap Fold Technique.

So another issue's swap ends -- I have 34 new cards and a floor full of swap debris to show for it!