Sympathy card swap returns

These are my return mail from the sympathy card swap.  I did not create these cards, but you can see mine here my sympathy card swap entry..

There's only one blogger and I do not know who created which card to give credit to them so I will respect their privacy and just say, THANK YOU!

The inside is blank.  details Feb 7, 2012 post  I really like the punched edge detail.

The inside is blank.  The doily has been gently coloured robins egg blue.  The top layer looks to be an Imagine machine creation.  This would also be a lovely blank sentiment card, "thinking of you" or "missing you."

The inside says, "When the joys are still remembered But the sorrow has quietly gone, There will always be a special place In the hard - where love lives on."  Lovely divided embossing, very elegant looking.

The inside says, "Our caring thoughts are with you during this difficult time."  Its so simple and genuine looking.

The inside says, "Praying for friends to comfort you, faith to uphold you, and loving memories to heal your heart."  Each of those squares have been glued on individually.  If I had done this, I'm sure they would all be cattywonkers!

The inside says, "May you find comfort in God's love."  This is very sweet and genuine looking.

Again, big thank you to everyone for letting me join in.  This was a really nice challenge.

Another card swap

I joined another card swap on the cricut circle message-board.  Everyone is creating 2 cards.  I chose thank you cards, since they're handy to have.  I dug out my old Fiscars "Scrapboss" manual embossing system, and the stencil template "Whimsical letters"  to hand emboss the word Thank you on the negative cuts of the butterfly. I did do a practice emboss to gauge the size, and found I could place 2 at a time between the stencil layers.  Once I set the centre letters, they were fairly quick to do.  A lucky find was I accidentally embossed the "y" not quite right, so I redid them right over the mistake & its not obvious at all.

 I used coordinations colour core paper, 3 are sanded, the one in the lower left corner is only half sanded to show before & after.  These are for the inside of the cards.  Can you see which one is goofy?  hint, look for the "h."

 I used gypsy wanderings cartridge, butterfly top layer cut out at 3.68"x3.53" and the corresponding base layer cut at 3.87"x 3.47".  The base layer is embossed using sizzix brand  "dotmatrix" embossing folder and sanded before the top was glued on.  The lil bows are "peapod" coloured twine, a gift from a sweet friend.  Its a lucky bonus that the same twine looks nice with both colour variations of this card.

I'm a bit blocked about the second card, I have the inside all planned out but the outside is not cooperating.  hmmmmm, I'll have to show those when they're done.

Smash swap returns

Well, not really a "smash book" since that is a brand, but that is how we've identified this swap.  

What's that you say?  Get to the pictures?  Okay, here ya go!  

One last thing before I dig in:  These are NOT my creations for this swap.  I added links for those that do have blogs.  Click to enlarge any picture.

On your left hand side is her calling card. The "life" tag which goes into a slot on the pink page.  The top 2 pages are one side, the bottom 2 pages are the back side.  You can visit her blog here Creations with Becka

The bottom 2 pages show front & back.  Isn't that so pretty the masking with plum mist spray?.  Those bands are meant to help hold the book together when its complete.  Check out the clear transparency page with the pretty swirls!  You can visit her blog here ScrapaholicJen

Look at all the lovely add in's!  Stamping, shiney, and oh, there's a lil green pocket.   Can't. stop. looking...

I couldn't resist, these were all different parcels, so I opened 2 different ones to show.  The top of the page is one package, the bottom is another.  Seriously, inspiring!  You can visit her blog here Jeannie Cards aka Image Queen

The top shows the front & back of one page, the bottom shows the front & back of the second page.    On your left hand side is a simple coin envelope stamped & look at the goodies inside!  You must enlarge to appreciate the details, these are real layers not just printed paper.

These are the fronts of 2 pages. so lovely!  That green butterfly with the brown tag sparkles.  I don't know how she did that but look at the double pocket on the right side.  The paper doesn't show, but that is some sort of printed transparency under the dragonfly & it hides the double pockets!  More beautiful extras too.

This is the front & back plus the extras.  The pro/con tag fits in under the green zigzag strip pocket,  really inspiring details!  The stopwatch has embossed texture, circled with a shiney accent glue of some sort.

Top is front of 2 pages, bottom is front & back of another page.  Aren't those sweet stamps?  Pretty clips and things too!  You can visit her blog here Crazy Cricut Lady

The top is 2 different front & backs of the same page entry with lovely misting and stamping.  The bottom is 2 different pockets (same page entry).  Some page tabs, and check out that key!  I tucked one into the side to show the pocket is open on 2 sides so it will be different depending how its bound.  You can visit her blog here Singing Shell

The top is one side, the bottom is flipped over to show the back. Can you see the hidden pocket on the butterfly paper? Clever!!!  You can visit her blog here Chasinkeegan

I now realize the light is kinda dingy in these photos, trust me, that's my winter daylight lighting again.  In real life they are very very fabulous!  My pages can be found here Not Housework- smash swap entry  and here is the link for my smash swap completed book in all its glory if you want to look.  It is fun hosting these swaps & getting first peek at all the gorgeous entries.   These were mailed back January 31 so just in the nip of time to stay as a January swap.  Happy spring everyone!