Sneak peek of my swap card for Founder’s Circle 2012

Someone at Stampin' Up made the same mistake for two years in a row now, and thinks I get to go to Founder's Circle AGAIN and hang out with the Top 100 Demonstrators in the company… I hope nobody clues them in that they can't possibly be right! Shhhh–don't tell them I'm just a nobody from nowhere!

Ahhh… I still don't believe it. Even with the travel documents right here on my desk, photos from last year to prove it really happened, and even an email from Bonnie Thurber yesterday asking me to present the business idea I submitted to them in front of the group–I still don't believe it! I was looking at the post I made this time last year (read it here) and I can hear my excitement and utter bewilderment that this lucky girl is me–this is MY life–I feel SOOOOOO blessed. Wow. Somebody pinch me!

Well, I know you want to hear about the CARD! This year, we had a challenge. We were limited to TWO layers plus the card base. Now, I normally LOVE stamping challenges and I have no problem making cards with two or even fewer layers. But somehow, KNOWING that I couldn't use more than two completely stumped my mojo! It took me a long time to make something I liked–that also fit all the criteria for mass producing 120 of them: nothing too labor-intensive, couldn't take too long per card, had to use embellishments and ribbon I could get in quantity, was easy enough on my carpal tunnel, etc. So this is what I came up with–be kind in your reviews : )

The first card was my rough draft, and then this one above is the stepped-up one I tried to fancy up a bit–without adding in any layers!–that I ended up going with. The base is River Rock, which goes GORGEOUSLY with the new Raspberry Ripple In Color–you need to try them together. The stamps are from the Affection Collection stamp set in the 2012 Holiday Catalog, page 35. I am really enjoying that stamp set! And I used the Music Notes wheel and the Color Spritzer Tool to easily add even more vintage-y layers to it with hardly any effort.

I have 70 out of 120 completely done right now, though all 120 bases are finished. The ribbon is what's taking the longest, but it looks so cool I am still plugging away at it. Taking a break from them to finish getting ready for my 10-10-10 Event on Saturday! Here is the version of this card that we will be making that day. Look at how gorgeous the new Illuminate Ink Pad is!!!

Now that I have my design safely in hand, I am kind of glad there was a two-layer challenge. I will be getting a lot of gorgeous swaps back with quick and easy ideas to share with you all. So many of us love the super-fancy, multi-layered masterpieces, but that is just not the kind of card we really do in everyday life! It will be fun to see what everyone has come up with. I hope they like mine! Leave me a comment if you like it!