SCS Card Swaps

This first card is my submission for a Happy Kids Birthday SCS swap. The birthday cake is a Stampin' Up image that I colored with Copics. This was time-consuming. The card base is pink, then a layer of a very colorful Happy Birthday designer paper. I put a clear rhinestone sticker on the candle flame. Added the ribbon and prima flowers. The next four cards are ones that I got from the "My Favorite Things" swap. All of them are really great.

These next 3 were from a "Background Card Swap". The backgrounds had to be embossed in some way, whether using dry embossing with a machine such as a Cuttlebug, or dry embossing with embossing powder. I chose dry embossing with a machine so the cards I got back were in the same category.

This card with the butterflies is similar to the one I did.

Here's a close-up of some of the detail that was done on the card.

This is a really neat card. Loved the way it was done.

The hostess of the Background swap also did an "Extra Card" swap. Those that joined this swap had to submit 10 cards that were either extras from other projects or cards that were received from other swaps. So here's the one's I got back. Some of them are really nice.

This card is really nice.

Here's the inside of the card.

This one is nice too.

This is a beautiful card. The top portion inside the envelope was even covered with paper.

Here's the inside of the envelope.

This last card is one that I made for Peg. I bought my ladybug card holder from her that she made especially for me. I had purchased a couple of others that were too small. It a simple layout...I liked how it turned out...and she enjoyed it.

Hat Pins

This could be a new hobby. I signed up for a Hat Pin swap on Splitcoast Stampers. They are made using different beads that are used in making jewelry and corsage pins. I'm not sure if it is new to cardmaking, however, they are being used as embellishments for cards. Michael's has all of their bead strands on sale at 40% off. So yesterday I bought 4 strands of different beads and some findings to see what I could put together. There are lots of videos on You Tube showing how to make them. They are really easy, actually. Kind of a no-brainer.

For some reason it was difficult to get a clear picture so the beads could be seen. The corsage pins have a pearl at the top. One of the videos I watched, the crafter used Copic markers to color the pearl. I didn't try that. On the one in front, I used a purple crystal, then a flower spacer, the purple flat bead, another spacer and another purple crystal. On the one in back...there's a clear crystal, an oval purple bead that is varigated with some brown and purple, a purple pearl, and another clear crystal. An earring clutch is holding the beads together, for now. In most of the videos I watched the beads were glued together using Crystal Effects. Crystal Effects is used in card making to adhere different embellishments to a card. It dries clear so it can't be seen. Another crafter used a hot glue gun. And another used a product called E-6000. I've not seen that product.

I'm not sure if I really like these so that is why I haven't glued the beads yet. So tell me what you think.