Convention (2013) Quality Swap Card

Every year at the Stampin' Up convention, one of my fave stampers and one of my fave people, Lyssa Zwolanek, hosts what she calls a "convention quality swap."  The rules are pretty stringent:  only current Stampin' Up products (natch!), at least three layers, at least one embellishment, high-quality work.  (Read more: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/demo-events-f29/lyssas-conv-2013-now-convention-quality-swap-cqs-14-full-closed-t571692.html#ixzz2frKNtjd5)  The first year I went to convention, I had to "try out" to join this swap.  Well, there's a newcomers group, but I was nervous that my card wasn't good enough, so I sent Lyssa a prototype for her to critique.  I found this in my sent mail.  Now that I look at it, I'm shocked that it was acceptable!  I need my shades--it's so bright!

Well, now that I passed the audition, so to speak, I'm a CQS "alumnus."  Unfortunately, last year I was on a business trip in another time zone (in Hawaii--a hardship tour!) and I couldn't get my act together to register for the CQS swap.  So sad.  I stalked the swappers last year because I wanted to see what they'd come up with.

This year, I stalked the Splitcoast Stampers SU Events group waiting for Lyssa to open the swap.  I was gonna be ready this year. Yes, I was! Well, Lyssa opened the swap early (and I wasn't paying attention, as usual) and by the time I contacted her to register for the swap--all the groups were filled!  What?! What?! But Lyssa is the most fantabulous person in the world and she opened a special spot just for little ol' me.  She's a sweetheart, I tell you.  Thanks, Lyssa!

Here's the CQS I made for Convention 2013.  I had this idea--and these colors--brewing in my mind for a while.  It makes me happy when my idea is translated to paper--and it turns out as I envisioned it!  After I punched the flowers and adhered them with dimensionals, I bent the edges of the flowers up to give them some dimension.

(Stamp Sets: Mixed Bunch, Sweet Essentials; Card Stock: Calypso Coral, Pink Pirouette, Pool Party, Early Espresso; Ink: Early Espresso; Accessories: Square Lattice Embossing Folder; Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Blossom Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Basic Pearls, Apothecary Accents Framelits)