![IMG_8962 [640x480] IMG_8962 [640x480]](https://unfrogettablestamping.typepad.com/.a/6a010534cd912e970b015433ee1c40970c-320wi)
I am holding my annual Summer Shoe Box Swap meeting with my team today and am so excited about it! Twice a year (July and December) we get together on a Saturday and do a shoe box swap and gift exchange and we all bring yummy food to share... it is always a fun day and I look forward to seeing everyone that is attending today! The top card above is the one I created for the swap - it is a CASE of one I saw on the Alaska cruise (see below). I changed a few things but essentially kept it the same. I absolutely love this My Friend stamp set - the "hello" image is what I think I like best about it, but then again the foliage image and tear drops are pretty darn cool, too. The card stock base and panel are naturals ivory card stock and the color combination includes crumb cake, marina mist, certainly celery, early espresso and rich razzleberry. I love the texture that the crochet trim adds since I didn't have the textured crumb cake card stock. I spritzed the card with a soft suede stampin' write marker and my color spritzer tool - so fun - and embellished the "hello" with a pearl. Hope everyone likes this card as much as I do!
In addition to the shoe box swap, we also have a secret gift exchange... everyone who wants to participates comes with a wrapped gift (either purchased or hand-crafted) that is around $10 and we pick throughout the meeting. This is always so much fun and this year I decided to make an altered frame since I had enjoyed making the one for Sarah last week (even though it was for a sad occasion). Whenever I am in a store I always head to the clearance section to find things that are alterable... I love picture frames and always have some on hand in my gift closet. It may be hard to tell because it was very difficult photographing it, but this frame is dark blue - very close to Not Quite Navy - and I immediately thought of the recently retired Blueberry Crisp DSP as one to use with it.
I wanted to include a 3-d flower on the outside of the glass - this one was created with 2 each of the 2 smaller flowers from the Fun Flowers Bigz L die with my Big Shot. I also added texture to each flower with different textured impressions folders and then sponged the edges with pacific point ink to make them pop. The layers have a stampin' dimensional between each to give it more of a 3-d effect. It is attached to the glass with mini glue dots. I like how it turned out!
![IMG_8980 [640x480] IMG_8980 [640x480]](https://unfrogettablestamping.typepad.com/.a/6a010534cd912e970b0153901ad82d970b-320wi)
I also added a butterfly from the recently retired Great Friend stamp set (stamped on the card stock which is underneath the glass) and then stamped again and cut out. It is attached to the outside of the glass with mini glue dots - I embellished it with a strip of pearls... so pretty! I also made a small fork bow using the very vanilla seam binding ribbon and attached it to the darker piece of DSP to bring out the very vanilla design in the paper. I decided to leave spots for 2 photographs on this frame - I hope whoever receives my gift likes it!
If you'd like to join my team so you can attend our next meeting in December be sure and take advantage of the recruiting special this month - $99 gets you started with a Stampin' Up! business that is both flexible and fun!! Contact me to get started or click here.

$99 Starter Kit + Free Project Kit!
During July, you can join the Stampin' Up! family as a demonstrator for only $99! This limited time Starter Kit—valued at $185—comes with the following high-quality products:
- Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
- Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
- Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
- Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
- Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
- Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
- Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
- Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
- Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
- Note Cards (20)
- Clear-Mount Block C
- Blender Pen (1)
- SNAIL Adhesive
- Business supplies
*Brand new to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Plus, join in July and get a FREE Christmas Keepsake project kit—a $40 value! Imagine an afternoon spent chatting with friends while creating something beautiful—isn't that what Stampin' Up! is all about? But act now because this special kit is only available as part of this limited-time offer.
Join Stampin' Up! in July and get brand-new products, including an exclusive project kit—all for just $99! Contact me to get started today.
Thanks for visiting! I'll be sharing the cards we make over the next week so please be sure and come back! Enjoy the rest of your weekend...