GoDivas Leadership Swap Card

Well, we had an exciting day yesterday in the Stampin' Up! community - SU! unveiled it's brand new online site for Demonstrators ONLY called the Stampin' Connection. It's a facebook like site where we can connect with demos all across the country and share ideas, samples and messages in real time. Since I'm still feeling cruddy from this cold, it was just what I needed to perk up my day yesterday.

Yesterday was also very sad for me personally as I attended the memorial service for my friend Natalie. She has been my neighbor and friend for 10 years now and was also a regular fixture at every stampin' class I've held for the past almost 3 years. She had been going through a number of personal challenges these past few months and recently contracted the flu, which is what took her life sometime last Tuesday. She leaves behind a 5 year old daughter and a void in the life of all her friends and family. She was amazingly creative and had a huge heart that she shared with all who knew her. She will definitely be missed and I want to dedicate my card share today to her memory.

One of my greatest joys as a demonstrator is found in the swap group I created about 3 years ago called the GoDivas (named by one of our members for my love of chocolate!). These ladies are all handpicked by me, all have different styles and strengths and are amazing stampers! We just wrapped up our swap for the New Occasions Mini Catalog and I'll share some samples from that one soon. This card is one I created for our small Leadership swap for the GoDivas attending.

I started with Close to Cocoa cardstock cut square. It's layered with Naturals Ivory cardstock which has been stamped collage-like with images from the new Vintage Vogue stamp set. I used Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue, stamped off one time. It's edges were sponged with Close to Cocoa ink.
The next layer is Bashful Blue cardstock which was run through my Big Shot with the new Polka-Dot Impressions Folder, then sponged with more Close to Cocoa ink.

I've layered two ribbons over that piece of cardstock, Chocolate Chip Double Stitched Grosgrain and Bashful Blue Taffeta. The single knot bow is added at the bottom with Mini Glue Dots.
The focal image was stamped in Close to Cocoa ink on more Naturals Ivory cardstock, then I added some flowers in Bashful Blue, stamped off once. More sponging on the edges and then it's layered on a piece of Close to Cocoa cardstock, finally being popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals to finish it off.

I was so happy with the way this card turned out, so soft and pretty. If Natalie could have seen it, I think she would have liked it too!
Hug the ones you love today, it'll warm your heart and make you both feel good!
Love and blessings to you all,
~~Robin