Card Swap Chain - Series 6 - Nancy's Card

In April 2026 we started the sixth series of the Card Swap Chain, arranged by the lovely Tracy Held. The idea behind this is that everyone in the group made a card, then sent it to one other person in the group. Each of us CASEd the card we received and posted it to the next person in the chain, there were 10 of us in total. Each time the card was CASEd it was changed slightly until the last round when the final copy of our first card was returned to us.  This is such a fun process, and it is now time to reveal each of the cards in the chain. With 10 of us in the chain there is definitely opportunity for a few variations to sneak in between the first and the last card, so join us on this blog hop journey through the CASEing process.

This chain started with this vibrant card from Nancy, if you haven't started the hop at her blog I would encourage you to do go there first, so you can see the progression of the chain. You can find her blog listed at the top of the participant list below.

I was 8th in the chain for this round and you can see that the overall fancy fold of the card has continued through the designs.  I followed the card before me choosing the Everyday Arches dies for the front panel which I thought would show off this beautiful fern image from the Nature Walk DSP, I added some fussy cut butterflies from the DSP which I think pop beautifully on the dark back ground. If I were to make this card again I think I would have swapped out the Secret Sea DSP sheet on the background arch 
for an Old Olive based one instead so that there was more of a contrast.  This card makes me think of looking out a window at night.

Time to keep hopping to see how this card was interpreted for the rest of the chain, and if it is still recognisable by the end of the chain. Do you think the arch will persist to the end or will it change in the last couple of cards?

Happy Stamping

Monique

CTC #587 - CASE The September Online Exclusives

Welcome to another week at CASEing the Catty Sunday Blog Hop, where utilise the projects within the current Stampin' Up! catalogue to inspire our own projects each week. We also invite you to join with us in the challenge each week by using this inspiration in your own creations and uploading a photo to our Facebook page.

This week we are taking inspiration from the projects showcasing the September Online Exclusives, you can find them in the online store by following the "Shop by release" option, or following the link on the sidebar of this blog.

I was inspired by this card from the Thanks & Giving stamp set from the September release.  I liked the layout using a main panel and die cut or ephemera images.

My card took a bit of a journey in its creation, as I was initially thinking I would use my Graceful Evergreen Deer stamp set.  But in deciding on the layout I changed the orientation to landscape and used the Pretty Poinsettia Bundle for the images and sentiment. One thing I have learned recently is that adding some blending behind your main image can make it pop, so I added Shaded Spruce behind the main panel and think it works well. I also wanted to tie in the All Wrapped Up DSP a bit better as it doesn't have Shaded Spruce as one of the included colours. 

I also wanted the small poinsettias on the panel to not extend over the printed border, so used a mask to protect the edge and was really happy with this effect, I think it gives the panel more depth.

  

I hope you are inspired to join in the challenge this week, just use the sample projects for the September Online Exclusives to inspire your creativity, then post a picture of your project to the CTC Facebook page.

  

Time to hop on over and see what Judy has created this week.

Happy Stamping
Monique

CTC #586 - CASE The New Catalogue

Welcome to another week at CASEing the Catty Sunday Blog Hop, where utilise the projects within the current Stampin' Up! catalogue to inspire our own projects each week. We also invite you to join with us in the challenge each week by using this inspiration in your own creations and uploading a photo to our Facebook page.

This week we are taking inspiration from the brand new September to December Catalogue. I love a new catalogue full of wonderful products and creative inspiration. 

I was inspired by this gift bag from page 25 of the Catalogue. The month of September is full of family birthdays and of course Father's Day so gift packaging is always welcome.

I was planning to make this gift bag a birthday bag, but then thought about adding the Christmas sentiment to the top, and with the silver foiling just couldn't resist! So it is a Christmas bag after all! I used the Extraordinary Life Bundle to stamp the tag and die cut out, I love the effect of this die, making it look like a page torn from a notebook. I added five of the things that make Christmas wonderful, adding a fussy cut bow from some of the off-cut DSP sheet.  I didn't have any tissue paper for styling this bag but thought it would be a great way to gift home made treats, or similar to the original could have a bag of the dry ingredients for treats with the little spatula and whisk included.  What would you gift in this little bag?

Dimensions are 3"W x 2"D x 6.5"H - made from a piece of DSP 10.5 x 8 inches scored at 2", 5", 7", 10" on the long side and at 2" on one edge of the short side. 

  

I hope you are inspired to join in the challenge this week, just use any of the projects in the new September to December catalogue to inspire your creativity, then post a picture of your project to the CTC Facebook page.

  

Time to hop on over and see what the wonderful Julia has created this week.

Monique