Retreat in the Snow

This weekend I went to my first ever papercrafting retreat, Papercrafter's Paradise.  Hard to believe, I know.  I've been papercrafting for somewhere close to 10 years and this is the first one I've done.  Now I'm asking myself, why did I wait so long?  It was fantastic!  Sooo relaxing and fun, being in a big room full of papercrafters, each working on their own projects, but everyone interested in what everyone else was creating; sharing ideas and supplies; getting to know people much better!  I'm booking the next one as soon as it is announced, that's for sure!

We went to a beautiful camp, Gardom Lake, and it was still very snowy, so really pretty outside!  We had camp style accommodation, but it was very comfortable and being the age I am, I don't say that lightly!
We demonstrators shared the cooking and there was no shortage of delicious food!

I accomplished a LOT!  I was surprised, since I didn't have much of a plan when I went.  I didn't take along a ton of gear, and it was probably a good thing this time as there wouldn't have been room for it in the car, as I drove the organizer up and she had a great deal of supplies with her.  I really only missed my embellishments and ribbons, and they don't take up much room, so will make sure they come with me next time.  Here's a quick shot of some of the cards I made:

One of my biggest projects was a PHD (project half-done) as my upline would say and I can't show you the photos for awhile since they are gifts for my 3 daughters and I want to keep it a surprise.  But one of the cards that I am proudest of was created for a colour challenge on Saturday using Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum and Wild Wasabi!  It was a kind of random colour palette and two of the colours are not ones I use regularly, but I embraced the challenge and used a layout from the new Paper Players Challenge #134:

It's a simple but versatile layout and it worked with how I was imagining the card I wanted to create.

Here's the card:

I stamp-a-ma-jigged (yes, it's a verb according to Brian Pilling down there at Stampin' Up headquarters)  the main image using Stippled Blossoms in Baja Breeze and Perfect Plum and who knew they could work together so perfectly? (For instructions on how to do this, go here.) The sentiment is from a stamp set that we got at Convention 2012 called "I Am...".  (Unfortunately, it is not available in the catalogue.)  The linen-like flag of Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon completes the soft look of the whole card.

 I loved how it turned out!  It tied for first in the retreat challenge  and I won a free stamp set! (Just the prize to make a stamper's heart beat a little faster!)

Anyway, you've got to come along to the next retreat!  Contact me if you're interested.  I think it will be in the early fall sometime!

Stamps:  Stippled Blossoms (w126745; c126747); I Am (unavailable)
Paper:  Sahara Sand (121043), Perfect Plum (101889), Wild Wasabi (108641), Baja Breeze (111352) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stock
Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Baja Breeze (126960), Perfect Plum (126963) and Wild Wasabi (126959)
Accessories:  Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon (129287); Pearl Basic Jewels (119247)
Tools:  3" Circle Originals die (122125); 2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906); Word Window Punch (119857); Modern Label Punch (119849); Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)

Stippled Blossoms Two-Step Stamp Set

Stamp-a-ma-jig

Modern Label Punch

Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon

2 1/2" Circle Punch