Project 7 from our Stampin’ Sisters Retreat from last weekend, was this pretty framed art piece featuring the Covered in Sunshine stamp set and the Dainty Delight Bundle.  It was a big hit as it was pretty simple, yet had a real wow factor to it.  The Take Home Gift for this project was the 8″ x 8″ shadow box frame which was purchased at a craft store.

When I first saw the covered in Sunshine stamp set, I knew I wanted to create a framed art piece with this sentiment making it look like it was written on a chalkboard.  The sentiment was stamped on Basic Black cardstock with VersaMark Ink and heat embossed with White Embossing Powder.  The flower images from the Dainty Delight stamp set were stamped with Memento Ink on Basic White cardstock and then Die-cut with the coordinating Dainty Delight Dies. and colored in with Stampin’ Blends in Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Pale Papaya and Blackberry Bliss.

A 4″ square was cut out of the 6-1/4″ x 6-1/6″ piece of Sahara Sand using the Paper Trimmer. The wood grain print paper comes from the By the Bay Designer Series Paper Pack.   The 5^th largest Stitched Rectangle Die was used to cut the center out from the Designer Paper.  The DSP was then adhered to the Sahara Sand piece.

After cutting strips of cardboard (from old Designer Paper packages) into eight 1/2″ x 5″ strips, we glued them on top of one another to create 2 stacks, which were then adhered to the back if the Sahara Sand piece.

Next, the small Basic Black piece that has the sentiment embossed on it, was adhered to the large Basic Black piece and the cardboard layers on the Sahara Sand piece were adhered to the Basic Black.  By layering things this way, it created depth to the project.  The finishing touch was adding the die-cut flowers around the edges of the window cut out and it was put in the shadow box frame.

Each year at retreat we have an optional Card Swap, where those participating design a card and create one for each person swapping, then they line up and trade cards with one another going home with tons of incredible cards.

All of the cards from the swap are then put on a display board and everyone votes on their favorite, with  prizes going to the top 3 vote getters.  This year, 1st place went to Kim Vale, this a fun fold card she made uses the Best Day stamp set.  2nd place went to Janell Barman, who made an interactive card using the Give it a Whirl Dies and the Peekaboo Farm stamp set.  3rd place went to Cyndi Hogan, who used the adorable Friendly Gnomes stamp set for her cheerful card.

Sandi Johnson, one of our retreat attendees, surprised us all with these amazing cake treat pops.   Needless to say, they were a huge hit!  Thank you Sandi!

After stamping the day away, when everyone returned in the evening after dinner, we played a few games of Bingo where prizes we won and lots of fun was had by all.

Supplies used on todays project can be ordered by clicking on the photos below