Spotlight on Swap Shares

Today I've been busy checking out the latest Stampin' Up! creations on the blogs and Pinterest site of the 2012 Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team.    You can check them out too by simply clicking their blog links on my side-bar.  Have fun because there are so many interesting and inspiring projects on their sites. 

One of these sites that I always enjoy visiting is "Stamping with Heather" by Heather Summers,   Today while browsing, I was drawn to her "Swap Share" posts. What a terrific idea!  I love that she's sharing the swaps and gifts she's received at this years Convention, because that's what's at the heart of Stampin' Up, ....... sharing!  Well she's up to share #38 now and I think that's simply amazing.  

I liked this sharing idea so much that I've decided to add a "Spotlight on Swaps" feature to my own blog and plan on posting it on a regular basis. The picture above is just a little teaser of what's to come, so stay tuned for this regular feature and some stunning card shares.  Who knows, you may see your own card spotlighted.

Artisan Design Team - Stampin' Up! 2012

Every year at Convention a group of very special ladies are honoured for their creative achievements in paper crafting. These wonderful gals are the finalists  from the Stampin' Up! Design Team contest that is held each Spring. 

Demonstrators from all across United States and Canada are invited to submit samples of their work which must include five full cards, three scrapbook pages and two three-dimensional items such as frames, boxes, clothing etc.  I don't envy the SU judges that have to narrow down the hundreds of submissions to 20 finalists.............what a job! 

The final 10 Artisan Design Team members are announced at Awards Night during Convention, on the demonstrator website in July after convention, and they're each featured in the September issue of Stampin' Success. They even have their own Pinterest Board What an honour to be chosen and these gals sure earned the title as well as all the goodies that go with it (an Artisan Design Team memento, $500 cash, a $500 Stampin' Up! shopping spree, and a special invitation to attend an Artisan Design Team dinner held during Convention 2012). 

As finalists these demos will create and post 4 projects a month until next June.  I want to make sure that you have an opportunity to benefit from their talents and see these projects.  To make that easy for you, I'm including their blog links in this post, and I've updated my "Blogs I Follow" listing on my side bar to feature these links.   

 Here are the 10 finalists who earned this year's honour and who'll be sharing their wonderful talents until Convention next year. 

2012-13 Artisan Winners taking a well deserved bow at Convention.  Erica Cerwin, Cindy Beach, Wendy Wexler, Heidi King, Jane Lee, Marisa Gunn, Heather Summers, Jeanna Bohanen, Sarah Sagert and Amy Bollman.

2012-2013 Artisan Design Team Membership List

Amy Bollman	http://blog.bollman.ca/
Cindy Beach	http://stampspaperandink.typepad.com/
Erica Cerwin	http://pinkbuckaroodesigns.blogspot.com/
Heather Summers	http://www.stampwithheather.typepad.com/
Heidi King	http://stampinking.blogspot.com/
Jane Lee	http://janeleescards.blogspot.com/
Jeanna Bohanon	http://stamptimesomewhere.typepad.com/
Marisa E Gunn	http://dzinesbymeg.typepad.com/
Sarah Sagert	http://www.sarahsagert.stampinup.net/blog
Wendy Weixler	http://www.wickedlywonderfulcreations.blogspot.com/