The Old Switcheroo!

What could possibly happen if two designers, from two different companies, swapped stamps?  Well, a whole lotta stampy goodness, I tell ya'!

My buddy Lisa Spangler and I thought we'd have ourselves some fun with a little switcheroo, and hope you get as much a kick out it as we have!

 

 

Lisa Spangler

Hiya!  I had a blast stamping these cards using A Muse stamps – ideas
kept popping in my head faster than I could stamp them.  I still have a
bunch of sketches planned out, can't wait to  give them a go!

Here's a little bit about me:  I started stamping 14 years ago while in
graduate school, not to make cards, but to decorate envelopes. 
Eventually it dawned on me that I could make cards with stamps too –
and I've been doing that ever since!

In 2005 I was invited to create card samples for the Hero Arts catalog.
The next year I left my job as a software engineer to work for Hero
Arts full time as a Designer and Senior Web Engineer.    I also get to
teach classes and help with product development.  It's my dream job!

I live in Austin, Texas with Jason, my husband of over 11 years and
our two goldfish, Smiley and Woodfin.  When I'm not stamping, I'm
either hiking, riding my road or mountain bicycle, taking pictures of
wildflowers, or tromping around a prairie. 

One of my favorite foods is sushi, and when Julie asked what stamps I'd
like to use for the samples for our swap, that one was at the top of my list.
YUM.

Julie, it's been so much fun working with you on this “designer swap”
-- you are truly amazing.  Many thanks to you and A Muse!

Right back at ya', girlfriend!  Thanks so much to Lisa and to Hero Arts for this FUN Designer Swap! 

And, now, I'm tickled to share the fab cards that Lisa whipped up with ya'all!

Happy, HAPPY Birthday!

Lisa does a lot of her coloring work with colored pencils, and I think the shading she does is terrific!

In this design, she actually stamped with a nice dark brown ink, which sets a softer tone to the finished piece, and really brings out the warmth of the colors she chose to use.

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Flower Filled

Lisa used our Oval Frames set in conjunction with the Marvy Scallop Oval Punch to frame our little flower-filled wheel barrow, and sponged the edges to really make the focal image POP!

Look carefully, and you'll see how the tiny blossoms have been blinged with Micro Dot Twinkle Stickers.

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Just a note

Lisa's a tremendous nature buff--check out her blog, Sideoats & Scribbles to see her stunning photography of the beautiful prairie flowers she films. You will fall off your chair!

             

I had no idea the Texas prairies were so beautiful, until I saw Lisa's photography.

I loved how she made the little hill by pinking the Madeira Green paper--I am SO trying this!  Such a simple touch but, with great impact.

Did you catch the "love" note made with the heart shaped Twinkle Sticker?

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Ice Cream Note

I love out-of-the-box ideas, and this one is no exception--I love how Lisa used an image from the Fancy Borders set to create the "ice cream scoops"!

So stinkin' CLEVER!

The glitter makes 'em all the more delicious, and each one is topped with a little Twinkle Heart "cherry" sticker!  SWEET!

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Arigato

This is just so sweet, to have the flowery Party Lantern dangling from yet another image from the Fancy Borders set.

If you look carefully at the detail photo, you'll see how Lisa used the Clear Twinkle Stickers to create little hanging "crystals". 

And check out how she embellished the paper flower in the center with the pink Mini and Micro Dots!

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Flower Fan

I literally blurted out "SHUT UP!" over this.

I see fans.  Lisa sees fans.  And, Lisa sees a FLOWER!!!

Genius.

...................... 

Lisa used the fan from our Sushi set to create  a flower, centered by a clear disc and a button.

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OK, so she sees fans, flowers, AND BUTTERFLIES!!!

Are ya' shaking your head like I was?  Same fan, from the same set!

Fantastic cleverness!  GET OUT!!!

 

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Thank you

I started cracking up over this because Lisa and I are *so* much alike--we BOTH SAVE OUR PLASTIC SUSHI GRASS for cards!

ROTFLMBO! 

I love how she cut out and 3D mounted the little Tatami sandals from the Sushi Set on this!  Just so darn SWEET!  And, see how she used the Heart Twinkle Stickers to embellish them? 

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Sushi Spinner

            

I know!!! (--Monica, TV series "Friends")

Check out how she curved the sentiment, along the edge of the sushi circle element!

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Now you're wheely rollin'!

Wheely Girl is Lisa's all-time favorite A Muse stamp, and she smartly used the solid stitched image from the Fancy Borders set to create a hill for her to cycle up!

Did you notice what she used to create the windy "trail" behind her?

The STEAM from the Coffee Break Set!

               

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Lisa, your creations always inspire and delight--thank you for making this Designer Swap such a blast, my friend!

We'd love to share the fun with you, our readers, by havin' a "Lisa's Favorite A Muse Stamp Give-Away":

Wheely Girl
+ Madeira Blue 4 Bar Note Cards

To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment right here on this article!

And, be sure to pop over to the Hero Arts Blog HERE and check out the cards I made!   I hear there's a give-away goin' on over there, too! 

--Julie   

Comments

[Susan Johnson]

How much fun! I would love to trade stamps with someone to see what we each come up with. You gal's are amazing!
Susan

[Hannah]

I really enjoyed the out of the box use of the fans to create the flower and butterfly. As always love the crispness of amuse designs.

[Cindy Redding]

I love the way you used all the different borders. I've got to check my stamp stash and see what I can come up with!

[Rebecca]

These are some great ideas!! That fan for the butterfly is amazing!! Can't wait to try it with my own stamps.

[Mary]

SUCH clever ideas from such supah clever girls! Thanks for "swapping it up" for us! :) Fingers crossed...

[MaryLou]

Super great creativity. You guys rock!

[lexi]

awesome cards lisa--i must save my sushi grass next time i bring it home for dinner! i've followed your work for a while after clicking on a link in julie's sidebar way back--what a fun swap!

[Allison]

These cards couldn't be any cuter! I am a new stamper and really love looking at all of the different teechniques you ladies use on cards. :)

[Brenda T]

both designers did a FANTASTIC job with their swaps. Thanks for sharing!!

[Dana Klinkner]

What a FUN idea to do this designer swap - loved it! The ideas you both came up with were amazing! I'm a big Amuse fan and I loved all the new ideas....thanks! :)

[Jeanne]

How fun--and I would love to win! thanks for the great inspriration--the swap was a great idea!

[Susan Engel]

What a great idea these stamping swaps are. I hope to see more in the future as they are a popular hit amongst the stampers. Its nice to learn a little about each artist and meet them and find out about them and what they like to do ect. A fun idea I'd like to see again soon! Cheers, Susan

[Sue Bone]

What a great set of cards. I've never tried sushi. Perhaps I should to get some sushi grass ;)

[Monika in VA, USA]

Lisa did a fabulous job & I totally enjoyed both blogs! Thanks for sharing your inspiring works of art with us! And those little twinkle stickers add such a great touch!

[Theresa Romani]

I love "out-of-the-box" ideas! The flower and butterfly are just great. Love the coloring job.

-Theresa

[Lisa]

What a fantastic idea, a designer switch! These cards are FANTASTIC! And I love the sushi grass. I might have to steal that idea!

[Denise]

Talk about innovative! :) It was so nice to see how versatile so many of these stamps are, even if novices like me only see one image when we look at them! :) This swap was such a great idea!!!!

[mcbetty]

I adore the wheely girl going up the hill --- simply adorable but leaves me breathless, pant pant pant.

[Mabel]

Is a very creative use for stamps, love it all! and clever idea both Muse and Hero stamps in a swap!!!

[Brenda H.]

Wow, what a great idea...love the swap! Awesome cards Lisa! Thanks for this chance to win!
~Brenda H.

[SherryAnn]

These are unbelievable. You make me want to buy all of them just so I can cardlift the designs. Would love to win one or two of them.

[Anthonette]

Oh my goodness! Looking at both blogs was so much fun. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED all the ideas! The use of the fan to make a flower and butterfly, wow! Please do this type of swap again.

[Lisa Foust]

Wow - what a great idea to swap stamps! Great cards!

[Angela K]

Great cards!! I hope you will do this kind of thing again! Too fun!!

[Connie]

You both did an awesome job with swapping stamps! A wonderful idea and I hope you do it again!

[carol :)]

Could these cards be any cuter? I especially love the ones with the fan stamps!

[Lynne]

What a great idea. You both are so very talented. Thanks for some new ideas.

[Stephanie Z]

I liked all your cards - Pretty neat :)

[Lesley]

The way my 5-year old DD says "parten (pardon) me" is the last thing that made me smile...I smile a lot around my girls (and their daddy) so I hope that's how they remember me in years to come! Thanks for sharing this designer switcheroo, it made me smile as well...

[L Eterno]

Great cards.

[Lindsay]

Oh man! Those were some brilliant ideas! I saw Julies Hero Arts creations and those were just as great!! Hope you guys do this again sometime!

[Dee(deelite SCS)]

How cute. Really enjoyed your clever exchange. Just can't decide which one is the most creative. Thanks for the fun and creativity.
Dee

[Heather]

Love the sushi set!!! Excellent cards, love the details.

[Sandi]

Wow, Julie! Lisa's cards are so darlin'! I'm blown away by her genius. She needs to teach us how to see our stamp images as totally something else. Thanks for doin' the swap! Its wonderful!!
May God bless, Sandi

[Ericka]

Great cards using A Muse stamps and/or Hero Arts. I like all the ideas and I can't wait to go find the stamps used!! I love the arigato, fans, and sushi stamps.
Thank you!

[Tamela Boyer]

These cards are all sooo cute. Thanks so much for sharing these fun ideas.

[Julia (Artystamper on SCS)]

I love every single one of these cards - the detail on them is terrific! wonderful job!!

[Julie]

Great cards - fun ideas!

[Christina]

beautiful cards and so stinkin' inspiring!

thank you!

[Stephanie P]

Love the cards.Thanks for showing the versatility of the fan stamp. Great idea!
Stephanie P

[Martha]

Wow, these are great. To be able to see alternate uses for stamp images is a true gift. Love the flower and butterflies made out of the fans.

[Kendra - SCS:apigonfire]

Totally love what you did with the sushi set! Fantastic!
~Kendra

[Linda SS]

What creative ideas & I love all of Lisa's ideas:) A*Muse and Hero Arts...2 of my favorite companies!!!

[Mary Ann (mastamper from SCS)]

What cute cards! I'm headed over to the Hero Arts blog to check out Julie's cards now...

[Sonia E.]

Love the creativity of your cards!

[Harley]

Those cards are so cute.. that sushi one is hilarious!!! Love them all :)

[Marilyn Valadez]

Lisa,Julie you are two very talented artist. I just love what you both did on these blogs.

[Sarah Kegley]

Inspiring! The attention to detail is very evident, and you just converted me to that style and that stamp company. My wallet thanks you.

[Anna]

Your blog is going to be saved to my favourites!! Love all your wonderful artwork!

[Marge SBS8]

WOW, you two are such very talented ladies, to be sure! How fun to see how your "mind's eye" saw the stamps and your awesome creations! Truly inspired!!!

[Tami :-)]

Love them all!! Thanks for sharing the awesome ideas!!

[Deborah]

Oh, man! Now i have another great blog to visit! Thanks for the great ideas!!

[Diana]

Very very cool!

[michelle t.]

These are so cute!!! Your cards are fun. Have bookmarked your site now.

[Karen]

Those are such cute cards. I had not heard of your stamps before this and am going to look into them further!

[Donna]

Enjoying the cards that were shared on this page, and glad that I came over from the Hero Arts blog yesterday and came back today. : )

Fans as flowers, coffee steam for a "biker" in action. Wow!

Thank you for the inspiration to pull out my A Muse Art stamps and start playing.

Donna

[Katie]

Came on over from Hero blog. Will definitely come back again :)

[Teresa A.]

Beautiful cards! Thank you for sharing your beatiful creations with us.

[Patty]

What clever cards!!!!! I loved especially what you did with the Sushi set - I've got that set too and appreciate having some new ideas to play around with!

[Priya]

Lovely out of the box ideas. Thanks to Hero Arts for leading me to your site. I will be visiting often. Priya

[Cass]

Amazing cards!

[Stephanie Eisele]

Great cards. Love the spinner card.

[Sandrine alias Didines]

Cute cards and so great ideas ! It's the first time for me here ! will definitely come back ;-)

[Anne]

Thanks Lisa and Julie for a fun week and for doing the Designer Swap! :)

[Rita Timmons]

WOW! Love those cards. THanks for the great ideas.

[Dana Grothaus]

Wow! All of the cards look so awesome! So talented!

[Sherry Mescher]

WOW the cards are fabulous. Thanks for the designer swap... fun!

[Connie M.]

What a terrific idea-thanks Julie and Lisa for providing such creative and inspiring designs!!

[CraftyKJ]

Cute not to mention very creative cards!!! Love the Sushi set butterfly--and how the bike trail is very clever!!! KJ

[Christine]

Love the crisp little A Muse stamps - thanks for the ideas to look beyond the original intention for more than one use per stamp!!

[Doris]

Wow! Your cards are awesome! You have done things with A Muse stamps that I never would have thought of....I love your creativity, and ability to think "out of the box".

[Nicole D]

It is really fun to see different ideas for the Amuse line. Thanks for doing the designer swap.

[Anita]

These are such great cards - Lisa always has great ideas and is really an inspiration! A Muse and Hero Arts together - what coould be better!!! Anita

[Dottie K]

Wow these are just fantastic. One is cute then the next one. I enjoy seeing all of them. :)

[Kim Faucher]

All I can say is.... PURE TALENT.... Love the idea of the switch... so great to do.. my neighbor and I do this quite a bit but more fun to see with "stamp celebs" you all just blow me away with the creativity!
I was so inspired I got out my sets and stamped them together... since I love both kind sof stamps!

[Mary in Chicago]

Love Amuse stamps and love your store! Soooo much inspiration! Thank you!

[Marla]

Amazing creativity! I love it when people show me how to use something in a different way than it's intended. Great job, Lisa!

[Sandy H.]

You gals are both so creative. I've got to remember to think 'outside the box' and look for other possibilities the next time I pull out my stamps or go shopping for new ones. Thanks for all the great ideas.

[Suzanne Morse]

Wow what fun!!!! Both blogs are grrrreat!!!

[kim lenhart]

awesome designs...massive creativity!! I love them all!

[Bev]

Cute little sparkling note!

[Bev]

Cute little sparkling note!

[Alanna]

I loved this switcheroo...great cards, great stamps, great designers!!

[Colleen]

Always love to see what creative things people with talent come up with! Great job!

Colleen

[Crystal W]

Wow, I'm amazed! I love your creativity!

[Carolyn Mcavoy]

Beautiful cards....what talent...
I would love to win....

[Susan N]

Cute cards, thanks for the great ideas. I love the flower and butterfly made with the fan, clever.

[Stephanie J.]

this girl is truly amazing, i'm speechless. to be so creative to think of thinks like this. stephanie jones

[StacyS.]

All of these cards ideas have given me some new inspiration - thanks ladies for sharing them with us!
I love the idea of the switcheroo - it never ceases to amaze me what crafters can come up with - I love this craft!
StacyS. (Alberta, Canada)

[Katie]

So very cute! I had fun looking at Lisa's and Julie's swap cards. Great ideas!
Cheers, Katie

[Marni]

i love the wheely girl, too. i am particularly fond of the ice cream cones she made with the fancy borders set - and i just ordered that one!! yay - i see ice cream cones on a card in my future...

[Debbie]

Now how cool was that? I'm going back to look at some of my stamps to see what unexpected ways they can be used. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Cassi Darwin]

I am always finding such great ideas on your blog! Thanks for the inspiration.

[Ally in Canada]

WOWSERS! All the cards are wonderful!!!! So creative and bright and fun! TFS!!!

[ConnieC]

I love the A Muse stamps I have. And can't wait to get some more.

[ellymew]

those are some amazing cards! the sushi stamps! i must order them! :D

[Linda]

you are so creative. i like the happy, happy birthday card

[Theresa]

Love these cards- no surprise cause I LOVE A Muse!!
Keep on making those great stamps and I'll keep on buying them!! ;O)

[Theresa]

Oops- I forgot my URL!

[Janet Sisk]

I love what Lisa did with these A muse stamps! All the creativity is making me want to get into my stamp stash and STAMP! Thanks for the inspiration and chance to win a great stamp, too!