Milestone Anniversary!

My Mother-in-law's sister (and brother-in-law) are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary next Saturday and I wanted to make a card for them.  Fifty years is a BIG deal!  My parents celebrate their 58th anniversary this year (my hubby and I will celebrate our 20th).  And I think it is important to congratulate these kind of milestones.  It's not just like having a birthday (let's face it, aging doesn't necessarily require any input for you, aside from eating and breathing).  But wedding anniversaries are a testament to perseverance, patience and love.  So Bev and Don, this card and the heartfelt congratulations that accompany it - are all yours!

I saw a gorgeous card here and decided to change it up just a bit to give it a little more of a golden aura.  So here's what I came up with:

Supply List
Stamps - Papillion Potpourri, Memorable Moments
Paper - Whisper White, Brushed Gold
Ink - Versamark
Big Shot - Scallop Square BigZ Clear, Square Lattice EF
Tools and Accessories Elegant Butterfly Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Bird Builder Punch (leaves/stems), 21/2" Circle Punch, Gold Embossing Powder, Basic Pearls


I absolutely love how rich and golden this card turned out.  The photo just doesn't do it justice, but hopefully you get the general idea.  And I am certain Bev and Don will be tickled pink (or gold?) when this comes in the mail.

In the meantime - today is the last day of July which means the Reason To Smile promotion is going to be over in tomorrow.  I hope everyone has put in their $60 order to get this beautiful and exclusive stamp set for only $5.  If not, contact me and I can help you to have your own Reason To Smile! 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week.  Take care and God Bless, 
~Cynthia     <><

Convention Swag

Hello there friends

I just realized I did not post any pictures of my actual awards for you to see.   But before I stop posting about my Convention fun, I should at least let you see a little of what I came home with.

First up is my Convention name tag.  It was kind of neat to have so many ribbons and pins on my name tag identifying me as an award recipient.  And all those pins look awfully nice on my Stampin' Up! apron at home now.

Next up is the bag that everyone received when they came to the registration desk.  I have to tell you, I really like this bag.  It holds a lot, and it has a multitude of really deep pockets inside!  Of course one of my daughters has already specified that she would like my Convention bag as soon as I am done with it!

Next is my favourite - the Rising Star necklace.  This silver star was given to me as a Rising Star recipient and I have worn it proudly a number of times since leaving Convention.  I will admit that I worked very hard last year - so to earn Rising Star - and in fact, to be recognized as the #1 new demonstrator in all of Canada - well, it felt awfully nice.   Another daughter has already asked if she can have this "someday...."

Lastly - take a look at this awesome bag!  This is my Founder's Circle bag and let me tell you, it is a beautiful accessory to carry over one shoulder.  Did I tell you I have 3 daughters?  Want to bet if one of them laid claim to my Founder's Circle bag?!



At any rate, this is just a quick post today to let you see some of what I came home with from Convention.  I did come home with a LOT more than just these (my suitcase was stuffed!!), but these are the things I wanted you to see for now.  And I'll admit it, I'm already looking forward to next year's Convention.  It's going to be Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary next year and Convention is going to be an absolute blast!!  Anyone who wants to join my team and come with me to Convention 2013, just let me know!

Till then, have a wonderful week and God Bless,      ~Cynthia     <><

Convention Cards 3 - Another Christmas Peak

I promised you another sneak peak into the holiday mini and here goes.....

The Scentsational Season stamp set is ultra-cute and this steaming cup of hot chocolate just makes me feel like warm and cuddly happiness after a cold day of tobogganing.  I know, I know...it is still a hot and humid July day right now.  But can't you just see the snow falling in your mind's eye?


And of course, nothing could be easier to cut out the mug shape, than using the Holiday Collection Framelits!  In fact, this collection of framelits will easily cut out a mug, some steam, a star, a Christmas Tree, a Candy Cane and a Gingerbread Man.  Surely you've already seen the ever-so-cute earrings I posted here?!?  Well you really, REALLY want to own these framelits, let me assure you.  Cards, Scrapbook pages, earrings and ornaments....there is no end to the uses I can find for these wonderful little metal time-savers!

Make sure you contact me if you haven't received your holiday mini yet!  And be sure to place your order for the wonderful stamp sets and matching framelits you'll find listed there.  Place your order online or contact me today to make sure you get to be one of the first to own these stamps and accessories.  Remember, I can take orders from and ship to anywhere in Canada!  Let me help you get Christmas off to an early start!

Until then, enjoy your day, hot and un-Christmas-sy though it may be!    :)

God Bless,          ~Cynthia          <><

Convention Fun

Hi Friends

More than just showing you some of the great cards I saw there, I wanted to tell you just a bit about Convention.  If I had to pare it down into one sentence, I'd have to say...Convention was a BLAST!  I had so much fun, it was unbelievable!  And perhaps the most fun of all was the Class that I helped present 4 times over the course of 2 days. 

Karen Hauley (from Stampin' Up!) asked Jill Hilliard, Megumi Holland and myself to help present a class called "I Am Earning an Incentive Trip".  Let me tell you, I had a bunch to say but I learned a whole LOT from Meg and Jill.  A ton!  These two ladies had a wealth of information to share and I was so glad to be a part of it.  And in addition to the tips and advice, Karen, Meg and Jill are just plain old NICE!  What fun to be a part of that group! 

And to add icing to the cake, Karen gave each of us a gorgeous journal (created using Stampin' Up!'s MDS program) and the inside cover included a personal note written to each of us from Shelli Gardner, co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!







I also learned an awful lot at the other classes I attended.  Bonnie Thurber asked Tami White and Ronda Wade to share their expertise with us in a class called "I Am Doing Business My Way".  Both of these wonderful ladies had excellent advice for us.  And Bonnie, as always, was a riot.

Donna Griffith put together a class called "I am Savvy" and Dawn Griffith, Meg Wheeler and Laura Milligan each showed us ways to design projects using some of the wonderful SU! products that we have available to us.

And Carrie Cudney (I am in awe of this woman!) showed us ways to put DSP together in a class called "I Am a Pattern-Mixing Pro".  I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed all of these classes and how much I learned at them.  Hopefully all of this newfound knowledge will be obvious to you when you attend clubs and classes over the next several months!

I would be happy to share all this knowledge with you and welcome you to my clubs, classes or events.  And if you wish to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, then I'd love to have you join my team.  We can share the Convention experience together next year!  Believe me, you'll have a blast.  I guarantee it!

Till then, have a wonderful evening and God Bless,       ~Cynthia    <><

Convention Cards 2 - Christmas in July

Hey there friends

How about a little taste of Christmas?

Here is a really cute series of cards that I saw at Convention that use the Chock-Full of Cheer stamp set.  Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green are the perfect combination of colours that make me feel in the Christmas spirit....even if it is still sweltering outside!

Along with the stamped images and the luscious stitched satin ribbon, the Be of Good Cheer designer paper really makes these cards simple to assemble, and WOW!!

And who isn't excited about the new mitten punch (from the holiday mini) that is coming available on Aug 1??




Look for another Christmas card tomorrow...using another sneak peak from the holiday mini.

Until then, enjoy your day and God Bless,
~Cynthia      <><

Convention Cards 1

Hello Friends

I am still away from home, enjoying some time with my kids at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  I returned here after Convention, and won't be home to see my husband until tomorrow evening.  So I don't even get to share my Convention stories (and awards) with him for another 24 hrs.  But THEN I will be truly happy and my Convention experience will be complete.  Since I am not yet home, I have no chance to craft cards.  But I did manage to download some of the gorgeous cards I saw displayed at Convention and I will post a few of these over the next few days for you to admire.  I have no way of knowing who created these lovely cards so I cannot acknowledge them by name....but please note that these cards are not my own.  I must say though, I will undoubtedly CASE (copy and share everywhere) many of these ideas for classes and parties in the next months.  So many wonderful ideas out there...and so happy that demonstrators share their gifts with the rest of us!  Enjoy these creations:

As you might recognize, I love butterflies.  And I love how this simple card uses the new Elegant Butterfly Punch to showcase some gorgeous butterflies.  Notice the use of designer paper for the butterflies themselves, and the Wacky Wishes sentiment.

Absolutely LOVE the Vintage Faceted Designer Button on the Midnight Muse butterfly here.  And love the Papillon Potpourri set stamped onto the cardstock butterflies.  And vellum butterflies....what an inspired choice!

Ahhhhh. Who doesn't love the butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit?  A little bling, some Baker's twine and buttons, and the ensemble is complete!





I saw (and photographed) LOTS of beautiful cards at Convention.  Check back tomorrow and I'll share a few more.  Until then, enjoy your day and your week. 

God Bless,   
~Cynthia    <><

Convention 2012 Awards Night

Well friends, awards night was actually Thursday night, but I am just getting around to posting this now.  Sorry for my delinquency, but here is an update:

I got to "walk the stage" 4 times at the Awards evening.  The very first time I went up onto the stage, my shoe broke!  So I spent the rest of the evening going up and down the stairs in my bare feet!  Ack!!  They must think I'm such a bohemian!   :)

Despite my wardrobe malfunction, I made it onto the stage 4 times on Thursday night (and a further 3 times for awards marches on Friday).  Not bad - 7 onstage appearances for my first year as a demonstrator!!

Thursday night at the very elegant gala event, my 2 most memorable walks were for Founders' Circle and Rising Star.  This year, it turns out only 10 people in North America achieved Rising Star.  Not only was I honoured to be one of them, but I was the ONLY Canadian Rising Star recipient this year!  Talk about an honour!  In addition and as I already posted a few days ago, I am one of the top 20 demonstrators in all of Canada this year.  This achievement has earned me a spot in Founders' Circle - one of the highest honours that Stampin' Up! can give its demonstrators.  I feel so completely blessed to be in this exclusive group of women (top 20 Canadians, top 100 Americans).  When I return home and have all my photos downloaded, I will post more about these amazing honours - both the awards these last few days and the retreat trips I will be going on as part of both awards.

I was very lucky that Michelle Sturgeon, a fellow Canadian demonstrator and an incredible lady, was kind enough to share my excitement with me and take several photos - this one included!  Then after the awards ceremony there was a wonderful post-awards party where I got to dance the night away with some truly awesome Canadians from western Canada.  Heidi, Fran (yes you do so have rhythm), Rebecca, Cheryl, Leanne and Lauren (because I *know* you were there in spirit--hope you're feeling better), thank you so much for sharing my excitement and for your willingness to let me be crazy with you for a while.  You ladies absolutely ROCK! 

I'd better keep this "short" as I still have 2 classes left, back-to-back, first thing in the morning.  This is the class that I was asked to help present this year (did I not tell you that I was unbelievably honoured at this, my first Convention?!?).  At any rate, in a very short time I will be on stage again helping to give this talk so I will bid you adieu right now.  But not before I say that I hope your week has been as blessed as mine has been and that your lives have been as full and as rich.  I have smiled from ear to ear for so many days now, I cannot remember what it feels like to 'not' smile!

Have a wonderful Sunday everybody.  God Bless you all!     ~Cynthia    <><

My WOW Creation! Holiday Earrings!!

Many of you will have already received your new holiday mini catalogue in the mail (and if you haven't....contact me and we can get one to you!).  You can start placing orders from this holiday catalogue beginning on Aug 1.  As a demonstrator, I was able to pre-order items and it felt like Christmas when my box of pre-order stuff arrived last Thursday evening.   Of course, that didn't leave me much time to "play" since I was leaving Monday morning for Convention.  But I had an idea of something I wanted to try and lo and behold, it worked pretty much exactly as I'd hoped.  Check out the earrings I made using the new stamps and framelits!!!

 
Supply List
Stamps - Ornament Keepsakes, Scentsational Season
Paper - Whisper White
Ink - Pacific Point, Gumball Green, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise
Big Shot - Holiday Ornament Framelits, Holiday Collection Framelits
Tools and Accessories -Tombow Multi Liquid Adhesive, Dazzling Diamonds (only on the Christmas trees)
































This is how I assembly line made these little darlings .....

I needed 5 of each shape to make a single earring.  So I needed 10 images to make a pair.  Obviously I needed to find some way to expedite the process so here is what I came up with.  I stamped 10 white sheets with this arrangement of images.







I managed to place them so that I could fit all 5 framelits on at the same time and get all 5 to cut out with a single pass through the Big Shot

And then once cut-out, see how the white card is left with the cutest little frame of cut-out images?    -- I see cards coming up using this white "negative" frame!!
More how-to photos will follow once I get home.  And you may be able to figure it out just by seeing these photos.  But in the meantime, I wanted to show you the lovely little holiday earrings I was able to create with our amazing new Stampin' Up! products.

I brought some of these little beauties with me to Salt Lake City.  I have some very talented ladies who I will get to share a stage with when we present our class on Friday and Saturday mornings...I'm hoping they all have pierced ears!  And I also have some room mates here that I'd like to thank for putting up with me and not laughing as I talk in my sleep.  Same hope.....I made them a pair each, hoping they share my delight in Christmas earrings!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their week.  I am having an absolute blast here at Convention!!
God Bless you all,      ~Cynthia      <><

Founder's Circle!!

Well friends - after a loooong day of travel yesterday with a 9 hr layover in Los Angeles, I arrived in Salt Lake City after midnight.  In bed for a few hours then up early to start my day and then just before lunch, it was time to head over to the awards booth to pick up "my award(s)".  Now, I knew last March that I had earned the Rising Star award.  You are only eligible for this award during your first full year as a demonstrator and it is awarded for a combination of having achieved a high level of sales and recruiting/promotions during that year.  So I was expecting to pick up my Rising Star award, as well as my Fiji trip acknowledgement.  Little did I know.....I also earned Founders' Circle!

Founders' Circle is one of the highest honours that Stampin' Up! can award and receiving it means that I have placed in the top 20 of all Canadian demonstrators this year!!  As you can imagine, I was a little overwhelmed when I found out I earned the award.  Some squeals.  Some tears.  Lots of smiles and hugs.  More tears.  I met some wonderful Canadian demos from Winnipeg that gave me hugs and helped share my joy with me (thanks Rebecca and Lauren!!).  New friends whom I instantly feel "old friends" with!  I also got to share the moment with Jill Hilliard and Meg Holland, two exceptional ladies that I got to spend the morning with. 

I am basking in a sense of un-real right now.  Happy.  Overwhelmed.  Smiling continually.  Excited.  you name it!  I told you I would update you from Salt lake City.  Little did I know I would have such exciting news to share!!

Now I get to go back over to the Convention centre and stamp some cards.  Yippee!!   Fun, creativity, old friends and new.  This is going to be a wonderful week!       God Bless,       ~Cynthia    <><

Convention Swaps

So....apparently it is a tradition that when you come to Convention, you bring swap cards.  These are identical copies of cards you make to "trade" (or "swap") with other demonstrators.    I know women who make 150 and 200 swaps!!  Or they make 50 each of 2 or 3 different designs.  Ack!!  Me?!?  I am a little overwhelmed at the whole idea but I didn't want to "not" join in the fun, so I used one of the cards I designed for my ladies for our June card club as the basis for my Convention swap. 

Supply List
Stamps - Stippled Blossoms
Paper - Whisper White, Garden Green, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue
Ink - Garden Green, Lucky Limeade, Marina Mist, Baja Breeze (Stamped off once so it is pale)
Big Shot -  Top Note die, Fancy Fan EF, Delicate Designs EF, Square Lattice EF (optional)
Tools and Accessories - Sponges, pearls

At club, the ladies had the option of embossing the main stamped image or leaving it "unembossed".  I think there was pretty much a 50/50 split as to who embossed or left it 'flat'.  So I made both versions to bring to Convention and will let the recipients decide which one they prefer.  The embossed version ends up looking more like linen and is a really cool effect but this photo does not do it justice.  In this photo it looks like too much of the fine detail is obscured by the embossing, but in real life the embossed version is very, very pretty.

At least, I hope my swap buddies think so!

I hope to figure out how to download photos onto my laptop (?!?! wish me luck!!) so that I'll be able to share with you some of the very cool swaps I receive in return.  Keep your fingers crossed!  And stay tuned.    :)

Have a wonderful day and God Bless!    ~Cynthia    <><

Convention Here I Come!

I hear great things about Convention.  The Stampin' Up! Convention that is.  It happens every year in Salt Lake City, Utah, and this year I am going.  It is the end of my first "official" year with SU!  --   since the SU! business year goes July 1 to June 30).  And this will be my first Convention.  But from what I hear from other demonstators, it will not be my last.  I am told that I will enjoy myself enormously!  And get almost no sleep.  And I expect both of these to be true if pics of previous Conventions are any indication.

I was incredibly lucky and honoured to be asked by Stampin' Up! if I would help give one of the classes at this year's Convention.  The class is called "I am...Earning an incentive trip" and it is designed to give tips and advice to other demonstrators who wish to earn an incentive trip in the future.  There are 2 fantastic demos from the US who are helping to give this class as well (Megumi Holland and Jill Hilliard) and I consider myself to be in exceptionally classy company.  At any rate, although we have read each other's electronic words and "met" during several conference calls, I have not yet met these exceptional ladies.  But bright and early tomorrow morning I will get my chance.  We have a rehearsal scheduled for 8:30 and I am excited to finally get to meet Meg and Jill in person (not to mention Karen Hauley from the Stampin' Up! head office who is running the class).

All this is to say that I have been en route in my travels since 6:30 this morning and am presently sitting in LAX, waiting for my connecting flight to Salt Lake.  Thank heavens for airport wifi!

I will try to have updated news from Convention over the next few days.  And some great pics of super cards too so keep visiting and checking my blog.  But in the meantime, if I have seemed neglectful in blogging recently, it was because I was so busy preparing to come to Convention!!

I hope your lives are far less busy but equally exciting!  Enjoy your week and God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

Welcome Baby

I spend quite a lot of time at the orthodontist.  Not me exactly, but 3 of my kids do.  I sit in the waiting room drinking tea and working on my laptop (our orthodontist has free wifi and also a Keurig.  Gotta love it!).  Meanwhile my daughters get their teeth straightened.  My DH and I both had extensive work done on our teeth when we were young so our kids were doomed.  My son?  So far his teeth are fine.  And we are hoping they stay that way!

Anyhow, my point to this story is that I spend a lot of time in that office.  In a single 14 day stretch this Spring when 2 of my girls got their braces on while the third had an appliance replaced, we had 8 appointments!  Aargh!  But I did get to know the staff fairly well.  They are always so agreeable and accommodating with rearranging appointments, changing schedules and with emergency visits.  I am very happy that they make spending time at the office an easy experience.

One of the receptionists just had her first child - a baby girl - and since we had an appointment this week anyhow, I decided to make a baby card to welcome the newest little pink bundle to Ottawa.

Supply List
Stamps - Two By Two
Paper - Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue
Ink - Basic Gray, Pretty In Pink, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Wisteria Wonder, Chocolate Chip, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Pool Party, Marina Mist, Island Indigo
Big Shot -  Fancy Fan EF
Tools and Accessories - Blender Pen, Dazzling Details, Pretty In Pink Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

I think that I used more colours of ink on this one card than I have ever used before in an entire week!  But colouring in the ark and its occupants with my blender pen was actually quite fun.  And very forgiving!  I stamped the outline of the ark with Basic Gray so it wouldn't be too overpowering.  Then coloured the areas I wanted using my blender pens and pools of ink from the lids of the ink pads.  Can you believe those elephants are not gray, but wisteria-coloured?

I was really quite pleased with how this turned out, especially the new Fancy Fan folder to simulate waves.  Some dazzling details on the portholes and water, a cute bit of ribbon, and my card was complete!  The flap of the envelope was embossed with the Fancy Fan detailing as well.  And a knot of the pink ribbon was laced through a hole in the front of the envelope.  I just love how with a hand-made card I can coordinate the envelope with the card itself.  Those little details just make the whole thing perfect!

I know Samantha will be very busy (and very tired) in these first few weeks with baby B.  But I also know that she is wished a million blessings from everyone in the office - both those she worked with, and those patients (and parents) that she so cheerfully helped.  God Bless your whole family Samantha, and especially your new addition.

To all of you, my faithful friends!    :)   Enjoy the rest of your weekend and God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

Fast & Fabulous Reason To Smile (again)

Howdy Friends!

It's another Fast & Fabulous Friday and this one really is super simple and ever-so-cute!  And after a brief hiatus, I am back to using the Reason To Smile stamp set.  Can you believe the last 2 cards I posted did not use this stamp set?  How crazy is that?   :)  Remember, a $60 order in July gets you the Reason To Smile stamp set for only $5 (and with a $100 order I will throw in an additional $20 of hostess benefits for you!  Just until July 17th so act now!).  I can take orders from and get orders to anywhere in Canada so contact me today to get your set.

Ok then.  Onward to today's Fast & Fabulous card....

Supply List
Stamps - Reason To Smile (available July ONLY), Friendly Phrases
Paper - Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Ink - Melon Mambo
Tools and Accessories - Elegant Butterfly Punch

See?  Even the supply list is teeny?  This couldn't be simpler.  Randomly stamp your large Melon Mambo piece and your small white piece.  Glue layers together.  Add a punched butterfly.  Stamp a white strip, cut the end so it is "flagged" and use a bone folder to give it a curl.  Done.  I'll bet it only took me 5 minutes to make this card.  Maybe 10, tops (don't want to exaggerate).  Honestly though, it took me longer to post about the card than it did to make it!

Fast.  And Fabulous.  What did I tell you?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  Mine will be busy, busy, busy while I prepare to go to the Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah next week.  Since this is only the end of my first "full year" at Stampin' Up!  (the business year goes from July 1 - June 30), this will also be my first Convention and I am very excited.  I will have cards to post while I am away.  And some updates from Convention and any cool cards I see there.   Until then, so much to do, so little time.......

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><

Happy Birthday MIL

I told you that yesterday was my dear Mother-In-Law's birthday.  I didn't want to post her card until after I had given it to her - but since she has received it, I can share with the rest of you.    :)

Supply List
Stamps - Creative Elements, Blessings From Heaven, Papillon Potpourri, Beautiful Birthday (inside card)
Paper - Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry
Ink - Midnight Muse, Rich Razzleberry
Big Shot -  Vintage Wallpaper EF, Beautiful Wings Embosslit
Tools and Accessories - Elegant Butterfly Punch, Paper Snips, Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds, sponges

I loved creating this card.  The layered white on white mats (with sponged borders) gave the whole thing dimension.   I stamped the Papillon Potpourri butterfly on white cardstock and used this 'paper' for the Beautiful wings embosslit - to create the smaller "patterned" butterflies.  And the pièce de résistance is the flower blossom.  There are 4 layers fussy-cut and elevated with dimensionals between.  Let me tell you, if you want to fussy-cut images, nothing on this planet beats the Stampin' Up! Paper Snips!  They are awesome!  Layer upon layer of flower, highlighted with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  This photo does not do it justice but at least you get the idea.

Better yet - my MIL got the idea.  She knows how much we love and adore her and this card merely repeats something she already knows (the inside of the card says that she is a blessing in "our" lives, not just mine!).  
I hope each of you has someone in your life who is a blessing to you.  Why don't you tell them!  I bet it'll make their day!

God Bless you all.    ~Cynthia    <><

Quick and Easy Birthday

A friend (and customer) of mine celebrated her birthday on Monday and I wanted to make her a card to let her know how special she is to me.  Although it arrived to her late (so sorry M) I know she understands that I was thinking of her on the right day.

Supply List
Stamps - Pennant Parade, Fabulous Phrases, Friendly Phrases
Paper - Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette
Ink - Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Crumb Cake
Big Shot -  Square Lattice EF, Fancy Fan EF
Tools and Accessories - Pennant Punch, Cupcake Punch, Rhinestones


I have to admit, my inspiration came from Stampin' Up! demonstrator Heather Klump, who admitted that she took her own inspiration from somewhere altogether different again...but then again, CASEing (copy and share everywhere) is the finest form of flattery in the card-world!


Hope your day was terrific Monique!  The sentiment says it all -- "You are simply wonderful".  And I hope you had the happiest of birthdays.


Today on the other hand, is my wonderful, wonderful mother-in-law's birthday and I have made a very special card for her.  I won't post it "just in case" she visits my blog.  But tomorrow I will show you what I made!  I have been blessed with a terrific mother-in-law whom I adore and I know how very lucky I am!!  She is my friend as well as my MIL.  It doesn't get any better than that!   :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.   
God Bless,      ~Cynthia      <><

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend -- and They're A Reason To Smile Too!

While I was inking up my Reason To Smile stamps for the Monique-inspired card yesterday, I realized that I have been completely neglecting the beautiful little pansy-like flower that comes in the set.  And this is particularly odd since I love pansies!   So to remedy that situation, I created a card that uses only the pansy image.  Once again I opted to use the ever-so-easy 2-step stamping process to create these gorgeous little blossoms.   Of course, I didn't bother to use pansy-like colours.  Instead I chose to use one of my all-time favourite triple colour-combinations....Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise.  These 3 colours spell "happy" in my books and I love the effect of combining them on a bright and cheery card.

Supply List
Stamps - Reason To Smile (available July ONLY), Friendly Phrases
Paper - Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise
Ink - Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise
Big Shot -  Large Scallop Edgelit
Tools and Accessories - Rhinestone Basic Jewels


Can you believe I didn't use Dazzling Diamonds glitter on this card?!?  Me?  The "glitter makes everything better" crafter!  I almost used my trusty ole sparkly embellishment, but then I decided to use the Rhinestones instead.  And I think that is exactly what this card needed.  Diamonds are, afterall, a girls' best friend.  And there is no better Reason To Smile than to see diamonds sparkling all over a card, don't you think?

The exclusive Reason To Smile stamp set is only available until the end of July, then it will be gone forever.  And best of all (and here is the real Reason To Smile...), the set can be purchased for a mere $5 when you place an order of $60 or more.  Doesn't that just make you grin from ear to ear?

If you want your Reason To Smile stamp set, contact me before the end of July.  We'll see what we can do to make sure you have a Reason To Smile this month!

Have a wonderful Sunday and God Bless you all,    
      ~Cynthia      <><

Sunflowers Give Me a Reason To Smile

Hi friends - and my apologies for missing a Fast & Fabulous Friday.  I have been so busy lately my head is still spinning.

In amongst that busy-ness, one of my friends, who reads my blog faithfully, commented that I had not yet posted a card using the 2-step stamping technique with the Reason To Smile stamp set.  I thought about it for a minute and realized how right she was.  So Monique my dear friend, this one is for you!    :)

Supply List
Stamps - Reason To Smile (available July ONLY), Tiny Tags
Paper - Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade
Ink - Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade
Big Shot -  Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Finishing Touches Edgelit
Tools and Accessories - Blossom Petals Builder Punch, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds, dimensionals

I did not want the outline/detail of the flower blossom to be too overwhelming so I used Crumb Cake ink to stamp the outline.  Daffodil petals and a Chocolate centre completed the flower, while leaves from the Blossom Punch and hand-cut stems made up the foliage.  But my favourite part of this card are the sentiments on the leaves.  Don't you just love the cute-factor this adds!

I have about a million more things I need to do this weekend (or at least it seems that way) - not the least of which - I need to design a swap card for Convention.  I will be going to the Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, in less than 2 weeks.  And I want to bring a set of swap cards with me to trade with other demonstrators from across North America.  This is my very first Convention and everyone tells me I am going to have a blast.  And I believe them....Just as long as I can get everything done that I need to, before I go!

So on that note, knowing I have lots left to do,  I bid you adieu until next time.
Hope you like the card you inspired, Monique.  And I hope everyone enjoys their weekend!  
God Bless,          ~Cynthia          <><

July has more than one Reason To Smile....

Good Morning friends

To my Canadian friends and family - I hope your Canada Day was wonderful!  And to my American friends, I hope your upcoming July 4th is fantastic!

Okay then - On to today's cards.  I am loving the Reason To Smile stamp set.  This exclusive set is only available during July and can be purchased for a mere $5 when you place an order of $60 or more.  That's correct...if you place a $60 order, you can purchase this gorgeous 7 piece, 2-step stamping set for only $5.  Wood or clear-mount.  How spectacular is that?!  And read on to discover how I am adding an extra 2 week Reason To Smile to this promotion....
 

Previously I've shown you cards using the stamp from the Reason To Smile set that is the outline of the stemmed flower.  For today's cards I used the solid version of the stemmed-flower, or the large, outline blossom stamp (click on the pale blue-green ad on the upper right of my blog to see the 7 images in the Reason To Smile stamp set).  All of the images are gorgeous and I am having fun finding new ways to use them all.  It's so easy to create lovely cards when you have the right tools - and Stampin' Up! gives me all the right tools for sure!

Supply List
Stamps - Reason To Smile (available July ONLY), Perfectly Penned
Paper - Whisper White, Midnight Muse
Ink - Midnight Muse
Tools and Accessories - sponges, dazzling diamonds, 2-way glue pen



I want everyone to have a Reason To Smile so for the next 2 weeks only, I am offering a spectacular deal:  Until July 17, 2012, place an order of $60 or more and you can order the Reason To Smile stamp set - but if you order $100, in addition to the $5 Reason To Smile set, I will also give you $20 in Hostess Benefits!  FREE!  You can use this $20 to order anything at all in the catalogue, including the exclusive hostess sets (pgs 201-205, Except Carry On - pg 203).  And this $20 has no shipping and no tax! (s&h and tax will only be applied to whatever you order that is over and above the $20).  This offer applies to anyone in Canada.  Contact me to place your order and take advantage of this exclusive offer.  (note - $20 hostess dollar offer does not apply to online orders).

I 'd love to help you have even more Reasons to Smile in July.  Contact me today so that you can own this gorgeous stamp set, and get your $20 of hostess benefits too!   Until then, enjoy the beginnings of what is starting out to be a beautiful indeed summer!
God Bless,       ~Cynthia        <><

Reason To Smile - Happy Canada Day!!

It's July first and today there is more than one great Reason To Smile!! 
It is Canada Day - our country's birthday and a fabulous National Holiday. 

And here at Stampin' Up! there is another Reason To Smile....starting today and continuing until the end of July, the exclusive Reason To Smile stamp set is available for only $5 when you place a $60 order.

If you live anywhere in Canada I can help you to own this gorgeous 7-piece stamp set.  Contact me to find out how we can get this wonderful and exclusive, two-step-stamping stamp set into your hands.  You'll also receive a Reason To Smile Thank You card from me!   A small token of gratitude to help jump-start your creative juices!

To all of my blog readers, have a wonderful weekend.  And for all of my fellow Canadians -- Happy Canada Day!!!  Have a wonderful holiday and a terrific start to your summer.

God Bless,      Cynthia      <><