Thankful Thursday - Feeling Sentimental

Good Morning Friends

On my to-do list today is to say Thank You to a huge assortment of people who have enriched my life in so many ways.  I won't list them all here but believe me when I say that the list is extensive!  And so I bring you another Thankful Thursday, vintage style.

Supply List (Spring catalogue or FREE SAB products)
Stamps - Feeling Sentimental (w129627, c129630), Perfectly Penned (w122890, c122892)
Paper - Naturals Ivory (101849), Early Espresso (119686)
Ink - Early Espresso (126974)
Big Shot - Labels Framelits (125598), Ovals Framelits (129381)
Tools and Accessories - Distress Tool (127562), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon (129287), 5/8" Crochet Trim (118481), Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon (122332), Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon (120999), Stamping Sponges (101610)


I love the way the script of the Perfectly Penned set matches the time-period piece of the bicycle.  Or at least, I think it does.  And the entire card has an elegant vintage ambiance.  The images in this stamp set invoke a sort of Victorian nostalgia so the Crochet Trim was a must for this card!  And the smooshed corner, spritzed interior and roughed up edges?  Well, vintage just wouldn't be vintage without a bit of aging, right?


As part of my Thankful Thursday I want to say Thank You to each and every one of you for visiting today.  Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful morning.     
God Bless,     Cynthia     <><

Silver Butterfly Gifts

Hello Friends

So - a wonderful private Catholic school here in Ottawa (Maryvale Academy) is holding a Gala dinner as a fundraiser this weekend and I was honoured to be asked to contribute a gift for the Silent Auction table.  Some of the items being bid on at the Gala include rare vintage wines and weeks away at Florida vacation homes, so anything I might contribute is far less substantial.  But I did want to donate something that I thought might interest 'somebody', so I designed what I consider to be a wonderful Butterfly gift set.

Butterfly Gift Set - Viewed from above

Set of NoteCards, Box of Chocolates, TeaLight Holder & Table Decor

Box of Chocolates - Opened

Perhaps the most exciting piece of the collection is the beautiful box that holds some Ghirardelli chocolates.  Yum, yum.  Rather ironic that the sentiment on the top of the box says, "The Best things in life aren't things", but the "thing" inside the box is something that many of us crave!  

No matter -- this saying is one of many lovely sentiments included in a new stamp set from the Spring Catalogue called Feel Goods (w129681, c129684) and although this particular one ranks as one my favourites, they are all wonderful.

The basic design for the box was borrowed from a fellow SU! demonstrator in the US.  And the box can be re-used once the chocolates are consumed - either to re-stock with chocolates, or to hold another gift of some kind.

In addition to the box of chocolates, the collection includes a set of 12 all-occasion notecards with a silver embossed butterfly as the main image.  In the photo you see most of the notecards tied up with a ribbon but there is a single one standing 'on display'. 

Also included in the gift set is a table centrepiece comprised of a central tealight holder and surrounding decor elements.  These were all fashioned from aluminum flashing (think roof repairs) and were cut with the Big Shot. 

Tealight holder

Tealight holder - side view

The tealight holder is a set of nested blossoms (embossed with the Big Shot too) with butterflies sitting on petals.  The surrounding decor elements are cute little blossoms that make me think of the jacks we played with as children!  The entire ensemble is designed to be small enough to not take up too much "floor space" of your table, but striking enough to really be noticed.  I am going to have to make a second set for myself as I honestly love this entire ensemble!

The last part of the gift set that is not pictured here are 3 aluminum garden stakes that match the tealight element.  The garden stakes were also die-cut from flashing using the Big Shot, then embossed with various designs.  They, too, have butterflies attached in various positions and in various sizes.  I regret I did not take a photo of them before I delivered the gift set to the organizers of the Gala, but trust me when I tell you that they are a striking addition to any garden or potted plant.

Alas and alack, I will not be able to attend the Gala on Saturday night since I will be with all 4 of my children at a weekend Choir Camp retreat.  However, my darling husband will be at the Gala with dear friends of ours.  I wonder whether he will bid on this ensemble, just to get at the chocolate.  Do you think I should tell him I have more chocolate stashed in the basement??  Naw - the money goes for a good cause.  If he wants to bid on my chocolate, who am I to take away his fun, right?    ;)

Hope you are all looking forward to a wonderful weekend!  But don't be in too much of a rush to get there.....enjoy the rest of your week until the weekend is upon us.        
God Bless,       ~Cynthia      <><

Swallowtail Gift Bags

Wow.  I mean WOW!

Good Morning dear friends.  I am so excited to show you the gift bags that I just made for a friend.  I know the photos will not do them justice, but I trust you will use your imaginations to see and picture them as glorious as they truly are.  And no, I am not being prideful to say they are gorgeous.  I know completely that it is the image, that wonderful Swallowtail image, that makes them so outstanding.  Me?  I merely put the image on the medium.

Espresso, White and Black embossing powders

Wasabi, Pool Party and Turquoise embossing powders

Tangerine, Cherry Cobbler and Melon Mambo embossing powders

Silver, Pewter and Gold embossing powders

Supply List
Stamps - Swallowtail (w129213, c129216)
Paper - non-SU gift bags
Ink - Versamark (102283)
Tools/Accessories - Heat Tool (129053), Embossing Powder - Black (109133), White (109132), Early Espresso (128980), Gold (109129), Pewter (124114), Silver (109131), Cherry Cobbler (122949), Melon Mambo (123223), Tangerine Tango (123106), Pool Party (129398), Tempting Turquoise (122950), Wild Wasabi (123224)

Trust me when I say that these bags are far more impressive than the pictures can do justice to.  The embossed powders all give a shine to the raised images and there is an ethereal quality to the butterflies 'floating' off the bags,  In real life, I think my favourites are the Black, White, Pool Party, Turquoise and Pewter.  But that is only because the Kraft-coloured bags that I used are fairly 'dark' in their colouration.  I suspect if I used white bags, my favourites might be different.  No matter -- they are all stunning.  Simply and honestly stunning.  I can't wait for my friend to come and see them.  I just know she will be pleased with the results!

I am especially tickled because the bags are going to be used to hold small gifts to be given at her Bible Study this week.  The talk that morning will include the idea that change, although often difficult, can lead to beautiful and unimagineable things.  Sorta like the change that leads from a caterpillar to a butterfly, correct?  So these butterfly bags, in all their glorious splendour, will be the perfect housing for the recipients' gifts.

I think I might just have to make some more of these to keep for myself.  You never know when you'll need a gorgeous gift-bag to 'wrap up' a present.  And if the bag itself is almost as special as the present that it contains....even better, right?

I hope you are all having a wonderful day.  And I hope that any change you are going through, whether slight, or monumental, leads to butterflies and beauty!

God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <><

Fast and Fabulous Friday - Bloomin Marvelous in Stereo

Hello dear friends

One of the best parts about Fast & Fabulous Fridays is that I get to make a card without a huge investment of time.  And believe me -- there are some days when I just don't have the time to otherwise invest!  So Fast & Fabulous Fridays are great!!  Today's card uses a Sale-A-Bration set and couldn't be easier.  In fact, it was so easy that I made 2 versions of the card in just a few minutes.  Check it out for yourself and you'll see how cute but simple they are:

 



Supply List (SAB products)
Stamps - Bloomin Marvelous (w129651, c129654)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Rich Razzleberry (115316)
Ink - Rich Razzleberry (126950)
Tools and Accessories - Sycamore Street Buttons (130812), Postage Stamp Punch (122344), 1 3/8" Square Punch (119877), Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262), Dimensionals (104430)










Okay - so you have to admit it.  I was telling the absolute truth when I said these cards were cute but very simple and quick to make, right?









I hope you are looking forward to a wonderful weekend,  Me?  I am running a Sale-A-Bration kick-off Card Class tomorrow where my friends will be making 8 cards (of 4 designs) using the fantastic Sale-A-Bration products!  If you are local to the Ottawa area, please feel free to join us.  We always love making new friends!!

Have a wonderful weekend and God Bless,         ~Cynthia     <><

Thankful Thursday - Madison Avenue

Good Morning Friends

It is a Thankful Thursday despite the fact that it is still bitterly cold here in Ottawa, because heaven knows....it could always be worse.  I am sitting here in my nice, warm house typing on my convenient and trusted laptop with the full knowledge that I have a multitude of things to be thankful for!  So Thankful Thursday it is.

Here is a quick card that I put together using some of the FREE products available through to March 22, as part of Sale-A-Bration.  If you haven't put in your $60 order to earn some of these free products yet, all I can say is...what's taking you so long!?  Trust me friends.  You *do* want some of these wonderful SAB items!

On to today's card:

Supply List (Spring catalogue or SAB products)
Stamps - Madison Avenue (w129657, c129660), Vintage Verses (w129633, c129636)
Paper - Whisper White (100730)
Ink - Midnight Muse (126860), Gumball Green (126861)
Tools and Accessories - Large Rhinestone Basic Jewels (129324)



This card was very quick and quite simple in its design - but there is nothing wrong with that.  Sometimes we get so caught up in using embellishments and tools that we forget that the stamps have something to say, all by themselves.  Well today, I kept it clean and simple, no fuss, no muss.  Just a whole lot of gratitude wrapped up in one simple word -- Thanks!


Have a wonderful day and wherever you are, I hope you are keeping warm!  And that you recognize all your blessings and realize how much you have to be thankful for!           God Bless            ~Cynthia       <><
 

Sale-A-Bration - Pool Party Fashion!

Hello Friends

It is blistering cold in Ottawa today (minus 28 Celsius, with a wind chill that brings it to minus 40!!) so I had no desire to go outside except when I absolutely had to.  Instead, I stayed indoors and played with my FREE Sale-A-Bration products.  My focus on Pool Party was to make me think warm Caribbean, not frozen Arctic - and it must have done the job because I don't feel even the slightest bit of a chill!  

These cards were all CASEd from or inspired by cards I saw elsewhere in my cyber-travels.  I love the way the Sycamore Street Designer Paper combines vibrant colours and leads me to combine patterns and colours I wouldn't generally have thought of before.  I can't tell you how much I love this paper.  And the ribbons?  Luscious, luscious, luscious!  So glad that all three colours (Pool Party, Island Indigo and Tangerine Tango) come together because I wouldn't be able to decide on my own which to choose.  This way I don't have to.  And best of all -- they're FREE with any qualifying Sale-A-Bration purchase!

The Supply List and Materials are for all three cards since they use many of the same elements (largely free SAB products)


Supply List (Spring catalogue or SAB products)
Stamps - Patterned Occasions (w129621, c129624), Madison Avenue (w129657, c129660), Pretty Petites (w129639, c129642)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Pool Party (122924), Tangerine Tango (111349), Island Indigo (122923), Summer Starfruit (126839), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Sycamore Street Designer Paper (127540)
Ink - Rich Razzleberry (126950), Island Indigo (122923), Tangerine Tango (126946), Gumball Green (126861)
Big Shot -  Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378)
Tools and Accessories - Sycamore Street Ribbons (130812), Petite Curly Label Punch (129405), dimensionals (104430), Blossom Petals Builder Punch (121808), 1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punch (127811), 1" Circle Punch (119868), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (119860), 7/8" Scallop Circle (129404), Itty Bitty Punch Pack (118309), Basic Rhinestone Jewels (119246)




Hope you enjoy these cards and they inspire you to get your own SAB products and play.  You don't need to have freezing weather as an excuse either!  You have my permission to get crafty...just because you "want" to!   :)





Enjoy the rest of your day - wherever you are.

God Bless,    
~Cynthia     <><

My Paper Pumpkin

Hello Friends

Some of you may have heard about a new program that Stampin' Up! has come out with...called Paper Pumpkin.  I delayed mentioning it to you because there were some issues with the website and ordering and I wanted all the problems to be resolved before I got you all excited.   Well the issues have been resolved now so I wanted to get the news out to you.  Because believe me friends, this IS something to be excited about!!

I'm Paper Pumpkin...

I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I’ll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.

I come in a sweet box, but you’ll really love what you find on the inside:

All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin’ Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy!

Click HERE to view the Welcome Kit and the Trial kit, and to get things started! You can sign up now  -- Delivery will start in March.   (Please remember to list me as your demo!!)

Here are the details:

• Each month you’ll receive a unique, surprise kit with a project – cards,  journals, décor, and more!  Everything is color coordinated and cut just for you!
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories – everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape!
• Your Paper Pumpkin will be shipped on or around the 15th of the month.
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month’s  kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next  month. (Let’s say you sign up on May 10th, your kit will be sent around  May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, your first kit will be sent around June  15th.)
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $24.95 per month (and shipping is already included!).   Your credit card will not be billed until your Paper Pumpkin actually ships.
• There’s no commitment; you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime.  You can also skip a month if you want.
• Starting in March, you can purchase a Try-It kit if you’d like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month (Try-It kit is $20.95).

The “Welcome Kit” is the first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your  first month of membership.  The Welcome Kit includes a free gift – one of our  acrylic clear blocks so you’ll be ready to stamp!
You can see the Welcome Kit and the Trial Kit on the www.mypaperpumpkin.com website.

So check out Paper Pumpkin and sign up today.  Send me an e-mail to let me know you've signed up....local customers will have a chance to come here once a month to my "Pumpkin Patch" event, where we will create our Pumpkin projects together and share some smiles and laughter!

Join Paper Pumpkin today and enjoy a chance to be creative - hassle-free!   :)

Have a wonderful day.  Until next time,    God Bless      ~Cynthia      <><

Sale-A-Bration - Thanks a Ton

Hello Friends

Here's a cute and quick card that you can make using products you can get FREE during Sale-A-Bration. 

Supply List (FREE SAB products)
Stamps - Patterned Occasions (w129621, c129624)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Sahara Sand (121043), Sycamore Street Designer Paper (127540)
Ink - Rich Razzleberry (126950), Island Indigo (122923), Tangerine Tango (126946), Summer Starfruit (126991), Gumball Green (126861)
Tools and Accessories - Sycamore Street Buttons (130812), dimensionals (104430), Island Indigo Baker's Twine (125575), glue dots (103683)

Just for the record...fussy cutting is not something I generally enjoy.  But it is so very easy when you are using the proper tools.  Stampin' Up!'s paper snips (103579) are the perfect tool to use to cut out these pachyderms.  And cutting them out made it easy to line them up, trunk-to-tail.  For those of you who remember seeing Disney's "The Jungle Book" when you were younger, this card makes me think of the elephants on parade!  Needless to say it brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.

Hopefully this card made you smile too.  And you will smile even brighter once you get a few of these FREE Sale-A-Bration products into your hands.  Contact me and we will make that happen!

Hope you are all having a wonderful day and God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <><

Sale-A-Bration 2013 Starts TODAY!

Hello Friends

Sale-A-Bration 2013 Starts TODAY and I am so excited!!  I hope you are too.

I have been working hard these last few days and hope to have lots to show you soon.  But in the meantime, start making your wish lists.  For every $60 you spend you can earn a FREE Sale-A-Bration product!  And if you host a party, you can earn hostess dollars AND Free SAB products.

And if you want to Join the Fun and JOIN Stampin' Up! during SAB, you can choose $194-worth of products and pay only $125.  No shipping and handling.  No taxes.  That's a value of over $240, for just $125.

Trust me - you WANT to be a part of Sale-A-Bration 2013!!

Contact me today and we can make sure we get the most for your money!

I have to go now and prepare more Sale-A-Bration samples for my SAB Kick-Off event this Saturday.  Want to come?  Contact me and let me know ... I'd love to help you Sale-A-Brate with me! 

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

Another Fast & Fabulous Bloomin' Marvelous

Hi Friends

Can you believe it?  TWO posts in one day!!  It's just that I had some leftover bits from my previous Fast & Fabulous card, and I figured I could put them to good use with a second card.  When everything is already sitting out on your work space, it's easy to put something together "fast".  Check it out:

Supply List (Spring catalogue or FREE SAB products)
Stamps - Bloomin' Marvelous (Free with SAB)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Sycamore Street Designer Paper (Free with SAB)
Ink - Rich Razzleberry (126950) 
Tools and Accessories - Bitty Butterfly Punch (129406), Large Oval Punch (119855), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Decorative Label Punch (120907), dimensionals (104430)


You see?  Nothing too fancy.  Nothing too hard.  But yet another card that makes me LOVE the colours that Stampin' Up! combined for this year's Sale-A-Bration.  Hope you are making your list (and checking it twice) because you'll want to make sure you earn LOTS of freebies during SAB - It all starts next week, Jan 22.  Contact me to get your SAB order in soon.

Till then, hope you enjoy your weekend and find some time to stamp.    God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <><

Fast & Fabulous Sale-A-Bration - Bloomin' Marvelous

Okay My Friends

I think I might just have made the fastest card I have ever made.
No.
Really.
Ever.
I wanted to use Sale-A-Bration products for my Fast and Fabulous Friday...and this card just sort of 'made itself'.  I swear that this particular piece of designer paper pretty much called out and said "use me".  Honest it did!  And the buttons and ribbons?  Well they sort of just jumped onto the card of their own volition.

Look here and you'll see what I mean:

Supply List (Spring catalogue or FREE SAB products)
Stamps - Bloomin' Marvelous (Free with SAB)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Pool Party 122924), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Tangerine Tango (111349), Sycamore Street Designer Paper (Free with SAB)
Ink - Rich Razzleberry (126950)
Tools and Accessories - Sycamore Street Ribbon - Tangerine Tango (Free with SAB), Sycamore Street Buttons (Free with SAB), Large Rhinestone Basic Jewels (129324), 7/8" Scallop Circle (129404), dimensionals (104430), glue dots (103683)

This really is the fastest card I have ever made.  And almost all of it uses free Sale-A-Bration items.  Which, I suppose, also makes it one of the most economical cards I have ever made.  Yet it is still cute.  Bright.  Cheery.  Bloomin' Marvelous if you ask me!

I hope you are ready to place your Sale-A-Bration order in 4 days, because these images, colours and patterns are just too good to miss.  Remember, every $60 worth of merchandise gets you a free SAB product.  Contact me and I'll help you get your favourites now.

Have a wonderful weekend.  An absolutely Bloomin' Marvelous weekend!  
And if you get a chance, take some time to stamp!     God Bless,       ~Cynthia      <><

Sentimental For Sale-A-Bration

Hello Friends

Hope you are all getting excited about the upcoming Sale-A-Bration event.  Just 5 more days, woo hoo!  And to tease you just a little bit more, I thought I'd show you another SAB sample.  This particular stamp set is just perfect for creating vintage cards.  And this card brings back childhood memories of going to the fair, popcorn, cotton candy and balloons.

Supply List (Spring catalogue or FREE SAB products)
Stamps - Feeling Sentimental (Free with SAB), You're Amazing (w126720, c126722), Take a Ticket (126941),That's The Ticket (w128072, c128075)
Paper - Naturals Ivory (101849), Early Espresso (119686)
Ink - Early Espresso (126974), Crumb Cake (126975)  
Tools and Accessories - Distress Tool (127562), Natural 7/16" Trim Ribbon (129287), 5/8" Crochet Trim (118481), Ticket Duo Builder Punch (126883), Stamping Sponges (101610)

I like how this particular card can multi-task.  I left it 'generic' so that it can be used for multiple occasions and although not limited to masculine, it is certainly a card that could be given to a man.  The "That's the Ticket" set includes a ticket image with a happy birthday sentiment so with a swap of a punched ticket, it is a standard birthday card.  There are also several ticket images that lend themselves to journalling.  This is a great stamp set for Scrapbookers and card-makers alike!  

And trust me when I tell you that you are going to love the other vintage images that come with the Feeling Sentimental stamp set. In fact, you are going to love all of the stamp sets that are available during Sale-A-Bration.  And did I mention that they are FREE?!?  For every $60 you spend during SAB, you earn a FREE SAB item.  And when you host a party during SAB, you stand to earn even more Free stuff!  So contact me today and let's do our best to get you lots of SAB items - and more!

Have a wonderful day.  God Bless you all,    ~Cynthia    <><

Best Of.....25 Years of Stampin' Up!

Best of 25 Years Stamps

As part of the Stampin' Up! 25-year anniversary celebration, they're bringing back some of our favourite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into 12 sets, which will be released - one set per month - during 2013.  Even better, along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image!
  

Check back here every month to download a flyer for a new Best of stamp set

AVAILABLE NOW - BEST OF BIRTHDAYS:

January 2013: 

• Flyer: Best of 25 Years January Birthday Set
• Shop Online: Best of Birthdays (132929)

Some things to remember:

• All "Best of" stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at $17.95.
• While Stampin' Up! is releasing just one "Best of" stamp set per month (with a new theme each month), all of the "Best of" sets will be available until March 31, 2014.
• A new flyer will be released every month for each new "Best of" set.
• All "Best of" stamp sets are available in Clear-Mount only.

Get a Free Stamp Set!  As a special incentive to collect the "Best of" stamps:

• Starting in February we're including a collector's card and 25-year proof of purchase sticker with every "Best of" set.
• Collect six stickers
• Send it in to redeem a FREE set of your choice valued up to $17.95! 
• Free sets must be redeemed no later than April 30, 2014.

View Collector's Card & Details HERE!

Sale-A-Bration Get Well

Hi Friends

Just a quick post to show you some of what you can do with the gorgeous new products that you can earn FREE during Sale-A-Bration (starts Jan 22).

The smallest size from the Floral Frames framelits cuts out the medallion image from the Sycamore Street Designer paper just perfectly.  Add some of the luscious ribbon that also comes free with Sale-A-Bration, and your card is co-ordinated, cute and creative.  Say that 3 times fast!

Supply List (FREE SAB products)
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes (w115370, c127802)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Sycamore Street Designer Paper (Free with SAB)
Ink - Rich Razzleberry (126950)
Big Shot -  Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (127819), Floral Frames Framelits (127012)
Tools and Accessories - Sycamore Street Ribbon - Pool Party (Free with SAB), Basic Jewels (119246), dimensionals (104430)

It is difficult to see, but the card base and DSP mat were embossed with the Lacy Brocade embossing folder before the Razzleberry mat was adhered.  In real life this gives just a bit of added visual interest to the card.   And texture too.  Never underestimate just how much 'oomph' a bit of texture can add to a card.

Well, that's all for today.  I've got a very busy day ahead of me - and I have this and several other Get Well cards that need to be delivered to someone who has had a bunch of people praying for her!

Hope your day is as bright and cheery as this designer paper is!!       God Bless,       ~Cynthia       <><

Butterfly Bonanza - Pt II

We had an absolutely wonderful time at the Butterfly Bonanza Class yesterday!  It's hard not to be excited when you get to create such gorgeous projects!.  And since I always refer to my customers (aka 'friends') as "my ladies", well I've just got to tell you....My ladies Rock!

Anyhow, a bunch of 'my ladies' wanted to come but just couldn't swing it for yesterday, so I am pretty certain I will be repeating this class later.  Stay tuned -- I promise to let you know when that will be!

Hope everyone is having a spectacular weekend!
God Bless,      ~Cynthia      <><

Butterfly Bonanza Class

Hello friends. 

Super quick today since I am running my Butterfly Bonanza Class in a few hours and there are still some little things left to do - so let me just show you another of the cards we'll be making at the class.  My upline, Deb, did a birthday rendition of this card at a recent club of hers, and as soon as I saw it I knew it had to be part of the Bonanza offerings!

Once again Swallowtail is stamped using Versamark but this time it is embossed with white embossing powder.  Some Crumb Cake ink sponged on after heating to provide more contrast, and there you have it, another stunning card.

Gotta run.  But if you are local and interested in making this card, I have had people who missed this session asking if I will re-run this class.  Let me know if you are interested too and we can find a mutually agreeable date and time for everyone's schedule.

In the meantime, enjoy your weekend.
God Bless,        ~Cynthia        <><

Fast and Fabulous Friday - Swallowtail

Wow - How long has it been since I posted a Fast & Fabulous Friday?!  Way, way way too long.  So now is as good a time as any to get back in the saddle (so to speak).

Any of you who 'hang around here' might remember that back in November, myself and 8 other lucky gals were at the Rising Star Retreat in Utah and were privileged to see the Spring Catalogue before pretty much anyone else had.  And one of the new stamps, a large a la carte butterfly called Swallowtail, caught my eye immediately.  But I will admit that I was more than just a little dismayed at the size and I wondered if I would ever find a way to use an image so large.  I do believe I actually pouted!

Boy was I ever a short-sighted dolt!

The very next day the Home Office treated us to an afternoon of stamping fun, and we got to get that big Swallowtail stamp inky.  And I was forced to take back every misgiving and ill-word about it that I had managed to either think or say.

Quite simply, Swallowtail is breathtaking!  Majestic.  Elegant.  And Breathtaking.

Here are 2 Fast & Fabulous Swallowtail cards to show you what I mean:

Supply List (Spring catalogue)
Stamps - Swallowtail (w129213, c129216), Sweet Essentials (w126455, 126457))
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Island Indigo (122923), Rich Razzleberry (115316)
Ink - Island Indigo (126986), Rich Razzleberry (126950)
Big Shot - Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (127819)
Tools and Accessories - Large Oval Punch (119855), Modern Label Punch (119849), 2-way Glue pen (100425), Dazzling Diamonds (102023), dimensionals (104430)


It really doesn't get much easier (or quicker) to make a truly stunning card.  In fact, this is one of the cards that my friends will be making tomorrow at my Butterfly Bonanza Class.  This is the 'simplest' of the assortment in terms of techniques.  Wait till you see what you can do with this stamp image when you get just a bit fussier!    :)    I'll post the other projects over the next few days for you to see.  Because I tell you -- you cannot go wrong with a stamp set this beautiful.


Until next time, have a wonderful day and a terrific weekend,      God Bless,      ~Cynthia      <><

Sale-A-Bration?

Okay then - I keep promising to talk to you about Sale-A-Bration so I guess it's time.

SAB is the biggest sale of the year, every year, at Stampin' Up!
This year it runs from Jan 22 until Mar 22 and I cannot wait until it starts!!  SAB means free products.  You heard that, right?   I said FREE!    :)

And the SAB products are wonderful.  You will want them. 
ALL

There are 6 gorgeous stamp sets that are exclusive to SAB.  Once SAB is over, they will be unavailable.  Gone.  Forever.   There's also an absolutely gorgeous set of Designer Paper, an ultra cute buttons and ribbon pack (that includes some of my favourite colours...Pool Party, Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry).  There's an embossing folder (wait until you see it) and a cute little punch that coordinates with one of the stamp sets but is useful for so much more.....There are even 6 items from the regular catalogue that you can earn for free as your SAB choices.  You want this stuff.  Honest you do!

So how do you "earn" this wonderful free stuff???
Here in Canada you get to choose one free SAB product for every $60-worth of products you order.  A $120 order gets you 2 items.  $180 is 3 items.  And so on.  AND if you HOST a party during SAB that comes to over $200, you will get your hostess benefits (minimum $35) PLUS a free package of silver glimmer paper (plus whatever SAB products you might have earned with your personal order).  And if you host a party that comes to over $525, along with whatever you earned FREE with your own order, you will get $90 hostess benefits to spend AND 50% off an item of your choice AND a free pack of silver glimmer paper AND the Madison Avenue stamp set AND the Sycamore Street Designer Paper AND the Sycamore Street Buttons & Ribbon pack (these last 3 are exclusive SAB products).  And you will have fun crafting with your friends too.  You really need to call me NOW and book a party so you and your friends have a chance to create beautiful projects and earn wonderful products for FREE.
(if you are not local to me - don't worry.  Online orders qualify for free SAB products too.  And if your personal order is >$200 or even - gulp - in the $525 category, you qualify for hostess benefits!!)

Right now I am sitting at the orthodontist's office with my daughter (actually, she is with the orthodontist.  I am in the waiting area) so I can't post a SAB card for you to see, but trust me when I tell you that the products are gorgeous, the possibilities are endless, and you should run, not walk to contact me to find out more about hosting a party or coming to a class.  SAB begins Jan 22 and ends Mar 22 and believe me - it is an exciting time to get crafty! 

Won't you join me?

Have a wonderful week and God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><

Triple Time Paper Tole

I know I was supposed to fill you in on Sale-A-Bration today but I just had to show you one of the cards my ladies will be making at their club night tonight.  It is my version of the oh-so-popular Triple Time Stamping, but I love the little twist that gives it a 3D perspective.  Here, why don't you see for yourself?

Supply List (Spring catalogue)
Stamps - Secret Garden (w129141, c129144)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Elegant Eggplant (105126), Garden Green (102584)
Ink - Elegant Eggplant (126969), Garden Green (126973), Wisteria Wonder (126985)
Big Shot -  Secret Garden Framelits (129372)
Tools and Accessories - Paper Snips 103579), 2-way Glue pen (100425), Dazzling Diamonds (102023), dimensionals (104430)

If you have wandered through any stamping blog over the last 6 months I am certain you have seen Triple Time Stamping.  What I love about my version is the flower cut-outs on the top layer that extend across the mat background.  LOVE the Secret Garden framelits that make cutting these out a breeze!  The die-cut leaves (using the same framelit) can be placed under flowers, under mat layers (see the bottom left corner)...anywhere you wish.  And paper snips make it oh-so-easy to cut out a few extra layers for the centres of 2 of the flowers, to raise them up and give the card some depth.  This is a simplified Paper Tole technique, and I was totally impressed with how great it works for this card.   A little glitter for added pizazz and the card is complete!

This card is neither complicated nor difficult to make.  No extra embellishments.  No tricky techniques.  But despite its 'simplicity', this card makes me very happy and I love how it turned out.  And when my darling husband returns from his curling game, picks it up and says, "I like that", I know I have a winner.   :)   So yeah - my club ladies for January will get to make their own version of this card!  Every one will be different.  And every one will be gorgeous.  I can't wait to see what they create!

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

....In With the New

You might remember that on Sunday I titled my post, "out with the old" and I implied that lots of new stuff was coming.  Well I have a few more lovely new products from the Spring Catalogue to show you here.  The Secret Garden stamp set and coordinating framelits can be purchased as a bundle (w131100, c131099) and will save you 15% if you purchase them that way.  Trust me - buy them BOTH.  You won't regret it!  And you might notice on this card that I (quite uncharacteristically) used colours from the Subtles collection.  Not sure why I often overlook these colours since they are quite lovely!  And tomorrow?  Well tomorrow I will start waxing enthusiastically about Sale-A-Bration and how you can get more for your money!  But for today, here is what I have for you:

Supply List (Spring catalogue)
Stamps - Secret Garden (w129141, c129144)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Perfect Plum (101889), So Saffron (105118)
Ink - Perfect Plum (126963), So Saffron (126957), Rose Red (126954), Gumball Green (126861)
Big Shot -  Secret Garden Framelits (129372)
Tools and Accessories - Distress Tool (127562), Champagne Shimmer Paint (116806), Clear Block C (118486), Basic Pearls (119247), Basic Jewels (119246), Large Basic Jewels (129324), Spritzer (126185), dimensionals (104430)

I started this card with the same technique as yesterday's instalment, using a clear block to stamp rectangles as a background and following up with a generous application of homemade shimmer mist (which does not show up well in the photograph.  Trust me - this card shimmers!).  Saffron flowers and some distressing, stamped and die cut foliage and blossoms and the addition of pearls and rhinestones for elegance and sparkle and voila, a bright and cheery card to usher in the new Spring catalogue! 

Until then - Hoping this post finds you equally bright and cheery!   God Bless,      ~Cynthia      <><

Sale-A-Bration is Coming.....

Hello Again Friends

Yesterday I finally got some of my new Spring catalogue products inky....and today I used my very first Sale-A-Bration item for the year!  For those of you who don't know what SAB is...it's only THE biggest sale that Stampin' Up! holds every year.   FREE stamp sets, embossing folders, embellishments and paper.....Stay tuned and I will give you all the details tomorrow.

For now, I thought you'd like to see a very small sneak peak of a SAB stamp, as well as some more new Spring catty products.

Supply List (Spring catalogue or SAB products)
Stamps - Vintage Verses (w129633, c129636), Papillon Potpourri (w123757, c123759)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Pool Party 122924), Island Indigo (122923)
Ink - Island Indigo (126986), Pool Party (126982)
Big Shot -  Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378), Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder (120175)
Tools and Accessories - Bitty Butterfly Punch (129406), Elegant Butterfly Punch (127526), Distress Tool (127562), Champagne Shimmer Paint (116806), Clear Block C (118486), Basic Pearls (119247), Spritzer (126185), dimensionals (104430)

It is difficult to see in the photo, but I used a clear block to make 3 solid, rectangular pool party stamps on the background of the card, then misted the whole thing with a homemade shimmer mist so it is quite sparkly in real life. Cutting out the hexagon edges was easy since you just follow the embossed lines.  And the new Distress Tool makes roughing up the edges of the card a breeze!

Love how this card turned out.  Love, even more, that I get to give it to a very special lady.  Being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator has allowed me to meet some of the most wonderful friends - people I might never have met if I hadn't had an opportunity to get crafty with them!  Well, the recipient of this card is one such friend.  I met her through a fundraiser that I did for my church almost 2 years ago.  And I get to bring her some craft goodies, along with this card, today.

Which reminds me....I'd better get on that!

Hoep everyone has a wonderful day!   God Bless,   ~Cynthia    <>< 

Out With the Old.....

Hello Stamper Friends and Happy New Year!!

I am finally back from a wonderful visit with family over Christmas, and when I say "back", I mean back!  No more long periods of silence and wondering when my next post will be, nosirree!  At least, that is my intent   :)

On with it then.  As we exit the old year and welcome in a new one, I thought I'd give you a peak at some of the gorgeous new products that became available as of January 3 when the new Spring catalogue went live.  This is a card that I made for a recent swap and I love how trendy all the colours and embellished pieces on it are.

Supply List (Spring catalogue products)
Stamps - Just Thinking (129940), Amazing Family (w 120189, c 129192)
Paper - Summer Starfruit (126839), Pool Party 122924), Raspberry Ripple (126842), Primrose Petals (126841), Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stacks (129312)
Ink - Versamark (102285)
Big Shot -  Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378), Window Frame Framelits (129021), Floral Frames Framelits (127012)
Tools and Accessories - Pool Party Embossing Powder (129398), Embossing Buddy (103083), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246), dimensionals (104430)


So how do you like this Just Thinking stamp?   I think this wonderful new a la carte stamp from the Spring catty packs a lot of punch.  And I absolutely LOVE the new Pool Party embossing powder. And don't even get me started on how happy I am with the Print Poetry Designer Paper Stacks!!

All in all, I think I will have a LOT of fun playing with the new products from the Spring catalogue.  Can't wait to show you more so come back tomorrow to see the next creation.

In the meantime, I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas Season and that 2013 holds many blessings for you and those you hold dear.      God Bless you all,    ~Cynthia     <><