Retiring Stamps Card Class

Hello Friends

Can't wait until this evening when I get to use some of my favourite stamp sets one last time before they retire.  I will write more later about the specifics of each card - but for now, here is a quick peak at what we'll be creating tonight:

French Foliage Gatefold Card (closed)

French Foliage Gatefold Card - (opening)

Elements of Style

Just Believe with Sponging

Circle Circus

Are you interested in joining us this evening from 7-9 here in Ottawa?  Let me know, and we'll see if we can find a way to make it happen!

Happy Birthday Darling

Well it's official....as of today, all 3 of my daughters are teenagers!  That still leaves means I have a son in the pre-teen age group, but as far as females are concerned, I only have "young women" in my household.

My youngest daughter absolutely loves birds and has taken much pleasure over the last week in watching Ruby-throated hummingbirds feeding at her hummingbird station.  So it was pretty easy to figure out what kind of birthday card I was going to make for her.  See what you think...

Supply List   
Stamps - Elements of Style (w118611, c120045), Beautiful Birthday (125562) - retiring, Teeny Tiny Wishes (w115370, 127802)    
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Raspberry Ripple (126842), Garden Green (102584)    
Ink - Raspberry Ripple (126859), Black StazOn (101406), Versamark (102283), Various Markers (119806)  
Tools and Accessories - Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (101930), Decorative Label Punch (altered - 120907), Word Window Punch (119857), Paper Snips (103579),  Dazzling Diamonds (102023), Two-Way Glue Pen (100425), Rhinestone Jewels (119246)

Close up of hummingbird

Inside Card

You can see that I inked up the hummingbird with versamark, then coloured the appropriate areas with markers.  I stamped it onto cardstock, then the resulting stamped images were embossed with Iridescent Ice powder -  they almost shimmer the way those beautiful little creatures do in real life.  Of course, there had to be a hummingbird stamped on the inside with the greeting as well!

A bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the outside of the card, and it is ready to be signed and delivered to the newest young lady in the household!

I know she'd rather be holding a real, live hummingbird, but I am pretty certain my not-so-little-anymore darling will appreciate the birds on this card as well!

Gotta go wrap some presents now.  Hope everyone is looking forward to a terrific Sunday and a wonderful week ahead!

God Bless,    ~Cynthia     <><

Thankful Thursday - Elements of Style

My Dear Sweet Friends

Events this past week have reminded me, yet again, of just how much I have to be thankful for!  I will not get into details - except to say that I realized once more that I am not "lucky".  I am blessed.  Truly and wonderfully blessed.  And I know it.  And I am thankful.

Which brings me to today's card:

Supply List    Stamps - Elements of Style (w118611, c120045) - retiring, Perfectly Penned (w122890, 122892)   Paper - Naturals White (102316)   Ink - Elegant Eggplant (126969) Big Shot -  Apothecary Accents Framelits (127003)   Tools and Accessories - Sponges (101610)

You can see that this card is quick and easy - in fact, it could very well have been a Fast & Fabulous Friday!  But a Thank You card it is so it merits posting today.

I hope all of you take the opportunity to realize how blessed you are with who and what you have in your life.

Take the time to tell someone you love them.  And cherish every moment.

God Bless you all,       ~Cynthia      <><

Mosaic Madness Sneak Peak

Hello Again Friends

I told you I am back!     :)   Thought I'd entice you with some more sneak peak goodies.

Supply List   
Stamps - Mosaic Madness (w130246,130249), Banner Greetings (w129711, 129714)  
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Midnight Muse (126843)   
Ink - Midnight Muse (126860)
Big Shot -  Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder (129984)  
Tools and Accessories - Mosaic Punch (131267), Itty Bitty Shapes Pack (118309), Rhinestone Basic Pearls (119247)

See?  Another card that is simple but elegant and refreshing.  I saw a card very similar to this on the internet, changed it just a little bit, and love the way it turned out.  The Quatrefoil/Mosaic shape is very, very trendy right now and I am certain you are going to be seeing a LOT more of it!  I know you will be seeing more of it from ME!

Want to see more of the great new products that Stampin' Up! is coming out with?  Contact me to get a copy of your catalogue.  Better yet, come to my New Catalogue Kick-Off event on Tuesday, June 25th!!  Super cute Make & Takes (using new products), door prizes, snacks, retired merchandise as a BOGO (Buy-One-Get-One) deal...and your chance to order some great things from the new catalogue!!  I would love to see you there and I really hope you can join me.

Until then, have a terrific week and God Bless,       ~Cynthia        <>< 

Wildflower Meadow Sneak Peak

Hello My Friends

There are such beautiful things coming in the new catalogue that I just can't help myself!  I had to show you a sneak peak of the goodness to come!

Supply List   
Stamps - Wildflower Meadow (w129165, c129168), Petite Pairs (w128706, 122497)  
Paper - Very Vanilla (101650), Island Indigo (122923)   
Ink - Island Indigo Marker (In Color 2011-2013 Set of Markers 123002), Old Olive Marker (100079)  
Big Shot -  Wildflower Meadow Embossing Folder (129376)  
Tools and Accessories - Large Oval Punch (119855), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Sponges (101610), Rhinestone Basic Pearls (119247)

Such a pretty card.  So easy, so delicate, so much fun!  You really are going to love the new products.  Plan on coming to my New Catalogue Kick-Off event on Tuesday, June 25th!!  You can get your hands on a free catalogue, play with some new products while creating some really cute Make & Takes, and even get more bang for your buck since I will be selling my retired merchandise as a BOGO (Buy-One-Get-One) deal.  Contact me if you wish to be included in this event.  Trust me....you WANT to get your hands on the new catalogue!  And you'll WANT to come out to my New Catalogue Kick-Off Event!  :)

Hope you are all looking forward to a wonderful week!   Take care and God Bless,    ~Cynthia     <><

Treasure Hunt Winners!

Hello Friends

At long last I am back and in the groove and able to make posts.  Regularly even!  And the first item of business is to let you know the results of the LNS Spring Treasure Hunt and Blog Hop.

The winner of the LNS Treasure Hunt for Spring 2013 is.....Heather Hopson!! 

Heather has won a $150 Stampin' Up! shopping spree from Sherrill Graff.  Woo hoo.  Congratulations Heather!


And the winner of my blog candy for this Spring's blog hop is....Shawnie Bartron
  
Shawnie has won a Happy Hello Simply Sent Kit from me and they will be in the mail tomorrow!

Congratulations to all the participants!  We hope you enjoyed yourselves!!

To my fellow Canadians....Happy Victoria Day.  Hope you are all enjoying wonderful weather!
God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <>< 

Happy Birthday Dearest

Wow - you guys must think I fell off the face of the earth.  And the fact that I am finally posting something means you have probably just fallen off of your chair!  But here I am.  Finally!

I will keep this short - that way I'll actually post something.

Yesterday was my darling husband's birthday.  I am married to a man I still adore (after almost 21 years of marriage!) and I know that I am extremely blessed.  So naturally I wanted to make a really nice birthday card for him.  How convenient that I also needed to have a card designed for my club ladies to make as a Father's Day card.  Presto, chango, my masculine Birthday card became a Father's Day card for my club ladies (or vice versa).

I found this card on the internet and just had to CASE it (Copy And Share Everywhere).  Isn't it wonderful?  The watch image comes from the Dapper Dad stamp set (Spring catalogue) and the Birthday sentiment is from Perfect Punches (main catalogue) and BOTH of these stamp sets are retiring at the end of May so get them while you can!   (The Father's Day sentiment is from Delightful Dozen and the background stamp is En Francais - both not retiring - phew!).  I love how the flattened bottle cap really makes it look like a true-to-life man's watch.  The watchface on the birthday card has a coating of Crystal Effects to give the glass-like appearance whereas the watch below (Father's Day) has been left uncoated.  

Bottle Cap for watch face

Not a monumental difference - but I do prefer the glass-look anyhow!

Of course, the card on the right uses no bottle cap at all - merely the watch, stamped and used as is.

No Bottle Cap

All of these cards are elegant.  All of them are sophisticated.  And all of them are masculine.  I love when you find a card like this on the internet and can CASE it.  Thank you Tamie Ackerson for such gorgeous inspiration!

I don't want to risk not finishing and posting this so I am going to end off here.  Stay tuned - tomorrow night I will report the results for the LateNightStampers Treasure Hunt and my own blog candy.

In the meantime I hope everyone is doing well.  Hope Mother's Day was wonderful for all of you.  And for my friends here in Canada - I hope you are all looking forward to a spectacular Victoria Day long weekend!

God Bless,    ~Cynthia     <><

PS  Happy Birthday Darling.  I love you!!!!    XOXOxoxoXOXOxoxo

Hello From Fiji (sort of)

Hello Friends

Longtime, no see! 

I expect some of you have wondered what became of me?  Actually, nothing.  Except a LOT of work.  Followed by a LOT of play!!!  I ran myself ragged getting all sorts of things done so that I could comfortably take advantage of the Incentive Trip I earned last year.  Stampin’ Up! sent me and my husband to Fiji (along with about 200 other demonstrators and spouses).   We enjoyed 10 days in Fiji (5 of them compliments of Stampin' Up!) and I have to tell you – it was paradise to the nth degree.

My internet in Fiji was sketchy at best so I had very little chance to get online.  With only 30 minutes of wifi per day, I logged on and exchanged e-mails with my kids and posted photos and tidbits of facebook so customers, friends and family could see what I was up to.  But I did not have any opportunity to get even remotely close to my blog.  So sorry my dear friends!!

Later today I’ll hope to post some pictures of Fiji.  It really was gorgeous and I wish you could all have been there to see it for yourself.  But until then, I did want to let you know that I haven't abandoned you.  Not in the least!!

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