Thankful Thursday - All Things New

Good Morning Friends

Sorry for my silence, there has been a lot going on here.  And not all of it has been happy.  But I did want to post today to remind everyone to be Thankful.  

Thankful for all things new.

We experienced an absolutely glorious Easter was last weekend.  And now Spring is here with all the smells and sounds and sights that accompany it.  Sprouts are literally bursting through the ground to take back the landscape from the last vestiges of winter's grasp.  I am amazed, every year, at how resilient and bold the crocuses are.  With just a bare minimum of melted snow they peak their heads out of the frozen ground and quickly come to full bloom, despite snow and ice still apparent all around them.

And soon?  Soon it will be the pansies.  They will appear and blanket so many gardens with the promise of new life.  And sometimes "new life" is what we need to focus on.....

So today I am thankful for Spring and the promise of all the newness that is to come. 

I hope each and every one of you is able today to take some time to be thankful.  For Spring.  For the promise of what is yet to come.  And for knowing that there is always something new and bright and beautiful on the horizon.

God Bless each and every one of you,    ~Cynthia     <><

FREE SHIPPING - now until April 25

Woo Hoo!

Stampin' Up! announced FREE shipping starting today (Monday April 21) through Friday (April 25).  That means you can order anything.  ANYTHING.  And get it shipped to you for FREE!!  ANYWHERE IN CANADA!  

If you live anywhere in Canada, I can get your order to you for FREE this week!  Big or small, it ships for FREE!

And the retiring list is here and trust me - the INSTANT you see something you want that is retiring, you should order it!!  Everything on the list - and that includes stamps this year - everything on the list is "while supplies last".  So if it is retiring and you want it, order it NOW!

The Raspberry Ripple ink refill has already sold out!  

Retiring stamps are listed HERE and all other retiring products are listed HERE.  If something you want is retiring, you DON'T want to wait to order it!!  Order it right away!  Your safest bet is to order it online right away.  But you may also send me the order and I will place it for you.

If you place your online order today (Monday), please use the hostess code: 6XDCPBH6.  
If you place your order Tuesday through Friday (April 22 - 25), please use the hostess code : XN2UDJWU.

Remember - I can ship ANYWHERE in Canada (always).  But from now until Friday, April 25, shipping is FREE.  So place your order today!  Don't wait!!  

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!  Me and my family certainly did!  Now it's time to get back to business (sigh).  
Have a wonderful week and God Bless you all,    ~Cynthia    <><

Thankful Thursday - Simple and Easy Vanilla Card

Hello Dear Friends

Sorry that I got busy and neglected you.  Things sure have been crazy around here - they probably have been where you are too, huh?

But even with life being crazy, we still should all take the time to be Thankful.  And I am.  I absolutely am.  You see, today begins one of the holiest times of the year.  And I have a *lot* to be thankful for.

We all have a lot to be thankful for.

Today is Holy Thursday.  The first day of the single saddest event in the history of mankind.  And the beginning of the most glorious!  

Yes my friends.  We have a *lot* to be thankful for!  It's as simple as that.  So my card is simple too.  Just strips of Vanilla cardstock that have been embossed with various patterns.  No two the same length.  No two the same pattern.  

Kinda like us, huh?     :)

You might notice though, that all of them are facing the same direction - the 'thanks'.

So whether you are getting ready to drive somewhere to visit relatives for this long Easter weekend, or staying put at home, whether you will be spending much of your weekend in a church giving praise, or spending your time on the couch watching tv, no matter how you plan to spend your time this weekend -- I hope at some point, you are thankful.  Because we have been blessed beyond compare.  Truly and remarkably blessed.

I hope for you and yours, that these last few days leading up to Easter Sunday are a time of great happiness for you.  Peace.  Joy.  And Fulfillment.  I hope you are filled with Thankfulness.  And a recognition for all the things you have to be thankful for.  
And for today itself, I wish you a peaceful and peace-filled Holy Thursday.
May God Bless you all,     ~Cynthia     <><  

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Weekly Deals - April 15

Hello Friends

Long time no see!  

I have not been around my blog much lately - but I have been working hard at creativity and hopefully my friends and customers will all have noticed.  And you will witness the fruits of my labours too, soon.  But in the meantime, here are the deals that Stampin' Up! is offering this week.

25% Off Weekly Deals - April 15 - 21, 2014

If you like to use glue sticks, then there is no better time than now to stock up!  And I have to admit that Venetian Romance is one of my favourite designer papers right now!

If you see something that tickles your fancy, feel free to order it online or contact me and I will get it for you.

Until then, I hope everyone's week has started off wonderfully!
Have a great day and God Bless,         ~Cynthia    <><

Thankful Thursday - Field Flowers

It's Spring.

Oh yes, I know, I am quite aware that my front lawn *still* has a foot and a half of snow (up to 3 feet in the shady areas)!  But it is Spring nonetheless!  And although my own garden lies under a mantle of white, friends of mine are reporting daffodils and crocuses and tulips poking up out of the ground, ready to bloom.

See - I don't need for it to actually *be* Spring yet.  It is the anticipation of everything coming alive that has me all giddy with Spring fever.

So today I am thankful for the promise of Spring and the new life that it entails.

Isn't life wonderful?!!!!   :)

And in honour of being thankful for Spring, my Thankful Thursday card includes flowers.  And a stamp set I have never gotten inky before!!  Although I must say, I LOVE 2-step stamping and the effect of these flowers with the darker and lighter tones.  So I will be using this set again soon (Field Flowers), trust me.

I hope the rest of you have a Spring in your step and a giddy feeling today too.  And if you do - pass it on!  The most attractive thing you can wear, after all, is a smile!

Have a thoroughly wonderful day my friends.      God Bless,      ~Cynthia    <><


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Wonderful Weekly Deals!

Dear Friends - I am so excited!

You know how sometimes you think a product is just marginally interesting...until you use it and then you are completely sold on the idea?!  Well my friends, the Itty Bitty Punch Pack is such an item!

Weekly Deals, April 8 - 14, 2014

Before I owned these little gems, I wasn't sure what in the world I would use them on.  And then I bought them and used them and honest-to-goodness..... I use them ALL the time!!

Yes my friends -  All of the weekly deals are phenomenal.  But seriously, if you do not already own the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch pack, then order it today!  Contact me or order it online.  Today!!  You won't be sorry!

Hope everyone is looking forward to a wonderful week!
God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <><

Swap Cards From Friends

Hello my Friends and my sincerest apologies.  

Debs Swap Card - love that lone designer vase

When I posted my Fast and Fabulous Friday card, I said I had used it as my swap card for an Upline meeting I had attended.  And I also promised I would post the other swap cards that I received.

Well - better late than never!

We were supposed to use as many of the retiring In Colors as we could (In Color 2012-2014, Midnight Muse, Gumball Green, Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit) but I made the mistake of thinking we only needed to use "any" of the retiring In Colors so my swap card included only 2 (Raspberry Ripple and Gumball Green).  I think my favourite of the cards that did adhere to the rules was made by my upline, Deb.   Love the use of just a single bit of DSP for one vase.  Subtle.  And striking.

Janet's Swap card - love the Chevron Punched bits added back in.

As for ingenuity?  I think Janet's use of the Chevron Ribbon "Punch-poo" (those bits of punched pieces that litter the table when you are punching cardstock) is insanely imaginative.  Love the multicoloured bits adhered in the Chevron Punch void.  Janet said she used the Stampin' Up! Adhesive Sheets to make it easier to adhere the bits.  Great way to think of an effective and efficient way to make your card Janet!

And Lynn also managed to use all 5 retiring colours on her card.  It occurs to me that this is a stamp set I don't own (yet).  Odd.  I was beginning to think there wasn't a set in the catalogue that I didn't own?!?  And here Lynn is proving me wrong!

Lynn's Card - and a stamp set I may have to order!!

I am uncertain who brought the last 2 swap cards.  I think (?) it was Dianne and Cecilia?  Whether I am right or not, you'll have to agree with me that these cards are every bit as lovely as the rest of the ones on this page.

I am so blessed and lucky to be a part of such a creative Team.

Cecilia's Swap Card

Dianne's Swap Card

Would you like to find out how you can join us?  Please feel free to contact me or to follow the instructions found here:  

Because believe me, joining in the fun and laughter of our meetings is one of the best parts about being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

I have a long day of schedules and events ahead of me so I am afraid that I will have to cut this post short.  But I'll leave you with this 'profound'  thought... 

Enjoy the beginning of your brand new week. 

And God Bless you, one and all,    ~Cynthia     <><

Fast and Fabulous Friday - Peaceful Petals Swap Card

Hello My Friends

Last night I went to the Team meeting of my upline and we were all challenged to bring swap cards that use as many of the retiring In Colors (2012-2014) as possible.  Me?  I sort of made a mistake.  I knew we were supposed to use retiring In Colors.  I missed the part about using as many as possible.  So my card uses only 2.

I love the way Raspberry Ripple and Gumball Green go together.  I will definitely miss this years' retiring In Colors.  Well - mostly.  I honestly cannot say that I will miss Summer Starfruit that much!  But that is beside the point.

In addition to messing up on the actual challenge (I only used 2 of 5 possible colours), I brought my bits and pieces with me to the meeting (I arrived early) to put them together on-site and realized I had left all of the pre-stamped and pre-punched sentiments sitting on my table at home.  So most of the ladies received a swap card without a sentiment.

No matter.  I guess now they can choose one of their own to use, right?

I have to say, I really loved 2 of the other ladies' cards (I'll show you theirs tomorrow) but for today, since I need Fast and Fabulous, my quick card from last nights' swap will have to do.

Hope everyone is enjoying a Fabulous Friday.  And yes, I hope it is a Fast one for you.  Fabulous.  And Fast.  Because when it is over, the weekend is finally here!  

Enjoy your day and God Bless you all,   ~Cynthia    <><  

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Thankful Thursday and the Promise of Spring

Hello Friends

Anyone who knows me understands that I am a kid at heart and I LOVE the wintertime with its snow and crisp mornings and the "Narnia-feel" to the landscape.  But I also love Fall.  And Summer.  And Spring.  So despite the fact that I fully expect a few more flurries and at least one more dose of true winter weather before Spring really hunkers down to stay, I am thankful for the 'promise' of Spring.

My front yard still has a 3 foot depth of snow and the snowbanks at the end of my driveway?  They'll be around for a while!  But we have had 3 consecutive days of (near-balmy) plus zero weather and some sunshine.  Things are starting to melt and you can just feel nature dying to break forth in all its glory.  

And I cannot help but feel excited myself.  Like I, too, am anticipating newness and growth.  Like if I hold my breath and just wait for it, life will burst forth in a dazzling display of colour.

So here is my Thankful Thursday card today.  Thankful for this feeling of anticipation.  Thankful that we are continually rejuvenated.  Thankful that the colour and majesty of Spring are soon to be on our doorstep.....

I resolved today to use some things from my repertoire that have seen little use of late.  So I dusted off my Delicate Doilies sizzlit, my Beautiful Wings embosslit, and my Papillon Potpourri stamp set.  ALL of which are items that I truly love - but have scarcely used in the last 12 months!

The card is simple, relying mostly on solid, punched pieces and only 2 colours paired with the Vanilla neutral.  But it still whispers in my heart that Spring is on its way.

And you?  Are you looking forward to Spring?  Or does that even require an answer......      ;)

Hope everyone enjoys a day that brings them hope and the anticipation of things to be thankful for!
God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><


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