Gentle Peace - How Beautiful It Is!

Hello My Friends

I had a chance to play this weekend with my new favourite stamp set - the Gentle Peace photopolymer stamp that came in my box on Thursday night.  Can I just say - for the record - that I love it.  But I definitely need your help in deciding which direction to take next.

#1 - Orange and Yellow Background

#2 - Background with added Blues

Now most of you know that Gentle Peace was designed to showcase our Stampin' Up! Blendabilities and I have seen some absolutely gorgeous creations on Pinterest, but this weekend I was in a colour-me-fast mood and I didn't want to take the extra time that Blendabilities would need.  So I chose my favourite *fast* method of colouring...using my Aquapainters!

Don't get me wrong, Blendabilities allow you to achieve much more vibrant colours and in truth they do not take 'that' much longer in terms of time...but patience wasn't my strong suit this weekend so I opted for as fast as I could get!

Help me out here friends - first of all, please weigh in on the original 2 images.  Virtually the only difference is the background 'stained glass'.  But I do want to know if you have a preference for one or the other.  So please tell me, #1 or #2.

#2 - Untouched

#3 - Covered With Iridescent Ice

And then....I decided to cover one of the images with versamark and Iridescent Ice since most of you know that has been one of my favourite techniques this Fall.  I was convinced that the shimmer on the image would lend a reality to the stained glass effect.  But now that they are finished, I am not certain one way or the other?

Check out #2 and #3.  Same image, with or without Iridescent Ice.  Hmmm.  Decisions, decisions......

So I mounted my images on cardstock (Bermuda Bay and Blackberry Bliss are such a striking combination, don't you agree?)  Please weigh in your preference for the finished cards....#4 or #5.  I want to know if the iridescent version is a winner before I shimmer up my other versions.  

#4 - Finished Card (no Shimmer)

#5 - Finished Card - Shimmery

I'll pick a name on Friday night and one of the people who comment will be sent the card that they preferred.  So comment please and let me know what you think!

I do have to say, no matter whether the image has been doctored with shimmer or not, it certainly is beautiful.  Serene.  Gentle.  Striking.  I can't wait to play some more.  Check back tomorrow to see what else I have done with it.

Until then, hope you all had a terrific weekend and are looking forward to a great week as well.
God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><. 



Product List

Gentle Peace Photopolymer Stamp Set [139523]	Black Stampin' Emboss Powder [109133]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Aqua Painter [103954]	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197]	Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133675]
Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730]	Filigree Frame Textured Impressions Embossing Folders [135818]	Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder [101930]

Team Artistry - Canadian SunshineStampers - part 3

And FINALLY My Dear Friends

Dianne's perfect design - 4-Square

I want to show you all the ridiculously beautiful cards that my downline made using the Trim the Tree Designer Paper Stacks.

Kathy's Brilliant Tree

Dianne's Starburst card.

Lovely Iris-Folded Ornament - Val

Classic Punched Wreath - Lynn

Aren't these spectacular?
And they are all so different too!

Who would have thought you could do quite this much with just some bits of Designer Paper!?

Val's Fallen Leaves

Dianne's Harlequin Tree

I absolutely was blown away with the variety and creativity that these stampers brought with them.  

Iris-Folding, Punch art, rolled branches, Starburst...hard to believe that these all use the same stack of paper, huh?  So much variety.  So much beauty.  Man I am blessed!  :)

Hope everyone elnjoys a wonderful full of smiles and hugs from those you hold most dear!

God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

Team Artistry - Canadian Sunshine Stampers part 2

Good Morning

Santa & Co. DSP - Frances

Sorry for having missed posting yesterday.  The post was ready but I was too preoccupied to send it.  And that's ok.....

Santa & Co. DSP - Janet B

Santa & Co. DSP  More Janet B

But now - are you ready to see some more inspiration from my Team members (who continue to inspire me - that's for sure!).  

Just in case I did not spell it out before, here are the details for how this came about:   

Nordic Noel DSP - Suzane

I set up bundles that were a mixture of at least 3 different patterns of Designer paper (from the same package of DSP), along with the corresponding colours of cardstock.  Each Team member got to choose a bundle (and the last few just had to take whatever was left) and the requirement was that they had to make at least one thing (card, Scrapbook page, 3D item, whatever), using what they took.  

They did not have to use "every" pattern on one card (although I encouraged them to try to use at least 2) and they could keep whatever was left over when they were done.  And they had to bring their creation(s) to our next meeting.

Nordic Noel - Lynn

Nordic Noel - Lynn Again

Nordic Noel - Lynn's Presents!

Nordic Noel - Lynn - Seasonally Scattered

Trees and Bulbs - Lynn

I am so glad I challenged them.  Did you get a load of that cute moose that Frances cut from the designer paper?    And look how ingeniously the patterns from the paper (presents or houses) were used by Suzane and Lynn as the focal element on some of the cards?  

Aren't you glad you checked in today to see some more of the luscious cards that were on display at our Team Meeting:



I was hoping to see a variety of ideas and boy was I ever NOT disappointed!

Have a wonderful day and see you all again tomorrow for the last cards in the Challenge group.   God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

Team Artistry - Canadian Sunshine Stampers part 1

Hello Friends

Motley Monsters DSP -Rachelle A

I don't often tell you much about the amazing friends I am privileged to call Team Members.  Collectively, we are the Canadian Sunshine Stampers.  And man oh man are these CSS stampers ever talented!!

Motley Monsters DSP -Rachelle A

Motley Monsters DSP -Rachelle A

At our September meeting, I packaged up various sheets of Designer Paper and coordinating cardstock and I asked my CSS team to take bundles home, create with them and bring them back in October to show us what they had done.  Can you say ...Wow!!??

Color Me Autumn DSP - Sonya L

I had no idea the variety and wow-factor that would be returned to us. For the next three days, let me show you just how uber-cute and creative their cards are.

Today I will focus on the cards made using Fall or Hallowe'en themed paper.  Enjoy....

Color Me Autumn DSP - Sonya L

Color Me Autumn DSP - Sonya L

Color Me Autumn DSP - Sonya L

 

Color Me Autumn - Janet B

Color Me Autumn - Janet B

I cannot tell you enough how pleased I am with the creations that my friends made!  I gave them unassuming sheets of DSP and they brought back masterpieces!  Look at the balance of colours, and unadulterated playfulness of the "vampire" owl.  Or the subtle beauty of the gray, Hallowe'en wreath?  And the honeycomb trellis with the butterflies?  I cannot find words to tell you just how much this card makes my heart skip a beat ever-so-slightly.  And what about how the Autumn motif and colourful leaves are combined so marvelously in the final two cards.  I could wax poetic, but you get the hint, right?

These cards are gorgeous.  And just the tip of the iceberg!  Check back tomorrow to see some of the cards my friends made using Christmas-themed DSP.

Until then, hope everyone enjoys their day.  Be happy.  Be safe.  Be blessed.   God Bless you all,    ~Cynthia    <><

Tone-On-Tone For My Team

Hi There Friends

Last night I got together with my Team and we had a wonderful meeting - complete with the creation of some gorgeous cards.  After all, that *IS* what we like to do best when we are together!

Silver-On-Silver Version

In addition, my Team members brought some cards as part of a Challenge that I had given them and believe me - they *absolutely* lived up to the Challenge.  But that is tomorrow's post.

For today, I wanted to show you these 2 gorgeous cards we made.  Well, rather, these were my sample cards and my Team all made the silver version for themselves.  I heavily borrowed from a card I saw on the Hearts' Delight website from almost 2 years ago - we just changed up a few things to make it current.  But believe me, I am a big fan of this tone-on-tone metallic look.  Brushed Gold and Brushed Silver are 2 of the most beautiful cardstocks we sell if you ask me.

Gold-On-Gold Version

And there isn't much you can do to ruin any card made using Lovely As a Tree.  STILL one of my most favourite stamp sets of all time.




 

I will leave you with the pictures of these two beauties, but I'll remind you to check back tomorrow when I'll post the pictures of cards my Team Members made when I Challenged them.  Believe me when I say you really need to come back tomorrow to check them out!

Until then, I hope everyone's week is spectacular,    
God Bless,   
~Cynthia    <><


 


Product List

Lovely As A Tree Clear-Mount Stamp Set [127793]	Nature's Peace Clear-Mount Stamp Set [135119]	Basic Black Classic Ink Refill [102512]
Brushed Gold 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [102935]	Brushed Silver 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100712]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129]	Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder [109131]	Heat Tool [129053]
Gold 1/8" Ribbon [134583]	Silver 1/8" Ribbon [132137]	Decorative Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [133520]
Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730]	Basic Black 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [121045]	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents [119246]
Basic Pearls Jewel Accents [119247]