Founders Circle Friends Swap - Three-Windowed Swap Card - the Video

Hello Friends.  

I have had a LOT of interest in this card I posted last week (see the original post HERE) and I promised you a video to show you how easy it is to produce so here you go.

Enjoy watching.  And I hope your summer is fantastic so far.  

Mine?  My summer has been SPECTACULAR!  And it is not over yet!     :)

Have a wonderful rest-of-your-weekend and God Bless,    ~Cynthia   <><

Colour Me New - Grand Vacation Blog Hop

Hello My Friends

So glad you have joined us for our July Blog Hop!

A group of us who earned the Stampin' Up! Grand Vacation have decided to tickle your creative senses with projects made using 2 of the new 2015-2017 In Colors.  (full list of participants at the bottom of this post).  We were allowed to use more than that if we wished.  But we had to at least include 2 new In Colors.     And all I could think was...with pleasure!
 
I have seen a number of gorgeous cards using the From Land to Sea stamp set and these were my inspiration for the card I have for you today.  I paired Tip Top Taupe and Mint Macaron and just randomly coloured a piece of whisper white cardstock using an aquapainter.  

"Painted" Whisper White as a background - ready for turtles!!

Black-embossed turtle, fussy-cut from the painted background

The turtle image was stamped onto this with versamark ink, then black embossing powder was applied and heated.  

Love how each of the turtles is unique!

No 2 turtles the same!

I did have to fussy-cut these guys out....but they look great and it was worth every little bit of effort!!  (note - I added a bit of Cucumber Crush ink to the turtles afterwards to give them even more of a realistic look)

The seaweed and fish images from By the Tide set were stamped onto the card front, the inside of the card, and the envelope, using Tip Top Taupe ink, and Gorgeous Grunge supplied some dots.  A little bit of sponging was also used to simulate the uneven transparency of underwater.  And a single fussy-cut turtle was added to the inside of the card to complete the effect.

Inside the Card

My sentiment (from Crazy For You) was embossed with black powder to make it stand out.  And my trio of turtles were all popped up using our Dimensionals.  And voila!  I ended up with a card that I really, really love!

My brother (eldest of us 9 kids) turns 60 next weekend and this will be his Birthday card.  The turtles look just like the giant painted turtle that lives at his Lake and I can't wait to send this trio down to wish him all the best!

I hope you have been inspired as you visit the blogs and are enjoying your hop through these wonderful creations.  The full list of hoppers is provided below.  You won't want to miss ANY of their creations.  Trust me!! 

Don't forget to leave some comments to encourage the participants.  But most of all, I hope you have a wonderful day and a terrific week!       God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><
 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Awesomely Artistic For My Convention Swap

Hello My Friends

I am sad to say that I will not be attending Convention this year -- but I was able to create a gorgeous card for a swap I am participating in.  

Many of the Founders Circle recipients from last year decided to swap cards at Convention, and my gracious friend, Genevieve Ko, offered to bring my cards and swap them along with her own.  Thanks Genevieve!! 

I needed to create 60 of what we refer to as a "Workshop Wow" card -- A card you could use for a class or workshop that would really pack a lot of wow-factor into a not-too-difficult card.

I love how this turned out and am hoping my fellow Founders Circle friends feel the same way. 

Doesn't that little bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter add an iridescence that reminds you of real dragonflies on a hot and hazy summer day?  I am a big fan of glitter.  I also love that we now have thick white cardstock so a one-layer card like this has substance and is not flimsy! 

I can't wait to see the cards that Genevieve brings back for me from the 60 other ladies!  I still wish that I could be there, but.....oh well. 


The **video on how to create this card is almost ready to post so check back in a day or 2 to see it.  And come back later today to see a FANTASTIC blog hop that several of the Incentive Trip Achievers are holding.
 **video is ready.  See it HERE.


Until then, have a wonderful day and God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Bohemian Paper and Some Talented Friends

Hello There Friends

Johanne B

Lynn CG

Well, June has come and gone and once again I was treated to a demonstration of just how brilliant and creative my downline Team Members are.

The Canadian Sunshine Stampers really rock!!  

Rachelle A

You see -- each month I take some sort of Stampin' Up! product or products, and give my participating Team Members the same "stuff" with the same challenge...make me a card.  Any card.  Use "some" of what I've given you.  Use a little.  Use a lot.  Or use it all.  But use "some" of everything I give you.

Sylvie H

Sylvie H

Imagination?  Go ahead and use it!  Or copy from a friend.  CASe from Pinterest.  (Or any other source for that matter).  No holds barred.

Dianne R

Janet B

This month I limited it to one thing.  I gave everyone a piece of the SU! Bohemian designer paper.  LOVE this paper!!

And that's all.  No other rules.  Use a small piece or a big piece.  Use either side.  Heck, use both sides!  I'm not picky.  What I look forward to each month is seeing the variety.  The unbelievable variety.

Janet Br (outside of card)

Janet Br (inside of card)

Disappointed?  I think not.  Look at how so many friends can take an identical starting point and spin off to create so many different ideas!

Oh my goodness golly gee!!  I cannot *believe* how cool it is to see how many different variations and ideas my friends come up with.

Lynn L

Val V

So.  Totally.  Cool.

So go ahead and weigh in.  Tell me what you think.

Impressed?  I certainly am!

Hope you've enjoyed all these gorgeous cards.  And I hope to see you back again real soon to enjoy some other wonderful creations!

Julie G

We've got a Trip-Achievers' blog hop coming up soon.  Woot woot.  Now those are projects you're going to want to see.

Janet Br

Until then, have a fantastic day and God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

Thankful Thursday - My Talented Team

Ok - I won't lie to you.  I have had these cards in my possession for almost 2 months and I am FINALLY getting around to posting them.

Rachelle A

Jan B

My Team, the Canadian Sunshine Stampers, do incredible work.  

Meredith M

Meredith M

Totally and completely...INCREDIBLE.  Each month I give them a little something in terms of Stampin' Up! product -- and I challenge them to turn it into a work of art.

Cecilia C

Cecilia C

And they never disappoint.

Janet B

Janet B

So in May, I gave them some retiring SU! Designer papers and cardstock to match and let them loose to see what they could create.

Dianne R

Dianne R

Decide for yourself....Take a peak and confirm for me, if you will, just how spectacularly talented all of my friends truly are!

Ellorie H

Ellorie H

See?
Did I lie?

Pretty impressive, huh?

Sylvie H

Melanie M

Now you understand why I rave about them.  And why I profess to being so very lucky to be their upline.  Their creations are gorgeous, aren't they?!

Sylvie H

Melanie M

This month I asked each of them to use the materials to create TWO cards.  Notice how they each created 2 cards that are different?!?  Same papers, same colours maybe...but DIFFERENT!!

Jennifer D

Jennifer D

Love their talent, creativity and imagination!!

Hope they've inspired you to want to do some of the same.  Go ahead.  Get inky!  You won't be sorry!

Lynn L

Lynn L

And in the meantime, have a wonderful day and God Bless,    ~Cynthia   <><

Val V

Val V

Dianne R

Rachelle

Awesomely Artistic Thank You

It is official.  I am blessed in more ways than I can count!

I have had a slew of boxes arriving these last few days.  Orders from my 20-Card Class.  Orders from my June Clubs.  Orders from my BOGO.....

And so I needed Thank You cards.  A TON of Thank You cards.  What a terrific problem to have.....needing a TON of Thank You cards.

My Awesomely Artistic stamp set got a real work-out this week, that's for sure!  But my friends are going to totally love them, I know it!   I will highlight these cards later this week, but for now, here's a sneak peak. 

Have a terrific day and God Bless each and every one of you!    ~Cynthia   <><