Wednesday 29 June 2016

Mediterranean Cruise Blog Hop

My Dearest Friends

Any of you who follow me on Facebook will have already seen a TON of pictures from when Scott and I were on the Stampin' Up! Mediterranean Cruise.  When a demonstrator works really hard, Stampin' Up! lavishes attention on us and rewards our hard work with a fantastic, all-expense paid trip for two to somewhere spectacular.  In May 2016, the trip was a Mediterranean Cruise and hubby and I had the time of our lives!!

We sailed from Barcelona (Spain), and spent a day in each port:  Naples (Italy), Rome (Italy), Pisa and Florence (Italy), Cannes (France) and Marseilles (France), before returning to Barcelona again.    From the Segrada Familia (Barcelona) to the Colosseum (Rome) and the Sistine Chapel (Vatican), to the Leaning Tower (Pisa), the Duomo (Florence) and the French Riviera (Cannes and Marseilles), our Mediterranean adventure had it all.


Can I just take a moment to point out that for Scott and myself, the highlight was getting to see and spend time in so many of the most gorgeous European churches imaginable!!   So much beauty.  So many blessings.  And so many "Doors of Mercy" to get to pass through in this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.  I was positively overwhelmed by the experience on more than one occasion.  And my photos (there are an absolute TON posted on my FB page) just cannot do them justice.


At any rate, myself and a bunch of my demo friends wanted you to have a chance to see the trip through our eyes so we are posting it today as a blog hop.  You may have started with me (Cynthia Millan) or you may have arrived from one of the other blogs.  Visit them all so you can see just how great it is to be pampered and rewarded by Stampin' Up!

If I hadn''t already known most of my blog-hopping buddies before the cruise, I got to meet many of them aboard the ship.  Naturally one of the highlights of any Stampin' Up! trip is all the people you connect with.  The ever-present, and always lovely Shelli Gardner can usually be found spreading her gracious and infectious smile among the group.  And you get to meet fellow demonstrators from all over the world.  I have made some very close, and very special friendships through Stampin' Up!  Friendships that will last me my whole life.  I love this company for having introduced me to so many spectacular folks!

This is the best company in the world to work for and trust me, you *WANT* to earn a trip through SU!  You can also trust me when I tell you that YES, you CAN earn a trip!!  It's a goal you can set for yourself, and it is achievable.  Honestly.  If I can do it, anyone can!

There are already a ton of demonstrators who have earned the trip to Thailand for next year.  I am close and I have it as a goal to achieve it sometime this summer.  I'll let you know when that happens.  But honest-to-goodness my friends.....I am gearing up already for Stampin' Up! to send me away again next July.

Want to start on your way to earning your own trips?  If you live anywhere in Canada you can join my team and we can start to make that happen.  Until the end of June (2 more days!) you will even earn 2 FREE stamp sets when you purchase your starter kit.  Details can be found HERE.  

While you are visiting me today, I wanted you to experience some of the trip through my eyes.  I tried to pick a brief collection of shots to give you a good overview of just how wonderful the trip was.  

And I couldn't talk about the trip without showing you some photos of the cruise ship itself.  The Norwegian Epic is simultaneously opulent and elegant, and fun and carefree.  And huge.  Did I mention HUGE.  It has pools and hot tubs and water slides and mammoth screens and live bands and comedians and musical theatre and karaoke and, and and.....       Stampin' Up! even treated us to an onboard Cirque de Soleil show!  Now THAT was an experience I tell ya!!!!

I repeat my friends.  You *WANT* to be a demonstrator and earn a trip through SU!  Really you do.

If you've ever had the opportunity to cruise before, you will also be aware that food figures prominently into the experience.  I have to admit that after taking photos all day, every day, at some of the gorgeous sightseeing attractions and landmarks and churches and scenery on shore, we returned to the ship and took just as many photos of the decorations for dinner.  Each evening the kitchen staff would find new and ingenious ways to decorate the buffet area according to the theme for the evening's dinner.  The Leaning Tower and the Colosseum carved into melons for Italian night.  Tropical Fish carved from cantaloupe, swimming amidst watermelon-carved sharks and cruciferous vegetable coral reefs for Seafood night.  Cute eggplant animals for Asian night and floral bouquets arranged from colourful fruit for the Grill Extravaganza night.  The imagination and creativity of the kitchen staff paralleled their talent in the food-preparation department.  No one on a cruise goes hungry.  Or loses weight.  Ever.   :)

I know if I don't stop talking you may never get a chance to see some of the other blogs in this lineup.  Please do continue along to see what my friends have in store for you today.  But also please remember - YOU TOO CAN EARN an incentive trip from Stampin' Up!  And I would love to have you join me for the experience.  Feel free to contact me to find out how.  And don't forget to join my team so we can make that next journey together.

Enjoy the rest of your hopping.  And have a wonderful day my friends.   God Bless,       
~Cynthia    <><

Tuesday 28 June 2016

How Hot Is It??

Hello My Friends.

This is Ottawa.
This is summer.
And it is HOT!  

I know we should expect that.  After all, it is like this every year.  But the humidity is something we tend to forget about from one summer to the next.  Until it creeps back into our lives - like it has this past week.

So I thought you might enjoy this card we made at our Team Meeting on Sunday night.  I saw one like it on Pinterest and knew it would be easy to re-create using Stampin' Up! colours.  The sentiment (from the Bunch of Blossoms stamp set) is pretty much perfect for this card, if I do say so myself!

Top to bottom:  Tangerine Tango
Calypso Coral
Peekaboo Peach
So Saffron
Sun - Daffodil Delight sponged with Peekaboo Peach
Pacific Point
Marina Mist
Pool Party
Island Indigo
Crumb Cake (embossed with the Softly Falling embossing folder - debossed side showing - and sponged with Crumb Cake ink)
Sentiment - Bunch of Blossoms stamp set - Memento Black ink 


Naturally I had to include some clear Wink of Stella along the edges of each of the blue-toned cardstocks to indicate the shimmer of the cool and inviting water in the hot summer sun!

You can order any (or all) of these supplies from me.  Just click on the product images at the bottom, or the "Order Online" button at the side...or just contact me and I will be happy to help you out!

Hope you all manage to stay cool.

And don't forget - if you live anywhere at all in Canada and you want to join the BEST company in the world, and the BEST Team in that company  - then join the Canadian Sunshine Stampers.  I'd love to have you as part of our team.  All the details can be found HERE.  And until the end of June, you get 2 FREE stamp sets of your choice when you join!!  

Hope all of you have a terrific day - stay COOL - and God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <><


  Product List

Friday 24 June 2016

This Deal Is Over on June 30!!

Is Paper Crafting Your Passion? Welcome Home!
Take your passion for paper crafting and Stampin’ Up! products to a new level when you purchase the ULTIMATE STAMPIN’ UP! BUNDLE (the $135 Starter Kit) and join Stampin’ Up! thru me HERE.  It’s risk FREE!
JUNE STARTER KIT SPECIAL!
Choose TWO FREE stamp sets, ANY PRICE as a bonus for your starter kit.  
Ends June 30.
I WELCOME HOBBY STAMPERS!  YOU’LL FEEL RIGHT AT HOME when you purchase the kit and join through me. ANYONE IN CANADA can take advantage of this and I would love to have you join us - You’ll instantly become a member of the Canadian Sunshine Stampers and we are a very friendly bunch!
https://ida.stampinup.com/?demoid=2076129
SO WHAT DO YOU GET WITH THE $135 KIT?
  • For $135 you choose:   Up to $165 worth of Stampin’ Up! product for your kit.  That’s $30 in FREE product.  You also get a FREE Paper Pumpkin Kit.  That's a $27 value.  AND  Choose TWO FREE stamp sets, ANY PRICE as a bonus for your starter kit.  June 1 – 30 only!  Products can be from any current catalog, including 10% off bundles. Free shipping: The kit ships to you FREE, for another 10% savings!
  • Fill your wish list at a minimum 20% discount:  Once you join, you can stock up and save 20% or more on your favorite Stampin’ Up! paper, stamps, inks and tools PLUS earn more free and discounted products thru Stampin’ Rewards and special promotions.
  • Be first!  Receive FREE catalogs and an opportunity to preview and purchase new products in advance–one of my favorite benefits.
  • Earn extra MOOLA and/or free products!  Stampin’ Up! offers a fun opportunity to share your passion for stamping and earn extra income and product.  The choices are yours!
  • No risk.  From the time you join through the end of the first full Stampin’ Up! quarter you can “test drive” demonstrator discounts and benefits. Stampin’ Up! quarters are Jan. – March, April – June, July – Sept., Oct. – Dec.
  • No penalty to drop!  If you reach $400 in sales by the end of the first full Stampin’ Up! quarter, you renew your demonstrator discounts and benefits for another quarter. If you don’t reach $400 in sales, you can “drop” with no penalty.
  • DO IT JUST FOR YOU!  There’s no obligation to host workshops or parties, sell products to others or personally purchase anything beyond the kit.  No obligations at all.  It really IS risk-free and has no down-side!
  • And if you are local, you can come to my monthly Team meetings, make gorgeous products and have loads of fun - for FREE! 
Please email me (millanclan@bell.net) if you have any questions about the $135 Starter Kit and joining.  I’m here to help!
 

Thursday 9 June 2016

ONE DAY ONLY - Paper Pumpkin Deal Plus Bunch of Blossoms

First today's card - which is a shout-out to my St. Louis pal, Kim Dent.  A FABULOUS demonstrator who I have been lucky enough to spend time with on several Incentive Trips.  


My hubby and I got to re-connect with Kim and her husband on board the Norwegian Epic just last week, and I wanted to let her know that both Scott and I really appreciated the conversations and fun we shared with them recently.

I will describe the card in tomorrow's blog post since I need to get to the "Paper Pumpkin Blow-Out Deal" information today.  But I will point out the obvious - this card is a huge departure from my regular style.  Still, am I ever loving how the Bunch of Blossoms stamp set makes me "seem" like an artist when in reality, I am anything but!

Now for today's EXCITING NEWS.   Starting at 5 pm (MT) tonight (which is 7 pm eastern) - New Paper Pumpkin subscribers can get their first month FOR ONLY $7!

That's CRAZY!!
But hurry, this deal is only being offered for 31 hours.  If you have not signed up by 11:50 pm on Friday, June 10th (MT) - you will miss out!  

31 HOURS ONLY - $7 for your first month!!

paperpumpkinPaper Pumpkin Promotion 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
       

If you haven't tried Paper Pumpkin, now is a great time to sign up--get your first month of Paper Pumpkin for just $7. 
With a deal like this, you'll want to invite everyone you know to give it a try too!

There is NO RISK.  NO OBLIGATION!  If you don't like it then you can cancel after your first kit arrives.  
YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE!


Offer ONLY good Thursday June 9  -  5:00 PM (mountain)  to Friday June 10  - 11:50 pm  (mountain time)
Use the promo code ONEDAYDEAL to join Paper Pumpkin and get your first kit - delivered to your door - for ONLY $7

Click HERE to find out all the details and information.  Or SIGN UP HERE between 5 pm (MT) today and 11:50 pm (MT) tomorrow - and begin your Paper Pumpkin adventure. 

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

Don't forget to return to my blog tomorrow for details on how I managed to find my artistic self to create today's gorgeous card!   Until then, have a super day and God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><


Product List

Wednesday 8 June 2016

Introducing -- Flourish Thinlits

Hello My Friends

As many of you know, my wonderful hubby and I got to spend a week on a Mediterranean Cruise thanks to Stampin' Up!  No my friends....I did not "win" the trip.   I earned it.  Trust me, earning the Incentive Trip is hard work.  But man oh man does it ever pay off when you earn an all-expense-paid trip for 2.  And this cruise was definitely worth the effort!

You didn't see any posts here on my blog about it since we didn't have wifi on the ship.  ACK!  Me and 400 other SU! demos... unplugged!    :)   And each day when we were in port, most of us were too busy posting FB pics of our glorious sightseeing excursions.   If you want to see highlights from our vacation, visit my Facebook Page and see the sights through our eyes.

Now that we've been back a week, life has resumed its normal, chaotic schedule.  But I did want to show you some of the absolutely gorgeous new products that are in the Stampin' Up! catalogue.

I know Kathy R. will be happy to see I've finally posted another card, so today, this one is for her.  I used the luscious new Flourish Dies as well as the Detailed Floral Thinlits to create cut-outs that are truly breathtaking (and the Precision Base Plate and Big Shot Die Brush make creating these paper pieces a breeze!).  A sentiment from the Flourishing Phrases stamp set and this card pretty much assembled itself!

I am busy preparing for my 20-card class on June 18th - each time a new catalogue is introduced I run an Inspiration Stamp Day so my friends can get their hands on as many new products as possible.   If you'd like to join us, or get a kit-to-go, or just purchase a set of the completed 20 cards, let me know.  The information and details can be found HERE.

I'll hope to see you soon.  In the meantime I need to get back to my Craft Cave to work on more 20-card class prep.

Hope everyone has been enjoying their Spring so far.  Have a wonderful day and God Bless,     ~Cynthia   <><


 Product List