Chocolate Lotus Blossoms For My Friends at Neeje

Good Morning Friends

Today is the day.  Today I get to spend time with a bunch of seriously crazy, fun, energetic and worthwhile people who are all playing with paper to support a good cause!

The Neeje Crop to support Women and Families is today, and I spent the last few days creating these chocolate lotus blossoms for the participants.

Do you have any idea how long it takes to create 60 Lotus Blossoms?

And although the drier sheet method of cutting out the butterflies is wonderful (see my video HERE), it still takes a bit of time to cut out 60 of them.

But man oh man was it ever worth it!!
Don't they look great?!?

I can't wait to give them to the ladies today.  They can bring them home and no one ever has to know that there "used" to be a chocolate inside!  Right?!  Just sayin',  what happens at the Crop, STAYS at the crop!   :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Talk to you soon.  God Bless,      ~Cynthia   <><

  Product List

Flower Frenzy Bigz L Die [133728]	Butterflies Thinlits Dies [137360]	Spring Flowers Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [137365]
Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [130917]	Fancy Fan Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [127751]	Lovely Lace Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [133737]

Massive Clearance Rack Sale - and Another Sneak Peak!

Hello my friends

Just when you thought you had everything you needed or wanted for Christmas...Stampin' Up! loaded the Clearance Rack today with loads of new goodies.  And some of them are up to 80% off!!  But you'll have to hurry!  These fantastic deals are only available while supplies last!

And in other news - I hinted last time about a "gorgeous" Sneak Peak item - one of my new favourite products - but I've been too busy to share it.  I promise to do so tomorrow.  But for today, I have a simple and elegant Spring catalogue Sneak Peak to share with you.

The Happy Watercolor Stamp set has images that will make you just that - "happy" !!  An aquapainter to quickly accent these flowers with a bit of Rose Red, and some of that luscious new Silver Baker's Twine to finish the card off, and you've got a card that is quick and more than just a little bit 'cute'.

I gave this card to each of the downline members who were able to join me for our recent Christmas party.  I wanted to be able to give them a swap card that included new product.  But more than that....I wanted to say "thank you" to each and everyone of them!  I really am blessed to be surrounded by and able to work with such a wonderful group.  It doesn't get any better than this!

I hope everyone else had an equally wonderful weekend and that the Christmas season has not gotten too hectic or busy for them.  I am heading into a holiday hiatus and am looking forward to some time to myself when I can just crawl into my "Craft Cave" and play uninterrupted with my newest Spring catalogue 'toys'.  The more I play with them, the more I love them.... And trust me - you will too!

You'll get to see and order all these new products beginning Jan 3.  Till then, may God Bless you all!  
Have a wonderful day!          ~Cynthia   <>< 

Butterflies and Birthdays

Ok  Friends

Two more days.  Just two more days to take advantage of the Butterfly Bundle.  Until Sept 30, you can get the Papillon Potpourri stamp set and the Itty Bitty Butterfly Punch as a bundle at a 15% savings.  Now that's something to be thankful for!

The Itty Bitty Butterfly punch came in handy for this cute card.  Pair butterflies with the Wildflower Meadow embossing folder (I even used the de-bossed side sometimes) and sentiments from Fabulous Phrases, add a few pearls and you have before you this lovely card.  I think I used 9 or 10 different colours to create this little beauty.  But my favourites are the Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo and Perfect Plum variants.  And I am going to repeat it (for those who haven't heard me say it before) - *nothing* makes it easier to get perfect placement for your pearls, even the little teeny tiny ones, than the Paper Piercing Tool from Stampin' Up!.  This little baby has saved my sanity on more than one occasion!

I am truly thankful that butterflies make it so easy to create gorgeous thank you cards!  Each month I make between 40 and 100 thank you cards.  I have LOTS of reasons to be thankful and so many people who deserve thank you cards.  But I am sure you can understand that I need cards that are fairly quick and easy to produce.  Both of my choices this month fit that bill.  

See my second card?  

Silver Encore ink for the Flowering Flourishes, paired with the Feel Goods sentiment and some Bitty Butterflies again, and you have a card that is just perfect for saying just what you need it to - without taking too long to create!   Once again I tried at least a dozen colours to see which ones would create the cutest cards and I have to say, there were LOTS of winners!  I really liked the Real Red.  And the Bermuda Bay.  And the Elegant Eggplant.  And the Island Indigo.  And I could go on and on but I think you get the message....





 
Speaking of "get the message", did you hear?  

I have my birthday coming up next week, and so I am offering a special birthday promotion.  This is a personal special available only through me, but available to ANYONE in Canada.  From Oct 1 - Oct 7, on any order of $60 or more, I will pay the shipping and handling fees*.  That's right, s&h to be paid by yours truly, as my birthday gift to all of you.  (*regular HST fees still apply)

Make your wish list and contact me and we'll make sure my birthday celebration makes both of us happy!

Hope your weekend has been wonderful!  And hope you are looking forward to a wonderful week ahead!

God Bless,    ~Cynthia   <><

Butterfly Thank You's

Hello Friends

I'm back - and didn't I promise you that I would show you more quick and cute ways to use the Butterfly Bundle that Stampin' Up! is offering right now at a 15% discount?  

Well here you go.  Instalment number 2.

The Papillon Potpourri stamp set is one of my absolute favourites.  I LOVE butterflies!!  And the Bitty Butterfly Punch makes me very happy indeed.  I always love it when there is a coordinating punch that I can use with my stamped images.

Throw in some polka dot embossing on a background mat and the gorgeous big Thank You from the new "Another Thank You" photopolymer set (these are so nice and sticky.  NOTHING is going to make this baby fall off of my clear block!) and this very fast but very cute card is pretty much finished.

Good thing this card took me no time at all -- because it is a long weekend and we are going to visit friends today.  I've got a luscious dessert to make first so I am going to keep this post short.  But don't forget to check back again tomorrow!

Have a wonderful weekend and safe travels to all those ending their summer with some time away from home.    God Bless you all,     ~Cynthia     <><

Fast and Fabulous Friday - It's All About the Background

Good Morning Friends

I have a confession to make.  I have been neglecting my backgrounds.  Seriously neglecting my backgrounds!  There are some great new background stamps available in the catalogue - I ordered them - I received them - and they have just sat there.  Uninked.  And forlorn.  Well not anymore!!  Take a look at this!

I used the Dictionary background stamp and a small portion of the World Map background stamp, added some sponging, ribbon, butterflies and a Label Love Focal point, and I was done.  Fast?  Check.  Fabulous?  Check.  And my background stamps in Wisteria don't look too shabby at all, do they?

And notice how easy it is to create a frame around the new Label Punch?  Just punch a second shape, cut in half and position at the top and bottom.  Voila - a faux frame.

Hope this inspires you to use your own background stamps.  I'll have to remember to take mine down off the shelf a little more often!

May you enjoy a spectacular weekend!    

God Bless you all,     ~Cynthia     <><

In Color Club - Pistachio Meadows

Hello Dear Friends

I am here, yet again, to tempt you with an In Color Club "Wow" Card.  Believe me when I tell you that you want to be a part of this virtual club.  Anyone, anywhere in Canada can join.  And a new club is starting up soon.  So go ahead and join.  Aren't you just dying to get your hands on all the luscious new In Colors and their co-ordinating products?  

As a club member, you get some of absolutely everything...and then some!  The bonuses make it more economical for you to get your In Colors as part of club, than just on their own.  And just think...you can spread your shopping out over 5 months yet still get hostess benefits!  It doesn't get any better my friends!  And remember, a gorgeous handmade card and co-ordinating envelope are yours each month to help show you the ways that your In Colors can be used to create beauty!

Anyone in Canada.  Anywhere.  Get all the details here or contact me with your questions.  I have some gorgeous cards waiting for you.  Why don't you get started today?

I hope everyone's day is looking as bright and cheery as mine is.  
God Bless and keep you all.            Cynthia       <><