Thankful Thursday - Colleagues and Friends

Hello Friends

Thankful Thursday and today I want to send a shout out to the Stampin' Up! family of friends and colleagues who help me, support me and inspire me.  

In particular, I have an awesome downline - and a spectacular upline!  And tonight I get to meet with many of them -  Ladies who inspire me and challenge me.  Each of them brings something different and special to our meetings and I am so looking forward to spending some crafting time with them!

I designed this card to share with them.  And to teach them a few little tips and tricks that they might not already know.  I'll share these tips and tricks with all of you too!  But for now, I am going to make this short and simple and just keep it about being Thankful.

So to all of my fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators, upline, downline, sideline and everyone else - thanks for your inspiration.  thanks for your support and encouragement.  And thanks for your friendship!

And pretty much the same to all of you.  For so many reasons - Thank You!
God Bless,     ~Cynthia   <><

Product List
Stamp : Perfectly Penned - Clear-Mount Stamp [122892]
Ink : Versamark Pad [102283]
Card Stock : Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730] , Gold Foil Sheets [132622] , Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum [133363]
Tools & Adhesive : Heat Tool [129053] , Simply Pressed Clay [130685]
Punch : Scalloped Tag Topper Punch [133324] , Elegant Butterfly Punch [127526] , Bitty Butterfly Punch [129406]
Ribbon & Trim : Gold Sequin Trim [132983] , Buttons Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds [131272]
Accessory : Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129] , Gold Baker's Twine [132975]
Big Shot : Chalk Talk Framelits Dies [129983] , Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die [119976]

My Gold Contribution (In Honour of the Olympics)

Hello Friends

Canadian athletes have performed very well at these 2014 Olympics - and they've done so with such class and dignity that it makes me awfully proud!!  In particular, the last few days have brought so much gold into our Olympic repertoire (Women's Curling, Men's Curling, Women's Hockey, Men's Hockey) that I just *had* to show you my own gold today!!





I was asked to donate an item for a Silent Auction to be held for a fundraiser here in Ottawa and this is what I came up with (inspired partly by Janet Wakeland and her innovative ideas).  I wrapped our gorgeous new gold vellum around flameless candles and topped these with Vanilla and Gold Paper Roses to create an elegant table decor trio.

Close-Up of Paper Roses on Largest (and smallest) Pillar Candles

Close-Up of Decorations on Medium Candle

I love that with the new generation flameless candles, the candles look and feel like real wax, the flames flicker, and there is even a timer so that you don't have to turn them off or on manually!

Next - I rolled a large assortment of vanilla, cherry cobbler and crumb cake roses and glued these to a styrofoam base to make a stunning rose tree.  A dusting of our gold glitter on the roses makes this tree an absolutely breathtaking and eye-catching table decoration!

I will admit, it took a few more roses to completely cover the styrofoam than I anticipated when I started.  
But since:

a) I cut 4 pieces of cardstock at a time with the Spiral Flower Die and the Big Shot and

b)  I can get 6 roses from each 8.5x11 inch piece of cardstock and

c)  I rolled most of the flowers while watching the Olympics with my family

...well you can see that making the tree was actually reasonably economical and did not take as much time as it "looks like" it might have taken!

Not to mention the fact that it was fun.  And terribly satisfying.  Once it was completed and I saw how stunning it was, I knew I'd have to make a second one to keep here at home!

Brushed-Pewter Picture Frame with Paper Roses

Then I adhered some of the leftover roses to a brushed-pewter-toned picture frame to create the perfect addition to the decor ensemble.





Lastly, I made up a set of 12 note cards to complete the gift and add a practical aspect to the otherwise decorative collection.

Silent Auction Prize - Decorated Frame, Flameless Candles, Rose Tree and Note Card Set

I am so very pleased with the way this collection came together.  The prize includes some coupons, a free class for the recipient and a free Private Card Class for 4, but these decorative items are the bit that had me grinning from ear to ear.   I love how they turned out, don't you?  And with all that gold paper and gold glitter, I feel truly like I shared some of the Olympic golden moments with the rest of Canada.

I hope the recipient enjoys receiving these items as much as I did making them.  Tune in tomorrow for a quick video on how to make the rolled roses in a flash!  Till then, hope you enjoyed a spectacular weekend with lots of your own "golden" moments!

God Bless,     ~Cynthia      <><

Thankful Thursday - From My (Golden) Heart

Hello Dear Friends

Another Thankful Thursday and I have LOTS to be thankful for - as always!  But today I am going to focus on something from the past.  You see, for reasons that are not important here, today I was remembering some fantastic sister demos that I met a year and a half ago in Salt Lake City at my first (and so far, only) Stampin' Up! Convention.

I was at Convention with 5000 women from all over North America - yet I was alone. 
My upline did not attend Convention. 
I was new and really didn't know very many people. 
And I was feeling somewhat overwhelmed. 

When I registered at the Convention Awards desk, I found out that I had achieved a fantastic honour - a phenomenal honour - Founders' Circle - but there I was, standing alone, without friends or family.  I didn't really have anyone to share my excitement with.  And it was awkward and lonely, to say the least.  Enter two wildly generous and uber-friendly SU! demonstrators from western Canada.  "Strangers' - yes.  But not for long.  These women instantly took me under their wing and told me I needed a hug (and they were right!).  Minutes after introducing ourselves, it was as if we were old friends!  And then later at the Awards Night itself, they let me tag along with their entire group and dance with joy and abandon.

Lauren and Rebecca -- and Cheryl, Fran, Heidi and Leanne......I am not certain you know just how grateful I am for the way you took me under your wing?!?  And since then, although we have not been geographically close, I have gotten to keep in touch via facebook - I've watched your lives unfold and shared in some ups and downs with you.

If I could hug each of you now to say Thank You, I would.  But in the absence of geographical closeness, let me just say Thank You From the Bottom of My Heart, for blessing my life with your smiles and support and encouragement.

Moving on to today's card then:
I love letting gold vellum and gold sequins do all the heavy lifting to add "oomph" to a card.  Pretty wonderful the way you can use adhesive behind the little gold hearts to glue down the vellum, without unsightly adhesive marks, right?  And that bit of gold foil showing from behind the gold-embossed sentiment - just enough to be classy without being overpowering.  



Did you know that this stamp set (From My Heart) is on sale this week for 25% off?  It is a wonderful set and it has never, ever before been offered for such a phenomenal price!  if you want to order it while it is such a deal, go online, or contact me.  You won't be sorry!

I hope all of you take time today to think of all those random and sporadic chance encounters that bless you - Go ahead, be thankful for them!  Be thankful for those strangers who instantly become close friends.  The kind that are meant to be cherished and remembered and appreciated.  If only from a distance......

God Bless you all.
Have a wonderful weekend,    ~Cynthia     <><

• From My Heart
• Gold Foil Sheets
• Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum
• Gold Sequin Trim
• Versamark Pad
• Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive
• Circles Collection Framelits Dies
• Window Frames Collection Framelits Dies
• Big Shot Die-Cut Machine
• Heat Tool

Sale-A-Bration is HERE !!!

Hello Friends

Are you as excited as I am?  Because if you aren't, you really should be!!

Sale-A-Bration is finally here!  The BEST time of the year!  The most exciting time of the year.  Because until March 31, for every $60 you spend, you can choose one SAB product for FREE!  That's right.  Absolutely, positively FREE!

Do you have a catalogue?  If you want one, contact me and I'll make sure one gets into your hands!  But while you are waiting for your live copy, check out the catalogue here to see the wonderful goodies you can earn.  You'll want to especially look closely at pages 12 - 17 to see all the great FREE products that are available!

Some of my favourite FREE items are the Banner Blast stamp set and coordinating punch that I used to create both Sunday's card, and this super-cute card today (CASEd with modifications, from this and this site).  But to be honest, those are only my favourite products "today".  My favourite FREE SAB products change daily, as the mood hits me, so check back often to see what my favourite SAB product "of the day" will be next!

I can't help it.  Getting FREE stamps, Designer Paper, Embossing Folders and more makes me giddy with excitement!!

I mean...just look at some of the cool and gorgeous products you can earn for FREE, just by placing a $60 order for the things you love and want (and need?) anyhow!

Super Stamp sets (wood or clear.  English or French.  Your choice.....FREE), Uber cool embossing folders, Card kits, Designer Paper......all FREE.  Woo hoo!!

Banner Blast Stamp Set

Petal Parade Stamp Set

See Ya Later Stamp Set

You're Lovely Stamp Set

Banner Punch

 

Good As Gold Card Kit

Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper

Come to my Sale-A-Bration Kick-Off Party on Saturday, here in Ottawa, and help me welcome Sale-A-Bration 2014 with style!!  Contact me for details.  So many wonderful items.  So versatile.  You are going to want to earn them all.  Trust me!

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Join Now for the best Savings and Excitement!

Want a bunch of these great items?  Put in an order (contact me or DIY online).  Or host a stamping get-together with friends during SAB and get even MORE hostess benefits for qualifying parties!  Or better yet, sign up to get your Starter Kit and save the most money!  Contact me and we can talk about the best way for you to save money and earn these fantastic new products  For FREE!

If you live anywhere in Canada, ANYWHERE at all, I can help you get the things you want.  Contact me and let's make your Sale-A-Bration 2014 something to remember!!

Have a terrific day.  And a SUPER Sale-A-Bration!!

God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><