Sweetie Pie #3 - Doing Nothing With You

Hello Again My Friends and welcome to installment #3 of my Quick and Simple Sweetie Pie cards for my girls.

Darling daughter #3 and I happen to enjoy bird-watching together and can't wait to go out again in the Spring.  Now I will admit that in all of our hours spent traipsing the fields and brush, there have been several occasions when we saw nothing more interesting than a sparrow.  Yet the time spent together was - and is - gold.

I remember one of the first times we spent on an outing, when we came up relatively empty-handed (empty-binoculared?).  Yet DD#3 put her hand into mine as we walked, smiled up at me and told me that it was the best day ever - and she'd rather spend that time with me and see nothing, than not have our time together.

Do you know, even when I am working on the computer and she is reading, she usually comes and settles herself beside me (and I mean *right* beside me!) - because being "together doing nothing" is better than being apart.

So this card - just a simple card with some birds and branches and my own little Sweetie Pie - says it all.  And being able to pull the silver thread out of the Silver Baker's Twine and wrap it around the card means I could add just enough sparkle to match the sparkle in DD#3's eyes and smile!

Just so you know, despite the fact that the Sweetie Pie images are all girls, I actually have a Sweetie Pie card for my son!  And my darling hubby too!  You'll have to check back tomorrow to see installments #4 and #5 in my Love-My-Family Sweetie Pie series!!

Sweetie Pie stamp set #136849

In the meantime, I hope you've had a wonderful weekend.  I certainly have. 
God Bless you all,    ~Cynthia   <><

Product List
Stamp : Serene Silhouettes Clear-Mount Stamp Set [127324] , From My Heart [132007], Sweetie Pie Photopolymer Stamp Set [136849]
Ink : Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [131179] , Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974] , Versamark Pad [102283] , Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad [126986]
Card Stock : Island Indigo 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock [122923] , Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730]
Tools & Adhesive : Stamping Sponges [101610]
Punch : 1-3/4 Inch Scallop Circle Punch [119854] , 1-3/8 Inch Circle Punch [119860] , Extra-Large Oval Punch [119859] , Decorative Label Punch [120907]
Accessory : Black Stampin' Emboss Powder [109133] , Silver Baker's Twine [132976]
Big Shot : Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die [119976]

Fast. I mean FAST. (And Fabulous) Friday

Hello Friends

Cleaning up from another Card-in-a-box class last night, have club ladies due here in less than 90 minutes and another class tonight so this post has *got* to be quick.  And since I discovered the Sweet Sorbet Accessory Pack yesterday, and the cute little self-adhesive cork pieces that come FREE during Sale-A-Bration, I decided to create something in 2 minutes or less using that.

So - what do you think?

Took me more time to cut and fold the card than it did to stick on the cork pieces!  And there are some cute little shapes with that Accessory pack.  Now my mind is racing with ideas on what *else* I can make.

But for today.  Here you go.  Fast.  I mean *FAST*.  And still Fabulous.

Have a wonderful weekend and God Bless, 
          ~Cynthia    <><


Product List
Stamp : Happy Watercolor [clear] [133191]
Ink : Baked Brown Sugar Classic Stampin' Pad [131174]
Card Stock : Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730]
Accessory : Sweet Sorbet Accessory Pack [133522]
Big Shot : Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die [119976]

Thankful Thursday - Chauffeur No-More!

Howdy Howdy Howdy Friends

Thankful Thursday today is all about being thankful for the little things.  Like my 16 yr old getting her driver's license last week.  Because it wasn't until she drove her sisters and brother to Youth Group at the church that same night - while Dad and I stayed home, comfortable on the couch - that I realized just how much driving I have done over the last dozen years or so.  

Four kids.  
One vehicle.  
You do the math.

To be honest, I am equally thankful that my daughter is a good driver.  A very good driver.  Hence us giving her the car just hours after she passed her driving test.  We trust her.  And she appreciates that trust.  We've been pretty blessed with all our kids.  But that is an entire years'-worth of Thankful Thursdays for another time.

So for now - I am just thankful that for both of the last 2 nights, when I had club ladies here creating up a storm in my basement, I didn't have to be the one driving my kids out and about to the places they needed to be.  Darling daughter had it all under control.  And I got to just teach and ink and glue and cut in peace. 

Thankful?  Who me?  You betcha!!

So who actually gets this Thank You card?   Hmmm.   Daughter?   Driving Instructor?  Driving Examiner?  All of the above - or none of the above?  Could be that this is just one for my stash.  But the gratitude I feel to all those people who contributed to this outcome so that I have just a bit more freedom than I had before......well I kid you not, I am thankful indeed!

Hope everyone has a chance to focus on all the things they are thankful for, be they big or small.  And that you feel blessed beyond compare!  Have a lovely day and God Bless,    ~Cynthia     <><

• Yippee-Skippee! Wood-mount Stamp Set
• Yippee-Skippee! Clear-mount Stamp Set
• Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper
• Label Card Thinlits Die
• Gold Baker's Twine
• 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon
• Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die
• Baked Brown Sugar Classic Stampin' Pad
• Baked Brown Sugar 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Tangerine Tango 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Very Vanilla 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Stamping Sponges
• Stampin' Dimensionals

A Different Angle - Peaceful Petals

Hi Friends

Ever notice that when you find a nice, flowery stamp set, you feel locked into a type and cannot get past the flowers to think outside the box?  I was in that mode with Peaceful Petals.  Love, love, LOVE the set....but only saw girlie cards.

Until I tried.

Here's a card using just the leaves from amongst those stamp images, in green and gold tones. And I must say, it looks completely different from every other card I've made using that set.

What do you think?  Surprised it was Peaceful Petals, weren't you?!

I've got a few more Peaceful Petals cards to show you over the next little while (but they are more along the lines of what you might be expecting....) .  And they'll all use a quick and cool little technique that I've been playing with quite a bit lately.

But until then, I will keep this short and sweet.  Feel free to leave me a comment to let me know what you think of this particular Peaceful Petals card - and come back soon to see its sister cards.

Hope you all have a terrific weekend!   God Bless,      ~Cynthia    <><

• Peaceful Petals [wood]
• Peaceful Petals [clear]
• Always Artichoke 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad
• Naturals Ivory 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Gold Baker's Twine
• Aqua Painter
• Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die
• Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

Another Sale-A-Bration Sneak Peak - Banners Galore!

Hello Friends

I am so excited....Sale-A-Bration begins on Tuesday and the products you can earn FREE this year are out of this world!!

Check out the wonderful newness on this card?  See those cute little banners?  You guessed it!  A stamp set that you can earn FREE!  And you don't have to cut them out by hand, no-sir-ree.  There's a punch that will do that.  And you guessed it -- you can earn that punch for FREE as well!

Such a pretty pastel card, and so easy to create too.  I just LOVE FREE Sale-A-Bration products.  Woohoo!!

I hope everyone is as excited as I am about Sale-A-Bration.  Two more days and it is here!  Yippee!!   If you need a catalogue, let me know!  Any order of $60 (before s&h and HST) gets you your choice of SAB item for FREE!  And I can ship to anywhere in Canada.  Remember that!
If you want a SAB catalogue, or if you want to place a SAB order, or if you just want to order a few more fantastic Stampin' Up! products, contact me and I'll be happy to help you!

In the meantime, have a wonderful end to your weekend and God Bless,      ~Cynthia    <><

Banner Blast Stamp Set (free during Sale-A-Bration) 
Banner Punch  (free during Sale-A-Bration) 

• Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die
• Big Shot Die-Cut Machine
• Peaceful Petals [wood]
• Peaceful Petals [clear]
• Silver Baker's Twine
• Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents
• Pool Party 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad
• Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad
• Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Well I have told you all previously that I have the best mother in the world (sorry to disappoint all those out there who thought they had her).  I am here to add to that by telling you that I also have the world''s greatest father.  My cup runneth over and I am truly blessed.

I could wax poetic about my parents - but that's not why you came here   :)
Instead I will show you the card I made for my father - an avid fisherman - and hope that the pictures do it even just a little bit of justice!

I have an old retired Stampin' Up! set called Fishin' that came out in 1996.  This set was just itching to be used for my Dad's card so I stamped the bullrushes and weeds and water splash and fish all using Stazon Black ink, onto Naturals White cardstock.

I used my aquapainter to apply colour to the scene, including the water.  Once the image was coloured, I used a brayer to apply "sunrise" colours to the sky.  The image was cut out using the second largest Labels size of the Framelits, then the entire piece was spritzed liberally with a home-made shimmer mist.  It was mounted on a chocolate chip mat that had been embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder, then this was adhered to a Naturals White card.  Finally, the fish was covered with Crystal Effects to make him seem wet and slick.  Here is a close-up so you can see the shimmer on the scene, and the wet/slick look of the fish.

On the inside of the card I stamped a few more fish, a fishing pole and a tackle box and traditional fishing hat (think Tilley hat). 

 I really hope my father likes this card.  I tried to get the fish to resemble a rainbow trout (thank you Google Images!).  I am not certain how well I succeeded. But I know my father will appreciate the attempt!

This is a wonderful stamp set and perfect for my fisherman father.  I know it is retired and I really should sell it at my Open House in June but I am undecided so far.  I don't use if often enough to justify keeping it.  But will anyone else love it the way I do?!?!?  Certainly no one loves my father the way I do.  Well...maybe my 8 brothers and sisters (yes - you read that correctly.  I am one of 9 children.  Told you I had the world's greatest mother and father, didn't I?!).

At any rate, to that wonderful father (married to a wonderful woman), I say, "Happy Birthday and lots of love". 

And to the rest of you - enjoy your day.  The weekend is almost here!  God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

Happy Birthday Benjamin !!

My darling son turned 10 years old today (He's my 'baby'.  When did he grown up?!?).  And of course I wanted to make a special birthday card for him.  I remembered that Lorri Heiling had made a super-cute digger and dump truck card a while back so I set about to make one of my own.  Of course, hers was way more sophisticated, but I am still pleased with my simplified version.   The stamped images are all from the I Dig You set.

The arm of the digger was stamped multiple times and the pieces were cut out individually and attached together using brads.  So the arm is completely moveable and is hinged in all the right places!!  All wheels were embossed with black embossing powder so they are just like rubber tires, and the clouds (frosting from the cupcake punch) and the ground were embossed using the Lattice Square embossing folder then lightly sponged to give them extra texture.
It really didn't take long too make this card, but it sure packs a little boy punch.  Best of all, Benjamin loves it too!

Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of their week.    God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

Let's Fix That. Here's a Fixer-Upper card

Have you ever created a card and right when you thought you had it pretty much done....you did something to "ruin" it??  I have had this happen more times than I care to remember.  So today's post is devoted to "fixing" a mistake and turning lemons into lemonade.

Take this card.  I stamped the Just Believe image in Not Quite Navy onto a piece of Whisper White card stock, then masked a moon and sponged the same NQN ink all over the card.  I had it pretty much the way I liked it, then wouldn't you know it, I dripped a few drops of water onto the card.  Don't ask me how it happened.  It was stupid and does not bear repeating.
Do you see that large "bleached out" spot near the upper left of the card and the one near the centre bottom of the stems?  Man oh man I thought the whole card was ruined.  Then I had an "aha" moment.  A brainstorm.  What if I made it so that the water-droplet bleached spots were intentional?  What if I gave those bleached out spots a lot of buddies? So I flicked more water all over the card and got an assortment of water spots.  Sheer inspiration borne out of an accident! 

This is what I ended up with!  I added an embossed white panel, a little bit of tearing and distressing down the Elegant Eggplant panels, a few pearls and voila!  Not sure about you but I happen to like it.  It could have been sent to the garbage, but now this card is meant for a dear friend!
So what you think?  Was this a decent save or what?  Would you have even known it wasn't intentional if I hadn't told you?  Didn't think so!    :)

I am enjoying my visit home with family - in fact, last night I did a workshop for one of my sisters who is also part of my downline.  It was a small but wonderful group of ladies and I had a terrific time.  I always love to see the 'personal touch' each lady brings to the table.  I am constantly amazed at the way the same card can turn out so differently in different people's hands.  Their creativity often becomes a jumping off point for my own inspiration.  You'll have to check back later to see what they've inspired me to do next!

Have a wonderful week and God Bless!    ~Cynthia     <><