Fast and Fabulous Friday - Gentle Peace Christmas Ornament

Good Morning Friends 

And happy Black Friday.    :)

Finally - I have another Fast and Fabulous Friday installment for you again!  And I think you are really going to like this one!

I have seen this stamp-set-turned-ornament several times on the internet and I just had to reproduce a version for myself.  It was very fast.  It is super-cute.  And I think I will have to make several versions of it in several different colour combinations.  What do you think?  Sound like a good plan?

So tell me - what colour(s) would you like to see this done in?  I might just be convinced to "take a few orders".  Feel free to leave me a comment to let me know what you think and what your choice would be.

I hope everyone is looking forward to a spectacular weekend.  For my American friends who will be shopping today (and my brave Canadian friends who will drive across the border for that very reason), have a successful - and safe - shopping experience.

And to all of you, have a wonderful day and God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <><  


Product List

Gentle Peace Photopolymer Stamp Set [139523]	Versamark Pad [102283]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]
2-1/2" Circle Punch [120906]	Circles Collection Framelits Die [130911]	Little Labels Punch Pack [126881]
Silver 1/8" Ribbon [132137]	Elegant Eggplant 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [105126]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]

Founder's Circle Card ... Yes I'm Excited!

Okay - to start off with I am going to post a card that I made last night.  It is a little "different" from my usual style.  But I hope you'll like it!

This is my version of a Nautical Card and you'll see where my inspiration came from if you continue reading through this post.

Supply List
Stamps - The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes. Woodgrain
Paper - Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist, Baja Breeze, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Versamark
Tools and Accessories - Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Early Espresso Tulle, Crumb Cake Tulle, 7/8" Cotton Ribbon, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Sponges, Clear Embossing Powder


I took various strips of Vanilla and Crumb Cake and Soft Suede cardstock and swiped my coloured ink pads across them to get the weathered-looking strips down the left-hand side.  This technique, as my club members know, is called "Direct to paper".  The compass was embossed with clear embossing powder to give it a "glassy" appearance.  And the gorgeous tulle from the holiday catalogue?  Well I tore it into misshapen pieces so it looked like netting.  A bit of rough handling and sponging to the cotton ribbon and I think this card looks like it could have washed up on any old pier.

Now on to my inspiration.....Remember I told you that I was awarded one of Stampin' Up!'s most prestigious awards?  I get to go to Founder's Circle in 2 short weeks.

I was excited before.
Honest-to-goodness excited.

But now?  Now I am fairly bursting with bubbly excitement!

Remember this?   -------->

The gorgeous canvas designer bag that I was given as part of my Founder's Circle achievement award?





Well.....I returned home from my vacation to find a plump express mail envelope waiting for me.  And inside I found this!
<---------
A lovely canvas 'wallet' to match the Founder's Circle bag


 Of course, the wallet had something inside of it....

My flight itinerary for getting to Founder's Circle.  A couple of really cute luggage tags.  And loads of information about Founder's.

Then I started cluing in....the "canvas" bags, the luggage tags with the seashore motif, the information pamphlet with the weathered boards look to it.....I am guessing (?!) that Founder's Circle this year will have an Ocean or Nautical Theme.

Last year's theme was "Tea Party" so there is precedence for a themed retreat.  If I had to wager money on it, I'd say that this year's theme will be Nautical.  So I decided to create something to go with that theme.  I don't own the stamp set "By the Seashore" (that looks like where the seashell, crab and starfish images came from) - but I knew I had enough stamps in my arsenal to give this self-imposed challenge a good try.

So I created this fun card.
Don't you think it resembles the Founder's pamphlet I was sent in the mail?  I apologize that my lighting is somewhat screwy so the colours do not appear as true as they should.  But trust me when I say that in real life, the card is a pretty decent match to the pamphlet.  

Of course, before I get too excited, I still have 120 (identical) swap cards to design and make to exchange with all of the other ladies who will be at Founder's.  My club ladies and customers will get a chance to see the 120 cards I bring home from all of those wonderful creative ladies.  Can you imagine?  I will have a card sample made by the Top 100 US Demonstrators and the top 20 demonstrators in all of Canada!  And my customers will get to see them all!  To be honest - I can't wait to see them myself!  And I still can't believe I am part of this elite group this year.  Excited.  Humbled.  And thoroughly blessed!~

So...I guess I'd better get to work and finish my 120 cards, right?  I'll make sure I post a copy for all of you to see  --  but not until Sept 12 when I am at the awards retreat.  Wouldn't want to post it before the recipients even get a chance to see the original, right?

In the meantime, more cards to make, more cards to post, and coming up I'll be part of a fantastic Blog Hop.  What's that you say?  I'm going to give you a chance to visit 50 blogs over the next 2 months and collect Treasure Hunt clues (easy peasy ones, don't worry).  Collect all 50 and I'll draw one name to receive a gift from me, and the Blog Hop "leader" will draw a name to award one lucky person with a $150 shopping spree!!  Yippee!

So let's make a deal, you and I.  I'll be excited about my upcoming Founder's award retreat.  You be excited about the Blog Hop.  And we can all share some excitement together!    In the meantime, have a great day!
God Bless,     ~Cynthia      <><

Four Seasons - Summer Hostess set

Good Morning

If you've seen the new catalogue, you must have drooled over the new hostess sets like I did.  And one of my favourites has to be the Four Seasons stamp set.  I can see me getting a LOT of use out of this one!!

Her is my first take on a nice summertime card with bright colours and an easy design layout.

Supply List
Stamps - Four Seasons
Paper - Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight
Ink - Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise
Big Shot -  Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder, Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, Large Scallop Edgelit
Tools and Accessories - 2 1/2" circle punch, 2 3/8" scallop punch, 1" Circle Punch, Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, dimensionals, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds

I love how totally bright and fun this card is.  The inside of the card has the co-ordinating flower (from the Four Seasons Summer stamps) stamped, as well as the butterfly - although I am guessing the butterfly is considered part of the Four Seasons Spring ensemble.    :)

Just something light and summery to say hello on a Sunday morning!  Hope your weekend has been spectacular so far!  
God Bless,         ~Cynthia    <><

A Pig With Gratitude and Attitude

Some of you may know that I help out with the Catholic School Board Children's Choir here in Ottawa.  Every year we have 80 kids from schools all across Ottawa who rehearse and perform together as one of the best children's choirs for miles around.  The final concert of the year took place just this past Saturday and I must tell you, the children sounded spectacular!!  Of course, I may be somewhat biased since all 4 of my children are in the choir.

The mascot for our choir is a pig and after each choir practice one child is recognized and given a small plastic pig as an award.  The rationale for our mascot choice is from the the old 'joke' -- you know, long story short: the farm animals want to thank the farmer for being so wonderful and decide to give him bacon and eggs for breakfast.  In order to accomplish this, the chicken merely gives a donation to the breakfast feast.  But the pig is committed!!
Well, since the pig is a symbol of commitment, we use it as our mascot and the choir director awards one each week to the child who is particularly committed and focused at practice.

Choir is finished for this season but the Choir Council is getting together tonight for a final meeting before our summer hiatus.  I wanted to make a thank you card to give to the other Choir Council members, and naturally I preferred something with a pig on it.  So I used the Button Buddies set to make some quick thank you cards.  Here is the least frou-frou one, since there are 2 men on the Council and I didn't think they would appreciate bright pink and glitter!  I'll show you the other cards later.  But for now, here is the "man-version" of my pig thank you card.

Supply List
Stamps - Button Buddies, Kindness Matters
Paper - Whisper White
Ink - Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip
Big Shot -  Square Lattice embossing folder
Tools and Accessories - 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Chocolate Chip Scallop Dots Ribbon, Sponges, Buttons, Dimensionals


What do you think?  Not-girlie girl I hope?  Neutral enough that the men won't cringe when they get them?  I sure hope so.  These 2 men put a whole LOT of effort into making our choir a success and they deserve a pig award -- this is my little way of telling them they are appreciated!   So this here pig has gratitude and attitude!


That's all for now.  Have a marvelous day and God Bless,    ~Cynthia   <><