Fast and Fabulous Friday - Improving the Details

Good Morning Friends

 
Another Fast and Fabulous Friday. 

And today, I *REALLY* cheated!!

You know that very quick, very elegant card I showed on Monday.  (You can see it HERE.)  Well, I looked at it again and decided that it needed a little something more.  So I added our Stampin' Up! pearls.  
And THAT my friends, was exactly what it needed!

I alternated the smallest pearls with the medium-sized ones, and even added a few as flower centres in the So Detailed cut-outs.  This gives the whole card more of a true, 'vintage' feel, doesn't it?

So this, quite possibly, qualifies as my "fastest" Fast and Fabulous Friday ever!

But really, the original card was quick to make too.  So I didn't cheat that much.

Close up of alternating small and medium-sized pearls

Enjoy your upcoming weekend.  Don't forget that if you purchase the So In Love Bundle (includes the So Detailed thinlits and the So In Love stamp set), you automatically qualify for a FREE Sale-A-Bration item.  So you could choose the Delicate Details stamp set....and have what you need to create this gorgeous card on your own.  

The SAB products that you could earn FREE (one for every $60-worth of product you purchase) are gorgeous.  See them all by clicking HERE.  

Place your orders online by visiting HERE (at check out, please use the hostess code 3M2AGU7N) or contact me to place your order for you.

And if you want a LOT of stuff ($100 or more), you can save a TON of money - up to $200 - by making your purchase into a fully customizeable Starter Kit purchase.  See the details HERE or contact me to ask how we can save you lots of money while getting you everything you want.

Enjoy the weekend ahead and God Bless,      Cynthia   <><


Product List

So Detailed Thinlits Dies [142751]	So In Love Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143216]	So In Love Clear-Mount Bundle [144739]	Delicate Details Photopolymer Stamp Set [143314]	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]
Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [131172]	Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131198]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650]	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953]	Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments [119247]

Fast and Fabulous Friday - Fun Framed Thank You With a Jewel or a Pearl?

Hello My Friends

Today my sister and brother and I are taking our kids (well, some of them anyway) to the beach at Turkey Point.  I know, I know, "Turkey Point" doesn't sound much like a nice place to visit, does it?  But it is a wonderful beach on the shores of Lake Eerie, and the 12 of us (I told you, only "some" of the kids were with us....) are going to have a blast. 

Rhinestone

Pearl

But before I go, I needed to make a Fast and Fabulous Friday card.  So here you have it my friends.  Fast and Fabulous.  And quite honestly, this card took mere minutes.  Even the cutting out of the embossed frame, despite being fussy-cutting, really only took about 90 seconds!

But once again I am faced with a dilemma.  The card is just a tad bare.  So I stamped the heart towards the upper corner of the sentiment.  And then, even with that addition, the card needs an extra oomph.  So I tried a pearl.  And I tried a rhinestone.  Then back to the pearl.  Then back to the rhinestone.  And so on and so forth.....

I know it is a very slight detail.  But small details can make a big difference sometimes....

Aargh.  I don't have time today to hem and haw and figure out which one I prefer.  And since you were all so helpful the other day and weighed in with your design preferences, well, I figured I might be able to enlist your aid yet again. 

So leave me a comment to let me know whether you prefer the heart with the rhinestone or the pearl.   

When I return from the beach later this evening I will see which embellishment wins the place of honour on this card.  And one of you who weighs in will receive this card when I return home next week!   (Please make sure if you leave a comment as "Anonymous", that you sign your name as well so I will know who to send the card to!)

I am off to the beach now.  I'll check for your comments when I get back.  Until then, I hope everyone is looking forward to a wonderful weekend!            God Bless,      ~Cynthia    <><  



Product List

Fun Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [133727]	Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [133739]	Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die [117335]
Another Thank You Photopolymer Stamp Set [133454]	Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad [133642]	Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133675]
Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730]	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents [119246]	Basic Pearls Jewel Accents [119247]

Hi There Friend

Hello there to all my friends.  But especially.....

I wanted to send a little shout out today to a friend of mine.  One of those people who is strong and resilient and just can't be kept down.  She is one of those amazing women who puts her best face forward and chooses to smile openly at the world despite suffering from constant and chronic pain.

She is strong.  

And she amazes me.

I had an order I needed to get to her last week, and I wanted to create a card that was just for her.  So she'd know that it wasn't "just" a card to say Thank you for her order.  But instead, was a card to let her know that she was in my heart and on my mind.

What do you think?  
I think she liked it.   :)

Thinking of you S.R.   And hoping this week is a better week for you than last!

To all of you my friends - near and far - God Bless you this day and every day!!
~Cynthia     <><  

Product List
Stamp : , Flower Shop Clear Bundle [132726] , Petite Petals Clear-Mount Bundle [134822] , Too Kind Clear-mount Stamp Set [130450]

Ink : , Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad [131176]

Card Stock : White Vellum 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [101856] , Crisp Cantaloupe 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131298] , Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730]

Big Shot :  Window Frames Collection Framelits Dies [129021] , Beautifully Baroque Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [130917] , Paper Doily Sizzlits Die [125592]

Thankful Thursday - What's Not to be Thankful For?

Hello Friends.  

Stampin' Up! is giving us a chance to buy a whole bunch of really great products, at a fantastic discount (see list here).  If Stampin' supplies make you as happy as they make me.....then what's not to be thankful for?  

Seriously, there are many more reasons in life to be thankful than just craft sales.   :)       Family.  Friends.  Health.  Happiness.  If you have any one of these, you should be thankful.  Me?  I have *all* of them!  And I know it.  And my heart is glad!

But for the purposes of today, and this blog, I am going to keep this short....the fantastic November sale is too exciting to try to take any attention away from it.  But do keep this in mind...no matter how tired you get or how busy or how overworked, in the grand scheme of things...what's not to be thankful for?

Have a spectacular day and God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

• Sponge Daubers
• Labels Collection Framelits Dies
• Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin' Pad
• Marina Mist Classic Stampin' Pad
• White Stampin' Emboss Powder
• Heat Tool
• Basic Pearls Jewel Accents
• Fancy Fan Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

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   <><

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     <><

Thankful Thursday - Sneak Peak #2

Hello Dear Friends

I am so lucky!  As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I not only get every new catalogue early, but I also get to order from them before general customers do.  The newest Seasonal Catalogue goes live on August 1, but I got to place my order on July 1.  And I can tell you - there are some terrific goodies in there that you are going to really, really want!  

Want to find out how you, too, can pre-order products before they are officially released?  And get a 20% discount on every order you place?  Check out my Discount Tab at the top of this page.

As for today's card -- Today I am thankful that I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  Because I am not very patient.....and I wanted to play with the new Expressions Thinlits earlier, not later.

I am also thankful since it is my "job" here with Stampin' Up! that sent my husband and I (free) to Fiji in April.  And is sending us to San Diego for 4 days in September.  All expenses paid.  So I am thankful.  Thankful indeed!

I know I used the "Thankful" thinlit on yesterday's card, but I am thankful that I have three words/dies to choose from! And on todays' card I combined the new "Love" thinlit with the flower image from Gifts of Kindness.  Don't forget, when using the Expressions Thinlits you should place a piece of waxed paper between the cardstock (or DSP) and the thinlit, to enable you to remove the cardstock easier once you have cut it out.  A bit of polka dot embossing down the edge of the card, a few pearls, and voila.  A cute and easy card.

Hope you have many reasons to be thankful yourselves!   God Bless,    ~Cynthia   <><

Fast & Fabulous Friday - Finally!

Hello Friends

It seems like it has been quite a while since I posted a Fast & Fabulous Friday for you.
So today I have just that.  And I especially wanted to use blue for this card, since it (or a slight variant) is intended specifically for Lynn. 

Last night Lynn picked up a partial order and I hadn't yet had a chance to write out my usual Thank You card to accompany the bag.   It has been quite a while since I gave anyone a "naked" bag and it felt 'wrong' to me, and Lynn was disappointed too!  I love that my customers look forward to the Thank You cards I include with their orders.  Because in all honesty - my customers are why I do this.  I love sharing my love/addiction/passion for stamping with them.   And I love to be able to do something as small as give them a Thank You note with each order to let them know that I appreciate them!  At any rate, all this is to say that I gave Lynn a "naked" bag yesterday.  And now that the rest of her order has arrived, I need to have a Thank You card specifically with her in mind to make up for the 'naked' (partial) order.  Lynn loves blue.  So I designed this card using blue, with Lynn in mind.

Supply List
Stamps - Creative Elements, Papillon Potpourri, A Word For You
Paper - Naturals Ivory
Ink - Not Quite Navy
Tools and Accessories Basic Pearls

Did you notice how simple this card is?  A single layer.  No Big Shot.  No glitter.  No heat embossing.  Not even any sponging!~  It doesn't get any simpler than that!
This is one of those cards where you let the stamp set itself to do all of the 'heavy lifting'.

And in other news....Today is the last day to get a Free package of brads/vintage trinkets when you place a $50 order.  At the end of the day I will also pick from among the online orders to see who wins the Scentsational Season stamp set. That poor little Gingerbread Man is calling out for some love and attention!  And beginning tomorrow, there will be a new giveaway with $50 orders, and a new prize for online orders placed through until Nov 16.

If you live anywhere in Canada, these offers apply to you so get your order in today!
And ask me how you could get a full set of ink pads for FREE.  That's right, choose Brights, Subtles, or Regals for FREE.  No hassle, no stress, no problem.  Contact me today for all the details.

As for the rest, have a happy Weekend and God Bless,

Cynthia <><

Thankful Thursday With Fun Flowers

Hello Dear Friends

Once again it is Thankful Thursday.  And since we are heading into our Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, I am both thankful...and very busy! So this post will be short.  But thankful, nonetheless!

Supply List
Stamps - Perfectly Penned
Paper - Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Comfort Cafe DSP
Ink - Soft Suede
Big Shot -  Fun Flowers Die
Tools and Accessories -  1 3/8" Square Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Itty Bitty (Flower) Punch, dimensionals, Basic Pearls

Short, sweet and to the point.  But you get the idea.  I am Thankful for so very many things in life.  The chance to enjoy a long weekend with my family is just one of them.  I am going to go pack now so that when the kids get home from school we can immediately hop in the car and drive to visit my parents, who live almost 6 hrs away.  Thank goodness tomorrow is a PD Day and my husband could get the day off work!

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend, whether it is Thanksgiving for you or not.
God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><

Convention Swaps

So....apparently it is a tradition that when you come to Convention, you bring swap cards.  These are identical copies of cards you make to "trade" (or "swap") with other demonstrators.    I know women who make 150 and 200 swaps!!  Or they make 50 each of 2 or 3 different designs.  Ack!!  Me?!?  I am a little overwhelmed at the whole idea but I didn't want to "not" join in the fun, so I used one of the cards I designed for my ladies for our June card club as the basis for my Convention swap. 

Supply List
Stamps - Stippled Blossoms
Paper - Whisper White, Garden Green, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue
Ink - Garden Green, Lucky Limeade, Marina Mist, Baja Breeze (Stamped off once so it is pale)
Big Shot -  Top Note die, Fancy Fan EF, Delicate Designs EF, Square Lattice EF (optional)
Tools and Accessories - Sponges, pearls

At club, the ladies had the option of embossing the main stamped image or leaving it "unembossed".  I think there was pretty much a 50/50 split as to who embossed or left it 'flat'.  So I made both versions to bring to Convention and will let the recipients decide which one they prefer.  The embossed version ends up looking more like linen and is a really cool effect but this photo does not do it justice.  In this photo it looks like too much of the fine detail is obscured by the embossing, but in real life the embossed version is very, very pretty.

At least, I hope my swap buddies think so!

I hope to figure out how to download photos onto my laptop (?!?! wish me luck!!) so that I'll be able to share with you some of the very cool swaps I receive in return.  Keep your fingers crossed!  And stay tuned.    :)

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

Quick and Easy - Flowering Flourishes

Today's card is one of those elegant "black tie affair" type cards.  You know...the "shaken-not-stirred", Casino Royale type of card.   But best of all, it is really quick too!

Supply List
Stamps - Flowering Flourishes, Occasions Alphabet
Paper - Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Ink - Basic Black
Big Shot -  Labels Collection Framelits
Tools and Accessories - Basic Pearls, dimensionals, Black Grosgrain Ribbon (retired)


How unbelievably easy is that?  Stamp the flourish onto the Vanilla.  Stamp the appropriate alphabet sentiment onto a vanilla scrap and cut it out with the Labels Framelit.  Piece everything together and add a few pearls.  Voila.  Elegance and refinement in a very few minutes!


This is yet another one of the cards that the ladies will make at the card class on Thursday.  I hope they enjoy the selection I have designed for them.  You'll see another card tomorrow.  Then Thursday I will head to a law office downtown and do a private card class for these wonderful ladies.  I love that I can come in and they can have some creative therapy at the end of a long and stressful day!


Does a private card class sound like something you'd like to do too?  If you are in the Ottawa area and think this sounds interesting, contact me and we'll see if we can make it happen.


Have a wonderful day everyone.  God Bless      ~Cynthia    <><

Betsy's Blossoms Thank You

Happy Saturday friends!

My various Betsy's Blossom Thank Yous

Itty Banner Framelit Banner

 I wanted to show you some of the quick and lovely Thank You cards I have been creating with Betsy's Blossoms.



Stamps - Betsy's Blossoms, Fabulous Phrases
Paper - Whisper White, Marina Mist
Ink - Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse
Accessories - Itty Banners Framelits, Large Oval Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Large Oval Frame

Itty Banner Framelit Frame

Decorative Label (altered) frame

I tried various means to frame my sentiment and to be honest, I cannot decide which one I prefer.  Every card has its own personality and I can't decide which style I like best.  That's where you come in.  Go ahead and leave me a comment to let me know which frame style you prefer.

Hope everyone has a spectaclar weekend!    God Bless,      ~Cynthia    <><.

Happy Mother's Day - Retiring Fifth Avenue Floral

Well it happened again.  I had a gorgeous card ready well in advance of Mother's Day and there is no excuse for it not being in my mother's hands on time.  Except....my mother's favourite part of my cards is the poem that I write on the inside, as opposed to the actual card itself.  So despite having the card made 3 weeks ago, I only wrote the poem on Wednesday.  And even paying extra for Express Postage on Thursday morning didn't help get the card into her hands on time.  So tomorrow afternoon, when the postman delivers my mother's mail, this is the card she will find.

I love the Floating Re-inker technique and I especially like the effect you achieve using the Fifth Avenue Floral set.  Particularly the rose.  When I found this video on the internet, I had to CASE the card (with some alterations) and demonstrate it to my ladies in my card clubs.  And, of course, I wanted my mother to have one of the gorgeous cards I created too!

Supply List
Stamps - Fifth Avenue Floral (retiring), Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper - Shimmery White, Rich Razzleberry textured, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi
Ink - Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, White Craft
Big Shot -  Adorning Accents embossing folder, Little Leaves Sizzlit
Tools and Accessories - Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Aquapainter, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

Although I am certain my mother will appreciate the card, I already know that she will much prefer the poem that is written inside.  And no, I am not going to share that with you!   :)

My mother is a strong and amazing woman who raised nine children using just the right combination of love, caring, laughter, discipline, support, encouragement, tough love and a big heart.  And throughout it all, she managed to maintain her sanity (which is something I often wonder if my mere 4 children have taken from me?!   LOL).  I know she doesn't read my blog - at least not yet - but I want to put it out there anyhow.... 
I love you Mom!!!    You are the greatest and best mother in the world and I truly thank God for blessing me with you in my life!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the rest of you too!     God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><

Going, Going, Almost Gone....Flight of the Butterfly

This card is so fast and simple I really should have posted it on Friday.  But I thought I'd show you another ultra-easy one now, since it uses part of one of my favourite stamp sets, Flight of the Butterfly.  I love butterfly images and I am sad to see this set retire.  And I am really sad to see the Butterfly punch retire as well.  But I am hopeful the new catalogue will have more butterflies for me to choose from.   Remember to order any retiring stamps or accessories that you may want, as soon as you can (in fact, why don't you order them now before it is too late).

Moving on....I saw this card on the internet a long, long time ago but cannot remember where so I cannot give credit to the designer.  But I will say it was a brilliant use of several simple elements to create a cute and wow card.  If you know who the original designer was, let me know so I can tell everyone.


Supply List
Stamps - Flight of the Butterfly (retiring)
Paper - Whisper White, Marina Mist
Ink - Marina Mist
Markers - Marina Mist
Big Shot - Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder
Tools and Accessories - Butterfly Punch (retiring), Two-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals

I have also created this card by using a marker to draw in a dotted flight path (instead of using the stamped sentiment as the flight path).  Done in light pink or light blue with a Welcome Baby sentiment, it makes a very simple but oh-so-cute baby card!!

Don't forget to check out all of the retiring accessories and retiring stamp sets.  You'll want to get them now before they are all gone!

Enjoy the rest of your day.
Happy stamping and God Bless,        ~Cynthia       <><