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]

Thankful Thursday -

Dear Friends

Did you think I was never ever going to post a Thankful Thursday again?  Ha!  Think again!

I can tell you exactly what I am most thankful about on days like today....... that there are wonderful, artistic and gracious people out there who create gorgeous cards and then share them with the rest of us.  Because sometimes, rather than trying to design a card from scratch, you are able to use something you've seen elsewhere.  And CASEing cards (Copy And Share Everywhere) can certainly make life easier when you are very, very busy.

That's what happened to me last week.  I saw this beautiful card on LeeAnn Greff's blog and although I loved it as is, I thought it was a shame that she hadn't capitalized on the wonderful new Petite Petals stamp set.  So I changed the card ever so slightly in order to use new products and voila.....a simple yet gorgeous card.

So today I am thankful.  Thankful for all the brilliant people out there who share gorgeous cards and techniques, ideas and advice.  Thank you for sharing your passion with me.  And inspiring me to share my passion with my own friends.

Hope everyone can find at least one thing to be thankful for!!  Heaven knows we are all overwhelmingly blessed!

God Bless each and every one of you!  
Today and always.       ~Cynthia     <>< 

• Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper
• Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon
• Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad
• Petite Petals Wood-Mount Bundle
• Petite Petals Clear-Mount Bundle
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter
• 2-Way Glue Pen

• Simply Celebrate [english, wood]
• Simply Celebrate [english, clear]

Fast & Fabulous Come To Bethlehem

Wow - It's been way too long since I did a Fast & Fabulous Friday.  But in keeping with my attempt to get back to blogging more often, here is a F & F card using my treasured Come To Bethlehem stamp set.

Supply List
Stamps - Come To Bethlehem
Paper - Whisper White, Midnight Muse
Ink - Midnight Muse
Big Shot -  Labels Framelits, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Lacy Brocade EF
Tools and Accessories - Stitched Satin Ribbon, 2-way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Rhinestone Jewels, Sponges, Dimensionals

This was one of the cards that my friends got to create at the Christian Christmas card class that I held in October.  I think I'll showcase the other creations over the next few days for those of you who were unable to join us.  Believe me, when you see the cards, you'll wish you had been able to come!  This card is likely the "simplest" of the four designs.  But perhaps that is what I love so much about it.  The Come To Bethlehem stamp set needs so little adornment to make a card that packs a big punch!

For those of you visiting from Word Art Wednesday, yes, this is one of the stamp sets that I am giving away to one lucky recipient.  And to the rest of you, for your chance to win this stamp set (plus the Crosses of Hope stamp set), pop on over to Word Art Wednesday and enter their card challenge.

To everyone, I wish you a wonderful day - and a peace-filled weekend ahead.
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    <><.

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   <><

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     <><