Fast and Fabulous Inspired By Nature

Happy first-long-weekend-of-the-summer to all my Canadian friends!!  Here in Ottawa our weather is slated to be gorgeous so no one wants to be inside stamping for most of the day.  Instead, let's make some Fast and Fabulous cards so we can get outside and enjoy the weekend!

Inspired By Nature is retiring but I wanted one more chance to play with the set.  And this quickie card is just the ticket to showcase just how gorgeous this flower image is.


The sentiment was stamped at the bottom of the card and then a hill was "masked" using post-it notes.  Stampin' Write markers were used to colour directly on the flower stamp, then it was 'huffed on' (to re-activate any drying ink) and stamped.  The hill at the bottom was sponged in and clouds were sponged lightly using a scallop circle mask.  Simple and quick.  Do you know I think it took me longer to type out these directions than to make the card!  But for a quick card it is pretty effective, don't you think?


Supply List
Stamps - Inspired By Nature (retiring), Heard From the Heart (retiring)
Paper - Whisper White
Ink - Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso and Old Olive markers. Early Espresso, Old Olive and Bashful Blue ink pads
Accessories - 1 3/4" Scallop Circle (to mask the clouds), sponges, Post-it notes







I have a second card to show you too.  This was one of May's monthly club cards and it was inspired by Catherine Pooler's card here.  And believe it or not, this card actually goes together rather quickly too!  Just emboss the image and sponge around it with bright sunset colours (I took the 'brightness' off of the lace by sponging a faint bit of black ink on it).  Easy Peasy!

Supply List
Stamps - Inspired By Nature (retiring)
Paper - Whisper White, Basic Black, Crumb Cake
Ink - Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose and Rich Razzleberry Classic inks, Black Craft Ink.
Accessories - Clear embossing powder, heat gun, sponges, Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim


Trust me - this card has WOW-factor but it does not take a long time to create!   And you can change up the background colours quite easily to achieve a variety of different effects.

So how about it?  Now that you've seen these quick cards, are you "inspired" by nature too?!?

Hope everyone has a chance to enjoy their weekend.  I know I will!!

God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <><

Good Friday Easter Cross

Today is Good Friday - a day of paradox.  Profound sorrow leading to profound joy.  It took me until I was an adult to begin to truly wrap my head around this (and the movie, The Passion, was crucial in helping me even begin to understand it in a deeper manner....)....  Where was I?  Oh yes.  Good Friday.

It is a gloriously sunny morning and I was just blessed to spend a few minutes with someone who began as an acquaintance, became a customer, and quite quickly became a valued friend.  I wanted to give her something to let her know how blessed I feel to have met her, and to wish for her a wonderful, peace-filled and joyful Easter.  So I made her a card I know she will appreciate.  And I wanted to share it with you too.

I stamped the grass from Inspired By Nature in Lucky Limeade, then mounted 2 crosses onto the card front.  (Run your cardstock through the Big Shot with the Lattice Die, then selectively trim away a few rings to leave the cross shape).  The black cross is adhered directly to the card since death is but a shadow, and the victorious white cross is raised up on dimensionals just offset from this.  The white cross was then covered with dazzling diamonds glitter.

A few butterflies (Beautiful Wings embosslit), blossoms (Itty Bitty Punch) and basic pearls, and a Happy Easter from the Delightful Dozen stamp set, and my card was ready to give to my dear friend.

Believe it or not, this is actually a Fast and Fabulous card - in keeping with my Friday venture.  It did not take a long time to make.  But the sentiment and love it carries to my friend are meant to last a lifetime.

To all of you - Happy Good Friday.   And may you each enjoy a glorious and joy-filled Easter!

God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><

Bunny Punch Art

If you've never popped over to check her out, you really should take a glance at Lorri Heiling's blog.  The woman is an artist!  And I absolutely loved the bunny card she posted a while back.  I wanted to CASe it for my club ladies with some minor changes, and here is what I came up with.

The outside of the card presents a cute and still-tasteful bunny butt to bring a smile to your face.   Then the inside of the card has Mr. Rabbit peaking thoughtfully through the hole.  How adorable is that?

The card is made using all Stampin' Up! punches (the whiskers are hand cut) with some Beautiful Wings embosslit butterflies thrown in.  If you know me, you know I LOVE those butterflies!.  The sentiment is from Delightful Dozen and the grass, naturally, is from the ever-so-lovely Inspired By Nature set.

My club ladies seemed to enjoy making this Easter Card.  There were a lot of little paper bits flying around the table, and sponging all the white edges with Crumb Cake ink to give them depth took a bit of time - but the end result made everyone smile.  Hope it brings a smile to your face too!  Check back tomorrow.  I have a wonderful Fast and Fabulous Friday card for you!

Enjoy your day and God Bless,     ~Cynthia   <><