Adding Shimmer to a Card - the first video

My apologies my friends

I tried making a video tonight using my iphone - since the photos that it captures are FANTASTIC quality.  Well - either I don't know what I am doing, or my regular camera is a better quality than I thought, because the video made with my iphone is NOT good quality whatsoever.  However, I will post it anyhow, until I have a chance to make a new and better quality one to replace it!

Shimmery Stamped/Embossed Card

Can you see the shimmer?

In a nutshell, last year I used Iridescent Ice embossing powder to create a spectacular Christmas card that shimmered and glimmered like there was no tomorrow.  You can see that card and video HERE.  Well today I want to show you that you can use the same technique to 'step up' almost any card.  Here, I've used the technique to glimmer up the gorgeous card I created by stamping directly on the embossing folder. 

I promise when I get home form work tonight I will try to make a better version of this video.  But for now...you'll get the idea.

Here you go friends:

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

GV Blog Hop - Holiday Sneak Peek

Hello My Friends

This month our Grand Vacation blog hop will highlight some wonderful items from the new Holiday Catalogue that goes live on Sept 1.  So you get to enjoy a Sneak Peek of some fantastic treasures!

For me?  I LOVE cutting out and using the Santa images from the new "Home For Christmas" Designer Paper but my heart was breaking at the idea of leaving behind so many cute "partial" Santa Clauses around the edges of the paper.

Then the light bulb went off.  Or rather, should I say, the light bulb went "on".

Take a look at this cutie-pie.

I used one of the images from Cozy Christmas to stamp flying reindeer in the sky and used versamark and Iridescent Ice embossing powder to create the sparkle of gently falling snow (snow stamp from the Happy Scenes stamp set). 

Subtle sparkle of snow falling outside

See from a different angle how totally cute and totally effective, yet subtle the falling snow is? 


Torn and roughed-up white cardstock became a glittery snowbank, thanks to a 2-way glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds.

'He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake.  He knows when you've been bad or good....'   Can't you just picture Santa peeking in the window, keeping his eye on you!

The sentiment is from the new set 'Oh, What Fun'.  Considering that this is a sneak peek of new products, don't you think that "No Peeking" is a great sentiment for this card?  

Didn't look fast enough - and you almost missed seeing him!

Pretty neat, huh?  Even the partial Santas without any of the face showing lend themselves to really cool cards.  Almost as if you looked out the window a fraction of a second too late and almost "missed" seeing the jolly old guy completely!

All in all, I am very pleased with how these cards came out.  Every one is different.  Every one has character.  There are fuller images of Santa.  And there are images that are just fractions of him.  

I managed to get 16 partial Santas and made up 16 totally different cards.  And I still have all the complete Santas left, ready to be used in their entirety.

I plan to make up a whole lot more of these cards over the next little while - I have a special swap with some very special people coming up in September.  And I think they'll enjoy getting their very own "Peeking Santa", don't you?

In the meantime, you really should hop on over to the next blog on our blog hop.  You're going to want to visit them ALL!  I know you will see loads of wonderful projects using new products from the Holiday Catalogue.  The catty goes live on Sept 1 and you don't want to miss out.  (If you need to order some of these fantastic treasures, contact me and I will be happy to help you out! )

Have a terrific time hopping through the Sneak Peek posts.  Find some inspiration.  Leave a comment or two.  And enjoy your day!   
Till next time!    God Bless,    ~Cynthia    

Woodland Peace - Another Sneak Peek

Did you miss me?

You might have wondered why I have been so absent lately.  I mean, where are all the gorgeous cards using the sneak peek Holiday products?

I have an answer for you.  And it's not as exciting as you might think.

First the card....

Yes, I know, you have already seen this Woodland embossing folder a couple of times.  But can I help it if I absolutely love it!!  Here I coated the trunks with versamark and used Iridescent Ice mixed with white embossing powder to make them look like snowy birch trees.  The snowflake from the Among the Branches stamp set added some extra snow to my woodland scene.

The word "Peace" was cut from silver foil using the ever-so-cute new Christmas Greetings Thinlits and I love how easy it is to adhere using the new Fine-Top Glue Pen.  I also love the whimsical addition of random swirls and curls of metallic silver thread.  Nothing orchestrated.  Just some glints of glimmer.  Add in the luscious new White Glitter Ribbon and several rhinestones for just that extra little bit of sparkle, and top it all off with a Winter Wonderland Embellishment and I am happy, happy, happy.
 



Now to admit to you why it has taken me so long to get busy in my Craft Cave.

For the last 6 weeks my Craft Cave has looked like this-->

Not a single solitary clear space to work on.
Not one!!

It has made me feel all messed up and anxious every time I get close to it.
:(

But on Saturday I spent the entire day putting things away and cleaning up.  I know it still looks like there is lots to clean up and put away (and believe me, there IS)...but did you see that I actually have cleared surfaces now?  Someplace I can actually...STAMP!!

Clean table tops!!

Someplace to work!!

So I am excited.  Now, finally, I get to really dive into my goodie box.

I just have to try not to make such a mess again!  Right?!?



With any luck I will be right back down there tomorrow after work.  I have several ideas for gorgeous cards that I want to put to paper.

Until then, I hope everyone had a wonderful start to their week!    See you soon.  God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><  

Product List

Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139673]	Among The Branches Photopolymer Stamp Set [139823]	Christmas Greetings Thinlits Dies [139659]	Winter Wonderland Embellishments [139621]
Silver Foil Sheets [132178]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131203]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045]
Versamark Pad [102283]	Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder [101930]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Silver Metallic Thread [138402]
Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments [119246]	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309]

Happy Birthday Darling

Well it's official....as of today, all 3 of my daughters are teenagers!  That still leaves means I have a son in the pre-teen age group, but as far as females are concerned, I only have "young women" in my household.

My youngest daughter absolutely loves birds and has taken much pleasure over the last week in watching Ruby-throated hummingbirds feeding at her hummingbird station.  So it was pretty easy to figure out what kind of birthday card I was going to make for her.  See what you think...

Supply List   
Stamps - Elements of Style (w118611, c120045), Beautiful Birthday (125562) - retiring, Teeny Tiny Wishes (w115370, 127802)    
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Raspberry Ripple (126842), Garden Green (102584)    
Ink - Raspberry Ripple (126859), Black StazOn (101406), Versamark (102283), Various Markers (119806)  
Tools and Accessories - Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder (101930), Decorative Label Punch (altered - 120907), Word Window Punch (119857), Paper Snips (103579),  Dazzling Diamonds (102023), Two-Way Glue Pen (100425), Rhinestone Jewels (119246)

Close up of hummingbird

Inside Card

You can see that I inked up the hummingbird with versamark, then coloured the appropriate areas with markers.  I stamped it onto cardstock, then the resulting stamped images were embossed with Iridescent Ice powder -  they almost shimmer the way those beautiful little creatures do in real life.  Of course, there had to be a hummingbird stamped on the inside with the greeting as well!

A bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the outside of the card, and it is ready to be signed and delivered to the newest young lady in the household!

I know she'd rather be holding a real, live hummingbird, but I am pretty certain my not-so-little-anymore darling will appreciate the birds on this card as well!

Gotta go wrap some presents now.  Hope everyone is looking forward to a terrific Sunday and a wonderful week ahead!

God Bless,    ~Cynthia     <><