Chalkboard Easel Thankful Thursday

Hello friends

I'll bet you were expecting a Valentine's Card, right?  I would have - except that all my Valentine crafting was finished last week and THIS is what I wanted to show you today.  If you spend any time online, then you have seen the chalkboard technique cropping up everywhere.  It almost seems like I am the only stamper around who hasn't posted a card using this technique...until now that is.  I wanted to wait until I had a really nice one to show you and I do believe this is it!  And although the sentiment doesn't scream "Thankful"...you better believe I am thankful for all the things that I've got.  Especially the things that are not "things", just like the card says.  By the way, on this Valentine's Day (and every other day of the year) .....I am extremely thankful for the love of a truly wonderful man!  Okay, now I am in danger of getting really off topic, so back to the card:

Supply List (Spring catalogue products)
Stamps - Feel Goods (w129681, c129684), Itty Bitties (128939), Everything Eleanor (w124162, c124164), Mixed Bunch (w125535, c125537)
Paper - Raspberry Ripple (126842), Pink Pirouette (100459), Basic Black (121045), Whisper White (100730), Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stacks (129312)
Ink - Craft White (101731), Raspberry Ripple (126842), Pink Pirouette (126859) 
Big Shot -  To flatten the Soda Pop Tops
Tools and Accessories - Soda Pop Tops (129388), Designer Builder Brads (129329), Watercolor Pencils - white (101879), White Embossing Powder (109132), Heat Tool (129053), Embossing Buddy (103083), Stitched Satin Ribbon - Raspberry Ripple (126845), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), 1/2" Circle Punch (119869), Blossom Punch (125603), dimensionals (104430), Stamping Sponges (101610)

I just love the effect of the chalkboard technique for making cards.  For those who want technical details....the images were stamped with craft ink on the black cardstock and embossed with white embossing powder.  A sponge very slightly loaded with white craft ink was used to create the "smudged" chalk effect and a white watercolor pencil was used to create the lines around the card.  I really love this one done as an easel card - I realize I haven't done an easel fold in a while and for the life of me, I can't figure out why?!   They are certainly easy enough.  And boy are they ever cute!

Today's card?  It is definitely above and beyond the cute category (if I do say so myself).  This is one of the gorgeous cards that my club ladies are making at our February club nights.  Along with a beautiful bloom card and an Easter Basket (that is wickedly cute and easy too!).  If you are local and want to take club nights for a "test drive",  contact me and we'll see if we can arrange for you to join us.

And don't forget about my Mystery Hostess event.  Offer open to ANYONE in Canada, and you don't need to be available to come to the event evening.  Just let me know you have a qualifying order to put in.  EVERYONE splits the hostess benefits so you will get one of the 10 bonuses listed!  Contact me today - It just doesn't get any better!    :)

And in the meantime, have a wonderful day.  Happy Valentine's Day again.  And God Bless,    ~Cynthia     <><
 

Fast & Fabulous Primrose Blooms

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle.  (Or rather, a monkey's aunt, since I am of the female persuasion...)

In June when Stampin' Up! came out with their In Colours, I have to admit that I saw no use whatsoever for Primrose Petals.  I thought it was too close to too many other colours, sort of halfway between both Raspberry Ripple and Rose Red to warrant much attention on its own.  So I have politely ignored it until now.

Man oh man was I ever wrong!

Supply List (SAB products)
Stamps - Bloomin'Marvelous (w129651, c129654)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Primrose Petals (126841)
Ink - Primrose Petals (126858), Lucky Limeade (126984)
Tools and Accessories Itty Bitty Shapes Punch  (118309), Basic Rhinestone Jewels (119246)

Today's Fast & Fabulous installment has me waxing poetic for Primrose Petals!  I love the way the first stamping is so vibrant, and the repeated stampings get more and more soft and pastel-like.  I also love the way Lucky Limeade mingles so well with the various intensities of Primrose.  Love it.  Love it.  Love it.   

And don't you just love that flower image and the foliage that accompanies it??   This stamp set has 4 images and 4 sentiments included with it and it is a must have in my stamp collection right now.   Do you want to own this versatile and lovely Bloomin' Marvelous stamp set?  Contact me to find out how it can be yours -- for FREE!

Know what else I like about this card?

I stamped the flowers before the card was folded so there is a continuum of blossoms spilling across the crease/fold to the back of the card.  See this one unfolded?  LOVE IT!  (naturally I had to stamp a few blossoms on the inside of the card too).

And yet, for all these lovely effects that have me spouting off about how happy I am...this card took me a mere 5 minutes to create.  Fast.  And Fabulous.  Todays' card certainly fits the bill!



Snowfall warnings for today.  Messy roads already and more expected so I certainly know that I won't be out and about too much.  Its a perfect day to stay home and stamp all day.  Hope you have a chance to enjoy some craft therapy too.
Have a wonderful weekend and God Bless,    ~Cynthia     <><

Sale-A-Bration - Pool Party Fashion!

Hello Friends

It is blistering cold in Ottawa today (minus 28 Celsius, with a wind chill that brings it to minus 40!!) so I had no desire to go outside except when I absolutely had to.  Instead, I stayed indoors and played with my FREE Sale-A-Bration products.  My focus on Pool Party was to make me think warm Caribbean, not frozen Arctic - and it must have done the job because I don't feel even the slightest bit of a chill!  

These cards were all CASEd from or inspired by cards I saw elsewhere in my cyber-travels.  I love the way the Sycamore Street Designer Paper combines vibrant colours and leads me to combine patterns and colours I wouldn't generally have thought of before.  I can't tell you how much I love this paper.  And the ribbons?  Luscious, luscious, luscious!  So glad that all three colours (Pool Party, Island Indigo and Tangerine Tango) come together because I wouldn't be able to decide on my own which to choose.  This way I don't have to.  And best of all -- they're FREE with any qualifying Sale-A-Bration purchase!

The Supply List and Materials are for all three cards since they use many of the same elements (largely free SAB products)


Supply List (Spring catalogue or SAB products)
Stamps - Patterned Occasions (w129621, c129624), Madison Avenue (w129657, c129660), Pretty Petites (w129639, c129642)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Pool Party (122924), Tangerine Tango (111349), Island Indigo (122923), Summer Starfruit (126839), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Sycamore Street Designer Paper (127540)
Ink - Rich Razzleberry (126950), Island Indigo (122923), Tangerine Tango (126946), Gumball Green (126861)
Big Shot -  Honeycomb Embossing Folder (129378)
Tools and Accessories - Sycamore Street Ribbons (130812), Petite Curly Label Punch (129405), dimensionals (104430), Blossom Petals Builder Punch (121808), 1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punch (127811), 1" Circle Punch (119868), 1 3/8" Circle Punch (119860), 7/8" Scallop Circle (129404), Itty Bitty Punch Pack (118309), Basic Rhinestone Jewels (119246)




Hope you enjoy these cards and they inspire you to get your own SAB products and play.  You don't need to have freezing weather as an excuse either!  You have my permission to get crafty...just because you "want" to!   :)





Enjoy the rest of your day - wherever you are.

God Bless,    
~Cynthia     <><

Triple Treat Thank You - Another Fast & Fabulous Friday

I am so excited to share today's card with you.  Honest to goodness, it only took a few minutes to make.  And that's a good thing since I have 35 of them I am planning on making today!!

I used Concord Crush and stamped the Triple Treat Flower (one of the Sale-A-Bration freebies) on the white card base, and also onto a piece of scrap white card.  The 5-Petal Flower Punch was used to punch out the inner flower and it was mounted onto the card using a dimensional.

The Thank You (from Thank You Kindly) was stamped onto the bottom right of the card.  And here's the really "interesting" part....I used the new scalloped-edged embossing folder (Adorning Accents) to emboss a scalloped strip...but only 2/3 of the way across the card.  Doesn't that just set the whole Triple Treat Flower off and balance it marvelously?!

A few Itty Bitty punched blossoms and the addition of some Basic Rhinestones and my Thank You card is good to go.  It really took no time at all.  But let's face it ladies, we all know that the length of time it takes to create a card is NOT an indication of how much we admire or appreciate the recipient, right?  It really is the thought that counts.   So remember all my fine and wonderful friends - when you receive a hand-stamped card, it was created for you with heartfelt gratitude to say thank you for blessing my life so richly!

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