Not the Bling I Promised You

Hi Friends

I'm a bit late with this post - but things got out of hand on my schedule over the last little while.  Sorry.  I promised you a post where I used the new Frosted Finishes Embellishments in the way that they were intended.  Then I got sidetracked into using other new sets (I can't wait to play with it ALL) and I ended up NOT designing the perfect card to show off these beautiful and glittery bling-y embellishments.  However, I am certain you will enjoy these 2 simple but festive cards.

Supply List 
Stamps - Christmas Collectibles (w131772, c131775), Teeny Tiny Wishes (w128748, c127802)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Elegant Eggplant (105126) 
Ink - Elegant Eggplant (126969), Elegant Eggplant Marker (131262) 
Big Shot -  Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder (132174), Christmas Ornament Punch (132152), Word Window Punch (119857), Modern Label Punch (119849) 
Tools and Accessories - Basic Rhinestones (119246), Dimensionals (104430)

Did you know that starting tomorrow, you can order from the Holiday catalogue?  And this gorgeous, heirloom ornament stamp set and the punch are available as a cost-saving bundle.  You really want to own these - 5 different ornament images that make Christmas card-making a breeze!

This card was very quick and easy to create -- once I figured out how to emboss only a handful of the stripes instead of the entire card front!  :)   My club ladies will all find out how to do this.  Come join us if you'd like to learn some easy but Wow-techniques too!  Contact me for more information.




As for the second card in today's post:

Supply List 
Stamps - Festive Flurry (w131778, c131781), Calm Christmas (w132736, c132739)
Paper - Whisper White (100730) 
Ink - Midnight Muse (126860) 
Big Shot -  Northern Flurry Embossing Folder (120902), Festive Flurry Framelit Dies (132193) 
Tools and Accessories - Basic Rhinestones (119246), Dimensionals (104430)

I love using the new Festive Flurry Stamp set and Framelits together.  And I LOVE that you can order them as a bundle and save 15% on the cost!!  In fact, I love that Stampin' Up! made so many of the co-ordinating stamp sets and punches, dies or embossing folders from both the regular and Seasonal catalogue, available as cost-saving bundles.  Woo hoo!  

Okay - it really is time to get on with the rest of my day now.  Hope you are all looking forward to smiles, happiness and sunshine (even if only in attitude)!     

God Bless,     ~Cynthia    <><

Sneak Peak #4 - Simple Snowflakes

Happy Saturday My Friends

I am still having a blast playing with the limited materials I have while visiting my parents.  Since I brought a handful of new Holiday Catalogue products with me, I can create a few simple Sneak Peaks to let you see how easy it is to make uber-cute cards, even without a lot of supplies!

With this simple card, I am not certain what draws your eyes and curiosity first - the wonderful new embossing folder (Pretty Print) or the stunning snowflakes (easily cut using the Festive Flurry framelits)?  The snowflake shapes are the 2 smallest of the 4 shapes and sizes included with these framelits.  I embossed them (polka dots or Petals-A-Plenty) and added bling, and a Merry Christmas from my favourite Go-To set of all time - Teeny Tiny Wishes!

Ta Da.  What do you think?  Easy and awesome is what comes to mind here.

Have a long drive back to Ottawa with the kids today so we can see my hubby again after our 2 weeks at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Our visit was wonderful.  But I think we're all missing hubby/Dad right now and it will be GOOD to be home!

"See" you tomorrow with some more wonderful stuff.  Hope your Saturday is spectacular!    God Bless,    ~Cynthia      <><

Fast and Fabulous Friday - Swallowtail

Wow - How long has it been since I posted a Fast & Fabulous Friday?!  Way, way way too long.  So now is as good a time as any to get back in the saddle (so to speak).

Any of you who 'hang around here' might remember that back in November, myself and 8 other lucky gals were at the Rising Star Retreat in Utah and were privileged to see the Spring Catalogue before pretty much anyone else had.  And one of the new stamps, a large a la carte butterfly called Swallowtail, caught my eye immediately.  But I will admit that I was more than just a little dismayed at the size and I wondered if I would ever find a way to use an image so large.  I do believe I actually pouted!

Boy was I ever a short-sighted dolt!

The very next day the Home Office treated us to an afternoon of stamping fun, and we got to get that big Swallowtail stamp inky.  And I was forced to take back every misgiving and ill-word about it that I had managed to either think or say.

Quite simply, Swallowtail is breathtaking!  Majestic.  Elegant.  And Breathtaking.

Here are 2 Fast & Fabulous Swallowtail cards to show you what I mean:

Supply List (Spring catalogue)
Stamps - Swallowtail (w129213, c129216), Sweet Essentials (w126455, 126457))
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Island Indigo (122923), Rich Razzleberry (115316)
Ink - Island Indigo (126986), Rich Razzleberry (126950)
Big Shot - Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (127819)
Tools and Accessories - Large Oval Punch (119855), Modern Label Punch (119849), 2-way Glue pen (100425), Dazzling Diamonds (102023), dimensionals (104430)


It really doesn't get much easier (or quicker) to make a truly stunning card.  In fact, this is one of the cards that my friends will be making tomorrow at my Butterfly Bonanza Class.  This is the 'simplest' of the assortment in terms of techniques.  Wait till you see what you can do with this stamp image when you get just a bit fussier!    :)    I'll post the other projects over the next few days for you to see.  Because I tell you -- you cannot go wrong with a stamp set this beautiful.


Until next time, have a wonderful day and a terrific 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     <><

I am Famous!!

Well, I am not actually "famous".  But I certainly FEEL famous!

I was surfing around blog sites the other evening, looking at cards, and I happened onto the site for Tami White.  She was Stampin' Up!'s #1 Demonstrator last year.  Number one!  And didn't I just about fall off my chair when there in her March 15 posting, I saw MY CARD!!  That's right...MY card!  Mine is the white card with the red rose buds.  I submitted it to a Stampin' Up! contest last Spring - which I did not win - but Stampin' Up! told us they might use our submissions on some of their display boards at Convention.  Sure enough, they must have displayed my card, and Tami saw it and liked it, took a photo of it and decided to post it!  So my card is posted on the blog site of Stampin' Up!'s Number One Demonstrator.  How very, very cool is that?!?!

The photo is a little blurred, and my own photos of this card are not much better (I was in a hurry to send it to the contest.  And I didn't have a blog last year so I wasn't concerned about a decent photo).  But I can show you the "twin" card that I sent to my mother for her birthday a year ago.

The roses are made by punching 3 bird wings (Bird Builder punch) and sponging around the edges of each.  They are glued together and the leaf and stems from the Bird Builder punch are altered a bit and glued together to form the foliage.  The sentiment was heat embossed in gold, then punched out using the Decorative Label punch.    A Cherry Cobbler frame was created for this, and a Modern Label punched piece was split then used beneath this.

The white on white background (Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Eyelet Border Punch, basic pearls) lends it all an elegant feel, don't you think?

I loved both versions of this card and really hoped I might win Stampin' Up!'s contest last Spring.  But you know....it is almost as gratifying to see my card displayed on the blog of their Number One demonstrator!  It certainly makes me feel famous!

Hope everyone has had a wonderful day.  And may you all enjoy a Peace-filled and truly Blessed Holy Week.  God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><