Butterflies and Birthdays

Ok  Friends

Two more days.  Just two more days to take advantage of the Butterfly Bundle.  Until Sept 30, you can get the Papillon Potpourri stamp set and the Itty Bitty Butterfly Punch as a bundle at a 15% savings.  Now that's something to be thankful for!

The Itty Bitty Butterfly punch came in handy for this cute card.  Pair butterflies with the Wildflower Meadow embossing folder (I even used the de-bossed side sometimes) and sentiments from Fabulous Phrases, add a few pearls and you have before you this lovely card.  I think I used 9 or 10 different colours to create this little beauty.  But my favourites are the Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo and Perfect Plum variants.  And I am going to repeat it (for those who haven't heard me say it before) - *nothing* makes it easier to get perfect placement for your pearls, even the little teeny tiny ones, than the Paper Piercing Tool from Stampin' Up!.  This little baby has saved my sanity on more than one occasion!

I am truly thankful that butterflies make it so easy to create gorgeous thank you cards!  Each month I make between 40 and 100 thank you cards.  I have LOTS of reasons to be thankful and so many people who deserve thank you cards.  But I am sure you can understand that I need cards that are fairly quick and easy to produce.  Both of my choices this month fit that bill.  

See my second card?  

Silver Encore ink for the Flowering Flourishes, paired with the Feel Goods sentiment and some Bitty Butterflies again, and you have a card that is just perfect for saying just what you need it to - without taking too long to create!   Once again I tried at least a dozen colours to see which ones would create the cutest cards and I have to say, there were LOTS of winners!  I really liked the Real Red.  And the Bermuda Bay.  And the Elegant Eggplant.  And the Island Indigo.  And I could go on and on but I think you get the message....





 
Speaking of "get the message", did you hear?  

I have my birthday coming up next week, and so I am offering a special birthday promotion.  This is a personal special available only through me, but available to ANYONE in Canada.  From Oct 1 - Oct 7, on any order of $60 or more, I will pay the shipping and handling fees*.  That's right, s&h to be paid by yours truly, as my birthday gift to all of you.  (*regular HST fees still apply)

Make your wish list and contact me and we'll make sure my birthday celebration makes both of us happy!

Hope your weekend has been wonderful!  And hope you are looking forward to a wonderful week ahead!

God Bless,    ~Cynthia   <><

Washi Butterflies

I must be crazy!

Why would I promise to make and post a new card 'tomorrow' using products from the butterfly bundle that is on sale.....and make that promise on a long weekend?!  Ack.  What was I thinking?!

So in the interest of making a card as fast as I could and posting even faster.....here you go.  A bit of washi tape.  Punched butterflies.  Really Good Greetings and some piercing.  Voila.  

Have family coming over for a BBQ today so there is LOTS to do here!  But check again tomorrow.  I hope to give you another instalment then.

Have a terrific weekend and God Bless,     ~Cynthia   <><

I Think I'm In Love - Serene Silhouettes

It's official.  I absolutely love the new Serene Silhouettes stamp set.  I mean...how could you not?  The images are just so striking!

Here are 2 versions of a quick card that highlights one of those images.  I also wanted to try out the new Essentials Paper Piercing Pack.  Can you say "WOW!"?  What an inexpensive way to add oomph and character to your cards.

Supply List
Stamps - Serene Silhouettes, Layered Labels
Paper - Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink - Midnight Muse
Big Shot -  Apothecary Accents Framelits, Finishing Touches Edgelits
Tools and Accessories - Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Basic Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds


Doesn't this card seem classic and elegant?  I just love the effect.  The paper piercing takes a couple of minutes, but the effect is so worth it!  And it doesn't add bulk (so postage stays low).  And it doesn't cost a cent!  What an inexpensive way to add wow-factor to your cards.

Supply List
Stamps - Serene Silhouettes, Layered Labels
Paper - Pool Party, Whisper White
Ink - Midnight Muse
Big Shot -  Apothecary Accents Framelits, Finishing Touches Edgelits, Perfect Polka Dots EF
Tools and Accessories - Dazzling Diamonds

I tried changing it up to see if I could achieve an elegant effect without the paper piercing.  I used the Big Shot to cut a white Apothecary Accent piece which I shortened to sit behind the sentiment label.  The embossed polka dots coordinate nicely with the dots of the sentiment, don't you think?

I like both card versions and I think I'll let my card class ladies try one on Thursday when we meet.  Any suggestions as to which version might appeal to them more?  I know which way I was leaning, but then I started liking the other one just as much so now I am undecided.  Feel free to leave me a comment and let me know your preference.

I hope everyone's weekend has been wonderful so far.  And that your Sunday is spectacular!
God Bless,     ~Cynthia       <><