Fast and Fabulous Friday - Peaceful Petals Swap Card

Hello My Friends

Last night I went to the Team meeting of my upline and we were all challenged to bring swap cards that use as many of the retiring In Colors (2012-2014) as possible.  Me?  I sort of made a mistake.  I knew we were supposed to use retiring In Colors.  I missed the part about using as many as possible.  So my card uses only 2.

I love the way Raspberry Ripple and Gumball Green go together.  I will definitely miss this years' retiring In Colors.  Well - mostly.  I honestly cannot say that I will miss Summer Starfruit that much!  But that is beside the point.

In addition to messing up on the actual challenge (I only used 2 of 5 possible colours), I brought my bits and pieces with me to the meeting (I arrived early) to put them together on-site and realized I had left all of the pre-stamped and pre-punched sentiments sitting on my table at home.  So most of the ladies received a swap card without a sentiment.

No matter.  I guess now they can choose one of their own to use, right?

I have to say, I really loved 2 of the other ladies' cards (I'll show you theirs tomorrow) but for today, since I need Fast and Fabulous, my quick card from last nights' swap will have to do.

Hope everyone is enjoying a Fabulous Friday.  And yes, I hope it is a Fast one for you.  Fabulous.  And Fast.  Because when it is over, the weekend is finally here!  

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

Product List

126842	126859	119855	119856
133107	100730	126840	126861
126845	119275	103954	119247

Thankful Thursday and the Promise of Spring

Hello Friends

Anyone who knows me understands that I am a kid at heart and I LOVE the wintertime with its snow and crisp mornings and the "Narnia-feel" to the landscape.  But I also love Fall.  And Summer.  And Spring.  So despite the fact that I fully expect a few more flurries and at least one more dose of true winter weather before Spring really hunkers down to stay, I am thankful for the 'promise' of Spring.

My front yard still has a 3 foot depth of snow and the snowbanks at the end of my driveway?  They'll be around for a while!  But we have had 3 consecutive days of (near-balmy) plus zero weather and some sunshine.  Things are starting to melt and you can just feel nature dying to break forth in all its glory.  

And I cannot help but feel excited myself.  Like I, too, am anticipating newness and growth.  Like if I hold my breath and just wait for it, life will burst forth in a dazzling display of colour.

So here is my Thankful Thursday card today.  Thankful for this feeling of anticipation.  Thankful that we are continually rejuvenated.  Thankful that the colour and majesty of Spring are soon to be on our doorstep.....

I resolved today to use some things from my repertoire that have seen little use of late.  So I dusted off my Delicate Doilies sizzlit, my Beautiful Wings embosslit, and my Papillon Potpourri stamp set.  ALL of which are items that I truly love - but have scarcely used in the last 12 months!

The card is simple, relying mostly on solid, punched pieces and only 2 colours paired with the Vanilla neutral.  But it still whispers in my heart that Spring is on its way.

And you?  Are you looking forward to Spring?  Or does that even require an answer......      ;)

Hope everyone enjoys a day that brings them hope and the anticipation of things to be thankful for!
God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><


Product List

126842	126859	126843	101650
119976	118138	126999	127526
129406	130698	133322	119855
119856	133155	123759	133107

Thankful Thursday - Sweetie Pie Goes Hawaiian

Hello Friends

It's a Thankful Thursday and today I am thankful for all of you!  No.  Truly! 
 ALL of YOU!

Each year Stampin' Up! has a Grand Vacation that they offer as an incentive to demonstrators who perform well in personal sales and leadership.  And yesterday I found out that I have earned the Grand Vacation for next year.  So in May of 2015, myself and a guest (my hubby, of course) will be headed to Hawaii!!

And even better - we've got it all planned out so that we will be able to take the kids with us!!

We told them yesterday.  They had no idea.  Not an inkling - so you can imagine the whoops and screams of delight.  My 4 kids have never even seen the ocean, let alone swam in it.  I guess if their very first experience is Waikiki Beach, everything else might pale in comparison?!

But none of this, NONE of it, would have been possible without YOU.  My friends.  My customers.  My family.  My supporters.  My cheerleaders.  And to be quite honest, none of it would be worth doing if not for you.  More than anything else, what I get out of "this job" is a chance to spread smiles and laughter.  When we get together to craft, we have fun.  Correction....FUN.  And I love the time I get to spend with each and every one of you.

So today I have used Sweetie Pie to create a Hawaiian girl who thanks each and every one of you!  The Sweetie Pie faces are just a shade too small for the Dress-Up mannequin/body, but I think she does the trick anyhow, don't you?   And notice the Crisp Cantaloupe sponging on her cheeks?  I am hoping that reflects the "slight bit" of colour we will all get when we head to Hawaii (instead of the massive sunburns I am hoping we all manage to avoid).  We are still in the clutches of winter here in Ottawa right now, so thinking about being in that warm, tropical sun a year from now is awfully inviting!

Until then - and as always - I will remain thankful.  To all of you.  Each and every one of you who has made this possible.  From the bottom of my heart (and my hula skirt!) - THANK YOU!

God Bless you all,       ~Cynthia    <><

Product List
Stamp : Peaceful Petals [clear] [133107], Sweetie Pie [photopolymer] [136849]
Ink : Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad [126980] , Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad [131178] , Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad [131176] , Early Espresso Stampin Write Marker [119680] , Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [126974]
Card Stock : Gumball Green 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [126840] , Sahara Sand 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [121043] , Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock [100730] , Pool Party 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock [122924] , Crisp Cantaloupe 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131298]
Tools & Adhesive : Fringe Scissors [133325] , Stamping Sponges [101610] , Blender Pens [102845]
Punch : Petite Petals Punch [133322] , Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack [118309] , Bird Punch [117191]
Ribbon & Trim : Calypso Coral 3/4" Chevron Ribbon [130018] , Calypso Coral Baker's Twine [125573]
Accessory : Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper [133521] , Basic Pearls Jewel Accents [119247]
Big Shot : Dress Up Framelits Dies [130101]

A Different Angle - Peaceful Petals

Hi Friends

Ever notice that when you find a nice, flowery stamp set, you feel locked into a type and cannot get past the flowers to think outside the box?  I was in that mode with Peaceful Petals.  Love, love, LOVE the set....but only saw girlie cards.

Until I tried.

Here's a card using just the leaves from amongst those stamp images, in green and gold tones. And I must say, it looks completely different from every other card I've made using that set.

What do you think?  Surprised it was Peaceful Petals, weren't you?!

I've got a few more Peaceful Petals cards to show you over the next little while (but they are more along the lines of what you might be expecting....) .  And they'll all use a quick and cool little technique that I've been playing with quite a bit lately.

But until then, I will keep this short and sweet.  Feel free to leave me a comment to let me know what you think of this particular Peaceful Petals card - and come back soon to see its sister cards.

Hope you all have a terrific weekend!   God Bless,      ~Cynthia    <><

• Peaceful Petals [wood]
• Peaceful Petals [clear]
• Always Artichoke 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad
• Naturals Ivory 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Gold Baker's Twine
• Aqua Painter
• Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die
• Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

Another Sale-A-Bration Sneak Peak - Banners Galore!

Hello Friends

I am so excited....Sale-A-Bration begins on Tuesday and the products you can earn FREE this year are out of this world!!

Check out the wonderful newness on this card?  See those cute little banners?  You guessed it!  A stamp set that you can earn FREE!  And you don't have to cut them out by hand, no-sir-ree.  There's a punch that will do that.  And you guessed it -- you can earn that punch for FREE as well!

Such a pretty pastel card, and so easy to create too.  I just LOVE FREE Sale-A-Bration products.  Woohoo!!

I hope everyone is as excited as I am about Sale-A-Bration.  Two more days and it is here!  Yippee!!   If you need a catalogue, let me know!  Any order of $60 (before s&h and HST) gets you your choice of SAB item for FREE!  And I can ship to anywhere in Canada.  Remember that!
If you want a SAB catalogue, or if you want to place a SAB order, or if you just want to order a few more fantastic Stampin' Up! products, contact me and I'll be happy to help you!

In the meantime, have a wonderful end to your weekend and God Bless,      ~Cynthia    <><

Banner Blast Stamp Set (free during Sale-A-Bration) 
Banner Punch  (free during Sale-A-Bration) 

• Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die
• Big Shot Die-Cut Machine
• Peaceful Petals [wood]
• Peaceful Petals [clear]
• Silver Baker's Twine
• Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents
• Pool Party 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin' Pad
• Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad
• Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad
• Stampin' Dimensionals

Sneak Peak - YOU Decide

Hello Friends

So - the upcoming Occasions catalogue has 2 different and equally gorgeous stamp sets that have wonderful outline prints of flowers.  Happy Watercolor and Peaceful Petals.  I saw a simple but lovely card made by Susan Horr, using the Peaceful Petals set and I've altered it slightly to create this series of 4 easy, but oh-so-pretty cards.  

Peaceful Petals on White

I stamped the Peaceful Petals stem of blooms using versamark, then embossed with gold embossing powder.  Mounted on a card with washi tape as a backdrop, it is simple yet elegant.  

Peaceful Petals on Vanilla

Producing the card on both Whisper White and Very Vanilla cardstock gave me two distinct but equally beautiful cards.  But why stop there?  

Happy Watercolor on White

Why not reproduce it using the Happy Watercolor stem of blooms (these look like orchids to me but I could be wrong)?

Happy Watercolor on Vanilla

Not sure if you can tell, but the image piece is mounted on cardstock whose edges were wrapped in gold washi tape.   I would have mounted these pieces on brushed gold cardstock or gold foil paper (which will still be available since it made it into the Occasions catalogue.  Woo hoo!).  But since I am in southern Ontario visiting my family, I have limited supplies on hand and these pieces just didn't make it into my luggage.  Drats and double drats!    But I think the washi-wrapped mats look pretty good, don't you?

So there you have it.  Two different stamp images.  Two colours of background.  Four cards.  I cannot determine which one I like best.  So I am asking you......which one do you like best?

Everyone who weighs in and leaves me a comment will get their name entered in a random draw (a week today - Jan 5) - the winner will get sent the card they voted for, as well as 5 yds of each of the new Gold Baker's Twine and the new Silver Baker's Twine.

Hope you are all looking forward to a wonderful 2014.  Have a great week ahead and God Bless,      ~Cynthia     <><