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      <><

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     <><

Sale-A-Bration Get Well

Hi Friends

Just a quick post to show you some of what you can do with the gorgeous new products that you can earn FREE during Sale-A-Bration (starts Jan 22).

The smallest size from the Floral Frames framelits cuts out the medallion image from the Sycamore Street Designer paper just perfectly.  Add some of the luscious ribbon that also comes free with Sale-A-Bration, and your card is co-ordinated, cute and creative.  Say that 3 times fast!

Supply List (FREE SAB products)
Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes (w115370, c127802)
Paper - Whisper White (100730), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Sycamore Street Designer Paper (Free with SAB)
Ink - Rich Razzleberry (126950)
Big Shot -  Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (127819), Floral Frames Framelits (127012)
Tools and Accessories - Sycamore Street Ribbon - Pool Party (Free with SAB), Basic Jewels (119246), dimensionals (104430)

It is difficult to see, but the card base and DSP mat were embossed with the Lacy Brocade embossing folder before the Razzleberry mat was adhered.  In real life this gives just a bit of added visual interest to the card.   And texture too.  Never underestimate just how much 'oomph' a bit of texture can add to a card.

Well, that's all for today.  I've got a very busy day ahead of me - and I have this and several other Get Well cards that need to be delivered to someone who has had a bunch of people praying for her!

Hope your day is as bright and cheery as this designer paper is!!       God Bless,       ~Cynthia       <><

Thankful Thursday - Gently Falling

It is absolutely gorgeous in Ontario right now.  The leaves are changing colour and every day brings a new panorama of beauty for us to see.  So today's is a Thankful Thursday instalment showing you a quick card that hints at the Fall leaves and their colourful splendour.

Supply List
Stamps - Lovely As a Tree, Gently Falling, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper - Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Howlstooth and Scarringbone DSP
Ink - Basic Black, Tangerine Tango
Big Shot -  Tasteful Trim Die, 3" Circle Die
Tools and Accessories 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, dimensionals

Isn't it wonderful how even a simple card can look so classy and elegant?  And don't you just love the black scalloped border made using the Tasteful Trim die?  I don't know why it took me so long to get it.  And I predict that it is going to be put to very good use in my craft room!


That's all - I've got to run.  But I did want to tell you that today I am thankful for, among other things, the Fall.  Although I am not a particular fan of the cooler weather, I do love Autumn and the colours that surround me.  I see the beauty and I can't help but be thankful that I am here to enjoy it!

Hope you too are enjoying God's beauty around you, wherever you are.
God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><

Founder's Circle Card ... Yes I'm Excited!

Okay - to start off with I am going to post a card that I made last night.  It is a little "different" from my usual style.  But I hope you'll like it!

This is my version of a Nautical Card and you'll see where my inspiration came from if you continue reading through this post.

Supply List
Stamps - The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes. Woodgrain
Paper - Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Marina Mist, Baja Breeze, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Versamark
Tools and Accessories - Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Early Espresso Tulle, Crumb Cake Tulle, 7/8" Cotton Ribbon, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Sponges, Clear Embossing Powder


I took various strips of Vanilla and Crumb Cake and Soft Suede cardstock and swiped my coloured ink pads across them to get the weathered-looking strips down the left-hand side.  This technique, as my club members know, is called "Direct to paper".  The compass was embossed with clear embossing powder to give it a "glassy" appearance.  And the gorgeous tulle from the holiday catalogue?  Well I tore it into misshapen pieces so it looked like netting.  A bit of rough handling and sponging to the cotton ribbon and I think this card looks like it could have washed up on any old pier.

Now on to my inspiration.....Remember I told you that I was awarded one of Stampin' Up!'s most prestigious awards?  I get to go to Founder's Circle in 2 short weeks.

I was excited before.
Honest-to-goodness excited.

But now?  Now I am fairly bursting with bubbly excitement!

Remember this?   -------->

The gorgeous canvas designer bag that I was given as part of my Founder's Circle achievement award?





Well.....I returned home from my vacation to find a plump express mail envelope waiting for me.  And inside I found this!
<---------
A lovely canvas 'wallet' to match the Founder's Circle bag


 Of course, the wallet had something inside of it....

My flight itinerary for getting to Founder's Circle.  A couple of really cute luggage tags.  And loads of information about Founder's.

Then I started cluing in....the "canvas" bags, the luggage tags with the seashore motif, the information pamphlet with the weathered boards look to it.....I am guessing (?!) that Founder's Circle this year will have an Ocean or Nautical Theme.

Last year's theme was "Tea Party" so there is precedence for a themed retreat.  If I had to wager money on it, I'd say that this year's theme will be Nautical.  So I decided to create something to go with that theme.  I don't own the stamp set "By the Seashore" (that looks like where the seashell, crab and starfish images came from) - but I knew I had enough stamps in my arsenal to give this self-imposed challenge a good try.

So I created this fun card.
Don't you think it resembles the Founder's pamphlet I was sent in the mail?  I apologize that my lighting is somewhat screwy so the colours do not appear as true as they should.  But trust me when I say that in real life, the card is a pretty decent match to the pamphlet.  

Of course, before I get too excited, I still have 120 (identical) swap cards to design and make to exchange with all of the other ladies who will be at Founder's.  My club ladies and customers will get a chance to see the 120 cards I bring home from all of those wonderful creative ladies.  Can you imagine?  I will have a card sample made by the Top 100 US Demonstrators and the top 20 demonstrators in all of Canada!  And my customers will get to see them all!  To be honest - I can't wait to see them myself!  And I still can't believe I am part of this elite group this year.  Excited.  Humbled.  And thoroughly blessed!~

So...I guess I'd better get to work and finish my 120 cards, right?  I'll make sure I post a copy for all of you to see  --  but not until Sept 12 when I am at the awards retreat.  Wouldn't want to post it before the recipients even get a chance to see the original, right?

In the meantime, more cards to make, more cards to post, and coming up I'll be part of a fantastic Blog Hop.  What's that you say?  I'm going to give you a chance to visit 50 blogs over the next 2 months and collect Treasure Hunt clues (easy peasy ones, don't worry).  Collect all 50 and I'll draw one name to receive a gift from me, and the Blog Hop "leader" will draw a name to award one lucky person with a $150 shopping spree!!  Yippee!

So let's make a deal, you and I.  I'll be excited about my upcoming Founder's award retreat.  You be excited about the Blog Hop.  And we can all share some excitement together!    In the meantime, have a great day!
God Bless,     ~Cynthia      <><