Adding Shimmer to a Card - the first video

My apologies my friends

I tried making a video tonight using my iphone - since the photos that it captures are FANTASTIC quality.  Well - either I don't know what I am doing, or my regular camera is a better quality than I thought, because the video made with my iphone is NOT good quality whatsoever.  However, I will post it anyhow, until I have a chance to make a new and better quality one to replace it!

Shimmery Stamped/Embossed Card

Can you see the shimmer?

In a nutshell, last year I used Iridescent Ice embossing powder to create a spectacular Christmas card that shimmered and glimmered like there was no tomorrow.  You can see that card and video HERE.  Well today I want to show you that you can use the same technique to 'step up' almost any card.  Here, I've used the technique to glimmer up the gorgeous card I created by stamping directly on the embossing folder. 

I promise when I get home form work tonight I will try to make a better version of this video.  But for now...you'll get the idea.

Here you go friends:

 
Have a wonderful day and God Bless,    ~Cynthia   <><

GV Achievers Blog Hop - Remember to Give Thanks (Stamped Embossing Folders and a video)

Hello Friends 

This month we are focusing on giving thanks.  If you are like me, you know you have a multitude of people and things to be thankful for, and one posting on a blog just isn't enough.  But we do what we can and we try to say Thank you on a regular basis, right?

For instance - this month I am thankful to the Australians - Kylie Bertucci and Louise Sharp - for managing this blog hop so well (and providing easy instructions for all of us to participate), and to Ann Craig for posting a card on FB yesterday that inspired me to design this easy but "WOW-factor card!

Close up of Pine images "behind" the Birch trees

Closeup of watercolor effect observed using this technique.

As soon as I saw Ann's card, my brain started working overtime to figure out how she did it, and how I could achieve something similar.  I came home from work and designed this and my club members for the past 2 days have been thrilled beyond belief at how cute it is, and how easy it is to reproduce. 

The close-up shots show you what an amazing watercolour effect this technique provides.  Soft, smudgy edges and muted colours.

So thank you Ann.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The video shows you just how easy it is to create this card.

You merely ink up the inside of an embossing folder with one colour (here, Soft Sky), then stamp directly onto this inked surface using a darker colour and an appropriate stamp (Here, Wonderland).  Insert your cardstock and run the proper sandwich through the Big Shot.  What you end up with looks decidedly like a watercolour painting and is absolutely gorgeous!    Watch the video to see for yourself how quick and easy it is!

I have more club and class members to teach this to this week and I cannot wait.  Everyone who has made this card so far has been thrilled with their creations.  Thanks so much Ann for inspiring such a cool card - that I can use to bless my friends and customers!

I know all the other blog hop participants have posted equally fabulous card ideas.  The list and links for participants is listed at the bottom of this post.  You really will want to wander through all of them to see what kinds of gorgeous creations they have made.  And do leave comments for them so they know they were appreciated!

Have a wonderful time hopping through the blogs.  Find some inspiration.  Spread some joy.  And remember to always give thanks!!

God Bless,    ~Cynthia   <><

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Woodland Peace - Another Sneak Peek

Did you miss me?

You might have wondered why I have been so absent lately.  I mean, where are all the gorgeous cards using the sneak peek Holiday products?

I have an answer for you.  And it's not as exciting as you might think.

First the card....

Yes, I know, you have already seen this Woodland embossing folder a couple of times.  But can I help it if I absolutely love it!!  Here I coated the trunks with versamark and used Iridescent Ice mixed with white embossing powder to make them look like snowy birch trees.  The snowflake from the Among the Branches stamp set added some extra snow to my woodland scene.

The word "Peace" was cut from silver foil using the ever-so-cute new Christmas Greetings Thinlits and I love how easy it is to adhere using the new Fine-Top Glue Pen.  I also love the whimsical addition of random swirls and curls of metallic silver thread.  Nothing orchestrated.  Just some glints of glimmer.  Add in the luscious new White Glitter Ribbon and several rhinestones for just that extra little bit of sparkle, and top it all off with a Winter Wonderland Embellishment and I am happy, happy, happy.
 



Now to admit to you why it has taken me so long to get busy in my Craft Cave.

For the last 6 weeks my Craft Cave has looked like this-->

Not a single solitary clear space to work on.
Not one!!

It has made me feel all messed up and anxious every time I get close to it.
:(

But on Saturday I spent the entire day putting things away and cleaning up.  I know it still looks like there is lots to clean up and put away (and believe me, there IS)...but did you see that I actually have cleared surfaces now?  Someplace I can actually...STAMP!!

Clean table tops!!

Someplace to work!!

So I am excited.  Now, finally, I get to really dive into my goodie box.

I just have to try not to make such a mess again!  Right?!?



With any luck I will be right back down there tomorrow after work.  I have several ideas for gorgeous cards that I want to put to paper.

Until then, I hope everyone had a wonderful start to their week!    See you soon.  God Bless,    ~Cynthia    <><  

Product List

Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139673]	Among The Branches Photopolymer Stamp Set [139823]	Christmas Greetings Thinlits Dies [139659]	Winter Wonderland Embellishments [139621]
Silver Foil Sheets [132178]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131203]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045]
Versamark Pad [102283]	Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder [101930]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Silver Metallic Thread [138402]
Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments [119246]	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309]

Sneak Peek of a Joyful Season

My entire post was deleted but I managed to re-post it.  Kind of.  Sort of.

Good Morning Friends
 
Well, it took me a try or 2, but I am finally getting the hang of the gorgeous cardinal from the Joyful Season
stamp set in the new Holiday Catalogue.  This little beauty is a 2-step
stamping image...and it is ALSO a watercolor image.  And that, my friends, is where I was going wrong.
 
I kept expecting the cardinal's body to fill in more so I must have stamped 9 or 10 times before I realized that

if I followed through and completed the cardinal with all of its pieces, it would look exactly the way it was 

supposed to!
 
So here is my first attempt at Joyful Season.  
 
Yeah, I got sloppy just above his head...but I decided to post it anyhow.  Because you need to see that even 

those of us who do this for a living get a bit wonky every once in a while too, right?!  And even with a 

feather sticking up here and there...I *still* think he's pretty cute!
 
Hope you do too.
Enjoy your day my friends.  And God Bless!    ~Cynthia   <>< 
 

Product List

Joyful Season Photopolymer Stamp Set [139770]	Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139673]	Snowflake Elements [139638]	Gold Cording Trim [139618]
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949]	Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad [126979]	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad [126945]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Tea Lace Paper Doilies [129399]	Soft Sky 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131203]	Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119685]	Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder [101930]
White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Glue Dots [103683]

Sneak Peek Simple Christmas Card

Good Morning Friends

What do you do when you have no time at all?  Create a really quick, really simple, but utterly cute card!

I used the new Boughs and Berries embossing folder on the card base, and matted onto that a piece that had been embossed with the new Woodland embossing folder.  A couple of cardinals stamped from last year's White Christmas stamp set (I am so glad it did not retire!) and the sentiment from the new To You and Yours Too set - and voila, a very fast card that is really quite cute.  

And super, super quick!

The addition of Dazzling Diamonds glitter really is the wow-factor to this simple card.

It spruces it up just enough to say 'Merry Christmas' in a big way.

Hope you are excited about the new Holiday Catalogue.   If you aren't...you *should* be.  The products are fabulous.  I should know.  I already own most of them!!

Hope you can join me on Sept 12 for my 20-card class using these new beauties!  (for information, click HERE).   Or ask me about my To-Go feature!  It's going to be FABULOUS!

In the meantime, have a wonderful day and God Bless,    ~Cynthia   <><  

Product List

White Christmas Photopolymer Stamp Set [135767]	To You & Yours Too Photopolymer Stamp Set [139819]	Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139673]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]
Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad [126966]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Dazzling Diamonds Stampin' Glitter [133751]	2-Way Glue Pen [100425]