Fast & Fabulous Friday - Reason To Smile

Welcome to my Fast and Fabulous Friday feature.  And as I promised you, today I will give you yet another Reason To Smile.

I will warn you, I am having a brief love affair with this particular image from the Reason To Smile stamp set so you can expect to see a few more cards coming your way using this image.  In addition, since I always have a multitude of people to say thank you to (not the least of whom are my wonderful customers) -  well, suffice it to say that you will see your share of Thank You cards on this blog in the next little while.

Onwards then.  Today's card is another very fast sample that uses the single "daisy" outline image and an aquapainter for quick watercolouring using some 2010-2012 In Colours.  I love, love, LOVE this quick and easy watercolour technique!

Supply List
Stamps - Reason To Smile (available July ONLY), Lacy & Lovely
Paper - Whisper White
Ink - Black StazOn, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade
Tools and Accessories - Aquapainter

How easy is that?  It may be a short supply list and a quick card, but the results are still gorgeous, simple and appealing.  And your recipient will never know that it took a mere 5 minutes to whip up the card!

Trust me - you really don't want to let July pass without taking the opportunity to buy this exclusive stamp set for a mere $5 !  Contact me to find out how you can purchase this stamp set.  You'll even receive a lovely sample from me to start your creative juices flowing.

Check back tomorrow when I'll show you how you can use this same simple design and technique with only slight variations, to produce a variety of matching but non-identical cards!     Until then, have a wonderful day and God Bless,          ~Cynthia              <><

Reason to Smile - Reason #1

Hello there friends.
If you are an optimist like me, you can always find a reason to smile.  But during the month of July, there is an especially good reason to smile!!  Stampin' Up! has come out with an exclusive stamp set that will ONLY be available during July 2012.  It is a 2-step stamping set called ....wait for it....Reason To Smile!  And during July, if you place an order of $60 or more, you can get this stamp set for only $5.  That's right.  $5.  Wood or clear!   Believe me - this promotion IS a Reason to Smile!

I wanted to show you a card that I made using the Reason to Smile stamp set.  I didn't even utilize the 2-step part of it for today's card.  (But don't worry....you will be seeing a LOT of this stamp set over the next little while so you will see some 2-step stamping coming up soon.)  Here's what I have for you today:

Supply List
Stamps - Reason To Smile (available July ONLY), Lacy & Lovely
Paper - Whisper White
Ink - Black StazOn, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive
Big Shot -  Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
Tools and Accessories - Aquapainter, White Grosgrain ribbon

 One of the things I love about this outline image is that it begs for "watercolouring".  And watercolouring is not meant to be exact.  Outside the lines?  Not to worry.  White spaces?   The more the better.  Exactness is NOT what watercolouring is all about.  Watercolouring gives an 'effect', an "inexactness", that I love.  And it so totally fits my character.  I am a little outside the lines myself sometimes!    :)



Enough about me....July is a great time to put in a $60 order.   Knock a few items off your wish list.  And ALSO pick up this gorgeous stamp set for an amazingly low price!  Better yet - host a workshop or a private card class.  You'll get the opportunity to share some creative time with friends and give them a Reason To Smile too!  What could be better?  I can fill orders from anywhere in Canada.  And I can do parties or workshops anywhere within the Ottawa region.   Contact me today so we can place your order or get your workshop/party onto my schedule. 

See you tomorrow for a Fast & Fabulous Friday!   It's a good bet that I'll be giving you a Fast & Fabulous "Reason To Smile"!  Have a wonderful day. 

God Bless,      ~Cynthia     <><

Customer Appreciation!! 3 Days ONLY

I have the best customers in the whole world!!  Thanks to YOU I have earned Stampin' Up!'s Grand Vacation.  Next April, my husband and I will be going to Fiji.  This is a dream come true and it is all thanks to you!

As my THANK YOU to my customers, I am offering a 3-day Extravaganza Special.  

For local customers:

Place an order for $50 or more in the next 3 days and you can choose any single item worth $17.95 or less FOR FREE!   
My gift to you to thank you for your business. I will pay for it.   And the shipping & handling and taxes too!!  (that's over $20 saved).   
A $100 order gets you 2 items at $17.95 or 1 item at $35.95.    A $150 order gets you 3 items ($17.95) or one item at $53.95, etc.  And if your order is over $200, you WILL qualify for your own hostess benefits in addition to my gift(s) to you!   
For my local customers, please e-mail me or call me to place your order.  Online orders are not eligible for this deal - instead they are subject to the online deal stated below.

For online customers - anywhere in Canada:

Place an online order for $75 or more (before s&h and taxes) in the next 3 days and you can choose any single item worth $19.95 or less FOR FREE!   

Place an online order totaling $75 or more (before shipping & handling and taxes) and you can choose any single item from the catalogue worth $19.95 or less.  Do not add your free item to your online order.  Simply submit your online order then e-mail me with your free item request and your address and I will get it sent off to you!  An online order of $150 or more (not incl s&h or taxes) entitles you to 2 free items ($19.95 or less, each) or a single item valued at $39.95.   
A $200 order (not incl s&h or taxes) gets you hostess benefits and also 3 items ($19.95 or less) or a single item of $59.85 or less.


Offer expires at midnight, Wednesday June 27.  


I really do have the best customers in the world.  Let me thank you with a free gift!

Four Seasons - Summer Hostess set

Good Morning

If you've seen the new catalogue, you must have drooled over the new hostess sets like I did.  And one of my favourites has to be the Four Seasons stamp set.  I can see me getting a LOT of use out of this one!!

Her is my first take on a nice summertime card with bright colours and an easy design layout.

Supply List
Stamps - Four Seasons
Paper - Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight
Ink - Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise
Big Shot -  Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder, Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, Large Scallop Edgelit
Tools and Accessories - 2 1/2" circle punch, 2 3/8" scallop punch, 1" Circle Punch, Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, dimensionals, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds

I love how totally bright and fun this card is.  The inside of the card has the co-ordinating flower (from the Four Seasons Summer stamps) stamped, as well as the butterfly - although I am guessing the butterfly is considered part of the Four Seasons Spring ensemble.    :)

Just something light and summery to say hello on a Sunday morning!  Hope your weekend has been spectacular so far!  
God Bless,         ~Cynthia    <><

Fast & Fabulous - Trust God

My family was truly blessed and privileged last weekend to attend the wedding of two of the most lovely and giving people you are ever likely to meet.  Naturally I wanted to make a very special card for the young couple, but I did not have a lot of time at my disposal.  I managed to come up with a card that I love, and it just so happens to qualify as a Fast and Fabulous card.

JP and Mary-Rie chose to get married on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary so naturally my card had to include some "Marian" shades of blue. And I couldn't resist using the Lattice BigZ die to make some elegant crosses!   Come on over and see how I put this together:

Supply List
Stamps - Trust God
Paper - Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Night of Navy
Ink - Versamark
Big Shot -  Lattice BigZ Die, Delicate Designs Embossing Folder
Tools and Accessories - Silver Embossing powder, dimensionals

The bottom edge of the white card was embossed with the new Delicate Designs embossing folder.   Isn't this bit of embossing just lovely?

Three lattice pieces were cut from the white and 2 blue papers, and a bit of detailing and fussy-cutting transformed these trellis pieces into crosses.  They were offset from each other and the 2 blues were glued together while the white was popped up on dimensionals in the forefront.

The sentiment, from Trust God, is the perfect final addition to this card.  It was stamped with versamark and silver powder was used to emboss the words.  Notice how nice and lovely the background is?  Meaning no stray bits of silver embossing powder on the card.  That's because I used my embossing buddy (finally available to order from SU! after months of not being able to)!  These handy-dandy little pouches work miracles to keep stray bits of powder from sticking where you don't want them.  I may need to buy more than one.  They seem to disappear from my work space.  However, it could be that they are merely getting lost in the messy space that is my craft area.   :)

You cannot see it, but a sentiment from "God's Blessings" was embossed with silver embossing powder inside of the card.

I love how this card ended up.  Simple.  Yet unique and elegant.  I hope the Bride and Groom love it just as much.

We are getting closer to the weekend folks.  I love it!!  I hope everyone enjoys their weekend.  For my friends in Quebec, Happy St. Jean Baptiste Day.  For the rest of us, have a great weekend and try to stay cool!
God Bless     ~Cynthia     <><

Father's Day Card

I can't believe how easy it is to fall behind in posting.  I am only just now posting the Father's Day card that my ladies made at Card Club in May...and that I sent to my own father too!  The technique is called Faux Leather and it is amazing how closely the final product resembles real leather (in fact, my own family was fooled and thought I really HAD used a piece of leather on my card).

Without further ado, here's a great masculine card using the faux leather technique:

Supply List
Stamps - Lovely As A Tree
Paper - Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Ink - Early Espresso
Tools and Accessories - Baker's Twine, Brads, sponges, heat gun, Fun Foam, spritzer bottle, Espresso re-inker 


I used dollar store kids' Fun Foam to make my "faux leather" piece.  Go ahead and watch the youtube video to find out how to treat the foam to achieve the leatherized look.  It is surprisingly easy to do.  As for the rest of the card:  Water and a few drops of Espresso re-inker were mixed in a spritzer bottle and then sprayed quite liberally over the bottom (crumb cake) mat piece of the card.  Once dried, the pine image was randomly stamped over the bottom half of this crumb cake piece.  The faux leather/fun foam swatch, once "treated and stamped" was mounted to its corresponding Espresso mat using gold brads.  Espresso Baker's twine was wrapped a few times around this piece then the rest of the pieces were glued together.

Sound easy?  It is.
Sound quick ?   Not on your life!  Lots of steps.  Lots of gluing.  Lots of waiting.   The sponging and distressing and layering all add to the time needed for completion.  Yet it is pretty obvious that it is a gorgeous card.  My own father certainly liked it!  And my father deserves simply the best!

Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Father's Day.
Until next time,              God Bless,     ~Cynthia     

New Catalogue Kick-Off and Open House !

Hello Friends

Today is the day.  Deb Duval, Michelle Turner and I are hosting our New Catalogue Kick-Off party this evening from 7-9 here in Ottawa.  I personally, have 114 stamp sets that I am selling!!  And I know Deb and Michelle have a mountain of sets to sell as well.  Not to mention Big Shot dies, embellishments, designer paper and ink pads and ribbons and lots of other wonderful stuff!!  So bring your wish lists and come out tonight from 7-9 p.m. to stamp and shop at Pine Grove Bible Church  (2144 East Acres Rd, near where Montreal Rd crosses Hwy 174).  
Don't forget your glue and scissors!

By the way, sales of retired items are cash or cheque transactions only.  But this is a BOGO event.  That means Buy-One-Get-One.  Woo hoooooo!!     For each retired item you purchase, you can order something of equal or lesser value from the new catalogue.  New catalogue orders must be placed this evening and although retired sales are s&h and HST-free, the catalogue purchases are subject to s&h and HST).

There are plenty of door prizes to win.  A couple of gorgeous cards to make.  Some refreshments to enjoy.  Some shopping to do.  And some fun to be had!!  So join us this evening and unleash your bargain-hunter personality!  You won't regret it.

Have a wonderful day.  See you this evening?
God Bless,     ~Cynthia     <><