Milestone Anniversary!

My Mother-in-law's sister (and brother-in-law) are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary next Saturday and I wanted to make a card for them.  Fifty years is a BIG deal!  My parents celebrate their 58th anniversary this year (my hubby and I will celebrate our 20th).  And I think it is important to congratulate these kind of milestones.  It's not just like having a birthday (let's face it, aging doesn't necessarily require any input for you, aside from eating and breathing).  But wedding anniversaries are a testament to perseverance, patience and love.  So Bev and Don, this card and the heartfelt congratulations that accompany it - are all yours!

I saw a gorgeous card here and decided to change it up just a bit to give it a little more of a golden aura.  So here's what I came up with:

Supply List
Stamps - Papillion Potpourri, Memorable Moments
Paper - Whisper White, Brushed Gold
Ink - Versamark
Big Shot - Scallop Square BigZ Clear, Square Lattice EF
Tools and Accessories Elegant Butterfly Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Bird Builder Punch (leaves/stems), 21/2" Circle Punch, Gold Embossing Powder, Basic Pearls


I absolutely love how rich and golden this card turned out.  The photo just doesn't do it justice, but hopefully you get the general idea.  And I am certain Bev and Don will be tickled pink (or gold?) when this comes in the mail.

In the meantime - today is the last day of July which means the Reason To Smile promotion is going to be over in tomorrow.  I hope everyone has put in their $60 order to get this beautiful and exclusive stamp set for only $5.  If not, contact me and I can help you to have your own Reason To Smile! 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week.  Take care and God Bless, 
~Cynthia     <><

Convention Swag

Hello there friends

I just realized I did not post any pictures of my actual awards for you to see.   But before I stop posting about my Convention fun, I should at least let you see a little of what I came home with.

First up is my Convention name tag.  It was kind of neat to have so many ribbons and pins on my name tag identifying me as an award recipient.  And all those pins look awfully nice on my Stampin' Up! apron at home now.

Next up is the bag that everyone received when they came to the registration desk.  I have to tell you, I really like this bag.  It holds a lot, and it has a multitude of really deep pockets inside!  Of course one of my daughters has already specified that she would like my Convention bag as soon as I am done with it!

Next is my favourite - the Rising Star necklace.  This silver star was given to me as a Rising Star recipient and I have worn it proudly a number of times since leaving Convention.  I will admit that I worked very hard last year - so to earn Rising Star - and in fact, to be recognized as the #1 new demonstrator in all of Canada - well, it felt awfully nice.   Another daughter has already asked if she can have this "someday...."

Lastly - take a look at this awesome bag!  This is my Founder's Circle bag and let me tell you, it is a beautiful accessory to carry over one shoulder.  Did I tell you I have 3 daughters?  Want to bet if one of them laid claim to my Founder's Circle bag?!



At any rate, this is just a quick post today to let you see some of what I came home with from Convention.  I did come home with a LOT more than just these (my suitcase was stuffed!!), but these are the things I wanted you to see for now.  And I'll admit it, I'm already looking forward to next year's Convention.  It's going to be Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary next year and Convention is going to be an absolute blast!!  Anyone who wants to join my team and come with me to Convention 2013, just let me know!

Till then, have a wonderful week and God Bless,      ~Cynthia     <><

Convention Cards 3 - Another Christmas Peak

I promised you another sneak peak into the holiday mini and here goes.....

The Scentsational Season stamp set is ultra-cute and this steaming cup of hot chocolate just makes me feel like warm and cuddly happiness after a cold day of tobogganing.  I know, I know...it is still a hot and humid July day right now.  But can't you just see the snow falling in your mind's eye?


And of course, nothing could be easier to cut out the mug shape, than using the Holiday Collection Framelits!  In fact, this collection of framelits will easily cut out a mug, some steam, a star, a Christmas Tree, a Candy Cane and a Gingerbread Man.  Surely you've already seen the ever-so-cute earrings I posted here?!?  Well you really, REALLY want to own these framelits, let me assure you.  Cards, Scrapbook pages, earrings and ornaments....there is no end to the uses I can find for these wonderful little metal time-savers!

Make sure you contact me if you haven't received your holiday mini yet!  And be sure to place your order for the wonderful stamp sets and matching framelits you'll find listed there.  Place your order online or contact me today to make sure you get to be one of the first to own these stamps and accessories.  Remember, I can take orders from and ship to anywhere in Canada!  Let me help you get Christmas off to an early start!

Until then, enjoy your day, hot and un-Christmas-sy though it may be!    :)

God Bless,          ~Cynthia          <><

Convention Fun

Hi Friends

More than just showing you some of the great cards I saw there, I wanted to tell you just a bit about Convention.  If I had to pare it down into one sentence, I'd have to say...Convention was a BLAST!  I had so much fun, it was unbelievable!  And perhaps the most fun of all was the Class that I helped present 4 times over the course of 2 days. 

Karen Hauley (from Stampin' Up!) asked Jill Hilliard, Megumi Holland and myself to help present a class called "I Am Earning an Incentive Trip".  Let me tell you, I had a bunch to say but I learned a whole LOT from Meg and Jill.  A ton!  These two ladies had a wealth of information to share and I was so glad to be a part of it.  And in addition to the tips and advice, Karen, Meg and Jill are just plain old NICE!  What fun to be a part of that group! 

And to add icing to the cake, Karen gave each of us a gorgeous journal (created using Stampin' Up!'s MDS program) and the inside cover included a personal note written to each of us from Shelli Gardner, co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!







I also learned an awful lot at the other classes I attended.  Bonnie Thurber asked Tami White and Ronda Wade to share their expertise with us in a class called "I Am Doing Business My Way".  Both of these wonderful ladies had excellent advice for us.  And Bonnie, as always, was a riot.

Donna Griffith put together a class called "I am Savvy" and Dawn Griffith, Meg Wheeler and Laura Milligan each showed us ways to design projects using some of the wonderful SU! products that we have available to us.

And Carrie Cudney (I am in awe of this woman!) showed us ways to put DSP together in a class called "I Am a Pattern-Mixing Pro".  I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed all of these classes and how much I learned at them.  Hopefully all of this newfound knowledge will be obvious to you when you attend clubs and classes over the next several months!

I would be happy to share all this knowledge with you and welcome you to my clubs, classes or events.  And if you wish to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, then I'd love to have you join my team.  We can share the Convention experience together next year!  Believe me, you'll have a blast.  I guarantee it!

Till then, have a wonderful evening and God Bless,       ~Cynthia    <><

Convention Cards 2 - Christmas in July

Hey there friends

How about a little taste of Christmas?

Here is a really cute series of cards that I saw at Convention that use the Chock-Full of Cheer stamp set.  Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green are the perfect combination of colours that make me feel in the Christmas spirit....even if it is still sweltering outside!

Along with the stamped images and the luscious stitched satin ribbon, the Be of Good Cheer designer paper really makes these cards simple to assemble, and WOW!!

And who isn't excited about the new mitten punch (from the holiday mini) that is coming available on Aug 1??




Look for another Christmas card tomorrow...using another sneak peak from the holiday mini.

Until then, enjoy your day and God Bless,
~Cynthia      <><

Convention Cards 1

Hello Friends

I am still away from home, enjoying some time with my kids at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  I returned here after Convention, and won't be home to see my husband until tomorrow evening.  So I don't even get to share my Convention stories (and awards) with him for another 24 hrs.  But THEN I will be truly happy and my Convention experience will be complete.  Since I am not yet home, I have no chance to craft cards.  But I did manage to download some of the gorgeous cards I saw displayed at Convention and I will post a few of these over the next few days for you to admire.  I have no way of knowing who created these lovely cards so I cannot acknowledge them by name....but please note that these cards are not my own.  I must say though, I will undoubtedly CASE (copy and share everywhere) many of these ideas for classes and parties in the next months.  So many wonderful ideas out there...and so happy that demonstrators share their gifts with the rest of us!  Enjoy these creations:

As you might recognize, I love butterflies.  And I love how this simple card uses the new Elegant Butterfly Punch to showcase some gorgeous butterflies.  Notice the use of designer paper for the butterflies themselves, and the Wacky Wishes sentiment.

Absolutely LOVE the Vintage Faceted Designer Button on the Midnight Muse butterfly here.  And love the Papillon Potpourri set stamped onto the cardstock butterflies.  And vellum butterflies....what an inspired choice!

Ahhhhh. Who doesn't love the butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit?  A little bling, some Baker's twine and buttons, and the ensemble is complete!





I saw (and photographed) LOTS of beautiful cards at Convention.  Check back tomorrow and I'll share a few more.  Until then, enjoy your day and your week. 

God Bless,   
~Cynthia    <><

Convention 2012 Awards Night

Well friends, awards night was actually Thursday night, but I am just getting around to posting this now.  Sorry for my delinquency, but here is an update:

I got to "walk the stage" 4 times at the Awards evening.  The very first time I went up onto the stage, my shoe broke!  So I spent the rest of the evening going up and down the stairs in my bare feet!  Ack!!  They must think I'm such a bohemian!   :)

Despite my wardrobe malfunction, I made it onto the stage 4 times on Thursday night (and a further 3 times for awards marches on Friday).  Not bad - 7 onstage appearances for my first year as a demonstrator!!

Thursday night at the very elegant gala event, my 2 most memorable walks were for Founders' Circle and Rising Star.  This year, it turns out only 10 people in North America achieved Rising Star.  Not only was I honoured to be one of them, but I was the ONLY Canadian Rising Star recipient this year!  Talk about an honour!  In addition and as I already posted a few days ago, I am one of the top 20 demonstrators in all of Canada this year.  This achievement has earned me a spot in Founders' Circle - one of the highest honours that Stampin' Up! can give its demonstrators.  I feel so completely blessed to be in this exclusive group of women (top 20 Canadians, top 100 Americans).  When I return home and have all my photos downloaded, I will post more about these amazing honours - both the awards these last few days and the retreat trips I will be going on as part of both awards.

I was very lucky that Michelle Sturgeon, a fellow Canadian demonstrator and an incredible lady, was kind enough to share my excitement with me and take several photos - this one included!  Then after the awards ceremony there was a wonderful post-awards party where I got to dance the night away with some truly awesome Canadians from western Canada.  Heidi, Fran (yes you do so have rhythm), Rebecca, Cheryl, Leanne and Lauren (because I *know* you were there in spirit--hope you're feeling better), thank you so much for sharing my excitement and for your willingness to let me be crazy with you for a while.  You ladies absolutely ROCK! 

I'd better keep this "short" as I still have 2 classes left, back-to-back, first thing in the morning.  This is the class that I was asked to help present this year (did I not tell you that I was unbelievably honoured at this, my first Convention?!?).  At any rate, in a very short time I will be on stage again helping to give this talk so I will bid you adieu right now.  But not before I say that I hope your week has been as blessed as mine has been and that your lives have been as full and as rich.  I have smiled from ear to ear for so many days now, I cannot remember what it feels like to 'not' smile!

Have a wonderful Sunday everybody.  God Bless you all!     ~Cynthia    <><