Wacky New Year's Eve!

Today is the last day of 2008! A year that was interesting, had it's good and bad times, but always a lot of fun! I have a feeling that 2009 will be a harder year. But we will get thru it for the better.

Here is a recap of my stamping 2008!

Looking forward to many more projects and cards to stamp in 2009 to share with all of you!

Have a magical last day of 2008! Do a little recap of 2008 on your own today!

Cindy

Disney Tip Tuesday

This updated news took me by surprise!

NEW: Effective immediately, the booking window for Walt Disney World dining, recreation and tours will be 90 days, instead of 180 days.

So that means if you are planning a trip to Disney and you want to book meals, tours and anything else then you need to wait 90 days from your arrival to do so. So why the problem, it is still 3 months out? But you use to have 6 months out! For us planners, that can be a problem cause we LOVE to plan way ahead of time! Crazy me huh? So our September 2009 trip, I have to wait until June to plan where I could have booked it all in March! LOL

Also, if you are planning to buy tickets, then you might want to do it sooner than later since Disney usually does a price increase in the first of January. Now with the economy the way it is, they may not. However, the new promo of a free ticket to Disney on your birthday has been a huge success so far, so they may increase prices to make up some of that money. Who knows?

One more thing...if you are there during New Year's Eve then you want to search this link: http://allears.net/tp/nyeve.htm to go thru what you can do. I would love to go to the Atlantic Dance Hall for New Year's Eve Dance All Night Long! Most of the parks are open til 1:00 am. Plan 90 days out for your dinner that night!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Made for Monday

I am really busy today with work so I will make this quick. I did make some new things this weekend but I have not had time to photo them. I will do that soon. Christmas final projects that I found time to finish. The first picture is the Schuster Family Christmas 2008 photo from Christmas Eve. This picture is the Homier Family Christmas 2008 photo from Christmas Day. What a wonderful Christmas with our family! Have a magical day! Cindy

Festive Friday

Today is pj's day! We all slept in til 11am and now we will stay in our jammies all day! We are "trying" to play Wii Rock Band and Wii Fit. Those were the big family gifts this year. What a blast! What a wonderful Christmas we had this year! What awesome gifts we all received and great memories made with our families and loved ones! I still want to show you all pictures but for now I am chillin out with my family in my jammies. So I will be back on Monday! Have a magical day! Cindy

Merry Christmas!

Christmas mornings are treasured events in our house. The girls have to wait til Howard and I are both up and in our robes before they head into the designate tree to behold the gifts that Santa has left behind for them. With sherks of joy, they open their gifts. Hopefully Santa did a good job this year. Next we start watching the Disney Christmas Parade on TV followed by a yummy breakfast of pancakes and eggs. (bacon too!) We enjoy our new presents for a few hours til we have to prepare to head to my parents' house for round 3 of Christmas. We get home late as always cause my mom loves to spoil all of us so much! We love to make her happy and secretly love the spoiling!

I hope you are enjoying this special day with loved ones.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog!

May all your wishes come true!

Many blessings!

Have a very Merry Christmas! Cindy

Wacky Christmas Eve!

"It is here! It is here!" as my Allison would yell. Our Christmas Eve will start with brunch at SIL/BIL home. The Schusters get together is celebrated today as a tradition continues. Hoping for some mimosas! Hoping to play with the kids (all 5 of them) and their presents. We will attend church at the candlelight service which is so inspiring. Then back home to get out the cookies and milk for Santa. Read Twas the Night before Christmas to the girls and off to bed to prepare for a full-of-fun Christmas Day. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! Cindy

Disney Tip Tuesday

If there were an award given for most impressive holiday decorations, though, it would have to go to the amazing Grand Floridian, which upholds its reputation for doing everything in grand style. The moment you walk into the lobby, the five-story tree commands your attention. Decorated with shimmering white lights and sparkling mirrors, the tree dwarfs everything and everyone around it. Downstairs, in the full-sized gingerbread house, you can finally buy the sweets and treats that have been tempting you as you've made your way around the resorts.

One of the greatest things we did over the Christmas visit in 2005 was to go on the Yuletide Fantasy Tour. You can read all about the tour in details here is this review. http://allears.net/btp/tour_yt10.htm It was the first time I got to see the behind the scenes of Disney. You get to see how the people work in the design area as well as where they store the entire holiday decorations for all the parks. Our tour director was Carmen and she did a great job! Very informational and friendly. You also get to go the the Grand Floridian Resort shown above. Something to plan to do on your holiday visit to DisneyWorld!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Made for Monday

Here are two treats that I made for the staff at my girls' school. They are so simple to make.

First one is cased from Heather's UStamp project. You take a 4x4 sheet of cardstock and score it 1" all four sides. Cut tabs and fold and tape tabs to make a box bottom. Then cut a 3.5x4.5 cardstock times 2 for the front and back. Stamp with whatever you like. Attach them to the box with double side tape. Punch handle out with the small oval punch. Add scallop punch set and ribbon to finish. I used old olive and real red on this project.

Chocolates inside!

Last one is a spice jar from Ikea. They come in a pack of 4 for $3.50. I simply did a scallop punch in real red. A 1 3/8" circle punch in chocolate chip. Then stamped the gingerbread man from Deer Friends stamp set in chocolate chip and added red buttons with the real red marker. Punch out with 1 1/4" circle punch. The red gingham ribbon around the neck of the jar. I made the little name tags out of real red and used White gel pen for the name. REAL EASY!

Lots to do today! Projects to finish and wrapping to get done. I finished my cards and they are mailing today. I am ashamed to say that out loud! Have a magical day!

Cindy

Festive Friday

Here is my Stampin Up tree for 2008! I bought the On Board Trinkets Ornaments and the Star Bright Designer Series Paper Ornaments from the Holiday Mini Catalog. These are just a few of them made! Together they make over 100 ornaments! I decided to put them on this little 2' tree I had to show off the ones I did make. Cute! What do you think? This is one of my favorites! Using the Red Riding Hood Taffeta ribbon (LOVE it ) and the stamp from the hostess set Punches Three. This stamp set is retiring with all the other hostess sets. Bummer! Best hostess stamp sets that I have seen in awhile are in this currant catalog. Another fav ornament! This weekend is full of fun holiday stuff! A cookie exchange party and wrapping presents to get ahead before Wednesday. Have a magical weekend! Cindy

Disney Tip Thursday

I bring a little Disney into my holiday decorations too. This is the Mickey wreath that I made using a 24" wreath and two 12" wreaths. I used a fleece hat that I made and added a simple bow at the bottom. I thought about putting Mickey ears ornaments all over it but thought it would be too much.

You can see my collection of Jim Shore Disney characters on the console table as well as my Disney countdown calendar.

Here is another tree of ours. THE DISNEY TREE! It is 6.5' tall narrow tree. It has all our Disney ornaments, Hallmark, park bought and stuffed characters. Minnie Angel is on the top of the tree. Of course, we had to put our monorail around the tree and add the Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Castle too. The tree skirt is Mickey and Minnie and has "The Schusters" stitched on it. Have a magical day! Cindy

Wacky Wednesday

Here are two projects that I made at my upline Wendy's house in October. First is a glass candle holder and candle. We cut out the PeaceJoyLoveHope on her Big Shot. Glued it to the holder. Then stamped images on a sheet of tissue paper and using a heat gun adhered it to the candle with wax paper. Complicated? Difficult? Yes a little.

Next we made this cute plate display. What I loved about this is that you can make monthly display circles for this plate. Here I show you December. I will show more another time.

I have these on my kitchen bar counter.

Back to the 12 days of Christmas scrapbook, wait til you see it!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Disney Tip Tuesday

So you ask....what does Animal Kingdom in Disney have for the holidays?

During the Holidays Around the World Celebration (Thanksgiving to New Years), Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom takes on a holiday theme and becomes Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade. Basically the same parade with holiday decorations added to the floats and characters. You can see pictures here: Mickey's Jingle Jungle Parade at Animal Kingdom

Not a big deal. So if you are going to the park during this time, catch the parade or not. You will not be missing much. The parade at Magic Kingdom is ten times better. Go hit some of the rides, the lines will be shorter!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Made for Monday

Such a busy weekend with BIL/SIL/nephews visit, a fundraiser for an injured youth, putting up Christmas lights for MIL, Our church Senior Youth Christmas Party, helping Mom put up her new curtains, whew....

So last holiday season I found this great tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.com about this advent calendar. I went and bought all the supplies throughout the holiday never getting around to making it. I finally finished it with Allison's help. You can see the tutorial here: Splitcoaststampers - Tutorial I did added ribbon around the edge of the canvas because it was a little ugly looking with the staples showing. If you are thinking on making this little project, be prepare cause it does take some time but the final result is awesome! Here is a close up of the tins. You could also use jewelry/small boxes here. I used the retired Dashing paper from last year on this project. I love the dots and colors!

So next year, we will actually use it! I did not fill it this year. You can only get so much done at one time. Allison still is asking me to fill it with 10 days to go!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Festive Friday

Today's festive Friday is an ornament I made for my Snow Tree. I used the Coluzzle Circle cutter to cut the cardstock after I had stamped Real Red snowflakes on it. Then I layered the Real Red and stamped image from Big on Christmas stamp set. I used my inks with blender pen to color in the snowman and words. Then I took the round tab punch to create the top and attached the snowflake brad to it. Then add silver thread to hang it. I cased this from Angie on her blog. I made five of these for my tree.

Here is a picture of my snow tree. I love snowmen, snowglobes, you get the picture...SNOW!

Have a snowy day! See you Monday!

Cindy

Disney Tip Thursday

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is the primary Holiday Happening at the Disney's Hollywood Studios. The Streets of America backlot again will sparkle brightly as millions of twinkling lights dancing to music illuminate the area November 28 through January 4, 2009, during the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights presented by SYLVANIA. Amid "Florida snow" flurries, the building facades, trees and streets of the Disney's Hollywood Studios backlot dazzle with three-dimensional and motion-based displays -- some originally created at the Osborne home in Arkansas by businessman Jennings Osborne as a holiday display for the delight of his daughter.

You can read this guest blog on Allears.net. I love it! Great background to the story of the lights and amazing pictures of it all.

Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights (All Ears® Guest Blog)

These are pictures of the lights from our trip in November 2007. It was the only holiday event that we got to see that year because they put it up much earlier in November. I read somewhere once about a Halloween light display of the Osborne family that got put in with the other light when they moved it to Disney. See if you can find it! It is a purple cat. We did!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Wacky Wednesday

Can you believe that these cute bags are made out of a 9 x 12 white envelope? I found a tutorial on SplitcoasterStampers website that showed how to make these. Check it out. I was amazed! http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/bag_a_lope/

I made them to sell our youth group coffee fundraiser for the holidays. The kids actually made these during one of our meetings. The gingerbread man bag is my favorite. It holds a big can of hot cocoa. Santa holds coffee and baby Jesus holds tea.

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Look who stopped by last night!

We were getting ready for bedtime so Allison was in her pjs when we heard a knock on the front door. Howard opened the door to see Santa there! The girls were in awe! He came to hear what they wanted for Christmas and a great photo op!

(he is our neighbor Robert who plays Santa each year and Howard had asked him to come by after work one night as a surprise)

What a magical surprise!

Disney Tip Tuesday

If you are at Epcot during the holiday season then you want to try to see many of the countries' Storytellers. Each of the 11 countries has one. You can see them all here at Deb's Allears.net. Click on pictures on this page to read the stories.

http://allears.net/tp/ep/holiday08.htm

We got to see just two of them in 2005. You really have to time yourself in Epcot if you really want to see ALL of them. They have set times that they come out. See your times schedule sheet when you enter the park that day. Just walking around the countries, you may get to catch just a few of them and mostly at the end of it. Ones to not miss are Norway, France, England and Germany. Tip - If you are mapping out which one to see, get to the country 10-15 min before the storyteller starts to get a good front row spot.

Another thing to not miss in Epcot is the decorations! The poinsettas are all over the place. Each store within the countries are decorated, so I love to scope them out. Here is a wreath made up with the ornaments they sell. Great decorating ideas!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Made for Monday

Here is another gift money/gift card holder. It is a smaller version of the money holder made by Jill's Card Creations and the Graduation card I made back in May. See older posts. I used Old Olive and Real Red cardstock. The belly band that slides off is made with Dashing Paper from last year. The stamped snowflake is from Snow Swirled. I scalloped the edge with the scallop punch. I have been busy making lots of things and need to take some pictures to download. Hope to get to that today. Have a magical day! Cindy

Festive Friday

This is such a BEAUTIFUL Christmas card! Click on it to see in more detail. I cased it from Lorri on Confessions of a Stamping Addict. Thanks to BIL and SIL for the tip to add the sentiment instead of a ribbon! I used my favorite stamp set of the season...Snow Swirled. I embossed with my heat gun with clear powder on the background of the card. Very time consuming but love the finished look! See the glitter in the tree...just a glue pen and fine glitter. I made 6 in Pink Pirouette and 6 in Baha Breeze for my MIL for her birthday gift. I made a notepad holder, beaded pen and bookmark in Baha Breeze to match the cards. Turned out so nice. Have a magical day! Cindy

Disney Tip Thursday

This is another Christmas event that you can NOT miss! The Candlelight Processional at Epcot. See this link on Deb's AllEars.net for all the details:

Candlelight Processional at Epcot

We did this in 2005. We had 8 people total with us that year so we select a Tier 3 dinner package. Pricy but worth it! Warning...I booked 6 months in advance for this! We decided to eat at LeCellier in Canada area. You must eat before the show. Very very good food but with 8 people and it was very busy that week before Christmas, we had a LONG dinner (2.5hours). Did not plan on that happening so we ended up missing the lighting ceremony of the Epcot tree at 6pm. After dinner, we went over to the American Gardens Theatre in the center of the countries. With the dinner package, you get VIP seating for each and no waiting in line for a seat. It would have been a 45 min to 1 hour wait in line to get a seat. Our narrator was Jim Caviezel from "Passion of the Christ" movie. Being a devout catholic, he was very moving and emotional through out. He narrated the story of Christmas with such passion in between songs done by the Mass choir and 50-piece orchestra. Truely moving and uplifting experience! I even bought the CD to it to listen to it at home.

So you do not have 6 months to book this, but you can still go see it if you would like to wait in line for a seat or you can hear the music near the area if you just want to hear it. One thing, remember to bundle up cause it is outside and in Dec 2005 it was FREEZING COLD! Yes, FREEZING cold in Florida!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Wacky Wednesday

Here are some gift card/money holders that I made for my craft shows. I sold out of all 20 right away so I had to make more. They are made with 4 3/8 x 5 3/4 standard envelope folded into half and stamped all over the inside and front flap. I then attached it to a Real Red cardstock as a background. Add ribbon and the tree stamped with backing and done. I made them also in Wild Wasabi. Inside says Merry Christmas. I am selling these at $2.50 each. nutmeg1197@aol.com I am working on a 12 days of Christmas scrapbook by Heather. (See my Fav bloggers on right to see it) I just love it! I made mine for a 8 x 8 red scrapbook that I had. The girls and I also made a Christmas countdown calendar. I hope to post it soon! Have a magical day! Cindy

Disney Tip Tuesday

Are you or have you ever been to DisneyWorld in December?

IT IS AN AMAZING MAGICAL HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE!!!!!

We went in 2005 with my Mom and Dad, Mother-in-law and her good friend (we call her Aunt) and the four of us. We did DVC timeshare at the Saratoga Springs Resort in a Grand Villa for the week before Christmas. Than last year, we were there at Thanksgiving week. All the decorations were up already. So we throughly enjoyed it again.

One event we missed was the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It is like the Halloween party just for Christmas. See this link below and enjoy the details from Jack and Deb's visit this year. I ABSOLUTLY LOVE THE HOLIDAY WISHES FIREWORKS AND THE CASTLE LIGHTING CEREMONY! Watch their review, it really shows the lighting! Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2008 Part 1 (The “World” According to Jack) and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party 2008 Part 2 (The “World” According to Jack)

This is a ticket event, so plan on sleeping in and then going to the park at 4:00pm to enjoy the park without using a park day pass. The park is open til midnight. Plan on seeing Magic Kingdom on another day cause you do not want to miss anything special that happens during the party. Do not miss the FREE hot cocoa and cookies! Look or ask for the free 5 x7 photo area too. Not sure if they still do that.

So this month's Disney tips will be all about celebrating the Christmas holiday in Disneyworld! My favorite place and favorite holiday together!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Made for Monday

Hello!

Here is a sweet Thank you card I made. I used Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip cardstock and inks. The paper strip is from Bella Rose Designer paper. The stamp set is a new one called Pocket Silhouettes. I used the scallop punch on the bottom of the chocolate chip. I like this simple Thank you card cause it took only 8 minutes to make! No kidding!

Have a magical day!

Cindy