Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Portrait of a family

I am totally in love with the You're My Sunshine download!  (see the blog header change?)
As well as the color combo or yellow and gray!
I used it on my "Joy to the World" banner last month HERE. I saw this layout in a scrapbook magazine and just had to case it but in MDS style. I used the Tres Chic stamp brush set for the background in Whisper White and changed the opacity to 40%. Then I added just the word family in Daffodil Delight around the background as well. The square punches were filled with You're My Sunshine dsp and color. Added some stitching between them and around the whole thing is the stitched box from the Convention download.  Did you know there is stitching in that download? YEAH! That darker gray in the heart and title is one that I picked myself and put in my favorites in the color selector. Ever try that? There is so much to the My Digital Studio program yet to explore!
Ever want to try this program? Come back tomorrow for EXCITING NEWS! think FREE!
Thanks for stopping by!
Cindy

Monday, January 30, 2012

How simple! another MDS home decor frame!

I forgot to share with you this very simple idea during the holidays. My Digital Studio offers already pre-done templates in some of their additional purchased downloads. This makes creating SO EASY! This template is from the Home for the Holidays download (can you tell it was my FAV from the holidays downloads?) I created it in a 8.5x11 page. Saved as a jpeg file. Printed as a 5x7 on my printer. Inserted in frame. Added punch snowflake, circle punch and button to complete the frame.
Simple. Easy. Done.
Love projects that are simple to do but pack a punch!
Have a great Monday!
Cindy

Friday, January 27, 2012

MDS Blog Hop Friday - Winter Fun

This week's challenge was a difficult one for me. The theme "Winter Fun" is hard to do when you have had NO SNOW at all this winter.  I did work on a vintage ice skating scrapbook page but I will not have the photos until this Sunday when we go ice skating with our youth group. So I went in a different direction with some inspiration from my talented fellow blog hop friends Jeanna and Julie.  Their takes on brayering in the digital form blew me away! Jeanna won the MDS Contest because of her fabulous card seen HERE and Julie did this AMAZING card HERE and then she did a tutorial video HERE on how to do it yourself! After watching it, I was ready to give it a try. So with the challenge theme in mind, I created this card using the brayering technique.  It is so easy to do! The hard part was figuring out what to place on top to finish the card.  I think I will get these printed and send some to friends in the north that actually have snow this year.

Keep warm friends!
Please remember to check out my fellow bloggers below and leave a comment!
We love to read them!
Cindy
ME - Thanks for stopping by! :)

Friday, January 20, 2012

MDS Blog Hop Friday - Challenge Layout

Our friend Mandy selected this week's theme and she picked a layout for us to follow.  I used it as a guideline to build my page. Here is the sample layout first.
I absolutely love the banner theme of the page! I used a super cute download called Celebrate Any Day Greeting Card Templates # 127757. Although it is a card template, you get the great embellishments to create a page too!  The banner with Eat and Cake come with it.  In the last line of banner, I covered the letters with the photos and a small circle of the same color.  Then I added the photo boxes and flag punch filled with different papers like Berry Blossoms, Noteworthy and basic striped. I really like the colors on this paper of Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder and Crumb Cake especially for a birthday party.
Thanks Mandy! That was fun to do!
Thanks for stopping by!
Cindy

Check out other MDS hoppers and see what they came up with!
If some of our hoppers are missing then just return and go to the next one!
me - you are here!
Erica - next stop

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

A birthday party gift package! Completely in MDS!

I made this ensemble birthday package for a co-worker last week.  It was very simple to create using My Digital Studio.  Warning - this is a SUPER LONG post so hang in there til the end!
I first started to create it by adding the scallop pennant punch in different colors then adding Sweet Details Alphabet. When you add the punch without changing the size then you will be able to punch it out with the real punch. Used the 1/8" hole punch and threaded Baker's Twine thru them.

 I also add some plain scallop pennant punches and filled them to create the cake banner. Then I did did the same with the simple pennant punch for the inside of my card. Just love this!
Then I created the card front and printed it out as a 5x7. I added it to a piece of 10 x 7 Tempting Turquoise cardstock.  The inside banner folds up nicely.
 The card front was easy to create from a case that I had seen. I added a small circle punch, sized it down and copied and pasted it like a zillion times. Then filled with colors like Garden Green, Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Orchid Opulence, Lucky Limeade, Calyspo Coral, Melon Mambo and Peach Parfait.

Then I took the same card front and made a fun 5 x 7 frame insert. Added the original sweet sentiment from the case. I used some of the punched scalloped pennants to place on the outside of the frame.

Whew! That was ALOT of cover so I hope you made it all the way thru it. 
What can My Digital Studio NOT do?  Your imagination is umlimited!
I hope this inspires you to get on your computer/laptop and give it a go!
Cindy

Friday, January 13, 2012

MDS Blog Hop - NEW NEW NEW!

More of the NEW on the MDS blog hop this week. I have been doing ALOT of designing in MDS this week! Must have been all the new AWESOME downloads that I got last month and this month so far. I had a hard time just selecting one thing to show you all today. The creativity is oozing out my brain! (my daughter's comment) HA! 

I wanted to make some custom notecards to send to friends and customers thru the year. I am getting them printed thru Stampin Up and the quality of paper is so easy to write on.  I selected the 9 1/4" x 4" postcard to create my project in. Keeping it simple with a monogram C and my name and using the fabulous You're My Sunshine download from December. Added some ribbons and my favorite label punch to complete it.  The back is the open wide Whisper White space to write on.

I made two versions so that I can get 10 printed of each for just $1.75 with the new bulk pricing option AND they come with Whisper White envelopes! And I can order these over and over or change them a bit and order them. LOVE IT!
So yes, that is NOT a typo on my name. My mother spelled Cynthia with an i. But everyone calls me Cindy with no i on the end. Weird, huh?
I hope you like my project today and it inspires you to go create some note postcards for yourself!
Have a great day!
Cindy
Check out what everyone has that is NEW!
You will love each one so be sure to check them ALL out!
ME - YOU ARE HERE! : )

Monday, January 9, 2012

A Round Corner Tutorial Video

Sorry for the delay in posting this!I thought it was scheduled to post this morning and when I just checked, it was not! OOPS!

Here is the link to the You Tube Round Corner Punch Tutorial!

I have been working on the cutest birthday project this evening and I can not wait to show you all!
I will try to have a video on how I created it in MDS too!

Have a great evening!
Cindy

Friday, January 6, 2012

MDS Blog Hop Friday - something NEW!

Stampin Up has done something that they hardly ever do! Give something to their customers and demos and anyone at all for absolutely FREE! We all love FREE right?  But once again, they are ringing in the new year with a FREE My Digital Studio download! And an AWESOME complete kit as well! Anyone who has a facebook page and becomes a fan of Stampin' Up! (which means you need to 'like' Stampin' Up!'s facebook page) can this FREE download MDS digital kit. Below are the details....you'll need to go to Stampin' Up!'s actual facebook page to get the link. Hurry...it'll only be available 'til Jan 10th. Thanks Stampin' Up! You guys are the best!
"Thank you for being our friends! To show our appreciation for our 100,000 (plus) Facebook fans, we’re giving away a free digital kit to EVERYONE to use with My Digital Studio (or any other design software if My Digital Studio is not available where you live). The Day in the Life kit contains Designer Series Papers, embellishments, a Designer Template, and is valued at $14.95(US)! To download the kit, just follow the link below. And so you (and your friends) have plenty of time to download the kit, we’ll make sure it is available through January 10."
I really wanted that kit but decided to wait til the new year, so glad I did! I LOVE the layout of the 8x8 page templates that come with the download. So today in our "use something NEW" theme on our blog hop, I did took that template page to start off my 2012 album. I have been working on coming up with a new layout for my monthly page album.  These pages will be a great addition to the album.
Seeing the four squares reminded me of our family of four. So I went with the theme of from the start of a year to the end of a year, how much could you change in one year?
I simply added the month flag stamp in Island Indigo and a text in Cherry Cobbler to each page. The photos on the second page will be filled in December to finish it off. Love preplanning!

So remember to get your FREE download today! RUN! hehee no just click :)
Cindy

Check out what everyone has that is NEW!
ME - YOU ARE HERE! : )

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Recap 2011 continues...OCT NOV DEC

These last three months of 2011 yells "HOLIDAYS" very loud and clear. I had super fun making these. I had them finished all at the same time back at the first of November so all I had to do was fill with pictures at the end of Nov and Dec. Love getting "ahead of the cart" so to speak!
I love the colors of the Frighful Sight dsp on the Basic Gray background.  Just makes them pop! I also love the digital design tape that we got for free during the MDS special weekend back in November. The Scaredy Cat stamp brush set fills this themed page perfectly.
This page uses Autumn Spice from last fall's downloads. I paired it up with a Pear Pizzaz background and Day of Graditude stamp brush set.
To close off the year with the Christmas season, I went with the Letters to Santa dsp and embellishments.  I just love that Santa in the Lucky Limeade scallop punch embellishment on this page!
Well there you have it! Our 2011 "Project 12" scrapbook! I will get these printed in individual pages and place in a scrapbook like I have for 2008,2009, and 2010. I do have a few filler pages to add to this book. They are special pages from Cover page, Easter, Molly Memorial, Convention recap, Top Ten of Summer, and Family Page.
You can see that one tomorrow at our Blog Hop!
Thanks for coming back each day to see more of my 2011 project!
Cindy

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Recap 2011 continues...JULY AUG SEPT

Moving on to the next three months...
This page has to be my favorite design and it was my favorite month of 2011!  I wanted the "vintage" colors of July 4th traditional red, white and blue.  The dsp is from many kits and papers. Love Letter, Not Quite Navy striped and patterns.  This month was so great...from fantastic fireworks to my niece coming into the world to a visit with some GREAT friends to my very first Stampin Up Convention!
August is our back to school month here in the South. I used the Noteworthy CD kit. I love the colors in this kit; Pool Party, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler and So Saffron. The apple has color filled punch behind it to "fill" the apple in.
Spice Cake HAD to be used for September's page. It went so well with our beach vacation pictures.  Love the tree so it had to be in this page too.

Hope you enjoyed these!
Thanks for stopping by!
Cindy

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Recap 2011 continues...APR MAY JUNE

Here is the next three months of our year 2011! Someone asked about the round corners in the comments yesterday, so I will work on a video and have it for you soon. :)
I just love that chocolate bunny! The eggs are just wide oval punch filled with designer series paper called Nursery.
This one uses the Springtime Vintage dsp and the Sewing Stamp brush image. Love the lace ribbon and vintage flower adornments.
Absolutely love the butterfly on this page. Inspired from the template with the butterflies for the journal. The dsp is Sunny Garden. Love the Daffodil Delight with the orange tones for this summer month.

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fantastic day!
Cindy

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year 2012! and Recapping 2011...JAN FEB MAR

Hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve and enjoyed your first full day of 2012!
This past year has been a most wonderful year! Such a busy year in fact, that I see that I have only posted 97 times this whole year. Yikes! That is even less than when I started this blog 4 years ago! But this year has been truely blessed with all the new and exciting things happening in my life.

Stampin Up Highlights of 2011:
Designing more and more with My Digital Studio!
Making videos for My Digital Studio Techniques to share!
Being ask to participate in a MDS Blog Hop with top MDS demo designers!
Going to the Stampin Up Convention and making new demo friends!
Hosting a first of its kind MDS Demo Retreat with my friend Monika!
Stampin Up MDS opportunity that blew my mind! More to come on that!

Family Highlights of 2011:
My niece Ella arrived in June! Congrats Jon and Lois and big sister Abigail!
Howard had a good year in his work, traveled all ovet he south and made 100% goal!
Allison improved so much in her classes that she excelled in the CRCT testing in Math.
Megan continues to grow in her faith and share with other teens about her relationship with Jesus.
We said a sad goodbye to our dog Molly. She lived 16 wonderful years. She brought so much to our lives.
We went to Disney and Vero Beach for a fantastic family vacation.
We grew our Church Youth program to another level with core team work and unity to serve the Lord!
Our neighborhood lawsuit against a corp car dealership has made our neighbors into great friends!
All our family and us were generally heathly this year.
Spent time with great friends like the Wilkens, Casters, Hartbargers, Stifters, Boyles, and many other wonderful and dear friends!


Thru the past year, I have been doing a "Project 12". The "Project 52" weekly pages are too much for me to handle so I opted to do the once a month page as I have in previous years.  I loved Andrea Bowden's layout on her Project 52 pages and adapted them to mine. Once I had the layout, all I had to do was change the theme elements and designer series paper each month. I would just add a duplicate page and start to click and change. I love how the theme matching what MDS downloads taht came out thru the year.

So I am sharing 3 months with you each day this week....here is JAN, FEB, MAR


So this next year, one resolution is to get back to regular daily posting here on my blog. Another is MORE MORE MORE My Digital Studio projects AND video tutorials! Our MDS blog hop starts back Friday January 6th!  I also will be planning another MDS demo retreat with my partner and friend Monika. So excited on what is to come for 2012!

I greatly appreciate you stopping by and all the encouraging comments that you leave for me!
You do not know just how much that really means to me!
Cindy