Friday Extra - Project Life Santa Fun!

Way back in September, I helped my friend Monika Davis with her Fall Retreat prepping. We get together and design projects for it. We always have such fun creating together! Monika wanted to do two things - Project Life and take group photos to fill the page with. And from there, we came up with this fun activity for one of the nights. The right side is the page that the participants created at the retreat.

We wanted to show how you could do Project Life so easily with regular Stampin UP products from the holiday catalog. We used the Trim a Tree Designer Series Paper Stack, the Santa Stache Stamp Set, Frosted Sequins, Confetti Stars Punch, Dazzling Diamonds, and All is Calm Washi Tape. That saying come from the Visions of Santa Photopolymer Stamp Set. We thought it was perfect for this amount of silliness! We had so much fun with this!

We had the ladies wear their Christmas PJs one night. We set up a photo op area with a frame, a Santa hat, a white mustache prop and let the cray cray begin! I took the individual photos and made a second page here to fit all the awesome funny photos we took. I just love this! Perhaps you can recreate it for your holiday celebration coming up! Kids AND adults would love it!

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope this inspires you!

Cindy

Artisan Wednesday Wow - Boo Banner

 Welcome back to Artisan Wednesday WOW! You just came from Cathy Caines and next is Connie Collins, but before you come check out my boo banner and how I made it!

 

When we got our September box of Stampin' UP products from the 2013 Holiday Catalog, I was thrilled to see the Build a Banner Simply Created Kit # 133507 in there! If you must know one thing about me, I LOVE BANNERS!  Every holiday and every occasion, I have a banner for! Those stencils are so stinkin cute too! I used Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black ink on sponge daubers with the dot and chevron stencil from the kit. Then I used the circle stencil to make a moon with Crushed Curry and alcohol in the spritzer. I also sponged with Summer Starfruit to add a shades to my moon. I added a punched art pumpkin to it for the middle "O"....reminds me of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". To finish off the banner, I added some of the Halloween Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit #132698 pieces. I trimmed the bat down to just show the black part.

I think my favorite part of this banner is maybe how it looks on that frame! I had this beautiful framed picture that the glass broke out of, so I just used the awesome frame to hang my banner on. Added some of my fake pumpkins and colored glass collection to complete my mantle for October.

Bring on the candy! Thanks for stopping by! I hope this inspires you today!

 Cindy 

Move on to Connie by clicking on the next button!

MDS Family Frame

Our MDS Blog Hop is on hiatus thru December now. We will be back in January with some new exciting changes!  I will still be posting some MDS projects thru the month so be sure to check back here often.

 

My Digital Studio Family Wall Art

My friend and MDS partner Monika (also link to HER BLOG) and I had a lot of fun creating this Hybrid Wall Art Project for our last My Digital Studio Club. I just love mine and so did everyone else in our class!

We made 2.5 x 4.25 tags in MDS and had them printed thru SU. Then we added hybrid elements with various Stampin Up products to completed the frame. We were trying to promote using the Stampin Up printing process and how a variety of ways which you can use MDS print items in your home decor. We showed several finished projects in the class. It was alot of fun!
 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Have a great day!

Cindy

 

MDS Blog Hop Friday - Owl Theme

This week's theme was Owls. Where to start designing? Look on MDS2 at the Global Search and type in "owl" and see what comes up and inspires you. That is what I did! Add a little Pinterest inspiration from a scrapbook page and this is what I came up with. A boy's baby name frame!

 

That cute orange owl from Party Animal Kit just got my attention and had to use him! I was able to make those fake shelves with cropping the Fancy Frame. Recolored the one frame to Marina Mist. Added a banner from the same Party Animal Kit. Used different fonts for all the text boxes with some adjustments on the line spacing and tracking. All the info on the page is false but the picture is from one of my friends. 

 

So I wanted to print this out and put in a frame for ya but ran out of time this week. Here is a sample of what it might look like on a bedroom wall. You get the picture, right? (sorry for the pun LOL) I have been working on lots of MDS home decor projects for a MDS club class. I will be sharing them all next week on my blog and MDS.net when Stampin Up's MDS special week starts! If you like the owl that I used, the download kit called Party Animal will be 50% off from Oct 29th to Nov 5th! PLUS they are giving away FREE DOWNLOADS! Be sure to get yours!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank you all for leaving comments. They really make my day!

Cindy

Check out what my talented MDS Blog Hop friends created this week!

 If someone is missing as you hop, just come back here and move to the next person.

1. Jeanna Bohanon

2.Rochelle Gould

3.  Mandy Grant

4. Julie Leblanc 
5.Amber Meadows

6. Terri Mongeon

7. Aly Schilling

8. Cindy Schuster

9. Erica Shaw

10. Heather Summers

11. Holly VanDyne
12. Kimberly Van Diepen 

New Classroom Decor

 I have been cleaning, organizing, and creating a new space for my new adventure! My downline and partner Christine and I are starting to have CLASSES! We are so excited! We will be called CREATIVE STAMPIN CHICKS. Working on a MDS logo for it too! The room I have needs to be multi-purpose for my family to use AND a classroom. Here are some of the things I have done to bring in some Stampin Up creativity into the room.  I used my new fav designer series paper called Pocketful of Posies. It has 10 colors in the designs and I think they work well in my room.

I made this welcome banner in My Digital Studio. I created it in a 8.5x11 layout and printed them as 3.5x5 allowing me to print 4 on one piece of paper. I added hybrid elements such as punch flowers, rhinestones, brads, and ribbon.  Lovin banners right now! 

Then I bought some new magazine holders from Ikea (5 plain white for $1.99). They of course needed some color! I printed the Pocketful of Posies in 8.5x11 in MDS.  I cut them in 2.5" strips. Temporary attached to front and traced the hole with a pencil from the inside. Then took my 1" circle punch for the holes. Glue or snail on permanently. Took me like 25 minutes to do!

I bought this frame at Walmart for $3.00.  I added a 5x7 piece of Early Espresso cardstock and removed the glass.  Then I added the Top Note piece with velcro. I can switch it up for the holidays or seasons.  I started with this simple "matching my room" piece.  I used the Pennant Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Baker's Twine, Fabulous Phrases Stamp set and MDS created Pocketful of Posies DSP.

Remember the special this month? Buy 3 get one FREE of the designer series paper just until Aug 31st!  I just loved the cards from that promo and in the SU catalog on page 184! I wanted to challenge myself to make them in MDS and guess what?  I DID!  I found this topiary in my storage room and thought what a cute card display it would make! I attached the cards with mini clothespins.

Check back tomorrow for MDS BLOG HOP FRIDAY!

Remember to create something today!

Cindy

Convention Recap Day 4

Friday Friday Friday! Dawn and I got to go to the First Timers Breakfast together. We had a lite meal and got to see Shelli and other members of the corporate team. The line was super long so we missed our chance to meet Shelli in person. Oh well....next year!  Dawn and I then attend the class "Garden Showcase" and we were blown away at all the projects that Holly, Brian, and Donna showed us.

I then met Michele and Monika at the Make and Take Session 3. They were over the top make-n-takes! Three cards, a pennant swag and a covered card box.  Now I certainly did not get mine done during that 1 hour and 45 minutes window but I was able to stamp and punch the papers needed to complete them at home. I also watched the video on the box and it is a good thing I did!  Since I have been back, I did manage to finish these projects. I covered the sides of my card box as well. I will post them next week on my blog to show you them in detail. I love the card box and it will also be in the Holiday Mini coming out Sept 1st!  

Shelli's presentation at Convention is always the high point.  I have heard how great she does whether alone or like last year...with a daughter of hers.  Last year it was Sara (who went solo this year) and this year it was with her daughter Shalae (I never pronounce her name correctly). Shalae did a great job and had the whole crowd laughing which relaxed her and all of us.  When she was super nervous and about to go on stage, the stage manager told her " No one is going to die and no one is going to get pregnant". TOO funny!  I loved their projects!  I plan to do several of their projects myself in a class.

This is me and my roomies on the stage in the Gathering Place which made for a great Convention photo op!

We all went to dinner at J Wong's which was more food than I could handle!  Monika and I signed up for the + FUN classes that night.  She went to the Every Last Detail Class and I went to the MDS Hybrid Class. There I got to meet a new friend Jeanna.  She is so much fun and she rocks at MDS too!  Now I have to be honest, the MDS Hybrid class ROCKED!  Holly Linford and the whole Stampin UP My Digital Studio team spoiled us attendees to the core! We got way more than we EVER expected! Free supplies, a 10.5x5 completely printed calendar and a CD FULL OF DOWNLOADS and a complete TEMPLATE made JUST FOR US! I also got to meet Andrea Bowden (SU MDS genius) and we swapped MDS cards. I met another fellow MDS fan - Alana Jean-Louis! She gave me and Jeanna her trade marker photo avatar, a red clown nose.

What a great day it was! Great memories of new friends and new learning!

Tomorrow is the last day of Convention. Can I cry now?

Cindy

A Starz/Paws Meeting

Every other month, my sideline Monika hosts a demonstrator's team meeting for us ladies.  This happened in January after leadership convention so we could see and hear all the latest in Stampin Up!  There was so much!  Here are the make and takes that we created that night.  My favorite was the name tag.  It showed the Two Tags die cut as well as a sampler of the new fabrics in the Mini Occasions Catalog and the fabric designer brads.  Hope I remember to wear this to our meetings from now on! 

Fran from Alabama showed us a cool trick with the edge punches on a card.  We got to use the new Petal Cone die cut and Pom Pom trim. Also the new spinner stamp set and embellishments which are cute in person.  Jenn showed us these super simple candy holders using the tag punches.  You can put a nugget or Hershey kiss in the middle of them.  I will be making these for Valentine's day.

These are such great nights! Sharing stories and ideas. They make me happy!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

2 Days til Christmas!

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE  DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS?!  WOW!

I wanted to share with you some the the Christmas Organizers that my just some of my ladies made back in November at our class.  These are some very talented women!  I did miss taking a picture of two ladies that had left already.  Here are four of them completed.  I hope they put them to good use this holiday season!  I know I used mine and get all kinds of compliments when people come over and see it displayed on my cookbook easel near the kitchen. You can see mine here: Our Wish List Scrapbook Page

I can not wait to see all of them again in January and my next class!  We will be making something amazing and I can not wait to show you! More later...

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Getting Ready for Christmas Friday

So I do not know what happened to Wednesday and Thursday so let's move on to FRIDAY!  Tonight is my scrap night with my friends and we are going to make this Christmas Planner created by Heather Summers.  It uses four sheets of Designer Paper and the 12 x 12 cardboard backing that comes with the paper.  It is designed to create pouches to hold the 8-10 envelopes with tag punch for you to place wish lists, events, recipes, and more.  Now you can put the year on it and scrapbook it at the end of the holidays, but I decided to make mine to keep out each Christmas and just replace the envelopes each year.I used the retired Simply Scrappin kit from last year.  My ladies will be using the Merry Moments DSP in the currant catalog.  The embellishments will vary as well.  I hope to take some pictures of the finished projects to show you here. 

I am looking forward to tonight as we are wearing holiday pjs, listening to holiday music and eating yummy holiday treats while we stamp and scrap all night long! Really getting ready for the holiday season!
Have a magical day!
Cindy

Wacky Wednesday

My upline Wendy did this the last summer when our new in-colors came out. It was so fun to do! This time she created this cute holder so we could make the combos and then reference back to them for inspiration. These are made with the 1.2" circle punch in the 48 colors and the 6 new in-colors. Then you just start playing with the colors next to each other. You could do combo of 3 like I did or you could even do 4. Here are some of my favorite combos: Soft Suede, Real Red and Kraft Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence and Old Olive Soft Suede, Dusty Durango and Bermuda Bay Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Black and Pumpkin Pie Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray,White and Black I could play all day with this! Now to just create some cards using this and it would be mission accomplished! Have a magical day! Cindy

Wild Wednesday

I bet you are wondering what happen to Tuesday? Let's just say the day was a wash for this blogger. So this HUGE post for today should make up for it! HAHA! This is a set I made during UStamp online class. You saw the matching desktop display last Friday. It was my very first use with Rub-ons and I wonder now what took me so long to try them. I used Baha Breeze, Kraft and Black in the color combo. I have made recently this same complete set in Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip and Kraft. Then Wild Wasibi, So Saffron and Kraft.

I just love this box because you use a 8.5" x 11" to make the box bottom and a 6" x 6" to make the lid. It is so simple to make! I could make several boxes to sell at my craft shows with cards! Or maybe a class!

I must tell you that if you stamp and need inspiration or some stampin mojo, then sign up for a UStamp class! You get to keep the pdfs and make them whenever you want! The UStamp Blinkie will lead it to the details about it!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Wacky Wednesday

The other two make-n-takes made at Wendy's deserve a whole blog for themselves! LaRee brought this very cute pixie stick holder to all to make. She got the idea from another demonstrator. Real Red cardstock cut 1.5" x 9" and scored at 3.5, 4 and 8. Punch three 1.4" holes on the 1/2" spot. Fold and tape ends together. Then add paper front and ribbon. Attach scallop punch circles to each pixie stick and decorate them as you like. Insert pixie sticks into holder.

This is about the cutest thing I have ever seen! You take two pieces of Big Shot Top Note cutted More Mustard cardstock and tape them to a mini paper bag on each side. Then you punch out a handle using the word window punch. Add ribbon then decorate the front. We used the new stamp set Just Buzzin By. Would this not be cute to give with Bit O Honey candies inside?

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Made for Monday

Here are two of the four Make-n-takes that I got to create at our Starz meeting earlier in January. Wendy always has some great things for us to make! Things that I have seen on other blogs but never take the chance to make them.

This is a simple card using the Love Bunch Bundle set special. You get a stamp set, 12x12 papers and heart to heart punch for around $42.00 plus tax/shipping. As soon as I got mine, I have been making LOTS of cards with it. The colors used are Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red, and Very Vanilla. This acetate box was quite a challenge for me. Working with the acetate was new to me and complex to put this box together but I LOVE the end result. You could put candies in the box as it open at the top. Actually put these two together and it makes a complete Valentine's gift!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Festive Friday

Here are some organizers that I made for my craft shows. I got the idea from my genius upline Wendy. I made a light blue one at a class of hers and I just loved it! It holds everything you need to send notes or cards. It comes with two cards and matching envelopes, pen, and two notepads. The first one is done in a so saffron placemat from the Dollar Store that is folded at the bottom and tied up to make pouches with brown ribbon. I used a 12x12 chocolate chip cardstock for the background and stamped flowers on it also in chocolate chip. I used old olive cardstock to make the name tag, stamp holder, notepad holder and cards. I used scallop punch cut flowers on the cards with Bella paper circle punch for the center of the flowers. The RSVP pen has stamped paper inside the pen. I still have 3 of these available to sell at $12.50 each. I gave some as gifts to my friends at Christmas time. Another idea would be to make this to hold a calendar instead of the notepads. This one is done for a little girl's room. Everything they need to write a note and send cards. Love the touch of markers in the bottom pouch. I have 1 left to sell for $12.50. My girls are getting a teal and purple version of this organizer but with calendars soon. Post those later when finished. So this is not so much a festive item but it is festive in the fact that we are all trying to get into this organized time of year! Have a magical day! Cindy

Wacky Wednesday

How wacky is this? IT IS OCTOBER!!! Here is a gift set that I made at a class of my upline Wendy. It comes with gum holder, beaded pen, bookmark clip, candle, notepad, two 3x3 cards with envelopes and the pail which holds all of it. She used (on my order due in Friday) paper, Green Tea. Stamp sets used are Eastern Blooms and Text & Texture for the saying "Just Because". Colors are Baha Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White. Great combo! We learned how to stamp tissue paper and then with a heat gun apply to the candle with wax paper. A first for me! This would be a great gift for a teacher, neighbor or friend. Who do I choose to get this? Have a magical day! Cindy

Made for Monday

Good Morning! Sorry I am late today.

I wanted to share with you three projects that I did at my upline Wendy's house on Saturday night. We had so much fun!

First is a pillow treat box made from the new Big Shot. Super easy and much smaller than we all thought when you see it on paper. Measures only 2 x 3 but would fit a single mini Milky Way or Snickers candy bar. Colors used are Pumpkin Pie, Black and Elegant Eggplant with the new stamp set called House of Haunts and Haunting jumbo roller. Second, we made this lovely card using the box of pastels and a poppin pastels technique. Just stamp the Upsy Daisy image with Versamark ink, now take a cotton ball and rub onto the Old Olive pastel and then a little in the Garden Green pastel and rub on a few random areas, set cotton ball aside. With a new cotton ball rub onto the Brocade Blue, Ballet Blue pastels and then just a little on the Taken with Teal and rub onto your Versamarked image one a few random areas that are not covered with green. After you get those as dark as you want go back over everything with the greens and fill in the whole design. Use the slit punch and tucked the image piece into the slit and glue dot a button on top. Colors are Baha Breeze and Kiwi Kiss. Last, we made this 6 x 6 scrapbook page. Wendy had us using the Big Shot and cutting out ABCD in all kinds of materials. One was chipboard, so we took the negative and added it to our page. Colors are Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie and Chocolate Chip. Stamps used are from Flight of the Butterfly. I need to put a picture of Allison in the larger rectangle.(notice that I ran out of room on her name but oh well) I thought this would be cute to frame too. Have a magical day! Cindy