Festive Friday

Before the new Spring/Summer 09 Stampin UP! catalog came out, I decided to search thru the Fall/Winter 2008 catalog for some cards to case. I found this card on page 87 in the center. I changed it a bit to make it simple to make several at once. The colors are Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke and Whisper White. The stamp set is one of my very first stamp sets, Heartfelt Thanks. I just love that set so much! I can do two step stamping, watercolor looking cards. I did use the chalks and tearing edges with this card. It is suppose to be shaped like a heart but looking at this picture...it is not so much like a heart! OY! Have a magical day! Cindy

Disney Tip Thursday

The TOP 5 Things to do at Animal Kingdom in DisneyWorld! #5 Rafiki's Planet Watch - Newly discovered on our last trip! You have to take a small train ride to get to it. It is an amazing discovery into all that Animal Kingdom is all about. They have so many hands-on things and learning about the animals. Check out here:Rafiki's Planet Watch to read all about each part of it. Do not miss it! For all ages! #4 Festival of the Lion King - This is a great show with great music from the Lion King, great stunts, and great costumes! All ages will love this 28 minute show. It follows the original Lion King movie plot. Allison was 11 months old the first time we went and she just jumped on my lap and was glued to the stage. So cute! #3 Finding Nemo the Musical - We saw the last Tarzan show in the old theater and then Disney created this most amazing indoor magical musical show called Finding Nemo. This 30 minute show is basically the entire movie from start to finish with super cute songs. The puppetry is so colorful and interesting to watch. I thought the people singing were really good singers to my surprise. Waiting in line before the show is recommend and try to be sitted in the middle or center of the theater. #2 Kilimanjaro Safari - Feel transported half way around the world to a 100 acre African savannah as you board Disney's Kilimanjaro Safari jeeps! It it so amazing to see those live animals around you. I do not like the poacher story and think it is corny but it is Disney so they have to have a theme to go with a ride. My tip would be to get the park early and go get a Fastpass to either the Safari or Expedition Everest. Then run (it is across the park to the other side) to the other one you did not choose and wait in line. Last time, hubby went to get our Fastpass tickets to EE as we 3 waited in line for safari. (bathroom break was the reason to get back in line; everyone does that!) #1 Expedition Everest - A super fast, quick turns, 80 ft drop, backwards, in the dark with a scary beast roller coaster! LOVE IT! Hubby does not like the backwards thing to much. Megan and I think it makes the ride - terrifyingly AWESOME! This is a FastPass ride and I do recommend getting one if you can. We get a parent swap cause Allison can not ride it. Last time, I asked two teenage girls if they wanted to go on the ride with Megan and I cause I had the parent swap that you can take 3 people and yourself to get in the Fastpass lane. They were super excited! That was so fun to give a magical Disney moment to complete strangers! It was like I was on the Year of a Million Dreams Team! LOL Thanks for checking out our Disney Top 5 today! Next up is Top 5 at Hollywood Studios! 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

Disney Tip Tuesday

Our TOP 5 Things to Do at EPCOT in DisneyWorld!

#5 Innoventions - There is a East and a West side to Innoventions. So make sure you see both of them! They are filled with all kinds of new exhibits each time we go. See here: Innoventions - Epcot for more details on the exhibits.

#4 Turtle Talk with Crush - This is the best show in the Living Seas. This interactive show features a computer-animated version of the surfer dude turtle from "Finding Nemo" in 10-minute conversations with visitors. It is hilarious! I love the interaction between the character and the kids. Our kids love it so much! We taped the first time we went and the guy doing Crush was so funny that sometimes we now feel that the guy doing Crush is not up to par. Still funny though!

#3 Soarin - Now Allison's favorite ride at Epcot! This is such a great ride for all ages! You are literally lifted 40 feet inside a giant projection screen dome and completely surrounded with the beauty and wonder of the state of California as their elevated theater seats take them on a scenic tour over the Golden Gate Bridge, the Redwood forests, Napa Valley, Yosemite and more. Tip we learned - skip Illuminations if you can and go ride this if the Fastpass has been already given out for the day.

#2 World Showcase - This includes all 11 countries: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, American Adventure or US, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom and Canada. Now most say that Epcot is not fun for kids but we feel it is how you present it to them. We do a fun thing at nighttime. It is called 110 minutes around the World! (like 80 days around the world) Basically we go around from country to country and take 10-15 min to each country. The girls do the Kid Stop at each country. They get a mask at the first country and then at each country after they get a stamp and to color it for 5 minutes. Then after all is done, we go to France and buy our desserts (more later in another top 5 post), find a spot for Illuminations and sit and enjoy the atmosphere.

#1 Illuminations - Which leads to our #1 here! This HUGE fireworks/music/techno show is the best! It is a 13 minute show located in the center of the World Showcase Lagoon so viewing it can be anywhere in the World Showcase or any of the countries. Our favorite spots are located by the backgate bridge or the island area in front of the bridge between United Kingdom and France. After the show is over, the park is closing up and we still walk around in the night and lights and soak up the magic of Epcot! You almost feel like you are in those countries!

Thanks for checking my Disney TOP 5 for today! Next TOP 5 at Animal Kingdom!

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

So here are the ladies on Wendy's team and all their great swaps! They amaze me each meeting we have! Very talented and creative women in this group! Lucky me! First is Michelle's Big Shot Top Note card. Using the new Love Bunch stamp set and "pop" a fake flower! This is Ellen's card. Love this card size of 3 x 6. She is using Eastern Blooms Stamp set and I love that Pink Striped ribbon! This is Wendy's card. This stamp set is a new level 2 hostess set from the new catalog. I love how she cut into the flowers and inserted the square senitment frame. See the touch of spots around the edges...Bitty Background Stamps...her favorite! This is LaRee's card. She is using everything from the Love Bunch Bundle Special that came out. The paper, punch and stamp set. I love the hearts punched out of the striped paper. Great detail in this card! I feel terrible cause I can not remember this wonderful lady's name. Forgive me!She is using the Love Bunch Bundle as well but showing the birds from this stamp set. Another 3 x 6 card too. This is Monika's card. She used a new flower stamp set called Petal Pizazz from the new catalog out now. Then she took scrap ribbon that she had and attached them with staples. Great idea! Now I need to save all my scraps of ribbon! Thank you to all the ladies for swapping! It is such fun to swap, see new things and get new ideas! Have a magical day! Cindy

Disney Tip Thursday

Our TOP 5 Things to Do at the Magic Kingdom in Disneyworld! #5 Mad Tea Party - Hubby loves this ride for some insane reason! I am not a spinning ride person so he and the girls go on it together. It is "their" thing. They get it spinning pretty fast! FYI - Do not eat before riding this! Another neat tip is sometimes Alice and the Mad Hatter come over to ride this with guests. Very neat! #4 Tomorrowland Indy Speedway - Allison and I had to pick this one! I remember this ride when I was a little girl and driving with my Dad. It was so cool to drive it myself even if he pushed down the peddle to make it go. When Megan was 3, I did the ride with her. Then when Allison was 2, I went on with her and it is her favorite ride and it must be done each and every time we go to the MK. #3 Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - It seems like we always do this ride at the end of the day at the park and at least twice due to low wait time. It is a great 5 minute interactive ride where you get on space cruisers that moves at a slow forward speed and you can make the vehicle spin around as they shoot at targets of Zurg. http://allears.net/tp/mk/mk_buzz.htm Read this for more tips on how to score big points on the ride! #2 The 3 Mountains - Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are the 3 coaster/water rides. Space Mountain is a very fast- in the dark roller coaster. It rocks! Splash Mountain is a log water ride that has a 5-story drop so plan on getting wet! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a semi fast roller coaster that is a great coaster for the first time riders and young that measures 40". #1 Wishes - This 12 minutes of pure joy and hope are the highlight of MY trips! I even bought the CD of it and listen to it often. And yes, it can bring tears to my eyes. This firework display is released behind Cinderella Castle. Now you can see and hear thoughout the park but the best places to see Wishes are in the hub as you enter the park looking towards the castle, the Rose garden area if you want to see Tinker Bell fly overhead, center Main street near Casey's Hot dogs (shown above), and the train depot at the entrance (shown above) but with all of these....get there early to reserve your spot! Thanks for checking out our TOP 5 at Magic Kingdom! Next is TOP 5 at Epcot! Have a magical day! Cindy