Check out my new blog look!

I had this idea to change my blog for the new year of 2011.  I finally got the "umf" I needed when I recently purchased some new My Digital Studio downloads.  The background comes from the 2011 Notable Desktop DSP and Vintage Overlays.  Also you will see the Antique Brads and the Decorative Label.  I was inspired by the layout from the blog header on So Shelli here: soshelli.com  She is the CEO of Stampin Up! and I love that she blogs too! 
I went a little further and changed the font, color of background and many other things on my blog.  You could say that I added some color to the daily picture that you stop by each day to see.  I hope you enjoy it and if you do, please let me know in the comments.
Have a magical day!
Cindy

She turned 2!

My niece turned 2 a few weeks ago and we went to her birthday party.  The main event of the party was a clown!  Gabriel the clown!  I was glad that his face was not painted totally and no large crazy wig.  That can be scary to some little ones and even some adults. heehee.  The kids loved him! They did ballon figures, games, face painting and a mummy contest with parents.

Here is the extra special card that I made for Abigail. I grabbed a bag that I had with ballons on it and that would hold her gifts from us.  I used the SU colors right off the bag colors.  Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Brillant Blue, Lavender Lave, Certainly Celery were the colors.  I saw this cute punch clown on the Stampin Connection website.  I added the stars and dots to match the bag. I put the card in a SU clear envelope that I punched a hole and added ribbon to make it a tag as well. 

Here is Abigail with her Papa (my Dad) reading a book.  We got her a little tote with her initail A and three of Meg and Alli's favorite books ever.  "Kate and Digby, Kate and Digby Again and Kate and Digby 1,2,3". They have several sweet stories within the books about the friendship and adventures of a cat named Kate and a dog named Digby.

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Gift using Definitely Decorative Vinyl

I love making handmade items for Christmas gifts!  I always try to make something for each of my sister-in-laws.  When I saw this on Mandy Grant's blog, I knew that this was a perfect gift for my SIL Lois.  Mandy made hers with cherry cobbler ribbon but I wanted it to be neutral.  My sweet downline Christine and I got together to make this one night.

I took an old 9x13 cookie sheet that I had, add the chalk vinyl to the top of the backside of the pan.  I then added the Newsprint DSP to the bottom of the pan.  There is a small box on the top that holds the chalk just behind the seam binding Very Vanilla bow and vintage brad.  I stamped the vintage circle from Artisitic Etchings on Very Vanilla and then placed it on magnetic sheet.  I punched it out with the 1 3/4" circle. I scalloped punch some Very Vanilla cardstock and placed on the overlap of the vinyl and paper.  I did add some Black 1/8" Taffeta ribbon on top of that.

I laugh when I think of how Lois opened this on Christmas Day.  All she could see was the front side of this beat up old cookie sheet and had the look of "thanks I think".  Then she turned it over to see the finished side.  I guess she loved it cause it was hanging in her kitchen when I was over there last week.

Have a magical day!

Cindy

New Years Birthday

You turn 21 only once in your life! But to turn 21 on New Years Eve is really amazing for my sweet friend Jessica!  Jessica is the daughter of our friends/neighbors that we have known for close to 14 years. She asked us to join in her birthday celebrations. We went to the dinner part but skipped the hard partying part in Atlanta. I am NOT even near 21 anymore and I KNOW I could not keep up with them.  

I created this card especially for her! I used Basic Gray for the base card. I embossed with the Northern Flurry folder in Cherry Cobbler and added a rhinestone in the center of the snowflake.  I used a retired Ala Carte stamp from last year. It is stamped on white in Staz On black ink. I watercolored So Saffron on the glass. I punched the decorative label in black and cut in half.  Then I took some silver metallic and free hand cut our the 2 and 1. Of course I put some money in the card which I am sure was spent that evening on drinks. Oy...to be young again!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

Snow Day = Stamp Day

I am looking out my front window and all I see is WHITE all over!  We got 4-5 inches of snow last night! And in Georgia that means the whole state is shutdown.  Schools, businesses and stores are closed.  What else can you do....STAMP CREATE YEAH ME!  I am finally getting to make some of the items I have been wanting to do for months now.

So this card is fitting for today since my family is heading out soon to make a snowman. This card was made last month in my rush to get some holiday cards made for a friend.  Super easy to make especially when you use the Snowflake embossing folder and a awesome yet retired snowman stamp set. I also added rhinestones to the centers of the snowflakes for some bling!

Back to more stampin!

Have a magical snowy day!

Cindy

Little holiday projects thru my house...

 I found this idea on a really cute crafty website called eighteen25 here: CHRISTMAS ADVENT SNOWFLAKES  I hung my 24 snowflakes on my framed art in my kitchen.  Now we did not get thru all of them but we did over half of them. 

So while I had the Big Shot snowflake die cut out, I made some quick tags for our new stockings. I traced the letters and cut them out.

These are the framed art/pictures (thanks to Heather's idea) that I added white snowflake punch to the glass fronts to add a little snow theme to them. 

I also added the snowflake punch to my jars in my kitchen. The center is a button attached with a glue dot.  These jars are made with the decor elements chalkboard ovals.  You get three sizes in the package.  I love that I can wipe off and change what is in the jar.

Hope you like!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

My favorite holiday project!

A fellow stamping demo/blogger named Roxy gave me this idea and it was my favorite of Christmas 2010.  You can see her tutorial video and all details here: BRAG BOOK I was really surprised at how EASY these brag books are to make. She is such a sweetheart and I love to read about her beautiful family. I made my brag book in Baha Breeze, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Early Espresso to match my holiday color theme. I also added a snowflake punch in Very Vanilla and a basic pearl. I filled it with pictures from our 2010 Christmas.

Then I made some cards using Cherry Cobbler with Very Vanilla and Early Espresso.  I added the Seaming ribbon in Cherry Cobbler and a holly image from Tags for Christmas.  I got several compliments on these as cards. Thanks ROXY!

Have a magical day!

Cindy

My MDS Contest Entries

Stampin Up had a My Digital Studio Contest where 5 customers and 5 demos could win $400 worth of free downloads. I tried and here are my entries.  Requirements - one card and two single scrapbook pages.  The card was not my favorite and the last to be done. 

I love this page because it reminds me of a really great day we had as a family.  I also love the fall colors.

This page took me forever to complete. The tags were pieced together and then shaded right so. Adding the eyelet and circles in pink to show thru and then the ribbon.

But I did not win. : (   At least I tried. : )

Have a magical day!

Cindy