Merry Christmas

I am entering my altered shoe into the Stamp Man Challenge!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!! If you remember, I had a special Giveaway planned for Christmas Day--and the winner of my giveaway is Marti of Arty Marti--Congratulations, Marti!

I have more to share with you on this very special day...My sweet step-daughter, Krissy has just started a brand-new business--She has a booth in an antique mall in Indianapolis and repurposes furniture--and it's really beautiful. So, she just created a brand-new blog this weekend. It is called French Chalkboard.

I have a special surprise mixed media piece that I made for her as a Christmas gift...It is a little girl's ballet slipper...and I wrote a poem that accompanies it to wish her success on her new venture. Her art studio is French-themed in black and hot pink.

Here's another view of "Dance to Your Dreams."

And here is the poem.

Here is hoping that you ALL dance to your dreams--and live them to the fullest. Wishing you a beautiful Christmas.

If you've got a minute, I'm wondering if you'd visit Krissie and become a follower~When you get to her blog, you will see she is brand-new and just getting her "blogging wings!"

Her link is HERE.

XO

Cindy

P.S. As I write this blog post, I am listening to The Chipmunk Song--I love that song!

Linking this to: The Stampman Challenge

A Tale of 2 Cindys

Can you imagine my surprise this year when I met someone named Cindy Adkins through blogging? Cindy has the awesome blog Art, Books, Tea.

And Heaven and Nature Sing

She is an artist and painted these beautiful Christmas paintings that have been a huge hit not only in Blogland, but also on Facebook!

Do You See What I See?

But, we don't only have the same name--We are so blessed to be such good friends. I am one of those people who believes that nothing in life is an accident--especially meeting someone with the same name! Little did I know that we would become such close friends~Blogging is full of surprises, isn't it? I feel so blessed by our friendship and just know that we must have the same name for a reason~It was so that we would meet, I am sure!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

XO

Cindy

Glitter Graphics

A Spoonful of Sugar

I would like to thank all of you who have written such deeply felt letters about my angel book~Yes, I truly have experienced miracles in my own life and so have many other people in this special "blogging family" of ours....and I am so happy to know that you have been touched by those stories.

I have just completed making this altered silver spoon for a dear friend of mine...I love vintage silver and when my husband was up north this year, I asked him to find some for me--he did!! But, the reason I wanted some was so that I could alter them...

After adhering a graphic to it, I sprinkled it with sugar~Not really. It's glitter!

And then, of course, seam binding and pink satin roses were added. I hope that it will warm my friend's heart.

Merry Christmas, Everyone! Oh, and my giveaway is still in full-swing until 11 p.m. Saturday night....I will announce the winner on Christmas Day! If you would like to enter, there is still time. Just click HERE.

XO

Cindy

Linking this to Pink Saturday

A Very Special Surprise

My friend Linda from Random Creativity and I have been good friends for a long time. Last year, when I was visiting her blog, she happened to mention that her very favorite Christmas story is "The Gift of the Magi." It is mine too!

Well, I had this plan to make her something this year with that as the theme, however, I did not know HOW I was going to do it. Then, this summer, I won a surprise package through a blogging contest and inside of the goodies was a beautiful miniature hair comb (like the ones in the Magi story.) I put it in a safe place and couldn't wait to make a journal for Linda.

I sent it to her a few weeks ago, however, I also asked her not to visit my blog for a few days because I wanted her gift to be a surprise on Christmas morning and I wanted to be able to share the special story with all of you.

To me, it simply means that when we really want to do something in our hearts, somehow, things just work in such a way as to make them become a reality. Christmas is certainly a time of knowing that miracles happen.

The lovely image that I used to make this is from June at Dezinaworld. She has so many beautiful graphics in her shop!

But, there's more~Last night, I had almost reached 1,000 followers--I wrote to June and said, "Oh gosh, I need 5 more people and my personal Christmas dream will come true." Well, June got on Facebook and let people know and her friends came to visit and joined~Thank you to all of them and thank you to June!

Wishing you all a Christmas of miracles.

XO

Cindy

As Precious As She Is

When I saw this beautiful handmade tree on my friend Myric's blog, Petites Passions, I thought to myself, "This tree is as precious as she is!"

I just wanted to share it with you and spotlight this gorgeous creation~

If you'd like to visit her, just click HERE.

Myric has a tutorial that you can reach HERE.

XO

Cindy

Christmas Collage

My newest book just became an Amazon Bestseller! If you would like to own a copy but do not have a Kindle, no problem. Up at the top of my blog is a tab that says "Read Ebooks on Your Computer." If you go there, I have a link to a free app. from Amazon you can put right on your computer--easy, peasy! Then, you can order the book and read it right on there (or any other books you may want.)

Here is a special Christmas collage that I made for a friend of mine~It was created from a vintage book and an image from Dezinaworld.

Here is a close-up~

Wishing you all a happy holiday season!!!

XO

Cindy

The Holiday Spirit

Ever since I began blogging, I started to recognize the tremendous groundswell of creativity that reaches across the globe. By our posts, we bloggers inspire each other every day.

But, I believe that this phenomenon is no accident. I believe that we make the world a more beautiful place.

Thank you to each of you who inspire me daily...

I would like to ask you for a favor. Could you go visit someone's blog who has made a difference to you this year and just say, “I was just at Cindy’s and I’m passing this on...You have really made a difference to me.” That’s it. And could you just leave their name here? A first name is fine.

Of course, you can go to more than one blog and leave the message to as many people as you like.

Since it is the holiday time, I am just thinking how great people would feel to get a message like that!

And it’s okay if they don’t know who I am because this is not about me--this is about who has made a difference in your life this year. Maybe the person showed you a technique. Maybe your friend believed in you. Now is your chance to let that special person know.

XO

Cindy

Photo credit: http://candlefind.com

Winter White

Hi Everyone~I hope that you are enjoying the holiday season! I have some awesome news--my book Mixed Media Art: Living Your Passion just became an Amazon Bestseller!

I love all kinds of mixed media art, but especially when it is utilized for home decor. Well, at City Crafter Challenge, the theme is "Winter White." So, I have been wanting to make a "snow globe" from a vintage jar...I added faux snow and a snowflake inside.

And I have something for YOU!

Are you still wrapping presents? Well, I just created this Victorian Angel tag in Photoshop with images from The Graphics Fairy.

And I made this bookmarker too, which is a nice little "extra" to put with a gift.

I also created this Victorian Angel tag with a graphics from The Graphics Fairy...

And I made another bookmarker. You are welcome to "right click" and save them to your computer to print as many as you need! (These look best printed on glossy photo paper.)

If you have not entered my Christmas Day Giveaway, feel free to enter by clicking HERE!

Happy Holidays!

Cindy

Mixed Media Tags

My newest ebook just became a Bestseller on Amazon! It is filled with creative projects that can be made for Christmas~or any time of year. If you would like to read about it, just click HERE.

I adore creating tags and wanted to make them as gifts for Christmas~

I mounted them in double frames~

I design for Shabby Cottage Studio and I created all of these with their torso tag sheets.

I embellished them with images from The Graphics Fairy.

I purchased vintage dress patterns and used them for the tag backgrounds and stamped them using various stamps.

* * * * * * * * * *

Also, I have created some gift tags and bookmarkers that you are welcome to print out. Just go HERE to print them.

I have a fabulous Christmas Day giveaway and if you'd like to enter, just scroll to the post below!

Happy Creating!!!

XO

Cindy

Linking this to White Wednesday

What's It Wednesday

Time Travel Thursday

Potpourri Friday

Christmas Day Giveaway

AWESOME NEWS: My Ebook Mixed Media Art: Living Your Passion just became a bestseller on Amazon! Lots of projects and fun for any crafter~$2.99 (No need to own a Kindle to read it~get a free app. from Amazon by clicking on the tab up above that says "How to read an Ebook on your computer.) It's easy-peasy!

I am having a giveaway on Christmas Day!

So, if you would like to own this adorable pink suit, perhaps to display in your studio, I hope you'll enter. One winner will be chosen randomly.

(This contest is for adults as these little embellishments could not be worn by little girls as they could swallow them!)

I created "altered couture" with an image from The Graphics Fairy.

To enter, please:

1. Leave me a message~tell me where you'd like to display it.

2. Become a follower

3. Post my button on your sidebar

If you can't do all of those things, I understand--I just hope you will!!!

If you have not read the awesome story about Celeste, just click HERE.

Wishing you ALL a Merry Christmas!!!

XO

Cindy

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!!

Linking this to Pink Saturday

Homemaker on a Dime

Blogger's Bodega

Knick of Time Tuesday

What's It Wednesday

White Wednesday

Time Travel Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Potpourri Friday

(Links are on my sidebar!)

A Special Christmas Story

I have a very special Christmas story to tell you....My friend Celeste of Celestina Marie Designs is an amazing artist, as well as a consumate hostess as you can see by her fabulous tea party here.

She recently sent me this beautiful hand-painted card....And Celeste has even created special ornaments for the White House Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. (I told you, she is an amazing artist!)

But, back to my story....One day, I read about a special challenge in a magazine where they asked people to buy a complete outfit and create "altered couture"....So, I went and bought a little girl's dress (the rules were that it had to be from a secondhand store.) But, the dress I found had never been worn and had the original tag on it-How lucky was I?

Well, I worked making the altered dress, but when it was finished, I just couldn't part with it! How could I possibly send it off to strangers and maybe not get it back? Instead, I wrapped it carefully, tucked it away, and decided that one day, I would meet a blogger who could display it in her studio....I did not know who that person would be, but I just KNEW that she would emerge some day.

Well, months went by and I met Celeste and saw her gorgeous pink and black studio on her blog....AND I decided that I would have to be super-patient and wait 'til Christmas to send it to her....

Isn't her studio beautiful?

Here is the black velvet and pink satin dress I altered....and it was just shipped in a box to Celeste....But, don't worry because even if she sees this post, trust me, that on Christmas morning when she can hold it in her hands, it will have more meaning....and she'll know that this surprise was planned for a long time....Why? Not only because Celeste's studio is pink and black, but because she is such a good friend and wonderful person....

I think that Christmas is all about surprises....See the tea time design on it? The teapot is from the Graphics Fairy and was printed on fabric...and I purchased the flower in Indiana because I knew I needed it for the dress because it has French writing on it!

If you would like to visit Celeste, it will be a treat, believe me...Just click HERE.

Merry Christmas from New Orleans, Celeste! And Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!

Added Surprise News:

I made this post last night, but I just received some amazing news and wanted to share it with you--My book, Mixed Media Art: Living Your Passion just became a bestseller on Amazon!!! Thank you to everyone who bought one--I hope that you are having FUN "getting your craft on." There are all kinds of projects to make--including last-minute ones for Christmas gifts! (It's an ebook, but no need to own a Kindle to read it...If you look up on the tab at the top of this blog that says "Read an Ebook on your computer, you can download the free app from Amazon.) The book is just $2.99.

XO

Cindy

Linking this to Time Travel Thursday

Pink Saturday

The Graphics Fairy

Merry Christmas from Our Home!

This week, my friend Daniella from Daniella Hayes has much to celebrate! You see, she is featured in Altered Arts Magazine....

But, little does she know that she has something else to celebrate too--She is the winner of my Novica giveaway--Congratulations, Daniella! (I know you'll probably faint from the news as I almost did too!)

Thank you ALL for playing along and joining in my giveaway from this fabulous company...I think that their online catalogue is totally amazing!!!

I want to wish you all a happy holiday season....

I hope that this will be the best Christmas ever...

And that all of your dreams and wishes come true...

Here are some glimpses around our house....This is one of our fireplaces--It's in our familyroom....

Little packages ready to go....

The fireplace mantel aglow....

Joan of Arc, a family heirloom that sits in our livingroom....

A Christmas caroler....

And part of our livingroom....

Well, that's a little holiday glimpse around here...I hope you're all having a happy season of blessings!!!

A Special Note: Do you have any last-minute Christmas gifts to make, but need ideas? My Ebook, Mixed Media Art: Living Your Passion is filled with awesome craft projects to make! It's just $2.99! It just reached NUMBER ONE in Mixed Media Ebooks on Amazon!!! I am sooo excited!

(If you don't have a Kindle, you can download a free app. to read it right on your computer...the link to the app. is up on a tab at the top of my blog that says "Read Ebooks Right on Your Computer.") Imagine projects made with easy-to-get images, adorable creations made with burlap--and more! The recipients will be excited--and impressed!!

XO

Cindy

Linking this to:

Wow Us Wednesday

Blogging Around the Christmas Tree

Show & Tell Friday

Potpourri Friday