Saturday, January 31, 2015

Investiture Card for A Judge

Quick Family Photo Treat Bags

My oldest daughter is in college studying portrait photography.  While home for a weekend, she had a last minute assignment for a family shoot.  She was a bit uneasy, photographing a family she didn't know.  As she was getting ready to leave I spouted out without thinking that we could make something quickly for the kids she would be photographing.  I had some stamps laid out from my previous 
Jaded Blossom order and was inspired by the
 "capturing memories" set.  
With less than 10 minutes, we put together two quick gifts using SVG files from the silhouette store, 
a snowman family rubber stamp, 
and the Jaded Blossom set 
http://jadedblossomstamps.com/catalog.php?keyword=capturing+memories&cond=advand&category=#.VM19JMZ6mRs  
The kids smiled perfectly and the small treat bags were a hit!  




Thursday, January 15, 2015

Valentine to Afghanistan

This year my husband and I are across the world from each other.  He in Afghanistan for 8 months.  
My idea for his Valentine's card was simple... he is always on my mind!  
For this card I used several files from SVG Cutting Files. 
The saying is printed from my computer.  
I used Creative Memories paper along with Color Box Chalk 
to add detailing to the edges and my thought cloud.  

I will put the card in a care package with lots of snacks 
and comfort items (new socks!) along with a few pictures
to remind him of home.


Globe
Kawaii School II
http://svgcuttingfiles.com/catalog.php?item=427

Thoughts of You
http://svgcuttingfiles.com/catalog.php?item=186

Arched Card 2 Base
http://svgcuttingfiles.com/catalog.php?item=475







Monday, January 5, 2015

Secret Santa Thank You

Just a quick post today.  I haven't had much time to craft in the last month.  Here is a quick treat card I made today.  This card uses the Santa Chimney Pocket Holder file from SVGCuttingfiles.com.  I thought it was perfect for a secret santa thank you because you can't see Santa's face :)  Pull on Santa's feet and you reveal a treat - a flat candy bar fits perfectly.  

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Jaded Blossom Wine-O'Clock Scrapbook Spread 12x12

It's my day as a guest designer at Jaded Blossom! 
My name is Shanon Cimbura and my blog is BrindyLou.blogspot.com.  
I am a West Coast girl transplanted in the south in Lumber Bridge, NC with my family.  
I am a paper crafter, and I'm pleased to present my project:
Wine-O'clock Scrapbook Spread!

My husband and I love wine.  We love to go to a wine shop and read all the labels and pick a bottle to enjoy with dinner.  Our favorite activity is what we call "porch sittin'" where we sit on our porch, enjoy dinner and a bottle of wine, reminisce and talk about the future, solve the worlds problems, or just enjoy the birds and sounds of our neighborhood... Porch sittin' is an important part of our 21 year marriage, therefore I wanted to document this in our scrapbook.  
So when I saw the Wine-O'Clock set from JadedBlossom.com 
I knew it was perfect for the layout I had planned.  



Jaded Blossom Stamp Set Used:  
Wine-O'Clock



SVG Files used:
Red Wine Bottle Style: Silhouette Store "Wine Bottle"
White Wine Bottle Style: Silhouette Store "Wine Bottle"
Barrel: Silhouette Store "Wine Barrel"
Cork and Corkscrew: Silhouette Store
Wine Glass: Silhouette Store "Open Bar"
Grapes and Leaves: SVG Cuts - Free File

Embellishments Used:
Smooch: Green Apple, Molasses
Cooper brads
Gel Pens - White, Black

Ink Used: 
Versa Fine - Onyx Black

Paper Used:
Creative Memories: Cardstock, Purple Background Paper
Unknown Name: Cork Design

I Love You More Than Wine 
Keep Calm and Drink Wine
You had me at Merlot
A glass of wine counts as a serving of fruit
May your wine glass always be half full

Let me gush a bit and say that I always thought that ink was the important factor in getting great stamped images!  While ink is important, quality stamps are by far the most important factor and Jaded Blossom stamps are incredible!  The impression they make is perfect the first time and they are easy to clean and store.
I loved the fun sayings and look forward to future projects using
JB stamps!

Monday, December 1, 2014

Using Old Christmas Cards To Make Gift Tags

Every year we receive Christmas cards from neighbors or acquaintances that are beautiful, but that don't hold a sentimental value that says "keep me".  Enter my Creative Memories tag punch...  Depending on the card design, I can get 1-3 tags.  I love having a great variety to choose from.  For example I'll use the penguin for my son because it's fun and child like, and the Christmas animal print ball for one of my teen age daughters, and the Christmas tree for a neighbor on a plate of cookies... It's a great way to recycle and to save money!  

I have started to do this with birthday cards, thank you cards, and other holidays too.  Any card that has a nice design can be useful.  It's nice to have something quick to add to a gift when I don't need a bunch of space to write or want to use a card.  I made several loaves of pumpkin bread and grabbed some tags that came off of a fall themed card, wrote "Happy Fall from the Cimbura's" and delivered them to some friends.  

I look forward to the Christmas card from our insurance agent and doctor hoping they have beautiful metallic or glitter so I can make nice tags from them!

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Thanksgiving Card - A Little Turkey Fun!


Yeah for a fun and playful turkey!  I haven't been posting because we are traveling.  Our trip brought us to Siloam Springs, Arkansas to surprise my baby brother
Cam for his 40th birthday!  It was a 19.5 hour drive that we stretched out to 3 days to arrive for his party.  He was completely surprised twice!  Once for the party, and then as he scanned the crowd of family and friends and spotted us.  

While here, I wanted to have some creative time with my sister in law Haley and create our Thanksgiving cards.  As I showed you in my previous blog posting, I cut everything out before my trip and packed all the essentials needed.  We spread out on the dining room table and created 9 cards together.  It took us about two hours to create them from start to finish.  
We did a lot of layering with foam squares to give interesting dimension   

 The file is from SVG Cutting Files - Chibi Turkey Pilgrim.  
Here is the link: 
http://svgcuttingfiles.com/catalog.php?item=1686


I did a lot of chalking around the edges.  My sister in law said she definitely noticed the difference between the turkey that was not chalked and the one that was!  This adds dimension, it gives another layer of color, and it makes the edges pop!  For example, on the black hat, it's needed some life.  So by going around the edge with a little gold, it gives the hate some character and now it looks less "flat".  Of course this is all personal choice and you could do none or add as much as you want.  

I have some close up pictures so you can see the detailing.  I used Color Box chalk pads with a sponge.  I also used white and black gel pens for the detailing around wings, his tail feathers, on his feet, the hat, body and head.  The eyes are very important and that little bit of white and black helps to give him life instead of just a blank stare! 


 We won't be home until next week and I look forward to getting back in my craft room to start creating things for Christmas and a few birthday's I have coming up!

Happy Thanksgiving!  
Be thankful!