It's almost Christmas!

I can't believe that Christmas is just a few days away! I have been so busy here....I just finished up my annual Cookie Exchange Party...this year I made ornaments for all my guest using a group picture from last year.

These were super easy to make....Also, I have been busy making cookies!

One of the Christmas traditions that I like to keep with my grandchildren is making a gingerbread house....we had a great time.

This is just a few of the things that I have been up to during the past few weeks....I hope to be more active on my blog in 2012. My job has taken up so much of my time lately...I miss you all and am anxious to get back to crafting!

Hugs,

CindyB

Just a few cards....

Hi all my crafty friends! Well, I have been super busy with work and the holidays! I'm sure you all are too! I have managed to make a few Christmas cards to start sending out...I am also working on my December Daily....which is proving to be interesting with all my travels!

I wanted to post a quick note to you all and let you know I am still around...just busy. Here is a quick peek of a few cards I have been working on!

Have a great week!

CindyB

Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday Sale at Above Rubies Studio

Happy Thanksgiving all my crafty friends! I hope you all are enjoying time with your family and friends!

I want to share a project I recently made, and will be offered as a class at Above Rubies Studio on Black Friday! The class will show you the basics of making this memory frame...I have chosen to make mine for Thanksgiving showcasing my family!

This such a fun project to make....and if you stop by Above Rubies Studio on Black Friday, you can sign up for the class FREE! .....a $17.00 value!

I plan to change my frame each holiday and use it throughout the year!

Bless you all and have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

CindyB

Crafting time with my granddaughter

Hi all my crafty friends! I don't have a project today...but I will have some in a few days...I have been working all weekend on some really neat Christmas items and will have them ready to post by next weekend. In the meantime, I wanted to share a picture with my granddaughter Brooklyn..she loves to "craft" with me and when she comes to visit we always spend a lot of time together making things. On this day, she is making her mother a card. She enjoys cutting, coloring and gluing! I am so happy I have someone to share my love of crafting with!

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great week!

Hugs,

CindyB

Last pages of the Holiday Planner

Hi my crafty friends! Well, time has gotten away from me once again! I have been so super busy with work, that I haven't had a chance to video the last few pages of the Holiday Planner. But, since I need it for Thanksgiving I did take some time to finish it up.

Here are the last few pages of the planner...sorry there isn't a video..but I hope you enjoy!

These are pages 8 and 9, this is for my Christmas dinner menu planner and some shopping list.

These are pages 10 and 11, my gift list and gifts to make or send.

Here is a recap of the entire book....

Pages 2 and 3 for Thanksgiving

These are pages 4 and 5 for my annual Cookie Exchange party.

Pages 6 and 7 for the Cookie Exchange menu planner and shopping lists.

Thanks for joining me...

Have a great week!

Hugs,

CindyB

Just ordered the new Cameo

Hi my crafty friends! I don't know if any of you are interested in purchasing the new Cameo, now might be a good time! Craft-e-corner is offering an additional 10% off the discounted price! So the final cost is $255.46!


That's the lowest price I have seen so far.....the extra 10% expires on 10/31/11.

Just wanted to pass on if anyone is interested.

Have a great weekend!

Cindy

Holiday Planner Pages 6 and 7

Hi my crafty friends!!! Well, finally I am able to get to the next 2 pages in the Holiday Planner! I better get a move on it...since my goal was to have it completed prior to Thanksgiving!

The next 2 pages are for my annual cookie exchange party. This will be a place for me to plan my menu, games and gifts for the party. I am also including a pocket on page 7, to hold my shopping lists.

Here is the video! Enjoy!

have a great week!
Hugs,
CindyB

Paper Pumpkin

Hi my crafty friends! I have a really fun project for you today! While I was visiting my local Archivers this past weekend, I found this project sheet at one of their display tables. I knew I had to make this! It is sooooo super cute! It does take a lot of paper..8 sheets...but I think it is worth it!

In the video below I show how to put the pumpkin together, but you will need the dimensions of the paper pieces, which I will list below. The video is a little long, but I hope you stay with it...I think you will enjoy the finished result!

Now on to the video!

Here are the dimensions for the paper pieces:

You will need to cut the following from double sided paper of your choice. I will start from the top of the pumpkin to the bottom.

2 strips of 1 1/2 x 12 inch (top layer)

3 strips of 2 3/4 x 12 inch ( 2nd layer)

3 strips of 3 x 12 inch (3rd layer)

3 strips of 3 1/4 x 12 inch (4th layer)

3 strips of 3 1/4 x 12 inch (5th layer)

3 strips of 3 1/2 x 12 inch (6th layer)

3 strips of 3 1/4 x 12 inch (7th layer)

3 strips of 3 1/4 x 12 inch (8th layer)

3 strips of 2 1/2 x 12 inch (9th layer)

2 strips of 1 3/4 x 12 inch 10th and bottom layer)

For the stem you will need to cut 3 strips 1 1/2 x 12 inches

I hope you have fun and send me a link to your pumpkin if you make one!

Have a fun week!

Hugs,

CindyB

Pages 3 and 4 of Holiday Planner

Hi there! I have been busy working on many projects the past few weeks, but finally had a little time to work on the next pages of the Holiday Planner.

The next 2 pages are for my annual cookie exchange party. I have had a few people ask for the word file for the calendar and the menu planner, I will post the link to download a little later this week. I have that file on my other computer and I won't be logging onto to it until later in the week.

Here is a picture of the 2 pages....

Hope you enjoy the video! I should have the next 2 pages soon!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!
Hugs,
CindyB

My finished Canvis

Hi my crafty friends! I finally finished my project from the Inspiration Showcase given by Jennifer McGuire. Each heart on the canvas represents a stamping technique that Jennifer featured during the class.

Here are a few close ups of the hearts...

I had so much fun in this class...I can't wait for the next one!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Hugs,

CindyB

Tuesday Tutorial at Above Rubies Studio

Hi my crafty friends! Make sure you check out the Tuesday Tutorial over at
Above Rubies Studio today! I am hosting the tutorial!

Let me know what you all think!

Hugs,
CindyB

Inspiration Showcase with Jennifer McGuire

Hi my crafty friends! I am having a wonderful week! I signed up for the Inspiration Showcase on line class with Jennifer McGuire and I am LOVING it!

I started my card making by using stamps....and since I was introduced to the Cricut...I haven't stamped very much...so this class is re-energizing my stamping bug~!

The past few days we have been working on Resist stamping techniques....here is a card I made with this technique.

I hope to post some more samples from the class in a few days! Let me know if you all are interested in more stamping projects from me...

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Hugs,

CindyB

2011 Holiday Planner - Pages 2 and 3

Hi my crafty friends! I have been so busy this past week, but I was able to put together the next 2 pages of the my holiday planner. I am working on pages 2 and 3, which will be for Thanksgiving.

I like to have a November calendar and a menu area for my Thanksgiving menu planning. This helps me put together my shopping list when I start preparing. I also like to look at the previous years planners to gather some ideas if I can't seem to come up with anything...but my family really likes to have the same thing every Thanksgiving...so that makes it a little easier for me.

Well, on to the planner...

There are 2 pages for Thanksgiving, the left side is the calendar and that cute little

turkey from Create a Critter cartridge, and the right side is the menu page.

Here is the video with a little more information for you....

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Hugs,

CindyB

Winner! Winner! Winner!

Hi all my crafty friends! I hope you were able to join Megan on the Ustream tonight! She gave away a lot of prizes! I hope some of you won! she also had some really exciting news to share!

Megan announced the winner of the Gypsy A-Z DVD from my blog post a few days ago....

and the winner is.....

Lisa from My Scrap Nook

Lisa, please email me your address, my email is cindy@aboverubiesstudio.com

Congratulations Lisa!

Hugs,
CindyB

2011 Holiday Planner - Cover page

Hi my crafting friends! Well, the weather finally got a little coolier here in St. Louis and I am now in the fall mood! Yeah!

So to kick off my fall mood!!!, I am going to start on my 2011 Holiday Planner. I have been making these planner for several years. I use them starting with
Thanksgiving and right through the Christmas holiday.

This year, I decided to let you all join me during my creative process in creating the planner. So each week or so I will be doing a video for each page in the planner until it is complete. So I should be done in time for Thanksgiving.

Does that sound like fun? I hope so....so lets start off with the cover of the planner.

I am using Winter Frolic for the images on the cover. I just love that cartridge, I puchased it late last year and really didn't get a chance to use it the last holiday season. I am also using paper from a holiday paperpack I purchased last year from DCWV, so I'm not sure if it is still available this year, but I'm sure you all can find something you all just love, if you plan to follow along.

So let's get started...here is the video for the cover page of my 2011 Holiday Planner. Hope you enjoy!

Hugs,

CindyB

September club kit from Club Ruby Designers

Hi my crafty friends!!! Today a new kit is available from Club Ruby Designers..its the September kit! It has such fun papers and embelishments!!! I get to show you one of the projects I made this month with the kit. You can find other projects from me and the rest of the Design team over at
ClubRubyDesigners

The project I am showcasing here is a gift bag for a birthday present. I have created a video showing you how I put this gift bag together. Hope you enjoy!




Have a great weekend!
Hugs,
CindyB

21 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!!!

Hi my crafty friends!!! Well, hopefully you all have noticed the 21 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS on Above Rubies Stuido banner I have posted at the top of my blog~!!!!

As some of you know, I am one of the lead designers on the Club Ruby Designers site, and I get the awesome opportunity to join in the celebration with Megan with the 21 Days of Giveways!!!! I even get to give away something on my blog today!!!! The winner will be announced on September 8th on the live Ustream with Megan....Make sure you stop by Above Rubies Studio and comment on Megan's post for a chance to win there also!

I made this cute little card to help celebrate....it is totally made with 1 sheet of Paperlayerez and 1 piece of white cardstock....

I have a video for you today showing you how I made this card...and at the end of the video I tell you what my giveaway is....I know you guys will love it! So make sure you leave a comment on this post and I will pick a winner with random.org and announce it on September 8th on the Ustream with Megan....

Good luck and make sure you guys check out Paperlayerz!!!! I am in love with this paper!

Hugs,

CindyB

Another LALA Land card

Hi my crafty friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! I sure did! We had our annual craft festival this weekend, I shopped and shopped! It was great!

I also had a really good craft day today! I have a lot of projects for Club Ruby Designers to get completed by end of month and decided today would be a good day to make many of them. I also had an opportunity to color a little also...so I decided to color one of my favorite new stamp company's image...LaLaLand Stamps....isn't she cute!

Just love these stamps!

Well I'm off to bed...hope you all have a great week!

Hugs,

CindyB

Card using CRD August club kit

Hi my crafting friends! I wanted to show you a card today I made using the Club Ruby Designers August club kit and the new cartridge Flower Shoppe! I just love this cartridge...I have been playing with it and will have a few more cards and projects to show you very soon....

Don't you just love the paper! I really like the bright colors, something I don't always work with.

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great weekend!

CindyB

My little Pumpkin!

I coulding resist another image from LALALand stamps......

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

CindyB

Little Witch!

Hi my crafty friends! I have been working on a few cards the past few days using a new stamp line I found while I was at CHA! They are from LALA Land Stamps....I LOVE them! They are so darn cute. You can purchase the stamp or they also have digi images, which I have been playing with.

What do you think?!!!!

I fell in love with these images the first time I laid eyes on them. You can find these images

Here

Enjoy!
Hugs,
CindyB

Club Ruby Designers August Kit project

Hi my crafting friends! Long time...no post!!! I have a video for you today!

I am working away on my projects for the Club Ruby Designers Club Kit for August...what a fun month! Megan has given the Design Team the ok to post one of our projects on our blog this month! So you are in for a treat! The August Club Kit is really awesome....I decided to make a layout of my grandson Nolan and his frog he found this weekend.



I am using the cartridges Campin Critters and Paisley. I am also showcasing a new product I found at CHA the Scrappin Easel! I just had to have one of these! It makes your scrapbooking expierence so much more enjoyable...You can find the link to the Scrappin Easel website down on my side bar if you want more information.

Now on to the video!

I hope you enjoy.....

PaperLayerz by MeganElizabeth is available

Hi my crafting friends!!! Have you heard the news!!! The new Paperlayerz by MeganElizabeth is available for purchase!

If you haven't seen this new and innovative paper and you are a Cricut user....you need to check this out! You can find the information on the paper
Here

Also, as many of you know, I am a Master Designer for Club Ruby Designers, and have had access to this fantastic paper for a while....here is one of my first layouts using the Paperlayerz!

The train and plane were cut from Paperlayerz...so super easy...I didn't have to cut out all the different colors of paper...just lay the 12x12 color blocked paper on the mat and cut away! Soooo easy!

I will be leaving for CHA on Saturday, I am taking the Advanced Copic Certification class on Sunday and then I am looking forward to a few days at the Trade Show with Megan from Above Rubies Studio...so look for some fun pictures from me while I am there!

Have a wonderful day!

CindyB

Hi my crafting friends! Sorry I have been MIA for a few weeks! Work has taken over every spare moment I have had....and I am taking some much needed vacation for the next week. Then off to CHA in Chicago...so posts will be light for the next few weeks.

I hope you all are having a great summer, and I want to thank you all for visiting my blog! I will be back with pictures from CHA soon!

Hugs,
CindyB

New challenge at CRD

Hi my crafty friends!!! We have a new challenge over at Club Ruby Designers! This challenge is a really fun one! It is to pull out your stamps and create a card or project using a stamp image.

Here's my sample for the challenge:

For this card, I am using a stamped image from Crafters Companion, this is a Popcorn the Bear stamp. I really love this little guy! He is really fun to color...

We would love for you to play along with us, just stop by Club Ruby Designers Blog and check out the challenge. You can join Club Ruby Designers for free and play along, you just might win a goodie bag from Megan!

Thanks for stopping by have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

CindyB

Birthday Card

Hi my crafting friends! I have been accepted to take the advanced Copic certification class in July!

I am so excited to be taking this class, I have wanted to move my copic skills up to the next level....so I thought I better get them out and start practicing! It's been a while since I have colored something up....so I decided to start off with a birthday card from one of my grandsons!


Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Hugs,
CindyB

PaperLayerz from Above Rubies Studio

Hi my crafting friends...make sure you check out Above Rubies Studio today!

Megan is launching her own paper line called PaperLayerz! It is going to be awesome for all of us that use a die cutting machine!

I should be receiving a few samples in the next few days, so look out for some projects from me using the new paper line!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Hugs,
CindyB

CRD008 challenge

Hi my crafty friends! We are having another challenge over at Club Ruby Designers.

This time it is a color challenge. Use the colors green - blue - yellow on your project.

Here is my sample for the challenge





For my card I am using one of my new stamps from Papertrey Ink.

Besure to stop by Club Ruby Designers and check out the challenge. Remember you can sign up for FREE and have access to all the challenges and the awesome community.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Hugs,
CindyB

Your so Tweet!

Hi Crafters! Well, I am so sorry I have been MIA for a while. I have been so busy at work that I haven't had much time to craft lately! Hopefully that will change soon...but in the meantime, I needed to send my administrator a thank you card for all her hard work over the past few weeks with me...so this is what I came up with.

The cute little bird on the banner is from the cartridge "Birthday Bash" I just snipped off the birthday hat on the bird.

The sentiment is from "My Pink Stamper"'s newest stamp set.

I hope you all are enjoying your Memorial Day weekend! I know I am!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day

Hugs,

CindyB

Happy Birthday Megan!

Hi my crafting friends! Today is my good friend Megan Gravener from Above Rubies Studio's birthday!

Woo Woo!

Happy Birthday Megan!

To celebrate Megan's birthday we are hosting a special "Birthday Card Challenge" over at Club Ruby Designers! Make sure you stop by and join in on the fun! If you haven't already signed up for your FREE account, do it today! You will be glad you did!

Here is my card for the "Birthday Card Challenge"

For my card, I used "popcorn the bear" stamp from Crafters Companion. I colored him with Copics, of course! The sentiment is from Club Ruby Designers exclusive stamp set only available to Club Ruby Advantage members.

Happy Birthday Megan, Enjoy your day!

Hugs,

CindyB

Challenge CRD007 has been posted

Hi my crafting friends! We are having another challenge over at Club Ruby Designers!

The challenge this week is to make a masculine card! I am making a Father's Day card, as I always find I am so busy I don't get to it and end up purchasing one! So this year will be different!

Please stop by and check out our challenges! You can sign up for a FREE account with Club Ruby Designers and play along! We are a really fun and active community and I would love to see you all there!

Have a great day!

Cindy B

Logan's First Birthday party!

Hi my crafting friends! Well, the day is finally here! Today my family is celebrating my youngest grandson's 1st birthday!

A few weeks ago, I posted the birthday party invitations using Elmo's Party cartridge. Today I will post the remaining few items I have for the party.

I decided to make this really cute party banner for the back of his chair. Have you seen these at Michaels? They are just so cute, but I knew I could make one just as cute!

I used the same cut as the birthday invitations, just enlarged the cut to 7 inches. The banner is cut at 7 inches also and is from the Wedding Solutions cartridge. The banner itself is made from an SVG file I purchased.

Now take a look at this cute little birthday hat!

The hat is cut using the Elmo's party cartridge, using fit to page. I decided the hat needed a little spicing up...so I purchased some crate paper and using my MS fringe scissors made the hat bling!

Then I decide the top of the hat needed a little extra also...so I took the remaining fringe and added to the top of the hat.

I am off to the party, I will post pictures of the party later...my mother is making the cake and I'm sure it turned out awesome!

Have a great day!
Hugs,
CindyB

CRD006 Challenge

Hi my crafting friends! We have a new challenge over at Club Ruby Designers!

If you haven't checked us out yet, make sure you do! You can sign up for a free basic profile membership and have access to all the great talent in our gallery and chat in the forum with our other members. You can sign up Here.

The challenge this week is to make a project with a cupcake on it somewhere! I really had fun with this one!

Now, you might be saying..I thought she said a cupcake somewhere on the project! Well, take a look at the inside of the card!

I made this card using the new stamps and papers from Inky Antics! I just love this technique! It is sooo fun to make! I colored the little birdie with my Copic markers.

Thanks so much for stopping by and besure to check out the Club Ruby Designers site, we would love to have you as a member!

Hugs,

CindyB

Easter Day 2011

 

My grandchildren on Easter Day! We had a blast doing the egg hunt!

Hope everyone had a happy Easter also!

Hugs,
CindyB

Elmo's Party - Birthday party invitation

Hello my crafty friends! My youngest grandson, Logan, will be turning 1 next month....so the birthday party frenzy is on! I am making many of the party decorations using the Elmo's Party cartridge...it has such cute party items! To start off, I made the party invitation. I love how it turned out.....I have a video showing how I put this card together, but YouTube is not acting very friendly this morning...I will try to upload the video a little later today. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! CindyB

Updated to include videos:

Sympathy Card - Kate's ABC's

Happy Friday my crafty friends!!!! I had to make a sympathy card this week for a colleague of mine who has lost her daughter to breast cancer. I decided to use the Kate's ABCs cartridge for my card. This cartridge has such beautiful images on it. I cut the vase of flowers at 3 1/2 inches. The really fabulous border on the bottom is a new punch from EK Success. It is a scallop border with ribbon slots! I LOVE this punch! Well, I'm off to finish up my week, so I can play this weekend! Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for stopping by. Hugs, CindyB

Club Ruby Designers Challenge - CRD004

Hi my crafty friends!!!!

We have another challenge over at Club Ruby Designers

Its a Sketch Challenge!

Here is my sample for the challenge:

I am using one of my favorite stamp sets from PaperTrey Ink....it is the Friendship Jar fillers for Spring. I just love these tulips!

You too can play along with Club Ruby Designers sketch challenge! All you have to do is jump on over to Club Ruby Designers and sign up for a free membership! Then you will have access to the forum, community and all our challenges.

We would love to have you play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs,

CindyB

DT call at Club Ruby Designers

Hi my crafty friends! We are having a DT call at Club Ruby Designers! You just need to have a free membership account in order to submit your application! I hope to see some of you apply! I would love to see what you all create... Hugs, CindyB

Club Ruby Designers Challenge - CRD003

Hi there my crafty friends! Today we are starting another challenge over at Club Ruby Designers! Anyone can participate, you just need to sign up for the free membership at http://www.clubrubydesigners.com/, and you can play along with us! The challenge is a color combo challenge! Use Red - Green - Blue anywhere on your project! Here is my sample for the challenge: I am using my new Papertrey Ink doily die and tag set die for my card! I LOVE this doily die!!!! I am also using Cosmo Cricut Material Girl paper for my card. I would love to see all my crafty followers playing along with us on the challenges! At the end of each challenge, a randomly selected winner will receive a fun goodie bag from Megan! Hope to see you all playing along! Hugs, CindyB

Easter Cards using Inky Antics new stamps

Hi my crafting friends! I had a really fun shopping day yesterday at Archivers!

I found these really super cute new stamps from Inky Antics and a HoneyComb Paper Pad to go along with them!

This is the front of the cards...

I am using paper from new SpringTime collection from Echo Park, oh my gosh, this is beautiful paper!!! I have colored my images with Copics of course!

Now for the inside of the cards!!!! this is the really fun part of the card!!!

Isn't this so cool! I love these little pop up cards! There are several more sets available, but the were sold out yesterday....so I will be stalking them to pick up some more of these sets!

Hope you all are having a wonderful day!

Thanks for stopping by!

CindyB