A Special Shrine

Recently, a friend of mine told me about her mother's passing that transpired years ago. But, right before her mother passed away, she had a dream about 3,000 butterflies. Well, my friend's sister started collecting butterflies and hopes to reach 3,000 in her collection to honor her mother....What a precious idea.

Well, I got to work creating this shrine from a book and, of course, I wanted it to feature butterflies...I can't wait to surprise her with it!

At City Crafter Challenge Blog this week, the challenge is to create something from a book or something for a book--So, I couldn't wait to display this piece.

XO

Cindy

Linking this to: City Crafter Challenge Blog

Women: Launch Your Online Business

I have a brand-new seminar that was created to help you launch your online business or super-charge an existing one. The seminar is at the top of my Whimsical Musings blog and you can reach it directly by going HERE.

It is fun and informative--I hope you have a great time!!!

XO

Cindy

Easy Christmas Projects--Ooh-la-la!

I am the author of Mixed Media Art: Living Your Passion available on Amazon for $2.99. In this ebook, you can learn about myriad creative projects and where to get images and materials at bargain prices for your art. No need to own a Kindle to read it! Go HERE to download a free app. ...easy-peasy!

I am a gallery artist and love teaching others about mixed media projects that they can make easily. Here are some that I just created on large tiles...

Paris Dreams

Fleur de Lis

Postcards from Paris

I purchased large tiles at Home Depot for under $1 a piece. Then, I printed out graphics, cut them, and adhered them with a foam brush with Mod Podge. I used a brayer to flatten the images....Let the pieces dry, and voila! I was done.

Images are from:

The Graphics Fairy--(Eiffel Tower & stamps.)

Shabby Cottage Studio (Postcards & stamps.)

Dezinaworld (Fleur de Lis.)

Linking this to: The Graphics Fairy!

Cheap and Easy Christmas Craft Project

I am the author of Mixed Media Art: Living Your Passion, a new ebook on Amazon. In addition to learning about numerous projects, readers can find out where to buy some of the best items for mixed media art at bargain prices. The book is only $2.99.

You don't need a Kindle to read it...You can download a free app. HERE so that you can read it on your computer...easy, peasy!

But, I wanted to share a new quick and easy project to make~

I am also a gallery artist and design for Shabby Cottage Studio. So, using a sheet of their images of postcards, I created these coasters.

I adore images of vintage postcards, so I thought they would be perfect for this project.

One sheet was downloaded digitally and I can print it out as many times as I need it. For purposes of this project, I only used one sheet and I created 2 sets of four coasters.

The tiles for the coasters were purchased at Home Depot for 16 cents apiece. I printed off the graphic sheet and cut the postcards.

Then, each one was Mod Podged with a foam brush onto the tile. You can use a brayer to make sure that the paper remains flat...(It tends to lift or bubble after about 10 minutes, so you can either smoothe it with your finger or with a brayer.)

I let them dry for 2 hours and then, I took 4 felt pads and adhered them to the backs of each one.

No need to glue as there is already adhesive on the felt pads. This is what the back of each tile looks like.

Finally, I tied them together with a bow~All done~Easy, peasy!

But, this is not my original idea. I saw it the other day on Angela's blog at Sew Loquacious and decided to give it a try! Thank you, Angela!! Trust me, you'll want to see Angela's because they are amazing--and hers are done with letter graphics and look fabulous!

Start a Blog: It Gives Women a Voice

I have made an awesome video to let women know just how special it is

to blog!! It's super-short--I hope you'll join me! (Oh, you'll want to

turn your sound up--the song is so cute.)

Over 1,000 women have attended my Blogging 101 workshop~Can you believe it?

And my book, "Blogging: It's a 'Woman' Thing" is available on Amazon. If you would like to read it, just go HERE.

The good news is, you don't need a Kindle...You can download a free app and read it

from your desktop. To download the free app. just go HERE. What I would suggest is, download the free app. first and then order whichever books you want.

In my book, I reveal how blogging opened up a whole new world of opportunities for me professionally and personally~I think that blogging is the most powerful social media tool available!!

xo

Cindy

Amazing Art Adventure Free Seminar!

Right now on my Whimsical Musings blog, I have a free seminar....It is all about the artist in each one of us! It is for anyone who wants to be inspired~I hope you'll come take a peek!!!

It's at the top of my blog on a tab. It's lot of fun! XO Cindy

Completely Beautiful!

I received the most gorgeous surprise in the mail from my friend Jacira all the way from Brazil. Jacira creates some of the most beautiful and delicate art--and she is a true inspiration.

Each fold holds a different, specially made tag...When I opened it, I was astonished...and feel so blessed to have a friend that would create something so special for me. Thank you, Jacira!! You are so talented and loved by so many here in blogland.

XO

Cindy

Paper Bags

I have suddenly begun LOVING creating with paper bags....

These were created for special friends and I made them for the December Challenge of Scrap for Help...
If you would like to enter this contest, it is SO fun!

Just go HERE to see all the entries and join in!!!!

Mixed Media Art: Living Your Passion

My newest book has just been published on Amazon!!! It is filled with creative ideas to "get your craft on." If you would like to take my free art seminar, it is on a tab at the top of my personal blog at: Cindy Adkins Whimsical Musings

XO

Cindy

Living Your Dream

Is there something that you've always wanted to do, but didn't take a chance on making it happen? I am in the process of writing a new book...It is called "Do You Need a Hug from Heaven?" and it is about how many individuals were helped in their lives when they least expected it...

It is also about encounters with angels and friends or relatives who have passed on who make themselves apparent--and try to help out in times of trouble--even from beyond.

I think that we should all "live our dreams." After all, isn't that what life is all about?

XO

Cindy

A Special Gift

As many of you know, I have a brand-new book on Amazon called Blogging: It's a "Man" Thing...

Well, in the course of writing the book, I interviewed David De Witt who has the blog called The Errol Flynn Blog~and we became friends...

Being a mixed-media artist, I thought that I would surprise David with a suede cigar box that is a tribute to Errol Flynn...It has some names of the actor's movies and other memorabilia...Flynn was born on June 20th, so I included a calendar page and the number "20" along with some other pieces that I thought were fitting for this masculine piece.

But, when it opens up, inside is a picture of Flynn's personal boat called "Zaca." So, why is that so essential? Because that is also the name of David's publishing company! This photo was taken by Donan Raven and I ran it off on aged paper for a vintage look.

By the way, Errol Flynn died a few years after I was born and I just found out that he is buried in my hometown of Glendale, California. It's amazing the things someone finds out when researching for a book.

XO

Cindy

Blogging: It's A "Man" Thing

I have a new ebook that has just been published on Amazon called Blogging: It's a "Man" Thing and I am really excited! For a mere 99 cents, men can learn about how fun blogging is and how to create their own blogs. It contains interviews with very interesting men who have their own blogs and it has been a pleasure meeting all of them. I will be talking more about this in the future, but if you know any men who blog--or would like to, I hope you will tell them about this "fun" read!

Victorian Christmas

My Victorian Christmas Week is in full swing at Whimsical Musings--my personal blog!

So, come on over if you'd like to know how to make these crafts...

This is a Victorian Christmas journal...

Lots of room for creativity--and it makes a gorgeous family heirloom...

It has pockets, lace, and all sorts of embellishments...

And, there is a tutorial for these Christmas tags with graphics from Dezinaworld.

You won't want to miss the fun--and I'll be happy to see you there!!!

Victorian Christmas Week Coming Nov. 2

Victorian Christmas Week will be coming to my Whimsical Musings blog...There will be a tutorial, how-to's, a giveaway, and more!

There will be different projects that you can learn to make--so come on over and join me for some old-fashioned fun!!

XO

Cindy

An Awesome Giveaway!!!

My friend Marjie is having an amazing giveaway! As you know, I make custom blog buttons, so I designed this one to announce her contest--She is giving away Tim Holtz's A Compendium of Curiousities on Halloween. If you would like to enter to win it, just go to Marjie's blog HERE!!!

xo

Cindy

Hugs--What They Mean

I have heard it said that each of us need many hugs a day--I think it's true. I know it sure makes ME feel better!

Well, there is a blog that tells about 10 different kinds of hugs that you can receive on a date--and what they mean. To take a look, click HERE. If you're not married, I know you'll be thinking about this list on your next date! If you ARE married, you'll probably be remembering your first date and trying to see what kind of hug you got-- Too cute!

Sending all of you a ((((hugs))))

Cindy

Work from Home

Since writing my ebooks, Blogging: It's a "Woman" Thing and Blog from the Heart: A Woman's Guide to Blogging, I have received numerous emails from women who want to work from home, but don't know where to start.

While there are many opportunities out there, my feeling is that if you want to put yourself "on the map," so to speak, one of the easiest ways to do that is with a blog. Through blogging, you can meet people with similar interests. You can get new ideas, talk to other women, see what they are doing, ask questions, and more.

Do you love crafts? Have you ever wanted to write a book? Do you have valuable advice you want to impart? Would you like to tutor or write articles?

The Internet has changed the way that people do business and reach potential clients.

If you start a blog, it can help you connect with others. If you are present in any other social media, be sure to "tweet" your posts or post them to Facebook for added exposure.

Remember to live your passion--You were born to fly!!

Awesome news--My ebook, Blogging: It's a Woman Thing went up over 51,000 ranks today on Amazon!!

Note: I am a designer for Shabby Cottage Studio. They have amazing graphics if you need any. The photos on this collage are from there.

I have used a scrapbooking program, My Memories Suite V2. If you need a scrapbooking program, you can save $10 by using my coupon code. (Their button is at the top my right side bar.) My code is STMMMS19107.

XO

Cindy

Victorian Christmas Coming Nov.2!

Starting Nov. 2, I will be having Victorian Christmas Week on my Whimsical Musings blog. I will have a giveaway, tutorial, and how-to's for those who want to get their crafts ready for Christmas early. I hope you'll join me for this week-long event--remember to save the date!

XO

Cindy

Tutorials That Make a Difference

If you are new to blogging or if you have even done it for a long time, there are always some things you may need assistance with from time to time.

There are several tutorials on this blog that can be very helpful--all with screen shots to take you right through the process of whatever you are doing.

When it comes to doing new things on my blog, it is not unusual for me to freeze--and panic! So, I figure that there may be others out there who feel the same way.

Whimsical Musings Tutorials can walk you through some of the most complex actions. If there's a tutorial you need and some quick answers you are after, feel free to scroll down the pages to see if what you need is here.

If you are a woman who wants to create a blog or just have ideas about some exciting content, I have just written 2 ebooks that can be helpful. They're quick, easy, and non-technical. They are available on Amazon.

Blogging: It's a "Woman" Thing

Blog from the Heart: A Woman's Guide to Blogging

They can give you lots of information about blog content and how to make your online space be just what you want it to be.

Happy Blogging,

Cindy

Adjust Column Width on Blogger

If you would like to adjust your column widths on blogger, it is one task that is super-simple

Above is a picture of my home blog Whimsical Musings. From there, I go to the upper right

and click "Design." That will take me to my design page below.

From there, I click Template Designer.

That is when I will see on the left that it says "Adjust Widths." I will click that.

Finally, I will see little bars that I can move to the left and right to adjust the width. If I make

sure to scroll down a little bit on my page, I can see what they look like before I decide to save them. Then, I push "Apply to Blog." All done!

The width of your columns can make a difference because if done properly, it can make your material easier to read.

One tip: You want to make sure that the font color is easy to read against the background that you have chosen. Also, make your text large enough for everyone to read. Small print is difficult for many people, especially if they spend a lot of time going from blog to blog to make comments.

I hope this has been helpful!

I actually have 2 new ebooks on Amazon:

Blog from the Heart: A Woman's Guide to Blogging

Blogging: It's a Woman Thing

They are filled with inspiration and know-how for anyone who is interested getting more followers and making their blogs "come to life!"

Cindy