Little Sicily Shares All...





Thursday, July 21, 2011

New Blog

Hello to all! I have started a new blog solely for my business, DB Custom Creations. Please check out Make it or Break it: The Diary of an Entrepreneur and follow me!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Make a Wish



Disney Happy Birthday Greeting Card; Perfect for the little princess in your life!

5 by 6.5 inches

The front of the white card features turquoise and orange (glitter) card stock. A "Make a Wish" card stock sticker in orange and pink placed on the top center.
It has a Jasmine character chip board sticker in the center.
2 pink glitter card stock stickers on the bottom corners.

Colors: White, turquoise, orange, pink, tan, gold, and black.

Inside greeting: "Wishing you a day of Little Treasures & Simple Pleasures Happy Birthday" stamped in turquoise ink.

Comes with a white envelope in a clear protective sheet.

Can be purchased at DB Custom Creations

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Quote of the Day

We are made to Mix

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Congrats!

My sister has had her house on the market for the past two years. She was stuck in a house that she purchased with her ex husband, and finally, her house has sold. Closing day is April 21st. I wish her luck on her new journeys, and hope that she never looks back!



5 by 6.5 inches

White card with yellow card stock.
Patterned paper with multi colored houses.
A die cut of a yellow house , brown card stock with congrats in yellow.
Multi colored ribbon across the roof.

Card can be purchased HERE for $4.00

Today was my 1st day of double work outs...during my lunch hour I did strength training and after work, I ran. During mile 1 my legs were cramping up and I didn't think that I could make it. I just kept saying to myself try to go a little longer...just a little longer. In the end, I was able to finish my run. I will be sleeping like a baby tonight.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Chicago Bulls # 1 in the league!?!

The Bulls have won 62 games this season, they were not expected to do so well this season. Thanks to the MVP (D Rose) and the excellent coaching of the coach of the year (Coach T). I'm so proud of the Bulls. I have watched almost all of the games this season and they have all been great to watch. Yea Bulls!!! I can't wait to see what the playoffs bring!

In celebration the the Bulls...I will promote a Chicago Bulls Birthday card!



6.5 by 5 inches

Blank Inside

White card
Blank card stock
Red paper with Chicago Bulls in black and white
Birthday Wishes heat embossed in red
Bull sticker in the bottom right corner

Can be purchased HERE for $4.00.

Also available for Father's Day.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Happy Bunny Ears



Easter Sunday is April 24th!

White card measures 6.5" by 5"

Light blue bunny patterned paper with a semi gloss finish.
Happy Easter die cut in hot pink. E in Easter has bunny ears.

Yellow and hot pink polka dot ribbon tied at the bottom of the card.

Blank Inside

Can be purchased HERE for $3.00.

In other news, today was my first outdoor run of the season. I was able to complete my 3 miles...day 2 of training is done!

Monday, April 11, 2011

A little inspiration needed

Today I decided that I am going to begin to train for a half marathon. This is not really my idea, but a few encouraging words from good friends made me believe that I can do it! The last time I ran 13 miles...ummm never- well maybe back in high school. I'm going to try for a pace of 12 min miles...that I believe is doable....

So, today was my first day of training...it was strength and stretching day. It was a good work out in my opinion. Tomorrow will be my first run...only 3 miles. I ran 3 miles a week or so ago, so it shouldn't be that bad....I do need to keep my positiveness up...so today's feature card is:




Smile Card measures 4 by 5.5 inches. White card Pink textured card stock A large orange glittered card stock circular sticker, with a smaller green circular sticker. Smile (in pink and orange) in the center of the circle. A green flower with a gem in the bottom right corner. Blank inside

Can be purchased
HERE for $3.00

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Chicago White Sox Win!!!




I was at the Sox game today, in a nice box seat (the perks of my job)! It was a wonderful day in the City...so sunny and warm. Love Chicago in the spring/summer! Though I was watching the Bulls game for several innings (sorry Sox, but I love the Bulls).

White Sox Birthday cards are the perfect card for a Chicago White Sox Fan!!!

Happy Birthday to all the Chicago White Sox Fans!!!

White card measures 5" by 6.5"
White Sox, black and white paper.
Happy Birthday heat embossed in white onto black card stock.
A small baseball foil sticker placed underneath.

Blank Inside.

Comes with a white envelope in a clear plastic cover.

Card can be purchased HERE for $4.00.

Also comes in a Father's Day card.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Bulls # 1 in the East!



Chicago Bulls Gift Tag

Measures 2.5" by 4.5"

Black card stock with Chicago Bulls paper, with a felt jersey sticker.
Back of the tag has white card stock with To: and From: stamped in black ink.
White String

Can be purchased HERE for $2.00

Bulls Birthday and Father's Day cards are also available.

Craft Show # 2





Today was my second craft show, it was at Bridgeway of Bensenville, which is a retirement community. Once again, I don't think that I chose the correct venue for my cards. I only sold 4 cards...didn't even make the cost of my table. Many of the residents no longer could read or write well, so the are "excused" from buying greeting cards. Another woman told me straight out, why should I pay you $5 for a card when I can make my own. Gotta love the old people!

When I came home, in the mail I received a letter stating that I get to be a part of the Lilac Fest. I'm really excited about it!!!! I think that it will be my first actual "real" craft show. It's located at Lilac Park in Lombard. It's an annual fest that the town holds each year. It will be outdoors- can't wait, on May 1st.

Once again, a special thanks to Lu who gave up his day of basketball with his brothers to help me out...

Friday, April 8, 2011

Happy Easter Chick






Easter Sunday falls on April 24th this year...

Card measures 4" by 5.5"

White card stock, with a black stamped chick, coming out of a half cracked egg. Colored in with stamp makers.
Happy Easter is stamped underneath the baby chick.
At the bottom of the card, color coordinating ribbon is laid across.

Sold HERE for only $1.50

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Start of Something New!

The last couple weeks in my life, I have started to do things that I haven't done ever, or some in a long time. Change is good. I Know that there is good in all things!

In keeping with starting new things, I plan on featuring a new card that I that I have made on a daily basis....we shall see how long this last!

Card # 1: Happy Mother's Day.

Mother's Day falls on May 8, 2011





This card is made on White card stock and measures 5 by 6.5 inches. It features dark green paper and is flocked with light green.

Happy Mother's Day was stamped and heat embossed in white on tan card stock. Gems are were added to complete the look.

Most mother's have impacted out lives for the best, they have loved and cared for us. Made sure that we have felt special...your mom deserves to feel special too!

Can be purchased HERE for $5.50.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Saturday Mornings



Have you ever come across this blog? Staurday Mornings is a great blog to follow if you like handmade goods. There are tons of featured artists, and you cold even be featured on the blog...check it out!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Spring has sprung!

Good bye winter....hope not to feel your wrath until 2012.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

My first craft show!





My first craft show was on Saturday! Here is what my setup looked like. It was a good first experience, I just wish that more customers would have come through. My next show is in April, I'm hoping it will be better than the first!

My dad built the free standing card stand; I think that he did an amazing job with it. I love it, especially the little shelf that I was able to use for my frames. Lu helped me with the other displays on the table. It was a foam board with string tied across it, with clothing pins holding the cards. Finding a way to get the board to stay up was a challenge at first. we were in the store trying to come up with different ideas...who would of ever thought Popsicle sticks could be so useful!!!

Lu also helped me with the table cloth. That is the logo that I stamp on the back of all my cards. Lu was able to draw it onto the fabric (thank you sooo very much) and then I knitted it. It was a long and tiring process, but the end result was great!

Special thanks also goes out to my sister who helped me to organize all of my stuff and make a fabulous spread sheet on excel.

I have more shows coming up; I hope that it continues to get better from here. I'm also thinking about an outdoor craft show at a summer fest. This is all so exciting for me!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Life Check



It amazes me how time passes without even knowing what happened to it. I remember being in 4th grade sitting on the deck at my parents house, wishing to be in 8th grade. Those 4 years took what seemed to be a life time. 4 years can pass now and it will seem like 1!

February 2011 already! I never thought that I would be where I am today – I guess I never really thought about it though. I never dreamed up the perfect wedding, or the perfect guy. I did think about how I wanted to be married (at some point) and I do remember thinking about having a daughter- I have always wanted to have kids. I remember being a kid thinking about what I would say to my kids – lol.

Work: I never thought that I would work in insurance…that just happened by mistake. I guess that most people don’t grow up thinking that they want to work in this field. After close to 7 years I’m still not even sure if I want to work in insurance. At least the agency that I work for is not really an insurance company and the same demands of screwing people out of $$$ is not a played out here. I did that for 9 months and couldn’t handle it. If I don’t feel right about something it won’t work for me. I must say that for the most part I do like working here- I have learned so much! Auto, property damage, general liability, subrogation, and now work comp- most adjusters only handle one type of claim…I am a valuable asset! (I’m so vain apparently).

I am happy that I’m trying to make DB Custom Creations work. I love making cards and all things crafty. It is nice to be able to make some side income from my hobby. Though I feel that I have spent more money than I have made! I keep hoping that if I stick with it, things will turn around. I’m going to be in my first craft show on March 19th. I’m very excited about it and have being work like an elf to stock pile. I haven’t really added much to my etsy site because I’m saving it for the show. I have a small fear that I’m putting all this work into it and it will be a failure, but I need to believe that won’t be the case.

Family & Friends: I am close to my family; I see most of them at least 2 times a week: Wednesday night for dinner and Sunday for lunch- we’re Italian that is what we do. At times it gets to be a lot- feels like an obligation. Normally that is when there is fighting. Which seems to happen semi a lot. That is topic for another blog- so I will just leave that one alone. My girlfriends…ahh there is another upsetting issue in my life. I have been best friends with the same girls since grade school. Most of us are spread out now, and living our own lives we are all working, in relationships…so on and so forth. I’m just sad because I feel as if they have stopped making an effort. Thinking about it makes me so sad and disappointed.

Relationship: Things with Lu are going well- the past 6 months have gone by very fast. I don’t think that there is such a thing as the perfect relationship; it’s always a work in progress. I am happy with Lu, he makes me feel special and loved, he makes me laugh, he’s there for me when I need him; I think that he is a good match for me. I try to be there for him in any way that I can be. I love him- he is a really good thing in my life.

When I started writting this in the morning, I wanted some sort of inspiration to want to work. I wasn't sure what I was going to write about, it just sort of happened. I think that we could all use some inspiration at times...I guess for me a review of where I am in life helps.

Card can be purchased HERE
That is all for now...

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Go Wild!


I spent the whole day working on an order for Go Wild Birthday Invitations. The party is at a indoor jungle themed amusement park for kids. I have never created any jungle themed cards or invites before, so coming up with ideas was a challenge for me. I spent about 2 hours wondering around Michaels looking for ideas. I didn't find anything that really screamed jungle to me. It was the most frustrating 2 hours I have ever spent in a Michaels before!

I did get some things, and took them to my parent's house, always good to get other's opinions...they all agreed- not Jungle enough. I was even more angry after that.

I took a day off from the project and then headed out to Hobby Lobby...thank you for being so wonderful Hobby Lobby!!! They had just what I was looking for. The bright colored zebra prints, the leopard prints...I knew that this was going to work!

I am lucky to have a Silhouette SD Machine (thanks to Lu), so I found my monkey cut out. I was all set...to make sample # 1.
When I was done, I was so happy and proud of the sample, then I thought- crap now I need to come up with some more. I decided that I would show the first sample to the client, hoping that she would love it as much as I did and not worry about another one...and well, I was lucky because she loved it, and didn't want to see any others!

It's more difficult and time consuming to make these than one would think...an order of 20 took all day. Cutting the paper alone took hours. I'm one tired lady! Just so happy that I have completed the order, and will make a 5 year old girl's birthday extra special!
Go Wild Invitations are available for custom order on my website. The cost for 10 of them is $27.50, more than 10 can be purchased. They are also customizable, a different animal can be featured or no animal at all. They would be great for parties/benefits at the zoo; can you imagine how fun these could be for a bachelorette party invite?

These iniviations are on 5 by 7 inch flat notes, the front side is the monkey & Go Wild. The back side has all the party details.



Contact me with any questions you have!

Thanks and hope you have a WILD ONE!

GO CHICAGO BULLS!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

6 Months Today



Love you lots Mr. Lu!

Need more details on the Love Birds card? Click HERE

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Love is in the Air!



February, the month of love! I can't believe that it is already February. The count down to Valentines day has begun! I'm especially excited, since I will be going to the Smokey Mountains with Lu. Our first trip! I'm very excited...I plan on zip lining through the smokies.

We are staying in a small cabin in the mountains...there will be both an outdoor and indoor hot tub. I love outdoor hot tubs- especially going in them while it's snowing outside! So excited to be away from everything and to be able to spend quality time him Lu.

DB Custom Creations has plenty of Valentines...you can find one for your significant other, or for your best friend. Valentine's Day is not just a day for lovers, it a day to show all the people we care for how much we love them!

Cards can be purchased here.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Snow, snow, go away!

I'm ready for:


I so sick of the dull, gary skys. The bitter cold air whipping against my face. Bareness all around. Makes me sad and sluggish...Please come soon dear Spring!

See DB Custom Creations for details on purchasing this and other springtime cards.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Book Mark Anyone?



In light of Valentine's Day appraoching, I decided to make a love themed book mark. This is the first one that I have ever made, and I'm very happy with it! I think that it is so fun and cute! It's perfect for a inexpensive gift to yourself, or maybe as an add on gift for someone else - it'd go perfect with a new book!

I love all things that are girly, and looking at this just makes me smile. I have a theory, when you enjoy something, it makes you want to use it more. In school, I would try to get the cutest supplies, so then I would be more motivated to do the work. Not sure if it work for everyone, but it does for me. Why not have a fun cute bookmark to use- I bet you'll pick up the book more often!


This book mark, along with many other cards, inviatations, and paper goods can be purchased here..

Cost $1.50

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Halftime Break


Bulls 44 Dallas 35

I have been obsessed with watching the Bulls this while season. D Rose for MVP. I have turned into a NBA infomercial! It brings me back to the good old days of the Jordan days, I used to watch them all the time back in the day too. I remember my girlfriends and I watching playoff games in mt basement and jumping in the pool during half time. No swimming now, in this -2 weather.

When will this winter end?

How about DA Bears...Chicago sports have been on fire! I'm really excited about this weekend's game...AHHH how exciting.

Chicago is the best city EVER!

In other news...the state of Illinois has raised our state tax from 2 to 5%- we all know how IL politics are- some one will benefit from the increase, but it won't be the people of IL. More money for a corrupt politician...maybe they can hire more friends, relatives, or some guy they owe a favor to...ahh you got to love this place!

In personal news, Lu and I are still together and we are in love...ahhh lovey dovey...just in time for Valentines day! Speaking of which- if you need a valentine visit www.dbcustomcreations.etsy.com. There is a good selection of Valentines. I even have valentines for friends and family- you don't have to be in a relationship to give or receive a valentine!

I am very excited; I will be in my first craft show on March 19th. I have never been in a craft show! I haven't been making cards for the past few weeks, so I will be going back at it strong! I'm also into making other paper goods- I have made bookmarks so far and plan on expanding my business to include more paper gifts. I will be your one stop shop!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Week One of 2011



One week into 2011 already- HOLY CRAP! Time goes by so fast! The week, the year, the decade has gone really well for me thus far.

2011 is going to be a great year, I'm going to make sure of that. I feel happy and blessed to have such wonderful friends and family and to have Lu in my life. I love you all! Thank you for all the love and support I receive from you all!

*2011 card can be purchased at www/dbcustomcreations.etsy.com
It's not too late to wish someone a Happy New Year or to say thanks and I love you to the special people in your life.
 
eXTReMe Tracker