Christmas Cards—It isn't too late to send holiday cheer!

One Family Photo—Four different card styles

Below is one of the family photos that I took this year during my mini-sessions. I've never photographed dogs before. It was tough, not because of the dogs but because I'm a dog person and I wanted to play with the puppy, Gus, but we were losing light so I had to keep it moving :) Maybe next time I'll get to play.

CLASSIC DESIGN

WHIMSY DESIGN

CONTEMPORARY DESIGN

TRADITIONAL DESIGN

See how easy it is to create the perfect design (well, easy for you :) Just send me a picture with your design style and I can custom design a card for you as low as $30. If you already see a template on the site and just want to add your photo then prices start as low as $8.

I hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving and if you haven't already, grab the family and have your family photo taken for your holiday cards.

View these designs and more in my ETSY shop! Thanks Nicole for letting me photograph your family and use your pictures for designs. It was so fun.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Handmade Halloween Costume Contest WINNERS!!

I had so much fun with this contest. I really didn't expect to have so many submissions. I was amazed with the creativity and detail to many of the costumes. Fantastic job! We will definitely be doing this again next year so get ready.

The three categories by Facebook votes were Overall Winner, Infant Winner-infant to 2 years old, Toddler and Child-3 years and above, and one SN Studio favorite choice winner.

THE OVERALL WINNER BY FB VOTES:

The Dorothy and Tin Man outfit was submitted by Amy House. They were adorable. I love toddler and family themes and apparently the FB fans agreed. Congratulations Amy and Dorothy and Tin Man!

THE INFANT WINNER (infant to 2 years) BY FB VOTES:
Pebbles and BamBam was submitted by Paula Bailey Higgins 

Made by Mom! Love those chubby legs. Adorable theme and costumes :)
 

THE TODDLER AND CHILD WINNER (3 years and above) BY FB VOTES:
Thomas the Train was submitted by Angel Gibson Guzzardo

Made by Dad with special touches by Mom! It took plenty of hours to make it, but it was all worth it all when they saw his reaction to the finished product!

I also had a category of SN Studio favorite. We had about 9 people who we work with closely on numerous projects help us vote on this category including the girls, myself and my mom. I am so excited they chose the same one that I loved! THE NARNIA THEM! This was my absolute favorite series of books when I was in middle school. The King Peter and Aslan were completely handmade. The lion cutout on the vest and shield were hand-drawn by mom. I loved the creative use of tulle for the main and skirt. I even loved that mom dressed up as well. Congratulations Kathyrn Ziegler 

Since we had so many votes on Facebook, we decided to have an Honorable Mention as well (I know, I just want everyone to win, they were so cute).

Congratulations to Courtney Vaughn and ETSY store owner Dette Leedom (Crochet Love by Bernadette)

Thank you all for supporting Silly Nilly Designs and all things handmade. Enjoy the photos from all the submissions. Here is a link to the photo gallery.

Other than bragging rights, remember you also won some fantastic prizes.

Many thanks,

Handmade Halloween Costume Contest

Our first ever Halloween Costume contest! We wanted to have a place to brag about all the handmade items that are made by you. We brag about ourselves enough, we want to see your talent. Now, don't fret. Your items don't have to be as meticulous to detail as the ones SN designs and creates (my mom, Gamie, is amazing!). Get creative. Non-traditional items can be used: duct tape, iron-in tape, rope, cardboard, spray paint...we just want anything that is handmade! No store bought costume photos will be displayed in the album for voting.

Email your photos to sillynillydesigns@me.com by NOVEMBER 2, 2012 by midnight (CST).

I will post an album on our Facebook page then the voting will begin. Invite all your family and friends to vote, share the album on your page, send personal messages to your fb friends asking for their help...that is, if you want to win :)

I will have multiple categories for best, cutest, most creative (you decide what is important in a winner) handmade costume:

1. Overall winner (by votes on FB)
2. Winner in infant, newborn to toddler (2 years old)
3. Winner in toddler and child, 3 yrs and above
4. SN Studio favorite, if it is different from the overall winner

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STILL WANT TO WIN but don't have a costume to enter. Great! Become a grassroots marketer for us and you could win. One winner will be chosen from the final list of marketers who receives the most points for spreading the word. Here's the plan:

1. If you have a blog, email me and I will give you a graphic to post with a link back to the contest rules (5 point awarded).

2. On the graphic on Facebook, share the link and write shared in the comments below. (1 point awarded)

3. Go to The Silly Nilly Studio etsy page. In the comments below on this blog, write your favorite design or a party theme you'd like to see in the shop (2 points awarded).

4. Email us with 10 of your friend's email addresses and I will add them to our e-newsletter. Please make sure the addresses you send us are actually interested in children's clothing and stationary, printables, cards, invitations, etc. (10 points awarded).

5. Pin it! to your Pinterest page. Share the link to your Pinterest page in the comments below so we can check out your pins! (5 points awarded).

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 OVERALL WINNER/INFANT WINNER/TODDLER AND CHILD WINNER
3 WINNERS TOTAL, ONE FOR EACH CATEGORY!!! PLUS A SN FAVORITE WINNER!
$50 gift certificate to the Silly Nilly Kids shop or to The Silly Nilly Studio.
$10 in accessories (bows, headbands, or flower pins)
Personalized, custom-designed stationary TEMPLATE for easy printing from the studio ($30 value)
Christmas gift tags template for easy printing ($8 value)

GRASSROOTS MARKETER WINNER
All of the items above
Free shipping for a year when ordering from either shop
20% off entire order placed on ONE future order

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That's some good stuff, huh? I can't wait to see all of your handmade costumes!

Have a Silly Nilly Day and a safe night of trick-o-treating!

Many thanks,

P.S. If we have any East Coast followers, our hearts go out to the many people who have lost their lives in this terrible hurricane and also to those who continue to suffer through the consequences of this historic storm. Silly Nilly has been through numerous hurricanes in the Gulf Coast so we are sympathetic to your fears and needs. Stay Safe!!

*one winner per family only!

Silly Nilly Day #9—Monster Pops

Monsters, Ghouls, and Goblins, oh my! We had a little cool snap here in Texas in October. That means it's in the 80's :) and it means it's time for all things Fall!

I found these Monster Marshmallow Pops in a Phyllis Hoffman, Celebrate magazine a few years ago. My girls had so much fun making them that I had to take a moment and share the pics and the recipe. It is super easy but on a scale of 1-5 (5 being the messiest), be prepared to do some cleaning. My kitchen was a 4 but if your children are older then it might not be so bad :) Besides, the finished product was well worth the mess. The pops were so cute!

MONSTER POPS (makes 2 dozen)

24 large marshmallows
24 (4-inch) lollipop sticks
1 recipe Royal Icing (recipe follows)
assorted Halloween sprinkles
candy corn
sanding sugar
Royal Icing Eyes (we didn't have these so we just used icing)
3 (9x4x3 inch) pieces floral oasis

Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Insert 1 lollipop stick in one flat side of each marshmallow. Dip each marshmallow in desired colored icing, gently shaking off excess. Place dipped marshmallow, stick end up, on prepared baking sheets. Let stand until icing begins to dry but is still slightly sticky, about 5 minutes. Decorate as desired. Insert finished Monster Pops in floral oasis to dry completely.

ROYAL ICING (makes 2 cups)

1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar
5tablespoons meringue powder
1/2 cup water
Assorted food coloring

In a medium bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, meringue powder, and water. Beat at low speed with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy 7 to 10 minutes. (If icing is too thick, add water, a teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached. If icing is too thin, beat for 2 to 3 minutes longer.) Divide icing among small bowls. Add food coloring to achieve desired colors.

Send us pics on our Facebook page.  We would love to see them. Read MORE SILLINESS...

Have a Silly Nilly Day!