What I am thankful for in 2006 (mini album)

I saw this idea for doing a mini album of things you are thankful for and I just loved it. I copied it and added my own twist... I took two wooden pumpkin cutouts, painted them to mimic pumpkins, and folded 24" long paper into an accordian. I added photos and tons of embellishments. I had so much fun making it, that I made one (minus the photos and embellishments) for my mom and sister in law Lori. On Thanksgiving day, we made them together. I am posting this now, because I was waiting for some photos of Brody. TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Nikki

Brody Mini Album

My friend Kim made this mini album for me. She took a Lil Davis 5x7 album, covered the pages with paper. She stamped the paper, then used the Autum Leaves journaling stamps. She embellished each page with tab and a title. All I had to do was add my 5x7 pictures and journal. I did that as well as added some embellishments of my own.. one of my resolutions is to use up my supplies that I have.

Thanks Kim- you ROCK!!!

Dream, Design and Create

Nikki

Chic Simplicity... and Challenge # 17

...while browsing this really cool site and their blog, I found this description of their product. When someone asks me what my style is, I fumble to find the right adjectives to describe it. When I read "chic simplicity" that just jumped out at me and seems to fit (at least in my mind) perfectly. Let me know what you think. Here is a LO I did today for the Studio. One of the front windows is going to have a Valentine's theme...TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Nikki

PS This also works for Elsie Challenge #17 scrapbook an alphabetical approach...

Another LO for K2...

Yes, I was busy scrappin today... I had so much fun. This LO was so special, because the photo captured me holding both my boys for the first time! I used more of the Imagination Project papers and coasters, thickers and acrylic paint. I will be dropping of these LO's this week, so if you want to see them in person stop by the studio and pick up the supplies.

Dream, Design and Create

Nikki

PS Karen, you are right, the thickers are AWESOME!!!

Elsie Challenge # 16

Scraplift a topic...

I saw a great LO about thanksgiving so that is the topic I decided to scrap. TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Nikki

Elsie Challenge #15 and K2 design team LO

Scraplift a layout idea.

I had so much fun making this LO. I got some supplies for my design team position at K2 and decided to kill two birds with one stone... (All the supplies for this LO can be found at K2-Imagination Project, Melissa Francis and 7 gypsies.)
I got the idea of the multiple pieces of paper behind the photo from a blog I was browsing...

Here is my take on it. TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Nikki

Elsie Challenge #14

We skipped challenge 13, because a mini album of my favorite saying is an ongoing process I am working on and could not finish it in a week.

Challenge 14 was to scraplift a technique. I practiced my doodling (as you can see by my ATC's and also with this LO). TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Nikki

ATC's as promised...

Here are 6 ATC's I have been working on. I combined stamping and doodling on these.

Dream, Design and Create

Nikki

February ATC class

Next month our ATC meeting will be on Saturday Feb 3rd at 1:00pm.
Our topic will be... STAMPING. I promise it will be so much fun.

As soon as I make some examples I will post them.

The only requirement is the use of at least one stamp when creating your ATC.

There are SO many great acrylic stamps at The Studio right now, so stock up!!!

I am looking forward to see everyone and catching up.

Tammy, Jessie, Cathy and Karen if you would please pass along this info to anyone you know that would be interested, when my computer crashed last week I lost ALL my e-mail addresses.

I really appreciate it.

Dream, Design and Create

Nikki

PS I am sure most of you saw these on K2 blog... i just had to get one for Brody

A fun LO using non traditional items

As I was continuing to clean out my studio for the K2 garage sale, I ran across a really cool wallpaper book. I just sat down and created this LO using what I found. I used wallpaper, a fabric swatch, paint, Bic permanent pens (for all the doodling), and a MME transparent frame!

Dream, Design and Create

TFL, Nikki

Great Gifts Ideas using Scrapbook Materials

I got a copy of the book that a lot of my stuff is published in. It is being released at CHA.
The name of the book is Great Gifts Ideas using Scrapbook Materials, by Tweety Jill Publications. My work is on both the front and back cover and my name is mentioned first in the list of artists/designers! (Sorry for bragging, ok no I am not!! :)) I am so excited!!!!
I am hoping that this book will help get my name out there in the world of scrapbooking.
It is a great way to start the new year.

Nikki
Dream, Design and Create

PS Karen has some of her work in it too!!!

New inspirational books...

I just received 7, yes 7 new books for Christmas!

Our family makes wish lists, making Christmas shopping much easier.

I went on Amazon.com and found some book that looked fun and inspirational.

Here is the names of them, I will let you know what I think of them.

Artists' Journals and sketchbooks by Lynne Perella

alphabetica by Lynne Perella

collage discovery workshop by Claudine Helmuth

Collage Discovery workshop: Beyond the Unexpected by Claudine Helmuth

Quilted Memories by Leslie Riley

Fabric Art Journals by Pam Sussman

Clean and Simple/ the sequel by Cathy Zielske

Happy New Year- 2007

I am so excited about what 2007 is to bring.
I have gotten so inspired to create.
I have been browsing some new blogs, WOW!
I have cleaned out and organized my studio (in prep for the K2 garage sale).
I have written some resolutions and creative goals.
I need to catch up on my Elsie challenges...
I am teaching myself to knit (I have learned how to cast on and the knit stitch so far!) I am going to run a 15K in Feb and a 1/2 marathon in March. (which will hopefully get the rest of my pregnancy weight off)

Hope all of you have started the new year off right.
Nikki
Dream, Design and Create

in three's right?

... everything happens in threes right? Well, I was driving home (with both kids) one evening last week and my car broke down on the highway. (it was already dark and thank God for cell phones). Two days later Sean and Riley were fishing and the boat broke down. Then I went to turn on my computer the next day and an error message showed up and my computer wouldn't even boot up. So I called my computer guy and he proceeded to tell me that my hard drive had crashed and NOTHING was salvagable!!!!
What a way to end 2006.
Nikki

A few more picts of Brody...

This is a photo of Brody wearing the Frailing (my maiden name) family baptism gown.
This is my dad Ken with Brody.

This is my mom Dianne with Brody.

This is Joyia. She is a dear friend of our family. She was my midwife until she got breast cancer. She is in remission, but still unable to go back to work. She was there as my support.

This is Dr Shroder. He delivered Brody. He was wonderful!!!

ATC swap

One Wednesday morning (a couple of months ago) I was in K2 and a met a woman named Sue Benner. She was here on vacation, taking a card class that Jo Ann was teaching. We got to talking and she found out that I was the one that started our ATC class. Well, she has a Yahoo Group called "Stamping Scrapping Swapping Democracy". She wanted me to tell my ATCers about her Yahoo Group and that we were welcome to join. (That would mean that you could start swapping ATC's with other women across the country.)

If you would like more info about it you can e-mail her at seashellsbytheseashore@comcast.net or just sign up.

I am sorry it has taken me a while to get this out to all of you.

Nikki

Dream, Design and Create

PS Here are some cool ATC's I found online

Colorstrology "what your birthday color says about you"

I received this really cool book last night called "Colorstrology" and I wanted to share my color and what it says about me.
October 21st
Chintz Rose
Verbal
Inspiring
Musical
If your were born on this day:
Your mental powers are highly developed. Many individuals with this birthday are meant to share information with people from all walks of life and from all over the world. People who are rich or poor, from the city or country, all seem to be able to hear you. Sometimes you think too much, especially when you don't get enough physical exercise or have any creative outlets.
How this color benefits you:
Your personal color can help channel your thoughts into constructive endeavors. Wearing, meditating, or surrounding yourself with Chintz Rose balances the emotional with the intellectual side of your nature.
Compatible birthdays:
August 22, October 4, December 31

This book is really cool. Thanks Karen for the hours of enjoyment this book will give me!!!

New Pictures

Yes, I know I should be napping, but I wanted to post a few more pictures. It is hard to believe that Brody is a week old today. On Saturday Lori came over and we had our first photo shoot with Brody. These are just some of the pictures. They turned out amazing.

Thanks Lori, we love you!!!

I also wanted to thank everyone for their prayers this past week, especially last monday during my labor and delivery.

Nikki

Brody's Birthday 12-4-06

What a wonderful day. I went in for my induction at 8am yesterday morning and Brody was here at 5:04pm. I had an epidural at 10:30 along with a pitocin drip. At 12:15ish Dr Schroder broke my water. I stayed at 4-5 cm for a couple of hours, then progressed really quickly. I was able to push Brody out in 4 contractions. It was a wonderful experience. Brody is 7lbs, 12 ozs he is 21 inches long.

Thanks for all the prayers. I will post more pictures soon!

Love, Nikki

Elsie Challenge #12

Scraplift a layout shape. I was inspired by a LO I saw of Elsie's at a class we took of hers. She had sewn around the photo and then she sewed "doodles" around it too...

I might go back and add, I do feel like it is missing something???

TFL
Dream, Design and Create

PS No baby yet!