Rugs as Art

We have a store in my town called Rugs as Art. What a creative name and now I can truly appreciate that. I got 2 new rugs, one for my kitchen and one for my living room (thanks Mom). These rugs make such a statement. One says fun, and the other says traditional, yet comfy. I can not believe what I was missing...true wool rugs say "heaven" on your feet when your whole house is tile! :) The "coffee table" in my living room is an antique library table from a local school, my mom and I cut the legs down to a perfect height for the boys to play. TFL

nikki

Total Reorganization

(found this old coke bottle box in Mount Dora's Renniger's Antique Mall...love that it holds all my mini albums and art journals...the wooden spools were my mom's that she gave to me.)
(I found the white dress form at Joanne's as well as the pink heart bowl, which is filled with one of my favorite rubber alphabet stamps.)
(the antique bowl on the bottom middle shelf holds antique blocks that spell dream. design. create. ...found that bowl in Mount Dora as well.)I was fed up with my studio not being what I wanted. My space is a very small (6x9') room but I love it and wanted it to be more functional. I wanted to be able to scrap in my room rather than pull all my stuff out into the dining room. Two Sunday's ago, one of the girls at my LSS told me that the scrapbook organizational cubes at Michael's were half off. I went down that Tuesday and spent all last week cleaning, purging, reorganizing... I placed my two antique library card drawers on the floor and stacked my new system on top. I even repurposed a desk in Brody's room, brought it in here and gave one of my rolling carts to Sean for the garage. I have scrapbooked in there the last two days and it feels great. I just love it! TFL
dream.design.create.
nikki

Inspiration Board

Inspiration Board
“Hardware meets Home Décor”
By: Nikki Cleary

How many times have you pulled pictures out of magazines for inspiration and then not known what to do with them? Before you start your next crafting project or scrapbook layout get yourself organized with an inspiration board. It will change the way you craft. Over the course of the next four weeks we will be creating an inspiration board, decorating it to match your home décor and then learning how to functionally use it.

Besides the inspiration board being functional, you will be able to decorate your home or craft room with it (I have one in my main hallway of my house AND one in my studio!!), you’ll be directed to gather supplies for your next project, and you’ll be able to draw inspiration from the ideas posted on your board.

During the next four weeks I will be sending you on FUN “field trips” to your local hardware store for some magnetic sheet metal and some inexpensive tools. Then off to an antique/consignment store or your garage/basement (that is where I found mine) to pick out a frame that you want to hang in your home. Don’t worry if you can’t find a frame that perfectly suits you. We will discuss ways to alter the frame through paint techniques, decoupage etc. Lastly, we’ll explore ways of making the board functional for your crafting projects or using it as a creative way to display your latest layouts, cards, favorite photos etc.

Besides the cost of the class and a few supplies you may have to purchase (make sure you raid your husband’s tool box!), you should be able to use your own stash of scrappin/crafting supplies to make your inspiration board.

Note: Making this project is highly addictive! Once you make one for yourself you will want to make more for your friends and family as well.

If this sounds like fun, come on over to www.mycreativeclassroom.com and sign up for this class that I will be teaching in February!

dream.design.create.

nikki

Grand Opening Celebration!

Tonight is the Grand Opening celebration at My Creative Classroom www.mycreativeclassroom.com It is very exciting! If you have not signed up for the newsletter do it tonight or ASAP. A newsletter will go out each day this week during the grand opening with a passcode for all the free classes we will be offering this week.
Hope to see you there.
dream.design.create.
nikki

Hybrid LO's

These first two LO's I created the 8x8 center portion using fotosusu's kit "A new day" from www.dragonflairestudios.com ...which I absolutely LOVE!!! Her kit is shabby, antiqued, and filled with great embellishments and papers! The first LO is one of my favorite LO's I have made in a long time! After I created the digital elements that I wanted to use, I printed them out and continued making the LO using my traditional scrapbooking supplies and ephemera. TFL
The next two LO's are from Juniana's "Follow your Star" kit found at www.dragonflairestudios.com both of these LO's I created in 8.5 x 11...which makes it nice if you do not have a 12x12 printer. All the papers are from the digital kit, and then I embellished using some digital embellishments and some traditional. TFL

dream.design.create.

nikki

Can you say FUN!!!

This was the fun "love notes" class we took from Kezia, the owner and designer of Tinkering Ink! We painted the cute box, and then decorated it with her new line "Beloved"...then we made these really cute "love notes" to go inside of the box! We had so much fun. Thanks Kezia.
I decorated and gave this little jar of jelly beans and roll of life savers to Kezia... it is embellished with her Covent Garden line. We also gave her the vase that I made decorated with her Botanical Bliss line!This LO I made using the Covent Garden line as well... TFLKim and Candie having fun at the crop!!

Kim showing off her Tinkering Ink shirt she received from Kezia (she waited a whole year to get this little gem!)

The whole day was non stop fun and laughing...we had a whole photo shoot where I was taking Kim, Candie, Cathy and my photo...too funny. I will post some of those photos when I get them from Kim (hint, hint!!!). Thanks Karen, Amy and Gail for giving us such a fun day!!!!
Dream. Design. Create.
Nikki

Real Simple

I had this ladder in my bedroom closet for the longest time. It was "hidden" in there cause I had painted it these hideous colors (pink, green, yellow...who knows what I was thinking!!!) many years ago. A couple of months ago I was browsing through some of my magazines and in "Real Simple" I saw an idea where they took an old ladder, painted it and used in a bathroom to hold some essentials by the tub. Well, we do not have a tub in our bathroom, but we did have this empty corner, so I decided the other day I would see if I liked it. So, I spray painted it black (2 coats), then I sprayed it with polyurethane (esp since it was going to be in my bathroom). It was such a simple makeover, and I just love it. I can not believe that I waited this long to do it. As you can see it holds some towels and that really cute box on the top is from my dear friend Ashley (she had given it to me for my birthday). TFL
dream.design.create.
nikki

iSCRAP blog challenge...

If we answer these 5 questions on our blog we get 15 iScrap points (which you can win prizes with).
The Power of 5
1. Five things I can’t scrapbook without: paper cutter, stamps, buttons, patterned paper, sewing machine (or needle and thread)
2. Five places I have traveled to most recently: Wisconsin (2 times), Orlando (2 times), Mt Dora
3. Five things I watch on TV: Amazing Race, The Biggest Loser, CSI Miami/NewYork, Greys Anatomy, Private Practice
4. Five foods I can’t stand: pickeled herring, tomatoes,
5. Five reasons to visit iScrap! its fun, loads of info, lots of inspiration, many amazing women, lots of amazing challenges!!

Nikki

My DT projects for Paper Jam Studios...

The "Love Bug Kit" is now available at http://www.paperjamstudios.com/

TFL.

dream.design.create.

nikki

My new toy

The Wacom Intuos3 tablet... what I got for Christmas from Sean. Tonight was the first time I got the chance to play with it. I am working on a custom signature...

nikki

Sewing project

When my mom gets some vacation time, we like to take one of those days to sew. A couple of months ago at "Sew Worth It" (a local fabric store) we found a pattern for a clutch bag made by Amy Butler (for you scrapbookers...Amy Butler has an entire scrapbooking line distributed by K and Co). We bought it...and the above pictures show how it turned out!! I just love it. The pattern also comes with a "makeup" and "coin" bag sizes...can't wait to try those too! The fabrics I used for this project came from Sew Worth It too! TFL

dream.design.create.

Nikki

{normal day}

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are" Mary Jean Irion
dream.design.create.
nikki

bal·ance

bal·ance
noun
1.a state of equilibrium or equipoise; equal distribution of weight, amount, etc.
2.mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behavior, judgment, etc.
3.a state of bodily equilibrium
4.the pleasing harmony of various elements in a design, painting; harmonious proportion
5. the power or ability to decide
6.(initial capital letter) Astronomy, Astrology. the constellation or sign of Libra; Scales. (I'm a Libra)
verb
1.to weigh in or as in a balance
2.to compare as to relative importance, value, etc.
3.to bring into or keep in a state of equilibrium or equipoise; keep steady
4. to bring into proportion, harmony, etc.


My word of 2008. I want to achieve balance in all aspects of my life...
dream.design.create.
nikki

A couple of things...

1. found these marble letters spelling "love" at Walmart today (on Clearance since they were considered Christmas..) just love them!

2. here is my link to my 365 day photo challenge http://www.flickr.com/photos/39895738@N00/sets/72157603650145589/ ...who else is going to join me???

3. my friend Amanda finally started a blog...check it out here http://perplexed.typepad.com/

4. i have not picked my word of the year yet, but my friend Kim did and check her's out here (I love it!!!!) http://itsallaboutme.typepad.com/

5. I found this site "Photojojo" after Ali E and Donna Dowey recommended it...they send out a newsletter with photography hints and tips and this was the first one I received http://photojojo.com/content/guides/19-new-years-photo-resolutions/ if you like it, sign up, it's free!

6. A lot is going on at iSCRAP...including new contests and prizes come on over and check them out! http://www.iscrap.net/

7. an easy way to win 10$ gift certificate from Dragonflaire Studios... http://www.dragonflairestudios.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=1280&highlight=

8. have you signed up at K2 for these two classes...one taught by me and one taught by the designer of Tinkering Ink??? check them out here http://k2scrapbookstudio.typepad.com/life_as_art/2008/01/greatest-class.html and here http://k2scrapbookstudio.typepad.com/life_as_art/2007/12/hot-tinkering-i.html

dream.design.create.

nikki

365 day challenge

Join Anna Bowkis (she is one of the founders of the Pencil Lines blog) on her 365 day self portrait photo and journaling challenge http://scrappingangelsuk.typepad.com/365_days/ ...this should be fun. The prompts started today! TFL.
Dream. Design. Create.
Nikki

Happy New Year 2008!

Today is the start of a new year, beginnings, goals, resolutions. It is like a clean slate, a fresh journal and just the thought of that makes me happy!
To start off the new year, join me at K2 on Saturday Jan 12th for this fun home decor class (picture above). We will be altereing this vase using Tinkering Ink papers, Fancy Pants stamps, and Creative Cafe buttons, chipboard and die cuts!!
TFL.
Dream. Design. Create.
Nikki

Happy 39th Anniversary

Wow 39 years, and still happily married. What a wonderful example to look too! Thanks mom and dad for always "walking your talk". I love you.
xoxo
Nikki

Cleaning up and relaxing...

Neither one of my boys is feeling to good, so the last couple of days I have been pretty much stuck in the house (which can actually be a blessing sometimes). To me, there is nothing better than the feeling of "starting over"...let me tell you what I mean by that. Wednesday, I spent the day enjoying all the great new gifts I received and played with Riley and his new presents he received too. Yesterday was spent cleaning up and putting away all my Christmas decorations. That led to empty spaces in my house, which led to rearranging plants and some furniture. In the end... I just love how fresh my home feels. I also caught up on some of the online message boards I participate on, and a bunch of loads of laundry. Today I cleaned out drawers in my kitchen, baked a cake for a party I am going to tomorrow night, finished sorting out all the boys new Christmas toys. My house feels fresh, my life feels refreshed (I have allowed myself to sleep in a couple of mornings this week- and not feel bad about it), but most of all I am looking forward to a brand new year! This last picture is of my homemade biscotti (dipped in chocolate) I made for Christmas gifts for my Dad, FIL and brother in law...I made a few extra, which was what I had with my coffee on Christmas morning.

Clean. Refresh. Renew.

Nikki

Merry Christmas

We have had a wonderful family holiday so far...watching Riley open up his Christmas presents was the best!! I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I will post some photos soon...
xoxo
Nikki
PS the winner of my iSCPAP membership goes to......"Moments in Time"....Congrats!!!
PSS Jan Scholl, I am still looking for you...you won my iSCRAP giveaway a couple of weeks ago!!

Dragon Flaire Studios digi LO

I made these two Lo's from a kit at Dragon Flaire Studios called "Boys Own"... if you like this kit, you can find it here: http://www.dragonflairestudios.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=519

TFL.

Dream. Design. Create.

Nikki