Audition!!

Well folks, I did it again!! I submitted some items for the Bo Bunny Audition to be a guest designer on their team! I waited until the last minute as I know that I'm not half as good as the other people designing out there, but then I thought shoot, what the heck, I'll try again! So, I submitted a 2-page layout, 2 cards and an altered project, which this year I did a necklace. I've attached the pics here so you can see what I entered for the audition. I love making jewelry and this was a way to showcase how simple this necklace is yet how cute!!

Summerfest Layout:



Cards:



Squeeze Me Charm Necklace:



I guess we'll see what happens, but at least I can say I tried. I'll keep you posted!

Toodles!

Scrap it Swanky Sister~
Nicki

July, already?

Hope you've had a wonderful start to your summer! I myself can't complain. I just can't believe how fast the year is flying by. My 5-year old will be starting kindergarten in 5 weeks and it just doesn't seem possible. From my June post I stated I was finishing up on a Baby album for my friend, and I did complete it a few weeks back. Here's a few of my favorite pages of the album. I used alot of blues/reds/greens on this album. It turned out really pretty cute.

Other exciting news... I'm going to be submitting another entry for the Bo Bunny auditions, due in a couple of weeks. Last year I didn't know about it until it was too late and submitted a rush entry, but not this year, I'm working away on it and I'll post my entry here the end of this week! Very exciting, it would be so cool to be able to create for Bo Bunny!

And on another note, Scrapfest sign up is around the corner, my sister and I will be traveling to Minnesota again for our annual trip!! Can't wait to have some me time!!

I will also be posting my room re-do pics. This project started awhile back, but I've finally got my scrap space in order and I will be painting and doing some final touches this weekend. I love the color, it's like a light Tiffany Blue~ very calming (which I need during the day) yet very inspirational!!

I do love how I have everything organized now where I can find things and am able to pull out what I need at anytime!! I've also really gotten into Jewelry making lately, so I hope to post some of the new creations I've come up with using the Vintaj line, check it out here: http://vintaj.com! LOVE IT!!!

Stay tuned for more scrapping/jewelry making news!! The creative juices are flowing!!!

Nicki

What I've been up to...

A whole lot! That's what!! It's been a crazy few months! In addition to my full time job, my little one turned 3 (Whahhhh!!), trained for a 5k and completed the race last weekend, training for another 5k in a couple of weeks, traveled to PA for work, older daughter graduated pre-school, swimming lessons for both kiddos this week and also preparing for a garage sale this weekend and a wedding. Pure craziness!! I don't think I have enough things going on right now!

Anyway, through all of that ciaos I have been able to do a few projects, I'm working on finishing up a baby book for a friend of mine and I did a special mother's day book for my mother-in-law. Thought I'd share the pics before I delete them for more important footage! With this little album I used a clear acrylic circle album and decorated it with pics, sticker, ribbons, jewels and rub-ons! So much fun and a perfect present for the grandma's that don't live very close!

Busy, Busy, Busy

It's been a crazy month around here! I've been busy with my day job which is a very good thing, but it leaves no time for fun and creating!! I did pick up some fabulous finds lately though at the local thrift shop~ I found an American Crafts idea book called Color your Memories, it has some perfect ideas for pages! Love it and only $.79 cents, can't beat that!! I've also signed up again for Weight Watchers, trying to get healthy and fit, and found a WW cookbook, again only $.79. I love this time of year, there are always great deals at the thrift shops, people are spring cleaning getting rid of their old junk (treasures to me)!! I should also be clearing out some stuff, I've decided to hold a garage sale in June again along with some neighbors, as we have done the past 2 years. Pretty successful sales in the past, so hopefully this year we'll be just as lucky!

I'm busy working on a baby album that will hopefully be wrapped up this weekend. I'll post the final pics once I'm done! It's so weird working on baby boy stuff! But there is such cute paper and baubles for boys also!

Anyway, trying to find some inspiration for Mother's Day gifts. What are you giving your mother's for Mother's Day?

Nicki

Happy Easter!

I'm spending Easter with my family today! Watching the "old" Alice and Wonderland the kiddos got from the Easter Bunny! Trying to stay away from the chocolate eggs!

Hope you're having a fabulous day!

Scrap it Swanky Sister~
Nicki

For the love of oldies but goodies!

So last weekend, I hunkered down and completed some pages for a lady I scrapbook for. It's funny how I always seem to gravitate to newer things out on the market. I tend to do some more traditional scrapping for her, that's what she likes. Since I hadn't stamped in awhile, I was able to get some stamps out for a Halloween layout I did and I also used my beloved Souffle markers~ I love these so much! Not sure why I don't use these more often, there's so much you can do! On the Birthday layout I did, I just cut out some letters from the Cricut machine and used the markers to dress them up with some dots! I also used these recently on one of my own layouts to create faux stitching around the edge of my pages. So simple and it adds great dimension to the pages. Lastly on the other birthday layout, I used my new Sweet Treats Cricut cartridge for the Title and #3, it has some adorable images!

Product of the week for me!~ Souffle 3-D Opaque Puffy Ink

Here's what I used to create these pages:


My Minds Eye Patterned Cardstock Paper
Title: "Halloween Time" Cricut- Alphalicious Font
Bazzill- Orange Cardstock
Pumpkins & Boo- Little Yellow Bicycle- Trick or Treat Clear Cuts
Stamps: Stampendous & Studio G




Bazzill: Gold Cardstock
Words: Cricut- Alphalicious Font with Souffle Dots
Stickers: Making Memories
Yellow Leather Buttons: American Crafts
Rub-ons: Top Line Creations


Bazzill Cardstock: Cream
Patterned Paper: Close to My Heart
Title: Cricut- Sweet Treats Cartridge
Brads: Basic Grey


Hope you're creating something fun this week!

Scrap it Swanky Sister~ Nicki

Weekend Recap

Memory Bound Crop Weekend Recap:
I had a great time at the crop over the weekend at our local scrapbook store, Memory Bound. It was a very inspiring day. We started the day off with a speaker, a sweet girl named Valerie, she was working on a special project. She’s a case worker at a local hospice here and she was finishing books for one of her patients. The patient was diagnosed with Lymphoma, a Mother, 40 years of age who has 3 children, and is now to the point where she’s lost the use of her hands. Her children, a 12 yr old who is a quadriplegic, a 7 yr old and a 5 yr old. She wanted to have her children’s books finished before she passes on. Valerie had 58 pages on Friday completed from ladies at the crop and on Saturday the rest of the pages were completed, a total of 150 pages! It was so sad to hear the story and to think that these children will have to go on with life without their mother, but it was soooo amazing how everyone jumped in, including myself to grab some photos to help complete these memories for this woman who we don’t even know. My heart goes out to her and her family! I cannot even imaging what this mother is feeling and going through right now, but I can tell you that there wasn't a dry eye in the place thinking about her situation and even more the support of the women that wanted to help her! Just speechless!

It was also bitter sweet looking at old pictures and reminiscing with my sister. It’s always so much fun when we’re able to get together for some scrapping time! Crazy thing, I also was able to spend some time with my neighbor who we ended up sitting next to at the crop and her friend Carisa, such lovely ladies! I was so busy I forgot to take lots of pics. But I got a couple in while I could.

Rebecca & Carisa

Carisa, Christi (my sis) & Rebecca

I was able to accomplish one 2-page layout, pathetic I know. I put a lot of thought and time into my layouts and after the emotions of the morning, it took me awhile to get back into the swing of my own scrapping project! OR it could have been that my sister and I were gabbing a lot and I wasn't paying attention therefore I kept goofing up on my pages! (hee hee)

Then I went shopping! I bought a few items that I'm in LOVE with right now!!

Jenni Bowlin products: Mini Springtime Bingo Cards- I don't have a pic of these, but they're little mini bingo cards that are sooooo adorable. I love Jenni Bowlin, tons of cute little vintage items she creates. Stinkin cute! Here's some of her mini birthday bingo cards that she has on her website that are similar to the ones I purchased. I want these ones too!



My Minds Eye Paper: Quite Contrary Line, cute little "Sweetie Pie" title card and adorable Strawberry Paper


That's all for now! Have a great rest of the week!

Scrap it Swanky Sister~
Nicki