Thursday, December 17, 2009

A Christmas Wedding Season

First and most exciting-
My brother, Mike, got engaged!


I told you all it was a season of wedding bliss! 


Kendra had her bridal shower and my little box was a hit!
Although it was hard to part with, you all will be 
proud that I indeed gave it away :)




Ok, moving right along...
I have a load of non-scrapbook crafty things 
I have been working on, 
but alas, some of those who will be receiving
said items might peek at my blog... thereby 
ruining the surprise...BUT, here 
is what I can share....




Totally non christmas related scrapbook page for 
Kiki Arts, the company I design for. 
Some might notice that these colors are way outta
Nicole's comfort zone, but 
I am loving the challenge. It's neat to see what you 
would do with paper you might not have picked up 
in the store... I am amazed at some of the things I have come
up with... and the best is yet to come;)












I used a ton of Kiki product in this layout... 
2 Sheets of Paper
Chipboard Heart
Heart Tape Runner


So yeah, this might not seem like a lot but for a minimalist 
like myself... wowy!


-NEXT-


As I mentioned above I went to my friend Kendra's 
bridal shower... it was so nice!
Long story short... I was coaxed, because you know how much 
I hate doing anything crafty ;)
into helping create her little bow bouquet. 
As per any bridal shower I was handed a paper plate and 
all the presents do-dads. 
By the end of the party there was a lot ... I mean 
A LOT
of ribbons and not a whole lot of bows.... and 
what I was starting to make I was 
soooooooo
unhappy with... Ugggg, curse you 
perfectionism! 
So I took them home and here is what I came up with, 
you like?






This one is me holding it out as best as I could
so you could get the idea... 





For it being a 'rehearsal bouquet' made 
from ribbons and bows from her  
bridal shower... it's not bad, eh?
Of course I added some tissue to the pomander...
so it could have some color consistancy.


All right, I have chitter chattered far too long... 
Chalk it up to a really really late night 
for my account husband. 


Here's to the final day of this years 'busy season'
Hello, Jacob, my name is Nicole 
or sometimes people refer to me as your wife :)


Saturday, December 12, 2009

Christmas. Weddings. Christmas. Weddings.

Somehow this Christmas is surrounded 
with lots of wedding festivities. 
It's all pretty exciting... I mean who 
doesn't love, love?


Here is a box I decorated for a bridal shower...
Its so gorgeous! I am going to have
a hard time parting with this one for sure!


P.S. I love love love the container store and all of their wonderfully useful products!







Pictures don't really do it justice... 
Ha, story of my life. 




Also, funny side note, when I finished decorating the 
box I notice what an amazing resemblance 
the box had to my Christmas card... HA!




So I totally wasn't going to post my Christmas cards
on here because I didn't make them... but it has
kinda turned into a tradition that I make 
photo cards and then scrapbook them. This is 
year #3, wowie! 


Thursday, December 10, 2009

I'm here. And so is Christmas!

Welcome Christmas, Welcome! 


Can't say that I am totally ready for Christmas this year, 
well, as far as the material Christmas is concerned. 
Which is like the least important part, for sure. 
My Christmas cards are done.
Most of my out of town packages are ready for the post office.... and 
I am sure  as I stand in the line at the post office I'll be 
reflecting on the Grinch, the new one, and singing
"Where are you Christmas"... 
Too often we forget the 'real' reason we celebrate...


My design team goodies (from Kiki Art, www.kiki-art.com)
have arrived and I have found
time to play! So here is my first layout... I like it. 
Actually, the paper is really good quality... glad to see such good quality
product and feel good about putting my name on supporting it.










Jake and I haven't gotten around to putting up lights.
Maybe this weekend! I hope!
However I have been on the ball about the indoor decorations...





Isn't that the cutest Advent Calendar you have ever seen!
Mom and Dad got it for me at Costco, $15... 
Can't beat it!





My packages are getting ready to send out... 
hopefully no one comes on my blog that is receiving one of these..
Sorry, Mom and Dad your not on the cookie list... shouldn't have made fun of them, DAD!
And you can see my advent 'wreath' in the back ground... no worries, 
we have been celebrating advent... just haven't lit a candle. 
Last Sunday we taught the confirmation class, they loved it! And 
celebrated advent then... now we just need to get lighting at home!


Last but not least...
I made soup today! YEAH!!! It has been sooo cold here... no really..
like snow cold... like actual flakes on the ground... in the 20's.
Anywho, here's the soup and my clean kitchen!
It's been a joke this week... I have made 8+ batches of cookies 
over the last 4 days and every night I have 
ridiculous amounts of dishes... and I am finally done!





I heart Mario Batali and all his cast iron products.... 
I own them all!











Sunday, November 22, 2009

Weekend Before the Storm

Nothing much to tell, 
Right now I love Beyonce's Sweet Dreams
and I hate upstairs neighbors that vacuum literally everyday. 



Ok, here are some more layouts...








Happy Almost Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Another Day Another Layout

I have been really really motivated to get as many 
layouts done as possible before my father comes with his
new camera so I can photo all of them... having a more complete 'gallery'. 
One that I am proud to show off and happy with the quality of photos. 


But, I thought that I would still update my blog, as I have 
mentioned in my last post. 
So here is another layout. :) 


Feeling super super productive!









Ok, so I'll probably post a few more before 
the new gallery comes together...
and I'll be sure to let you in on the 
unveiling! 





Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Busy Bee

Wow, times sure are getting busy, huh!
I am trying out for several more design teams... ha... we'll see!
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and
I'll be having 12 people in my modest apartment
celebrating with me. Yikes!
My parents are coming to stay for the week... 
literally could not do it without them!
And, my Dad is bringing his amazing camera, so he and I 
can re-do my gallery! And, hopefully it will spark an idea 
for him to get me one for Christmas, hint hint!

I thought that I might wait to show what I have been doing until
I took really nice pictures of it with my Dad's camera, 
and then I though, wait! My legions of fans will want to hear from me 
sooner! LOL! 

So, without further adieu...



Most of the supplies used here is Pink Paislee, love it! 




Everything is better monochromatic, yes? With my Dad's camera... this layout
is going to be so awesome! The beauty just doesn't come across here like 
it needed to. 

Again, mostly inspired by Pink Paislee products.




Hint
of the day:

I want to challenge all of you to dive deep into 
your stashes and pull out the one 
thing that totally leaves you stumped. 
Take that one item and force yourself to make a 
layout around it. For example, I had one of the cutest little 
chipboard swirls left out of a pack of 4... 
what the heck was I going to do with one swirl.
HA! 
Well, I happened to have kept the chipboard that the 
swirls popped out of. So, I had kept the negative...
You know, like when you peal off a sticker and 
you still have the sheet. 
So, I proceeded to use it like a stencil and painted the swirls 
onto my layout, as well as, cutting some out of 
the paper I wanted to use. 

Genius, I know. 

So, go on... grab that thing you don't know what to do with
or the thing you have one left of... imagine the possibilities!
Isn't that why we do  this whole bit, to be 
dare I say

Creative!




Thursday, November 12, 2009

MME Challenging Me

Challenging!
One of my favorite paper companies was hosting 
a challenge for November. So, I though
I might give it a go... Did I mention
that the winner gets 3 complete lines of paper 
from the company!!!! Wowie!
Thats motivation enough for me ;) 
So they gave me a sketch...


Sketch Provided:


My take on the inspiration: 




Yeah, and I am also working on the whole picture taking 
for my layouts... gosh, my picture never 
ever ever ever gives my layout justice. Argggg!!! 
Perhaps, Mom and Dad might purchase their lovely daughter a 
new camera for Christmas... I've been so good 
this year!


Picture try #2... I don't know if I like the one above
better... or these two... hmmm, well if I get chosen (haha) 
at least I gave them some options:)








Thursday, November 5, 2009

Busy Busy Busy!

So, no layouts today...
I have some really cute new layouts I can't unveil b/c 
I am trying out for some design teams... 
wish me luck!
But come back soon and I'll 
have some stuff I can 
put on here!




However, 
here is what I have been up to..


Fan-freakin-tastic Weddings!





Disneyland with BFF





New cooking experiences... 
All of which have been really delicious! 
And a sneak peak of my new table:)






Last, But Certainly,  Not Least




HINT
of the day:




Ok, so I am always looking for unique
ways to use up some of my
'old' crafting supplies...

So, recently I purchased salon quality
base coat and top coat nail polish.
About $18 for both... and
Boy o boy do they ever work!

I finally could paint my nails and have
them last the same amount of time as if I went and got them done.
Except, I couldn't do the fun little designs
or the little jewels... until ...
I remembered being in a  card class with THE Melissa Frances
and she was mentioning that their rub ons were
the same quality as car decals.
So, I thought if it can go on a car and stay...
It could probably go on my nails!

Boy, did it ever! It was easy easy to put on
and I added a little jewel... and
poof, one cute pedicure!




Thursday, October 22, 2009

Happy Happy Birthday, Miss. Melanie!



Happy Birthday Melanie!


Disclaimer: This is an early happy birthday as her birthday is on Sunday
(Thought the song was appropriate :)


Wow, look at SOME of the great things we love and have 
experienced together...












We have shoved a lot of momentous occasions 
into the past 2+ years.
Some we wish we could go back and relive over and over...
and some we're thankful we tried, but it's cool if we never do it again...
and some, well, we wished we never experienced. 
But, here we are! 
Still kicking and doing the best we can at this whole life thing.
I am proud to call you my best friend.
You know, they say a person's friends are a reflection 
of the person themselves.
So, I've decided, based on my choice of you...
I'm a pretty amazing person ;)
Or probably, really really lucky!


Happy Birthday BFF!








HINT
of the day:


You know what I just love... 
Chipboard!
I should say, it's the thing I most pick up and purchase the most...
although, not the item I use the most. 
Most of the time I just end up being intimidated by the 
blank 'canvas' and it remains in my 
'chipboard' box, admired, but rarely used. 
BUT, In the last 
year I made a promise to stop buying and start using. 
This promise has found it's way to my biggest stash of unused items... 
Thats right, my chipboard.


Sooooooo, long story short... and to my hint of the day:
My favorite kind of chipboard 
is the kind that already comes with adhesive on the back. 
Not because it's  easier to stick the chipboard ON to things, 
But, because it's easier to add things on the chipboard.
Like GLITTER! (my personal favorite!)
The brown (crown like) glitter piece on my layout above... 
was really a piece from Basic Grey's christmas ornament line. (last years)
I cut the ornament (snowflake as the case may be) in half...
poured brown glitter on the sticky side... 
and poof... practically the cutest layout I have ever done. 






Remembering the Old.... Loving the New!



Just a brief reminder that all of my old postings, 
including all of my work before today
are posted in my old blog:

http://nicoleheartspaper.wordpress.com

Thanks for your understanding
in my transition period!




Wednesday, October 21, 2009

New House for a New Blog


At Last!


Fancy new blog, check!
My very own domain... One Sweet Romance, check!
Beautiful new slideshow of my projects, check!
Still slightly, if not completely, confused about how this all works, check!

Welcome, welcome, welcome... all of the 3 people who have been following
my humble little blog, http://nicoleheartspaper.wordpress.com ...
Finally, I have a cyber home worthy of my art...
And, it wasn't so hard to do!
Please! Feel free to ask how you can do anything you see
here on my blog.
Odds are, I tried it 857 ways before I got it right ...
Without anything further...

My first official post here at
One Sweet Romance...




I thought it only fitting that my first post on this
blog be a version of my last post on my old blog... only this post
would be Better!


This house is so cute, don'tcha think?
I bought the box from Michaels and used lots of odds and ends
from my never ending room to make it
how you see it.

HINT 
of the day:

One of my most favorite 'must haves' in my craft room
is floral supplies...
Like floral tape, wire, wire cutters, foam...
So many embellishments are really based from these few items.
Did you notice the 'cherry tree' on the back of my house?
So so so easy to make with a few
flowers ( you know you have a ton of)
floral wire and tape.
Prima has a new line of embellishments that look
like flowers on a stem.. beautiful
BUT..
$$$$$$
You can make the SAME thing in minutes using
a few dollars worth of floral supplies...
and flowers you already own!
Nothing is better than using what you have already bought!

Try it! Tell me about it! And ask me if you need help with it!

Well, here's to an amazing start to an amazing blog with lots of followers,
well, maybe just my husband...

Here's to my husband...the muse for

One Sweet Romance!