I'm Here! And almost "there"!

So... the big news I have.... 

(which I promised you a week ago!)

I'm moving home. 

Well, back to San Diego. 

Thats why my blog has been rather empty the last week and will be for the next week. 

So sorry all!! 

Uggg, I miss crafting and blogging... and the internet! 

Although, Starbucks has ranked higher on my list this past week for  their free use of the internet. :) 

Please stay tuned in the coming weeks for lots of new videos and projects... cards and design team stuff. 

I should be back up and running by Dec. 21!

Holiday Cheers,

N. 

Things are-a-changin' !

Happy December All!

I hope everyone is doing a little something crafty over this holiday season! Here is some Christmas cards I made for my parents to send out. 

I don't know if you can see it on these photos... but, I used puff paint around the little character for the 'snow'. Oh, it looks so flippin cute in person! 

I have a big announcement I will probably post sometime tomorrow or the next day. 

Stay tuned!

Holiday Cheers, 

N. 

MFT December Release Blog Hop

Hello All, 

This is my official sign off as the November guest designer. 

And I think I've saved the best for last. I hope you agree!

First I wanted to take a minute and thank MFT for the fun month full of stamps, card making, and coloring. I have quite the stack of cards going thanks to MFT! By far one of the best companies I have lent my creative juices to!

Here is my last project, tear.... tear. 

And a little tip/trick from me to you!

I used the new floppy set and 

Do you ever catch yourself thinking....

 Oh, man this card would be perfect if only I had

... a cloud... a sentiment.... a bubble stamp

You know... when you have that one thing in your mind that would complete it all 

but you just don't have 'the' stamp. 

What if I told you .... You Do have it!! 

All you need is a bit of practice... some creativity.... and a willingness to try...

What is it, you ask....

Ready for it... 

A Pen. 

Thats right... I'm encouraging you to d-r-a-w!! 

I know, right off the bat I am losing most of you... with the ol' 

I can't draw!!! 

Stay with me and I will show you ... you can!

First, start simple... 

like with hearts or clouds....

I needed some clouds ... so for example purposes... 

You'll need 

A pen. (Micron!) White Paper. A light colored pencil. Vellum 

Then just start drawing! 

Plan to draw a lot to get one or two that you like...

Decide on the one or two that you like and put a check mark next to them.

On top trace over, using vellum, around the cloud... a little bigger than the original

Then take the colored pencil and soften the lines..

Same with the vellum... it's a cloud after-all!

Then cut out each piece of the cloud and attach...

And ... poof.... exactly what my card needed to make it perfect!

So before you get discouraged because you don't have the exact stamp to complete your look... take a double look at that black pen in your pencil box and ask yourself.... 

Why not try?? 

I hope I've inspired you to give drawing a go... it's not so intimidating! I promise!

Thanks again for all your support this month! 

Happy Holidays and Happy MFT Shopping..

Here is the MFT blog link

MFT BLOG

And the store... Just in case :) 

MFT STORE

Holiday Cheers, 

N. 

Fringe Christmas Tree Video

Hi everyone!

Remember these?!?

Well, I finally have a little ( and long all at the same time :) video how to!

This video focuses on just the little fringe tree....

I am sorry that I blabber a lot... I always feel so pressured to get as much info in as possible in the smallest amount of time... which usually leads to me talking way way too much!

Thanks for bearing with me! 

Also, my battery went dead at the end so you don't here my cheery goodbye!

So, pretend at the end you hear me saying... in my unusual high pitched voice...

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my video! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Come by again soon!

Bye Everyone! Nicole

Holiday Cheers, 

N.

TGF Holiday Hoppy Hop!

If you have spotted my blog before you know how much 

I love The Greeting Farm stamps. 

I just love them all! 

So when they had an open blog hop for customers... I thought... Hot Dog! Yes, please!

Here is just a few cards I have made using the new holiday stamps... 

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my blog! 


I hope you come back again soon!


Holiday Cheers, 
N.

MFT Teaser #4 10/30

Another Day Another.... Teaser!!

Welcome back friends for another teaser. 

Actually, the last teaser before the BIG december release day!!

I should really just get straight to teasing, shouldn't I? :) 

Falling in love yet??? 

I know I just loved everything about being this months guest designer! Thank you so much again for such an amazing experience and all the wonderful goodies that go along with it! I hope I can come back soon and work with MFT again! It's been a blast!

See you all tomorrow for the big release night!!!

MFT Blog 

HERE

Cheers, 

N. 

MFT Teaser #3 10/29

MFT TEASER TIME!!!

Happy Monday All!! 

Christmas time is in full swing. I just love it. 

Best time of the year, right!?!

Here comes another small teaser for you from MFT December release.... 

I don't want anyone to miss out on anything so I did a little copy/paste business to remind you all the great things MFT has in store for you with these teasers and the new release!

Day three of the My Favorite Things Teasers has arrived! Today the My Favorite Things Design Team is sharing with you creations that use four new stamp sets coming out from the Pure Innocence line! Here are some details about what is going on:

~Teaser prizes begin today, so be sure to leave comments at each stop! Just by commenting, you could win one of two $10 gift vouchers! (Two prizes will be awarded every day of previews.) You can check back with Kim each day for winners.

~The December Guest Designer Contest has already started and ends on Tuesday, November 30nd at 10 PM EST. The winner will be announced at the release party. Be sure to play along for your chance to win a Guest Designer Spot!

~Release party is from 8-10pm on December 1st, at the Member Company Forum on SCS.

Ok now on to the teaser! 

Hello, cupcake! 

This is such a cute stamp. Another 'must have', I think! 

Cupcakes are so 'in' right now, aren't they? 

I say, yippee... I love little cupcakes! 

MFT Teaser #2 10/28

Another teaser another day .... a Sunday! 

This teaser is my from my favorite release this month! 

Hello, cutest figure skating bunny I have ever seen......

Here is a link back to the main blog post and shop so you can scope out some more stamps you just have-to-have. :) 

MFT Blog/Shop Here

Thanks for stopping by!! 

Come back tomorrow for another teaser using some of the cutest stamps ever!! 

Cheers, 

N.

MFT Teasers 10/27

Welcome to a MFT teaser! 

I hope you have been getting excited about all the great stamps coming out in December!

Everything is just so darn cute!

Here is my little teaser today... isn't she a doll??

Take a closer look... I was just so pleased to take some photos while the sun was still out... kinda... 

well, more like the sun set.... lol... 

Happy MTF teaser day. 

How about I round things out by sending you to the MFT store/blog to scope out some stamp sets so that when Dec. 1st comes you'll be ready with a basket full of new and old!!

MFT:

BLOG

On a more personal side note: 

My husband is turning 27 today, on the 27th! It's his golden birthday! If you don't know Jacob, my husband, let me fill you in.... he is the single most sincere, loving, kind, generous, amazing, moral, upstanding, motivated...... all around gentleman of a guy. He supports my hobby more than anyone I know. He has been all over the countryside looking at glitter and paper... never a single complaint. 

To say he's a likable guy would be the understatement of the year. I am so pleased and proud to call him my partner. Happy Birthday my baby button! 27 sure looks good on you! 

Love you!

Cheers, 

N.

Happy Thanksgiving week.... A christmas card :)

Yikes, and wow it's hard to get blogging about anything on Thanksgiving week. 

So busy! 

I bet everyone else is too! 

Happy Thanksgiving my little blogging community. 

I am so thankful for, 

My Husband, our faith, and our commitment to eachother. 

Family

Friends 

BFF pregnant with a precious little girl

My loved hobby and all those whom support it!

People who take time out of their day to read my little blog!

Those whom comment on said little blog!

So much to be thankful for, so little time!

Happy Thanksgiving all! 

Now, on to some fast Christmas cards I made with my L Letterpress machine. 

These are being sent to Grandma for her to send out :)

Cheers, 

N. 

Cracking issue... L Letterpress Machine

Just another quick add on to my Letterpress review,

Talking about the 'cracking issue' and general use straight out of the box.

Thanks for stopping by!

shading

Here is a small video showing basic shading techniques using,

Copics

Watercolor Pencils

PrismaColor pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirit

MFT Blog Hoppy!

Hello VIP MFT-ers!!!

If you've made it to my blog via the hop, 

You've reached the end!


And 
I doubt I need to show you the amazing-ness that MFT has come up with... but, just in case you missed it...

I am so honored to be the Guest Designer for MFT!

Ok, lets get to it! 

Who's that Girl, is one of my favorite line of sets in the stamping world. And this little gem, From the Bottom of my Heart, is no exception! I just love paper piecing and coloring... and the set combines everything I love about stamping. 

I have an easy tip to share on how to shade using an ink pad, a Spica glitter pen, and a color pencil. 

Here is what you'll need. 

First, take the colored chalk ink and... ink up the paper in circular motions!

Then stamp your Who's that Girl image

Grab your dark colored Spica pen and create the darkest shadows, like this :

After, take your colored pencil and carefully create the medium tone... actually, it's really easy!

Trim around the edges... add to a cleanly stamped Who's that Girl on a white sheet of paper... add a bit of skin color... some red on the heart... and it wouldn't be complete without some glitter... and then add it to a small sweet little envelope card and

Poof...

Or maybe just paper piece it, like this:

Now that I have totally convinced you that you have-to-have the new Who's that Girl... 

Visit the MTF website 

HERE

The VIP kit is 


HERE!!!

Thanks for stopping by! 

If you have a second leave a comment with your favorite Who's that Girl set... 

Happy Crafting!!!

Cheers!

Nicole