Lifestyle Crafts CHA 2011

I am going to be revamping my letterpress review... so stay tuned... it's going to be good!

Cheers, 

N. 

Market Street January Release Blog Hop

Hello! 

How's the hop been going? 

Are you inspired to make something crafty tonight? 

Ok, so I totally want to add to your crafty inspiration.... 

But before I do,

I'd thought I would share my tip of the day. 

As I have mentioned in previous posts... 

I am a total crafty cheap skate.

I love looking at the various magazines in all their glory, but

$6 for a magazine, YIKES!

Thats a Copic... or 12 sheets of paper... 

or... ink pads... 

or practically a stamp set with Market Street Stamps. 

But, sometimes they have great templates... 

Alas, guess what!?!?!

They give them away for free monthly online. 

So I decided to use two of the free templates to make 

my cards for the Market Street Stamp January Release...

Check out the templates for this month here

Now you've just saved $6.

 So now you don't feel so guilty going 

over to Market Street and buying the whole release~

Ok enough chatter... here is my good for this release..

Just a little lamp... using the 

'Hearts A Plenty' ( MSS-BK-06 ) 

background stamp. 

And a little sentiment from the 

'Celebrate Cake' ( MSS-16 )

stamp set. 

I love those little pom-poms under the lamp... 

Uggg, they look so much better in person! 

For this little dress form/kitchen apron form 

I used the stamp set

'Celebrate Cake' ( MSS-16 )

I also used one of the tear drop Versa Magic stamp pads... 

Be sure to look out for them!

(Market Street Stamps is now carrying some of those little gems!) 

I thought this could be a great card for a small 'thank you' for a 

dinner party invite. 

Basically, I hope it portrays 

'Wow, your a super star in the kitchen... thanks for 

including me at your amazing dinner'... 

So that's the end of my inspiration for this week.


Oh, yeah! I forgot... 
Market Street Stamps is giving away stamps... 


Here's what to do... 
Comment at each stop and your name will be entered to win one of several stamp sets Market Streets Stamps is giving away! 

Your next stop is at the amazingly talented Tracy.... Whew, her creations are so full of talent... Check her out...

Tracy! 

Be sure to check out the new releases at 

Market Street Stamps

Market Street Stamps Side Note:

I have leant my crafty-ness to a number of companies and without doubt these are some of the nicest stamps I have ever worked with. They are considerably larger then the pictures give them credit for. So, if you want to support a newish stamp company... I couldn't suggest Market Street Stamps more. Give them a try and report back to me! 

Market Street Sneak Peek

Ok guys, your going to love this months release from Market Street... 

Here is what I did with one of the stamp sets... 

Isn't this bunny so cute? And, I am like the worlds worst sewer... so you know this little bunny had to be the easiest thing ever! 

Stay tuned to see more from the Market release later this week!

Happy Hoppy Tuesday!

Nicole

Hello, Greeting Farm... I'm Backkk!

I love The Greeting Farm Stamps... 

and I have a few I haven't even inked up yet, Yikes! 

But, I did have a chance to ink up this cute little Cheeky Cheery! 

Here is a close up... which reminds me... I have been meaning to do a video using my 

new airbrush system with my copics... Ugggg!!! So many things to do, so little time!

Anywho, Happy Friday All! 

Cheers,

N. 

A small tip

I am a crafting cheap skate. period. 

I mean, clearly I splurge on all things craft, but I am always in 

awe at some of the price tags on general supplies. I try to wait to see if 

I can find the thing I want at Michaels with my coupon... or online... but, even still I think lots 

of paper and accessories are over-priced. So, I try to use everything I buy as much as possible. 

I have huge... color coordinated... scrap bins. I use packaging for various projects and I organize myself to the hill in order to see all I have so I actually use it. 

I digress...

Cosmo Cricket paper and embellishments are so freakin' cute... but... 

OMG, can they be more pricey? 

(If you are from Cosmo Cricket and this statement offends you 

please refer to my first sentence in this blog post.) 

It's like the minute a brand becomes 'the' brand... they feel like they can charge up the waazoo... and they do. 

So, I haven't owned much in the way of Cosmo Cricket. 

But, thank God... Michaels is now carrying it and I can use my coupon. 

I bought the paper pack and I think it was like $9 (after coupon) for 

14 sheets of double sided 

and 

1 sticker sheet

So like .50 cents a sheet and like $1 something for the stickers. I think thats fair... but, I did use a coupon. 

Anywho, you're probably like... wheres the tip... 

Here it comes... so when you buy your paper pack it comes packaged with a front sheet showing you 

all of the different things that come in the pack... 

like this... 

That front sheet is one of my favorite parts of the pack. 

Here's why. 

I always hate cutting straight into a new paper pack I just bought. I know it's weirdly hoarder-ish. 

I always think of how much it cost and that it might be perfect for a future project... but, I love it so much I can't wait for a future project... 

So, I dive right into the front sample sheet. 

Look at all the great paper piecing you can do... and all the coordination work has been done for you!

So, here's a little something I made with my front sheet. 

Cute right? 

Of course I used Market Street Stamps. Love them. 

(If you haven't heard of them check them out... They are going to be so big... trust me...)

Enjoy Today Stamp Set

So, when you buy your supplies always look to the packaging for little extras... you never know what you might find that will save you some $$.

Cheers, 

N. 

I'm still here... just busy making invites and painting walls!

I haven't gone anywhere... other than total hibernation to finish some 

baby shower invites for my bff. 

Here they are... done and in the mail. 

The band comes off on both the invite and the insert... but, I'm too lazy to white out any info so I figure you can get the general idea :) 

And I'm painting the accents in the baby room... 

Here's a peek,

Stay tuned... I have some fun Market Street stuff coming up!

Cheers, 

N. 

Meet Minnie and Alfie...

Happy Wednesday All! 

I don't know about all of you, but I name my stamps. Yeah, I'm weird. 

Whether it's a cute little penguin I named Herbie or these 

adorable birds I named Minne & Alfie.... 

I can't help naming everything. 

Actually, I 'm convinced I worked for Crayola in a past life. :) 

Does anyone else name their stamps???

So, without further yammering, 

Meet Minnie and Alfie

The inside of the card ( of which I totally forgot to photograph ) 

Says,

'Then, suddenly, Minnie realized Alfie was her one true love'

Hope I put a small smile on your face on this Wednesday!

Cheers, 

N. 

Just a Day... Just an Ordinary 'Market Street' Day

Happy Monday All,

Here is my first Market Street card as a design team member. 

Yippee!

Isn't is so summer-y 

I got the inspiration for this little gem on Erin's Blog and her 'Music Monday' challenge. 

If you know me... you'd know, I am a self proclaimed music Queen. 

Really, I live by music.

This 'Music Monday' inspiration was Ray LaMontagne. 

Hello, one of my most favorite artist eva... eva... eva!

As a matter of fact, my husband and I recently saw him in concert at The Greek in Berkeley, CA. and he was simply amazing. We saw him with David Grey.... my husband took me for my birthday...Sigh, I loved it. 

(Eww, side note... for those of you who don't know me and are picturing me 

as this amazingly undone, artsy, vagabond hippie..... Sorry to disappoint... 

but, I love Sephora, Us Weekly, and Showers with the best of em'! ) 

Alas, I digress.. 

Here is my creation with the inspiration. 

If I could be so bold to suggest a few tracks for future 'Music Mondays'  ?..?... 

No presser, of course :)

Madeline Peyroux: Dance me to the End of Love

or perhaps

Corinne Bailey Rae's version of : Is this Love

Just an idea, or two :) Excuse my not so subtle theme of love... 

Clearly, I am an emotional romantic through and through.... shocker!

Cheers, 

Nicole

PWCO January Release Hoppy Hop~

Hello All!

Welcome to the first stop in your hopping adventure 

with PaperWorks Co. !!

Some official business before I show off the latest PWCO stamps:

1. There is a chance to win some free stamps by simply commenting throughout the hop... Basically, names will be drawn... prizes will be given... So, if your so inclined... leave a small hello at the end of this to enter. :) Yippee for free stamps! Thanks, PWCO!

2. You can check out all the *NEW* stamps in their glory and purchase to your little hearts content HERE.

Ok, now that all the business is out of the way... 

Here is a peek at some of the cute-ness comin' 

from PWCO this month... 

*NEW* Stamp Set: 'Vday Bunny'

Coloring: Prisma Colored Pencils

Paper: Bazzill Cardstock

Extras: Some bling (of course) and some paper piecing! 

*NEW* Stamp Set: My Valentine 

Color: Copic (b41) and Various Prisma Colored Pencils

Paper: Bazzill Cardstock 

Extras: Epic 6 machine for the 'XOXO' and my own hand for the rest :) 

I am so happy that you stopped by and visited my blog... PWCO has such cute stamps, don't they? Its been great to jump start my Valentines cards. I can't wait to see what you all do with these stamp sets!

Now I am going to send you off to the lovely and talented Alice! 

She is sure to impress you! 

Visit Alice Here!

Thanks for stopping by... and don't forget to leave a comment to be entered to win some prizes!

Cheers, 

Nicole

Paperworks Co. January Release Blog Hop!!

Yippee!! My first blog hop release with Paperworks Co. is here! 

Check out HERE for all the details and make sure to join in on the hop on Friday the 7th!

See you on Friday!

Cheers, 

N.

New Year, New Room, New Organization, New Post!

Whew! 

Finally I am back. 

For Good.

After the holiday's, which included a rather sudden move back to San Diego from the bay area, I am finally back to some sort of normal.... thanks for keeping with me!

Exciting news: 

1. I don't know if I mentioned before... but I am now lending my creative juices to Paperworks Co. 

So stay tuned for lots of fun hops and design stuff.

http://paperworksco.com/

2. I also was invited to lend my creative juices to a newer stamp company called Market Street Stamps. They have some really cute stamps and I have a sneaking suspicion that you'll hear they're name a lot more in the coming months!

http://www.marketstreetstamps.com/

So here is just a little sneak peek at my new room... it's still a work in progress. Kinda looks like the old room but with a few improvements ;) 

Ohhh, my new color coded copic/prisma color pencil section... oh, how I love you! 

Notice my latest copic addition??? Airbrushing! Be  expecting some videos soon!

Here is just a little card I did using my new airbrushing ... 

See you again soon! (Probably later today... I have a blog hop announcement) 

Cheers, 

Nicole