Sweet Stamp Shop Nov. Release

Hooray! It's release day one for Sweet Stamp Shop's new November Release! 

You should be arriving here from 

Jamie

If not you'll wanna start back at the beginning because there are prizes involved! 

Sweet Stamp Shop Blog 

So let's get to the meat of it all! The sneak peek! 

I used a sketch from Retro Sketches  challenge blog to jump start my inspiration for this card. 

Here is the sketch 

(love it!) 

Here is my take on the sketch

I used lots of Amy Tangerine's paper and embellishments - and I didn't have 

the right color mist... so I broke out the old acrylic paint with a tooth brush and 

created some splatter the ol' fashioned way! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

Hope you're liking the new stamps so far! 

Big Hugs, 

N. 

Love Across the Miles

I love the 'Across the Miles' set from Sweet Stamp Shop. 

Not only am I an American girl through and through - I also love 

how versatile this set is for card making, scrapbooking, and even for 

some cute american inspired home decor. 

Today I made a card using the Case Study Challenge for some inspiration. 

Here was the inspiration card

by  Angline Yong! 

Then - here is my take on the inspiration... 

I stamped the image in the 5 different pattern papers and then used 

a colored pencil to add some depth to the map. 

I really like how it turned out. 

Thanks for stopping by and we hope you come 

back for a visit soon! 

Hugs, 

N. 

Last day and reveal!

It's our last day and you know what that means? Our Big Reveal! 

But, before we get to that - you should be arriving here from the uber talented 

KELLY

If not, you'll wanna start at the beginning because there is prizes involved! 

Ok wanna see my sneak peeks before I give it all away and show off the sets? 

You know the little guy below? From Happy Bugs?! 

But, you haven't seen the sentiment - it goes perfect!! 

I'm so happy with these new sets - I think you're going to love using them as much as we have! 

Drum Roll 

The release for October... 

Chemistry (4x6)

Holiday Sentiments (4x6) 

Geek Chic (4x6)

Don't forget to enter to win one of these sets! 

AND AND AND - for a limited time these sets are $10! 

Head over to the shop to start --- shopping! 

SWEET STAMP SHOP 

See you back here soon! 

Hugs and Happy Stamping!

N. 

Sweet Peeks Day Two!

Day two is here! If this is your first glance 

at the hop - you'll wanna go back and catch up 

because we've got some good prizes in store! 

Today you should be arriving here from the lovely and talented

Kim - http://paperiepetals.blogspot.com

If not, you'll wanna start at the beginning

HERE 

Ok, so today I've got a cool trick to show you using 

a tool you probably have in your stash - (and if you don't you could 

just take out handy ol' scissors too!) 

First, I should show you the cards! 

I'm a big fan of simple and geometric! (mostly b/c I think 

I'm a glitter and excess kind of crafter - so thinking clean and simple 

is ALWAYS hard for me) 

I love sewing on my cards - although you know that! 

But, what I also love is to give my beautiful paper front stage! 

Yep, this stamper loves to put a spotlight on paper every once in a while! Sentiments are a great way to help you say what you want AND keep the spot light on the paper! 

You know what's huge right now - chevrons! AND all things Geometric! 

Wanna learn how to create these geometric favorites with what you've got in your craft stash?! Ok here we go.... 

You'll need - Paper and a Square Punch 

(or scissors would work just fine too!)

Here's how to make the first border  -- 

- Grab that punch! 

(any size square will work - it's up to you!) 

Punch out a square (or if you don't have a square punch just use your straight cutter to make 1x1 or 2x2 squares) 

Then, simply, cut the square in half at one of the edges. 

Do this with a couple different patterns - and then attach them to your 

card how ever you fancy! 

This is what I ended up with! 

Next up is the Chevron border - 

You'll need the punch again

and you'll need a piece of paper about 1.5 inches (or smaller - again this is just size preference) 

Then you'll wanna stick the end in the punch just far enough

for one corner to punch out - see picture --

Punch that out and you'll have a piece of paper like this 

Stick this end back into the punch less than .25 inch

and punch out again- see below

You'll end up with your first little shape and you'll 

be ready to cut your next! 

The end product is this ... 

How easy was that? AND the paper is taking the spotlight the 

whole time! LOVE LOVE that! 

See you all back here tomorrow for another sneak peek and 

I'll be revealing the new sets in all their glory --- AND you'll 

be able to BUY!!! 

See you tomorrow :) 

N. 

Sweeeet Release Oct. - Day 1

You should be arriving here from the lovely and talented 

Ellen! 

If not, you'll wanna start at the beginning - there are prizes involved!! 

Here! 

Ready to see the last of the peeks for today? 

I love the mini periodic table stamp! It's so much fun to use 

and I can't wait for you all to take a crack at it! 

Isn't this so much fun! AND perfect for our challenge 

this go around - check out our challenge HERE. 

Can't wait to see everyone back here tomorrow for 

another big peek at one of our new sets! 

Happy Crafting! 

N. 

Local Classes

I know things have been pretty silent around Nicole's Class Schedule BUT- I'm happy to tell you all that Sweet Stamp Shop has taken off! We're happy to offer over 50 products and we're sold all around the world...and...  we're getting busy with classes all around San Diego.

But, you've been asking for some time now for some home classes and I've finally got my act together (and my schedule lined up) to offer a couple classes in the coming months. 

To sign up for classes simply email me (nicolehrixon@gmail.com)

with your name and phone number and which class you'll be attending. Seats are limited, so sign up early! As classes are added to the calendar, I will update the email and send off the updates to you! 

Class take place at my home class room - 

(in East County El Cajon) 

When you contact me I'll share the address 

and directions :) 

Can't wait to see all of you 

Here are the first two classes scheduled for October and November

Wednesday October 24th 6:30pm - 8:00pm 

Card Design Basics

Class Fee: $10 - includes 3 completed cards 

Seats Available: 12 

Learn some basics in card design while completing three holiday themed cards - Nicole will talk about using one basic design to create several unique and fun cards. This class is perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike! 

Friday November 9th 6:00pm-8:00pm 

2013 Desktop Calendar 

Class Fee: $10 - includes one completed calendar (extra calendar kits will be sold for $5) 

Seats Available: 8 

This desktop calendar is super easy to make (and customize!) for yourself OR would make an awesome gift! You'll learn, step by step, how to make the calendar so that you can recreate it at home for gifts. There will be lots of customizing options (different paper choices and embellishment choices) so no two calendars will be alike! 

World Card Making Day!

Happy World Card Making Day!

SALE SALE SALE 

at Sweet Stamp Shop!!

Halloween Clearance AND

25% off your total order 

(excluding the halloween clearance) 

Coupon Code: WCD12

(no code needed for halloween clearance - prices marked 

down in shop) 

Head over to the shop to grab your favorite sets 

before they're sold out! 

www.sweetstampshop.com

________________________

What better way to celebrate than to participate in some 

challenges! 

I participated in three today --- here are my cards and 

the awesome challenges that they're for!

First up is the Sweet Stamp Shop challenge

(it's a sketch challenge this week!) 

Here is the sketch --- and my take on it below 

Love my 'Out in Space' stamp set - I reach for it ALL the time! 

Check it out in the Sweet  Stamp Shop HERE

Next up is the Runway Inspired Challenge

I love that challenge! 

Here was the inspirational picture for the challenge

And here is my card

Clean simple lines - mustard and blues (whites and greys) 

I really like this card and I love the Runway Inspired Challenge. 

I used the 'Jars of Sweets' stamp set - I really like how versatile it is. 

Check it out in the shop HERE 

Lastly - I made a card for the CASE study Challenge 

They had this amazing card for inspiration 

And here is my take on it -- 

I used lots of glitz - butterflies - 

and 'Old Fashioned Afternoon' stamp set.

Thank you all so much for stopping in and saying hello! 

Make sure to stop by Sweet Stamp Shop for the sale and lots 

of fun card making inspiration! 

Hugs, 

N. 

Lost and Gained - A journey to the big 50.

I'm really hesitant writing this - nervous - anxious 

So I'm confident it's the right thing :) 

Sometimes life feels like an island - even though I *know* that LOTS of people suffer through problems -it seems like when your knee deep in one of life's biggest battles - you're alone. Completely. 

So, perhaps I'm putting 'pen to paper' so that if just one person reads this - and they're in a similar spot - they'll know, they're not alone. And, I'm writing this so that *I* remember the journey and the battle. 

Here is the deal  - the elephant in the room - the sentence I couldn't bare to admit - 

I was over weight - I was obese - I was ..well ..FAT. 

Whew, it's hard to say that. (even in the past tense) -- I'm so embarrassed by it and so ashamed (maybe now's a good time for the 'before' photo) 

Yep, this is a horribly unflattering (but truthful) look at what I was - sitting in a black bathing suit. Ack! 80+ pounds over weight. 

I come from an over weight family (on my Dad's side -- you can see from the above photo that my Mom isn't over weight in the least - yep, that wasn't easy.) I'll never forget one day my aunt and I were talking and she mentioned - 

"Nicole, you have your Mothers shape but you inherited our proportions."

In that moment I had resigned myself to being what most of my family is - obese. 

I accepted less for myself because I didn't feel like I deserved better. I had an eating disorder. (a really BAD and dangerous relationship with food) 

I didn't inherit 'proportions' from my family - I inherited low self-esteem, low self-worth, control issues... which for my family, manifested itself into having a bad relationship with food. 

It didn't help that I married someone (an amazing someone) who had the *same* problem. So, what did we love to do most? Eat. 

After years of great self reflection - gaining self confidence and self worth from starting and building a business - having an amazing marriage - the only thing missing was admitting I had a BAD relationship with food and CHANGING it. 

One night I went to bed and told my husband - tomorrow I'm changing my eating lifestyle. He said, me too. I emailed my parents and told them what my plan was - and immediately they both jumped on board. 

We changed what we ate - we *talked* about our relationship with food - we began to tackle our eating disorder. Before I knew it - we had lost 20lbs ... 30lbs .... 40lbs.... and then the big 50! Collectively we've lost over 170lbs. 

For my Dad, he's reached his goal and is thinner than he's been - ever. Jacob (my husband) - is close to his goal and is thinner now than his entire adult life--- and I've lost 50lbs and I'm reaching for another 30lbs. This is really a journey of losing AND gaining... 

What I lost - 

-50 lbs and counting (at a rate of about 2lbs a week) 

-Most of my wardrobe :) 

-Relying on food to be more than food - it's not a 'friend' or the therapy to a bad day - it's just food now. It's feeding the machine of my body and not my mind. 

What I gained - 

- Self confidence - and all that comes with it 

- Mirrors - now I look at myself in a mirror - do you know how long that had been? 

- Pictures - I loved scrapbooking, but it's hard when you don't like pictures taken of yourself! 

- The possibility of having kids - there was NO WAY I could have gotten pregnant at the weight I was But, now, when we're ready ... my body will be too! 

- A new sense of happiness in my marriage - we're happier with ourselves and as a product, we're happier in our marriage. 

- A new wardrobe (in smaller sizes than when I was in high school - over 10 years ago) 

- Being more willing to make new friends and not worry about what people are thinking of my weight or my looks. 

-Shopping for a two piece bathing suit - knowing I'll get there! 

Now would be a good time for a new photo of the progress so far, right? lol 

I think that - it's been a long time coming - but, I finally feel *good* about myself. And surprisingly it has NOTHING to do with how I look - it's that I told myself it was time to change - and I made the change. I'm proud of myself... I'm proud of my husband and my Dad... I know that from here on out we're going to continue to be open minded about food and work daily on changing our relationship with it. 

I will be back on here after the next 30lbs (with a swim suit 'after' picture) --- 

One piece of advice I have - ask yourself WHY you eat. What relationship do you have with food? 

I agree that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes - but HEALTH doesn't. Fat is fat - that's the hard truth. 

If you're looking for inner peace with your weight and body issues - help is out there - but, just like most problems - if you want to concur it you first must admit it. 

Big Hugs to all of you! 

N. 

A Sweet Challenge

I'm back today with a *sweet* challenge - 

This weeks challenge is to wet or dry emboss...

I decided to use one of the new sets 

'Dream Ocean' 

I love to take my heat tool to vellum - I don't do it 

often b/c rarely does the look work on the card - but 

an ocean themed card is PERFECT! 

I brown embossed some of the star fish - some I just inked with 

brown - and some with just clear ink. I like the different 

textures and looks within one card. 

Thanks for stopping in today! 

Hope you were a little inspired and that you're 

planning on playing along! 

Big Hugs!
N. 

Runway Chic - Geek Style

I'm on a roll this week! 

THREE challenges completed and several new cards 

for my growing stash! 

I decided to check in on the Runway Challenge Blog 

this week and see what they were up to - and I LOVED the 

manly inspiration! 

Check out the inspiration picture

Wow. Bright colors - straight lines - masculine! 

Here's the deal with these colors though - they were 

my high school colors. Yep, orange - blue - and white 

were the colors that dominated my teen years ... so as an 

adult - I tend to shy away from them. But, this was a great

opportunity to jump into colors that are ol' friends of mine. 

Here is my card. 

Geek Chic. 

I opted to use the Spectacle set and my sewing machine was 

already out from an earlier project - so I thought it was 

appropriate to sew on a 'runway' challenge :) 

I think this turned out pretty Geek Chic! 

Maybe I'll try my hand for ONE more challenge this week. 

-Stay tuned- 

Happy Crafting! 

N.