Friday, December 3, 2010

Christmas Traditions...

First.... yesterday's winners of my Burlap Buttons are Darrell & Christa Allgood.  Christa Allgood you won the prize from a number generator, but Darrell I picked you b/c your comment about your wife was just sweet! Darrell said "Every now and then I sneak in to my wife's work area and make her something using all her embellishments. It makes her cry with happiness!" That's just about the sweetest thing ever! So Darrell maybe you can sneak these burlap buttons on her table too! If both Darrell and Christa Allgood would email me your address I'll get your goodies out to you asap! Thanks!

 I grew up with Christmas traditions from both my mom and dad's houses, spending every other Christmas with each of them while growing up.  When I married Dan we brought our family traditions together and created a few of our own too! One of our favorites is opening up our new "Christmas PJ's" (which have all been pre-washed and ready to wear) on Christmas Eve. We put them on and then watch a pre-picked Christmas movie and drink hot cocoa! We love doing this every year!
Here is our Christmas Eve PJ picture from last year in front of the tree before we watch our holiday movie...
As soon as we set up the camera timer, Savannah our Lab-Mix turned to look at us like "what are we doing next"!  Love this picture of my family and I! 
I have seven people that I couldn't live without to help me run my company and keep me in check too! ;) So I'm going to highlight each of them in a different blog post over the next couple of weeks, tell you how I met them and what they do for Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker LLC.  (They are in no particular order, I love them all the same and adore each of them.).

First up is Julie Tucker-Wolek. Most of you know her as "bmwgirl" and the "smiley face gal", but she is also one of my design team divas! Julie has now become my blog and project coordinator as well. We'd all be lost if Julie wasn't scheduling who blogs when and putting up with my "oh Julie I forgot I have to blog the first 14 days of December" emergencies, where she then has to redo the entire blog schedule. I certainly don't make her life easy, that's for sure! Julie is also the gal that shows all the "non-design team ladies" work on my blog, which is actually one of my most favortie blog posts. I love seeing all the ladies that have bought and designed a layout, card and or altered project using my papers! It truly warms my heart!


I met Julie through another social media site prior to starting my business and we became fast friends due to our mutual love of Sandra Bullock and her movies! Especially Hope Floats! I've always been a fan of Julie's unique scrapbooking style and her sweet disposition, so when she applied for my design team from my first call... she was a "shoo-in"! I was and still am so happy to have her on my team! Thanks, Julie, for all you do for me, the DT and my company! You rock!

Here is Julie's Christmas Tradition:

I am a HUGE Christmas FANATIC!!!! My friends call me Mrs. Griswold (As in Clark Griswold from "Christmas Vacation"!)  I go overboard every year, usually decorating a week or two BEFORE Thanksgiving!!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)  I am VERY lucky for my kids and my husband are into Christmas too...and they start asking soon after Halloween when we can decorate for Christmas! (LOL! I am raising them right you know! LOL!) :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) My husband is also Polish, so every Christmas Eve, the entire family gets together for Perogies!!! YUM!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
 Here are some family pictures Julie is sharing with us...



Be sure and check out Julie's blog; it's a hoot and if you don't know Julie you'll soon fall in love with her too! (Julie is also offering a "Nikki Sivils" giveaway too!) 

For today's giveaway I've decided to give away my Journaling Tags (all 4 sheets) and my complete paper line "Something For Everyone" of which every sheet in this paper line is named after a few of my design team girls and ladies that work for me. 
Leave me a comment and I'll pick one lucky winner to win all of this:




                                  
                                     



 and the sticker sheet too.... (which I left all blank so you can make it whatever you want)


This paper line "Something For Everyone" I made all the front sides of the papers not distressed and the backs are distressed so that you can pick what you like best.
Here is a layout that my DT Diva, Mimi Leinbach, created using this collection! I just love it!
                                      



Leave me a comment and you could be the lucky winner! 
TGIF!!! -Nikki

Oh and I almost forgot, many of you have asked where you can buy my "Happy Holly-Day's" collection, as it's sold out at most stores (which is actually exciting for us!), and also where you can find some of my other embellishments. Lanie (who works for us) put a list together and posted the list on Facebook (the Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker page) last night!  So here is the link for you: Retail Stores 

89 comments:

Kristi said...

LOL love the jammies and love all the goodies...YOu are so fun!

vanessa said...

How wonderful! Thank you for this opportunity and bringing your traditions to us!

Mireia said...

Nikki, I really love this collection, this is my favourite one! And your LO looks so warm, even the snow!
The Christmas Tree, the pijamas, the decorations,... Christmas is in the air!!!
Have a Merry Christmas with all the people (and dogs) you love, Nikki!!!
Mireia

Stacy said...

Loving all the projects with the Something For Everyone papers. And oh...those footie PJ's. LOVE THEM!!!!! I remember wearing those as a kid and I didn't like them becuase they made my feet sweat so I would cut off the foot part :) Now that i'm older how I would love to have my feet all nice and warm in those.

Tammy said...

I love the tags and the paper! I love the colors and what was done with it!! SUPER CUTE!!

Jessica Dewan said...

Love this Collection! Super Cute! :D
Our Christmas Morning Tradition: my Hubby Makes us a Big batch of French Toast to start the Day!

Janet said...

Julie and my mom should get to know each other because my mom decorates 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. She is also known as Mrs Griswold! I love the pj photo!

A Sarasota said...

I'ma card-carrying member of the julie fan club too, (giggle). Love the family PJs! Can you please talk my husband into wearing his Xmas pj's? I'd love a photo like that!!!!
thanks for sharing...
happy holidays

Debbie said...

Love this line!!!! I love carrying on Christmas traditions. When when kids were little, I started putting up a second Christmas tree just for them. We would make a point to buy a dated ornament every year for it. It is adorned with all of the special ornaments that made when they were younger, along with ornaments given to them over the years from family, friends and teachers. My kids are now 20 and 23, but I still put up their tree, and yes we still buy a dated ornament! Thanks for the chance to win!!!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Awwwww...thanks for the love nikki! You know I love you, and I am beyond honored to be working with you! You are sooooo amazing and genuine...and I would be lost without you in my life!! :):):):):):):):) I loveeeeeee that pj photo...and loving mimi's lo! :):):):):):):):):):):)

Kathy W said...

Nikki, my family does the EXACT same thing on Chrismas eve!! When My oldest daughter (23 at the time, 31 now) had her first child I thought we would give it up and just do the baby. NO WAY! In fact they had their first chrismas in their own home, Now they spend Chrismas Eve at our house so they don't miss Christmas Morning! They still sneak down and open stockings (another traditon) before they can wake us up!!
Oh yeah, I have gotten some of the Christmas papers at a local store, she will call me when she gets more of it in!! (sorry so long!=)

BethW said...

Cherish all these traditions-the time is so short when our children are young enough to take part.They grow up and move on way too soon. It is wonderful to see some of mine continuing the traditions that were near and dear to us when they were young,but I still miss those early days.

TeenaBugg38 said...

I think we ALL have some Mrs griswald in us....and we all have a relative like randy quaid too....lol. Thank you so much for a chance to win! I love EVERY product you create an love Ms Julie too....not only is she the Smiley face girl but she is one of the many voices in my head.....LOL

Michelle C. said...

This reminded me of when I was little and brought a smile to my face. Your collections are great even my boys love to use them.

Thebug415 said...

I have carried on the Christmas breakfast tradition in my family. My mother used to make Monkey bread for Christmas morning, now my girls and I do that too!

Sandra D said...

We also have the same Christmas PJ tradition - nothing says love like new jammies & hot cocoa! Thanks for another great giveaway.

Anonymous said...

The PJ's are too cute! Love the Something For Everyone line.

arlsmom aka Lynda said...

Great jammie tradition!!!

Bonnie said...

I LOVE the jammies. That prize package is pretty awesome too. Thanky you for the chance to win this and Happy Holidays to you and your family

Becky Dunham said...

WOW Nikki, this is quite the prize package you have put together! I would sure love to win it! It is so sweet that you have a paper collection named for your helpers! Love that picture with the jammies - we used to get Christmas PJs too when I was little - my mom would make them herself and she would make matching ones for our Barbies! Thanks for sharing!

Tona said...

Love the family photo of you all in your pj's. Traditions are the things that memories are made of.

cym6 said...

I love the paper and tags collection, you always have great things

floridagirl said...

wow - I guess Christmas eve jammies is a huge hit....I have been doing this all my life!! As a scrapbooker I came to really appreciate this family tradition - because it meant everyone had on nice clean jammies for Christmas morning photos also. Now all my kids are grown and I have taken over the tradition in my grandkids - they ALL get new jammies for Christmas (the grown kids too) - it is my signature gift. Even in years of poverty (as a single mom I have had a few) you could ALWAYS count on new jammies!!

Janet Lee said...

Love the distressed look.
and thThanks for sharing all your lovely tags

Melissa said...

i love, love c=Christmas traditions it really makes Christmas even more special. your family pic is so cute and you guys are rocking the pj's! i've had the chance to play along with miss julie's my fave things challenge blog and she is very sweet indeed. i've always love your collections and it will be really awesome to win this yummy goodies! thank you and have a wonderful day!

Emily said...

I love the picture by the tree in the PJ's, I usually do this with my children on Christmas morning.

Dee said...

Your family photo is too cute. I, too, am what I guess you'd call a "Christmas fanatic". I love it, can't get enough of it.

Your papers are beautiful as well as the journal boxes.

Becky said...

You're so lucky that your hubby does the Christmas pj's, the kids open their christmas pj's on Christmas Eve too so they can be wearing them in my Christmas morning pics. Thanks for sharing and the paper is great!

Joni Parker said...

This line has been on my wish list since the release!! Now it's moved to my MUST HAVE list... maybe wishes will come true today?? Love the jammies.. as my 7 yr old is starting to ask Santa questions, we're finding that "traditions" are going to become even more important part of the holidays... I may steal your idea!!

Jamiecrafts said...

so sweet with the dog, love that picture.

Nitasha said...

Priceless photo of your pup with his back to the camera!LOL
And I don't know Julie personally, but I follow her blog and see a lot of her DT work everywhere and she simply radiates sunshine- so sweet- love her signature smile-ly faces! What a blessing to have awesome co-workers and friends!

wendipooh13 said...

ohhhh great tradition!!!! We do the same too and get new holiday pjs and open them on christmas ever and then wear them for photos and then on christmas morning!!!!!! Loved hearing about Julie's christmas too!!!!

Ceesa aka Lisa said...

I love it... The puppy needs some jammies too....

Kath said...

That pajama thing is the cutest - wish we had done that when my kiddos were little.
I think for myself, I'm always happiest when I'm with all of my family, sitting together in Church on Christmas Eve.

Anonymous said...

Love all of your traditions, the jammies pic is priceless!! This is one of my favorite collections of yours, I'm so into winter & snow scenes & the blue & silver color theme! Thanks for an Awesome opportunity!!!

Brenda said...

This collection is really cute. I also love the pajamas.

Suzy Nurmainy said...

How cute!!! thanks for sharing your tradition to us :)

ShoppingTamii said...

I love Julie...she is always so sweet and looks at my little blog and leaves me the nicest comments! My hubby is Polish too, I didn't know what perogies were till I met him...my kids love them! I love the smell LOL!

and Nikki...we do the pj's too, but (shame on me), I used to not wash them....uhg, my oldest put them on a couple of years ago and had an awful alergic reaction to them!!!! I faithfully wash them now! What was I thinking?!

deannaf said...

I love this line of paper. Blue is my favorite color and the blue houndstooth is amazing!

Merri Lynn said...

I too love traditions--and started one with my nephews (and now my niece) Every year on Xmas eve we have a picture taken w/them sitting on my lap. The boys are now 16 and 13 and my niece is 5 so my lap is getting quite full, but still lvoe to do it and hope to continue for many more years. It's fun to look back at the pictures and see the changes in them and unfortunately the changes in my hairstyle. (what was I thinking is said many times)

Diane said...

Great tags. So many things to do with them.

Diane W. said...

Really cute. So many things to do with them.

M. Rozwood said...

what great family pics! and i love this line of paper and embellies. with 2 boys it will definitely look great with all the pics of them. :-)

Marla said...

What amazing work and fun family traditions. I LOVE those journaling tags they would really help to embellish my sometimes boring pages!! THanks for a chance to win some fun new products that I have never tried before.!!

Me-Ma Kim said...

WOW!! That's an AWESOME giveaway!! LOVE ALL THE PAPERS and those Journal tags are just PRECIOUS!! Have a GREAT Day,
Me-Ma Kim

Noreen Johnson said...

These tags and paper would look great in my scrapbooks! I started the tradition 18 Christmases ago to give my boys new PJs on Christmas Eve so that they would look great in the Christmas morning pictures. My oldest is away at college and his girlfriend sent him a fleece pair of PJ pants to cheer him up back in October. I felt I was off the hook for Christmas Eve but he would hear nothing of it. He is looking forward to unwrapping Mom's PJs on Christmas Eve.

somethingcraftybydottie said...

I love love love this collection it is just beautiful Oh how I want o be picked to win this give away.. :o) thanks Dottie

cghundley said...

These are really cute! Great designs and I want to win!

Carla from Utah

Patchi said...

I love the journaling tags! I can't believe I had not seen them before!!!! I also love receiving Julie's smiley comments :)

Thanks for the retail list! Not having a LSS, I don't have anyone to pester to get your products!

Gordon said...

I love that PJ tradition. We so often get caught up in all the preparations that we forget about celebrating the true meaning of the season. Love and family. Thanks for all the beautiful paper.

Heather said...

Love the footie Jammies. I've got everyones Christmas eve pjs, even though none of ours match! I love the colors in the something for everyone line (and the fact that tere is one for Heather!)

Becky said...

Love the photo of you and your family in their pj's - what a great tradition :)

Karen said...

Our tradition is very much like your family's. We open Pajamas on Christmas Eve every year and then we all climb into the car and drive around several neighborhoods oooohing and aaaahing over the christmas lights while listening to christmas carols and eating candy canes!!! It was only bad one year when we all got shorts pajamas!! :) :) :) :)

Deana said...

What a fun post... loved all the pics. And YAY for Julie! :-)

Marcia S said...

I like the idea of jammies and a good movie - a very relaxing way to spend the holidays instead of rushing around.

Mary Ellyn said...

We did matching footie pajamas last year too! My kids (19 & 16) thought they were a hoot. I love, love the "For Trsih" line - my favorite colors!

Unknown said...

wonderful giveaway - great inspiration projects

Lea said...

Love your pj's..
Thanks for sharing all the stories and pictures!
Hugs, Lea

mccat said...

I hope it's not too late to comment. My favorite color is blue, therefore, I love these blue tags.

serena said...

Christmas jammies are the best! I love Julie too - she is so wonderful at leaving happy comments about everyones creative works. I smile when I think about her and all the exlamation marks and smiles that go with her comments. Great DT member. Great embassador (sp?) for Nikki Sivils line! Merry Christmas!

gleestormont said...

My family & I attend an annual Toys for Tots party that concludes with a twinkle tour around Honolulu in a trolley. So fun!

mommyof5kidz said...

Ha! Cute photo of you all! And I DO LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Julie!!!!!! Who wouldn't!!!????
I would also lov eto win some super fun goodies! My birthday is tomorrow if that helps any in my chances! LOLOL...It would be a fantastic birthday gift! =) =) =) =)

Unknown said...

Hi Nikki, love reading about all your Christmas traditions and the way you celebrate this holiday. Alle that candy is just gorgeous!! You gotta love them. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas!! Hugs, Frea

jersey Girl Anne said...

I would love to win some of these beautiful things since I have no where in my area to buy them!!

Janet's Joy said...

I love your jammie photo! I think it's so great that you named your papers after your DT!

Unknown said...

Love your blog...thanks for the chance to win

Dorothy said...

wow! lovely giveaways! thank you for being so generous.

Tish - GaMtnScrap said...

I love reading about everyone's holiday traditions, and I'm going to really enjoy "meeting" everyone on your team. Julie sounds like quite the character!! It sounds like your team is more like family, and I love that!

Love the giveaway, thank you for the chance to win!

Unknown said...

I've already got my Christmas pj's ready to go for this year too!
hugs,
Gini

Erica Marshall said...

What a fantastic prize package! I have a similar Christmas Eve tradition with my family. My daughters get brand new Christmas Jammies and then we all snuggle up to watch 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' and 'The Polar Express' complete with popcorn and hot chocolate!

Thanks for everything Nikki!

Michelle Deibler said...

My family's tradition is that each person adds an ornament that they bought or made to our tree each year on Christmas eve. Thanks for sharing yours and for the chance to win your fabulous collection! I love the mittens created by Mimi. Maybe I will make a similar one for my ornament this year!?

craftymom205 said...

This line looks great. Love the projects made using this line.

connie said...

love the family picture and post about Julie,

Mel said...

That is so wonderful you are doing this tribute to all the people who mean the world to you and Julie, although I haven't known her for long has become a great blogger friend to me also. She has a wonderful bubbly personality, is very caring and has a wonderful family, all this I have diagnosed just from following her blog for a short time. You see I live in Australia but I call Julie a friend. I loved reading this. Melxx

Love your pj tradition too. and love seeing all the furk kids in the photo too.

Jane Netcher said...

We do the PJ's too . They have been made by my grandmother for over 45 years until 2 years ago when she was no longer able to make them. We would start in October to get them cut out and sewen. I cut and she sewed.This was no small task the last year we made 32 pair. What a labor of love. I love to hear other peoples traditions. Thanks for sharing.

Ava Gavloski said...

gott'a love the \pj's on christmas eve...smile
ava
cottagerca

Cynthia Baldwin said...

Something for Everyone is my favorite line (so far!) that you've done, and you are SO generous with your journaling cards. Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks to you and Julie for sharing your Christmas traditions. :)

Shannon Tompkins said...

I love matching jammies. I tried to get matching for my daughter and neices and then for the nephews last year. Suceeded in getting the jammies but didn't suceed at getting everyone home at the same time ... oh well!

donnabee said...

Since my daughter was born, i bought her red silk gowns with white lace til they didn't make them in her size anymore. Then it was just red pj's, gowns, whatever. Now, the grandkids and the daddy are incorporated. Hey, even boyfriens. If you show up at my house on Christmas Eve, you're gonna get a pair of pajamas! Will have to incorporate the hotchocolate thing. We usually just go looking at Christmas decorations. Everybody has too many places to be! Love all of your lines. still have no local dealer. wish i could buy from y'all off line. Your lawyer husband says not possible unless a vendor. Hope I can still be registered for the giveaways. You have a fun, personalized site. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Petra Coolen said...

Ho Ho Ho

Nicole Brenna said...

I love the mitten banner... so super cute. Thanks for the chance to win! Love it all

Anonymous said...

Traditions are so special - love your family "PJ" photo!!
Your designs are gorgeous!

Karenladd said...

Wow, would LOVE to win this prize and also loving your PJ layouts! So adorable!

Wanita said...

I started the Christmas PJ tradition with my DD when she was born and now she's 21 and still expects the PJ's...so do my 2 younger boys. I hope this tradition goes on for generations to come :)

scrapinmo said...

Wow, Nikki! This is such a delightful post and a generous giveaway. Love it.

mandi said...

Thanks for offering this great giveaway.

Cindy said...

Love the jammies...the pic is great!! And the collection is awesome!
Cindy R
Cindy4pg@yahoo.com

Debbie Craine said...

You are one busy hopper Nikki, love your ideas.

Debbie Craine said...

Nikki you are busy this weekend. love the ideas you have given us.

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