Having a monster of a time with Deana!

Today we are sharing some FUN layouts and cards from Deana using My Lil' Monster and Get Well Soon!!

"I used the My Little Monster collection for both of my pages, keeping one of my pages very simple and non-"monsterish."  Even though this collection might seem geared toward crazy kids... it can also be used for lots of other topics.  I will usually try to challenge myself to use a collection for it's unintended purpose, especially since in my case I don't have a "crazy kid."  Thank goodness!   

My cards were very easy to make as well.  For the "Thinking of You" card, I decided to use the 6x6 version of the same patterend paper I had just used for my "Last Day of Elementary" page.  Those 6x6 patterned paper spots make card-making so quick & easy!" ~~Deana

I just love Deana's layouts and cards! Always so fun and full of AWESOME pictures!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

School is so much Cooler with Deana!!!

Hi everyone!!! Deana is with us today with cards and a layout using the School is Cool line! Deana just ROCKS all of Nikki's collections!

"Just a couple quick cards for back-to-school time which begins for us next week.  I made card to give to a special teacher and also a card to give my daughter on her first day of middle school.  This marks a new chapter in life for her, so I wanted her to know I was thinking about her!" ~~Deana

"I like printing one large photo to use a the focal point of a page.  I kept the rest of the design pretty simple and used a small star punch to add some extra stars, as well as another dose of red, to my border strip.  Then I put the small red stars on pop dots to add some definition."~~Deana

And don't forget Nikki's card kit available for purchase this month!! It is AMAZING!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!! And thanks to Deana for sharing her AWESOME creations with us!

A fun tutorial from Deana!!

Hi everyone!

So happy to be sharing Deana's creations today! She is so inspiring!

First, Deana has a tutorial to share with us!

I made pinwheels for my cards.  They are very simple to 

make.  Cut a square… any size.   I’ve even used a full 12x12 sheet of paper to make a large pinwheel.  Then cut diagonal lines from each corner, almost to the center of your square, leaving about ½ inch space in the middle…  

Try to ignore the fact that a manicure might be a good idea.  Ahem.

Put a sticky dot in the middle of your square.  Take every other corner & fold it in to the center, without actually a creasing your fold (unless you want that look)… so you still have some dimension. ...

Then add a pop dot to the center of your pinwheel and embellish it.  Or… you could even add a brad or a button to the center.  The options are limitless!

 

Pinwheels can make fun centerpieces, too, when put on wooden skewers and grouped in a bunch and in a vase!  Could be a fun idea for 4^th of July décor?!   And the Noah collection has lots of red, white & blue if you want to try it out! 

~~And Deana also has two gorgeous lo's to share with us today!

"Dear Bryn"

I used the Exit Here collection for this page & added journaling cards from the Messages collection.  Every year I write a letter to my daughter to include as the last page of that year's scrapbook.  Usually it's a hand-written letter, but this time I thought I'd make a whole page... thus the title "Dear Bryn."  I used my Beacon 3-in-1 Craft Glue over lightly drawn pencil lines & then put my Pink Sorbet twine from The Twinery on top to create my title. 

"TWO SWEET MAY BIRTHDAYS"

Did you catch Katrina Hunt's projects on the blog the other day?  I was inspired by her pages that used multiple letter stickers for her titles when I made this page using the Exit Here collection.  Both of my pages that I created with this "travel-themed" collection, were NOT travel-themed pages which shows just how versatile this collection is!  In fact, it's one of my favorite Nikki Sivils' collections EVER!    

Thanks for stopping by!

We are Blog Swapping with Basically Bare! Day One!

Do you like embellishments?  Do you like to "create your own" using a bare base?  Well, we are starting a two day blog swap with Basically Bare today and that is just what the Divas are going to show you!  Basically Bare not only has unique and fun mini books to alter, but they have bare chipboard, canvas, arcrylic, and cardboard embellishments to make your own to match your layouts with the paper collection you are working with!

We will also be having a giveaway, but you will have to comment here on the blog and also over at Basically Bare's blog.  Their designers have created some FUN FUN FUN stuff and I can't wait for you to see it!  But, let's look at what the Divas created first!

Laurel Seabrook used the Messages collection to make a journal from one of the mini books the girls were sent.  Here is Laurel to tell you about it.....

Hi everyone, Laurel here.  I am so excited to bring you my Basically Bare project today.  I loved this mixed album as soon as I saw it in my package and couldn't wait to use it.  I decided to make a Gratitude Journal and have left lots of space for adding photos I take, lots of journaling and I love the few envelopes for holding memorabilia or more photos.  I had a lot of fun creating this, I used lots of stamps and Cricut cuts and for adhering the items to the pages I have used the Beacon 3 in 1 Glue.

(Laurel has more pictures of her complete album on her blog)

Jodi Wilton created this CUTE altered frame project that I want her to send me!  I love how the two collections mixed perfectly! Let's hear from Jodi......

I used the six of the chipboard Hearts from to create a home decor project! The hearts were perfect because they were nice and thick, which added a lot of dimension to the project! I covered the hearts with EXIT HERE and AUDREY collections, and added the hot air balloon to tie in the title.

I (Katrina) made this layout about my first trip to CHA using the Audrey collection.  I will have close ups of the dress and heart on my blog. 

The girly collection was perfect for the dress form and wings!  I also used a canvas heart and some of the chipboard blossoms to accent my picture.  Double bonus is that that cluster also holds my layout title!  BTW, Suzy is glowing..I am sweating!  July in downtown Chicago during the heatwave last year!

Deana Boston had fun creating with the Basically Bare Celestial Shapes set using the sun and clouds for her layout about a flat tire!!  She used the Noah collection for her layout. 

Deana added sequins to her sun and wrapped twine around the felt clouds!

Melanie Jarocki created a couple of cute and fun cards using Audrey and Noah.

Sarah Eclavea has done a fun little mini with the Exit Here collection.  Here are a few of the pages from it.

Did you get some ideas?  Are you wanting to get your hands on some Basically Bare and Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker goodies?  Well, we can help you with the Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker part!  Leave a comment below and we will draw one winner for a collection kit of your choosing.  Basically Bare has a giveaway on their blog also, so be sure to comment on BOTH blogs!! And comment on tomorrow's post, because we will have a giveaway there too!

Glue Arts Day One Swap!

We are so excited to be blog swapping with the talented Glue Arts Blog today!  If you aren't familiar with Glue Arts, they are, you guessed it...an adhesive company with some fun products.  Check out their full line at their website HERE.

Our designers were sent a ton of fun product to work with and I think I can say that everyone on the team loved the products. 

Make sure and check out our blog and comment each day.  You want to do the same thing over on the Glue Arts Blog also.  We will be giving away a collection kit a day to a lucky commenter who comments on BOTH blogs!   

Let's get the party started!  We have some fun stuff to show you and I don't want to wait any longer!

First up is Deana Boston with a layout idea that I am in love with!  She used the Exit Here collection and that sun just ROCKS!  She tells us a little about her page.

Exit Here... my favorite new collection!  The photos aren't of great quality, but I'm all for having pages with photos + journaling in our scrapbooks!  As for my "sun"... I hand-cut my shapes & then machine-stitched all the borders to further define it.  Then I added some of the 3D U Cut It adhesive Foam Blanks under the sun to add more dimension.

And Deana also made a fun Father's Day card using the Noah collection.

I used Glue Glider Pro under my Father Knows Best sentiment and the U Cut It 3D Adhesive Foam Blanks under my patterned paper so I could wrap my twine around my paper.

Next up, I (Katrina) have a layout using the Audrey collection.  I seem to be using this collection a LOT!

I used the Glue Glider Pro, which I fell in love with a long time ago, to adhere most of my layout.  Where I wanted dimension, I used the 3D UCut Foam Adhesive to raise items.  I did use it unde my title, just to make it stand out a little more.  I also found that the little Adhesive Squares were great to attach my blue scalloped border with.

 

Jennie McGarvey has done a wonderful card using the Exit Here collection.

I love to make feminine birthday cards since basically none of my scrapbook pages are feminine.  I LOVE the flowers in the Exit Here line and I knew using them would create a very special card.  That plus the Glue Arts Glue Glider made a quick card that is very beautiful and fun!

Laurel Seabrook made a cute card using the Audrey collection.  Love the shape!

I love working with the Glue Arts products.  I used the Adhesive Squares to hold the pieces in place so they didn't shift while I was sewing (the squares are so sticky I didn't need many!).  Once that was done I used the Adhesive squares to hold my twine, button and sentiment strip in place.  Finally, the Glue Glider Pro came in handy when I was adhereing the card front to the card base.  

Stacy Rodriguez made a cute card and tag.  She used the Audrey collection and the Messages collection.  

I felt that the Audrey line was the perfect way to go to create this Mother's Day card.  The Glue Arts Glue Glider Pro made putting this card together a breeze.  I also used the 3D combo pac to pop up the little banner piece at the top of the card and the heart at the bottom.

I also created this fun tag using the Messages line and a brown burlap button using the Glue Glider Pro.  Cutting a long strip of foam from the 3D combo pack made it easy to pop of the strip across the middle of the tag.

Melanie Jarocki made a cute little note pad out of the Messages collection.

A friend of mine who had her birthday this month enjoys getting handmade gifts. I covered this notepad for her so she could use it as a journal or a place to keep her lists. Since it was a notepad, I went with Nikki's Messages Collection, adding some red letters and burlap buttons. The Glue Arts products were perfect for this altered item! I used the Extreme Tac Half-inch adhesive squares to adhere the paper to the notebook covers. Then, for the paper on paper layers, I used the handy dandy Glue Glider Pro. It is so easy to use and the adhesive went on as smooth as butter."

That is all our projects for today!!  Be sure to check back tomorrow to see what else the other Diva's created!!  AND don't forget to comment on this blog posting today and the one tomorrow and also over at Glue Arts.  We will be giving away a collection kit to one lucky commenter from each day!  

Day Two of the PSA Essentials Blog Swap!

We are back with Day Two of the PSA Essentials swap with one of our cross promotional partners the next two days.  PSA Essentials is a unique stamp company in the industry.

So check out our blog and then head over to the PSA Essentials blog and see what their designers did with Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker products!  You want to comment on both blogs...hint hint...see below!

First up is Deana Boston.  This girl rocks cards and this is no exception!  She used the Noah collection for this adorable baby congratulations card!

Diva Jodi Wilton created an adorable little Happy Easter tag using Audrey!  I am loving that google eye!

And I (Katrina) decided to try a little wall hanging with the Audrey collection. Might be a good thing for a sister to leave a message for her brother to "STAY OUT"!  I painted the scalloped chipboard with some Martha Stewart Chalkboard paint.  I did three coats, but I really think it needs more if you decide to try it.  Also, you have to condition the paint with chalk.  You will want to use the white chalk to do this.  

And here is Jennie McGarvey with an adorable pinwheel card with the Audrey collection!  I love pinwheels!

I was inspired by the stamps to create a cute baby/welcome baby/congrats on your baby card.  I knew I wanted to use this stamp and a pinwheel -- and the rest just came together. What I discovered after I made the card is that this is definitely not exclusive to babies!  You could give this to a girl who got a role in a play, a spot in a choir or a position on a sports team!  

And last, but certainly not least, is Diva Marielle LeBlanc with a fun gift bag idea for Mother's Day.  This is adorable made out of Audrey....and how cute would a guy's bag out of Noah be for Father's Day?!  

We here at Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker would love to thank PSA Essentials for allowing us to play with the fun stamp goodies they sent us!  I think the girls have had fun with them.

Want to know what the "hint" was about?

Here on the Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker blog we are giving away a collection kit each day of this two day blog swap!  Your choice out of the four new collections! 

Just leave a comment here on the blog and over on PSA Essentials blog each day and you are entered!  Simple, quick and easy, right?!  

We will announce the winners of the collection kits here on the blog on Tuesday April 10th, so that gives you plenty of time to enter!