(Re) Welcome Diva, Julie Tucker-Wolek!

Today is Ms. Julie Tucker-Wolek's turn to be introduced!  Although, she really needs no introduction at all.  Julie has been a Diva since the beginning, just like Deana has been.  She has also taken on additional responsibilities for Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker.....one of them being keep the blog straight!  That is why she has the title, Blog Coordinator.  (we thought it fit!)  She not only does the blog scheduling, but she is also responsible for the Showcase on YOU posting that we have every month.

So, let's see some of her Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker work that she has done!

Here is an adorable advent calendar made with Gingerbread Land.

Julie did a tutorial for this in this post.

And here is a fun layout about the things Brookie says!  

This is using the Summer collection.

And a cute birthday layout using the You're a Hoot collection.

And last, a layout about Mom and Brookie being sick together.

This is a perfect page with the Get Well collection.

So, welcome Julie back to the team!  Also...Julie is great at altered projects, so I am sure we will be seeing some of those from her in the future here on the blog.

Please visit Julie's blog, she would love to have you over.....

life with the Tucker and Wolek clan

Welcome DT Diva, Melissa Pablo

It has been FOREVER since I have blogged here (or on my own blog)!  But, today I am excited to share some work of one of our new design team Divas, Melissa Pablo.  Melissa has been a long time participant  of the Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker blog here and we are excited to have her on the team this term. 

The Divas are waiting on the new collections to arrive, but Melissa had some of the older collections and sent me three layouts while I was away at CHA.  I was so excited when I got these in my inbox from her!

For the first layout, she combined the following collections:  

My Friend Birdie, Gingerbread Land, and Tree Love.  

And they all worked together perfectly!

For this layout Melissa used:  

Will He B the 1, Flaming Butterfly, and Sugar Cookie

And for the last layout Melissa used these collections:

Sugar Cookie, We Are Family, My Friend Birdie, and I think there is a little Gingerbread Land in there also!

I love that she combined at least three different collections on each layout, but they all went seamlessly together!  Be sure to visit Melissa's blog, 

creative isay. 


Also, don't forget to grab one of the new collection badges over at the side to add to your blog.  I have already picked one winner this week!!!

Welcome Virginia Wong, Guest Designer for January

We skipped our Guest Designer posting in December, but we are back with another guest designer today.  I would like to welcome Virginia Wong as our Guest Designer this month.  So, let's find out a little more about her!

Hello! My name is Virginia Wong. I am thrilled to bits to be a Guest Designer for Nikki Sivils! Originally from Saskatchewan, I am proud to call Calgary my home. I am a full-time Mom and recently rejoined the workforce as an Information Technology consultant.

Scrapbooking is a part of my daily life and a part of who I am - it gives me a creative outlet and allows me to pay tribute to what is most important to me:  family, friends, memories and my life journey.  My layouts often capture the escapades of my energetic and curious girls, Madison and Danielle.

In my remaining time (!!), I run Destination ImagiNation at my daughters’ school quilt and continue to hone my photography skills. I have been fortunate to be featured in Scrapbooks etc, Memory Makers and Canadian Scrapbooker magazines.

Nikki Sivils products are so versatile and absolutely adorable! My mind races will all the projects I can make with each collection. My favorite elements are the alphas and die cut stickers; they are the piece de resistance for all my projects! Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity with Nikki Sivils.

Virginia worked with the Get Well Soon and the Gingerbread Land collection.  So, let's get to her projects, shall we?!

From Get Well Soon

She did a couple of great layouts!

And then I love the little cards she made!

Now, let's see what she came up with for Gingerbread Land!

Such a sweet layout.....

Then she made a mini December Daily, to fill with fun memories from the holiday.

 And then a cute little gift bag with some fun "crackers" in it for the holidays!

We want to thank Virginia for guest designing for us!  Please visit Virginia's blog to see more of her fabulous work and crafty creations.....

Virginia Wong

That is all from us today!  I will be back later in the week to announce the winner of the our latest monthly challenge.  You can find all the details below...you still have a couple of days to play!  

Scrap Your Cell Phone Pics

Things are gearing up with the CHA madness starting in FULL SWING!  And I know everyone is on pins and needles waiting for the Design Team announcement.  We will be announcing the new team soon!

Have a Scrappy Kinda Day!!~~Katrina

A few more December Projects!

Wow, hard to believe that the year is almost over!  We hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season and remember to scrap those memories for the future generations.  And it is totally ok just to scrap to create too!

All the projects today are created with the 

Gingerbread Land collection!

Today on the blog we have some projects from our design team Diva, Leah F. and one from me!  

I love the "mess in the floor" picture in this layout!  I know sometimes I think pictures have to be "perfect" to scrap, but this is a perfect example of capturing the moment when it happens right then.

And then she made a couple of adorable cards!

And I created this layout way back around CHA time in July and hadn't shown it yet!  Higgins was exhausted with all the holiday activity and just wanted to take a nap!  Plus, he was waiting on "his" package to open!

That is all from us today!  Our DT Call ended last night and I want to wish everyone good luck that applied.  We will hopefully be making that announcement in the next week or so!  


And a little birdie might have told me....there "could" be some sneaks coming soon of some fun stuff......so, I think you might want to keep an eye on the blog!

Have a Scrappy Kinda Day!!~~Katrina

A House and a Wreath!

Anyone love to do altered projects?  I know I do and there are a few girls on the team that like to also.  If you haven't tried to alter something, once you do you will be hooked, I promise.  

Jen Matott is one of our Divas that like to alter and you have to SEE this gingerbread house that she made out of Gingerbread Land.  So, so cute and this was a total hit at CHA this summer!

 I love how she punched out the circles and then used them as the "shingles" on the roof!  

  

And this is a 3-D tree that she made by cutting out tree shapes with her Cricut and then gluing them together.  I love the buttons as ornaments also.  

And then I made this wreath out of Gingerbread Land also for the sketch over at Sketch Support this week.  The sketch was the tree part of the wreath and I though Nikki's papers would look great for it.

I also used my Cricut to cut out the snowflakes and then I hot glued them onto my wreath base.  

So, hopefully we have inspired you to make a little altered item for your holiday season.  Even if you make just an ornament, it makes the holiday just a little more special with something that is handmade!  

Don't forget, only a little over a WEEK to get your design team applications in!  Check all the details out on the call...HERE.

Have a Scrappy Kinda Day!!~~Katrina 

Christmas Decorations for Less with Elmer's!

Hey everyone, Katrina here.  Have you decorated for Christmas yet? Please don't ask if I have, because I would be lying if I said I had. Things have been crazy, one of the dogs partial tore his ACL, so we are doing the crate/leash only thing for the next three weeks, which means decorating is pretty much out of the question at the moment!

This is Higgins and he is the lame little guy.  He likes his crate, but not so much that he wants to stay in it all the time.

BUT, Nikki asked me if I wanted to do the Elmer's Looks for Less challenge and I decided it would be fun to try to create a fun little Christmas themed home decor item with minimal supplies and budget. And I am here with my results today. 

And because I took the challenge, there is a chance for YOU to win! I am sure you are happy about that!  Keep reading and at the bottom I will let you know how to win an Elmer's prize pack!

I need to announce the winner of Monday's blog post!  So, our winner is.......

 Pammejo said...

Adorable cards, TFS 

December 5, 2011 11:12 AM

Pammejo, please email me at cardipaws@sbcglobal.net with your shipping address and we will get the idea book and Gingerbread Land collection kit out to you!!!

Elmer's sent a few products to work with, plus a gift card to purchase additional supplies with.  There was an assortment of glues, foam boards, X-ACTO knife, and Painters pens.  More than enough to create with by adding a few additional supplies.  

I knew I wanted to do Christmas, but wasn't sure what.  I decided to search the internet for ideas and ran across a site called Craft Elf that had a template for making a gingerbread house out of foam board!  PERFECT!  That site can be found here......Gingerbread House Template.  And this is easy enough to do with your kids too once you get the pieces cut out!

So, I cut out my template and then cut out my foam board using the X-ACTO knife and my X-ACTO self-healing mat.  (LOVE THOSE, plus they are pink!).  Here are what my pieces look like once I cut them out...I did try to keep straight lines as I could, just to make the house go together easier!

Then I set to work putting the house together.  I was in a time crunch, so I made a quick decision on what papers I was going to use and that I wasn't going to embellish a lot.  I used the GingerSnaps paper from Gingerbread Land to cover the front and sides of my house.  I then used the Glue Spots from Elmer's to start putting the house together.  They are super sticky and I didn't have to wait for them to dry...bonus!

Once I got my house together, I then put the roof on it.  Using a border punch I punched out strips and just layered them on each side of the roof.  I used the CraftBond Extra Strength glue stick to glue them on.  That gave me a little time to position them exactly how I wanted them.  SORRY, I totally forgot to take a picture of that step....I get crafting and forget to grab the camera!

I then decided that the house needed something to sit on, so I cut out a piece of foam board that was 10 x10 inches square.  

I started to cover it with a sheet of pattern paper, but then decided that I wanted a snowy look, I mean, it is a Christmas decoration after all and I love snow!  So, I found some of the angel cloud fiber mess (as I like to call it!) and stretched it out to fit my board.  I then took it off, ran the glue stick all over the board and started sticking the "cloud" down.  I did use some of the Glue Spots along the edges just to make sure the sides were tacked down pretty well.  

After a little more embellishing on the house and around it, I had a completed Gingerbread Land scene!  I decided it needed some lighting, so I pulled out a strand of mini lights that I had and placed it around it.  I would NOT leave this unattended, but it's pretty to look at when you are home!

Love the bokeh that the lights produced when I took the picture!

I had bought these little glitter foam balls to use for another project and I had a bunch of them left over. I thought they would make cute little snowballs sitting around, plus it was better than them sitting around not getting used!

From this angle you can see the roof and how the strips lay.  I started from the bottom of each side and worked my way up.  To make the trees stand up, I just used toothpicks with the Glue Spots and attached the die cuts to them and stuck them in the foam board.  I did use a Glue Spot on the end of each toothpick just to make sure they stayed put.  

Here is the front of the house a little closer.  I really didn't do anything to the sides, because I wanted the focus to be on the scene, more than individual pieces.  

Would you like to create this fun little house?  Well, you can win the supplies to do it!  All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post and we will pick TWO winners that will be announced on Friday. What can you win...well, Elmer's has generously donated prize packs for two of our readers!  And we are going to throw in a Gingerbread Land collection kit, so that you can recreate this fun Christmas home decor project!

And I am supposed to provide a total cost of my project, so here it goes!

Paper and Die Cut Embellishments-$0.00
I had these in my stash and we ALL have a stash!  And you could easily cut them out of a die cutting machine or by hand.

Elmer's Products-$0.00
Were provided by Elmer's

Lights and Angel Cloud Fibers $0.00
I had these in my decorations that I was not using!

Total cost.....A little of my time to create!
Hee hee, I think this blog post took long to write than creating the decoration itself!

And if you would like to find Elmer's on the internet, here are all their sites!!!

www.elmers.com

www.facebook.com/elmers

http://twitter.com/elmers

www.facebook.com/xacto 

Thanks Elmer's, for letting me play along in the Look for Less challenge!!!


Don't forget Nikki's free printables for up up at the top of the blog!!!

Have a Scrappy Kinda Day!!~~Katrina

Rae's Wonderful Cards!

Rae Barthel just ROCKS when she makes a card!  And her Christmas cards are no exception to that saying.  I have said it before, but I just have to say it over and over...the girl can make a BEAUTIFUL card!!

She has created five fun cards out of Gingerbread Land, so let's see them!

I can't help it...she makes the most amazing bows!

A fun little mini card set!  Perfect for Secret Santas or Pals!  

Or even for stockings!

This card makes me think of a sunny Christmas Day!

Ekk, so cute, this one is my favorite!  

(am I supposed to have a favorite?!)

I love how she tied the index card in with the greeting and the hearts!

I am sure inspired to make some cards now, even though I ordered photo cards from Target!  I might have to sneak a picture on here!

And don't forget to grab your free printables that Nikki has for you!

 And our Design Team Call is listed

HERE!

Have a Scrappy Kinda of Day!!~~Katrina

It's Challenge Time Again!

Oh my GOODNESS!!!!  Everyone that played along with the challenge did an AMAZING job.  I loved every single layout that I saw and not one of them looked like the others.  THAT right there is the best thing about scrapbooking, all the talent and inspiration that is out there....it just blows me away.

Well, I guess you are probably waiting on me to announce the winner for last month's challenge, Scrap Black and White Pictures.

So our winner for the challenge is.....drumroll please................

Corlann!!

And here is her layout, I just LOVED the little touches that she did with the embossing powder!

So, Corlann, please email me at cardipaws@sbcglobal.net with your shipping address and your choice of the collection kit you would like.  We will get your prize out to you this week!!

So that brings us to the next challenge that I gave the design team, which you can play along with this month!!!

 Scrap Those Cell Phone Photos

Let's see just what everyone did with those pictures that we snap with the only camera we might have handy at the moment!

First up is Sarah Eclavea, with this adorable two page layout using My Lil Monster!

Next up, Nikki played along with us this time!  (confession, she was the FIRST one to turn something in!) She used the My Lil Monster collection along with You're a Hoot also.

Next up is Linda Beeson, I love it when she does layouts!!  She used My Lil' Monster too.  (I am seeing a trend so far!)

Now here is a layout using the Get Well Soon collection from Julie Tucker Wolek.  Most of you probably know that Brookie has to have surgery for her Port Wine stains frequently.  She is a brave little trooper and Julie used the words from a song for this layout about how beautiful she is!

And then we have Deana Boston's layout using Gingerbread Land!  I love this picture of her daughter peeking from the tree!!

And I jumped in this month and played also.  I used Gingerbread Land for my layout to document last Christmas morning.  The snow was beautiful that fell overnight.

So your  challenge for this month is to get those photos off of your cell phones and get them scrapped!  Sometimes it is the only camera available to capture that moment, so let's get those moments on paper! 

Card girls, if you are not comfortable making layouts  and you want to play...make a card using some of the stickers and cut ups/punch outs that come with the collections....if you have Nikki Sivils stamps you can use those also....old or new...doesn't matter. 

Just make a layout following the guidelines above for "Scrap Those Cell Phone Photos" and use at least 75% Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker products.  It does not matter if it is an older or newer collection, we just want to see them!

Leave a link to your blog post or gallery with a picture of your completed challenge entry on this post by December 31.  We will pick one winner and announce them on January 4th, 2012 (did I just type 2012?!) I am going to give you a little extra time with all the holiday festivities going on.  We will not have a challenge in December, so you will have plenty of time to work on this one!  

Have a Scrappy Kinda Day!!~~Katrina