Oh how fun it was!

I was so honored to get to attend CHA with Nikki again in January. She and her whole crew as just fabulous people. I could not ask for a more fun group to hang out with for a whole week!

I wanted to share with you some of my CHA projects. Here is my "Blue Bonnets" and my "Head in the Clouds" lo that using Nikki's Willow Bee line.



Here are a couple more using Flaming Butterfly.


And, then finally one using Dan the Record Man.


As you already know Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Nikki has the cutest Valentine's line U R My Favorite. What I love about this line and well, any of her lines really is that you can use them for anything. Even her Christmas line North Pole Nights was not the "typical" Christmas colors making them fun for other times of the year. The colors in her U R My Favorite line to me just screams little girl or young teen. To show you don't have to use it for just the holiday, I made this heart mobile. I could so see this hanging in a young girl's bedroom! Unfortunately this is one of those projects that it looks so much better in real life than in a photo. I just could "not" get a good shot, but hopefully you get the idea behind it. The colors with the brown, pink and orange are so wonderful for a little girl's room. Here is my mobile (with the not so good photo!).


And then just a lo of my goofy ol' hubby wearing "my" reading glasses. They have little cherries on them.



Thanks for looking! Stay tuned. Next month our newest additions to the team will be showing their work on the blog too! I can't wait! We have added some "awesome" talent including an equally "awesome" card team. Nikki carries the perfect items for making cards! Did you know she has 6 x 6 paper pads and stamps? Well, she does! So, if card making is your thing, I am sure you are going to love what our card team girls produce. I know I will. I've already seen what kind of work they do. We are lucky to have these girls. For a full view of Nikki's 6 x 6 paper pads and stamps you can check them out here.

Until then - Happy Scrapping!

Susan Dupre

Gotta love 10x10!

By now I'm sure you've all seen the 6 new lines that debuted at CHA last week! You may have also noticed that each new line has the cutest scalloped-edge round patterned paper in it! Did you know that it's a 10x10-sized paper? This means that it fits perfectly on your 12x12 page and can be used in MANY different ways!

Here's how I used mine, using the new Will He Be The 1 line. I took my "He Loves Me" paper & cut it in half...


I used the top half of my paper to trace it's shape onto an 8x10 photo & then cut the photo out along those lines...

Then I adhered my photo with the bottom half of my paper onto white cardstock. I decided to add the rest of my heart back to the page, too...

I did some hidden journaling on one of the tickets found on the "Hot Lips/Date Cutie cut-ups" page & tucked it behind some of the other cut-ups (love those!)...

Believe it or not, I adhered my white cardstock to the black "Ghosts R Us" paper in the BOO-TIFUL line. I love how all the different lines can coordinate with each other.

And speaking of the Will He Be The 1 line... here's one of the layouts I made for Nikki's CHA booth. You may have noticed how much I love to use scalloped-edge border strips on my pages lately. You can make a similar effect using Nikki's Bread(less) Tabs!

I lined up my tabs next to each other & added some ribbon over the whole row to finish it off. I love how the color of the Bread(less) tabs match perfectly with the patterned paper in this line!

Michelle Lanning also showed a fun way to use the Bread(less) Tabs in her post the other day. She used them in her title by stamping each title letter on top of each tab! So CUTE!

And finally a quick card using the U R MY FAVORITE line. I cut out each heart & added pop dots underneath. Then I added embroidery floss to make it look like they were tied into a bunch...

Welcome to all the new Doghouse Divas! We like you a WHOLE BUNCH!

Big hugs...

Deana Boston

Helmar Adhesive and Stacy Julian...

Tracy from Helmar USA donated all the adhesive for my make-n-takes for the entire CHA trade show!! Helmar adhesives were such a huge hit in our booth! And I have to say my favorite is the Scrap Dots... liquid dimensional dots, yeah you heard me right... liquid 3-D dots!! Go check them out!! You'll fall in love with them too!! Thanks again Helmar!!:)
My other shout out is to Stacy Julian who bought a ton of my Corduroy Brads for her adorable kit she put together for CHA! Stacy is even sweeter than I ever imagined she would be!! She is just lovely!! After Stacy stopped by my booth and GAVE me the kit she put together using my Brads (I still can't believe it) she wanted a tour of the booth!! So I gave her the GRAND tour of all my papers and products. When we got to my paper line "Dan the Record Man" Stacy wanted Dan to hold the "record" paper, she took his picture and uploaded it to her Facebook profile. She said this "Visiting with Dan from Dan the Record Man".... this made Dan's whole day!! Stacy's picture is below of my sweet husband, Dan, of "Dan the Record Man"!! Thanks so much Stacy!!

Family, Friends, and Teachers, Oh My!

A big hello everyone, I'm glad to be back blogging for Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker! Have you seen the announcement of our new Doghouse Divas? They are all an awesome addition to the team, we are thrilled to have them here with us!

My first project this month is a layout of my son Sean and my dear husband, Keith. If you know me, you know that I love to scrapbook the little things in our day-to-day life. I always have a pen handy to write down random things that happen to us. The quote on the following layout is an exact quote from Sean this past summer. The best part? My husband wasn't there the day Sean said that, which means he had no idea he said it. When I made the layout, he was definitely happy to see what Sean thinks of him! I'm glad I didn't let this be forgotten!

I used U R My Favorite for this layout. I love the colors, and those frogs on my background paper are adorable!


It was really fun creating these pinwheel flowers. Who says pink and flowers are not for guys?!


My next project uses Nikki's House chipboard album. I also used the Mini-Paddies paper from the first six collection. This is a shelf decoration for my scrap corner. Each house represents a dear friend of mine. There is always something to remind me of them. For example, "5 Cats Café" represents a friend who is a coffee enthusiast and the owner of, you guessed it, five cats! I love the little couch on the outside, begging for good coffee and conversation!


Finally, we are one week away from Valentine's Day and I decided I wouldn't leave gifts for the last minute like I always do! I found a mini milk carton template online from Mirkwood Designs. I took out my U R My Favorite papers, a cord brad and a pop-dot (for the heart) and fifteen minutes later, I had this adorable candy holder for Sean's teacher. Full of candy hearts, it will make a perfect gift!

Until next time, have fun creating!

Claude

UR My Fav & Bella Blue

Hi all, welcome back to a new episode of the Doghouse Diva's, it's Mieke today.

Have you seen the blogs of the newest addition to the team?

They ROCK! Wait till they (and the golden oldies too!) will get their new lines to play with.

Today I want to tell you about the two lines I got to play with for CHA.

First of all that was Bella Blue and Oscar too. It's such a sweet line for our pets but if you forget about the baskets and make the doghouse a playhouse, you can also use it for childeren. I used it in combination with U R My Favorite where I cut out the swirl from the pink paper. Added a little Shimmerz Paint to the swirl and there you go.

I was in the mood to play with my siccors so I also cut out the round paper and put a little dot of Stickles on the flowers and the dots.

A special spot for Willie B!

The cut out OXOX is also from the U R My Favorite line

I hope you can see a bit of the sparkle.

I sowed a bit on this layout. Don't you just love these brads? I sure do.

This is not our puppy, it's the sweetest one who lives with our family in Minnesota!

Then on to the next project:

U R My Favorite

What I love about this line is that you can use it in so many ways. You can keep it simple like I did this time. Or make a lot happen. For boys, for girls. You name it. It sure is my favorite.

A Simple Style layout for my Valentine!

The cut out is glued with 3D glue dots and pops up a little. Just like some of the little hearts.

The edges are inked with distress ink and again a little Stickles on the edge of the die-cut paper.

Talking about the die-cut paper, I cut off the edge and used that next to the photo.

That's it for now, please join us again soon. Thank you for looking!

Thank you to all that helped us out at CHA...

Susan Dupre and Julie Tucker-Wolek (2 of my DT Diva's) worked my take-n-table at CHA. They were always keeping everyone in stitches and having a great time! Julie came in a few days before the show to help us set up the booth and it was great to meet her IRL!! Thanks Julie for all your help!
Lanie (our Girl-Friday) helped us out at the booth, we loved having her there with us it was like "Home" having her around!! And it was wonderful having Heather (our Graphic-Bee) with us!! Heather is a great friend and someone I can always lean on! Thanks so much to both of you!
One last thing...
Susan is my design team leader for the USA gals and she is also my right hand lady! Always doing more than asked with the DT girls and harasses me endlessly, but makes me laugh all the time! She's been to both CHA's with me and I can't imagine not having her by my side ever at a CHA! So Susan thank you for all you do for me and for everyone at Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker LLC!! We all love you!!
Have a great night all!! -Nikki

Teaching at The Scrappin' Table...

Look at that BEAUTIFUL table that Michelle, the owner of The Scrappin Table, had set up for my arrival at her story!!! During my time at CHA in Anaheim I got to teach at her store using my U R My Favorite paper line. It was such a fun group of ladies!! I hope to be able to come back and teach next year!

This store was so PRETTY all decorated in pink and brown... I just loved it!
This is Michelle the owner and I in front of that adorable table she set up! I just love what she did with my products on that sweet display!!
Doghouse Diva Michelle Lanning helped me out while I was there, and I got to spend some time visiting with her and I just love her... I wish I would've had a teacher like her when I was in first grade! :) -Nikki

My CHA take

First off I just want to give out a warm welcome to the newest design team members! We are glad to have you all!

I wanted to share some of the layouts that I did for CHA - winter. I will also share a couple photos that I took while there:)

This first layout I made with the Ellie's Day Out line -- I love the colors and how girly it is - right up my alley!

I also made this little wall hanging for my good friends daughter -- I can't wait to send it to her. I think is has a shabby chic look to it.



I made this one using the Henry's Brilliance line. I find this line very versitile. I have used it for many pages other than school ones - and I love that!

I believe that's all - but I do have some photos to share -- this first one is a view (kind of) of hte NS sign.

I loved seeing everyones layouts in real life -- they are even more fabulous!

Then I got some pics with my girls Julie and Susan...(Susan posed reluctantly - hehe)

Julie was so fun to talk to - it was like we had known eachother forever -- she is a doll!!

And Ms Susan - so fun and funny! You better do your make and take quick with her - LOL!

And I was only there for a bit but I got together with Nikki to help her teach a class at my local scrapbook store -- I got to really talk with her and it was so nice - you don't often get to do that being that most our communication is over the internet.

That's it -- I wish you all a Happy Tuesday!!

Michelle Lanning

Here they are the NEW Design Team Diva's...

Susan, Hilde and I had the hardest time just picking 3 ladies, the talent out there is crazy good!! So we picked 6 instead of 3 AND added a Card and Stamping team too! (And it was still very hard to pick!)

PLEASE WELCOME THESE LADIES TO THE DOGHOUSE DIVA DESIGN TEAM...
Anna Louise Bowkis is from the UK
Norma Kennedy is from IN
Elizabeth Carney is from WA
Janis Medina-Maghinay is from the Philippines
Delaina Burns is from AL
Katrina Hunt is from MO

Here are the Card and Stamping DT Diva's as well, 5 girls in total:

Andrea Budjack is from FL (Her blog is coming soon.)
Rae Barthel is from AL
Linda Beeson is from CA
Lori Roop is from Ohio
Christine Ousley is from AL

I'm also going to start a "local team" for just ladies from my area Springfield Missouri: (To help out with fast and quick projects.)
Katrina Hunt will head up this team for me. I'd like to have around 4 total for this group. More info on this coming soon!!

So we now have 28 total girls on the DT!! Woo Hoo!! Welcome all of you!!
Because there were so many great gals to pick from we are going to ask these 10 ladies to be Guest Design Team members: (You'll be getting emails from Susan and Hilde.)
Jennifer Yates
Larissa Albernaz
Sarah De Guzman
Yuko Motoyama
Sarah Eclavea
Zoe nemburt
Monika martinson
Monique liedtke
Grace belarmino-lady grace
Kerryn lawson

Here are the Honorable Mentions:
Rhonda van Ginkel
Victoria Murray
Sandie Vincent
Yen Wuling
Martine Rjnbeek
Wendela Lam
Jessy Christopher
Nicole Stark
Nicole Pomeroy
Renata Moni Bidin
Julie Howard
Cookie Cerujano

Thanks to all of you for all your awesome work... again I can't say enough how hard it was to pick, there are so many great scrapbookers!! I'll be having a Brand New DT Call in May so keep your eyes out for that!!
Have a great week! -Nikki

PS: if you want to see all my pictures from CHA they are on my Facebook Fan Page and on my Profile page! It was great to meet so many of you in "real" life!!