Working at the Askinosie Chocolate Factory...

Dan, Henry and I all worked at the our friend's, Shawn and Karen's chocolate factory the Saturday before Christmas. We all had a great time but ate too much chocolate, it's so good it's hard to stop!! Dan and Henry worked a few different stations and I helped with some Christmas packaging.

I made this for my sister and her baby.

I made this for my sister for Christmas! I gave it to her today and she loved it! It was so fun to make too. The wall hang is made by Maya Road, I painted it white and added all the embellishments, ribbon and pictures.

Christmas time at the Sivils...

I love Christmas and everything about the holiday! Decorating, baking, shopping, parties, Christmas movies and songs. Christmas starts at our house starts the Saturday before Thanksgiving and runs until January 2nd when I take everything down. Here are a few photos of "everything" Christmas at our house. Be Jolly.....

Happy Hanukkah...

I made this for the sweet lady who had to give this little guy up. My hubby and I have deciced to keep him, but he started out as a rescue that we were going to "fix up" and find a home for him. We've done this kind of thing many, many times but this time we fell in love with him. His name is Alfred and his mom had 5 dogs and was going to an assisted living and could only keep one of her dogs. (So that's how we got Alfred.) Then when we found out she was Jewish I made this little page to send to her for the holidays. She loved it and said it will be by far the best gift of the holiday for her. So here it is...and Welcome Alfred!!

I love Nutcrackers...

I love nutcrackers and I wanted to do a layout about my favorites. My most favorite is one that my step-son drew for me several years ago. He told me he couldn't afford to buy one so he drew one for me. I framed it and love bringing it out every year. It is my most favorite of all!

A little project I did last night....

My December To do... List!! I had an old mini note book I was using for all my Christmas to do lists and thought "I could really make a cute cover for that"... and so I did. I uncoiled the spiral wire and took the cover off and recovered it!! Now I'm all ready to go!!! Oh, and I watched a great Christmas movie while making it, which made it even more fun. Have a great day!!

A few Christmas layouts...

I've been in the Christmas spirit the last few days, watching Christmas movies, making Christmas cards for all the little ones in my family, and of course drinking hot coco!! So I wanted to share a couple of my Christmas layouts with everyone.

The 1st one of Henry I did last year, I just love it so much that I wanted to share it again. I love that it reminds me of a much younger Henry!!

The other one I just did of Willie-B; who is not with us this year. But he loved his Christmas stocking, mainly b/c it was filled with great dog treats and squeaky toys!! He'd sit on on his back legs and wait for you to give him his stocking, of which he'd stick his entire head into to get his goodies!! We'll miss you this year Willie-B! -Anyway, b/c the rest of the picture of Willie-B wasn't great I cut him out and had him sitting on the page looking up at a bird swinging instead. I like the way this layout turned out, I wasn't sure at first but loved it by the end!! -Nikki

My city...New York City!!

This picture of part of Central park was from our room. We had a great view!! The picture of Dan and I was at the Macy's Day parade, along with the Smurf balloon. And a few others from the city.

Macy's Day Parade in NYC...

The day before the Macy's Day Parade we went to watch the huge balloons get filled! Wow what a job and site that was. A dream come true for me, I've always wanted to go to this parade since I was a wee little girl. I 've watch the parade every year always wanting to go to it! We had such a great time!! I Love New York City!!!

I'm back from the Big Apple....

From the taxi ride to Grand Cental Station and Market I had the time of my life!! The food at the Grand Central Market was wonderful and I couldn't get over how beautiful it all was. Look at the BREAD!! I even loved riding the Subway...

Remember

I just finished a layout about my sweet grandparents. My "poppa" is gone now so my "nan" is the only grandparent I have left. I wanted to do a page that showed a long ago memory and a memory in my late twenties and then to date... wishing I could just sit with them both for one more dinner.

The Girls.....

This is the first time in more than 4 years that most of us could all get together! Two other girls that live out of town and state could not be here with us. We ran wild in our twenties, having a blast, we've been through weddings, divorces, babies and death of loved ones. We are now in our mid-thirties and still trying to keep up with each other which has been hard. But we've all joined Facebook and now keep up weekly with each other!! I love all of you and hope we can get together again soon. -Nikki

My Leep Year Album....

This album I made was from a class @ CKC-KC called "A peek into my week". I changed the title of my album to fit my need for a Leep Year mini album. I took pictures all day on Leep Day in February to document the day. So I had to make many changes to it, like the tap names, used with rub-ons. I love the little owls, so cute! Ali Davis taught this class and a couple of my CK MB friends, Steph and Christie took the class with me. We had a great time and enjoyed meeting Ali Davis too.

My name in CK!

I was so happy that I got recognized by one of my favorite scrapbooking magazines! Keeping fingers crossed that I'll get published soon.

This layout made it on the "Featured Projects" on CK's website...

I'm so happy that this layout I did about history being made, made it on to Creating Keepsakes Website. It's in the gallery with the title "Featured Projects"!! So cool!

My election day layout...

It doesn't matter what party you support, as women we should vote!

My journaling reads:

The first women's right to vote meeting was held in 1848. More than 70 years would pass before the Nineteenth Amendment was secured, and women voted for the first time in August of 1920. For my great-great grandmothers I proudly voted today and said a silent prayer of gratitude as I inserted my ballot into the election box.