Our August Designer Challenge

Wow, another month is over again. School has started for most or will be soon. This was my little guy's first time to venture into the world of "big" school. I think it was much harder for mommy than him. He was excited, and I was in tears! I also just recently got a new puppy, whom you will see in my layout below. She has already grown 3 inches and gained five more pounds since these photos. Why can't my babies stay little?!

This month, I asked the girls that wanted to participate in our monthly challenge to make anything they wanted using "My Friend Birdie" , since it is one of my favorites from the new lines.

Before I get to that I wanted to let you know who our winner is from last month's challenge, which was a sketch by Anna Bowkis (one of our fabulous designers). Our winner is Sugarscraps! I love all of the effort she made in her layout. She has distressing, sewing, hand-stitching, cardboard, and cutouts. Sugarscraps, please contact us to let us know which paper collection you would like to received as your prize. Here is her wonderful layout.

Ok, on to what the girls did this month using "My Friend Birdie".

LAYOUTS

by Jill Hildebrand

by Julie Tucker-Wolek

by Mahlin Wiggur

by Jennifer Yates

by Larissa Albernaz

by Carina Lindholm

by Susan Dupre

CARDS

by Rae Barthel

by Lea Albers
by Deana Boston

by Sarah Eclavea

Well, that's it! I hope you have found inspiration by the work of fabulous design team. Please play along for a chance to win your choice of any collection you choose by Nikki Sivils. I am going to make it a little easier for our followers to play along though. I know that not everyone has had a chance to get their hands on the newer lines. Saying that, you make anything you wish from any of Nikki's current or previous lines. Good luck! Be sure to post your work to this post for a chance to win.

Until then, happy crafting!
Susan Dupre

Summer Ends, Fall Begins...

Happy Monday everyone!  We are in the midst of winding down a beautiful summer here in Colorado.  Even though the days are still warm, the nights are slowly getting cooler, which means Fall is on its way here in the Rocky Mountains.  To celebrate this gorgeous time of year, I thought I would share a few of my projects with Nikki's gorgeous Tree Love collection.  Being a bit of a nature girl, I'd have to say that this is one of my very favorites and Nikki's fun beaver motif is about the cutest thing ever and so much fun to scrap with.

First Up...

I love these photos of my son from our camping trip over the summer.  It was a rainy day and he is wearing a circa 1970's raincoat that used to belong to his dad.  It was the perfect match for the gorgeous papers.  I love to mix Nikki's 6x6 card papers with the larger 12x12 patterns to create a variety of colors, textures and sizes.

I used Nikki's gorgeous green paper, my Cricut and a cartridge called Feeling Groovy to make the title of my layout.  I just thought my son looked so pensive in the photo that the title had to be something about his thinking.  The shadow feature on the Cricut is such a great thing to back the letters and add depth.  I pop dotted some of the letters to make them stand out a bit more.

Can you see the Lorax reference?  I just love the little beaver character and how much fun it is to add to a project.  Nikki's craft flags made the perfect protest sign for the little guy.

Next...

For my second project, I wanted to stick with the same theme.  I added a little red spray mist to warm up the color palette and to add interest to the layout.  I also used some of Nikki's awesome sticker letters along with a larger foam alphabet for the title and stuck one of her burlap buttons to finish it off.

You can see the misting in this photo and how well the sticker letters look with the larger black foam letters.  I also love her sticker journal tags and used a black gel pen to write on it.

The burlap buttons make a a great embellishment anywhere you want to arrange them.  I used these to finish of the squared look I had created with the 6x6 patterned paper.  Aren't they adorable???

Finally...

This card is meant to be a little silly with a pun on words in the sentiment, "You Should Beaver," oops I mean "Be there."  Since I love all the trees in this collection, I used my Cricut Give a Hoot cartridge to create the tree and bird on the card, then added the little beaver to finish off the look.

Hope you can feel the cool, crisp air and smokey leaves of the Rocky Mountains.

Thank you so much for stopping by -

Liz

Autumn's approaching

Leah checking in with some autumn inspiration for you today!

Can you believe it? It seems like the summer just blew by us all and is leaving without so much as a a, "good-bye!" Here at our house, we'll be starting school on Monday, and that's when it really starts to feel like Fall to me - no matter the weather outside. So, today I wanted to share a few fun ideas for Nikki's "tree love" line!

Last Fall, we took a little visit to my home state. I really enjoyed seeing Autumn's colors while we were there - living here in South Florida, we have other advantages - but don't get to enjoy the changing seasons! ^_^
The colors in this line of papers are just perfect for scrapping about Fall!






Next I put together one quick card to send fall wishes to a friend:

Have a fabulous weekend!

Falling in Love....

With the “Tree Love” line, it’s my favorite line at the moment. I have made a couple of cards using Tree Love that I would like to share with you.

I used the Mini-Pad, Cardstock Sticker Sheet and Bucky’s Cut-Ups to make these cards. The mini-pad design includes all papers from one line but in a small format, so awfully handy for making cards.

For the basis of the cards I used kraft cardstock, that fits so well with the colors of “Love Tree”. I do a lot of paper-piercing and (hand) stitching on the cards. I've also used a leather lace for a cool accent.

Another great line is blueberry hill

For this card I used the mini-pad (blue diamond). The curves are cut from the Circle die cut. The sun and the text are from the Shortcuts-up sheet what is part of the paper line.

Again using Blueberry Hill, the letters and the tab are from the matching stickersheet.

Thanks for visiting today and have a great weekend, Lea

Perfect for fall, nephews and so much more.

Hello from a local girl! I'm Stacey Atchley, member of Nikki's Local Design Team and I'm thrilled to have the chance to show you a couple of projects I've finished using some of Nikki's awesome new paper lines!

Having worked in our family scrapbook store for nearly six years now, one thing I'm constantly amazed by is the lack of papers that will fit a "boy" themed page very well. For a girl with two of the most handsome little nephews on the planet, I'm always struggling to find just the right papers to enhance the thousands of amazing pictures we have taken of them over the past five years. (Thousands is probably an understatement. If Drew & Jackson understood what the word paparazzi meant, they would probably think they were surrounded by them at most times). Lucky for me and all of you looking to create "boy" themed pages, two of Nikki's newest lines - Tree Love and My Friend Birdie - fit the bill perfectly.

"Drew and Me"

For this layout, I used papers and stickers from the My Friend Birdie line. One of my favorite additions to Nikki's collection are the tiny letter stickers. So versatile and easy to use, and most importantly...plenty of vowels! And of course, another added bonus is that the Bread{less} Tabs, Craft Flags and Canvas Buttons seamlessly tie into all of Nikki's lines!



My next layout features papers and stickers from the Tree Love line.

"Every Second Of Every Hour..."

Again, I think I've proven that I am madly in love with the tiny letter stickers! They make incorporating a large title into a small space not only easy, but eye catching. I think it's probably safe to say that this is my favorite line to date. Love the colors, love the Cut-Ups, love how easy it is to use!

With summer winding down, and autumn right around the corner, these two amazing lines can help make any of your fall projects a breeze.

Blueberry and a little Tree Love....

Hey Everyone....I just have one question...is it HOT where you are? This heat is about to get the best of me. I am a winter girl....bring on the snow!!! But before we can do that we have to celebrate Fall!

I was lucky to get to work with the Tree Love collection for CHA projects! I ADORE this line.
And the addition of the cardstock stickers and the letters is so fun!!! You get a lot of letters (big and mini!) that you can use on multiple projects. And the fun stickers too!!! So, here is one of my layouts that I did with this line....I love the color in the Fall. I might have "tweaked" the color a little in these pics, but I am not telling!!!

And that beaver?? WELL, the entire design team has decided that beaver ROCKS!!!!! I just wanna hug him....maybe we could get Nikki to do a stuffed animal out of him!?! LOL LOL
Here is a close up....and yes....that is the way I feel about summer!!! Those Craft Flags are great for picketing signs!!! hee hee


And for Blueberry Hill, I created a fun little card!!! Have you ever made an easel card?? I hadn't until this one. It is super easy and fun to do. If you would like a tutorial on it....leave a message in the comments and maybe I can get one on here if there is enough interest. It lays flat to give and then it stands on it's own, so that you can enjoy it after receiving it!!! (sorry I didn't get a pic of it flat!)


I hope I have inspired you to create some fun Nikki projects!!!! And remember, if you make something with Nikki Sivils products, you could be featured here by our Blog Hostess with the Mostest....Julie Tucker Wolek! Just make sure and let us know!!!!

Have a Scrappy Kind of Day!!~~Katrina

A Berry Happy Monday 2 You!! It is a Blueberry Hill Monday

A berry happy monday morning to all of you. I am Karen Taylor and I am so happy to be here today as a member of Nikki's Sivils Scrapbooker's design team. I am a thrilled to be a part of this wonderful and creative team.

My husband and I have been enjoying this summer so much. Savoring everything it has to offer. From riding our jet ski on the beautiful lakes of our area, talking walks in the evening downtown to trips to the farmers market to see what wonderful goodies our local farmers have grown for us. On those trips blueberrys are a favorite. And while we love them chilled fresh from the fridge to burst with coolness in our mouths.....there are also all those YUMMY recipes that I have collected. Some tried and true and some just waiting to be pulled out and mixed up for a wonderful end of summer treat. What would be a better way to showcase my wonderful collections that to make a BLUEBERRY HILL cookbook and that is what I did.

My wonderful little cookbook has little pockets to hold my recipes...so I can pull them out as needed and there is room for many more to come.


























Here is one of my favorite blueberry recipes:

Blueberry Pieces Smoothie Recipe
Blueberry Smoothie Tips
Add a handful of blueberries instead of sugar to your smoothie for a naturally sweet and very healthy drink.


This recipe allows the enjoyment of the blueberry in little pieces as well as in the smoothie itself. By adding small blueberry pieces to the finished smoothie, the fun is in eating the fruit pieces.

1/4 cup of wild blueberries
1/4 cup of wild blueberries chopped into small pieces
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 a banana
1/2 cup of ice

Directions:

Start by blending the ice, banana, honey, and unchopped blueberries on a high speed. Add the chopped blueberries into a cup before pouring the smoothie. Stir and enjoy a great fruity smoothie

I hope I have inspired you to be creative today.{...or atleast made you hungry ;) }
I am going to leave you with one last thing...a quote:

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” — Mary Lou Cook

So go have take risk, grow, make some mistakes but above all HAVE FUN!! Happy Monday to all!

**Karen**

*Showcase on YOU* :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Happy Sunday everyone!!! :):):):):):):):):):)

Julie Tucker-Wolek here with you today, and every month on Nikki's blog, I am BEYOND honored to be able to share with you cards and lo's that I have found while searching blogs and online galleries!!! I get literally soooooooooo EXCITED when I come across someone that has used Nikki's products...and I even get MORE EXCITED when I ask someone to send me their work for my posts on Nikki's blog...and they SAY YES!!!!! YAY!!!! I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee to showcase your work using Nikki's products!!! So, if you have ever made anything using at least 80% of Nikki's products, please feel free to send to me at bmwgirl@cox.net! I can not wait to showcase YOU! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

I also want to take a moment to thank the friends and fellow DT members that see Nikki's products being used out there in the world wide web...and they are sweet enough to send me an email and let me know!! Thanks girls! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Ok...so THIS MONTH...WOW!!! I have so many projects to share with you that I have found!! Sooooooooooo EXCITED about this! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

First, I have a lo from Kimberly Arledge!!! I love love love how she has used "Will He B the 1?" line!!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):) All her FAB cutout work and love love love love the way she added a photo of the restaurant up in the corner with the scalloped circle and the tickets!!! GORGEOUS Kimberly!!! :):):):):):):):):):):)

Next, I have a two page lo to share with you from Marcia Scantlin!!! She attended an event at Scrapbook Generations that Nikki was at and was lucky enough to get to play with "Blueberry Hill!" :):):):):):) I loveeeeeeeeeeeeee how she did this...she had photos of "Sunshine Valley Farms" and some YUMMY blueberries!! I loveeeeeeeeeeeee Marcia's design and all the cutout work!!!! BEAUTIFUL WORK Marcia! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Next, I have some cards to share from Carin McDonough!!! I loveeeeeeeeeee these!!! She has used Victoria's Street on her first one and Willow Bee on her second one!!! Just loveeeeeeeeeeeeee these designs and loving the way she layered the flowers on the second one!! These are JUST GORGEOUS Carin! LOVE THEM! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Next, I have a card from Rhonda Van Ginkel!!!! OMYGOSH!! I am in love with this card!! Rhonda used Willow Bee on this card...and WOW! I loveeeeeeeeee the added stick pins that are the same color as the collection, the way she folded, then layered the papers and loveeeeeeeeee the stitching! JUST GORGEOUS! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Next, I have a lo from Tina Phillips!!! She used Dan the Record Man for this lo...and I just LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE it!!! I loveeeeeeee those fun photos and love love love that title and the cutout work!! This JUST ROCKS Tina!!! (Excuse the pun there! LOL!) :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Next, I have three cards to share from Margie Cortina!! This girl has got some MAJOR stamping skills!!! I just loveeeeeeeeeeee how she has used the Willow Bee line for these cards!! I am loving HOW PERFECT her first two stamps are with this line...and just loveeeeeeeeeee the colors she added to the stamp from the Willow Bee line on her 3rd card!! These are just WOW WOW WOW Margie!! LOVE THEM! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Next, I have three lo's and an altered frame to share from Tammy Kist!!!! She used the Willow Bee line on these...and I loveeeeeeeeeeeee how they came out!!! I know my FAVE is the one where she cutout the photo of her DD's and placed the cloud paper behind it!! LOVE IT! :):):):):) Just AMAZING work Tammy! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Next, I have a lo and a mini album from Joni Parker!!!!! Eeeeeekkkk!! I loveeeeeee the mixes of paint on Joni's lo, they go PERFECT with the Flaming Butterfly papers she used and love love love love love how many different collections she used on her MINI!! LOVE IT! She used Flaming Butterfly, Henry's Brilliance and My Sweet Cherry Pie on here! I loveeeeeeeeee how they all blend together!!! LOVE THESE Joni!!! GORGEOUS! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Next, I have a card made by Alecia Harper!!!! I love love love love this card soooooooooo much!! My Sweet Cherry Pie is one of my FAVE lines from Nikki, and this is JUST the CUTEST card!! I loveeeeeeeeeee Alecia's design on this!! And how stinkin' CUTE is that sentiment!?!?!?! AMAZING work Alecia! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Next, I have a lo from Misty Willis!!!! WOW WOW WOW!!! This is AMAZING Misty! Misty used U R My Favorite on this lo!!! I loveeeeeeeeeeeee those ADORABLE photos, and love love love she created the ruffled paper look around her big circle!!! WOW! AMAZING lo Misty!! LOVE IT! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

And lastly, I have a two lo's to share from Regi Thahira!!!! Regi used My Sweet Cherry Pie and Victoria's Street on her lo's....and I loveeeeeeeeee them!!!! I love love love Regi's designs, her AMAZING layering skills and love love love love love love how she added the horseshoe on the top of her first lo!! These are JUST GORGEOUS Regi!! WOW! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

And before I head out...first I want to give a HUGE thank you to the ladies that have been kind enough to share your projects with us on here today!! I truly LOVE when I get an email with the subject saying something like..."LO using Nikki Sivils products"...SERIOUSLY love it!! I get a HUGE grin, and say "YAY!"..soooooo thanks to you that share your work with us!!! I appreciate it!!!! :):):):):):):) 

And I wanted to share a lo I have made using one of Nikki's latest lines, "Tree Love".... LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE this line!!! And hehehehehehehehe...I know the girls in this photo will probably never forgive me for this photo, as this was taken on the last day at CHA and these girls are Susan Dupre (Nikki's domestic DT leader), ME, Heather (Nikki's graphic "bee") and Lanie (Nikki's girl Friday!)...these girls were TIRED that day...and I begged for a photo...and YAY! I got one of the four of us! :):):):):):):):):):) Soooooooooooo Susan, Heather, and Lanie...I hope you might forgive me for using this photo, but I really enjoyed meeting you all and wanted to share that in my LO! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Thanks for stopping by...we appreciate it! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)