Top 10 of 2010!

As the year 2010 winds to a close, I took a look back at some of the work I have accomplished this year.  While I know that not EVERY layout will be my favorite, I am very happy with how my work has grown over the year.  I have had the pleasure of working on several design teams this year that have pushed me to work outside my comfort zone, and for that I am so very grateful! 

I wanted to take a moment to share my top 10 favorite layouts of 2010!  I encourage all of my scrappy friends to do the same!  I can't wait to see what you see as your favorite work!

In no particular order....

Thanks so much for stopping by!  This has been a fabulous year and I can't wait to see what 2011 brings!  Wishing you all health, happiness and of course, SCRAPPINESS!

JustRite Stamps!

A Walk Down Memory Lane is featuring JustRite Stamps this month!  These stamps are different than any other stamps I've used- they have their own system of attaching to the stamp base and their circular patterns are really fun to use and work great for altering gifts!  The Christmas Set was exactly what I needed for putting the finishing touches on some gifts that I made to give away this year!

As this month's featured manufacturer, you get 25% off JustRite Stamps for the whole month of December!  And, don't forget that The Girls' Paperie is December's other featured manufacurer so you can enjoy the 25% savings on all of their in stock products, as well!  Have fun!

It's Game Time!!!

My kids LOVE to play board games!  Life, Monopoly, Cards- Anything!!  When I saw this paper from Scrappin' Sports & More, I knew it would be perfect!  It's from their "Young and Active" line and it's all about Board Games!  The fun, primary colors make it so "kid friendly."  The front side of the paper is the "game board" and the back side has all of the "cards."  I cut the cards out to make a nice little hand of cards to use as an embellishment.  I also cut out the dice and popped them with some foam tape, and the blue deck of cards, as well!  The rub-ons are fabulous, too!  Such great colors!!  I love how this layout came out!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Wholly Scrappin'!

I want to share with you the work that I for Wholly Scrap! this month!  I had a blast playing with Fancy Pants and TCP papers!  And, you can see these layouts up close and in person hanging in the store in North Hampton, NH- stop on by!

This layout was inspired by Fancy Pants DT Member, Seppa Gubler.  I love how these colors work with the black and white photos!  Red and Green doesn't always have to be for Christmas!

These TCP papers made it so fun and easy to scrap my anual "playing in the leaves" photos!  The papers have a really cool irridescent sheen to them that is unlike anything I've worked with before.  The photos really don't do it justice!  This is created using a sketch by Kim Holmes.

TCP has some FUN new lines out- a great school line and a super-cute cooking line. Run to Wholly Scrap! in North Hampton, NH and check them out in person!

Thanks for stopping by!!

It's beginning to look a lot like.....

...CHRISTMAS!!!  What else??!!  It's the first of the month and I have the pleasure of sharing some new work with you!  In this post, I'll share with you the work I did with the first of this month's featured manufacturer's at A Walk Down Memory Lane.  This month we get to play with goodies from The Girls' Paperie!  I played with their brand new Tinsel & Twig line.  It's so pretty and so versatile!!  It can fit clean, simple designs, vintage designs and looks beautiful with all kinds of distressing, too!

The first layout also features this months featured layout sketch at My Sketch World.  Be sure to stop by over there to check out the sketch and what the rest of the DT did with it!

This one features the same line of paper with some distressing and lots of stitching!

And, Christmas isn't complete with out a card, or two!  This one features this month's featured Card Sektch from My Sketch World!

Be sure to stop by A Walk Down Memory Lane to check out the 12 Days of Christmas!!  It's 12 Days of Holiday Tutorials by the design team, and a new sale each day, too!  And, don't forget that, as this month's featured manufacturer, The Girls' Paperie is 25% off for the whole month of December.  We will be featuring Just Rite Stamps, as well!  Check them out and get 25% off all month, as well!

I hope that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas where you are, too!  Thanks for stopping by!

Be Thankful...

I came across this poem online and I thought that it was an incredible lesson for my children on the simple things in life that they should be thankful for- things that they might not always remember to be thankful for. I paired it with this great photo of them together and these beautiful papers from Scrappin' Sports & More and this layout came together. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

SS&M Products Used:
#1095- Young & Active in the Back Yard: Tire Swing
#1321- Sports Head On: Bowling

The Quest for Perfection

This layout is from this summer and was published in and issue of Scrapbook News & Review.  I have a bit of an "issue" with marshmallow toasting- it HAS to be perfect.  And, the addition of a fire pit to our back yard this summer only allowed me to practice more, NOT to lower my standards!  So, in this one last rememberance of summer (since it's supposted to SNOW this week!), let us just admire some Marshmallow Perfection! 

If you would like to be pubslished in Scrapbook News & Review Magazine, check out the calls for the January issue HERE and submit!  SNR is a fabulous online publication that is chock full of inspiration!  Check it out!!

Thanks for stopping by!

I've got Sunshine!

June 2009 was the wettest month I have ever lived through! We spent the first three weeks of summer vacation looking out the window at the rain and wishing we could go out and play. One day, I gave the kids the OK to put on their ponchos and go out and play in the rain! They splashed and sloshed and laughed and played until they were soaked through and had a BLAST! Mother Nature might have made it wet and soggy outside, but we weren't going to let it dampen our spirits!
I got this wonderful photo of my kids that day, and I have been waiting for just the right opportunity to scrap it. Scrappin' Sports & More's August Calendar paper is PERFECT for this layout! Check out the super cute SUNS on the background paper!

Products Used:
#1286 -Calendars Made Easy- August

Thanks so much for stopping by today. If you have made any projects with the Calendars Made Easy papers, feel free to leave a comment linking us to your blog! We'd love to see them!!

One Fall Day....

As I looked out on my yard that desperately needs to be raked- it made me think of this photo.  My daughter thinks that playing in the leaves is WAY more fun than raking them!  She's got the right idea!!

I created this LO using a sketch by Pamela Young at Scrapbook Challenges.  We are featuring Pamela's sketches on the AWDML forum this week.  We post daily questions, challenges and sketches and if you are missing it- you are missing a LOT! 

I loved working with the Bella Blvd. "One Fall Day" papers for this, as well.  And, the name of the paper inspired the title.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~~Nicole~~

From this moment....

Drum roll......  Here is the other layout that I created for display at Wholly Scrap in North Hampton, NH this month.  The papers from Creative Imaginations are gorgeous and I am so pleased with how this layout came out!  The rolled cardstock roses were made using my Nestibilities dies and are so pretty!  It's hard to believe it's been over eleven years since this photo was taken!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Feel free to swing by the Wholly Scrap store to see this layout up close and in person....oh, and have a little fun shopping while you are there- there are SO many goodies!!!

A new Sketch AND a new Design Team!

Today I get to share with you the November sketches from My Sketch World AND spill the beans on a new Design Team position that I am super excited about!

I used some fabulous Basic Grey prodcuts from Wholly Scrap in North Hampton, NH to create this layout using the November Sketch from My Sketch World.  Aren't the colors just gorgeous?  And, of course the sweet baby girl couldn't get any cuter!  She is my friend's little girl and she is just a doll!  Wholly Scrap carries the Bo Bunny Double-Dot cardstock that I LOVE, too!  And, it works perfectly with the Basic Grey paper!  Of course, Lucy's sketch made this LO come together just beautifully.  And, since I am now on the Design Team at Wholly Scrap (*happy dance*) you can see this layout live and in person hanging in their store!  Check out their website to get directions on how to get there!  It's a great store full of goodies and they teach quite a few great classes there, too!

My Sketch World features a layout AND a card sketch on the first of the month.  I know it's after Halloween, but this card was so fun to make with Echo Park's Halloween line!  Check it out:

I'll be back in a few days to share my other layout that is now on display at Wholly Scrap.  It's so pretty it deserves it's own post!  Hee hee!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy November!!

I love the 1st of the month because I have so much fun stuff to share with you!!  Today I want to share with you my fun work using Karen Foster Designs, this month's featured manufacturer at A Walk Down Memory Lane.  Karen Foster Designs has tons of different themed papers to choose from, and they are anything from tooth fairy to football and birthdays to calendar papers.  And, she has several kits all put together. 

I used the "Tooth Fairy Line" to create this layout about my sweet baby boy losing his front tooth.

I made a simple set of cards with the Birthday Bash kit:

And, I made this layout about Colby and his special, surprise birthday balloons!  They were from the "Birthday Fairy!"  We don't have ANY idea who it was....was it YOU??!!!

All in stock Karen Foster Designs products are 25% off for the whole month of November at AWDML!  Happy shopping!!

Happy Halloween!!

Here's to hoping that your Halloween is full of more Treats than Tricks!  I wanted to share with you some fun treat boxes that I made for the Halloween Spooktacular Newsletter event at Scrapbook News & Review.  They were super fun and pretty easy to make.  The basic box can be used for any holiday or event.

Speaking of Scrapbook News & Review, they are still taking submissions for their Holiday Sampler issue.  Click HERE to check out the calls and SUBMIT!!  SNR is a fabulous online magazine and I'm honored to be on their staff!

Thanks for stopping by!  Come back soon!

Fun Fall Layouts!

There's something about scrapping fall layouts that just makes me smile- apple picking, pumpkin carving, soccer and Halloween!  They are all so fun!  Here are two layouts that I have recently created with those fun fall themes!

"Fall Harvest" features a sketch by Becky Fleck and some fabulous Imaginisce Apple Cider Papers!

"Goal Keeper" features a fabulous Inspiration Team Sketch by Lucy Chesna at My Sketch World and the super cool soccer papers from Scrappin' Sports & More!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you come back soon!

BOO!

It's time to start thinking about Halloween and I was in that kind of mood when I worked on Lucy Chesna's card sketch for the "Inspiration Station" at My Sketch World.  The Inspiration Station is when we take one of Lucy's sketch and use it a little differently by turning it, adding elements, subtracting elements, etc.  The sketch for this card is based on the October 1st card sketch and then rotated to the right.  You can see some more ideas to do with Lucy's sketches on her blog and the MSW Forum.

Here's my card:

I'm loving the new Halloween line from Echo Park!  It's so much fun!  Thanks for stopping by!  Come back soon!

Going Card Crazy!!

I have been having some fun making some cards lately!  Woodware USA Stamps are the featured stamp manufacturer at AWDML this month.  I got to play with thier  "School Tots" set and my Copic Markers!  I am by no means a pro at this Copic thing, but I'm getting there!

This card was created for Scrappin' Sports & More.  I was inspired by a challenge that my good friend Suzann had posted at My Sketch World.  I painted some white cardstock with red paint, dried it with my heat gun and then ran it through an embosser.  Then, I sanded some of the paint off so that the embosssed design "popped" out.  I finished it with some of the December Calendars Made Easy papers from Scrappin' Sports & More and I had a finished card that would be very easy to reproduce for Christmas cards!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I have really enjoyed watching my new Feejit gadget on my blog and seeing where my vistors are from- both NEAR and FAR!  I'm so glad you all are visiting me, and I hope you are finding some inspiration!  Come back soon!

Totally Tubluar TV Crop!!

Check out the Totally Tubular TV Crop at A Walk Down Memory Lane this weekend!  There's lots of great challenges, games and PRIZES!!!  The fun is underway and it's only happening until Monday night, so hurry over and join in! 

Bask-n-Glow...

...in your own Scrappy glory!!!

A Walk Down Memory Lane is hosting the “Bask-N-Glow” contest. The message board has been re-organized and we are starting fun new daily challenges and activities.  And we wanted to have a contest for you to help celebrate with us. The prize is a MME prize package AND a store gift certificate!!

How do you participate? We want you to Bask-n-glow in your own creative glory!  This contest involves you posting your favorite 3 layouts or projects (or more) in our gallery and have some fun participating on our forum over a 2 week period. To get all the details, get on over to AWDML, register and then jump right in. The contest starts October 1st and runs through October 15th . Looking forward to seeing all there!

Inspiration Station!!

Lucy has a FUN new team at My Sketch World called the "Inspiration Team!"  This team is devoted to playing with Lucy's sketches in new and different ways.  My assignment for Septemeber was to take the September 1st sketch and rotate it to the right.  Other team members have different assignments such as rotating it left, adding or subtracting photos and elements, etc.  Keep your eye on the MSW blog and the MSW forum for all the details on what the Inspiration Team is up to!

Here is my take on the Septemer Layout Sketch rotated to the right:

And here is my take on the September Card Sketch rotated to the right:

Thanks for stopping by!!

It's All About the Numbers...

Scrappin' Sports & More is hosting a sketch challenge this month on their blog!  The beautiful and wonderfully talented Lucy Chesna created the sketch for us and it's a GREAT one!  It's so versatile and just perfect for use with the SS&M Papers.  Check out the sketch and the details of the contest HERE.

Here is the layout that I created to go with the sketch.  I changed it to one photo (instead of two), and flip-flopped a few of the elements to work with my photo and came up with a layout that I'm really happy with.  And, more importantly to me, my son is just thrilled with it!

SS&M Products Used:
#1330-Sports Head On- Soccer (soccer balls)
#1329- Sports Head On- Racing (white/gray)
#1336-Sports Head On- Wrestling (black/gray)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope that you will come again, soon!

Masking Madness!!

The design team at A Walk Down Memory Lane is offering tips and techniques related to masking on the DT Blog every Tuesday this month.  I shared the technique whereby you put down non-dimensional (flat) alpha stickers and then rub ink over them with a make-up sponge or other blending tool.  Then, simply peel up your stickers and viola!  You have a fun new look to your project!  I used this masking technique both in the title and journaling of my layout!  Here it is....

Life is Good:

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Graphic 45 Contest at AWDML!!

Check out the A Walk Down Memory Lane Design Team Blog for all of the details of a contest sponsored by Graphic 45!  All you have to do is create a layout using 60% Graphic 45 products, share it on your blog and link your blog post to the Mr. Linky on the AWDML DT Blog all by midnight on September 30th.  Be sure to check out all of the details HERE!

Oh, and don't forget that all Graphic 45 products are 25% off for the whole month of September at A Walk Down Memory Lane!  Have fun!!

Anyone who knows me will hit the floor when I announce that I MADE A MINI ALBUM! There are those that never thought they'd see the day! But, I did it and I almost dare to say that I am hooked! I saw the cutest chipboard album that was in the shape of a baseball cap at a local scrapbook store's going out of business sale. ( So sad to see another LSS close... ) When I saw the album, it screamed "Scrappin' Sports and More" at me! So, I printed out the photos of my son's tee ball season, covered the pages mostly with the new "Sports Head On" papers, added some Scrappin' Sports and More Cardstock Stickers, added a few captions and a little bit-o-journaling and BAM- I actually did it! So, here you go!
(You can click on each page to see it bigger!)

The Cover:

Pages 1 and 2:

Pages 3 and 4:

Pages 5 and 6:

Pages 7 and 8:

Back Cover:

Scrappin' Sports and More Products Used:
#1335 Sports Head On- Watersports (blue)
#1336 Sports Head On- Wrestling (black/gray)
#1320 Sports Head On- Basketball (brown)
#1325 Sports Head On- Golf (green)
#5526 Cardstock Stickers Baseballs
#1175 Defining the Game- Competition (stars)
#1005 Defining the Game- Baseball (words)

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my album!  Come back again soon!

Sharing some Scrappy Fun!

Just getting caught up today with some fun projects that I haven't shared here yet!

First up is this super fun layout that was in the Sketch section of the July issue of Scrapbook News and Review.  The Cosmo Cricket paper worked PERFECTLY for it and I LOVE how this one turned out.

These next two were created for the "Cramfest" crop at Scrapbook Deals 4U (which has JUST become Scrapbook Dasies) .  The challenges were pretty hard, but I was pretty happy with what I came up with. 

In Your Eyes:

And this one was also used for the "Z" challenge at the My Sketch World ABC Crop.  Z was for Zebra and the challenge was to create a layout using only black, white and one other color.

Fun in the Pool:

This one was also done for SNR in the July Issue and was for one of the sketches:

Splash Zone:

And the last one was also for SNR (I think way back in June) and I don't even remember what the call was.  I told ya I had to get chaught up!  LOL!

Makin' A Splash:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you will come again soon!