2010 Resolutions anyone???

As I get ready to bid farewell to 2009, I'm looking ahead to 2010. What will it bring??? I usually make the same New Year's Resolutions over and over ~ lose weight, exercise, and diet. Really!?! I've come to accept my cellulite. I would rather do anything than run on a treadmill. And the thought of rice cakes...oh, you get my point. So in 2010, I'm going to set some more realistic goals for myself. And if I put them out there for you all to see, then you can check up on me throughout the year...So here I go...
1. Post regularly on my blog. Why have a blog if I don't post on it? The cards might be simple and easy to produce, but that's ok sometimes.
2. Try a new quilt pattern. My good friend Susan knows how much I love Lightning Fast pattern. In fact, I've made so many Lightning Fast quilts, I don't even use the pattern anymore. I need to expand on my quilting comfort zone.
3. Try one new recipe per week. I don't know about you, but I am so tired of making the same dinners week after week. I just signed up with www.allrecipes.com to receive a new recipe per day. I'll pass along the good ones!!
4. Use old stamp sets. I'm sure you can empathise with this one. I have so many stamps sets, yet I feel like I use the same ones over and over again. While the older sets collect dust and get neglected.
5. (try to) stop hoarding my stamping supplies. How many of you have the prettiest ribbon sitting on a spool? I do! I bought a Hodgepodge Hardware set over a year ago, and I think I've only used 5 items from it so far. Why? Because they're too pretty to part with. Geez!! The more I use, the more I can buy... :)

So there you go...My 2010 resolutions. What are yours???

I finally did it...

I finally sat down and set up an Etsy Store. I still have some work to do on it to make it "prettier", but atleast it's set up! Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/simplynic . So far I have some tulip bags and a set of cards posted. Hoping to post more handmade goodies asap.

Snowman Thanks

Merry Belated Christmas and Happy Early New Year to those of you who still follow my blog!! Sorry that I've been a non-blogger for so long. Tis the season! :) I promise to make an effort to be a better blogger in 2010!

Bella and Gianna got some great Christmas gifts from family and friends, so I decided to make some special thank you's to send out. So I turned to my snowman stamp. Love this chubby guy. Easy card to mass produce. Now I need to find a way to keep Bella still long enough to sign her name to all of these! **sorry for the side ways pic - I'm computer challenged, and can't figure out how to change it! **

Recipe:

Stamp: Simple Seasonal Thanks

Paper: WW, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay

Ink: BB

Other: In color markers, 2 way glue pen, dazzling diamonds

Need an easy project???

I have one for you! I can't take any credit for this. It came directly from http://danniesdesigns.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/06/note-card-holde.html?cid=117743864 . I saw a few of these on SCS, and I thought I would give it a try. Oh, how easy! I made 8 of them for teachers, friends, and relatives. I would much rather make several easy projects than 1 difficult one. My simple mind can only handle so much at one time! :) Each holder contains 4 envelopes and 4 monogrammed note cards (postcard style). I'll definately make more of these.

RECIPE:
STAMPS: Fresh Cuts (flower on envelope), Brushstroke Alphabet

INK: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

PAPER: Rich Razzleberry, WW, Old Olive, Cottage Wall DSP

OTHER: Old Olive (from Mistletoe Ribbon Originals), WW satin, circle punches, brads

More Tulip Bags...

Here are 2 more recently created tulip bags. I made one for a close friend who helped me out a lot this fall - pink and green are her colors. And the red one is for my sister in law, who purchased several hundred cards from me for her clients this past year. I filled her bag with a nugget tin, coffee, and note cards. Hope they enjoy their new bags! :)

Yummy Nugget Tins

Tis the season for creating like a mad-woman! I mean that in the nicest way possible! :) I decided to make some nugget tins for teachers, friends and relatives. The tins and stamp set are from Papertrey Ink. Very easy project. Isn't that ribbon yummy!?!

RECIPE:

STAMPS: Holiday Treats (PTI)

INK: Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze

PAPER: Avery Labels

OTHER: Nugget Tins (PTI), choc chip satin ribbon, Hershey nuggets

Preschool Thanksgiving Treats

I cased these adorable bags from splitcoaststampers. They were easy to make. My daughter was so excited to give them to all of her friends in her preschool class. Inside the bags are foam stickers which I found at the dollar store. I spent less than $5 to make 14 bags. Works for me!

RECIPE:

STAMPS: Best Yet

PAPER: choc chip, pumpkin pie, ruby red

INK: choc chip

ACCESS: SU med clear bags, scallop circle punch, lg oval punch, 5 petal flower punch, googlie eyes, misc ribbon, top not die

Teacher Gift

My sister in law asked me to make 15 gifts for her childrens' teachers, coaches, bus drivers, etc. So I decided to use one of Lauren Meader's My Timeless Templates - Get a Handle on It. I think they turned out cute. I also made a coordinating 3x3 holiday card to go with each box for the kids to sign. The boxes were filled with chocolates and caramels. Yumm! :)

RECIPE:

STAMP: Dasher (love that lil reindeer!)

PAPER: vanilla, old olive, merry moments dsp, choc chip, real red

INK: choc chip, real red

ACCESS: square nesties, oval punch for handles, circle punches and scalloped cirale punch for card

Lightning McQueen Cake

So of you may know that Bella is obsessed with Lightning McQueen , from Cars. So for her preschool birthday party today, I decided to surprise her with a Lightning cake. I baked the cake, and Chris decorated it. I think it turned out pretty good! The kids ate it all up, not even leaving a taste for the teachers.

Happy Birthday, Bella!

Today, my "baby" turns 4. Where has time gone? When we brought Bella home from the hospital at a teeny 5 lb 8 oz, we never thought she would grow out of her preemie clothing. Now, almost over night it seems, she is so grown up. She is such a joy and blessing in my life. She is my crafting side kick - always eager to help with whatever crafting projects I'm doing. She is funny and imaginative. She is the best big sister.

Here's to you, Bella...Happy Birthday!! I love you with all my heart!!

Easy Peasy Christmas Cards

Here are 2 more Christmas cards that I made for craft shows. I am selling them in sets of 8. They were easy to mass produce.

STAMPS: Delightful Decorations, Snow Swirled

INK: Real Red, Bashful Blue, Going Grey, Bordering Blue

PAPER: Same as above, ww,

ACCESS: Petals a Plenty embossing folder, silver elastic cording, diamond stickles, rhinestones, ornament punch

Christmas Top Note Bag

I guess you can tell how much I love to make these top note bags. They are so easy to mass produce. And I am the queen of mass production. I hate making just one of something. If I'm making a mess with paper, ink, and stamps, I may as well make it worth while and stock up!! :)

STAMPS: Delightful Decorations

INK: Real Red

PAPER: Merry Moments DSP

ACCESS: Choc Chip ribbon, Top Note Die, Ornament Punch

More Craft Show Creations...

Long time, No blogging...I'm still here, still crafting away! My crafting "to do" list is a mile long from now utnil Christmas. I wanted to share a few of my newest creations for upcoming craft shows that I am participating in...

The card above is my favorite creation, as of late. It's so much prettier in real life. My camera skills are lacking...

STAMPS: Snow Swirled, Four the Holidays

INK: Rich Razzleberry, Mellow Moss

PAPER: Same as ink, vanilla

ACCESS: corner rounder punch, magenta stickles, rich razzleberry ribbon, misc hodgepodge

My First Digital Page with MDS

Today I decided to put down the fabric, paper, and scissors. After seeing so many great My Digital Studio (MDS) pages on various blogs, I decided to give it a try. I have been digital scrapbooking for over 3 years now, with different software. Since I am so hooked on Stampin Up (with everything so match-y match-y), I had to have this new software. Let me tell you, I am addicted. I was like a kid in a candy shop - picking out ribbon, paper, and stamps (oh my!). So this page will be the first page of our 2009 book. Every Christmas for the past 3 years, I have made a digital scrapbook to give to close family members. It's kind of like a "year in review". This scrapbook will definately be the best to date. This page is very simple, so I will probably add to it. And guess what!?! My craft room is neat and clean - no mess to clean up with digital scrapbooking!

Have a good weekend!

~Nic~

Brag Books...

Did you know that there are some NEW Cuttlebug folders out? You all know how addicted I am to embossing folders. (step one is admitting you have a problem...) So I used 2 of the new folders to help make some brag books. I used the Top Note Die to cut all of the card stock, and then the new folders for the covers. What a perfect way to hold precious baby pictures.

Top Note Purses

Check out this cute Top Note Purse that I made. How cute is that!?!

Craft Show Creations...

Here are some goodies that I made for upcoming craft shows that I am participating in. They are CASE'D from various blogs and from splitcoaststampers.

Making 450 of these...

Yes, you read correctly - 450! I've been making birthday cards for my sister-in-law's clients since February. So, she asked if I would make some Christmas cards as well. Without hesitation, I eagerly said YES! So here you go...The easiest, most "elementary" Christmas card you will ever see. I think my 3 year old could make this card. In order for me to make 450 cards, I had to keep them simple. No punches, ribbon, layers, etc. Here ya go...Whatcha think!?! I'm doing 150 in each color - Real Red, Old Olive, and Not Quite Navy.

Ribbons for Causes

Here are 2 cards that I made using Stampin Up's Ribbon of Hope stamp. I love how versatile this stamp can be. Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I decided to make a pink ribbon card. The inside reads "Thinking of you...please know that I care". And the yellow ribbon card is for a cause so near and dear to my heart, supporting our troops. As you may already know, my brother is a firefighter in the Air Force, and is currently stationed in Germany, along with his wife. They will be there for atleast the next 2 1/2 years. I miss them both so much. He's my only sibling, and we've been so close our whole lives. Hopefully we'll be able to make a trip over to Germany before their time there is over.

Card Recipes:

STAMPS: Ribbon of Hope, Service and Sacrifice

PAPER: WW, Sweet Blush and Berry Sorbet (PTI), Real Red, Brilliant Blue

INK: Sweet Blush, Summer Sun, Brilliant Blue

OTHER: oval nesties, cuttlebug embossing folder, ww organza ribbon, lg oval punch, read red and ww grosgrain ribbons

Tulips in October!?!

Oh I wish! October is here, and autumn is in the air. Since there are no tulips blooming in my garden, I thought I'd make some "tulip" bags instead. Yes, I'm officially hooked on these bags. They are so easy to make, don't require much fabric, and they are reversible. I made 3 today - while Bella was at school and during nap time. I especially love the snowman bag. So cheery and festive. Bella put in a request for a Halloween bag for trick-or-treating. Guess I'll be making a trip to Thimble Pleasures for more fabric...Don't you just *hate* when that happens!?! For me, picking out fabric is just as much fun as making the bag or quilt.

Tulip Bag for Hannah

I've been busy in my craft room this week! I'm getting ready for my first craft show this weekend. So much to do, so little time! Here is my 2nd tulip bag. I made it for my friend's daughter, Hannah, who is turning 3. I filled it with some board books. Hope she enjoys it!

Christmas Advent Quilt

This is the easiest quilt ever to make. Just sew some buttons on, do some hand-tying for the actual quilting, the quilt is pretty much done. Can't wait to hang it up December 1st! Bella will love moving the ornament on it each day.

Quilt #2 for this month...

Here is another quilt I made this month. This one uses a jelly roll. Jelly rolls make quilting so easy. The fabric is already cut into 2.5" strips, and all of the fabrics coordinate. The fabric has a nautical theme to it - not too girly!

Purple Batik Quilt

My best friend, Susan, calls me crazy for making so many quilts. Maybe she's right. I just finished my 3rd quilt this month. Granted they are easy to make. These are all Christmas gifts for various family members. Hope they enjoy them! This first one uses various shades of purple batik fabric. I used my favorite pattern ever, Lightning Fast, by Karen West.

My First Tulip Bag

I recently took a sewing class to learn how to make this Tulip Bag. It was so fun and so easy to make. I can't wait to make more for holiday gifts! Everyone who knows me, knows how much I love bags, purses, etc.

Flamingo Anniversary

My parents recently celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. They live in FL, so I had to make them a card with these cute flamingos.

RECIPE:

STAMPS: Look Who's Turning

PAPER: whisper white, regal rose, choc chip, Always DSP

ACCESSORIES: flower fusion, ticket corner punch

Prega-Friend Card...

One of my friends is expecting her first baby in November. So I made her this card to go with her baby shower gifts.

RECIPE:

STAMPS: Pregabella (by Stamping Bella)

PAPER: whisper white, regal rose, choc chip, Always DSP (retired)

ACCESSORIES: scalloped edge punch, ticket corner punch, rose ribbon, pumpkin pie ribbon, Copics

Welcome to my crafting blog!

I am very excited to venture into the world of blogging. Starting my very own blog has been on my "To Do" list for quite a while. A little about myself...I am a wife, mom, and nurse. In my spare time, I love to escape to my craft room and create. Create what, you might ask? Anything and everything. My passion for crafting started about 8 years ago when I made a scrapbook for a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law. Fast forward to 2006, I joined a stamp club. And the rest is history. I quickly became addicted to card-making. Through stamp club, I have met some of the greatest friends a girl could ask for. One of those stamping friends introduced me to the world of quilting. I was skeptical at first, considering I couldn't sew a button on. Long story short, my crafting time gets divided between paper and fabric!! Please join me on my blogging journey as I share with you my craft room creations...