Been Too Long!!!

It's been way too long since I have been on here.  The last 2 weeks were the longest EVER!  At work everyone was on vacation, except 3 of us.  I ended up working extra days, my house got messier and messier.  Worked some more, messier.   You get the picture.  The only day off I had, I  spent cleaning the house instead of working on anything!  Infact the last 3 days off have been spent deeply cleaning my house.  But all is sparkling like new for the next few days, or atleast till tomorrow when Skyler is playing with toys everywhere, and the dog is chewing things up.  My kitchen feels like a beach with purple sand constantly on the floor daily, with she AND the dog getting into the sand box...  I should have known!  If it doesn't stop raining anytime soon my blooming grass won't get mowed.  Then today I found out that the only mower (which I have been borrowing from my parents) is now broken, even after I fixed it 3 weeks ago.  Sigh. 

I did however get a few tiny things done on my one day off, at the sacrifice of a few dust bunnies... 

This is number 5 in my quest to get a set of six October Afternoon cards designed for kits/classes.

I really just CAN"T resist using these little girls for my card.  How cute is she holding those balloons!

This card was ALOT of fun to make.  I created a funky background using a Hero Arts Stamp(make your own). Before stamping my background on watercolor paper, I sprayed it a few times with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists(electric blue), and used inks to give it a distressed look   I then stamped the image 3 times.  Once on  the watercolor paper, once on cream cardstock, and once on each of the patterned papers used for the ladies clothing.  I then cut out the ladies and their clothes and got to play paper dolls.  How old am I again?  I added the bees for fun, using Pink Paislee(Queen Bee) stamps.  They seemed to add a little funkiness to the background, just the way I like it!  I also created another handmade flower for this card, once I got started making them I just can't stop. 

I created another variation to this card, my boyfriend and I were joking around with ideas to make a whole set with different outfits, saying different things with the B in the title.  This one is Honey B.  Don't ask me?  But I love how it turned out! 

I really love the blue houndstooth skirt suit and lime green dress in this one.  The background is more psychodelic than vintage, making the purple strip of paper pop well set on the dark plum.  And I just love these metal index frames from Tim Holtz.  It added the perfect accent to tie this card together.  

Last of all recently Jill Haglund was visiting a store to teach here in our area.  A few of my students took her classes (I couldn't go I had to work all weekend), but just happened to take some of my designs  they had made in my classes without me knowing.  A few weeks after attending her classes, one of my co-workers tells me that they showed her my stuff and she loved it.  I don't know why I was the last to know, but I was very excited to get the news.  After finding out more from my student, I contacted Jill about sending her some of my designs.  She replied and said send away!  I was pumped, so I sent her my alice card,Wonderland shadow box, and whipped up a few bird tags using her clipart.  Later that evening I received a most pleasant reply.  She loved my stuff!  She asked if she could post my designs on her blog, and if I sent a bio and headshot she would put it on her blog aswell!!!  AWESOME   And on top of all the excitement she is sending me some supplies to better expand my artistic expression, and to keep creating with their designs for future posts on their blog!!  I was definately doin the happy dance! 

So after all that, here are the bird tags I sent her, they turned out so cute. 

There is just something about birds wearing hats and crowns that is so adorable.  I'd like to thank my mom for saving me alot of time by giving me some pre tea dyed tags she'd made a few months back, I put them to great use! 

Don't forget to check out my upcoming debut on http://tweetyjill.wordpress.com/

, and keep up here on all my newest creations.  Till next time, have a great weekend!

Nicki Chicky

Good Day Sunshine

Today was a gorgeous day, Skye and I decided to go hiking with our dog on the trails right next to our house.  I was a little worried about mud with the recent rains, but the trails were perfect.  She was a little trooper, we walked for an hour.  Along the whole way she kept tickling flowers, and telling them we would come back to pick them another day.  We stopped and listened to the waterfall, laughed and talked about the trees and birds.  When we came back we made some chocolate chip cookies.  It was a wonderful day off, and can't wait for more sunny days ahead. 

Yesterday was our third Wannabe Wednesday at Simply Scrapbooks.  The turn out was great.  Valerie made us some delicious brownies, and we had fun chatting while we made these super cute ATC cards.  Originally we were going to make 6 ATC cards, 3 from Val, 3 from me, but at the last minute my boss decided to change it to just 3 cards.  Which worked out well, honestly I think had we made 6 cards noone would have gotten them all done.  So here are a few pics of what we made lastnight, the cards were all designed by Valerie.  Thanks to all who came out and attended, it was a blast!

I have been working hard on a wedding layout for a friend.  Yesterday I only had a few hours before work, so instead of working on the layout I made a few cards with my stash of October Afternoon papers.  These were created using a mix of Thrift Shop, and Fly A Kite.  They turned out super cute, and I just love them!

I just love how they use cute images of children in this line.  I couldn't resist using them for my cards.  They are so retro and fun. 

When I saw this little girl I said to myself, what can I make her look like she is doing with her hands?  That's when I remembered the awesome dress form stamp I owned by Crafty Secrets.  I stamped the image once and cut it out.  Then stamped the image again on patterned paper, cutting only the bodice out.  I then pop dotted them together, gathering crepe paper and adhering it between the layers for the skirt.  I added a Tim Holtz flower for a corsage, alcohol inked with a soft pink.  I just love love love this card!

Originally I wanted this card to say have a picture perfect day.  Which would have been perfect, but I wouldn't have had much room to do it unless I stamped it.  So I decided to go another route and use their happy memories sticker in combination with the camera.  The combination of red, blue and black is just so retro.  I cut the red doily out of their patterned paper, making the perfect background for the camera.  October Afternoon papers are just way too fun to play with.  There will be more to come, hoping to make this a full set of six, including a card from one of my previous posts...

That's it for today, need to get some rest, will be working till midnight tomorrow. 

Till next time, Enjoy those sunny skys!

Nicki Chicky

National Scrapbooking Day

Just got home from working the National Scrapbooking Day Crop.  It was a 16 hr crop, ending at 2 am.  We had all kinds of games, tons of food and movies.  I think everyone had a great time.  Got to see lots of great projects everyone was working on.  So many talented scrappers out there.  So on that note, Happy National Scrapbooking day!!  Hope everyone got to spend a little time scrapping it up and enjoying their creative time. 

This week is gonna be a little crazy.  Alot of the employees at work are on vacation, so I am working alot more hours.  (Just keep telling yourself the money is good)  But I sure would like to be one of them on vacation.  Sigh!  One of these days... Tuesday is my regular make and take night.  Work all day Wednesday, and that evening is Wannabe Wednesday(stay tuned for pics from me and Val), we are creating six cute ATC cards using the new October Afternoon Thrift Shop line.  Thursday is my one day to work on and finish a custom layout for someone.  Also need to finish up my cards using that new October Afternoon paper.  And then some Father's day cards, and on to Halloween and Christmas for my Etsy site.  Gee I feel worn out just talking about it.  On top of it all I am still yearning to create some altered art.  Maybe next week...  Well here are a few cards I had created for my Tuesday make and takes from the last 2 weeks. 

This card was from 2 weeks ago (I know I am a little behind).  We used some new Lillybee Designs paper and some Hero Art Stamps. 

Technique:  For this card  stamp and emboss the image of the flower with white embossing powder, onto watercolor paper.  Then use Distress inks on a blending tool and rub inks over the embossed image.  After you have inked to desired look,  spray the card with a mixture of water, and perfect pearls powder in a Mini Mister.  Since it was on watercolor paper it soaked in, and sorta bled together giving it a really cool washed vintage look.  With the perfect pearls added it also gave it a really wonderful sparkle and shine.  Super Easy, Super Fun! 

This card was from last week.  I simply love it.  We used  2 hero art stamps(dandelion frame,on mother's day), and a really beautiful frame from Savvy Stamps(love frame).  The paper we used was an older October Afternoon line.  I just thought that black and white crossword puzzle was so cute! 

Technique:  To create the flowers cut random shapes with Spellbinder dies ( we used scalloped circles and flower shapes of varying sizes, 3 for the large, 2 for the small).  After they are cut  lay them all out and give them one little squirt with some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.  While they are wet crumple them into balls( this helps to break down the fibers in the paper, making them more flexible).  After crumpling,  open them back up, and fold them in half (colored sides in) and give them a quick little twist on the bottom.  After twisting them, hold the twisted area and gently unfold, opening the flower up to desired effect.  Repeat these steps for all the layers.  Then glue the layers together using Glossy Accent.  After they are glued give them another more solid covering of Glimmer Mist, making sure there are no white areas showing.  Set aside and allow glue to set up(only a minute or so, you can speed up the drying time with a heat gun).  Once they are dry, you can fluff them a little ( the paper should be hard again).  We added a pearl for the centers and even a little touch of Distress stickles for added age.  And vuala, beautiful vintage looking handmade flowers!! 

I leave you all with this random pic of Skye being a princess for a day( she was feeling left out when I was wearing her crown for my birthday).  I had promised her we would get some pics of her wearing it.  I think she wanted to feel like the princess she is!  She always runs to the same white wall for pictures too, she is so stinkin cute! 

That's it for today, a storm is coming in and I am gonna try and catch some ZZZ's to the sound of thunder (so relaxing!)  Happy Sunday all! 

Nicki Chicky