Christmas in the Bay Area

Earlier this month I took a day trip with my mom to the Bay Area.  We met with an artist licensing group that she belongs to in Berkley, and afterwards we went to Emeryville to visit our friend Kim who owns a crepe cart on Bay Street.  We of course had to have lunch, so we split a savory Florentine crepe for lunch, and for our dessert crepe we splurged on the Bananas and Nuttella crepe.  Let me just say, they were both scrumptious!  I recommend you visit Crepes a la Carte on Bay Street if you are in the area, and be sure to bring your appetite!  Thanks Mom for a great girls' day out and thank you Kim for a delicious lunch! 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today, I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season!

Hugs,
Nicole

Gorgeous mailbox on Bay Street

                                                         
                                     

Great Carolers on Bay Street!

 Crepe Cart!

Yummy Bananas and Nuttela Crepe ;-)

Blog Candy

Just wanted to let you know that  Crafty Kat is celebrating six months of blogging and giving away some yummy blog candy!  Be sure to visit her blog and check it out!  Congratulations Kat on six months of blogging, & thanks for the chance to win this yummy blog candy!

Hugs,
Nicole



http://craftykatdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/11/woohoo-blog-candy.html

Fall

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year!  It's not too hot, and it's not too cold, it's just right!  We took the family up to Taylor Creek, South Lake Tahoe, CA last weekend for the annual Kokanee Salmon Festival.  Usually when we make the drive up the trees have all turned and it's very colorful.  But I noticed that wasn't the case this time.  It's still a beautiful drive up no matter what the season, I was just expecting to see more colors.  The salmon did not disappoint though.  Every year we try to go and witness this amazing act of survival of a species.  And every year I am sad to see the dead salmon who gave their lives so their young will survive the spring thaw.  This has got to be one of the most amazing examples of parents' dedication.  The male and female salmon literally stay with, and protect their eggs, until they die.  Speaking of parents, we couldn't help but notice the international families who attended this event this year.  One more reminder of how beautiful it is where we live and how amazing this event truly is.  I've been feeling so thankful lately, it's like Thanksgiving already for me!   I hope you are all enjoying your change of seasons no matter where you live and you are all thankful for each and every day.

Take care,
Nicole

Kokanee Salmon in Taylor Creek

Blog Candy Winnings

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon a fun blog that belongs to a Close to My Heart independent consultant.  I started following her blog and left a few comments, including one on a "Freebie Friday" post and I was chosen as the lucky winner of a fun book called Reflections.  I realize it's not a new book, but it's new to me, and it's a welcome addition to my scrapbooking library!  I just wanted to say thanks so much again to Shannon Buck at http://stampinbuds.com/ for choosing me as the winner of her blog candy!  Please check out her blog and website: www.stampinbuds.myctmh.com  

Thanks as always to those of you who follow my blog--I hope you are all enjoying the change of seasons!  ;-)

Take care,
Nicole

What's on Your Desk?

I can't believe it's already been almost two weeks since my last blog post!  I have been so busy enjoying summer the days all blend into one.  I have been working on a mini album that I have wanted to make for about two years now.  Nothing like procrastinating.  We were fortunate enough to take our children to see the King Tut exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco in January of 2010.  The exhibit was amazing!  I will never forget that "once in a lifetime" experience.  So, to remember our trip, I am working on a mini album to place photos and other memorabilia.  Here's what's on my desk!  What's on yours? 

Take care,
Nicole

This will be the front cover of my King Tut mini album.

It's Been a Busy Summer

I have been so busy since May that summer has flown past me.  I had outgrown my scrap space in the house and decided to move back out to my studio loft.  It's a room my husband had built above the garage when we first bought this house ten years ago.  It was originally intended to be my "creative space" but I just never made it out there.  The kids were really little at the time and I just wanted & needed to be inside with everyone else.  But now that the kids are older I am so happy to be back out there.  It's a quiet space without any distractions and I am having fun organizing and finding places for my supplies.  For the past few evenings I have been working on a project that I have wanted to make for a while now.  I completed it last night and still need to take pics and post a vid on my You Tube channel.  Until then have a happy scrappy time! 

;-)  Take care, Nicole

p.s. Thanks so much for following, I am going to try and pay more attention to my blog from now on! ;-)

My Core'dinations Creative Frenzy

Hi everyone! 

I am so excited!  I just found out (a few days ago!) that Core'dinations is having a design team call!  So, I sent my sweet husband to the store to pick up a bunch of paper for me to work with, to make three fun new projects ( he is so supportive of my hobby!).  I made a 12x12 layout, a greeting card and altered a little wooden box from the craft store.  I have to say, having only just found out about this design team call a few days ago I felt rushed for time, and was immediately reminded of my college days, when I waited until the last minute to complete art projects for my final grade--LOL!  Anyway, I feel I work well under pressure, maybe even better, when I know there is a deadline to meet.  I had sooo much fun creating these projects for this challenge!  I used many techniques to achieve the end results, including: tearing, embossing, sanding, antiquing, outlining,and edge distressing.  I would so love the opportunity to be chosen as a design team member for Core'dinations as I have loved their products for years!  I almost forgot to mention that I used the Foundations paper as well--for all of the red flowers.  Well, wish me luck!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  (I will be posting a video of these projects at a later date on my You Tube channel.)

Take care,
Nicole

p.s. I am super excited to get my hands on the new paper stacks Core'dinations has made partnering up with Tim Holtz and Ranger--awesome!

This is the greeting card I created.  I used an embossing folder with a script pattern for the background, and then sanded the surface to bring out the pattern.  I used the Foundations paper to create the cabbage roses.  The greeting is stamped onto Core'dinations paper and embossed with a mixture of embossing powder and super-fine glitter.

Here is a close-up of the handmade roses using the Foundations paper.

I handmade my own memo pin from a really pretty copper wire. 

I had a lot of fun making this layout! It's titled: "Love Your Smile" I used so many different techniques here:  I used the antique method on the background paper.  I tore the border strip, and used the outline technique with the Tim Holtz Sprocket Gears.  I made the brown flowers with the Tim Holtz Tattered Floral die and antiqued the paper.  I stamped the title "Love" onto Core'dinations paper then fussy cut each letter out and inked the edges using Tim Holtz distress ink in Vintage Photo.  Then for the rest of the title (at the bottom of the page)  I cut a piece of Core'dinations paper to 5/16" and ran it through my Dymo label maker, and then sanded and distressed the edges.  The photo mats were created using Foundations paper. 

Stamped title on Core'dinations Whitewash paper.

Close-up of border strip using the Outline technique--FUN!

Close-up of the flower I made with Tim Holtz die.  I hand cut the leaves from the Whitewash collection.

Title strip I ran through my Dymo label maker.

More flowers!

Here is the little wooden box I altered.  I painted and ink distressed the edges, then covered the rest of the box with Core'dinations paper that I ran through an embossing folder, and sanded to show texture.  The roses were made with the Foundations paper and the title was ran through the label maker.

I distressed the edges of the Core'dinations paper.

Close-up of altered box top.  I tore the paper edges and also distressed them.

All three of my new Core'dinations projects together!

My Mountain Fairy

HI everyone!  I recently saw fellow YouTuber's were creating fairies in jars and was so inspired, I went out and captured one of my own!  She is a mountain fairy and her name is "Sierra."  I had so much fun making this project, it really brought out the little girl in me!  I already have more ideas for more fairies too!  I am including pictures of "Sierra" below and you can see the video of her on my YouTube channel. Thanks so much for stopping by, have a wonderful weekend!

Long Time No Blog!

Wow, it's hard to believe it's been more than a month already since the last time I posted a blog!  Time sure does fly!  So we had tons of snow this last month--it just dumped so much and then never went away.  We still have a lot on our property too.  It rained all day today though, so that helps to melt the "white stuff" lol!  The kids were sick for what felt like all of last month too.  Winters can be harsh here in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.  Lately we have been really busy with school work.  We are reading the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  We seem to have a lot in common with Laura and her family.  It's fun to compare and contrast and it's really fun when the seasons are the same in the book as they are here in "real time".  So when I take a break from teaching and choring I get to craft--YAY!  I altered a cigar box for my mom to house a mini album I made for her last year.  I used the Que Sera Sera paper from K&Company.  I LOVE just about all of their papers--the quality of the paper, the great artists they use to design for them and the double sided papers are all reasons why I adore their paper collections.  I've included some pic's of the box & album below.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week.  ;-) 

Nicole

Mini Album Cover.

Charms and bling on the binding ring.

Altered cigar box and mini album.

Busy all Week

Hey everyone, this last week was very busy for me, as usual.  But I still managed to get some creative time in for myself!  I made some new tags in colors that I am in love with right now!  I managed to get a vid up on my youtube channel if you want to check out how I made them.  I will include some pics below.  Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for stopping by!  ;-)  NIcole

I will have a tutorial of how I make these flowers on my You Tube channel soon! 

Recent Creations

Hi everyone, I hope you have all had a wonderful weekend!  I just wanted to post some pic's of creations I've made in the past few days.  (I have videos of both projects on my youtube channel--papernlace123.)  Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!  ;-)
Nicole

Altered Writing Journal, with Tim Coffey's Tuscan Sunflower specialty paper.

Beautiful Butterfly Charm--Love antique copper!!!

                          Always Dream!!!

 12x12 Layout of my Grandmother when she was a baby!

My Handmade Fabric Flowers.

Change

I am at an interesting point in my life--a new season or chapter, if you will.  I need change, I am ready for change-not just a little change but a big change.  A bit odd for me, since I am such a creature of habit.  But I am ready to shed the old and embrace the new.  I am ready for renewal.  Bring it universe! :-)
I have enclosed some pictures of my latest creation, using a beautiful paper collection by Tim Coffey titled: Cottage Garden.  This layout is of one of our sweet pet chickens we used to have.  We ended up having to re-home them and I miss their company in my garden.  Scrapping her photo brought me joy.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.
Nicole

Tim Coffey's beautiful dragonfly.

Goldilocks, my sweet feathered friend.

January ATC Swap

Hi everyone, just thought I would share with you my atc for my January swap. If you have any questions feel free to email me or leave your comment below this post.  Thanks for stopping by! 


Nicole