Made by Nicole

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Hope You can Cling To Challenge Card

"Splitcoaststampers is proud to partner with the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center for our third annual month long card drive to benefit those affected by breast cancer."

I wanted to be a part of this very important card drive and the first challenge was,

"My challenge to you is to make a project that reflects the absolutely essential part of your style - the thing that makes you, YOU. You will journey to your stampy happy place and find that go-to design principle that makes you the happiest and most comfortable.

For some of you, it may be vintage, for some it may be a card that sparkles, or one that makes you laugh. All I want you to do in this challenge is BE YOURSELF and tell me what it is in your description that your stamping style is made of."

I think it's safe to say that my style is bright, graffiti with a lot of paint thrown in, artsy, probably couldn't duplicate the card if I tried, cheerful with a little edge... how'd I do?

Donna Downey Stamp from Unity

Monday, October 1, 2012

Motivational Mixed-Media Collage

I Choose…

to live by choice, not by chance;
 to make changes, not excuses;
 to be motivated, not manipulated;
 to be useful, not used;
 to excel, not to compete.
 I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.
 I choose to listen to my inner voice,
 Not the random opinion of others.

I choose to be me.

Warmly,

~~~Nicole

Friday, September 21, 2012

Shelves & Jars Two Ways

I loved Junelle's mason jar project posted on Christy Tomlinson's blog yesterday so much I decided to try making one myself. I was careful to just glance at the picture once and close the window as I wanted to be "inspired by" not out right follow along step by step.

In the end, we're talking jars on shelves so there's going to be a lot of similarity. But, being me, I wasn't content just making one. I decided to make a Halloween themed canvas as well.

Both canvases measure 8x10x3/4

To me, nothing says 'abundance' like a full pantry. And if that pantry is filled with the bounty of summer all the better. I wanted to take the jar idea a bit farther so I filled mine with the things that make me feel exceedingly blessed - like good health, play and rest.

This one was a fun, seasonal different take on the theme.

It was a hoot making potion bottles and using up all the cute bibs and bobs I had in my stash to make them spooky.

Hope you enjoyed seeing this project interpreted two ways. I'm itching to make a Christmas one, or a shelf filled with little house... the possibilities are endless.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Bombshell Stamps Blog Hop

The Bombshell Stamps August Hump Day Hop theme is "Let's Hear it for the Boys." We were free to interpret this however we like, and all I can really say is that I pretty much assure you that you will be singing that oh-so-popular 80's song from Deniece Williams for the next week.

You're welcome :)

I decided to try the sketch...

Now you know my interpretation of sketches can be a little loose. But the elements are all there, I promise. The scallops, the circle in a square, the line down the left... it just all went to Funky Town.

I decided what's more 80's than neon so out came the cool neon variegated thread that I JUST. HAD.TO. HAVE!!!!

OMIGOD! Can you imagine if they made hyper-color thread?

Or hyper-color NEON thread...

*head explodes*

It was a great chance to use one of my very favorite stamps in the whole wide world, Senora Muertas.

Now go visit the other girls :)

Alison

Kim
Stempelientje
----> Nicole: You Are Here <---

Glittery Katie

Kas

Kathi

Dave Ramsey Money Envelopes Collage Style

Do you follow the The Total Money Makeoverby Dave Ramsey? We have for over three years and one of things I love to hate about it is the all cash system. It's THE BEST way to save money. Seriously. The Best! But keeping all those categories straight in those crappy envelopes drove me nuts. So last year I started altering Dave's envelope refills to better meet my needs. I get so many compliments on them whenever I'm paying for things that I thought I'd make a couple extra this time in case any of you would like a set.

Each one starts with a thick piece of cardboard that I cover in a piece of hand painted paper.

Then I trim it to size and Mod Podge it onto both sides of the cardboard. Then it sits out to dry overnight.

Then I goof off and play around with the cover until it's just right, in this case I used a print of one of my collages and added a quote.

"Dreams are necessary to life" seemed appropriate for a budget system.

Inside of the front cover:

There are SIX category envelopes for things like groceries, eating out, gas etc. and then a sturdy zipper pouch which I treat as a seventh category but friends use for coins and coupons.

And behind that is four pages for writing in your purchases. I always rip them out and use the plastic pouch as my back cover. It's nice and sturdy.

Hope you all liked this project.

I have several more to share over the next few days.

Available in my shop

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Do What You Can: Original Collage

Do What You Can With What You Have Where You Are

Love the boots...

Love the off-the-shoulder 80's inspired top...

Love the sassy short shag with sparkly barrette.

Available on Etsy

Monday, August 20, 2012

Two New "Fan Favorite" Prints in my Shop

Available on Etsy

The title was meant to be tongue in cheek. I don't have fans, I have friends and for those who aren't friends yet, readers. But these two Modern Girls are the ones I get requests for all the time... like weekly... sometimes daily.

So I decided to offer them as embellished prints. What that means is I have mounted the prints on MDF, edged them in black paint (this is all normal so far) and for "She Knew She Could Conquer the World" added jewels and liquid pearls.