Woah! 2pm on Monday and I'm just getting to this post. Sorry. I like to have it done the night before.... but alas here we are. I'm back from CHA and it was fabulous!!! So much inspiration, so many ideas, so many projects. My head is bursting with creative energy! Where to start? I spent the show walking up and down isles and isles of beautiful paper goodness and amazing embellishments. It really was a dream for me to go to this event! I am forever grateful. I have posted pictures here of my favorite booths and experiences. I am currently planning classes to teach & kits to sell. I am also working together with Chantel & KC at Treasured Memories to bring make n' takes and demos to the store. Don't worry, I won't forget about you! I'll have the demos and techniques here as well as when I do them in the store.

I've had some exciting news under my hat for the last month and am excited to finally share. I am now part of the amazing Design Team over at Twisted Sketches. Anam (the creator of Twisted Sketches) creates a sketch, adds a twist and then we (you too) create a layout based on that criteria. Fun! This is my layout from this sketch, the twist was "transparent"- how ever that word moved you. I used transparent embellishments, Heidi Swapp ghost hearts & butterflies. Go check it out and play along. It's great, Anam has done your layout planning for you!

I have been teaching at Treasured Memories full time (at least one class a month) since September but I am now officially part of their Design team. This came about when I was asked if I wanted to be a part of their kits of the month. I was so excited! Of course I wanted to do that! Their kits are super popular and I get to do what I love, create kits and layouts that inspire others! The kit I put together for February went on sale there today, it is called Come Away With Me and is definitely romantic. You can check it out on my other blog here or at the store's blog here. I did 10 layouts and have posted pictures of them all here.

I'm leaving you with all those pictures to check out as your inspiration for today and the rest of the week. Don't forget I am teaching this Saturday from 1pm - 3:30pm at Treasured Memories. I think there are only 4 spots left & I'd love to see you there if you're local. If not, call the store and Chantel would be more than happy to mail a kit off to you. For now, I'll leave you with a picture of me at the Making Memories booth. How fun.

Happy Monday. Happy February first. Have a fantastic week friends!

{xo} Nadine

Happy Monday

Lots to share with you today, I had a super busy / creative week. But first things first, here's my "personal" layout.

The pattern papers, journaling circle and sticker:Little Yellow Bicycle's Sweet Love, cardstock- Bazzill, Pearls: Kaiser, buttons, pin, ribbon & tulle: other
These 3 projects are my demos for Edson's Crop Crazy- April 16,17,18. Once the details are scheduled I'll post all the information here.

This is my Valentine card class at Treasured Memories.
Saturday January 30
10am-12:30pm
$30

This is my Valentine Accordion Keepsake class also at Treasured Memories.

Saturday, February 6

1pm-3:30pm

$35

{ inside}
You can go here & here to check out all the class details.

Just a reminder that all my classes can be purchased as kits if you can't attend the class time. They all have photos and instructions but I will tell you that there are advantages to coming to class... like hanging out with me. :-)

This Saturday I am leaving my hubby behind and heading off to CHA in Anaheim. For those of you that don't know, CHA is the biggest show for scrapbooking product out there. It is where all of our favorite scrapbooking companies come together to show their latest product releases. Holy crap am I excited, that is after I get over being scared of flying. While there I get to visit tons of product booths, do make n' takes and I also get to attend 4 classes taught by reps from certain companies. The class I am most excited for is taught by Donna Downey and is a canvas album class. I have had one for awhile but just don't know what to do with it. I am really looking forward to coming back from CHA with some new, fresh & fun class ideas to share with you. I don't know if I'll be posting from there so if you don't hear from me next week I'll have tons to share when I get back. For now I'll leave you with this link- sneak peeks at many of the CHA releases.

Have a wonderful week!

{xo} Nadine

Sharing

I just wanted to share some of the class demos that I have been working on. I am really happy with how they turned out, I think maybe some of my best work. I have demos left for Treasured Memories which I'll be able to share after tomorrow. Cute, cute Valentine's projects- I love love!

These 3 are for Edson's Crop Crazy in April. If any of my blog readers are attending this year I would love to see you! Make sure you check out my classes once they go live! I'll share more pictures and class info once it's all sorted out.This demo is for a private class I'll be teaching in February. My good friend Anne Marie attends a woman's church group that meets once a month and she asked if I would come and teach a project to them. I of course said "uh... yeah! How great!"

I'll be back later this weekend with more demo pictures and my "personal" layout. I also put up a Technique here. Check it out, it is one of my absolute favs!

Have a wonderful weekend friends!

{xo} Nadine

As Promised

Paper & letter stickers: Making Memories, Chipboard Snowflakes:Riff Raff, Gems:Kaiser Crafts, Sticker Words:Little Yellow Bicycle

I made a layout just for me! One week done, 51 to go.
On a very exciting note I have been asked to go back to Edson for their annual Crop Crazy and will be teaching 3 classes that weekend. It is taking place April 16-18 so if you're local come check it out! Creative Pages, the store in Edson was sold to a new owner- Kyla, whom I haven't met but am very much looking forward to. I am also very grateful to her as she has asked me to come teach without having met me. Perhaps someone was saying good things about me? :-) I have other exciting news but it will have to wait until my next post. I have demos (7 to be exact) that need to be finished. I promise to share pictures when I get them done. Until then, have a fabby week friends!
{xo} Nadine

Hello 2010

Happy New Year Friends! I hope all of you had a wonderful wonderful holiday. I was lucky enough to have 2 very lazy weeks off. No work, no scrapbooking, no planning- a much needed break. I am however looking forward to this year for so many reasons, personal & professional. I, like many of you sat down at the end of December and thought about what I wanted for the new year and what I didn't want- I think that's probably the key to following through with your goals. Decide what you do not want and when you find yourself slipping back into those things nip it in the butt and get back on track. I choose to use the word focus as opposed to resolution which for myself packs nothing but negative energy. Ask almost anyone and they say things like "why make resolutions, I never do them"- see! yuck! So focus it is, I decide where I want to be and want I want to accomplish and I focus on those things. When I find myself getting side tracked I get refocused and move forward. As I type that I think Ha! That was not how 2009 went for me, I found myself sidetracked most of the time. However, I now know what I don't want and this year I have big plans to follow through and make 2010 rewarding so at the end of the year my heart is full and I can say "I had a great freakin' year!"
All of this applies not just to everyday life but to our scrapbooking which I really want to make part of my everyday life and not just because I have a project or a deadline. A few things I am focusing on for this year and this blog in no particular order...
-give life to my Etsy store and create for it (yes I have an Etsy store that I haven't done anything with)
-design fresh, exciting projects for my blog
-have more projects for purchase (I had a great response to the ones I did post so I think I could do more for you and in the end for me)
-teach more
-post here once a week, even if I don't have a project to share
-submit my work for publication
-keep sharing Inspiration Monday and Technique Thursday with you
I have also challenged myself to completing one layout a week for me!!! Now that may not seem like much but trust me I have a heck of a time getting any work done for myself and that just will not do this year! Perhaps I should post them here for you.... then I am accountable to someone ;-)
What are you working on this year, what challenges and goals are you making for yourself? Just remember that it's okay to get side tracked, recognize that you're going there, stop, get refocused and get back at it!
I wish all of you an wonderful, exciting, rewarding, healthy and happy 2010!
{xo}
ps. don't forget to check out Inspiration Monday!

5 Days until Christmas

Hello Friends! Five Days, that's it. I can never believe how fast Christmas comes, for me Christmas celebrations begin on Wednesday. So I only have 2 more sleeps.... and quite a few things to finish, so I best make this short. I hope that all of you have a wonderful holiday with your families & friends. That you get some down time, some me time and a whole lot of relaxation time! I can't thank all of you enough for your support this year, your encouraging words, your emails that truly made my day. Thank you for sharing your thoughts & stories with me. I really couldn't do this without friends like you. This will be my last post until the new year so until then- be safe, be merry & eat until you think you might blow out the button on your pants ;-)
Merry Christmas!
{xoxo}
Nadine
PS. Inspiration Monday- here & A big CoNgrAtUlaTioNs to Kim- who won the last giveaway from the 12 Days of Christmas.

On the 12th Day of Christmas

On our last day I have 2 project ideas for you & a give away! Enjoy!

Glimmer TreesSupplies Needed:

-Cardstock

-Glitter

-White Glue or Spray Adhesive

Step 1: Click here to download a cone template from Martha Stewart. Thanks Martha!

Step 2: Cut out cone template (ignore bit at bottom of this download)

Step 3: Use your template on cardstock to create your cone. Either cut around template with a craft knife or trace the template and then cut out with scissors.

Step 4: apply double sided tape to the small edge of the cardstock

Step 5: Roll paper inwards to create your cone

Step 6: Cover your cone with adhesive. I used a foam brush to apply white glue.

Step 7: Cover your cone with glitter. Make sure you have something to catch the glitter so you can pour in back into the container.

Step 8: Let dry.

Step 9: Repeat process with other colors. For the larger tree I enlarged the template and repeated the above process.

365 Days of Gratitude in 2010

This project is one I truly love to do. To write in a "Gratitude Journal", to end each day writing down one thing (or more) that I am grateful for. Whether it be the obvious ones like family & friends or the fact that my car started when it was 40 something below with the windchill. No matter the day, or my situation there is always something to be thankful for!

For this you'll need a day timer that allows room to write for each day. I recommend you wait until after Christmas (but before January 1) to go buy a day timer. They go on sale for 50% off at places like Chapters and the Calendar Club. I covered this one but if the one you buy is nice on it's own then it may not need any "dressing up". What's important is that you write in it. Have fun with it!

GOODIES!!!!

I have a bunch of Riff Raff's December shapes, along with a Christmas themed mini album from American Crafts to give away! Email Me and tell me what your favorite holiday tradition(s) are for a chance to win! I'll draw one winner Sunday @ 10pm and post the winner on Monday!

Thank you so much for hanging out with me for the last 12 Days! I hope you enjoyed each day and found inspiration in my projects! I'd love to see pictures of your creations! I'll be back before the holidays but for now I have glitter EveRyWhErE that needs to be cleaned up!

{xo}