Nichol Spohr LLC

Christmas Journal Stamps.

I've had a few emails and posts asking me what stamps I'm using in my Christmas Journal.

Here is a brief list (with links if I could find them):

• 7gypsies 97% Certifiable Stamp Dot Round
• 7gypsies 97% Certifiable Round Seal Stamp
• 7gypsies 97% Block Stamp Parenthesis Stamp
• Fontwerks Important Clear Acrylic Stamps
• Fontwerks Notepad Clear Acrylic Stamp (using this one for almost all my journaling)
• Fontwerks stamps by Karen Russell (can't seem to find a link to it on the fontwerks site, though? using a couple diff. designs)
• Autumn Leaves Messy Dates
• Autumn Leaves Journaling Stamps
• Jenni Bowlin Stamp from December kit
• Impress Rubber Stamps Medium Open Dot Stamp
• Catslife Press Today I Feel Stamp

2007 resolutions.

Today I'm sharing my final holiday inspiration project of 2006: a Chipboard 2007 Resolution Mini Album.

I have not been very diligent about following through on my resolutions in the past. Mostly because I don't actually take the time to think them through, write them down and carry them out. This past month I have been jotting down notes in my notebook, gathering ideas and noting what I would like to change for next year, what I'd like to start doing, etc. I'm excited to share this cute little Maya Road chipboard book I created to record my resolutions for 2007. Now, I'm sharing this book without my journaling. I added it after the photos were taken. For me, some of my resolutions were more private, things I want to be for my eyes only, and others (like the always favorite: working out), I don't mind sharing.

To start this project, I suggest jotting down notes on a scratch piece of paper. Figure out what is important enough to you to make it a resolution. I decided on eight things I want to start or change for next year and chose a mini album that worked for me. I also went small. I'm not including photos in this book and wanted to be able to quickly put together something so I could take more time with my journaling.

The process:

I grabbed a past Jenni Bowlin kit that I hadn't worked with yet. From it, I had coordinating patterned papers and embellishments so it narrowed down my product decision making process.

I also grabbed some new and older favorites:

• 7gypsies 97% complete stickers
• fancy pants rub-ons
• 7gypsies self inking stampers
• 7gypsies rubbings
• MM white number stickers
• fontwerks journaling stamps
• NEW Art Warehouse Journaling stamps!!!
• and misc. odds and ends

Cut all your paper to size and adhere to the pages of the mini book. Sand edges if you like.

Then start embellishing.

I used the left side of the 2 page layout to mark the resolution (i.e. #1, #2 and so on). I included a quote sticker and rub-on of some sort. The right side of each layout is reserved for my journaling. Stamp or use journaling product and add simple embellishments.

Inside the front cover I wanted to write my reason for creating this mini book. It reads:

This year in an attempt to follow through on my new year's resolutions, I'm documenting my goals in this little book. I can track my progress and continually be reminded of the changes and work I've accomplished in 2007.

And here are some of the inside pages:

I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2007!

cleaning up Christmas.

We officially started taking down the Christmas decorations this evening. Payton is such great help. She volunteers to help take the decorations off the tree, carry things downstairs and just does whatever we ask. Thinks it is fun. I enjoy spending this time with her. We visit. She learns about storing our decorations so that they are still nice for us next year. She is my girl. Love her.

I also spent a little time this afternoon just scrappin'. Playing with the new collections from KI: Pet Shop and Wild Thing. Felt good to just create. I'm not in love with the pet one (it was the first one I did). But it did get my creativity flowing and I really like how the love one turned out.

New Year's Resolution book coming up tomorrow! 

sick kiddos, christmas journal & inspiration update.

so, as you probably noticed my inspiration didn't get posted on the 26th as planned.

I have had sick kiddos the past few days. Payton ran a fever, had a terrible headache and a cough Christmas Eve, Christmas Day. She started feeling better Christmas day but now Brenden has caught cold and just today I think Ethan is....sigh. joy.

Anyway, I need to finish up a couple things before I post my project. I will post my New Year's Resolution project on the 31st.

I have a few new Christmas journal pages to share that I completed just this afternoon while Ethan was napping. (And I hope to do a few more this evening while Chad's parents have our kids. Chad and I are veggin' out tonight. It's rainy here, been raining all day and is supposed to turn into snow tomorrow..we'll see. The kids would love it!)

Here are my shares:

Merry Christmas.

Enjoying our lazy Christmas morning in our new jammies.

Merry Christmas!

final preparations.

All the final preparations are being made for this very special and holy night.

I made up my appetizers for tomorrow, finishing up some laundry, tidying up the house, creating some Christmas Journal entries and finishing one last homemade gift for my hubby.

Wishing each of you a very special and blessed Christmas Eve and Christmas day!

I will leave you with a few more Christmas Journal entries I finished yesterday and today (and yes, I am missing 17-21)...still need to finish those up...Merry Christmas!

 

finally!

can I just say these past two weeks have been pure craziness?????!!!!!

I can finally say, " I am completely done christmas shopping. I will be finished wrapping gifts later this afternoon (Payton wanted to help so I am waiting for her). The kids get out of school here in 30 minutes and we're baking and decorating sugar cookies this afternoon. Then we have the Spohr (my family's) Christmas tonight.

And I've been scrapping. Working on catching up my poor Christmas journal. It was neglected while I scurried around with CHA projects. Feels so good to be working on it again. One good thing is I at least journaled about the topic each day, so I am flying through the creating process of each page. I hope to be completely up to date tomorrow.

Here is a few shares from my journal.

Holiday Inspiration (a bit behind)

What a crazy week last week ended up being. I apologize that I didn't get the holiday inspiration project posted on Thursday like I wanted to. Today I will be sharing this week's and last week's inspiration projects. It works out since they go together nicely. :) Then, next week I will share my final inspiration project on Tuesday (the day after Christmas). I have a fun little resolution project to share with you all.

Holiday Inspiration #7:

Take your scrapping from paper to home decor. This fun little fabric pillow would make a great gift or a great piece for your own living room sofa. And the best part? It doesn't have to be just for the holiday season. Consider using the colors of your choice to match your own decor! I just love the family photos our friend, Amanda, took this year. I printed my favorite picture on canvas paper and cut around it with pinking shears, then sewed it to some fabric that I had stamped on. I stamped a quote on twill, cut apart the words and machine stitched them around the photo, then added buttons and a large red stamped flower. To finish, pin grosgrain ribbons around the edge, pin the right sides of the fabric together and stitch. Turn right side out and stuff, slipstich opening shut. This little project took me NO time at all. quick and easy, just the way I like 'em!

List of stamps used:

• Memories Interactive Harlequin Alphabet (this is a GREAT sized alphabet, love it)
• My Heart Flowers

Holiday Inspiration # 8

This is along the same lines of the last project, only this one took a bit longer. I have been enjoying the stamped pillow making so much that I thought it would be fun to create a throw to match. And you know what? I am crazy about the results! I cut 90some 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 squares of fabric from my fabric collection and embellished with stamping, brads, buttons and ribbons and trims, sewed the squares together, cut a cozy piece of cream colored fleece to back it and a piece of batting to make it nice and full and sewed it all together.

Here are a few close ups of some of the squares:

Can't you just imagine curling up in this on Christmas morning in front of the fire?

Happy Holidays!!!!

Art Warehouse Stamp Winner!

sorry the picture is so blurry. my camera was having a problem with Brenden's dark shirt and the dark house I guess.

Belinda, please email me your mailing addy and I'll get these wonderful stamps in the mail to you!

Congrats!

Thanks everyone for playing.

Happy Holidays!

December stamp giveaway.

hey everybody!

it's time for my december stamp giveaway (remember my promise last month to have another stamp goodie giveaway? )

well, here it is just in time for the holidays...

2 sets of Art Warehouse unmounted rubber stamps. Most of these stamps have been mounted on an easy cling material, making it easy for them to be put on a block, stamped and reused over and over (much like the clear acrylic stamps). Please note that a couple of the number stamps don't have the cling material. These are 'as is'. I am including the 3 ring black cling sheet.

Alphabet Set

Numbers set

(please disregard the smaller numbers at the left, this giveaway is only for the big numbers)

these are some of my favorite designs from Danelle....especially those numbers. I *heart* that big size.

Here's the scoop: if you're interested, post below. I will have one of my children draw a winner Thursday evening, the 14th, at 6:00 central time.

Thanks for playing!