Nichol Spohr LLC

Scrapbooking a Year In Review.

I got a chance to play with the August CK KOTM and wanted to share one of the photo folders I made. :)

Last year I dedicated an entire 8x8 album to my favorite photos for 2007. I really liked that format for scrapping an entire year's worth of memories and moments, condensing them into one simple album. I definitely scrapbook individual events, too, but minibooks give such a nice overview in a fun and easy format.

So, when I got the August KOTM I decided that these photo folders would be the perfect way to document my favorite photos and memories from 2008. Since there are four folders in the kit, I decided to group the photos + journaling into seasons.
Here's the summer photo folder:

And close ups of the individual sections:

Additional supplies (other than the KOTM product):
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder
Butterscotch Adirondack Paint Dabber by Ranger
Colorbox Chalk Ink (used to emphasize the embossing on the chipboard alpha)
String
Title + Journal Photo Overlays by Ali Edwards for Designer Digitals

Time to get ready for an evening out with my husband...dinner and a movie...FUN!
Enjoy your Friday evening!

Hero Arts Layout + a video.

Happy Wednesday!
Today I have a new layout up at Hero Arts. :)
You can check it out here.

I also have a new video showing how I created this layout. (I left out a lot of the boring steps, like adhering the patterned paper backgrounds, etc.).

For supply list please click here.

A few more Q & A's:

Is your ribbon rack another custom made piece or a purchased one?

It's from Pottery Barn. They usually sell it during the holiday season and call it a gift wrap organizer or something like that. I can't find it on their website right now but check closer to the holiday season or call them...sometimes they have stuff and just don't have it up online. :)

Where did you purchase the wire basket that sits by your sewing machines by the window?

I purchased this at Target. :)

Please drop me an email if you have other questions!
Have a great day!

this past week in review.

So it was brought to my attention that I didn't exactly get everything shared that I intended to last week. (My husband kind of enjoys reading my blog daily and apparently I've let him down...sorry honey!) :)

Wednesday was my hubby's birthday...
What he wanted for his birthday was a little get together with some of his friends to do a "football draft". I will admit: I know next to nothing about football or the little fantasy football thing they do every fall but that's okay. They enjoy it. They're like a bunch of overgrown little boys when it comes to this stuff. It's kind of funny to watch them. Anyhoo, I volunteered to make the appetizers and food for their party so I spent a lot of Wednesday cooking + baking, all Chad's favorites (BBQ Meatballs, Homemade Salsa + Tortilla Roll-ups and Homemade Brownies). They had a good time and the next morning he told me "thank you" and it was a great birthday which made me feel really good. :) He's a booger to buy gifts for so it's always more rewarding to be able to do something like this for him.

Then I'm not exactly sure what happened. I did finish a layout (see below) but then I kind of avoided my studio and read and cleaned out kid's closets and bedrooms, Payton had a friend over for a sleepover Friday after school until Saturday and Chad was gone Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning and that's about it, I guess.

So I'm back in my studio today working on some fun CK KOTM samples that I hope to share in a couple of days. :)

I haven't gotten a photo of Payton with her newly sewn purse yet so I will get a photo when she gets home from school and share later on...

Meanwhile, here is that layout that has been sitting on my work desk for about a month. I finally finished it up last Thursday. I reworked quite a bit of it and I think I'm happy with the results. :)

This layout has a lot of stuff I love: mixing and matching different product lines, buttons, scalloped borders, string and polka dots. :) I love pulling lots of different elements together.

Here's a close up of the buttons. I went back and forth trying to decide whether or not to implement some pink buttons but ultimately decided that I liked the "tone-on-tone look". I also hadn't used any of these MM metal file tabs, even though I've had them forever. I tied a bit of string around it and really like how that looks. Almost embarrassingly simple but I like it nonetheless!

And of course the scalloped and layered border...I haven't tired of this look yet. I layered a Bazzill scallop strip that I ran through the Cuttlebug embossing folder with some 7Gypsies gaffer tape and MM tape and some string.

Supplies:
Patterned Papers: Bo Bunny (kraft polka dot); Making Memories (pink/black polka dot)
Decorative Tapes: 7Gypsies Gaffer Tape (black/white polka dot); Making Memories (pink and kraft wide tape)
Journaler's Notebook Page & Epoxy Photo Corners: Narratives
Rub-on: My Mind's Eye
Silhouette Words: Heidi Swapp
Flowers, Brads, Buttons: Making Memories
Cuttlebug Embossing Border Just My Type
The Story Word-Art + Hand Drawn Brushes by Ali Edwards for Designer Digitals
In Living Color Pea-Actions by Veronica Ponce for 2Peas
Other: String, Staples

I also wanted to thank both Jennifer and Jana for giving me a blog award!

The rules for the award are - (1) The winner can put the logo on their blog. (2) Link the person you received your award from. (3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs. (4) Put links of those on yours. (5) Leave a message on the blogs of the girls or boys you’ve nominated.

I don't have near as much time as I would like to peruse blogs but these are the blogs that I do check out almost daily. (And, yes, they are many of the same blogs that I've already seen nominated...so that must mean they are worth checking out, right? ;))

Jennifer McGuire: Because she is simply amazing, has the BEST scrap videos and is a wonderful person and friend.

Laura Vegas: I LOVE her scrap style and she is so fun!

Robyn Werlich: Hands down, this girl is my FAVORITE scrapbooker...her work always, always inspires me. :)

Jana Millen: Her cards make me smile (and she posts a new one almost every single day!!!!). Can't wait to meet you!!!!

Sherelle Christensen: She is a superwoman. Seriously. I always leave her blog feeling inspired: whether it's to scrapbook, take better photos, bake something yummy or just be a better mom...Sherelle you rock!

Keisha Campbell: I love the simplicity of her style yet she always throws in the coolest techniques and product combos. Eye candy for sure!

Karen Russell: Her journaling is so real. She makes me want to do better with my own journaling. And of course her scrap style and products are amazing.

Q&A

Just wanted to pop in here and answer a few questions I've received recently.

Where are your shelves {with your paper storage} from? The ones with the crown molding?

This unit was custom built to my specifictions by someone local. Sorry!

Can you tell me which cd is your fav of the silhouette designs and why please?

I only have 2 of the CD's. I have the spring one...it's ok, not my favorite. The other one is a home dec one offered on QVC: http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail. Unfortunately I don't think they show a picture of the designs included with this CD on their website but it has lots of great designs. I have used several of them for non-home dec projects.
Personally, I think the individual downloads are the best as well as any fonts or dingbat fonts you can get on the internet.

Can you tell me what type of string you use to tie the little bows on so many of your projects? Is it embroidery thread or something else? I looks like it's so much easier to work with than twine!

I use spools of string from Hobby Lobby. It's in the same isle/section as like embroidery floss but it's thicker than floss, but not near as thick as twine. It is my favorite thing to add to my cards/layouts lately. It's also cheap. :) I believe this is the same string Jennifer uses often, too.

What color are your walls?

This question was from Hanna. I tried emailing you back but it bounced back to me. Sorry! The color is Bengal Grass (SW 6411) by Sherwin Williams.

I think I have covered all the questions in my inbox. If I missed anybody, please drop me another email!
Night!

the clean studio = motivation.

I still have a bit of work to do sorting through a couple of remaining piles (the outgrown children's clothing and some scrapbook supplies recently purged) but all in all my room is back in working order. :)
I can now see my desk. The piles have found "homes" and I feel inspired. Yea!

I enjoyed my clean studio so much that I made a quick card for a friend so that I could get it mailed out today. :)

This is a standard sized card cut down to make a 4 1/4" square.

I folded the card so it's tri-fold.

Supplies:

Tree and Leaves Stamps: October Afternoon

Ledger Paper, Kraft Patterned Paper: Making Memories

Stamp Ink: Ranger Distress & Colorbox Chalk Inks

Heart Diecut: Cuttlebug

Scroll Stamp: Hero Arts

Other: String & Pop Dots

I better get going...it's almost time to go run a few errands (always!).

I'm looking forward to this evening...it's "my" night. Free from kid-duty, I can lock myself away in my studio and create to my heart's content!

Until tomorrow...

KI Challenge.

Good Monday morning!
I am having a hard time getting going this morning...it could be because we had a little person crawl into bed with us around 1 a.m. and never leave...and he really likes to cuddle with me. I so need my personal space when sleeping. I know I should have just put him back in bed but I was tired. It's getting to be a habit of his though so I really will need to be better about putting him back in his own bed. :)

Now onto some scrapbooking goodness.
I was able to spend quite a bit of time in my studio Saturday (while watching the Olympics...anyone else totally glued to the TV? I have to say that this is the first time I can remember where I am really interested in them. Chad and I have both been really into watching this time. And of course there is Michael Phelps. One word: WOW.)
I cleaned.
I put things away.
I found some things I had forgotten about (like my gift card from Mother's Day that I thought I had lost...oops.)
I purged.
I will share a new video a little later (probably tomorrow) showing the new and improved (and organized) studio.
It felt so good to have a clean work surface again.

This week I am heading up the blog challenge over at the KI Memories Celebrate Life blog. :)
My challenge: to use buttons! Check it out if you have a minute. :)

I used lots of product from the La Di Dah collection. I know I've mentioned this before but it is my favorite. :)

Supplies:
KI Memories La Di Dah Courtyard Paper Pack 2

KI Memories La Di Dah Courtyard Artifacts Alpha
KI Memories La Di Dah Courtyard Jewelry Shapes
KI Memories La Di Dah Courtyard Decals Botanical
KI Memories La Di Dah Courtyard Button Findings Neutral
KI Memories La Di Dah Courtyard Button Findings Brights
Scalloped Border Punch: Fiskars
Notebook Paper: Making Memories
Ali Edwards Everyday Handdrawn Brushes by Designer Digitals
Ali Edwards Word Art + Hand Drawn Brushes by Designer Digitals
Maggie Holmes Vintage Photo Actions
Other: String

I'm planning on having lots to share this week. I feel very inspired to create after cleaning all weekend. :)
I also have lots of emails to answer and quite a few answers to questions that I need to post here.
Look for all that plus a new video or two this week!
More soon.
Have a great Monday!

unmotivated...

back to school.

Just wanted to pop in here and share a couple of back to school photos. The kids started school today...I really can't believe summer is OVER!). Neither of them were really ready to go back but after open house last night and finding out who their teachers were they seemed a bit more eager. They both had really great first days...so glad! I even had fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies for them to eat after school. :)

Sorry it's been so long between posts. I have been walking/running 3-4 miles a day for the last several weeks and it's been cutting into my scrapping time a bit. :) I really will try to share some more tomorrow...I am exhausted tonight!

such is life.

It's just another crazy insane week here. The kiddos and I are taking a little shopping trip tomorrow (2 1/2 hrs. there and 2 1/2 hrs. back). Need to get some back to school attire, supplies and shoes. I need a dress for a wedding this weekend plus I *NEED* (insert Chad's snort here) a new handbag plus several other things. :)
And then Friday we are traveling to a wedding where Chad is the best man and then we turn around on Saturday morning and have to travel again to a family reunion before heading back on Sunday!
Pure craziness, I tell ya!
I have a feeling I will be wiped come Sunday evening.

I'll be back tomorrow with a quick post before we're gone for a few days.

well....

I finished reading Breaking Dawn at about 5:00 p.m. this afternoon.

I am curious to hear what others think. I won't be posting my thoughts here. I don't want to spoil it for anyone but I am curious. If you're finished reading it drop me an email so we can converse. :)

Going out with the hubby this evening. No kids. Looking forward to an actual date.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!