Birthday Party

I had the joy of creating the Birthday Invitations, with my sister :), last week for a really good friend (sister like) of ousr for her 2 year old son's birthday.  She had purchased train themed decorations and such for the event and we chose the colors of the theme to create the invitations.  Just before the party, I called to confirm the number of cupcakes and made cupcake toppers using the same colors!  My son was happy to use a few punches to help create these toppers.  Here are a few picks of the theme and our projects to go with it:

Stamp-a-Stack Event coming up!

I love events where everyone sits and creates while chatting about life!  Snacks, refreshments, and prizes are always an added bonus!!  These events are really fun for all ages.  The summer event I held, there were a few school-aged children who loved creating their own cards.  I always have door prizes, a lottery game, and a Hostess Appreciation Special! If interested in this event or holding a workshop in your home for FREE, contact me with an email or visit my FB page: Nicci's Craft Corner.  Check out my flyer below for the Stamp-a-Stack details:

RSVP by October 28th by sending me an email for your day/ time preference and mailing a check for the kit desired.

October Promotion

For the Month of October Only:

Buy two Simply Sent Kits and get a FREE coordinating stamp set! Our Simply Sent Kits are the ideal choice for the beginning crafter. The card kits offer a variety of basic themes, so it's easy to create cards for any occasion.  Its a perfect gift for beginner card makers, grandparents, or teachers.

Buy any two Simply Sent Kits from pages 192 or 193 and receive a FREE coordinating stamp set from the same pages (up to $9.95 savings!!)

Halloween Treat Bags and Crafts

Last night I held a class on how to make the Howl-O-Ween Creeps Treat Bags from the Holiday Mini.  They were too cute and east not to do so.  Many Moms came with their lil ones and they had a great time!!  I also created a few projects to show other ways to use this stamp set.  I was asked on a Halloween Party Invite and we came up with one of those too.  See photos below.  Contact me for project details at niccimolinski@yahoo.com

September is a time of year for starting fresh, just like the children going to school and starting off a new year.  THis was always my favorite time of year and I hear it from many of my friends that it it theirs also.  Not only because of the freshness and newness, but also because of the experience of shopping for new clothes and school supplies, and not to mention the cooler weather and the soon to be changing leaves :)

I admit, I love to shop for new supplies!!  I also enjoyed looking through the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog and ordering quite a number of items!!  My favorites are the Howl-O-Creeps Stamp set and the cellophane bags.  So cute and so quick and easy.  This project inspired me to hold a class at the end of the month to recreate these little goody bags.

Recent outing with the Girls

All summer I had been planning to do something with the "Girls" where we are without husbands and kidlets.  The "Girls" are a group of us sisters, best friends, and fellow moms.  We share parenting stories, birth stories, relationship stories, give and receive advice from each other, babysit each others kids, go to the beach together, or any other form of enjoying each others company.  So this past Friday was to be the evening to head out and relax/ enjoy time away.  So many idea ran through my head all summer of what we could do. 

When the night came, there were 4 of us able to head out for a couple hours.  Our idea of heading out was to not wear our sweatpants or jeans and a tee (as many of us stay-at-home moms do). We decided to try a small/ fancy restaurant (me: knowing the served wine!).  We drove down together, conversed of all sorts of things.  We parked in the public parking lot and walked up the street to the restaurant.  The weather was warm, a perfect night.  Its a cute little place, a bit dark (low lighting) walking in.  Our table is for 4.  The menu is larger than the space provided on the table!  Its a little pricey, but so many yummy choices.  I go for the Jumbo Shrim Scampi and a dry Reisling.  I am pleased.  We converse more and enjoy the time just sitting and talking.  We then decide to find a place with dessert!!  After paying our bills, we head out.  Driving up the strip, we realize there is really no lace to stop for dessert only.  We decide to stop at another restaurant/ bar.  The place is PACKED!  We ask to sit at the bar so there is no wait.  We sit and the waitress gives us meals menues.  A few minutes later, she returned and we ask for the dessert menu only.  "Oh No Problem" she says.  We of course order a two-for-beer.  As we wait our deliciousness, we chat and fool around, grabbing celery and drink umbrellas from the bar right in front of us :)  Dessert was yummy!! 

All in all it was a smooth, quiet, relaxing, and enjoyable night.  I definatly would like to do it again, perhaps try out a different place each time, different times of the day, different days of the week.  Something that has no routine or disruptions.  Of course we love to spend time with our family.  A little outing is like an adventure that Moms need to get through everyday life.

Editing more wedding photos

I love having the ability to take a photograph and then editing it to enhance the story behind the photograph.  I am still working on the wedding photos I took 2 weeks ago and wanted to share one of my favorite shots...

Christmas Stamp-A-Stack

I had so much fun at this years Christmas SAS.  It was another success and I was excited to show some new itemsa from the new catty!!  Even more excited when my guests placed some orders for the new items!!  I was very happy to show some awesome techniques and demonstrate how to use a tol that has been in the catty for years!!  Thank you so much to those who attended and placed an order.

Life is a daily adventure...

So I was going to create this blog as a Stampin' Up! only blog, but there is so much more in my life to share!!  I love art...in many forms and it happens all the time around me.  Lately I have been busy working on wedding photos.  I was hired recently to take photos of a wedding in a couple's backyard.  They have been together 14 years and have 3 beautiful children together.  He is a farmer and she is a stay-at-home mom.  The day came when they decided this was it and they were getting married.  Due to the economy, and a budget, they were on the look for deals for all aspects of the wedding and reception.  When she announced she was looking for a photographer, I mentioned I have taken photos of a couple wedding and am always playing with my camera at home with the kids and outside with nature.  She said how much and you are hired!  I of course didn't charge much because the other wedding I took photos at were family and best friends.  As the day came, I became really nervous.  I was using a camera that I have used before, but wasn't used to.  Someday I will have a really good camera and know all the setting and so on...my home camera is a point and shoot, which I really love...so little and easy to use...and it takes better photos than the last 3 cameras that I have owned!  I am currently editing the wedding photos using a program online.  It has so many features and was recently updated and many more features were added.  Its exciting and I get to use my knowledge and artistic abilities to create amazing photos.  Here are a few samples, let me know what you think:

Clear-Mount Perfectly Placed Guides - by Stampin' Up!

Check out the following link to order Clear-Mount Perfectly Placed Guides - by Stampin' Up!

Includes eight die-cut guides sized for blocks, D, E, F, H, and I, and three guides you cut to customize.