Happy Birthday, Xavier!!

WARNING: This post has NOTHING to do with crafting and is going to be picture heavy.

Today, the love of my life, turned 8! He has been SO excited and I'm so happy that he's been having a great day. The celebration actually started on Saturday as we tend to celebrate my mom's birthday (which is on the 24th) and Xavier's birthday together. So my mother and father came up to spend the day with us on Sunday. Mom received presents from us (an outfit, new digi camera-because her's is horrible, and a charm filled necklace). She loved it all. She also got an awesome lemon curd filled cake.

Xavier also received two video games for his DS. The icing on the cake, is we then all went to a place called "Craig's Cruisers" for lunch and activities. For those of you that are wondering...Craig's Cruisers is like Chuck E Cheese ampted up but not quite as nice, at least food wise, as Dave and Busters. Nonetheless, we had a great time playing games and spending time together.

On Monday, my little guy woke me up just to remind me to tell him, "Happy Day Before His Birthday." Cute, right???

Today, he woke me up for his happy birthday hug.  He was wondering where his presents were, but I had to tease him for a bit. I think he's been looking for them...hahaha. (Note to self: Next year, I'm going to do a scavenger hunt for him to find his presents.  I think he'll like that!) I knew the whole time that they were in a huge pile on the living room floor but I didn't tell him....he had to wait for us to get up and come down with him to watch him open them.  He decided that breakfast could wait (homemade waffles and bacon are his favorite!) and we opened presents.  Check out his haul:

After presents, we all got dressed into our real clothes and headed to Fire Mountain and then to Chuck E. Cheese to play some games.  We all had a great time. Then we had to go and pick up Xavier's cake. 

 He had no clue what it would have on it so he was pretty suprised to see one of his favorite toys.  He would have rather had a Beyblade on it....but he said this was okay too :P.  Gotta love that kid!  Then we were on our way home to play some of his new games and rest. I am so glad he had such a great day....he deserves because he's a great kid.  I was definitely lucky to get him.....and he's so excited about being 8!  Can't wait to see what this year brings.  Thanks to all of you that got all the way to the end of the post! We hope the remained of your week is amazing and blessed. 

 Ciao, Ciao!!  

Test Post

Seeing if this new signature will work :). Hope you all are doing well!

OWH Stars and Stripes Challenge #4

I saw that OWH was doing a challenge every two hours and I told myself that I would do at least one today.  Here's what I came up with:

There's part of me that thinks it needs something else.  I might add a gold star to the lower right hand corner....or even some fireworks.  But I have to be honest, I think it looks good the way it is too.  You'll just have to check back in to see if I change it!

Thanks all!

Opps...I forgot to say that I snagged the word art from thecraftingchicks.com :).

Lynx Giveaway!!

SVGCuts.com is giving away a Black Cat Lynx!  I have been dreaming about this machine and I sure hope I win!!!  Oh the things I could do with this machine :). 

Go and enter the giveaway here!

OWH Sketch #75

So, I'm on a card kick lately.  Not sure why, but it's a lot of fun to recreate these sketches.  Hope you like it!

Note to self: 1. Learn how to tie a bow.  2.  I should have went with my first instinct and embossed the black paper. 

Now off to find my lens cap.  Ciao, Ciao!

Finally....something to share :)

Hi All,
     I hope you all have a great Sunday and Father's Day!  Here in SW Michigan, it was warm and  BEAUTIFUL.  Here are some of the projects I have been working on and trying to wrap up this weekend. 

My father has EVERYTHING....so since I couldn't find the YourStory machine at the right price (I got mine for such a low print it was a steal), I decided to make him some personalized stamps.  He likes personalized stuff, so I think he's going to dig these. 

Left: Dad's Initials     Right: Dad's Fraternity Leters

Then, some time back I did a RAK-Pay It Forward thingy that I got off Celeste's blog Touched by a Butterfly thinking I would have no problem getting 5 people to sign up.  BOY, was I fooled!  Only one person signed up (Jani).  And this is what she will be receiving.  (Please disregard my poor picture quality...I didn't take the time to set them up and do them the way they should be done :( ).

This is a file folder something or the other:P...the name is escaping me right now.  I have decided it needs some sort of something on the flap...so there is a button drying on my table now that I'm going to adhere to it. 

When you open it up: 



Kind of neat :P (Or atleast I think so).



This is the card that I made becaue I couldn't send this out with an empty pocket, now could I?  

FILE FOLDER TUTORIAL:
 http://pattystamps.com/pattys_stamping_spot/2009/08/tutorial-for-altered-stamin-up-file-folder-note-pad-holder.html

I think it turned out pretty cute!  If you look closely, you can also see the first stamp that I made with my TC Stampmaker.  I love playing with that thing!!

Alright all, it's nighty night time for Nicole. Have a great night and I look forward to sharing again really soon.  Take care - Peace and Blessings!

Ciao, Ciao,
Nicole

Blog Candy Alert

Hi All,

    Celeste over at Touched by a Butterfly is offering a great blog candy in honor of summer.  Be sure to check it out. 

Ciao, Ciao,
~Nicole

So I've been a bit distant lately.....

and I apologize.  Closing down school this year was a lot more involved than I thought it would be.  This year, I taught in 4 buildings and 9 grades.  I'd love to say it was a breeze, but it wasn't by any account.  And now that the kids are gone, I see how many things I had to rush through just to make that crazy schedule work: papers and music are EVERYWHERE and nothing is where it's supposed to be. So my hopes are to get a lot of this mess sorted out so I can mess it up all over again next year :P.

Due to this, I haven't done much crafting and the small things I have done haven't been photographed. (The small things are mostly stamps made with my TC Stampmaker)  These mugs are an example.  My mom asked me to make something for a marathon and I had made tumblers for her and my father earlier this year (for mother's day).  She loved them and thought I should make them for the OAR Marathon Fundraiser.  She has a cousin or something that is one of the administrators...I'm not sure....ANYWHO!  So I stole their logo off their website and here's what the final project was:

I think they turned out ok........as I am very critical about my work....especially things that go to other people.  The thing that bothers me most about this project is that the text is arched upward due to the shape of the cups. Something to do with he bottom of the cup being smaller than the top. I googled it (I love that google is a verb now :P) but didn't find anything that I could do to fix it.  If you know of to fix that.....please share as I really enjoy making these for people. 

Well, thanks for stopping by. I should have another project or two up before the end of the weekend and I will try get a SVG up as well.  Many blessings!

Ciao, Ciao,
Nicole

What is your favorite verse/quote??

Hi All,
    Today, I FINALLY had a chance to play with my Teresa Collins Stampmaker and I have to be TOTALLY honest.  My first stamp FAILED....beyond failed....it was a rectangular piece of polymer.  I'm not sure what I did, but because I refuse to give up on anything I tried again (with one of the supplied negatives) and I made a pretty neat looking Fleur de Lis.  The success of this stamp confirmed that I royally messed up the first one...just not sure if it was my negative OR if I put the polymer in backward. 
   SO, the next stamp I want to make is going to be a bible verse and/or quotation.  Please leave your favorite in the comments section (along with your email) and I will pick one and send the person whose verse I pick their own personalized version of the stamp I create in honor! 

Take care all!!!!

Look what I got in the mail yesterday.....

This is my Mother's Day present from my hubby (he got a computer for his birthday....so he had to get me something really good :P)!  I haven't had a chance to play with it yet, but this weekend I will have a chance to play and explore. 

Happy Crafting all!

Blog Candy Alert!

I found an AWESOME giveaway, via Celeste at Touched by a Butterfly.  Be sure to go and comment for your chance at a $100 gift card to Michaels!!!


http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/2011/05/its-giveaway-time.html

Box.net

Hello All,
    Today while surfing the web I found a cute little widget that, for now, has convinced me that I want to start using Box.net to store the files that I share.  If you scroll down the page, you will find the widget for this in the far right column.  Right now, there is only one file in there, but I'd love to know if you guys are able to get to it.  If you have a few minutes, will you try to get the file and let me know if it works and if it's user friendly??  Once I know that it works, I'll work on getting all of my current files onto the site. 

Thanks all, and happy creating!

Pay It Forward

I pulled this idea from Celeste over at "Touched by a Butterfly," and thought is was such a cool idea that I wanted to participate as well.
 
Pay It Forward" is the idea of blessing someone with a random act of kindness without expecting anything in return. It’s passing on a kindness, hoping that your recipients will do the same, and forming a never-ending chain of goodwill. But it isn’t only kindness, it is also a means to connect and share instead of just keeping it to ourselves.
"I promise to send an original creation to the (1st) 5 people who leave a comment here. They must, in turn, post this on there blog, and send something they make to the 1st 5 people who comment on their status."

Here's what you need to do:

1. Leave a comment on this post. I will send a handmade gift to the first 5 commenters.

2. Create a post on your blog offering the same.

3. Send a handmade item to your first 5 commenters.

4. It must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011.

Please do not sign up unless you are fully committed to making your 5 items!

New Multi-file!

I am so excited to have all of these new ideas for SVG files!  Beebeebabs left a comment about superheros and it kid of excited me because I secretly LOVE superheros....especially The Fantastic Four, X-Men and, ofcourse BATMAN.  I mean, doesn't every ordinary person want to be able to do something extra-ordinary??  I sure do think it would be cool...and the fact that Batman does it without any genetic mutation makes me like him even more.   So today, I decided to play around with some superhero logos.  I'm not sure if this was what Beebeebabs was thinking of when she said superheros....but it's a start. I'm sure I will venture into some actual figures when I have a bit more time.  I hope you enjoy these.  You can grabe the file HERE.

SN:  Yes, I know Captain America isn't pink...but I couldn't stand it blending into the background and I didn't want outlines :P.

Happy Mother's Day....and a WINNER

     First off, I want to say Happy Mother's Day to all of the mommy's out there. I hope you have a beautiful day!      
     Without any further adieu....on to the winner of the YourStory Photo Kit!  Thanks to all of you that have come by and left "creative inspirations" for me.  I can't wait to sit down and try to process some of these requests.  I also need to thank all of the new followers.  It really means alot to think that my ramblings are actually interesting to people other than myself :P.
    

And the winner is....

#18 - Monique Barr!  
Congratulations Monique, and thank you for being a follower!  Please contact me sometime over the next couple days at maestralangford@live.com with your mailing address so I can send you your prize!!

Thanks all!
PS.....I couldn't get the random organizer to go into my blog with the actual number it gave me...it was always blank.  I'd love some hints on how to do this if you know how :P

Blog Candy....FINALLY

Hi All,
    I want to start this post off by apologizing for being an irresponsible blogger.  The school year is winding up and it's been super busy.  The last couple weeks have been crazy.....I feel lucky to be able to just sit and watch TV or make dinner for my family let alone blog.  The great thing is that I know it will soon be much less hectic and I'll be able to create whenever and wherever I want!  
   
     Now on to the good stuff! My original promise was that I would do a blog candy if I got to 50 users.   Then I did the linked in party and wound up with 75!  So I figured I better give away something GOOD!!!  Here you go:

This is a brand new, YOUR STORY PHOTO kit from HSN.  I ordered it for my father some time ago and decided that I wanted to give him something else.  So rather than sending it back, I am now offering it to you!

Here's what you have to do to win

1. Leave a comment on my blog telling me what kind of SVG you'd like to see offered on my site next.

2. Become a follower of my site (that is if you haven't already :P).

I will use Random Generator to pick a winner on Sunday, May 8th. 

Very easy, right???  I'd love for you to send your friends, but please don't feel like you have to.  I'm more than happy with you taking the time to stop by!  

Thanks again and good luck!

Here's a great chance to win some BLOG CANDY!  In fact, there's a chance to win 22 pieces of blog candy!  Follow the link here!

A much overdue FREEBIE

Enjoy!  Class of 2011 "Plaque."  Link is here.

Link Up Party

I am so excited that the Link Up party has brought traffic to my blog.  For those of you that are new followers, THANKS.  I know I've visited and followed quite a few amazing blogs that I never would have known about without the party....so I'm happy that so many people are participating. I will do my best to go back to my original idea of having a new file every Friday.  It's tricky this time of the year, but I will make a greater effort to make it happen. 

In regards to keeping my word....I said some time ago that I would offer some sort of blog candy when I get to 50 followers....and I'm much closer that I ever thought I'd be so I intend to keep my word!  Not really sure what it will be...but I'll let you know when I get there.

Again, thanks for stopping by and following...and I look forward to learning more about all of you!

Ciao Ciao,
Nicole

LinkUp Party

Hello, Hello!
    Sorry I've been absent for sometime.  Really busy at this time of the year and now all of my attention is going to entaining a 7 year old boy as we are on Spring Break.  Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the weather and we've had nothing but rain the past few days.   

    I've decided to try this LinkUp Party thing, as I've never done it before.  So if you are new to my blog, welcome.   And if you are just passing through, thanks for doing so.   Enjoy the rest of your week!

~Nicole

Friday Freebie #2

Hi All,
    Hope you've all had a great week.  Early today, I had this message composed and ready to go and blogger goofed up on me so I lost everything.   So hopefully....this transmission will make it through! :P  Today's file is especially for those of you have have Grandkids.....although it will work for those of use that just have kids as well!   It's plain and simple so you can go to town with glitter, pretty paper, and embellishments :)!   I hope you like it....I plan on making one for my mom as soon as Spring Break is here!

Thanks for stopping by.  Remember to send your friends.  There will be some lovely blog candy when I reach 50 followers!!

~Nicole

BSA Freebie

I've decided to post this early.....enjoy.  I will leave it up until 12 AM, Friday night!!  Remember, I would love to see how your creations turn out...so please be sure to share your pictures.

Click here to download file.

Freebie Friday's

Hi All,
    So I have decided that I am going to try and offer a freebie every Friday (schedule permitting). Any of you wonderful people have know a special Boy Scout??  Well, here's the perfect treat!  Here's a glimpse at the file I created and will be offering on FRIDAY ONLY.  I think I did a pretty darned good job on it....but I'm biased. 

      So, if you know of some friends that might be interested be sure to send them all over...and encourage them to follow my blog while you are at it :P.  I hope you all have a great week!  CIAO, CIAO!

Blog Hop

Hi All,
     I just want to thank all of you for stopping by my blog yesterday.  One of the main reasons I wanted to do the blog hop was to gain new followers and it seems to be that I was successful.  Prior to yesterday, I had 13 followers.  Today, I am at 27.  WOOOHOOO....that's more than twice as many (lol....I know, it's really not that big of a deal, but I'm still excited)!  So, I am going to try and challenge myself to get files up at least once every week but I am going to need your help!   Keep sending your friends over to share files and once I get to 50 followers or so, I'll have to offer some sort of blog candy.  

     Again, thanks for making my first blog hop a success and I look forward to sharing and learning more about all of you in the future.   CIAO CIAO!

~Nicole

SVG File Blog Hop

    
     Hello all and welcome to my blog!  I am so excited to be in my first Blog Hop. Never did I think I would be participating in a blog hop and I would like to thank Sher for allowing me to do so.  I LOVE visiting other people's blogs and grabbing freebies, so I thought I should be a part of the 'giving' as well.  :)

     Here's the list of blogs participating in the blog hop:

http://c90designs.blogspot.com/

www.createNcraft.com/

http://vickiscreativecraftingcorner.blogspot.com/

http://sueinct.blogspot.com/

http://www.patternsbysher.blogspot.com/

http://www.creativepointe.blogspot.com/

www.eyeinspire.com/blog/

http://maestraorquestra.blogspot.com/  <------YOU ARE HERE!

http://www.thisandthatfromtami.blogspot.com/

http://craftyblonde.blogspot.com/

http://dscrapbookingroom.blogspot.com/

     Ever since I received my cricut as a gift a few years ago I've had a tiny obsession: BOOKS.  I adore making, designing, and gifting word books.  I'm not sure where this obsession came from, but it's definitely my most favorite activity to do with my cricut.  Here's the file I've created for this challenge....

You can download this file HERE.  I figured this would be something a lot of people could use, so I hope you like it!  I know I do!  I would also LOVE to see what your books look like after you cut them, so be sure to stop back by and show off your work. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  Your next stop on the hop is Tami.

SVG File Blog Hop

Hi All,
     I'm so super excited to be participating in Sher's SVG File Blog Hop! This is my very first time ever doing a blog hop and I'm super excited to have the opportunity to share my blog and designs with a new people.  It starts March 5, so be sure to come back and visit....and send a few friends as well!!

New Follower

I have a new follower....I'm up to a whopping 13.  WOOT WOOT! :P

Super Bowl Food

So, I just spent AGES writting a post and Blogger ate it up and SPIT it out.  Oh, am I hot!  SOOOOO, here's what I made today.  The asian sauce is AMAZING and the others are good too.  Leave me a comment if you are interested in the recipes. 

Left to Right: Asian, Buffalo, and Sweet Honey BBQ

Chunky ATC Swap

Here's my ATC for the Chunky ATC swap on Creative Friendships and Inspirations:

There is a choral warmup called Inchworm based on a Hans Christian Andersen tale that I just LOVE and it was my inspiration for this ATC.  Here is Danny Kaye signing it (although, we don't sing it this way, you get the idea).

 I love how music can be a medium for so many things, and this is another example of just that.  Here's how they did it on Sesame Street (If it was on Sesame Street AND the Muppets...it has to be educational, right? :P):

It's not finished yet, I think I still want to add some text around the inchworm on the front, and maybe a bug or two on the back.  I also built a small birdhouse....but I think that might be too much. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Oh, I forgot to mention that I shot these using the light box I made.....you'll be amazed what a little bit of foam board and tape can do for a picture!!!  I'll be sure to post pictures of my set up soon!