-:¦:- Pinterest is just sooo cool -:¦:-

Ever since I got my invitation to join Pinterest I have been addicted! I love spending time on there when I have a spare minute.  I've organized my ‘pins’ into boards; one of my favourite ones is my Inspirational Quotes Board… Just like the awesomely cool Inspiration Boards that Oprah always has on her show, these virtual boards I can go to look at each day or whenever I’m feeling the need for some personal, crafty or teacherly inspiration.

What I love about Pinterest is the ability to be able to ‘pin’ pictures to your boards without having to save the websites they are from or saving the pictures to your computer (keeping your Hard Drive free of clutter!). So when I’m looking for something that I’ve found, I don’t have to go saving the website link cause if your like me, whenever I save the link I either:

1. Never return to it, cause there are so many I’ve bookmarked!
2. When I go to look for the page, I cant find it!!

I’ve been using Pinterest for planning my classroom, getting ideas for everything from decorations to party games and food! I’ll be blogging about some of these treasures and sharing what I’ve found.

Look me up,let's get PINning!!! 

Have a wonnnnderful day!

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-

¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-

((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!

-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:- NikkiNix

Scrabble tile pendants and doo dahs - how fun!

I can't take credit, here's where I got the idea: http://charitywingsnews.blogspot.com/2011/05/scrabble-tile-pendant-and-giveaway.html

Diva's heart-cookie treat purses ...and Moving, Celebrating, Career-changing and Reuniting with old friends!

So much going on! My subject line says it all!! I'll be delinquent a little longer until that for sale sign goes up!! Half my house is moving into storage on Monday, my bedroom is being painted on Tuesday and I have a crazy-life-alteringly important interview on Wednesday!!  Plus Valentines Day with a two year old, Hubby's bday next week, Mom's bday last week and ... well, I'm tired and my craft-cockpit is now surrounded by construction - arrrgh!!!!

In the meantime, my two bestest friends in the world (since grade 2) are both having huge celebrations today - one beating disease and the other re-patriating to Canada after almost 15 years, getting married in August and today is her birthday!!!!  Both such fantastic celebration!  I cannot wait to have all those heart to hearts and wedding planning conversations with her and catching up after all these years without long distance charges or the confines of email!  And I am so thrilled to have my other bestest buddy healthier than she has been in the last three years!!

Here are some heart-cookie treat boxes 

I made up for our Diva Brunch - celebrating her healthfulness and LOVE!

I basically got these delectable cookies for $4.99 a box. I then put two cookies in a zip lock baggie and kept cutting down my template until it could fold up as a box, snugly against the cookies but not too tight. Then I evened out the measurements for cutting and scoring.  Once complete, I added ribbon handles, paper accents, used my ATG gun for strong adhesion and added my little pretty things and ta daa... aren't these little boxes/purses cute - all made from scrap paper, ribbon and embellies - priceless!!!

I made about 20 of then in about 3 hours.

Have an awesome, love-filled, friendship-embraced, blissful day!
Nikki

Whimspirations

... how awesome is this?  Thanks so much InkyHeart!!

Musings...

I cannot believe how popular these Ikea Expedit shelves are, I mean look at this book that I stumbled across OMG!  Siigh... I wish my journey to scrappin' freedom had been paved with information like this ;)  I scoured and searched and combined all the ideas I thought would work for me in the small space I had to make my creative space FLOW :)

I've been up to some things that I haven't been sharing... I'll be designing baby shower thank you card for my sister in law, and helping a wonderful lady capture her faaaaabulous at 70 birthday MONTHSsssss celebrations... so awesome!

So, I'll be busy.  I'll share some of the final creations once I'm there... I just organizing my thoughts now ;)

Have a wonnnnderful day!

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:-     NikkiNix

My Creating Space/Scrap Room-Part 4.0

I did it!!!


Not only have I (almost) completed my new creating space, but I've got it on video for you too :)




Some of the bits and pieces I used to create this space were:
IKEA Expedit shelves $60x2
IKEA apothecary jars $4 per 4 pack
IKEA ribbon jar $5
IKEA fabric drawers $6 each
IKEA plastic drawer $20
Paper stacker
6 pack bucket $10 to hold my copic markers
Peg board $5 bucks, peg board starter kit $6, peg board ribbon rack pegs $3, ribbon rack dowel $3, ribbon used to trim home-cut melamine shelves $3 adhered with my handy glue gun.
See through drawers for scrap papers

Have a wonnnnderful day!




· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:-    NikkiNix

Beautiful Exploding Boxes

Well now I've gone and taken this post to the next level with an even easier do-it-yourself tutorial I found over at DieCutsRUs :) Enjoy!!

Check out more box ideas at http://magic-boxes.blogspot.com/

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:- NikkiNix

Awesome survivor digi image :)

This one from Sassy Studio is a gotta-have and $1 will be donated to the Cancer Society - just awesome!

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:- NikkiNix

Watermarks and copyrights

Ever wanted a watermark to protect your images? How about a free copyright? I love what I create and although I blog to inspire, I'd hate to see my creations pop up somewhere else without acknowledgement or permission.

So without further adieu... All content, including designs, concepts, text, and photographs are COPYRIGHT ©2009-2010 Nikki Morrell. Original artwork is shared for your personal inspiration and enjoyment only and may not be used for publication, sale or contests... and honestly now, you can totally make your own ;)

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:- NikkiNix

My new shoes!!

YAYYY!!! My birthday wish came true!

I now have MORE THAN 44 friends to follow me around ;)

Stay tuned for the winner in tomorrow's post, and if you haven't done so already make sure you've left a comment (from 8/7 to today) and a link on your blog to mine that I can find for you to get

the BEST FRIENDS FOREVAH prize - woot woot...

gonna go buy my mailing envelope at lunch today,

I wonder if I'll need Canadian, US or International postage... hmmmm.... :)

... now on to some FUN FUN FUN challenges ...

The 365 Cards Day 201 and the SSS's IC196, challenge was totally awesome!!
SHOES - HOW FUN!!!

I couldn't choose which purse would match my shoes!!! So I chose three... good thing I didn't have to choose only one bag to wear to ball ;) My digi stamp is from sketching stamper and... if the paper don't match copic-cize... The mat is simply coloured with my copic marker and the Bling is Stickles Diamond - I love that stuff :)

Alphabet photography - awesome Canadian talent!

Totally irrelevant but awesome alphabet photography!
Click here to create your own word

a digi cutter for CAKE DECORATING??!! OMG!

I never in a million years would have thought of using my digi cutter like this!!

Check out these cakes!!

Thanks Kbon for sharing this and the information the cake artist posted on another group:

"I use a Cricut to cut gum paste. First of all, you have to remove all of the tackiness from the cutting mat, otherwise you can't get the paste off after it's cut. (I literally rub it all off with my fingers then wash the mat in hot water.) To hold the paste in place, I apply a thin smear of Crisco to the mat. I roll the paste thin, to a #7 on my pasta machine, and let it dry slightly. It works best with old gum paste actually. I trim the paste so that it does not extend beyond the area that paper would normally be on the mat. I set the blade depth to a 4. I get very clean, precise cuts except when the blade needs to be cleaned (after about 24 uses). I just remove the blade holder and use a straight pin to flick out the build up of paste. It comes right out, and I'm up and running again."

Juuust awesome!!

Lamp Art

Alllrightie ... here's another beautiful idea ! Isn't your creative mojo just aching to get out your digital cutter and make something beautiful??

Paper dress Cupcake Toppers

Head on over to http://composinghallelujahs.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-make-paper-dress-cupcake-toppers.html for a tutorial on how to make these cuties ;)

The exploding box

I've heard about this but I've never actually seen one - until I found this great one overe here and a tutorial over here but by far, this is the most awesome one:

Check out more box ideas at http://magic-boxes.blogspot.com/

Flower Pocket Card

Aren't they beautiful??

Here's the challenge and and an example of

the inside of this card idea made by Missie_coop

You can totally use the QuicKuts flowers and leaves that come with the Silhouette in the QK Library and resize them, cut a bunch in different colours and if you have the RM upgrade the QK Library now has leaves you can also cut and add. What am I talking about??

1. Once you arrange and resize your flowers and leaves, save the file! Then save under another filename so you don't lose the integrity of the individual flowers.
2. Then weld the whole flower & leaves bunch and make a mat. Remove the flowers now (they are in the previous file) and add a rectangle and weld that to the flowers background as your card base and cut!
3. Remember to cut a bit of paper (by hand even) at the right size for your message to be written on as well.
4. Now back to your original file with all the pretty stuff. Cut the leaves and flowers in different colours, be patient with yourself.
5. Now you get to assemble!! YAY!
6. To make the flower pot base, I'd just cut it by hand :) And... the ribbon is the only thing holding it closed according to the original directions.

You know I am talking to you - Miss.A!! Enjoy :)

Paper Lanterns

These stunning lanters can be found at

http://www.earth-friendly.net/

Me and my big brain could imagine how they would look unassembled and flat but do I have the time/bandwidth to play and experiment?? NOOOOO!!!! LOL These are beautiful, I'd love if someone could come up with a mini-version template that we could resize and add the decorative cut-outs on - any designers up for the task?

You can find their catalogues here for even more pics of how they assemble them, etc.

UPDATES:
And a special thank you to Bonnie from the KNK Studio GE Yahoo group for finding these stunning inspirations ...and Meadelie thank you for finding this HOW TO !! ...and Marg for finding this video - just awesome!!

Anyone going to try making these??

A Father's Day Tribute

"Father & Friend" by Alain Clark

Beautiful advice

This is the most beautiful advice I have ever received in an email ....

'Never borrow from the future.
If you worry about what may happen tomorrow
and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain.
Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice..'

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day un rushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health. 5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places. 9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it..
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
16. Carry the Quran with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest
18. Eat right.
19 Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life..
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Lord .'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego
33 Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35.. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.