School's Out for Summer,

 School's out for ever! Well, that's true for Ava and preschool. Essh! Last last of Preschool today, for-ever. So sad. So very sad. She is sad about it too. She even teared up a bit (I wasn't expecting that) but I totally understand. We are blessed with the best, most loving group of teachers and the thought of her not seeing them again really got to her.

 So of course we are bringing them little "happy summer" and "thank you" goodies to show how much we love them. Even though they don't actually get a summer break (they work straight through each year. Summer too) We are taking a summer break. A little one.

So here is the gift. A package of sumer essentials: Sunscreen, Aloe, Crystal Light, nail file, a compact hairbrush and a fun festive cup.

Hope they like it and we sure hope they do take some time to relax and soak up some sun. The deserve it!!

Keep Calm,

 Love this set. Coming soon in just 2 days!! Soon to be yours when you hostess a Stampin Up party of your own. This card is a case of a card I made earlier for some of my downlines. Click here to see the original.

Just too much fun to be had with this set. You can use it for almost any occasion. Love a versatile set like that. Notice one of our new 2012-2013 In Colors in here too? Its called Midnight Muse and it is topping my list of favorite In Colors right now.

Thanks for stopping by, Shop on!

This Week's Class..

Join us for this weeks class

8 for $8

Thursday, May 31st @6:30PM

Come make 8 clean and simple card for only $8

**change of location. **

Class will be at my house.

Please RSVP right away. This class does fill up.

Congratulations

 Sneak Peek time again! Playing around with pre-orer items. I made this card to take to a stampin day we had last weekend. Us demos got together and shared pre-order items and crafted together. This card contains two new stamp sets. The first one is called Make a Cake and the sentiment belongs to a set called Itty Bitty Banners.

Here is a closer shot. New DSP too. And there is that same new ribbon I have been adding to everything.

Okay, that's it. Thanks for stopping by. See you back here tomorrow!

Wedding Projects

 Well, the wedding is over. We made it thought the wind. And it was windy! So I didn't get to take as many nice pictures as I had hoped because wind was blowing decorations amuck and I was running around like a crazy person;) But here are a few projects I want to share with you.

 This sign was hanging on the door as guest arrived along with a wreath I made. I didn't get a picture of that but I did snap a picture before I left. So in theory the sign was hanging on the door and read, "here comes the bride" before the ceremony and after the ceremony it read, "Mr and Mrs Reed." But the wind kept blowing it back and forth.

 The favors were simple. We gave each guest a cup of  flowers to plant. We used Alyssums because there were a pretty mixture of purple and white. We wrapped the cups with burlap and added a tag that read, " Let Love Grow, Nina and Carl, 5-26-12."

 Here is the welcome table. A place for cards, Some Hersey kisses, and a cookie jar guest book.

 The cake was very simple and decorated with frosting all I did was an it a simple cake topper.

 This is a terrible picture. I should have gotten closer or backed up a bit but this was the table Nina and Carl ate at. I made this banner to hang across the front of the table. Sorry you see so much of the ground and none of the detail of the banner. I will see if I have some better pictures of this hanging around somewhere.

 Table center pieces.

 A simple ceremony table.

and the fam. Love them. So I officially have a new step-Father-in -Law. Pretty nice. Don't they all look great?Especially those three little babes. They were A-dorable!!

Now time to rest. I am exhausted!!!

Wedding Day!

 Its wedding day for my Mother-in-Law today! Whoo Hoo. I have been creating up a storm for today. Decorations, I mean. I cant wait to share them with you. I just hope they survive the wind. I would appreciate prayers for good weather, if you can manage;) It should be a fun day.

Here is the wedding card we are bringing with us. I made this card as part of our Last Chance class last week. Yep, the Medallion is on the retired list. This one make me tear a bit. Oh, Medallion! Why are you leaving us!?! I love you so much!! I'll be okay. promise. But I will miss you Medallion.

You still have time to get your hands on this stamp before it is gone 4-ever. 4-EVER. 4 E-VVVVERRR! Just click here;)

Okay, gotta run! Meet you back here tomorrow with lots of wedding pictures;)

Graduation!

 BIG night last night for my babies my graduates, I mean. Yes, Ava is a Grad! tear. Last night we enjoyed an adorable ceremony with lots of singing. I was a proud mama. Yep, that embarrassing mama that kept tearing every few seconds. See Ava up there in the top row waving to us? And Sammie is down front in the blue dress (with the smallest kids in the class, go figure)

 Last night we invited the Grandparents and Great-Grandparents to join us. It also gave us the opportunity to hand out a few of our school pictures.

 Here is a bigger version for the few wallet sized pictures we had.

And the smaller version for the mini wallets.

I love that they give us the pictures at the end of school. Sort of feels more like a memento that way;)

Anyway, just wanted to share in our excitement of last night. I sit here now a mixture of proud (for them doing such a great job in front of that huge crowd and for their big accomplishment) and a tiny bit sad (why are they growing so fast!?!)

Thanks for stopping by, have a great Friday!

Cherry on Top

 New sets coming your way soon! Here is a  sneak peek of another one. This one is a hostess set called Cherry on Top. Here is my first attempt to play around with it. Notice that new ribbon too? My favorite already. I use it on everything!

This is a pocket card. Here is a shot of the card out of the pocket. I know the angle of the card make it hard to read but it says, "Happy birthday with a cherry on top."

Cant wait for you to see the full set. Email me today to reserve you copy of the new catalog and to book a party of your own. Remember, great new hostess sets are waiting for you!!

Shame, Shame, Shame........

 I am sitting here with my head hung low. I feel so bad. I am a terrible, terrible upline;( I missed a promotion! Remember last week when I was pointing out names of team members who got there name in stampin success magazine ( a HUGE deal!)?? I missed one! Eshhh!!

 Look! Right there is the middle. Charlette Fite. Under Senior Supervisor too. The worst part is Charlette never said a thing to me!! But the best part is, your teammates did, Charlette! They saw it and brought it to my attention. Actually, three of them did! So thank you Stampin with Niki team for not letting this slip past me.

 I am so sorry, Charlette! The trouble is this girl promoted in the last magazine and I knew that. I wasn't looking for her name again. Who promotes again so fast!?! Charlette! That's who. Girl is climbing those promotion tables like the are nothin'  ;)

So congratulations, Charlette. Here is a card I made for you at our recent sneak peek day. Oh, and for those readers out there that aren't demo's, take a look at that new DSP coming your way soon..........

Keep Calm......

 New sets, DSP and accessories are just around the corner. Are you excited? The new Catalog will be live in just 9 short days. Be sure to reserve your copy of the new catalog with me: niki176@aol.com.  Today, I have a sneak peek at a new Hostess set, Carry On.

This is such a fun set! But remember, you can only get this one if you book a party or place an order of $150. Did you notice any other sneak peeks in here? How about new In Colors? New DSP? New Ribbon? Yep, its all in there and coming soon............. Cant wait!!!

Goodbye, Totally Tool

 Goodbye to one of my favorite masculine sets, Totally Tool. This set has always gotten plenty of use. The guys in my family are extremely handy Dad, brother, Grandpa, Father-in-Law, you name-it they can do it. Do these little tools and prefect pun sentiments are awesome. Only about a week left to swoop it up.

Click here to see a few more of my favorite cards we made with this set. Here and here and here and here and here.
Thanks for stopping by today. Happy Monday!

Party This Way

 Today we are off to a birthday party for my brother's girlfriend's son. This is the card we are bringing with us (minus the flower.) This card was a case of a card Sammie received for her birthday from our cousin Lorraine. Click here to see the original (in pretty girlie colors.)

We cased this awesome card of Lorraine's in our class this week (Party This Way stamp set on retired list.) Knocking out two birds with one stone there;) Demoed the card for class, then using it for a party this weekend.

Because I didn't know whether the ladies in class would prefer a boy card or a girl card, we made the card in boyish colors then if they chose to girlie it up, they could add the flower (which you see here) but because our card is for a boy, we will remove the flower before we hand it over to the birthday boy.

Gotta run, have a wonderful relaxing Sunday!

Criss Cross Card

 This week at our Last Chance class I showed the ladies how to make the criss cross card. This is a card style I love. I love it at Christmas time with a photo of the family inside, and it also works really great with the From the Kitchen of... stamp set.

So long From the Kitchen of..., soon to be leaving us. Don't worry you still have about two more weeks to snatch up more of this Domestic Goddess DSP and this great stamp set. Just picture baking some yummies for someone and attaching the recipe like this. Cute, huh?

Okay gotta run, I am off to a stampin day with my team. Time to share what we love and play with sneak peek items. Can't wait to show you what we do!!

Flower Pot Card

 Last Mother's Day card, I promise, and then I will move on. This one is a goodie. I see this style card around a lot and this was the version the girls and I made together at our Mother's Day class.

 Here is the card open. Fun right? 

I think the Summer Smooches DSP works great with this card. Love the bright boldness of the colors.

Didn't get you hands on the Summer Smooches DSP, yet? Or the new Seam Binding in Daffodil? No worries, it is making its return in the new catalog. Only two more weeks until you can get one yourself!!! Tick, tock, tick, tock.......

Domestic Goddess

 I ran a little short on time and didn't get a change to share with you all my Mother's Day cards before the big day. But here is one that I gave to my mom. Again, less than two weeks left to shop that retired list and for me, only a few weeks left to play with those items. This card has three retiring items on it.

Get ready to say, "farewell" to the Domestic Goddess DSP ( I got good use out of my pack. Loved that paper. I am down to the bits of it), the Now Your Cookin' ala carte stamp and the For all you Do stamp set.

Times ticking! Click here to see what items a re still left on the retired list.

Stamp On!

 Yesterday, I got the chance to play around with some of my new pre-order items. Talk about fun! Its sort of like having a blank canvas. I was in need to two cards specifically, and I had the perfect new stamp set. The set is called Carry On and its a hostess set (time to start thinking about booking parties come June 1!!)

 My Stampin Success magazine arrived the other day and one of my favorite sections is the title promotion page. I love to search that page an look for names of my team. Yep, found one!! Congratulations Andrea. So exciting.

 Here is a card I am sending off to Andrea. The other one is for the newest member of my team, Cathy.

Here is a closer shot of that new stamp set. Oh yes, and new In Colors too. This is an adorable new set. But remember you can only get it if you book a party. So start looking at that calendar.........

join me for this week's class..

Only two weeks left before some really great stamp sets and accessories leave us forever!

Join me for this week's class

Last Chance Class

Thursday, May 15th, 6:30PM at Panera

Cost of class is $10

Come make a few cards using items from the retired list and be sure to swoop them up before they are gone. Remember some retired items are while supplies last.

Please be sure to RSVP so I can have your space and supplies ready for you.

For all you do....

First off this morning, hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. Whether you are a mother or just got to spend time with your mother. Hope it was a great day.

Next, Congratulations to the newest member of the Stampin With Niki Team, Cathy!! Cathy joined by placing her $99 order ( by means of her kit) and is now reaping the rewards!! Whoo Hoo! And thank you for choosing to sign up with me;)

 Now for the card of the day. This top version was the card the ladies and I made together at our FOR MOM class last week. This card is a case of a Andrea Walford creation that I loved.

 These next variations are part of the many Mother's Day cards I handed out this weekend.  Its was wonderful to get to spend some time with other moms.

Here is a close up shot of the details. **Note. this is one of my favorite stamps ( especially perfect for Mother's day) and it is on the retired list. Eeeeek! Time to swoop it up fast. Click here to view the complete set it is attached to.

Have a great Monday. See you back here tomorrow!!