artful conception

My Blog Has Moved!

2010-06-29T18:52:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I'm excited to announce that my blog has moved to my main domain, www.designtlf.com/blog.

Thank you for reading and I hope you continue to at my new location!

don't have a date yet? that's ok!

2010-06-20T05:13:00.000-07:00

Make engagement announcements by simply saying "invitation to follow..."

There is a lot of planning that goes into weddings and sometimes it's just hard to get your date narrowed down. That's what made Erma think that she just wanted to share their good news that they were ENGAGED and that an invitation would follow. Even though this doesn't give your guest a date to mark on the calendar they know to be expecting an invitation in the mail.

However you'd like to spread the word...we can make it fit you! Stay tuned for some more of my upcoming projects...colorful wedding invites, zebra print wedding thank you's and the cutest little guy's baptism invites!

red+black+white = classy!

2010-06-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

These damask patterned wedding programs proved yet again that your print projects can be done easy. They were simply printed on a glossy paper and folded in half...no need for extra work when the wedding is a week away! Congrats to Trudy & Nathan on there big day this coming Saturday!

Stay tuned for some more save the date magnets -- we went with the "large" magnet and included a picture of the couple for something a little different...

Got big news...spread the word!

2010-05-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

And how much more convenient can it get than Save the Date magnets that your guest can stick right on their fridge for the upcoming months to remind them of your big day?! This is also a great way to show off your engagement picture(s), how you got engaged or even your wedding theme...your options are endless!

Elegant yet simple...done easy!

2010-05-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

And again, I've let my blogging go to the way side. Good news is, I have some projects to share to (hopefully) keep me up on my blogging...

On April 9th, Bryan and I were invited to a beautiful daffodil wedding for the King's. Being the busy bride that Sara was, I wanted to help her keep life less stressful. So, when it came to thier programs, I thought, lets print them on the same pearl paper that we printed the invites on with the coordinating design. Between that and making them a oblong shape, it put them in a league of their own. And the best news, as soon as they were printed/cut they were done! No need to worry about making time to collate, fold, add any embellishments, etc. The perfect example of elegant yet simple...done easy!

Next up on my project list is some wedding thank you's for Sara and Jeremy! Also, stay tuned for some save the date magnets I did for Matt and Sunny!

Spring Fever

2010-03-08T17:14:00.000-08:00

Litterally! I've been sick as a dog the last few days...sneezing, coughing, achey! All this just as I thought the other day that I've done really good all winter not getting sick! Boy, did I jinx myself! I spent a good part of Sunday relaxing and slept in until 10:30 today! Much needed!

After I gained some ambition, I decided to go through my many emails in my inbox which then inspired me to to work on some side projects, update my website...simply get organized. Even though I don't feel good, that felt pretty good!

Last week I finished up a project for my friend Sandy with http://www.rememberwheniowa.com/. She needed to make some gift certificates and we decided to have a little fun with them by getting #10 Onyx Black Metallic Policy Envelopes and customized seals. Then Sandy took it a step further by adding on some ribbon -- the front had a nice gift bow while the back had the flat ribbon that wrapped around the envelope with a seal keeping it shut.

The possiblities are endless when you add on your own person touch with embellishments such as ribbon, jewels, paper clips... The sample shown to the left are wedding invites with tiny jewels in the middle of the paisley on the main invite. It's amazing how adding something so little can make your print pieces really standout in big way!

Love is in the air!

2010-02-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

Things have been going just great at the Nickelson household...must still be a bit of Valentine's Day floating around our house LOL! I've been having to work late at EDJE to come home to work more on side projects and the hubby couldn't be more helpful...making dinner and cleaning the house as I work away. Perfect!

Speaking of love being in the air, Sara & Jeremy's big day is only 46 days away! I went over to Sara's with a few other ladies last Friday to help stuff and seal all 300 invites! One of my favorite pieces from these invites are the seals...they are the perfect 'into' piece and they serve as your return address!

One thing I remember the most from our wedding, once I put those invites in the mail box, nothing felt more real! Maybe that's because as a designer I put a lot of heart and soul into them :)

Monday? Already?

2010-02-07T21:20:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was tons of fun...which was much needed after a super busy week! I decided to take Friday off due to not much sleep from a terrible migrane which resulted in not getting ANYTHING done to prepare for Bry's birthday party the night before. I baked some delicous "cookie dough" cupcakes and frosted them with chocolate and vanilla to make my own checkered "flag" for Bry's 29th birthday. Kevin Harvick is his favorite driver and his number is 29 so it only seemed appropriate...especially with Dayona right around the corner...next weekend actually...I'm thinking I'm not going to get much attention this Valentines day LOL

Saturday we did some running around, took the dogs on a walk and I spent some much needed time with the BFF, Ashley. I hadn't seen her since Christmas! It may have been a disastrous night...with my new waterproof camera "biffing" it on the cement and her scraf going up in flames but as usual, we still had a blast! Now, to see if I can get my camera fixed, ugh.

Of course Sunday brought the superbowl...Geaux Saints! We took the dogs on another walk (this time with it snowing), cleaned the house, cooked up a fiesta, visited the neighbor's for one of the cutest little ladies' birthday party (check out the invite!) and then back to our house to watch the superbowl on our 50 inches of fun (ps: after 3 years, we've finally paid that off!). We had a nice and quiet superbowl this year...just me, the hubby and wifey #2 (aka Ashley).

And here it is almost Monday...not ready for that but have lots to catch up on at work! Oh yes, tomorrow would be the most wonderful mother's in the world birthday (did that make any sense LOL)...HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I'm so blessed to have such an awesome family...even if they do eat candles...hee hee (who 'dat be, dad?)!

Ready for the new year!

2009-12-28T20:22:00.000-08:00

Can't really say that 2009 was all that bad but it definetly could've been better towards the end there...here's to good luck in 2010! My "SISTA" Jolene says that 10 is her lucky number and 11 is mine so the next 2 years should be good...we hope anyway!

Mom kept saying that all she wanted for Christmas was a job and she got just that! She started today! Hope it works out well for her. I on the other hand, did not go to work today; I spent the day taking down Christmas stuff and doing those things around the house that I have put off for months. The pic to the left would be the top of my drawing table...I haven't seen that in months! It's been a dumping zone!

A dear friend of mine, Sara, is a bride indeed! Her big day is approaching and all the stress is starting to hit home. And on top of it all, her daughter is turning 8 and has a fun birthday party planned but no invites to send out to guest so, Sara asked me to fix up some flyers...

Now, I best get to work on the invites for Sara and Jeremy! Stay tuned for updates on them! They'll really make you want spring to come with the pretty daffodils on them!

Staying Warm

2009-12-08T16:50:00.000-08:00

This time it's snowing soooo much that I'd prefer not to venture outside to take pictures but you can see just what's happening outside on the window from the warmth of my living room...

And what better way to heat up the house than to stir up some yummy family recipes in the kitchen. A long time family friend, Angie, had me put together a cookbook of her family recipes as a Christmas gift for her family. I just sent them off to print last night...just a few days before the holiday shipping cut off. I can not wait to see them all printed! You can see a partial dynamic viewing of the cookbook here, http://www.blurb.com/books/1060450.

It's the Holiday Season

2009-12-06T22:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas is offically in the air at the Nickelson house! Luckily Bry got the lights up outside on Saturday because it SNOWED today!

All the white stuff floating in the air got me in the holiday spirit so I finished up my Christmas decorations and wrapped presents. Now to work on those holiday cards to send out! I really have no excuse, I've had them done since the week of Thanksgiving...just need to address, stamp and stick 'em in the mail box!

BJ and Lexi sported their new coats to keep warm. I found them at Target for $2.50 each...what a bargain! We think BJ looks like Elmer Fud LOL

Yet again I haven't kept up very well on my design projects blogging. Here are some wedding invites that a did back in October. The red, black and white color scheme is obviously in but boy, do they make some elegant invites! I worked with the mother of the bride, Renee to get these just right. These are the perfect example of invites with a personal touch! Not only do they have a personalized formal invite on the front, we added some galeic writing with translation on the back. Very unique!

I'm currently working on a cookbook for a family friend...can't wait to share that project with you! Hopefully sending it off to print Wednesday with hopes of getting them done just in time for Christmas...cross your fingers! Time is running out for holiday cards too! Hurry and contact me!

BIG Update!

2009-10-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well it's only been, lets see, FOREVER since I last blogged. Lots of things have changed since my last post...

We've completed all but 10 pages in my Grandma's scrapbook. We had a birthday party for her at Hickory Hills October 14th and gave her the start to the scrapbook then....technically the book was completely full and we need to buy refills to finish it up! I think it went well and my do they give you a TON of food!

I've also completed quit a few design projects since my last post...so to keep me blogging I'll post them one by one as they were completed...

These beauties are programs for Tiffany & Gene. Tiffany had actually already had her invites done so we took the design concept from them into these so everything coordinated together. They actually rolled up as a scroll and were sealed shut with the sticker. They turned out sooo elegant and like nothing I've ever done before. Congrats to the newly weds!

Stay tuned for more projects and as always visit my online portfolio for more samples of work, http://www.designtlf.carbonmade.com/.

Sunday Funday

2009-08-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

Seems Sundays are mom and I's chosen day to work on the scrapbook. At times it seems a little stressful because of all the work we have ahead of us and the not so many days that we have to work on it but then again it's such a fun project! Today we got another spread done...one of my great grandparent's wedding/anniversaries and one of my grandparents wedding. Enjoy!

The Marriage of Calvin & Edna Mae
We got married on Friday, March 31, 1950 at 8:00. Cal always said he would always know when the 50th anniversary was. Unfortunately he did not get to celebrate it. The real reason we married then was because it was pay day! We were married at the Lutheran Parsonage in Greenfield, IA. Eileen ‘Jameson’ Armstrong and Emmett Lowery stood up with us. Reverend Volgel married us. I wore a white dress (size 7), black shoes and hat. Cal had on a brown suit. The only funny thing (and we found out about this later) is that Raymond Means and Cal’s sister Betty crawled up to the window and peeked in.

For our honeymoon, we went to Topeka and Alma Kansas to see a Navy buddy of Cal’s. Then 1 year later they came to see us when they got married (never knew what happened to them after that). On the way home on April 4th, 1950 we ran into a big snow storm and had to stay with an old lady in an old house - creepy!

Night Owl

2009-08-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

Here it is 1:45am and I'm no where near tired -- this is what I get for trying to get a head on things. I actually felt inspired at about 9:30pm to work on some of my side projects so I figured why not? So, I got to work...I'm working on some red, black and white programs...I think they are turning out pretty neat. We are going to have them roll up like a scroll and sealed with a monogram sticker. Once we get them finalized and printed (on pretty pearl paper!) I'll post some pics...they are different than anything I've done! However, making my brain work that late left me wired...I had so many things I planned on getting done tomorrow (I mean, TODAY)! Hopefully I don't get up too late!

Got Shawna's baby shower invites finished and printed! Sandy-Wandy was going to try to get them in the mail Friday as it's coming up soon! September 20th to be exact. Here is how super COOL they turned out...

Oh and a EARLY (as in I'm up waaaay too "late") birthday shout out to Sandy & Nate! Happy Birthday!

Heritage

2009-08-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

My mom and I are putting together a scrapbook for my Grandma Finck's 80th birthday. It's been quite the process and mom has done great work getting all the info organized...first Grams handed us about a bazillion pics so mom got them all categorized and then she thought well, it'd be neat to have a story to go along with all the pages so we put together "work sheets" for Grams to fill out. Granted it took some work to read her handwriting but we made it! Tonight we started on her parent's page...

Christian Krosberg Jorgensen son of Peter and Sophia Jorgensen, was born at Alborg, Denmark December 27, 1891 and passed away August 31, 1977 at the age of 85 years 8 months and 4 days. Chris was baptized and raised in the Danish Lutheran faith. He came to the United States at the age of 15, first going to Whiting, South Dakota where he worked for a farmer. He later went to Brainerd, Minnesota where he worked in a lumber camp. In 1911 he came to Cass County, Iowa and started farming near Massena. On July 4, 1912 he was married to Winnie E. Matthews. To this union were born ten children, eight of whom survive. They continued to farm in Cass County until 1972 when ill health of his wife forced them to quit and move into Fontanelle. He enjoyed frequent visits from his children and grandchildren and he loved to go driving around his farms. It was on one of these drivers that he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Winnie Matthews Jorgensen, daughter of the late William Jackson and Nettie Morgan Matthews, was born December 5, 1891 in Cass County, Iowa and passed away October 18, 1973 in the Cass County Memorial Hospital, Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 81 years, 10 months and 13 days. Winnie attended public schools and grew to young womanhood in the Cass County area. She was united in marriage to Chris Jorgensen on July 4, 1912 in Corning, Iowa and to this union were born ten children: 5 sons, Neal, Gerald, Ted, Merle, and Wayne; 5 daughters, Roberta, Helen, Agnes, Wilma and Edna Mae.

Although it's a lot of work, it's fun to do something like this for my Grandma and even more neat for me to learn of my heritage. Sadly, my great grandparents passed away before I was born...I'll post more of our completed pages as they get done -- we estimate they take about an hour per page! Wish us luck to getting it done by October 13th!

Busy Bee

2009-08-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

It seems lately that I just can't get caught up between work and home. I have to admit I haven't worked my regular hours at work for a few weeks but even at that I took time off last week and was only an hour off of my 40 hours. I guess as they say...when it rains, it pours! And with the bad economy and all, I should feel lucky and I do however I feel more of the stress LOL

Anyway, on a happier note, I got Baby Raegan's birth announcements done -- they turned out great! In a few short weeks Sandy, Jolene, Sarah and I are hosting a baby shower for Shawna. We are working on finalizing the invites now and I must say, they turned out super COOL! Stay tuned!

August Update

2009-08-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I've already started off on the wrong track with my blogging! Since my last update I've been to Dallas, Fort Worth and back! Every year EDJE.com sends a few of us to the Ag Media Summit. This year we were chosen to put on some workshops. Erica and I teamed up for the Designing for the Web :: What Works Online and Amber and Shari did the Fresh Designs workshop. We were all a bit nervous because we weren't sure if our focus was right on for the crowd attending but it seems we were right on. We have had a lot of good feed back and even some calls from new potential clients! All and all it was a great trip but I'm glad to be back and get to work after some refreshing networking.

My best friend since 5th grade, Ashley B., is visiting from Ohio....I haven't seen her since December! We planned to go tubing in Eldora today but they have been declared a disaster area after some strong storms passed through Iowa. So we had a change of plans and are headed to Saylorville lake to rent a pontoon boat! Hopefully the sun will come out soon...I need to catch me some rays!

Other than that I spent a good majority of the day designing some announcements and invites. Here are the newest ones that I've completed. They are for a friend's daughter's first birthday! Check for more updates coming soon! In the mean time, I've updated my online portfolio, www.designtlf.carbonmade.com -- check it out!

Sweet Baby Rae

2009-07-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world Miss Raegan LouAnn! My WBF, Shawna, had a beautiful baby girl by c-section today. She is a tiny little peanut...5 lbs, 10 oz, 20 in long and just as pretty as can be! Congrats to Shawna and Sam on their new bundle of joy and thank the big guy above that everyone is healthy and happy!

Stay tuned for her baby announcement and shower invite designs!

Lets get started!

2009-07-29T19:46:00.001-07:00

I'm really not all that good talking about myself but I thought this blog would be a great way to keep a "dairy" of my daily activities as a modern day working woman, designer, wife and friend...

Today started off as a good day...Journey came on the radio as I was getting ready this morning! I'm such a night owl that I barely get to work by 8:30 and considering that was on the radio about that time, I was running a tad more late than usual -- hello, I can't shut off the radio while Journey is on! Other than that I had a pretty average day updating websites and such. Erica and I practiced our workshop for AMS (www.agmediasummit.com) this afternoon. We've pretty much decided that we are going to giggle the whole way through it and throw "pay day" candy bars at everyone LOL

Lunch with mom and Mel is always fun -- however, Oh Gurl was just having "one of those days" (which I think I've been having one those days for months now...) where you just aren't quite yourself...tried cheering her up...not sure if I helped. I know she always makes me feel better :o)

Currently waiting on the hubby to get home from working late -- he feels as though he needs to work his tush off to pay for his new truck...like that's going to happen overnight! Anyway, he treats the truck as if it were a baby...washing, waxing and changing it's fluids regularly. LOL Hopefully he'll be home soon so we can watch the movie we rented, oh last night! I might get around to doing those dishes and laundry...prolly should be doing that now. Night!