Spring Fever

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!

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?

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!

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

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

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!

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/.