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SEALED WITH A STAMP



My Time...My Life...In LIVING Color












Tuesday, March 3, 2009



I'm On A Design Team!!!!!!



I have so much to share today that this is going to be a long post.  I decided to give you the important stuff first and then if you want to hang around for pictures of my craft area you can towards the end.  If you aren't interested is seeing the "fruits of my labor" I'll understand.  I mean it only took me 16 hours, but, you know, whatever:)My first big news is that I have been accepted onto a Design Team for STAMPTACULAR SUNDAY CHALLENGE.  I am so honored and excited to be a part of this team.  You will notice that I have a new banner on the left side of my blog.  Please check out the website and all the terrific girls who are a part of this team.  I hope you will decide to join us in the challenges.  They are amazing.  The first one starts on April 5th so please stay tuned for that.   A big THANK YOU to Priscilla for choosing me.  I can't wait!Now onto my card for today.  I feel like my mojo may be back.  Is that because I used the MOJO MONDAY sketch?  Hmmm, maybe:)  It's a pretty fabulous sketch.  Go check it out and see what you come up with.  I will definitely use this sketch again.Paper:  Sahara Sand textured, Choc Chip, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Chocolate  DP Bella RoseInk: Mellow Moss, Choc ChipStamps: Thankful Elegance, Serenity (Verve)Other: Paper Piercer, Vintage Brads (SU), Satin Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)Now onto the pictures of my craft room and how I store various things.  First, you need to know that I don't have a "room" per say for my crafts.  My room is in our unfinished basement.  I love it there because my kids also have a craft area, play area and TV area down with me.  That way we can still spend time together when I am crafting.  I love my space and feel very blessed to have such a large area.  It is nothing fancy in the way of everything being "matchy, matchy" or with  high end storage but it works perfectly for me.This is the area where I sit and create.  I have perfect view of the TV in front of me or I have a radio above me.  Sometimes I also plug in my laptop and watch a movie beside me.  I have 2 banquet style tables that are pushed together.  This is where I hold classes as well.This is the area where I have my cutting station on the left and my embossing and cuttlebug station in the center of the picture.Here is a closer look at all my embossing paraphernalia and at the drawers that house the things I use most frequently (ie..markers, dimensional, extra adhesive).This is a quick shot of how I do my embossing.   Here is a great tip provided by my friend Kathie.  Take an old cookie sheet or cake pan and wrap in tin foil.  This helps to evenly distribute the heat from your embossing gun to your paper and keeps the mess "at bay".  I like the cake pan because I can keep little things I am embossing from flying around.  When your tin foil gets really messy just replace it.  Thanks Kathie for your fabulous tip!This shows off my cuttlebug area.  See those clear crates in the cubbies?  Got those at Walmart for $1 and then hold my sizzix dies and embossing folders along with the "sandwich making" components for my cuttlebug.  I got my cubbies about 6 years ago at Walmart.  They were the BEST investment ever!  See how they house all my SU sets and all those little supplies you need within quick reach?  So perfect.This was the free counter/cabinet we got.  It didn't come with doors so I may make my own curtains to hide things.  At this point it doesn't bother me too much.  I have my sewing machine ready for quick stitching projects.  That old cassette tape holder houses my In Color ink pads.  I have my catalogs , sewing projects and finished cards in here.  This was such a great freebie.  You can kind of see that my ribbon is also hanging from the wall in gutters.  Yep, that's just a section of gutter and it holds ribbon on a spool perfectly.  I have my other ribbon in that basket sitting on top.This is my last picture.  Sorry it's crooked.  I didn't feel like laying on my table to get a straight one and forgot to fix it.  This is a Rubbermaid storage chest.  It houses all my alterables, scrap cardstock (CM file folders), extra tools, beads and bags.I know I have a lot of SHTUFF!  Along with a good purge comes a sale.  I will be posting a few things on ebay this weekend.  I'll provide a link later.Well that's it for today.  Thanks for hanging in until the end.  I am really trying to keep my area clean after each crafting session.  I don't get anything else out until the stuff from the previous project is put away.  My mom is making me (kidding).See you tomorrow for Work It Girl Wednesday!





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Tuesday, March 03, 2009






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Monday, March 2, 2009



After 16 HOURS!!!!



I'm back!  16 Hours is how long it took me to clean my craft space.  Is that not INSANE!!!  I mean really.  How did I let it get so bad.  I had to do a bit of remodeling as well.  We got an old counter/cabinet that my husband's work was throwing away.  I will show pictures later.  But first I am hoping I have made the deadline for Kristina's color inspiration.    This is also for Jen's SFYTT.  Go check it out.  She has blog candy! I was glad to create a bit.  This card is for my husband when he gets his new job:)  My sister always says you have to "put things out there".  How out there do you think it is to congratulate him when he doesn't even have the job yet?  Is that too much?  Well, I am hoping this really happens for him/us.  So here is my masculine creation.  I really struggled today.  I think I am going to just do some creating this week without "guidelines"  It's been awhile since I just went with it.I will be back later with details.  My computer just erased everything I wrote about this and I am out of time. Need to get my kids to school and then off to work.





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Monday, March 02, 2009






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Tuesday, February 24, 2009



Creative Break



If you have read my blog long enough you know that I love several things.  One of them being a great deal and another is recycling.  I got a GREAT deal on a new pair of jeans and took the tags off with the idea to do something with them.I must be in a creative funk because the card I made is pretty cruddy.  I really had such high hopes.  After trying and trying I came up with this.I am really not happy with it at all.  But I decided to post it so you can see why I need a creative break.  I realized that right now my house is in such disarray that I can't possible focus on anything else.  I have a lot of spring cleaning to do in my craft area as well as other areas of my home.  Every time I come down to clean my craft area I end up sitting and trying to create.  Well, today I need to stick to the task.  So, I am most likely going to be MIA this week.  Hope you understand.  If  I am able I will post a Mojo Monday card sometime this week.  Don't forget to check it out and try to play along.  It is" layerville" this week.  I have some great papers I want to play with but my mind can't seem to stop thinking about cleaning. Tee hee...that's a first.   I hope to come out from under the clutter revived and full of ideas.  Have a great week!





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Tuesday, February 24, 2009






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Monday, February 23, 2009



Wishing My Husband A Very Happy Birthday!



I am posting this late because I didn't want my hubby to see his gift before actually GETTING it:)We have a very busy day of running around and then we are going out to dinner.  My husband really hates birthdays ,but I never let him forget that it is a VERY important day.  All you have to do is look around at the people who were created because you were born and the lives you have shared in to realize how important  your birthday really is.  We always have at least a small celebration.  I'm excited to give him his gift.  I love it so, I hope he does too.  It is a photo box that I got on clearance.  It was all white so I altered it with some paper and chipboard.  Here are pictures of all four sides.  The pictures really stink....sorry.  I am looking into building my own photo box.  I'm hoping that helps.I used a denim designer paper by The Paper Studio and modge podged it on.  Then I covered a variety of chipboard letters with cranberry cardstock and stamped them with the Linen background stamp and versamark.  These were modge podged also.  The white letter are THICKERS stickers.  The heart is from Hundred Hearts (verve) and is stamped in RHR ink onto the cranberry cardstock.  I wrote "are" with my white uniball pen and then stamped again with versamark and clear embossed.  This was adhere to thin chipboard for more stability.  The words "silly and goofy" are stamped with  Rough Edges Alphabet (retired) and white craft ink.  I then traced it with the uniball pen to deepen the white. All the pictures inside are various shots of all of us at the Fire Dept.  One is a picture from long ago when my husband had me put on a uniform at an Explorer' Event.  I always joke that he gave me an initiation into the life of a fireman when we were dating.  He had me get in full gear, walk up and down stairs, carry hose and crawl on the ground.  For all you people that think being a fireman is "easy" this is one drill that will give you a little better perspective.  I guess I passed the initiation:)  Here we are 15 years later.The top opens up and we put candy inside from each of us.  There is also an Ipod in there.  Now maybe he will stop putting his  music on mine.  Somewhat self-serving, but it is what it is.  We do NOT have the same taste in music so I always joke about his awful music.  Then he secretly sticks it on my Ipod and I don't find out until we are FAR from my computer with no way to change it.  I'm hoping this will now "cure" that.  Knowing him, he'll probably still do it to pick on me.  O, I'm outta here.  Things to do!I hope you have a great Monday!





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Monday, February 23, 2009






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Sunday, February 22, 2009



I Was Cooking....



....and that is what gave me the idea to find out what spice I am.  Have you ever done this?  I have seen people do it for drinks amongst other things so that's where I got the idea.  Here are my results:   What Spice Are You?                  You Are Cilantro        The bad news is that there are some people who can't stand you.The good news is that most people love you more than anything else in the world.You are distinct, unusual, fresh, and very controversial. And you wouldn't have it any other way. Now, I don't know how "true" this describes me but Cilantro is my favorite spice.  I LOVE IT!.  I love rubbing it all over my hands and smelling it all day.   I like to toss it in my salad and sometimes just nibble on it.  YUMMO!  So, that's a little tidbit about me.  I promise I will be back on Monday with some craft related things:)  Want to find out what you  are in the meantime?  Go HERE





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Sunday, February 22, 2009






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Saturday, February 21, 2009



Grandma's Hands



I don't have anything to show today in the way of a card or crafty item.  I few weeks ago I posted the funny story of my husband and his comment about my hands.  Yesterday, I talked a little bit about my Grandma.  I remembered that I had saved this "story" that my brother sent to me in an email.  It's a pretty great story in my opinion and I really wanted to share it. I hope you have a great weekend.  See you on Monday! Grandma's Hands   JUST LOOK AT THE PICTURE A GOOD WHILE, AND THEN READ THE REST.  IT WILL TOUCH YOU. GRANDMA'S HANDSGrandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench.She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and theLonger I sat I wondered if she was OK.Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on herAt the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head andLooked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," sheSaid in a clear voice strong."I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting hereStaring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," IExplained to her."Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked. "I mean reallyLooked at your hands?"I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned themOver, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked atMy hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.Grandma smiled and related this story:"Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they haveServed you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkledShriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life toReach out and grab and embrace life."They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon theFloor.They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, myMother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulledOn my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went offTo war."They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They wereUneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. DecoratedWith my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when IBuried my parents and spouse."They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, andShook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed theRest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried,And raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me worksReal well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue toFold in prayer."These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach outAnd take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me toHis side and there I will use these hands to touch the face ofChrist."I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember GodReached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home.When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of myChildren and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked andCaressed and held by the hands of God.I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon myFace.When you receive this, say a prayer for the person who sent it toYou, and watch God's answer to prayer work in your life. Let's continuePraying for one another.





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Saturday, February 21, 2009






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Friday, February 20, 2009



Lily of the Valley



Just a very quick post today.  I have to get ready to sell Girl Scout cookies tonight.  I wanted toparticipate in the last Viva La Verve Challenge for this month so I can get in the running for some free Verve stamps.  You still have until next week to play if you like.When I saw this set in the catalog I knew I had to have it.  Lilly of the Valley is one of my most favorite flowers.  It reminds me of when I was a little girl at my grandma's.  Grandma Harvey was a special person in my life.  More so because she wasn't even my "real" grandma.  That was only in the sense of genetics though.   She taught me many lessons that I still carry with me and always will. She was a true inspiration.   Someone who had so little and gave sooo much.  She is one person that I miss terribly in my life.  So whenever I see this flower I always see her waiting for me on her "lily of the valley-lined" porch.  I can see her waving and smell the beautiful fragrance of these tiny, delicate flowers.  They always make me smile.I used Cert. Celery for my base.  It was stamped with the same ink using the retired Stitches background stamp. I ran a DCWV Text piece of cardstock  (grayish color0 through my Birds and Swirls embossing folder and cuttlebug.  I then sanded the raised areas.  The yellow cardstock is also text. DCWV.  I stamped in basic brown onto watercolor paper the lily from the new set Easter Beauty.  I then used my SU Pure Color Pencils, Prismacolor Pencils and mineral oil to color the image.  This technique is know somewhat as Magic Gamsol.  I didn't want to use Mineral spirits so I just used baby oil. I also used some blending stumps.  This was my first try at this and I think I need to practice.  I used ribbon from the Salebration brochure and some Lush Kaiser pearls that I got from Taylor's store.  Just an FYI...."lush" means GREEN.  I did not know that.  I never thought I would use them and wouldn't cha know, they are the first thing to get used.  Never say never!  I used my sizzlits tags from yesterday and cut out an acetate tag that I then embellished with the white tin "celebrate" tag I had laying around and more "lush" pearls.  The acetate tag also got run through my cuttlebug.  It's hard to see.  That was the twist for this weeks challenge....use acetate.   Here is a close up of the tag.Gotta get going.  Off to SELL, SELL, SELL.  Which is better than what I have been doing which is EAT, EAT, EAT!Darn Thin Mints!  They may be thin but I sure won't be if I don't get them out of my house soon.Have a great day!





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Friday, February 20, 2009






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TIP OF THE WEEK

This is a tip for embossing. Line an old cookie sheet or cake pan with tin foil. Keep your embossing gun and powders inside it all together. You are ready with all your tools at a moments notice. Check out this post for a picture towards the end. Thanks to my friend Kathie for this great tip!









Blog Archive





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2009
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March
(2)
I'm On A Design Team!!!!!!
After 16 HOURS!!!!





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February
(20)
Creative Break
Wishing My Husband A Very Happy Birthday!
I Was Cooking....
Grandma's Hands
Lily of the Valley
Almost No Stamping Thank You
Giving "U" A Shellac-ing
Sweet Friend and Prayer Request
Feelin Blue...Not!
Happy Heart Day!
Gold Cross and the MOJO'S Gone
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Yes I know it's Valentine's Day
Challenging Day!
Papertrey It's in the Bag
Quick Post
Rushed Week
True Pink Friend
Happy Monday!
Going Acrylic!





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January
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Post Part Deux
Snowed IN
Dirty Bird
Simple Card Sunday
HELLO!
Simple Card Sunday
I HAVE to be HONEST
Kwerener Color Inspiration
Warm Thoughts
Final Verve challenges COMPLETE
Another Post Today
MoJo Monday Challenge
Jen's Saturday Sketch
Lots to Share
Back To Reality...
Viva La Verve Challenge Fridays
I'm an idiot
Happy 2009






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December
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My Last Post of 2008
Merry Christmas
Helping Hannah
Teacher gifts and Gingerbread Makers
Kwerner and WIGW
One, Two, Three
GO GREEN!
OCC Sketch Challenge
Another Kwerner Addition for a Special Person
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About Me

Nikki Schmaltz
Welcome to my blog!  I am a SAHM to my two fabulous kids.  I am also a Stampin Up demonstrator celebrating my 5th year with this great company.  I live in a tiny village in southern Ohio with the love o' my life Dave.  We moved here about 3 1/2 years ago from Michigan.  I love it here.  I am also in love with creating. I enjoy crafting on so many levels but stamping is my favorite. I hope that on this blog I can inspire and entertain you.  Visit with me often please
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Malignant Mesothelioma