Simple Little Things

That's what is on my mind and heart today. Just simple little things that bring a smile or giggle. All the stuff that makes the everyday ordinary into something extraordinary. 

Maybe it's spending time with a true friend, just hanging out and soaking up some summer sun...

Or perhaps it's something fresh picked; ripe and juicy and ready to top of some ice cream or make their way into a fresh pie...

An ice cold treat on a hot steamy day always makes my heart and taste buds smile...

A "sweet" little picture frame; altered simply with just a few key embellishments to make it pop...a cherished picture that speaks of love...



Yes, that's what is on my mind today. Simple things that often are taken for granted; gifts that are there for us each day to receive and treasure. Enjoy the simple today!

XOXO, Nik

There's a new guy in town...

...and he is the cutest thing you have ever seen; literally! Meet Radar, my dad's new little puppy. Is he not the most precious thing ever? Just look at that face!!

                                   

 He is a Brittany Spaniel; the third dog of this loving breed that my parents have been happy to raise. My dad is a big time hunter; pheasant, duck, deer, elk. Brittanies are fabulous hunting dogs and wonderful companions. And did I already mention that he is incredibly cute?

My parents asked the kiddos and I to puppy sit yesterday and of course I had to bring a little something for the new little guy. He was the inspiration for the puppy gift set project below. Now, my papers that I used are a couple years old. I have been hanging on to this puppy paper from the Basic Grey June Bug line; thinking maybe I needed to buy a puppy just so I could use this ultra cute paper for something. And now I had the perfect opportunity. 

I wanted a simple little card for my ma and pa, just to say congrats on their new little dude. The papers are all from the older Basic Grey line June Bug, craft paper from Archivers and the mini alpha stickers are from Glitz Design. All puppies need treats for good behavior so a goodie jar was in order. I love these glass jars that you can find at your local Target store. So versatile for all sorts of gift giving.

Next up, a little picture frame to hold a sweet pic of this little guy's cute furry face. I hand cut several of the puppies from the paper and adhered them with pop dots for dimension.

A little twine, some kraft paper, a couple bone buttons and paint and it was done!

And the scraps did not go to waste either. I put those to good use and made up a few puppy themed tags. You just never know when there might be another fur baby that will need a gift or two. 

That's all for tonight. I am off to call my parents to check on sweet Puppy Radar and see how he is adjusting to his new home. Thanks for visiting me!

XOXO, Nik

Happy Birthday America!

Well, I am a day late with this post, but we have had a busy weekend. Lots of sun, fireworks, family time, swim time and so much more. I love Independence Day, don't you?

I also love messing around and playing with simple photo editing on Picnik. I am sure most of you already know about this little editing site, but I felt like sharing a couple of pictures that I used their 4th of July features on. Above I added the fun little stars to Cole's picture. And below, I used the colorwash of red, white and blue for Desi's sparkler picture. The brackets are also from Picnik; so cute to frame a picture that way. Love it.

Don't get me wrong; I love the vibrant, patriotic colors of red, white and blue and how they majestically represent our country. But what fun it is to shabby them up a little every now and then. Just a little sepia here and there. Pretty, simple, nostalgic and oh so shabby - love that.



The 4th also brings about a whole new season of crafting possibilities. It is such a short time that we leave these kind of decorations up, so I had hoped to get started early. That didn't happen, so my red, white and blue will probably adorn the house all summer long because I love it so. 

I used a variety of product on these simple but pretty pinwheels. The patterned paper is from Tim Holtz's seasonal paper stack. His grungy style makes my heart sing and he is so clever at bringing us fantastic products to craft with. I cannot wait to see what he and Ranger have in store for us at CHA. The red polka dot paper is from Bo Bunny; love their double dot papers. The paint can is just from Home Depot; I filled it with floral foam and then topped it with shredded music paper. The "sticks" that the pinwheels sit atop of are simply pencils that I painted antique white and hot glued to the back of the pinwheels. I covered the hot glued area on the back with a punched scallop circle for a more finished look.

The little centers are mostly from K & Company's Americana line. I added some ink, silver stickles, and a flower or two made from an old farm journal magazine to complete my ensemble. The small flags were a dollar at Michaels and I soaked them in a tea dye to give them a more antique feel. A vintage button here, some tea stained lace there and voila! Might have to leave this little centerpiece on my kitchen table for another month or so. And maybe leave this hanging in the entryway a little longer too...

I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday and your work week goes quickly for you. Thanks for stopping by to see me today. 

XOXO, Nik