Do you know what you are missing?

Nina's Art Spot is quite OUT THERE on social media. However, I don't necessarily offer it all on all platforms. So you maybe missing something you don't want to be missing. I thought you should know what I offer and where. This way you can make an informed decision on where you want to be getting Nina's Art Spot!

So as you know the Blog has the Full Article where as the Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter or Pinterest may have the brief version. The Blog will have any FREE Printables. Those will never be offered on the other forms of media. I generally show some samples of artwork in multiple places but again the Blog usually has the full article to accompany it. That full article may also have a FREE printable of the full workshop including cutting diagrams etc. that go with it! 

but if that is all you are getting of Nina's Art Spot...this is what you are missing:

on Instagram ~ www.Instagram.com/ninasartspot you will find

• Etsy coupon codes and specials
• CTMH store specials and coupon codes
• Weekly countdowns to the Creating Days until Christmas
• Planner Information
• Personal Updates
• and more

on Periscope ~ www.perisope.tv/ninasartspot you will find

• Impromptu scopes on planning and planner finds
• artwork can do's
• Shopping enabler alerts
• Shopping markdown alerts
• cooking snafu's and impromptu's
• lots of fun
• I generally scope 1x a month maybe a bit more

on YouTube ~ Nina's Art Spot you will find

• Project how to video's
• Subscriber Channel
• Eventually there will be technique how to video's
• and more coming soon

on Pinterest ~ www.pinterest.com/ninasartspot you will find

• Craft Idea Board
• Paper Arts Board
• Fine Art Board
• Holiday Idea Board
• Scrapbooking Board
• CardMaking Board
• Washi Idea Board
• and more

on Twitter ~ www.twitter.com/ninasartspot you will find

• Highlights of a variety of whats happening on the Nina's Art Spot Instagram and Facebook Page

The Stores

I have two stores. 

The first is the Close to my Heart store where I sell New and current Close to my Heart products. These are scrapbooking, cardmaking and all around crafting products. I choose to represent Close to my Heart because I can stand by their fine quality and choose to primarily use their products in my own fine artwork. There is a link directly from the blog home page to this store.

My Close to my Heart store is NinasArtSpot.ctmh.com

The second is the Etsy store where I sell Gently used and retired Close to my Heart products and handmade items. I also on my Etsy store sell my Mixed media pieces of custom artwork. There is a link directly from the blog home page to this store as well.

My Etsy store is www.Etsy.com/shop/Ninasartspot.com

Crafted with Love Christmas Count Down.....

Crafted with 💟 Christmas count down

It's official, today is midway to Christmas and the first day you need to start thinking about those home-made, hand crafted, one of a kind, specially made from your heart kind of gifts. I'm a planner so everything I do I plan out to make sure it gets done...with as much ease as possible. I of course have a planner for this. You do not need a planner but a pad of paper is helpful.

I would start off with making a list of those people you would like to bless this year with a 💟 felt gift. Then to decide on what you are making for them. I generally go with one type of project for them all. That way its only one set up etc. For example. Let's say I'm going to make a mini album for those I'm blessing. I can cut the same size base pages out for all the albums at the same time. Even if all the pages are different types of paper its a lot faster if they are basically the same size/type item. 

The next step is to create a project supply list. This is a full list for all the gifts. Once the needed supply list is created I would then start pulling out what I already have on hand and make a new list of those things I need to purchase. 

The next step is fun. It is to purchase the items that still need to be purchased. 

Then comes the hard part, calculating the remaining time left until Christmas with how long it will realistically take you to finish the project. Generally I usually break it up into sections. How long do I think it will take me to for example the mini albums, cut all my card-stock, design, correlate photos, cut photos, journal and actually bring it all together into the final pieces.

For the first 3 steps I would give yourself 1-2 weeks only. You can really get lost in the decision making if you let yourself.

Here are some ideas for making decision's on what to make:

• Close to my Hearts Annual Inspirations (Catalog/Idea Book) is choked full of ideas
• Make it from your Heart Vol 1 & Vol 2  are very inexpensive ($7.95 ea) go to idea resources on gift ideas for home decor
• Pinterest ~ Has a ton of ideas for craft projects and gift giving ideas.
• YouTube ~ Although we only have one tutorial up now there will be more going up and there is so much out there now.
• Periscope ~ Start following people who show tutorials.
• Michaels/Hobby Lobby ~ Take a tour with your phone to get ideas. Take pictures of your ideas. Hobby Lobby usually has project cards you can take for Free!

If you are doing something using pictures here are my top three photo printing places:

• Groovebook - It is a sign up app on your phone. It is $2.99 for shipping 100 4" x 6" pictures off your phone or tablet only. It is printed in a book format each month on a fairly thin glossy paper. However the date that each photo was taken is printed on the binding edge just prior to the perforation.  Use Code FICKETT21 for your first book of 100 prints FREE. To Redeem: Download the Groovebook app, sign up, then enter the promo code.
• Shutterfly - Is a good one as well although they are more expensive at $0.15 a print. However, sometimes they have additional coupons you can use. Their paper quality is a bit higher. They have both an app for android and you can upload photos from your computer.  When I'm using photos for scrapbooks and other projects  I still prefer the functionality of Groovebooks book style with the dates printed in them over the upgrade on the paper.
• SnapFish - Has a Free 100 prints with sign up bonus. They also have both an app and you can upload photos from your computer. Cost of their 4" x 6" prints are $0.09 each. However, I have felt their quality vs functionality is the lowest of the three options I've listed here.

There are more out there like Free Prints (they give you 80 Free prints a month, but you pay a lot for shipping), Walgreens but their website is full of glitches and I spend too much time hassling with their website....and many more.

I will keep the count down coming with tips, tricks and check in's here on the blog and more frequently on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter with the basic count down!

Happy Planning

Nina

Calypso ~ Seasonal Expressions II 2016 New Release

Its so fun to share with you the last of the three NEW Seasonal Expressions II 2016 paper packs.

I present Calypso!

X7210B Calypso Paper PacketThe paper pack comes with 12, 12" x 12" background and texture paper with zip strips. That's 2 each of 6 double sided designs. The sixth sheet being the Picture My Life cards that are also 2 sided and come in both horizontal and vertical. The Calypso paper pack is item # X7210B. The Calypso featured Colors: Black, Cotton Candy, Honey, Lagoon, Pear

 The Compliments are 2, 6" x 6" Coordinating Sticker Sheets and Assorted vellum die-cuts. The Calypso Compliments are item # X7210C. 

Z3215 Calypso Sequins

Z3219 Calypso Washi Pack

G1109 Workshops Your Way™ Calypso Scrapbooking Kit

The Calypso Workshop Your Way is incredible. I was able to put together 4, 2 page layouts and make 9 total cards (3 each of 3 designs) just by adding ink pads, a stamp set and a card and envelope value pack. Directions for the workshop is available to download directly off the website. Below are the samples of what I made using the Workshop Your Way.

Created by: Nina of Nina's Art Spot

Created by: Nina of Nina's Art Spot

Now, I didn't follow the directions exactly. I spiced it up a bit. It was lovely to get these pictures from 1998 scrapbooked. In 1998 my daughter was 2 years old and she's now 20 so I'm WAY behind to say the least! Harvey the Flamingo is stinkin' cute. Doesn't he look like a Harvey?

Created by: Nina of Nina's Art Spot

Created by: Nina of Nina's Art Spot

These next set of layouts are pictures taken from 1997 and are a skinny version of me. I worked so hard to loose my pregnancy weight and as a treat I went on a end of the summer trip to the beach in Rhoad Island. It was a quick trip but oh so wonderful.

Created by: Nina of Nina's Art Spot

Created by: Nina of Nina's Art Spot

Created by: Nina of Nina's Art Spot

Created by: Nina of Nina's Art Spot

and here are the three designs of cards that I was able to make from the Workshop Your Way. Now the workshop called for the stamp set One in a Melon C1650 but I used Tickled Pink C1651 because I fell in love with Harvey and had to use him in these cards. So I spiced things up a bit in true "Nina" fashion.

Created by: Nina of Nina's Art Spot

Created by Kendra Halverson

Supplies Used:

1. G1109 WYW Calypso
2. C1650 One in a Melon Stamp Set
3. Z1263 Bitty Sparkles
4. Z3167 Artistry Cricut Cartridge
5. Z2060 3D Foam Tape
6. X254 Card/Envelope Value Pack
7. Z2643 Canary Ink Pad
8. Z2197* Pear Ink Pad
9. Z2105 Black Ink Pad

*Retiring August 2016

Created by Jenny Johnson

Supply List:

1. X7210B Calypso Paper Pack
2. Z3215 Calypso Sequins
3. Z3167 Artistry Cricut Cartridge
4. Z3132 Watercolor Paints
5. Z3188 Paintbrush Set

Here are some other wonderful items made using Calypso. Please note all the creative artist.

Created by: Susan Williams

Artwork provided by Close to my Heart Corporation

Created by: Card Monkey

Created by: Jennifer Smith

Artwork provided by Close to my Heart Corporation

Created by Jennifer Smith

Created by: Jennifer Smith

Created by: Jennifer Smith

Created by: Julie Webb

Saying Good Bye....Saying Hello!

I'm so excited to get a chance to share with you a sneak peek at the all NEW 2016-2017 Annual Inspirations and the 2016 Holiday Expressions Catalogs covers. However as we say hello to the new we have to say good-bye to some of the old. Come September I will get to share with you A LOT more of the NEW. For now lets review some of the items we need to say good bye to.

First off there are some Close To My Heart colors that will be retiring . Those colors are: Gypsy, Topiary, Pear, Honey, Sunset, Cotton Candy and Hollyhock. These are Ink, Paper, Fundamental and Re-Inker colors

Here is a PDF file of all the retiring stamp sets. The majority will be retiring July 31st, 2016 so if there are any on this list you HAVE to have head over to NinasArtSpot.CTMH.com and join the July gathering and place your order ASAP!

Here is a PDF file of all the retiring items. The majority of these will be retiring August 31st, 2016 so you have a bit more time on these items if there are things on this list you MUST HAVE. 

ok now for a bit of a teaser on whats to come....

ahhhh

ohhhh

ooooo

July Stamp of the Month ~ From the Notebook

From the Notebook SET OF 24 $17.95 S1607 ~~~~> Use with Cricut Cartridge Artistry
Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for that month only, for just $5! When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

Here are some samples using the July stamp of the Month ~ From the Notebook

Scrapbooking Layout

Folio File

4" x 4" InstaLife Page 1

Made by: Kendra Halverson

Hello Beautiful InstaLife Page Supply List

• S1607 July 2016 Stamp of the Month
• X7197B Zoe Paper Pack
• Z2164 Sorbet Ink Pad
• Z2643 Canary Ink Pad
• Z2173 Slate Ink Pad
• Z2641 Glacier Ink Pad
• Z2117 Crystal Blue Ink Pad
• Z2454 Leaf Green ShinHan Marker
• Z2465 Turquoise ShinHan Marker
• Z1752 Clear Sparkles
• Z697 Sponge

4" x 4" InstaLife Page 2
Made by: Kendra Halverson

Standard Sized Card
Made by Nina Fickett

Hello Beautiful Card Supply List

S1607 July 2016 Stamp of the Month

X7208C Florence Complements

X7208B Florence Paper Pack

Z3090 Red Enamel Gems

Z2652 Poppy Ink Pad

Z2172 Whisper Ink Pad

Z2170 Ruby Ink Pad

Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen

Z3190 Cricut Artistry Cartridge