Swan Story

Hello! Its a bank holiday here in Ireland this weekend so everyone's in good form with the extra free day.

For my post today, in order to enter certain challenges, I've made something invented by the fabulous Hels Sheridan who labelled it The T'Pouch.. The challenge over at Frilly and Funkie is anything but a card to include a hidden compartment. Also the challenge at The Stamp Man is Butterflies, Birds and Bees.

Here's what I've made;

The T'Pouch is folded in such a way that it can contain 2 tags that can slide in and out of T'Pouch independently of each other. My first picture above shows the side of the T'Pouch stamped with Stampington and Company's lovely image (Heavenly P2216) embossed with Judikins EP (Black Diamond). This is 'The Black Swan'. The quote of advice from Aesop (from my printer) is on the top of a 'tag' within the T'Pouch. (Sorry its not a proper tag shape but by the time I realised I didn't want to go cutting proper tag corners in case I went awry and wrecked the whole thing! Bit tight for time today!)

The reverse of the T'Pouch is;

The same lovely image, but this time embossed with Stampendous EP (Winter Wonderland). Obviously this is 'The White Swan'. I've stamped some relevant text on the top of the 2nd tag inside the T'Pouch using stamp from Paper Bags Studios (Beauty PBS-038-C). (The tag, that curled from embossing, is now under a heavy book to flatten as I was rushing to get post published first).

Continuing with 'The White Swan' I've pulled out the tag to reveal it in full;

Clearly she is a happy swan as she is surrounded by butterflies, dragonflies and a glittery rose pink heart. Going back to 'The Black Swan' however the revealed tag tells a different story;

Yes, you've guessed it, this poor creature has a sting in her tail!

Thank-you to Anita who sparked my brain with her Design Team inspiration piece where she had different birds on front and reverse.

Supplies; Stardream and Bazzill CS, Cromatica Paper, Punched shapes with SEI Velvet paper using Punch Bunch, EK Success, Woodware and Fiskars punches. Melissa Frances pearls, Karen Foster metal charm, Lace from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Bows and ribbon from stash.

Wishing you all a really lovely weekend. Nicola x

I wish to enter T'Pouch to the following challenges;
Frilly and Funkie - Anything BUT a Card but with a twist
The Stamp Man - Butterflies, Birds and Bees
PaperPlay Challenges - Butterflies and Bees
Do You Stack Up - Embossing

Origami Christmas

Hi all and welcome to another post.

My card today has been made using skills learned at a workshop in Dublin hosted by the lovely and very talented origami artiste Naomi Fleury. Naomi patiently, slowly and thankfully repetitively taught us how to do various origami folds.

A special thin type of origami paper is used to achieve the sharp folds. I've added bow and bells from stash.

Wishing everyone a happy day wherever you are in the world. x

I would like to enter card to the following challenges;
Craft-room challenge - Going Oriental
Lawnscaping Challenge - Try a new technique
Creative Card Crew - Fancy Folds
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Up To You
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Traditional
Sparkle Creations - Christmas Card Challenges - Bows
Anything Goes Challenge Spot - Make your own embellishments

Thinking of You

Hello again and a warm welcome to all my new followers!

I've made this card for a friend who is feeling under the weather. I think the pastel colours in velvet make it comforting.

Base CS is Bazzill. Criss-cross 'envelope' made from SEI Velvet papers. I stamped onto some patterned vellum a sentiment and image from Impression Obsession (Mended Heart D6331) and embossed with Stamp n Stuff detail gold. To complete I added two little metal flower brads by Nunn Design.

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend. Thanks for browsing. x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Fresh Brewed Blog - Thinking of You
Ladybug Crafts - Flowers and embossing
SweetPea Stampers - Support
The Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything Goes
Fashionista Challenge - Anything Goes
Stamp n Doodle - Lauren Curtis - Anything Goes

Deer in Snowy Forest

Hello to all and thank-you for visiting my blog. I hope everyone is well and all set for a great weekend with lots of crafting therein. I'm feeling rather wintry today with chill air outside. I've thus made a Christmas card with a snowy scene.

Base CS is Stardream. I've punched the top part of a square of SEI Velvet using a Martha Stewart Punch. I then stamped onto the Velvet with a 'Just for Fun' rubber stamp (no serial number on stamp) using Versamark ink. I then heat embossed the image with Stamp n Stuff EP (Winter Wonderland) for a lovely snowy sparkle. Next, I edged some gold Stardream CS with the same punch. Stamped a Penny Black image (The Sound of Snow 2800K) with Versamark and embossed with a deep red EP from Sparkle n Sprinkle (Japanese Lacquer). I added round metal disc (Brenda Walton Metal Art), metal owls charm, puffy stars and ribbon. Finally, I placed pearls for snow effect to link the two images.

Thanks so much for having a look see. Have a lovely weekend. Nicola x

Thank-you to hosts, DTs and sponsors of the following challenges that I'd like to enter;
Penny Black and More Allsorts - Animal Magic
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Traditional
PaperPlay Challenges - Wooden It Be Nice
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Two's Company
Totally Stampalicious - Christmas Card
Southern Girls - Tie A Ribbon Around It
C.R.A.F.T. - Use metal on card
Little Red Wagon - Bowdacious
Whimsy Stamp Inspiration Challenge - All Things Sparkly
ABC Christmas Challenge - U For Up To U
Stamp & Create - Winter Wonderland

Christmas Angel Tag

Hi all. Welcome to my blog and very many thanks to all my new followers and commentors who make my blog posts so worthwhile.

Today I'm posting my first entry to the Challenge that Linda is running called The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas. Linda's first tag is here and the challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Check out the challenge blog for further details of the challenge and fabulous work for inspiration. The challenge has been running for 5 weeks so far and I am way behind so without further ado here is my take on Linda's first tag.

I did start out with intention of doing solely a tag, but it morphed into a card along the way. I've taken lots of inspiration from Linda's first tag however in that I decorated the tag with a central charm (angel in lieu of heart) surrounded by wings and sentiment, stamped a lot of flourishes and embossed with distress dry glitter. My tag too has been inked with Distress Inks and Stain. I also included stars at base of tag.

Base CS is Bazzill that I have edged and sponged with Distress Ink 'Worn Lipstick'. The white sparkle embossed vellum layer is from Papermania. The tag is a #8 Inkssentials manila tag. I sponged with a mixture of Distress Inks (Worn Lipstick, Victorian Velvet, Festive Berries, Rusty Hinge) spritzed with water. I also used Ranger Distress Stain Antique Bronze for lovely metallic shimmer and colour. I versamark stamped the tag with various flourish and script type stamps and embossed some of the stamping with Judikins EP Sticky Stuff and then added Distress Dry Glitter in Clear Rock Candy. (The glitter is subtle in daylight but it sure sparkles fabulously in artificial light.) Also painted some stars and a metal Angel charm with Distress Stain Antique Bronze - the metal took the stain very well. I decorated these embellishments with the dry glitter also. I punched a heart shape (Woodware) from vellum paper and stamped 'Peace' sentiment with Brilliance bronze ink. I also stamped some 'wings', again on vellum, with Distress Ink Worn Lipstick. Both of these stamps come from Andy Skinner Stamps (Simply Angelic ASCSA5010). I centred angel charm between all the 'wings' having added a stamped doily as 'wings' too. Also stamped a second sentiment using Distress Ink Festive Berries - stamp from Stampington and Company (All the year G1068). I added the stars that had been decorated with distress glitter. Also stained a crushed velvet ribbon with some of the distress stains and added crystals at corners to complete.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by,
Nicola x

I'm entering card to the following challenges;
The Funkie Junkie - 12 Tags of Christmas
Crafty Sentiments - Bows or Ribbons
Top Tip Tuesday - Things with Wings
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Up to You
Lady Anne's Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything Goes
My Craft Spot - Emboss It
Ooh La La Creations - Christmas Sentiment
Crimbo Crackers - Pink
Create with Kate - Papercraft for Knit & Stitch Dublin

"All that is gold does not Glitter"

Hello from a gorgeous bright crisp autumn day in Dublin. Sorry for my absence over last couple of days. My card today definitely reflects the day outside.

Base CS Bazzill. Onto La Blanche specialty stamping paper I stamped two images with versamark - a) the central image (Tim Holtz C0M004 Time) and b) the outer border (La Blanche Clock Background 1297). I then heat embossed both images with clear embossing powder. I inked, dried, re-inked etc the stamped images with various Distress Inks and Windsor & Newton gold calligraphy ink. Placed the 'Time' image in the centre and built up several 'bordering' layers using angel hair paper, mesh, crepe paper, regular paper and cheesecloth. I cut the 'clocks' image to form the final uppermost border. Printed quotation from my printer and edged with Distress Ink. Sparsely embossed some leaves and clock hands with Distress Embossing powder to give slight rust effect. (I couldn't go any heavier with rusting as the 'leaves' kept melting under heat gun!). I punched some branches using Martha Stewart punch to decorate. Affixed quotes to complete.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope your weekend is filled with brightness. Nicola x

I'm entering card to the following challenges;
Live and Love Crafts - Halloween and/or Autumn Colours
Vintage Elusions - Autumn Colours / Anything Goes
Sarah Hurley Challenges - Autumn
The Artistic Stamper - The Natural World
Victorine Stamps - Lots of Layers
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Autumn
Papercraft Star - Fall Colors
Craft Your Passion - Hip to be Square
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Rustification
Joanna Sheen - Autumn Breeze

Cinderella

Hello again.

My card today is inspired by the photo challenge over at Our Creative Corner.

I've made an easel card using Stardream cardstock. I trimmed the top edge with a Martha Stewart punch for crown effect. Wrapped the CS with a sparkly gold 'mesh' from a local fabric shop - it reminds me of chain mail worn as armor in medieval times. I stamped the beautiful Stampington image (Apron - 57342) on tissue paper, fussy cut it and glued to doily. Also stamped the lovely 'Feathered Swirl' (La Blanche 1252) and 'Cinderella' (Impression Obsession D6543). All images stamped with Delicata Golden Glitz and embossed with Stamp n Stuff Jewelled Gold. I propped the Cinderalla script as a mini easel. Added roses, bow and charms to complete.

Thats it! Not too sure about the whole 'Prince Charming' thing though!

Enjoy the rest of your day.

I'm entering card to the following challenges;
Our Creative Corner - Let's Be Royal
Crafty Ann's Challenge - 'Film Title' - 'The Slipper & The Rose' film
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Easel Card
Flonzcraft Vintage Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes

My favourite colour combination!

Greetings from sunny (but chilled) Dublin.

Base CS is Bazzill Dotted Swiss. The next layer is a heavyweight dot embossed paper in my favourite colour combination of blue and copper. I edged some Stardream copper CS with double sided sticky tape and poured copper glitter over it to adhere nicely. I also edged its base with a Martha Stewart punch. I then stamped a lovely Thai Silk paper with a Penny Black image (Adornment 3996J). I used Brilliance ink (cosmic copper) to stamp and embossed with Stampendous glitter EP in copper. Next placed several tiny crystals around the outer strands of wreath but they are not showing up well in photo. They do really sparkle though! Having afixed the silk paper to the cardstock with copper brads, I stuck some copper glitter on a Nunn Design star and centred it. Lastly I wound some blue satin ribbon around CS and tied two little organza bows either side.

Belated Happy World Cardmaking Day! Thanks for visiting! Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Penny Black Saturday - Sketch
PaperPlay Challenges - Shine On
Simon Says Stamp - Glimmer and Sparkle
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Sparkle and Bling
Created with Love - Christmas
Robyn's Fetish Challenge - Circles
Southern Girls - Spots and Stripes

Lost comments

Dear Readers,

Last night I decided to do some blog 'housekeeping'. I deleted almost a week's worth of comments from blogger dashboard thinking they were saved in posts as they had been published. I was then horrified when I realised my error i.e. comments were gone from posts!

I've checked my blog backups but they don't hold the previously published comments. I've done my utmost to restore the deleted comments - from 30th Sept to date. Alas, I have been unable to save the vast majority. I am very sorry to all who took the time to comment as they mean a great deal to me.

This won't happen again!
Sincere apologies,
Nicola x

The Teddy Bears' Picnic

Hello from lovely bright day in Dublin.

Some days ago when I saw the photo inspiration challenge over at Our Creative Corner it evoked memories of childhood summers in Ireland. To me the photo, showing checkered cloth, food outdoors and countryside meant one thing - a picnic (even in the rain sometimes). Thus I've made my card today to celebrate the most famous picnic of them all;

Base CS is Bazzill. Background paper (with burlap and pawprint pattern) is from Creative Imaginations. I cut wooden texture CS (by Gmund for G.Lalo) to form a picture frame. Next up I stamped several mulberry paper diecut trees with music stamp (Anna Griffin 580K21) using Brilliance Ink in Peacock. Made some bunting with a strawberry pattern fabric. The 'tablecloth' is a tag wrapped in plaid ribbon. The cake slices are from Felt Frenzy (Queen & Co) - a freebie from Frantic Stamper. I printed out some banners with lyrics from 'The Teddy Bears Picnic' song and smudged them with Ranger DI Vintage Photo. In photoshop I used free brushes from Gutterlily10 and printed 4 teddies. Inked them with Vintage Photo. Then dressed the little critters with gems and tartan bows that I was thrilled I had in my stash! Added pearls to cake slices (Kaisercraft), charms, gems (Hero Arts), branches (Martha Stewart punch) and buttons to finish. Not too sure if I've gone too far off the theme from photo, but I did have fun!

I hope those Teddies make it home in time for bed!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Nicola x

I'm entering card for the following challenges;
Our Creative Corner - Its a 'howdy' challenge
Tuesday Throwdown - "Cute & Cuddly"
Divas by Design - Use Some Texture
DisDigiDesigns - Animals acting like people

"Because You're Worth It"

Hi there. Thank-you so much to all those who have visited so far and sent such lovely compliments. They mean a lot to me.

October is breast cancer awareness month. My card today was a cinch to make, barely took any time at all and cost next to nothing!

Bazzill CS, SEI Velvet paper, Rose blockprint handmade paper, Bling from stash.

We should look after ourselves - Please take a little time and Think Pink.

Thanks for checking out my blog. Be well. xx

I'm entering card to;
Dream Valley - Think Pink
Celebrate the Occason - Breast Cancer Awareness
Flourishes Papercrafting - Think Pink
The Stamping Boutique - Pink, Pink, Pink
Link up for Pink - Link Up Party
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Pretty in Pink