Sunday 9 December 2012

Let's Ice Skate

Happy Sunday everyone! I am delighted to see so many visits, comments and new followers. I appreciate them all and thank everyone for hopping on board!



I saw and saved an ice skate shaped card some time ago (can't remember from where). I printed out the shape and cut templates for the skate and boot. I am forever bookmarking tutorials and was glad to put one of them into practice today - please see Shelly Hickox's tutorial on Faux Tarnished Metal here as it is so effective.

I cut out the skate shape from grungeboard and gave it a coat of Metallic Stain in Pewter. Following Shelly's tutorial I gave the skate a few coats of silver embossing powder heating each as I went along. I then sprinkled some UTEE randomly and heat blasted it. The whole process caused the silver to bubble and tarnish beautifully. Just lovely for a vintage ice-skate.

The boot itself is cut from faux leather paper - bought in the most va va voom of Stationers - Kate's Paperie in NYC. The top of the boot is white Bazzill CS stamped using french text stamp by Andy Skinner (Simply Angelic set). Also edged boot top with silver glass glitter. I tucked in 2 types of venise lace from Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique. Just for shopping balance the lovely lace ribbon used for bow comes from another beautiful Stationer Daintree (in Dublin). I added 3 little heart brads and bow for faux lacing effect.

The background is a square of red velvet SEI Velvet paper (love this for Christmas). I painted glue across end of the velvet and applied a thick layer of Melissa Frances mica flakes. I spent forever trying to see what worked best to highlight the red leather of the boot and eventually settled on a band of white CS stamped and embossed with Stampendous Christmas Background stamp (CRR144). All the stamping on card is done with Versafine crimson and EP is Sparkle n Sprinkle Japanese Lacquer.

Took the shine from some Darice jingle bells by dabbing with pewter metallic stain and tied them together and stitched to the white lace bow. I recently got a fab stash of freebies with an order from Crafty Individuals so stamped and embossed their lovely free Jingle Bells sentiment and backed with strip of red velvet. I punched snowflakes from CS and vellum, coated them with glue and dipped them in Distress Dry glitter in clear rock candy. Also added same glitter to rim of boot and skate for sparkle aplenty.

Lots to do today - I wish I really could skate! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Nicola x

Thank-you to the many hosts, sponsors and DTs of the following challenges that I wish to enter card to:
Simon Says Stamp - Snowflakes
Crafty Mess Challenge - Vintage Christmas
Jingle Belles Rock - December to Remember
Craft Us Crazy - Its beginning to look a lot
Crafting Ireland - 12 Days of Christmas
Charisma Cards - Christmas
Stampin for the Weekend - Let it Snow
Glitter n Sparkle - Use Some Metal
Pixie Dust Studio - Sparkle and Snowflakes
Divas By Design - Let It Snow
Alphabet Challenge - V for Vintage
Sweet Stampin Christmas - Anything Goes
Just Us Girls - Embossing
Pile It On - Embellishments

47 comments:

  1. Fabulous silver skate shape,I love it^_^
    Just gorgeous card my friend in traditional colors^_^
    Big hug,
    Sonia

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  2. This ice skate is lovely, and I love how you've managed to give this card such a fabulous icy look too! Love your choice of red and white colors for a traditional Christmas feel! Great design!

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  3. The boot is fantastic Nicola, love the techniques you used to tarnish the skate blade and really love that piece of lace you used on the boot. A really beautiful, elegant card. Hugs, Anne x

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  4. wonderful festive colours..fab hugs trace x

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  5. This is gorgeous and a perfect way to use the faux metal technique. I love it, and I'm so glad you shared it with me! :)

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  6. ...how wonderfully festive Nicola, I've not seen the skate before but it looks wonderful especially the blade, a fabulous make...Mel :)

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  7. Hi Nicola,
    WOW again! Amazing card - the skate is so cleverly made, and I love all the script sentiment pieces.

    Hugz,
    Sandy

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  8. Brilliant, Nicola! I love the "leather" boot, and fantastic faux metal blade... and the crisp, sharp red&white is so festive... a wonderful card!
    Alison xx

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  9. WOW!! What an amazing skate on your beautiful card!

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  10. Love this boot Nicola! We have a very small icerink set up for Christmas in town and this would be the perfect footware to show off in. Love the faux metallic look and the red leather - how va va voom!! Hugs, Jenny x

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  11. Beautiful Nicola I like the skate the wonderful papers the lace bow and the bells.
    Kevin xx

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  12. Fabulous card Nicola. Wow love all of the detail. Stunning.
    Sending you Merry Christmas Greeting.
    Hugs from Laine
    X

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  13. Utterly Stunning card Nicola, so much work and detail, will pop over and check that tutorial, thanks for sharing, thanks also for joining us at Glitter N Sparkle this week, good luck hun xxxx

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  14. What a delightfully festive card! The colors are so fresh and I love that pop of silver on your design. Thanks for visiting and leaving the sweet luv.
    Hugs
    Berni
    berni46blogspot.

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  15. Wowee! Gorgeous creation - I love red, silver and white together, anything with text or script is right up my street and the silver ice skate is just incredible!!

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  16. You did a great job with that embossing technique!! Love the skate blade and the boot is fabulous too! Wonderful use of the challenge this week. Thanks for joining us at Just Us Girls!

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  17. Fabulous work, well done, thanks for joining us at Alphabet Challenge hoping to see you again. Caz DT.

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  18. You made such a gorgeous holiday, Nicola. Love the beautiful colors and all the fabulous embellishments.... :)

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  19. Stunning card!! Everything on it is so incredibly gorgeous. So glad you shared it with Christmas at Sweet Stampin' and I hope to see you again next month.

    Hugs, Dawn

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  20. Gorgeous card... Love that skate boot.. Brilliant embossing on the blade & the use of faux leather papers is simply perfect... Stunning creation... Hugs May x x x

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  21. Wow!!! Stunning creations. Your skate blade really did "tarnish" nicely. I will have to try it sometime.

    Thanks for joining our vintage challenge at Alphabet Challenge Blog.

    Mari

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  22. Oh my gosh, Cutest skate ever!!! Love it!
    hugs Lynn

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  23. Absolutely beautiful,Nicola.Have a wonderful week.
    Hugs,
    Marie

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  24. If I had ice skates that couture I'd give ice skating a shot! Gorgeous! Fab card!!!! Love the color scheme too!

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  25. This is fabulous. Thank you for joining us over at the Simon Says Stamp challenge this week.. Hugs, Dawny x

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  26. so stunning nicola.really wonderful design and i love all the frosty details :D

    xx coops xx

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  27. Gosh - loads of beautiful vintage cards, Nicola!!!

    They are all gorgeous!

    Hugs,
    Claudia x

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  28. This is so beautiful, I love the colours and layout and the lace bow and bells look stunning
    Lindsay xx

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  29. What a gorgeous card, love the Ice Skate, great design love the use of the lace xx

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  30. Thank you for joining us at Glitter N Sparkle this week Abbie DT, the last message sent before I added this bit lol xx

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  31. Nicola, This is magnificent ! Love the burgundy and white color combo.

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  32. Stunning cards!

    thanks for playing along with us at Alphabet challenges
    Hugs Shaz x

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  33. Another stunner Nicola! The skate is fab and I love all the texture you've crammed onto it!

    Thanks for joining us at the Alphabet Challenge Blog!

    Sheena
    xxx

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  34. This is when cute meets elegant. What a fabulous idea and it is over the top but with an abundance of good taste.
    WOW - everyone wants to be on your Christmas card list!
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  35. Great card, I love the colour combo and style of it!

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  36. Oh Nicola, this card is absolutely FABULOUS !!!... All is beautiful on it, and just perfect ! Thank you for the link on the original tutorial too, and for all your detailed step-by-step I appreciate much. I'm like you, I'm used to bookmark a lot of good tutorials in the hope of using it one day LOl!:) Hugs, Coco x

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  37. Gorgeous card and love the layout . Brilliant colour choice.. thanks for sharing at glitternsparkle hugs trisha x

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  38. Absolutely stunning, Nicola! I wish I had your patience and your eye for detail and your creative flair...oh heck! When I grow up I wanna be like you! I'm going to gawk at your master piece some more!

    hugs

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  39. This is one gorgeous card Nicola everything pops off the page beautifully. Love it.

    Hugs Shirley x x

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  40. Wow, I'm missing words, such a fantastic card. Love all the details.

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  41. Hi Nicola,
    What a super card, so much to see and such beautiful work. Thank you for your kind words on my blog, sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.
    Hugs
    Suzie xx

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  42. A super card, thanks for joining in the lejdesigns Challenge
    Janet

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  43. Another beautiful creation!! Thank you for sharing it with us in our 12 Days of Christmas Inspiration. Timi (Crafting Ireland)

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  44. Fabulous!
    Thanks for playing at Pile It On!
    Happy New Year!
    Helen x

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  45. LOVE this!! So FESTIVE!
    Thank You for joining us at PIO! Happy New Year! Have a GREAT day!

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Thank-you! Your visit and comment is very much appreciated. Nicola x