I'm delighted to start my first post of the year with a guest design spot at one of my very favourite blogs Frilly & Funkie. The theme there for Cec's challenge is 'Sing, Sing, Sing' which is a nicely adaptable kind of theme if you are like me and finding it difficult to get your mojo going right after Christmas. (Receiving a Radio Frequency Ablation to my neck last week hasn't helped either!).
(Click pic to enlarge)
The bird itself is diecut using Sizzix 'Bird Scroll' die. He's been decorated with Frantage embossing enamel in 'Shabby White', blue Frantage fragments and glitter in 'Steel Blue'. A little bell adorns his wing to match one affixed to grosgrain bow. The three gold music charms are from stash. Branch is made from brown velvet ric-rac and Magnolia and Memory Box diecuts using Bazzill 'Chocolate' cardstock. Outer rims are edged with 'Tea Dye' distress ink.
The layer below is a music paper by Pion Design cut using a beautiful Joy Crafts die ('Square and Chandelier'). I tried edging this square with 'Tea Dye' distress ink to tie in with other layers but it didn't look great so have left edges clean on this one. Stamped the paper with Tim Holtz 'Speckle' stamp using 'Potting Soil' archival ink and applied some 'Shabby White' Frantage. Dotted pearls around the musical square too.
The blue layer below (by Pion Design) has been cut with my new Martha Stewart 'Eyelet Lace' punch. Again, stamped with 'Speckle' stamp and edged with 'Tea Dye' DI to bring consistency through the layers. Sprinkled on some 'Shabby White' Frantage and 'Steel Blue' glitter.
Layer below that is cream cardstock. I cut a square slightly larger than the blue paper layer and using it as a mask dabbed 'Tea Dye' ink around rim of a larger cream square so that a border of 'Tea Dye' ink formed right around. Then randomly stamped some music using a Katzelkraft stamp and 'Potting Soil' ink. Sprinkled around blue Frantage fragments and added little blue crystals to corners.
Lowest blue layer has just had its edges inked with 'Tea Dye' and pearls dotted at corners.
So why don't you make something musical and enter the Frilly & Funkie challenge. There's a great prize to be won and in any event you're guaranteed to find lots of great ideas from the talented design team there. Huge thanks to all at Frilly & Funkie for inviting me to guest design for them today - it's always a privilege.
Just one more thing, apparently the lovely people at Google Blogger are going to bring about some changes (again!) to the Blogger Follower Gadget. You must be signed up to Follow Blogger blogs (including mine) using a Gmail account - if you don't use a Google account you will be dropped off into the cyber nether. For more details please hop over to the ever eloquent Alison who explains it more clearly here - thanks Alison! (Anyone Following by Email or Bloglovin' should not be impacted).
As always, very many thanks for your visit.
Nicola x
I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Anything But Cute - Ring Out The Old, Bring In The New - new punch
Live & Love Crafts - Something New (new punch)
Tuesday Throwdown - Add Dimension
Shopping Our Stash - Something New - new punch
Die Cuttin Divas - Tweet, Tweet, Use A Bird
We Love 2 Create - Anything Creative / Mixed Media Goes
Craft For The Craic - January Blues
Scrapy Land - Anything Goes using brand carried by Scrapy Land (Memory Box)
Stamps & Stencils - Oh So Blue
Noor Design - Anything Goes
As always a super creation Nicola and one of my favourite colour palettes.
ReplyDeleteB x
Congratulations on your Guest Designer spot at Frilly and Funkie! My favorite colors here, too, but so beautifully put together! I love the detail of the musical charms! Great to read about your process! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWow Nicola, this is just stunning!! LOVE the blue tones with all the neutral accents, such a captivating and vintage palette! Your music panel is just wonderful, what fancy die cut/punch layering you have done, wow!! The touches of Frantage and the pop of the black twig just add the extra oomph that all your projects have!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'Sing, Sing, Sing' challenge and also Thank you for joining us at Anything But Cute for our 'Bring in the New' challenge! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)
Oops, I got carried away for a second there. For Frilly and Funkie, I meant as our Guest Designer...for Anything But Cute, I meant as an entry into our challenge.
ReplyDeleteI think your Mojo is just fine because this card is absolutely gorgeous! I love the dies you used, the paper and all the wonderful details! Thanks for playing along with us at Scrapy Land Challenge #33!
ReplyDeleteHe surely does look like he is singing his heart out. A beautiful project, with all the pretty layers. Reminds me Spring will come.
ReplyDeleteOh it is a gorgeous winter sing a song card, dear Nicola.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colors and your diecuts and punched layers are so lovely.
I never tried Frantage, but it looks wonderful.
I hope we can go on following each other Nicola.
Hugs,Dorthe
That frantaged bird has me singing a tune right now and it goes like this...WOO HOO...that's GORGEOUS! A bird with a rustic fabulous bell and that sheet music looks amazing together. Congrats on the GDT appearance. You're always an abundance of inspiration for me.
ReplyDeletehugs to you and I hope that ablation starts to help you.
Lisa x
Gorgeous! I'm really enjoying your little bird and the fancy music paper die cut.
ReplyDeleteThis is so wonderful, the texture, color, and overall design are so fabulous!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, Nicola, this is stunning!! Your mojo is definitely back!! I love all of the amazing texture and detail!! The bird looks amazing with the frantage and bits you added!! The black branch really makes him pop!! The layers are fabulous!! I love, love this!! Congrats on your guest design position!! And thank you so much for playing along at Scrapy Land!! I hope your neck is feeling much, much better. Have a wonderful day!! Big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
Beautiful project! Thanks for playing along with the SHOPPING OUR STASH crew for our "Something New" challenge!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous !
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at Scrapy LAND challenge blog and good Luck !
MARYVONNE DT member
So stunning Nicola.I love the sweet bird and your colour combo and detailing are beautiful :D
ReplyDeletexx coops xx
What a stunning work of art Nicola. The colours are fabulous. Hugs Rita xxxx
ReplyDeleteOh wow Nicola, this looks absolutely stunning and so beautifully put together! Each layer is a total delight! I love the colours you chose and the splatters give it a real arty feel, a really beautiful creation!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Nicola I like everything about it!!
ReplyDeleteKevin xx
A very beautiful card. I like these hints of delicate steel blue you use as well as the tea dye of the background.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Nicola! You just amaze me with your oodles of talent! Love these blue tones. Thanks for all the info on how you created this lovely card and fir he super nice comments you left on my blog!
ReplyDeleteThis is a gorgeous card with all the layers and the fabulous colour palette. I love the various dies you used and the addition of the music paper on more than one layer. The bird adds such beautiful dimension and has great texture. Thanks for joining us at Stamps and Stencils.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Cec
So sorry about the Ablation, hope it helped. I don't think Mr Mojo has gone very far Nicola, because this is quite simply stunning! The blues and browns, the bird and the music along with the frantage all combine to make a gorgeous vintage card. So, so lovely. Congratulations on your Guest spot at Frilly and Funkie too!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining in our Ring out the Old, Bring in the New challenge at Anything But Cute. Hugs, Anne xx
Absolutely lovely design.
ReplyDeleteHugs Daine
Me again to say Thanks for joining us at Anything But Cute.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Cec
Beautiful card Nicola and wonderful detail.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Julie x
Happy New Year Nicola! Your project is stunning! Love all the pretty layered papers and that sweet bird! The shimmery gold accents add a nice touch!
ReplyDeleteWow, absolutely beautiful! Thanks for joining us at Die Cuttin' Divas this week!
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous card! Love the shades of blue in this one. I am not sure what the procedure was on your neck, but I hope you are feeling better!? Thanks for the kind words on my blog!
ReplyDeleteStunning card Nicola! I love this color combo, one of my favorite!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for joining our Ring Out the Old, Bring in the New challenge at Anything But Cute!
Hugs
Samra DT
Paper Talk with Samra
What a beautiful card!! Thanks for joining us at DCD this week! Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteGerda
http://cardscreations.blogspot.com
ohhhhh! how gorgeous! wonderful techniques, and a beautiful card! Thanks for playing in the {Scrapy Land Challenge}! Hope to see your pretty projects again soon!
ReplyDeletecrafty hugs,
de
{Creative Smiles}
What an impressive design! Eye candy!
ReplyDeleteI love what you have created, your colors are wonderful and love all the texture. Thank you for joining us at Scrapy Land.
ReplyDeleteHugz from Wisconsin, Patricia
Scrapy Land Store
rubber stamping is my game blog
Stunning Nicola!!! LOVE that blingy bird, and the gorgeous blues! Stunning stunning make!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous Nicola! Fabulous textured layers and beautiful blues! Thankyou for sharing this with us over at Stamps and Stencils Toni x
ReplyDeleteVery cool. The layers and altered art look on this card are fabulous! Thanks for joining in the Shopping our Stash something new challenge.
ReplyDeleteEverything you make is such a delight - a feast for the eyes. You are so talented Nicola. I do appreciate you visiting my blog - I am very much a novice but do enjoy what I do. I wish I could get your posts via email - bloglovin' does not work for me - somehow it got all screwed up and I cannot seem to solve the problem.
ReplyDeleteSandy xx
Good grief - I'm going to have to look up what a Radio Frequency Ablation is but it certainly doesn't sound very pleasant. I hope you are feeling a little better by now...
ReplyDeleteAs for your creation - it simply couldn't be better! A gorgeous sparkling bird of paradise, beautiful browns and turquoises and all that wonderful shimmering texture. It's another "vintage Nicola" piece - amazing!
Alison xx
Oh Nicola, everything you create makes my heart dance. Frilly and Funkie is SO blessed to have you along as a GD. Your take on this challenge is brilliant and lovely... not to mention beautifully designed. (Naturally.) The bird is so striking and your layered background leaves me speechless. The sweet musical notes are stunning.. you never, ever miss a detail. Thank you for delivering extra joy to my heart this week! I pray you are feeling okay.. always know you are in my heart and prayers. :o)
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
Karen
Dear me Nicola - this is just INCREDIBLY AMAZING. YOU never ever disappoint. I feel just like Karen - everything you make is magical and filled with yumminess. Your bird is beyond the moon beautiful. The textures and colors and well... just everything is beyond GORGEOUS. There are no words to describe how LUSCIOUS this is to my artistic hunger! WONDERFULLY BEAUTIFUL. j.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning Nicola! Thank you so much for being an awesome guest designer at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x
ReplyDeleteI don't think Mr Mojo is very far away Nicola as this beautiful bluebird card is absoulutely stunning. Congratulations on your Guest design spot. Mo x
ReplyDeleteHi Nicolas, Congratulations on your GDT spot, and this is a stunning card with all those gorgeous layers beautifully put together. Love the sparkly texture and colour.
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better now, your treatment doesn't sound too pleasant.
Hugs? Avril xx
this is truely awesome - beautiful design and great layering - love it to pieces - thanks for joining us at stamps and stencils this month. Hugs rachel x
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful card, gorgeous and stunning! LOVE the colors and composition! Thanks for playing along with us at Craft for the craic! :)
ReplyDeleteSuchi xx
Hi Nicola,
ReplyDeleteSuch an elegant card, yet at the same time a bit shabby. Gorgeous colours and great effect with the frantage. As always; thanks for sharing your creatvity with LLC.
Hugz, Sandy
Owner & Operator @Live & Love Crafts