Sunday 23 December 2018

Peace & Joy

Signing off my little ole blog for this year. Sending warmest wishes of peace and joy to friends and followers. It's always lovely to have your 'company' in 'blogland'.

Ingredients

Papers: Pion Design - various collections'.

Dies: Sizzix Thinlits / Tim Holtz 'Globe', Sizzix Bigz / Tim Holtz 'Angel Wings', Sizzix / Tim Holtz 'Vintage Tidings', Sizzix framelits 'Enchanted'.

Stencil: Snip Art 'Magic Lights'.

Media: Dreamweaver texture paste, Ranger 'Clear Rock Candy' glass glitter. Stickles 'Mercury Glass'. Distress Ink 'Weathered Wood'.

Embellishments: Angel and Wings hand-made using paper clay and moulds. Lace trim by Prima.


Have yourself a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Nicola x

Tuesday 18 December 2018

Christmas Cheer

Hi there and thank-you for visiting.

When I'm making Christmas cards, I usually make a couple of the same design as a production line approach is fastest. You might have seen my 'Snow Bird' card recently. This is its 'twin', with alternative paper pattern.

Ingredients

Papers: Maya Design 'I wish'.

Dies: 'Meadow Bird, 'Holly Leaf Trio', 'Stitched Circles' and 'Woodland Branch' - all by Memory Box.

Stencil: Snip Art 'Magic Lights'.

Media: Stampendous Frantage 'Aged Ivory' embossing powder, Dreamweaver texture paste, Viva Decor pearl pen 'Ice White', Snow-Tex, Paperartsy 'Snowflake' paint, Ranger 'Clear Rock Candy' glass glitter.

Embellishments: Berries, sisal and wooden branch from stash.

Very many thanks for taking the time, especially now when most are very busy.
Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Memory Box, Outside the Box - #44 Holiday Sparkle & Shine
Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes
Crafty Cardmakers - #224 Christmas
Fussy & Fancy Friday - Christmas / New Year
Simon Wednesday - Christmas
Christmas Cards All Year 'Round - Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin Challenge - December
Creative Inspirations - Feeling Festive
Use Your Stuff - Christmas
Scrappelyst - Jul (Christmas)

Saturday 15 December 2018

Wish Upon A Star

Happy Greetings to you!

Yep, another one ...

Ingredients

Dies: 'Reindeer Flight', 'Birch Trees', 'Vintage Tidings' and 'Mini Reindeer' - all by Sizzix / Tim Holtz. Also used woodware mini snowflake punch.

Embossing: Tim Holtz 'Birch' Texture fade.

Stamp: Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz 'Stripes and Holiday'. Using Sizzix Stamp Platform I 'turned' stripes into plaid.

Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology 'Christmas Adornments' and 'Christmas Story Sticks', Ribbon, string and pearls from stash.

Media: Ranger Distess Ink in 'Candied Apple' and Cracked Pistachio'. Snow-Tex. Glossy Accents. Ranger Distress Glitter Dust 'Vintage Platinum'. Ranger Stickles 'Mercury Glass'. (Last is same shade as glitter dust so if fine glitter dust rubs off one can cover any blips with stickles). Distress Crayon 'Picket Fence'.


I'm glad to say I'm in for the rest of the day to stay warm as a storm brews up outside.
Wishing you a cosy evening too,
Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Simon Monday - Warm Winter Wishes
A Vintage Journey - Star Light, Star Bright
Scrapyland - Anything Goes, using a die brand carried by Scrapyland(sizzix)
Alphabet Challenge - S is for Seasons Greetings
Country View Crafts - Christmas
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Challenge from 2017 - April 'Musical Notation' - Jingle Bells
Merry Little Christmas - December Anything Christmas Goes
Scrap & Me - Anything Goes
Double D Challenges - Run Run Rudolph
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Create a Winter Scene

Wednesday 12 December 2018

Wrap Up Warm

Hello and thanks so much for taking time to visit during this hectic crafting period.

My card today is very much inspired by a beautiful canvas created by Monika at Mistletoe Home Decoration with Tim Holtz's umbrella man die as central focus.


I've closely followed the steps outlined by Monika. First I painted watercolour paper with 3 graduating shades of grey acrylic paint. By the end however I covered up the bottom third with Snow-tex. Stamped trees twice using Penny Black 'Snow Dust' stamp and Archival 'Watering Can' ink. Then splattered on oodles of white paint. (It helps to make the first lot of splatters more watery and then use thicker paint towards end of process). I didn't have sufficient space on card to incorporate any fence so unfortunately I haven't at all achieved the depth that Monika did but hey ho - it's just a card. I thought that black cardstock looked a little stark on the card so painted my die cut umbrella man with Dina Wakley's 'Night' paint which is a lovely dark navy. Similarly I painted the backing card mat, and 'Merry' text with 'Night' paint to tone in. Note to self - buy navy cardstock! I bought this Merry Christmas die in sale last January so this is it's first use. I love the font on 'Christmas'. I've sparkled up the brollie, star and text with glitter dust in 'Vintage Platinum'. It has a fabulous sparkle that I just can't capture on camera.

Ingredients

Dies: Sizzix Bigz / Tim Holtz 'Umbrella Man', Sizzix Thinlits / Tim Holtz 'Retro Merry Christmas',

Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology 'Christmas Adornments', Muslin 'scarf' to keep warm,

Media: Paper Artsy acrylic paints, Ranger 'Watering Can' archival ink, Dina Wakley 'Night' paint, Ranger Glossy Accents, Ranger Distress glitter dust 'Vintage Platinum', Ranger Stickles 'Mercury Glass'. (Last is same shade as glitter dust so if fine glitter dust rubs off one can cover any blips with stickles).

Thanks again for stopping by,

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Simon Monday - Warm Winter Wishes
A Vintage Journey - Star Light, Star Bright
Scrapyland - Anything Goes, using a die brand carried by Scrapyland(sizzix)
Alphabet Challenge - S is for Seasons Greetings
Country View Crafts - Christmas
Aud Sentiments - Anything Goes plus a sentiment
Merry Little Christmas - December Anything Christmas Goes
Simon Wednesday - Christmas
Sir Stampalot - Winter Sparkle
Papirlosjen - Alt er Lov (Anything Goes)

Sunday 9 December 2018

Christmas Bauble

Hello, a warm welcome to you.

Sorry to be so predictable, but of course it's another Christmas card...


Ingredients

Papers: Inkido (sadly no longer in production and using up my last sheets now). Bazzill card stock.

Dies: Spellbinders 'Heirloom Ornament', Sizzix / Tim Holtz 'Festive Greens',

Embellishments: Wycinanka chipboard 'Wonderful Time'- Bauble with reindeer, Studio Calico wood veneer stars, Spruce pine cones from ground at Botanic Gardens Dublin, twine and rusty bells from stash,

Media: Stickles 'Mercury Glass', Paper Artsy 'Snowflake' paint, Winsor & Newton 'Gold' watercolour ink, Ranger Distress Ink 'Tea Dye' and 'Ground Espresso'.

Thank-you for visiting and enjoy the rest of your day,

Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Simon Monday Challenge - B is for Bauble
Country View Crafts - Christmas
Scrapyland - Anything Goes (using die brand carried by Scrapyland - Sizzix)
Cherry Craft - Z GAŁĄZKĄ SWIERKU - Use a Spruce branch - Użyłem świerkowych szyszek
Bastel-Traum - Winter / Christmas
Apple Apricot - Simply Neutrals #51
Double D Challenges - Run Run Rudolph
Alphabet Challenge - S is for Seasons Greetings
Scrap & Me - Anything Goes
City Crafter - Santa Claus

Sunday 2 December 2018

Fun in the Snow!

Welcome and thank-you for visiting!

Yikes, the big day is getting closer!


Ingredients

Papers: Prima 'Sweet Peppermint' collection.

Dies: Sizzix Bigz / Holtz 'Window', Sizzix / Holtz 'Holiday Greens', Poppystamps 'Chirping Birds', Memory Box 'Winterberry Sprig', Marianne Design Snowflakes,

Stencil: Memory Box 'Tiny Snowflakes'.

Media: Dreamweaver texture paste, Ranger 'Clear Rock Candy' glass glitter, Snow-Tex, Ranger Distress Ink 'Cracked Pistachio'.

Embellishments: Berries from stash.


Thanks for taking time out to stop by during this busy count-down.

Enjoy your week,
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Simon Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Country View Crafts - Christmas
Merry Little Christmas - #5 Anything Goes
Scrapyland - Anything Goes using die brand carried by Scrapyland
Bastel-Traum - Winter / Christmas
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Theme from 2017 - Oct 2017 'Winter Sports'
Winter Wonderland - Christmas or Winter characters (people only)
Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round - December - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - Christmas or Winter Sentiment
Fussy & Fancy Friday - Winter / Christmas

Monday 19 November 2018

Snowy Mittens

Happy greetings to you!

Yet another Christmas make ...

Ingredients

Papers: Maja Design 'Joyous Winterdays' collection.

Dies: Poppystamps 'Let It Snow' channel, Memory Box 'Star of Wonder', Spellbinders Shapeabilities 'Mittens', Sizzix Bigz L / Tim Holtz 'Stacked Snowflakes'. Also, Woodware and Martha Stewart snowflake punches.

Embossing: Sizzix / Tim Holtz 'Tiny Dots' texture fade.

Stencil: Memory Box 'Tiny Snowflakes'.

Media: Dreamweaver texture paste, Ranger Gesso, Ranger 'Clear Rock Candy' glass glitter, Snow-Tex, Sparkle & Sprinkle Silver Tinsel embossing powder.

Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology adornments ice skates, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Silver tinsel. Pompoms, string and gemstones from stash.

Thanks so much for your visit,
Wishing all a lovely week ahead,
Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Simon Monday - Let It Snow
A Vintage Journey - Paper Stash
Merry Little Christmas - #4 November Anything Goes
Bastel-Traum - #71 - Winter / Christmas
Creative Inspirations - November Chill
Winter Wonderland - What you love to do at Christmas
Lets Craft & Create - #143 - Anything Goes
Fussy & Fancy - #225, Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - #412, Anything Goes Christmas

Friday 9 November 2018

Snow Bird

Hello and welcome.

I've vowed not to buy any new Christmas papers this year - way too much already stashed. Here's a card using one of last year's lovely Maja Design papers.


Ingredients

Papers: Maya Design 'I wish'.

Dies: 'Meadow Bird, 'Holly Leaf Trio', 'Basic Circles' and 'Woodland Branch' - all by Memory Box.

Stencil: Snip Art 'Magic Lights'.

Media: Stampendous Frantage 'Aged Ivory' embossing powder, Dreamweaver texture paste, Viva Decor pearl pen 'Ice White', Snow-Tex, Paperartsy 'Snowflake' paint, Ranger 'Clear Rock Candy' glass glitter.

Embellishments: Berries, sisal and wooden branch from stash.


Thank-you for taking the time to visit.
Have a lovely weekend,

Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:

Apple Apricot - Simply Neutrals 50
A Vintage Journey - Paper Stash
Scrapy Land - 101 - using die brand carried by Scrapy Land - used Memory Box
Simon Monday - Make Your Own Background
Cute Card Thursday - Snowflakes
Scrap From Your Heart - #27 - Jul/Christmas
Merry Little Christmas - November Anything Goes Christmas
Sparkles Christmas Challenges - Embossing Heat or Dry
Scrapki Wyzwaniowo - November - Monochrome

Monday 5 November 2018

All is Calm


Hi there and thank-you for visiting.

Showing another Christmas card, this time in calm and peaceful hues ...



Ingredients

Cardstock: Bazzill and Neenah.

Dies: Simon Says Stamp 'Holiday Frames', Sizzix / Tim Holtz 'Mini holiday greens', Cheery Lynn Cutie Fringe (to make the pine branch).

Embossing Folder: Sizzix / Tim Holtz 'Holiday Knit' texture fade.

Stamp: Stampers Anonymous / Tim Holtz 'Stripes and Holiday'.

Media: Ranger white gesso, WOW 'Opaque Bright White' embossing powder, Versamark ink, Ranger 'Clear Rock Candy' glass glitter, Ranger Stickles 'mercury glass', Paper Artsy 'Snowflake' paint for lots of splatters.

Embellishments: Angel hand made using mould and paper clay. Seam binding and berries from stash.


Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by.
Wishing all a kind and fruitful week ahead.

Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:

Simon Monday Challenge - Make Your Own Background
Simon Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Mix It Up - Anything Goes with optional aperture
Merry Little Christmas - November Anything Christmas Goes
Crafting By Designs - Get Ready For Christmas
Sparkles Christmas - Embossing Heat or Dry (used both)
The Ribbon Girl - November Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes 227
Scrap from your Heart - Utfordring #27 - Jul/Christmas
Frilly and Funkie - Impress Us

Sunday 16 September 2018

99 more sleeps!

Happy greetings to you.

Just sharing that there are 99 sleeps left until Santa's arrival. Time to start getting Christmas makes in train... Here's another card made with beautiful papers from Pion Design.


Ingredients

Papers:  Pion Design, mostly from 'Christmas in Norway' collection

Dies: MFT  Die-namics 'Stitched fishtail flags', MFT Die-namics 'Postage stamp stax'. Simon Says Stamp 'Believe' die, Sizzix Holtz 'Mini holday greens'

Stencil: Memory Box 'Tiny Snowflakes'

Media: Stampendous Frantage 'Shabby White', Dreamweaver Texture paste, Ranger Distress Glitter 'Clear Rock Candy', Krylon '18ct Gold' Gilding Pen, Ranger Holtz Distress 'Candied Apple'

Embellishments: Berries and peg from stash.


Delighted that you stopped by - Thank-you!
Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Pop It Up
Let's Craft and Create - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - Bling It On
ABC Christmas Challenge - S is for Snow
Merry Little Christmas - September, Anything Goes
The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
Try It on Tuesday - Childhood
Wednesday Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes
Mix It Up - Anything Goes + Layering

Tuesday 21 August 2018

Summer Memories

Hi again,

The record setting hot and dry summer seems to have departed our shores, but I've gone ahead and made a summer themed card. It was very kind, and apt, of the sun to shine whilst I took photo!


Ingredients

Papers: Maja Design (multiple collections)

Dies: Sizzix framelits and Cheery Lynn border

Media:  Stampendous Frantage 'Shabby Blue', Paper Artsy white and blue paint, Ranger white crackle paste

Embellishments: Anchor, rope and lifebuoy from stash (heldover from a workshop several years ago). Little flowers by Anna Marie Design.

Thanks so much for your visit,
Nicola x



I wish to enter card to the following challenges:

Maja Design - July/August Moodboard














Country View Challenges - Sun, Sea and Sand

Scrapyland - Anything Goes (using die carried by Scrapyland - Sizzix)
Lets Craft & Create - Anything Goes (with layers)
City Crafter - Under The Sea
Paper Craft Challenges - Summer
A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes
Cards 4 Galz - Dies and or Punches
Cinspirations - August - Holidays
Vintage Cafe Card Challenge - Sea, Wave of Inspiration

Saturday 11 August 2018

Busy Little Elves

Hello!

Thanks everyone for your lovely messages welcoming me back in my last post. You have spurred me on...

Surely its never too early to craft for Christmas, so this is my first Christmas 2018 post...hope you find these Pion Design elves as adorable as I do!



Ingredients

Papers: Pion Design, mostly from 'Christmas in Norway' collection

Dies: MFT Die-namics Fishtail Flags, Magnolia Heart Flower Lace Edger, Martha Stewart Edge Punch

Stencil: Memory Box 'Tiny Snowflakes'

Media: Dreamweaver Texture paste, Ranger Distress Glitter 'Clear Rock Candy', Krylon 18ct Gold Gilding Pen

Embellishments: Wycinanka chipboard candy cane and stocking. Berries, pearls, string and straw from stash


Thank-you very much for stopping by.
Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes
Christmas Crafts All Year Round - Use Hot/Warm colours
Merry Little Christmas - Anything Goes
12 Months of Christmas - Challenge 44 (Optional Greenery)
The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas
The Holly & Ivy Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes 33
Christmas with the Cuties - Add Some Sparkle
Dream Valley challenges - Christmas in July
Creative Inspirations Challenge - Holidays
Alphabet Challenge - J for Jingle Bells

Friday 3 August 2018

Wildflowers

Hello and Welcome!

A quick post to share a card made to fit several challenge themes.


I've been crafting very little this year as visitors here may have guessed. I haven't given up, just taking a very long 'sabbatical'!

Ingredients


Papers: Maja Design

Dies: Sizzix Thinlits 'Wildflowers', Cheery Lynn 'Sophia's Heart' doily

Media: Stampendous Frantage 'Shabby White', Ranger Distress Inks in 'Chipped Sapphire', 'Broken China' and 'Salty Ocean'. Krylon Silver gilding pen

Embellishments: Seam binding, lace, beads and chipboard butterflies from stash


Thank-you so much for taking the time to visit.
Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:

Maja Design - July/August Moodboard














Simon Monday Challenge - Wild Things
Scrapyland - Anything Goes - using die brand carried by Scrapyland
Vintage Cafe Card Challenge - Botanical Sketches ""Ботанические зарисовки""
Crafty Friends Challenge - Lace / Ribbon
Creative Crafters - Anything Goes (6)
Double D Challenges - Don't Bug Me
A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes
Bastel-Traum - #67 Alles Erlaubt - Anything Goes

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You likely are aware that changes in the law regarding EU Data Protection (GDPR) came into force on 25th May 2018.

My blog Privacy and Cookie Policy is in line with these regulations.

I do not use your personal information for anything other than sending you a notification of a new blog post (for email subscribers) or for clicking through to your blog to enjoy a visit. I do not store any of this information, it is all contained within Blogger / Google functionality. All blogger blogs use cookies - these can be disabled in your internet settings if you wish.

Email subscribers may unsubscribe at anytime by following the link at the base of the email notifying you of a new blog post.

Now, enjoy the rest of your evening.
Nicola x

Friday 9 March 2018

Treasure our Planet

Hi there and thank-you for stopping by.

I'm delighted to be featuring today at A Vintage Journey - one of my very favourite challenge blogs, as one of their Pinworthy mentions. It is an honour thank-you ladies!

Brenda and team are celebrating their 4th Birthday this month and so Brenda has chosen the theme of 'Treasure' for their current challenge. I decided to use gold foil cardstock that came with perfume bottle packaging as I've been 'treasuring' it in my stash for quite a while. Somehow I ended up die cutting a globe, creating a galaxy by altering a chipboard shadow box, and then turning the whole scene into a kind of protest with Tim Holtz paper dolls carrying placards with 'suggestions' as to how to treasure our planet more and help slow climate change. Here it is ...
































How-to and Ingredients





I began with a chipboard shadow box by Snipart that I won over a year ago
















To get the background 'Blue Planet' I whooshed some Tim Holtz distress inks around watercolour paper. (Used Broken China, Peacock Feathers and Salty Ocean). Later diecut a circle from this paper that I applied to rear of Goil Foil 'Earth' that I diecut using Tim Holtz / Sizzix mini Globe die.






Cut a new sheet of chipboard to fit inside the shadow box and blended layers of Tim Holtz distress inks (Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot).

Reason for new sheet, (as opposed to the original backing that came with the shadow box), was that I knew the sheet would begin to curve when heat was applied and I didn't want to end up with a bent back for the shadow box.







Splattered on Ecoline liquid watercolour in white and gold plus Winsor & Newton ink in gold.

Not shown in photo but I also swirled around some Ranger Perfect Pearls for a milky resist.









Dabbed Versamark on card, coated with embossing enamel and heated with Ranger heat tool until melted. Added 4 layers of embossing enamel whilst sprinkling crushed glass glitter between layers. (Stampendous Steel Blue & Prima Gold Rush). Splattered more watercolour ink, and flattened overnight under books. (If any cracks form when trying to flatten, just do a localised versamark / UTEE patch and melt to fill crack).






Cut 4 extra strips of chipboard to fit outer sides of shadow box and gave them the same 'galaxy' treatment as before.

I didn't want to risk bending the original sides of shadow box so painted them with Dina Wakley acrylic paint in 'Night'. (So glad I had this as I had exhausted my chipped sapphire ink!).












Here you can see the box begin to take shape before I adhered extra side panels (above)  using a combination of double sided tape and hot glue.














 
Some staging for the final edition. After this photo, the top flat panel was given the 'galaxy' treatment as before. I diecut all the letters using Sizzix / Tim Holtz Holiday Words 2 die set from my treasured gold foil.. This die set had all the letters I needed in its words except for 'U' so I used a 'C' on its side! The foil was fairly thick so it took an age to get all the fiddly letters. In the end I mounted the letters onto thick chipboard strips that had been 'galaxied' (!) so that the letters appeared to hover.




I edged the Tim Holtz paper dolls with a Krylon gold gilding pen. Using said pen I also gilded a chipboard square frame to hide the joins. Added Swarovski crystals and pearls (definitely 'Treasure' to me) to decorate the dolls. I'm glad that the new packs of paper dolls include a more ethnically diverse range of paper dolls, but sadly I don't yet have a new pack, as it would have been more apt for this creation.

The gold foil cardstock couldn't be printed on, so I printed text on Stix2 printable acetate and glued to foil with Ranger glossy accents. Gilded a few cocktail sticks so that the paper dolls could carry their placards! Diecut some tiny leaves from my blue inked paper to try to link the dolls to the 'blue planet'. As usual I had lots of plans to add other ingredients such as flowers, and clock dangling from a hinge clip, but it then looked overdone. So I just let the the words, globe and little people speak for themselves (and hopefully more and more of us!).


Thank-you so much to all the super talented team at A Vintage Journey for allowing me feature amongst their Pinworthys today. You should check out this months challenge of 'Treasure' to see the wonderful design team inspiration, and sure why don't you make your very own 'Treasure' project too!

Very many thanks for your visit,

Nicola x


I wish to enter shadow box to the following challenges:
Simon Monday Challenge - Whatever The Weather (I think climate change relevant)
Scrapyland - Anything Goes #85 using die brand carried by store (Sizzix)
Mix It Up Challenge - Anything Goes + make your own background
Alphabet Challenge - Y is your choice
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes + a sentiment
Use Your Stuff - Anything Goes
An Inky Mess - Challenge 18 Anything Mixed Media Goes
Creative Artiste - 18, Anything Mixed Media goes
A Bit More Time to Craft - 63, Anything Goes