Entering Time

Hello Again! Thank-you for stopping by and a warm welcome to new followers.

I've made my card today with a number of challenges in mind. The challenge at Frilly and Funkie is 'There's no time to waste'. As this card is for someone who is sitting exams soon that challenge theme is very appropriate (although the young gentleman in question needs no reminder from anyone re his studies). The challenge at Vintage Udfordring is 'Use paint or gesso' - I've used both on my card. The challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show is 'Inspired By' - well someone I greatly admire is Anita at The Artful Maven Haven. She is one of the most creative people in blogland - please visit her blog for immense inspiration. Anita always signs off her blogposts "I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!". My hands sure got inky and dirty on this card so I thank Anita for her inspiration. Finally I'd like to enter card to two of my favourite challenge spots Our Creative Corner (newly revamped / 'under new management') and Fashionable Stamping Challenges who both are running 'Anything Goes' at the moment.

So without further ado, here is my card.



The base layer is a cotton handmade paper. First of all I applied embossing paste to it through a Prima 6x6 stencil ('Crackle') and left to dry overnight. I next painted the stenciled paper with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paint in 'Old Gold'. Once dry I applied a thin layer of Paper Artsy Crackle Glaze. When that was dry I again painted the sheet with Fresco Finish paint in 'Nougat'. By this stage the paper was gorgeously crackled - it's a pity that I had to cover most of it up! I dabbed the raised stenciled parts with distress inks and then some gilding wax to highlight.

Next layer up is a band of cotton paper that I aged with a wet teabag (Twinings!). On top of that is a complimentary sample of glossy card that I kindly received from Crafty Individuals. It looked much too shiny and new for this card so I diluted a little gesso with water and brushed over the card to 'age' it. I then 'aged' further with two useful stamps that I recently bought, both Kaisercraft Clear Stamps 'Crackle' and 'Distress' using Distress Inks.

The main door image is a stamp by Crafty Individuals CI-249 'Gothic Door'. I've stamped with Archival ink and embossed with Ranger Distress EP ('Vintage Photo'). Using my Tim Holtz waterbrush I coloured in the door and stone surround with various DIs. I then painted image with Inkssentials Crackle Glaze to give it a old leathery look. The door image sits atop a clock image. To make the chalky clock, I painted some CS with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paint in 'Vintage Lace', once dry a layer of Fresco Finish Crackle Glaze and finally, when dry, a layer of Fresco Finish in 'Nougat'. Next stamped the crackled CS using Brilliance Ink with another Crafty Individuals Stamp CI-354 'Clock Face'. I then diecut the clock with a circular Spellbinder die. The clock does have a lovely crackled appearance but once again I ended up covering it up!

Using Sizzix die 'Hardware Findings', I cut some grungeboard. I painted a layer of Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paint in 'Nougat', then FF crackle glaze, then FF 'Old Gold'. Next stamped all with the aforementioned Kaisercraft stamps for further aging effects. I attached with brads that I had coated with Inkssentials Crackle Glaze so as to look a bit worn. The two clocks on the right are stamped with a 7Gypsies stamp from the 'Venice' clear set using Archival and Brilliance inks. They are also 'aged' with DIs and cut to shape with a Spellbinders circular die. I've attached them via the keyhole diecut to fit with 'Time' theme.

Prior to assembling I decorated most edges with gilding wax. The metal clockhands are by Prima and the key is by Maya Road. Finished off with two little twine bows! Phew!

I thank each and every one of you who stop by - your visits and comments are truly appreciated.
Have a lovely weekend.

Nicola x

Thank-you to the hosts, sponsors and DTs at the following challenges that I wish to enter;
Frilly and Funkie - There's No Time To Waste
Vintage Udfording - Use Paint or Gesso
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Inspired By
Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes
Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes

Best Pals

Hi there and welcome to another blog post.

Unusually I'd like to say a little bit about myself personally. I've been living with ongoing serious illness for several years and achieve a certain level of functionality by maintaining a quiet and carefully paced life. Starting up my blog last September was a big undertaking for me but all the extra activity has been taking its toll healthwise. Unfortunately I have decided to resign from my Design Team post at Eclectic Ellapu and I thank Elaine and all the ladies there for being so understanding. I hope you will also bear with me as I won't be making so many visits to your blogs over the next while but I do hope to be able to keep making and posting my little card productions.

So without further ado, here's my card today made in a shabby style;




I've decorated the side panels with Dreamweaver texture paste through a Crafty Individuals 'Leafy Border' mask. The last time I applied texture paste over distress inks I found that the paste absorbed the ink but this time I wanted to keep the raised paste white so I waited till the paste was dry and then sponged over a blend of distress inks to colour the cardstock panel, wiping the raised paste with a baby wipe as I went along. The paste acted like a resist and remained white. Tore the cardstock whilst wet to give a ripped shabby look.

The centre panel is layered with some aqua tissue paper and then some scalloped doily strips. I've stamped the central image (Crafty Individuals CI-084) using Coffee Archival ink. I restamped a couple of times onto some patterned papers (Melissa Frances and Maja Design) and then paper pieced dresses onto the little girls. Also arranged some roses in the flower basket. I cut a frame from Silver Stardream CS using a Spellbinders die and then dry embossed this. Added frantage in shabby blue and blue fragments to add further interest. I then shabbily painted some corrugated cardboard with Paper Artsy's Snowflake paint and sprinkled more frantage. Decorated further with metal charms from Nunn Design and a broderie anglaise bow. Finally dabbed some metal words (by Making Memories) with Brilliance Ink (Pearlescent Chocolate) to highlight.

Wishing you all a lovely day and thank-you so much for your visit.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Crafty Individuals - For My Friend
The Shabby Tea Room - A Silver Lining
Sugar Creek Hollow - Metal Mania
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Metal-ology
Vintage Stamping Challenge - Blues, Brown and Beige
Stampin' for the Weekend - Distressed
Happy Daze Challenge - Love Is All Around
365 Cards Word Wednesday - Sister
Addicted to Stamps and More - Vintage
Polkadoodles and Studio 12 - Shabby Chic

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

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