For Mother's Day

Greetings from Dublin and thank-you for visiting.

After my adventures in grunge in last project I'm back in my more comfortable zone making pretty, vintage cards.

I wanted to make a card for my Mum on Mother's Day next Sunday. As usual, several challenge themes gave shape to the end result.

Vintage Café Card Challenge are looking for images of women and Sugar Creek Hollow have photo inspiration of a little girl's floral bedroom. Also at Fussy & Fancy Friday they too have an inspiration photo of a pink bedroom. Thank-you to 'Magic Moonlight Free Images' showing this little girl and her Mother, sitting on a bed in their night attire. I think they are looking at a sparkling ring!

Craft Hoarders Anonymous seek sparkle and glitz together with an inspiration photo - hence I've applied lots of blingy gems, frantage and pearls.

At Frilly and Funkie the theme is neglected dies. I searched to see which set I hadn't used in a long time and came across Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles. The photo has been sized to fit one of the smaller rectangles and I decided to use this die set only for the card.

Card and Scrap are looking for lace / ribbon so I've attached a lacey ribbon!

The papers are by Graphic 45 ('Secret Garden' and 'A Ladies' Diary'). All edges have been inked with Distress Inks and Prima chalk edgers. Included lots of flowers and punched butterflies and a lovely chipboard 'garden border' that I painted with white and pink pearlescent paints before adding some pink Frantage.

It's lovely to have you stop by. As always I love to read your comments - they are very much appreciated.

Have a lovely week,
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Vintage Cafe Card Challenge - Images of Women
Sugar Creek Hollow - Photo Inspiration
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Show Some Sparkle, Glitz or Glam
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Shabby Chic with photo inspiration
Frilly and Funkie - Neglected Dies
Card and Scrap - Use Lace and / or Ribbon
Creative Inspirations Challenge - Vintage / Shabby Chic
Dream Valley Challenges - Mothering Sunday
That Craft Place - Flowers and / or Mother's Day
My Time To Craft - Mother's Day / Special Lady

Goin' on a trip? Pack your bags!

Hello and thank-you for your visit. A warm welcome too to new followers.

As you might know my favourite style is vintage, usually done with some prettiness. The challenge at exciting new blog A Vintage Journey requests anything vintage with a strong hint of Maestro Tim Holtz (TH). As the mega talented DT sets forth on their journey I thought it appropriate to alter some suitcases for them. So for a change ... here's some grunge and a warning for a verrry long post...

I started off with some papier mache suitcases. Ages ago the lovely Alison sent me a package all beautifully wrapped up in TH's tissue wrap. I've collaged this tissue wrap all over each case. There then followed a brown and black marathon using TH distress inks, stains, paints, stencils and stamps. I particularly had fun using the splatter brush (by Liquitex) that TH has used in recent videos. It wasn't so much fun though cleaning up afterwards! When I decided that enough layers of ink etc. were on I added a crackle layer to make sure that cases looked even more battered.

I love the Idea-ology pieces that TH has designed. On the outside of the cases I've used TH box corners, hitch fasteners and ring fasteners. The larger suitcase has a TH ornate plate on the front. I recently won an amazing Maja Design giveaway from the lovely Jenny and I've cut out some words from one sheet to go inside the plate that is then topped up with glossy accents.

I know it's an anachronism but given that TH designed pulley wheels I thought it would be fun to have wheels on the cases. I didn't have ones by TH so I've devised my own. They are made from miniature wooden spools. Painted the inner areas black/brown and the 'wheels' copper. I rummaged through some of my late Dad's old toolkits and found screws, nuts and other metal bits that I don't know the name of but once I had 'rusted them up' with Adirondack alcohol ink and distress EP they looked perfect for the cases.

TH box corners come in a worn sort of pewter colour. I needed to change them to an aged copper so I inked them with versamark and added variously copper and black EPs. To achieve the greeny patina I dabbed Pearl-ex blue/green powder into the melting EP mixture. (This 'aging' has been applied to all the metal elements).


Some welcome relief from the dark hues comes inside each case. I've lined the insides with some of the gorgeous Maja Design papers and borders that come at the end of each 12 x 12 sheet. As I'd already used lots of TH stamps on the outside I decided to use one of his texture fades to emboss the inside lid and finally made use of the TH circular embossing diffuser to 'frame' my globe and compass. Then brayered over some DI for emphasis. A TH game spinner, ticket and a hitch fastener are also used. I spent a lot of time making that water bottle grimey! I've labelled it to remind owner of the current airline restriction levels for liquids in carry-ons!

Now you all know TH is famous for his tags and brilliantly educational monthly tag challenges. So I just had to include a tag! The thing is, I've never done a TH 'monthly tag'. I thought I should remedy this and so have included my take on TH's March tag inside the larger case. I hope this format (and resized tag) is ok to enter to his challenge. I don't yet have the really fab nest stamp set or the spritzer tool so I've improvised. Thank-you to generous Geraldine for her beautiful gifts last week including the TH bird branch stamp and some other items included in project.

The egg is from a M&S candy & chocolate eggs packet. I set aside a green egg and as I crafted I ate the rest of the packet. Next thing was I had a brainwave that I should add more speckle to the egg so I proceeded to splat brown paint at it. It looked great! I needed to dry one side so that I could splatter the rest of the egg, so I began to dry the egg with my heat gun. All of a nano-second the poor egg suffered a catastrophe ... the chocolate turned to liquid and the candy disintegrated into a pooled mess! The next day I had to dash to M&S for another packet of eggs ... no splats this time!! I thought that the TH light bulb would co-ordinate well with his rays stencil. Same stencil is also used on outside of top lid of case. I've made nest with dried moss and shredded paper. I cut a small circle in the tag and inset the little nest into it. (For info: the nest is mostly inked with one of Wendy Vecchi's new ink shades - 'Tree Branch').

The label plate on the smaller suitcase is by Artemio with insert a cutout from Maja Design. I tried out black brads in the metal elements but considered them too dark so have put in shiny copper ones instead. By the way, if you look at left hand corner of luggage tag below you can see the initials of the owner!

For the 'leather' straps I used SEI velvet paper that I fairly well battered, smudged and sprayed to get it worn looking. I also machine stitched along the centre of each strap for further texture.

I attached a luggage tag and charms to each case with TH swivel clasps. Collaged each tag with cutouts from G45 / Echo Park 'Photo Freedom' kit, then sanded and aged with DIs before coating with crackle.

For the inside of the smaller case I've used TH's new decorative strip 'Butterfly Frenzy'. The lid part is decorated with the little die cutouts along with some balloon cutouts from beautiful Maja Design papers. I painted and glittered (Clear Rock) some chipboard letters too. I've followed the very creative Candy who often uses 'Mercury Glass' stickles for edging. (Sorry for photo quality but I couldn't hold open and snap the small case sufficiently to get a decent photo).

I've used the remaining part of 'Butterfly Frenzy' on the lower portion of case. Also stamped TH stamp on paper using Wendy Vecchi new 'Hydrangea' colour in case you are interested in shades.

Finally, here is a rear view to show you those lovely TH hinges that I've given the aged copper treatment to.

Thank-you so much if you've read through all this lengthy post. I've spent ages on this piece through the week so apologies for not visiting as much. I hope to catch up tomorrow.

Have a lovely week,
Nicola x

I wish to enter cases to the following challenges:
A Vintage Journey - Anything Tim
Simon Monday Challenge - D is for Distress
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Vintage or Retro
Tim Holtz - 12 Tags of 2014 - March
Vintage Udfordring - Sewing (Machine stitching is on 'leather' straps)
Inspiration Journal - A Splash of Colour
Rhedd and Rosie Challenge - Aged / Distressed
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Altered Art March
Country View Challenges - Paper Chase
Art With Heart Challenge - New Beginnings (for AVJ)

Unplug and Go Outside

Happy New Year to you - wishing you a 2014 filled with good health and happiness. Many thanks for stopping by.

I'm especially pleased to post today as I've made this project as Guest Designer for one of the most talented and educational blogs around - Frilly and Funkie Challenge. The fabulous F&F team have as their challenge theme this fortnight 'New Year's Resolutions'. My top resolution is to spend less time on pc and smartphone and more time outside.

I wanted to created something light and fresh after all the darker coloured Christmas makes. As it is very stormy and wet in these parts recently I also needed something bright and pretty to entice me outdoors. The gorgeous Graphic 45 'Secret Garden' papers seem to meet these requirements imho. (Picture laden post follows!).

I've decorated a Tim Holtz Idea-ology configurations box with a selection of 'Secret Garden' papers. Similar to when I made box using Graphic 45 'A Ladies' Diary' papers I turned the Idea-ology box into a hinged type box with dummy outer and inner lids. In order to keep piece looking light I first painted the box and Idea-ology feet with a coat of Gesso, then two coats of PaperArtsy 'Vintage Lace' paint followed by a top coat of PaperArtsy 'Metallic Glaze' - this adds a lovely pearlescent shimmer.

The top lid has been embellished with lots of diecuts, charms and flowers - most of which I've drenched with 'Clear Rock Candy' distress glitter so that they all look sugary sweet. The two soft blue felt roses are from a prize I was lucky enough to win from the lovely Ivana at Paper Girl Crafts. (Ivana's blog and beautiful creations are well worth checking out). I've also wrapped the lid with pretty venise lace - you can see it here at Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique. As usual I've managed to also include a bow.

I added a light dusting of Frantage to the papers and then set about doing a whole lot of cutting and pasting.

I can't remember who sent me a freebie of a diecut picket fence ages ago - it came in very handy here to give dimension to the inner lid. Painted fence with a few coats of PaperArtsy 'Snowflake' to give a clean white. Again decorated the little inner scene with glittered flowers, charms, ribbon and a Prima resin birdhouse.

The last time I altered an Idea-ology box I pasted paper to both the inside and outside of the drawers but the added layers made for a very tight fit. This time I painted the outer sides with pearly pale pink as above and just papered the drawer insides.

One of my favourite features of the box is the front 'lock'. First of all I diecut two layers of chipboard using Sizzix Bigz 'Hardware Findings' die. Then also diecut some thin grungepaper. I embossed the grungepaper layer with Sizzix Regal Flourishes folder so that it would have impressions similar to the Idea-ology box feet. Somehow though by the time I had glued the three diecut layers together and painted as above, alas it had mostly lost the embossed impressions - maybe the base coat of gesso was too thick. Added in two little gold brads as faux nails.

Around top and bottom sides I stencilled some Butterflies and Dragonflies using a Crafters Workshop stencil and white texture paste. Whilst wet I sprinkled on more distress glitter in 'Clear Rock Candy' - a girl has gotta add sparkle every chance she gets!

Very many thanks to the always inspirational Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog for allowing me feature as their Guest Designer today.

Huge thanks in advance for your visits and comments that are all truly appreciated.

Nicola x

I wish to enter box to the following challenges:
Simon Says Wednesday - Something New (New Year Resolution)
Crafts 4 Eternity - Something New (New Year Resolution)
Crafty Creations Challenges - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - New Beginnings
Card and Scrap - Bruk blomster / Use Flowers
Natalie & Amy's Challenge - One for the Girlies

'Tis The Season

Welcome to yet another Christmas card post. Thank-you for visiting and a warm hello to new followers.

Stamps: Graphic 45 'Christmas Emporium', Kaisercraft 'Twig & Berry Postmarks' and Artistic Outpost (using snowflakes from 'Snowy Woods' set)

Card / Papers: Bazzill, Neenah, Inkssentials 'Manila' CS, SEI Velvet 'Tomato'

Dies: Spellbinders 'Floral Ovals' and 'Decorative Labels 27', Joy Crafts 'Vintage Flourishes Corner'

Inking: Archival Ink 'Crimson', Sparkle & Sprinkle EP 'Japanese Lacquer' and 'Gilded Ivory', Versamark, Delicata Golden Glitz, Ranger 'Queen's Gold' EP, Embossing Antiquities 'Weathered White', Stickles, Frantage 'Shabby White'

Ribbons: May Arts (tied with Boweasy) and velvet from stash

Embellishments from stash and completed by adding Distress Glitter in 'Clear Rock Candy' to parts of little girls' outfits and Santa's beard (not showing up very well in photo).

Thank-you for spending time at my blog - I'll be catching up with blog visits later today.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Vintage Stamping Challenges - Traditional Christmas Time
Vintage Udfordring - Vintage Jul
Crafty Hands Challenge - Vintage
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Got Ink?
Sugar Creek Hollow - Anything Vintage Goes
Crafty Little Fairies - Christmas in November
Stamping Sensations - Christmas
Deep Ocean Challenge - Winter

Garden Magic

Hi there. My goodness, the sun is shining brightly in Dublin this evening! I've even left the glare on photo as evidence of this rare event (lol).

With so many flower/garden related challenges right now I turned to Graphic 45 'Secret Garden' papers - they never disappoint.



It's a short post today!

Papers: Graphic 45 'Secret Garden', Melissa Frances 'Attic Treasures', Bazzill cardstock and doily from stash.

Dies: MFT Dienamics: 'Royal Leaves', 'Mini Royal Roses', 'Mini Rolled Roses' and 'Small Scallop Border'. Magnolia: 'Heart Flower Lace'. Spellbinders: 'Romantic Rectangles' and 'Decorative Labels 27'. Memory Box: 'Perched Reed Bird' and 'Woodland Branch'.

Embellishments: I made the flowers, leaves, birds and branch from a little bit of G45 paper! Karen Foster Charms (dabbed with Treasure Gold 'White Fire'). Pearls are by Melissa Frances and water droplets are by Hero Arts. Silk Ribbon by May Arts tied using Boweasy. The beautiful lace is from The Funkie Junkie Boutique so I wish to enter card to the Frilly and Funkie Sunday Share.

Sincere thanks to all who visit - your comments/following really are much appreciated. May the sun shine on you this weekend!

Nicola x

Thank-you to the hosts, sponsors and DTs at the following challenges that I wish to enter;
Country View Crafts - How Does Your Garden Grow
Simon Says Stamp and Show - A Little Paper
Sugar Creek Hollow - Spring Flowers
By The Cute and Girly - Flowers
Happy Camper Craft Collective - Use Lace
Simon Says Stamp - Flower Power
Crafty Bloggers' Network - Os & Xs (Die Cut, flowers, ribbon)
Love To Create - Many Pretty Flowers
Songbird Challenges - Blom and Grow - Flowers
Tuesday Throwdown - Smell the Roses
Card and Scrap - Lag på lag (Layers)

Secret Garden

Hi there and welcome to another blog post! Thanks so much for stopping by.

Earlier this week when I saw the inspiration photo at The Shabby Tea Room, the gorgeous Graphic 45 'Secret Garden' papers came to mind...Here is my take on the inspiration photo:



This is the inspiration photo itself:

Paper: Graphic 45 - 'Secret Garden' and 'A Ladies' Diary', Melissa Frances - 'Countdown to Christmas', SEI Velvet Paper in 'Dandelion' and 'Mint'

Ink: For edge definition - Distress Ink 'Scattered Straw'

Dies: Cheery Lynn - 'Square Stackers', 'Sophia's Heart', 'Mini Flourish', Round 'Stitcher Plate'. Spellbinders - 'Standard Circles Large' and 'Eyelet Circles'. Sizzix Bigz - 'Bird Scroll' (with diecuts also mounted on chipboard). Marianne Design - 'Anja's Leaves'. MFT Dienamics - 'Postage Stamp Stax', 'Royal Leaves' and 'Rolled Scallop Flower'. Simon Says Stamp Die - 'Ribbon Banner'

Pearl decoration: Drawn with Viva Decor Pearl Pen in 'Ice White'

Ribbon: May Arts Silk - bow tied using boweasy. Further embellishments from stash

It's a lovely sunny day in Dublin so I'm out soon to savour the sunshine! I hope the sun shines on you this weekend.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
The Shabby Tea Room - Spring Bliss
Craft-Room Challenge - So Sentimental
Crafts 4 Eternity - Perfect Papers
Eclectic Paperie - Flowers
Card and Scrap - Use Dies
Creative Moments - Spring
Kaboodle Doodles - Spring
Love To Create: Bingo (Flowers, Diecuts, Ribbons)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons - No Stamps Allowed

Happy Easter! Plus another Liebster nominee

Hi there! A warm welcome to all who have signed up recently to follow and continued gratitude for lovely comments.

I've made a Springlike card for Easter although given floods, snow and gales in Ireland this week it seems Mother Nature has other plans.



I recently bought Graphic 45 'Secret Garden' papers - they are sooo pretty it seems cruel to cut them - they are fabulously Springlike! I also came across a beautiful blog The Feathered Nest where Dawn has many gorgeous vintage images and truly sublime creations - the Easter egg image is here and it matches the G45 papers to a tee. Thank-you Dawn! I've printed the egg on cotton fibre paper to keep it 'vintage'.

Papers: Graphic 45 'Secret Garden'
Stamps: Impression Obsession 'Sm Leaf Filligree', Hero Arts 'Fairy Fern', Cavallini & Co 'Birds and Nests'
Inks: Distress Inks 'Bundled Sage' and 'Dusty Concord'
Eggs: Genuine candied chocolate from my stash in kitchen press!
Dies: Spellbinders 'Romantic Rectangles', MFT Dienamics 'Small Scallop Border', Magnolia 'Heart Swirl'
Flowers, stamped doily (mostly hidden), postage stamp diecut that I've stamped, ribbon and frill for 'nest' from stash

I recently received The Liebster Award - see post here - one of my nominated blogs Redanne (not surprisingly) had already received a Liebster so my reserve Liebster Award goes to Bonnie at Artful Digits - she is a very talented artiste - do pay her fantastic blog a visit...

Hoping that your Easter brings you peace and joy plus some chocolate - purely for its beneficial endorphins of course!

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Live & Love Crafts - Easter
It's all about the Vintage - Easter
Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes with Easter/Spring
Crafty Creations Challenges - Easter
Kaboodle Doodles - Easter or Early Spring
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Inspiration Journal - Add A Little P.O.P.

Frills!

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh (Happy St. Patrick's Day) and welcome to my blog! It's lovely having you visit Ireland today.

I've created today's card with a few challenges in mind but foremost inspiration comes from the photo challenge at The Shabby Tea Room this week - see picture inspiration here.

As per usual I tried out card with various layouts and degrees of embellishment but the dress is just so frilly that this card didn't want to wear much else!



Dressform: Chipboard cut using die by Tim Holtz (Sewing Room). Paper by Graphic 45 (A Ladies' Diary) painted with Paper Artsy Gloss Glaze. Dress by Melissa Frances Organza Pouf Ribbon (cream and pink). I bought pouf ribbon at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and so am entering card to the Frilly and Funkie Sunday Share

Butterflies: Die by Tim Holtz (Mini Butterflies). Each butterfly built using corrugated cardstock, 2 x Bazzill CS and 8 x tulle butterfly diecuts (all stitched together). Decorated with Memory Box (Corner Bow) diecut

Background Paper: Melissa Frances (5th Avenue Collection)
Pearls: Kaisercraft
Ink: Antique Linen DI
Doily, roses and trim from stash

Thank-you for stopping by. Now I must dash off to a parade .... where's my shamrock???

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
The Shabby Tea Room - Oh So Pretty In Pink
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Chic To Be Shabby
Inspiration Emporium - Add A Little POP
Happy Campers Challenge - Flutterby Butterfly
Flutterby Wednesday - Any Winged Creature
Anything Goes Challenge - Seeing Double
Heck Of A Challenge - Spring / Butterflies and Pearls
By The Cute And Girly - Favourite Things (Butterflies)

For A Lady

Greetings from Dublin. Firstly, heartfelt thanks to everyone who left such lovely comments on my last post - you ladies are warm rays of sunshine and your kindness means a great deal to me. Secondly, I've missed my magical mystery tours around your blogs and I'm hoping to venture back as much as possible.

Last Sunday I was lucky enough to attend a class hosted by the lovely Eve who taught us to alter a Tim Holtz configurations box using the delectable Graphic 45 'A Ladies' Diary' papers, together with a matching mini album. Thank-you Eve for hosting such a friendly, fun filled day - looking forward to more. It was great to finally meet the wonderful Shirley and other crafty ladies too.

Eve's box had a clear top lid so that the lovely lined drawers could be seen below with the album hidden beneath them. She showed us how to 'hinge' the top and bottom parts in order to double the box height. I've arranged my box a little differently though and made it with a paper covered lid. Here is my version;



Back at home I covered all sides of box and drawers (inner and outer) with the beautiful A Ladies' Diary papers. Also painted the drawers with Paper Artsy's fresco finish in Nougat. The lid is simply made from a square of Ladies' Diary paper on top of a square of cardstock. I sealed the papers with Claudine Hellmuth multi medium matte and found this product super as it forms an invisible seal with no visible brushstrokes. I then edged the lid with lace and decorated with lots of Ladies' Diary images, roses by Prima and Jeans (available here), silk ribbon (tied using Boweasy), pearls and charms. (A little inking is also in the mixture using Distress Inks). Also added Tim Holtz game spinners to clocks on two sides.



For the inside of the box I've used the space in the top lid to create a little stamped scene showing a seamstress busy creating all those fashions modelled on the outside. The stamped square is backed by a square of cardstock for reinforcement. I've used stamps from the gorgeous set 'Sew Much To Do' by Chapel Road Artstamps. You can see I've also used some 'A Ladies' Diary' cutouts to form the scene as well as lace, stitched buttons, sewn ribbon, wound spools, pearl string, roses, seam binding, ribbon measuring tape and I stamped the Magnolia die cut tag for the shop sign.



I recently bought the Tim Holtz dressform die and cut some spools from chipboard and used one as the box 'closure'. I decorated it with seam binding and a really fabulous scissors charm that I bought from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Eve's kit also included the Tim Holtz Foundations 'feet' that really finish off the box wonderfully.

I'll be giving this box to my Darling Mum next Sunday for Mother's Day.

I wish you all a lovely week and thank everyone most sincerely for visiting. It's great to have you along!

Nicola x


I wish to enter box to the following challenges;
Sugar Creek Hollow - #51 Lovely Lace
Simon Says Stamp and Show - By The Numbers (clocks, dates,tape)
Country View Crafts - Pick and Mix
Stampin For The Weekend - Lace
Vintage Udfordring - #55 Decorate with Flowers
Joanna Sheen - Layer It Up
Moving Along With The Times - Lovely Ladies
Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog - Mother's Day
Sunday Stamper - Oh You Pretty Things
Allsorts Challenge - For A Lady
Inspiration Emporium - Add A Little P.O.P.