'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

Joyeux Noël

Hello and welcome! I'm well and truly into Christmas production mode now - they certainly are my favourites to do.

Stamps: Artistic Outpost 'Snowy Woods' set

Papers: Maja Design, Pion Design and French book text

Dies: Mini trees and deer by Tim Holtz / Sizzix. Postage Stamp by MFT Dienamics. (The stamp 'frame' is triple layered for dimension).

Inking: Distress Inks ('Vintage Photo', 'Tea Dye', 'Walnut Stain', 'Brushed Corduroy'). Prima chalk edger 'Branch Bark'. Ranger Archival Ink 'Coffee' and 'Red Geranium'. Versamark. Stuart Gill Clear EP. Embossing Antiquities 'Weathered White' EP. Frantage 'Aged Ivory' embossing enamel. Glossy Accents. Crackle Accents. Gesso. Snow-Tex. Inkssentials white pen.

Punch: Woodware

Embellishments: from stash

I hope this post finds you all well and warm. I'm sending a special Get Well wish to dear Anne. May my pals in UK not have suffered too many ill effects of storm.

Thank-you so much for your visit - it's a pleasure to have you stop by.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:

Artistic Outpost - October Referral Programme
Simon Says Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Christmas Card Challenges - Bows
Christmas at Sweet Stamping Challenge - Cards for Men
It's All About The Vintage - Use at least 3 stamps
Flourishes Tuesday - Plaid/Houndstooth (on one of trees)
ABC Christmas Challenge - V for Vixen (Reindeer)
Rhedd and Rosie Challenge - Anything Goes

Miles to go ...

Hello All and thank-you for your visit.

I'm really on a Christmas card roll as here's another:

Stamps: Artistic Outpost (Snowy Woods), Crafty Individuals (Clock and numerals CI-354)
Papers: Pion Design 'Wintertime in Swedish Lapland' and cotton fabric for top edge
Dies: Memory Box 'Lantern', Memory Box 'Branch' and Bigz Snowflake On The Edge
Inks: Gesso, Distress glitter in 'Clear Rock Candy' (lots!) and 'Old Paper', UTEE, Adirondack Alcohol ink 'Rust', Brilliance 'Pearlescent Rust' and 'Pearlescent Chocolate', DI 'Tea Dye' and 'Vintage Photo', Prima Chalk 'Rust', Distress Stain 'Antique Bronze', Archival 'Coffee', Copper EP, 'Vintage Photo' EP, Frantage in 'Shabby White', Stickles 'Mercury Glass', 'White Fire' gilding wax, Glossy Accents, Dreamweaver paste. Paper Artsy Fresco paint 'Snowflake'
Stencil: Crafter's Workshop 'Art Is'
Punch: Woodware
Embellishments: Tim Holtz Ice Skates, bark heart, twine, pearls and clock charm from stash

Little details:

The adorable ideaology Ice Skates are 'aged' using the brilliant Tammy Tutterow's technique 'Distress stain on metal'. For the skates I used lots of rusty inks and metallic distress stain in 'antique bronze'. I opted to coat with UTEE instead of clear EP. Gesso is also on the blades.

The lantern has been aged to be 'Faux Rusted Copper' by adapting the always awesome Shelly Hickox technique for 'Faux Tarnished Silver' but instead using copper EP before the UTEE heat blast.

Before stamping the main image I painted the paper with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paint in 'Snowflake' to have a matt 'snowy' base to stamp on once dry. The raised snow on the main image is done by sprinkling frantage onto wet gesso and drying with heat gun to puff nicely. All the 'snowy' edges are done with gesso and distress glitter.

To cut the cotton for the top edge I first needed to stiffen it ... so painted fabric with a coat of gesso and heat dried and then randomly dabbed chocolate ink. Once dry and stiff it was cut with the on the edge die.

I'm sorry I've not been blog visiting but I'm not too well this week. I hope to be properly back in action in a few days time.

Wishing everyone a warm and happy weekend,
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Inspired by Tammy Tutterow
Crafts Too Challenge You - Christmas Festivities 'Scene'
Vintage Udfordring - Vintage card for a male with charm and twine
Vintage Card Cafe - Brown/Beige Colour Marathon
Artistic Outpost - October Referral Programme - Anything Goes
Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Use a mask or stencil
Deep Ocean Challenge - Christmas is round the corner
Try It On Tuesdays - Texture
Christmas at Sweet Stampin - Cards for Men
Simon Says Stamp - Use a rubber or clear stamp
Crafty Individuals - October - getting ready for Christmas

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

Christmas Angel Tag

Hi all. Welcome to my blog and very many thanks to all my new followers and commentors who make my blog posts so worthwhile.

Today I'm posting my first entry to the Challenge that Linda is running called The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas. Linda's first tag is here and the challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Check out the challenge blog for further details of the challenge and fabulous work for inspiration. The challenge has been running for 5 weeks so far and I am way behind so without further ado here is my take on Linda's first tag.

I did start out with intention of doing solely a tag, but it morphed into a card along the way. I've taken lots of inspiration from Linda's first tag however in that I decorated the tag with a central charm (angel in lieu of heart) surrounded by wings and sentiment, stamped a lot of flourishes and embossed with distress dry glitter. My tag too has been inked with Distress Inks and Stain. I also included stars at base of tag.

Base CS is Bazzill that I have edged and sponged with Distress Ink 'Worn Lipstick'. The white sparkle embossed vellum layer is from Papermania. The tag is a #8 Inkssentials manila tag. I sponged with a mixture of Distress Inks (Worn Lipstick, Victorian Velvet, Festive Berries, Rusty Hinge) spritzed with water. I also used Ranger Distress Stain Antique Bronze for lovely metallic shimmer and colour. I versamark stamped the tag with various flourish and script type stamps and embossed some of the stamping with Judikins EP Sticky Stuff and then added Distress Dry Glitter in Clear Rock Candy. (The glitter is subtle in daylight but it sure sparkles fabulously in artificial light.) Also painted some stars and a metal Angel charm with Distress Stain Antique Bronze - the metal took the stain very well. I decorated these embellishments with the dry glitter also. I punched a heart shape (Woodware) from vellum paper and stamped 'Peace' sentiment with Brilliance bronze ink. I also stamped some 'wings', again on vellum, with Distress Ink Worn Lipstick. Both of these stamps come from Andy Skinner Stamps (Simply Angelic ASCSA5010). I centred angel charm between all the 'wings' having added a stamped doily as 'wings' too. Also stamped a second sentiment using Distress Ink Festive Berries - stamp from Stampington and Company (All the year G1068). I added the stars that had been decorated with distress glitter. Also stained a crushed velvet ribbon with some of the distress stains and added crystals at corners to complete.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by,
Nicola x

I'm entering card to the following challenges;
The Funkie Junkie - 12 Tags of Christmas
Crafty Sentiments - Bows or Ribbons
Top Tip Tuesday - Things with Wings
ABC Christmas Challenge - U for Up to You
Lady Anne's Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Bloggers Network - Anything Goes
My Craft Spot - Emboss It
Ooh La La Creations - Christmas Sentiment
Crimbo Crackers - Pink
Create with Kate - Papercraft for Knit & Stitch Dublin

Autumn Leaf

Hello. Dublin today was Wet! Wet! Wet! (but no Marti Pellow alas!) Speaking of the weather outside - here is my take on autumn;

Base CS by Bazzill. Next vellum layer by Laura Ashley. Next layer Stardream. I then printed a leaf shape from photoshop for outline. I inked up a melange of cardstock and vellum with a mix of Ranger Distress Inks and gilding wax (Lefranc & Bourgeois) to achieve varying autumnal hues (both sides of papers). Also painted some jute ribbon with inks. I then scrunched up the paper (the vellum lended itself really well to this). Next, I punched (a lot) of leaves with Woodware punch. I glued the leaves building for 3D effect. Also backed printout with 5 skeleton leaves (Anitas) to give it some definition. Dabbed the leaves randomly with some Ranger Distress Crackle Paint and Inkssentials Glossy Accents. Left it overnight to dry. I 'distressed' some cheesecloth with Ranger Distress EP Vintage Photo. Also, painted a Prima wooden timepiece with Distress Crackle Paint. Ditto to a Tim Holtz Ideology Gamespinner to age it. Added jute ribbon, crushed velvet ribbon and twine.

Hope my leaf card brings you warm and happy thoughts. Thanks for visiting.

I'm entering card to the following challenges;
4 Crafty Chicks - Leaves
Papertake Weekly Challenge - A Hazy Shade of Autumn
Divas by Design - Lovely layers
My Craft Spot - Falling Leaves
Frilly and Funkie - Fall into Fall
Creative Inspirations Paint - Fall Colors
Just Some Lines - Lets Celebrate Fall
Alota Rubber Stamps - 3D Fall
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Autumn Colors and Ribbon
Clearly Inspired - Fall into Fall