Handmade Bouquet

Hi there and welcome. It's a gorgeous sunny day in Dublin - just perfect for my card today.

Prompted by the current challenge at 'Frilly & Funkie' I've finally sprung some of my flower dies to action. I've borrowed the card style from the wonderful Dorota whose blog I love. I havn't come near her standards but it's a start!

Ingredients:

Papers: Maja Design 'Vintage Summer Basics' and some Indian handmade cotton / tissue papers for alternative texture and smaller buds

Dies: Joy Crafts - '6002-0156', MFT 'Rolled Scallop flower', 'Mini Rolled Roses', 'Mini Royal Roses', Magnolia 'Rose Leaf', Cheery Lynn ' Mini Fanciful Flourish' and Spellbinders 'Fancy Trelllis'

Inks: Distress Inks - 'Worn Lipstick', 'Victorian Velvet', 'Tea Dye', 'Brushed Corduroy' and some Bobby Brown blusher

Mists and Drops: Perfect pearls mist, Waco Pearl Maker Pen for drops and Snow-Tex

Stencil: The Crafter's Workshop 'Damask' using Wendy Vecchi texture paste

Other: Used my new sewing machine from Ikea that's a little humdinger so far. Pearls and lace from stash.

Thank-you to the lovely Jennie for her terrific flower tutorials. I followed her instructions here for the flower on extreme left and am very pleased with result (a rare event!).

Thank-you so much for visiting. May the sun shine on you too!

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Frilly & Funkie - Bloomin' Marvellous
Vintage Udfordring - Use paint, spray and or drops
ABC Challenge - F is for Flowers
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge - Vintage or Shabby Chic
City Crafter Challenge - Flowers and Lace

For The Newlyweds!

Greetings from Dublin! Firstly, thank-you all so much for your very kind welcome back and good wishes to my last post. Secondly, a warm welcome to the lovely ladies who have signed up recently to follow. Finally, I have yet another wedding card to share! It's going to a couple very dear to me who are getting married this Friday.

There are a few challenges at the moment with themes of 'words' or 'sayings'. In making this card, those challenges made me ponder weddings and come to realise that a vital element to every wedding (after the Bride and Groom of course) is the exchange of vows i.e. words are key. So I typed some vows, stamped and embossed script and used some paper with text thereon.

The paper at the top third is by Maja Design - I've stamped it with a La Blanche script stamp (1174) using 'Tea Dye' DI.

The paper on the lower two thirds is from Prima 'Fairy Rhymes' collection. I first embossed it with Cheery Lynn 'Petite Hearts' embossing plate and then edged it with a Cheery Lynn border 'City Girl Edger'.

The 'central' die cuts are done with Sizzix 'Majestic Labels' dies. One is cut from handmade paper and the second is cut from 7 Gypsies 'Trousseau' collection. I embossed both using Cuttlebug 'Script' embossing folder and did my very best to line up the script on both! Edges are tipped with 'Tea Dye' DI.

Printed out in a sepia shade vows and names on the Prima paper. Distressed edges etc with 'Tea Dye'. Then positioned the Melissa Frances floral resin frame having first applied some 'Tea Dye' ink and Treasure Gold to the frame to warm it up a little.

Put it all together and added some ruched ribbon peeking out at the base, and frilled ribbon at the top (that i had carefully sized my typed vows to). Layered it all up too with lots of lace and pearls. Die cut two Magnolia 'Heart Swirls' from the 7 Gypsies paper for even more subtle detailing. Finished with some pearl embellishments and a bow of pearl string.

Thanks so much for visiting. See you all again in the middle of next week when 'normal' blogging services should resume. I'm heading tomorrow to the West of Ireland for a break and to celebrate a wedding!

Nicola x

Thank-you to the hosts and DTs at the following challenges that I wish to enter:
Our Creative Corner - Words, Words, Words
Country View Crafts - Quotations and Sayings
It's All about the Vintage and Beauty - Summer Flowers
Paper Crafting Journey - Distressed/Vintage
My Time To Craft - Aperture
Papertake Weekly - Flower Power
'ABC' Challenges - Lots of Layers
TokBobok - Vintage
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Anything But a Birthday Card
Kort o Mania - Flowers

The Scissors

Hello again. Thank-you so much for your visit.

I'm tight for time today so will keep post short. I needed to make a card for a lady who is setting up a new hairdressing salon. Wasn't sure what to do but the inspiration photo at The Shabby Tea Room this week gave me lots of ideas. Here is my card:



This is The Shabby Tea Room photo:

The background paper provides a mirror shape (to echo the glass jars in photo and of course perfect for a hairdressers). I've used some Spellbinders dies for the layers including one from the new Imperial Gold series. I think that using the recommended Junior Magnetic Placement Mat really does make a difference when using this die. The outer swirls are from a Memory Box die. The papers are by Melissa Frances (5th Avenue) and Maja Design (Vintage Summer) and some Bazzill cardstock. I've inked most edges with Distress Ink in 'Victorian Velvet'.

The scissors charm should suit for hairdressing! It's available at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. I've attached a little metal tag that says Congrats. I lightly sprinkled / melted some Frantage for some pretty bling and completed with some flower embellishments (available from Cottage Crafts).

Thank-you for stopping by and huge thanks in advance for any comments that I am lucky enough to receive.

Wishing all a lovely weekend.

Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
The Shabby Tea Room - Beautiful Spring
Vintage Cafe Card Challenges - "Your Inspiration"
The Perfect Sentiment - Make It Feminine
Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes With Ribbon
Happy Campers - Use Lace
MilkCoffee Challenge - Lace and Pearls

Spring Dressforms

A cheery hello from Dublin. I appreciate your visiting.

This was one of those cards where Plan A didn't work out at all, at all! So I'm very glad that several reconfigurations later I finally have a card to post...



I've used papers from Maja Design (Vintage Summer Basics) and all the stamping is on Ranger Speciality Stamping Paper. I had thought that I would give the dressform wings so that it was like a 'flying dressform' - but no way was this working out!

I cut dressform with Tim Holtz die and mounted on chipboard. Stamped it with Distress Inks using Crafty Individuals stamp set CI-226 'Wild Flowers'. Next stamped and embossed (Ranger Queen's Gold EP) Crafty Individuls stamp CI-357 'Springtime Robin' - I think this stamp is intended as a bookmark but I'm considering it a dress! I've coloured it in with DIs using a Tim Holtz waterbrush. The bird, butterflies and text on the dress are 'paper pieced' and raised on sticky pads.

I also stamped a large sheet with a colourful range of DIs using the CI-226 'Wild Flowers' stamp set and then diecut and punched into lots of butterflies. Then stamped and embossed clothing articles from Crafty Individuals stamp set CI-306 'French Corsets' and coloured them in using Tim Holtz water brush and DIs.

I bought the water brush from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and so wish to enter card to the Frilly and Funkie Sunday Share.

Gilded most edges with gilding wax and left them to dry overnight. All elements of the card are mounted with foam to add dimension. The two circular dies are by Cheery Lynn and Noor Design. I've also embossed the outer circle with a Cheery Lynn circular stitching plate.

That's It - hope you like! Enjoy the rest of your day.

Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Crafty Individuals - Spring In Fashion
Country View Crafts - Butterflies
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Sentimental ("Song of Spring")
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Love To Create - Punches and/or Dies
Dream Valley Challenges - Things With Wings
Sweet Stamping Challenge - Anything but Birthday

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

Springtime Birdie

Greetings from Dublin! So glad to have a card once more to share. Thank-you all for your kind good wishes on my last post - my Mum is improving as each day passes. I hope to catch up with more of your blogs over the coming days.

I made this card for someone who is starting exams - hence the wise owl on the little tag. I've kept it very muted in a vintage style.



Papers: Maja Design (Vintage Summer Basics collection)
Inks: DI Victorian Velvet. May Arts white leaf trim inked with DI Bundled Sage
Dies: Sizzix Bigz - Bird Scroll (I think my favourite die so far!), Sizzix Framelits 'Majestic Labels', Magnolia 'Old Swedish Lace'. (I also diecut the bird in chipboard to have a chunky birdie)
Embellishments: Kaisercraft, Wild Orchid Crafts, Prima, Tim Holtz. Plus cheesecloth, doily, charm and twine from stash


Thanks so much for visiting,
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Live & Love Crafts - Bingo (Cheesecloth, Vintage, Flowers)
By The Cute And Girly - Vintage
Wild Orchid Challenges - Twine
Die Cuttin Divas - Flowers
Kaboodle Doodles - Spring
Creative Moments - Challenge 15 Spring
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Color
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

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)

Time for Green

Hi there and welcome.

The current challenge at Frilly and Funkie is 'William Morris Style'. I associate William Morris and the Arts & Crafts Movement with textiles, stained-glass art and wallpaper designs. I thus tried to incorporate all three elements into my card today.



To salute the textile element, I stamped my most appropriate botanical stamp (Anna Griffin 580K06) with DI Bundled Sage (my only green DI) onto Lesley Riley's TAP (Transfer Artist Paper). I then ironed the TAP paper onto some muslin to transfer the stamped image to the cloth.

Next coloured some white stamping paper with Bundled Sage and some pinkish DIs till I'd achieved the required murky shade for the 'frame'. Stamped the frame using Walnut Stain DI ( Hero Arts 'Long Branch' and Impression Obsession 'Sm Leaf Filligree') and Bundled Sage DI (Hero Arts 'Fairy Fern'). As a nod to wallpaper design I stamped the frame's side panels with a vertical bird stamp from a set by Cavallini & Co (Birds and Nests) - well it seems wallpaper like to me anyway!

I had some rub-ons by Kaisercraft that I think resemble stained glass so these were added to the four corners. Stamped a little bird from the Cavallini set and again using TAP transferred it to muslin. Sat this atop a diecut branch (Memory Box) atop a pale green bow. Don't think William Morris would have chosen the bow but hey it is my card!

Matted it all for some colour variation including cutting the green bottom edge with a Magnolia lace edge die - referencing the wonderful lace making associated with the Arts & Crafts Movement. Finished off by adding a dragonfly charm. That's it!

Thank-you so much for spending a little part of your day at my blog. I hope you like!

Nicola x

I wish to enter my card to the following challenges;
Frilly and Funkie - 'William Morris Style'
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Go Green
Stamping Sensations - March 'The Great Outdoors'
Simon Says Stamp - A Bit O' Green

Birthday Boy!

Hello and welcome! Thank-you all so much for your phenomenal response to my last post (here) and a warm welcome to my new followers. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

This week I had to make a dreaded masculine card - I find these so difficult! Not surprisingly, it didn't go according to plan either! But never mind, here it is;



The part that didn't work out was that I wanted to colour the embossed/raised edge ridges in blue. I attempted markers but couldn't maintain a clean even pattern. I then tried to ink inside the embossing folder prior to embossing but couldn't achieve clean lines so had to abandon after several messy attempts. Maybe I should buy an ink brayer? Or go back to the classroom!

The ingredients:
Embossing Folders are from Sizzix Mail Set (I fussy cut out the embossed wings)
Stamps: Paris metro map by Artemio (Paris by Night) is tucked into the envelope and Kaisercraft 'Postmarks' for main image - all stamped in DI Salty Ocean
Papers: Melissa Frances (Countdown to Christmas) and Blue Faux Leather Paper from stash
Embellishments: Wheels are by Karen Foster Charms, Zipper is by Prima Junkyard Findings, Metal tab is by Making Memories
Cardstock and Brads: Bazzill
Blue Velvet ric rac by May Arts and Satin Ribbon from stash

Thank-you so much for visiting.
Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Lawnscaping Challenge - #53 Texture
Crafty Cardmakers - Masculine Birthday feat. tech/gadget
Cards for Men - Monochrome
Anything Goes Challenge - Make It Manly

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

Happy Valentine's Day

A sunny hello to all who visit - each and every one is much appreciated. I'm afraid I have yet another pink card to share but I promise to change colour for the next post! I'll keep this post short as I'm pressed for time.



Papers: My Mind's Eye (Be Happy collection) and various size doilies. Papers have been distressed, sponged and stamped with Kaisercraft Clear Stamp (Distress CS877) and various Distress Inks
Image: Free courtesy of Magic Moonlight (I also made some sepia and tone adjustments in Photoshop)
Dies: Cheery Lynn (Heart Chain Border), Magnolia (Heart Swirl), Spellbinders (Fleur de Lis Squares)
Venise Lace Heart from The Funkie Junkie Boutique (and card thus entered to The Frilly and Funkie Sunday Share)
Charms, lace ribbon, pearls and roses from stash

May you receive at least an extra little spoonful of love in your day today.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Nicola xx

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Frilly and Funkie: Lacy Heartsy Valentine
Cheery Lynn Designs - Frame It
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday - Put your heart on it!
Anything Goes Challenge - Vintage/Shabby Chic
Crafts and Me - Doily Heaven

Madame Butterfly

Greetings from Dublin. Welcome to my blog and very many thanks to those who have signed up as followers - it is really lovely to have your company.

I seem to be going through a butterfly phase with yet a third butterfly card but with all the challenges about love at the moment how could I possibly leave out Madame Butterfly?

My background is collage stamped with Distress Inks (Spun Sugar, Milled Lavender, Victorian Velvet) using Stampers Anonymous Papillon stamp set. (I recently bought these stamps from The Funkie Junkie Boutique from whom it is a joy to receive a package as Linda wraps everything so prettily and often adds an extra goodie or two. I thus am entering card to The Funkie Junkie: Sunday Share). I next dry embossed the background with Cheery Lynn's embossing plate Petite Hearts - these plates are the width of the Big Shot and so give better size embossing than most folders.

The beautiful Madame Butterfly is by Stampington & Company (P2201 Pucinni's Muse). I stamped her on silk tissue paper using Archival Rose Madder and embossed her with Sparkle n Sprinkle EP (rather fittingly shade is my fave 'Japanese Lacquer'). I cut two different Japanese Chiyogami Papers using Vintage Cabinet Card die. Rubbed each edge as I went along with gold gilding wax for definition. I matted Mme Butterfly onto the darker shaded paper and then framed her with the lighter pattern. Next 'Frantaged' a little using Shabby Pink embossing enamel. Also applied some diecuts that I made with Cheery Lynn dies (Heart Chain Border and Love You More Heart). The way the diecuts isolate her sadly is deliberate. Also placed some gem hearts as her tears. Added more pretty butterflies and hearts. Completed with various charms including a clock - particularly relevant given Madame Butterfly's desperate wait.

Thank-you for visiting - I hope you have a great weekend.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Inspired by Stamping - Colour Challenge # 44
Cheery Lynn Challenge - Tickled Pink
Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Show Some Love
Vintage Stamping Challenge - Vintage
Craft-room Challenge - Monochrome
Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Monochrome
Flutter By Wednesday - Open Challenge
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Only from your heart can you touch the sky
Sugar Creek Hollow - Romantic Love
Crafts and Me - Favourite Embellishment (Butterflies)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
The Artistic Stamper - Hearts and Flowers

Tulip Butterflies

Hello and a warm welcome to another blog post.

Well you sure can tell that my Big Shot is still novel to me with the amount of die cuts that I've included today - hope I havn't overdone it!

The flower and script panel has been created by stamping with Versamark (onto speciality stamping paper) and then clear embossing the image to form a resist. The stamp is by La Blanche 'Tulips Script'. Then sponged on a melange of distress inks including the new Peacock Feathers. Had fun with lots of spritzing and flicking. Die cut image with Spellbinders die BUT hadn't allowed ink to dry sufficiently so managed to rip the edges to bits! I wanted a shabby look but not ripped to shreds! So I redid the stamp resist, die cut the rectangle and then enjoyed more inking all over again. My tip today is to make sure paper well dry before doing a detailed diecut.

Printed out the lovely sentiment kindly created by Cec for a recent win at Sugar Creek Hollow. Got the die cutting done and then used the die to mask the image and sponged on even more ink. Also diecut butterflies and circle from corrugated CS and ink them to match.

Using my new butterfly stencil I added some texture paste butterflies to link various panels of the card together. I decided to leave the white paste as is for contrast although I see that the paste has absorbed some of the underlying distress ink whilst drying.

I assembled lots of layers including papers from Prima Firefly collection that were a great tonal match, doiley, tissue paper and some flourishes. Mounted the two main butterflies onto embossed CS to add further dimension. Added some gems and a little bow to complete.

Thank-you for visiting today - it was lovely to have you stop by!
Nicola x

Thanks to the hosts, sponsors and DTs at the following challenges that I wish to enter;
Sugar Creek Hollow - Lots of Layers
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Lavishly Luscious Layers
Twisted Tuesday Challenges - Anything Goes
Flutter By Wednesday's - Anything Goes
Perfect Sentiments - Anything Goes with a Die-Cut
Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Challenges - Fancy Edges

Blue Snowland

Hello and welcome to my Big Shot inaugural post! I officially declare my new toy from Santa as active and much loved already!

I've used Bazzill CS. The beautiful top quality papers are from Maja Design (It's Christmas Time collection). Dies are by Cheery Lynn and Memory Box. I'm just loving how easy it is to create diecuts and the 'extra' punch that they can add (no pun intended!). Distressed the first layer and edged with Antik Metallic paste in silver. I've stamped the forest using stamp by 'Just for Fun' and little snowflakes stamp by Fiskars and embossed them with Stampendous Winter Wonderland EP. I daubed some 'snow' with Adirondack paint dabber and gesso. Added some frantage silver glass glitter. Snowflake punches by Martha Stewart, pearls from Kaisercraft, Bird House by Prima (Ingvild Bolme). Partly distressed the papers and 'house' with Distress Inks.

Thank-you so much for taking time at my blog. I hope that it's warm wherever you are!

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Maja Design - January Mood Board
Creative Craft Challenges - New Beginnings
LEJ Designs - New Beginnings
Try It On Tuesday - New Stash
Tuesday Throwdown - Shiny and New

Doves of Peace

Greetings all - today 12.12.12 is the last posting day to the North Pole so be sure to get your letters to Santa in the post!

I am really pressed for time today (who isn't!) so will be brief and just give card ingredients as follows;

Stamps - Penny Black 'World Peace' (3040K), Flourishes Stamps - Antique Map, Stamped Sentiment by Crafty Individuals
Inks - Versamark (for clear emboss resist), Distress Metallic Stain in Brushed Pewter, DI in Chipped Sapphire
Embossing powders - Judikins Silver Twinkle, Stampendous Twilight
Lots of UTEE for Dove image and sentiment
Bird cage die cut glittered with Silver Twinkle
Backing paper for bird cage a free image courtesy of the wonderful Astrid of Astrid's Artistic Efforts
Doves punched with Fiskars / Jenny Bowlin sqeeze punch and glittered with Distress Dry Glitter in Clear Rock Candy
CS - Stardream and Curious Metallic
Other - glass glitter (Stampendous), bells, pearls (Kaisercraft), clock hand charm (silvered and glittered), Corner punches by Fiskars, Stars

Thanks for taking the time to visit today as I know everyone is super busy at the mo! Hugs to those lovely people who leave comments or better still become followers. It means a lot!

Have a great day.
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Fashionable Stamping Challenge - To Die For
Penny Black Saturday - Glitter and Sparkle
Penny Black Allsorts - It's Your Choice
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Celebration
Sweet Stamping Challenge - Dies and / or Punches
Crafting Ireland - 12 Days of Christmas
LEJ Designs - Sentimental
No Matter Which Challenges - Christmas
Glitter n Sparkle - Use some metal
ABC Christmas Challenge - Y is for your favourite punch/die
Creative Card Crew- Use A Star
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Christmas with a background twist
Inspiration Emporium - Inspiration Journal - Joyful Creations

The Maji

Hello again from a very chilly but sunny Dublin. Thank-you for stopping by and welcome to yet another Christmas Card post.

CS is Bazzill. Papers are by Maja Design (having inked/distressed them with various DIs). I stamped and embossed Wisemen Postcard (Stampington and Company C8432)) with black archival ink and black detail EP. Then blended several DIs and Glimmer Mist (Walnut Gold) to create a warm background for the Maji. I coated with Glossy Accents for definition. Next I matted image onto several layers of CS and papers (having distressed and gilded each rectangle's edge). Also used a Martha Stewart edge punch along the base rectangle. With same punch I edged a strip of paper and matted it on CS. Again aged and gilded the edges. Using a holly stamp from Inkadinkado (98398 Christmas Silhouettes) I stamped holly leaves and inked with DI, shimmer mist and applied gilding wax to their edges. Punched the angel wings and bird shapes using Fiskars Squeeze punches and coated with Distress Stain. 'Aged' a Tim Holtz gamespinner and attached to postcard. Added a Brenda Walton metal brad for 'stamp'. Completed with ribbons, bow tied with my boweasy and date (Maja Road). Added crackle accents to embellishments for final vintage effect.

Thank-you so much for visiting and a special thank-you to those who leave comments as they are very much appreciated.

Enjoy your weekend.
Nicola x

Many thanks to the Hosts and Design Teams at the following challenges that I wish to enter;
Sugar Creek Hollow - Vintage Christmas
Sunday Stamper (Ink on my Fingers) - Vintage
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes (with Martha Stewart)
Crafty Ribbons - Use at least 2 ribbons
Use Your Stuff - Patterned Paper
Tuesday Throwdown - Lots of Layers
Fussy and Fancy - I Love Christmas
Addicted to Stamps - Christmastime
Glitter n Sparkle - Ribbon and / or Lace
Hooked on Craft - Christmas
Crafting Ireland - 12 Days of Christmas

Vintage Santa

A warm hello wherever you are, especially those in parts of flood ridden Britain. Thankfully we in Ireland have not been affected by this weather despite being so proximate.

I'm well and truly now in Christmas card production mode.

Background paper is by Swedish brand Maja Design (It's Christmas Time). I have distressed its edges and dabbed with Archival sepia to age and Adirondack paint dabber for snow effect. I won some chipboard ornaments at a raffle a few weeks ago and they are coming in handy! I inked the ornament with various Distress Inks, Metallic Stains and Cosmic Shimmer Mist (Rich Gold). Then stamped Santa (Stampington and Company, St Nicholas, K5545) with Ranger Archival Sepia and embossed with Sparkle n Sprinkle Chocolate EP. I also stamped Holly leaves around Santa (Stampendous SSC1068) but these ended up being mostly covered up. I gave the ornament 5 coats of UTEE and sprinkled in a small amount of glass glitter during coats. I 'aged' two small glassine bags from The Funkie Junkie Boutique with distress inks. Next stamped two 'tickets' using some stamps from Unity Stamp Company (IB-127) - one of these is stamped on canvas tag by Maya Road. I inked the button rims with Archival Sepia and tied through red bows. Added snowflakes and branches with my ubiquitous woodware and Martha Stewart punches using paper by Maya Road and SEI Velvet. Santa's Hat is also decorated with a little metal disc by Nunn Design that says 'Believe'. I painted a metal angel with Gesso and Archival Sepia. Liberally applied Adirondack paint dabber (Snow Cap) to all elements of card. Added ribbons and completed with metal clock hands on angel. Time is absolutely crucial to Santa on the 25th!

Very many thanks for visiting.
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Our Creative Corner - ABC Challenge
Sugar Creek Hollow - Vintage Christmas
Stamping Sensations - Traditional Christmas
Vintage Stamping Challenge - Red/Green/Blue/Purple

Smitten Penguins in Snowland

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans wherever you are in the world. Thank you so much to everyone who visits my blog and a very special thank-you to all my new followers.

No creations for the last week I'm afraid as I wasn't well. I hope to be more productive this week. I decided I would try and make a shaker card as a lot of YouTube videos make it look easy! It isn't ... mine sprung a leak alas and some careful plumbing work was required. I reckon I should get used to glitter on the floor for the next couple of weeks!

Onto Stardream cardstock I stamped some Christmas Penguins (Penny Black 3514H - Cheerful Giving) and then embossed with Judikins Black Diamond EP. I also stamped with Versamark and clear embossed some snowflakes around the penguins for a resist (Fiskars Winter Wonderland) but these aren't showing up too well against the pale blues. The background was sponged with a mix of Ranger Distress inks and Snow Cap Adirondack paint dabber. I punched some snowflakes with my Martha Stewart and Woodware punches and gave them gemstone centres from Hero Arts. Card is my literal interpretation of one of the challenges I entering - Home Sweet Home as I agree "home is where the heart is". This smitten little pair's home just happens to be the great outdoors. I've added little key and heart charms for them. Used Twinklets glass glitter (Diamond Dust) for the filling underneath the (now securely stuck!) clear acetate. I painted a diecut banner from Melissa Frances with layers of white Gesso. Whilst wet I blasted it with the heat tool so that the Gesso formed nice snowy blisters. I've addded bow, heart and tree charm (both painted and glittered) and stamped sentiment and embossed with Judikins EP. (Stamp was a freebie (amongst many fab freebies!) that I just received in an order from Crafty Individuals). Shaker mounted on Bazzill CS to complete.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Cute Christmas
Fashionable Stamping Challenge - Home Sweet Home
Aud Sentiments - Bingo (Embossing, Bling, Joy)
Sparkles Christmas - Contemporary Colour Combo
Bearly Mine - Snowflakes
Crazy Amigos - Colours of Winter
Creative Craft Challenges - Bingo (Blue, Stamps, Emboss)
Ladybug Crafts - Snowflakes
Fashionista Challenge - Blue Christmas
Crimbo Crackers - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy - Feeling Blue
Stampin For The Weekend - Use some texture

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