The Mitten

Hello - You are most welcome to my blog! Thank-you so much to those who have begun to follow and/or posted lovely comments. I appreciate them all very much.

My card today has a lovely warm glow to it that hasn't come across in photo as today in Dublin it is just miserable outside. But never mind, it's cosy indoors!

I hand drew a mitten shape and cut out from SEI Velvet papers. Gave glove a double cuff with Martha Stewart punch along edge. I stitched the glove having marked out with my Seweasy. Then decorated the cuff with ribbons by Melissa Frances and May Arts. Using stamps by Stempelglede (Vintage Christmas) I stamped Angel onto TAP (Transfer Artist Paper by Lesley Riley) using archival ink in sepia. I then ironed the TAP onto white muslin so that the stamped image transferred to the cloth. I also stamped sentiment from same stamp set directly onto cream muslin. (One has to be careful with TAP and text as the ironing process reverses all images). The lovely papers are by Maja Design (It's Christmas Time). I distressed edges of paper and then rubbed paper and mitten edges with gilding wax which I left to dry overnight. Adhered the Angel image with 3D tape and attached the sentiment at top with brads. Punched various snowflakes (Martha Stewart and Woodware) and doubled them up for dimension. The larger ones have rose centres (petal edges gilded) and the smaller snowflakes have pearls as centres. Ribbons and charms from stash to complete.

Stay warm and a big thank-you for stopping by.

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Crafty Mess - Vintage Christmas
Twisted Tuesday - Wintery White
Christmas at Sweet Stamping - Anything Goes
Crafting Ireland - 12 Days of Christmas
Sugar Creek Hollow - Distressing
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Button or Bow
Eclectic Ellapu - Santa paws and/or Snowflakes
Crafty Bloggers - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Snowflakes
The Crafty Pad - Stitching Real or Faux
Loves Rubberstamps - Anything Goes
Celebrate the Occasion - Christmas - No Red or Green
Alphabet Challenge - V for Vintage
Crimbo Crackers - Wooden

Greenfingers

Hello again! Last tuesday I noticed a photo inspiration challenge over at Loves Rubber Stamps . Often when I see an image or buy a new stamp I'll first work out in my head how the card will eventually look (although that then doesn't always work out!) Yesterday I finally got the time to 'put to paper' my interpretation of the lovely photo.

CS is Bazzill. First layer - green CS wrapped in white lace paper. Next layer - white CS edged variously with green stitched ribbons or Martha Stewart edger punch. Because the photo inspiration was so focused on what the little girl was wearing I decided I would stamp on cloth. Image is by La Blanche (#1204 Big Straw Hat) stamped onto white muslin. Ink is Ranger Archival Ink - Viridian. I stitched the muslin to some white CS with markings by SewEasy. (You can likely tell sewing is not my strongpoint!). The exquisite venise lace trimmings come from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. I added Karen Foster metal charms (watering can and garden fork), having first painted them with Antik Metallic Silver paint for shine. (I reckoned that this little girl would only use tools that had some polish!). I punched little flowers (Woodware) and gave them pearl centres (Kaisercraft). To complete, I added little bows and water droplets (Hero Arts).

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope a great week is in store for you...

Thank-you for the following challenges that I am entering card to:
Loves Rubber Stamps - Photo Inspiration
PaperPlay Challenges - Flowers and Lace
Crafty Catz - Lace and Ribbons
Do You Stack Up - Scallops
GingerLoft Challenge - Stitching real or faux
Joanna Sheen - Down In The Garden
Sweet Stampin' - Vintage
Frilly & Funkie - Sunday Share
Flonzcraft Vintage Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes
Platypus Creek Digitals - Pearls & Lace

Frilly Flight

Hi there. We have sunshine and showers today in Dublin (less showers thankfully). The weather made me think of today's card with its mixture of distress for autumn yet butterflies for sun.

I started off with a buff colour Bazzill cardstock for base. (I usually make cards 6" x 6"). I then distressed the white CS edges with Tim Holtz distress tool and Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I stamped a script stamp (La Blanche 1174) with a faint amount of Distress Ink in Antique Linen. Over that I stamped the lovely bird and branch (Tim Holtz Stamp P2-1431) using Versafine Vintage Sepia. I distressed the edges of a manila tag and again 'weathered' it using DI Vintage Photo. I stamped a music stamp (Anna Griffin 580K21) on tag and then liberally rubbed the tag with gilding wax around its edges and across the white CS too. The gilding wax is by Lefranc & Bourgeois - a little of it goes a long way! I again stamped the TH bird stamp - this time onto the tag. I also (crookedly) stamped and gold embossed the tag end with an Anna Griffin edge stamp. Using the Sew Easy to puncture holes I stitched some cream embroidery thread across the white CS. I put all the ingredients together and added skeleton leaf (smeared with gilding wax), punched branches (using Martha Stewart punch), ribbons, twine, charms, pearls and wooden ladybirds.

I've entered this card to to the following challenges:
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Distressed
http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk/
Cupcake Craft Challenges - In Stitches
http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Gosh it all sounds like an awful lot of work when one puts it in writing! Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your day.