Snowy cabin

Greetings dear readers - welcome to yet another Christmas card post!

I was delighted recently to have won at The Artistic Outpost referral programme, and even happier still to select my choice of their gorgeous stamp sets as prize (not easy to choose from fab array!). After lots of deliberation I went for the 'Midwinter' set and now love it. I bet the occupants of this cabin are blissfully content in their isolation.

The top circle is Stardream card cut with a Cheery Lynn die. I stamped the cabin image and embossed with Stampendous 'Twilight' EP. Did lots of frantage for the snow 'blizzard'. Painted gesso for the snowy foreground and coated it whilst wet with Distress glitter in 'Clear Rock Candy'. Also glittered the roof, windows and tree branches. Next inked the circle edges with Versamark and embossed with Judikins 'Silver Twinkle' EP. The two sentiments are from the AO sets 'Midwinter' and 'Snowy Woods' and are embossed as per cabin, silver ringed again and dotted with sparkly gesso. Sentiments also have faint shadow inked snowflakes.

The lower circle is cut using a Noor die. Again I've embossed the edge with 'Silver Twinkle' EP and glittered it too with more 'Clear Rock Candy'. The two circle layers are each propped on cardboard circles and foam tape to heighten dimension.

For the blue 'galaxy' layer I inked white CS with a combination of Distress Inks 'Chipped Sapphire' and 'Stormy Sky', Perfect Pearls mist 'Perfect Pearl' and Distress Stain 'Picket Fence'. I then gave it 3 coats of UTEE for a good thick glaze. Whilst the UTEE was hot I sprinked on silver glass glitter and little stars. Then edged it with Idea-ology silver tinsel.

Added metal key and little star brads from stash as finishing touches.

Thanks so much for visiting - I genuinely appreciate all the lovely comments you leave me.

Have a Happy Day!

Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Artistic Outpost December Referral - Anything Goes using AO
Vintage Stamping Challenges - Cold and Frosty Colours
Stamping Sensations - Free and Easy
Country View Challenges - Bah, Humbug!
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. - Use Metal / Add a charm
Kaboodle Doodles - Start of Winter
QKR Stampede - Starting to Look a lot like Christmas
Everybody-Art-Challenge - Winter
Live & Love Crafts - Stardust

June Wedding and a vote pretty please?

Hello all you lovely readers. Welcome all - especially recent new followers.

Since my last post I was thrilled to be the lucky winner of Butterfly's 1st Blogaversary Candy over at 'Words and Pictures'. Well the treasure trove of a parcel arrived in record time from the lovely Alison in UK. I'm absolutely delighted to have received such a generous and fantabulous stash all so perfectly wrapped. If you have never checked out Alison's blog - what you havn't??? - then you really should!! Thank-you again Alison!

Well you know it's summer when wedding cards are in high demand!



The base white cardstock has been covered with a veil of white tulle (you can't see it very well unless you expand photo). The next layer up is blue cardstock diecut with Cheery Lynn Reflection Die 'Mini Pearl French Flair'. I then dry embossed the card with Cheery Lynn 'Petite Hearts' embossing plate. Diecut some silver Stardream cardstock with the Cheery Lynn 'Sophia's Heart' die. Then layered up two more levels using Cheery Lynn 'French Flair' die again. I interwove some rose venise lace and adhered the various layers with foam tape for dimension. Added roses from Prima, Jeans and Kort & Godt with some silvery berries by Magnolia. Included some diecuts made with Cheery Lynn 'Mini Fanciful Flourish' die. Added snowtex to the flowers and liked it so much I also dabbed to the embossed blue layer of cardstock for more texture. Using Boweasy tied a bow with some May Arts silk ribbon and draped it around card. I used some of the heart punchouts from the 'Sophia's Heart' diecut to decorate the ribbon. The lovely centre silver embellishment is by Nunn Design. To complete I placed a silver wedding charm into a little silver frame by K&Co and attached to bow. Hope the Happy Couple like!

A little favour please...you may have seen my recent post regarding a Butterfly Shaped box that I crafted with lots of diecuts...post is here. One of the challenges I entered the box to is Unruly PaperArts (Reader Art Quest June - Shabby Chic in 3D). To choose the Top entries the lovely columnists at Unruly PaperArts invite you to vote for your favourite entries. If you liked my butterfly box, I would of course be grateful and happy if you popped over to Unruly PaperArts to cast a vote here. The Unruly Blogozine is well worth a visit in any event as each month it's packed full of superb inspiration and tutorials.

Stay well...
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Cheery Lynn Design - Wonderful Weddings
Inspiration Journal - Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Country View Crafts Challenge - Diecuts
Creative Belli Blog - Wedding
Everybody-Art-Challenge - Wedding
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Our Creative Corner - Recipe (Ribbon, Metal, Snow-Tex! (ok?)

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

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

Little Snow Bird

Greetings from yet another lovely bright crisp day in Dublin. Welcome to another christmas card post!

When I started this card, I had intended to leave it CAS so that the background itself was the main feature - this was so card would suit current Our Creative Corner challenge. However once I began on the little snowbird I'm afraid I loved the image so much that it became the focal point.

CS used are Bazzill and Stardream. I used a Fiskars corner punch to shape the background piece that I then stamped (Stampendous Christmas Background CRR144) with Versafine and embossed with Papermania EP (Tinsel Red). Used a Martha Stewart punch to edge the left side of bird image (some room for tail feathers!). I stamped (Stampendous Snow Bird - CRP169) in Encore Metallic Gold and embossed with Sparkle n Sprinkle EP (Gilded Ivory). Added some mica flakes from Melissa Frances and punched snowflakes from Ferro Gold paper. Added pearls, gems, ribbon from stash. Topped with Nunn Design gold metal snowflake to finish.

Wishing everyone a lovely day!
Nicola

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Our Creative Corner - Make Your Own Background
Stamping Sensations - Traditional Christmas
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas
The Pink Elephant TPE174 - Punches/Dies

Swan Story

Hello! Its a bank holiday here in Ireland this weekend so everyone's in good form with the extra free day.

For my post today, in order to enter certain challenges, I've made something invented by the fabulous Hels Sheridan who labelled it The T'Pouch.. The challenge over at Frilly and Funkie is anything but a card to include a hidden compartment. Also the challenge at The Stamp Man is Butterflies, Birds and Bees.

Here's what I've made;

The T'Pouch is folded in such a way that it can contain 2 tags that can slide in and out of T'Pouch independently of each other. My first picture above shows the side of the T'Pouch stamped with Stampington and Company's lovely image (Heavenly P2216) embossed with Judikins EP (Black Diamond). This is 'The Black Swan'. The quote of advice from Aesop (from my printer) is on the top of a 'tag' within the T'Pouch. (Sorry its not a proper tag shape but by the time I realised I didn't want to go cutting proper tag corners in case I went awry and wrecked the whole thing! Bit tight for time today!)

The reverse of the T'Pouch is;

The same lovely image, but this time embossed with Stampendous EP (Winter Wonderland). Obviously this is 'The White Swan'. I've stamped some relevant text on the top of the 2nd tag inside the T'Pouch using stamp from Paper Bags Studios (Beauty PBS-038-C). (The tag, that curled from embossing, is now under a heavy book to flatten as I was rushing to get post published first).

Continuing with 'The White Swan' I've pulled out the tag to reveal it in full;

Clearly she is a happy swan as she is surrounded by butterflies, dragonflies and a glittery rose pink heart. Going back to 'The Black Swan' however the revealed tag tells a different story;

Yes, you've guessed it, this poor creature has a sting in her tail!

Thank-you to Anita who sparked my brain with her Design Team inspiration piece where she had different birds on front and reverse.

Supplies; Stardream and Bazzill CS, Cromatica Paper, Punched shapes with SEI Velvet paper using Punch Bunch, EK Success, Woodware and Fiskars punches. Melissa Frances pearls, Karen Foster metal charm, Lace from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. Bows and ribbon from stash.

Wishing you all a really lovely weekend. Nicola x

I wish to enter T'Pouch to the following challenges;
Frilly and Funkie - Anything BUT a Card but with a twist
The Stamp Man - Butterflies, Birds and Bees
PaperPlay Challenges - Butterflies and Bees
Do You Stack Up - Embossing

Deer in Snowy Forest

Hello to all and thank-you for visiting my blog. I hope everyone is well and all set for a great weekend with lots of crafting therein. I'm feeling rather wintry today with chill air outside. I've thus made a Christmas card with a snowy scene.

Base CS is Stardream. I've punched the top part of a square of SEI Velvet using a Martha Stewart Punch. I then stamped onto the Velvet with a 'Just for Fun' rubber stamp (no serial number on stamp) using Versamark ink. I then heat embossed the image with Stamp n Stuff EP (Winter Wonderland) for a lovely snowy sparkle. Next, I edged some gold Stardream CS with the same punch. Stamped a Penny Black image (The Sound of Snow 2800K) with Versamark and embossed with a deep red EP from Sparkle n Sprinkle (Japanese Lacquer). I added round metal disc (Brenda Walton Metal Art), metal owls charm, puffy stars and ribbon. Finally, I placed pearls for snow effect to link the two images.

Thanks so much for having a look see. Have a lovely weekend. Nicola x

Thank-you to hosts, DTs and sponsors of the following challenges that I'd like to enter;
Penny Black and More Allsorts - Animal Magic
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Traditional
PaperPlay Challenges - Wooden It Be Nice
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Two's Company
Totally Stampalicious - Christmas Card
Southern Girls - Tie A Ribbon Around It
C.R.A.F.T. - Use metal on card
Little Red Wagon - Bowdacious
Whimsy Stamp Inspiration Challenge - All Things Sparkly
ABC Christmas Challenge - U For Up To U
Stamp & Create - Winter Wonderland

Cinderella

Hello again.

My card today is inspired by the photo challenge over at Our Creative Corner.

I've made an easel card using Stardream cardstock. I trimmed the top edge with a Martha Stewart punch for crown effect. Wrapped the CS with a sparkly gold 'mesh' from a local fabric shop - it reminds me of chain mail worn as armor in medieval times. I stamped the beautiful Stampington image (Apron - 57342) on tissue paper, fussy cut it and glued to doily. Also stamped the lovely 'Feathered Swirl' (La Blanche 1252) and 'Cinderella' (Impression Obsession D6543). All images stamped with Delicata Golden Glitz and embossed with Stamp n Stuff Jewelled Gold. I propped the Cinderalla script as a mini easel. Added roses, bow and charms to complete.

Thats it! Not too sure about the whole 'Prince Charming' thing though!

Enjoy the rest of your day.

I'm entering card to the following challenges;
Our Creative Corner - Let's Be Royal
Crafty Ann's Challenge - 'Film Title' - 'The Slipper & The Rose' film
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Easel Card
Flonzcraft Vintage Stamping Challenge - Anything Goes

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

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

Merry Tweetings

Hi there. My post today continues my Christmas countdown. The winter chill is beginning to hit the air in Dublin and making this card sure warms the heart at least.

Base Cardstock is Curious Metallic - Ice Gold - its super white with a golden shimmer. To make the background I used a sheet of Eco cotton card that has a nice nubbly feel. I stamped music (Anna Griffin stamp 580K21) with Versafine Crimson Red. Next I sprayed the cotton card with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Walnut Gold) and Shimmerz Spritz (Treasured Hymm). Also painted card with some Ranger Glitz Stickles (Ruby Slippers and Champagne) to really make some sparkle. Cut into tag shape and used cutoffs for card corners decoration.

Onto gold Stardream CS I stamped one of my favourite images (Magenta stamp - Birds Postcard MG-95230L) and embossed with Papermania EP (Tinsel Red). I decorated postcard with brad 'stamp'. Formed a little nest from some jute, added sparkle and gems. Attached some jute ribbon and bows made with various twine and string. I punched (Woodware) some red velvet snowflakes (SEI Velvet paper - Blaze)and gave them pearl centres. Topped off by painting more 'sparkle' (a girl can never have enough!), more embellies and grosgrain 'Merry Christmas' ribbon from stash.

Hope there are birds tweeting wherever you are!

Thanks to the DTs and sponsors for the following challenges that I'm entering;
Jingle Belles Rock - Going Postal
Cute Card Thursday - Christmas in September
Twisted Tuesday Challenge - Flight with embellies
Simon Says Stamp - Emboss It
Totally Papercrafts - Your favourite stamp
Scrap-Creations - Emboss!
LEJ Designs - Sparkle and Shine
Loves Rubberstamps - Make your own background
Love to Create - Things with wings
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Sparkle & Bling
Stampavie and more - Sparkling
J&C Creations - Cute Christmas
Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Things with wings

Starting with Santa

Hello. Rather than spending so much time looking enviously at others' wonderful papered/inked/ribboned/bejeweled etc. creations, I decided to start my own blog to see if I might learn and create more and enter some challenges along the way. Welcome to my first blogpost!

In line with certain Dublin department stores who already have Christmas decorations for sale, I'm starting with a sparkly Christmas Santa card.

I've stamped and embossed Inkadinkado's "A Vist from Santa" (98223) stamp onto a tissue thin sheer paper. That's then mounted onto a rich cream paper embroidered with gold thread. Punched the tag from some Stardream paper using a woodware punch and placed eyelet using my cropadile. I stamped and embossed "Happy Christmas" (Woodware stamp bd23 2de) onto tag. Punched some snowflakes using Woodware and Martha Stewart punches and placed gems and pearls from stash. The gorgeous gold metal snowflake is by Nunn Design. Added ribbons and assembled onto Bazzill cardstock. Inks and Embossing powders by Versamark, Judikins and Stampendous. That's it!

I entered this card for "Sparkles Christmas Challenge", Christmas Stampin All Year Long", "Penny Black and More Sept Challenge", "Just keep on Creating Christmas Challenge","Heck of a Challenge, Anything goes", "Unique Crafters Challenge, Anything goes" and "Anything Goes Challenge Blogspot - Early Christmas"
http://sparklesforumchristmaschallenge.blogspot.ie/
http://christmasstampin.blogspot.ie/
http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/september-challenge.html
http://justkeeponcreating.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/christmas-is-just-around-corner.html
http://heckofachallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
http://uniquecrafterschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.ie/

Thanks for visiting my blog - I hope you like...