Pretty In Pink

Hello from a very chilly Dublin. Thank-you so much for all your wonderful compliments on my last post - your taking the time and your words are so encouraging. A warm welcome and gratitude too to my new followers.

I needed to make a CAS Valentine card so I've come up with this card inspired by a beautiful card (photo here) at The Case Study Challenge Blog. The centre tag can be removed to use as a bookmark.

Ingredients;
Papers are a silk thread tissue embedded with hearts, Bazzill CS, vellum and a Japanese screenprinted Chiyogami paper
Butterfly punch by Woodware
Stamp by Limited Edition rubber stamps (LE4543G)
I used a dark blue versafine ink to stamp the sentiment so that the Sparkle and Sprinkle EP (Japanese Lacquer) that is a beautiful deep red became an even deeper red.
Metal hearts by Nunn Design
Satin Bow by Anna Griffin

Wishing you all a warm, happy and creative week.
Nicola x

Thank-you to the hosts, design teams and sponsors of the following challenges that I wish to enter;
Case Study Challenge Blog - #123
Craft-room Challenge - Valentines
Paper Creator's Crafts - Love Is All Around
Inky Impressions - Add A Sentiment
The Pink Elephant Challenge - TPE182 Pink, Red and White
There She Goes - TSG190 Love is in the air

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Hello and welcome to my last post for 2012 as I've tidied away the craft goodies and am taking a little break. I'm looking forward to getting back into full throttle in January.

I began my blog in September this year. My venture into blogging was a kind of unknown as I didn't know what to expect - I could not have been more happily surprised with how it has turned out. I wish to extend my warmest appreciation for the wonderful welcome that has greeted me and to each and every one who has taken the time to visit. I am amazed at how much I have learned over the past 4 months from you all - your blogs, creations, posts, challenges, design teams and tutorials are an incredible university and a never-ending source of entertainment and inspiration! Heartfelt thanks especially go to those who have posted such lovely compliments and those who became followers - doing so makes you so much more real and your encouragement is what spurs me on.
“Instruction does much, but encouragement everything." Johann W. von Goethe.

I'm also THRILLED to advise that my card 'Oh Jingle Bells' will be shown tomorrow (21st) on the wonderful Melissa Frances Blog. I genuinely love Melissa Frances creations and products so to be published on her blog is the cherry on top of this Christmas. Thank-you so much to all at Melissa Frances.

My very first post in September was 'Starting with Santa'. I thought it would be a nice balance to end 2012 using the same stamp. So without further ado - here he is!

Ingredients for my card today;
Papers: Maja Design (It's Christmas Time)
Stamps: Inkadinkado (A Visit from Santa 98223) and Stampendous (Christmas Wishes SSC1068)
Ink: Versafine (Crimson) and papers edged with Encore Metallic in Gold. Edges also distressed with Distress Inks (Brushed Corduroy and Vintage Photo)
Embossing Powder: Sparkle and Sprinkle (Japanese Lacquer) and Ranger (Queen's Gold)
Punches: Edger and snowflake by Martha Stewart
Free vintage images printed onto TAP (Transfer Artist Paper by Lesley Riley) and then ironed onto muslin
Bunting embellishment: Melissa Frances (Countdown to Christmas)
Ribbon: May Arts Silk
Dabs of Stickles Glitter
Everything else from stash

Wishing you a joyous and peaceful Christmas,
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
The Ribbon Reel - Nordic Noel
Holly Jolly Christmas - Vintage Christmas
LEJ Designs - Santa's Coming To Town
Loves Rubberstamps - Merry Christmas
Celebrate the Occasion - Christmas Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenge - Santa is coming to town
The Pretty Little Ribbon - Its Christmas
Simon Says Challenge - Merry Christmas
Charisma Cardz - Sanata Claus is coming to town
Craft Us Crazy - Merry Christmas

Let's Ice Skate

Happy Sunday everyone! I am delighted to see so many visits, comments and new followers. I appreciate them all and thank everyone for hopping on board!

I saw and saved an ice skate shaped card some time ago (can't remember from where). I printed out the shape and cut templates for the skate and boot. I am forever bookmarking tutorials and was glad to put one of them into practice today - please see Shelly Hickox's tutorial on Faux Tarnished Metal here as it is so effective.

I cut out the skate shape from grungeboard and gave it a coat of Metallic Stain in Pewter. Following Shelly's tutorial I gave the skate a few coats of silver embossing powder heating each as I went along. I then sprinkled some UTEE randomly and heat blasted it. The whole process caused the silver to bubble and tarnish beautifully. Just lovely for a vintage ice-skate.

The boot itself is cut from faux leather paper - bought in the most va va voom of Stationers - Kate's Paperie in NYC. The top of the boot is white Bazzill CS stamped using french text stamp by Andy Skinner (Simply Angelic set). Also edged boot top with silver glass glitter. I tucked in 2 types of venise lace from Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique. Just for shopping balance the lovely lace ribbon used for bow comes from another beautiful Stationer Daintree (in Dublin). I added 3 little heart brads and bow for faux lacing effect.

The background is a square of red velvet SEI Velvet paper (love this for Christmas). I painted glue across end of the velvet and applied a thick layer of Melissa Frances mica flakes. I spent forever trying to see what worked best to highlight the red leather of the boot and eventually settled on a band of white CS stamped and embossed with Stampendous Christmas Background stamp (CRR144). All the stamping on card is done with Versafine crimson and EP is Sparkle n Sprinkle Japanese Lacquer.

Took the shine from some Darice jingle bells by dabbing with pewter metallic stain and tied them together and stitched to the white lace bow. I recently got a fab stash of freebies with an order from Crafty Individuals so stamped and embossed their lovely free Jingle Bells sentiment and backed with strip of red velvet. I punched snowflakes from CS and vellum, coated them with glue and dipped them in Distress Dry glitter in clear rock candy. Also added same glitter to rim of boot and skate for sparkle aplenty.

Lots to do today - I wish I really could skate! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Nicola x

Thank-you to the many hosts, sponsors and DTs of the following challenges that I wish to enter card to:
Simon Says Stamp - Snowflakes
Crafty Mess Challenge - Vintage Christmas
Jingle Belles Rock - December to Remember
Craft Us Crazy - Its beginning to look a lot
Crafting Ireland - 12 Days of Christmas
Charisma Cards - Christmas
Stampin for the Weekend - Let it Snow
Glitter n Sparkle - Use Some Metal
Pixie Dust Studio - Sparkle and Snowflakes
Divas By Design - Let It Snow
Alphabet Challenge - V for Vintage
Sweet Stampin Christmas - Anything Goes
Just Us Girls - Embossing
Pile It On - Embellishments

Oh Jingle Bells ....

Greetings from Dublin. Thank-you for stopping by and a warm welcome to my new followers. I've had my card today bobbing around in my head for the last week so am delighted to finally get it made and posted. This one was very tricky to photograph.

I've made an easel card to accomodate a musical scene with Rudolph, Dasher and Blitzen rushing over snowy stars (yes, climate change has a lot to answer for!) to bring wondrous toys to all the girls and boys. They are singing Jingle Bells as they go, with not a snowflake clinging to them as they are moving so quickly!

This might be a better angle;

CS is Bazzill. Papers and tags are from Melissa Frances (Countdown to Christmas and music sheet from 5th Avenue). Stamps are from the magical Stampington and Company (S7338 - Classic Christmas), with the dashing reindeer and Santa Moon inked with Encore metallic inks and embossed with Judikins sparkle EPs. The Jingle Bells ticket at front is from Unity Stamps IB-127 stamped with Versafine. The chipboard musical note has been inked with Distress Stains Metallic Pewter and then stamped with music stamp from Anna Griffin (580K21) using Versafine. (By chance I won some chipboard notes in a raffle at a crop last weekend, so I think it was serendipity to make this card). Same musical stamp also used on centre part of a doily backing the chipboard note. I've edged the top and slanting borders and punched snowflakes with Martha Stewart punches. Tied little bows to those jangling jingle bells (Anitas) and liberally applied liquid pearls and stickles for more sparkle. Dotted some of the snowflake centres with pearls (Artoz). The stars were handcut as I don't have a die cutting machine ... yet ... Santa?!

Thank you so much for checking out my blog. Have a lovely day! Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Musical
Frilly and Funkie - Chipboard and Metal
Moving Along with The Times - Seeing Stars!
Milk Coffee Challenge - More Than 1 Fold
Crafts 4 Eternity - Marvellous Music

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

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

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.