Vintage Elegance

Hi there and welcome!

Sharing a card today that unusually for me has only one layer plus embellishments.

I've used 3 panels of differing papers from Graphic 45's 'A Ladies Diary' collection. Added a lace trim that I've been hoarding for ages to save for a special piece where it looked just right. Then applied pearl trims, roses and die cut leaves (Memory Box 'Grape Vine' die). Edged perimeter with Distress Ink 'Black Soot'. That's It!

I wish I could make all my cards so handily as this doesn't happen often!

Very many thanks for stopping by,
Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Kort o Mania - Vintage / Shabby Chic
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Simply Made (Single Layer Card)
Country View Crafts - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash - Days of Yore (vintage / shabby)
Simon Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Friends Challenge - Girly
Inky Chicks - Clean and Simple

Workshop with Marta Lapkowska

Greetings from Dublin, I hope this day finds you well.

I was lucky to attend a fantastic workshop recently with the very lovely and talented Marta Lapkowska (Maremi Small Art).

We made what Marta calls her 'Tiny Art Quintet' as well as a gorgeous book cover. I'm sharing today the Tiny Art Quintet - each piece is about 14.5cm / 5.75 inches in height. Our ingredients were chipboard, wood and some embellishments. We applied Marta's secret magical process to achieve results below.

I so enjoyed making this Quintet! Huge thanks to Marta and to the wonderful Agnieszka Barska for facilitating a really super day.

I hope this week is kind to you no matter where in the world you are.

Warmest wishes,
Nicola x

Bird Tweets are Always Sweet!

Welcome to my first post of 2017.

After all the rich embellishing of Christmas cards, it feels calming to post a clean and simple style card. Isn't this little Dina Wakley bird a darling!

Stamps
Dina Wakley Scribbly Birds

Paint
St. Petersburgh White Nights Watercolors

Ink
Ranger Archival 'Watering Can'

Papers
Winsor & Newton coldpressed / NOT watercolour

Dies
Poppy Stamps - Stitched Buttons
Elizabeth Craft - Stitched Circles
Lawn Fawn - Stitched Borders

Other
Dew drops - thank-you Ger. Wool from stash

Thanks so much for your visit today - each and every one is appreciated.

Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
A Vintage Journey - Going Around In Circles
Scrapyland - Anything Goes (with die brand carried by Scrapyland)
Penny Black Allsorts - January - Anything Goes (with stamping)
Dies R Us - Anything Goes Using Dies
Bastel-traum - Wasserfarbe / Watercolour
Happy Little Stampers Watercolour challenge - Anything Goes
CCEE Stampers - Bird Day
Moving along with the Times - Something In The Air
Country View Crafts - Anything Goes
The Crazy Challenge - Three of a Kind

Happy New Year!

Sending best wishes to you for a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

My final card for 2016...

Papers
Prima 'Sweet Peppermint' collection

Dies
Memory Box Perched Reed Bird
Marianne Design Snowflakes

Embellishments
Prima 'Sweet Peppermint' Flowers. Prima 'Sweet Peppermint' Crystal. Prima resin bird house. Prima / Finnabair Microbeads in 'Copper'. Nunn Design metal accents. 'Branch' and 'Nest' from stash.

Other
Krylon 18ct gilding pen. Ecoline White and Color Bloom 'Empress Gold' for splatters. Gesso. Ranger Distress Glitter 'Clear Rock Candy'

Very many thanks for all your visits, friendship and support over the last year,

A Happy New Year to you - may Peace, Respect and Whole Truth prevail!

Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenge:
Prima December - Cards & Tags - 'Tis The Season

Peace & Joy to All

Many thanks to everyone who visits my blog and for all your compliments and encouragement. It means a lot to me!

Sending warmest wishes and cyber hugs for your health and happiness this Christmas.

Nicola xxx

Santa is Checking his List...

Christmas Greetings to you,

I'm definitely now on a Christmas countdown but still have cards to share...

Papers
Maja Design 'I Wish' collection

Dies
Magnolia Doohickey - Swedish Lace
Wplus9 - Hand Lettered Holiday
Creative Expressions - Holly Sprays
MFT - Postage Stamp Stax

Embellishments
Wycinanka chipboard stockings and reindeer border. Ribbon, Heart trim and string from stash

Stencilling
Heidi Swapp 'Confetti' Stencil / Dreamweaver Texture paste

Other
Ranger Distress Inks in 'Barn Door' and 'Iced Spruce'. Stampendous Frantage in 'Shabby White'. Ranger Distress Glitter 'Clear Rock Candy'. Waco red pearl pen. Glossy Accents (over 'Joy')

I hope this evening finds you in a peaceful and cozy space,
Thank-you so much for visiting,
Nicola x

I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
We Love Vintage - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - National Christmas Card Day
Alphabet Challenge - Use Something Red
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything Christmas
Crafty Creations - Any Holiday
Inky Chicks - Christmas Card in Traditional Colours
Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes
The Merry Christmas Challenge - Santa
Polkadoodles - Anything Goes
Scrap from your heart - Christmas with hearts

When All is Silent...

Hello and welcome to my second Christmas house and sleigh for this year. You'll be glad to see that post is brief...

The scene is set and it's proving very difficult to get the excited children to go asleep...

Eventually, when all is silent, along come Dasher and Blixen hauling their sleigh...

Finally, Santa appears in the reflection of the rear window! Those children are going to awake with great delight...

Papers
Maja Design various collections

House
Flat chipboard house by Melissa Frances

Dies & Punches
Sizzix / Tim Holtz - Mini Reindeer
Sizzix / Tim Holtz - Prancing Deer
Sizzix / Tim Holtz - Sleigh Ride
Sizzix / Tim Holtz - Pine Tree Thinlits
Marianne Design Creatibles ' Oval & Pop Up LR0371' (for little square boxes)
Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edge punch (on roof)
Fiskars Snowflake punch

Stencilling
That's Crafty Dinky Snowflake stencil. Wendy Vecchi Vintage Quilt Stencil. Dreamweaver Texture paste

Embellishments
Snowflakes by Nunn Design. Idea-ology Feet, Idea-ology battery operated mini lantern, Idea-ology Tree and Wreaths by Tim Holtz. Kaisercraft wooden twin lamp post. Bells, pearls and other charms from stash

Other
Ranger Distress Inks, Krylon 18ct gilding pen, Platinum stickles along various edges. Snow-Tex. Gesso. Gold glitter. Lots of DecoArt white paint. Ranger Distress Glitter 'Clear Rock Candy'. Stampendous detail gold embossing around sleigh base and antlers. Stampendous Frantage in Shabby Blue


Very many thanks for your visit and for any comments you might leave, especially as everyone's time is particularly in demand.
Warmest Wishes,
Nicola x



I wish to enter house and sleigh to the following challenges:

Maja Design - December Mood Board

A Vintage Journey - Winter Magic
Deep Ocean Challenge - Silent Night
Live & Love Crafts - Smörgåsbord - B Bingoboard (Lace/Vintage/Pearls)
Craft for the Craic - Anything But A Christmas Card
The Crazy Challenge - Everything Goes
Country View Crafts - Christmas
We Love Vintage - Anything Vintage Goes
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Anything But A Card
Simon Monday Challenge - Party Time

Let There Be Snow

Hello and Welcome.

Another quick card share...

Papers
Maja Design 'I Wish' collection

Dies
Yvonne Creations - Merry Christmas
Lawn Fawn - Stitched Borders
Memory Box - Winterberry Sprig
Magnolia Doohickey - Sprawling Ferns
Magnolia Doohickey - Vintage Mistletoe
MFT - Postage Stamp Stax

Embellishments
Fastening gem by K&Co. Various berries, cones and pearls from stash.

Stencilling
Memory Box 'Tiny Snowflakes' / Dreamweaver Texture paste

Other
Ranger Distress Ink in 'Walnut Stain'. Snow-Tex. Gesso. Wow embossing powder in Gold. Ranger Distress Glitter 'Clear Rock Candy'

Thank-you for spending time at my blog during this busy season.
Have a peaceful, happy Sunday,
Nicola x


Thank-you to all the design teams, likely run off their feet by so many posts at the mo'! I wish to enter card to the following challenges;
Simon Monday challenge - Let There Be Snow
Simon Says Stamp - National Christmas Card Day
Scrapyland - Anything Goes (Using die brand carried by Scrapyland)
Country View Crafts - Christmas
City Crafter - Things that Float or Fly (Snow)
Live & Love Crafts - Smörgåsbord - D Photo Inspiration
The Ribbon Girl - Any Image Challenge
Dies R Us Challenge - Snow

Be Merry

Hi there and welcome.

Yes ...It's another Christmas card!!

Papers
Prima 'Sweet Peppermint' collection

Embellishments
Prima Sweet Peppermint Flowers. Prima Sweet Peppermint Crystals

Dies
MFT - Postage Stamp Stax
Sizzix Triplits - Balloons
Poppy Stamps - Stitched Buttons
Magnolia Doohickey - Sprawling Ferns
Magnolia Doohickey - Lace Edge

Other
Ranger Distress Inks in 'Cracked Pistachio', 'Candied Apple' and 'Worn Lipstick'. Stampendous Shabby White Frantage. Splatters of Gesso. Ranger Distress Glitter 'Clear Rock Candy'. String and pom pom trim from stash.

Very many thanks for taking the time to stop by,
Have a lovely weekend,

Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:

Prima Product Pick - December Challenge (Sweet Peppermint papers, flowers and crystals)

Scrapyland - Anything Goes (with brand of die carried by Scrapyland)
We Love Vintage - Anything Goes
Country View Crafts - Christmas
A Snowflakes Promise - Winter Time
City Crafter - Christmas Things that Float or Fly
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - A previous challenge (May 2016 Die/Punch)
Live & Love Crafts - Smörgåsbord - G Tic-Tac-Toe (Vintage/Glitter/Heart)
Kort o Mania - Jul / Christmas
Simon Says Stamp - National Christmas Card Day

Velvet Mittens

Greetings to you and thank-you for your visit during 'the busy countdown'...

What else but a Christmas card ...

Papers
SEI Velvet paper in 'Blaze'. Bazzill & Neenah cardstock. Music paper, text paper and corrugated card from stash

Dies
Spellbinders - Mittens
Magnolia Doohickey - Sprawling Ferns
Sizzix / Holtz - Mini holly
Sizzix / Holtz - Holiday Words
Memory Box - Winterberry Sprig
Poppy Stamps - Stitched Buttons
Elizabeth Craft - Stitched Circles
Martha Stewart edge punch

Embellishments
Wycinanka Chipboard Stockings

Other
Ranger Distress Ink in Tea Dye. Ranger Stickles 'Vintage Platinum'. Ranger Glitter 'Clear Rock Candy'. Lace from stash

That's It!

Many thanks for stopping by!
Nicola x


I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Country View Crafts - Christmas
Ribbon Girl Card Challenge - Anything Goes
Scrapyland - Anything Goes (with die brand carried by Scrapyland)
We Love Vintage - Anything Goes
Inky Chicks - Christmas card, Traditional colours
Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge - U for Use Something Red
Simon Says Stamp - National Christmas Card Day
Come and Get It Challenges - Christmas