Petal Lu Challenge #42

Hello lovelies!

It's challenge time over at 

Petal Lu 

The theme is

Anything Goes with Peach.

So we would like to see one or more peach flowers on your project for your entry!

I've chosen to make a card for my project this time.

I've used a trio stamp set from Lili Of The Valley.

I think these peach flowers look beautiful.

You can buy the gorgeous Petal Lu flowers HERE 

 We look forward to seeing your beautiful creations.

Happy Crafting.

lots of love

Nicola 

XXX

A Little Bit Of Gorjuss

Hello everyone!

I made some cards using the lovely

Gorjuss Collection.

I have to say this is one of my favourite collection's.

Here are some card's I made.

I love the fact that you can also get matching ribbons, brads and embellishment's to go with the papercraft range. 

Thank you for taking a peek at my Gorjuss card's. I really appreciate your visit's.

Happy crafting,

lot's of love

Nicola 

XXX

Using Up Crafty Stash

Hello everyone.

Well this year I am determined to make some of my crafty creation's 'using up crafty stash'. 

I'm sure we all do it, buy lot's of crafty goodies and think I'll use them later!

So, here are a few cards I made last week using a scrapbooking kit that I bought quite a few years ago.

It is quite a nice feeling knowing that I'm going to TRY and use up lot's of my crafty stash....there is that much though it will take a life time lol.

Now, time to go browsing for more crafty goodies haha.

Happy crafting.

Lot's of love

Nicola 

XXX

Petal Lu Challenge - Anything Goes

Hello lovelies!

It's time for another challenge over at Petal Lu

As always the theme is anything goes.

I love these flowers, so gorgeous.

I've used a Little Darlings Candi Bean stamp called Daisy and Bassett.

Such a cute stamp! The Petal Lu flowers go perfectly with this...

I

I've coloured using Promarker's.  I love these colours together!

Hop over to the Petal Lu Challenge Blog for lot's more gorgeous design team inspiration.

Happy Crafting,

lots of love

Nicola 

XXX

Petal Lu Facebook

Petal Lu - Shop

Petal Lu Creations

A new facebook page (to show off those designs using Petal Lu Blooms)

That Craft Place Anything Goes Challenge With a Blog Hop

Hello lovelies
Its Challenge time at 

That Craft Place Challenge Blog

And Our Challenge this time is Anything Goes 

Our Prize is 

5 images of your choice  from our store 

We also have a blog hop with our new release 

Meet the new Bubbles 
The winner of the blog hop will win the full collection from the 
new release  

I've used the cute Petal, I've coloured her with Promarkers and embellished with Petal Lu flowers.  

Now its time to showcase our amazing DT 

Make sure you hop on over to their blogs leave them some love and be in a chance to win the whole collection 

Lisa 

Erin

Amanda

Trudie

Sandie

Lucy

Sam

Angela

Sandra

Kay

Lucinda

Have fun,

lot's of love

Nicola 

XXX

Links you need to know 

That Craft Place Facebook Shop

That Craft Place Natter chatter page

That Craft Place Etsy

The coupon code which will run until 14th Feb is: THATCRAFTPLACEGP25 

That Craft Place

That Craft Place - Words Challenge

Hello lovelies!

It's time for another challenge over at

That Craft Place 

Now I'm usually on the Mixed Media design team, but I couldn't resist joining in with this challenge too.

The theme this time is

'Words'.

I made a card for this using the gorgeous Candibean Little Darlings Stamp 'Shop Till You Drop'.
I got this little cutie from
That Craft Place

I've used MDF banners and paper flowers which I got from That Craft Place 

The papers are Papermania Capsule collection.

The Promarker shades I've used are...

Skin: Starfish, Peach, Soft Peach

Hair: Blush, Vanilla, Saffron, Caramel, 

Rest of image: Pineapple Crush, Pastel Yellow, Spring Lilac, Iced Pearl, Antique Pink, Dusky Rose, Pastel Green, Frosted Jade.

I am entering this card into the challenge over at 

I Love Promarkers - Pet's

We would love to see  your creations for this challenge.

Hop over to the 

That Craft Place Challenge Blog 

to see lot's of gorgeous design team inspiration!

Happy crafting,

love Nicola 

XXX

Crafting Musketeers Midway Reminder....Shades of Summer

Hello lovelies!

We are halfway through June already, which means that it is time for the

Crafting Musketeers Midway Reminder 

The theme for this month is

'Shades of Summer'.

We are sponsored by Hobby House who are kindly giving the winner of the challenge a voucher to spend on their website.

My 'Shades of Summer' card just had to be a cute digi that is just perfect for this theme.  

Meet 'Sunshine Bubbles'

This little cutie is available from 

That Craft Place - Etsy Shop 

I have coloured her with Letraset Promarkers in shades:

Skin: Sand Dune, Putty, Almond, Pastel Pink, Cocktail Pink

Hair: Saffron, Gold, Vanilla, Mustard, Ivory

Hat, Bikini & Glasses: Iced Pearl, Spring Lilac, Frosted Jade, Pastel Green.

The Happy Birthday tiles are also from That Craft Place. 

The lovely dots around the card are Nuvo Crystal Drops by Tonic Studios.

I love using straws too, so they just finish it off perfectly.

We would love to see your creations for this challenge.

Hop over to the 

Crafting Musketeers 

to see lots more lovely design team inspiration!

Happy crafting,

lots of love

Nicola 

XXX

Steampunk With A Pretty Twist...

Hello lovelies!

I have made a card to enter into the challenge over at the 

Sugar and Betty Challenge Blog 

The theme is

'Anything Goes or Layers'

I chose to make a card, with a lot of layers.

I used a gorgeous new stamp from 

That Craft Place  called Steampunk Betty.

I absolutely love this stamp set.

So, here's my Steampunk With A Pretty Twist...

I coloured her with Letraset Promarker's in shades...

Skin Tone: Putty, Oatmeal, Almond, Dusky Rose

Hair: Tan, Caramel, Sandstone, Cocoa, Burnt Sienna

Clothes, boots, hat: Denim Blue, Blue Pearl, Pastel Blue, Cool Aqua, Duck Egg, Antique Pink, Salmon Pink, Fuchsia Pink, Cerise,

Flexmarkers: Soft Aqua, Cloud Blue

Ingredients from That Craft Place...

Steampunk Betty Clear Stamp Set

Creative Expressions Frames & Tags - Piereced Flags die

Capsule Collection - Wild Rose by docrafts Papermania

MDF - Cogs and butterflies (I've covered these in the paper)

Watch embellishment

Flowers

The rest of the ingredients...

Tim Holtz Gadget Gears die

Memento Ink Pad Tuxedo Black

Distress Ink Picked Raspberry

Pins, Straws, Lace, Ribbon, Linen, Cheesecloth, Stickles Diamond, 

Kraft card blank 7" x 7"

Spotty paper from a scrap pad. 

Crafters Companion Spray & Sparkle Pink Iridescent glitter spray (sprayed the flags)

Brown sketch pen to create faux stitching.

I love these colours together, such a lovely contrast.

So, this is my entry into the challenge over at the

Sugar & Betty Challenge Blog 

I hope you like my card.

Thank you for stopping by today. I always appreciate your visits.

Have fun and happy crafting,

lots of love

Nicola

XXX

A Pretty Ballerina...

Hello lovelies!

Well tonight I have been busy making a card especially to enter into a new challenge over at 

Sugar & Betty's Challenge Blog 

This is the first challenge for this lovely blog. I decided to use the digi from the blog called

Ballerina Betty

This little cutie was a freebie, so thank you for this lovely digi.

I love texture, so wanted to create lot's of it on my card.

I have coloured Betty using Promarker's. I have used paper from a pad called

My Mind's Eye Bohemia.

I have used jute, linen, cotton lace and satin crinkly ribbon. I added a few roses too and a stem of pearls. I've also used a sketch pen to add detail around the edge of the 8"x 8" card blank. 

All the edges have been inked using 

Distress Ink Brushed Corduroy.

I finished with scrabble tile greetings available from

That Craft Place.

Here is Ballerina Betty

The shades of Promarker's I have used are...

Hair & eyebrows: Pastel Yellow, Vanilla, Blush, Satin, Sandstone

Skin tone: Almond, Putty, Oatmeal, Dusky Rose

Dress, boot's and outline: Tea Green, Grey Green, Pastel Green,Soft Green

Caramel, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Burnt Sienna

I have really enjoyed making this card  to enter into the 

Sugar and Betty Challenge - Anything Goes 

I love these colours together, I think they look very pretty!

Thank you for stopping by today, I always appreciate your visit's.

Have fun and happy crafting

lot's of love

Nicola

XXX

Crafting Musketeers Challenge 23...Midway Reminder

Hello lovelies!

We are now half way through March, which means it is time for the

CRAFTING MUSKETEERS MIDWAY REMINDER 

The theme for challenge 23 is

Ribbons & Pearls.

We have been sponsored this month by the fabulous

CRAFTY RIBBONS 

The prize is a £10 voucher.

My project is the card I made for my Mum for Mother's Day...

I have used the Docrafts Bellissima Collection. I think the ribbon finishes this off perfectly.

For more inspiration from the rest of the design team hop over to the

CRAFTING MUSKETEER'S CHALLENGE BLOG 

Thank you for stopping by today, I always appreciate you visiting.

Have fun and happy crafting,

lot's of love

Nicola 

XXX

Pink, Pink and more Pink....

Hello lovelies!

Pink, pink and more pink!

Yes, I absolutely love pink and as most of you know it is my favourite colour. That's why I also chose to have 'Pink' in the title of my blog.

So, the other day I was browsing around social media when I came across the new challenge over at the 

RIBBON GIRLS BLOG 

The theme this week is Colour Challenge - Pink.

Of course I just had to enter this.

I made a card using a Crafter's Companion Scruffy Little Cat stamp.

The name of the stamp is

'Nicola'....hehehe just like me!

I have coloured 'Nicola' using Letraset Promarker's in shades...

~ Skin: Almond, Putty, Oatmeal, Sunkissed Pink

~ Hair: Tan, Sandstone,Caramel, Cinnamon, Cocoa

~ Clothes, rollers, box: Antique Pink, Rose Pink, Cocktail Pink, Baby Pink, Salmon Pink, Pastel Pink, Dusky Pink, Cool Grey 1, Cool Grey 2

~ Diamonds: Cool Grey 1, Cool Grey2.

~ Outline: Cool Grey 3

The sparkly bits on the shoes, pearls, lashes, crown and diamonds are Sakura Gelly Roll Pens in

shades: Rose Star, Pink Star, Silver Star, Clear Star.

I used a heart stencil with Distress Ink Picked Raspberry to create the background.

So I hope you like my 'Pink' entry for the

RIBBON GIRL CHALLENGE 

Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate your visit's.

Have fun and happy crafting,

lot's of love

Nicola 

XXX

Bright and Beautiful....

Hello lovelies, I hope you are all keeping well and safe in this cold weather we are having at the moment. 

I have been tucked away in my craft room for the last couple of afternoon's all nice and cosy!

I recently bought the Docraft's Papermania Bellissima collection which I think is

'Bright and Beautiful'.

A very cheery papercrafting range, just perfect for thought's of spring in this cold weather.

Here are some cards I made...

I love the Bellissima collection so I will be making lot's more card's using this.

Thank you for stopping by today, I always appreciate your visits.

Have fun and happy crafting,

lot's of love

Nicola 

XXX

My First Crafty Creation's of 2015

Hello lovelies!

Well I can't believe we are already a couple of weeks into January. The festivities have flown by. Last year I had a very busy year with work, crafting etc. Christmas came round quickly and it did catch up with me. I confess, I had to buy my hubby a Christmas card this year...hanging my head in shame!LOL  It is my busiest time at the salon, so I do have a good excuse! I really was up against it for getting any crafty creation's made. I did make a Calendar though for my dear hubby. I make him one every year! This year I vow to be more organised with my Christmas crafting, lol... I suppose I should get started now...I don't think so!Hehehe  

So, today is the first day of the New Year that I have had a chance to craft. I have had such a lovely day crafting for just me! I have decided to just have sometime out from design teams at the moment, apart from the Crafting Musketeer's Challenge Blog. The reason is so I can craft away till my heart's content with all my lovely stash that I never have a time to play with. I am really looking forward to using the crafty goodies I haven't had chance to use yet. I aim to do a lot more stamping again as this is a favourite technique of mine. I love colouring too, so I am really looking forward to doing this. 

Anyway enough of my waffling on, and let's get to the nitty gritty of my post. Yes I have made seven cards today. I can show you six of them here, but the other one will have to wait until Friday for my Crafting Musketeer's Midway reminder post.

I hope at this point you haven't fallen asleep yet lol. Here are the cards...

Angelica and friends by Crafter's Companion

Flutterbye Wishes by Hunkydory

Femme Fatale by Kraftyhands

I want to wish you all a very Happy and Crafty New Year.

Thank you all for following my crafty creation's for all this time!

Have fun and happy crafting!

Till next time,

lots of love

Nicola

XXX

A 30th birthday card for my lovely friend...

Hello lovelies!

I have a birthday card to show you that I made for my lovely friend.

It was her 30th birthday last week. 

A girl after my own heart her favourite colour is pink! 

Well, how could I resist using this on her card. I teamed it with black, the Kanban Bella Italiano collection and some sparkle...here is what I came up with...

I used the Joanna Sheen dies Lace Edger 1 and Butterfly Flourish.

I added some gorgeous ribbon that I bought from a lovely little shop at Barnard Castle.

The flowers and spiral are from Wild Orchid Crafts. 

I discreetly put 30 in the corner.

I think this card was just perfect for my friend.

Thanks for looking.

Have fun and happy crafting, 

lots of love

Nicola 

XXX

Aspire Crafts Design Team Projects....A collection of my samples....

Hello lovelies!

 

Well I am very excited about this post today as I am sharing the news that I have been chosen to be on the design team for

 

ASPIRE CRAFTS 

 

 

I am really excited about making samples for this company. I am working with a fabulously talented group of designers who will also be sharing samples of their creations with you all.

 

Aspire Crafts has a page on Facebook which you can find HERE 

and also a group for you to share your creations using Aspire products.

The group is called...

 

Aspiring Crafters

 

Click on the link to join the group on Facebook.

 

I have been having a lovely time making samples using the gorgeous

 

VINTAGE BLOOM COLLECTION

 

and I have also been playing with the fabulous

 

DEKRO MOUNTS

 

I love using these. I have used Promarkers on some, gilding flakes, metal leaf,  paint, distress ink and other types of mediums. I love how you can make them look so different.

 

Here are the samples I have to show you so far...

 

 

I absolutely love the Vintage Bloom Collection.

 

Hop over to the

 

ASPIRE CRAFTS WEBSITE

 

and enjoy some crafty shopping!

 

Thanks for stopping by today I really do appreciate your visits.

 

I will be back soon to show you some more samples using this gorgeous collection!

 

Have fun and happy crafting,

lots of love

Nicola

XXX



Forever Friends Cards...

Hello lovelies!

 

I hope you are enjoying the week-end so far. I have a few days off now so inbetween taking my lovely lab puppy Peggy for a walk I will be creating in my craft room!

 

Today, I have finally got round to showing you the cards I made the other day using my

 

'Forever Friends' crafty goodies.

 

I love the Forever Friends range, it is a firm favourite of mine and very popular.

 

 

I have made all of these cards A5 because I wanted a quick batch of cards to make and this size is very popular with my client's.

 

I will be back again soon with some more of my quick makes. I have a few Christmas cards to show you!

 

Thanks for stopping by today I always appreciate your visits.

 

Have fun and happy crafting,

lots of love

Nicola

XXX



A Birthday Card for My Mum's Special Birthday...

Hello lovelies.

 

I have had a lovely afternoon with my Mum. Today was her 70th Birthday so she came round for lunch.

 

We had a lovely time together and certainly a good laugh too. I wanted to show you her special card that I made. I have made an easel card.

 

I have used a selection of papers from one of my kits that I have. I have die-cut some flowers using Sizzix Florals Decorative Strip Dies. I cut a heart and butterfly from the Sizzix Basic Shapes and another butterfly from the Sizzix Butterfly Delicate die. I have been playing with my new Big Shot, I love it.

 

I have added 70 gems to the card too!

 

 

My mum loved her card and she had a lovely birthday.

 

I am entering this into the following challenges...

 

A Little Bit Crafty - Die-ing for it

Crafty Catz Challenge 189 - Say it With Flowers

Crafty Friends - Bling

That Craft Place - Flowers

Pile It On Challenge 26 - Bling

Imagination Crafts Challenge 1 - Anything Goes

Fashionista Challenge 17 - Wedding Or Birthday 

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Ladybug Crafts Ink - Birthdays

Make It Monday - Anything Goes 

 

Thank you for stopping by today. I really appreciate your visits and your lovely comments, thank you.

 

Till next time,

have fun and happy crafting!

Lots of love

Nicola XXX

 

 



VISIBLE IMAGE - MY FRIDAY DESIGN TEAM POST....

Hello lovelies!

 

Well it's Friday again which means another VISIBLE IMAGE design team post from me.

 

This week I wanted to make a card using flower's. I absolutely love roses so I just knew the perfect stamp set to use for my card this week. I may even have gone a little over board with them, but I love love love them!

 

To create my card this week I have used the following stamps...

 

IMMORTAL LOVE SET (SMALL & LARGE ROSE) 

 

BUTTERFLY 

 

LARGE BUTTERFLY

 

MORE THAN WORDS (WITH LOVE)

 

Here is my IMMORTAL LOVE ROSE  card I have made...

 

 

To buy the stamps just click on the links above to be taken directly to them, or click HERE to be taken to the full selection of VISIBLE IMAGE STAMPS

 

 

 



 

The other materials needed to make this card are...

 

~ 8x8 card blank

~ Memento Ink Rich Cocoa

~ Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Scattered Straw - Worn Lipstick

~ Double Sided Patterned Papers: I have used a Die-Cut & Cardboard Patterns Pad from Creata.

~ Ribbon

~ Ranger Stickles in Diamond

~ Word Brad 'Flowers'

~ Double-sided tape

~ Pinflair

 

How to make...

 

~ Stamp a row of 4 large ROSES on one of the double sided patterned sheets. Cut this strip out. Stamp a row of 5 small ROSES on the same sheet, cut this strip out.

~ Turn over and stamp the same amount of roses as on the other side.

~ Repeat the same pattern of stamping the roses with the second sheet of double sided paper.

~ In total you will have 16 large roses and 20 small roses. Fussy cut them all out.

 

 

~ Ink all the edges using the Worn Lipstick Distress Ink on the pink roses and the Scattered Straw on the others. Leave 3 small roses to one side.

~ Cover the 8x8 card blank with patterned paper, making sure a decorative pattern is just placed in the bottom right corner.

~ Lay your roll of double-sided tape on the card blank in the centre. Draw around the outer edge of the tape with a pencil.

This is now your guide for arranging the roses in a circle.

~ Use your double sided tape to attach a length of ribbon to the left of the card.

~ Use the silicon glue to arrange the large roses first to build up the garland. Then, continue to build up the garland with the small roses as shown.

Manipulate the flowers as you lay them to add some extra shape and create a 3d look.

~ Make a ribbon rosette using the word brad and stick to the top of the ribbon.

~ Stamp WITH and then the LOVE underneath onto some co-ordinating paper. Cut out, round the corners and use silicon glue to attach it in the centre of the garland making sure it is raised away from the card blank.

~ Stamp one LARGE BUTTERFLY and two SMALL BUTTERFLIES onto the patterened paper and attach to the card as shown using the silicon glue.

To finish add the three roses on top of the ribbon you set to one side earlier, and finish with a little dot of the stickles in the rose centres and in the centres of the flowers on the paper.

 

I absolutely love these roses from the IMMORTAL LOVE SET I think they look lovely cut out and made into a garland.

 

The VISIBLE IMAGE stamps are excellent quality. I love working with them, you get crisp, even stamping results every time. You will love using them. Make sure you hop over to the VISIBLE IMAGE WEBSITE to have a look at all the gorgeous stamps available. Why not treat yourself and pop a few in your basket while you are there. Check out the VISIBLE IMAGE GALLERY for inspiration. So many gorgeous projects for you to look at.

 

VISIBLE IMAGE will be appearing on Create & Craft TV on Thursday June 20th at 11am.

Make sure you mark the date in your diary, on your calendar, a post it note or wherever you like to put your reminders for things. Believe me you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! I have had the pleasure of making some of the samples, and along with the rest of the VISIBLE IMAGE DESIGN TEAM we can't wait for you to see them. Make sure you order your stamps and email in the show too on the day to say hello! Send your emails when the show is on to studio@createandcraft.tv Add this to your email address book to save time on the day, and get your emails in. Mark and Cheremane would love to here from you all on the day. Show VISIBLE IMAGE  some love by saying hello!

 

If you are going out, or will be working hit that record button so you don't miss the fabulous demos!

 

Now....a couple of more reminder's....don't forget to join in the VISIBLE IMAGE JUNE CHALLENGE  it's a brilliant theme and it certainly has 'Character'! LOL

We would love to see your creations for this, you never know you could be the lucky winner who receives £10 to spend on VISIBLE IMAGE STAMPS 

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST USE A REAL STAMP NO DIGIS ALLOWED!

 

More exciting news too.... the July issue of Craft Stamper magazine out this week has a FREE stamp that Mark has designed. Some of the design team got inky with it. Make sure you buy your copy!

 

Finally, don't forget we have the VISIBLE IMAGE FACEBOOK GROUP which you can join by clicking on the link. It's a fun group with lot's of inspiration using the fabulous VISIBLE IMAGE STAMPS 

 

I am entering my card into the following challenges...

 

Make It Monday - Anything Goes 

Sister Act Card Challenge -Challenge 10 Anything Goes 

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes 

Charisma Cardz Challenges - Challenge 22 Tons of Layers 

In The Pink Challenges - Challenge 21 Anything Goes As Long As It's Pink 

 

Well I hope you have enjoyed your visit today. Thank you for taking the time to stop by each week and see what I have been creating. I always appreciate your visits.

 

Till next time,

 

Happy Stamping!

 

Lots of love

Nicola XXX