Momentous Occasions

I felt very honoured last week as I was asked to make a card for the Oldest Woman in Scotland - she was 110 yesterday!!!!

The card has to be floral and pinks and lilacs, and have a matching gift card for a bouquet of flowers.  Panic!!!!   At 110 years young she's had her fair share of birthday cards in her life, mine had to be just right....................

Having had a browse through my stamps I decided I needed something new........... any excuse lol.  I went off to my local craft shop, sought some advice and in the end I bought this Creative Expression Sweet Pea Set.

This is the card in it's box.

......... and out of it's box.

The sentiment was computer generated, the corner punch is a Fiskars 3-in-1.  The DP is Hot of the Press, from a very long time ago.  Everything else is from my stash.

I coloured the flowers with my Promarkers and used the blender pen quite a lot to get the graduated colour.  I stamped the image a second time and layered up some of the flowers.

This is the matching gift card for the flower bouquet.  I left this image flat.  Believe it or not this card took the longest as I was trying to use up scraps of white card - big mistake.  The white card was not suitable for the Promarkers and it kept bleeding out across the image........ I must have stamped it about 4 times before I got an image that was acceptable.

The next card was a commission also for a momentous birthday - an 80th.  It turned out it was for my old headmaster - more stress!!!!!

The brief was masculine and he likes hill walking, even at 80!!!  The DP is from K & Co (bought in US), ribbon from Craftyribbons.com and the sentiment was computer generated.  The metal corners have been in my stash for years - I've been waiting for the right project to come along...... no idea where they came from, like a lot of things in my stash!!

The decorative metal strip is another one of those pieces that have been in the drawer for years - so long in fact that it is supposed to be self adhesive but the adhesive disintigrated when I took it out of the package.  The strip was a very bright silver to begin with and I coloured it with Umber and Black Promarkers to try and match the metal corners (I coated the strip with pen ink and then wiped it off with a barely damp babywipe).  I was really pleased with how it turned out.

Maybe I should add that add I decorate all my cards inside.  Some more than others - some have a small stamped impression, flowers, decorative corners and others a sentiment and all the cards have an insert.

Well, until next time folkies, Nicola xxx

RSVP My Friend

This post is to show you two cards I had to make for two friends, but for two very different reasons.

This first card is an RSVP for a very dear friend's wedding.  She's not a girlie girl, doesn't like OTT fuss and the invites she sent out were handmade - so the pressure was on lol.  I've been looking for an excuse to ink up these Lavinia Stamps for ages, they are just devine.  I must get more of these lovely stamps.

I stamped the Fairy Bridge stamp with Momento Black and matted it twice onto a deep maroon card.  I then mounted it with foam pads.  The dandelion clock stamp has also been stamped in Momento Black.  The tips of the clock and the ripples on the water have been touched lightly with perfect pearls and then Glimmer Dusted to add a touch of sparkle.

I used a very similar card (minus the glitter) for a male 60th Birthday card.  And I'm thinking I could use a version of this as a sympathy card.

The second card was a card I made for my very dear friend on the Isle of Lewis when we left.  I gave the card to her with a lovely framed piccie of the kids and a pair of white gold and diamond stud earrings.

The image is Little Girls Storytime, LOTV and coloured with Promarkers.  I've used Walnut Stain Distress Ink on the image and then overstamped the corners with a flourish stamp using walnut Stain Ink.  The DP is from Crafty Bits and the poem is from an old HOTP Scrapbooking Pack I found at the bottom of a drawer, long forgotten about.

Until next time, thanks for looking, Nicola xxx

Moving On Identically......

This first moving on cards were a request from my husband.  I had to make two identical Thank You cards for the two typists in the police station he was leaving.  The two of them are fiercely competitive when it comes to baking and Ali took great delight in playing one off against the other to ensure a constant supply of tablet, lemon drizzle cake and millionaires shortbread!!!!  They were both excellent bakers so I wasn't complaining when he took some of the goodies home with him, yum, yum.

I used this LOTV image for the first time - Fairies, Bouquet and coloured it with - yup you guessed it, Promarkers.  I lightly dusted the background with pastel blue glimmer chalk which I think is a lovely way to ground the image without overpowering it.  The DP is a sheet I got in a mixed sale pack from Topaz Crafts.  I like getting papers in this way as it means I get papers I wouldn't dream of looking at or purchasing and also it's a cheap way of buying, I think this was 50 papers for £6.

Moving on version 2 - I was asked to make 7 identical sympathy cards, again by my husband.  An uncle of my his had passed away and he wanted to give the brothers, sisters, children and wife matching cards.  I made pink versions for the women and blue for the males.

 I really must get another stamp suitable for sympathy cards as I feel I have overused this particular one, although it is nice.

The final Moving on is the little New Home cards I made for our change of address.  I cut the card shape using my cricut (can't recall the cart at the moment but if anyone wants to know just ask and I'll have a look).  The sentiment is a LOTV one and coloured with Whispers Pens for a change.  The black ribbon is from my stash and acts as a closer to the card.

The inside of the card has a pink matt and the address details printed onto super smooth paper from C&C, a lovely thick paper.

So - all identically moving on in one way or another .........

Until next time, Nicola xxx

Teacher Thanks and Babies Galore

Finally I am getting some time to catch up with my blog.  The first two cards in this post are the cards I made for my children's teacher's in the school they were leaving behind, Lionel School on the Isle of Lewis.  With the house move and everything that's happened this summer school holidays have passed in a flash............... thankfully lol.

The first one was for my daughters teacher - image is LOTV - Back to School Girl, coloured with promarkers and chalk.

The second card was for my son's teacher, again the image is LOTV - Back to School Boy, coloured with promarkers and chalks.  All other bits are from my stash.  I coloured both images in the school colours and tried to match the hair colour to that of my son and daughter.

The above card was also for my daughters teacher as she is expecting her first baby in the Autumn.  It's the first time I've inked up this lovely Whiff of Joy stamp - Pregnant Willow, once again coloured with Promarkers and chalks.  The sentiment is from LOTV and the DP was a freebie from a magazine.

The final card for this post is another baby themed card - this time for a friend who had a lovely little boy - Samuel.  I love this little Sugar Nellie Stamp - Vintage Baby.  I think it lends itself more towards baby boys though. 

I've once again coloured the image in with my trusty Promarkers (what did I do before Promarkers!!!)  The white matt has been run through the Big Shot with the Cuttlebug Baby Embossing folder.  The Baby Boy tag is from a very old Hot of the Press paper stack and the blue dotty paper is from a Docrafts Goodie Bag.

Thats all for now, Nicola xx

I'm Back.............

Well, we've moved back to Inverness.  It all went well, no disasters that I can think of........... I'm busy looking for paid employment at the moment so we can buy a house, so with that and the kids being off on their summer holidays, crafting time is thin on the ground at the moment, but I'm getting some snatched time here and there.

I've got some commissioned cards I need to get finished, including 2 80th birthday cards, a 40th and a birthday card and gift card for the Oldest Lady in Scotland who's going to be 110!!!!!  I'll upload some piccies as soon as I can.................. gosh it's good to be back.

Until later, Nicola xxx

Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Oldest Niece of All? ..............

At last I can upload photos of the card I've been working on this past week.  It is my oldest niece's 21st birthday at the end of this month and I made this card for her.  I had to wait until she had received it in the post.  She phoned yesterday to say it had arrived safely, so here it is.............

I used Mirror Mirror from LOTV as I have a photo of Larissa very similar to that image taken when she was little.  Coloured with Promarkers and the background is chalked.

I diamond glazed the necklace and I used glamour dust on the mirror and the bows of her shoes.  You can't really see from the photos but I went round the edge of each matt and layer with the Pale Pink Promarker (one I had used to colour the image with) to make the layers pop.

The flowers are a mix from my stash and the added stamens were bought at a show about 5 years ago, I found them during my Big Craft Room Clear Out (which is still on going). The "leaves" are a flourish cut on my Cricut, as is the "21".  The "All Growed Up" sentiment is computer generated.

This is the card with the matching box I made with my Crafters Companion Boxer used with my Ulitmate Pro....... fab piece of kit.  The flourish border and corners are also cut with my Cricut (another really fab piece of kit)

Everything else is from my stash, the origins of which have been long forgotten.

I was really pleased with how it turned out and Larissa loved it too.  And she made my day by telling me she's kept all the cards I've made her and treasures them................... such a simple thing but meant the world to me :-)

Makes me feel really old to say this but HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY LARISSA XXXXX.

On another note, having just received another LOTV order this week, I decided to catalogue all my LOTV and Sugar Nellie stamps, it's getting harder to remember what I already have........ and I am ashamed (or pleased) to say I have 52 of these, never mind the boxes and boxes of other ones ............... can you imagine the insurance claim if our house ever floods or burns down :-(

Until next time folkies......... Nicola xx

Seemed like a good idea at the time...........

Sorry, no cards this week. I've been busy packing and clearing out ready for the house move.  Hubbie leaves in less than 3 weeks so trying to get as much done whilst he's still here.  The kids and I have another 7 weeks after that.  We've finished packing the garage and the shed and re-homed the wendy house and wooden lifeboat.......... that was fun :-)

Mobile home ?????

Lifeboat rescue !!!

They were both transported to their new home at our friends house.

I'm making some headway with my craft room.  Look how tidy my desk is............

Isn't it funny how a picture taken at another angle can tell the true story............. this is what the room really looks like at this moment!!

Now you can understand why there are no cards made this week......... :-)  I'm having a good tidy up, although this seems to be taking much longer than anticipated as I seem to have much more stash that I thought ............ This was taken after I'd packed a lot of stuff into boxes, this is the essentials I have left !!!!

I also ordered some new storage as I'll have to craft in my bedroom at my mams so space will be tight - I have tried my hubbie to move into the garage but he refuses to - how selfish of him :-)

Anyhow, I bought 4 of these 12x12 Really Useful Boxes with files and I am ashamed to say not all my 12x12 papers would fit into them............  I sorted the papers into catagories (baby, traditional and modern) and also subdivided them into colours to make things much easier to find what I want....... you can tell I'm a Virgo ha ha ha.  I was so impressed at these boxes I think I'll order more of the range.

The piccie was taken before I'd finished sorting through the papers.

So, this week's job is finishing the craft room tidy up and get on with some cards I had to make - my neices 21st card and a new home card for our friend.  I also bought some new Whiff of Joy stamps, including Pregnant Willow as we have two friends who are expecting and I am desperate to ink these up and get these cards made.

See you all soon, and you never know I might have some cards to show you !!

Love, Nicola xx

Storage and My Daughter

No, I haven't stored my daughter away lol............

I had a moment whilst packing yesterday.  I found this old CD storage thing that the kids were using in the car for DVD's, I think it was about £5 from Asda's if I remember rightly.  I had been looking for a storage thingy (techinical phrase) for my unmounted and clear stamps as I was getting to the stage of forgetting what I had as there are so many - don't tell my hubbie that though lol.

This works a treat.  I do have some stamp sets that don't fit in, but for the Sugar Nellies, LOTV and Belles n Whistles it works a treat.  I sorted them out into some kind of order like, boys, couples, occassions etc and I just have to flick through like a book.

A close up of a pocket.  I'm still working on it as some of the stamps I don't know the name of so I'm making labels with designer and stamp name on them.  Can you tell I'm a Virgo ha ha ha.

Now just to find a storage thingy for my Promarkers......

This next photo is of my 5 year old daughter Eilidh.  She loves all things crafty as well and this was a card she made for her lion as apparently it was his birthday this week (!)

The picture is not a good one of her, she needs her hair brushed and what have you, but moments like this are not planned I'm afraid.

Ok, that's all my posts for this week............. off to pack up more boxes.

Nicola

Sunshiney Days.......

We've had some fantastic weather the past few days here, really warm and sunny........ and what have I been doing?  Some packing and lots of crafting ha ha ha.....

My colleague at work is having her wedding reception next week - it's her second wedding anniversary but as she married an Aussie, it's only now that his family is able to come over for "the wedding".  So this is the card I made for them.  The message inside reads "In celebration of your marriage and anniversary" to cover both occassions.

The photo's of this card didn't come out too well - the distressing on the edges looks a bit "odd" in the piccies but in real life it was a lot more subtle.............

The papers are K&Co (I love K&Co papers) - these are double sided so one 12x12 sheet of card was all that I needed for this card. Sentiment is from the foam set from my hubbie long time ago (2nd airing this week) and I've mounted it with foam tape to give height.

The image is LOTV coloured with Promarkers and I've distress inked the edges.  Ribbon is from my stash as are the lovely large pearls.  The edge of the matt under the image has been punched with a Stampin' Up edger punch.

I used scraps of the paper to make some flowers - I used a 5 petal flower, curled the edges of the petals with my bone folder and used Pinflair glue gel to give height.  The leaves again are punched from scraps of the matt card, then I added these fabulous large pearls to the centre.  These have a lovely lustre finish to them but the camera is not picking this up very well.

I finished this off by making a matching envelobox using my new Crafters Companion Envelopbox and Boxer additions to my Ultimate Pro.  The matt on the envelope has been punched with a beautiful Glasgow Rose corner punch I found at the back of a drawer - shamefully I had forgotten all about it - so packing has it's good points too lol.

Nicola xx

All Wedding-ed Out!!

Well I don't know about you but this weekend I have had wedding overload........ just what I needed NOT - as I have only just recovered from acting as Wedding Co-ordinator to a couple who decided to get married at the Sports and Community Centre where I am Co-ordinator (until the end of May anyway).  It was more stressfull than organising my own wedding but it all went well and the couple were delighted.....

Anyway, this is the card I made for the couple, from my workplace.

A single easel card this time, in white snowdream pearl card, double sided with a fleck of gold through it.  Matted with white glitter card and burgandy cardstock, both from my stash.

The main cake image is from Papermania, I think it came in one of their goody bags as I don't recall buying it.  The images are all mix and match so each element is stamped seperately.

The flowers are from Mei, and the ribbon is a scrap from my stash.  The pearls are from ebay and I've glamour dusted some of the swirly bits of the cake layers with a quickie glue pen.

The border punch is from Stampin' Up.  Sentiment stamps is from LOTV.

See you soon.

Nicola

And Now for Something Completely Different............

This week Hubbie asked me to make a Thank You card for some friends of ours.  He knew what he wanted - a triple easel card with a local flavour to it AND no flowers, glitter or cutsie images thank you!!!

The triple easel bit was easy...... but no flowers, no fairies and no girlie-ness not as easy.

I had to unpack the stamps I had packed up for the move (!) and found these beauties.  They are from Heritage Stamps in Edinburgh, and I've coloured them with coloured pencils.

The papers are K & Co and the card it all from my stash....  The green matt I ran through my Big Shot with a Fiskars Texture Plate (remember them lol), leaf I think.  The ribbon is from Crafty Ribbons.com - one of their 3mm mix bags.  The gems are from the Anita's 3mm gem wheel - well I had to put something blingy on it ha ha ha.

The sentiment stamp is from a foam mixed set that my hubbie bought me for Christmas many years ago.

And not a fairy, flower or flourish in sight!!!

Nicola

Birthday's Galore

I know I said I'd do this tomorrow, but a woman can change her mind lol.

My daughter was invited to a classmates birthday party the other day and asked if I'd make a card - last minute as usual. I had this LOTV image already coloured thankfully.

The papers are K & Co and some others from my stash.

The ribbon was from a grab bag from Craftyribbons.co.uk and the flowers are Petaloo and Prima. I've edged the white Petaloo flower with the matching Pale Pink Promarker used on the image. Gems are from Every Craft's a £ (at SECC).  Sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo.

Border punch is Stampin' Up.  It doesn't show up too well, but the headband and boppers are glitterd with teal glittter.  I was really pleased at how this turned out for a change.

With the clearout and packing I'm finding scrapbook papers I had forgotten I had.  I've literally got 1,000's of them in boxes and drawers so, given the move I ordered 4 Really Useful Scrapbook paper file boxes - hopefully it'll keep them safe and make them more accessable too.  I need to source something for my Promarkers now.

I still have some cards to post but I'm definately off to my bed this time.

See you soon, Nicola

Happy 1st Birthday Amelia Danni

Well, we started the packing at the weekend.  Most of the garage is now in boxes.  I began packing up my craft room.  I started with great intentions, sorting out what could be stored in mams garage and what I couldn't live without........ bet you can guess which pile is enormous lol.  After 20 minutes of that I was itching to play with all the forgotten stash I had discovered. 

This easel card is for my pals little granddaughter who will be one next week.  Another teal and buttercup colour combo.  Sorry about loads of pics with this post, but I just love my new camera.....

 The image is LOTV, papers are from a long lost stash I found at the bottom of the cupboard as are the flowers.

I gave the tutu, headband and ballet shoes the glamour dust treatment.  Image is coloured with Promarkers.

 

 The ribbons are a pale blue layered onto a pale yellow, but duh!! it makes the blue one look green lol.  The sentiment is LOTV, circles are cut out with my Cricut and all matts are inked with Agean Blue Chalk Ink (messy moment!!).  The charm is another long lost find.......

The no. 1 is cut with my Cricut (Storybook cart), normal and shadow layer, blinged with some gems from my stash.

I finished it off by making a box with my new toy - the new boards for my Ultimate Pro which was a POTD on C&C last week........ fab.  (I forgot to photograph that bit I'm afraid).

Much more enjoyable than packing....... 

Incase anyone is wondering, I've decided my essentials are my Promarkers, unmounted and clear stamps, Ultimate Pro, all my tools, my Cricut, all my card, all my papers, gems, pearls, ribbons ....... hmmmm, I'm starting to see a flaw in this essentials list.

Oh well.

I have more cards to post, I hope to get them on tomorrow.

Until then, take care, Nicola

News................

We've just had the news that we're moving back to the mainland with my hubbies job.  He's away at the end of May and I'm off at the end of June, beginning of July.  I'm waiting until the kids have finished school for the summer.

It's been in the pipeline for a few months now but when you're actually told that it happening it's still a bit of a shock.  Coming here from Inverness was a bit of a culture shock to all of us, but we soon got into the swing of things and although we are happy that we're movning back to family and friends, we are devestated to be leaving this glorious Island, the welcoming community and the precious friends we have made here.

I'm up to my ears at work getting everything ready for someone to take over the helm, and I'm sad at having to give up another fab job.  Oh the joys of a Northern Constabulary wife.....

We're moving into my mams house for a while until we find somewhere of our own, so cardmaking might be on the back burner for a short time - or I could stick the hubbie in the garage ha ha ha.  Well one has to get ones priorities right.

I'll keep blogging as much as I can ................


Nicola xx

Wonderful Things......

This card was made for some friends of mine who are currently going though IVF treatment.  I wanted them to know I was thinking of them without phoning every five minutes to ask how things were.......

I do have other stamps in my collection, lol, but the wistful image of Daisy (from Suger Nellie) seemed appropriate for the feel of the card.  Stamped onto LOTV Smooth card which I bought at the SECC, what a difference it makes having good smooth cardstock - previously I was using any old card.  Coloured with Promarkers, background dusted with blue shimmer chalk.  The sentiment is from LOTV (another purchase from Glasgow) and I've dusted it with the same blue shimmer chalk to tie it in with the stamped image.

The roses and leaves have been lying about in my stash for years, and I mean YEARS.  The charm is from a pile I bought in Glasgow.  Butterflies punched out with a Woodware punch.

(Playing with my new camera - so excuse the shadows)

The teal and buttercup colourscheme is not one I had tried before but having seen it on another card I thought I'd give it a bash.

The background papers and card are from my stash and the yellow papers are Capsule Collection from a Papermania Goody Bag.  The punch is a Martha Stewart one I bought in Florida, I think it's called Daisy Border.  Gems were from Every crafts a £.

They loved it by the way...... which is always a bonus lol.