If you go down to the woods today!!!

You'll be in for a big surprise - no just 9 crafty women in disguise!!!

Well I know I had a great weekend even if I had to leave early due to a mirgraine. Big thank you to Fleur for driving me home and sorry you had to leave early... Well my weekend was full of things that just went wrong. First of all Fleur and I got lost and ended up 14 miles away from our destination ( well Mablethorpe was nice for the brief stop - bit should have been near Louth!!!). Then I had been texting Lou's hubby Nick  and not my hubby Nick ( thankfully I hadn't been texting anything I shouldn't have!!). Then to top it all my battery on my camera died after 3 photos and spare was dead too - and finally feeling unwell so had to leave early.

But I promise I really did enjoy myself and the company was fab. Hope to do it again soon. Hugs Nicky.

Hugs & Kisses

I brought this stamp from my friend Fleur yesterday.  So I thought I would have a go at making hubby's valentines card. Tried to keep it all in brown tones for a change to the vibrant reds that you normally get.

I used: Hero Arts Cling on heart stamp, Kelly Panacci stitch stamp, Whiff of Joy Swirls, Squiggle stamps Bird Flourish. Tim Holtz sentiment & distress ink antique linen. Button & heart from stash. Papers were ladybug & friends (Light brown) and brown spotty paper was a scrap piece. Hugs Nicky xxx

Fairy Special!

This card has been made for a male friend of mine. I have used the Alva Sitting stamp which is a female elf but I have made the hair short and put it onto blue and think it may pass as a male elf???

I have used :

Stamps: Alva Sitting (Magnolia), Mouse (Penny Black), Sentiment (Woodware circular greeting), Small toadstools (squiggles stamps) thin toadstools (magnolia) stitches (Kelly Panacci) Big Flower which I made into the big toadstool (Hero Arts) & the ticket was a freebie.

Papers: My minds eye - Merry days of Christmas - All a glow (green patterned paper & blue dots. Magnolia - White Christmas - Frosty Fir. Dark blue bit from scrap box.

Misc: Clear embossing powder and a little glitter used on thin toadstools. Coloured in using watercolour pencils.

I really enjoyed making this card and followed a sketch which made it easier to put together. Not long now till our crafty retreat!!!!  Nicky xx

New stamps..

I brought most of the stamps used on this card on Saturday at Sir Stampalot. The little elf is sooo cute I just had to have her. I have even started to get the hang of shrink plastic (thank you Lou).

I used:                                                                                                                       

Stamps:-  Alva Sitting - Magnolia

Sweet Owls - Hero Arts

Mushrooms - Magnolia

Wish - Stmapin up

Papers:-  Sweet Branch Collection - Crate Paper Green - Hope & Blue Cherish

My Minds Eye - Orange

Misc:- Flower - Arts Flowers which was inked & clear embossed

Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch

Woodware Leaf punch

Nestabilities Label 1

Watercolour pencils to colour

I would like to thank Sir Stampalot for selecting my card previously featured on my blog as card of the month which has helped with getting me back into crafting.

Happy crafting Nicky xxx

A little Coffee & Inspiration!!

This card started by using Fleur's corn stamp whilst having a coffee and chat with Fleur, Lou & Chris and by the end of the day this was the finished result.

I used Kars stamps for images and a Stampin up sentiment.

Not sure whether it needs a little mouse on one of the bits of corn. But I'm finding it really hard to get my crafty head on at the moment but after spending some time with some crafty friends today at Sir Stampalot it may be on its way back. Hopefully more to follow soon. Nicky xxx

Birthday !!!

Well Happy New Year to you all a little late I know but have only just got back into the swing of making cards that are not christams cards!!!!  (you all no what I'm talking about...) A couple of quickie cards as nearly forgot birthdays that were the first few days into the new year.

Used my Magnolia stamp and a couple of stampin up stamps to create this male card. Oh how I find it hard to create male cards. Mind you I don't have many stamps in my collection to create them.

This lovely stamp is called "Tossa Flowers" by bildmalarna stamps a really cute image and the first time I have used her. Anyway have several more cards to create for this month. Nicky

Christmas Cards .....

I am so pleased that I have finished making the last of my christmas cards. I am all christmas carded out. I'm now bogged down with all the other christmas prep.  Below is a sample of my cards that I have made this year for friends & family.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & Good New Year.  Nicky xxx

Allsorts Challenge

The challenge for this week on www.allsortschallenge.blogspot.com is to use a christmas song to design you card. Mine is "Let it Snow, Let Snow, Let it Snow"

I have used:

• Anita's Wooden snowman stamp (forgot I had this one!!!)
• Sentiment stamp brought from Papermill
• Stampin up 1 1/4 circle punch
• Woodware 1 1/2 circle punch
• Stampin up flower punch
• Martha Stewart doily punch
• Stampin up green paper
• Christmas paper Dovecraft
• Brads & bits from stash

Hugs from Nicky x x

Whiff of Joy Challenge

The challenge this week was a sketch http://wojmondaychallenge.blogspot.com/. I decided to have a go at doing it in a sepia effect, not sure but it got me using colours I wouldn't normally use!!

I used:

• Whiff of Joy - Uru and Bird
• Woodware flower punches
• Martha Stewart doily punch
• Stampin up ribbon
• Borrowed punch for branches
• Sentiment and card were purchased from The Papermill Shop
• Brads dovecraft
• Charm from stash
• Versamark - watermark pad used to create snowflake and words on card

Hugs Nicky xxx

Whiff of Joy Stamp

I just love my new Whiff of Joy stamp - Willow with cookies. Couldn't wait to use it. I'm off work at the moment with some stomach bug so rather than being bored I surfed the net and found that Whiff of joy have a challenge so thought I might have a go. http://wojmondaychallenge.blogspot.com/ The challenge was to use the colours orange, brown and ivory.
I used :

• Whiff of Joy Stamp - Willow with Cookies
• Stampin up - Orange Paper
• Craft Paper-Static collection Gravity
• Brown Dotty paper from stash
• The paper Company - Gold dainty Filigree
• Martha Stewart Doily punch
• Stampin up Scallop Oval punch
• Stampin up Sentiment
• Woodware Flower Punches
• Branch punch borrowed from Fleur
• Buttons, brads, charms & butterfly from craft stash.

I really like this card and I used colours that I wouldn't normally use, so found it a bit of a challenge. Nicky xx

My New Stamp

I just had to have ago. This my new stamp from Whiff of joy.

I used:

• Rose Tinted Christmas paper - the Christmas multi stack
• Whiff of Joy stamp - Uru and bird & Christmas flourishes
• Rubadubbadoo - Bethlehem set for sentiment
• Little red beads donated by my good friend Fleur ( don't know what I would do with out her!!)
• Nestabilities - Labels 1
• Woodware flower punches

No good will have to start my Christmas cards!!! Nicky

Christmas Wreath

I decided to make my own Christmas wreath after I spotted these heart shaped entwined twigs. So with a few beads some berries, a bell, cinnamon sticks, and ribbon this is what I created.

My Mum liked it so much I had to create one for her too!!! I really need to start getting ready for Christmas as I haven't brought a thing yet or started my cards!! See you soon Nicky xx

Congratulations

Our friends have had a little baby boy born on Saturday. So with the help of my friend Fleur and her craftroom supplies I created this card for them. Thanks Fleur for the advice and lone of the stamps and your stash of paper.

I have used:

• Sweet baby pastel - Blue baby words American Traditional Design Papers & blue paper from Fleurs stash.
• Magnolia baby rabbit stamp.
• Silver heart charm.
• Christmas flourishes from Whiff of Joy.
• Blue button from stash.
• Sentiments are both Stampin up.
• Martha Stewart Lace doily punch.
• Nestabilies for scalloped circle and circular punches.

I would like to thank Fleur again for her help and will see some of you tonight at Fleurs. Nicky xx

Another quick birthday card!!

I know I need to be more prepared but I need a card for a party that Holly is going to tomorrow so I have stayed up to make this one.

I used Stampin up paper from stash, stampin up scallop circle & circle 1 1/4" punches. Woodware 1 1/2" circle punch. Magnolia with Ladybird stamp. Leaf punch I borrowed from Fleur & hero arts - It's your Day stamp. I'm off to bed now!!! Happy crafting Nicky xxx

Our Little Angel

I have created a special card for our baby daughter Ashleigh who died in Dec 07. She would have been two on Nov 9th. It's something I feel I have to do & maybe it is part of my grieving process.... but I know we all miss her and she is always in our thoughts.

I used : Crate paper - Static collection - Torn, Check patterned paper from stash & Junkitz - flower.ful dots. Stampin up - One of a Kind flower stamp and punch. Sizzix - flower, branch leaf set. Sarah Kay - Spring is Back stamp. Tim Holtz - ticket "Love". Red heart I made a while back and found in stash and finally wording was typed in word. Hugs Nicky xxx

Post it Note Holder

A little present Holly & I made for my sister for her birhtday (which is on Thursday she is 5 minutes older than me!!) She's not into craft but likes her shopping & housework (unlike me!). So we thought we would make her this to go in her handbag and the image we thought worked as she likes housework. Also it gave Holly & I a bit of Mummy & daughter bonding time...

Trick or Treat

Holly and I have had a go at making some simple trick or treat bags. She enjoyed making these and is excited about giving them away. (Anything to stop the holiday blues and the constant I'm bored comments.) Although after yesterday where we did pumpkin carving and then my craft goodies were attacked by 3 children...... we'll lets just say my blood pressure is now normal but spent along time cleaning stamps and tidying up after them!!!( I'm very particular about my stamps being cleaned after being used lets just say that didn't happen yesterday.)

We used orange paper and my inkadinkado All Hallows Eve stamp set. I'm sure the children will be more intereted in the goodies inside hence that's why we didn't spend to long on them. See you all soon Nicky & Holly.

Home Tweet Home

I made this card for Clare and family as they moved house today. I've been looking after her girls while they have moved but to be honest they are looking after Holly while I craft!!

I used: My Minds Eye - Wild Asparagus paper.

Stampin Up Circle punch & scallop circle punch.

Squiggles Stamps - Bird Flourish.

Rubbadubbadoo Stamp set - Coastal Summer - Beach Huts used.(inside of card)

Hopefully they have fun in their new home. Nicky xx

My new stamp set

I just love my new stamp set & couldn't wait to have a go with them. So made this birthday card, which I love.

I used: Junkitz - flower.ful Dots & monochrome green. Red bit was from my scrap box.

Red button from collection (which seems to be growing!!).

Squiggle Stamps - Daisy & Toadstools, Bird Flourish & Too Tweet ( inside card).

http://www.squigglestamps.com/

Woodware sentiment clear stamps.

Thought I may have got more crafting done whilst on school half term but have been full of cold ( always happens to me!!) Happy stamping to you all. Nicky xx