ICS Challenge

What a hectic week so far. Father in law has been rushed into hospital with rapid dementia and seizures. We have been in out of hospital for the last 4 weeks but finally they have admitted him to a ward. Work is a nightmare the child I look after at school has come back to school this year like the devil child. ( I am sure I will be hitting the bottle soon!!!) And finally I am having to do all the homework with Holly and  things round the house due to husband flitting to and fro from the hospital. So hence the lack of cards on my blog recently. Hopefully all will sort itself out soon.
On to my card this week for ICS challenge. Please take a look at my other DT members cards.

I have used:

Stamp - Sugar Nellie Manga Girl # 2 and The Greeting Farm - Butterfly Wishes (sentiments)

Promarkers to colour
Scrap paper and Linen Thread.


Many thanks for taking the time to look at my card.

Christening Card

We've been invited to our nephews daughters christening so I thought I would take the opportunity to use the sketch this week at ICS to make her card.

I have used:

 LOTV stamp - Baby blanket, Whiff of joy - swirl, Stampin Up - Smal script & Fabulous phrases

Martha Stewart - Doily Lace punch & Sizzix - Bunting Die (a bit of the ends to make flags)

Promarkers to colour

Rub on's for the name on flags

Many thanks for taking the time to look at my card.

Dressing Up .....

 What a windy day I think autumn is definately here. Most of Holly's apples have been blown off her apple tree today and those that haven't I picked off before they got bruised and battered. Her tree was laiden with apples this year the most I have seen since she received it as a christening present back in 2003.

On to my card for today. This is the card that I made for Holly's school friend Mackenzie for her 8th Birthday. I used the sketch from ICS this week as my inspiration.

(Inside of card)

I have used the following:

Lili of the Valley Stamp - New Hat, Stampin Up - Fabulous Phrases &

Whimsical Words, My Minds Eye - Swirl, Whiff of Joy - Swirl

& Kelly Panacci - Stitches

Bazzil & scrap paper from stash

Promarkers to colour & Versa Cube - Pinecone

Thank you for taking the time to look at my card.

Close your eyes, make a wish & blow !!

This is my card for the ICS challenge this week. I had a bit of a diseaster as I read my email wrong and the image I used below had been printed out for next weeks challenge not this week. Ooops!! So I had to hurry and make this card before my deadline. That will teach me not to read my emails properly. I thought it was only fair to use the image provided by the sponsor as they were sponsoring us too and not one I already had. Then whilst under pressure the following words came into my head "Close your eyes, make a wish & blow!!" This was a memory from my past (well not that long ago) of what I do when I pick a dandelion seed head. So with out further or do here is my card sponsored by In Style stamps

The Sketch

 I used:  Digi image - In style stamps & My Minds Eye - Dandelion stamp

Scrap paper, hessian from stash

Woodware punch - flowers 2 sizes

Promarkers to colour

Own sentiment

Thank you for taking the time to browse.

Monster Party

What a wet start to the week. I do hate it this time of year when it rains. I have created this card for a friends son who was nine on Sunday. Now he can be a little monster hence why I thought this card would suit him. I am also entering it for the Squiggles Challenge where you can do anything as long as you use one of their stamps.

 I have used: Squiggles stamp - Monster boy, Stampin up - Fabulous Phrases,

My Minds Eye - Swirl, Kelly Panacci - Stitches & Catslife Press - circle stamp
Stampin up - Papers & Bazzil
Alittle shrink plastic & watercolour pencils to colour image.

Many thaks for taking the time to look at my card.

Sassy Pirate

Well thats the school holidays over with and back to the normal routine again. It doesn't feel like we have just had 6 weeks off it has flowen by....
The card below was created using the Inspirational Card Sketch for this week and using a digi image from our sponsors this week Sassy Studio Designs.

I have used: Sassy Studio Design - Pirate Penny digi image, My Minds Eye - Wild Asparagus     
quilt look stamp,& Stampin Up - Whimsical Words stamp set

Woodware - Leaf punch, Stampin Up - Branch punch & Marianne Design - Creatable (flower)die

Pages from old dictionary & scrap paper

Promarkers to colour image & Tim Holtz - Distress Inks for edges

Stampin Up - Ribbon, Linen thread - stitches

Thank you for looking

All things Bright & Wonderful!!!

Well as the holiday draw to an end I thought I would make a bright card. I have used the ICS sketch for this card please come & join in the fun we would love to see your creations. So here is my card.

I have used:

LOTV - Fairies on tiptoe stamp, Kelly Panacci - stitching, Stampin up - Sentiment & Whiff of joy - Swirl

Papers ???

Promarkers to colour image

Nestabilitie - Labels 2

Stitching using -linen thread

Thank you for looking

Life is full of Ups & Downs ...

Where is the time going the summer holidays are nearly over!!! Really need to start sorting Holly out ready to go back to school. Yes I always leave it to the last minute. (Have purchased new shoes...) Well here is my take on this weeks sketch at icsketches.

I have used the following:

Stamp - Sugar Nellie Manga Girl # 2,The Greeting Farm - Whimsical Wishes (sentiment)

Papers are from stash

Coloured using Promarkers

Flower - star punch from Stampin Up (several layers damped paper and scrunched)

Thank you for taking the time to look.

One of a kind!!!

I have created this card for my father in law's birthday. Unfortunately he is losing the plot big time at the moment and is starting to forget family and those close to him - 3 sons and daughter. (he thinks they are the hired help - gardeners and drivers!!!). Yes it's sad but what do you do he's well into his 80's now. Anyway less of the doom and gloom on to my card, which was created using the sketch at Papertake weekly challenge. I really enjoy using sketches at the moment.

I have used the following:

Penny Black Slap stick cling - Fly away, Stampin up - Sentiment & Kelly Panacci - Faux stitching

Cosmo Cricket - Earth Love paper & kraft paper to make label

Promarker to colour

Thank you for visiting my blog.

ICS Sketch

Well holidays are fast disappearing and it will soon be time to start sorting bits ready to go back to school. This week ICS have been using digi images from Meljen's Designs there are some fab digi images so why not check the site out.

I have used: Meljen's Design - digi image & The Greeting Farm - Butterfly Wishes (sentiment)

& Kelly Panacci - Faux stitching

Rusty Pickles - Buttons

Promarkers for colouring image

Thanks for looking

Allsorts Challenge and DT opportunity

Wow what a great site and great opportunity to become a DT member for the Allsorts Penny Black DT. So with that in mind I have created the following card.

I used:

Penny Black stamp - Ginger, Stampin Up - Sentiment, My Minds Eye -  Flower/ swirl and Small detail

Papers - Bazzill and Stampin up

Punches - Stampin up(sentiment), Woodware - flower punch, Woodware - leaf and nesties

Hero art flower used with woodware flowers
Coloured using promarkers

Very fine glitter (unfortunately it doesn't show on photo but I certainly sparkled for a few days after!!)

Gems,button and brad from stash.

Many thanks for taking the time to have a look at my card.

Anniversary card - Great Catch!!

Here we are again with another fab sketch from ICS. I am just loving my time on their DT. In fact it is so much easier to make cards from a sketch don't know why I didn't try it sooner.

I have turned the sketch around only because the images just didn't look right this way round. But this is part of the fun when using a sketch.

I used: The Greeting Farm - Image & Sentiment Rock the farm set

Kelly Panacci - Faux stitching and backgrounds are Paper Artsy.

Promarkers for colouring in image

Distress Inks for doing the coloured backgrounds

Others bits & bobs are from my stash.

Thank you for looking

A Birthday Wish

This is my first card for ICSketches Design Team, every week there will be a new sketch to follow so please come and join in the fun. Holly is still driving me mad and we have had 1 week of school holidays not sure how we are going to get on for the remainder of the holiday. It's trying to find something to occupy her all the time and I think she finds it hard not to have the same routine everyday like she has at school. Anyway on to this weeks sketch and my take on the sketch...

I used: Penny Black SlapStick Cling Stamp - Fly Away Stampin up - Small script & Clear Stamps - Postcard Stamp

Papers are bazzil & kraft card from stampin up

Promarkers to colour

Thank you for taking the time to have a look.

I did !!!

I still can't believe it yes I'm still in a state of shock!!! I have been selected to be part of the ICSketches Design Team. I would like to thank Dawn at ICSketches and take this opportunity to introduce the other new DT members Heather - Meredith & Stacy congrats to you too.

Nicky :0)

Saucy ....

 I just love this digi image kindly offered to me by a friend as I didn't have any idea what to do for a 40th male birthday card. Not sure what else to say but take a look .....

Card Receipe:

Digi Image kindly donated, Sentiment freebie & Circular Sentiment - Cats Life Press

Papers - Cappella Sonata & Rusty Pickles / White Chocolate Bunny

Promarkers to colour image

Many thanks for looking.

Nicky xx

My Little Pony

Well only a few days into the school holiday and yes Holly is already bored. In fact we only had a few hours on the first day of the holidays before she started, only another 6 weeks!!!! I have made this card for my niece who like Holly loves horses. I am entering for the Cute Card Thursday challenge blog this week they have a great sketch to follow and Allsorts Penny Black Challenge which is a burst of colour.

I used the following to make the card:

Penny Black Stamp - Minding Shelty, The Greeting Farm - Whimsical Greetings Set,

 Kelly Panacci - Stitches

Basic Grey Papers -Origins

Stampin up - Ribbon, Tim Holtz - Tattered Florals Die, Sizzix - Tag

Paper Flowers - Hero Arts

Thank you for taking the time to look at my card. Nicky xx

DT call

Only one more day at school and then it's 6 weeks holiday. My husband thinks my job is great all this holiday, but I have to remind him I still have Holly to look after so my 1-2-1 Teaching assistant job is no different when I'm on holiday to when I am at work!!!

 This is my card for the ICS DT call. They have some great sketches to follow and their blog and DT work are very inspiring. You have to follow a sketch which can be found using the above link, choose another sketch to follow and select your favourite card from your own blog. You only have until the 24th July to enter.

This is the same card but decided to add sentiment as I am using for  a christening card.

Card Receipe:

Rabbit Stamp - Not sure who by,My Minds Eye - Script background & swirl

Stampin up - Hodgepodge hardware

Bazzill & Crate paper - Sweet Branch Collection 'Spendid'

Friskar - Corner punch

Promarkers to colour

Thank you for taking the time to look.

Nicky xx 

Anything Goes!!!!

Well what a change in weather. The wind is blowing here today and will certainly blow away the cobwebs!!! I've decided to create a card that can be combined for 3 challenges this week. The first is for Inspirational Card Sketches here they give you a sketch to follow which I find helps me. (They are also running a DT call at the moment too) Second is for The Stamp Man fortnightly challenge a new blog challenge their theme is "Anything Goes". and finally the For Fun Challenges which is to use any meduim to colour with.

Card Receipe:

Digi Image - Not sure where image came from,Stampin up - Sentiments,
Whiff of Joy - Swirl,  Kelly Panacci - Stitches

Cosmo Cricket Paper - Schools Out - More Fish in the Sea

Coloured using Distress Inks (Tim Holtz)

Thank you so much for taking the time to view my card. Nicky xx

Teacher's Card

Well what a wet and horrible day, a bit of a contrast to last weeks weather!! Me I am on count down ready to break up for the summer holidays. Only 6 days left at work and approx 7 weeks holiday...... Have made this card today for Holly's teacher, I know I have left it late but if you know me that is usual. I'm going to enter for the following challenges as well Squiggles  whose theme is Swirls, stitches & scallops set by Lou and Cute Card Thursday whose theme is school's out for summer!!

Card Reciepe:

Miss Evie - Squiggles digi stamp, Kelly Panacci - Stitches, My Minds Eye - Swirl,

 Studio g - Alphabet stamps & Stampin up Sentiment.

Stampin up - Scallop Punch, Stampin up - Paper edge punch & Woodware - Circle punch.

Promarkers, Versa cubes, Cork, Tim Holz paper clip, page from old dictionary & kraft card - scrap card.

Thank you for taking the time to look. Nicky xx

A bit of a flutterby ... butterfly

What another lovley week. Have spent Wednesday afternoon watching Holly in her sports day. She did really well getting to 1st's and a 2nd. With all this sunshine around I found myself making a card with a bit of a summer feel to it.

Card Receipe
The Greeting Farm Stamps - Butterfly Wishes. Kelly Panacci - Stitching stamp. Bazzill & Daisy Bucket  - Perfect Harmony papers.

I just love all The Greeting Farm stamps they just adorable and one of my favourite at the moment. This card will be winging it's way to Sir Stampalot. Hugs Nicky xx