About Me

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United Kingdom
Hi and welcome to my blog. I love to do various crafts not just cardmaking. I'm so pleased you stopped by and very much appreciate all your comments that you are kind enough to leave. If you enjoy what you see, please add yourself to my list of followers or leave a comment. If you would like to purchase any of my creations, please email me for details. I hope that my blog inspires and helps you to create what ever it is you want to create. Hope to see you back here soon? Take care Nicki xXx

Sunday 31 May 2009

Promarker Challenge


Well, i've finally done it, im entering my first challenge on the Promarkers Challenge site.
There are some fab prizes up for grabs, so pop over there and have a look.
The colours ive used, if i can remember them all are....
Terracotta, spice, sky blue, meadow green, cool grey, black, pumpkin and grass, oh and sandstone! (had to rematch all the colours to get the colours i had used!)
I also used Tim Holtz distress inks, some ribbon, cuttlebug swiss dots and cuttlebug alphabet. Glitter glue and glaze for the windows.
Wish me luck!!! kinda nervous as ive never entered a challenge, but as they say, there's a first time for everything!
Nicki
xXx

Last one for today!

Here is a card/envelope card made using papers i downloaded from EllaBella, i think they are absolutely gorgeous. So thankyou.
This is the outside, i used the papers and nestabilities to cut out the circle and frame and used Stampin Up 'Pretty in Pink' ink pad to outline it with, i also used a velcro dot underneath to hold it shut...

This is the inside, i used a petal punch to 'bite' a chunk of cake, used the letters in the set and added a part to write your message on. I also used Stampin Up scallop punch to do the ribbony bit behind the cupcake.

on a roll....


Wow im on a roll today! Stampin Up playful petals stamp (again! ... said it was my fav!) coloured flower last night (went on a stampathon last night with these stamps!)
Mounted onto white card embossed with cuttlebug embossing folder and tag and wording from the same as is the lilac pearlescent paper along the bottom.
Used fiskars border punch for the ribbony thing across the middle and some co-ordinating ribbon across that, finished off with a knot on the tag.

The insert (had forgot to put this in! oops!)

close up of the topper on the front.

Covered Tin tutorial

Take a tin with a resealable lid (yep im addicted to cappuccino! its fab!)

Choose a paper to cover you tin.... i used scrapbook paper (big pad, cant remmeber the name of it again! oops!)
Measure the height of your tin....

Cut paper to size (12 x 12 paper is a good fit, although A4 landscape also fits!)
i used double sided tape to stick the paper to the tin...

i chose to use 2 co-ordinating papers, so attached the second one to the tin, but then you get an 'ugly' line!

I used border punch to cut a strip to run around the middle...

Using double sided tape (again!) i attached it around the middle of the tin...
still got some ugly lines tho!!!

Using some co-ordinating Pink border peel offs (or some ribbon... whatever you want to use, i attached around the top and bottom where the paper meets the top (you sometimes get a gap!) and the a strip around the middle to hide where the scalloped bit meets the paper...
I then attached images i stamped with Stampin Up stamp 'Playful Petals' (my fav at the minute!)

Et... Voila! the finished tin! hubby still thinks im really sad and need to get out more! lol

June Downloads...

Here are the cards i made for the papers i did for the Crafters Companion Download of the Month (June). You will need to log in to access the monthly downloads.
As its fathers day coming up shortly (21st June for those who didnt know the date) i chose to do a male theme and love this colour combo, think it works really well.


Template i promised!

To make this style of card...

This is the template i made to make the above card, hope you can understand it? i used Crafters Companion scoreboard, thats where the measurements come in. The mountain and valley folds refer to the direction the card is folded at that point. I used an A4 sheet of card if this helps?
Once you have cut and folded your card, decorate how you want, i used the actual card for measurements for the parts i put on... personal preference to how you decorate it!

Saturday 30 May 2009

Get off your soap box!

Well... here it is at last! my soap box Tutorial
To start with you will need a soap box (yes i have been on a bit of a collection! lol)

Next cover the box with the paper of your choice, i used a scrapbook paper, cvant remember which pad it was now? one of those huge thick ones with loads of papers in different shades!

I attached a velcro sticky dot to the tab part so that the box can be shut...

I used my new Stampin Up stamps 'Playful Petals', bought these as i think they are soooo pretty!
I added some co-ordinating ribbon around the box and added a knot to the front to snazz it up a bit...

This is a view of the top flower which was stamped, used Letraset Promarkers to colour it and some glitter glue around the edge of the flower and centre flower.

... next one to do is the tins!!!

Friday 29 May 2009

My 1st tutorial

Well thought i would post a tutorial (my first one!)
Start off with 3 dishwasher tablet boxes and some sticky dots! (... all will be revealed!)
Cut off the tops to the length of the Promarker pens....

Stick the boxes together with double sided tape and add tape around the sides....

Next... with your chosen scrapbook paper (or paper/decoration of your choice) wrap around the sides of your boxes, to tuck into the box, its easier to snip 'Vs' where the boxes join, the when you stick them down into the boxes you get a lovely clean edge...

To cover the joining boxes, cut a strip the width of the box, attach double sided tape and fold over the joins of the boxes.

To line the insides of the box, cut your paper to almost the depth of the box and attach double sided tape to the sides and the top, i found it easy to put the length of paper into the 'slot' and it was then easier to attach the first edge and then start to gradually peel away the top tape...

Once you get into a corner, for a nice crisp, neat edge, use a bone folder to crease down the groove, then continue to peel away the tape as you go around the edge...

Once you have lined all the insides, your then ready for......

... your markers!!!
this is where all your sticky dots come in handy! (yes sad i know and as hubby said i need to get out more! LOL)
stick a dot to the end of each pen and colour with the pen colour, and as you can see they are all at hand and easy to find your chosen colour!

Hope you like it?
Will hopefully be posting some more tutorials, next thing im doing is some altered items!
take care
Nicki
x

Stampin Up update!


Just to let you know, i received my paperwork through the post today from my SU 'mum' Jeannette so once i get these sent off then i will be a fully fledged SU demonstrator! woo hoo!!!
Obviously once im sorted, i'll let you know, and let you know how its all progressing!
Take care
Nicki
x

Latest creations...

Saw this style of card on the Crafters Companion forum, and thought it was so pretty, had to have a go! after a few mess ups.... (and making one out of paper, to get the folds and cuts right) this is what i made,
First one....

Was quite pleased how it came out, hubby thought it was fab, but lacked something???
so... had to make another one!!!!

Second one! was really pleased with this one, rounded all the corners and used nestabilities to cut out the central shapes and cuttlebug to cut out the tag and phrase, few flowers and Voila!
Quite easy to make once its sussed out! If you want a plan of how to make it, let me know and i draw one up and post it for you.
Take care
Nicki
x

Thursday 28 May 2009

Some cards ive made


This was one i made a couple weeks back, forgot to post it! oops! the stamps are basic grey i think? daughter hated the stamps, said they looked awful (as they are a double stamp, stamp the background part then over stamp with another colour) she liked it once id done it, which goes to show ya, kids! huh! what do they know? LOL


This was one i made last night, inspiration came from the stampin up catalogue, not sure about the huge ribbon tho! hmmm???? colours dont look as good on here tho! Hubby was watching the footy so... craftathon was required! lol

Busy day!

Hi everyone, was up at 6am, was bloggin till late, found a fab blog... all about craft room storage, (Crafty Storage) so as you can imagine... thats why i was up at 6 sorting out my room! lol
youve all seen the before version... (i think? trawl down through posts and youll find it!) but this is the NEW tidy, organised version! can find everything now, and got more room on my desk (not for long tho! LOL)
into the room....
Thats where i have all my fun on my PC!

coming in from the kitchen end! (my craft room used to be my kitchen before my extension!)

My lovely tidy desk! wow cant believe how tidy it looks? (believe me... thats tidy! lol)

Wednesday 27 May 2009

Stampin Up Demonstrator


Well i have finally done it! Am waiting for my paperwork to come through, but will hopefully and shortly become a Stampin Up demonstrator! WooHoo! So thrilled, cant wait!
So once im all 'legal and above board' so to speak, you will definitly be hearing more about it, so look forward to seeing you back here soon.
Im really excited and would love to thank Jeannette for all her help with sorting this out. Thanks Jeannette xXx
Take care everyone
Nicki
x

Tuesday 26 May 2009

Internet problems...

I know alot of you, including myself have been having problems with logging onto pages, but i have used - by recommendation of hubby! Mozilla firefox and am having no problems at all! so it may be worth downloading it to see if you then cure the problems you are having! hubby swears by it! theres also add ons which are little tweaky things to make your viewing pleasure better! lol
hope this helps?
take care everyone
Nicki
x

What a horrid day!

Thought we were supposed to have a fab hot bank hols weekend.... bit yucky this end of the country! so had to spend the day crafting! oh dear! such a shame i hear you all cry! LOL
I made some cards for the June Download of the month, so once they are up on Crafters Companion site ready for you to download, i will post the pickies here for you!
Was going to wash the car.... kept raining, so that idea went out the window, so took my daughter and her friends to Barleylands to pop into Sugar and spice to get myself some goodies! needed cheering up as ive been working my socks off lately. Bought some stamps and some dies, so thrilled with that, dog was going to get washed yesterday... needless to say she wasnt!!!! maybe today... she needs wash she stinks! lol bless her.
Anyway, have a fab day all and catch you soon, hopefully will post some pickies later of some more stuff im going to make today!
Have tried to catch up on some of your posts.... theres sooo many!!! but im trawling through all your blogs and seeing what youve all been up to, and i must say am well impressed. Love blog hopping to, get stacks of ideas!
Take care
Nicki
xXx

Monday 25 May 2009

Hi everyone

Sorry i havent been around, i have just been soooo busy with one thing and another, and have still so much to catch up on! there just isnt the amount of hours in 1 day that i need!!!!

I would like to say a HUGE THANKYOU to everyone who has left comments for me and to say how much i appreciate them all.

I have to go and catch up on all the postings now and see what wonderful creations you have all been creating! and i know you have all been busy, so off to look at them all now, so hopefully, will get a chance to go and see everyones, but if not... give us a chance! theres lots to catch up on.

By the way, heres the card i made for Connor's birthday (hes PS3 mad!) meant to post it before, but forgot! oops! Also, Connor would love to say a big thanks for all the wishes on his birthday, made his day so thank you to everyone who left a comment xXx

anyway, thanks to everyone for popping by, hopefully i will get a chance to put some stuff up on here, if not, dont think i have forgotten you all, just need a 48hour day! lol

Take care everyone and thanks again

Nicki

xxx

1st June Blog candy - Next Level Challenge



http://thenextlevelchallenge.blogspot.com/ are giving away this gorgeous candy, to be in with a chance, pop over to their blog.
Good luck on winning everyone!

Wednesday 13 May 2009

Happy Birthday Con

Connor wanted to say a HUGE thank you to you for his birthday wishes, he feels all chuffed and wanted me to say thank you to you xXx

Just wanted to wish my son a very happy 15th birthday for today! I know he pops onto my blog to have a nosey and gets all chuffed to see what i have put up here and all your lovely comments, so Connor....HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY!!!!
Enjoy
x

Monday 11 May 2009

Im still here! lol

Can i just say thank you to everyone for their kind and thoughtful comments they have posted.
Very much appreciated and lovely to know you care, Thankyou xxx

Hi everyone, just to let you know, im still about, but been bit busy with one thing and another! have been crafting and will post once i finish that, but have had to look after father-in-law as he has been very poorly - had to rush him off to hospital on Thursday (scared me stupid!) thought we was going to lose him but nope... hes still here bless his heart and getting nagged and looked after! 82 years old and stubborn as a mule! so bit of hard work there as you can imagine?
Other than that... same ol, same ol.... work, home ... you know how it is?
Hope your all ok?
Take care
Nicki
xXx

Wednesday 6 May 2009

3rd scrapbook page!


As you may be aware... my son has just returned home from Australia after 4 years!!! and this was one of the photos i loved of him (he hates it though - thinks he looks a bit of a geek!) i loved this photo though and decided to plan a scrapbook page around it.
I used a play on words with the {son-} flower part and used Papermania Marie curie stamps for the background (as they had a sunflower!) and then to make the larger flower i used the personal impressions ones again, i love the stamps, they are just so simple, but you can use them for some really good effects! i particularly like the flower petal as it makes a fab flower when you stamp lots of them! glittered the middle of the background sunflowers as i thought it set it off bit better, but was really pleased how it all came out.

2nd of 3 scrapbook pages...


I just love these images of my kids in the garden, the contrast with his red tee-shirt just sets off the colour scheme for this layout. I used kaiser scrapbook clear stamps for the flower and used Papermania boutique stamps for the flower on the background. Plain green cardstock and the co-ordinating cardstock i weaved through around the edges, the scrapbook pad was by magnolia and had some gorgeous papers in. I used markers to colour in the flowers and had to add one to her hair! thought it kinda set it off! Tim holtz inks around the edges to age certain bits and nestabilities for the frames, inked too! get bit carried away with the inks at times! lol