Truly Unique Designs

Happy Christmas!

2011-12-24T15:57:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone

I know I have really neglected my blog this year but you know when you are so busy that you just never find the time? Well that's been me!!! I have recently launched the wedding stationery business online so with that I haven't been so busy making the cards until christmas. I have however still been catching up with everyone else's blogs and seeing all your fab work :-)

I just wanted to tell everyone I plan on re-designing my blog next year to feature our upcoming releases with the wedding business and also feature my new cards designs so after christmas you should see a whole new style with more regular blogging!!

Anyway I wanted to pop on and say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!!

Bye for now :0)

Nicola

Stitch n Craft Manchester!

2011-02-05T05:46:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone

Hope you are all well. It's been a while since I've blogged and I did say I would blog every day but I know that went completely astray! Still I have been catching up with all the blogs recently and have been looking at some challenges to take part in. I've got no excuse now not to get involved as I've been buying some stash!
Just been to the Stitch n Craft at Manchester. Fab day, lots of bargains! Bought some of the lovely new Kanban decoupage sheets, the little hedgehog designs. So cute, I did want them from QVC but wasn't quick enough in ordering them, so was pleased when a few stalls at the show were selling them. Perfect for spring cards, birthday cards and for Mother's Day. Also got a few of the wedding and anniversary ones too.
Bought the new Papermania range of Country Companions stamps and papers. The stamps are lovely to use and a great quality. Also got some of the new Forever Friends decouapge and papers, the Spring and Easter designs, but the decoupage on them this time is pearlescent so they're beautifful, can't wait to use them.

Now the bargains of the day were found at the £1 stall. I got 12 items for 10 pound on offer including packs of paper, pads of decoupage and a set of clear stamps for £1! These boxes of buttons were only £1!

Lili of the Valley were there too so I bought 4 of the new stamps, including a couple of the new wedding and anniversary designs, really cute so can't wait to have a play with those. Promarkers were all on special offer too with 5 pens for £6! Phew no wonder I spent a fortune! But it was a fab day and we really enjoyed it

I'm going to have a look at the challenges and will be back tomorrow with a card... thanks for stopping by,

Nicola

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-04T14:19:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone

Hope you all had a great Christmas and a fab New Year!

Well after all the festive fun it's back to normal today which means it's back to work!

I've been busy firstly clearing out the craft room but only to make way for more goodies of course!! The things has gone on sale on ebay, so if you feel like picking up a bargain follow the link below;

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/nicolacrafts/m.html

Most of the things are unused and many which have been used are still in very good condition. There's some stencils, stamps, stickers, ink pads and more on there.

I've also been busy buying some new materials for some wedding stationery so waiting for it all to arrive.

In the meantime I need to have a look and catch back up with some challenges. I plan to take part in at least a couple a week, but have been so busy over the Xmas period I haven't had much chance to enter any challenges. My New Year's resolution is too post up more cards as well, having been such a bad blogger lately! So my plan is to feature at least one card every day...all different themes throughout spring/summer, well that's the plan anyway!

Off now to catch up with all the blogs and everyone on the Do Crafts Forum! Spk soon,

Nicola

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

Well all of December has been spent making card orders, packing and sending orders and Christmas shopping. Hope you all have a very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year.

Hope to be back in blogland more often in January when everything's back to normal!
Have a wonderful time everyone

Take care
Nicola

Stamps For Sale!

2010-12-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

I'm back! I disappeared from blogland for a while, because I've been busy with Christmas cards lately. I've still been catching up with everyone's blogs and been looking at everyone's Xmas cards and all the cards you've been making for the challenges. I need to get back on board and enter a few challenges myself soon, hopefully after the last few orders I'll be able to have a go...

Now along with card orders, I've also been having a bit of a clear out in the craft room. I've bought a lot of things over the years I been crafting, which I've never used and I think we're all a bit guilty of that though aren't we! We see all these lovely things when we first start crafting and then you find what you really like making and doing and don't use everything! So I have a lot of wood mounted stamps and they're all in good condition because they've been kept on a shelf in my craft room.

I'll list them here and keep this post at the top of my blog for a little while. Just e-mail me at pgazzap@aol.com if you see something you like,

Little Cat Stamp by Inca, £3.50 plus 75p P&P

Golf Tee Stamp by Inca. £2.00 plus 75p P&P

Football Goal Stamp by Inca. Never been used. £4.00 plus 75p P&P

Golf bag stamp by Funstamps. £3.50 plus 75p P&P

Party time stamp by Funstamps. Never been used, £3.75 plus 75p P&P

Little Miss Perfect Stamp by Funstamps. £4.00 plus 75p P&P

Be back soon with some more stamps....bye for now

Nicola

Busy Bee....

2010-11-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, hope you are all ok.

I have been a bad blogger lately and seemed to have disappeared from blogland but I'm back now!

So, I have been really busy making Xmas cards and was supposed to share them on here but will catch up and post them very soon, promise!

So I've been busy making these cards for orders and for a craft fair today. It went OK, but was a little earlier this year so wasn't as Christmassy as last year, but I still sold some some cards and made a profit so that was good. Have another one before Christmas which is a bigger fair so will get cracking making some more...

Have still been following everyone's posts and the challenges although haven't entered any

:-( hoping to get back on track this week though... and talking of challenges I have unfortunately had to step down as a DT member on Sketch and Stash Challenge. I was really pleased to be asked to take part and really enjoyed it but unfortunately other work commitments made it difficult keep up in time with the challenges and not be late with the cards!!

But please do pop over and have a look at the challenge which takes place every fortnight, its a great challenge blog and I will hopefully pop up on there soon, taking part in the challenges as well.

Will be back with some cards tomorrow...

Bye for now

Nicola

Snowmen!

2010-10-24T14:09:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

Well hope you are all busy with your christmas cards, November is fast approaching! I'm still getting stock ready for the first xmas craft fair coming up in a couple of weeks.. been busy colouring in lots of stamped images tonight as well as cutting out decoupage, below is the one I'm colouring in at the moment with promarkers and decorating the baubles with glossy accents, which are just drying...

Below are two cards I've just finished using the kanban topper sheets. You get 2 images on the sheet, so I matched the blue toppper with some blue & white paper and embellishments, and the beige topper with some dark red... Decorated with some punched snowflakes (large dovecraft punch) and some ribbon. I also added some extra glitter too.

I'm entering this card into the ALLSORTS challenge...

Allsorts Challenge - Spots and Stripes... (dp)

And then I'm entering this card into this challenge...

Totally Gorjuss - Sparkle

I've also been blog-hopping tonight and trying to get involved with some challenges as I go along with the christmas cards. Hope to be back with some more cards tomorrow...enjoy your crafting!

Nicola

Christmas Cards...

2010-10-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone.

I've officially started the Christmas Cards!! I have been making the occasional xmas card to enter challenges and to have a go at using the new crafty bits I've bought for xmas but...I haven't started my proper list of cards which I make for the craft fairs every year. So now all the xmas stuff is together I have started a few cards. I've been using some of the new festive seasons Do Crafts, in the gorgeous pink, lime and red colours, will post those up tomorrow.

So onto my challenge card for today. It's a LOTV topper, which are fab value, only £2.00 for 20. They're lovely quality and 300gsm too. I also used some of my new Kraft card (brown corrugated card) and the paper's are DOCrafts Forever Friends double-sided card. This card is being entered into the following challenges:

LOTV - Bev's Sketch (Fab!)

Simon Says Stamp! - Recipe; 3 embellishments, 2 papers/1plain and 1 image

Papertake Weekly - 3 of a kind, (papers/cardstock)

Here's my entry for WOYWW this week, you can see what kit I have been woking with here and just see the 2 cards on the printer. This is usually how my desk ends up after a card making session, a mess!!

I plan on posting up as many christmas cards as I can now in the next month or so, and hopefully enter a few in some challenges at the same time. I'll let you know what materials and so on I use in case you may want (need!) to get some too! I'm on a countdown now till my first fair in the first week of November so need to get cracking! Don't forget to pop over the Sketch n Stash to get involved in the new challenge which started on Monday. Follow the sketch and let us now what your new or old 'stash' is... and check out the fab DT cards too!

Bye for now,

Nicola

And the winner is....

2010-10-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

Well I've randomly chosen the winner of my blog candy, using the good old-fashioned 'picked out the hat' style, lol!!! So I put all the names in a box, and chosen one at random and the winner is......

...Whisper

The xmas goodies are on their way to you!! If you could send me your full name and address to mail@trulyuniquedesigns.com and I'll post it to you asap...

Thanks for taking part everyone, spk soon

Nicola

Blog Candy Closed...

2010-10-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, hope you are all ok.

I firstly just wanted to thank everyone who has entered the blog candy, left lovely comments and followed my blog. I was surprised at the response, as it has only been a short blog candy, so thanks again. It is now closed and I will announce the winner soon...

Well I pleased to say I'm finally back to the card-making. I've had to put it to one side in the last week :-( because I have had lots of wedding stationery to make and organise my display for a wedding fair this last weekend :-) So now I've finished that I can catch up with the challenges and everyone's blogs!

So today we have a new challenge starting over at Sketch n Stash. You may have to wait a few days to see my DT creation as I was a little late with the card, oops! Still you can pop over and see all the other fab DT creations from the other ladies on the challenge. This week we are sponsored by Simon Says Stamp and we followed a fab sketch by Jill. There's also a chance to join us as a GD on 2 future challenges, so come join in and the winner will be announced in Challenge 47. It's a great team and a fab challenge blog so pop over to the blog and see all the details of how to take part!

Here is my effort...

I used a new stamp set I bought for £3.00 reduced from £10.00, so a great bargain and used promarkers, glitter, pearls from WOC, and other bits and pieces from my stash. I tweaked the sketch I little because I don't have an oval die-cut for my cuttlebug yet...but will have to get one soon!

I'm off to catch up on this week's challenges, I'll be back later tonight to announce the winner of the candy... See you then

Nicola

Blog Candy Time!

2010-10-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

This post will stay at the top of the blog until October 10th when the blog candy closes. All recent posts will appear below this one.

As promised here is my blog candy! A couple of weeks back I was asked to join the Sketch and Stash Challenge Design Team, so to celebrate my first DT position, and because we are getting ready to start our Christmas cards, I thought I'd offer some pre-Christmas candy.

It consists of;

12 6x6 Dovecraft Christmas Papers - Traditional Theme

2 x lengths of Patterned Ribbon in co-ordinating colours

Small bag of Card Candy, red, white and gold

LOTV Christmas Stamp - 'All Wrapped Up'

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is;

1. Be a follower of my blog,

2. Post the details of this candy on your blog with a link to it (sidebar is fine)

thank you :-)

3. Leave a comment on this post, with a link to either your blog or leave contact details

And remember if you don't have a blog, you can still leave an e-mail entry...

I hope you all understand, the blog candy is only open to UK and Ireland residents due to postage costs, thank you.

Blog candy will close at midnight on October 10th, and I'll announce the winner the next day

Good Luck everyone!!!!

Thanks everyone!!

2010-10-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Well I know I've not posted in ages, mainly because I've been so busy getting reading for a wedding fayre I have this weekend, but as I'm nearly ready for it, I should be back this week with a card or too hopefully!

Thanks everyone for entering my blog candy, posting about it on your blog or becoming a follower and generally for leaving lots of lovely comments on my work. It's nice to read them all, so thanks everyone :-)

Hoping to get involved in some challenges this week too...don't forget the blog candy closes on Sunday, so enter if you haven't already...Still been blog-hopping though this week and reading all the updates just haven't had enough time to actually make some cards! Lots of lovely cards out there and don't forget I'll be back with another DT card on Monday for Sketch n Stash... Spk soon

Nicola

Sketch n Stash Challenge 45...

2010-09-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon all, hope your are all well.

Today we start another new challenge over at Sketch n Stash. This week we are sponsored by Whimsy Stamps, who are offering a fab $15 voucher to one lucky winner!

So this week we followed one of Sue's fab sketches...

And this is my card... using 'Daisy Butterfly' digi, I coloured with promarkers and made two identical butterflies and decoupaged the top one with 3d foam. I tweaked the layout a little, (because I put the paper fold on the wrong side to begin with!) My new stash is the digi image and my old stash is the punches which I have had for years. The little pearls are WOC, which are new because I went and ordered about 10 different packs (because I just couldn't which ones?!!!)

So there's this week's card... come and join in here, follow the sketch, feel free to tweak or move around as long as the main layput is followed, let us know what your new/old stash is and be in with a chance of winning that fab prize! Check out the fab DT cards too...

Need to finish off some DIY wedding invitation samples now, see you soon

Little Christmas Lady...

2010-09-26T12:28:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone

I promised I'd be back with another card tonight and here it is...

The image is coloured with promarkers and glittered, and I'm entering the card into the following challenges;

Simon Says Stamp - Sketch

Totally Gorjuss - Christmas Card

Charisma Cardz - Anything goes...

Over at Sketch and Stash we have a new challenge starting tomorrow, pop over at have a look at the DT's card or inspriation and have a go... will pop my DT card on tomorrow.

Till then, bye for now...

Mr. Snowman

2010-09-26T05:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, hope you're all well.
Thanks to everyone who has become a follower to my blog and all who left lovely comments too, and entered my blog candy. Well I've been busy the last few days with wedding designs but still managed to make a couple of Xmas cards. Seeing all the lovely new sparkly xmas things I had to break off from the wedding stuff to make a couple of cards!!!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges;

Allsorts Challenge - 'plain and simple' (quite plain for me as I didn't use DP)

Totally Gorjuss - Christmas

Creative Inspirations - Use 2 or more stamps (image & greeting)

Charisma Cardz - Anything goes...

One Stop Craft Challenge - Snowflakes in September

I have another card to post later, just waiting for the silicone and glitter to dry to take a picture... better get back to the wedding invites!! Bye for now...

Penny Black Christmas Cat...

2010-09-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, hope you are all well.

Just a quick post tonight, been a very busy day, so I'm quite late with my post tonight...

Well I've been busy making up quite a few christmas cards and been busy stamping and colouring ready for the next batch and this is what I made. I'm entering this into 6 challenges!Yes, I like to get my money's worth don't I!

They are;

A Spoonfull of Sugar - Anything goes...

2 Sketches 4 U - sketch - a new challenge I've entered this week...

Wild Orchid Crafts - Ribbons and Bows - I've used cord and ribbon tied into a bow

Papertake Weekly - Animal Magic...pretty PB kitty!

Passion for Promarkers - Make your own flowers...my new poinsettia die

Totally Gorjuss - Animal theme - another new challenge I've entered this week...

So there you have it, my card and challenges, I've used my new marianne design poinsettia die, love it with the scroll, which I dug out from my stash, it's an old sizzlit die I've barely used.

The sentiment is from Craftwork cards, I love those circular messages.

I'll be back tomorrow with some more cards... and I can't believe I have had nearly a 1,000 visits to my blog. Only been blogging a short while so thanks for the support and the lovely comments you all leave.

Speak soon, Nicola

Sparkly Christmas Trees...

2010-09-20T03:58:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. It's been a long time since I've blogged! But I'm back with a challenge card....

Was quite pleased because I managed to find the perfect matching paper in my Xmas off-cuts box, we all have a box full of half cut pieces of paper and card don't we?! I'd already coloured the trees in after doing a batch of colouring in peel-offs and stamped images so was glad when I found the paper, because I didn't want to go for a traditional holly green so I chose the 'pear green' promarker instead, gorgeous colour don't you think?

So anyway, here are my challenges, first I must mention and hope I've not run our of time, that My Time to Craft has a DT call on this challenge, but I think it finishes tomorrow! All you have to do is enter the challenge in the usual way and leave a comment saying you would like to be considered for the DT call as well.

My Time To Craft - 'Jewelled' - my sparkly tree baubles & berries...

Truly Scrumptious - Sketch

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - 'Anything goes'

Allsorts Challenge - Use at least 3 punches - holly, scallop edge and stars

So there is is, hope you like it. Be back later with another challenge card...

Nicola

Sketch and Stash 1st Card...

2010-09-13T06:00:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone...

Well... here is my first card as DT member for Sketch and Stash Challenge. Every 2 weeks there is a new sketch to follow and we also tell everyone what new or old 'stash' we used on the card.

So this week there is a fab sketch by Sue to follow and we are sponsored by Simon Says Stamp, with the prize being a shopping spree! So on my card I use one of the new LOTV stamps, which with the DP's are my 'new' stash and my 'old' stash is my trusty X-Cut snowflake punch which I have had since I first started making cards, but it's so versatile I use it all the time. I've coloured with promarkers, glittered and added some adhesive stones too.

Hope you like...and pop over and have a look at the sketch and at all the other gorgeous DT cards on show HERE.

I've also been looking for some other challenges especially Xmas ones, now that the Xmas cards are well underway, so I've added them on my list on the sidebar.

I'm also working on my website at the moment, so all my cards will be going on there for sale. Be back with another Xmas card tomorrow...till then, leave a comment if you have time thanks...

Nicola

Christmas Shopping...

2010-09-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

Just a quick post for today's challenge card, it's a gorgeous LOTV image coloured with promarkers and glittered. The DP is double-sided with stripes on one side and spots on the other. I used my new holly leaves and card candy too.

This card is being entered into the following challenges;

Fab 'n' Funky - 'what eva...'

Stamp Something - 'Stripes & Spots'

So there's today's card, been busy making some more Christmas cards so will post some more tomorrow...

Bye for now

Nicola x

Decorating the tree...

2010-09-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

Just a quick post to show you my challenge card for today...been blog-hopping and seen some great challenges. I made this card using my new LOTV stamp which I bought in the Manchester show recently, and also used 2 new embossing folders from Do Crafts. They are new this year and are fab, I used the dots and the row of xmas trees, which is in a pack of 4 different ones. You can use them with the Cuttlebug machine too. So here are my challenges;

Lili of the valley - One for the boys...

Charisma Cardz - Try something new...

(new embossing folders & stamp)

Allsorts Challenge - Colours of Autumn

Truly Scrumptious - Sketch

There's also a DT call over on Charisma Cardz for two places on the Design Team. Just click on the link for details which include sending an e-mail with some examples of your work. Looks great so pop over and have a look...

So there's my card, be back with another one tomorrow. By the way if anyone can point me in the direction of some more fab challenges I would be grateful, thank you :-)

Bye for now...

Nicola

Wish List...

2010-09-09T05:37:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone

This is my card for today, got the Christmas cards well under way now I'm pleased to say. Been busy doing commissions this week and also went to the Stitch & Craft Show in Manchester last week. Would it surprise you if I said I bought LOTS of things?! Well I bought mainly stamps, some gorgeous LOTV Xmas stamps, Penny Black stamps, LOTS of promarkers as they were fantastic value there, I bought multipacks of them which made them just £1 each! Also got a gorgeous poinsettia die from Marianne Designs Creatables so looking forward to using that with the Cuttlebug. Also bought lots of card candy, die cuts, poinsettias, charms, ribbons... lots of Christmas goodies. So onto my card I used the following;

Penny Black Stamp - 'Wish List'

DP - Forever Friend pad of textured card

Fiskars scallop edge punch

Embellishments - grossgrain ribbon, card candy, holly leaves, gold studs

Promarkers - (I rememered to list them this time!) Ivory, Blush, Cool Grey 1 & 3, Buttercup, Gold & Berry Red

And this card is being entered into 6 challenges! They are;

Papertake Weekly - Sketch

A Spoonfull of Sugar - 'animals'

Penny Black at Allsorts Challenge - 'Punch Away'

The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - 'Clean & Simple'

Cute Card Thursday - 'Play On Words'

Colour Create Challenge - ' Red, Gold & Cream/White'

Over at Penny Black at Allsorts Challenge Blog there is also a DT call, so there's a great opportunity to pop over, get involved and have a go at entering both the challenge and the DT call. The challenge is set on the 1st of every month and it's a lovely blog as is their other challenge blog at Allsorts Challenge ...

This is my entry for WOYWW for this week. It's a bit blurry the pic but it shows the true MESS that my craft desk is usually. It's been nice and tidy for a while since redecorating but I'm pleased to say we're back to normal now! There's my challenge card drying, all my offcuts, pens and ink pads everywhere, ribbon, glitter... sound familiar?! There's also my challenge list there too, as I've been following them, on top of my pile of things to be put away!

I've been busy stamping this morning all my Christmas images, so off to sit and colour them in with promarkers... Catch up soon and will hopefully be back with another card before the weekend.

Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment if you have time so I know you visited...

Nicola

Back to summer!

2010-09-02T06:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for the great comments for my last post, and for the help with the signature, will have a go and making one soon.

Well with the gorgeous weather, and the fab summery challenges that are about this week, I thought I'd get back to summer with this card! I was originally going to work on some xmas cards but I thought it would be a chance to use some nice summery colours again and celebrate the sun we're having this week! I've also added a close-up pic of today's card because I wanted to show off that gorgeous fabric/ribbon on the card. I'm entering this card into an amazing 6 challenges! They are;

Lili of The Valley - This weeks sketch... which I swapped about a bit but it still contains the original elements

Cute Card Thursday - 'material girl' - I used this ribbon which is more like a fabric with an embossed surface of flowers

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - 'pretty in pink' - lots of pink!

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - 'summer lovin' - still lovin summer sun!

Allsorts Challenge - 'inspirations from the park or garden'

My Time To Craft - 'in the garden'

Loved the sketch this week, was great to work with, although I didn't use a LOTV image I still thought I'd get involved in the challenge. The ribbon I wrapped around the pink bazzill card and attached at the back. I love this ribbon and wish I could get more, if I could just remember where I bought it...! The image was stamped and coloured with promarkers and I glittered the flowers. The little flowers were free with a magazine and originally had little blue sheer flowers added on them, but I pulled them off and added some pink paper ones... The DP is My Minds Eye, from a fab little 6x6 pad which was also a freebie from CM&P magazine.

I played about quite a lot with the layout and originally had the mouse by the bottom flower, which was OK until I put the white text banner on and thought it needed something else... so I moved the mouse and was glad I did because I think it looks a bit better like that. I think in the end you have to stop moving things about and be happy with your card or layout , sounds familiar doesn't it?! So there's my card, got to do a couple of commissions now but will be back tomorrow with another card...till then, bye for now.

DT Member!

2010-09-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

I'm really pleased because I've just been asked if I would like to join the DT over at the Sketch and Stash challenge blog! Really happy to be taking part in their fantastic challenges which are set every fortnight. I'm joining some very creative team members so pop over at have a look at their fab creations which they've all been busy making this week and join me and fellow teamies on the next challenge. I'm also joined by another two creative ladies as new DT members, one of whom Jackie was my fellow GDT Member over at Papertake Weekly, last month. Pop over to the challenge blog here

So, onto my card I made today, which is my first christmas card! One of many though, but it's a start. Trying getting into the swing of making Xmas cards on a lovely sunny day is hard, but there we go, we have to work ahead don't we! Anyway, I used my new LOTV stamps and coloured with promarkers, and glittered. Also used some nice cardstock from my Do Crafts 'forever friends' pack, which I love, some great patterned card in those packs, really verstaile and it was half price too, last year, bargain! Love polka dots! I'm entering this card into the following challenges;

Papertake Weekly - 'Just the one' ( one paper, one colour, one ribbon etc.)

Wild Orchid Crafts - 'Make it sparkle' (glittery highlights, adhesive stones)

I'm also entering my next pic into WOYWW challenge. It's really messy, but then it shows you've been crafting doesn't it, lol! Love this blog, looking at other craft rooms, desks and spaces and other people's creations. Pop over and have a look, here

By the way, hope you all like my new look blog, finally finished it, was a work in progress, but love the colour now. Just the website to update now then!

Thanks for stopping by, back with another couple of xmas cards tomorrow...

Nicola

P.S Can anybody tell me how you get one of those great little signatures at the bottom of your pics, would love one of those, just for the finishing touch, lol! Thanks:-)

WOYWW

2010-08-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Just a short post to thank everyone for their lovely comments last week for my first entry on the WOYWW challenge, and all the compliments for my new craft room! It's great to take part in a new challenge and I love the WOYWW blog and having a nosy at what people are creating! So here's my entry for this week...

Not too much going on as I've just started using my desk again, but I'll be back in full swing soon with christmas cards! The coloured card is left over from a commission yesterday, and the stamped images are some new LOTV stamps I bought recently. These have been coloured in and glittered and are ready for a couple of this week's challenges.

Off to take a look at this week's other WOYWW entries and what you have all been making!

Thanks for stopping bye, leave a comment if you have time :-)

Speak soon,

Nicola

New Look Craft Room/WOYWW (long post!)

2010-08-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Been a really busy bee this week, so haven't had much chance to blog because... I've been creating my new look craft room!

I'm really pleased, it looks great. Got some before and after pictures here to show you. I have been using the room as a craft room for about 12 months, so it already had the shelving and the units in place and throughtout this time I've been really trying to sort it out bit by bit, so everything has a place, which is easier said than done with all the stash you collect!

So, I really just wanted to decorate and make it all nice and neat and more like an office as well, because I've bought a new desk for the laptop and because I have just recently bought a graphics tablet too. So my dad painted it for me and put down some nice carpet tiles.

This is before... on one side of the room

Then the other...

It took me sooo long to sort out the stuff afterwards! I took the opportunity to get out my christmas stuff which usually sits all boxed up in one of the big white cupboards on the above picture.

So these are the 'after' pictures...

The christmas stash, papers, clearstamps, wooden stamps, punches, are all on the shelves, with everything else (lots more!) in the cupboard below... the black and yellow boxes are where I store all my brads, card candy etc.. these are great for this and they have compartments and are cheap as well, about £2 each. The two big baskets keep my punches in one and stencils in another... and you see the little grey plastic tower on the desk that's where I keep all my tools and everything and again they're really handy too . In this picture you can also see my storage unit for scrapbooking papers and everything, underneath the desk.

The folders house my decoupage and backing papers, the cupboards contain MORE cards and papers! Peel-offs, embellishments etc... I keep my cuttlebug and folders on my shelf too. The green boxes keep all my clear stamps, inkpads and everything, but I keep a few of my wooden stamps out for inspiration, especially my Penny Black ones....

My box of off-cuts really need sorting out and so do the ribbon drawers, yes TWO drawers of ribbon, ridiculous I know, but one is christmas and my wedding stationery rolls are in there too... well that's my excuse anyway LOL!

All very neat now but I'm sure as the christmas cards get started it will become more messy, but it is nice to work in a neat place too, even if it's just to start with!

So with new neat space in mind I thought I'd make one of mY commission cards AND enter WOYWW challenge with my first entry this week. This was my card... brief was handbags, shoes and some flowers...

I love the little metal studs on the bags, I buy them self-adhesive and they're available in gold and silver.

This is my entry for this weeks WOYWW, this is my first entry. I love this blog and love looking at other people's desks, work spaces, and the project they're working on at the mo.

Well, thanks for stopping by, hope to upload some more cards soon, hopefully some christmas projects. Please leave a comment, so I can visit your blog too and look at some of your cards or scrapbooks. Off to blog-hop now and find out what this week's challenges are,

Bye for now,

Nicola

Last PTW card...!

2010-08-10T14:47:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, hope you are all ok.

Here's my last card as a GD on the Papertake Challenge blog!

I've really enjoyed taking part in the last four challenges, so wanted to say thanks to everyone, it's been great fun and also thank you to everyone who took part, in the challenges, that's what makes it such a great blog. So the theme this week is...

'Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed or Something Blue', so you can use one, two or even all the options or maybe use a wedding theme. I chose an 'old' stamp, which was the first Penny Black Stamp I bought when I went to Stitch & Craft for the first time, about 5 years ago! Then I used some 'new' promarkers I recently bought too... so hope you like it. Also thought I would use a lovely summery yellow, while we still can, as it is still summer, isn't it? lol! Before long all our cards will be Christmas. Talking of which I just treated myself to FIVE new LOTV christmas stamps, which should be arriving soon so watch this space for LOTS of christmas challenge cards...

On my card I used, promarkers, some nice double-sided DP, (sorry forgot to note down the name!) some nice big flowers, card candy and some glitter glue...

By the way, would you like to Guest Design on Papertake Weekly for four weeks? If so just put GDT after your link when you enter the challenge this week. It's a fantastic oppurtunity, so take part here

Anyway, be back soon with some cards. Off to have a look at this weeks challenges...please leave a comment so I know you've stopped by... thanks :-)

Nicola

PTW Challenge

2010-08-03T15:26:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone

Just a quick post tonight, thought I'd show you my entry for the Papertake Weekly Challenge, as GDT Member. This week's theme is white and bright, and is sponsored by Whiff of Joy, so I chose to use just plain white and gold.

A bit different for me as I usually use loads of colour, but I've been busy making cards for my fair this week, and as was making an anniversary card, I thought I would combine the two and blow the dust off my Cuttlebug machine! I used some of the free dies I got when I first bought it and used an embossing folder with it too. Quite different for me, but see what you think... and come take a look at the other gorgeous cards designed by the rest of the Design Team. Join us over at PTW this week here.

Will update tomorrow with a few more cards and after Thursday will have more time to enter some challenges... till then, bye for now. Please leave a comment if you stop by, so I can blog-hop and see your cards too!

Nicola

Papertake Weekly Challenge!

2010-07-27T13:22:00.001-07:00

Hi everybody, hope you are all well.

There's another challenge starting today over at the Papertake Weekly Challenge. This week is a cute sketch to follow. I used some Woodware oriental stamps and used turquoise and pink papers. I used the masking technique to stamp the images and paper-pieced the dresses. A long and fiddly task but worth it I think!

Hope you like it, and don't forget you can take part here, this week's sponser is the fab Simon Says Stamp, so come and join in to be in with a chance to win.

Short and sweet post today, sorry, been really busy organising my next craft fair, updating the website and creating some images for rubber stamps, so watch this space!

Spk soon, take care

Nicola

Fairy Card

2010-07-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Here's my entry for this week's Papertake Weekly Challenge, with the theme of 'Cutie Patootie', so basically anything cute, which is great! So choose your fairy stamps, sparkly glitters and lots of cute colours and join in here.

Here's what I used to make it;

DP - Back to Basics, Dovecraft

Image - Digital Delights (sponsoring this week's challenge)

Scallop edge punch - Fiskars

Sentiment - Computer

Lots of glitter, sparkle, adhesive stones etc!

I printed the image onto several papers and paper-pieced the fairy to get the patterned dress etc. Pop over to take a look at everyone's cards.

Take care, spk soon

Nicola

First GDT Challenge!

2010-07-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all well. Just completed my first challenge for Papertake Weekly today. The challenge starts tomorrow so pop over and have a look at this week's theme. It a fun one, so take part if you can. I'll be on the Design Team for the next four weeks so I'm already looking forward to the next challenge. I will post up the finished results tomorrow.

Also been making a few purchases at The Paper Mill in time for my next craft fair, in a couple of weeks time. Will be getting busy (asap!) on those soon, so will also post up a few of the cards over the next week. I bought some white printing card (for the basics!) and also some gorgeous packs of teal and purple card and a great Tonic butterfly punch. I also bought some printable white vellum, which looks quite interesting (I say that now, but it might turn out to be a nightmare with my printer!) I've never used it before but thought it might be a good idea for some wedding stationery designs. Will give it a try I think, so will post up the new designs when they're done. I believe it's craft Day this week on QVC so will look out for the TSV, on that too.

Going to catch up on a few blogs and challenges now, see what new challenges are about this week. I'm just about to pop over to Wild Orchid Crafts and I see they have their first challenge going at the moment, although I may have the timing wrong on that, better check it out! Still, 1st or 2nd challenge, it looks good to have a go. I love WOC, I bought a lot of my wedding stationery supplies there and they have some gorgeous rolls of ribbon too, at fantastic prices, which is twice as good!

Well I'll be back soon with some cards,

Spk soon,

Nicola

GDT Member!

2010-07-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Well... I had a nice surprise when I visited my blog today, and realised I had won the chance to be a GDT member on Papertake Weekly. I entered with the card on the post below and was so pleased when I won, this is my first chance as a GDT member so I am really looking forward to it. It's a fantastic challenge blog with some great DT cards on there, so pop over and take a look, and look out for my first card as an team member soon!

So I've been catching up with the posts and challenges today, there are some great challenge themes out there at the moment, so will be entering a few of those too. There's a great new challenge over on Pink Gem Designs at the moment and some blog candy too.

There's a chance to win 2 Pink Gem Stamps, some promarkers, petaloo and mulberry flowers, crystals, foam pads.... too much to list! Pop over to have a look and enter for a chance to win...

I'm also going to have a look for some new border punches, I'm going to treat myself to a couple of stamps, perhaps a punch and some papers... maybe... (doesn't there always seem to be a never-ending list!...) I've just bought some Christmas toppers, now that's very early for me, because even though I'm always busy at Xmas, I never usually start this soon, but I do have a couple of fairs and so must start soon, even if it's just a few cards a week! Talking of Christmas stamps and goodies, LOTV have a new range of stamps coming soon, so am going to purchase a couple of them soon too, and hopefully they may be at Stitch & Creative Craft at Manchester Central in September when I go this year!

Also, thanks everyone for your lovely comments on my 2 cards on my last post. Anyway, will post some cards soon, please leave a comment if you can.

Bye,

Nicola

Challenges & DT Calls

2010-07-09T13:19:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone

I have been busy making a couple of cards for some challenges this week. The 1st card is being entered into the following challenges;

Truly Scrumptious - Sketch, with optional extra of 'How Does Your Garden Grow?'

Cute Card Thursday - 'School's Out', summer theme/colours

Stamp Something - Card Recipe, one designer paper, one ribbon & one image

The stamped images are from Buzzcraft, and coloured with Promarkers. The DP is K&Co, and I also used glossy accents on the watering can and on the little ladybirds, and also couldn't resist using some glitter glue on the flowers!

Over at Truly Scrumptious , there is a chance to win a place on the Design Team this week. The DT call has started this week, and ends next Wednesday. So for your chance to enter, you can feature a couple of your favourite cards a blog post and show off your work! This is the first time I have taken part in a DT call, so fingers crossed! These are couple of my favourite cards, I really enjoyed making them.

This next card is being entered into the following challenges;

Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Simon Says Stamp! - Picture inspiration - colours, turquoise and orange/peach

Charisma Cardz - Watch the birdie

The topper is by Kanban, and the flowers and pearl sprays are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

There's also a chance to win a place as a Guest on the design team, over at Papertake Weekly. Just enter the challenge as usual, and add GDT after your name on Mr.Linky.

Hope you like the cards, thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment if you can...

Spk soon

Nicola

Thanks!

2010-07-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Just a quick post to say thanks for visiting and leaving all your comments on my recent challenge posts. I've been busy making cards for a fair in a couple of weeks time but hope to enter some more challenges and post some more cards up soon.

Also thanks to everyone on the forums, too for the lovely comments, it always nice to know people have taken the time to visit your blog and look at your cards.

Be back soon, with some more cards and may have a digi freebie coming soon too!

Spk soon,

Nicola

4 Challenges!

2010-06-29T05:45:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone

Thought I'd pop on my latest challenge card. I made it using a couple of Penny Black Stamps, which I've coloured with my Promarkers.

I tried a little bit of paper patching this week, which was the theme for the Penny Black Challenge, this week, I also included a bit of faux stitching on the card which I've not done before. I couldn't resist using pink again on the card and using one of my large Papermania white flowers and new stripy buttons!

I entering this particular card into the following challenges;

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Paper Patch

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Strawberries/Cream (DP/colours)

My Time To Craft - Zig Zags (stitching)

Papertake Weekly - In Stitches (faux stitches)

I think this is the most challenges I've entered with one card! The papers, by the way are by doodlebug as are the paper patched pieces and I also used some bazzill card in my favourite shade too.

Hope you like it, more cards to come soon...been really busy this week trying to update the website, but hope to post more soon.

Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment so I know you've visited

Nicola

More Challenges!

2010-06-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Well I have another card which I am entering into some more challenges! I made this card using my own doodles of the cupcakes/strawberry, which I then coloured with promarkers and added glitter glue to them.

The paper is by buzzcraft and has little cupcakes and flowers on it, so I thought I would also put little punched out flower embellishments, which are fiskars punches.

A close up of the image; the little cherry has got glossy accents on it too...

So I'm entering this card into the following challenges;

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Sketch

Cupcake Crafts Challenge - Strawberries & Cream

Passion For Promarkers Challenge - Favourite Things ( cupcakes, flowers, pink...!)

Also been trying to sort out my craft room today (an ongoing job...!) as I'm updating the website to include DIY stationery and so need more room for stock, which is proving impossible! We're all the same I think, the tidying soon gets very boring and you just want to craft again, as well as finding stuff you'd forgot you had! Ah well, it's all fun isn't, even the tidying, especially when your'e craft room's nice and tidy again! Hope to post up a couple of pics of my room soon as I have seen the 'What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday' blog which I am waiting to take part in too!

Nice of you to stop by,

Nicola

New Challenges!

2010-06-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Well I've been busy looking at the new challenges this week, some good ones out there, and have had a go at entering a few of them. The first card is a Lili of the Valley stamp, the same one I used on my other card and uses the leftover pieces of scrapbooking paper which I used on my commission card, a few posts down. All I had to add was a strip of a new checked paper I've recently bought and a little bit of ribbon, and some of my new gorgeous white flowers I bought recently from the new papermania product range. I coloured this image with my promarkers and added a little glitter glue. I also used my cuttlebug to make the embossed background with some bazzill card.

A close up of the image;

I'm entering this card into the following challenges;

LOTV Challenge - Sketch

Colour Create Challenge - Mad Hatter

- orange/green colours & ribbons/buttons as an extra

Thanks for stopping by, leave a comment so I know you've visited.

Nicola

2010-06-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Hope you are ok and enjoying the lovely weather we're having. It's been a long time since I've posted but have mainly been busy with commissions this week. Have had some christening cards to do, some 21st birthday cards and a graduation card too and as well as others. Also been blog-hopping and looking at the new challenges this week, so am hoping to enter those too, now I've got a bit more time after the orders have finished.

I've also been looking on the Do Crafts challenges this week and may enter a couple of those too, there is some good ones on there.

Well, I've also been buying a few things too this week. Bought some of the new Kanban toppers which have just been released, which are handy for men's cards because there's all different themes including cars, bikes and harbour and countryside scenes, and for all ages too.

Hope to put some cards on soon, and will post up the challenge cards when they're done. Off to walk the dog now, while the sun's still out. Thanks for stopping by, speak soon.

Nicola

More Cards...& I Made The Top 3!

2010-06-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Hope you are all well. It's been a little while since I've posted this week, mainly because I've been busy with commissions. I've just been catching up with all the blogs and challenge results today and am happy to say I made the top 3 in the I Love Promarkers Challenge! I am really pleased as it was my first challenge I've entered.

So tonight I've been blog-hopping and looking at the new challenges for this week. I'm going to enter a few more, so I'll post those up when they're done.

So onto the cards, as well as A5 size, I have had two commissions this week for the large A4 cards. I make quite a few of this size, they're perfect for those extra special cards. So one card was a retirement card and was chosen to be A4 size for everyone to sign.

The brief was flowers, butterflies and gardening. I used some pastel green decorative paper (think it's K&Co but can't be sure...) and some matching bazzill card with a nice dark peach colour. A nice change for the colours, and I used all different peel-offs.

The other A4 card was a birthday card with the brief of flowers and butterflies. The paper I used was a lilac embossed rose design, from the new Papermania Henbury Lane line. I also used more matching shades of bazzill card stock for the decoration. I really like using peel-offs, I think they can be a little bit overlooked, but they can look great if used with papers or promarkers.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has left lovely comments about my work it's really nice to read the comments people have left on both the blog and also on the Do Crafts and Trimcraft Forums, so thank you. I'm still trying to find more time to do some blog-hopping so I will catch up with some of your cards soon.

Thanks for stopping by, a long post but needed to catch up!

Speak soon, bye for now

Nicola

New Challenges

2010-06-12T05:26:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Well I've been busy this week, with commissions, making stock for the fairs and I'll also working on some designs too. I've also been busy blog-hopping and have looked at some new challenges which have been set this week.

So onto my recent design, this card is for my stock box and is a gorgeous new stamp from Lili Of The Valley. I bought this last time I went to the Stitch & Craft in Manchester and haven't had much chance to use it yet. So here it is, coloured with Promarkers and decorated with little flowers.

This card is being entered in the following challenges;

Colour Create Challenge - Colours of 'Baby Pink, Pastel Blue' with the option of 'Something Soft'

I Love Promarkers Challenge - Sketch

I really liked this week's sketch and also like the colour choices too, I decided to add the little felt flowers for the something soft option, so it fitted in well really.

Hope you like it, off to do some more cards now, bye for now

Nicola

First Challenge!

2010-06-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Well this week I've decided to enter my first challenge! It's over at Papertake Weekly, which is a fantastic blog. The sketch was a good one and the optional colour scheme was great, lilac and lemon, especially for those nice summer cards.
So I decided on my design, which is a gorgeous new stamp set by Buzzcraft. I used one of the large stamps with the sunflower border and the greeting. I coloured with promarkers and also used my fiskars scallop edge punch. I added some glitter glue, and ribbon and the card was done...

I've also been making some cards for the stock box. I've used the new toppers from Kanban which I bought, alongside some of my bargain Paper Cellar paper. So as promised I'll show you one of the cards.

Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment if you wish,

Nicola

Craft Shopping!

2010-06-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Yes I have been craft shopping again!
I didn't really need too much but went for a browse to Abakhan Fabrics & Crafts. They've got a great little craft shop there and sell pretty much everything, especially all the Do Crafts Products and promotions. So I bought the latest Do Crafts Creativity magazine, and I am now a forum member too!
Also purchased some more of the adhesive stones, from the new range, from Do Crafts. I love adhesive stones and use them on most projects. They're a staple product for most of my work and I tend to buy them in bulk, so I've always got them to match anything. My favourite tip is to use them to embellish little handbags etc. they really makes the card extra special and aren't too expensive either. I never make a Christmas card without them!

I also had another bargain, with some paper cellar paper pads, for just £1 each! These will be ideal for those little cards. I like to make square cards usually 14x14cm. They are small enough to make plenty if you have a craft fair. They don't take any longer to make than a C6 card, but are something a bit different. I have to say, I don't tend to make a lot of C6 cards, but make square, C5 and large A4 cards instead. With this is mind, I also bought some Kanban toppers. These new little panda and lion birthday toppers will be ideal for little birthday cards. There all slightly different but give you a chance to make a 'bulk' of birthday cards, for your stock boxes for your fairs etc. So when you sell one, there plenty more to choose from!
Will post some pics when I get started on them.

Speak soon
Nicola

New designs and cards

2010-06-04T06:45:00.000-07:00

Hello

I've finally got the blog up and running! I've also been busy with the website, adding more features onto it, there's so much to do and organise with websites and then trying to link together everything, but I think I've done it now!
I plan to regularly add more cards and projects on especially with the card making.

The next project with the website is to work on some DIY Wedding Stationery, so many people love crafting and I hear of a lot of people designing and making their own wedding stationery, so that's going to be up and running soon too. In the meantime, I've posted up a couple of projects I been working on,

A couple of wedding stationery sets which I've been working on, including invitations, favour boxes and bags etc.

I made this card for a recent customer, the brief was a thank you card for a special holiday. I had only just bought this new set from Papermania and thought the teacup decoupage would be ideal. I also used the matching paper set and decorated with some nice lilac ribbon.

Hope you like them, thanks for stopping by.

Nicola

My New Blog

2010-05-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. I've been thinking about a blog for a while now, I love blog-hopping and regularly read people's blogs,and I also love reading craft magazines (and craft stuff of course!)
I've always been crafty, since a child. Like many people I started with cross-stitching and embroidery and studied art at school. I first got into papercrafting when I designed a card for a family member when they got engaged, that's got to be at least 5 years ago now! Since then I built up a (big!) stash and kept on crafting. I caught the crafting bug as they say, since then I scrapbook, design and sell cards and have recently created a website to hopefully sell some wedding stationery. I also enjoy other crafts,such as jewellery making, but papercrafting is my favourite.

Hopefully in the next few days I will post up some pictures of my latest cards, etc.

See you then,
Nicola