My Rubber Therapy Blog

Another week of gorgeous card sharing

Hi Friends

Well, I think I am close to calling my craft room settled.  It feels so wonderful to have what I had been missing for a whole 7 weeks.  I never thought 7 weeks would feel so long.  But at last!  My craft room is here and put together minus a few minor details so I am a day away from starting to make cards again.

What a feeling!

Back to what I wanted to send you for today.  We have another great selection of beautiful cards and instructions to share with you so let's begin now:

 Kiwiali (Alison)

The stitching pattern is from Anne's paper art, and the 3D is one of Quincy's. Stitched on white card and layered on to Green card stock A peel off coloured with marker pen to finish

 

Kris is explaining her card as follows:

I covered a piece of card stock with metallic-looking contact paper, then wrapped a piece
of red duct tape around the middle. I used a tag template for the background of your
3d element, then cut the head off a screw and glued it with a washer to attach it to the
card. the square pieces in the corners are stick-ones.

 

Coralie gave us this description for her card:

"For this card, I used a A4 piece of cardstock that I Folded in Half to get an A5.
I glued an A5 part o pearlescent red paper on the front of the card.
I searched for a "Che Guevara Image on google and found this one: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/pochoirs/pochoirs%20divers%202/che%20guevara.jpg Which is perfect to make an iris folded pattern with.
You have two solution to use the image then : directly print it on the front of your cardstock or use translucent paper or carbon paper to transfer it on the back of your card (I personnaly use the second solution).
Then you carefully cut the dark pieces of the pattern to get your image ready.
After that, I looked at all my Iris folding patterns and found one which matched my current pattern (a vase if i remember well). It helped me to put the pieces of paper in the back of the card.
I used black glittery paper and as it is quite difficult to find, I cut slices of it instead of folding them (I save half of the amount of paper doing that).
 
I used a "Bon anniversaire peel off and some corner peel offs I colored in black to finish the card... Et voilà!"

 

Thelma is saying this about her card:

The cats are a 3D sheet made by our wonderfully talented Nikky.  I loved the blue with brown color theme so followed up with cardstock from an “Old World Mat Stack” I purchased at Jo Anns  Fabrics.  It is wonderful cardstock for embroidery.  The stitching pattern is from Anns Paper Art.  The little blue heart gems are for fingernail art I found at Target in their dollar aisle.  The “Thinking of You” stickers are from Stampendous.

 

Kathy (Iowa) sent this description:

I love this card that I made for my oldest granddaughter.  I used a pattern posted by a member of the CoC forum, which unfortunately was hacked in the fall so pattern is no longer there.  It was from the Iris Folding section but as it has no iris should probably be called fancy folding.  I used purple (granddaughter's favorite color) ribbon which made the "folding" easier.  Swiss dots Cuttlebug folder was used on the background and then all mounted on purple card. 

 

Eunice's card:

The boy topper card
Will need:

  white square card (about 14 x 14)
  white card
  Yellow plaid paper, glitter peel offs

  Layer the plaid papers card leaving a small in white border.
  Cover a piece of card yellow plaid paper.
  I used one of Nikky's decoupage images and used a happy birthday peel off.
  This card was made for one of my grandson's.

 

Wendy sent her cards with this description:

I started with a cream/lemon card stock making a easel card using a template from donpenns photobucket.
I then found a cross stitch pattern that I had stitched many years ago and with a little time spent I adapted it for use on this card with beads.To finish it off I used a sentiment as the 'prop' for the opening.

  

Hannah, here is her card:

This is a card for the fellas,I am always looking for a mans card and this is my own design,I used brown card and cut it to resemble a wallet,there's a slightly smaller section glued to the main section with some slits in it where I laminated a verse the size of a credit card and also one (unlaminated to be able to write a msg on).There' a small tag attatched and used to close the wallet using velcro.To personalise the wallet I use peeloffs which I put on the front as initials.

 

Cynthia has attached her Wedding congratulations card and instructions:

The background cardstock is a dark pink with a fleur de lis punch in each corner.  The edges are outline with a silver chainlink peeloff sticker. The center is three circles of different sizes of grey, purple and pink cut with scalloped scissors and stacked on top of each other.  The center medallion is a teabag fold with a purple star in the center.

 

Have a great week everyone!  Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment, which are always so appreciated.

Nicole :)

My exciting NEWS and the weekend shares!

Hi friends

I have the absolute great news!!!!!!!!!! On Thursday morning while I was starting my day with my instant coffee on hand, my Hubby called me to announce the great news to me.  He asked:  Will we be available to receive our shipment Friday morning at 9:30 LOL????  I was up on my feet doing my happy dance knowing that my craftroom is going to be here tomorrow.  (Of course you will read this when I am in the midst of setting it up the way I envisionned and dreamed of for 7 weeks LOL.  I will leave the happy dance image run wild in your heads though.  Ah ah ah yes that funny!  Hubby would tell you it is hilarious when I do my happy dance. So friends I am frantically happy after I set up yet again my temporary craft room I will take pictures and post them here for you.  So I can share my room with you all.

I am so overwhelmed with all of your recent work and shares including all of the descriptions. I have received loads and loads of comments on the new format on this blog.  As a result I have to cut down your shared cards dramatically since I can't keep up.  My New Year Resolution is to make some ME time and this time I mean it.

I am also volunteering to translate French to English which in turn someone else is taking English to Chinese I know it sounds crazy, but it works well until I forget that I am talking to the French guy in English and he looks at me with huge "I don't know what you are saying eyes" LOL.  It is priceless and I am happy to help.

So one card every other month will be sufficient, that will allow me to have some free time rather than spending 2/3 of my time answering emails.  So remember please just send card and description and write in Subject line CARD/DESCRIPTION so I can identify it clearly.  For the other emails please identify clearly the reason of your email so I can prioritize.

So here are some of the so many beautiful cards to share:

Deb described her card as follows:

1. Cut a 2-7/8" W X 5" H piece from the left front panel of a 6-1/2" W X 5" H off white card. Inked all edges using a brown Color Box "cat's eye" chalk ink pad.
2. With front panel closed, centered and attached the 3D image (I used one of Nikky's).
3. Punched one edge of a 1-1/8" W X 5" H burnt orange cardstock strip using a Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edge border punch. Opened front panel, attached strip down left side of it, overlapping 1/4".
4. Cut a 1-3/4 H X 6-1/2" W strip of coordinated print background. Inked edges with same Color Box ink pad. Turned it over.
5. Attached end of 7" blue ribbon to upper right corner and the end of a 12" ribbon to the upper left corner. Turned strip back over, tacked 4-1/2" of ribbon along top edge of it (from right to left) using Tombow permanent tape runner. Adhered strip to inside bottom of card, leaving front panel open.
6. Closed front panel. Tied a bow centered on left hand side of card. Opened front panel again.
7. Cut white cardstock to 3-3/4" H X 3" W. Matted on burnt orange cardstock cut to 4" H X 3-1/4" W. Adhered to inside right of card 1/4" in from top and right side. Closed front panel.
8. Cut "Just for You" from blue cardstock with my personal cutter. Centered and attached to left side of card.

 

I would like to share my purple dragon stitched card.
I used the dragon pattern from
www.stitchingcards.com
which can be downloaded from the website, it comes with instructions and diagrams for stitching.
I used Coats  hand quilting thread in variegated purple. I used Guterman Sulky metallic thread in red and gold for the flames and a small bead for the eye.I mounted the stitched card on some Docrafts  backround paper and then onto a purple card, coloured some peeloffs purple to match and added jewels in the corners.

 

Maureen is explaining:

I used a pearlised 6" x 4" card from a pack.  What looks like vellum is actually my grandson's tracing paper, I coloured the edges with a normal highlighter pen. The flowers I cut from a birthday card I received and the butterflies are from one of my cd roms plus a peel off.  Cheap and cheerful.

 

Corinne B. Welcome, here is her card and instructions:

I use Bristol type paper, I cut to size and adhere the scrapbook paper on top.  I then prepare my 3D image by layering it with 2 sided foam squares, as easy as that.

 

Jackie sent her tunnel card with instructions:

 

Sandra sent us her by-monthly card:

My card is made from the Crafters Companion Fairies Cd,
I printed the fairy decoupage sheet then 2 backing papers in different coulours cut them to the size I needed and then used a border punch down the side, on the right hand side of the card I printed the birthday greeting and on the left side I placed my backing papers then I built up the decoupage and placed it just off center, I then finnished off with corner and border peel offs and 3 punched butterflies

 

Carol shared her description along with her lovely card:

I used your sheet and made it become 3D by using foam tape. I used rhinestone to give it a little shine and curling ribbon for streamers.
Hope you like it – I am pleased with it

 

Joyce (Australia) shared a beautiful card and description:

here is my January card, just love this image.  I used an Emelie's Design which I got of the COC forum, and used DMC thread 597 to stitch it then printed your lovely lady, 3D it added to card and finished of with gold peeloff edging and gold Happy Birthday, added some Dimensional Magic to the hair for highlights.

 

Joan (Hobbit) set this lovely card with description:

It is a 5"X7" card. I used a Pearliscent Cover card stock for front, pendent & border.  The pendant and border is Fleur de Lis by spellbinder.I used Polymark gold iridescent paint to accent the pendent & border.  The sentiment on the front and inside is from dOpen (Penny). The brushed gold foil frame for picture is a Spellbinder scalloped oval.  The bow is a sheer gold. (Sorry for the delay Joan, this card was part of the ones I had sadly lost the day I lost the data)

 

 

Thank you for participating and keeping in touch with the changes. Please tell your friends who you know are sharing cards here so everyone is informed asap.  Thank you so much

Hugs

Nicole :)

Shares and Announcement.............please pass the message around for me, thank you

Hi Friends

Well I have some changes coming, taking effect immediately.  Please note that my intention to get time to make cards this year is taken seriously by me, although, my asking you to share one card a month has become impossible for me to pursue since there are way too many cards to share leaving me with 50 unanswered emails every single day.  That gives me a lot of pressure because of all the things around me that have to be done and that too has been suffering.  So I am asking all of you to send me a card every other month only and please check your calendar as to when you sent me one so I don't have to check for you. 

Please pass this message around to everyone you know that shares cards here.  I am overwhelmed by the great response from all of you.  Now how I will proceed for the future?   I have a few more cards on my wings to share soon, this is why I am so late I get too many at once.  I see February coming around the corner and the same will happen again so to make sure it doesn't overwhelm me again I will do this: 

"Please when you send me a card to share every other month, make sure you send me the card/description attached to the same email.  I will not answer the email I will just pick up the card & desc. and will post it when I get a chance to do so.  If you have any questions about the blog please email me but be precise in the subject line for the reason why you are writing."  It is more about time management for me right now, since we moved here, I have been taking on a few extra tasks that I didn't have before. So this is the perfect time to tell you, let's slow down a notch so I get to enjoy making cards again.

As for the emails sent through friends (you know who you are) Please make sure the subject line is also precise so I can get to your emails sooner than later.  It is all about being concise so I can prioritize my time effectively.  Please keep your emails as short as possible so I can reply to you quickly and I will keep it short as well, will try!  Capital letters in the subject line is accepted it gets my attention rather quickly when I am not wearing my glasses.  So please communicate these changes to all the ones you know are sharing cards here. 

As for the draw in July, it will still happen, if you send me at least 2 cards up until July you will qualify for the draw.  So I am keeping all the cards send and will put the qualifier's names in a folder for July.  I will have to shop back home for the candy given to the winner it should be a value of 40$ US currency and it should more likely be Nestibilities or Cuttlebug products or stamps I will ask the winner to tell me what she/he would prefer to receive and will treat her/him well.

Attach my link and pass it on to COC as well please. Thanks :)

Thank you for your attention of this matter that means so much to me.  I look forward to seeing your cards every other month from now on.  Please check the calendar for the next time you should send a card.

Have a great day everyone!

Nicole :)

There are a few new members that have joined us I want to welcome them. 

Here are the cards that were shared for today and I will also add more Birthday cards from Phyllis this time she also had a Birthday as few days after Hildegard.  So Phyllis I hope you had a wonderful Birthday.  I was thinking about you on your special day!

Phyllis's Birthday and her cards:

 
Happy Birthday Phyllis I hope you had a lovely day!

I am sorry I seemed to have lost a couple of your Birthday cards in the shuffle of all the cards coming in for January.  But what I have shared is so beautiful, well done everyone on all of your cards.  Sorry for my goof.

 

Mark sent us his first card share and added this for his description:

I used craftynikky's white poinsettia image on this card, the layers and stitching pattern are from a different source but don't know whom but thanks anyway. The stitching is done in Green Metallic thread, i cut the layers matted them together, never re-sized the image so could only use 3 layers. Have a wonderful day

 

Thank you for visiting I hope you were inspired by what was shared so far!

Drop me a line if you want more info about this blog or any related card making question at craftynikky@gmail.com

One more share for you today you know if you are a fan of the easel card technique here is what you can print in the back of your card or adhere it is up to you.  I don't know who made it originally but it was shared by Angela, thanks

 

Penny wrote: *smile* Incidentally, the little easel card sticker is one of my creations.. I'm happy to have folks use it.. I copy and paste the image into a Microsoft word document, resize it, then copy and paste that repeatedly to fill a page, then print out.. cut them apart, and use a glue stick on the backside.. Voila! *smile*

Thank you Penny for coming forward and letting us know it is one of your creative thinking once again!  Always so generous of you.

Nicole :)

Fabulous shares! as usual

Hi friends

Another superb day for card sharing. 

I had my first daring experience at the hairdresser today.  I know a lot of ex-pats are waiting to get home before they have anything done to their hair since the reputation isn't all that great for hair cuts or other services for hair as we are accustomed to what we know.  But after my friend Jill's reference and seeing him at work while cutting her hair, I decided to take the plunge. Why not, I thought, I am so not lucky with my choice of hairdressers at home, hey, what if it is better here? 

So I went through traffic this morning the commute was really heavy but I was determined.  I like our driver he is making us feel like we are in good hands every day.  So once there, they told me CK was late (my stylist) so they served me a tea and a magazine.  A few minutes later another gal came to me and dressed me up with a kimono over my shirt and took me to the sink.  She washed and massaged my hair.  As soon as I was back on my chair CK showed up.  I had already told him what I wanted done last week so he was already aware of my hairstyle.  So he cut my hair and without any perfumed products, or hairspray, or curling iron, my hair was done. I was totally impressed and so happy. 

But I started my day taking a bad fall outside of our place where there is a brick to hold the door in place when we need to bring in some bags.  Well that brick I twisted my left ankle on it, before I fell I was quickly trying to compensate so I wouldn't fall on my already week left shoulder so I ended up falling on my right knee so hard, I was sure it had cracked or chipped.  All I know is that ibuprofen is my best friend tonight, I have a bruised knee and left leg, my back also took a bad stretch so, I am wondering how I will look like in the morning.  My driver saw me plunge and asked me when I got back in the car if I was ok.  I told him yep LOL!!

I am late with the Birthdays from the California group I usually post.  Yet there was another 75th Birthday girl lately, it was Hildegard's Birthday and here are her cards to accompany her picture of her special day!  These cards don't have the descriptions because they are cards to show but if you would like a description of a specific card please email me.

  I hope you had a very Happy 75th Birthday Hildegard. Even as far away as I am, I still was thinking about your special day! Many returns!

 

So here are the fabulous cards of the day!

Janet's card called "this Much":

The stitching pattern is from Hobbydol 7 by Ann Lutolf, known better
as Ann's Paper Art.
I started by putting the sentiment on the card before I printed it,m
natching the colour to the image of the bear,  then pricked the holes
for the pattern, chose the thread colours which are DMC Embroidery
Floss. 3689 pink
3350 for the heart.

Resized the image in my photo editor, printed and cut it out. I used
very tiny foam squares to giver the 3d effect. Mounted the finished
card onto similar colour cardstock, putting two way tape on the back
of stitched area first. Added some sticky stones and finished off with
Starform peeloffs corners and borders # 1034.
Also wanted to add that the pattern is stitched with one strand of
embroidery floss and a size 10 quilting needle. The 3d is yours.

 

Pam (Nedlnut) shared this card and description with us:

This 5" x 7" card is one of Penny's images "Vintage Birthday" and is made with Penny's easel template. All of the white cardstock used in the card is Bazzill. It is mounted on black velvet (The Paper Company Velveteen Licorice) cardstock, a black velvet nestabilties swirl, black velvet nestabilities scalloped oval & white nestabilities oval, black velvet square punch on bottom of card (to hold back the easel) is from EK Success, black pearls from Hero Arts, black & white swirl ribbon from Mega Bobbin Ribbon (A.C. Moore) and a birthday stamp from JustRite Stamps.

 

Thank you for visiting, lurking, sharing and/or commenting, I really appreciate you taking a few minutes of your creative time to enjoy what we are all doing to have fun!

Thanks

Nicole :)

Creative friends have sent more lovely cards with descriptions

Hi Friends

I am so stunned by how some of the cards you have made and see that the older ways are coming back again. I love a turn around as we all want something newer and exciting to make. So having the older to come back as I said in the last posted blog is absolutely great. For some of the newbies, it is new so it will new ideas for the ones who had already made cards a few years back using the same methods.  So I am all for anything you can show us, bring it on!  We are enjoying because we are eager to learn more!

Some cards maybe repeats but since I don't want to forget any cards I need to risk duplicating sorry about that.

First card is made by:

JanetKay made this card and here is the description:

I used a craftnikky image.  I started by opening the image in Print Shop, and making it wider, so it would fit an oval nestie.

After cutting it out, I layered it onto another nestie shape in black.  I added a black and white ribbon from Hobby Lobby, and three little gems, from Michaels.  I put the whole thing on a distressed piece of paper, I think from Hobby Lobby. I added some black and gold peeloffs around the edge, and finally, I put the whole thing on a piece of white cardstock the exact size of the card front.

I always use white cardstock as my base, it saves colored cardstock, and you can write on it, if you don't add an insert.

 

Sarah sent us a beautiful bag card here is her description:

I can’t remember where I found the template for this; it has been on my computer for a while now. I just traced around the template on to a pre-scored large tri-fold card stock, cut it out and added some papers, peel off's, flower and ribbon for a handle. I raided my sewing box and stuck Velcro eye and hook tape to the card so that it can be closed and opened like a real handbag.

 

Shellie sent her description and it reads at follows:

Here is a card I made for the COC january challenge.
I was inspired to make it, because I wanted to thank all of the lovely ladies on there who have helped me in some way over the past year. With the theme being music... what better musical score than "thankyou for being a friend" by Andrew Gold. A metallic purple parchment frame, a couple of "treble clef" butterflies (my own pattern) and some parchment flowers finished it off. I really like this card, it has a little bit of me embossed into it.

 

Patti Jo sent us this beautiful card and what she used to make it:

Embossed the image with a mixture of Gold Embossing Powder and Ranger Gold Tinsel Embossing Powder on watercolor paper.  Colored with Tombow Markers and a water brush.  Corners are gold metallic card stock cut with a Cuttlebug corner die.  Layered on a green metallic paper and white card.  Added a satin bow and peel off butterflies with mini glue dots.  The butterflies have been put on acetate and then cut out so the wings can be propped up.

 

Jackie C and her beautiful card's description:

This is my first attempt at an easel card. Not my last because I really liked doing this. I started with light blue and apricot card stock. I embossed the apricot with my Swiss Dots CB folder. Used Craftynikky's 3-d sheet and finished it off with gold peel off corners, outlines and sentiments.

 

Colleen sent a beautiful Easter card and well done description of it:

Easter Bunny Card
Used an 8 1/2 x 11 light colored sheet of lavendar CS, scored and folded in half then cut into egg shape.
Digital bunny was by Jill Haddad of Jill's Jems http://www.jhaddad59.blogspot.com/
Used colored pencils and gel pens to color the image, then added some glitter and stones for alittle 'bling'. I cut around the bunny image and using sticky dots I placed on front of card. With the Martha Stewart Artist glue pen I made a border all around the egg shape and covered with the Martha Stewart's Gemstone Glitter in the Charoite color. With some Easter confetti I glued on some tiny rabbits and flowers all around and very lightly chalked with purple all around the edge of the card. I then used the Offray sheer ribbon for the bow and added the stone. Amd that my firends is my card recipe for the day. Colleen

 

Priscilla sent us a card and her description so here it is:

The template is from Valita's Designs.  I dabbed pink archive ink around
the edges of the template.  Cut out the number 10 and covered with glitter.
The other adornments are rhinestones and peel-offs and silver ribbon.
The embossing was done with Cuttlebug embossing folders.  I also added
a folded piece of card stock and attached it to the back so the card could stand up.

 

Trish sent us a beautiful card and here is her description if it:

First scanned somelace onto black card. and then printed and pasted it onto black card on the top, added some red ribbon. Scanned a Bingo card  glued that onto the black card, added a punched piece on the botton of the bingo card Then cut out a Lady and added 3 red 1 inch squares with a daisy punch in the middle and added red pearl.

 

Pam sent a beautiful Asian type card and here is what she said:

I used 12x12 multi pack paper, I used the Creative memories punch for the butterfly. A bit of green ribbon and Copic RV19 to colour the greeting. The gold embellishments were from a pack I got at local $2 store.The coin is to wish you luck. I stitched an easy shaped Kimino with long stitches and stitched small flowers on it. I saw all the mistakes after!!! The heart in the butterfly is a bit of Bling I found.

 

Thank you so much for visiting and learning more about your card making art, there is so much to share and learn so keep on visiting us, as there is quite a bit to come yet.  Let's have fun sharing with others that we do need to remember we were once a beginner.  I love to help the newbies to feel at ease in their new adventure.

Thank you and feel free to leave a comment.  See the comment at the very end of this post, click on it and follow the instructions, it is easy and you will be able to leave your words of encouragement for those who were having fun making cards to also share them with you.

Nicole :)

Fantastic art pieces!

Hi Friends

Here are more fabulous cards with descriptions.  I hope this new blog is pleasing a large amount of you out there.  I personally think that if I was from a beginner's even to a pro's point of view's cardmaking individual, I appreciate seeing some of the newer and the older techniques awakened for new creative spirits while reviving the forgotten, bringing life to them again. 

I enjoy seeing old ways coming back again, i.e.: Pergamano techniques, gold and color embossing with heat gun, and so on, and some favorite techniques that never really fade out from popularity.  I am still a big fan of peel offs myself I think it makes a card pop when we run out of ideas, but it also compliment the look of any card, simple to complex as well.....Thank you for the comments about your enjoying the new blog!  I aim to please, hee hee.  So here are the lovely cards for today ladies.  I love them all and I see you do too as er all of your comments so far this year!  Let's give ourselves a good round of applauze!

***********

Alison said: 

I started off using 2 sheets of 300gsm white card, the one sheet was cut in two and embossed using one of the glitter girl boards. Black, holographic and white card were used for matting and layering and a heart corner punch. I used black peel offs along the bottom and tied black bows and clear diamantes. The decoupage sheet I had saved a while back , not sure who originally made it. I printed the butterfly off from an image off google onto vellum and outlined it with a quickie pen before putting glamour dust over it. the antenna are made with silver jewellery wire. I just love the effect, its just so different for a wedding card. I done the same sort of layers on the inside, but put flowers that I had printed onto both side panels.Here are more of your gorgeous cards to share:

 

Here is how Judee described her card:

I am attaching a card I made recently for my daughter and son-in-law's wedding anniversary on the 15th of this month. It is made with your Owls 3d sheet and I also used the Vellum as the backing sheet. I cut two spellbinders Nestabilities Deckled Rectangles - the largest and the second largest ones - to put on as well. The large one is a pink paper with hearts on it and the second largest is just dark blue embossed with the Cuttlebug Fleur de Lis embossing folder.  I trimmed the top and bottom with blue ribbon with a white dash through it and put "sparklies" on the male eyes and on the centres of the flowers. I then added the "To a Wonderful Couple" tag.

 

This is one of the latest 3D of yours I've used.I love the polar bear family.  I think Swiss dots Cuttlebug folder gives the look of snow so used that on the white & blue backgrounds to the image cut with 2 sizes of my Spellbinder Nestabilities Mega Rectangles and the blue card itself.  I rounded the corners of the image with a corner punch and used a small Nestabilities Labels Four for the greeting.  It will be a Christmas card for 2010 as we have just booked a cruise to see Polar bears within the Arctic Circle in July.  Thanks for your generosity

 

Here is Hannah's description of her card:

I loved making this card I used white Hammer card and decoupaged a lovely fairy on to it and pricked a stitching pattern just to add to it,a friend gave me the pattern so I have no idea where it came from (no directions were available so it was a case of hit and miss).I added a peel off for the greeting.

 

Sally described her beautiful card as follows:

The card I sent you (SallyT004.jpg) is made from one of your sheets, mounted on coffee coloured card which is in turn matted onto a dusky pink card which I punched both ends with a Papercraft decorative punch.  That's easy to do - just align them making sure the punch is straight otherwise you get a gap.   I have wrapped a ribbon round the coffee card and added a simple flower embellishment. 

  
 

Jo-Anne said:

This card is made with a rich burgundy colour metallic cardstock paper.  The circle is yellow glitter paper cut out with a nestability.  The bears clipped on the circle are cut with a clip punch and also are in glitter paper in pink.  The image is Nikky's and is adorable.  I used gold sticker corners and gold sticker Happy Birthday.

 

Alison described her card as follows:

I used white card stock and printed a pastel backing sheet, cut it into two triangles.
I used glitter girls embossing board to mat & layer the butterfly that was printed onto white card and then again onto vellum. Using a quickie glue pen I applied glamour dust around the edges and then added some diamante gems. Finished off with silver peeloffs and matted and layered printed birthday wishes and personalised name.

 

Beryl said:

 I made this card especially for my friend's birthday - she loves green.    It's an A5 size card and I used your lovely green lady for the image.   The backing paper is from a Papermania A5 Linen Paper Pack - "A Christmas Carol".   I used my Nestabilities Labels Six for the Birthday sentiment and added a couple of flat back pearls. To complete the picture I added a couple of swirly peel offs.

 

Mary:

I used my tree stamp for the backing, I stamped it with a stamp & stick glue pad and then used blue & greeen mica powders and just brushed it on top. I then stamped the image in Green Stayzon ink and cut out the shape using my Nestabilites. I also used my Nestabilities for the cutting out the Merry Christmas topper.
 

Kara's card:

Here is what she said: This one was for my friend Sue who has gone to live in Hong Kong.
Poppies are her favourite flower so I used 2 images from the KANBAN range, backed onto silver card. Then ran a strip of red foil through my cuttlebug using the swiss dot folder.  Which i put vertically down an A5 white card, finishing touches were some little red gems, some black and silver ribbon and some black glitter glue for the centre of the poppies. 

 

Sherry:

The Image to this card was found on Craftsuprint under music. I copied the Image of the girl 3 times and cut out the whole girl. I then cut out the top half and then the gloves, tube top, and hair. I 3-D   these pieces placing them in order and added the Disk with a music note brad near the top of the card. I then added the Happy Birthday and glued a white card stock on the inside the size of the card to hide the brad on the inside. Enjoy Sherry

 

Cathi said:
Here is my submission for January.
1 - Used purple texture cardstock
2 - Used gold peel off butterfly stickers
3 - Used self adhesive felt beige flower stickers, very effective while easy to make

 

AmyJ describes her card as follows:

The card I'm sharing this month is an iris folded card.  This snow angel pattern is one I made myself, based on the cover of a children's book by one of my favourite illustrators. The IF is done with ribbon (not folded, just the finished edge showing).  The face is paper-pieced and coloured slightly with pencil crayons.  I glued on googly eyes.  The aperture is cut from white cardstock and mounted on red cardstock, then matted on blue cardstock, and finally mounted on a white card base.  The "snow" is liquid applique which I heat-set with a heat gun after applying it.  This rapid heating causes it to puff up.

 

Jill (Aust) wrote: I have attached a card I made for my granddaughter for her birthday. The card is a plain white card and I embossed the border using a Fiskars stencil and stuck some seed pearls (the ones with the sticky back) on the berries, the 3D is from your site and then added a ribbon with silver edging and a bow, also the little flowers are just small gem type flowers. I will get better I hope at the description side of things soon. (You did quite well Jill Thanks)

You must be suffering withdrawal symptoms by now (YESSSSSSSSSSS I AM on withdrawal and never thought I was this much addicted hee hee) not having all your craft supplies with you I hope it turns up soon.
 

Here is what Sarah (Mija) sent us:

This is a fancy fold card, It is made as iris folding, accept there is no iris in the middle, I had originally made a pattern from this young lady but ended up making her up as I went along, her head ,hair and neckline are paper pieces, her neckline I have never made this way before, and am not sure what to call it, I used a paper piece for her neck of skin color, and shaped it as meant to be her blouse, then made it look clearer with some peel craft, her buckle in her hat is also peel craft.

 

I use the link from Aimee Asher Printable and Digital Crafting Mall - Artists
 
Di is sharing with us her sources for her beautiful card:

I decorated  the card using glue pen round the scallops, hair and lace on shoe and glittered them
Also put pearl gem on flower of hat and handbag
clear peal gem for necklace
Envelope to match included

 

Jill D said:

http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/a-thifty-gals-calendar-cards-part-ii/
 
I have many beautiful calendars that I have saved,
and I really liked this idea for a quick inexpensive card to make
 to send a note to a friend....
I used a 12 x 12 calendar page...
and for just cut off a bottom corner for the front of the card and used the rest of the page for the envelope
You can use an envelope template (I know there are some free on the net) I just took an old envelope I had from a card sent to me... took it apart, and traced around it...  the corner sentiment is from Penny

 

 

Thank you for visiting, popping in, browsing, or tripping in for a regular dose of inspiration, we all need them from time to time, I confess!

Have a great day!

Craftily yours,

Nikky

 

Another fantastic day of card sharing

Hi Friends

I need your help.  Yesterday I had a full page of cards that I had prepared to send to the blog with all the descriptions I had about 10 cards in line for sharing.  My Internet Explorer decided to go down while I was preparing the page so, being so assured that I had done the right thing, which is intelligent to do to saving it while I was working on the page, well when I came back from my crash I had no page to go back to and send.  So I will post all the cards I have received up until Jan 16th this week so if you haven't seen your card posted could you please re-send it to me.  I really don't want to miss anyone's card.  Tell your friends you know have sent me a card for January so they know to watch for it.  Thank you my friends I am counting on you.  I have 3,500 emails to look through and I am not in the situation where I have the time nor the inclination to search through all of it so it would be much simpler for you to tell me by email not the comment box please.  You need to re-send the card missing as well as the description, both!

Here is the first card for today:

Dawn is describing her card:

A4 (UK) card  scored at 4.9cm through the length then alternately valley and mountain folded to give you 3 peaks......not twin peaks!!! if you know what I mean.
I then chose 3 different papers and folded them in half to give me the desired depth.
I then used 4" stencils to cut each letter making sure that the top of the letter, covered the fold.  each of these letters was then edged with gold ink.
Each letter was attached to the front mountain fold and the rear mountain fold.
A decorative peel-off along the bottom.
A pull bow and decorative label (sizzix) was then attached.

 

Rita sent us this lovely card:

Materials used.
Pale green pearlesant card A4
Martha stewart Garden trellis punch
Woodware corner punch
Papermania signature build a rose clear stamp set
And lots of lovely ribbon
 
Firstly I folded the green card and used a corner punch to soften the edges, then put a piece of 11/2inch pink ribbon down the centre of the card.
I then got a 5inch square of thin card and chalked it to the colour I was using to on the rose, I then got the trellis punch and punched all four sides just once in the centre this just leaves four plain corners which i then punches with a woodware corner punch. This was then mounted on sticky pads to place on the card , I then stamped the rose set of stamps out with clear ink pad and chalked over it which gives the effect you see on the rose. did a few layers to build up the rose put a brad through the petals and shaped them and stuck them in the middle of the punched card. Made a ribbon bow this was put on the card under the punched square with silicone then put a sentiment on the bottom. Just love this stamp set.

 

Debbie Knecktel made this superb card:

This sheet was purchased from Janet Briggs on craftuprint...It is a 3-d of a bride and groom. I mounted it on an embossed piece of silver paper. I used baby stick on pearls around the entire outer edge of the card to add some glam. The heart between them I added some green and diamond stickles and a rhinestone or two. I used diamond stickles on the brides dress to add some glitz also. a pretty basic card.

 

Thank you Lorna May for your beautiful card:

The card has a Rubbadubbadoo border stamp down each side embossed with silver hologram embossing powder.   The green shiny insert is punched top and bottom with a border punch from Hand Inspired Scrapbooking.   The middle is decorated with hearts using the Cuttlebug's heart die,  curling ribbon and peelcraft hearts.

 

Shellie shared her musical card with us:  Here is how she describes it:

Here is a card I made for the COC january challenge.
I was inspired to make it, because I wanted to thank all of the lovely ladies on there who have helped me in some way over the past year. With the theme being music... what better musical score than "thankyou for being a friend" by Andrew Gold. A metallic purple parchment frame, a couple of "treble clef" butterflies (my own pattern) and some parchment flowers finished it off. I really like this card, it has a little bit of me embossed into it.

 

 

 

Monday's shares

Hi Friends

Here are a few cards to share for today, this is no surprise to me how very beautiful they all are so here goes:

I'm attaching a card I made recently...it's an extra large shutter type card, that I've called a Tri-fold, By-Pass card.. when closed it will fit in a US business size envelope..thickness wise, though, that is another story! LOL!!  Anyway, I'm attaching a link to the card template: Basically, it is constructed from a letter size sheet of cardstock, with added designer papers and 3d decoupage, plus a teabag medallion, all from my Morning Blues 3d set. Here are the links, first to the template sheet, then to the 3d set:
http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c191/d0npen/Card%20Templates/?action=view¤t=USBsnsEnvelopeTri-FoldBy-Passcardte.jpg

http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c191/d0npen/3D%20sheet%20sets%20M-Z/Morning%20Blues/

 

Here is Tammy's card. I used a coloring page to make it.  It's colored in with colored pencils.  I added a sticker border, flower gems and a peel off sentiment. 

 

Brenda sent us this2 TriShutter Templates, joined together to make one large card when opened.  It is decorated using Christmas themed papers. Used a digital stamp for the front image, the card closes by tying the ribbon.
 
Below is a link to a video and how to make the Mini Album, where I got the idea just to make it into a card.
 
http://andreawalford.com/?cat=308 scroll 3/4's of the way down the page.
 

 

Maureen made this card, it was for my sister's birthday this month and to make it I used a piece of "goldfish" colored luxury paper as a background (it hasn't  photographed too well though)...an element from a Craft Robo template I had, downloaded from UKScrappers as a mat for the decoupage (one of your 3D sheets Nicole).

 

Anne made this lovely easel card and here is the way she made it:

Attached are 2 cards for you.  I have some others to send but will space them out.
I made these easel cards from a freebie on this site http://the-paper-craft-tutor.co.uk/CardKits.html
Used black square card blank for the large and mounted the large pic onto gold mirror card and then onto a panel of backing paper and then onto a black panel. Used one of the small squares as a stop. I think I had the template from the COC forum. The small card is made in the same way using A4 card cut lengthwise.

 

This is a card from Patricia and here is how she made it:

This card was made from the sheets from this site. I needed a quick birthday card for a young girl. I just printed out the backing  sheet. Then mounted it on a scalloped card. Then mounted a scalloped square. Cut of image and mounted it . Cut out a scalloped oval with my cricut and colored in a happy birthday in red with my copics pen. A quick and easy card but I was pleased with it. Sorry about quality of picture my couldn't get it to scan right. Size of card 6" x 6".

 

Candy made hers as follows:

Nothing fancy - white card, inside of Peel-Off rose (picked up with tape), on black paper. Edged with gold Peel-offs.

  

A great big thank you to all the cards submitted so far as there are a few more I haven't had the chance to get to yet.  Thank you for your patience while I am settling in,in our new home some events were taken by surprise and some issues we are still waiting for repairs or changes so your patience means a lot to me and soon all will be going as planned.  We know we have surprises here all the time it has been this way for the 5 weeks we have been here and will continue to get snags here and there but now I have many other expats that we communicate what the latest news are so we keep ahead of the game.  hee hee

So my dear friends, Thank you for visiting, sharing and commenting.  It encourages me to do better all the time. 

Oh and of course I am still waiting for all my equipment and craft room in our shipment that is not due in to us before Jan 30th.  So yes, I am anxious to make cards, it will not be too soon when I hear that knock on the door hee hee

Bug hugs

Nicole :) 
 

Small info I need to pass on to you

Hi lovely ladies

At this time I am experiencing a backlog of emails and those of you who have sent me emails since the beginning of January I still have them I am trying to answer all the password requests first with the little time I have on my hands, but I will get there I am hoping by the end of the weekend I should have all of these emails sorted out and answered.  Thank you for your patience.  January is the busiest month of all for me for obvious reasons.  But I am working diligently toward getting all of it done in a few days.

Mmmmm doesn't that sound like some lines we hear on TV, radio or on the telephone when we are dialing 1 for this 2 for that and hang up for that LOL?  But I am for real hee hee

Have a great day everyone.

P.S.:  I am keeping all the cards you are sending me to count how many you will have sent me for the draw in July as promised.  Depending on the participation this is a test, if you are all participating, I may continue the draw every six months, not to be taken for granted, I am testing all this with you. Be alert in June when I ask you to tell me how many cards you have sent me from January to June Inclusively.  That will add a chance each time for the draw.  More chances to win if you have all 6 sent right?

Nicole :)

More beautiful art work

Hi Friends

Here is a beautiful card from Teresa and her description:

This card is from pinbroidery I made it for my sister in law Bev.  She was so pleased with it she is going to frame it.  After doing the stitching following the pattern I mounted it onto Gold mat card and then a maroon blank card that I made myself from pearlised card.  Hope you like it.

 
Here is Sally's card and her description:

 I know that Christmas is past, but I thought that I would start the year by sending you a picture of the card I made for my daughter who loves Malfoy from the 'Harry Potter' films. I made it using the Sizzix dress ups dies and the face stamps with a printed out message using the Harry Potter font. She was very pleased with it. People could use the idea as a birthday card instead

 

Dos described as follows:

 I used your adorable little bears for the centerpiece.  The sewing pattern is from Emelie's design.
For the stars I used a fine metallic gold  thread. The rest of the sewing was done with DMC 25 thread.
Nikky I did not keep record of everything before, as I make new cards I will be more specific where I can.
I hope this is enough for my first attempt. I have lost a number of links to sites I use when I changed computers, I only transferred the patterns
and designs that I copied onto my computer previously, luckily they are all named correctly. So bear with me until I have the appropriate links.

 
Priscilla, I used the template is from Valita's Designs.  I dabbed pink archive ink around
the edges of the template.  Cut out the number 10 and covered with glitter.
The other adornments are rhinestones and peel-offs and silver ribbon.
The embossing was done with Cuttlebug embossing folders.  I also added
a folded piece of card stock and attached it to the back so the card could stand up.

 
Nina J (COC) Iris Fold Kitty was made creating the IF portion on a piece of cardstock and using decorative origami paper, used corner punch to create the decorative corners and a blue ink pad around all sides.  The IF portion is attached using pop dots.  Sorry I don't know the creator of the pattern

 
Joyce says:  I used the bookatrix boards for the book shape card and box.  I purchased the topper from a lady in England, added pink silk flowers and lots of peel off’s.
The verse I found on the internet.

 
 
Hannah sent us her first card and here is the description: 

It's a purple card with decourpaged flowers,set within a white frame which I have chalked,I added peel offs for the greeting.  Thank you Hannah

 

  

 
This is my tag if you want to add it to your blog. Thanks 

 

****

I know this is the popular time for Copic markers.  The other big thing right now aside from Nestibilities or Cuttlebug, is the colored pencils.  There are a lot of questions out there asking what is the best brand of pencils to buy, does it matter what kind I buy?  What is OMS? What about watercolor pencils, Stump?  What stump?  Well let me try and answer these questions with my own experience.  But just keep in mind it is from experience you find out what is best for you. 

 

Copic markers:  They are pricey designer markers, which can be blended and create shades and more.  These are alcohol based inks.  I know there are thousands of blogs to be found with their own explanations of the marker in question or better yet, countless of Youtube videos with techniques and kinds of Copic you can get so I won't get into any further details as you can find sites about it.  My humble opinion on them is:

I like them, I have over 50+ of them but it takes some practice before you get the hang of these, unless you want to pay big dollars for a Certification class that doesn't guarantee you to feel comfortable using them right after the class. 

 

Colored pencils:  There are dozens and dozens of colored pencils out there.  What I want to say about them is simply this:  I have 4 kinds of colored pencils and most are expensive I also have the woodless kind that seem to have gained popularity this year.  But to experiment with cp's, I suggest you stamp your images and do the comparison between all of them, then you will see what works for you.  I even have old sets of pencils and they were working but not as much as my favorite of all. Prismacolor Premier is my all times favorite, if you can buy them on sale, go for it!  But if you are a true started with CP and OMS get a small set of 12 and see what you feel before investing in a 132 color set like I did.

 

I have enjoyed them so much,  I have been using CP and OMS technique more than a year now enjoying every moment which makes me forget about my Copics!!!!!!! Think about the price of one Copic then multiply that by 24 it will give you the price of a full Prismacolor set right there!  Depending on where you live I am assuming that pricing is different from country to country of course.

 

What is OMS?  It is odorless mineral spirits which is used for removing pain from paint brushes and usually sold where they sell art supplies among the canvas and Stumps, pads of sandpaper.  It is used with colored pencils CP but there are also questions about what if I use my watercolor pencils WP?  Well I can tell you that it doesn't work.  It is water based which dissolves with water not OMS. Oil Crayons will work but trickier to use as it is a little harder to shade smaller areas of your stamped image.

 

Stumps are compressed paper rolls there are two kinds, one is whiter than the other.  My favorite one is the greyish kind.  The paper is sanding better on the sandpaper block than the white stumps.  I will not name brands, I know you will figure this out.  The white stump is not working as easily in the blending of the colors so I think if I will have many images to color, I'd rather vote for what is easier on my wrist.

 

I also invested into a battery operated pencil sharpener.  This ranges around $10 US to higher,  frankly mine is $9.99 US and works wonderfully it doesn't eat your pencils too quickly it works with pressure so the less pressure you apply to yor pencil the less wood it will take it will sharpen up your color part before it eats up at the wood.

 

The ideal way to use your OMS for me, is to get a small plastic jar, or glass, cut a sponge to the size of your jar and pour some OMS into your jar.  Make sure you always close the lid as soon as you are done with the use of them on a regular basis.  It evaporates so you want to use it rather than have it in the air.  Remember a small application of OMS on the tippy point of your stump is all you need.  Use small circling motions from the edge to the inside of your image, don't forget to show some lighting to your image.  Add some interest to the whole image as if it has come to life.

 

So if I forgot to cover some aspect of this fantastic technique for your stamped images please drop me a line at craftynikky@gmail.com

 

Have a great day ladies! Thanks for visiting

Nicole :)

 

 

One card I made for a special Birthday

Hi Friends

Here is a card I have made for Jo Anne H. a very good friend of mine from California.  It was her Birthday on November the 28th and a special one at that it was her 70th Birthday so being so far away from her I asked her if it was acceptable that I would prefer waiting until I see her while visiting there before our big move.

She agreed to wait and was really happy with her card.

Here is my description of Jo Anne's card:

The template can be found at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/  in the template section. I used the blue as the main color for the card.  Then white on the top accented with the Nestibilities frameability. I added bling on each side.  Now the stamped gal is a stamp from Rubbernecker 2009 collection.  I added the numbers 70 on the shirt, I also made flowers following the tutorials of a group I belong to called Penny Flowers.  I also added some stickles arounf the white edge after rubbing some blue on the edges with a finger dabber sponge.  I added a pink lustered sheet behind the frame.

I colored the stamp with prismacolor pencil and OMS (odorless mineral spirits) also known as Gamsol found in Art stores in the Art section where canvas are and pain brushes as well. 

  

 

Now here is the Birthday Girl and her Birthday cards:

 

 

 

*******

Also please find a card Carmel shared with us and here is her description of it:
Base card pattern using versa mark ,embossed with green sparkle embossing powder. Colored flowers with cosmic shimmer mica pigments, mounted on a background.
Picture is a digital download  http://www.charmedcardsandcrafts.co.UK. Bits are highlighted with crystal lacquer. Used the cuttlebug for the edges of the layered card.ribbon and peeloffs to finish effects.

 

Directions for Cornelia's card:
 
 " First I used the QuickKutz "Heart Frame"  die to cut out the heart. I then glued a picture of a clematis from my garden  as well as an embossed (Swiss Dots)  piece of cardstock behind it. Next, I embossed a same sized piece of fuschia cardstock and angled it behind the heart and glued both onto a piece of cuttlebugged (Heart) cardstock which was wrapped with ribbon. To finish it off, I tucked a "thank you" in behind the bow." 

 
That concludes the shares for today!

Thank you for all the shares and techniques, it was truly inspirational

Nicole :) 

Sunday's beauties

Hi Friends

Here is a card that Anne (Solentannie) made and here is what she wrote:

It is a simple pricked card from a metal template with 4 Spirelli circles wound with gold thread and a gem in the centre.  The centre is layered with a punched flower and a larger gemstone surrounded by small glass embroidery beads stuck on.
 
 

Thank you Alice for this gorgeous card here is what she wrote:

The recipe for my card is as follows:

 

Gold yellow cardstock- 1x A4 sheet plus1x14.5 cms square 

Art Deco lady decoupage from Nikky's Women's folder

Backing paper and little cameos from one of my own CDs which perfectly matched the decoupage sheet

Swirl stamp from Whiff of Joy stamps

Black ink and clear embossing powder

The card is the easel shape the template for which can be found on Penny's Photobucket.

My finished card is 14.5 cms square.

 

What I did:

On the square piece of cardstock I stamped the background swirls in black ink and embossed with clear embossing powder

I then attached the decoupage image and built up the layers using glue gel

I cut the background sheet at 14 cms square and attached to the base of the card

I decided where I wanted my front section to stand and attached the stacked cameos accordingly.

I also attached some flat backed gold beads to ensure the front section stood level.

 

 

A card shared by Christine and here is what she said:

I have made a bib in white through my Robo Craft machine.  I used a white cardstock for the card base and then a navy blue cardstock was used. I rounded the corners and punched out a heart on each corner. The navy blue cardstock make the bib stand out more.

 
 

Here is another card that was shared by Purple Pauline and here how she described her card:  I have 3D'd the image, matted and layered it onto dark green card which I cut using my dekkle edge scissors and finished it off with gold peel-offs.

 

Here is a card Faigadina sent and here what she said:
I use 1/2 piece of cardstock.  On 1/2 of it I score at 2" and 4 1/4".
To the scored half,  I attach a 4 1/4" and 5 1/2" piece of cardstock with adhesive runner on the bottom section to enable the easel part to stand up.
 
I used an Emerson girls stamp and a saying by Penny Black.  I used colored pencils to color the image along with some stickles for a "pop".  I finished up with a punched flower in the corner.

A brad or some sort must be put on the inside of the cand to enable the easel to remain open

(More info can be found on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/)
 
**********

That's it for today's shares.  Next time I will post some of my great friend's Birhtday card she received for her 70th Birthday, late November.  My move and her trip to her children and the Holidays has delayed my showing off her cards.  I will not describe the cards as they are not mine but I am happy to share them because she is a very close friend of mine.

Happy learning and crafting!

Nicole :)

More viewing candies for the eyes...

Hi Friends

We have had 3 Chinese lessons so far whoo-hoo! Getting there very slowly hee hee

I know I haven't explained why we are here now has I don't really need to but I will give you a very short verstion of why.  Well Hubby's work got us here. He was aware a new plant was being built here and that his line of work would have opportunities created for him/us to come giving us a chance to live some of our long time dreams.  Well, it was a long process since this can't happen overnight obviously.  But we went through all the preparations that are required when we move to a different country on a visa.  Medical, immunization shots (many), filling up prescriptions for 6 months at a time, but the last thing we ever thought we would be missing so much here was our Folgers coffee.  LOL I can see the red plastic container with the writing on it and details that is how much we miss our good cup of coffee.  There is going to be much to say throughout our journey here so I will try and inform you of the fun things we are learning and experiencing. With photos when possible.

So we are here for what is supposed to be 2 years so there is quite a few experiences and adventures to come.  I will try throughout our trips to take pictures to share on my blog.  I will probably create new folders inside the China folder so that way when we go outside of the country while here, I will add more pictures with the name of the Country we were visiting.  Will keep it simple.

I will keep this blog fresh and fun to visit, either for card sharing, techniques to learn, my fun stuff I sometime do and some of my own cards once I get my craft room in from back home that is.

Have a fun day ladies!

A few cards from you to share with some description I start with Denise Jo and here is her card description:

I made this card using white card stock.  I then made the skirt using a piece of scrapbooking paper that was acutally a compostition book.  I made the top from the black part and used peel off stickers to make the belt and little bling on the top, and the happy birthday. I used a chipboard corner in the upper left corner.

 

*************

That will be all for today ladies! Have a great day!

Nicole

More beautiful cards with descriptions

Hi Friends

I had intended to share my Tilda's cards this week to start the new year showing my cards but I ran into a snag of my own fault.  I was certain I had packed some pattern paper for backgrounds as I have tons back home but after spending so many hours playing with my Prismacolors and Gamsol I realized I had card stock but no background to match my Tilda's colors with.  So I am at a stand still.  I had a few generous ladies offering (Angie and Maryann) to send me some thank you so much! Shipment last we heard of is due here close to the end of the month.  Nothing to jump through hoops over that one.  It was a "should I kick my sorry behind" for this or that moment LOL. 

In the meantime, I guess I will make an effort to find something else to use without background hoping I did pack some in the rush while packing my craft room before the big move.  I was also hoping to find craft stores around here but I gave up the trying.  I was told unless we go to Shanghai I will not meet any crafting needs other than double sided tape and glue. So my friends I am going to find some places to get some fast delivered papers before I go into some withdrawl LOL, this is my crafty situation hee hee.  For all it's worth I will let you know when I receive our shipment so you will know it will be the end of my waiting and nagging about it hee hee

So for the good part of today, I have a few cards that were shared for our viewing and learning pleasure.

Sam R.G. made this beautiful card and here is what she said:
This card involved a bit of recycling, the black and white patterned
paper used is from the inside of a security envelope from a bank. The
other backing paper with text I typed myself using different fonts and
l just change the font colour or greeting to suit. The sentiment and
motorbike are peel offs on funky foam cut to shape. 

 
Next lovely card is from Cariad Anne and she wrote:

Here is my first go at describing how I created my "Maple Leaf" card.
 
- Card is created on black cardstock. 
- Brown marble paper was handmade using the wax paper resist technique (see splitcoaststamper.com tutorial on how to do this).
- Wavy edge was created using the Leaf border punch by Friskars. 
- Black ribbon (wide and thin) were purchased at the dollar store. 
- The maple leaf stamp is by Stampcraft, purchased at Michaels.  I stamped it using the same ink as I brayered on the wax resist paper, then mounted it on black paper and cut around the edge to give it a shadow effect.  Maple leaf is mounted with pop dots.

 

Next card comes from Catherine, Welcome I am happy you have decided to break the ice.

Catherine made most of her card with the help of the Kwik Cutz die machine and some various papers. It is her very first card share, Catherine began the cardmaking art a year ago. So I am pleased to welcome her.

 

To finish today's blog I thought I could dare include pictures of my farewell luncheon I had with the Craftyladies in California.  I had a wonderful time chatting with all of them once again, it made it all the much harder to leave, but as your Governor used to say in his movie days, I'll be back! hee hee

 

That's all for today creative minds, will try and add more to share soon!

Have a great day everyone 

Nicole  

cards from your beautiful work

Hi Friends

As Mary and Lorna have asked in their comments here is the answer to all of your questions.  I have revised yesterday's text so it explains that you can choose any which card you want to share with me, and more.  (You don't have to send me a 3D card a month) Any card from the past or something you are so proud of you want to share, you can now.

I hope you didn't get too dizzy with my new rules and new expectations for 2010.  Sorry I had to explain everything so when some are not aware of the novelty I can send them to January 4th blog for some happy dose of reading hee hee

Today here is a card I received from Sue (Jacksmum) one of my first participants for the new blog. These are valid entries for a draw in June when I have a chance to shop and show I will show the goodies to be won.  Just be patient as you always are, I am trying to buy from a country next door to me so it will take some adjustment on my part LOL 

Today here is a card I received from Sue (Jacksmum) one of my first participants in 2010 blog.

She has used the Cuttlebug (Swiss dots folder) for her beautiful card, she also was inspired by one of my sheets and added a small ribbon as an embellishment. As she said, her description is well under 250 words LOL.  Well done, Sue! Gotta love her sense of humor!

 

The next card is made by Chris, (Islmermaid). She has used Joke de Vette template for her stitching and embossing her card. She has used some bling to embellish it, and used some colored pencils in her bear's body. Thank you Chris, lovely card as well.

 

Janice made this gorgeous card and here is her explanation:  Firstly, I cut a rectangle of  Bazzill Bling card in pink and used the Fiskars Border Line Punch - Scalloped Lace (Threading Water) on both sides. I attached to the card with DST, then attached 2 pieces of backing paper in co-ordinating colours. The centre rectangle of Bazzill Bling is embossed using the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Argyle.
The centre square is one of the Fancy Corners sets of 4 Cuttlebug Embossing Folders using Coredinations Core Colour card and then sanded. The 2 flowers are punched from one of the backing papers, with gems added to the centres. The tag was made from Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio using a white peel-off greeting and ribbon attached to the card with 3d foam pads.

 

So this is it ladies, see how easy it is.  Make sure if you are using Copic markers, mention it, the same goes for colored pencils.  If you are using the colored pencils with Gamsol (Odorless mineral spirits) please make sure you mention it as well.  Any details on your card that might be of some help for a new cardmaker is essential and appreciated.  Please include any link you may have on some of the techniques you are using.  It could be Youtube videos or simply a blog that shares a template and so on...please be forward with your techniques.

Please note I will in most cases copy and paste your card comments, in the interest of time, please use your fancy words if you have any hee hee.  You know what I mean right?

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will approve of my new blog.  If you notice the password is not letting you back in, send me an email, be sure you have shared one card a month all year before you apply for the next password.  I have all the cards on record so I can easily check your participation.  If you have shared more than one card a month in the passed year but were unable to share for a period of time due to illness or family matters and you have made me aware of it, you know you can apply again.

Newbees, email me making sure in the suject line you add you are NEW, tell me a little about yourself, how long you have made cards for, what country you are from? if you belong to any online groups etc...first, just introduce yourself I love to know who I share my password with.

Thank you ladies

Come back soon I am trying to finish up a few cards

Have an exciting day to whatever you choose to do

Nicole

 

Happy New Year my friends! January 4th, 2010 <>

<<Just a quick update to what some of you have commented on in the comment box>>

As Mary and Lorna have asked in their comments here is the answer to all of your questions.

You can send me any card you like with or without my 3D sheets. Be sure to send me just one card a month and if you send me more I will not post any.  You choose the one card you want to show off and add with it the best description you can possibly give us so if we were to make a similar card, we would know where to start.  It can include links of your friend’s blogs, template links, Youtube anything that can be linked and is a good link for at least the day I post it to the blog.

Just send me a description as if you had a beginning audience as you would want them to at least start with the right material and make them feel they can do it too.

Sorry I was vague on that part of the novelties.  My sincere apologies to all of you.

Thank you! I can’t wait to see all of your work

Nicole

 

Hi Friends

Hoping you have made good resolutions to make more cards this year.  I know I have.  Being so far away now from all the stores I used to shop at and all my real life friends and family, I am trying to adjust to an Asian type life.  It is not easy for us, there has been quite a few problems with plumbing and gas for hot water supply, and much more.  I am keeping a positive mind that all will settle down to normalcy soon.  There are workers in our home almost every day so we haven't had that much time to enjoy it fully yet.  Patience is a beautiful virtue, which I am borrowing from any source I can right now hee hee.  But as I said we will overcome this as we always overcome any challenge, it only feels like it is taking forever and one day hee hee.

I have a few pictures of my new appartment I will try and add the album on the blog so you get to see how pretty it is. Many of you had shown interest in seeing our new love nest so I will share. (here now look for China album)

As I said in my last post, I am bringing changes to my blog.  It is simple.  The photobuckets are still available to members meeting their one card a month to share with all of us.  The change coming with the conditions, is to send me the best of your one card each month (just one) any card, not limited to my 3D sheets but open for any technique, anything you like.  You get to choose which one you will share, you will tell me what technique was used with a short explanation on the technique as well as the material you used.  All of that in less than 250 words.  One or two days a week will be used for your wonderful artfully made cards.

I plan on sharing 3-4 times a week total.  Leaving me some time to do my daily chores, experiment on cards and make Youtube tutorials when I figure out how our new fancy videocam works + I am committed to 3 classes a week to learn to speak Chinese and we have exams too just like the University language lessons with books. I need to experiment on that before promising anything but that is in the projects of this year.

Each time I will post a card I made I will tell you what was used to make it so you get a very good idea on how to make it as well.  If a template is needed or found, or free to share with you, I will post it in an album to this effect or even link you to it.  The photobucket might also be used to store some of what I use for templates in that case I would let you know.  Some of the templates will not be of my own initiative but if I know who created it I will gladly mention their names. Giving the credit to whom it rightfully belongs.  But if I don't it is simply because I didn't see it anywhere and if you happen to know who made it please send me an email to that effect so I can add a mention to her/his work.  Don't send me the designer making her feel like I stole her work.

Keep in mind this blog is purely non-profit so my use of any designs is simply for my own entertainment as I do not sell anything without permission.  My use is for family and friends so no profit is made in the giving of my cards.  The same applies to those who are making cards with my 3D sheets it is understood that they cannot sell the cards they make with other's designs, therefore if they do they are not allowed to share their cards in this group anymore.  I have very few that are copyright free because they were made by friends or by myself that were given to us for cardmaking use.  There are still some generous people out there. My hats off to them!

I encourage those who have started a new blog lately and will do so very soon to add your blog link to your comment so we can all feel free to visit your home and leave you some comments as well.  It is up to you but I allow it as long as it is for cardmaking purposes only.

I would also like to thank COC (Circle of crafters) to be so encouraging of what I do we share mutually good friendships as I am happy to provide non-profit material for all of the members providing they share one card a month to my blog.  I am happy they recovered the Forum from being hacked a little more than a month ago.  Welcome back BobbyLynn!

The purpose of this blog is to entertain all of us who are cardmakers of all levels, to enjoy, learn, share, and laughter is allowed at all times.  So, on this note, let's enjoy the new year with some beautiful cards you will make and share with us, if you are new, welcome! and if you have been with me since the start, a big hug to you friends.

The same applies for your cards shared to me.  You give me as much information as you can provide so everyone knows where to get their info to make the card.  Links will be accepted as an easy way to transmit valuable info.  So don't be afraid to share what you know. I also welcome your ideas you have, you never know I might put your idea to work.

The password will change anyday now.  When it does change, please write a very short email asking me for the new password.  Please write in the subject line if you are a member wanting new password or if you are a new applicant.  Please make sure you give me a subject so I can reply to you promptly. I get hundreds of emails a day so this is the best way I can see you want the password. Mention that you are still going to abide by my conditions as before so I don't have to send you the email about them.  Let's make this easy for all of us please.

If you are a new applicant, if you know you can share one card a month with us no matter how long you have been making cards, ask for the password as it comes with a few strings attached.  One card is mandatory.

So in review of what I need from you this year:

1. One card only per month.  Choose the one you want to share (ANY CARD, Doesn't have to be from my 3D's) and tell me how you made it.  Use links if you can; tell us how you made it in less than 250 words please.  I will post all of your work one day a week or two, not any one pre-determined day, that will depend on my schedule. So the day may change from week to week.

2. I will learn how our new videocam works so I can show some tutorials.  I also will describe my cards each time I post one so you can make one too if you wish to do so.  I am also working on some participation prizes to be drawn in about 6 months.  That will be drawn electronically after giving you a participant number before the draw if you have sent me a card with all of what I have asked you to do, you will qualify for a chance to the drawing.  So if you participated with 6 cards in 6 months you get 6 entry. More details later.

3. New password: Please write in the subject line that you are either a new wannabe member or you are a member wanting to get the new password, so I can identify you through all of my emails coming in on a daily basis.  Thanks

4. I need to find an electronic drawing software, if you are using one please send me a link to where I can find one.  Had no chance to search for it but I know it is used in many blogs. Thank you in advance for your help.

Let the New Year begin shall we?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU, most of all I wish you health and happiness!

Hugs

Nicole

Sunday's shares of December cards

Dear Friends,

I have read all of the wishes you have sent me via comments and emails in the past months and you see me happy about all of your encouraging comments you have sent me, even your wonderful sense of humor as I know so well in some of you.  I really do appreciate all of you individually as you mean so much to me.  You are a great bunch of ladies that I like to call part of my family that is how I value every single one of you.  Your loyalty, for a few years I have had my blog going now, has been heartwarming, you saw me through happy and busy times when I thought I would never have enough time or hands to do it all.  You are fabulous! All of you shine in my famous stars virtual book. May this year bring the best there is to all of you.  You, my shining artsy stars!

Here we are at the beginning of the year, I wanted to share all the cards if I can today, all the   
ones you have shared with me this past month while I was moving.  If you don't see your card among the wonderful bunch of cards of today or tomorrow, perhaps I have lost it in the shuffle during our moving period or I never received it.  Either way please accept my apologies I knew it might happen while I was in transit. (some cards were still coming in). Thank you for your patience with some of the boo-boos I made during the month of December 2009.  I know you understand.

If there are some repeats, so be it, enjoy them again. hee hee

Here are the wonderful cards to finish off 2009 with beautiful creations you have made and shared:

 



Trish A. (Australia)

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Yorkshire Ann S. Fantastic looking and so different I enjoyed it! TFS

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Wendy G.  Absolutely brilliant, TFS

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Sue J. Fantastic cards, love the pergamano/parchment ones, all are beautiful! TFS

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Carol S. (Caz)

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Alice H.

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Another unknown owner please let me know it is your card so I can add your name to it thanks

 

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  Joyce (Australia)

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   Lorraine P.
 

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  Sally T.

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Sorry I couldn't identify this card, if you recognize this card please tell me who it belongs too it has a maker's name! Thanks everyone

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  Wendy M.

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  Purple Pauline

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  Sue (Jacksmum) 

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  Deb F.

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  Amy J. Enjoy your new home Amy :)

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  Angela (Chorley Cake)

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Just take note that this is not a card Eithne H. made but it is one she is hoping you can help her find the template to make it.  You can email me with it if you have it or a link that will send us directly there for all of us who might be interested as well,  Thank you so again this is not a card Eithne made, she just wanted me to insert it for the above mentioned reason.

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  Colleen B.

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  Fern

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You have a great day!  My announcement message is on the tomorrow's blog so don't miss it.  Let your friends know to come and read if they are interested in the changes I will bring to the blog in 2010.

Hugs

Nicole :)