True Love

This card uses a digi image from Mo's Digital Pencil I have coloured the image using my pro markers and flex markers.  The patterned paper came in a 6x6 Forever friends paper pad my daughter brought me, the rest of the paper is from core-dinations paper packs I brought from The Range.  The ribbon is from my stash cannot remember where I brought it, the stars where in the bargain bin at Hobby Craft ages ago. The sentiment says

'Nobody knows true love until you have been loved by a dog'

This card is for the following challenges

Sketch Saturday - Sketch I have followed

Mo's Digital Pencil - All my Favourite Things - Dogs, pink and purple

Secret Crafter - Ribbon - pink stitched ribbon

I love Promarkers - Purple and Pink

Thanks for looking

x Nicky x

Craftwell - Ecraft - In My Opinion

I dont normally do this - one because I am not great at putting words down onto paper - but as my hubby says I make up for that by the amount I talk.  I thought I would share my experience of Craftwell Ecraft Cutter as it may help some others out there.

It was my birthday in December as as my family knew I was after an ecraft everyone gave me birthday money (early) so I could keep an eye on a certain auction site and go for it if one should came up, as there was no way I could afford a new one.

At the beginning of December I purchased a sky blue ecraft with firmware 1.01.  I made some projects things turned out ok, but I did ruin a lot of paper and card while trying to get nice cuts.  I knew from forums that this was a problem other users had experience and that although I had used a Craftrobo that the ecraft was a new learning curve.  I continued to practice and got ok results nothing special so I thought maybe this is not the machine for me.   I put it back on the auction site and sold it, the person who brought it also did not get on with it and asked it I would take it back and refund her money, I agreed so received the Blue Menace back!

Now I really do not like to be beaten so started doing some searching on the internet, found lots of people saying they too could not get it to work efficiently, tried the ecraft site and although there was some hints and tips and videos nothing I had not tried.

The I stumbled across Purple Paper Paradise Blog found HERE. Denise who runs the blog is amazing and the saviour of my Blue Menace.  She has some wonderful videos telling you how to set the paper up and what pressure you should have the blade at, how and when to use a stabilizer card etc etc

So with all this information to hand I had a weekend away looking after my friends house so took my PC and ecraft and went to play.

I was a little worried at first but following Denise's instructions I cut out the branchy tree that is on the included SD card from Core-dinations card stock, and it cut fine, I could feel a little flutter in my heart of excitement so went on to cut some frames and other images from the card - all cut fine.

Then onto the big test - using Make The Cut (MTC) I designed the sleeves for my sisters wedding invites, did a practice cut on a piece of cream 240g card and it cut fine.  I have now cut all the sleeves out and just need to fold them and put the invitation inside. Brilliant! Love is growing for the machine

I then thought I would try some words to go on to cards so I played safe with a bold rockwell font and cut out a simple sentiment of LOVE and it worked fine so did the mat, then today I cut a slimmer more curvy font crazy girl blond and again it cut lovely first attempt and with no sticky mat nothing tore when I removed it from the machine.

I now have renamed by Blue Menace the Blue Miracle because I had given up on him and sent him away he returned home and we tried again and now I love it. I still have my craftrobo or Robo Cop as mum calls it and he will still be used but now I have two machines to enjoy.

Having heard so much bad stuff about the ecraft I thought I would share and let you know I think - which is it is a great machine.

So if like me you had given up or not sure about it pop over to Denise's blog have a look at her videos and see if it help you to.

x Nicky x

Warmest Wishes

This card uses a digi image from Pollycraft, I love this one as she always looks so cosy holding her mug - which I think is full of hot chocolate.  She is coloured using my pro markers. The four circles have been cut on my ecraft, as has the sentiment the font I used was Crazy Girl Blond - I love the name of some of the fonts lol.  The brown ribbon holding the charm is from a box of smellies that I got for my birthday, and the heart charm was also off a pressie that I got for Christmas.  The card is finished with some square gems.  If you wanted the sentiment to download is it available HERE, I know its a simple one again but so many people have shared things with me that I thought it was time to return some of the inspiration.

This card is for the following challenges

Pollycraft - Warm it Up - this image always make me feel cosy

Passion for Promarkers - Recycle something - Ribbon and Charm

My Time to Craft - Favourite Embellishments - Gems

Inspirational Card Sketches - The sketch I have followed

Tuesday Throwdown - So Charming - heart charm

Cute Card Thursday - You're a Gem - my square gems

Speedy Fox - 4 layers or more - lots of layers

Thanks for looking

x Nicky x

Love Hearts - with free SVG file

This is a very clean and simple card, The tumbling hearts I designed and cut them on the ecraft using the Make the Cut software.  I then mounted them onto a red core-dinations  mat.  The sentiment was again done in Make the Cut using Rockwell Extra Bold font and then adding a shadow. Again this was cut on the ecraft using the red core-dinations card for the shadow and the same 250g card stock as the base card.

I know it is very simple but if you would like the cutting SVG  file is can be downloaded HERE

I am entering the card into the following challenges

Less is More - the sketch the card is based on
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking

x Nicky  x

Top Three at Bugaboo

Wow what a nice surprise I was chosen as one of the top three in last weeks bugaboo challenge, Thank you so much - now I get to chose two images from the store to add to my collection 

Check out Bugaboo the images in the store HERE they are great fun 

WOYWW - A Mess

Well its another Wednesday so that means its time to pop over to the Queen of the Desks and have hope around the globe seeing what every one has been up to.  Unfortunately my desk is just as I left it Sunday evening, after a great afternoon of crafting.  Work has been so busy that by the time I get home, done all the boring stuff the evening is nearly gone.  Never mind I can hear the next weekend calling!  My desk has the wedding invite my sister has decided to go with although she wants the image that is under the corner scissors.  You can see that I have started to organise my cutting files by printing them off so I can see what I have easily, the new flex markers are still waiting for me to order another CD case so I can sort them the same as my pro markers. The packs of 6x6 core-dinations are in the middle of desk, I seem to use this on everything at the moment. Finally my note book that I write all my challenges and projects people want me to do for them.  Do pop to Julia's as there are many talented crafters desk to see, they will inspire you, make you have a wish list, amaze you with talent, make you realize that you are not the only tidy/messy crafter, but best off its fun to visit like minded people.

The picture below is where Stanley sits while I am crafting, he has finally stopped standing next to me and moving everything on my desk, having come from kennels everything is a new experience, which keeps things interesting

  

Hope everyone has a great week 

x Nicky x

Learning to Dance in the Rain

This card uses a digi image from Charmed Cards and Crafts that is pre-coloured. I printed them on to ultra smooth card so that it is nice an clear and then mounted on a piece of red card.  The sentiment is also from Charmed Cards and Crafts and says 'Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning to dance in the rain'. All the card stock I have used is from my scraps pile, the circles were cut using my circle nestabilitys and my big shot.

This card is for the following challenges

Cute Card Thursday - Music and Dance

Sketch Saturday - The sketch that I have followed

Thanks for looking

x Nicky x

Star Girl

This card uses a digi image from Kenny K, she is coloured using my pro and flex markers. I then mounted her onto a dark purple piece of card. The pink circle was just cut using a compass and scissors.  The sentiment was a pre glitter sticker I had.  She is finished with a few stars two of them with glitter and glitter strip of paper across the front.

This is for the following challenges:

Simon Says - Follow the sketch

Kenny K - Bring on the Bling
I love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

Boys and Their Toys

This card uses a pre-coloured digi in available from Charmed Cards and Crafts. I have kept this card very simple as I think it makes its more masculine. The background paper is mounted on to plain white card stock and is a left over from a Kanban set. The red card is from my core-dinations pad.  I used a circle nestability to cut out the image and the a simple compass to draw a circle on silver mirra card and then cut with scissors. Finally I added a few black gems for a little sparkle.  I will put a sentiment later when I decide who the card is for.

This card is for the following challenges

Cards For Men - Boys and their toys

Inspirational Card Sketches - The sketch I have followed

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

Another Wedding Invite

This is another example of a wedding invitation for my sister to try and give her some ideas.  It very simple I used work to print the words and the heart swirl onto cream card. Then I used my scoring board to fold the card and a nestability to cut the aperture. For a bit of colour I did faux stitching around the aperture using my pink sakura gel pen.  The actual insert was again done in word, I can print 3 to an A4 sheet, the image is a digi image from Mo's Digital Pencil I have left it uncoloured as I wanted a simple clean look.  I used a text box in word to add some colour to the inside and finished with a ribbon tied through a hole in the top so that the invite can be slipped from the sleeve easily.  Its been designed to fit in a DL envelope, hopefully my sister will make a decision on what she wants and I can get on making them - must be honest I do like this design.

This is being entered into the following challenges

Mo's Digital Pencil - Faux or real stitching

Simply Create Too - Love is in the air

Thanks for looking

x Nicky x

Birthday Drink

This card uses a digi image from Bugaboo, I love this one I think its so funny, she is coloured using my pro markers and flex markers.  I then cut the shape using my new X-Cut Oval Scalloped dies. The edges have been inked with my Brilliance Pearlized ink pads.  The sentiment came with the image and again was cut out with my x-cut dies and mounted onto a mat.  The cupcake paper came free with a magazine, I think it was papercraft inspiration but can not really remember.  The paper was mounted onto a black glistening card then edged with some of the pink card and finished with the bows and buttons.

This card is for the following challenges

Passion for Promarkers - Humour

Crafty Catz - Buttons and Bows

Secret Crafter - Food and Drink

Speedy Fox - Birthday Card

Catch the Bug - the sketch I have followed 

Thanks for looking

x Nicky x

You Hold My Heart

This card using a digi image from Pollycraft I think she is really cute. I have coloured her with my flex and pro markers. On the from of the card I printed the sentiment using word then used my nestabilities dies to cut the aperture.  To add a little depth I inked the inside of the aperture with my pink pearlized inks. The flowers are some of my favourite I won them in some blog candy ages ago and have held onto these two as they were my last ones, but I thought they finished this card nicely.  Below is a picture of the inside.

This card is entered into the following challenges:

Pollycraft - Bingo -  Diecuts, image and flowers

My Time to Craft - Your Favourite Embellishments - the two flowers 

Digital Tuesday - A Romantic Card 

Colour Create - Pink and Green

Less is More - Cut it Out

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

Remote Control

This card uses a brilliant digi image from Kenny K, I have coloured him in with a mixture of pro markers and flex markers.  I used a circle nestability's to cut him out, and the silver mat behind him.  The I used my Nellie Snellen circle dies to cut a dark blue bordered mat and used the waste to make the lighter blue circle, this has all been mounted onto a white circle cut with the nestability's. The card is all from my stash as is the ribbon which I tied on my bow makers - a piece of wood with some holes drilled in it and two bits of dowel! The sentiment was done in word then printed onto super smooth card and mounted onto a mat and finally finished with the 3 square gems in the corner.  The verse inside the card reads:

'One good thing about getting old and having a failing memory is that you can enjoy the endless repeats of TV programmes as you cannot remember what happened!'

Which I thought went well with the image

This card is for the following challenges:

Secret Crafter - Anything goes with blue - blue papers and colours

Speedy Fox - Border Dies - I hope my Nellie Snellen die counts as I dont have any others

Kenny K - Bow-dacious - bow and ribbon on front

Sketch Saturday - Sketch I have followed

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

Happy Bird-Day

This card uses a digi image and sentiment come from Bugaboo which has been in my stash for ages but never used.  I have coloured him using my new flex markers, really liking theses and I have printed him on to my new ultra smooth card that I brought from create and craft in the sales. 

This card is for the following challenges

Cute Card Thursday - You're having a laugh - the sentiment makes me laugh!

Crafty Catz - Use something new - everything I have used is new

Less is More - One layer and Birds

Catch the Bug - Birthday Cards

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

Wedding Invites Samples

My sister is getting married in September this year and has asked me to do her wedding stationary. We met up and she gave me some very rough ideas - she wanted fun, a bit of pink and hearts not to fussy.  So with not a lot to go on I have started to make her some samples and do a couple of challenges along the way

This card uses a digi image from Pollycraft, they are coloured using my promarkers and flexi markers. I mounted the image onto a pink mat that I cut using my woodware cutter with the Victorian cutter .  The hearts have been cut out of the same pink card on my ecraft

This card uses a two digi images from bugaboo, again they are coloured using the pro and flex markers. They have mounted onto a piece of pink card cut with the Victorian blade in my woodware cutter. The sentiment has my sister name and her future husband name separated by a little pink heart and mounted onto a piece of card cut on the woodware

This card is for Bugaboo - Anything Goes Challenge

On this one I used an embossing folder to do the lets celebrate on to the pink card and inked very lightly. The heart aperture was cut on the ecraft, the image you can see through the heart my sister chose from Bigstock and its on the inside part of the invitation 

On this card another digi image this time a fun one from Mo's Digital Pencil. Again gently coloured with my flex markers then mounted on to simple mat of pink. I then ran a piece of the same pink card through my big shot using the hearts embossing folder from Papermania.  I cut the edges with the Victorian cutter to add interest.  I will properly add some words once my sister has either given my some more of an idea or decided which bits of each card she wants - I think this could be a long job lol

This card is going into Mo's Digital Pencil challenge of Clean and Simple

Thanks for looking

x Nicky x

Cooking Skills!

This card uses another of my stitchy bear digital stamp images as you can guess I am loving these at the moment, he is coloured with my flex and pro markers. The sentiments came with the image and I printed them all onto ultra smooth card I brought from Create and Crafts sale. I have mounted the image and sentiment on to some blue card from my stash. On the image I then used some yellow dotty paper I think its by Papermania, then again mounted this on to some of the blue card stock. Finally the used a piece of striped paper as a background on the blue base card. I love the sentiment with this as my kids will be the first to tell you cooking is not my best subject but they seem to all be growing ok on it!

This card is for the following challenges

Simon Says - Spots and/or stripes

I Love Promarkers - Cute and Cuddly
Secret Crafter - Lets Eat Cake

Thanks for looking

x Nicky x 

Baby It's Cold Outside

This card uses another great digi image from Stitchy Bears Digital Stamps, I have coloured it using my flex and pro markers.  The paper comes from a DCWV winter stack pad that I have had for ages, the sentiment was cut from one of the sheets of papers.  Image was cut out using my circle nestabilities and then edges with a purple pearlized ink pad.  I then finished with a small strip of glitter card to edge the card at the bottom and behind the image.

This card is for the following challenges

ABC Christmas Challenge - A- Anything Goes

Inspirational Card Sketches - The sketch that I have followed

Tuesday Throwdown - Baby its Cold Outside

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

Home is where the heart is

This uses a digi image from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps

I cut the aperture in the card using my new X-cut dies
This has been cut into two tone card the outside is purple the inside is lilic
(colours do not show up very well in this light)

Then simply coloured the image with my flex and pro markers

Mounted it as a complete sheet

Quite please with the result as the aperture matches the shape of the clouds

This card is for the following challenges

Crafty Catz - A new beginning

Less is More - Predominantly Purple

Pink Elephants - Hearts

Passion for Promarkers - Inspired by a song

(Lady Antebellums - Home is where the heart is)

Digital Tuesday - Punch it Out

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

Whats on Your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW) - 136

 Its Wednesday and that means its time to show 

WHATS ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY

(WOYWW)

The greatest desk hop there is makes wish list grow, shares ideas and is generally a good nose around the world of the crafting desk

If you wish to see more pop over to Julias Blog

HERE

and feel free to join its fun

I am feeling smug this week as I have finished work for the week

I have taken a few days off as I promised my sister I would have some samples of her wedding invites done by Saturday when I pick her up from Gatwick after her and my other sister run the Goofy Challenge in Disney in aid of the Kent Air Ambulance

The challenge is a half marathon on one day and the next day is a full marathon

I am pleased to say they have both completed it and I am very proud of them

Anyhow to get back to the point I have not started the invites yet so thought I would have a few days off to get really stuck in

As soon as I got home I have done the boring housework 

and then started on a card that is nothing to with weddings!!

Its a house warming card for a couple of friends

I am keeping it simple by doing an aperture card with the image on the inside

I have also set up my dining table with my laptop and ecraft ready to start cutting bits tomorrow for a selection of wedding invites.

Better get on thanks for looking

See you next week

x Nicky x

Thank You For Your Support

This card uses a lovely digi image by Pollycraft

They are coloured with my pro markers and flex markers

Then layered on yellow, burnt orange and brown coredinations card

There is then the two strips of different brown card

and its all mounted onto pearlized cream cards

The sentiment was done in word and then printed onto card

I have recycled the ties out of a new jumper to add a bit of interest

Finally finished with 3 star brads in the corner

This is for the following challenges:

Cards for Men - Recycling

Passion for Promarkers - 'Thank You'

Simply Create Too - Layer, Layers and More Layers

Speedy Fox - Brads or Eyelets

Sketch Saturday - Sketch I have followed

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

Winter Wonderland

This card uses three digi images from the Digi Stamps Boutique 

I have coloured them using my pro markers and flex markers

The papers came from my DCWV winter stack

I have finished with a little glitter

This card is for the following challenges

Inspirational Card Sketches - I choose to follow sketch no.28

Digital Tuesday - Winter Wonderland

Thanks for looking

Young Love

This card uses a digi image from Mo's Digital Pencil

I brought this yesterday

The background card is a soft yellow

(sorry photo doesn't show it very well)

The papers I have used for the circles are from a new 6x6 pad

I brought from The Range called Coredination's

For a bit a shine I added a circle of mirror card behind the image

The image is coloured with my pro markers and also some of my new flex markers

I brought this from Create and Crafts sale

The lace from my stash and I coloured it with my blue ink pad

Flower button has also been in my stash for ages

My Time to Craft - Hugs and Kisses

Sketch and Stash - Sketch I have followed

Tuesday Throwdown - Shiny New Year

Simon Says - Something New

I Love Promarkers - Buttons & Lace

Mo's Digital Pencil - Anything Goes with a Mo's Image

Cute Card Thursday - Something New 

Thanks for looking

x Nicky x

WOYWW - 135

'Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday'

WOYWW

Thought it was time to play again after missing for a little while

Now be prepared because those that know my desk will know I am a tidy crafter

even a little OCD with it

But my desk is messy

This is because I have done some sale shopping and need to find homes for my new stash

On my desk you can see a large DCVW pad

To 6 x 6 Coredinations pads

24 Flexi markers

A tub full of stash from my daughters bedroom

Don't worry I have some new storage boxes ordered so things will be tidy soon

If you want to have a look at some much more interesting desks than mine

pop over to the Julias Blog Stamping Ground

Thanks for looking 

x Nicky x

Calender for Work

Each year I do a calender to use at work

This year I have chosen a digi image from Kenny K

I like her as she looks like she is up to something

I am quite a smiley person and people always ask what I am up to

hence the quote

She is coloured using my flex markers and pro markers

Quote was done in word as was the calender

Paper its all put onto is from DCWV Madly in Love paper pad

This is for the following challenge

Kenny K's - Anything Goes

thanks for looking

x Nicky x

Looking Back at Mo's Digital Pencil Images

The challenge this week from 

Mo's Digital Pencil

is to look aback at all the project and cards

you have made using Mo's images and pick a favourite one.

Sound easy you would not believe how long it took me to narrow it down to one.

I choose this card as I love the look of the bunny he always makes me think 

Ahhhhhhhh

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

Love

This card uses a cute digi image from Bugaboo

I have coloured them using my new flex markers

The word is cut using a SVG file on my E-Craft

I them matted them onto some DCWV paper I brought cheap in Hobby Craft

This card is for the following challenges

Less is More - Use Just One Word

Polly Craft - Punch It 

(I dont have punches so hope this counts)

I love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Catch the Bug - Photo Inspiration

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x

New Year New Blog Design and Some Crafting

I was asked to make a card to go with a voucher my friend wanted to give for some shoes

I deceided a card was not much for Christmas so I made a shoe

I cut the shoe using my E-Craft that I got for my birthday in December

I used a SVG template for the shoe

Then decorated it with some ribbon and gems

The box I designed and cut myself on the ecraft from A3 card

Its simple but its a start

 This shows the shoe in the box with voucher

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Simon Says - Anything Goes

Pink Elephant - Anything Goes

Simply Create Too - Shape it Up

Secret Crafter - Anything Goes

Thanks for Looking

x Nicky x