Many happy returns....:0)

Hi there, hope everyone is well in blogland. Just a quick post, it was my son's eighth birthday last Thursday and I made him a card based around Truly Scrumptious' challenge sketch as it had an optional extra theme of birthday card too. The slide out section that reveals Joshua's name looks a bit primitive but it was the best way I could create the idea I had. Needless to say Josh was thrilled with his card, who could ask for more?

I used: SU and distress inks
SU designer button
SU Round tab punch and Totally tabs stamp
Greetings Farm - little boy image from OA-Happy Day
Papers, string and alphabet stickers from stash

I would like to enter Truly Scrumptious' challenge this week.

Thanks for looking, your comments are always appreciated.

Nicola xxx

Christmas reminiscing

It's been so long between posts I have given up apologising, but need a word with myself as I have had serious withdrawal symptoms from my crafting - have been dreaming about it! Still, earlier this week I did manage to feed my addiction and created a christmas card. I managed to combine quite a few challenges ( a challenge in itself!), and it came together really quickly.
The challenges I would like to enter are:Sir Stampalot - Christmas Traditions
Magnolia Stamp Lovers - Sketch
Totally Tilda - Icy Christmas Blue and Silver
Pollycraft - Doodling

Had great fun with the doodling, don't know if the picture shows it all that well but along with the black edging I also covered the pale blue card background with silver swirls.
The christmas tradition challenge set by Sir Stampalot this month has a story behind it. Secretive Tilda reminds me of a family tradition that started when I was younger and living at home. Mum would wrap all my presents and then as it got nearer to christmas she would gradually add one or two more every day to sit under the christmas tree. Dad would encourage me to feel/shake the presents to see if I could guess what they were. We had fun with this as mum didn't want the surprise to be spoilt and used to tell dad off (trying to get cross but failing miserably). Mum would play her own game and pretend to have forgotten where she had hidden some of the presents, or saying that was everything and then finding one last present from upstairs. I loved this and looked forward to it every year, nearly more so than the gifts I received.
This is only the second time I have used distress inks and painting as a medium for my images, so don't look too closely as it's not brilliant but practice makes perfect. I definately prefer this method, thanks to Fleur for showing me how easy it is and what gorgeous results can be achieved.

I used the following:
Magnolia - Secretive Tilda
White flower
Su - inks, star brad, sentiment, blue cardstock, Christmas tree from Season of Joy stamp set
Distress inks
Mirror card, snowflakes, ribbon from stash
Paper pieced Tilda's clothes from patterned paper

Thanks for stopping by
Nicola xxx