Nicecrane Valentine 2 - Wednesday 5th February

Hello Friends!

Goodness last night was pretty sleepless with all the wind and rain (should be used to it by now!); I hope none of you were affected by more flooding. Thankfully, a sodden lawn aside, we are very very lucky but I do really feel for those who aren't, especially considering so many are all around us in Gloucestershire and Somerset.

Today I would like to  welcome my latest follower, Helen Phillips, who has her own blog: Helen's Corner. You really should pop over and visit for her gorgeous vintage style designs. Thank you Helen for following, I hope you enjoy looking at my cards as much as I do yours!
The link to Helen's blog is http://at-helens.blogspot.co.uk

Today's card is the second of my design team cards this month, for Nicecrane Designs. There are some gorgeous vintage  images available here - both pre-coloured and ready for you to colour yourselves. I have linked the logo picture at the bottom of my post to the shop.

Today's card uses another pre-coloured image, as did yesterday's but whilst that was muted and given extremely vintage 'treatment', this time I have (I think) given it an updated twist.

 The front of the card is a simple mat and layer on black and red to compliment the colours on the image sheet. Whereas yesterday I printed the image on a thin, linen paper, this one is printed on photo paper. All I added to the front is a ribbon and a glittered  3D foam heart from Scrapbook Adhesives.

It is inside this card that I had added a littler surprise! I covered the base of the inside, top and bottom with black card and used printed heart paper from a Pink Petticoat download as the insert.

I cut a  1in x 2in pop out from the centre of the card and adhered two hearts cut with Spellbinders Classic Hearts. The card was some left over card that I had embossed and used on another card.

I do like making little pop up's, but haven't done so for a while, so this was a bit of fun!

Next I used a digitally downloaded sentiment, cut on Labels 17 and matted and layered on red card. I inked the  edges of the hearts and  white label with worn lipstick distress ink and to finish I added red ribbon and a bow.

By the way, I haven't forgotten the blog candi I promised once I got to 70 followers, it was just that last month 'ran away with me' a little....I'm planning the draw for February 14th, just to spread a little love :)

That's all for today folks, stay warm and safe wherever you are!

The link to Nicecrane is 

Love and Hugs,

Carole X

Nicecrane DT Post: Vintage Santa - Monday 28th October

Good Morning Friends,

I hope you all made it through last night unscathed..I'm not a winter person I'm afraid - s far as I'm concerned snow belongs only on Christmas cards and as for wind..well we seem to get much stronger winds all year round don't we? Where we are does seem to have escaped the worst of the weather: the rain and later the wind swooshing around the house did wake me up, but it's all calm now and as it gets light, nothing in the garden seems to have been disturbed.

Anyway, having a relatively 'free' weekend gave me the chance to catch up on my design team projects, so today a break from Halloween and autumn cards for this Christmas card and gift box made using both pre-coloured and digital stamps from Nicecrane Designs. Click on my link to be taken to an emporium of wonderful vintage  digital designs..honestly there is so much choice -just take a look!

 To make the card I began with some Adorable Scoreable card, I used a digital stamp, which I coloured with Promarkers and simply matted and layered on green and gold card, which I then tied with red ribbon and added a button and bakers twine. To finish I didn't want to add glitter anywhere, but I added a little flowersoft to make the 'fur' cuff on Santa's cloak. The image is large, bold and colourful,  so I wanted it to remain the focus and refrained from adding any other  embellishments to detract from it.

 I created the box from a plastic milk carton template, which I bought from Stamps Away at Alexandra Palace in April. Interestingly, I was watching Ali Reeve on Create and Craft on Friday and they were selling these templates. She demonstrated embossing the template through the Grand Calibur (or other embossing machines) to mark the crease folds - and yes it works!

Again, I used Adorable Scoreable card to make the box, but this time, just to show you the pre-coloured images, I used them instead. These photos show the front and back of the box.

These are the images on the pre-coloured sheet - you get the same images with the digital stamps, except of course they are in black and white !

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you all have a happy Monday!

Love and Hugs,

Carole X