Crazy Crafters Blog Hop - Special Guest Dawn Olchefske

A very big hello to everyone out there visiting me today for our Crazy Crafters Blog Hop. This hop we have a very special guest, Dawn Olchefske! I have loved Dawn's creations and videos for years now, so it is an honour to have her with us! Thanks so much for joining us this month Dawn. 

You may just be starting the blog hop here at my blog - Nicole Spicer - or may have come from the person previous to me. Be sure to click on the person listed under me further down the page to continue your journey on this blog hop.

Here is the card I have made.

I am so in love with Sweet Sugarplum at the moment! I think I'm a tad addicted....! I love the effect of the emboss resist technique too, and I wanted to give it a try with these beautiful feathers. I've embossed them on watercolour paper and then used my aqua painter to deliver the ink straight over, removing the excess off with a tissue.

I also used my Layering Oval Framelits dies for the first time for my sentiment with my Stylised Birthday greeting stamp.

Here is the card from Dawn I have chosen to CASE today. Click on Dawn's card to go to her blog featuring this card.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today, and I hope you will continue on our blog hop to check out the amazing creations made by Dawn and our team of Crazy Crafters!

Here is the blog hop list. Remember, you are visiting with Nicole Spicer so please click on the person after me!

Til next time,

Nicole x

Crazy Crafters Blog Hop - Special Guest Jennifer Michalski

Hello there! Thank you for visiting my blog today for our Crazy Crafters Blog Hop. This hop we have a special guest from the USA - Jennifer Michalski from Stamping Serenity.

You may just be starting the blog hop here at my blog - Nicole Spicer - or may have come from the person previous to me. Be sure to click on the person listed under me further down the page to continue your journey on this blog hop.

Here is the card I've made.

I have finished off my card by stamping on the inside as well. Just a little to carry the theme without being too intrusive!

Firstly, I stared my background as I chose not to use DSP. I love the freedom of stamping your own DSP! I have used the stamp set Penned & Painted which is a two-step stamping set. I love it! The colours I have used are Sweet Sugarplum and Night of Navy.

I then sliced this card stock into strips and matted them with Night of Navy card stock. I then positioned three of these pieces onto Sweet Sugarplum card stock and adhered that onto my Night of Navy card base.

The sentiment is stamped with a new stamp set Stylised Birthday from the annual catalogue. I have certainly got my monies worth from this stamp already! I cut this out with my new Layering Square Framelits and my Big Shot. I love these new framelits! The sentiment is popped up with dimensionals and I wrapped a piece of ribbon - the one I have used has retired, but you can use any ribbon you have.

Here is Jennifer's card that I have used for my CASE. You can click on the image below to go to Jennifer's blog where this card starred!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today, and I hope you will continue on our blog hop to check out the amazing creations made by Jennifer and our team of Crazy Crafters!

Here is the blog hop list. Remember, you are visiting with Nicole Spicer so please click on the person after me!

Til next time,

Nicole x

Global DesignProject #GDP44 - New 2016-2018 In Colours

Hello :-) Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Today I made a card for the Global Design Project blog and they have a 'CASE the designer' challenge. This week they have a lovely card by Steffi Helmschrott. I'll admit sometimes I do find it hard to CASE other peoples work - especially if it has to be a specific card! But I gave it a go!

Here is what I came up with.

As you can probably see, I have used the new 2016-2018 In Colours. They are so beautiful. I have used them with my Gorgeous Grunge stamp set to make my background. I have highlighted one of these colours - Emerald Envy to use as my mat on my card base and feature panel. To tone down the background I have used a piece of vellum, before wrapping my white bakers twine around and adhering my butterfly. To finish off my card, I threaded a metallic gold button with white bakers twine and tied a small bow and used a glue dot to stick it onto my butterfly and popped a few small rhinestones randomly on the vellum.

Here is the challenge for #GDP44. You can click on the image to check it out for yourself.

Well thats it from me! Thanks for stopping by!

Til next time,

Nicole x

Mojo Monday MOJO456 - Seaside Shore

Hello and thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Yesterday I made a card with my new Stampin' Up! supplies that finally arrived! I say finally, not because their service was slow, but because I finally was able to place an order and it arrived!

I made this card with the Mojo Monday MOJO456 sketch in mind. I'll show you their sketch challenge towards the end of my post.

Here it my card. I've used Pool Party and Whisper White card stock for my card base and layers. The stamp set is a new one called Seaside Shore from Stampin' Up! and the sentiment is stamped from the ever-practical Tin of Cards stamp set. The ink colours are Dapper Denim, Emerald Envy and Peekaboo Peach from the new 2016-2018 In Colours range and Watermelon Wonder for my shells. The background is stamped in Pool Party from the same Seaside Shore stamp set. What a great background effect hey!

Here is the inside of my card. Quite often I run out of time and don't get to finish them off but I'm trying really hard to!

Here is the sketch for Mojo Monday. You can click on the image to go straight to their blog site. Check out the amazing creations by the design team and other crafters. You'll get heaps of ideas for your future projects!

Well that's it from me today! Til next time!

Nicole x

Crazy Crafters July Blog Hop - Special Guest Tracy May

A very big hello to everyone out there visiting me today for our Crazy Crafters Blog Hop for July. This month we have a very special guest - Tracy May. Thanks so much for joining us this month Tracy. Your creations are simply stunning, clean and elegant so its an honour to have you!

You may just be starting the blog hop here at my blog - Nicole Spicer - or may have come from the person previous to me. Be sure to click on the person listed under me further down the page to continue your journey on this blog hop.

While on Pinterest looking for a card of Tracy's to CASE I came across this stunning card. I bought the Sunburst thinlits die not long ago and haven't had much of a go with it so I thought it was a perfect opportunity. However, because I was so time poor, I sponged my back piece all in one go, rather than sponging each individual 'sun ray'. Mind you, in saying that, I really love Tracy's card and the effect of the different colours!

And here is my CASE of Tracy's fabulous card.

I also finished off the inside of my card. When I was sponging my front panel, I went through a couple of 'drafts'..... so instead of wasting them, I used one to mat my inside panel.

And here are some of the supplies I have used on my card. You'll also need a pair of scissors, your Big Shot and the Whisper White card stock for the sunburst and card base.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today, and I hope you will continue on our blog hop to check out the amazing creations made by Tracy and our team of Crazy Crafters!

Here is the blog hop list. Remember, you are visiting with Nicole Spicer so please click on the person after me!



Until next time,
Nicole x

12th Birthday Card - Number of Years

Brrrrrr!!!! We have REALLY cold day today in our corner of the country today. The sun is out but I'm not sure it's carrying any warmth! So that means another indoor day with the kids.... While they were watching a movie I managed to get 10 mins alone in my study to create a card for my nephew who is turning 12 next week. He is an avid Fremantle Dockers fan (Go Freo!) so I wanted to make him a card he'd love. Plus I didn't have a whole lot of time!

It was fairly simple to make, here is a list of what I've used.

Card base - Elegant Eggplant cardstock 15cm x 21cm scored in half.

Layer 1 - Elegant Eggplant DSP cut to 10cm x 14.5cm (after I had positioned the cardstock to create a V pattern)

Layer 2 - Vellum cut to 9.5cm x 15cm. Adhered with glue dots in each corner, disguised with candy dots.

Stamp set used is Number of Years with the numbers and words stamped in Elegant Eggplant ink on Whisper White cardstock. I embossed the word Birthday on Elegant Eggplant cardstock with white embossing powder.

The Big Shot accessories I have used are the Lots of Labels Framelits and the banner was cut out from the Large Numbers Framelits die.

All of these items are available from Stampin' Up! Contact me if you would like to know anything about this awesome company or getting your hands on some amazing products!

Til next time,

Nicole x

PPA303 Colour Challenge

Today I got to make a card for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge. This week they have a colour challenge - Night of Navy, Mint Macaron and Sahara Sand. I really liked this colour combination - thanks Shawn de Oliveira!

Here is my card I came up with.

My sentiment is from the stamp set Tin of Cards. I think this is perhaps my most used stamp set for sentiments! The polka dot patterned paper is from the 2015-2017 In Colour Designer Series Paper stack. My Sahara Sand cardstock has been run through my Big Shot with my Starburst Die. Love that die!!

The image below links to the challenge blog. Check out the amazing projects the design team and crafters have come up with!

Thanks for stopping by!

Til next time,

Nicole x

Global Design Project Colour Challenge - From Land to Sea

Hi there! Om my goodness I have just noticed it's been nearly three weeks since I have posted on here!  Life is so busy 😢 with not nearly enough crafting!

I did however manage to make this card over the last few days! Yes! Sad hey...  it took me three days of here and there to finish a card. Very frustrating!

So here it is:

This card was made with the Global Design Project colour challenge. I really love this colour combination. It's Mint Macaron, Tip Top Taupe and Island Indigo. If you don't recognise the 'seaweed' stamp, I have used the Jelly Fish stamp upside down! I saw a card on pinterest with this stamp used as seaweed and thought it was a genius idea!

Click on the image below to see their challenge blog and see the amazing projects from the design team and entrants.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you have enjoyed my 'first for a loooong time' card today!

Til next time,

Nicole x

Crazy Crafters Blog Hop - CASEing Dena Rekow

Hello and thank you for joining our fantastic team on our Crazy Crafters Blog Hop. This month we are have a very special guest joining us, a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator from the US, Dena Rekow, from www.creativitycave.com.

In case you are not sure, CASE stands for Copy And Selectively Edit..... we take a card or project and use it to create our own. This could be the colour pallet used, the stamp set used or perhaps the sketch.

You may just be starting the blog hop here at my blog - Nicole Spicer - or may have come from the person previous to me. Be sure to click on the person listed under me further down the page to continue your journey on this blog hop.

The particular card I chose to CASE today was a no-brainer! I knew I wanted to use the Botanical Builder Die as I had not used the vine die before! My other stipulation I had was a clean and simple card because I needed to make a sympathy card. I'm sure when you see Dena's amazing card, you'll understand what I mean!

Here is my card. I went with a basic colour pallet as I really wanted the flower and leaves to pop. Also this was the first time I've used that vine die so I decided to keep it pretty simple!

Here is the inside of my card. I've left it plain with just the sentiment from the stamp set. This card is for a friend who lost his wife to Mesothelioma last week so I didn't want to overdo the inside. Plus, my hubby will want lots of room to write.

So here is Dena's card. Isn't it just gorgeous!

Well I hope you have enjoyed my CASE of Dena's card. Please leave me a message if you can, I love to read what people have thought of my projects!

Here is the blog line up. Remember, you are visiting with Nicole Spicer, so please click on the person under me to continue your journey on our Blog Hop.

Before I go, I just want to wish all the Mothers out there a very big HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY from Australia!

Til next time,

Nicole x

Global Design Project #GDP033 Colour Challenge - Celebrate Today

Hi everyone, thanks for coming by my blog today!

Today I have made a card for a Global Design Project colour challenge. I love this colour combination: Night of Navy, Calypso Coral and Sahara Sand. 

Here is the blog challenge for you to check out for yourself!

The supplies I have used in this card are:

Cardstock - Whisper White, Night of Navy, Calypso Coral, Sahara Sand

Ink - Night of Navy, Calypso Coral, Sahara Sand

Stamp Set - Celebrate Today

Big Shot Accessories - Balloon Framelits * These framelits are retiring at the end of this month so if you want them, especially if you have or want the Celebrate Today stamp set, be sure to grab them now as they are only available while stocks last! 

Adhesive - Snail, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by!

Til next time,

Nicole x

Global Design Project GDP#032 - CASE the Designer Krista Frattin

Hi, thanks for stopping by my blog today for a card I made for a CASE challenge from Global Design Project. The card we are CASEing is from a very talented US Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Krista Frattin.

I'll show you the challenge in a second, but here is the card I made.

For the inside of my card, I have layered a piece of Whisper White cardstock and one of the plain flowers (with no dimension) and a simple rhinestone in the centre.

And here it is. Click on the image to go straight to their design blog and check the amazing projects!

The colours I have used are Blushing Bride and Whisper White. I wanted to stay with this simple colour pallet as it is so lovely! 

The three stamp sets I've used are Hardwood for my background, Endless Birthday Wishes for my sentiment and Botanical Blooms for the foliage. All of these stamp sets are remaining current in the new and soon-to-be-released 2016-2017 Annual Cataloge. I use these a lot so have defiantly gotten my monies worth! The flower has been cut out with my Big Shot using the Botanical Builder Framelits Die.

But one thing I'm super excited about is the Glimmer Paper I've used in Blushing Bride is continuing on in the new catalogue! I loooove this pretty sparkly cardstock!

Well that's it from me! Thanks for stopping by! 

Til next time, 

Nicole x

Just Add Ink #307 Colour - a happy hello

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by!

Today I have made a card today for a challenge from Just Add Ink. 

Here is my card.

Here is the JAI challenge so you can check it out!

This was a great colour combination to step a little bit out of my comfort zone, as they're not my go-to combinations! But I do love them together, and I think they are a very practical combination which would lend themselves to many different occasions.

I must still have had Brian King's cards on my mind from our Crazy Crafters Blog Hop held over the weekend gone, as I have also CASED one of Brian's cards for this one. As I write this, with only an hour to go til the deadline for this challenge and my kids going nuts in the other room, I cannot find Brian's card online to put a picture and link of his card! Sorry Brian!

Thanks for coming by!

Til next time,
Nicole x

Crazy Crafters Blog Hop - CASEing Brian King

Hello and thank you for joining our fantastic team on our Crazy Crafters Blog Hop. This month we are blessed to have Brian King from Stamp with Brian joining us! His projects are simply elegant and beautiful and it is an honour for him to not only join us, but for us to CASE one of his cards for our theme! In case you are not sure, CASE stands for Copy And Selectively Edit..... we take a card or project and use it to create our own. This could be the colour pallet used, the stamp set used or perhaps the sketch. Today, I have pretty much chosen all of those!

You may just be starting the blog hop here at my blog - Nicole Spicer - or may have come from the person previous to me. Be sure to click on the person listed under me further down the page to continue your journey on this blog hop.

Once again, I found it really difficult to choose just one card from the amazing cards Brian has made, so I looked more into the theme I wanted and searched on that. This then led me to this beautiful wedding card. I love Brian's classic design and the colour pallet, though with the Designer Series Paper I used, I did make one change to the original!
The thing I love about Brian's card is the way the layers make it look like you have art framed within the art!

So here is my card! I absolutely loved Brian's card so when I was planning my CASE, I wanted to try to do the opposite - reverse the colour order.

And here is a snap shot showing the colour pallet I've used on my card. It is such a classic colour combination, which is probably why I love this Designer Series Paper - Timeless Elegance.

 

Tips and Tricks

• I have embossed the sentiment with black embossing powder to look lovely and glossy against the designer series paper. 
• I have matted all my layers with Sahara Sand cardstock. I really think this is in keeping with Brian's style.
•  The stamp set Brian has used has since been retired, but I loved the Mr & Mrs sentiment. To my delight, Stampin' Up! have this beautiful set called 'For the New Two'. It is such a pretty set with a few different sentiments and images.
• I have used Victoria 5/8" Crochet Trim but this item is RETIRED. It could be replaced with Sahara Sand 7/8" Lace Trim as a currently available item.

 Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. Remember to click on the person listed under me - Nicole Spicer - to continue your journey on this blog hop.

I hope you have enjoyed my card today! Please leave me a message if you can, I love hearing your comments! Have a wonderful day!

Til next time,

Nicole x

Global Design Project #GDP031 - Rose Wonder Photopolymer Bundle

Hello peeps, thanks for stopping by! 

Today I have a card that I've made my mother in law for her birthday in a couple of weeks time. I did make it with the intention of following the challenge set by the Global Design Project, the theme of Nature.

Here is my card I've made.

Here is the challenge for you to check out! Just click on the image!

I have absolutely fallen in love with this die and stamp bundle. It is the Rose Wonder Photopolymer Bundle. The wonderful thing about purchasing this die and co-ordinating stamp sets together was that I saved 15%! It is in the current Occasions Catalogue.

 I have only purchased it recently and this was the first project I've finished using the die! I'm really happy with how it turned out.

I hope you have also liked my card! Fingers crossed my lovely Mother-in-law loves it too!

Til next time,
Nicole x

Just Add Ink #305 - Sketch Challenge

Hello again! Today we had our Crazy Crafters blog hop, with a very special guest, Dawn Griffith! After it went live and we saw all the amazing talents from our team, I was inspired! So I made these cards using the sketch from Just Add Ink's challenge #305.

Here are my cards.

And here is the link to Just Add Ink's challenge. Just click on the image :-)

I hope you like my cards, I was so happy with them. The great thing about this background design is that the sentiment can be for any occasion - not just birthdays!

Til next time,

Nicole x

TGIF challenge #tgifc49 - Colour challenge!

Hi everyone! I made a similar card to this one this morning for a colour challenge and when I stumbled on this challenge by TGIF challenges - which was also a colour challenge - I thought, "Wow! I'll make one in these colours too!". I love how this one turned out - I love these colours together! They're Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral and Bermuda Bay.

The stamp sets I've used are from the current 2015-2016 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue. The sentiment is a hostess set 'Happy Birthday, Everyone' - one you can get FREE when you spend AUD$250. The background has been stamped in the challenge colours using a stamp called 'Flowering Flourishes'.

Here is the challenge set by TGIF challenges. Click on the image to go to their blog and check out the design teams amazing projects!

Thanks for stopping by!

Til next time,
Nicole x

Global Design Project Take 2!

Hi, welcome back to my blog today! We launched the Blog Hop this morning- did you check it out!? Oh my goodness, there are some AMAZING projects on display! If you haven't, be sure to!

After looking at the awesome projects, I was totally inspired! So I am having a revisit to the Global Design Projects #GDP029 challenge!

Here is what I came up with:

Here is a reminder of the challenge! Click on the image for the link to their site!

I hope you like my card!

Til next time,
Nicole x

Crazy Crafters Blog Hop - CASEing Dawn Griffith

Hello everyone!!!!!!!! - No there is not too many exclamation marks here because YES I am so excited to be apart of this months blog hop. We have a very special guest with us - none other than Dawn Griffith!!!! Dawn is one of my favourite Stampin' Up! Demonstrators (outside of Austalia of course!). I watch all her YouTube tutorials and blog posts. In fact if I have a chance, I usually craft with Dawn....... Or maybe I just make what she is making, pausing the tutorial every few seconds so I can watch and do!

Needless to say, we are all thrilled that Dawn could make it for the first of our April Blog hops!

This month we are excited to CASE (Copy And Selectively Edit) any project that has been created by Dawn. We hope you find great inspiration from the projects. 

You may just be starting the blog hop here at my blog - Nicole Spicer - or may have come from the person previous to me. Be sure to click on the person listed under me further down the page to continue your journey on this blog hop.

I have chosen a baby card today as I have a friend that just had a surprise delivery at 34 weeks! I'll show you Dawn's card in a sec, but here is mine.

Then when you open the card, you have a "pop out swing card".  I added another panel to cover over the right hand side panel so I could write on it.

So here is the card Dawn made that inspired my project. You can find the link HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. Remember to click on the person listed under me - Nicole Spicer - to continue your journey on this blog hop.

I hope you have enjoyed my card today! Please leave me a message if you can, I love hearing your comments! Have a wonderful day!

Til next time,

Nicole x