A CARD, ANOTHER APOLOGY, AND A NEW HOME!!!!!!

Oh my goodness! I really can't believe that it's been so many MONTHS since I last posted!!!!
I'm so sorry that I haven't been around to visit you all, or replied to your emails.
I always seem to be apologising for not keeping up with you all, when you are all so very sweet to still drop by to leave me messages, and I really hope that you will all forgive me!

The reason that I have been so busy is because we decided to make quite a big decision to quit living in London, and move 150 miles away!

We have been spending a LOT of time commuting between both places while I still stayed on at my job, but are now ready to make the move permanently. ( So I hope that you can understand why I had no time to create or visit your blogs!)

Now I'm going to have to apologise to you all AGAIN!!! as Our Internet will soon be disconnected here, so I will have very limited access to visit you and may also disappear again until we have it connected again at our new home. ( where I finally have a crafting room all of my very own!!!! Ahhhhh! pure bliss!!!!!!!

So please bear with me, I fully intend to return to blogging and catch up with all your gorgeous creations again!

And Ta da! I DO actually have a card to share with you! ( which I made in October!!) I made this card for my Auntie Sandra's 60th Birthday! and I thought that this Sarah Kay image would be perfect, as she loves anything in an "old fashioned" style. I created the message using my computer, and the beautiful felt flowers were sent to me in the lovely RAK shown in the post below from Risa. (thank you! I love them!)

Thank you all so much again for your friendship, I'll catch up with you all again once we are settled into our new home! Love Nicola xx

I'M BACK!-AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO RISA FOR MY LOVELY RAK!

It's been a long while! but I am finally back! THANK YOU so much to everyone who was kind enough to leave me a message in my absence, it means such a lot to me!
It's going to take me a while to get around to catching up with you all again, so please bear with me for now, but please know that I appreciate each and everyone one of you, who took the time to stop by and leave me a message. Your kindness is much appreciated and I look forward to catching up with you again soon!
and speaking of kindness, I just had to share this fabulous RAK which I received from Risa (Malieta)
I'm completely overwhelmed by her generosity, she sent me such an amazing selection of fabulous crafting goodies! and this stunning card, which is absolutely beautiful and super sparkly too!
There are goodies for Halloween, pretty flowers, gorgeous ribbon, stamped images to colour, and just check out the fabulous Just Johanna Strawberry stamp!
Thank you so much for my special surprise Risa!, I'm absolutely over the moon with all the fab goodies that you sent me!

BLOGGING BREAK

Most of you have probably noticed that for the past few months I've been pretty slack in my blogging, and even slacker at returning your lovely comments.

I'm just not finding enough time these days to create, or get on the computer, so I've decided to have a blogging break and come back when I have more time to commit to regular postings, and more time to visit you all and show you the kind of support that you have shown me.

I definitely WILL be back! I just don't know when yet. If by any chance you would be interested in finding out when I am back, you can fill in the Feedblitz section on my sidebar, then you should be sent an email when I start up again.

and just for the record, I'm perfectly well and everything is absolutely fine, life is just kinda busy right now! Thank you sooooooo much for being such great blogging buddies! I've had great fun meeting you all, and I really hope to be back soon! xx

FOR BEING YOU......

Yaay! I finally got some time to craft! Today's card was made using this cute image that Deb sent to me, which I coloured in with watercolour pencils.

The sentiment is from a Stampin Up set called Best Blossoms, and the pretty pink crocheted flower was sent to me in a RAK by Vickie.

I was also lucky enough to receive some more awards! so thank you very much to Debby and Sally-Ann for passing them on to me.

BUTTON BABY

Today's card was made using these gorgeous papers that I downloaded from http://www.vicki20.blogspot.com/, the set is called Blue earth and I thought that they would be perfect for a baby card!

The "sweet baby" sentiment is a wooden studio G stamp, and I also added some buttons from my stash.

FLOWERS AND BUTTONS

Today's flowers and buttons card was inspired by this beautiful card by Lauren. Lauren probably doesn't realise how much of a HUGE fan I am of hers! I just love her style and think that her cards are always stunning!

The flower stamp that I used was actually from a children's foam stamp set that I got in a pound shop! It also has some other fun shapes that I haven't played with yet, including a strawberry!-what a bargain!

The sentiment is by Hero arts and the card blank that I used, was sent to me with lots of other fun stuff by Latisha. Is it called Kraft?! It's the first time that I have used this type of card and I love it! Thanks Latisha!

and also a huge thanks to Susan for giving me another award! I'm blessed to have such great blogging friends! xx

THANK YOU JENNY!

Don't ya just love coming home from a hard day at work to find yummy goodies waiting for you?! Yep!!! Me too! This gorgeous RAK is from Jenny.

She sent me this beautiful card, the cutest little Tilda ATC, and some fun Penny Black images to colour!

Thank's so much Jenny! I love them!

REMEMBER.....

Sorry guys! I've not been a very good blogging buddy lately, I really do appreciate your visits, I'm just a bit snowed under with other commitments at the moment. I hope that I will be back blogging AND blog visiting on a regular basis really soon!!

For now, I'll leave you with another strawberry card that was made with my freebie stamp, a rub on sentiment, and some coloured raffia.

Also many thanks to Angelo and Crazycards for giving me some more awards!-Much appreciated! xx

POLKA DOT HEART

Here is another card made with one of the lovely SU images that Pascale sent to me.

I just adore the cute polka dot heart image, this time I've gone for a turquoise colour scheme, and the patterned card was from the same kit as yesterday.

I know that I still haven't managed to return all your comments yet, It's been a busy week! I'm hoping to catch up on my blog hopping over the weekend. So take care and I'll catch up with you soon! and don't forget to check out my blog candy sidebar link, which has been updated today.

LITTLE ELEPHANT

Isn't this lil elephant a cutie?!! He was one of the lovely SU images that Pascale sent to me.

The patterned card came with a kit from a magazine, I've had it for quite a while and I thought that the bright colours would look fun with the elephant image.

The black ribbon and mini brads were from my stash and the "hello" sentiment is from one of the stamp sets that Tina sent to me.

CHERISH ALWAYS

I stamped the pink swirl using a Paper Artsy stamp, and then rubbed a rub on sentiment over the top of it.

The gorgeous pink polka dot paper was a freebie from a craft magazine, and I also used it to punch some flower embellishments.

I was lucky enough to win some more awards, this time from The very lovely Tina and Femke.

Thank you both so much ladies!

CANDY WINNINGS!!!!

How lucky am I?!!!!! I won the fabulous Magnolia candy that was hosted by Andrea! Just look at the fabulous stamps and goodies that I received! and you know how much I hate mounting my stamps?!!! well, I Love these sooooooo much that I have mounted these little beauties already!!
They are gorgeous, and I can't wait to use the fabby buttons, flowers and papers too!
AND!! Andrea also sent me this most adorable card! I have to tell you that her colouring skills look even more fabulous in real life, and there are even pretty glittery sparkles on the flower centres too! Thanks so much Andrea!

MOMENTS......

I Just realised that I created this card with no stamping today!

The sentiment is a rub on, the patterned paper is from the Crafts Central pic and mix section.

The buttons are from my stash, and the teeny watch embellishment is by Dress it up.

The lushious wide brown ribbon which I thought matched perfectly, was sent to me in a RAK by the lovely Latisha.

A BOX!

Firstly, sorry that I've been really rubbish at returning your comments! It does take me a while to catch up after a break!

I DID manage to do a little stamping today! and actually this is quite adventurous for me! I made a box! Apart from a couple of ATC's, I'm quite sure that there are only cards on my blog!

I stamped the white panels with a swirly Paper Artsy stamp, and the beautiful hand crocheted flower on the top, was sent to me by Anne! Isn't she clever! I think that her flowers are so pretty! I added a pearl brad in the centre and the ferns are Sizzix die cuts.

AWARDS

I have been given a couple of different awards this week by Paylin, Valerie, Jenny and Shelly. ( Thank you ladies! ) I don't always post my awards, even though I am very grateful to receive them, as I really HATE having to chose who I am going to pass them on to!
I think that you are all fantastic, and would hate to miss anyone out!
Instead I would like to invite you all to check out my favourite blogs which you can find in my sidebar, there's lots of inspiration to be found and I am still updating it daily!

and on this occasion I am going to point you in the direction of one of my favourite bloggers and give Shashi a special mention. Shashi is a VERY talented doll maker, her creations are exceptionally beautiful, I find it thrilling to visit her blog and see her magical creations! and I'm sure that you will too!

PEACOCK CARD

Hi everyone! It's been a while, but I'm back!

Thanks so much to everyone who left me a comment/email in the past week, you guys are the BEST!!! I will try my hardest to catch up with you all in the next few days.

I have Anna to thank for this design, as she sent me the stunning Stamped Peacock image, which I believe is by Elusive Images AND the beautiful multi coloured ribbon AND the gorgeous glittery green fibres!

The paper is Amy Butler, and I thought that It was perfect for the image! I did have a better photo, but I accidentally deleted it! ( Whooops! ) and don't know how to get it back!

LOVE WHAT YOU DO..........

These adorable SU heart images were also in the RAK that Pascale sent to me! I have also used some more paper from my Junkitz Salsa pad, and the sentiment and swirl in the corner are rub ons.

The black ribbon was found in my stash.

LET'S EAT CAKE!

Isn't this little cake image adorable! It was sent to me in a RAK by Pascale. I thought that the image would look perfect with this fun cupcake paper by Junkitz!

The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is by Inkadinkado, and the dotty ribbon is from Hobby Craft.

THANK YOU ANNE!

How lucky am I? I came home from work today to find a package waiting for me......

Inside were all these fabulous goodies from Anne!

Knowing how much I love strawberries, Anne kindly offered to send me some of her strawberry die cuts! - I was very cheeky and asked if Anne could also send me some of her stamped elephant images! she very sweetly obliged, and stamped them onto beautiful textured card too!

(there are more elephant images than you can see in the pic!)

Just take a look at the gorgeous stamped and coloured envelope that the images were in! and the Oh! so cute strawberry note card!

Anne also sent me these BEAUTIFUL flowers that she crocheted herself! they are absolutely stunning! and I can't wait to use them!

Thanks a million Anne! I am thrilled with my goodies! xx

NO STAMPING TODAY!

No stamping today! I had to make a quick wedding card for a funky bride! so the colours are very bright!

The sentiment was printed using my computer, the flower, dotty brad and black ribbon are from my stash, and the gorgeous paper was sent to me in a RAK from Vickie.