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Scrap your Summer

Join me on the Creative Scrapbooker Magazine Blog for a Scrapbook Layout...?  Oh yeah... I went all scrappy for this post.  I am sharing my NEW about to release TINBIT TRAVELS Collection with Wild Whisper!    Swing by the    Creative Scrapbooker Magazine Blog  for a full tutorial!   PIN IT   EAT. SLEEP. CRAFT. {repeat}

Celebrate the Grind


Would you look at that!  I'm a Favourite Artist over at the Anything But Cute Challenge.  I am beyond thrilled to be considered.  

I have been following this awesome challenge blog since the beginning since my style is Anything But Cute Challenge!  


It all started with a bunch of dies... as it usually does.  The Edge die Steampunk is cut on mat board.  I used the magnetic plate for the Mixed Media Thinlit and ran it through a few times on cream cardstock.  It didn't cut all the way in the center which is perfect.  Or at least I will make it that way.


Next I prepped all my Tattered Pinecone cuts with Sizzix new Leather paper.  I always cut extra when cutting these and store all my florals in jars.


Time to experiment with the leather paper, inking and Burnt Copper Leaves Allure Powder.  The white leave is inked and the tan leather has the  Burnt Copper Leaves on the tips.


I did the same with the Hammered Metal and the black leather paper.  All lined up each leathery floral looks awesome.  YAY, it worked.


Time to experiment again.  I used the Hammered Metal on the gear.  To get a thick look I need to repeat.  But then I was looking at the Burnt Copper Leaves and thought I would layer it with a this bronze powder.  I repeated each powder 3 times for a unique metallic gear.  LOVE!


Time to prep the watercolor paper with gesso for the distress crayons.  You need a smooth surface to help the crayons to blend.  When I was happy I layered my gear stencil.  Rub off with a baby whip to expose the gears.


Now that this gear layer is done.  I went back to my cream cardstock and inked the edges with brushed corduroy.  Then added some gear stamps and sentiment.


Here's where the broken mixed media cut works.  It's a great peek at those distress crayons gears.  I meant to make that hole.  For added texture I put a strip of corrugated down then attach those gears. 


I glued the handwritten celebrate and grabbed another gear for the inside.  I stamped the sentiment from my own stamps Fallen Blossom too.


A little distress ink on the mat, some water and ribbon...then assemble.  I made some bows and attached the flowers.


Lets celebrate!


Look at those gears.


The floral tips with metallic tips.


When mistakes happen go with it...


It's nice to create for the inside too.  Something I often forget.


Keeping it grungy with a slight softness.



Thanks to the Anything But Cute Challenge blog for having me.  I am so honored to be apart of this special celebration.  Stop in and see the other amazing artists and join the challenge.  
Challenge Blog
Frilly and Funkie- Opposites Attract (blooms and gears)
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Comments

  1. Oh my gosh Nicole, I am so in love with this one!! Your combination of the cold hard metals with the soft flowers creates an amazing contrast that looks so natural together that it's hypnotizing!! I've been aching to get here to see the gears and flowers up close ever since you emailed me the sneak peek (which I couldn't open by the way, but decided to wait until today to see anyway). The techniques are just amazing and you really nailed our challenge theme by creating such a wonderful 'Nicole' project!!

    Thank you so much for your hard work on this! Your tutorial is amazing, I so enjoyed watching your process with this. I also thank you for all your support over the last year, it's a honour to have you celebrating our first blogiversary with us!! hugs, Pamellia, Anything But Cute DT :)

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    1. Thank you SOOOO much for having me. I am so thrilled to be considered <3

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  2. It's amazing and beautiful! I really liked it)))

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  3. Such a great contrast between the blooms and the cogs and your design definitely shouts out that it is Nicole's style for sure! I really love the embossing on the faux leather and your rusty gears are superb. Love your design, love your style!

    It has been truly lovely too to have you as Guest Designer and one of our favourites! Hugs, Anne xx

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  4. Nicole, this is oh so cool!!! I was just thinking about making an all neutral project, but feared it would be too drab. This is a brilliant example of how amazing it can be - with a full range of shades. The embossed flowers are now VERY HIGH on my to do list! Brilliant mix of feminine and industrial. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Anything But Cute. Hugs, Autumn

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    1. Haha Autumn, I am not sure how it came about to emboss those flowers. But it worked out. Happy it's HIGH on the list.

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  5. Oh, Nicole, I'm kicking myself for not making this one! This is simply one amazing design with all things I love, but better! First, your metal on the edge gears are the best I've seen--great idea to mix those powders up for some extra punch! And the Distress Crayon stencil gears are my favorite part of this card, and especially since you rescued that thinlit cut to high light them (just like I did on my gears card here: http://sarascloset1.blogspot.com/2016/05/scrapy-land-guest-designer-anything-goes.html

    Pretend it's a plan! And YOU did it so well! Now these pinecone flowers are so grungy amazing, I just have to ooh and aah over them, especially the Burnt Copper Leaves (that stuff is the nectar of Gods!) on the tips. But that Heavy Metal is on my list.

    Wow, Nicole, all I can say is you knocked my grungy socks off with this card, inside and out! Clever use of your sentiment there! (I just love my Nicole Wright Designs stamps!).

    A huge thank you for joining us as one of our FAVORITE ARTISTS at Anything But Cute! You truly are one of MINE! Big grungy hugs!

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  6. There are so many fabulous details here! I have lingered over every stage of this stunning card! Hugs, Chrisx

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  7. What a wonderful balance of masculine and feminine Nicole. A really lovely design. Love all that texture...gorgeous x

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  8. This is absolutely stunning!! The gears look amazing!! I'm doing a happy dance that I have those embossing powders and I can try it!! I love, love the embossed flowers, too!! This is spectacular!! I'm so glad you joined in with our Anything But Cute celebration!! You did such an amazing job!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  9. Beautiful techniques on this Nicole! love the colors, your beautiful embossed edges on the roses - the great metallic look on your gears and that wonderful die cut corner! Julia xx

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  10. Fabulous Nicole! Love the variety of ways you incorporated all those gears and the embossing is amazing, incredible finish! The florals are gorgeous and love the sentiment, beautiful card that is totally you. Congratulations on being chosen as one of Anything But Cute's favourite artists of the year! Deb xo

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  11. A fabulous card Nicole full of wonderful creative ideas. Your use of stamps, stencils, dies and other materials is amazing and as always is inspiring to see. A well deserved accolade and a brilliant post to celebrate xxx

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  12. GORGEOUS GORGEOUS card!!! I LOVE all the techniques you used too! LOVE the masculine and feminine qualities too!

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  13. Congrats Nicole, well deserved! you are always absolutely original! Barbara

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  14. Well drool much? I sure am! This just tickles me pink! Love the contrast of the feminine vintage feel with the industrial elements. Those embossing powders from Emerald Creek are so wowzers and especially in the way you have used the different colors. Hot diggity! Great tip on the priming of the paper before the distress crayons, I have been wondering about those. The way you have the peekaboo of the gears under the wire is genius! Awesome sauce pine cone flowers as well. You totally captured your style (and it is a stunning style) and then some! Bravo!

    Thank you for the continued support with our challenge blog at Anything But Cute and also for creating this design. Congrats on being one of our Favorite Artists! You geared up for this in a huge way! Fantabulous! Hugz! ~Niki

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  15. Beautiful work as always Nicole. Thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie xx

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  16. What a lot of work you have done on this. It's quite amazing!
    Congratulations!

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  17. Terrific card. Love the neutral colour palette. Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  18. wauw was the first thing i thought when i visit your blog beautiful layout,and what a great tutorial you have written,i can learn so much from you and of course am going to follow you
    gr miranda

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  19. Gorgeous! I love how used the leather paper to make your flowers! I must try that sometime - yours are simply stunning and look amazing with your metal gears!

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