A Fond Graphic 45 Farewell to Nichola Battilana
We have been so honored to have the incredible, imaginative Nichola Battilana on our team! Her incredible projects are one-of-a-kind, and we are going to miss her incomparable point of view on our team. Her unique talent makes this day on the blog extremely bittersweet! Nichola always brought whimsy, her eternal belief in fairies, and a sense of humor to her projects. Because Nichola believed in magic, magic would flow into every one of her projects. What comforts us is knowing you can always find her work at Pixie Hill Studio. We have been so grateful to have her artistry on the Design Team. Today, we will share never before seen projects, and a few of the many highlights of her time on our team.
First of all, we love this award that Nichola made using G45 Staples! We hope she awards this to herself for all the incredible projects she has created with Graphic 45. Love!
"I’ve always had a thing for awards. (Ribbons, sashes and crowns too.) Those things that symbolically represent being awesome. Maybe it’s because I didn’t play sports as a kid, that I never had a shelf full of trophies, that they appeal to me so much. When I saw the Tim Holtz trophies I knew I was going to change the fact that I did not have a trophy shelf. As luck would have it, I came across some trophy cups with the kids party favours in my local discount store. Score! Some wooden blocks and the additions of a fantastic Door Knocker, Antique Metal Door Pull, Stamped Metal Brad, and those amazing Claw Feet…. and ta-da! I’ve cobbled together something pretty special." ~Nichola
Supply List
Door Knockers
Antique Metal Door Pulls
Stamped Metal Brads
Claw Feet
Once Upon a Springtime Deluxe Collector's Edition
Small plastic trophy cups
Tim Holtz Mirrored Stars
Wooden Blocks
Small brass wings
Petaloo Bontanica Petites
Vintage Image
Just Wings Collage Sheet Transparency
Acrylic paint
White glitter
Burlap Ribbon
Hat pin
Adhesives
Next she took a mere shell of a clock and turned it into a botanical masterpiece using Botanical Tea! Love what she has to say about this project:
"I have a thing with clocks…. even broken ones… apparently even ones that are just a bare shell. I spied a big wooden clock base at a thrift shop and picked it up for just a couple of dollars. Took it home, scrubbed, painted, and sanded that sucker for a bit of distressing and then embellished it with papers from Botanical Tea and Times Nouveau (which work beautifully together!). There’s no clock face, no numbers, but I don’t think that matters much. I love this piece and it hangs proudly in my living singing ‘tick, tick, tick’." ~Nichola
Supply List
Times Nouveau - Deluxe Collector's Edition
Spring Duet
Sweet Chamomile
Wooden base
Acrylic paint
Clock mechanism
One of our many favorite things about Nichola is how generous she is with sharing amazing crafting tips! This is one of our favorite tips from Nichola - her video about fussy cutting! We have shared this one a lot because we love it so much, but if it's your first time coming across this video, make sure to give it a watch. Nichola makes fussy cutting a lot less intimidating, and a lot more fun with her tips in this video!
Nichola's Fussy Cutting Tips Video
There are so many highlights to share from Nichola's time on the Team, but here are just a few that jumped out to us. We love this Couture caravan she created using G45 Staples and more! Isn't this just the most fabulous?
Nichola's 3D projects were always complete works of art. Nichola used Bird Song and butterflies from Olde Curiosity Shoppe to make this amazing design!
Nichola made this gorgeous piece using French Country and Petaloo flowers. What a perfect piece of Fall decor!
This is a gorgeous Time to Flourish calendar that Nichola made with a fabulous tutorial earlier this year. Make one yourself with her great Snapguide below!
Nichola's Calendar Snapguide Tutorial
This is a fantasticly detailed Typography printer's tray Nichola created. We love how she uses her fabulous found items in her projects to make such memorable pieces.
So many of us G45ers adore Harry Potter. Well, Nichola created one of our favorite projects with various collections - cards to represent the Hogwarts houses! Aren't these just magnificent? Perfect for all of us Potterheads.
Nichola created this adorable altered project with Precious Memories. She even handmade that precious bunny. How fabulous is this?
These present toppers are just perfect for the holidays. We love this great holiday idea to spruce up your gifts!
This was a favorite project of Nichola's - her Typography postal box! It opens to reveal one of Nichola's classic miniature scenes. She was a master creator of miniatures and whimsical scenes on the tiniest scale. What a favorite!
You can always use a gift box and card! Nichola made hers with Raining Cats & Dogs, and she shares the templates to make your own below. So amazing!
We just love this By the Sea shadowbox from Nichola. Don't you love how she put this on wheels? The metal touches are just perfection.
Another By the Sea masterpiece! Nichola's Punch & Judy theatre! Isn't this the most fun? Check out her video on this project below. Love love it!
Nichola's Punch & Judy Theatre Video Tutorial
Nichola, thank you for sharing your love for creating with us the last 2 years. Your projects are always memorable, beautiful, and full of wit and whimsy. We know you will keep creating absolutely fabulous things with Pixie Hill Studio and your artistry will continue to bring joy to so many. Thanks for sharing your crafting wisdom with us through the years, and letting us into your creative world. It has truly been an honor. All of our gratitude and best wishes!
Keep Up with Nichola Battilana!
Follow Nichola on her Pixie Hill Studio Facebook Page
Thank you for joining us today, G45ers. These fond farewells are so bittersweet, but such wonderful celebrations of these Designers we just adore. Thank you so much, Nichola. Have a wonderful Sunday!
Happy Papercrafting,
The G45 Family
Want to try these projects out? Visit your LSS or order online today! Graphic 45 Store Locator Link Here
Lindo!
Posted by: Bia Nunes | June 07, 2015 at 06:48 AM
I so loved those Hogwart's banners! Such a clever project! Loved your fussy cutting tips...very useful. Thank you for sharing your work with us!
Posted by: Martie Rollin | June 07, 2015 at 12:16 PM
Nichola gave us a wide range of beautiful, creative projects. My favorite was the calendar using the mixed media box. It is really difficult to pick one - they are all so lovely.
Posted by: Cathy Osborne | June 07, 2015 at 05:00 PM
Nichola, you will be so very missed on the pages of Graphic 45's projects you have such a unique and beautiful craft style. Good luck on your future projects come back and see us all sometime.
Posted by: Denise Sullivan | June 07, 2015 at 07:11 PM
Going to so miss Nichola's projects.
Posted by: Carol Mc | June 07, 2015 at 07:59 PM
So many sad good-bye's this past week! I feel like I'm losing some old friends. I've enjoyed watching the creativity grow with each and every project that has been shared with us. Best of luck to you Nichola in all your future endeavors.
Posted by: Karen Itzenhuiser | June 07, 2015 at 10:17 PM
Noooo!! Say it ain't so! Oh my gosh, she will be sooo missed. I'm following all her links to keep in touch. Her Pinterest? It's like stepping onto the pages of a storybook. I just adore her whimsy.
Posted by: Terri Burson | June 07, 2015 at 10:28 PM
Your projects have been fantastic. I'll miss not getting to see them on here.
Posted by: Linda Storey | June 08, 2015 at 07:34 AM
Nichola will be sorely missed. I have subscribed to her blog so I can continue to see her many wonders.
Posted by: MaggieM | June 08, 2015 at 09:03 AM