Cheers!

Good evening friends!

There's now only 1 day left until Christmas, and I'm so pleased that the term has now finished. I have a list as long as both arms, and I'm rapidly running out of time to get things done and sorted!

Once again, I missed (with some style!) the start of this week's new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs ... sorry girls! But I'm here now to share my belated card with you. But firstly, you'll want to know both the theme of the challenge, which this week is Christmas - Mistletoe or Holly.

Our lovely sponsor this week is the team from Bugaboo Stamps, who have kindly provided some images for the DT to work with. Thanks guys! Make sure you head over there because as well as the goodies the girls and I have been working with, there's always a "Friday Freebie" ... and who doesn't like a freebie?

And here is my card for you this week:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White, cut, scored and folded to make a 12cm square card
• Design Papers - are by Paulette at Create with TLC and are called Christmas Royal Snowflakes. They were a freebie on Paulette's blog a few weeks ago, and I love the rich colours she's put together
• Image -  is called JJ Christmas - Cheers. I brought this rather tipsy one to life courtesy of my Spectrum Noir Pens and my Silver Gel Pen
• Sentiment - is alo by Paulette at Create with TLC. I think it was a freebie last year, but it could have equally well been part of one of the Christmas clubs.
• Snowflakes - punched from Centura Pearl in Snow White and then I stuck a clear gem from stash to the centre of each.

Do check out the Incy Wincy Designs blog and see the other gorgeous Christmas cards featuring Holly or Mistletoe by my talented team-mates. Then come back and show us your seasonal projects - due to my total ineptitude, you've only got a few hours left to get your creations linked up. This is our last challenge for 2012 and we're taking a break for a couple of weeks - we'll be back with our first challenge of 2013 on 7th January!


I would like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas ... I hope that Santa is very kind to you!


Hugs,
Helen x

Make new friends and keep the old ...

... One is silver and the other gold.

This is one of my favourite vespers that I have sung around a campfire at many national and international Guide events and is a nice reminder that we can keep what we hold dear. You may wonder why this post has started in such a thought provoking way. Well, this morning I bring sad news.

Today is the launch of the final challenge at The Crafty Pad as our lovely "boss" Debbie has reached the difficult decision to close both The Crafty Pad Shop and the blog. Whilst everyone at The Crafty Pad Blog is sad that we're closing, this is the right path for Debbie to take at this time. The eagle-eyed amongst you will have realised that I normally post for The Crafty Pad every fortnight.   However for our final hurrah, Debbie and Leesa & Dawn (our wonderful DT Co-ordinators who keep us all on the straight and narrow) have said we can all come out to play ... whoo hoo!!!!!!!!!!! And our final challenge theme is perfect for the occasion ... Friendship, Keep In Touch and Goodbye!

Our sponsor for you this week is the the fabby team from Joanna Sheen who are offering this week's lucky winner a £10 voucher to their online store ... just in case Santa misses anything off your Christmas list!!!!!



Debbie (our lovely Crafty Pad boss) has let the DT loose in the store for one final time, and here is the card I've made for you this week using one of Debbie's gorgeous images, and a very apt sentiment:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory, which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Paper - is called My Sister's Quilt 2  and it was one of goodies from Paulette's May 2012 Club at Create with TLC.
• Image - this beautiful scene is called Girl at Wishing Well by Debbie at The Crafty Pad. I hope that she's making a great wish as she tosses those 2 silver coins into the well! I've brought this sweetie to life using my Spectrum Noir pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Hair - GB8, GB10
• Dress - LV1, LV2, LV3
• Shoes - True Black
• Wishing Well - EB1, EB2, TN7, TN8, DG2, DG4, BGR1, IG2, IG4
• Sky - Chalk in Light Blue
• Grass - Chalks in Green and Dark Green
• Sentiment - is also by Debbie at The Crafty Pad and it's perfect for this weeks theme. It is called Imprints Sentiment and to keep things simple, I have just drawn round the inside edge of the ticket with my silver gel pen.

• Metal Heart Embellishment - this is a great "cheat" and I made this following this Faux Metal Tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers. I used an offcut of Neenah Card, onto which I heated 4 layers of silver embossing powder, before imprinting this little heart stamp. The embossing powder and stamp came from a bargain 50p bag of stamping bits and pieces that I bought at my Church's Autumn Fete!

Now's the chance for you to grab your favourite Crafty Pad images whilst you can. Everything is on sale in The Crafty Pad Store at 25% off until 6th January 2013 ... so go and grab yourself a bargain or two!

Please do hop over to The Crafty Pad and see the gorgeous creations by the rest of Design Team and please leave all the girls some blog love for all the fabulous creations they've shared week in and week out. Then come back and show us your creations. You've got until 8pm (GMT) on Saturday 22nd December 2012 to link your cards up and we'll be announcing our final winner and Top 5 on Thursday 27th December.

I would just like to add a huge "Thank You" to Debbie, Leesa and Dawn who invited me to join the Crafty Pad team in the Spring. It's only been a very short 8 months, but I've had a ball and I've loved showcasing the wonderful images. And, using my opening lines, we'll all go on to make new friends in Blogland, but I will keep in touch with all my 'old' Crafty Pad friends. And do pop in to visit me from time to time won't you ... you'll be very welcome!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge:

• Challenge #200 - Wise Words at Crafty Creations

Have a great Sunday!

Helen x

A Snowy Recipe

Good morning friends,



Welcome to another Sunday morning, and new challenge time at The Crafty Pad. Tina is this week's hostess, and her challenge for the Team A girls and you this week is A Recipe - 3 Snowflakes, 2 Ribbons and 1 Sentiment.

The wonderful team at Robyn's Fetish are our sponsors this week, and they're offering this week's lucky winner 5 Digis of your choice! They've also been kind enough to provide the DT with images to showcase.





And here is my project this week:

My tag recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Kingfisher (which came in a Brights pack from Crafter's Companion, which they don't appear to have on their website at the moment). I embossed this using the largest tag shape on my Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats and I then very carefully cut out round the scalloped edge.
• Image - this lovely snowlady is called gorgeous  Bella Da Snowlady by Robyn's Fetish... how cute and cool is she? I have brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Hearts - CR11
• Nose - OR1
• Coat - BT1, BT2, BT4, BT5
• Scarf & Hat - BT1, BT2, BT5, BT6
• Shading of Snow - IG1, IG2
• Outline - IG1
• Sentiment - by Debbie at (Crafty Pad Designs) and is one from a set of 11 Christmas Sentiment Tickets. There are various sentiments in this collection to suit most occasions. I took the sentiment into my word processing package and changed the colour to an aqua shade, to match with my tag and colouring. As you may have seen in my post of last week, Debbie has taken the difficult decision to close her store in the new year, and currently everything is on sale at 25% off until 6th January 2013 ... so go and grab yourself a bargain or two!
• Snowflakes - punched in two different sizes from Centura Pearl card  in Snow White
• Ribbons - from my stash and threaded through a hole in the top of my tag which I made using my smaller snowflake punch. The Sparkly Merry Christmas ribbon is truly scrumptious and is gold flecked as well as having this lovely sentiment printed through it ... I'm sorry that my photo doesn't really do it justice!

In the meantime, do hop over to The Crafty Pad and see the gorgeous creations by the rest of Team A. Then come back and show us your creations using our Recipe! You've got until 8pm (GMT) on Saturday 15th December 2012 to link your cards up.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Red and Blue at Winter Wonderland
• #166 Technique Challenge - Embossing at Just Us Girls
• Challenge #34 - Label/Tag Big or Small at Crafty Ribbons 
• Challenge #11 - Tags at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge

Have a good weekend!

Hugs, Helen x

NB: Links to product and store removed in February 2018 as it was brought to my attention that the store has closed and domain name now suggests inappropriate content .... 

What Cuties!

Hello friends!

This is a very special post as it is my 100th! Who would have thought just 18 short months ago that a) I would still be going strong with cardmaking and b) that I would still be blogging? Thank you to you all, whether you follow me regularly or occasionally, for your encouraging comments and your friendship!

Over the last couple of week's I've been a very bad blogger and missed some challenges. We're coming to the end of decorating our study (aka my secret craft room) and for the last 2 months our computer has been in the dining room, which has been proving exceedingly problematic as I need to keep my card addiction away from my other half! However, a new carpet is being fitted later today and we'll be bringing the furniture back from storage, so very soon the house of Mamma Mia should return to an even keel and be more crafty!!!!! :o)


I missed the start of this week's new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs which was unveiled yesterday. However, I'm here today! Our challenge theme for you this week is Non-Traditional Christmas Colours.

 Our lovely sponsor this week is the exceedingly talented Krista from Saturated Canary who has very kindly provided some of her gorgeous images for the DT girls to work with this week. Thanks Krista!

And here is my card for you, using burgundy, lavender and jade green as the colour scheme:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White, cut, scored and folded to make a 13cm square card
• Design Papers - are from the recently completed Winter Club by Paulette at Create with TLC. They are Better Watch Out Paper 6  and Bells on Christmas Day Paper.
• Image - this gorgeous image is called Snow Blower and the image comes with 3 sentiments, although I haven't used them here. I have brought this cute pair to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Eyes - DG6
• Hair - GB8, GB10, LV2
• Scarf & Mittens - DR7, True Black
• Jacket - LV1, LV2, DG3
• Leggings - DG3, JG6
• Socks - LV1, LV2, DR7
• Boots - DR7, True Black, DG3
• Elephant - PP3, PP4, PP5
• Snow - EB1, Chalk in White
• Outline - GG1
• Clouds - Chalk in Light Blue
• Sentiment - by Debbie at (Crafty Pad Designs) and is one from a set of 29 Merry Christmas Sentiments. There are sentiments for family members as well as more generic ones like the Merry Christmas Snowflake that I've used on this card. I have edge distressed the sentiment using Chalk in Dark Green. Debbie has taken the difficult decision to close her store in the new year, and currently everything is on sale at 25% off until 6th January 2013 ... so go and grab yourself a bargain or two!
• Holographic Embossing Powder - from my stash, which I applied and heated with my new acquisitions, a Versamark Ink Pen and a proper heat gun thanks to the voucher I won in October on the Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog!

Do check out the Incy Wincy Designs blog and see the other gorgeous Christmas cards with Non Traditional Colours that have been created by my talented teamies and this week's Guest Designer (and former teamie) Annette Then come back and show us your projects - you've got until Sunday 9th December 2012 to link your creations up.


I would like to enter this card into the following challenge:

• Challenge #189 - Non-Traditional Christmas Colours at Digital Tuesday Challenge
• Challenge #44 - Holiday Cheer at Love to Create
• Challenge #68 - Bingo at Aud Sentiments - I'm claim the top line of Use the word "Merry", Embossing and Snow
• Winter Holiday Creations at Pixie Dust Studio

Hugs,
Helen x

Poinsettia for Christmas

Hi,

It's another Monday and  it's new challenge time at Lexi's Creations -  this time Susan is looking forward to Christmas ... nice and simple!!!

Our wonderful sponsor this time is Priyanka from My Heart Pieces. The prize that is up for grabs this week is 3 of Priyanka's lovely digital images. Pop over to her blog to check out her cute digis.



Lexi has, once again, let the DT loose in her on-line store again (thanks Lexi!) and this is the card I have made to show to you today using one of her gorgeous digis:



My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Red (originally from a pack of Christmas colours) which is cut, scored and folded into a Triangular Tri-Fold card around 10cm square.
• Image - This beautiful flower is "Layered Poinsettia" and it is just one of the gorgeous images to have come from the pen of Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts. I brought it to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in shades CR11,DR1, DG3, DG4, IG1. I then hand stitched a small seed bead as the centre of the flower as I layered up the bracts.
• Sentiment - is from the Christmas Sentiment Tickets set by Debbie at The Crafty Pad . I've coloured the holly brerries and leaves in the same shades as the poinsettia.
• Ribbon - from my stash

Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see the gorgeous creations by my talented team-mates - don't forget to come back and share your creations with us! You've got until Saturday 8th December 2012 to link your cards up.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Delightfully Red and Green at Delightful Challenges
• Challenge #53 - Traditional Christmas Colours at Whimsy Stamps
• More than One Fold at Come and Get It Challenges (Second Entry)
• HIMCR #73 - Christmas! at Hiding in My Craft Room
• Monthly Challenge #27 - Christmas at Little Claire's Designs
• Challenge #1 - It's All About Christmas at Paper Creator's Crafts

Hugs, Helen x

A Sparkly Fairy

Good morning friends,

I'm really sorry - this post is coming out slightly later than it should be. Hubby and I saw the Human League last night, and it was only as we were driving over to Bournemouth that I remembered that I hadn't written my post up. The band were totally brilliant though, and by the end of the evening virtually everyone in the hall was on their feet bopping around ... my feet are rather sore this morning as I usually wear 'flats' and last night went out in heels!!!



Anyway, it being Sunday morning, it's time for a new challenge at The Crafty Pad and Pauline has set the challenge for Team A this week. Our theme for you is Add Some Glitter.

You'll love this week's sponsor. It's the fabby team from Joanna Sheen who are offering this week's lucky winner a £10 voucher to their online store ... having recently won a voucher which I've just spent, I can vouch for the fact that there are loads of goodies there to tempt a girl!!!



Debbie (our lovely Crafty Pad boss) has let the DT loose in the store again, and here is the card I've made for you this week using one of Debbie's gorgeous images, and the matching sentiment:

 

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory, which I have cut, scored and folded to make a circular side stepper card.
• Design Papers - is one of the recent goodies from the Winter Club at Create with TLC. This one is called December Snows Paper 7 in this gorgeous red/pink colour combination.
• Image - this beautiful fairy is called  Fairy Chloe on Daisies by Debbie at The Crafty Pad. I've  taken a slight liberty and tried to give Chloe and her daisies a bit of a Christmas look and to do this I used my Spectrum Noir pens in the following colours:
• Dress - BP1, BP2
• Wings - PP1, PP3, PP4 and some white glitter to give a sparkly highlight
• Hair - GB3, GB4, GB5
• Tiara - White Glitter
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6, GB2
• Shoes - BP2, BP6
• Flowers - CR8, CR10, EB7, GB10 and that White Glitter again!
• Leaves - CG2, CG4
• Sentiment - is also by Debbie at The Crafty Pad and goes perfectly with Fairy Chloe. It is called Fairy Bling Happy Birthday Circle and I have distressed the edge using a Papermania pigment ink cube in a hot pink shade (I've just discovered The Range, as I joined a friend for lunch there last week!). This, of course, had to be blinged up ... so I set to work with my pot of white glitter again!

The weather looks a bit better now, so I'm going to try and get a clear close-up view of my card for you ... I'll post back later.

In the meantime, do hop over to The Crafty Pad and see the gorgeous creations by the rest of Team A. Then come back and show us your creations to which you've Added some Glitter! You've got until 8pm (GMT) on Saturday 1st December 2012 to link your cards up.

With the help of the girls at Feline Playful (thanks girls!) I would like to enter the following challenge:

 

• More than One Fold at Come and Get It Challenges
• Celebration with Sparkle at Eclectic Ellapu
• No Squares Allowed at That Craft Place
• Challenge 159 - Don't be Square! at Totally Gorjuss
   

Hope you have a great weekend and if you're doing "stir up Sunday" hope it goes well for you ... our Christmas Cake was made a couple of weekends ago, so I'm ahead on that one this year!

Hugs, Helen x

Me and My Snowman

Hello friends and welcome to Monday! It's new challenge time over at Incy Wincy Designs and this week's challenge is Hip to be Square! Perfect ... lots of my cards are square!!!!!!!!!

Our lovely sponsor this week is Gerda from The Stamp Fairy who has not only provided some gorgeous images for the DT girls to work with this week, but is also offering this week's lucky winner a $10 Gift Certificate to her store! Now that's a great prize!

As soon as I saw the images Gerda had offered the DT, I knew I wanted to use this cute one ... and here is the card I've made for your inspiration this week (several squares!):
 

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White, cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - a new release in the Create with TLC Winter Club called December Snows Paper 6. I just love the colours of them ... thanks for a lovely goodie Paulette!
• Image - this gorgeous couple are called Mimi Winter 4 and I have brought the pair to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens
• Snowflakes - punched in 2 different sizes from Centura Pearl card in Snow White
• Ribbon - is 3mm Galena Opal wired ribbon from my stash, and was part of a Fantastic Ribbons blog candy I won last autumn from the lovely Annette

Do check out the Incy Wincy Designs blog and see how it's Hip to be Square! The DT has been joined this week by the November Guest Designer Paula, AND Annette and Gerda from The Stamp Fairy DT have joined us as well to give you even more inspiration!!!! Do come back and show us your projects - you've got until Sunday 25th November 2012 to link your creations up.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge:

• Cold & Frosty at Joanna Sheen

 Have a great week.

Hugs,
Helen x

Thank you with flowers

This is my second post of the day - please scroll down to see my first post



Hello again, crafty ones!

It's new challenge day at Lexi's Creations and this time Susan has set us the challenge of Thanks/Thanksgiving.  You could make a card using autumnal colours giving thanks for everything that has happened through the year, or you could make a card that say "Thanks" to someone.

Our sponsor for this fortnight's challenge is the lovely Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts, who (as well as letting the DT loose in her store to choose images to showcase for this challenge) is offering our lucky winner 5 Digital Stamps from her store. Not only will you find the gorgeous digital images there, you'll also find rubber stamps and lots of other fabulous crafting goodies like Viva Decor, Promarkers, a variety of lace and ribbons, embellishments, flowers, charms etc. and all at fantastic prices ... now that's well worth a visit!

I have made a "Thank You" card and, without further ado, here it is:

  

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - pre-made A6 card in cream
• Design Papers - from a mini pack called Spring Jubilee by Pink Paislee which came as a cover freebie with Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine earlier in the year.
• Image - this gorgeous bouquet of flowers is called Roses and is by Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts. I have brought them to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Roses - PP3, PP4, PP5,
• Seedheads - Silver Gel Pen
• Foliage - BT2, BT4
• Wrap - EB1, EB2
• Ribbon - CR6, CR8
• Outline - BT1
• Sentiment - is by Paulette from Create with TLC and was one of the freebies on her blog in August this year. I have used my silver gel pen to make the sentiment sparkle a bit (if you click on the photo above to "supersize" it you can see this)
• Paperclip - from the stationery pot on my computer desk

Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see how my talented teamies are saying Thanks or celebrating Thanksgiving.  Don't forget to come back and share your creations with us! You've got until Saturday 24th November 2012 to link your cards up.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Challenge 10 - Thank You at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge
• Use Office Stationery at Ladybug Crafts Ink
• Thanks or Thankgiving (with a sentiment) at Sentimental Sundays

Hope you have a great and crafty week!

Hugs, Helen x

Fight Like a Girl!

This is my first post of the day - please scroll up to see my second post

Good morning friends and it's Monday again ... now, please own up - who took several days out of last week because I can't believe we're here again!

It's time for a new challenge over at Incy Wincy Designs and today our challenge theme is Girl Power!

Our sponsor this week is wonderful team at KennyK who have provided some lovely images for the DT girls to work with this week.

My card started life following a sketch on a challenge blog, but quickly took on a layout of it's own:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White, cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - from the Angel Mother set by by Summer at Summertime Designs. They are Pink Dots Paper, Polka Dots Paper, Striped Paper. I've managed to digitally mat and layer these papers, using a broad line in a toning colour, so my card is not so bulky!
• Image - this totally feisty girl is called  Breast Cancer Fighter ( I wish I looked this good in my gym kit ... ah well, a girl has gotta to have some dreams!) and I have brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3, PP5
• Eyes - TN7
• Plaster - EB2
• Hair - GB1, GB3, GB4, GB5 (still not sure I'm getting hair right!)
• Top - DR1, DR3
• Joggers - GB8, GB10
• Gloves - DR5, DR7
• Trainers - True Black
• Outline - IG1
• Sentiments - by Debbie at (Crafty Pad Designs) and were amongst the Breast Cancer freebies she gave away on The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog in September to help my incredibly brave Crafty Pad Teamie Dawn raise a whole load of money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer
• Twine - from my stash

Do check out the Incy Wincy Designs blog and see the other great cards celebrating Girl Power that have been created by my talented teamies and this week's Guest Designer (and former teamie) Annette. Then come back and show us your projects - you've got until Sunday 18th November 2012 to link your creations up.

Hugs,
Helen x



Blowing gently

Good morning friends,

A very quick post from me which I will update later ... got mega family things going on at the mo.



It's time for a new challenge at The Crafty Pad and this week's challenge has been set by Diane. The theme is Cake.

This week's lovely sponsor is Tracey from The Stamping Boutique who is giving this week's lucky winner 3 digital images of their choice. Tracey has also provided some digis for the DT to work with and I chose this gorgeous Birthday Fairy.

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory, which I have cut, scored and folded to make a stepper card. This is the first time I've made one of these without following a template, and I'm not sure if I've got it quite right!
• Design Papers - are from the May 2012 Crafter's Companion Member's Download called Spring has Sprung.
• Image - this gorgeous fairy is Birthday Fairy by Tracey Malnofski at The Stamping Boutique. I've brought this tender moment to life using my Spectrum Noir pens mainly in turquoise and pink (definitely my fave colours of the moment as they're featuring quite regularly on my cards!) and a silver gel pen to highlight the wings, the fairy's jewellery and wand, and the cake. If you click on the picture, you can supersize it to check out that sparkle!
• Sentiment - is, of course, by the talented Paulette at Create with TLC and was a freebie she gave away on her blog in August. I imported the image into my word processing programme and tweaked the colour to a shade of turquoise, to tie in with the colours used on my the image and papers.

Head over to The Crafty Pad and see the gorgeous creations by the rest of Team A. Then come back and show us your Cake creations! You've got until 8pm (GMT) on Saturday 17th November 2012 to link your cards up.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge:

• Your favourite Colour Combination (using a Crafter's Companion Product) at Crafter's Companion
  
  

Hope you have a great weekend.

Hugs, Helen x



With Thanks and Love

Good morning my crafty friends and welcome to another Monday! I'm back to school today, after having the week off for half term - I can say that having a quick week's break is enough to refresh me, ready for the 7 week run-in to Christmas!

It's new challenge day at Incy Wincy Designs and today our challenge theme is Giving Thanks. We'd like to see your projects that say "Thanks" or "Thank you" on them.

Our lovely sponsor this week is the superbly talented Krista of Saturated Canary, and she has kindly supplied each of the DT members with their choice of digi to use for this challenge. My challenge was which one of the pretty images to use. I did manage to make a decision (lol!) and here is my card for you today:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White, cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - my base paper is from the Vintage Grunge Postcard Collection by Debbie at Crafty Pad Designs. By loading the image into my word processing package, I have been able to tweak the colour to an aqua shade so that it matches the blue tones in the middle layer on my card. This middle layer is called Red Wallpaper Paper, from the Comforts of Home Kit and it has been designed by Summer at Summertime Designs. I have tool distressed the edges of these two layers
• Image - this totally gorgeous girl is Love Letters and I have brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Eyes - DG4
• Lips - DR7
• Hair - GB1, GB8, GB10 - I've tried to get some 'shine' in her hair ... not sure if I've managed it or not?
• Top - EB1, EB2, DR7, DG2, DG3
• Trousers - TB1, TB2, TB9
• Envelope - DR7
• Outline - BGR1
• Clouds - Chalk in Light Blue, using this wonderful tutorial on making realistic clouds by Annette. I'm not sure I've got it quite right, but it beats my clip art cloud on a repositionable note hands down! ;o)
• Heart Confetti - don't tell my girls this, but I discovered a little tub of confetti shapes hidden in their 'Art 'n' Craft' box when I was looking for some clay for a school project last week. I thought the little red hearts would be totally perfect and they add a great sheen to the project .... Ssshhhhhhhh!
• Sentiment - is by Paulette from Create with TLC and was one of the goodies in the recent "In Between Club". I've added Holographic Embossing Powder to the text ... just check out that sparkle!!!!!
• Gems - from my stash, but originally came from a french hypermarket in a bumper bundle I bought last year.

 

Do check out the Incy Wincy challenge blog and see the other great cards Giving Thanks which have been created by my talented teamies and this months Guest Designer Paula. Then come back and show us your projects - you've got until Sunday 11th November 2012 to link your creations up.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:

• Challenge #47 - Patterned Paper at Card Crafter's Circle
• Monthly Challenge - Sparkle at Visible Image
• Give Thanks Challenge at Scrappy Frogs
• Challenge #45 - Make it Sparkle at Pile It On
• All That Glitters at Sweet Stampin'
• Challenge #82 - Bold and Bright at My Mum's Craft Shop
• Week 44 - Bright Colours and Sparkle at Polka Doodles

Have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

A Special Birthday

Good morning friends! I hope you are all well and staying safe and warm despite the awful weather both here and on the east coast of the US.

This post starts with a confession - I'm a very bad Mamma Mia (hanging head in shame). This card should have been posted on Monday to coincide with the launch of the new challenge Special Birthdays at Lexi's Creations. Susan has set this challenge because Lexi's is 3 years old so Happy Birthday to Lexi's!!! However, time has (yet again) evaded me and I had to spend my crafting time sorting out some probate paperwork. If someone manages to get the formula to bottle time, do let me know as I'll be the first in the queue :o)

 

 

Anyway,  because this fortnight's challenge is so special, we have two wonderful sponsors.

 

 

The first is My Creative Classroom who are giving one lucky winner a free seat to the class of their choice. Here is a little about them :

 

My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Our interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led and filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies. Our Fall Semester is well under way with over 100 classes to choose from. My Creative Classroom has a little bit of everything for everyone. We are offering classes on the Cricut, mixed media, rubber stamping, scrapbooking, sewing and more! Don't miss out on some wonderful classes starting this Fall:

• Mixed Media to Die For
• Holiday Cards
• NEW! Mug Rug Madness
• The Magic of Christmas
• All About Ribbon

We are excited to be sponsoring Lexi's Creations. You can view our entire class list on our website at My Creative Classroom. You can also view classes on our Facebook Page too! One lucky winner will receive a free seat to a class of their choice.....Good Luck!

Our second sponsor is the lovely Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts, who is offering our second lucky winner 5 Digital Stamps from her store - if you follow my blog regularly, then you'll know that Lexi draws the wonderful images that the Lexi's Creations Design Team mostly use for our challenges. What you may not know is that as well as the gorgeous digital images, Lexi's store also sells rubber stamps and lots of other fabulous crafting goodies like Viva Decor, Promarkers, a variety of lace and ribbons, embellishments, flowers, charms etc. and all at fantastic prices ... now that's well worth a visit!

 

 

Here is my inspiration for you using one of Lexi's newer images:

 

 

 

 

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory, which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 10cm spring card.
• Design Papers - are both by Debbie at Crafty Pad Designs and come from the set Chocolate Chip and Cream Delight. I used the middle size of flower on my Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats to emboss and then cut the shape on my striped paper before fixing this to the diamond face on my spring card. I then cut my card to shape so that the face of the card is now a flower. The heart shape on the cream spotted paper was embossed using the middle sized heart on my Crafter's Companion Ultimate Pro before I cut this out and then I attached this to the flower face.
• Image - This little cutie is called "Ragdoll Penny" and she is one of the newer releases from Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts. I brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in various shades of brown as I wanted to try and achieve a vintage effect
• Sentiment -  is by Paulette from Create with TLC and was a freebie from her blog in July of this year - this makes a great statement about celebrating a 60th Birthday don't you think?!!!
• Ribbon - Cream satin ribbon from my dressmaking stash

Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see how my incredibly talented team-mates and our two fabulous Guest Designers Vickie and Lori are celebrating Special Birthdays - your project doesn't have to feature a milestone birthday like a coming of age, or one of the "bigger" birthdays because every Birthday is special! Don't forget to come back and share your creations with us! You've got until Saturday 10th November 2012 to link your cards up.

 

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge:

 

• Anything Goes at Card Makin' Mamas - Second Entry

Happy Crafting!

Hugs, Helen x