A Watching Angel

Good Evening friends and a very Happy Easter to you! Hope you've had a great day!

This is a very, very speedy post from me as I wish to catch a challenge that finishes this evening. I'd like to show you this digitally created card front:

I've used an image by Shelley at Shelley's Images which I coloured, scanned and then added to this lovely paper using a sentiment by Paulette at Create with TLC. I've struggled with the printer this evening, so couldn't produce a hard copy of the card ... sorry!

I would like to enter this project into Progressive Freebie Challenge at Crafter's Digital Art Center

Hugs, Helen x

Snowflake Painter

Hello friends,

Hope you are all well and enjoying your Easter weekend. Here's another non-DT card from me; I decided as the weather in the UK has been soooo unseasonal in the last couple of weeks, that I would make a snowy card.

I've had this image for a while and when I saw yet another snow flurry hurtle past the window last weekend, I knew what to make!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from a pre-made A6 card in Kraft onto which I've embossed the largest rosette shape from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats. Having cut this shape out, I then scored and folded the card to make a Rocker Card.
• Design Paper - is from The Snowman Papercrafting Collection CD-rom. I used the largest circle from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats, which I then cut out and folded in half to get a semi circle of paper.
• Images - I've used two images on this card, which I've digitally 'engineered' to put together.  The scroll and snowflakes are called "And the Snowflakes were hung" and this was one of the goodies in the 2012 Winter Club by Paulette at Create with TLC. The cute child in the seasonal costume is called "Reindeer Kid" and he comes in the Christmas Kids set at Digital Delights. Before I debossed a slightly smaller circle from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats (I wanted to ensure I didn't wreck the scroll!), I brought this scene to life courtesy of my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
  

  
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Hair - GB4
• Reindeer Suit - GB8, GB10, EB2, EB5, CR11, DG3, JG6
• Scroll - TB1, BT9
• Snowflakes - Embossed using Silver Embossing Powder and Versamark Pen. Unfortunately they have turned out rather blotchy ... maybe I need a less heavy hand with the pen!
• Outline - IG1
• Clouds - Chalk in Light Blue and Grey
• Sentiment - is by Debbie at The Crafty Pad Designs and it comes in the set of Christmas Sentiment Tickets.

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

• Seasonal Fun Challenge at Crafter's Digital Art Center

I'm hoping to get another post done this weekend, as the end of March is the deadline for the current Progressive Challenges over at Crafter's Digital Art Center. If you get a spare hour or so to yourself to make a card or two, why not come over and join in the fun?


Hugs, Helen x

Is Spring Coming?

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

I was going to title this post "Spring is Coming", but as I sit here typing this post with yet another snow flurry hurtling past the window and hubby's new weather-station display advising that the outside temperature is a paltry 1.5 degrees Celsius here on the south coast of the UK, I can't believe that Spring will ever arrive! When I cast my mind back to this time last year I was wearing cropped trousers and sandals to work, and this year I'm still well and truly wrapped up in my winter woollies! :o)

Never mind, over at Incy Wincy Designs this week, we're going to try and take your mind off the chilly weather and think of warmer climes as our challenge for you this week is Pastel Colours. 

We've got not one, but two great prizes from our fabby sponsors for you this week. Our first lucky winner will receive a Goodie Bag from Iva Nova Chest and our second lucky winner will receive two digis from Saturated Canary.


Krista Smith (the artist behind Saturated Canary) also gave the DT their choice of image to showcase this week, and here is my card featuring one of Krista's gorgeous images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White which I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Papers - are from the Energy kit by Summer of Summertime Designs. The main paper is called "Plaid" and the banners are cut from the "Green Damask" paper.
• Image - is of course by the very talented Krista Smith from Saturated Canary. This gorgeous girl is called Springtime and I've brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:

• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Eyes - LV1
• Lips - CR4
• Hair - GB1, GB3
• Dress & Gloves - GB1, TN2, EB1, CR4, CR5
• Socks - CG1, CG2, PP1, PP3, TB2, TB3
• Leggings & Shoes - TB2, TB3
• Flowers - CT3, CR4, LV1
• Grass - CG2, Craf-T chalk in Lime Green
• Clouds - Craf-T chalk in Light Blue
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is by Paulette from Create with TLC and was a freebie on her blog last year. I have cut this into a banner shape too, and then distressed the edges with Craf-T chalk in Pink. To save you doing the maths, 18,250 days makes someone 50, and this card is for my neighbour who is 50 today ... Happy Birthday to her!
• Flower and Gems - are from my stash

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and see the other wonderful creations from my team-mates and this month's Guest Designer Jackie. Then don't forget to come back and show us your creations featuring Pastel Colours. You've got until Sunday 31st March 2013 to join our challenge.

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

• JUGS #181 - Photo Inspiration Challenge at Just Us Girls
• Come Rain or Shine at Joanna Sheen
• Challenge #206 - Spring Colours at Creative Inspirations
• Easy as 1-2-3 Challenge at Crafter's Digital Art Center (1 Flower, 2 Design Papers, 3 Pieces of Bling)
• Challenge #35 - Bring on Spring at Chocolate, Coffee and Cards
• It's Springtime at Card Makin' Mamas
• Pretty Pastels at Jellypark Friends

I hope you have a great Monday!

Hugs, Helen x

Dance like no-one's watching!

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

Good morning friends and I hope you are well. Welcome to Deb, my newest follower ... hope you enjoy this crafting journey with me! So much for it being spring! Parts of the UK are under several inches of snow (which is enough to bring life grinding to a halt here!) although we've only got a bitterly cold wind and a little rain! I hope you are keeping warm and well, wherever you are.

This morning brings a new challenge for the Team A Divas at Whoopsi Daisy, and our theme for you this week is Use a Digi - easy peasy, and with so many gorgeous digital images and papers out in the "WWW", there can be no reason for you not joining in!

Our lucky winner's prize is (as usual) one sheet of images from the Whoopsi Daisy Store, unless you've used a Whoopsi Daisy Image for your project in which case you can choose two sheets of images. Linnie has also kindly let the DT loose in her store to choose an image to showcase.

I've chosen one of Linnie's older digis to showcase this time, and here is my card using an image which Linnie launched last spring:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Red (originally from a pack of Christmas colours) which I cut, scored and folded to make a 12cm square card
• Design Paper - is from the Romance CD from the Popcorn the Bear Platinum Triple CD-Rom Collection.
• Image - This gorgeous girl is from Sheet 346 and she is just one of the gorgeous digis drawn by Linne at Whoopsi Daisy. On this sheet there are 4 beautiful images, including this ballerina. I've brought this girl to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:


• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Hair - EB5, EB8
• Bow in Hair - EB1, EB2, CR10
• Leotard - EB1, EB2
• Tutu - CR10, CR11
• Leggings - EB1, EB2, IG10, True Black
• Outline - IG1, IG2
• Edge Distressing - Craf-T chalk in Tan
• Ribbon - is red organza ribbon from my stash
• Sentiment - is from the Happy Birthday Sentiments Set by Debbie at The Crafty Pad Designs

Do come over to Whoopsi Daisy Challenge and see the other gorgeous creations the Divas have made "Using a Digi". Then, don't forget to come and show us your creations - you've got until Sunday 31st March to link your creations up. And, don't forget if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image, then you can make any style of card or project - you don't have to follow this week's theme!

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

• March Challenge #20 - Happy Birthday at The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop
• Challenge #156 - Use a Digi at One Stitch at a Time
• Challenge #170 - Just Dance at The Corrosive Challenge Blog
• Ribbon or Lace at Paper Crafting Journey
• March Monthly Challenge - Girly at Bunny Zoe's Crafts

I'll be back later with my next post of the day. In the meantime, take care.

Hugs, Helen x

Mother's Day Card

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



Hello again, crafty friends and welcome to "Who's the dimwit, Version Two"! Yes, that would be ummm, errrrrr (looking round room frantically) .... Me again!!!!! :o)

It's new challenge time at Lexi's Creations and this time Susan has set us the challenge of Mother's Day or a Special Female Birthday Card.  Obviously, Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day) in the UK has now passed, but you can show us the cards you made for your mother this year, as long as there's no backlinking, or you could make a card for a special female in your life.

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!

So, here is the card I made for my Mother in Law featuring one of Lexi's gorgeous images: 

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 Papers - from the Paintbox Poppets Papercrafting Collection CD Rom this is a Card Companion Set meaning there are matching papers, sentiments and embellishments just ready to be printed! I love the soft colours of this set.
• 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 - PP4, PP5
• Seedheads - Gold Gel Pen
• Foliage - DG2, DG3
• Wrap - FS2, FS3
• Ribbon - PP4, PP5
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is by one I created within the Paintbox Poppets Papercrafting Collection CD Rom Card Companion using the inbuilt Verse Writer. This natty part of the program means that you can tailor make a sentiment for the recipient, before printing out the set. And as my MiL is a "church lady" and believes that Mother's Day should be Mothering Sunday (to give it the correct title from the church calendar), I was able to oblige!
• Buttons - are faux button embellishments from the same Card Companion set. I cut the "buttons" out, and then stuck 2 more layers of card underneath each one to make them stand out from the card a bit more.

Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see how my talented teamies and our Guest Designer Viv are celebrating Mother's Day or Special Female Birthday. Don't forget to come back and share your creations with us! You've got until Saturday 30th March 2013 to link your cards up.

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

• Mum's The Word at Joanna Sheen
• Challenge 52 - Mother's Day at Dream Valley Challenges

Hope you all have a fab week!

Hugs, Helen x

Shape Up

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

Ooops! This should have been scheduled to post, but guess which dimwit hit "save" instead of publish? Sorry folks! :o)

Good morning friends and welcome to another week. I'm sorry for the lack of posts at the beginning of last week and flurry of posts at the end. I was "hit" by mega computer problems. Hopefully it's all sorted out now, unlike the weekend weather here in the south of England ... I don't think I could have been more wet if I had gone swimming!!! :o)

Anyway, it's time to introduce this week's challenge Incy Wincy Designs. This time we are looking for your cards that aren't square or rectangular, they have to be A Shaped Card. 

This week our sponsor is the fabby team from Bugaboo Stamps, who are offering our lucky winner 7 digis of their choice. With plenty of choices from cute to hilarious (and all points in between) that's a great prize to win! The DT have been lucky enough to be able to choose a Bugaboo Digi to showcase this week (thanks Jodie and team!) and here is my card for you this week:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Black (love the sheen and slight sparkle!) which I have cut, scored and folded to make a circular side stepper card. Not quite sure of the dimensions, but my circle template was an upturned cereal bowl ... yes, I'm still frugally crafting :o) !!!!!
• Image - is  Heels - Daisy by Bugaboo. I love the simplicity of this very girly shoe which I have brought to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:


• Shoe - BP1, BP2, BP6, CG4, Silver Gel Pen
• Pearls (from my stash) - BP6
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is by the lovely Annette at Netty's Cards and it is perfect as this card was for my niece's 18th Birthday. You too can get a copy of this sentiment by visiting Annette's blog. Just be sure to tell her that I sent you please!
• Ribbon - from my stash

Do head over to the Incy Wincy Designs blog, and check out the amazing inspiration from my team-mates and this month's Guest Designer Jackie. Then come back and show us your Shaped Cards - you've got until Sunday 24th March 2013 to link your creations up.

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

• Fortnightly Challenge 57 - Shaped Cards at Forever Friends
• Monthly Challenge #31 - Cards with Folds at Little Claire's

I'll be back in a little bit with another DT card. In the meantime, have a good Monday!

Hugs, Helen x

Happy Easter!

I'm back with another very swift post, this time for Lexi's Creations where our current challenge is Easter. 

This week's sponsor is Priyanka from My Heart Pieces who is offering a prize of 3 digis to our lucky winner and the lovely Lexi from  Fairy Dust Crafts has kindly allowed the DT their choice of image from her store.

Here is my card, showcasing the gorgeous "Easter Egg Lillie":

Once again, I'll return and post my card recipe. Do come and join in the fun at Lexi's Creations and get a card or two made in time for Easter! This challenge ends on Saturday 16th March.

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

• Challenge #22 - Easter at Broken Box Stock

Hugs, Helen x

Pretty in Pink

Evening All,

Just a swift post from me as I'm very behind with my card making and blogging due to computer "gremlins" delaying me!!!!! Anyway I'm here now with this week's card for Whoopsi Daisy, and our theme for you this week is Button or Bow - use one of these on your card.

Our lucky winner's prize is (as usual) one sheet of images from the Whoopsi Daisy Store, unless you've used a Whoopsi Daisy Image for your project in which case you can choose two sheets of images.





Here is my card for you using one of Linnie's pretty digis available from her store:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White which I cut, scored and folded to make a 12cm square card.
• Design Papers, Tag, Button & Bulldog Clip Embellishments -  are a Card Companion set from the Strawberry Kisses CD-Rom. I'd forgotten how good these sets are until I was reminded by my lovely blogging friend Julie who has been using matching card companion sets from other CD Roms. Thanks for the reminder Julie!
• Image - This lovely girl is from  Sheet 430 and she is just one of the gorgeous digis drawn by Linne at Whoopsi Daisy. I brought this sweetie to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens.
• Sentiment - is a cover freebie cling stamp from Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine. It came from a set of "Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" stamps. I inked this using Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black.
• Twine - from my stash

I hope you'll come over to Whoopsi Daisy, check out the gorgeous samples by my DT colleagues and join in this week's fun!

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

• Challenge #145 - 3 Embellisments that start with the letter 'B' at Sentimental Sundays - I've used a Button, Bow and a Bulldog clip!

Hugs, Helen x

F is for ...

.... flowers, and quite a few of them!

Good morning my crafty friends and welcome to another challenge at Incy Wincy Designs.  This week we want to see   Something beginning with F..... (but that doesn't end in the word "off" please!)

Our sponsor this week is the lovely Megan from Dilly Beans Digi Stamps. Make sure you head over to her blog and check out her awesome digis! She also has "Collage Sheets" where she's made a themed coloured digi sheet, and there's a Dilly Beans Challenge Blog too! Megan is offering this week's lucky winner 3 digital images from the store. She also kindly allowed the DT girls their choice of image (thanks Megan!), and with so many totally gorgeous digis there, it was really hard to choose just one.

Then I stumbled across this simple digi (which screamed "Choose Me!" at me) and here is my really clean & simple inspiration for you this week:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is plain white heavyweight card (from my stash and I'm afraid the wrapper has long since disappeared, so I can't tell where it came from - sorry!), which I have cut, scored and folded to make a DL sized card
• Image - is #344 - Daisy Squares by Megan from Dilly Beans Digi Stamps and it really lends itself to a CAS style of card. I think this image will be so versatile, not just for Birthday cards but also for Thinking of You, Get Well and Sympathy cards. I have brought these flowers to life using my Versamark Pen and Craf-T chalks (which I applied and blended using a cotton bud, and re-blended using the Versamark Pen to get a soft pastel image) and one Spectrum Noir Pen in the following colours:


• Top Left Flower - Ruddy Red, Orange, Yellow Orange
• Top Right Flower - Orange, Yellow Orange, Yellow
• Bottom Left Flower - Magenta, Pink, Flesh
• Bottom Right Flower - Violet, Orchid, Magenta
• Sky - Spectrum Noir Pen in TB1
• Background - Dark Green
• Sentiment - is a cover freebie cling stamp from Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine. It came from a set of "Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" stamps. I inked it up using a Papermania Capsule Collection Pigment Ink Pad in Red Hot, and once I had stamped it on the card I coated the sentiment in Holographic Embossing Powder before heating it. Check out that gorgeous sparkle in this photo below!

It's not very often that a card comes together exactly how I imagined it would, but this one did!

Do head over to the Incy Wincy Designs blog, and make sure that my teamies and this month's Guest Designer Jackie have things beginning with the letter F. Then come back and show us your projects - you've got until Sunday 17th March 2013 to link your creations up.

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

• March Challenge - Anything Goes at Chalk 'n' Stock

Hope you have great week!

Hugs, Helen x

Care 2 Stamp

Good Morning Friends and I hope you are well.

It being Monday morning, it's time for a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs,  and this week we've got a Sketch for you. Of course, you can flip or rotate the sketch - just make sure that we can see that you're following this layout.

We've got a fabby sponsor for you this week - the lovely Kim from Care 2 Stamp who is giving one lucky winner a $15 Gift Certificate to her store. Kim also kindly provided some stamps for the DT to work with and here is my inspiration for you:

As you can see, I've both flipped and rotated the sketch to get my layout and I've taken a slight liberty as I'm counting the floral spray at the bottom of my DP as the flowers on the sketch. I've also left my card sentiment free, as I don't know to whom this card will be going!

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 Papers - are from a calendar by PinkPaislee Designs called London Market Rare Finds and Curiosities which was a freebie earlier this year in a magazine.
• Image - is Amy by Care 2 Stamp, and I have brought this little cutie to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:

• Hair - TN5,TN7, TN8
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Top - BT2, BT4
• Gilet - EB2
• Shorts - TB2, TB4
• Tights - BT1, BT2
• Boots - EB1, EB7, PP1,PP3,PP4, PP5
• Flower Pot - TN3, TN4, TN5, TN8
• Flowers - Roses: CR8, CR10, CR11; Small Flowers: PP4, PP5; Large Flower: EB1, PP3; Foliage: DG2
• Balloon - CR11
• Background - EB1, EB2

Do come over to the Incy Wincy Designs blog and see how the rest of the DT and this month's wonderful Guest Designer Jackie have used the Sketch. Then come back and show us your take on it! You've got until Sunday 10th March 2013 to link your creations up.

Hope you have a good week!

Hugs, Helen x

Thinking of You

Good Evening All,

This is another non-DT post from me ... and I'm using up some stash too! It's the beginning of March, and I'm still managing (in some form or another) to keep up with my resolution ... :oD

Here's a card I've made, having been inspired by a Freebie sentiment:

• Base Card - a pre-made A6 card blank in cream
• Design Papers - are from a set by Erica Zane called Grow and you can get this mini pack from Sweet Shoppe Designs. I've used Papers 2, 3 and 4 from the pack for this card.
• Image -a cover freebie cling stamp from Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine. It came from a set called "The Floral Collection". I inked it up using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad and brought the flowers and leaves to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:


• Flowers - GB1, GB3, GB4, GB5
• Leaves - BT2, BT4, BT5, BT9
• Sprays - Versamark Pen and Gold Embossing Powder
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is called "Thinking of You"  and it was a freebie at Beccy's Place last week. I love the wording of the Irish Blessing behind the main part of the sentiment and it is very reminiscent of a version that I have sung on many occasions at Guide events ... yes, another favourite vesper!

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

• AC157 - Sketch Challenge at Annabelle Stamps - I've rotated the sketch through 180°
• Challenge 55 - Blue and Yellow at Little Miss Muffet
• Inspiration Challenge Group - Photo Inspiration at Crafter's Digital Art Center
• Challenge #50 - Un-Inked Stamp at Use It Tuesday - not only has my image stamp never been inked up before, it's also been sat in my craft drawer since spring 2012 when it was a magazine cover gift, so I'm using my stash too! The card blank I've used was in a pack that I bought nearly 2 years ago, when I first started making cards.

Hope you've had a good weekend.

Hugs, Helen x