Hey Cupcake!

Good Morning Friends and I hope you are well on this lovely Monday morning.

This post is scheduled as we at Casa Mia are back to school this morning after our well earned half term break! I don't know how I ever managed a job with 4½ weeks holiday a year, as I always seem to be looking forward to the next school holiday! :o)

Anyway, it's time for new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this one should be easy peasy, lemon squeezy .... we're celebrating Birthdays! It doesn't matter whether it's for someone young or someone older, or whether it's girly or masculine ... get your card box topped up with us!!!!!

We're delighted to be welcoming 2 new sponsors this week, and they're both offering wonderful prizes.

Our first sponsor is Tammy and her team at A Day For Daisies. A Day For Daisies provides themed categories of over 3000 digital illustrations and a fast growing line of new clear polymer stamp sets, including fairy tales and magical mermaids, cutie kids, vintage illustrations, sentiments and lovely designs for all occasions! And Tammy is offering our first lucky prize winner a $12 Gift Certificate to her store.

Our second sponsor is Sandy at Scribbles Designs which is a world of Sandy's funky imagination and quirky characters. Sandy has loved art, drawing, water colouring and doodling for many years ... and with the digital image world she can now share it with all of you. Brrr (Penguin) was her first main character and her other quirky images followed not long after. And Sandy is offering our second lucky prize winner 3 digital images from her store.


Both of our sponsors have kindly offered the DT some images to use, and I have chosen this lovely image by Tammy at A Day For Daisies for this card:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is normal printer card in white which I have cut, scored, folded and stuck to make 5½" x 4¼" Criss Cross Pocket Card following this tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers. I've distressed all the edges with Craf-T Chalk in Light Brown, to lend a vintage air to my project.
• Design Paper - is from a set called Vintage by Craft with Helix, which I printed onto a further sheet of normal printer card to give some rigidity to this card base. I downloaded the set in May 2011 when I first started making cards (and was greedily devouring whatever supplies I could lay my hands on!) but a Google search has drawn a blank as to their availability now. Shame, because this is a nice set :o( I've tried to give these papers the glitz treatment by sweeping my Versamark Pen across the cherries and icing and added Holographic Embossing Powder before heating it.
• Image - this mouthwatering design is called Happy Birthday Tower and it comes from the pen of
  
  Tammy at A Day For Daisies. I've brought these beautiful cupcakes to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours before I die cut it using my second largest Framelits Oval Die:
• Cupcake Icing - DR1, DR6, Colourless Blender
• Cupcake Cases - IB1, IB3, Colourless Blender
• Decorations - JG1, DR3, DR4, GB5, PL5, LV2, Colourless Blender
• Stand - Silver Gel Pen
• Outline - BT1
• Insert - is digitally put together using another paper from the Vintage set, which I have sized in my word processing programme. I then set a white rectangle with curved edges over this, and then layered the sentiment, from Paulette at Create with TLC, over the top. Once I printed the sheet out, I used a corner rounder before using more Light Brown Craf-T Chalk to distress the edges.

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and see the other wonderful Birthday Cards designed by my teamies. Then come back and show us your creations celebrating Birthdays! - this challenge will end on Sunday 2nd March 2014.

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

• Challenge #25 - Die Cuts and/or Punches at Feeling Crafty Challenge - Second Entry
• Challenge #79 - Happy Birthday at Little Miss Muffet Challenges
• Girly Challenge at Milk Coffee
• February Colour Challenge at Catch The Bug Challenge

Hope you have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

Wish me luck .....

.... because I'm entering the Delicious Doodles DT Call!

Teri and her team are asking all entrants to make a new post featuring three samples of work which reflect the applicants preferred style and personality, and to share a little more about the projects. Soooooooooo (very deep breath here!), here goes .........


The first card I'd like to showcase is one I made for my Dad for Father's Day last year - you can read all about it on my post here.

I know that male cards are notoriously difficult "makes", but as my preferred crafting style is clean and quite uncluttered (not necessarily simple though!) I didn't find this too difficult to do. This image is one of Teri's and it's called In The Harbour. I coloured it using my Versamark Pen and Craf-T Chalks using the pen to go over the areas with most shading. This meant it then picked up more chalk, giving a greater depth of colour to those areas. Most of the papers I use come from digital sets and this one is no exception! This set is called She Sells Seashells (in keeping with the nautical theme!) and they were designed by Summer at Summertime Designs. The sentiments were computer generated. I tool distressed the edges of the image and the sentiment tags, just for a little more interest.

The second card I'm sharing is a "just for fun" card. This one came about as I'd had an idea floating around in my mind for this project, and then one day some challenges popped into my blog reader and this card was born!

Here is another unfussy card this time featuring an image by The Alley Way Stamps. This cute coffee cup was a digital freebie and I was able to "play" with it in my word processing programme in order to paper piece the three layers onto the mug. The spotty cup base and red heart were paper pieced using another digital paper set by Summer at Summertime Designs, this time called The Comforts of Home. The band around the middle of the mug reminded me of a 'take out' coffee mug, and so I paper pieced this using some Kraft card. The button is handmade using 4 layers of circles punched from Kraft Card which were glued together before I punched some small holes (to thread the ribbon through) and gave it a slick of Glossy Accents. The digital sentiment is by Create with TLC which I superimposed onto a digital speech bubble by Squigglefly. The two backing papers are also from The Comforts of Home kit and some faux stitching with a gel pen completed this design.

The final card I'm featuring is one of my most recent creations. I was lucky enough to be a random winner at Delicious Doodles last year, and this gorgeous image (Steampunk Fairy) was one of the ones I chose as my winners 'package' and it became a card for my niece's birthday, which was yesterday! 

This was a DT creation for a photo inspiration challenge and I have gone with not only the shape in the photo but also the colours - you can find my full post here. This is the first time I have made a handbag card which wasn't difficult now I've done it once, but very clever and it looks good (even though I do say so myself!). The coloured blocks at the bottom of the bag were put together from another digital paper kit, this one is called At The Beach Distressed Chipboard by DigiTee Designs at Best Free Scrapbooks. I copied and pasted the blocks a couple of times before printing them out onto A4 paper, fussy cutting and adhering to my handbag card base. I added some embossed scrolls from my Ultimate Pro (the shape reflects the fairy's amulet) and I popped some gems in the ones on the handbag's flap. A couple of punched holes in the top of the flap and some recycled ribbon completed this card.

So there we go, three cards which I feel accurately represent my style and personality, as well as my technical abilities to manipulate digital images. Thank you to Teri and her team for considering my application, and I've got my fingers, toes and everything else crossed!!!!

Have a good Friday!

Hugs, Helen x

PS: If you'd like to try out for the DT call, you'll have to get your skates on as it closes at midday (GMT) today, 21st February! Good luck to everyone who applies!

Handbags and Gladrags

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

Hello again friends,

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this one definitely challenged us on the DT. Chris chose this lovely bag as our Photo Inspiration. 

Our wonderful sponsor for this challenge is Teri at Delicious Doodles who is very kindly offering this week's lucky winner 4 digital images of their choice, and with such a varied range of images on her site there is definitely something for everyone! Teri has also kindly given the DT some of her gorgeous images to showcase this week, although I'm using an image which I chose as part of my winning package at the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog in May last year.



Mr Mojo exercised his over-active imagination (once again!) and here is my card for you featuring one of Teri's "delicious" images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is Centura Pearl in Ivory. I used my Ultimate Pro (and the instructions on The Ultimate Pro DVD!) to cut, score and fold the cardstock to make a 21cm x 10cm handbag card, before using one of the wavy shapes built into the Ultimate Pro to emboss borders (which look similar to the fairy's amulet) onto the card. This handbag card is a new fold for me, and it went together so well, I'm sure I'll be making more!
• Design Papers - are from a set called At the Beach - Distressed Chipboard Styles by DigiTee Designs (available from Best Free Digital Scrapbook - thanks to my Incy Wincy Teamie Jenny for her tip-off about this site!). I have used them in the brown, orange, tan and teal colourways and, with the help of my word processing programme, turned them into blocks, to resemble the blocks on the bag in the photo. I copied and pasted the block design twice, before printing it, fussy cutting it and adding it to the bottom of the card.
  
• Image - is called Steampunk Fairy and she comes from the pen of Teri at Delicious Doodles. I've not tried steampunk before, and I'm not sure if I've got it quite right, but this gorgeous girl was brought to life (with the assistance of Teri's wonderful shading as a guide) using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours before I tool distressed the edges:
• Skin - FS7, FS9, CR5
• Hair - EB6, EB7, EB8
• Dress - TN5, TN6, TN7
• Wings - BT5, BT6, Bronze & Gold Gel Pens
• Jewellery - Bronze & Gold Gel Pens
• Outline - BT1
• Ribbon - recycled from a box of toiletries I received at Christmas, and nearly a perfect match!
• Gems - from my stash

If you'd like more inspiration, head over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out how the rest of the DT girls have been inspired by this photo. Don't forget to come back and show us your wonderful Photo Inspired creations - this challenge will end on Sunday 23rd February 2014.


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

• Challenge #75 - Ribbon and Bling at Delicious Doodles Challenge
• Challenge #5 - Embossing at Scrappy Hands
• Challenge 17 - More than One Fold at Flat Friends Challenge
• February Challenge - Embossing at The Crafting Cafe
• Challenge #200 - Use a Digi at One Stitch at a Time

Hope you have a great week!
Hugs, Helen x

Mmmmmm ... Chocolate and Cream

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

Hello friends,

It's half term here at Casa Mia ... whoo hoo!!!! We've got a week of not-a-lot planned, well I'm hoping to get in a fair bit of crafting but we'll see what the minor folk at Casa Mia have planned for me :o) Hope you're all staying safe in the wind and rain. I'd also like to welcome my newest follower - thanks for joining the rest of us on our journey through my crafting.

It's new challenge time at Lexi's Creations and this one may challenge Mr Mojo as it's Monochrome. It doesn't have to be just black and white though; you can choose any colour scheme you like, as long as you only use shades of that colour.

Our wonderful sponsors for this challenge are the fabby team over at Joanna Sheen who are offering our lucky winner a £10 Gift Voucher to their on-line store. And with postage and packing free if you spend over £9 everyone's a winner if you buy in this Aladdin's cave! This is the last time that Joanna and her team will be sponsoring us for a while :o( - thanks for all your support ladies!


The lovely Lexi has once again let the DT loose in Fairy Dust Crafts (thanks Lexi!) and by the way, there's a sale on there so do go and have a look! Here is my card for you featuring one of Lexi's sweet images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is Centura Pearl Ivory which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - are from a collection called Chocolate Chip and Cream Delight by Debbie at The
  
  Crafty Pad Designs (available from Card Making Downloads). I have used 2 different papers from the set which I sized in my word processing programme and then put a chocolate brown border around them to give a faux mat.
• Image - is called Hot Chocolate Scruffles and he comes from the pen of Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts. This cute, and messy!, dog was die cut using the largest Framelits Fancy Labels die, before being brought to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens (thank goodness my collection was completed with the arrival of my Darks pack last week!) in the following colours:
• Fur - EB3, EB4, EB5
• Marshmallows - EB1, EB2
• Cream - EB1, Colourless Blender
• Cup & Saucer - EB6 which I dotted to make a pattern, EB7, EB8
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and this was a blog freebie in November 2011. I took this into my word processing package and put the same chocolate coloured border around it to make a faux mat
• Ribbon - a recent "grab bag" purchase (15 different ribbons, each 3 metres in length for £5) from Hobbycraft which I can't find, unfortunately, on their website :o(
• Gems - from my stash

If you're short of inspiration on this challenge, do come over to Lexi's Creations and see the other wonderful creations by my teamies, our regular Guest Designer Silvi and this week's special Guest Designer Janny. Don't forget to come back and show us your wonderful Monochromatic creations - this challenge will end on Saturday 1st March 2014.


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

• C is for Chocolate Creams at ABC Christmas Challenge I've gone for a cream & chocolate colour scheme AND a creamy hot chocolate image!!!!
• Challenge #194 - Marie's Sketch at Sunday Sketch and Stamp
• Challenge #25 - Dies and/or Punches at Feeling Crafty Challenge
• DPDC 43 - Any Digi Goes at Doodle Pantry

Hope you have a great week!
Hugs, Helen x

Sass-i-tude!!!!!

Good morning friends and I hope this post finds you well. Well after the wind, rain and hail this weekend, yesterday evening was dry and clear. I hope this is a precursor to some better weather .... but I'm not holding my breath! My heart goes out to anyone who's been wind or rain affected, and I hope you get sorted soon.

I've had a couple of weeks away from blogging as I hurt my neck and couldn't manage to stay in one position long enough to craft. However, all is well now so I'm back with the launch of the new challenge this morning at Incy Wincy Designs. I'm really looking forward to seeing your creations this week as we want you to go Sassy and Sexy.

We've got 2 amazing sponsors this week who have both offered a prize, so there'll be 2 happy crafters next Monday!

Our first sponsor is My Creative Classroom who are offering our first lucky winner a seat to a Workshop Class of their choice, and 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 Spring 2014 Semester is under way and will offer well over 100 courses. Along with our Traditional Instructor-led Workshop Classes we have also added Self-Paced Workshops. We've recently added more classes to our Library, which offers retired classes at 40%-50% off regular price.

 We have opened our brand new challenge blog, My Creative Life 2014 , which will issue challenges to help us use all of our supplies this year. Along with that is the companion course with the same title, which is FREE to our newsletter subscribers. Come join in on the fun and test drive MCC.

We are excited to be sponsoring Incy Wincy Designs Challenge. 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 Workshop class of their choice.....Good Luck!

Our second sponsor is Lindsay at Sassy Studio Designs who is offering our second lucky winner 4 Digital Images of their choice. Lindsay has also very kindly given the DT their choice of image to use for this challenge (Thanks Lindsay!) so if you're spoilt for choice, head over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the inspiration from the DT.

Here is my card for you, featuring Bubble Gum Sassy:

I'm not sure about how sexy she is, but she sure is SASSY!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Ivory which I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card. 
• Backing Paper - is from a set by Summer at Summertime Designs called Freedom. I've used a paper
  
  called Stars. 
• Heart Shape - is also from the Freedom kit and I've digitally layered it onto the paper
• Image - this girl with sass-itude is Bubble Gum Sassy by Lindsay at Sassy Studio Designs. I have brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3, PP5
• Hair - GB8, GB10
• Top - DR5, DR7
• Trousers - EB1, EB2, Colourless Blender, TB3
• Sneakers - TB3
• Bubble - Craf-T Chalk in Pale Pink
• Outline - BT1, IG2
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC which was a freebie only a couple of weeks ago. When I saw it (knowing I had this image to use) I knew it would be totally perfect!
• Twine - from my stash wrapped around the card 3 times and tied in a handmade bow

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and be tempted to join us on this challenge sharing your Sassy and Sexy projects. This challenge will end on Sunday 16th February 2013.


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

• Challenge #193 - Katrina's Sketch at Sunday Sketch and Stamp - I've flipped the sketch so it suited the direction the image was facing and used a heart instead of the circular shape
• Include a Sentiment Challenge at Whoopsi Daisy Challenge
• Make it Girly at Come and Get It Challenges
• Challenge #27 - One Heart at Challenges and Candies Blog
• Challenge #20 - Showcase (and Explain) Your Favourite Style at As You Like It Challenge - OK, where to start on explaining my favourite style? 
• A square card base - check! 
• Digital Papers from a co-ordinating set, which means I can play with re-sizing, and layering papers/images to get my layout - check! 
• Coloured image, OK so I know my colouring isn't the best (still can't get a 'glossy look' to hair) but I have managed a lighter patch on this girl's trousers - check! 
• Minimal Embellishments, so they don't overpower either the image or papers - check! 
• Sentiment from my "Go To Sentiment Mistress" - check! 
• That must be my favourite style then .... not necessarily CAS but everything showcased to perfection - check! :o)

Have a crafty week!

Hugs, Helen x