Faking It ... again!!!!

Good afternoon my crafty friends, and I do hope that this post finds you well and (if you're in the UK) enjoying the beautiful Spring weather we've got! If you've not got sunshine, let me know and I'll package some up and post it to you :oP !!!!!!!!! The start of the new term wasn't bad on Monday - as today's been my day off, I headed to the gym this morning and managed a 4km run on the "trotmill" before stretching out in a yoga class.

If you were here on Monday, you'll remember that the DT at Incy Wincy Designs are on a mission to find your best suggestions for making our projects look like a million dollars but safe in the knowledge that we only spent pence creating them as our challenge for you this week is Faux Techniques! Now if you need a bit of inspiration, why don't you head over to SplitCoast Stampers and have a look at some of the amazing tutorials their designers have come up with? 

This is my second project for this challenge, and I found this fan-tas-tic tutorial by Dina at SplitCoast Stampers for making a background look like embossed vintage tin ... however, I can assure you that nothing more than an old cereal bar packet, kitchen foil, PVA glue, acrylic paint, a die and an embossing folder were used to make this. 

Obviously, this effort deserves some reward doesn't it, and this week we've got 2 kind sponsors. This time I'm showcasing an image by Megan of Dilly Beans as I shared a project featuring an image by Emma Canning of  Flat Friends Boutique on Monday - to see that post, click here.





So, without further ado, here is my vintage-y project.

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a 9.9 cm square card from Kraft cardstock. I quite like making these smaller cards as they fit (opened out) into a regular DL sized envelope, and you can get 3 cards out of an A4 sheet.
• Background - is a 8.9 cm piece of cereal bar packet onto which I stuck a sheet of kitchen foil using PVA glue. I then used my rolling pin (as I don't have a brayer) to ensure that the foil was stuck down. But I think I might have used a wee bit too much glue as the glue "seeped" (OK, more like flowed) out of ALL the edges and went over the rolling pin, kitchen side, me .... I'm sure you get the idea :oD ! Unlike me, you might want to watch the tutorial video on the above link first, before you get stuck in!!!!!!!! Once dry, I die cut a square from the foil/packaging sandwich using my largest Die'sire Essentials Squares die and then painted this with a coat of Pearl White Acrylic Paint. Once dry I ran this through my Embossalicious Spring Meadow folder (I got mine from Crafter's Companion, but they don't appear to be stocking it any more). I added a final touch by wiping some Dark Brown Craf-T Chalk over my tile with a finger tip, just to give a more aged appearance.
  
• Image - is by Megan at Dilly Beans and is called Doodle Flower 3. I printed this up quite big (deliberately) and then tried to stick with a muted colour scheme by colouring it with my Spectrum Noir Pens in the colours listed, before fussy cutting it out and adhering it to the front of my "tin tile":
• Flower - PP1, PP3, PP5
• Leaves - DG2, DG3, DG4
• Outline - BT1
• Lace - is from my stash, and I think came from a local haberdashery store and I attached it to my card base so that the scalloped edge of the lace overhangs the side of the card.

I really like this card and am so pleased with the way this project turned out - think it could be one of those cards that goes in my box labelled "Never Give Away"!!!! Hope you like it too, and that I've inspired you to have a go at a Faux Technique yourself. Please check out the wonderful projects by my very clever teamies at Incy Wincy Designs and our challenge ends on Sunday 26th April 2015.

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

• Challenge #14 - Flowers at Aurora Wings
• April #70 - Use Flowers and/or Leaves at Fitztown Challenge
• Monthly Challenge #56 - Use Kraft Card at Little Claire's Designs
• Monthly Digi Stamp Challenge #4 - Flowers at Little Claire's Designs
• April Bingo Challenge at Catch the Bug Challenge - I'm claiming the left hand vertical line of Flower Theme (floral embossing folder and image), Scallop (on my lace) and 3 Layers ("tin tile", lace and image)
• Challenge #37 - Flowers at Paper Creator Crafts
• Challenge #113 - Ribbon and/or Lace at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge
• Challenge #256 - Lace at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges

That's it from me for today - hope you have a great evening!

Hugs, Helen x

Thrifty crafting?

Good morning crafty friends and hope you are all well today. Well it's the end of the Easter holidays for us, so it's back to school all round at Casa Mia!

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this time we're on a mission. We all know that feeling as crafters that we want our projects to look like a million dollars but we only want to spend pennies creating them? Well this week, we're hoping to pool our crafting knowledge with yours and find those fancy and frugal tips as our challenge for you this week is Faux Techniques! Now if you (like some of the IWDT who shall remain nameless!) are thinking "WHAT!!!!!!!", why don't you head over to SplitCoast Stampers and have a look at some of the amazing tutorials their designers have come up with?

Obviously, this effort deserves some reward doesn't it, and this week we've got 2 kind sponsors. The first is Emma Canning of  Flat Friends Boutique and I'll be showcasing an image by Megan of Dilly Beans tomorrow.

Emma has also given the us a selection of images to showcase, so here is my project for you featuring one of Emma's delightful images, and a Faux Button:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a premade 14.8 cm square card base which I have cut, scored and folded to make a centre stepper card
• Papers - the "Gorgeous" paper and the multi-hearts papers both come from the, sadly now retired, Strawberry Kisses CD-Rom which was produced by Crafter's Companion. I have also used a co-ordinating paper from the Vintage Floral CD-Rom, which I printed onto the reverse of the multi-hearts paper, just to add interest with a corner folded over.
  
• Image - is Love is in the Air by Emma at Flat Friends Boutique. Emma has got some really gorgeous images in her store, so please pop over and have a look and treat yourself to one or two! I've brought this sweetheart and her balloon to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before die cutting using the largest die in my Die'sire Essentials Rectangles set:
• Skin - FS2, FS3, TN2
• Hair - GB8, GB9, GB10, EB8
• Dress - BT5, BT6, BT7, Blender Pen
• Jacket - CR4, CR6, CR7
• Boots - TN7, TN8, TN9
• Balloon - CR8, CR10, CR11
• Outline - BT1
• Clouds - Craf-T chalk in Light Blue
• Sentiment - comes from a set called The Wild Ones Birthday Collection which was a cover freebie from Quick Cards Made Easy magazine. This was stamped using Memento ink in black, onto a tab shaped die from the Die'sire Just The Ticket die set before it was adhered to the back of the centre step.
• Faux Button - which I made, more-or-less!, following this tutorial by Leesa, a former teamie at The Crafty Pad. The only differences between mine and Leesa's "buttons" are that I cut mine with my smallest Die'sire Essential Hearts die, I edged with Spectrum Noir Pen EB7 and I slicked a layer of Glossy Accents over my "button" to give it some shine! I love this technique as it means I can make a button to any shape (within reason!) using the papers I've used on my project if I want, I can choose which bit of the papers I want to see as the top of my button. and I can choose how many button holes to have and where they go! Here, I was able to to centre the word "gorgeous" in my button before using my punching tool:

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the wonderful creations by my very talented team-mates. Don't forget to come back and share your favourite Faux Techniques with us - this challenge will end on Sunday 26th April 2015.

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

• 3 of Something at Top Tip Tuesday - I'm using 3 different papers and 3 different shaped die cuts. My TOP TIP for you this time is to use your smaller dies and punches to make faux buttons so that your buttons effortlessly co-ordinate with your project!
• Favourite Alcohol Markers or Distress Inks (and why) at As You Like It Challenge - It's Spectrum Noir (Alcohol) pens all the way for me. Why? I fell in love with the Crafter's Companion brand 4 years ago when I bought my Ultimate Pro and started out making cards. These pens came out a few months later and I bought the base sets (which I've gradually added to), PLUS I don't actually own any Distress Inks .....  !!!!!!!!!!!!! That's pretty conclusive then! ;o)
• Challenge 76 - Anything Goes with a Twist ... Use a Die or Punch at Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge
• Challenge #89 - Use a Die Cut at Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
• Layer it Up with Christine at CD Sunday Challenge

I'll be back tomorrow to share my card using a Dilly Beans image. Until then, have a good day!

Hugs, Helen x

Butterfly Wings

Morning All!

Hope this post finds you well and I also hope that you've had a spot of spring-like weather. We have been enjoying some glorious sunshiny days here on the south coast of the UK. I've still got another week off work, so I hope this fine spell continues!

Over at Incy Wincy Designs this morning, we're starting a new challenge - this one is a lovely challenge as it's Embossing - Wet or Dry. As usual we have a fantastic sponsor lined up for this challenge and this week it's Nikki Burnette who draws fantasy art. Nikki has been kind enough to let the DT have a selection of images to choose to design with, and here is the card I've made using one of Nikki's wonderful fairy images, Analiese:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is pre-made white card, approx 15cm square
• Mat & Layer Paper - is from a now retired Bearly Mine Designs collection called "Plain and Simple". I've used colourway 34 and I love how Donna digitally distressed the edges of the paper ... kind of gives it a worn look doesn't it.
• Embossed Layer - is made using Centura Pearl in Snow White Silver (I got mine in a bumper pack from Crafter's Companion but they don't appear to be stocking it at the mo) which I ran through my Big Shot together with an Embossalicious 6 x 6" Folder called Butterfly Love. I've added a small gem to the centre of the bow and have also cut away one part of the bow to lift it up so I could slip my image underneath.
  
• Image - is called Analiese and she is by Nikki Burnette. I have brought Analiese and her fluttery friend to life using my Spectrum Noir Pencils in the listed colours before die cutting her using my largest Die'sire Essentials Rectangles die and then ink distressed the edges with the lightest shade in my Papermania Capsule Collection Red Hot Ink Pad.
• Skin - 4, 5, 9
• Hair - 84, 107, 87, 99 (I'm really, really pleased with the way this looks!)
• Dress - 36, 32, 105, 117, 119, 120, Silver Gel Pen
• Wings - 61, 50, 52, 78, 80, 82, Silver Gel Pen
• Butterfly - 104, 61, 50, 52, 78, 80, 82, Silver Gel Pen
• Sentiment - is by my blogging buddy Annette and this was a freebie on her blog last year. She still has some freebies there, so if you drop by please be sure to say that you came from my blog! I also ink distressed this with the lightest shade in my Papermania Capsule Collection Red Hot Ink Pad.

I hope I've inspired you to dig out your embossing folders and boards or ink pads, embossing powders and heat guns and join in with our Embossing challenge this week - the challenge ends on Sunday 19th April 2015.

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

• Challenge #136 - Wings at Crafty Cardmakers and More
• Spring Challenge at The Stamping Boutique
• Challenge #141 - Distress at Brown Sugar Challenge - the backing paper has been digitally distressed and I have inked distressed the edges of my image and sentiment
• Aloha Friday Challenge #45 - Fairytales/Fantasy at Kitty Bee Designs
• Challenge #132 - Include a Butterfly at Glitter n Sparkle
• Challenge #101 - Things with Wings at Deep Ocean Challenge

That's it from me for today - hope you have a good day and I'll catch you later in the week!

Hugs, Helen x

Sprinkling some Christmas Sparkle!

Morning Friends!

Hope you're having a lovely Easter weekend if, like me, you're celebrating. I'm hoping that I'm enjoying a lie-in at the mo, so I'm scheduling this post .... fingers crossed!

It's time for a new challenge over at Incy Wincy Designs, and this week we're looking for your Clean and Simple creations. We're also welcoming our newest teamie Lori, so please head over to her blog to say "Hi".

Our sponsor for this challenge is Dr Digi and our lucky winner will be getting some goodies from this on-line digital stamp store. We've been lucky enough to receive some images to showcase, and here is my card featuring one of Dr Digi's images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a pre-made 14.8 cm square in white card onto which I've layered a plain black card square
• Image - is the very humourous Phyllis the Festive Fairy (I'm sure if I were a fairy, this would be me!) which has been drawn by Brigzy at Dr Digi. I brought Phyllis to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before fussy cutting her.

• Hair - IG2, IG3, IG4
• Skin - FS7, FS8, FS9
• Dress - DR1, DR2, DR3, DR4
• Wand & Wings - Silver Gel Pen and White Glitter
• Outline - BT1
• Christmas Tree - was embossed using the smallest tree on my Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Snowman Delight and Candlelight. I added a star to the top of tree using a die cut (the smallest star from the Die'sire Essentials Stars die set) from white glitter cardstock
• Falling Sparkles - are dots of glue onto which I've sprinkled White Glitter - you might have to click on the photo to supersize it and check out the sparkle!

I've left this card free of a sentiment for now, hoping that I'll find a suitable one before Christmas!

Please head over to the Incy Wincy Blog and check out the amazing Clean and Simple designs by my very talented teamies. I hope we'll inspire you to grab your crafting supplies and join this challenge - it closes on Sunday 12th April 2015.

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

• G is for Glitter at ABC Christmas Challenge
• Challenge #138 - Holiday Challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More (Second Entry)

Hope you have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

Happy Easter!

Good morning friends and a very Happy Easter to you! I hope the Easter bunny is very kind to you and yours, and there are lots of goodies for you all!

I'm scheduling this morning's post, so I do hope Mr Blogger is playing nicely - it's a while since I last did this, but he's going to have to get used to it as all my Monday DT posts will be scheduled ... posting at 8am on a school day is just NOT going to happen in my house without his help!!!!! :o)

Anyway, I digress - Papa Mia asked me to make an Easter card for his mother. Regular readers may recall that she's a retired clergy wife, so fluffy, hoppy things are definitely not suitable! Traditional with a bible verse, if possible, are far more her style! So this is what I came up with.

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - made from Centura Pearl Card in Ivory (I got mine from Crafter's Companion but
  
  they don't seem to be stocking this at the mo) which I cut, scored and folded to make a 10.5 cm (when folded) square Spring Card 
• Papers - from the Vintage Floral Papercrafting CD-Rom
• Image - is a Vintage Image by Paulette at Create with TLC and I think this one might have been a freebie on her blog a couple of years back. I wanted to leave the card quite plain, so I've coloured the crocuses quite lightly using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours before cutting the image out close to the frame:
• Crocuses - LV1, Blender Pen, GB5
• Leaves - DG2, DG3, DG4
• Sentiment - is also by Paulette at Create with TLC and this was a blog freebie a couple of weeks ago. I used my second smallest Die'sire Essentials Rectangles Die to cut this out.

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

• Challenge #138 - Holiday Challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More
• JUGS #287 - Word Week "Spring" at Just us Girls

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Hugs, Helen x