Sweet Scribblers!

Hello my crafty friends - hope this post finds you well. I'd like to welcome my newest followers, Lori and Christine ... hope you enjoy the crafty delights that I'll be showing!!!!! ;o)

I can't believe we're over half way through the half term break, however I do feel that I've had a good rest, and I'm ready for the onslaught of poorly students in the next couple of weeks! If you've been on hols this week, hope you've had a good rest too and have been able to enjoy a little bit of sunshine.

Last weekend, a post from one of my Incy Wincy teamies popped up in my blog feed and really piqued my interest. It was for a brand new designer of digi stamps who has set up a store and was looking for DT members. Well, a couple of emails to and fro later, and I'm the newest DT member for Sophia's Sweet Scribbles showcasing the beautiful digis of Larissa.

You can purchase Larissa's delightful digis via the Sophia's Sweet Scribbles Blog and join in the fun at our Sweet Scribblers Facebook Group, where you will find inspiration, new releases, sneak peeks and when there are enough fans, there'll be a monthly challenge too!

Today, I'm showcasing one of Larissa's newer images, Hummingbird:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a pre-made A6 white card blank
• Paper - is from the Kimono Papercrafting CD Rom which I've matted and layered onto Neenah Desert Storm card. 
  
• Image - is Hummingbird by Larissa at Sophia's Sweet Scribbles which I have die cut using the second largest Die'sire Essentials Ovals die and this was matted and layered onto the largest Die'sire Essentials Scalloped Ovals die cut from some more Neenah Desert Storm. I brought my Hummingbird and flower to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens and Spectrum Noir Pencils in the shades listed (for those unfamiliar with the numbering systems, the pens all start with a letter suffixed by a number code e.g. IG1, and the pencils are coded using just numbers e.g. 067)
• Hummingbird - IG1, IG2, IG3, IG4, 067, 071, 073, 061. 013, 022, True Black
• Flower - PP4, PP5, PP6, True Black
• Stalk & leaves - DG2, DG3, DG4
• Outline - GT1, Blender Pen
• Sentiment - is from a set included in the Spring 2015 Crafter's Inspiration Magazine which I stamped directly onto a banner cut from Neenah Desert Storm.
• Flower - is die cut using the smallest flower in the Die'sire Essentials Flowers for all Occasions set and then I ink distressed the edges using my Papermania Capsule Collection Red Hot Ink pad before fixing it to my card and adding a pearl to the centre of it.

I have been inspired by and would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Sketch Challenge #302 at Tuesday Morning Sketches
• Challenge #28 - Tic Tac Toe at Creative Knockouts I'm claiming the bottom left to top right diagonal of Flowers (on image, paper and die cut), Sentiment, Die Cut/Punches

I would also like to enter this card into these challenges:

• Flowers Everywhere at Melonheadz Friends
• Things with Wings at Whoopsi Daisy
• Challenge #290 - All Creatures Great and Small at Crafty Creations
• Challenge #205 - Flower Power at The Paper Shelter

I hope that you'll come over to both the Blog and Facebook Group - say "Hi" to my other teamies and to Larissa (the "scribbler" behind the gorgeous digis), and get your scribbling fix!

Until next time,

Hugs, Helen x

Sunflower Border

Good Morning my crafty friends and a warm welcome  to Larissa who is my newest follower - hope you enjoy my madcap crafting journey!!!!


If you're in the UK, I do hope you're enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend. From having not alot planned for this weekend, PapaMia and I decided to re-jig one of the borders in the garden, so we had a garden centre trip and then a planting afternoon yesterday. Not sure what's on the agenda for today, but I might be able to fit in a little extra "me" time ... aka crafting!!!!!!!


Is anyone else struggling with Blogger at the mo? Whenever I pull up posts, I can't seem to see all the pictures in that post and it's taking me several goes to get my own photos into a post. Any of you lovely computer-literate peeps out there got any suggestions as to how I can rectify this?

Anyway, whining over! It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this week we'd like you to either go for All or Nothing! This means either lots of layers or no layers at all ... I bet regular readers can guess which I've gone for before they even look at my card! ;o)

We're being sponsored this week by the lovely Sandy at Scribbles Designs who is offering $10 of digital images to our lucky winner this week. Here's a little about Sandy and her work:

And welcome to Sandy's world of her funky imagination and quirky characters.Sandy's has had a pencil in her hand since she was "knee-high to a grasshopper" and started on her artistic journey with her first family ball & stick figures portrait at age 3. We'll have to find the piece of work in the family history trunk and post it...

Back to the regular scheduled program! Sandy has loved art, drawing, water coloring 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. We hope you enjoy the enduring images and look around and add Sandy's images to your digital stamp collections...

If you head over to Sandy's store, you'll also find that she sometimes has a Friday freebie up for grabs too ... :o)

Sandy has very kindly given the DT some images to use this week for inspiration, but I have gone back through my digi files as I was lucky enough to win a couple of Sandy's images last year and, shame on me (blushing wildly here!) they haven't seen the light of day, or the ink of my printer! So here goes, my one layer card (did you guess right?) featuring one of Sandy's pretty images:

This card has already gone to eldest bambino's Form Tutor as the students are now on reduced timetable/study leave due to their GCSE exams, so I'm very safe in posting it here today. Who knows, the Tutor might even take a peek ... let me know Miss R.!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base card - is Neenah Solar White Card, onto which I printed my design, scored as an A4 tri-fold card and then cut the last third to leave a DL sized card when folded.
  
• Image - is #603 - Sunflowers 3 drawn by Sandy at Scribbles Designs. I printed this directly onto my base card and then brought it all to life using my Spectrum Noir Pencils in the listed shades following this technique tutorial by Nicky over at the Spectrum Noir Website - thanks for a great tute Nicky, I finally feel as though I've done an image some justice with my pencils!
• Sunflowers - 012, 018, 023, 093
• Leaves - 012, 056, 047, 023, 093
• Sky - 067, 023
• Tendrils and dots - Gold Gel Pen
• Sentiment - is a clear stamp from Hobbycraft although it no longer appears on their website. I stamped this in Versamark ink, sprinkled with some gold embossing powder and then heated it.

I hope I've inspired you to have a go with no layers, but don't forget to pop over to Incy Wincy Designs and see which of my extremely talented teamies have gone for All or Nothing! Then come back and show us your creations as we love visiting you - this challenge ends on Sunday 31st May 2015.

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

• May Challenge - Use Flowers at Spectrum Noir Facebook Page
• KSC May Challenge - May Flowers at Karleigh Sue Challenges
• Challenge #145 - Flowers at A Gem of a Challenge

We're on half term now for the rest of the week, so a chance to recharge my batteries for the next half term ... if you're on holiday this week too, I hope you enjoy it!

Until next time ....

Hugs, Helen x

A Chilly Oasis?

Hells bells - I'm running late, yet again! Sorry teamies!

I can't believe it's another week and that this time next week will be half term ... phew! Hope you all had a good weekend - I managed a session on the "trotmill" and notched up 5km, and then had a very successful shopping trip with eldest bambino to get sparkly sandals to go with her Prom dress.

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this week we'd like to see Exotic Animals. We're being sponsored by Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet who are supplying the prize package this week. They have also very kindly allowed the DT their choice of image to use for this challenge and here is my card featuring a very exotic meerkat:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - pre-made 5" square card from cream cardstock
• Papers - are the brown patterned paper and the yellow ombre paper from the Chilling Meerkat Digital Stamp and Paper Pack by Coosty Creations at Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet. I've cut the yellow paper into a pennant shape before fixing it to the base paper.
  
• Image - is the Chilling Meerkat Digital Stamp by Coosty Creations. How darn cute is this little guy just chillin' out at a desert oasis? Although, on reflection, when I've been observing the meerkats at our local family theme park I don't recall any of them having a pint of beer in their paws!!!! I've brought this chillaxing furry friend to life using my Spectrum Noir Pencils in the following shades:
• Meerkat - 89, 91, 95, 119, 120
• Beer & Glass - 99, 61
• Plants - 56, 58, 47
• Rocks - 84, 107, 87
• Sky - 65
• Sentiment - is also from the Chilling Meerkat Digital Stamp and Paper Pack by Coosty Creations.

I think I might put this card by for next month, and then I can send it to my Dad for Father's Day ... as long as I remember where that "safe place" is!

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

• Challenge #259 - Funny and/or Cute Sentiments at Sentimental Sundays
• Animals at Top Tip Tuesday
• Challenge #38 Animals at Paper Creator's Crafts

Whatever you're doing for the rest of the day, have a good one. I think I might get stuck into next week's DT card, so there's a fighting chance it might be on my blog at the right time on the right day! ;o)

Catch you soon!

Hugs, Helen x

I Love the Rain!

Well I don't mind the rain as it is what keep's this country nice and green, but according to Papa Mia's weather station we've already had 2.6cm of rain this month ... and I think most of that fell last week when we had some torrential downpours!

Hello crafty friends! Hope this post finds you all well ... if not, hugs are winging their way to you.

I'm a wee bit tardy in posting this, as Mr Blogger's gremlin friends decided that they wouldn't let me put photos into my post - how dare they! Fingers crossed that it all works this time! Anyway, you're not too late to be joining in with the new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs this week, which finds us celebrating The Great Outdoors. Plenty of scope for some fabby projects me thinks!

As ever, Chris has lined up a wonderful sponsor for this challenge and we've teamed up with Sami Siemers Ratliff from Sami Stamps who has offered a lovely prize to this week's lucky winner. Even if you don't win the prize, Sami has some totally beautiful digi stamps in her store and, while you're there, go and check out the "Deals" section and treat yourself to some gorgeous-ness which won't break the bank! 

Sami has very generously given each DT member their own choice of digi to use for this challenge, and here is my card for you this week featuring one of Sami's oh-so-pretty images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - pre-made 14.7 cm square card blank in white which I've scored and folded to make a twisted easel card. I've also used a square of Snow White Silver Centura Pearl to make my easel panel.
• Papers - are from a kit by Marisa Lerin at Pixel Scrapper Digital Scrapbooking called Rainy Day Mini Kit, and they're perfect for this image don't you think? I've used Rainy Day Paper 01, Rainy Day Paper 02 and Rainy Day Paper Floral 03. I put a digital border to give a faux mat around the raindrops and umbrella papers and, to continue the rainy theme as I thought this looked the ripples in a puddle, I used one of the built in embossing borders on my Ultimate Pro to create the wavy line on the floral paper, which I then cut out by hand. 
  
• Image - has been beautifully drawn by Sami at Sami Stamps and she is called I Love the Rain. Unfortunately, I can't give you a direct link to her in Sami's store as she appears to have been retired ;o( I've brought her to life very simply using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours, before die cutting her using a die from the Die'sire Essentials Squares set.
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Hair - GB8, GB10, EB5 (I think my hair skills definitely have room for improvement!)
• Dress - TB1, TB3
• Umbrella - paper pieced using the Rainy Day Paper Floral 03 paper, Silver Gel Pen
• Raindrops - Silver Gel Pen
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and this was a freebie on her blog in March. I've cut this out using a die from the Die'sire Essentials Rectangles set.

I hope I've inspired you to create a project celebrating The Great Outdoors and don't forget to head over to the Incy Wincy Designs blog and check out the fabulous projects by my very talented teamies. Then come back and show us your creations - this challenge will end on Sunday 17th May.

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

• Challenge #144 - More than One Fold at A Gem of a Challenge
• Challenge #25 - Anything Goes at Sami Stamps
• Challenge #58 - Monochrome at Lacy Sunshine Challenge
• Digi Stamp Challenge #5 at Little Claire's

Hope you have a great day!

Hugs, Helen x

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope, it's ........

.... my weekly post for Incy Wincy Designs! It's new challenge time and this week we're helping our crafty friends in the US and Canada spoil their Mum as our challenge this week is Mom's the Word. 

We're being sponsored this week by the very lovely Heather Valentin from Lacy Sunshine who is offering a prize of 3 of her gorgeous digis to our lucky prizewinner! Heather also very kindly gave each DT member their choice of image to use for this challenge. Back to the post title then ... Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Nope, it's Glitter Girl Superhero - perfect for all those superhero Mums out there!!!!!!!

Now I'm in a bit of a pickle - firstly, my Mum is no longer with us and secondly we've already celebrated Mothering Sunday here in the UK .... so I've just gone for a very "girly" card in the hopes that it inspires you to make a creation for your Mum/Mom!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is a pre-made white card base, around 14.7cm square
• Papers - the Paisley Print paper is from a set by Summer at Summertime Designs called Angel Mother. The lovely Medium Pink glitter paper comes from a set at Pixel Scrapper Digital Scrapbooking called Glitters by Dreamn4ever Designs - I think this set must be retired now, as I can't find it on the site. I've digitally added a brown border to both papers to give a faux mat and layer.
  
• Image - this very sparkly one is called G3 Glitter Girl Superhero and she comes from the pen of Heather at Lacy Sunshine Stamps. I've brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before die cutting her using one of my Sizzix Framelits Ovals
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6, EB5, DR7
• Eyes - GB10 DG2, Blender Pen
• Hair - GB8, GB10, EB5, EB8
• Clothes - PP4, PP5, PP6, DG2, DG3, DG4, DR1, DR3, Silver Gel Pen, GB3, GB4
• Bag and Boots - PP1, PP3, Silver Gel Pen
• Glitter Cascade - Silver Gel Pen, White Glitter
• Sentiment - is by my favourite sentiment designer, Paulette at Create with TLC and was diecut using a die from my Die'sire Essential Rectangles set. Some "bling" in opposing corners finished this off.
• Ribbon and button - are from my stash and both came from separate "bargain grab bags" from Hobbycraft some time ago. I've attached the button to the bow by way of some silver thread from my (languishing) lacemaking stash!

I'm not 100% happy with this card (hence why I'm a bit late joining in with this week's challenge), but it's done now! I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the fabulous creations by my lovely teamies, and while you're there please give Judy (our newest teamie) a warm welcome. Then come back and show us your creations for Mom/Mum. This challenge closes on Sunday 10th May.

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

• Cook Up a Creation - Recipe Challenge of 1 Digi, 2 Papers, 3 Embellishments (Bling, Bow & Button) at Moving Along With The Times
• Aloha Friday Challenge #46 - Girly Cards at Kitty Bee Designs
• Buttons and Bows at Digi Sketch Challenge - I'm following the Theme only with my button topped bow.
• Challenge #14 - For the Ladies or Mother's Day at Get Creative Challenges
• Add Sparkle at Melonheadz Friends
• May 2015 - Anything Goes (with loose glitter, embossing powder and/or flocking) at Sparkle 'n' Sprikle Creative Challenges

If, like us, you're suffering with strong winds and heavy rain showers I hope you stay safe! And if you're celebrating Mother's Day this weekend, I hope you get spoilt by your loved ones!

Have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

Bebunni Baby

Good evening friends and hope this post finds you well. Before I go any further, I would like to warmly welcome Judy (who is our newest teamie at Incy Wincy Designs) to my crafty musings ... hope you enjoy the journey! I can't believe it's May 1st already - where is the year disappearing too!

I'm sharing a non-DT card this evening as I know it's reached it's recipient! On Tuesday I found some fab news in my FB feed that one of our teachers from school had given birth to a beautiful baby girl. The teacher and I are both in the Staff Band (no, we can't come up with a more inspirational name!) and as Tuesday afternoons are when we practice, I thought it would be nice if we all signed a card to the new "family". So, I set to work creating and this was the result:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a pre-made 14.7cm square base in white
• Paper - is from a retired set from Bearly Mine Designs called "Plain and Simple" - I've used this gorgeous lavender colourway (called Plain 18) to tone in with Bebunni's balloons. The paper is already distressed, but I added some tool distressing too, just to give a bit of texture. This was matted and layered onto dark purple Core'dinations Cardstock
  
• Image - is the gorgeous Bebunni, and this topper comes from the Crafter's Inspiration Magazine 4 (Spring 2014) CD-Rom. I've die cut the topper using the second largest Die'sire Essentials Circles Die and this is matted and layered onto the dark purple Core'dinations Cardstock, cut with the largest Die'sire Essentials Scalloped Circles Die
• Sentiment - is from a stamp set Special Occasion Stamps which was a cover freebie with Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine. Again this was matted and layered onto the dark purple Core'dinations Cardstock, cut with the ticket shaped die from the Die'sire Just the Ticket set.
• Cord - is from a bargain bag which I bought from Hobbycraft, heaven only knows when! It was a thicker and silky cord which I unravelled, and this is just one strand of it.
• Banners - are from another retired Bearly Mine Designs set called "Mixed Media" and this is one corner of paper MM026. I love the extra "texture" it lends to the project in tonal colours. I topped these banners with pearls.

I know the recipient loves this card and I have to say that I was pretty pleased with it too - not bad for a couple of hours work, eh?

I was inspired by and would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Special "Purple Crazy" challenge at CD Sunday
• Sketch #298 at Tuesday Morning Sketches
• Challenge #139 at {PIN}spirational Challenges - I've been inspired by the balloons and pastel colours

Hope you have a great weekend, and enjoy the Bank Holiday if you're in the UK!

Hugs, Helen x