Happy Brrr-thday!

Good evening everyone, and a really warm welcome to Jackie who is my newest follower! If you're in the UK, I hope you've managed to enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend (sorry to anyone in Scotland, as you've already had yours!) - Casa Mia "upped sticks", and we've had an action packed weekend at Alton Towers Theme Park. Now I'm not a big fan of roller coasters; in fact they completely freak me out ... but I managed to ride on all the "big ones" (apart from Smiler which was closed) at least once, much to the amazement of both of the Bambinos and Papa Mia!

It's new challenge day at Incy Wincy Designs, and there's no excuse for not joining us this week as our theme is Anything Goes!

We're being sponsored by the lovely Sandy at Scribbles Designs, and she is offering this week's lucky winner $10USD of digis as a prize! Even if you're not this week's lucky winner, if you become a follower of Sandy's Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog you'll find that she sometimes offers a freebie ... and most crafters I know like a freebie, don't they? ;o)

Sandy has also very kindly given the DT some images to showcase, but I'm using an older digi for 2 reasons; firstly I need a card for my nephew, and secondly, as he's turning 11 and this digi has 11 candles on it I thought it would be perfect!

So, here's my inspiration for you this week:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is a Pop-up card in black cardstock, following this tutorial from SplitCoast Stampers
  
• Image - Brrr-thday Chef by Sandy at Scribbles Designs which I die cut using the largest Die'sire Essentials Rectangles die, before matting and layering it onto ice blue Core'dinations Card. I've used my Spectrum Noir Pens in the colours listed:
• Hat - IG1, IG2, Colourless Blender
• Penguin - OR1, IG9, True Black
• Bow Tie and Napkin - IG2
• Cake - IG2, FL1, CT4, Colourless Blender, Silver Gel Pen
• Outline - BT1
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC (I think it was a blog freebie a little while ago, but is just perfect for this penguin image!) and I've used the same ice blue Core'dinations Card for matting and layering.

Please head over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the other wonderful creations from my teamies. Then come back and show us your projects - remember Anything Goes! This challenge ends on Sunday 6th September 2015.

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

• CCM #146 - No Patterned Papers at Crafty Cardmakers
• "N" is for No Design Papers at Alphabet Challenge Blog
• Challenge #22 - No Printed Paper at Get Creative Challenges
• Challenge #32 - Boys will be Boys at Scribbles Design Challenge

Until next time, take care!

Hugs, Helen x

Très Jolie!

Good morning friends; hope you are well. It's the last week of the school summer holidays, back to it next week but before then we've got a bank holiday here in the UK! Whoo hoo!!!!! Then I don't feel quite so guilty for poor PapaMia!

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this week it's all about the one special day everyone has each year - our theme for you is Birthday Wishes. 

We have been sponsored by the oh-so-lovely Wendy Burns at All Dressed Up Digital Stamps, I can say that she's lovely as I was fortunate enough to win a bundle of her stamps in a challenge win earlier this year and as it occurred at the time that MiL was recuperating from her knee op, I was rather delayed in claiming my prize. Wendy was so sweet and patient with me, so it's both a pleasure and a treat being able to showcase her stunning designs! Wendy is also providing this week's lucky winner with a prize pack of 2 Digis.

Wendy very kindly gave the DT a couple of digis to showcase, but I've used one of the images from my win, and here is my card:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is Ivory Centura Pearl which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Papers - are from a Crafter's Companion Club Inspire download from August 2013 called Parisien Florals.
  
• Image - is called Party Frock and she is by Wendy at All Dressed Up Digital Stamps - not only is this image fabulous for teen/girlie birthday cards, but I think she would be awesome for a Prom card too! I coloured this very elegant girl using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before die cutting her using my largest Die'sire Essentials Ovals die.
• Skin - FS2, FS3, TN2
• Hair - GB8, GB10, EB5, EB8
• Dress - PP1, PP3, PP5, DR3, CG1, CG2, DG3
• Shoes - CG1, CG2
• Outline - BT1
• Sentiment - is from the Sentiment Stamp Set which came with the Crafter's Inspiration Magazine Issue 6. I stamped this onto Neenah Cardstock and then stencilled round the inside of the medium oval tag from the Die'sire Tags One set - unfortunately I can't find this set available for purchase any longer. I used the same die to cut out the tag from Ivory Centura Pearl and mounted the stamped sentiment oval to this, and then threaded 2 lengths of twine (from my stash) through this to fix the tag to the card. 

This card has already gone to it's recipient, who I know is delighted with it :o) !

For more Birthday Wishes inspiration, please head over to Incy Wincy Designs and see what wonderful projects my talented teamies have created. Then come back and show us your creations - this challenge ends on Sunday 30th August 2015.

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

• Challenge #98 - Use a Sentiment at Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
• Challenge #153 - Use a Die Cut at QKR Stampede
• Challenge #278 - Use a Digi at Robyn's Fetish Challenge
• Challenge #231 - Utterly Feminine at Corrosive Challenge
• Challenge #151 - One for the Girls at A Gem of a Challenge
• Challenge #39 - Anything Goes with an ADU Image at All Dressed Up Challenges

Have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

Celebration Time!

Evening All! 

Hope all is well with you and yours - hugs winging their way around for those who are in need!

Like thousands of other parents up and down the country, I was a bag of nerves yesterday morning whilst I was waiting for eldest Bambino to collect her GCSE Exam Results from school. So to save my nails (and sanity!) I did what every good crafter does and made her a card, keeping my fingers crossed all the time that we would be celebrating in some form.

I used the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches as my layout inspiration for this project:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is black card which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15 x 10.5cm card. I have also used the same black card to make the top panel, which I matted onto white card before mounting it onto the base.
• Sentiment - is a free digi that I found in the More Word Art section at Free Digital Scrapbooking having spent several hours trawling through my digital stash and usual digital haunts to try and find what I was looking for! I printed this onto white card and cut a rectangle around the sentiment, fussy cutting round 3 of the star points to leave them outside the rectangle.
• Stars - are die cut from Gold Glitter Card from my stash using Die'sire Essentials Stars dies in varying sizes which I've stuck onto the card front in a random pattern.

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

• Challenge #200 at Freshly Made Sketches
• Challenge #103 - Celebration Time at Creative Knockouts

And just in case you were wondering, Bambino achieved 4 subjects at Grade C (including one she took a year early last summer) and 5 subjects at Grade B, which should be enough for her to enrol on the A level courses she was hoping for at college - we'll know that next week! If you are another "Exam Result Parent", I hope your offspring achieved what they were hoping for.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Hugs, Helen x

I've been inspired!

Hi everyone!

Regular readers will no doubt be aware that most of my creations come about as the result of a Design Team Inspiration. However, just before we disappeared on hols I discovered and started following Hannelie's blog - I really like her card-making style, and it's one I can only aspire to being half as good at!!!!! ;o)

Anyway, one of Hannelie's DT cards popped up in my blog feed yesterday, after we'd had a visit from one of eldest Bambino's friends and her Mum reminding that us that aforementioned friend's Birthday Party is today and was Bambino OK to come? In fairness, I do vaguely remember a conversation across the sunloungers when Bambino asked if she was free on 14th August, as she and friend had been contacting each other on social media (what happened to the days when holidays were actually a break from normal life?) but the conversation and date had been well and truly parked on the back burner, i.e. completely fogotten!!!!!! Card required in a hurry, me thought ... and then Hannelie's card popped up.

The challenge I've been inspired by is at CAS(E) this Sketch! and here is this week's sketch which is just perfect for both very quick, and the not-so-quick makes like mine!:

And here is my take on it:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is green Core'dinations card which I cut, scored and folded to make an 8.5cm x 12cm card, with a 3cm "flap" which is the top part of the card front. I then cut another piece of card 8.5cm x 6cm to make the bottom part of the card
  
• Acetate Strip - is just regular photocopying acetate which I cut to 8.5 cm wide and with enough depth to be able to affix it to the inside of the green card. I embossed this with a Sheena Douglass embossing folder called Fabulous Florals (which was a freebie with the Spring 2014 Crafter's Inspiration Magazine) and then coloured the flowers with my Spectrum Noir Pens in PL2, PL3, PL4 and True Black before affixing the panel to the inside of the card base.
• Butterfly - is one of the smaller butterflies in the Die'sire Essentials Beautiful Butterflies set which I cut out of dark pink Core'dinations card. I then swiped it across a Versamark Ink Pad before liberally applying Silver Pearl Embossing Powder and heating it. I then bent the butterfly's wings up, stuck it onto the card base and applied 3 small gems from my stash to it's body.
• Sentiment - is from the stamp set that came with the Spring 2015 Crafter's Inspiration Magazine. I stamped this onto the base card with Versamark Ink before showering it with the Silver Pearl Embossing Powder and heating it - in hindsight, this gentle colour doesn't show up very well on the green!

Here's a better look at the acetate panel - I opened the card out and put it against a white background so you can see it more clearly.

It's been so grey and dismal here all day, and I really struggled to get decent photos this morning :o( Anyhow, this little card has gone to it's recipient now, and eldest Bambino is happy as I met her requirements of flowers and butterfly!

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

• Challenge #136 at CAS(E) this Sketch!
• Anything that Flies at Seize the Birthday

Hope you have a great weekend - we're off to Hogwarts tomorrow, well the studio tour which is eldest Bambino's own Birthday treat from July!

Hugs, Helen x

Butterfly Scent

Hello - another scheduled post as I'm still in the Med!

Today is an exciting day for Sophia's Sweet Scribbles as we're bringing you Larissa's newest images, and these ones will be perfect for all the ladies in your life (and some of the men too!) as this collection is called Eau de Parfum and features exquisite perfume bottles in many shapes, sizes and styles!

I'm delighted to be showcasing Butterfly Wings and here is my card:

• Card base - is Neenah Desert Storm Kraft cardstock which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 12cm square gatefold card. 
• Papers - I have used 2 different papers from the Spring Paper Collections by Larissa at Sophia's Sweet Scribbles. On the front of the card I have used the Candyfloss and Cream colourway from the Striped Paper Collection and on the inside I have used the Candyfloss colourway from the Spring Butterfly Collection. 
• Image - is Butterfly Wings from the Eau de Parfum Collection  at Sophia's Sweet Scribbles. I have brought this elegant bottle of scent to life using my Spectrum Noir Pencils in the listed colours, before fussy cutting the image out and attaching it to the left side of the card.
• Bottle - 29, 34, 35 
• Cap - 84, 87, 107 
• Butterflies - 61, 65, Gold Gel Pen
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC which I have superimposed onto  the Butterfly Paper.

I hope you'll head over to the blog and also the Facebook page and see the other lovely creations by my teamies. Then go and grab some of the beautiful bottles for yourself, and come back to the Facebook page and show us your projects with them!

I'll be back later this week with another peek from this gorgeous collection.

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

• Challenge #276 - Things with Wings at Robyn's Fetish Challenges
• O is for Open (Anything Goes) at ABC Challenges
• Challenge #77 - More than One Fold at Creatalicious Challenges
• Challenge #45 - One for the Girls at Creative Craft Cottage
• Challenge #30 - Pretty in Pink at CCC Digi Creations
• Challenge #2 - Things with Wings at Colouring in Scrapland
• Challenge #112 - Stripes or Checks at Dream Valley Challenges
• August Challenge - One for the Girls at Stamp and Create
• Make it Girly! at Whoopsi Daisy Challenge
• Anything Goes at Spectrum Noir Facebook Page

Hugs, Helen x

Fairy Dance

Hello everyone,

This is just a very quick scheduled post from me as I'm sunning myself somewhere in the Med!

It's new challenge day at Incy Wincy Designs - this week we're looking for you to Frame It!

We're bringing you 2 sponsors this week:

Firstly the team at Wow Embossing Powders are offering our first lucky winner a pack of 6 Embossing Powders, and here's a little about them:

WOW! Embossing Powder has been established as a brand since May 2006 and has grown dramatically since then. We are rapidly becoming very well-known and respected within the craft industry. We pride ourselves on our fast and friendly customer service, and personal touch each and every one of our customers receives. We are the largest manufacturers of embossing powder in the world, therefore are very pleased and proud to offer crafters what we believe is the best product available at a great price. 

WOW! Embossing Powder offer over 160 different colours of embossing powders: Embossing Glitter, Metallic, Puff and Ultra High to name a few collections. WOW! also sell Fab Foils, embossing inks, embossing pens, bonding powder, flock, stamps and stamping accessories. 

Our second sponsor is the team at Polka Doodles who are offering our second lucky winner a £5 gift voucher for their store. They also very kindly provided some images for the DT to use, so here is my card featuring one of their images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is black cardstock which I've cut, scored and folded to make a 12cm card
  
• Image - is called Serenity Joyful and she is available from Polka Doodles. I carefully sized her to fit inside the die cut frame, and then cut a border which can't be seen through the holes in the frame. I brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours:
•  Dress,  Slippers and Butterflies - GT1, GT2, GT3
• Garland - CR1, CR7, Gold Gel Pen
• Skin - FS2, FS3, TN2
• Hair - EB1, EB2, EB6
• Frame - is Die'sire Stamping Frame - Elegance which I've cut from pale orange Core'dinations Card and then mounted onto the black card using foam pads to make it stand out a bit.

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and take a peek at the wonderful and varied creations made by my teamies. Then come back and show us your projects which Frame It! This challenge ends on Sunday 9th August 2015.

Until next time, take care!

Hugs, Helen x