I'm late for a very important date!

Well in fact I'm not late at all for this date ... I'm bang on time, but the title might give you a teeny clue as to the theme of today's project!

Morning all - hope no-one has fallen off their chair at yet another missive from me this week, but there is a very good reason for this, honest!

About 7 weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be selected as a Top Tipper at Top Tip Tuesday, and my prize was a GDT spot with the team - and today is that day! This morning's challenge is entitled Cut It Out! so I reckon everyone should be able to enter this challenge, as long as there's something on your project which you've cut out.

We're being sponsored this fortnight by Tammy at Shape EZ who is not only going to provide the lucky winner of this challenge with a prize package, but also kindly gave the DT and I our choices of template to use for this challenge.

Before I get to my card, the girls at Top Tip Tuesday asked me if I could come up with a Top Tip for you, so here goes:

If you're using shrink plastic, take the guess work out of sizing it to suit your project and make a "Magic Ruler".

This is simply a piece of "Shrinkles" plastic which I've marked from 0cm to around 12cm (and I've also used my hole making tool to make appropriately sized holes) before following the manufacturers instructions to shrink it in the oven.  So, here goes on how to use it:

Using the "Magic Ruler" measure the length and width of the part of your original design that you want to make in "Shrinkles" plastic - so here, I'm measuring the length of the teapot lid knob (3cm) and width (2cm) - these aren't the actual measurements, but the size that I need to increase the teapot lid knob to.

So here is screen print from my word processing programme, and I've imported the tea pot lid at actual size. The red box measures 3cm x 2cm which is the size the knob needs to be, so I need to increase the size of the lid until the knob fills the red square.

The knob is now the right size, in "Shrinkles World"! Print this out onto a regular piece of printer paper.

Overlay the printer paper with the "Shrinkles" plastic and trace the outline of your design using an alcohol marker pen (I'm using a Spectrum Noir Pen in True Black). Allow to dry.

Turn the "Shrinkles" plastic over, and colour your design using your chosen alcohol marker pens - I've used Spectrum Noir Pens in shades LV1, LV2, LV3. Allow to dry.

Cut around your element carefully leaving a small border around the edge of your design and then heat it according to the manufacturer's instructions. Once cooled it should look like the piece on the right side of the picture below:

It's now ready to be afixed to your project and if you check out the photos below, you'll see my the coloured knob on the teapot lid!

Here's my card, featuring one of Tammy's templates and showing the teapot lid, complete with  "Shrinkles" plastic knob:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - Shape EZ Tea Pot Template printed onto regular lightweight light cardstock and hand cut. I distressed all the edges with Craf-T Chalk in Turquoise and stuck the "crystal" shrinkles knob onto the top of the lid
• Papers - are MM024 from a retired set called Mixed Media by Donna at, sadly now closed, Bearly Mine Designs. I printed these directly onto the paper templates from the Tea Pot Set ... very easy as they're sized to match perfectly!
• Image - is one I was lucky enough to win a couple of months ago and she is called Lucy Loo
  
  "Mad Hatter" by Unky at The East Wind. How much sass-itude has this girl got? I brought Lucy Loo to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours before fussy cutting her out:
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6, LV1, LV2
• Hair - IG1, IG2, IG4
• Hat - BT4, BT5, BT6, LV1, LV2
• Shirt & Cravat - IG1, IG2
• Jacket - DG5, DG6, DG7, TN8, Silver Gel Pen
• Cup - TN2, DR11, Gold Gel Pen
• Outline - BT1
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and once I had cut this out, I distressed the edges with Craf-T Chalk in Turquoise. 

I hope I've inspired you to have a go and Cut It Out! but why not head over to the Top Tip Tuesday Blog and check out all the fabby creations from the DT girls and pop over to the Shape EZ store and see what other great templates Tammy has that you could use? Then come back and show us your cut out projects! This challenge ends at 4pm BST on Monday 22nd June 2015.




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

• Challenge #262 - A Touch of Vintage/Shabby Chic at Sentimental Sundays
• Shabby Chic at Make my Monday
• Challenge #9 - Anything Goes with a Twist of Fantasy at SLSlines Challenge (Second Entry)

Hope you have a good day, and if you use my tutorial please let me know - I'd love to come over and see what you make!

Hugs, Helen

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

Vintage-y ... I hope!

Hello friends!

I hope you are well. Last week was half term here so it was a week of "no get ups"! Back to the alarm this morning, but there's only 7 and a bit weeks until the summer holidays. :o) Nice to see some sunshine again, although who knows how long it will last!


Anyway, it's new challenge time at Whoopsi Daisy and this week we're giving you the option of style either  Shabby Chic or Vintage ... another challenge for me as I don't make many cards in either of these styles.

As usual, Linnie is offering our lucky prize winner 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 let us loose in the store once more, and here is this week's project, using the current sketch challenge at Little Miss Muffet for the layout, for you:

I was aiming to hit Vintage, but I'm not sure if I achieved it! Anyway my card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Dark Chocolate which I cut and scored to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - are all from a collection by Summer at Summertime Designs called All Is Calm. This is actually a winter kit, but I love the colours of it, which hint at a touch of vintage style. The bottom layer is called Pinstripes, the next layer is called Dots, and the top layer is called Red Damask. I've edged all the papers with Craf-T Chalk and a damp dish sponge (!) in Light Brown.
  
• Image - is one of Linnie's "Little Misses" and she is one of the two images available on Sheet 453. I used the pre-coloured version; I needed to be able to make this card quite quickly as I spent last week out and about with my family. However, there is a line drawing of this gorgeous girl, so you can take your time and choose your own colours. I also edge distressed the oval with Craf-T Chalk in Light Brown.
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and I re-coloured using my word processing package to match the papers. The Banner is home-made, also using my word processing package.
• Pearls - are from my stash and are coloured using my Spectrum Noir Pen in shade DR7 before mounting them onto another Banner shape.

I do hope you'll come over to Whoopsi Daisy Challenge and have a look at the wonderful creations by the other Divas. Then come back and show us your projects which are either Vintage or Shabby Chic. Don't forget that if you're using a Whoopsi Daisy image then you don't have to follow this week's theme!!! This challenge closes on Sunday 9th June 2013.

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

• Challenge #62 - Sketch at Little Miss Muffet I've rotated the sketch through 90 degrees  ... and then added the banners!
• Spots and Stripes at Joanna Sheen

I'll be back a little later with my next post.

Hugs, Helen x

Wash Day Blues?

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

Good morning friends and what a busy few days it's been here at Crafty Mamma Mia!

As it's the first Tuesday of the month, it's New Release time at The Crafty Pad Designs! This time Debbie has gone all vintage on us, and has designed this gorgeous Laundry Day Set. There are 5 lovely images in this set, and one sentiment and it's available from the New Releases part of the store.

As usual, the Design Team were asked to showcase the new set, and I must admit to struggling a bit with this as I haven't made many vintage cards. However I had a flash of inspiration, and here is my project ... a Laundry Room Door Hanger, pictured nestled in my ironing basket! Yes, (blushing here) my ironing pile really is that huge!!!!!

My Door Hanger recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Ivory which is made from one panel of A4 tri-fold. I found the centre of my panel, judged how high I wanted my door handle 'hole' to be and then embossed the smallest circle shape from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats which I then cut out. I used the corner punch on my Clevercut to round the corners.
• Image - I've got two different images which I printed onto ordinary cream coloured card. To give it a vintage feel, I chalk distressed the edges using Light Brown chalk. 
• The first image is one of the New Release Images and it is called "Wash Tub" - I've tried to get some perspective on my design by keeping this image large. To bring this empty tub to life I used my chalks in the following colours:
•  Tan, Light Brown, Dark Brown, Grey
• My second image is called Vintage Clothes Line and this is by Paulette at Create with TLC, and was one of the freebies on her blog around February this year. I also used my chalks to brighten this billowing line of laundry:
• Light Blue, Grey, White, Green
• Design Paper - is from the  Vintage/Distressed Plain Paper Pack by Debbie and is called Blue Grunge. I again used my  Clevercut to round the corners before using my chalks in Dark Brown to distress the edges.
• Sentiment - was computer generated in my word processing package and "wrapped around" my images. I wanted something quirky and funny so I used Google and found a site with some sayings. This is one of theirs, although I've formatted it myself, however I can't remember the site. If anyone discovers it, please do let me know as I'll be pleased to credit them.

Debbie is giving away this set (remember it's 5 images and a sentiment) to one lucky "Crafty Pad-der"! For your chance to add "Wash Day" to your stash, all you have to do is head over to The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog and leave us a comment on the New Release Post letting us know what you think of the new images, and your name will go into the draw! For a second chance in the draw either be or become a follower of The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog, and then leave us a further comment letting us know that you're a follower! It really is that easy!!! Commenting will close at 12 noon (BST) on Monday 10th September, and we'll announce the lucky winner on Thursday 13th September. Good Luck!

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

• Challenge 21 - So Old or Vintage at Simply Create Too
• Challenge 123 - Vintage at Digi Doodle Shop
• ABAC Debut Challenge - Anything Goes at Anything but a Card
• Challenge #59 - Distressing at Creative Stamp Friends
• Anything but a Card at Totally Stampalicious
• Challenge #1 at Let's Create ... Anything But A Card!

Happy Crafting!

Hugs, Helen x

Valentine's Hugs and Kisses

Hi,

Well, Valentine's Day is now over for another year, and hopefully next year will be a better one for us. I've got a streaming cold and my other half has a nasty virus. Amid the pills and tissues, we did exchange cards (we've given up on presents!) and I reckon it's now safe to show you all the card I made for him:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - Centura Pearl 300gsm card in Ivory (Crafter's Companion) cut and folded to a 15cm square card.
• Backing Paper, Calendar Sheet, Tickets, are all by Create With TLC. The calendar sheet came from the January Blog Hop, the rest were from Paulette's February Club. I printed these onto lightweight cream card from my stash, distressed the edges (this was a new technique for me!) and then chalked the distressed edge with Red. The Heart is also by Create With TLC and I printed this onto white card, coloured it (with my Spectrum Noir in shade 11) and then mounted it over the 14th using foam pads.
• The really cute image is also by Create With TLC  and was a goodie from the February club. I brought this gorgeous little girl to life with my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Dress - 1, 3, 5
• Hat - 104, 100, 1, 3, 5
• Skin - 132, 133
• Shoes - 120
• Basket - 92
• Hearts 137, 8
• Grass - 175, 42

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

• Challenge #94 - Square Cards at Robyn's Fetish Challenge (my second entry)
• February Colour Challenge (Real Red, Whisper White, Melon Mambo) at Come and Get It Challenges
• Challenge #11 - Valentine's Day at The Squirrel and The Fox
• Monthly Challenge #18 - Romance at Little Claire
• Challenge #118 - Lurve! at Totally Gorjuss
• February Challenge - Love is in the Air at Joanna Sheen
• Challenge #1 at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge
• Challenge 21 - Anything Goes at Crafter's Companion

I hope you had a great Valentine's Day!

Hugs, Helen x