Hey kitty, kitty !

Good morning friends and hope you are well.

Can you believe that it's the 1st of September today - only 4 months of 2016 left!!!!!!! It's the last few days of summer freedom here at Casa Mia too as I start back at school on Monday with youngest Bambino returning the next day, and eldest Bambino returns to college on Friday.

Today sees the start of our new challenge over at Feeling Sketchy. Our sponsor for this challenge is the wonderful Jodie from Bugaboo Digi Stamps, who is offering the lucky winner from this challenge a prize pack. Don't forget though that everyone is a winner with Jodie's Friday Freebies and also her new releases are usually 50% off during launch week!

Onto the sketch, and this is what Michelle (our talented sketch designer) has given us to work to for this challenge:

And this is my card using the sketch as inspiration for a card featuring some of Jodie's fun images:

Now I have to confess that I really, really, really don't like cats. This stems back to my student days when I used to babysit for a couple once a month, looking after their two children, oh and the 4 (yes, FOUR) cats! Now 3 of the cats were fine, but one cat sure had the devil in him. He used to sit on my lap and make out that he was being friendly, and then dig all 4 sets of claws into my thighs. If I stood up, he wouldn't let go and I ended up with wounds on my legs where he'd drawn blood! And the worst thing was that the youngest child's bedroom was just off the lounge, so I couldn't even shout or swear at the thing!!!!!!! I resorted to wearing my jodhpurs under my jeans, with Nora Batty tights under them - yup 3 layers! Nora Batty was a character from a BBC show called "Last of the Summer Wine" played (I think) by Kathy Staff who used to wear really thick denier tights, and they were always falling down! And, whenever the cat came near me, I used to stand up so if it wanted to get me, it had to launch itself at me!

One of my neighbour's cats is doing his best to wheedle his way into my affections - we were next door recently and he came onto the back of the sofa where I was sitting, and rubbed his head against mine purring all the time. There may be hope for me yet, but deep down I am really a large dog girl ;o) !

Anyway, back to this card and my recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is Ivory Centura Pearl which has been cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - are from a Mini Kit called Kitty Kat by Marisa Lerin at Pixel Scrapper. I've inked the edges of both papers with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, just to give a bit of definition without the bulk of matting and layering
  
• Images - are from the Mini Set - Cat Blocks by Jodie at Bugaboo Digi Stamps. I've used 4 of 7 images and, as these are already framed, they are perfect for this project. I've brought this slightly shy feline to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before cutting each frame out and adding it to my card.
• Face - GB8, GB9, GB10
• Ears - CR3, GB8, GB9, GB10
• Nose - CR5
• Body and Tail - GB8, GB9, GB10 and TN2, TN3, TN4, EB3
• Background - TB2, Colourless Blender
• Frames - I used a Black Gel Pen to "block in" the corners
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and this was a freebie on her blog some time ago. I've had a quick peek in her store, but sadly can't find this sentiment in there. I've layered this onto another piece of the "Meow" paper which has been gently distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.
• Ball of Wool Elements - are also from the Kitty Kat set. I've superimposed these onto my sentiment (had to flip one of them first!) and then cut round both the sentiment and fussy cut round the wool before fixing it to my card.

I hope that you'll have a go at this sketch, but if you need any more inspiration just head over to the Feeling Sketchy blog where my very talented teamies  have great versions of it! Then come back and link up your creations. We'll be back with our next challenge on 15th September 2016.

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

• Favourite Shaped Card Base and Why at As You Like It - 6"/15cm square card bases feature heavily on my blog because I think they're a great sized base to show off both papers and images without the card looking cluttered. Oh, and they go in the post easily too ;o) !!!!!!!!
• Challenge #9 - Furrything Goes at Show us your Pussies Cats Only Challenge
• Hip to be Square at Cards in Envy - Second Entry
• Cookie Challenge #51 (Photo Inspiration) at If you Give a Crafter a Cookie
• Neutrals at Double "D" Challenges
• Use Two Patterned Papers at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge
• September Challenge - Animals at Sasayaki Glitter Challenge

That's all from me for now. Hope you have a great day!

Hugs, Helen x

It's coming up Daisies!

Ooooo, good morning folks and happy April Fool's Day. We're in the middle of our Easter holidays here at Casa Mia, so I'm hoping that there will be no pranks from the Bambinos! Have you been fooled today at all? I'd like to warmly welcome Kevin, my newest follower, to my blog - hope you enjoy the ramblings from Casa Mia and my crafty journey!

It's new challenge time at Feeling Sketchy and this week we are not having a sponsor ... however, we do have a $10 Gift Certificate to your favourite online scrapbooking store up for grabs!!!!!!! We've also said "Farewell" to a few of the girls who have stepped down from the team at the end of their term - sorry to see these ladies go, and I'll miss their awesome inspiration.

Here's the sketch that we're working with this week:

With no sponsor images this time, I had a great trawl through my, ahem, accumulated collection of images (I cringe every time Papa Mia says that we're running out of space on the hard disc, because some most of it's my stuff ... although I tell myself that his music doesn't help ;o)! ) and I found one that would suit this sketch perfectly, as long as I flipped the layout! So, here's my card created using the sketch:

Regular readers will know that I always struggle on Mother's Day for a suitable card for my M-i-L (a retired clergy wife) as the day is known as Mothering Sunday in the church calendar - the day when servant girls were released from their duties in the big houses to return to worship at their "mother" churches and to see their own families. These girls would often pick flowers from the hedgerows on their way home, hence why little posies of spring flowers are often given to mothers in church on this day!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base card - is a pre-made card base in white, about 14.8cm square
  
• Design Paper - is from the Mixed Media Collection by Donna at Bearly Mine Designs, now sadly closed :o( I inked around the edge of the papers using Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo.
• Image - is Daisies and Butterfly Frame by Teri at ArtiDoodles (Delicious Doodles). I've brought this lovely spring scene to life using my Spectrum Noir Pencils (Original) in the listed colours, before fussy cutting the image, both inside and outside the frame. A light dusting of Vintage Photo Distress Ink softened the edges of the frame and behind the butterfly's antennae.
• Daisies - 010, 013, 017, 046, 049, 054, 103
• Butterfly - 041, 030, 105
• Frame - 086, 092, 103
• Sentiment - is computer generated using my word processing package and a free font I found on-line called Shorelines Script Bold. I cut the strips using my Tonic Studios Sculptured decorative scissors - I think these were a magazine freebie as I can't seem to find them on the internet at all. I inked around the edge of each strip using Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo.
• Twine - from my stash, which is tied around the frame and finished with a bow

I hope I've encouraged you to come over to Feeling Sketchy and play along with this sketch, but if you're in need of further inspiration please do head over to the blog and check out the other wonderful creations by my teamies! Then come back and share your project using our sketch. We'll be back with our new challenge on 15/4/2016.

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

• IIC March Challenge - Let's hear it for the Girl! at Inky Impressions Challenges
• Challenge #187 - Make your Mark at Addicted to Stamps and More!
• Challenge #318 - Girlie at My Time To Craft Challenges
• For the Girls Challenge at Di's Digi Designs Challenge
• In the Garden at Come and Get It Challenges
• Challenge #128 - Girlie at Dream Valley Challenges
• Challenge #12 - Anything Goes at Lemon Shortbread
• Challenge #01 - Anything Goes at Classic Design Team Open Challenge

Have a great weekend!

Hugs, Helen x

Easter Lilies

Good afternoon friends! Hope you are well.

I apologise for the lack of posts from me over the last couple of weeks. I've been completely whacked sideways by another ear infection and this one was/is a whopper! I've just completed my second course of antibiotics in 2 weeks, on steroid ear drops and have conjunctivitis to boot! At least the facial swelling has gone down - last week I seriously resembled a chipmunk :o) !!!!!!!! 

As a result of this, my DT commitments have slid, so I'm now trying to play "catch up".

The first challenge I'd like to show you my project for is the Shades of Green challenge over at Incy Wincy Designs.

We've got 2 amazing sponsors for you this week:

Our first sponsor is Laurie and her team from Doodle Pantry who are offering this week's first lucky prize winner a $10 Gift Certificate if you live outside the European Union OR if you are an EU resident, then the prize is 3 single priced products from the store (anything that isn't labelled as a "bundle").

 Doodle Pantry takes pride in creating a diverse selection of doodling styles, like realistic or whimsical, and all of which are family and kid friendly illustrations.  We hope you enjoy our wide variety of styles for every family occasion!

Our second sponsors are Elena and Kenny Kiernan from KennyK Stamps who are offering this

week's second lucky prize winner 3 digital images of the winner's choice. Even if you're not lucky enough to win this prize, everyone can benefit from the fab discounts they're offering our Incy Wincy fans - read on to find out more ...

Rock Your Crafts with KennyK Stamps!
Elena Kiernan and illustrator hubby Kenny Kiernan bring a perfect storm of creative energy to the bold and fun digi stamps and clear stamp sets at this rockin’ shop, where it’s always 30% OFF your first purchase with code MYFIRSTPURCHASE. Their hundreds of fun-to-color designs include everything from kids’stamps to teenage girls with attitude , skateboard boys, goth and steampunk  styles,mens, sports,superheroes,music… and for those who enjoy a little spice in their crafting, KennyK Stamps is the #1 Shop in the World for SexyStamps!

More great deals from KennyK Stamps; include a Digital Card Kit license: for craft sheet designers on Craftsuprint and similar websites, and a FREE DIGI STAMP  every month to their newsletter subscribers. It’s a no-brainer, sign up here to join!

Click to follow KennyK Stamps and on Facebook and also join their awesome new Facebook Fan Group, “Club KennyK!  

Bonus For our Followers at Incy Wincy 

We want to offer ALL of your followers a 50% discount on their TWO favorite digis! Please include Full name of Digi and Link to their site and on the 2nd week you'll get a code for 50% off those digi. Have fun Picking your faves

I've chosen to work with a gorgeous set called Lily Collection Color Plus from Doodle Pantry (thank you Laurie for allowing me to work with this beautiful set), and here are my Easter cards:

My card recipes are as follows:

Easter Lily Card

• Card base - premade A6 base in white card
• Paper - is called Paper 1 and it comes from the Lily Collection Color Plus set
• Image - is the precoloured Easter Lily in white (it also comes in orange and as an outline if you prefer to do your own colouring) and I have merged the Easter Lily wording with the image before printing it out. The doily die is the now retired Die'sire Ornamental Flower Frame. After I had die cut the frame, I ran it back through my Big Short and embossed it, before swiping some Mowed Lawn Distress Ink over the embossed areas to highlight them
• Sentiment - is a magazine freebie cling stamp, which I stamped in Mowed Lawn Distress Ink before die cutting with a Die'sire Essentials Oval die. I popped 3 clear gems under the sentiment just to add a bit of sparkle.

Calla Lily Card

• Card base - premade A6 base in white card
• Paper - is called Paper 2 and it comes from the Lily Collection Color Plus set. I've distressed the edges of the paper using Shabby Shutters Distress Ink.
  
• Image - is the precoloured, double bloomed Calla Lily in white (it also comes in single blooms and in pink and orange colourways, as well as an outline image for those who would like to colour it themselves)  and I have merged the Calla Lily wording with the image before printing it out. The frame die is the Die'sire Nouveau Frame Die and I swiped some Shabby Shutters Distress Ink around the edges
• Sentiment - is the same magazine freebie cling stamp, which I stamped in black ink before die cutting with a Die'sire Essentials Rectangles Die die and gave this a hint of Shabby Shutters Distress Ink around the edges.
• Ribbon - is from my stash and is a satin edged organza ribbon in white
• Pearls - are from my stash and I coloured these using my DG3 Spectrum Noir Pen to tie them in with my project

Unfortunately, our Shades of Green Challenge has finished, but if you're at a loose end this afternoon perhaps I can tempt you to come over to Incy Wincy Designs have a peek at the stunning creations by my teamies ... hopefully you won't turn green with envy though! In the meantime, we'll be back tomorrow with our new challenge - luckily this project was completed a number of weeks ago in time for my niece's birthday so my next post is all good to go ;o)!

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

• March Challenge - Show us some Green at Delicious Doodles Challenge
• Aloha Friday Challenge #67 - Easter at Kitty Bee Designs
• Game #60: Easter at AAA Cards
• Challenge #308 - Square or Rectangle Cards at Robyn's Fetish Challenge
• Challenge #165 - Easter at A Gem of a Challenge
• Week 335 - Easter at Allsorts Challenge
• Challenge #53 - Easter at Crafting with Dragonflies
• Challenge #317 - Flowers at My Time To Craft
• Easter at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

... and I would like to enter my Calla Lily card only into the following challenge:

• March Bingo Challenge at Catch the Bug Challenge - I am claiming the middle column of  Green, Bling (hoping that pearls count as bling?) and Ribbon

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Hugs, Helen x

Welcome to the Dragon's Lair ... ooops, Library!

Hello crafty friends and hope you're well this morning. After a rather chilly start here, we've got a very bright and sunny day - would love to put some washing on the line but it's not that warm and that's always assuming I could make it to the line without sinking into the lawn :oD!!!!!!!!!!

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this time we'd like you to Personalise It! It doesn't matter what your project is, but we'd like to see some sort of personalisation on it and it doesn't even have to be for you ..... ! 

We've got two fabulous sponsors for this challenge:

Our first are the team at Fabrika Fantasy ... as well as their online store of digital artwork you can keep up to date with them via their blog or visit their Facebook Page where Dmitry is hosting another challenge! They're offering a prize to our first lucky random winner.

Our second sponsor is Lizzy from Oddball Art who is offering 3 digital images of choice to our

second lucky prize winner.

Lizzy has always loved the stranger, quirkier side of life and that is exactly what she loves to create. Her art described as a perfect combination of sweet and sour that glitters up the grunge! As a love of all things whimsical, kawaii and creepy cute, she throws in some Pastel Goth with a touch of glam, punk & rockabilly pinup!

She has certainly never been a mainstream type of girl and definitely won't fit into your stereotypical cookie cutter artists role; but rather she finds beauty in the truly unique, big eyed creepy little cuties with a bittersweet sadness. She is never truly happier that when she is in her art studio painting or sewing, creating a whimsical dream world easily recognizable as her signature style of creepy yet cute, all the way from the haunting darkness to the rainbowtastic, Lizzy's creations are lovingly sprinkled with a heartbreaking sweetness.

Growing up a child of the 80's, pop rocks princess, with an extreme fondness for anything candy coated, Kawaii Kitten & Ziggy Stardust, all of which had a major influence in the work that she is creating today. Lizzy employs many different mediums when she creates, anything from mixed media painting to sewing with many different textiles, the end result always being the same; a whimsical dream world filled with big eyed beauties, creepy little cuties and quirky monsters of all shapes and sizes.

For my first inspiration piece for this challenge, I'm using an image by Fabrika Fantasy, but before I get to my project why don't you settle down with a cup of tea as I've got a story and a short tutorial to share with you!

Those of you who are regular readers know that a lot of projects here at "Casa Mia" develop from situations that I find myself in ... usually with a little voice on my shoulder! This project stems from a trip we took as a family to London in the fallow period between Christmas and New Year, when we did a bit of shopping, saw the Christmas lights etc. Whilst exiting several stores, I set the security alarms off! At one of the stores I was questioned by the security guard who also searched my rucsac. Had I bought anything? Only a yo-yo. Had I got any makeup with me? Er no, I don't wear much makeup. What's in this bag? Our packed tea! Papa Mia was outside the store and remembered that I had a library book from school that I was reviewing for our librarian ... was that it? I took the book from my bag and threw it out through the security barriers to Papa Mia and sure enough the alarms went off! Mystery over, happy security guard, and I spent the rest of the day with the book in my jacket pocket so I didn't have to empty my bag any more. Now comes the really funny part of the story. I was retelling the events to our librarian telling her she was in so much trouble and she was wondering what had happened to the little index card from the front of the book as that protected the alarm tag. "Oh that," said I, "well that was my bookmark!". So I figured that I needed a bookmark!

I used to have a really great little bookmark that was double sided and magnetic, so it stuck in my book. However, that is no longer anywhere to be found ... so I've made myself a new attaching bookmark, and this is how it's made:

Materials:

1 piece of cardstock - the width and length is up to you, but you need to be able to fold it in half so allow double the length of the front portion plus 3mm for the fold (my piece of cardstock is 6cm wide and 25cm long)

Cutting and scoring tools - I have used my Crafter's Companion Ultimate Pro together with The Boxer Board

Bone Folder
2 thin magnets


How to Score and Fold

Using the Ultimate Pro Boxer Board butt the short edge of your cardstock up against the top of the board and score your first fold. My design is 5.5cm x 11.7cm so I'm leaving a 3mm border all round my image. This means that my first fold will be at 12.3cm, which isn't one of the score marks on the board, so I've very lightly pencilled in a mark at 12.3cm on each long side of my cardstock and have lined these marks up against the same score line to get my fold line.

Make a second score line 2mm back from your first line.

Fold and burnish these two fold lines - getting the second fold is a bit fiddly, but you should end up with something like this in the middle of your bookmark:

Decorate your bookmark as you like, although remember it does need to fit into a book so flat embellishments would be best, unless you don't mind your bookmark poking out of your book in which case you can put bulkier embellishments at the top of your bookmark!

To finish your bookmark, take one of your thin magnets and stick it on the inside of your bookmark towards the bottom edge (the opposite end to your fold) in a central position.

Now for the clever bit! To ensure that your second magnet attaches in exactly the right place on the reverse of your bookmark, stick it on top of the magnet you've just attached ....

... and fold your bookmark over, and press the cardstock down to attach it to the magnet.

And here is my completed bookmark:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Bookmark base - Centura Pearl Snow White Silver cut, scored and folded as per my tutorial above
• Front of Bookmark - Image is the pre-coloured version of Wise Dragon by Fabrika Fantasy. Using my word processing package, I've merged the image with a sentiment from Paulette at Create with TLC. This was a freebie on her blog last month and as soon as I saw it, I knew it was utterly perfect for this project! Once my merged design was printed, I cut it to the right size and then lightly distressed the edges using Walnut Stain Distress Ink
  
• Reverse of Bookmark - the backing paper is Slovenia Dragons Paper by Marisa Lerin at Pixel Scrapper Digital Scrapbooking ... I nearly fell off my chair when I found it - it's perfect for this project! I created my Ex Libris nameplate using my word processing package and this was die cut using the middle sized Die'sire Essentials Rectangles die. The edges of my paper and name plate have been lightly distressed using Walnut Stain Distress Ink
• Magnets - are 12.5mm in diameter, 1mm high and are self adhesive. Mine came from eBay (although I can't remember the seller now as we've had them a while) but search for craft magnets and you should find them!

I hope you like my tutorial, but if you need any more inspiration head over to Incy Wincy Designs and see how my clever team mates have Personalise(d) It! Then come back and join in the fun by sharing your creations with us! This challenge closes on Saturday 5th March and we'll be back with our next challenge on Monday 7th March 2016.

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

• February Challenge - Things with Wings at Bunny Zoe's Crafts
• Critters and Creatures Linky Party 1 - February at Ellibelle's Creative Moments
• Week 7 - Animals and Insects at Digi Choosday Challenge

Stay tuned, as I'll be back soon with a project featuring an image from our second sponsor.

In the meantime, take care!

Hugs, Helenx

Howdy Partner!

Hello folks - hope you're all well today!

After a bit of a fly around blogland and facebook, I see that there's a bit of the white stuff around. Please send some down to us as the bambinos and I love it, though PapaMia isn't sooooo keen :o)

I'm sharing a non-DT card today. A good friend asked me if I could make her a cowboy themed card for her Dad's upcoming 70th birthday. Well, here's the result:

I am sooooo happy with this card and, more's to the point, so was my friend - hope her Dad likes it ;o)

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is pre-made in white cardstock and is about 14.8cm square 
• Papers - are from a now retired kit by Summer at Summertime Designs called Freedom Ain't Free. My base paper layer is called Blue Plaid and the vertical panel is Stars and Stitches. A bit of trawling around t'internet shows that Summer has actually taken down her blog and freebies ... so I can't point you in the right direction for them :o(
  
• Image - is called Adorable Cowgirl by Veronica and Pedro at The Paper Shelter. I was lucky enough last year to win a gift certificate to their store as part of a challenge win, and this was one of the images I chose. As usual with The Paper Shelter images, this cutie comes both coloured and outlined together with a background paper and (for those who really need a great card in a hurry) a composition which is the image already mounted on the paper for "Print and Go"! I've used the outline image on this card, and brought this girl to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before cutting her out using my second largest Sizzix Framelits Ovals die:
• Skin - FS2, FS4, FS9, FS3, TN4, FS8, CR6
• Eyes - DG1, DG2, DG4
• Hair - TN2, EB2, EB6
• Dress & Band on Hat - TB3, TB6, TB8
• Hat & Belt - EB1, WB2, EB3, EB5
• Hair Band, Neck Tie & Waistcoat - DR1, DR3, DR6
• Sentiment - is by Debbie at The Crafty Pad and comes from her Happy Birthday Sentiments set. Now I must confess that I've tweaked the sentiment just a bit as I separated the word "Dad" so I could lower it in the circular frame, and then added the "70th" using the word art function in my word processing package as this was the sentiment that had been requested. I hope Debbie doesn't mind me doing this ..... !
  
• Twine - is from my stash, and I've continued the cowboy theme by tying the twine into a Half Hitch, which is the knot a cowboy might use to tie up his horse!
• Distress Ink - in Faded Jeans (OK, so I'm still continuing on the cowboy theme!) was used to distress the edges of both paper layers (I wanted to add definition without bulk as this card is being posted) and also the edges of the image and sentiment.

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

• Challenge #334 at Tuesday Morning Sketches
• Challenge #231 - Shades of Blue at The Paper Shelter
• Challenge #141 - Male Cards at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge

I hope you have a great weekend and stay safe in the cold weather!

Hugs, Helen x

Winter Wonderland

Good evening my crafty friends - hope you are all well!

Well it's the weekend, and I am running rather late with this card, which is my DT inspiration for the current challenge at Incy Wincy Designs which is Winter Wonderland.

We've been sponsored by the lovely team at Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet who have kindly let us have some images to showcase and our lucky prize winner this week will also get some Stitchy Bear goodies!!!!!!!

Here is my card featuring a gorgeous image by Stitchy Bear Stamps:

I don't think I've ever done a white/silver monochrome card before (not sure I can truly call it "white on white"!) but I'm really pleased with the result, and the image made that so easy to do!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a pre-made A5 card blank in white which I've embossed using a Sheena Douglass Embossing Folder called Ornamental Snowflake - unfortunately this doesn't appear to be on sale any more which is a shame is the snowflakes are simply beautiful! I've "swiped" my Silver Versa Color Ink Pad over the embossed part of the snowflakes, just to give them a bit of sheen and definition.
• Frame - is the largest Die'sire Decorative Noveau Stamping Frame die which I've cut from Snow White Silver Centura Pearl card, and then run back through my Big Shot using the embossing mat to highlight parts of the die.
  
• Image - is by Stitchy Bear Stamps at Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet and it's called Sunday School. I've simply printed this onto Neenah Crest Solar White card, die cut it using the internal part of the Die'sire Decorative Noveau Stamping Frame die, and then I highlighted all the snowy areas of the image using my Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear Overlay pen. Click on the image to enlarge it and check out that super sparkle!
• Sentiment - is from the set which came with Crafter's Inspiration Magazine - Issue 8, and I've stamped this directly onto the card using Silver Versa Color Ink Pad.

I'm really quite pleased with this card, and I think it'll be perfect for my Mother-in-Law! Apologies for the not very white photos ... penalty of trying to get photos under electric lights! Might try again in the daylight tomorrow :o/ !

I hope I've inspired you to have a go with this challenge but if not, head over to Incy Wincy Designs and have a look at the other Winter Wonderland projects created by my very talented teamies. There's still plenty of time to join in with this challenge as it ends on Sunday 6th December 2015.

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

• Monthly Stamp Challenge #63 - Christmas in White at Little Claires
• Challenge #73 - Outdoor Scene at The Glory of Christmas Challenge
• Challenge 115 - Brrr It's Cold Outside at Crafting for all Seasons
• Challenge 11 - Winter/Christmas Themed at A Snowflake's Promise

Hope you have a lovely weekend - I'm off to colour next week's DT piece in the hope that I won't be late :o)

Hugs,

Helen x

Here we go a-carolling!

Hello my crafty friends and apologies for being slightly on the tardy side with this post.

The weekend was filled with horrendously boring stuff (paperwork mainly - yuk!) and I found no time to craft this little gem. Then it was work Monday - I'm on a course away from the office on Thursday and Friday, so it's the only day I'm in this week and there was bucket-loads to do therefore I didn't get home until late! Although I crafted this little cutie yesterday, I lost the light to photograph it - hurumphhhhhh! Anyway I'm here now!

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this week's challenge should really get you into the festive mood as we're looking for projects that feature Winter Activities.

We're being sponsored by the lovely Jodie and team from Bugaboo Stamps and Jodie is offering this week's lucky winner a prize pack! She also kindly offered each member of the DT their choice of digi to showcase for this challenge - without further ado, here is my card featuring one of Jodie's images from the A Kid's View range:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is Centura Pearl Snow White Silver onto which I've embossed the largest wonky circle from the nest on my Ultimate Pro Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats. I then carefully cut this out and ran it through my Big Shot using the Sheena Douglass Christmas Greetings embossing folder. I then used my Ultimate Pro to fold the "circle" in half to make a Rocker Card.
  
• Image - is by Jodie at Bugaboo Stamps and it's called AKV Christmas - Caroling. I've brought this digi to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before die cutting this happy trio using my largest Die'sire Essentials Circles die, giving the edge a touch of Festive Berries Distress Ink and then fixed the panel to my card.
• Skin - FS2, FS3, BG6, DR5
• Books - EB1, EB2, GB8, GB9, GB10
• Hats - DR1, DR2, DR3, JG1, JG2, JG4, IG1, IG2, Silver Gel Pen, Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear Overlay ... my first time playing with this pen, and I think I got a little bit messy!!!!! ;o)

I hope I've inspired you to come over to Incy Wincy Designs and play along with this challenge. However, if you're in need of more inspiration just head over to the challenge and check out the fabby cards by my teamies. Then come back and show us your creations featuring Winter Activities! This challenge ends on Sunday 15th November 2015.

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

• Challenge #281 - Clean & Simple at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges
• Challenge #31 - Anything but Square at Crafting Musketeers
• Challenge #34 - Fancy Folds or Shaped Cards at Scribbles Design Challenge
• Challenge #9 - Anything Goes with a Christmas/Winter Theme at A Snowflakes Promise
• Challenge #45 - Christmas Sparkles at Digi Choosday Challenge
• Challenge #59 - Silent Night (Christmas Theme) at Inky Chicks - although this little group looks like they're anything but silent!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time,

Hugs, Helen x

Rustic Charm

Good morning blogging buddies - hope you're all in fine fettle this morning! I can't believe it's November 1st today - where has the year disappeared to?


It's time for a new challenge at Feeling Sketchy ... before I reveal this week's sketch, I'm sure you'll want to know who our sponsor is for this challenge!



We're welcoming the lovely Nikky Hall and her team from Polkadoodles as our sponsors this time. In Nikky's words, Polkadoodles is a UK based creative company specialising in papercraft products. We design and manufacture our own digital CD-rom products, rubber and clear stamps and a number of other products for use in papercrafting which are sold worldwide.

But don't just take Nikky's word for it - why not take a peek at the website and see what a wonderful treasure trove of images, papers, sentiments and inspiration from Nikky's DT using the gorgeous Polkadoodles products!


Now, here's Michelle's sketch for the challenge:

and here's my card using the sketch:

I'm hoping that if I haven't struck shabby chic with this card that I have at least achieved rustic charm, as I seem to struggle with this look! What do you think? Let me know!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is pre-made in white card measuring approx 14.8cm square
• Papers - are from the gorgeous Eden Collection - Paper Heaven 3 which you can get as a digital download from Polkadoodles. I have used Paper 13 for my base layer and also Paper 16 and Paper 18 for the border layers. As I don't have any border dies and only 1 border punch, I decided to use a quilling flower die to make the border so it ties in with my quilled flower! I distressed all the edges of each paper layer using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and my latest "Frugal Crafter" purchase - 20 make-up sponge wedges for £1!!! Seems to have done the job quite efficiently, me thinks! I finished the papers off by wrapping 3 rows of twine around the card base to hide the paper join ;o)
  
• Sentiment - is also from Polkadoodles and is one of the twenty two sentiments (yes, 22!) that come in the Eden Collection - Say It All bundle. I've die cut this using my second largest Die'sire Essentials Squares Die which I left in place whilst I gave a slick of Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the top of it to give a frame effect around the edge. I used the same jute string and the bow maker on my Ultimate Pro to make the multi-layered bow which I fixed to the top of the sentiment frame.
• Flower - is made from a Die'sire Classiques Quilling Flower Die which is called Blossom. I used one length of the Stamen Die to make the centre of the flower and then rolled/quilled 2 lengths of cardstock printed with Paper 18 from Eden Collection - Paper Heaven 3 round the centre. Once finished and the strips were secured, I shaped the petals with a tool, lightly distressed the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and added a pearl to the flower centre, before afixing the flower to the card.
  

Do head over to the Feeling Sketchy blog and see the other wonderful creations using this time's sketch from my talented team mates. Then come back and show us your "take" on the sketch -as usual, you can flip it, rotate it, swap images, shapes etc. ... we just need to be able to see that you've been inspired by our sketch whilst you've been creating! This challenge closes on 14th November 2015. 

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

• Challenge #170 - Flowers at Brown Sugar Challenge

Until next time,

Hugs, Helen x

Thanks a Latte!

Hi friends!

Hope you are well today and not overwhelmed by the wet weather that seems to have hit the UK. Yesterday, Papa Mia's weather station recorded over an inch of rain in 24 hours ... it's a far cry from the gorgeous sunshine we experienced last week!

As promised in yesterday's post, I'm back today with another inspiration card for the current challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. Just as a recap, this week's challenge is Thankful for you so we're looking for your projects which say "Thank you"!

Today I'm showcasing an image from our second sponsor, who is our very own Nikki from Limited Runs Digital Stamps. In yesterday's post, I used an image drawn by Emma Canning from Flat Friends Boutique. Both ladies are very kindly offering a prize pack, so we'll have 2 lucky winners on Monday! 

For this card I've been inspired by 2 current challenges: the first is the World Card Making Day Special Challenge at Feeling Sketchy (which Cathy invited us DT girls to take part in) and the second is the current sketch at Sketch Saturday which, being CAS, is right up my street!

So, without further ado here is today's card for you:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is Kraft cardstock which has been cut, scored and folded to a 9.9cm square card
• Paper - is from the October Club Inspire download from Crafter's Companion which is called Autumn Days. I edge distressed the paper with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink, just to make it stand out from the base card
  
• Image - is by Nikki at Limited Runs Digital Stamps and it's called Coffee Addicts #3. I have brought this winter warmer to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before fussy cutting the cup out:
• Cup - GT1, GT2, GT3
• Label & Bands - GB5, GB6, GB7
• Frosting - TN6, Blender Pen
• Sentiment - has been CASE'd from Bugaboo's Coffee Time - Thanks a Latte image and sentiment set. However because Jodi's sentiment didn't fit the sketch layout, I've retyped this in my word processing package using a free font called Coffee House and coloured it to tie in with the colour swatch. I cut the sentiment into a fishtail banner shape, before distressing the edge with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the wonderful creations by my fab team mates ... also, please say farewell to Amy who is leaving us after this challenge :o(  Bye Amy, I shall miss your gorgeous creations.

As a result, we are having a DT Call! Sooooooo, if you're interested in joining our fun team (and we do have fun!), please send an email to incywincychallenge@hotmail.com with a link to your site, and tell us a little bit about yourself!!! No DT experience is necessary - we are just looking for HAPPY crafters who like to have a good time. You must be able to work with digital images and be able to create on a weekly basis.


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

• World Card Making Day Special Colour Challenge at Feeling Sketchy
• Week #381 at Sketch Saturday
• Challenge #161 - Autumn Leaves/Colours of Fall at Eureka Stamps
• Fall is in the Air at Melonheadz Friends
• Monday Challenge - Autum is in the Air at Simon Says Stamp Challenge
• October Challenge - Brown or Kraft at Stamp and Create Challenges

Hope you have a great rest of the week!

Hugs, Helen x