Flower Power!

Good morning friends and I'd like to wish you all a Happy Easter weekend. The weather here on the south coast has been fabulous all week- hope you've enjoyed some sunshine too. It may be Good Friday, but as long as the weather stays fine "himself" will be repainting "T' Shed" so the girls and I are off out - they'll swim and I'll hit the treadmill!

This is my third post during my sojourn as a GDT for Delicious Doodles, and again it's time for a new challenge. After some topical challenges, this one will encourage your feminine side, as well as raising awareness for Breast Cancer. So, we'd like to see your creations that are Pink! 

Teri again opened the doors to the Delicious Doodles Shop so that I could help myself to another gorgeous designs. If you're a regular reader, you may be pleased to know that Mr Mojo is still recovering from last week's creation (I'll let you know next week how well it was received by my M-i-L!) so this week's card is back to a more normal style :o)

Regular readers may recall that last year I designed a piece of artwork for Karen, a friend and colleague was organising a Grand Ball entitled 50 Shades of Pink - you can find the post here. Karen is holding another Grand Ball this autumn and I'll make her a box of handmade cards that she can use as a raffle prize ... this is the first card!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is Centura Pearl in Fresh Pink (from the Pastels multipack at Crafter's Companion) which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card. I then embossed the front of the card using my Embossalicious "Floral Stitch" embossing folder. I carefully masked round each raised embossed square (part of the design is "de-bossed") using Post-It notes, and then swept a Versa Color Ink Cube in Silver across the raised "stitches". I'm not sure I've got this swiping quite right,  as there are some traces of silver ink in the squares. Still, when you look at it from the side, it makes the embossing pop!
  
• Images - are both by Teri at Delicious Doodles and they are Floral Elegance - Wild Rose and the butterfly from the Awareness Ribbon Set. The ribbon set is a freebie (thanks to Teri's generosity), so why not treat yourself to another digi as well .... 2 for the price of 1! I printed 2 copies of them both and decoupaged some of the flowers, and also lifted the second butterfly's wings to give more depth to the images. I brought these gorgeous images to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:

• Roses - CT4, PP3, PP4, PP5
• Foliage - CG1, CG2, CG3
• Butterfly - PP1, PP2, PP3, GB8, GB10, Silver Gel Pen
• Outline - BT1
• Sentiment - is by my generous blogging buddy Annette and this is one of her freebies. If you head over there to take a look, please let her know that you came via my blog! I recoloured this using my word processing programme to a shade of green to tone in with the foliage.

I hope you'll come over to the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog and enjoy the wonderful Pink creations from Teri's talented Design Team and my fellow guests. Don't forget to then come back and show us your creations - you don't need to use a Delicious Doodles image to enter the challenge but if you do, you get a second entry in the draw to win 5 of Teri's images AND your work may be Spotlighted on the challenge blog! This challenge will end on Thursday 24th April 2014 at 6pm BST (UK time!)

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

• Challenge #212 - Flower Power at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges
• Challenge #202 - Embossing (Wet or Dry) at Sentimental Sundays
• Challenge 173 - Use Ice Cream Colours at Penny's Paper Crafty  My favourite ice cream flavours (preferably made by our local ice cream manufacturer!): Pistachio, Strawberry and, not shown here, Ginger, and Toffee Crunch. 
• April Facebook Challenge - Floral at Crafter's Companion Third Entry

I hope that you all have a blessed and joyous Easter and that the Easter Bunny is kind to you and yours!

Hugs, Helen x

Easter Blessings

Good morning friends - hope you are well! I can't believe that we're already half-way through the school Easter holidays :o( I've been having fun with my girls, and fitting in some crafting time too :o) I have scheduled this post, so I hope all goes well - had major internet connection issues yesterday afternoon ... grrrrrrr!!!!!

This is my second post as a GDT for Delicious Doodles, and it's time for a new challenge this morning. This one is nice and easy - with the Easter weekend looming, we'd like to help you get prepared and see your Easter creations!

Teri has once again allowed me a free run in her shop so that I can showcase her awesome designs ... Mr Mojo has been on an overactive spurt (again! And without consulting me ... again!!!!) and decided that he (OK, we) would like to produce a diorama card! Teri very kindly allowed me to pick 2 of her digis which I put together with another which I already have safely stashed on my hard drive, and this is the result:

My card recipe is as follows:

Top Layer:

• Card base - is Centura Pearl in Ivory which I have cut to 23cm x 18.5cm. Along the 23cm edge,I have scored 5cm in from each end which I then folded to make a flap. In the centre of the middle panel I used the largest arch shape on my Crafter's Companion Ultimate Pro to emboss the shape, which I then cut out to reveal an arch shaped aperture.
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and this one was part of April 2012 club. I have die cut this using my fourth largest Framelits Oval Die.

Middle Layer

• Card base - is Centura Pearl in Ivory which I have cut to 18cm x 18.5cm. The flaps on this layer are 2.5cm in from each end along the 18cm edge. Again I used my Crafter's Companion Ultimate Pro and this time embossed the smallest arch shape in the centre of the middle panel which I cut out to reveal a smaller arch shape.
  
• Images - are both by Teri at Delicious Doodles and they are Daffodils and Crocus, of which I printed 2 copies (one which I flipped in my word processing package) before bringing them to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours - the shading details on Teri's images makes it really easy to know where to use a darker colour!:
• Daffodils - GB3, GB4, GB5, JG3, JG4, BT1
• Crocuses - HB1, HB2, Colourless Blender, GB3, JG1, JG2, BT1

Base Layer

• Card base - is Neenah Solar White onto which I've directly printed my image, after a little bit of twiddling in my word processing package to get the placement right so that the image appears through the windows of the card! 
• Image - is, of course, by Teri at Delicious Doodles and this one is called Gothic Church Window. This image is so reminiscent of the windows at my own church, that I have tried to recreate them here using my Spectrum Noir Pens in TN1 and TN2 to try to recreate the warmth of the stone. The sky through the window is BT1.

I hope you'll come over to the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog and enjoy the gorgeous Easter inspiration from the Design Team and my fellow guests. Don't forget to then come back and show us your creations - you don't need to use a Delicious Doodles image to enter the challenge but if you do, you get a second entry in the draw to win 5 of Teri's images AND your work may be Spotlighted on the challenge blog! This challenge will end on Thursday 17th April 2014 at 6pm BST (UK time!)

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

• Challenge #206 - Easter at Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog
• Challenge #64 - Easter at Card Mania Challenges
• Easter at Crafty Boots Challenges
• CWLC 79 - Easter at Created With Love Challenges
• Challenge 79 - Easter at Dream Valley Challenges
• Monday Challenge #132 - Happy Easter! at My Craft Spot
• April Challenge - Spring Flowers at Stamp and Create
• April Challenge - Easter or Spring at Sunflowerfield Designs
• Easter at Sweet Stampin'
• April Facebook Challenge - Floral at Crafter's Companion Second Entry

I'm off to firstly give Mr Mojo a good slap (!) and then I think I need a lie down in a darkened room with a mug of tea!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Hugs, Helen x

Watching the Flowers Grow ...

Good morning friends - I hope you are well. I'm not sure what has happened to the UK weather this last week, but it seems as though Spring has turned her back on us!!!

It's new challenge time at Whoopsi Daisy and this week we're really hoping that Spring has sprung as we'd like to see your May Flowers ... just in time for the first RHS Show of the season, Chelsea Flower Show! Those of you who are so talented at embellishing your projects with beautiful flowers will love this challenge ... for me this was more than a slight challenge!

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 invited the DT to peruse the store again, but I chose to use this sweet image which was a freebie on the store blog, I think last summer (although if anyone knows better, please let me know!)

My project recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White which I cut and scored to make a 15cm square card
  
• Design Papers - are both from a collection called Emma's Garden which was a magazine freebie. I've edged this with a deep raspberry coloured border which I've tool distressed
• Image - as I've said, this beautiful image was a freebie last year, and it's called Girl and Butterflies. I brought this idyllic scene to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens and chalks in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Hair - GB7, GB8
• Top -  BP1, BP2
• Trousers - EB2, IB1, IB2, IB3
• Hat - EB1, EB2
• Butterflies - IB2, GB1
• Flowers - CG3, GB4, BP5, BP7
• Background - Craf-T Chalk in Light Blue, Dark Brown, Light Brown, Dark Green and Green 
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and I think this Happy Birthday Flag has to be one of the sentiments I use most regularly. I changed the colour of the sentiment by taking in into my word processing programme and recolouring it to one of the shades of blue so it fitted in with the card.
• Flowers - were made by taking a floral patterned sheet from  Emma's Garden Collection and punching the flower shapes with my flower punch. Once the shapes were adhered to the card, I then stuck Gems from stash onto them to "bling" them up a bit!
• Ribbon - is a thin pink organdie ribbon from my stash (originally from a local haberdashery store). I used 2 strands which I twisted together a couple of times in the middle to give the unusual style.

I do hope you'll come over to Whoopsi Daisy Challenge and have a look at the wonderful floral creations made by the Divas. Then come back and show us your projects featuring May Flowers. 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 26th May 2012.

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

• Day 134 - Overlapped at 365 Cards
• Challenge #54 - Squares at Ruby's Rainbow
• Challenge #217 - Recipe (1 Image, 1, Sentiment, 2 Patterned Papers, 3 Embellishments) at Dutch Dare Card Challenges - my embellishments are the flower punch shapes, gems and ribbon twist
• Girls, Girls, Girls at Joanna Sheen
• Feminine at The Stamp Spot - Second Entry
• CMM69 - Punches at Card Makin' Mamas

I'll be back later this week with some more DT projects. In the meantime, have a good day!

Hugs, Helen x

Nestled among the Flowers

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

Hello again friends! The weather hasn't been too bad down here over the weekend - Saturday was wet, wet, wet but yesterday was warm, we had some sunshine and only a few spots of rain. Consequently we got quite a few outdoor jobs done.

Anyway, today sees the start of a new challenge at  Lexi's Creations. This time Susan is asking us to  Add Either Ribbon or Lace. She has asked that whatever haberdashery you use, it has to be an integral part of your design. Fingers crossed that I've done that! I have been casting my mind (and computer files!) back, and I can't believe this is the first anniversary of my appointment to the DT at Lexi's Creations. I still love Lexi's digis now as much as the first day I started using them ... I hope that you are all enjoying seeing these gorgeous designs.

Our sponsor for this challenge is our very own Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts who will be letting our lucky winner choose 5 digital images from her store. Fairy Dust Crafts  is "Your one stop shop for Lexi's Digi images and a growing choice of delicious crafting goodies. Here you can find all Lexi's Creations digital images...also available as clear rubber stamps plus other crafting goodies in store now!" Well worth a visit.

As usual, Lexi has very kindly let the DT loose in her on-line store and here is my card for you featuring one of her gorgeous images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory, onto which I've embossed the largest flower shape from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats. I scored a fold line at the top of the flower leaving 2 petals at the bottom for "feet", and then cut this die-like shape out before folding it and cutting the back of the card out.
• Design Paper - is from a brand new set by Donna at Bearly Mine Designs called Floral Surprise. This is a beautiful collection of papers and I must confess I fell in love with this floral paper over text on the set preview, and that's why I bought the set! I carefully embossed the medium flower shape from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats onto the paper, ensuring that the flowers and hummingbird were  in the bottom corner of the flower shape, before cutting it out and mounting it onto my base card.
• Image - is by Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts and is called Brooke - Thinking of You. I have brought this dreamy girl to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:

• Skin - FS2, FS3, CR4
• Hair - GB8, GB10
• Top and Shoes - GB3, GB4
• Trousers - GG1, GG2
• Cushion - DR1, DR5, DR7
• Outline - IG1
• Flower and Rosette - I used my Flower Punch, a yellow flower paper from the Bearly Mine Designs kit Floral Surprise and some lace to make the flower following this tutorial by my former Crafty Pad teamie Leesa. I replaced the second and fourth paper layers with some lace. Once my flower was dry, I made a lacy rosette from the same lace (from my local haberdashery store) and mounted the flower onto the rosette, and then attached them to my card. It's the first time I've tried this technique, and I must confess that the lace soaked up the glue and has become rock hard, rather than the floaty layers I was hoping for! :o) I'll keep trying!

I have deliberately left this card sentiment free - I think it would be great as a Thinking of You card, but would do equally well as a Thank You or Birthday card. So, it's going into my "done box" awaiting it's occasion!

I hope you'll come over to Lexi's Creations and see how my talented teamies and our Guest Designer Yogi have used their Ribbon or Lace. Don't forget to come back and share your creations with us! You've got until Saturday 27th April 2013 to link your cards up.

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

• Flowers at Divas by Design
• Challenge #70 - Die-ing to Impress You (Use Die cuts and/or Dry Embossing) at Card Crafter's Circle
• Challenge #24 - Florals at Broken Box Stock
• Challenge #81 - Anything Goes at Bearly Mine Challenges
• April 2013 Challenge - Flowers at Crafter's Companion

I hope you have a great week - let's hope the weather continues to be dry and warm!

Hugs, Helen x

Mother's Day Card

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



Hello again, crafty friends and welcome to "Who's the dimwit, Version Two"! Yes, that would be ummm, errrrrr (looking round room frantically) .... Me again!!!!! :o)

It's new challenge time at Lexi's Creations and this time Susan has set us the challenge of Mother's Day or a Special Female Birthday Card.  Obviously, Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day) in the UK has now passed, but you can show us the cards you made for your mother this year, as long as there's no backlinking, or you could make a card for a special female in your life.

Our sponsor for this fortnight's challenge is the lovely Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts, who (as well as letting the DT loose in her store to choose images to showcase for this challenge) is offering our lucky winner 5 Digital Stamps from her store. Not only will you find the gorgeous digital images there, you'll also find rubber stamps and lots of other fabulous crafting goodies like Viva Decor, Promarkers, a variety of lace and ribbons, embellishments, flowers, charms etc. and all at fantastic prices ... now that's well worth a visit!

So, here is the card I made for my Mother in Law featuring one of Lexi's gorgeous images: 

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory, which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - from the Paintbox Poppets Papercrafting Collection CD Rom this is a Card Companion Set meaning there are matching papers, sentiments and embellishments just ready to be printed! I love the soft colours of this set.
• Image - this gorgeous bouquet of flowers is called Roses and is by Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts. I have brought them to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Roses - PP4, PP5
• Seedheads - Gold Gel Pen
• Foliage - DG2, DG3
• Wrap - FS2, FS3
• Ribbon - PP4, PP5
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is by one I created within the Paintbox Poppets Papercrafting Collection CD Rom Card Companion using the inbuilt Verse Writer. This natty part of the program means that you can tailor make a sentiment for the recipient, before printing out the set. And as my MiL is a "church lady" and believes that Mother's Day should be Mothering Sunday (to give it the correct title from the church calendar), I was able to oblige!
• Buttons - are faux button embellishments from the same Card Companion set. I cut the "buttons" out, and then stuck 2 more layers of card underneath each one to make them stand out from the card a bit more.

Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see how my talented teamies and our Guest Designer Viv are celebrating Mother's Day or Special Female Birthday. Don't forget to come back and share your creations with us! You've got until Saturday 30th March 2013 to link your cards up.

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

• Mum's The Word at Joanna Sheen
• Challenge 52 - Mother's Day at Dream Valley Challenges

Hope you all have a fab week!

Hugs, Helen x

Not 50 Shades of Grey

Hello friends and hope you are well ... I am struggling with the third bout of a cold virus in 5 weeks. I am sooooo not impressed! Anyway, I would like to welcome my newest followers Andrea, Christy and Kym - hope you enjoy this crafting journey that we're all on.

Monday saw the launch of the latest challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. This week we are challenging you to use Pearls and Lace.

Our sponsor this week is the wonderful Krista from  Saturated Canary who will be giving this week's lucky winner a prize of 2 digis from her shop. Krista has kindy given each DT member their choice of image to showcase this week, and here is my card for your inspiration:

Wow, this card has taken me so far out of my comfort zone it has taken a long time to put it together (coupled with the fact that my head is totally fuzzy at the moment!) however, I do have to say that I'm rather pleased with the result.

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Black, which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
•  Design Papers - are from the Black & White Delight Paper Pack by Debbie from The Crafty Pad Designs. Unfotunately Debbie's online store closed earlier this month, but you can still get her digis by going to Card Making Downloads and searching for The Crafty Pad Designs. The base layer is called Paper 4, onto which I've layered Paper 2 and I have used Paper 6 to make the Rolled Roses.
• Image - is called Double Take by Krista at Saturated Canary. Isn't she a total stunner? I wanted to use a very muted colour palette and try to imitate a net or tulle skirt, so I have brought this cutie to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens and chalks in the following colours:

• Hair - TN2,TN3, TN4
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Eyes - GB8
• Lips - FS6
• Dress - IG1, IG2, IG4, Colourless Blender
• Background - Craf-T chalk in Flesh
• Sentiment - by Paulette at Create with TLC. It's called Happy Birthday Flag and I think it was a freebie on her blog in August last year.
• Rolled Roses - made using  Paper 6 (from the Black & White Delight Paper Pack) and I then inserted a small pearl into the centre of each flower. This is the first time that I have made these, so do let me know what you think of them!
• Lace - from my stash

Do check out the Incy Wincy Designs blog and see the other gorgeous creations by my talented team-mates and this week's  wonderful Guest Designers, Sandra and our former teamie Annette. Then come back and show us your creations featuring Pearls and Lace. You've got until Sunday 3rd February 2013 to link your creations up.

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

• Challenge #2 - Becky's Bingo Grid at Inky Chicks - I claim the right hand column of Flowers, Lace and Pearls
• Something Girlie at Stampin' for the Weekend
• Fortnightly Challenge 54 - Use Ribbon or Lace at Forever Friends
• 3-2-1 at Joanna Sheen
• Challenge 94 - Lavishly Lucious Layers at Top Tip Tuesday

Hope the rest of week is good for you!

Hugs, Helen x

Thank you with flowers

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



Hello again, crafty ones!

It's new challenge day at Lexi's Creations and this time Susan has set us the challenge of Thanks/Thanksgiving.  You could make a card using autumnal colours giving thanks for everything that has happened through the year, or you could make a card that say "Thanks" to someone.

Our sponsor for this fortnight's challenge is the lovely Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts, who (as well as letting the DT loose in her store to choose images to showcase for this challenge) is offering our lucky winner 5 Digital Stamps from her store. Not only will you find the gorgeous digital images there, you'll also find rubber stamps and lots of other fabulous crafting goodies like Viva Decor, Promarkers, a variety of lace and ribbons, embellishments, flowers, charms etc. and all at fantastic prices ... now that's well worth a visit!

I have made a "Thank You" card and, without further ado, here it is:

  

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - pre-made A6 card in cream
• Design Papers - from a mini pack called Spring Jubilee by Pink Paislee which came as a cover freebie with Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine earlier in the year.
• Image - this gorgeous bouquet of flowers is called Roses and is by Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts. I have brought them to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Roses - PP3, PP4, PP5,
• Seedheads - Silver Gel Pen
• Foliage - BT2, BT4
• Wrap - EB1, EB2
• Ribbon - CR6, CR8
• Outline - BT1
• Sentiment - is by Paulette from Create with TLC and was one of the freebies on her blog in August this year. I have used my silver gel pen to make the sentiment sparkle a bit (if you click on the photo above to "supersize" it you can see this)
• Paperclip - from the stationery pot on my computer desk

Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see how my talented teamies are saying Thanks or celebrating Thanksgiving.  Don't forget to come back and share your creations with us! You've got until Saturday 24th November 2012 to link your cards up.

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

• Challenge 10 - Thank You at The Crafter's Cafe Challenge
• Use Office Stationery at Ladybug Crafts Ink
• Thanks or Thankgiving (with a sentiment) at Sentimental Sundays

Hope you have a great and crafty week!

Hugs, Helen x

Say it with Flowers

Good morning friends!

I can't believe it's Team A's turn on the challenge this week at The Crafty Pad - now, who pinched the last fortnight? Anyway, Tina has chosen our topic this time and she has chosen Floral.

This week's sponsor is the lovely team at Joanna Sheen who are offering a £10 gift voucher to their wonderful craft store for our lucky winner.

As usual, the Design Team are showcasing the delightful images that have come from the pen of Debbie at Crafty Pad Designs, and here is my card for your inspiration:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - 300gsm Centura Pearl in Dark Chocolate, cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - are both by Paulette from Create with TLC and I chose them because of the flowers on them, especially the big daisies on the brown paper! The purple "quilted" DP is called Royal Smile Paper 6 and the brown DP is called WYWH Paper 31. I think both of these were freebies from Paulette's blog - she really is very generous and make sure you head over to her blog as she and her very talented DT are having a blog hop today, and they are promising loads of goodies ... and who doesn't like a goodie?
• Image - this little cutie is called Hedgehog Harry in a Circle of Flowers, and he's just perfect for today's challenge don't you think? He's been drawn by the talented Debbie at Crafty Pad Designs. To bring this Harry to life I used my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Hedgehog Harry - GB8, TN5, TN7
• Flowers - TN7, PL2, PL4
• Outline - IG1
• Frame - DG2
• Background - Chalks in Tan & Light Grey

I have deliberately left this card sentiment-free as I'm not sure what I'll use it for. It would do equally well as a Birthday card or a Thinking of You card.

Do head over to The Crafty Pad and see the gorgeous creations by the rest of Team A. Then come back and show us your Floral creations! You've got until 8pm (BST) on Saturday 6th October 2012 to link your cards up.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Challenge 18 - Feeling Floral at Stampin' for the Weekend
• SNSDC 73 - Hip to be Square at Sweet 'n' Sassy Digis
• Challenge # 140 - Starts with F at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges F is for Flowers

I hope you have a great Sunday!

Hugs, Helen x

Little green goddess

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

Good morning all! I've been having internet access and blogger problems most of last week, so I'm sorry this full post is now a few hours late ... but we're up and running now!

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs again, and our challenge for you this week is Monochromatic Green.

We are sponsored by  Care2Stamp and not only is Kim providing our winner with a $15.00 Gift Certificate for her store, but she's also provided the images that the DT are using this week. Thank you Kim!

  

I don't think I have made a wholly green card and, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure about this one but here is my project for you:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Gold (although it looks green to me!) from a pack called Christmas which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Papers - the strip of paper is from a set called Floral Delights which was a Crafter's Companion Member's download in 2010 and the wavy circle (made using the largest rosette shape from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats) comes from my Paintbox Poppets CD-rom.
• Image - This little cutie is called Summer Fairy and you can get her by clicking here. I have brought this little fairy to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS3, FS6
• Hair - EB1, DG2, CG2, CG4, DG1, DG4
• Dress - CG1, CG2, CG4
• Shoes - CG2, CG4
• Wings - EB1, DG2, DG4, Colourless Blender
• Outline - GG1
• Flowers - made from a flower punch and I used the Floral Delights  DP. I punched 2 rounds of flowers for each flower, slightly offsetting the top one (so that the 2 layers of petals are visible), and then added a gem (from my stash) to the centre of each flower.
• Posh Pins - the large beads came from Hobbycraft's 'pick & mix' bead section and the small frosted beads are from Sanctuary Beads.

Head on over to Incy Wincy Designs and see the beautiful Monochromatic Green projects my talented team-mates and our Guest Designer Kim (owner of Care2Stamp) have made, and then come back and share your creation with us! You've got until Sunday 23rd September 2012 to link your cards up.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (with some help from the girls at Feline Playful - thanks girls):

• Challenge #37 - Bingo at Ruby's Rainbow I claim a diagonal line of Gems, Flowers and Pins
• Challenge #33 - Things with Wings at Love To Create
• TPE166 - Monochromatic at The Pink Elephant
• Make It Girly at Whoopsie Daisy
• Fortnightly Challenge Number 45 - Colour Challenge at Forever Friends
• Challenge 26 - Anything Goes at The Squirrel and The Fox
• Challenge #111 - I Believe I Can Fly at Raise The Bar Challenge

Take care, Helen x

Guest Spot with a very Special Lady!

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

Hi,

This is an incredibly special post ... I'm very proud to be a Guest Designer today with Dawn as she launches her own special challenge today.

The theme is Breast Cancer Awareness and/or Think PINK

(not just a little bit of pink but a lot of pink!).

If you were with me on Saturday, you may have read my post about Dawn's Mum's battle with cancer. To keep her Mum company, Dawn is having her head shaved on Saturday 8th September 2012. I think Dawn is so incredibly brave doing this - I don't think it's something I could do! 

You can read Dawn's Story at her Just Giving Page and, if you can, please make a donation to Dawn's chosen Charity, Breakthrough Breast Cancer. At the time of writing (Monday evening) Dawn has raised a wonderful £640 for this great charity. She is hoping to raise £1,000, but I'm sure with our help she can exceed this target -- just £1/$1 would help boost the funds and help Breakthrough Breast Cancer as they try to find a cure for this awful disease!

So, Dawn has contacted some well known and maybe less well known 'Crafty Companies', and the following prizes are on offer:

Joanna Sheen - Goody Bag

Saturated Canary - $40 Gift Voucher

The Crafty Pad Designs - 8 images

Mo's Digital Pencil - $5 shop credits x2

Dude Time Doodles - $10 Gift Certificate for the store

Crafty Emblies - £10 Voucher for their shop

Fairy Dust Crafts - 5 digital images from the Online Store

Funky Hand - 1 download from the shop

Iva Nova Chest - Pink Goody Bag

Linda Westcott - Hand Made Crochet Flowers, Lace Edging & Fimo Flowers

That's TEN whopping prizes up for grabs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dawn's challenge starts today (Tuesday 4th September) and runs until Saturday 29th September. There will be updates from some of Dawn's crafty friends and DT-mates each Tuesday.

So, without further ado, here is my very, very, very pink (with one bit of grey!) card using a Digi Image drawn by one of our Sponsors, the very talented Lexi of Fairy Dust Crafts.

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White which I cut, scored and folded into a 15cm Square card.
• Design Papers - are from the set  "Awareness" by Summer at Summertime Designs. My main paper is called Dots Paper and I have used Blossom Paper to make 3 strips running down the card.
• Image - this sassy girl is called "Roxi" and she is just one of the talented Lexi's (Fairy Dust Crafts) creations - click the link to head over to Lexi's store and have a look at the other lovely digi images she has there! To bring this lovely girl to life, I paper pieced her top using "Ribbon Paper" (from the "Awareness" Kit as above) and then used my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Hair - PP3, EB1
• Eyes - TB6
• Lips - PP5
• Trousers - BG2, BG4
• Belt - PP5, True Black
• Background - Chalks in Grey, Light Blue and Pink
• Sentiment - is by Debbie (Crafty Pad Designs) and was one of the freebies she was giving away on The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog on Saturday.
• Gems and Flowers - from my stash

Please hop over to Dawn's Blog and see what gorgeous creations the other Guest Designers have made to whet your appetite - don't forget to come back and show us your Breast Cancer Awareness and/or Pink creations. And if you can help with a donation, however small, it will be very gratefully received.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges, with a little bit of help from the girls at Feline Playful:

• In the Pink at Catered Crop (Second Entry)
• Paper Piecing at Ladybug Crafts Ink
• Challenge #72 - All the Threes at My Mum's Craft Shop (3 strips of DP down the card, 3 gems, 3 flowers)
• PPMC55 - Create a Square Card at Paper Pretties

Hope you have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

Keep Calm and ...

Hi,

I would like to give a warm welcome to all my new followers - thanks for joining me on my creative journey!

This was supposed to have been my my second week of being a Guest Designer with the Team A Girls at The Crafty Pad. However, the girls have asked me join their team so I am very honoured and delighted to say that this is my very first post as a DT Member with Team A!

Our challenge for you this week is The Colours of your Country's Flag and/or Sketch. Plenty of choice here then! Either make your card using the colours of your Country's flag, or follow this lovely sketch, or go the whole hog and really challenge yourself by using both the theme and the sketch!

Our sponsors this week are the lovely girls at Joanna Sheen who are offering this week's lucky winner a £10 voucher to spend in their online store!!!!! And remember that they charge no postage and packing (apart from a few items unavailable to non UK customers) for any country in the world providing you spend a minimum of £9. 

Anyone in the UK can't fail to notice that "Jubilee Fever" is high  and that stores are crammed with products coloured red, white and blue. So, I've taken my lead from them and would like to show you my inspiration using this gorgeous image by Debbie who owns The Crafty Pad Store:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - Centura Pearl 300gsm card in Snow White, cut and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Papers - by Crafter's Companion and are a now retired collection called A Royal Wedding. These were a Members download in April 2011 to celebrate the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I've used the red gingham paper, and the red, white and blue striped paper with Union flags on it.
• Image - Lulu Blowing Bubbles is by Debbie at The Crafty Pad Store and you can get your own copy of Lulu by clicking here! Don't forget to check out the other lovely images in Debbie's store. I have brought the gorgeous Lulu (and her bubbles!) to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Dress - TB3, TB4, CR10, CR11
• Bow - CR10, CR11
• Shoes - True Black
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Hair - TN2, TN3
• Outline & Grounding - CG1, CG3
• Bubbles - Holographic Embossing Powder
• Sentiment - made using the online Poster Maker at The Keep Calm-O-Matic and then tweaked it with a pen so everyone knows Lulu is Party-ing! While you're at the site, check out the "Keep Calm" Guide which tells the story behind this very famous poster.
• Flowers - made using the Union flag coloured teabag tiles that came with my Design Paper Collection. I used the flower shapes on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats and cut out 8 of the same sized shapes for each flower. Then for each flower, I sprayed the shapes to make them damp, scrunched them, opened them again and layered them up in a stack. I then made a hole through the stack, inserted a brad as the centre of the flower, and gathered the petals around into a flower shape, then left each one to dry before attaching them to my project.
• Ric-rac Ribbon - from my local haberdashery store.

I love this very patriotic card! Don't forget to head over to The Crafty Pad and check out the fabulous creations by my Teamies on Team A, and our Guest Designer Linda - leave them some love whilst you're there! Don't forget to link up your own creation using the "Colours of your Country's Flag" and / or use our Sketch. You've got until 8pm (BST) on Saturday 2nd June to join us and be in with a chance of winning this great prize from Joanna Sheen.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges (with a little help from the girls at Feline Playful - thanks girls!) :

• Weekly Challenge - Feature 3 Brads at Made Especially For You I've used 3 brads as the centres of my 3 flowers
• Challenge #77 - Dig out the Old at Top Tip Tuesday My DPs have been on the hard drive of my computer since April 2011 and I've not used them before even though they're lovely (ahem ... embarrassed!). I brought my brads from a sale bin at Hobbycraft last summer, even though at that time I had absolutely no idea how to use brads!
• Challenge #3 - Anything Goes! at Great Impressions Stamps
• Challenge #24 - Here Comes Summer at Crafter's Companion
• Challenge #116 - What's Your Colour? at Sassy Cheryl's
• True Colours at Papertake Weekly
• Challenge #58 - Cooking up a Recipe (3 Flowers, 2 Papers, 1Ribbon) at My Mum's Craft Shop
• Challenge #35 - Anything Goes at Little Miss Muffet
• Theme of Red, White and Blue at Willow Sketchie
• Week 21 - Diamond Jubilee at Glitter Geeks

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Hugs, Helen x