Cute Animals

Good morning friends - hope this post finds you well and if you've just celebrated Easter, I hope it was a joyous one for you! I'm scheduling this post as we're heading out for the day, so I hope Mr Blogger behaves!

It being a Monday morning means there's a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs and this time we'd like to see your projects featuring your Furry Friends!

We've got another fabby sponsor for you this week ... it's Veronica and Pedro from The Paper Shelter. When you buy an image from The Paper Shelter, you're really buying a pack of goodies! Each image comes both as a line drawing so you can use your own colour scheme, or it comes pre-coloured for those makes you need in a hurry. You also get a paper design, and a composition with the coloured image on the paper for those times when you need a card like yesterday!!!!! :o)

Veronica and Pedro have very kindly given the Design Team a couple of packs to showcase this week, and here is my project for you - 2 mini cards:

I think I'll make a batch of this sized card, and then leave them in my desk drawer at work. Then, when I get into work and someone says "Don't forget it's ********* Birthday today" at least I'll have a card sat there that I can whizz out!!!!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is Centura Pearl in Ivory which I have cut and scored to make two 10 x 10.5cm cards
• Images - are by Veronica at The Paper Shelter and they are called The Most Adorable Raccoons and The Most Adorable Cavalier. I have used the composition for both of these, so it was just a case of resizing the design to fit my card, layering over the sentiment (as appropriate), pressing the print button and cutting the design out!
• Sentiment - on the Raccoon card is by Paulette at Create with TLC, and this was (I think) a freebie in March 2014.
• Pearls - from my stash

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the other wonderful creations featuring Furry Friends by my very talented team-mates. Don't forget to then come back and show us your creations. This challenge will end on Sunday 27th April 2014.

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

• #33 - Furry or Feathered Friends at Creative Knockouts 

Hope you have a great day!

Hugs, Helen x

Sass-i-tude!!!!!

Good morning friends and I hope this post finds you well. Well after the wind, rain and hail this weekend, yesterday evening was dry and clear. I hope this is a precursor to some better weather .... but I'm not holding my breath! My heart goes out to anyone who's been wind or rain affected, and I hope you get sorted soon.

I've had a couple of weeks away from blogging as I hurt my neck and couldn't manage to stay in one position long enough to craft. However, all is well now so I'm back with the launch of the new challenge this morning at Incy Wincy Designs. I'm really looking forward to seeing your creations this week as we want you to go Sassy and Sexy.

We've got 2 amazing sponsors this week who have both offered a prize, so there'll be 2 happy crafters next Monday!

Our first sponsor is My Creative Classroom who are offering our first lucky winner a seat to a Workshop Class of their choice, and here is a little about them:

My Creative Classroom is an online arts and crafts learning center. Our interactive and in-depth courses are instructor led and filled with wonderful projects and techniques to help you get the most out of your supplies.  Our Spring 2014 Semester is under way and will offer well over 100 courses. Along with our Traditional Instructor-led Workshop Classes we have also added Self-Paced Workshops. We've recently added more classes to our Library, which offers retired classes at 40%-50% off regular price.

 We have opened our brand new challenge blog, My Creative Life 2014 , which will issue challenges to help us use all of our supplies this year. Along with that is the companion course with the same title, which is FREE to our newsletter subscribers. Come join in on the fun and test drive MCC.

We are excited to be sponsoring Incy Wincy Designs Challenge. You can view our entire class list on our website at My Creative Classroom. You can also view classes on our Facebook Page too! One lucky winner will receive a free seat to a Workshop class of their choice.....Good Luck!

Our second sponsor is Lindsay at Sassy Studio Designs who is offering our second lucky winner 4 Digital Images of their choice. Lindsay has also very kindly given the DT their choice of image to use for this challenge (Thanks Lindsay!) so if you're spoilt for choice, head over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the inspiration from the DT.

Here is my card for you, featuring Bubble Gum Sassy:

I'm not sure about how sexy she is, but she sure is SASSY!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Ivory which I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card. 
• Backing Paper - is from a set by Summer at Summertime Designs called Freedom. I've used a paper
  
  called Stars. 
• Heart Shape - is also from the Freedom kit and I've digitally layered it onto the paper
• Image - this girl with sass-itude is Bubble Gum Sassy by Lindsay at Sassy Studio Designs. I have brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3, PP5
• Hair - GB8, GB10
• Top - DR5, DR7
• Trousers - EB1, EB2, Colourless Blender, TB3
• Sneakers - TB3
• Bubble - Craf-T Chalk in Pale Pink
• Outline - BT1, IG2
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC which was a freebie only a couple of weeks ago. When I saw it (knowing I had this image to use) I knew it would be totally perfect!
• Twine - from my stash wrapped around the card 3 times and tied in a handmade bow

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and be tempted to join us on this challenge sharing your Sassy and Sexy projects. This challenge will end on Sunday 16th February 2013.


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

• Challenge #193 - Katrina's Sketch at Sunday Sketch and Stamp - I've flipped the sketch so it suited the direction the image was facing and used a heart instead of the circular shape
• Include a Sentiment Challenge at Whoopsi Daisy Challenge
• Make it Girly at Come and Get It Challenges
• Challenge #27 - One Heart at Challenges and Candies Blog
• Challenge #20 - Showcase (and Explain) Your Favourite Style at As You Like It Challenge - OK, where to start on explaining my favourite style? 
• A square card base - check! 
• Digital Papers from a co-ordinating set, which means I can play with re-sizing, and layering papers/images to get my layout - check! 
• Coloured image, OK so I know my colouring isn't the best (still can't get a 'glossy look' to hair) but I have managed a lighter patch on this girl's trousers - check! 
• Minimal Embellishments, so they don't overpower either the image or papers - check! 
• Sentiment from my "Go To Sentiment Mistress" - check! 
• That must be my favourite style then .... not necessarily CAS but everything showcased to perfection - check! :o)

Have a crafty week!

Hugs, Helen x

Away with the fishes ... ?

Good morning friends - hope you are well and stayed safe in last Monday's stormy weather.

The Half Term holidays have come (... and gone!), and I'm back to school today. Scary to think that the next time I'll get some time off is the Christmas Holidays. Eeeeeeeekkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eldest came home from New York safely on Friday - she had an amazing time but was absolutely pooped and slept for 14 hours that night! They only had a delay of an hour flying out which wasn't due to the weather at all, but a medical emergency who had be evacuated from the flight and "de-bagged". I think she's smitten with NYC, and would love to return.

It being a Monday morning, it's time for a new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs, and this week our challenge is for you to use Ribbon, Twine or Fibres. Our sponsors this week are Lindsay and her lovely team from Sassy Studio Designs who are giving this week's lucky winner 4 Digital Images!



Lindsay has also kindly given us some images to "play with" this week (thank you!), and here is my card for you:

Hmmmmm ... this looks like another photo "di-sas-ter". Will get a better shot during daylight hours and post it!

My card recipe is follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory which I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Papers - are from a kit called She Sells Sea Shells by Summer at Summertime Designs
• Image - this very surprised youngster is called Little Honeys - The Little Mermaid and she comes from the pen of Lindsay at Sassy Studio Designs. My Little Mermaid was brought to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before being fussy cut:
• Hair - GB7,GB8,GB10, CR4, CR5, CR6 (I'm still not sure that I've got the 'light shine' in hair right, but I'll keep trying!)
• Skin - FS2, FS3, CR5, BT4
• Shell Bikini - CR5, CR6
• Fin - BT4, BT5, BT6
• Outline - BT1
• Shell - is an embellishment from the She Sells Sea Shells kit, which I fussy cut and then slicked on some Glossy Accents to make it stand out!
• Ribbon - white organdie with a Satin Trim from my stash

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and look at the other gorgeous creations by my team mates and this month's Guest Designer Sandy together with our Special Guest Designer Annette. Then don't forget to come back and show us your creations featuring Ribbon, Twine or Fibres!

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

• Challenge 14 - Case your Favourite Designer at As You Like It Challenges OK, this probably is not so much casing but more like stalking!!!! This designer's blog was one of the first I followed when I ventured into 'Blogland' and I am always totally blown away by her absolutely wonderful creations. I can only aspire to be able to create "gorgeousness" as well as she does, but now she has started making more C&S creations, I can at least attempt to be as creative as her! The designer I'm casing is ..... Annette 

Have a good week.

Hugs, Helen x

Edwardian Elegance

Good morning friends and welcome to another Monday. So, the longest day has been and gone, the nights are drawing in (!) and the weather is more November than June! Apart from that, all's good here!!! Hope you and yours are well.

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs again, and this week's challenge is Tic-Tac-Toe or Bingo! Here's your board, courtesy of the lovely Nikki and the challenge is 3 in a line, any row, column or diagonal (just make sure you tell us in your post which line you're claiming please!):

As usual, we've got some great sponsors lined up for you this week.

Firstly Iva Nova Chest are offering this gorgeous "Blue" goody bag to one lucky winner. Aren't those ribbons and flowers just gorgeous?

Our second sponsors are the team at The Paper Shelter who are offering our second lucky winner a $20 Gift Certificate to their store. 

The Paper Shelter team have also very kindly given the DT some of their images and papers to showcase this week, and here is my creation. I'm claiming the right hand column of Frame, Lace, Use Metal:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card -  is Centura Pearl in Ivory which I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Image on Paper - is the Composition Page from In the 20s by The Paper Shelter. This image is all pre-coloured, but this cutie does come in a black and white line drawing so you can colour her yourself or a "stand alone" coloured version so you add her to your choice of papers.
  
• Frame - is the Paper Page from the In the 20s Stamp set. I've carefully cut out the green part, which left me with a swirly frame. To get a 3-D effect, I used a couple of layers of thick cardboard strips around the edge of the papers.
• Lace - from my stash and stiched to make a rosette with a little red frosted bead in the middle from Sanctuary Beads
• Posh Pin - is home made, using a header pin and frosted brown beads from Sanctuary Beads. The large brown and medium teal coloured beads came from a "pick & mix" pot by Hobbycraft

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and look at the other gorgeous creations by my team mates and Linda, who has been our fabby Guest Designer all through June. Then don't forget to come back and play Tic-Tac-Toe or Bingo with us!

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

• Pile It On #25 - Vintage or Shabby Chic at Pile It On
• Challenge #46 - Use Something Metal at The Squirrel and The Fox
• Challenge #45 - Steampunk or Vintage at Sparkles Monthly Challenge

Have a great day! Hugs, Helen x

Oh Baby!

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

Morning all and hope you're all well!

What a busy day yesterday was, and I'm sooooo veeeery sorry that I didn't get to finalise my posts and get them up and running on here - second week running that I've been late too. Hmmmm - bad me!!!!! However, today is a new day and I'm hoping to not only get caught up but also to get ahead and try and schedule next week's posts too! Wish me luck :o)

Anyway, there's a new challenge started at Incy Wincy Designs and this one's a fab topic - Butterflies and Bows. 

We have got 2 totally amazing sponsors for you this week ... just a shame I can't enter our own competition!

First, we're welcoming Heather Valentin from Lacy Sunshine Stamps . This is Heather's first time sponsoring one of our challenges, and she is offering one lucky winner a $20 Gift Certificate to her store. And with sooooo many gorgeous images to choose from, I can guarantee that you'll be spoilt for choice. Heather also has a retiring section with a number of her digital images priced at just $1, so there is no excuse for not topping up your stash! 

Our second sponsor is perennial favourite, Krista from Saturated Canary who is offering our second lucky winner 2 digital images from her store.

Both of our lovely sponsors very kindly offered the DT their choice of image to use this week. However a number of my teamies, like me, had sooooooooo much trouble choosing between Heather's images and Krista's images that we had to do one of each! 

So here is my first card for this challenge, and this one features one of Krista's gorgeous images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory onto which I embossed the largest Butterfly shape from my    Crafter's Companion Ultimate Pro. Once I had cut out this shape, having left 2 hinges at the top of the wings, I then cut the reverse of the card the the same outline.
  
• Image - this beautiful baby is called Butterfly Baby and she comes from the pen of Krista at Saturated Canary. This little cutie has been brought to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Hair - GB7, GB8
• Face - FS1, FS2, BT2, CR3
• Baby Grow - GB1, GB2, GB3
• Wings - LG3, LG4, LG5, LV1, LV2, LV3
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment -  is of course by my favourite designer, Paulette at Create with TLC. I took this totally apt sentiment into my word processing package, and recoloured it in purple to match the colour scheme on my card, before printing it out in a purple coloured oval. Once the sentiment was cut out, I punched a hole in each side of the oval and threaded through some thread from my stash, which I had coloured using my Spectrum Noir Pen in LV3 so it matched the rest of the project, to make a "Ribbon Slider". I then finished off the slider, by tying a bow around the threads.

There'll be another post from me in a minute, and then I hope you'll head over to Incy Wincy Designs to check out the other gorgeous creations by my team mates and our Guest Designer for June Linda. Don't forget to then come back and show us your creations featuring Butterflies and Bows. This challenge ends on Sunday 16th June 2012.

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

• Day 152 - Sweet Baby at 365 Cards
• Challenge #48 - Addicted to Colours at Addicted to Stamps and More!
• Challenge 188 - Hey Baby! at Totally Gorjuss
• June Challenge - Summer at Crafter's Companion Challenge

Catch you in a minute!

Hugs, Helen x

Gardening with Clementine

Good afternoon friends and I hope you're well on "middle day! This is the end of "Post-fest" ... I've caught up now! However, it also means I've got to return my crafting items to their various hidey-holes as my husband is due back this evening from a business trip.

This post brings with it news of this week's challenge at Incy Wincy Designs where our challenge for you this week is Metal Mania. We would like to see either some Metal added to your project, or your image could have something on it that's made from metal ... so you could use brads, pins, staples, poppers; or an image with a swing, shovel, wagon, or anything else you can think of!

We've been sponsored this week by the wonderful Gerda at The Stamp Fairy and she is offering this week's lucky winner at $10 Gift Certificate to her store! She's also kindly supplied the DT with some wonderful images to showcase, and here is my card featuring metal staples, a paperclip and a watering can on the image:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Ivory which I cut and scored to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - are both from the Summertime Paper Collection, which was a magazine freebie. On the floral paper, I used the largest rosette from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats as a die and embossed this shape onto the DP before cutting it out. I used a corner rounder on the polka dot paper before turning the top corner over to reveal a swatch of the floral paper which I had printed onto the reverse.
  
• Image - this little cutie is called Clementine Spring 3 and she has come from the pen of Gerda at The Stamp Fairy. I've brought this green fingered rabbit to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens and chalks in the following colours:
• Clementine's Fur - EB1, EB2, TN2, TN3, TN4
• Clementine's Hat - Paper Pieced with paper from Summertime Paper Collection
• Watering Can - BGR1, BGR2, BGR3
• Plant Pot - BT4, BT5, BT6
• Flowers - DR4, DR5, DR7, BG8
• Outline - GG1
• Grass - LG3, LG4, LG5
• Sky - Craf-T Chalk in Light Blue
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC. I superimposed the word art onto a banner shape in my word processing programme and, once it was printed and cut out, I gently distressed the edges with some Craf-T Chalk in Red before stapling it to the base DP.
• Twine - from my stash and coloured using a Spectrum Noir Pen in shade DR5
• Staples and Paperclip - are from my desk!

I hope you'll head over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the very creative metallic projects from my team-mates, this month's Guest Designer Winnie and our very special Guests, Annette and Céline from the Stamp Fairy DT. Don't forget to come back and show us your creations which have Metal Mania! This challenge ends on Sunday 26th May 2012.

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

• Challenge #20 - Anything Goes with Optional Sketch at 613 Avenue Create ... I followed the sketch!
• Challenge #57 - Animals at Dream Valley Challenges
• If The Paper Fits (Paper Piecing) at Papertake Weekly
• Challenge #128 - Circles at Penny's Paper-Crafty
• May Challenge - Anything Goes at Chalk N Stock

Have a great afternoon everyone!

Hugs, Helen x

This is "Whaley" good!

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

Good evening friends and a slightly later post than normal from me with the new challenge from  Incy Wincy Designs. This week we want to see your creations featuring Ocean Animals.

We're sponsored this week by the wonderful Melissa at Meljen's Designs, who has kindly provided some images for the DT to showcase this week as well. Thank you Melissa!

So here is my card for you:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Turquoise (mine came in a Brights pack from Crafter's Companion which they don't seem to have on their web site any more). This was I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Papers - are all by Summer at Summertime Designs and they come from her kit Relax. I tried to use colours and shapes that evoked the sea and wave movements. From the bottom layer, the papers I've used are called Stripes, Turquoise, Paisley and Lime Circles. I have digitally matted and layered these papers together using a khaki/tan outline in my word processing programme. The letter tiles are also part of this kit, and I imported them individually into my word processing programme as well and layered them up onto the Lime Circles paper. I had to do a bit of nifty cutting with my craft blade around the "K" so that I could tuck the card rectangle underneath it!
  
• Image - this beautiful image is called Mamma Whale by Melissa at Meljen's Designs. At the moment this tender image is on half price sale, so why not treat yourself? I brought these 2 giants of the oceans to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours before gently tool distressing the edge.
• Mamma Whale - IB2, IB3, TB4, PP4
• Whale Calf - IB1, IB2, IB3, PP4
• Swirls - GT2
• Heart - PP4
• Outline - GT1
• Sentiment - is, of course, by Paulette at Create with TLC ... who else can come up with such cracking sentiments? I got this one from Paulette in May 2012 - I think it was a freebie on her blog.

I do hope you'll head over to Incy Wincy Designs this week and see the other wonderful layouts from my very talented team-mates and Valou - it's her last week as our Guest Designer and she has made some wonderful creations, so please head over to her blog and leave her some love. Then come back and show us your creations featuring Ocean Animals. This challenge closes on Sunday 5th May.

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

• Cupcake 240 - All at Sea at Cupcake Craft Challenges
• Challenge #157 - Stripes or Dots at Robyn's Fetish
• Craft it Up & Link it Up Party #5 - Use a Pun at Craftin' Desert Diva's
• RCS #34 - Thank You Cards at Red Carpet Studio
• GL Torn & Distressed at Gingerloft Challenges
• Challenge #33 - Something Fishy at Delicious Doodles
• Make us Laugh and Smile at Jellypark Challenges
• Inspiration Challenge - Colour Palette & Photo Inspiration at Crafter's Digital Art Center

Hugs, Helen x

Goal crazy!

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

Hello again friends. This will be a swift second post from me as we're heading out to catch a train to London as it's the Easter holidays still for us!

It's time for a new challenge at  Incy Wincy Designs and this time our challenge wants to get Out of the Box! No, we don't want you to make a box or anything like that .... we're looking for your projects that feature the "Out of the Box" Technique. Still none the wiser? Don't worry - head on over to SplitCoast Stampers and check out this Tutorial which explains this very easy but visually stunning technique.

Our sponsors for htis challenge are the team at Milk N Coffee who are giving this week's lucky winner 5 Digital Images from their shop. And  with over 180 items in the shop, there is such a choice of "Cute Digis for Cute Creations"! 

The DT has been given some of these lovely digis to showcase this week and here is my card for you:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White which I cut, scored and folded to make a 10.5cm square card.
• Design Paper - is from the Men's CD of the Popcorn the Bear Platinum Triple CD-Rom Collection . This football paper is perfect for the image don't you think?
• Image - this fun image is by the artists at Milk N Coffee and is called Soccer Boy. Now because we're using the "Out of the Box" technique, part of the image has to be outside the shape of your die. No die cutting machine? No problem ... I haven't got one either!!!!! I used the smallest rosette from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats to de-boss the shape around my football fanatic. This way I could see as was using the tool where I needed to stop embossing and then start again around the top of his hair. Then when I cut out the shape, I just fussy cut around the hair spikes which left these "Out of the Box"! I brought this sporty lad to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:

• Flesh - FS2, FS6
• Hair - GB3, GB4
• Football Strip - EB1, Colourless Blender, CR10, CR11
• Boots - True Black, OR1, FL3 
• Football - True Black, IG1
• Grass - CG1, CG2
• Sky - Craf-T chalk in Blue
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiments - is by my favourite artist for sentiments, Paulette at Create with TLC. This was a freebie on her blog last month.  I've used my normal hole punch for stationery (before realising is was slightly too large for the job!) to make holes in the side of the oval "tag" before threading some Twine from my stash through them.

We've got another new team member joining us from this week, so I hope you'll come on over to Incy Wincy Designs and give Avril a very warm welcome. Also check out the other great creations from the rest of the Design Team our Guest Designer Valou. Then don't forget to come back and show us your creations that feature the "Out of the Box" Technique. You've got until Sunday 14th April to join in.

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

• Challenge #98 - Girls and Boys Come Out to Play at Top Tip Tuesday  My TOP TIP for you is how to make your design come "Out of the Box" if you don't have a die cutting machine. If you have an embossing board you can used that as I described above, but if you don't you could use a Cookie Cutter and draw round that. If you use a digital image, you could use your Word Processing package to make a shape and superimpose your image onto that so part of the image is outside the shape. If you stamp, you could use an object from your home to draw a shape around your image. Why not experiment and see what you can come up with - just don't forget to leave part of the image outside the shape before cutting out!
• Twine Love Recipe Swap at Catered Crop
• ICC #104 - For a Child at Inky Impressions Challenges
• Challenge 77 - For a Child at Aud Sentiments
• For the Guys at Gingerloft Challenge - I'm hoping that a card for a boy counts!?

I hope you have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

Is Spring Coming?

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

I was going to title this post "Spring is Coming", but as I sit here typing this post with yet another snow flurry hurtling past the window and hubby's new weather-station display advising that the outside temperature is a paltry 1.5 degrees Celsius here on the south coast of the UK, I can't believe that Spring will ever arrive! When I cast my mind back to this time last year I was wearing cropped trousers and sandals to work, and this year I'm still well and truly wrapped up in my winter woollies! :o)

Never mind, over at Incy Wincy Designs this week, we're going to try and take your mind off the chilly weather and think of warmer climes as our challenge for you this week is Pastel Colours. 

We've got not one, but two great prizes from our fabby sponsors for you this week. Our first lucky winner will receive a Goodie Bag from Iva Nova Chest and our second lucky winner will receive two digis from Saturated Canary.


Krista Smith (the artist behind Saturated Canary) also gave the DT their choice of image to showcase this week, and here is my card featuring one of Krista's gorgeous images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White which I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Papers - are from the Energy kit by Summer of Summertime Designs. The main paper is called "Plaid" and the banners are cut from the "Green Damask" paper.
• Image - is of course by the very talented Krista Smith from Saturated Canary. This gorgeous girl is called Springtime and I've brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:

• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Eyes - LV1
• Lips - CR4
• Hair - GB1, GB3
• Dress & Gloves - GB1, TN2, EB1, CR4, CR5
• Socks - CG1, CG2, PP1, PP3, TB2, TB3
• Leggings & Shoes - TB2, TB3
• Flowers - CT3, CR4, LV1
• Grass - CG2, Craf-T chalk in Lime Green
• Clouds - Craf-T chalk in Light Blue
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is by Paulette from Create with TLC and was a freebie on her blog last year. I have cut this into a banner shape too, and then distressed the edges with Craf-T chalk in Pink. To save you doing the maths, 18,250 days makes someone 50, and this card is for my neighbour who is 50 today ... Happy Birthday to her!
• Flower and Gems - are from my stash

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and see the other wonderful creations from my team-mates and this month's Guest Designer Jackie. Then don't forget to come back and show us your creations featuring Pastel Colours. You've got until Sunday 31st March 2013 to join our challenge.

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

• JUGS #181 - Photo Inspiration Challenge at Just Us Girls
• Come Rain or Shine at Joanna Sheen
• Challenge #206 - Spring Colours at Creative Inspirations
• Easy as 1-2-3 Challenge at Crafter's Digital Art Center (1 Flower, 2 Design Papers, 3 Pieces of Bling)
• Challenge #35 - Bring on Spring at Chocolate, Coffee and Cards
• It's Springtime at Card Makin' Mamas
• Pretty Pastels at Jellypark Friends

I hope you have a great Monday!

Hugs, Helen x

Popping Up ...

... to say Hi!!!!!


Thank you so much to all of you who wished me a speedy recovery from the lurgy - I think I'm just about over it now, with just a slight residual cough.


Anyway, it's time to tell you about the new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. This week we want you to Pop It Up!!!! Now popping something up could take many forms ...  you could decoupage your image, use pop-up foam dots, make your image pop up, or even your whole card/creation!




This week's sponsor this week is Sassy Studio Designs who are giving this week's lucky winner a prize of 4 Digital Images. Lindsay has kindly allowed each DT member to choose one of her images to showcase this week, and here is my card for your inspiration:

Ooops - I'm so sorry, it looks like the bottom of the photo is really blurred. And I can't even take another shot as one of my daughter's gave it to a friend yesterday!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory, which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm centre step card
• Design Papers - are from are from a download on the Club Inspire section of the Crafter's Companion website. The set is called Spring has Sprung and it was the download of the month in May 2012. The design (although you can't see it very well) is roses superimposed onto a delicately coloured impression of the Union Flag. 
• Image - is called Great Britain Honey and she is part of the Small World Honey Collection 1 by Lindsay at Sassy Studio Designs. I mounted the image using foam dots to pop her even further forward than the stepper already does! I have brought this sweetheart to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens and chalks in the following colours:


• Hair - TN2,TN3, TN4
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Eyes - TB1
• Lips - CR6
• Dress - DR7, BT4, BT5
• Shoes - True Black
• Background - Craf-T chalk in Light Blue
• Sentiment Ticket - from the Crafter's Companion Spring has Sprung download. I exported the ticket into my word processing programme and then wrote "Happy Birthday" onto the ticket in a handwriting font, and coloured it in white so it showed up on the brown ticket. If you click onto the picture above, you can supersize the photo and hopefully see the lovely details on the ticket.
• Ribbon Slider - also from the Crafter's Companion Spring has Sprung download. I have put some foam dots under the buckle to give some dimension.

Here's a more sideways view of my card, so you can see how this card pops!

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 Designer, Trudy. Then come back and show us your creations that Pop It Up! You've got until Sunday 24th February 2013 to link your creations up.


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

• Challenge #20 - Happy Birthday at Broken Box Stock 
• It's Birthday Time! at Card Makin' Mamas
• H for Happy Birthday at ABC Challenge
• Challenge #151 - Make it Girlie at One Stitch at a Time
• Challenge #31 - For Mother's Day (or For a Female) at Simply Create Too - I've gone for the Female Card option as my daughter gave it to a girlfriend

Hope the rest of week is good for you!

Hugs, Helen x