Mmmmmm ... Chocolate and Cream

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

Hello friends,

It's half term here at Casa Mia ... whoo hoo!!!! We've got a week of not-a-lot planned, well I'm hoping to get in a fair bit of crafting but we'll see what the minor folk at Casa Mia have planned for me :o) Hope you're all staying safe in the wind and rain. I'd also like to welcome my newest follower - thanks for joining the rest of us on our journey through my crafting.

It's new challenge time at Lexi's Creations and this one may challenge Mr Mojo as it's Monochrome. It doesn't have to be just black and white though; you can choose any colour scheme you like, as long as you only use shades of that colour.

Our wonderful sponsors for this challenge are the fabby team over at Joanna Sheen who are offering our lucky winner a £10 Gift Voucher to their on-line store. And with postage and packing free if you spend over £9 everyone's a winner if you buy in this Aladdin's cave! This is the last time that Joanna and her team will be sponsoring us for a while :o( - thanks for all your support ladies!


The lovely Lexi has once again let the DT loose in Fairy Dust Crafts (thanks Lexi!) and by the way, there's a sale on there so do go and have a look! Here is my card for you featuring one of Lexi's sweet images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is Centura Pearl Ivory which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - are from a collection called Chocolate Chip and Cream Delight by Debbie at The
  
  Crafty Pad Designs (available from Card Making Downloads). I have used 2 different papers from the set which I sized in my word processing programme and then put a chocolate brown border around them to give a faux mat.
• Image - is called Hot Chocolate Scruffles and he comes from the pen of Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts. This cute, and messy!, dog was die cut using the largest Framelits Fancy Labels die, before being brought to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens (thank goodness my collection was completed with the arrival of my Darks pack last week!) in the following colours:
• Fur - EB3, EB4, EB5
• Marshmallows - EB1, EB2
• Cream - EB1, Colourless Blender
• Cup & Saucer - EB6 which I dotted to make a pattern, EB7, EB8
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and this was a blog freebie in November 2011. I took this into my word processing package and put the same chocolate coloured border around it to make a faux mat
• Ribbon - a recent "grab bag" purchase (15 different ribbons, each 3 metres in length for £5) from Hobbycraft which I can't find, unfortunately, on their website :o(
• Gems - from my stash

If you're short of inspiration on this challenge, do come over to Lexi's Creations and see the other wonderful creations by my teamies, our regular Guest Designer Silvi and this week's special Guest Designer Janny. Don't forget to come back and show us your wonderful Monochromatic creations - this challenge will end on Saturday 1st March 2014.


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

• C is for Chocolate Creams at ABC Christmas Challenge I've gone for a cream & chocolate colour scheme AND a creamy hot chocolate image!!!!
• Challenge #194 - Marie's Sketch at Sunday Sketch and Stamp
• Challenge #25 - Dies and/or Punches at Feeling Crafty Challenge
• DPDC 43 - Any Digi Goes at Doodle Pantry

Hope you have a great week!
Hugs, Helen x

Fluttering by

Phew .... has anyone else got or had the latest cold bug, the one with the fevers for several days and a lasting, hacking cough? I'm sorry to say that the house of "Mia" needs a sign put on the door as we've all got it in some form or another. I have been so unwell that my crafty efforts over the last week have just gone straight into the bin once photographed .... I haven't been happy with my creations at all!

Anyway, a day later than it should be, here are the details of this fortnight's challenge over at Lexi's Creations where Susan is asking us to use our Dies or Punches. Now this sort of challenge always throws me a problem, as I still don't own a die cutting machine, and I only have a couple of punches (mainly snowflakes!). 

Our sponsor for this challenge are the fabby team over at Joanna Sheen who are offering this week's lucky winner a £10 voucher to their online store - thank you! The lovely Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts has, as usual, let the DT loose in her on-line store too so we can raid the digis (!) and here is my card for you:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory, onto which I've embossed the largest rosette shape from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats. Having cut this die-like shape out, I then scored and folded the card to make a Rocker Card.
• Image - is by Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts and is called DIY Butterfly. I printed out 2 butterflies in slightly different sizes (and I flipped one for good measure too!) onto plain white card and then printed the butterflies out again onto digital paper swatches in lavender and vanilla - these were scans I took from a paper collection called Emma's Garden which was a magazine freebie last month. I carefully cut out the wing shapes and paper pieced them onto the white card, before adding a bit of bling to the bodies. Having teased the wings upwards, I fixed each butterfly to my cardstock using wet glue to the underside of the bodies to give some dimension to the card.
• Sentiment - is by Debbie at The Crafty Pad

Do come on over to Lexi's Creations and see how my talented teamies and our Guest Designer Edith have used their Dies and Punches. Don't forget to come back and share your creations with us! You've got until Saturday 13th April 2013 to link your cards up.

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

• Challenge #175 - Lavender, Buttercream and Vanilla at The Play Date Cafe
• Recipe Challenge - Anything You Choose (Paper Piecing), Bling and Cardstock at Catch the Bug
• Challenge #148 - Shaped Cards at Sentimental Sundays
• Monthly Challenge No.16 - Paper Piecing at Forever Friends
• Challenge 47 - Your Favourite Style at LEJ Designs - very simple, less is more is my style!
• Challenge #230 - Shaped Card at Everybody Art Challenge

Have a great week, and if you have 'the lurgy' I hope you feel better soon!

Hugs, Helen x

Make new friends and keep the old ...

... One is silver and the other gold.

This is one of my favourite vespers that I have sung around a campfire at many national and international Guide events and is a nice reminder that we can keep what we hold dear. You may wonder why this post has started in such a thought provoking way. Well, this morning I bring sad news.

Today is the launch of the final challenge at The Crafty Pad as our lovely "boss" Debbie has reached the difficult decision to close both The Crafty Pad Shop and the blog. Whilst everyone at The Crafty Pad Blog is sad that we're closing, this is the right path for Debbie to take at this time. The eagle-eyed amongst you will have realised that I normally post for The Crafty Pad every fortnight.   However for our final hurrah, Debbie and Leesa & Dawn (our wonderful DT Co-ordinators who keep us all on the straight and narrow) have said we can all come out to play ... whoo hoo!!!!!!!!!!! And our final challenge theme is perfect for the occasion ... Friendship, Keep In Touch and Goodbye!

Our sponsor for you this week is the the fabby team from Joanna Sheen who are offering this week's lucky winner a £10 voucher to their online store ... just in case Santa misses anything off your Christmas list!!!!!



Debbie (our lovely Crafty Pad boss) has let the DT loose in the store for one final time, and here is the card I've made for you this week using one of Debbie's gorgeous images, and a very apt sentiment:

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 Paper - is called My Sister's Quilt 2  and it was one of goodies from Paulette's May 2012 Club at Create with TLC.
• Image - this beautiful scene is called Girl at Wishing Well by Debbie at The Crafty Pad. I hope that she's making a great wish as she tosses those 2 silver coins into the well! I've brought this sweetie to life using my Spectrum Noir pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Hair - GB8, GB10
• Dress - LV1, LV2, LV3
• Shoes - True Black
• Wishing Well - EB1, EB2, TN7, TN8, DG2, DG4, BGR1, IG2, IG4
• Sky - Chalk in Light Blue
• Grass - Chalks in Green and Dark Green
• Sentiment - is also by Debbie at The Crafty Pad and it's perfect for this weeks theme. It is called Imprints Sentiment and to keep things simple, I have just drawn round the inside edge of the ticket with my silver gel pen.

• Metal Heart Embellishment - this is a great "cheat" and I made this following this Faux Metal Tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers. I used an offcut of Neenah Card, onto which I heated 4 layers of silver embossing powder, before imprinting this little heart stamp. The embossing powder and stamp came from a bargain 50p bag of stamping bits and pieces that I bought at my Church's Autumn Fete!

Now's the chance for you to grab your favourite Crafty Pad images whilst you can. Everything is on sale in The Crafty Pad Store at 25% off until 6th January 2013 ... so go and grab yourself a bargain or two!

Please do hop over to The Crafty Pad and see the gorgeous creations by the rest of Design Team and please leave all the girls some blog love for all the fabulous creations they've shared week in and week out. Then come back and show us your creations. You've got until 8pm (GMT) on Saturday 22nd December 2012 to link your cards up and we'll be announcing our final winner and Top 5 on Thursday 27th December.

I would just like to add a huge "Thank You" to Debbie, Leesa and Dawn who invited me to join the Crafty Pad team in the Spring. It's only been a very short 8 months, but I've had a ball and I've loved showcasing the wonderful images. And, using my opening lines, we'll all go on to make new friends in Blogland, but I will keep in touch with all my 'old' Crafty Pad friends. And do pop in to visit me from time to time won't you ... you'll be very welcome!

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

• Challenge #200 - Wise Words at Crafty Creations

Have a great Sunday!

Helen x

Santa's Letter

Morning friends!

Not sure how this will post as I've scheduled this and the clocks go back tonight. Fingers crossed!!!


It's time for a new challenge at The Crafty Pad and Dawn's chosen this week's challenge. She's encouraging us to beat the last minute rush for Christmas by preparing early because our challenge for you this week is Christmas is Coming!

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 - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White, cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - are both by Summer at Summertime Designs from the set Believe.
• Images - by Debbie at Crafty Pad Designs, this little cutie is Christmas Ted posting Letter. I have brought him to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens and my trusty silver gel pen, which seems to be getting ot and about rather a bit!
• Snowflake - punched from Centura Pearl in Snow White
• Ribbon - from my stash

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 Christmas is Coming creations! You've got until 8pm (GMT) on Saturday 3rd November 2012 to link your cards up.

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

• Holiday Creature Feature at Jingle Belles
• CIC 62 - All Tied Up at Clearly I Stamp
• October Monthly Challenge - Winter Wonderland at Stamp and Create
• Challenge 137 - Make 1 for Christmas at One Stitch at a Time
• Challenge #29 - Use a Ribbon at The Squirrel and The Fox
• Challenge 77 - Christmas in October at Crafty Ann's Challenge

Hope you have a great weekend.

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

Happy Birthday!

Hi,

Good Morning my crafty friends and a very warm welcome to Katie - my newest follower! Hope you enjoy my creations Katie.

Today is new new challenge Monday at Lexi's Creations and this one is a great challenge! Simply Happy Birthday - easy peasy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o)

This fortnight, we are being sponsored by the lovely girls at Joanna Sheen who are offering our lucky winner a £10 Gift Certificate Thanks girls!

The equally lovely Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts has given everyone on the DT their choice of image and here is the Birthday card I'd like to share with you today:

My inspiration for this card layout came from a Sketch Challenge at  Incy Wincy Designs when I was GDT with them in April (I loved this sketch then and I still do - it's proving to be very useful!), and also by the current colour scheme at The Play Date Cafe.

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Royal Blue (I got mine in a Darks pack from Crafter's Companion but they don't seem to stock this any more) cut and folded to a 15cm square card.
• Design Paper - is called The Courtship Papers 2a, and is by Paulette at Create with TLC. This was one of the goodies she sent out to subscribers of the May Club.
• Image - This gorgeous girl is Roxi (what a pose and I just love the choppy bobbed hair-do!) and she has come from the pen of the talented Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts - pop over to Lexi's store by clicking on the link ... I can assure you that you won't be disappointed! I embossed an oval shape onto the Royal Blue Centura Pearl using my  Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Snowman Delight and Candlelight, cut this out and then mounted Roxi onto it. Roxi came to life through the nibs of my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Trousers - TN3, TN4
• Top - BT4, BT5
• Belt - TB5, IG1
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Hair - GB8, GB10
• Outline - IG1
• Aqua coloured Gems - from my stash
• Sentiment - computer generated in my word processing package using a Banner shape, word art coloured aqua to match my card colour scheme and sized to fit in the banner.

I'm delighted with the way this card turned out. Now this card is actually going to be for my eldest daughter who will be 13 next month. She doesn't do "pink, fluffy or girlie" and this image is utterly perfect for her. I think this we'll be seeing "happy tears" when she opens this card! My only challenge will be keeping this post safe for the next 3 weeks ... Hmmmmmmm! :o)

Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see what Happy Birthday projects my "Talented Teamies" have to show you. Don't forget to come back and then show us your creations! You've got until Saturday 23rd June 2012 to link your cards up.

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

• Challenge #135 - Aquamarine, Poolside, Clay at The Play Date Cafe
• Challenge #56 - Any Sentiment for a Child's Birthday at Aud Sentiments - OK so I know she's going to be thirteen ... but she's still my little girl! :o)
• Challenge #114 - Anything Goes at Craft Your Passion
• Week 23 - Happy Birthday / Celebration at Craft Punked
• Anything Goes, using something that's at least 6 months old at Oldie but a Goodie ( 2nd Entry to this challenge) - Well, it's those gems again ... I bought 4 rather large mixed bags (of shapes, sizes and colours) from a French hypermarket last August.

Hugs, Helen x