I need a huggle!!!!!

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

Good morning friends and I hope this post finds you well. We had simply gorgeous weather over the weekend, and I got spoilt for Mother's Day too .... hope things were good for you and yours!


Anyway, we've got another new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs and this week you can choose your challenge (within reason) as we're playing Tic-Tac-Toe (or Bingo)!  And here is your board created by Karen from which you need to choose 3 in a line (either horizontal, vertical or diagonal) - we don't mind which, as long as you tell us in your post what your line is.

We've got two wonderful sponsors again this week.

Firstly, the team at Polka Doodles are offering 4 digital stamps to our first lucky prize winner.

Our second sponsor is Nikki from Limited Runs Digital Stamps who says "Limited Runs Digital Stamps is a place where I can enjoy a calorie free cupcake, there are over 120 flavours to choose from one for every occasion. It's not all sugar in sweets there are tons of Christmas,Halloween Backgrounds,Fairies,Critters and lots more to see. I've also kept the prices lower then most shops seeing I know as a crafter on a budget it's nice to get a great deal and there are some hidden ones to even save more. So grab a cuppa and pop in and take a look around. 

Join in the monthly giveaway where you can win 5 free digi's from Limited Runs." Nikki is offering a prize of 3 digital stamps to our second lucky winner.

Here is my card for you this week, featuring a digital image from Limited Runs Digital Stamps:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is Centura Pearl in Snow White Silver which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Paper - is a freebie (quite an old one I think) by Donna at Bearly Mine Designs. I just love the black swirls on this paper! As usual, I digitally sized this paper in my word processing programme before putting a black coloured border round it to give a faux mat layer.
• Image - this snuggly couple are called Emily and Huggle and they've been drawn by a new artist to Limited Runs Digital Stamps, namely Courtney (Nikki's niece). My youngest and I call cuddles "huggles" so this image is perfect for her ... when I showed her this image in Nikki's store, her little
  
  eyes lit up, so I'll be stashing this card for her birthday later in the year! I brought Emily and Huggle to life with my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours before die cutting them with my second largest Framelits Flower Die:
• Hair - PP2, PP3, PP4, CG2
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Dress - CG1, CG2, CG3, PP6
• Boots - CG2, CG3, PP6
• Huggle - EB2, GB6, GB7, GB9
• Outline - BT1
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and I think it was a freebie in January 2012
• Lace - is from my stash

This is my Tic-Tac-Toe (or Bingo) card - why not head over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the other lovely creations by my teamies. Then come back and play Tic-Tac-Toe/Bingo with us and share your creations. This challenge will end on Sunday 6th April 2014.

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

• March challenge - One for the Girls at Bearly Mine Inpsiration & Challenges (Second Entry)
• Challenge 132 - Getting Girly at Art Impressions

I'll be back shortly with my second post of the day - in the meantime, take care!

Hugs, Helen x

Prima Ballerina

Good Morning my lovely friends and we're already in a new week! I had planned to write and schede this post before the weekend as I was doing some celebrating, but I got waylaid ... another 40-harummph birthday, but who's counting!!!!!! 


Anyway, we've got another new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs and this week we're going all girly as your creations need to feature Ribbons, Lace and Pearls. 


We have 2 amazing sponsors this week which means we are able to offer a great prize to 2 lucky winners!

Our first sponsor is the lovely team at The Paper Shelter who are kindly offering our first lucky winner a $20 Gift Certificate to their store. Don't forget that with every image you buy from The Paper Shelter you don't

just get the black and white line drawing; you get a coloured image, Design Paper, and a complete composition for when you really need that card in a hurry - OK, we all know we sometimes have those times!!!!! Normally for me at 8am when my girls remember it's so-and-so's birthday today - can you make a card Mum? :o)

Our second sponsor is a new one for Incy Wincy and it's Wendy from All Dressed Up. Wendy is offering our second lucky winner 2 digital images from her store. Here's a little bit about Wendy:

Hi I am Wendy Burns I live in Nottingham UK with my husband and two children who have been the inspiration behind the characters,  in particular my daughter who has kept me up-to-date with blogging and trends.  I work predominantly within the textile children’s wear market, fashion and interiors.

I trained as a textile designer and although my work is digital based, I love to retain that hand drawn /sewn feel which I hope comes across in my artwork.

Digital stamps is a new challenge for me and the opportunity to work with the All Dressed Up Team and has been very exciting, in particular the creative way my characters have been given individual personalities by the designers .

All Dressed Up is a newly launched blog with an enthusiastic team who are passionate about stamping.  The coordinators Marilyn and Tracy along with an amazing design team are also known as The Dressy Girls.

We have a friendly Facebook page, regular blog posts, tutorials, challenges and freebies .The stamps can be purchased from the Etsy shop which is updated on a monthly basis.

We really are friendly bunch and would love to see your creations so please feel free to contact us and visit the All Dressed Up Challenge Blog.

The DT have been really lucky as both our sponsors have very kindly supplied us with images to use for our inspiration projects for this challenge. I have used an All Dressed Up image for my card which I made for one of my dear friends who celebrates her birthday next week - I think I'm safe in posting this now 'cos I don't think she peeks at my blog!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is Centura Pearl in Snow White Silver which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Paper - is by Marisa Lerin at Pixel Scrapper Digital Scrapbooking and it is called Polka Dots 21 Paper Pink (from her Vietnam Papers Kit #3. The colours in it resemble the small girls I see running around in their leotards and tutus, getting ready for a ballet class in the community facilities at work! As usual, I digitally sized this paper in my word processing programme before putting a raspberry coloured border round it to give a faux mat layer.
• Image - this dancing diva is called Love to Dance and she comes from the pen of Wendy all All Dressed Up. This girl also comes with a lovely polka dot heart and her own sentiment, neither of which I've used on this card. I brought her to life with my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours
  
  before die cutting it with my largest Framelits Oval Die:
• Hair - TN6, TN7, TN8
• Skin - FS2, FS3, CR4
• Leotard & Leggings - DR6, DR7
• Wrap & Tutu - PP5, PP6
• Trousers - DR5, DR6, DR7
• Ballet Shoes - Already printed in Black
• Outline - PP1
• Background - Craf-T Chalk in Pink
• Edge Distressing - DR6, Colourless Blender
• Sentiment - is a freebie by my lovely blogging friend Annette, and I have to confess this is one of my faves (I know I only used it a couple of weeks ago!). I recoloured this to a similar raspberry shade as my faux mat using my word processing programme before adding a couple of pearls from my stash to it.
• Ribbon - is pale pink sheer organza in 2 widths which I think came from a local haberdashery store. The wider ribbon is layered both ways in an offset cross shape and I have also used it to make a bow under the lace flower. The narrow ribbon runs under the cross of wider ribbon and through both the lace flower and button before being tied in a bow.
• Lace - is from the same haberdashery store and I have sewn running stitch along a length of it and then gathered it into a flower shape. I was busy making this whilst waiting for youngest to get changed after her swimming class at the weekend when a lady came up to me and said that she'd been watching me make it and how intricate and delicate it was! Yet they really are soooooo simple to make :o)
• Metal Button - was rescued (sorry, I mean recycled!) from a lovely pair of trousers that my eldest grew out of and it's been sitting in my crafty stash, just waiting to be used!

So that's my card featuring Ribbons, Lace and Pearls - I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and take a peek at the other gorgeous creations by my very talented team-mates, before you share your creations with us! This challenge will end on Sunday 30th March 2014.

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

• Challenge #11 - Use a Button at All Dressed Up
• Metal or Faux Metal at Top Tip Tuesday
• Challenge 169 - Buttons and Bows at Penny's Paper-Crafty
• March Challenge at Chalk N Stock (Second Entry)

Hope you have a good week!

Hugs, Helen x

Smart Shoes!

Morning friends! How are you are today? I'm running a little late with this post (think the sun at the weekend must have gone to my head!) .... but I'm here now and there's still plenty of time to play with us! I'd like to warmly welcome Gloria who is my newest follower and is joining us on the madcap journey through my crafting; hope you get some inspiration from my creations.

Anyway, Monday saw the launch of this week's challenge at Incy Wincy Designs and this one should be fun. We're looking for you to link up your creations that are Black and White, plus One other Colour. Skin tones or a little grey for shading are OK, but that's it!

This challenge is being sponsored by the lovely Jodie at Bugaboo Stamps who is offering this week's lucky prize winner their choice of 7 digital stamps from her store. And even if you're not our lucky winner, don't forget that Jodie has a Friday Freebie available at her store. 

Jodie has also kindly supplied the DT each with their choice of image to use for this challenge, and here is my card for you:

I don't think I've ever used orange on a card before ... don't know why not because I really like it!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is made from Centura Pearl in Snow White Silver which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm card.
• Design Papers - come from a kit called Dreamsicle by Summer at Summertime Designs. I've used White and Black Paisley for the bottom layer, with Orange Dots on the left hand side and Dots Paper on the right hand side.
  
• Image - this very girly shoe is called Heels - Polka Dot and it comes from the pen of Jodie at Bugaboo Stamps. I flipped the image before printing it and then brought it life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours and fussy cut it:
• Polka Dots, Shoe Lining, Bow and Ribbon - OR1, OR2, OR3
• Heel - Silver Gel Pen
• Outline - BT1 (OK so I cheated just a little bit here in using a pale turquoise instead of pale grey for this!)
• Sentiment - is a freebie by my lovely blogging friend Annette. If you head over there, please be sure to tell her that you came from my blog.
• Lace - from my stash (originally from a local haberdashery store) and is nearly 2 years old!
• Gems - from my stash (originally from a French Hypermarket) and are nearly 3 years old!

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and look at the other wonderful creations by my teamies. Don't forget to then come back and show us your projects featuring Black and White, plus One other Colour - this challenge will end on Sunday 16th March 2014.


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

• First Challenge - Make it Girly at Hobbybook Designer Challenge
• Challenge #27 - Girlz Rule at Creative Knockouts
• Bingo at Papertake Weekly - I'm claiming the diagonal from top right to bottom left of Gems, Free, Lace
• Challenge #134 at Sketch 'n' Stash - the stash I've used are the gems (nearly 3 years old!), Lace (nearly 2 years old) and DPs (downloaded nearly 2 years ago and never used ......!)

Hope you have a great week - I'm off to choose some images following a candy win last week at Crafting Vicky's blog!

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

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

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