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

Lighting up a New Home

Welcome to Monday morning friends and time for a new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs. Before I get to that I would like to welcome my newest follower Annette. Annette makes some really delicious cards, and currently has a Candy Challenge over at her blog.





 
Back to the matter in hand and this week's challenge. This week we're playing Bingo (Tic-Tac-Toe) and using the board below, we're going for a row, column or diagonal of 3.

We've got two lovely sponsors for you  again this week who are both offering amazing prizes.


Our first sponsor is Iva Nova Chest who are offering our first lucky winner this beautiful goodie bag featuring flowers, ribbon and bling in shades of purple.



Our second sponsor is our very own Incy Wincy Teamie Nikki, from Limited Runs Digital Stamps. Nikki is offering our second lucky winner a prize of 3 digis from her store, and she has kindly provided the Design Team with some gorgeous images to showcase this week.




So here is my project for you, featuring the middle row of Punch, Metal Pins and Anything but a Card - a Candle Gift for someone moving into a New Home:

My project recipe is as follows:

• Candle - small unscented block candle in white from Ikea
• Image - This sweet little bird house is called Birdhouse #2 by Nikki at Limited Runs Digital Stamps. I printed the image first onto some thin card before then carefully taping a piece of white tissue paper over the top of the printed image, and then used my Spectrum Noir Pens to bring this little nest box to life.
• Sentiment - computer generated
• Borders - from the Paintbox Poppets Papercrafting CD-Rom. I cut & pasted the borders from the PDF file, and transferred them into my word processing package so that I could lay them out with the sentiment. I carefully cut around the borders and then used a new Heart Border Punch to decorate the border. You can see this design in the picture
• Posh Pins - homemade using silver header pins and beads from a selection pot.
• Twine - from stash and tied into a multi-layered bow using the bow maker on my Ultimate Pro. 
•  Putting the image onto the candle - Once the images were dry, I carefully cut around them and then placed each one onto the candle holding it in place with a piece of Greaseproof Paper. Unfortunately, I didn't get my placing quite right, as the ends of the borders are not at the same level! :o(    I then used my hairdryer to heat this 'sandwich' up and make the image melt into the candle … just be very careful that you don’t burn yourself at the same time. There is a great tutorial on SplitCoast Stampers with a video showing you how to do this!

I think that small candles like these would make great gifts for Teachers or Classroom Helpers, or even as a quick Hostess Gift if you're invited to a party at short notice. 

Do check out the Incy Wincy Designs blog and see the other gorgeous Bingo / Tic-Tac-Toe  projects from my talented team-mates and this month's Guest Designer Sandra.  Don't forget to come back and show us your projects, and make sure you tell us which line you're claiming for Bingo! This challenge finishes on Sunday 20th January 2013.

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

• Week 189 - Dies and Punches at Allsorts Challenges
•  January Challenge - Anything But a Card at Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge

Hope you have a great and crafty week!

Hugs, Helen x

PS: Not sure what's happening with Blogger this week - just realised that what I thought had posted in English, has actually posted in Arabic or Cyrillic!!!! Have changed it now and apologies to anyone who couldn't read my post!

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

Pink Power!

Good morning!

Today is a very special day over at The Crafty Pad as our lovely boss is letting Dawn set a special month long challenge. Why?

Around eighteen months ago, Dawn's Mum found a lump and shortly afterwards was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She has had surgery for this, and now is in the middle of a course of Chemotherapy. As a result of this treatment, Dawn's Mum has lost her hair and our wonderful Dawn has decided on a charity fund raiser for Breakthrough Breast Cancer as chosen by her Mum. On Saturday 8th September, Dawn will be having her head shaved and you can read more about her venture on her Just Giving Page. I know crafters are a friendly bunch and will try to help a fellow crafter out, so I hope that if you do pop over there, you can give a small donation to help Dawn. Even a donation of a £1 or $1 will help Dawn not just reach her target of £1000 but smash it!!!!!!!!!!

So, back to our Crafty Pad Special Challenge ... as requested by Dawn, our theme is

Breast Cancer Awareness and /or Think PINK

not just a little pink but lots of PINK!

Debbie, Crafty Pad Designs, has created a special set of images which you might like to use. These are on the challenge blog. You are very welcome to use these images but please, we do ask that you do not share these images with anyone ... instead, please send your friends over to The Crafty Pad to get them. And if you do use any of these gorgeous designs, please include a link back to The Crafty Pad. Thank you!

Dawn has contacted some of the fantastic regular Sponsors of The Crafty Pad Challenges and they have very kindly donated some whopping prizes for you all to play for!

LR Designs

£12 to spend on downloads from the shop

Crafty Sentiments Designs

A whopping £25 Voucher

MeiFlower

An amazing £30 gift certificate!

Lili Of The Valley

A £ 10 Voucher for their shop!

The Stamping Boutique

3 individual images (No Sets)

Phew! With that many prizes on offer, you've just got to join in!

So here is my card for this special challenge, featuring Debbie's images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Fuchsia onto which I traced a circle, using one of my cereal bowls! Having cut this shape out, I then cut, scored and folded the card to make a Circular Side Stepper Card. This is only the third one of this style that I've made (I made 2 out of thin card to see if I could follow the instructions and I'll be blogging the third card later this week) but this tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers makes it very easy!
• Design Paper - is called Pink Ribbon Paper from a set by Summer at Summertime Designs called "Awareness". 
• Image - this gorgeous Bra is one of the special images that Debbie has designed especially for this challenge. Go over The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog to see this and the other wonderful designs Debbie has created for this challenge. I have paper-pieced this image onto another of Summer's gorgeous papers from the "Awareness" kit - this time the paper is called Stripes Paper. I have layered the bra onto an embossed small rosette from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats  made from my Fuchsia Centura Pearl Card.
• Sentiment - is another of the special images that Debbie has designed especially for this challenge.
• Posh Pins - are some beads which I've glued onto header pins. The three larger beads came from Hobbycraft whilst the small beads came from a mixed bag I bought from Sanctuary Beads.
• Ribbon - this is some pale pink organdie ribbon from my stash. I've looped this round in the shape of the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon, and then threaded my "Posh Pins" through the ribbon to fix it.

Please hop over to The Crafty Pad and see what gorgeous creations my very clever and talented DT colleagues have made showcasing Debbie's wonderful images, and don't forget to come back and show us your 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:

•  Challenge 20 - Ribbon for a Cause at Chocolate, Coffee and Cards ... lots of pink and a pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness
• Challenge 148 - 3-2-1 at Crafty Catz (3 embellishments - Ribbon, Pins, Sentiment Ticket; 2 papers - main DP and also paper pieced image; 1 image - Bra image)
• Challenge 170 - Shaped Card at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge (First Entry)
• Challenge #42 - Pink, Pink, Pink at Little Miss Muffet
• Simon Says - Anything Goes! at Simon Says
• PSC47 - Anything Goes with a Sentiment at The Perfect Sentiment
• Pins and/or Charms at Craft-room Challenge
• Challenge #9 - Pretty in Pink at Papelitos Stamps
• Challenge #18 - Anything Goes at LEJ Designs

Hugs, Helen x

Take a Moment ...

Good morning friends!

It's time for a new challenge over at  The Crafty Pad today and I'm so excited as it's the first time I've set a challenge! Because the London 2012 Olympics are now in full swing (I hope you've been able to follow your favourites on the TV even if, like us, you weren't lucky enough to get tickets) I have set this week's challenge with the "Games" in mind and this week the girls and I would like you to Show Some Metal.

We'd like to see something made from metal on your creations this week. You can choose whether your inspiration comes from medals and go for bronze, silver or gold, or maybe you've been inspired by the gorgeous copper cauldron which was unveiled at the Opening Ceremony. Whatever you choose (any other colours are ok too!) dig out your metal beads, wires, charms etc. and we can't wait to see your creations!

We have two great Sponsors lined up for you this week!

Our first fabulous sponsor this week with a super duper prize is Crafty Sentiments who are giving one lucky winner 3 digi images from their shop.

 Our second lovely sponsor is Debbie from The Crafty Pad Designs who is offering our second lucky winner 3 single digi images from the shop.

Thank you to them both!

Here is the card I've made for this challenge:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - pre-made A6 Kraft card
• Design Papers - are called Cream Dots and Blue Stripes from a kit by Summer at Summertime Designs called She Sells Sea Shells.
• Image - Pocket Watch is just one of the many wonderful images by Debbie at Crafty Pad Designs and you can get your own copy of this and the steampunk inspired cog and ruler elements here. I printed it onto card which I had pre-printed Khaki Paper from the She Sells Sea Shells kit and then went over the rim of the design and highlighted the hands using Glossy Accents. I then made a flourish (using part of the flourish from Debbie's Rose & Flourish) set from silver jewellery wire and suspended my pocket watch image onto it.
• Posh Pins - made from the same silver jewellery wire onto which I super-glued some toning beads from a mixed pot of bead that I got a Hobbycraft. I then fixed these to a multi stranded bow which was made in waxed thread from my stash.
• Sentiment - also by Debbie at Crafty Pad Designs and this one comes from the bumper set of Sentiments & Quotes

Why don't you hop over to The Crafty Pad and see the lovely projects that my "Teamies" have made. Then come back and Show us your Metal! You've got until 8pm (BST) on Saturday 11th August 2012 to link your cards up.

 

I'm looking forward to coming round and seeing your projects!

 

Hugs, Helen xxx