A Winter Window

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

Hello again!

I'm back with this fortnight's challenge at Lexi's Creations. This time we'd like to see your creations featuring your Punches and Dies. Don't forget that we are a multi-craft blog so your project doesn't just have to be a card!


For this challenge our sponsor 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!" With a sale on too, why not head over and treat yourself?


The lovely Lexi has also let us have pick of Fairy Dust Crafts once again, and here is my card featuring one of her gorgeous digis:

Like a number of my projects here at Casa Mia, there's a story behind this card. Late last year I saw this beautiful card by Beccy at Beccy's Place. Coincidentally, around the same time, Split Coast Stampers featured this tutorial to make glowing lights. Sooooooo I've case-d Beccy's card (by peeking through the window) and used the tutorial to make this card!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is a sheet of matt black card stock into which I've die cut a square using my second largest Framelits Scalloped Square Die. 
• Window Frame - was made from Centura Pearl in Snow White from which I die cut a square using my largest Framelits Scalloped Square Die. I then used one of smaller dies from the same set to make the individual "panes" before giving the edges of the panes a coating of glue and dusting of White Glitter to give  snowy effect.
• Punches - are snowflakes punched from Snow White Centura Pearl in 2 sizes. I bent the fronds upwards to give them some dimension.
• Sentiment - is by Paulette at Create with TLC and this was a blog freebie in December last year. It
  
  seems quite apt for a snowy window scene looking in at a glowing Christmas tree doesn't it?
• Image - this stylised tree is called Funky Christmas Tree and it comes from the pen of Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts. I've made this tree glow very simply by using a White Gel Pen to highlight the "baubles" and "lights" on the tree, and then gave these areas a dusting of Craf-T Chalk in Magenta and Turquoise. I die cut this using my second largest Framelits Scalloped Square Die and mounted it inside the card, directly behind the window aperture.

So, this is my rather modern take on a Christmas Card ... do you like it? 

Do come over to Lexi's Creations and what my fellow teamies have made, and then come back and share your projects featuring your Punches and Dies with us. This challenge will close on Saturday 29th March 2014.

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

• March Challenge at Chalk N Stock
• Challenge #3 - Anything Goes at Completely Christmas
• Challenge #185 Trees at 4 Crafty Chicks
• Challenge #131 - Take a Peek (window/opening cards ) at Art Impressions
• Challenge #250 - Christmas at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge

Hope you 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