Dance away the Blues!

Good afternoon everyone, and I hope you haven't fallen off your chairs with another blog post from me!

Youngest Bambino was out last Saturday, helping one of her friends celebrate her 14th birthday - shopping in town (not a hardship for my Miss Fashionista I can assure you!), then back to the friend's house to get ready for their evening meal at TGI Friday's. Although Bambino had been thinking about the present since before Christmas, why was it that she left thinking about the card until Friday evening? And by Saturday morning, nothing in my "made" box was, apparently, suitable - pffffff muttered I!

Her friend loves dancing, so picking an image to use was easy, however I was totally bereft of any inspiration, so I turned to blogger and found a couple of challenges which inspired me to create this card:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is white cardstock, which I've cut, scored and folded to make a 12cm square card
• Layer - is my darkest blue Core'dinations Cardstock, which unfortunately appears to have been discontinued :o(  I've cut the edge of this using a Die'sire Edgeables die called Lattice Flourish which was only available as a freebie with the Winter 2015 Crafter's Inspiration Magazine.
  
• Image - is by Wendy at All Dressed Up and she is called Love to Dance (I've used her without the sentiment that also comes with the image). This gorgeous dancer is, quite unashamedly, my favourite ADU image as I have used her a number of times now :o). I have brought this ballerina to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours, before Die cutting her using a Sizzix Framelits Ovals die.
• Skin - FS2, FS4, FS9, FS3, TN4, FS8, CR6 
• Hair - TN2, EB2, EB6
• Dress & Hairband - TB3, TB4, TB6, Clear Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen
• Leggings & Shadow - IG1, IG2, IG3, Blender Pen
• Sentiment - is a downloadable freebie by my very generous blogging buddy Annette. I edged the border of the sentiment using my Spectrum Noir Pen in TB3 to tie it in with the image.

I'm not 100% happy with her skin on this image - for some reason it came out rather blotchy and the more I was trying to blend it out, the worse it became! Still, I have recently joined a couple of classes with Alyce over at Kit and Clowder and I can honestly say that some of my colouring is improving as I'm definitely thinking more about light and shade with my images.

I have been inspired by and would like to enter the following challenges:

• Challenge #156 at CAS Colours and Sketches - I've rotated and flipped your sketch, and see my die as being the two layers under the oval. The cut out part of the die is the darker border on your sketch, and the part between the punched holes is the white central portion of your sketch.

• Colour Week #326 - White, Light Blue, Dark Blue at Just us Girls

• Challenge 47 - Anything Goes and DT Call at All Dressed Up - I'm entering the DT call too with this card, so please wish me luck!

That's it from me for now - I've got a sheet full of images that I'm colouring in at the mo as I'm hoping to participate in a week long Birthday celebration at one of the challenge blogs I follow. Whatever you're doing, enjoy the rest of your day and stay warm and safe.

Hugs, Helen x

Flower Power!

Good morning friends and I'd like to wish you all a Happy Easter weekend. The weather here on the south coast has been fabulous all week- hope you've enjoyed some sunshine too. It may be Good Friday, but as long as the weather stays fine "himself" will be repainting "T' Shed" so the girls and I are off out - they'll swim and I'll hit the treadmill!

This is my third post during my sojourn as a GDT for Delicious Doodles, and again it's time for a new challenge. After some topical challenges, this one will encourage your feminine side, as well as raising awareness for Breast Cancer. So, we'd like to see your creations that are Pink! 

Teri again opened the doors to the Delicious Doodles Shop so that I could help myself to another gorgeous designs. If you're a regular reader, you may be pleased to know that Mr Mojo is still recovering from last week's creation (I'll let you know next week how well it was received by my M-i-L!) so this week's card is back to a more normal style :o)

Regular readers may recall that last year I designed a piece of artwork for Karen, a friend and colleague was organising a Grand Ball entitled 50 Shades of Pink - you can find the post here. Karen is holding another Grand Ball this autumn and I'll make her a box of handmade cards that she can use as a raffle prize ... this is the first card!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is Centura Pearl in Fresh Pink (from the Pastels multipack at Crafter's Companion) which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card. I then embossed the front of the card using my Embossalicious "Floral Stitch" embossing folder. I carefully masked round each raised embossed square (part of the design is "de-bossed") using Post-It notes, and then swept a Versa Color Ink Cube in Silver across the raised "stitches". I'm not sure I've got this swiping quite right,  as there are some traces of silver ink in the squares. Still, when you look at it from the side, it makes the embossing pop!
  
• Images - are both by Teri at Delicious Doodles and they are Floral Elegance - Wild Rose and the butterfly from the Awareness Ribbon Set. The ribbon set is a freebie (thanks to Teri's generosity), so why not treat yourself to another digi as well .... 2 for the price of 1! I printed 2 copies of them both and decoupaged some of the flowers, and also lifted the second butterfly's wings to give more depth to the images. I brought these gorgeous images to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:

• Roses - CT4, PP3, PP4, PP5
• Foliage - CG1, CG2, CG3
• Butterfly - PP1, PP2, PP3, GB8, GB10, Silver Gel Pen
• Outline - BT1
• Sentiment - is by my generous blogging buddy Annette and this is one of her freebies. If you head over there to take a look, please let her know that you came via my blog! I recoloured this using my word processing programme to a shade of green to tone in with the foliage.

I hope you'll come over to the Delicious Doodles Challenge Blog and enjoy the wonderful Pink creations from Teri's talented Design Team and my fellow guests. Don't forget to then come back and show us your creations - you don't need to use a Delicious Doodles image to enter the challenge but if you do, you get a second entry in the draw to win 5 of Teri's images AND your work may be Spotlighted on the challenge blog! This challenge will end on Thursday 24th April 2014 at 6pm BST (UK time!)

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

• Challenge #212 - Flower Power at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges
• Challenge #202 - Embossing (Wet or Dry) at Sentimental Sundays
• Challenge 173 - Use Ice Cream Colours at Penny's Paper Crafty  My favourite ice cream flavours (preferably made by our local ice cream manufacturer!): Pistachio, Strawberry and, not shown here, Ginger, and Toffee Crunch. 
• April Facebook Challenge - Floral at Crafter's Companion Third Entry

I hope that you all have a blessed and joyous Easter and that the Easter Bunny is kind to you and yours!

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

For Me?

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

Hello again friends! It's another busy day here at Casa di Mamma Mia ... 

This morning sees the start of our new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this week we've been asked to Make a Pocket Card. Now before you say "Yikes!" (I already did that!!!!!!!!!!), our Team Leader Chris very helpfully pointed us in the direct of the Tutorials section of SplitCoast Stampers - if you type Pocket Card into the Search Resources box, about 9 different Pocket Card tutorials will be shown and you can "fill your boots"!!!!!

Don't switch off at this point, as entering our challenge could be very worth your while ... we've got 2 amazing sponsors for you again this week! Firstly, we're welcoming back Janet and the team from Pink Gem Designs who are offering one lucky winner a great prize.


We're very pleased to welcome another new sponsor this week - Tamara and her team from The Stamping Chef, and they are offering our second lucky winner a $10 gift Certificate to their store. And here's a bit about them:
The Stamping Chef was born in November 2012, after I (Tamara) decided to switch from the scrapbook community to the crafter side of designing. Drawing is my passion, and my style is fun, cute and doodlish..I think =D.  I love to see images come to life when they're colored by amazing crafters. Creating digital images can be a tedious process, but I love each and every step of it. I have a lovely bunch of ladies standing next to me, creating, giving me advice, and help me everywhere they can. I'm so totally new in this great adventure, but I love it! It's so totally different than I'm used to. I hope I can provide you with loads of cute, happy, funny images you can work with.  


Mr Indicisive came to visit again this week, and I just couldn't choose between which of our wonderful sponsors' images to use ... so I made two cards again! Good job Mr Mojo's in residence still :o)!!!!! Here's my Double Pocket Card featuring a gorgeous image from The Stamping Chef:

My card recipe is follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory which I cut, scored and folded to make a rectangular card which is a little larger than the double pocket card which was made from 160gsm card in white, cut and folded following this tutorial.
  
• Design Papers - are from a mini scrapbooking kit called You Bring the Sunshine by Eva Kipler. I got this kit from Sweete Shoppe Designs, but they don't appear to stock it any more :o(
• Image - this little sleepyhead (and her rabbit) is called Good Morning Mimi and she comes from the pen of Tamara at The Stamping Chef. I brought this pair to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Hair - GB1, GB2, GB3
• Hair Ribbons - CG3, CG4
• Nightshirt - CG2, CG3, TB9
• Rabbit - BG2, BG3, GB5
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment -  is another freebie by my very generous blogging buddy Annette. If you head over there, please let her know that you came from my blog! I coloured the flowers using my Spectrum Noir Pen in shade GB3
• Insert Tag - has been digitally designed in my word processing programme using the gingham paper from the You Bring the Sunshine kit. I also used the frame from the same kit, which I digitally engineered to become a scalloped border ... what do you think? I then used a matching shade of yellow in my programme to outline the tag shape.

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs to check out the other gorgeous creations by my team mates and Linda, who is our Guest Designer for June. Don't forget to then come back and show us your Pocket Card creations. This challenge ends on Sunday 23rd June 2013.

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

• Challenge #12 - Fold It! at Quirky Crafts
• For the Girls at Send A Smile 4 Kids
• Girly Girl at Creative Corner Challenges
• Challenge #168 - Use a Digi at One Stitch At A Time

Have a great evening!

Hugs, Helen x

In my "itsy bitsy little polka dot bikini"!

OK ... so it's not me in my itsy bitsy little polka dot bikini you understand. I'm sure there's probably a law against that! :oD!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I hope you're all well today. 

It's new challenge time at Whoopsi Daisy and this week we're giving you the option of style either Fun in the Sun or Summer ... now that's a bit of wishful thinking as our spring/summer weather here in the UK appears to be around for a couple of days and then we get some more cool and dreary weather!

As usual, Linnie is offering our lucky prize winner one sheet of images from the Whoopsi Daisy Store, unless you've used a Whoopsi Daisy Image for your project in which case you can choose two sheets of images.




Summer fun is definitely enjoying the sunshine, preferably at the beach. So for this challenge, I've used one of Linnie's past freebie images which is just perfect for my idea of summer!!!!! And here's my card which, apart from the base card, is made up entirely of freebies!:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory which I cut, scored and folded to make a 12cm square card.
• Design Papers - are from the July 2012 Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazine. How perfect are these beach hut and "swimmies" papers for a summer card?
  
• Image - this little one dipping her toes into the waves is by Linnie at Whoopsi Daisy and she was a freebie on Linnie's blog in March of this year. If you're not already following Linnie's blog then you really should as she sometimes offers her followers some lovely goodies! I have brought this cutie to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens and Craf-T Chalks in the following colours:
• Skin - FS4, FS5
• Lips - CR5
• Hair - GB8, GB10
• Hair Ribbons - CG3, CG4
• Bikini - CG3, CG4, EB1
• Sunglasses - OR3, FS6
• Outline - BT1
• Sky - Chalk in Light Blue
• Sand - Chalk in Tan
• Sea - Chalk in Turquoise with a sprinkling of White Glitter to get the effect of the sun glinting off the sea!
• Sentiments -  is perfect for this card, and is a freebie by my very generous blogging buddy Annette. If you head over there, please be sure to let her know that I sent you!

So there you have it ... my idea of Fun in the Sun! I do hope you'll come over to Whoopsi Daisy Challenge and have a look at the wonderful creations by the other Divas and come back to show us your Summer-y creations. Don't forget that if you're using a Whoopsi Daisy image then you don't have to follow this week's theme!!! This challenge closes on Sunday 23rd June 2013.

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

• Challenge #38 - Anything Goes With Chalk at Chalk-Ah-Lot Cafe
• June Monthly Challenge - Summer Fun at Stamp and Create
• PNDC #6 - Summer Lovin' at The Paper Nest Dolls
• ABC33 - Summer at 'ABC' Challenges
• Challenge #12 - Bright and Breezy at The Crafty Bloggers Network
• Challenge #176 - Summer at Kaboodle Doodles
• June Monthly Challenge - The Great Outdoors at Lady Anne's Challenges
• June Challenge - Anything Goes with an Optional Twist at Mema's Crafts - I've taken the twist of Summer/Vacation

Hope you have a great day!

Hugs, Helen x

Shape Up

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

Ooops! This should have been scheduled to post, but guess which dimwit hit "save" instead of publish? Sorry folks! :o)

Good morning friends and welcome to another week. I'm sorry for the lack of posts at the beginning of last week and flurry of posts at the end. I was "hit" by mega computer problems. Hopefully it's all sorted out now, unlike the weekend weather here in the south of England ... I don't think I could have been more wet if I had gone swimming!!! :o)

Anyway, it's time to introduce this week's challenge Incy Wincy Designs. This time we are looking for your cards that aren't square or rectangular, they have to be A Shaped Card. 

This week our sponsor is the fabby team from Bugaboo Stamps, who are offering our lucky winner 7 digis of their choice. With plenty of choices from cute to hilarious (and all points in between) that's a great prize to win! The DT have been lucky enough to be able to choose a Bugaboo Digi to showcase this week (thanks Jodie and team!) and here is my card for you this week:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Black (love the sheen and slight sparkle!) which I have cut, scored and folded to make a circular side stepper card. Not quite sure of the dimensions, but my circle template was an upturned cereal bowl ... yes, I'm still frugally crafting :o) !!!!!
• Image - is  Heels - Daisy by Bugaboo. I love the simplicity of this very girly shoe which I have brought to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:


• Shoe - BP1, BP2, BP6, CG4, Silver Gel Pen
• Pearls (from my stash) - BP6
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is by the lovely Annette at Netty's Cards and it is perfect as this card was for my niece's 18th Birthday. You too can get a copy of this sentiment by visiting Annette's blog. Just be sure to tell her that I sent you please!
• Ribbon - from my stash

Do head over to the Incy Wincy Designs blog, and check out the amazing inspiration from my team-mates and this month's Guest Designer Jackie. Then come back and show us your Shaped Cards - you've got until Sunday 24th March 2013 to link your creations up.

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

• Fortnightly Challenge 57 - Shaped Cards at Forever Friends
• Monthly Challenge #31 - Cards with Folds at Little Claire's

I'll be back in a little bit with another DT card. In the meantime, have a good Monday!

Hugs, Helen x

Striding Out

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

Good morning friends and I hop you are well. It's been bitterly cold here all weekend and we've had lots of flurries of fine, powdery snow! Not enough to settle, but when we took our girls to a local theme park yesterday it certainly gives a different viewpoint on rides! :o)

This morning brings a new challenge for the Team A Divas at Whoopsi Daisy, and our theme for you this week is Use a Sentiment - nice and simple, so there can be no excuses for not coming and joining in!

Our lucky winner's prize is (as usual) one sheet of images from the Whoopsi Daisy Store, unless you've used a Whoopsi Daisy Image for your project in which case you can choose two sheets of images. Linnie has also kindly let the DT loose in her store to choose an image to showcase.

I've done something a little different this time and taken my digital layering one stage further to produce a wholly digital card layout:

This can then be printed out, and affixed directly onto a card blank.

My recipe is as follows:

• Design Papers - Design Papers - are from a set by Summer at Summertime Designs called 'Year to Shine'. The base layer is called Modern Circles and the top layer is called Red Floral. Again, I've used my word processing programme to put a border around each layer, so it looks like they're all matted onto black card.
• Image - This gorgeous girl is from Sheet 389 and she is just one of the gorgeous digis drawn by Linne at Whoopsi Daisy. On the sheet there are just 2 different images, but both images come in a black & white format so you can take the time to colour them yourself, or if you need a quick card then the pre-coloured option (as used here) is perfect! I think these images would suit older girls/teens, and I love this girl's look with her ruffled skirt and bows on her wellies!
• Ribbon - also comes from the 'Year to Shine'  kit and is called Ribbon 5. I love the pulled edge look it has to it!
• Sequins - come from another of Summer's (Summertime Designs ) kits, called 'One Year Older'. 
• Sentiment - is by the lovely Annette at Netty's Cards, and she originally designed this sentiment for me, to bale me out of a huge hole! It is now available, together with some other great freebie sentiments on her blog - if you go over there, be sure to tell her that I sent you! I recoloured the sentiment in a red/burgundy colour so it ties in with the rest of my card, before digitally layering the sentiment over a white circle which had a black border - again giving the impression of there being a mat!

I will print the layout and affix it to a card blank, and add photos later so you can see what it looks like on a card. I'll also get a close up of this gorgeous image for you!

Do come over to Whoopsi Daisy Challenge and see the other gorgeous creations the Divas have made "Using a Sentiment". We also have a blog hop running simultaneously with this challenge and you have the opportunity to win the sheet of image featured on each stop of the "Hop"! Don't forget to come and show us your creations. You've got until Sunday 3rd March to link your creations up. Don't forget if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image, then you can make any style of card or project - you don't have to follow this week's theme!

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

• Challenge #4 - Mother's Day or Birthday at Inky Chicks
• Challenge #152 - Use a Digi at One Stitch at a Time
• Layer it Up at Joanna Sheen
• DSC #24 - Anything Goes at Digitally Sweet Challenges
• FYI40 - Photo Inspiration at For Your Inspiration I have been inspired by the colours of the photo, and also the idea of someone needing wellies to "scuff" through all those beautiful fallen leaves!

I'll be back later with my next post of the day. In the meantime, take care.

Hugs, Helen x

A Spoonful of Sugar ...

... makes life a lot sweeter, especially as this is the first "Bit of Sugar" I own!!!!! :o)


Hello my crafty friends and a warm welcome to Nikki, my Incy Wincy teamie and newest follower!

I hope you're sitting comfortably because, yes, this is a mid-week post from me. I made a few crafty New Year Resolutions to myself; one was to use up some of the stash I've got hoarded (mainly in digi form on my computer) and another was to make cards for fun and not just to meet my DT commitments. So here goes, my first "resolution" card of 2013!

Isn't she just divine? I've used the current sketch challenge over at The Sugar Bowl for this layout, and it's such a great sketch I'm saving the layout for those days when Mr Mojo refuses to come out from under the duvet!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - Black card from my stash (bought for the first card I ever made before I started blogging!), which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - are from several places, because I wanted to achieve a vintage look.



• Bottom layer - called My Garden Papers 4 by Paulette from Create with TLC, and I've these stashed since February last year when they were a freebie on Paulette's blog!
• Middle and Top layers - both by Debbie at Crafty Pad Designs; although the store is now closed, you can still get Debbie's gorgeous images and papers by going to Card Making Downloads and searching for The Crafty Pad Designs. The middle layer is Paper 5  from the Chocolate Chip & Cream Delight Papers  and the top layer is the Red Paper from the Vintage Grunge Baroque Collection.
• Mat Layer - Well I've kind of cheated a bit here, as I layered all my papers and image together digitally. Once I had decided on the size and shape for each section, I selected the option to format the shape, and then went to "Colour and Line". I chose quite a heavyweight line (6 points) and then a colour option that suited my image. This gives the effect of there being 8 layers on the card, when (as you can see) it is in fact flat ... apart from my sentiment and base card layer!
• Image -is of course by Sugar Nellie and she was the freebie that Karen very kindly gave away on the blog last week. She came ready coloured, so I didn't need to wield my colours! I have simply outlined her using my Spectrum Noir Pen in GG1 and then I put clouds around her using my Chalk in Light Blue. I tried to make it look like she is sitting on a dry stone wall but using my Chalk in Grey, but I don't think I managed this at all - back to the drawing board.
• Sentiment - is by the wonderful Annette at Netty's Cards.  Annette has some lovely freebie sentiments on her blog - if you go over there, be sure to tell her that I sent you! Annette is also currently running a Sentiment Candy competition, where she's asking her followers to come up with ideas for sentiments. When I was making this card last night, I could have done with one that said "Belated Birthday Wishes", so I left Annette a comment on her blog post. Guess what I found in my Inbox when I logged on this morning ... ? So, I replaced the sentiment on my card to this brand new one that Annette has created. I have edged the design with my Versamark Pen and Holographic Embossing Powder ... just to add some Birthday sparkle! Click on the photo to supersize it and see that sparkle! Thank you soooooooooo much Annette. Lots of hugs winging their way down to you ... Mwah ...

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

• Challenge 98 - Fiona's Sketch at The Sugar Bowl
• Day 3 - Layered Cards at 365 Cards (I'm hoping that digital layering will count)
• SNSDC 86 - Something New at Sweet 'n' Sassy Digi Challenge - my New things are the Digital Image and Sentiment
• Challenge #43 - Something New at Crafting for all Seasons my New things are the Digital Image and Sentiment 
• First Challenge - Anything Goes at Inky Chicks

Resolution kept for this week, it's now back to DT projects! Have a great day!

Hugs, Helen x

From Rupert, with Love ....

Hi,

This is my second week as a GDT at Incy Wincy Designs. Thanks for sharing all your Easter and Pastel Colours with us last week. This week the challenge is Cute Critters and we have been sponsored by Stamping Dragon Designs. A friend had already asked me to make a baby boy card for her son and daughter-in-law, and I knew that Rupert with Heart was just the thing! So here's the card I made:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - 300gsm Centura Pearl Card in Ivory - I love this card for its weight and sheen which just catches the light beautifully. (This is why I didn't use any papers on the front of the card!) The card was cut, scored and folded to make a 6 inch square Joy-fold card. 
• Design Papers - Both from the Paintbox Poppets CD Rom, by Crafter's Companion
• Sentiment - a freebie offered by the lovely (and former Incy Wincy DT member) Annette on her Blog. I recoloured it using my word processing package so that it toned with my card.
• This lovely little fella is called Rupert with Heart by Stamping Dragon Designs - you should visit the store as there are plenty of other dragons (as well as other goodies) there to tempt you! I brought Rupert to life in non-typical dragon colours using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following shades (old numbering system):
• Heart - 11
• Dragon - 171, 68, 65, 64
• Outline - WG0.5, WG1
• Insert - the coloured square is from the Paintbox Poppets CD Rom which I've then put through my printer again to include this perfect sentiment by Create with TLC

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

• Challenge #51 - Easter Creations / Animals at My Mum's Craft Shop
• Going Dotty at The Poodles Parlour
• Challenge #73 - Easter and/or Animals at Top Tip Tuesday
• Challenge #110 - Critters at Critter Challenge

Looking forward to seeing your Cute Critters over at Incy Wincy this week. Have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

A Baby Girl ...

Hi,

Another swift post from me this evening ... the lunchboxes are calling! :o) I've had this image for a couple of weeks now from the latest round of the Crafter's Digital Art Center Progressive Challenge. So here's the card I made, quite CAS, but I love it's simplicity!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - White embossed card 250gsm
• Design Paper - Paintbox Poppets CD Rom, also by Crafter's Companion
• Sentiment - a freebie offered by the lovely Annette on her Blog
• This really cute image is called Girl Bunny Stamp and she is by Stamping Dragon Designs and to bring her to life I used my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following shades (old numbering system):
• Fur - 169, 104, 100
• Hearts - 11
• Dress - 137, 8

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

• Progressive Challenge 14 - cdacpc14, sdd at Crafter's Digital Art Center

Hope you're having a great week, and enjoying the wonderful warm weather!

Hugs, Helen x

Flowers and Butterflies to say "Good Luck"

Hi,

I'm feeling quite excited as this card I'm showing you today is my first commission - whoo hoo! And I'm really pleased with it. It's also the first time I've made a Side Stepper card :o)!

A work colleague has asked me to make her 3 cards, and this is the first of them. It is for a lady who is moving to a new job, and the only requirement was for the card to be pink ... that box can be ticked!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - Centura Pearl 300gsm card in Fuchsia from the Crafter's Companion Brights pack
• Design Paper - Strawberry Kisses CD Rom, also by Crafter's Companion
• Sentiment - a freebie offered by the lovely Annette on her Blog
• Image is called Nanny Rose and she is, unfortunately, a now retired digi from Kelley Kids, who are no longer operating. She is such a darling and to bring her to life I used my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following shades:
• Hair - 104, 100
• Skin - 132, 133
• Dress & Bows - 147, 88, 86
• Shoes - 120
• Rose - 147, 88, 86, 48, 43
• Outline - CG1
• Butterflies - are one of the stamps in a  "cover freebie" stamp set from Cardmaking and Papercraft, stamped and coloured using my Spectrum Noirs in the same colours as Nanny Rose. I used a small piece of sticky pad to fix each of them to card, and then bent the wings upwards to give some definition.
• Flowers - are recycled from the swing tags from my daughter's pyjamas, also coloured using my Spectrum Noirs (Shades 147, 88, 35, 33) and cut out.

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

• Challenge #159 - Recycle It at The Crafty Pad
• Pink and Girly at Ladybug Crafts
• Challenge 46 - Throw us Some Shapes at My Mum's Craft Shop
• Challenge #27 - Shaped Cards at The Stamping Boutique
• Anything Goes at Simon Says

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Hugs, Helen x