Bathtime Bubbles

And ….. BOO!

Just in case there is anyone out there in Blogland who still follows my musings and wondered where I got to …..

It's the last day of January, and I can now reveal that I am rather hit and miss with my New Year Resolutions:

• Use up supplies in stash - check & ongoing!
• Blog cards on time - errrr 
• Make cards earlier than the day before they are needed - errrrrrrrrrr .....

OK, so there is room for improvement!

Here is a card I made for our office to give one of our colleagues for her upcoming birthday. As we gave it to her today, I am now safe to blog it!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - pre-made 15cm square in white card
• Design Papers and Flowers - are from a beautiful kit called Unwind by Melo Vrijhof at Pixel Scrapper. I have put the layout of papers and flower elements together digitally, following this
  
  week's sketch at Sketch Saturday. I used Leaf Paper in Tan, Solid Lime Paper, and cropped a section of the Flower Scatter 01 before copying and flipping it to make the arc of elements as suggested by the sketch. I ensured a drop shadow is under the green strip and the flowers to give some depth to them.
• Image - is the uber-cute Lazy Louise and Bathtime Bubble Friends by Lizzy Love at Oddball Art Co.. I have brought Louise to life with a alcohol markers in a mixture of Copics and Spectrum Noirs before finishing off the bubbles with a Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen in Clear. I die cut the image using a Die'sire Create-a-Card die called Emma, now sadly retired/
• Sentiment - is one of the freebies that came with Crafter's Inspiration Issue 18 Magazine and I have stamped it directly onto the green strip using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
• Gems - from my stash, completed this creation.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

• Week #548 with The Paper Shelter at Sketch Saturday
• January Oddball Challenge - Razzle my Dazzle at Oddball Art Stamps - I'm hoping that sparkly bubbly bath counts!
• Challenge #405 - Anything Goes at Die Cutting Divas
• Challenge #326 - Anything Goes at Addicted to Stamps and More
• Anything Goes at Crafty Sentiments Design

Hope you're having a crafty week!

Hugs, Helen x

Stars and Stripes

Good morning crafty friends and hope that this post finds you well.

It's 1st December which means Christmas is this month - yikes !!!!!!!! I'll be putting the decorations up in the office tomorrow as we've only got a couple of weeks left at school now and had also better get a wriggle on with our family preparations, although the majority of the present buying has been done - just need to wrap them now 😂 !

Being the 1st of the month, means it's also new challenge time at Feeling Sketchy and this time, Cathy has gone nice and simple for everyone - it's Keep Calm because Anything Goes! As usual we have a sponsor and prize pack for this challenge, so do come over and play along with us!

Now I had a, OK another "senior moment" when creating this card because I made it when we were still debating what we were doing for this challenge. So I have created using a past sketch for inspiration - I have gone back to Challenge #122 back in June 2015 here at Feeling Sketchy and used the following sketch:

And here is my card for you:

I needed a male birthday card for my B-i-L and this seems to have done the job perfectly 😉

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is Kraft card which I cut, scored and folded to make an A5 card with the fold at the top
• Papers - are part of the great Just For Men Signature Collection by Sara Davies at Crafter's Companion, however you can try out these papers and some of the elements for free by getting the Rock Star - June 2016 Download of the Month. I've used 3 of the 4 papers in the download (wide stripes, ledger paper and stars for one of my stars!)
  
• File Tab - comes from the Die'sire Essentials Just the Ticket die set and I have cut this out of Kraft card and then popped it under the ledger paper. Although it doesn't show very well, I used some foam pads under the tab to lift it off the card.
• Circles - were created using (and please don't spill your tea/coffee etc. here) an upturned glass tealight holder which was just the right size for my ledger paper 😂. I inked the rim with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and used it to stamp the 4 circles
• Sentiment - comes from a Sheena Douglass Perfect Partners Victorian Floral - Poppy stamp set which came with my Crafter's Inspiration Magazine Issue 7. I again used Memento Tuxedo Black Ink to ink up the sentiment, which fitted inside my circles perfectly!
• Stars - were created from Kraft card and the star paper from the Rock Star Download and my Die'sire Essentials Stars dies in several sizes before being attached to the card, both flat and raised up a bit.

I hope I've inspired you to come along and join in with our Keep Calm because Anything Goes! challenge at Feeling Sketchy, but if you're in need of further inspiration (both seasonal and general) then do head over to the challenge blog and check out the great creations by my wonderful team mates. Then come back and show us your creations. We'll be back with our final challenge of 2016 on 15th December.

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

• Challenge #148 - Something Beginning with T at Cardz4Guyz - My "T" is for tab

Whatever you're up to today, I hope you have fun!

Hugs, Helen x

The Aurora Watcher

Hello friends, and a particularly warm welcome to Carole who is my newest follower and also a fellow DT member over at All Dressed Up. I hope you enjoy my crafty ramblings Carole!

Today sees the start of our new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs and this time our challenge is All That Glitters. I love a bit of sparkle, don't you?:oD !!!!!!!

Our kind sponsor for this challenge is Mi Ran who is the artist behind ArtbyMiran, and she'll is offering the lucky winner of a prize pack.

Mi Ran was also kind enough to offer the DT a choice of digi to showcase for this challenge, so here's my card featuring one of her gorgeous images:

OK, so it's time for some "Ramblings" from Casa Mia. Earlier on this summer, the BBC screened a series by Prof. Brian Cox (yes, he who "messes with my head"!) called Forces of Nature. If you've seen the programme, I guess you'll be in step with me and know exactly how this card came to life. If not, read on .... In the very last episode of the series, Prof. Brian was explaining about the Aurora Borealis and there was a segment filmed with a British family who live in the Aurora oval in Norway. The segment showed Mum, Dad and 4 children all piling into their motor home and going Aurora chasing. When they were filmed with the Aurora Borealis light show overhead, the children's faces were just filled with absolute wonder. So, when this image popped up as one we could use for this challenge, I just had to try and create my own Aurora Borealis for you.  Oh, and if you want to know more about the family in Norway, you can follow their antics on their own blog Aurora Addicts.

My card recipe is as listed, following this Bendi Fold tutorial at SplitCoast Stampers to create the card:

• Card back - is a 5½ x 4¼ inch piece of Neenah Solar Crest Card which I have coloured in a representation of the Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights following a bonus Background Tutorial with the May Monthly Class by Alyce at Kit and Clowder. The Spectrum Noir Pens I used to create this background are CG4, CG3, LY3, PP2, BP3, PL3, PL4, TB7, TB9 together with a white gel pen for the stars.
• Snowy banks - are made from a 5½ x 2½ inch and a 5½ x 1¾ inch piece of white glitter card which I had in my stash. I cut a slanted top edge to each piece, embossed one of the wavy embossing lines on my Ultimate Pro and then cut this out to make the top edges of the snow banks.
• Snowflake - is the middle sized snowflake from the Festive Wonder Snowflake Trio die set, part of Sara Davies' Signature Collection and sadly no longer available. I cut this from the same white glitter card as the snowy banks and then adhered it to my Aurora background.
  
• Image - is the enchanted Girl wearing Hat and Scarf by Mi Ran at ArtbyMiran. I have brought this awestuck girl to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours, before fussy cutting her out and attaching her to a snowy bank.
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS4, TN4, FS8 (Blush)
• Hair - TN3, EB3, EB8
• Hat, Scarf & Mittens - LY3, CG3, CG4
• Top & Tights - IG1, IG2, IG3
• Skirt & Boots- TB1, TB4, TB8, TB9
• Sentiment - came from a stamp set which was a freebie with Crafter's Inspiration Magazine - Issue 8 and I've stamped this in Black Memento Ink directly onto my glitter card.

So, there you have it ... my glittery card. To check out more gorgeous glitteriness, please head over to Incy Wincy Designs and take a peek at the lovely creations by my teamies. Then come back and show us your creations that are All that Glitters. We'll be back with our next challenge on Monday 17th October 2016.

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

• Christmas with Crafter's Companion Products at I'm a Crafter's Companion Facebook Page
• Challenge #129 - Anything Goes with the Optional Twist of "Make your own Background" at Digistamps4Joy
• Challenge #68 - Anything Goes at ArtbyMiran Challenge
• All of a Sparkle at That's Crafty Challenge
• Challenge #31 - No Patterned Paper at Make My Monday Challenge - Second Entry
• Challenge #85 - Let it Shine! at Card Mania Challenge
• October Anything Goes Challenge at Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra
• Challenge #14 - Anything Goes at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge
• Challenge #07 at Classic Design Team Open Challenge

Hugs, Helen x

Frosty the Snowlady .....

Yup, I'm bursting into song again ... but I don't think my new title will beat the original! ;)

Good morning crafty friends and hope this post finds you fine and dandy. Well, the weather did it's usual thing for a Bank Holiday in the UK didn't it. On the plus side, Saturday and Sunday were fine and dry here so I got quite a bit of washing done and even managed to wash my car ... I won't be parking under a certain tree at the gym again! I'll leave that one to your imagination .... :oD !!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I'm a little late bringing you this post  as I got carried away over the weekend (apologies) as yesterday saw the start of our new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs and this one is right up my street as we're looking for your Clean and Simple creations.

This challenge is being kindly sponsored by Rick St Dennis who is offering a prize of 2 digital images to our lucky prize winner. Rick's Zibbet shop features his cute, fashion, whimsical and unusual images ... there's bound to be at least a couple of images there to suit everyone's tastes! 

Rick was kind enough to let each DT member choose an image to showcase for this challenge, so here's my card for you featuring one of Rick's images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a pre-made A6 card base in white card. I've embossed the card base and coloured it whilst embossing by applying my pearlescent blue Brilliance ink pad to the screen printed side of my (now retired) Sheena Festive Embossing Folder "Ornamental Snowflake" before running the card sandwich through my machine.
  
• Image - is Mrs Frosty Digi Stamp by Rick St Dennis which I've coloured using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours (the artist shaded areas make it really easy to colour!), before die cutting it with my largest Die'sire Essentials Rectangles die. A slick of Clear Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen gives a frosty feel to the scene.
• Snow - IG1, IG2, IG3
• Hat & Lacy Collar - IB1, IB2, IB3, BT9
• Rose - TN3, EB3, EB8, DG2, DG3
• Carrot - OR1, OR2
• "Arms" (Sticks) - TN3, EB3, EB8
• Sentiment - comes from a set which was included with the Winter 2014 edition of the Crafter's Inspiration Magazine which I stamped using the pearlescent blue Brilliance ink.

I hope that I have inspired you to keep it Clean and Simple and share your creations with us at Incy Wincy Designs this time. However, if you're in need of further inspiration, please head over to the blog and check out the other great projects by my teamies. We'll be back with our next challenge on Monday 16th May 2016.

Don't forget that we've still got a DT Call on - all the details are on this post. Ever wanted to join a Design Team but nervous of taking that first step? Don't worry, we are a very easy going but incredibly supportive team. Go on, drop us an email - YOU could be the very person we're looking for!

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

• I is for Ink at ABC Christmas Challenge
• Week #410 - Pick any Sketch (215-396) at Sketch Saturday - I've chosen Sketch #381 
• E is for Embossing at The Alphabet Challenge

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

• #302 - Bright Christmas at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges
• Challenge 105 - Snowmen at Chrimbo Crackers - hope that a Snowlady counts ;o)!
• Challenge 423 - No Patterned Papers at Cute Card Thursday
• Weather Related Challenge at StarStampz
• Challenge #83 - Stamp or Digi Only (Christmas Themed) at The Glory of Christmas
• CHNC Challenge 279 - Anything Goes as long as it's Christmas at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge

Whatever you're up to this week, I hope you manage to squeeze in some crafty time! Take care.

Hugs, Helen x

"Curiouser, and curiouser" said Alice

Good morning crafty friends!

Last week of term for us with it being Good Friday at the end of the week. Although it's been a rather short term, as usual it's been rather action packed!

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and our challenge for you this time is 3, 2, 1, GO FOR IT! OK, it's not a running race, it's a recipe challenge! We'd like you to use 3 papers, 2 buttons and 1 ribbon.

As ever, we've got 2 great sponsors lined up for this challenge.

Our first sponsor is the lovely Chrishanthi at PPinky Dolls and our second lovely sponsor are the team at Dr Digi, both of whom are offering our 2 randomly picked, lucky winners a prize package.









Before I show you my project, here are some ramblings from Casa Mia:

A brass on the wall in our parish Church
commemoratingAlice's brother Edward

Many of you will familiar with the stories of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and some of you will also know that the original story was invented by Lewis Carroll to entertain a young Alice Liddell and her siblings whilst they were on a boat trip in Oxford. Later, Lewis' story was committed to paper. Fast forward to 1888 and Alice's father (who was still the Dean of Christchurch, Oxford), together with the then Lord Bishop of Winchester, consecrated the church where we now worship - one of Alice's 9 siblings, Edward, was Churchwarden at the church at that time. The font in which both Bambinos were baptised was also donated by Edward! Alice spent the rest of her life in the New Forest, Hampshire and her remains are buried in the Churchyard in Lyndhurst where, coincidentally, the Bambinos and I have spent many happy weekends because there is a Girlguiding UK Activity Centre in the same village! Small world eh or, as Alice would say "Curiouser and curiouser"!

So I'm delighted to be featuring one of Chrishanthi's quirky images with which I have a rather tenuous connection!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - black card which I've cut, scored and folded to make a 14 x 11 cm card
• Design Papers - are by Summer at the now very sadly closed Summertime Designs and they come from a set called All is Calm. I have used the Dots Paper as my base layer and Red Damask Paper as the top layer. My third paper has been used to make the rosette - the paper is Branches and Berries Paper and the die is used is Medallions Strip Die by Sizzix.
  
• Image - is of course Alice who has been drawn by Chrishanthi at PPinky Dolls. I have brought Alice and the rabbit to life using my Spectrum Noir Pencils in the listed colours before die cutting it out using one of the ovals in my Die'sire Essentials Ovals Die. I should say that Chrishanthi has already added some shading to the image which has made it oh-so-easy to know where the light source is and where to use dark and light colours!
• Skin - 005, 004, 009, 047
• Hair - 084, 107, 087
• Dress - 065, 066, 068
• Rabbit - 024, 027
• Grass - 056, 058, 047
• Sentiment - is from the set that came with the Spring 2015 Crafter's Inspiration Magazine ... just perfect for this image I feel! The tag is from a Die'sire set called Tags One which I can't find for sale any longer. I have threaded some organdie ribbon from my stash through the holes in the side of the tag.
• 2 Buttons - from my stash finish off my design

I hope I've inspired you to play along with our 3, 2, 1, Go For It challenge however, if you need any further inspiration, please head over to Incy Wincy Designs where my fellow teamies have a variety of projects to inspire you! Then come back and show us your creations. We'll be back with our next challenge on Monday 4th April 2016.

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

• Challenge #304 - Always Anything Goes at Craft Your Passion
• Critters and Creatures Linky Party 2 at Ellibelles Creative Moments
• Something Fluffy at Make My Monday
• Layer It Up Challenge at Melonheadz Friends
• Challenge 49 - Hippity Hoppity at Dragonfly Journeys
• March Use Any Image With a Ribbon Challenge at The Ribbon Girl

If you're going away for the Easter holidays, I hope you have a great time. Take care!

Hugs, Helen x

And Pretty Flowers All In a Row!

Good morning friends and Happy St. David's Day to any of my friends who are Welsh! 

Wow! We're one sixth of the way through 2016 already - how's it been for you? 

It being the first of the month, it's new challenge time at Feeling Sketchy and I do hope you'll be able to find the time to join in the fun this fortnight as we've got a fab sketch and an even fabbier sponsor for you!

We're welcoming back everyone's favourite sponsor and that's Jodie and her team from Bugaboo Digital Stamps. Jodie is offering a prize to the lucky winner of this challenge :o)

Here's the sketch we'd like you to follow:

And here's my take on it:

I've gone for a one layer (yes, honestly!), clean and simple layout although you could "go to town" and really dress this sketch up!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is Neenah Solar White cardstock onto which I've directly printed my image layout across the width of the cardstock and have measured it carefully so that the card will fold to DL size once it has been coloured.
• Image - is 4 Square Floral by Jodie at Bugaboo Digital Stamps. This image comes in a 2 x 2 square layout, so I've done a bit of tweaking in my word processing programme to get the 3 flowers side by side in one row. There is also a sentiment square, but I've chosen not to use this on this card. To bring my Floral Squares to life, I have used my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours:

• Left Flower - CR2, CR5, CR6, GB8, GB10, EB8
• Middle Flower -
• Right Flower - HB1, HB2, HB3
• Leaves - DG1, DG2, DG3
• Sentiment - came with the Sentiment Stamp Set which was one of the freebies with Crafter's Inspiration Magazine Issue 6, sadly no longer available. I have stamped this directly onto my card base using Silver Versacolour Ink
• Ivy Detailing - is another magazine freebie, this time from Cardmaking and Papercraft. After I had masked all the blocks with a square of "post it" pad, I used this ivy stamp with Bundled Sage Distress Ink to resemble the design in the sketch.
• Dashed Border - is another stamp which has been stamped with Bundled Sage Distress Ink. Sorry, I can't tell you much about this set other than I bought it at Hobbycraft many years ago and it contains about 6 different border stamps in it!

I hope I've inspired you to have a go at this sketch, but if you're in need of any more inspiration why don't you head over to Feeling Sketchy and see the other wonderful projects using this sketch by my very talented teamies! Then come back and show us your take on our sketch. We'll be back with our new challenge on 15th March 2016.

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

• Challenge #26 - Floral at Crafty Friends Challenge
• Challenge #316 - One Layer Only at My Time to Craft Challenge
• Challenge #14 - N is for New Blooms/Spring Flowers at The Pencil Case
• Aloha Friday Challenge #66 - In the Garden at Kitty Bee Designs
• Challenge #121 - Glitter / Bling at Addicted to Stamps Challenge
• Challenge #77 - One Layer Wonder at CAS on Sunday
• Challenge #46 - Flower Power at Dragonfly Journeys
• Colouring Showcase Feb 28th - Flowers at Lacy Sunshine Colouring Without Boundaries Challenge

Have a great day - take care!

Hugs, Helen x

It's a Present Fairy!

Good afternoon friends and hope you are having a nice weekend!

I have been doing a bit of blog housekeeping and tidying up of photos on my camera, and realised that I made this card a couple of weeks ago for youngest Bambino to take with her to a Birthday sleepover (why are they called that when we know that the children get no sleep whatsoever? Perhaps they should be called No-Sleepovers! ;) !) so I thought it was high time that this gorgeous fairy got blogged.

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a pre-made 14.8cm square card in white
• Design Papers - come from a mini kit by Marisa Lerin at Pixel Scrapper Digital Scrapbooking called Sisters Always. I have used Notebook Paper 01 as the base layer and then Hearts 19 Paper - Sisters
  
• Image - is called Christmas Present and she is by Wendy at All Dressed Up Digital Stamps. Bambino and I thought that this fairy is so beautiful, it's shame that she should be relegated to Christmas so she's had an airing as a Birthday present fairy! I brought this image to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours, before die cutting her using one of my Die'sire Essentials Rectangles dies. 
• Skin - FS2, FS4, FS9, FS3, TN4, CR1
• Hair - TN2, EB2, EB6, Spectrum Noir Sparkle Clear Overlay
• Dress & Shoes - BP1, BP3, BP4, BP6
• Wings - BP1, BP2, Spectrum Noir Sparkle Clear Overlay
• Ribbons - CG1, CG2, CG3, OR1, OR2, OR3, IG2, IG4, IG7
• Boxes - IG1, IG2, Blender Pen
• Sentiment - is from a set included with Issue 6 of Crafter's Inspiration Magazine. I stamped this directed onto the tag from Marisa's Sisters Always kit before punching a hole in the tag and threading through some satin edged organdie ribbon from my stash.
• Bow - is tied from the same satin edged organdie ribbon using the bow maker on my Ultimate Pro

Rumour has it that all the girls at the sleepover were quite impressed by my talent and didn't realise that I made cards!

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

• Challenge 49 - Anything Goes with an ADU image at All Dressed Up Challenges
• February 2016 Challenge - Hearts at All Dressed Up Facebook Page

Hope you have a good start to the week, especially on the leap day tomorrow! Take care.

Hugs, Helen x

Love Cupcakes!

Hello friends and good evening!

I'm here with my inspiration post for the new challenge at Incy Wincy Designs and we're helping you to get ready in time for Valentine's Day, which is just around the corner!, as our theme this time is Love is in the Air.

We've got 2 amazing sponsors for you this time:

Firstly our very own Nikki from Limited Runs Digital Stamps, who is offering our first lucky prize winner 3 digital stamps, or 5 digis if you use a Limited Runs digi. 

This is a fun place to sit back and check out our huge selection of images . We have a little something for everyone from calorie free cupcakes and sweets to all your holiday needs, Love Halloween/Christmas we've got you covered . Limited Runs is great place for those on a budget too with 90% of all images $2 and under. You  can also find lots of hidden deals running through out the shop just check out the pull down menus to see them. Pop in Limited Runs and find out what's new, snag a freebie and enjoy a cuppa something while your browse .

Secondly, Nikky and the team from Polka Doodles are offering our second lucky winner a $15USD gift voucher.

I have used a fun image from Limited Runs Digital Stamps to create this card, and my Valentine's Day card for Papa Mia is sorted!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a pre-made 14.8cm square card in red
• Papers - comes from a sadly now retired collection from Bearly Mine Designs called "Mini Dots". I have matted and layered this onto black card, as well as using the black card for an additional layer across the middle of the card.
  
• Image - is called Love Heart Cupcake and it comes from the desk of Nikki at Limited Runs Digital Stamps. I have brought this tower of yummyness to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours, before die cutting it using my second largest Die'sire Essentials Squares die, and then matting and layering it onto a slightly larger square of black cardstock
• Hearts - CR8, CR11, DR5
• Buttercream - IG1, IG2, IG3, Blender Pen
• Wrapper - IG2, IG6, IG10, Paper Pieced using the Mini Dots paper
• Sentiment - comes from Crafter's Inspiration Magazine Issue 6 and I've stamped this directly onto the black card using Silver Versamark Ink.

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and see what my fellow DT have made for Love is in the Air - then come back and show us your creations. By the way, Nikki has very generously left a freebie for you on the challenge post ..... nudge, nudge, wink, wink!!!!!!!!! We'll be back with our new challenge on Monday 15th February 2016.

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

• Challenge #80 - Red at Addicted to CAS

Hope you have a great weekend!

Hugs, Helen x

Oh My!

Hello my crafty friends ... hope this post finds you all well.

This is another "for me"  project. Regular readers may recall that last week I 'fessed up and said that I've started on the Skin class at Kit and Clowder. Well, I've also joined their Facebook group too, and this image is one that Linda (a member of the group) commissioned from the artist Yampuff (who also does some of the class images) and then posted up on the group pages as a challenge for anyone who wishes to take part. Well you know me .... I'm usually up for a challenge!

This image is of Alyce Keegan (the founder and lovely leader of Kit and Clowder) and her persian cat Lila Bear, and here's the card that I created with the image:

I've kept this card really clean and simple and my card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is a piece of kraft cardstock which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 13.5 x 10.5cm card
• Image - is called Alyce and Lila Bear and it's available from the Kit and Clowder Facebook Group (for a limited time) or from Yampuff's site here. I have brought Alyce and her grumpy looking cat to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before tool distressing the edge of my white Neenah card:
  
• Skin - FS2, FS4, FS9, FS3, TN4, FS8, CR6 
• Hair - TN2, EB2, EB6
• Eyes - TB1, TB3, TB9
• Dress - CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, BP2, BP4, BP7, GB8, GB11, GB10
• Shoes - GB8, GB11, GB10
• Lila Bear - EB1, EB2, Blender
• Grounding - IG1, IG2, IG3
• Sentiment - is a freebie which came with Crafter's Inspiration Magazine Issue 7 and I have stamped this directly onto the Neenah card using  black Memento Ink

If you'd like to play along with this challenge you'll have to be quick as it closes at 2359hrs EST tonight, Monday 25th January. Head over to the Kit and Clowder Facebook Group for the full details!

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

• Alyce and Lila Challenge at Kit and Clowder Facebook Group
• Challenge #157 - Colours (Rose Red, Saffron, Soft Suede) at CAS Colours and Sketches
• Challenge #232 - Rough It Up at The Paper Shelter

That's it from me for this evening - I hear the washing up and lunch boxes a-calling! Whatever you're doing this evening, I hope you have fun! Take care!

Hugs, Helen

In the garden

Hello all! Hope this post finds everyone well, and gentle hugs winging their way round for anyone who's in need. 

How did everyone fare with the weather over this weekend? We were on the very bottom edge of a forecast snow belt which was drifting through overnight on Saturday but, by the time we got up on Sunday it was a cold, miserable and grey day :o(

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs (don't forget we're now bringing you challenges on the first and third Mondays of each month) but before I get to our new challenge, we've got another new DT member to welcome. So, join in with a big hello to Catherine  .... (waves wildly!!!!!!). Our challenge this time is Tic Tac Toe (or Bingo).

I think our excellent team leader Chris has out-done herself this week with our sponsors ... we're bringing you not one, not two but three fabby companies, which means 3 chances to win!!!!!!!!!

Our first sponsor is Craft Classes Online  who are offering a prize of 1 Virtual Seat in a Class. 

Our second sponsor is Di from Di's Digis who is offering a $12 voucher to Di's DigiStamps. 

And our third sponsor is Jodie from Bugaboo Digi Stamps who is offering our lucky winner 7 free digis.

To read more about our wonderful sponsors, please head over to Incy Wincy Designs.

Now, here's your Tic Tac Toe board, and to play along you need to have any row, column or diagonal - don't forget to tell us in your post which line and 3 items you're claiming!

And here's my inspiration for you using an image from Bugaboo Digi Stamps. I'm claiming the diagonal line from the bottom left hand corner up to the top right hand corner of Flower, Red, Rhinestone:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - is Kraft Card which I've cut, scored and folded to make a 9cm x 11cm card with the fold at the top. I've used a sample sized Textures Woodgrain embossing folder (similar to this one) which came as a freebie with Crafter's Inspiration Magazine Issue 7 to give some detail to the card base, and then distressed this using Walnut Stain Distress Ink.
  
• Image - is called Make it Snappy - Thanks a Bunch by Jodie at Bugaboo Digi Stamps. This image is very versatile as it comes with the sentiment Thanks a bunch and without as I'm showcasing here. To bring this bunch of flowers to life, I've used my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before fussy cutting around the frame and foliage, and then mounting it on my card base.
• Petals - CR11, DR1, DR3, DR5
• Centres - EB1, EB3, EB5, True Black
• Foliage - DG2, DG3, DG4
• Outline - IB1
• Clouds - Light Blue Craf-T Chalk following this tutorial by my blogging bluddy Annette
• Frame - Clear Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen
• Sentiment - is from a set which came as a freebie with Crafter's Inspiration Magazine Issue 7 and I have inked this with Walnut Stain Distress Ink
• Gems - are from my stash

I hope you'll come over and play Tic Tac Toe with us at Incy Wincy Designs and whilst you're there please stop by to welcome our new teamies this year Greg and Catherine. Also, don't forget to check out the other fantastic creations by my teamies. We'll be back on Monday 1st February with our next challenge. 

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

• January Challenge - Anything Goes at Spectrum Noir Facebook Page

That's it from me for the moment - take care everyone!

Hugs, Helen x

Winter Wonderland

Good evening my crafty friends - hope you are all well!

Well it's the weekend, and I am running rather late with this card, which is my DT inspiration for the current challenge at Incy Wincy Designs which is Winter Wonderland.

We've been sponsored by the lovely team at Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet who have kindly let us have some images to showcase and our lucky prize winner this week will also get some Stitchy Bear goodies!!!!!!!

Here is my card featuring a gorgeous image by Stitchy Bear Stamps:

I don't think I've ever done a white/silver monochrome card before (not sure I can truly call it "white on white"!) but I'm really pleased with the result, and the image made that so easy to do!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a pre-made A5 card blank in white which I've embossed using a Sheena Douglass Embossing Folder called Ornamental Snowflake - unfortunately this doesn't appear to be on sale any more which is a shame is the snowflakes are simply beautiful! I've "swiped" my Silver Versa Color Ink Pad over the embossed part of the snowflakes, just to give them a bit of sheen and definition.
• Frame - is the largest Die'sire Decorative Noveau Stamping Frame die which I've cut from Snow White Silver Centura Pearl card, and then run back through my Big Shot using the embossing mat to highlight parts of the die.
  
• Image - is by Stitchy Bear Stamps at Stitchy Bear's Digi Outlet and it's called Sunday School. I've simply printed this onto Neenah Crest Solar White card, die cut it using the internal part of the Die'sire Decorative Noveau Stamping Frame die, and then I highlighted all the snowy areas of the image using my Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear Overlay pen. Click on the image to enlarge it and check out that super sparkle!
• Sentiment - is from the set which came with Crafter's Inspiration Magazine - Issue 8, and I've stamped this directly onto the card using Silver Versa Color Ink Pad.

I'm really quite pleased with this card, and I think it'll be perfect for my Mother-in-Law! Apologies for the not very white photos ... penalty of trying to get photos under electric lights! Might try again in the daylight tomorrow :o/ !

I hope I've inspired you to have a go with this challenge but if not, head over to Incy Wincy Designs and have a look at the other Winter Wonderland projects created by my very talented teamies. There's still plenty of time to join in with this challenge as it ends on Sunday 6th December 2015.

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

• Monthly Stamp Challenge #63 - Christmas in White at Little Claires
• Challenge #73 - Outdoor Scene at The Glory of Christmas Challenge
• Challenge 115 - Brrr It's Cold Outside at Crafting for all Seasons
• Challenge 11 - Winter/Christmas Themed at A Snowflake's Promise

Hope you have a lovely weekend - I'm off to colour next week's DT piece in the hope that I won't be late :o)

Hugs,

Helen x