Way down deep in the middle of the Jungle ...

... I discovered some these friends having great fun!

Good evening crafty friends and it's All Dressed Up New Release Inspiration day! Wendy has again produced 4 stunning images, and us Dressy Girls have been falling over each other to use them!

I'm delighted to share with you Bon Voyage (top left), Jungle Friends (top right), Sea View (bottom left) and Strawberry Patch (bottom right) all available in the All Dressed Store now!

I have been playing with Jungle Friends and here's my project for you, a fun new baby card:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base -  is Centura Pearl Ivory made into a "wonky circle rocker" card using the largest rosette from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats which I used as a die, embossing, cutting, scoring, and folding the rosette.
  
• Image - is Jungle Friends by Wendy at All Dressed Up Digital Stamps. I have coloured these cuties using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours, before die cutting them using an "out of the box" techniques using my largest Die'sire Essentials Circles die.
• Tree and Leaves -CG4, LG5, CG3, TN3, TN7
• Elephant - HB2, HB2, HB3, IB2
• Birds - IB1, IB2, PP6
• Giraffe - CT1, CT3, OR1
• Flowers - PP4, PP6
• Sentiment - is by Debbie at The Crafty Pad (available at Card Making Downloads) and is called Handle with Care which I've cut out and added to the back step of the card.

Do head over to the All Dressed Up Store and treat yourself to one of these beautiful new images and don't forget to check in on the Blog and Facebook Page for more inspiration from the Dressy Girls using these fab images. Our challenges are still running too: on the All Dressed Up Blog we've got our Anything Goes with an All Dressed Up Image challenge and our teamies on the Facebook Page have got their own challenge running until the end of the month and their theme is A World in Bloom. Hope you'll be able to join us!

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

• Challenge #2 - Anything Goes at Crafty Animals
• Tic-Tac-Toe at Whoopsi Daisy - I'm claiming the top row of Digi, Sentiment, Embossing
• Challenge #2 - Anything Goes with a Critter at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies
• Challenge #88 - Include an Animal at Creative Craft Cottage
• Challenge #73 - Shaped Cards/Projects at Dies R Us Challenge
• Challenge #92 - Four or More Legs at Sparkles Monthly Challenge
• Challenge #81 - Animals at Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge
• Challenge #122 - Fun Folds at Cut It Up! Challenge
• Challenge #95 - Animals at Aloha Friday Challenge - Kitty Bee Designs

Have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

Kool Kidz

Hi folks! Hope this post finds you well!

We're nearly at the end of half term here at Casa Mia and the whole week has virtually been spent with hot lemon and honey drinks (yuck, I hate honey!) and a box of tissues in tow ... yup, I succumbed to the dreaded "the-holidays-are-here-so-let's-jump-the-school-staff" bug!!!!!!! ;o) At least yesterday evening found me well enough to accompany Mother in Law and PapaMia to an Aled Jones concert (yes he of Walking in the Air fame, and he can still manage the first few lines of the song some 30 years later!) at Portsmouth Guildhall. We were treated to a very entertaining evening of wonderful music (a mix of choral, musicals and pop) and Aled was a very engaging and amusing speaker between the numbers! At least nobody told me to "Shushhhhhhh" so I can't have been coughing too loudly :oD

And now I feel much, much better today, so I'm able to bring you my card for the current challenge at Feeling Sketchy. Our sponsor this time is the lovely Heather Valentin from Lacy Sunshine Stamps who is offering a prize pack to the lucky winner of this challenge.

Here's the sketch we'd like you to use as your inspiration this time:

and here is my take on it using a sponsor image:

Now I have to confess to having had rather a "senior" moment with this project. I chose this image as I thought it would be perfect for our nephew who will be 12 later this summer - a basketball dude with a graffiti wall behind? Perfect! Only when my image arrived did I look more closely at it and see that on his t-shirt is a "No Bullying" slogan. Don't get me wrong ... I most definitely don't have a problem with that (heaven knows I've had to pick up the pieces at the end of a school day for many, many, many years so I know how devastating it can be not only to the victim, but to their families too) but I wasn't sure how right this was going to be for my nephew! Oooooops!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a wonky rocker card cut out of black cardstock using my Ultimate Pro together with the largest wonky "circle" from the nest on my Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats Embossing Board which I then handcut, carefully! Once cut, I scored and folded the "circle" so that it had 2 scallops on the bottom as "feet" to make my rocker base.
• Image - is the very cool Kyle - Kidz Street as drawn by Heather at Lacy Sunshine Stamps.
  
  Once I'd realised that the whole image on this card base size was going to be far too small for me to colour, I decided to do a close up which I then debossed using the circle which fits inside the wonky "circle" from the nest on my Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats Embossing Board and then cut it out by hand. I coloured the image using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS4, FS3, FS9, TN4, FS8
• Hair - TN3, EB3, EB8
• Basketball - OR2, TN6, TN4, TN8
• T-Shirt - EB1, EB2, EB6, EB8
• Trousers - BT3, BT4, BT6, BT7, BT0
• Baseball Cap - OR2, TN6, TN4, TN8, True Black
• Sentiment - is one of the Graffiti Words from the image which I imported into my word processing package and then cropped in tightly to the word. I coloured the image using my Spectrum Noir Pens in OR2, TN6, TN4, TN8 (to match the basketball). I love the ombre effect these colours give, don't you?

I hope you'll come over to the Feeling Sketchy blog and check out the other fabulous creations by my talented teamies, and then don't forget to come back and show us your take on our sketch. We'll be back with our next challenge on 15th June 2016.


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

• June Challenge - One for the Guys at Dragon's Lair Designs Challenges
• Aloha Friday Challenge #73 - Masculine Cards/For Dad at Kitty Bee Designs - This card is for my teenage nephew when he celebrates his birthday next month
• Challenge #11 - Shaped Card at Morgan's Artworld
• Week 22 - One for the Boys at Polkadoodles Crafting Challenge

In the meantime, hope you have a great weekend and take care!

Hugs, Helen x

Here we go a-carolling!

Hello my crafty friends and apologies for being slightly on the tardy side with this post.

The weekend was filled with horrendously boring stuff (paperwork mainly - yuk!) and I found no time to craft this little gem. Then it was work Monday - I'm on a course away from the office on Thursday and Friday, so it's the only day I'm in this week and there was bucket-loads to do therefore I didn't get home until late! Although I crafted this little cutie yesterday, I lost the light to photograph it - hurumphhhhhh! Anyway I'm here now!

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this week's challenge should really get you into the festive mood as we're looking for projects that feature Winter Activities.

We're being sponsored by the lovely Jodie and team from Bugaboo Stamps and Jodie is offering this week's lucky winner a prize pack! She also kindly offered each member of the DT their choice of digi to showcase for this challenge - without further ado, here is my card featuring one of Jodie's images from the A Kid's View range:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is Centura Pearl Snow White Silver onto which I've embossed the largest wonky circle from the nest on my Ultimate Pro Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats. I then carefully cut this out and ran it through my Big Shot using the Sheena Douglass Christmas Greetings embossing folder. I then used my Ultimate Pro to fold the "circle" in half to make a Rocker Card.
  
• Image - is by Jodie at Bugaboo Stamps and it's called AKV Christmas - Caroling. I've brought this digi to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before die cutting this happy trio using my largest Die'sire Essentials Circles die, giving the edge a touch of Festive Berries Distress Ink and then fixed the panel to my card.
• Skin - FS2, FS3, BG6, DR5
• Books - EB1, EB2, GB8, GB9, GB10
• Hats - DR1, DR2, DR3, JG1, JG2, JG4, IG1, IG2, Silver Gel Pen, Spectrum Noir Sparkle - Clear Overlay ... my first time playing with this pen, and I think I got a little bit messy!!!!! ;o)

I hope I've inspired you to come over to Incy Wincy Designs and play along with this challenge. However, if you're in need of more inspiration just head over to the challenge and check out the fabby cards by my teamies. Then come back and show us your creations featuring Winter Activities! This challenge ends on Sunday 15th November 2015.

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

• Challenge #281 - Clean & Simple at Fab 'n' Funky Challenges
• Challenge #31 - Anything but Square at Crafting Musketeers
• Challenge #34 - Fancy Folds or Shaped Cards at Scribbles Design Challenge
• Challenge #9 - Anything Goes with a Christmas/Winter Theme at A Snowflakes Promise
• Challenge #45 - Christmas Sparkles at Digi Choosday Challenge
• Challenge #59 - Silent Night (Christmas Theme) at Inky Chicks - although this little group looks like they're anything but silent!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time,

Hugs, Helen x

Christmas Stockings

Morning all!

Hope you're well and had a great weekend. I'm sorry, I'm a day and a few hours late with this post ... my crafty days last week got blasted into oblivion by Christmas shopping with "himself" on Tuesday (can't craft with him around ... although he did inadvertently discover one of my crafty hidey-holes whilst trying to hide Christmas presents! Oooooops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and then on Wednesday I got a call from the estate agents to say that the sale of my late Mum's house, which wasn't going to be completed last week meaning I could clear up there over the weekend, was going through for Friday - had to drop everything and shoot over there. I must say I got rather itchy fingers not being able to craft.

Anyway, with apologies to the team, it's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this week we want to see your Christmas Stockings!

We've got 2 wonderful sponsors lined up for you again this week! 

Firstly, Care2Stamp are offering one lucky prize winner a $15 Gift Certificate. 

Our second sponsor is Tamara and her team at The Stamping Chef who is offering our second lucky prize winner a $10 Gift Certificate. 

Thanks to both of them for sponsoring us this week!

Tamara and her team have also been kind enough to give the DT some of Tamara's images to use - here is my card featuring one of Teri's "Smexy Chicks":

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Ivory, which I die-cut (using the largest oval in my Framelits Oval Set, and then scored and folded it to make a rocker card
• Design Paper - is by  Paulette at Create with TLC and was, I think, a blog freebie in December 2012.
  
  It's called Stockings were Hung Papers 5 and I die-cut this using the second largest Framelits Oval Die
• Image - this "Smexy Chick" is called Don't Pout, Just Kiss! and she has been designed by Tamara at The Stamping Chef. I die-cut this expectant one using a smaller Framelits Oval Die (although I'm not quite sure I've got the balance in sizes quite right) before bringing her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Skin - FS2, FS3, CR4
• Jumper and Leg Warmers - LV2, LV3, CG4, gold Gel Pen
• Mistletoe - EB1, CG4, Gold Gel Pen
• Sentiment -  comes from Paulette at Create with TLC (who else manages such witty sentiments?) and this was part of the 2012 Christmas Club.

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and see the wonderfully stocking-ed creations by my teamies and our December Guest Designer Sue.  Don't forget to come back and share your Christmas Stockings with us - this challenge ends on Sunday 8/12/2013.

If you like the sound of sharing fun with us, we've got a DT Call going on right now!!!!!! We're looking for 4 or 5 crafty ladies or gents who enjoy creating with Sponsor Images to join our fun filled team .... and we do have fun, and we do laugh .... alot!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o) All the details are on this post so do check it out and send us an e-mail. We'd love for you to join us.

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

• Challenge #115 - Christmas Sentiment at Bearly Mine Challenge

That's it from me for today - I'm off to town to do battle with the other Christmas shoppers!

Have a good day.
Hugs, Helen x

Oh What a Pickle!

I apologise for the brevity of this post if you get to it quickly - I will be back later with a full write up, but there are a couple of challenges which are finishing soon that I would like to catch, and I need to collect my car from the garage following it's successful MOT!

This card is my DT card for Incy Wincy Designs where our challenge this week is Animal Antics.

We are being sponsored this week by Kim at Care2Stamp who is offering this week's lucky winner a $15 Gift Certificate to the store. Thanks Kim!

Kim also very kindly supplied the DT with some stamps to use for this challenge, and here is my card featuring one of the Whimsy stamps:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card Base - "Wonky" side-step Rocker Card (made from Centura Pearl in Ivory) using the largest rosette from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats as a die (I don't have a die-cutting machine!). I embossed the shape, cut it out and used it as my card base.
• Image - this squirrel in a spot of bother is Fluffy on Lily by Wee Stamps ... I'm guessing that the flowers are Lily of the Valley although I've coloured them as Bluebells. Ooops!!!! It looks as though fluffy has climbed up the flower stem only to find he's too heavy to perch on it and he's in danger of slipping off!  I used one of the circles from the "nest" on my Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats to frame this image, before bringing the scene to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Squirrel - TN5, TN7, TN8, PP1
• Bluebells - IB1, IB2, IB3, LG3, LG4
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is by Debbie at The Crafty Pad Designs (available at Card Making Downloads) and this one is Fabulous Friend Sentiment Ticket.

I do hope you'll head over to Incy Wincy Designs this week and see the other wonderful layouts from my very talented team-mates and Winnie, our Guest Designer. Don't forget to come back and show us your projects featuring Animal Antics. This challenge closes on Sunday 19th May.

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

• PTT120 - Shaped Cards at Party Time Tuesdays
• Challenge #1 - Favourite Dies or Punches and DT call at As You Like It What makes this card my own? Not fussy and fancy! Just clean, simple lines showcasing a gorgeous image!
• Challenge #8 - Anything But a Square at Lacy Sunshine Challenge
• Challenge #19 - Create a Shaped Card at 613 Avenue Create
• Colour Challenge - Brown, Blue and Cream at Come and Get It Challenge
• Challenge #6 - More than One Fold at Hobby Cutz Challenge

Hugs, Helen x

Snowflake Painter

Hello friends,

Hope you are all well and enjoying your Easter weekend. Here's another non-DT card from me; I decided as the weather in the UK has been soooo unseasonal in the last couple of weeks, that I would make a snowy card.

I've had this image for a while and when I saw yet another snow flurry hurtle past the window last weekend, I knew what to make!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from a pre-made A6 card in Kraft onto which I've embossed the largest rosette shape from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats. Having cut this shape out, I then scored and folded the card to make a Rocker Card.
• Design Paper - is from The Snowman Papercrafting Collection CD-rom. I used the largest circle from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats, which I then cut out and folded in half to get a semi circle of paper.
• Images - I've used two images on this card, which I've digitally 'engineered' to put together.  The scroll and snowflakes are called "And the Snowflakes were hung" and this was one of the goodies in the 2012 Winter Club by Paulette at Create with TLC. The cute child in the seasonal costume is called "Reindeer Kid" and he comes in the Christmas Kids set at Digital Delights. Before I debossed a slightly smaller circle from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats (I wanted to ensure I didn't wreck the scroll!), I brought this scene to life courtesy of my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
  

  
• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Hair - GB4
• Reindeer Suit - GB8, GB10, EB2, EB5, CR11, DG3, JG6
• Scroll - TB1, BT9
• Snowflakes - Embossed using Silver Embossing Powder and Versamark Pen. Unfortunately they have turned out rather blotchy ... maybe I need a less heavy hand with the pen!
• Outline - IG1
• Clouds - Chalk in Light Blue and Grey
• Sentiment - is by Debbie at The Crafty Pad Designs and it comes in the set of Christmas Sentiment Tickets.

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

• Seasonal Fun Challenge at Crafter's Digital Art Center

I'm hoping to get another post done this weekend, as the end of March is the deadline for the current Progressive Challenges over at Crafter's Digital Art Center. If you get a spare hour or so to yourself to make a card or two, why not come over and join in the fun?


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

Snow is falling, all around ..... !

Good Morning my crafty friends and welcome to a new challenge at Lexi's Creations. This fortnight our challenge is Christmas In July. Now I don't know about you but last year saw me making cards for my nearest and dearest at about 8pm on Christmas Eve (!!!!!!!!!!!) and this year I'm trying to be slightly more organised :o). So, I was really pleased when I saw this challenge title as it's forced me to have something done several months ahead of time!

Susan has lined up a new sponsor for this challenge and for this challenge we're welcoming Priyanka from My Heart Pieces. Here is a little bit about her:

Hi I am Priyanka from India, I am a student here.I want to welcome you in my wonder land My Heart Pieces. This art world is for me a wonder land, because what I can imagine I can give shape only here. Like fairy, vampire is not happen in real life. I greatly appreciate it that you give your valuable time to see my digis. I always try to keep an extra touch on my every images so they can make a place in your heart and can directly touch their heart who receive your hand made gifts. So come and enjoy. My store have an Challenge Blog and freebies every Monday.


Head over to Priyanka's blog to see her gorgeous line drawings.

The lovely Lexi has let the DT loose in her  on-line store again (thanks Lexi!) and this is the card I have made to show to you today:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White onto which I embossed the largest rosette shape from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats. Having cut this shape out, I then folded the card in half to make a wavy edged Rocker Card.
• Design Paper - is called Snowflakes, and is part of a kit called "Winter Gifts" by Summer at Summertime Designs. I embossed the largest circle from the nest on my Ultimate Pro Board, cut this out and then fixed it to my base card.
• Image - This gorgeous scene is called  "Merry Christmas" Santa Snowglobe and it is one of the talented Lexi's (Fairy Dust Crafts) creations - click the link to head over to Lexi's store and have a look at the lovely digi images she has there! To bring this enchanting image to life, I used my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Tree - CG1, CG2, CG4, TN7, TN8
• Snow - EB1
• Garlands - BP1, BP2
• Bauble - BP6
• Hat & Suit - BT1, BT2, BT4
• Boots - True Black
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Stand - GB8, BGR1, Colourless Blender
• Sky - Chalks in Light Blue, Turquoise and Royal Blue which I've blended to try and get the effect of the sky just after dusk.
• Iridescent Embossing Powder - on the little stars in the sky and the big one on the tree. If you click on the photos to 'super-size' them you can just make out the embossing!
• Charm - came in a package I won at the 2011 Holiday Open House at The Crafter's Cafe. It came with a loop of silver thread which I've just tied in a bow 

Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see what Christmas creations my creative team-mates have made, and then come back and share your creation with us! You've got until Saturday 4th August 2012 to link your cards up.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges, with a little bit of help from the girls at Feline Playful

• Christmas in July at Going Grey with Scrap Creations
• Christmas in July at Ladybug Crafts Ink
• Challenge 26 - Ho Ho Ho Christmas at Crafter's Companion
• Challenge 38 - Christmas in July at Cardmadfairy's Digi Days
• Say It With ... Christmas at AnnaBelle
• Christmas in July at Jellypark Challenges
• Pink and/or Purple AND Aqua and/or Green at Winter Wonderland
• SNSDC63 Christmas in July at Sweet 'n' Sassy Digis
• Christmas in July at Stamping Dragon Designs
• Challenge #39 - Circles at Little Miss Muffet (Hoping that a card that started life as a wonky circle before being folded in half to create a Rocker Card counts!)

Whatever you're doing this week, have fun!

Hugs, Helen x

"B" is for Birthday, Bling and a Bow!

Hi,

I've made another birthday card, this time for a friend's daughter who will be celebrating her 10th Birthday next week. I decided to have a go at making a Rocker Card, as I have only made one before ... and that was from a kit! Here is the result:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - Centura Pearl 300gsm card in Snow White which I embossed using the largest scalloped circle on the Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats embossing board, cut and then scored and folded (using my Boxer Board) to a make a rocker card. These boards go with the Ultimate Pro by Crafter's Companion.
• Image is the middle sized cupcake from the Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats embossing board, which I then coloured using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Case - 178, 171, 68
• Icing - 137, 8, 15
• Cherry - 11, 45
• Design finished with a "Happy Birthday" Ticket (downloaded from Stamp Fairy) to which I added 3 small pieces of Bling from my crafty stash. I also added a pink bow using ribbon that I won in The Crafter's Cafe Holiday Open House over Christmas and New Year.

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

• Challenge #157 - The Letter B at The Crafty Pad
• Challenge #89 - Shaped Cards at Sentimental Sundays
• "Happy" Challenge at Aud Sentiments
• Challenge #39 - Happy Birthday at Card Makin' Mamas

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Hugs, Helen x