Thrifty crafting?

Good morning crafty friends and hope you are all well today. Well it's the end of the Easter holidays for us, so it's back to school all round at Casa Mia!

It's new challenge time at Incy Wincy Designs and this time we're on a mission. We all know that feeling as crafters that we want our projects to look like a million dollars but we only want to spend pennies creating them? Well this week, we're hoping to pool our crafting knowledge with yours and find those fancy and frugal tips as our challenge for you this week is Faux Techniques! Now if you (like some of the IWDT who shall remain nameless!) are thinking "WHAT!!!!!!!", why don't you head over to SplitCoast Stampers and have a look at some of the amazing tutorials their designers have come up with?

Obviously, this effort deserves some reward doesn't it, and this week we've got 2 kind sponsors. The first is Emma Canning of  Flat Friends Boutique and I'll be showcasing an image by Megan of Dilly Beans tomorrow.

Emma has also given the us a selection of images to showcase, so here is my project for you featuring one of Emma's delightful images, and a Faux Button:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card base - is a premade 14.8 cm square card base which I have cut, scored and folded to make a centre stepper card
• Papers - the "Gorgeous" paper and the multi-hearts papers both come from the, sadly now retired, Strawberry Kisses CD-Rom which was produced by Crafter's Companion. I have also used a co-ordinating paper from the Vintage Floral CD-Rom, which I printed onto the reverse of the multi-hearts paper, just to add interest with a corner folded over.
  
• Image - is Love is in the Air by Emma at Flat Friends Boutique. Emma has got some really gorgeous images in her store, so please pop over and have a look and treat yourself to one or two! I've brought this sweetheart and her balloon to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the listed colours before die cutting using the largest die in my Die'sire Essentials Rectangles set:
• Skin - FS2, FS3, TN2
• Hair - GB8, GB9, GB10, EB8
• Dress - BT5, BT6, BT7, Blender Pen
• Jacket - CR4, CR6, CR7
• Boots - TN7, TN8, TN9
• Balloon - CR8, CR10, CR11
• Outline - BT1
• Clouds - Craf-T chalk in Light Blue
• Sentiment - comes from a set called The Wild Ones Birthday Collection which was a cover freebie from Quick Cards Made Easy magazine. This was stamped using Memento ink in black, onto a tab shaped die from the Die'sire Just The Ticket die set before it was adhered to the back of the centre step.
• Faux Button - which I made, more-or-less!, following this tutorial by Leesa, a former teamie at The Crafty Pad. The only differences between mine and Leesa's "buttons" are that I cut mine with my smallest Die'sire Essential Hearts die, I edged with Spectrum Noir Pen EB7 and I slicked a layer of Glossy Accents over my "button" to give it some shine! I love this technique as it means I can make a button to any shape (within reason!) using the papers I've used on my project if I want, I can choose which bit of the papers I want to see as the top of my button. and I can choose how many button holes to have and where they go! Here, I was able to to centre the word "gorgeous" in my button before using my punching tool:

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and check out the wonderful creations by my very talented team-mates. Don't forget to come back and share your favourite Faux Techniques with us - this challenge will end on Sunday 26th April 2015.

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

• 3 of Something at Top Tip Tuesday - I'm using 3 different papers and 3 different shaped die cuts. My TOP TIP for you this time is to use your smaller dies and punches to make faux buttons so that your buttons effortlessly co-ordinate with your project!
• Favourite Alcohol Markers or Distress Inks (and why) at As You Like It Challenge - It's Spectrum Noir (Alcohol) pens all the way for me. Why? I fell in love with the Crafter's Companion brand 4 years ago when I bought my Ultimate Pro and started out making cards. These pens came out a few months later and I bought the base sets (which I've gradually added to), PLUS I don't actually own any Distress Inks .....  !!!!!!!!!!!!! That's pretty conclusive then! ;o)
• Challenge 76 - Anything Goes with a Twist ... Use a Die or Punch at Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge
• Challenge #89 - Use a Die Cut at Chocolate, Coffee & Cards
• Layer it Up with Christine at CD Sunday Challenge

I'll be back tomorrow to share my card using a Dilly Beans image. Until then, have a good day!

Hugs, Helen x

... these are a few of my favourite things!

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

Happy New Year to you all! Did you have a great Christmas and New Year holiday? Of course, I ate and (probably!) drank too much ... and didn't craft anywhere near enough to satisfy me over the break! So it's good to be back :o)

After our fortnight long break, it's time for the first challenge of 2014 at Incy Wincy Designs - we've said farewell to Nikki F, Samatha and Sheryl (Bye girls!) and we're welcoming 4 new girls to the DT; Larissa, Lynne, Michelle and Sarah. Welcome girls! (Please go and leave them some blog love.) We're also be welcoming some new sponsors along the way as well as some favourites!!! So let's kick off with the details of this week's challenge. We're easing you back into things gently, as we'd like to see projects featuring Three of your Favourite Embellishments.



We've got 2 sponsors lined up this week, which means two lucky crafters will receive prizes! Our first sponsor is Ken and his team from QKR Stampede who are offering our first lucky prize winner 5 Digital Images from their store. Their website says: "Ken has a unique, somewhat quirky, style with lots of humor and character" so you're bound to find the right image for your needs here.




Our second sponsor is Wendy and her team from Digital Delights, and they are offering our second lucky prize winner a $5 Gift Certificate to their on-line Store. Here's a little about them: "Welcome to your one stop shop for all your digital stamps, paper piecing and digital products which are instantly downloadable. We also have a wide range of digital papers and cut files for all your crafting projects. Our low prices reflect our belief that crafting should not only be fun but affordable too!!"



Both Sponsors have very kindly given the DT some images to showcase, and here is my card featuring a delightful image from QKR Stampede and using three of my favourite embellishments which are Heat Embossing, Twine and Faux Buttons:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is some black card I had in my stash which I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Background - is stamped using the Starburst Border from this A6 Basic Borders Stamp Set which I
  
  stamped three times across the card using a Versamark Stamp Pad and Holographic Embossing Powder and then I heat set it - I love this sparkly finish, don't you?
• Image - is the uber cute Patchwork Moon by Ken at QKR Stampede. I wanted to do something a little different, so I paper pieced him using papers from the Hello Sunshine Digital Paper Pack by Zoe Pearn, available from Sweet Shoppe Designs. The moon himself is done from a cream coloured textured paper and then I used 4 different patterned papers from the pack, before using my Silver Gel Pen to add some highlights.
• Faux Buttons - are made using the circle and star shapes which are part of the Patchwork Moon image and this fab tutorial by my former Crafty Pad teamie Leesa ... never again will you struggle to find buttons that match the colours of your project! I printed my "buttons" onto paper from the Hello Sunshine pack before cutting out, assembling (I didn't add any embossing powder to these) and threading them onto the twine.
• Twine - from my stash which I fixed to the moon's hat, but have left loose at the bottom so that the buttons give some movement to my project.
• Sentiment -  is by Paulette at Create with TLC.

Come on over to Incy Wincy Designs and give our 4 new girls a very warm welcome. Whilst you're there check out the wonderful creations by my very talented teamies and see what their Three of your Favourite Embellishments are. Don't forget to come back and show us your embellished creations, and make sure you tell us in your post what your favourite 3 are! - this challenge will end on Sunday 13th January 2014.


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

• AC175 - Sketch It at Annabelle Stamps
• Challenge #75 - Use Ribbon or Twine at Brown Sugar Challenge
• Challenge #193 - Use a Digi at Robyn's Fetish Challenge
• Challenge #60 - Anything Goes at The Squirrel and The Fox
• CMM78 - Anything Goes at Card Makin' Mamas

Hope you have a good day.

Hugs, Helen x

Football Crazy!

Hi,

It's new challenge time at Lexi's Creations - that fortnight went quickly didn't it! Our new challenge is to make a card for The Man / Boy in your life.

The fabby team at at Cropstop are sponsoring our challenge again this week and they're offering our lucky winner a $15 Gift Certificate. Here is a little about them:
"If you’re passionate about paper-crafting whether it be scrapbooking your memories, making cards or altered art, CropStop is your one-stop solution. We offer an extensive selection of dies, embossing folders, inks, stamps and punches by all the popular manufacturers and the CropStop die and embossing folder storage solutions Pocketz Pages™ to keep everything organized. Our selection of embellishments and adhesives is continually expanding and we are excited to be the home of the colorful Ribbon Candy™. 

CropStop ships internationally as well as domestic. Our personalized customer service is only one of our strengths. Call or come visit us at www.CropStop.com and see what’s new in the world of paper-crafting."

The lovely Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts has, once again, given the DT free rein to work with their choice of image and here is my inspiration for you:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - Pre-made A6 card base in Kraft card (mine came from Hobbycraft).
• Design Paper - is by Paulette at Create with TLC, and it was a freebie on her site last week. I used a circle from the "nest" on the Ultimate Pro Embossing Board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats to cut it to shape.
• Images - Footie Ali is by Lexi of Fairy Dust Crafts and is just one of the wonderful images that you can find at her store. Ali came to life courtesy of my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Trousers - TN2, TN3
• T-Shirt - DG3, JG6, DR7
• Trainers - EB1, True Black
• Skin - FS2, FS3
• Hair - TN7, TN8
• Grass - CG1, CG2
• Outline - IG1
• Sentiment - also by by Paulette at Create with TLC. I took it into my word processing package in order to change the colour so it fitted in with my papers.
• Buttons - Using my computer, I cropped the image of Ali and his football until I was left with just about the football. I printed this out, cut round the football and then scanned this back into my computer. I then took the new graphic into my word processing programme, and pasted the graphic 10 times at the same size and printed these onto white card. Using Leesa's Faux Button Tutorial I turned these pieces of card into 2 custom buttons that match my project! They were finished with some waxed thread tied through them

I think this is a great card for an older boy or teenager, and it can easily be personalised by making the shirt the colour of his favourite team. I hope you like this card as much as I do! Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see what my Teamies have made for The Man / Boy in your life. Don't forget to come back and then show us your creations! You've got until Saturday 8th June 2012 to link your cards up.

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

• Challenge #55 - Any Sentiment at Aud Sentiments
• Challenge #27 - "It's a Celebration" with Buttons at Crafting For All Seasons
• Challenge #42 - Cute as a Button at Digistamps 4 Joy
• Challenge #80 - Anything Goes at Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges
• Challenge #109 - Birthday Card with a Sentiment on the Front at Robyn's Fetish

Have a great week!

Hugs, Helen x

Pretty Ballerinas

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

Hi,

It's time for another challenge over at Lexi's Creations (I really don't know where the last 2 weeks have gone to!) and this time we'd like to see your Lace and Ribbon.

The folks at Cropstop are sponsoring our challenge this week - they're offering our lucky winner a $15 Gift Certificate and here is a little about them:

If you’re passionate about paper-crafting whether it be scrapbooking your memories, making cards or altered art, CropStop is your one-stop solution. We offer an extensive selection of dies, embossing folders, inks, stamps and punches by all the popular manufacturers and the CropStop die and embossing folder storage solutions Pocketz Pages™ to keep everything organized. Our selection of embellishments and adhesives is continually expanding and we are excited to be the home of the colorful Ribbon Candy™. 

CropStop ships internationally as well as domestic. Our personalized customer service is only one of our strengths. Call or come visit us at www.CropStop.com and see what’s new in the world of paper-crafting.

This is the card I made for inspiration for this challenge using an image by the lovely Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts and a sketch challenge for my layout:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - Centura Pearl 300gsm card in Pale Pink cut and folded to a DL size card.
• Design Papers - all by Summer at Summertime Designs from a set called called Happy Mother's Day
• Image - Ballerina Trio is by Lexi of Fairy Dust Crafts and is just one of the gorgeous  images that you can find at her store. I brought this hardworking  trio in their nearly matching outfits to life with my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Hair - GB8, GB10, EB5, TN7, TN8
• Skin - FS2, FS3, EB1, EB2
• Tutus - PP3, PP4, PP5
• Outline - GG1
• Lace and Ribbon - from my stash. I made them into a flower/scrunchie and then used a matching narrow width ribbon to thread through a faux button, made using paper from the same set as my DPs. Check out this fab tutorial by Leesa and find out how you can make sure your button matches your card every time!

I hope you like this card as much as I do! Head on over to Lexi's Creations and check out how the rest of the DT girls used their Lace and Ribbon, and then show us your creations! You've got until Saturday 12th May 2012 to get your cards linked up.

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

• Challenge #27 - Brown and Pink at Ruby's Rainbow
• Challenge #44 - Just  for Children at Craft Your Days Away
• Challenge #105 - Pink and Brown at Digi Doodle Shop Challenge
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday 151 at Sweet Sketch Wednesday
• Anything Goes at Simon Says

I hope you have a great week and if, like us, you're under huge downpours of rain, that you dry out soon!

Hugs, Helen x

Flying High!

Hi,

Well, it's another exciting day for me as I'm proudly Guest Designing at Jellypark Challenges this week! Thanks for having me girls!

The theme for this week's challenge is Little Bunny Foo Foo and we're asking that you use a bunny or rabbit on your project. As well as using one of Claire's gorgeous images that's available from her store, I've also been allowed to use a brand new release. So, without further ado, here is my card ....

My inspiration for this layout has come from the current sketch at Come and Get It Challenges - it's another CAS sketch which, as you know, is right up my street!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - C6 card blank in cream card
• Design Papers - both from the Strawberry Kisses CD-Rom. I used the built in colouriser to tweak the yellow spotty paper, to make it a bit brighter
• Images - all by the very talented Claire at  Jellypark. My main image is Rabbit with Balloon (fussy cut and mounted onto plain cream card, which had a coating of Spray and Sparkle) and she came to life courtesy of my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Rabbit's Fur - GG1, GG2
• Jumper - CT1, CT2
• Dress -  LG3, LG4, CR11
• Balloon - CR11
• The sentiment (I coloured the heart with CR11 and coated it with glitter spray)  and heart-shaped faux buttons are from the new release Baby Tags by Claire at  Jellypark. I printed the heart shapes onto my yellow DP and, following a tutorial by Leesa (I substituted Spray and Sparkle for embossing powder) made the shapes into sweet little buttons that are perfectly coordinated with my card, although I think I need more practice!
• I used some rafia to tie through my faux buttons, and also the string for my rabbit's balloon.

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

• Challenge #53 - Favourite Song/Movie at My Mum's Craft Shop - Defying Gravity from the show Wicked ... quite apt I feel!!! :o)
• Going Around in Circles at Poodles Parlour
• Challenge 23 - Four Legged Friends at Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge
• Sketch at Come and Get It Challenges
• Challenge #166 - Bounty of Buttons at The Crafty Pad
• R#68 - Something New at Crafts 4 Eternity
• Challenge #74 - Spotty Dotty at Top Tip Tuesday
• Challenge #20 - Doing the Rounds at Little Claire's Designs

Please hop (pun definitely intended!) on over to Jellypark Challenges and show us your Bunny and Rabbit creations. Look forward to seeing you there.

Hope you have a great weekend!
Hugs, Helen x