Little Treat Bags - A Quick Make!

Hi,

I hope you had an awesome Christmas!

We're now at that gap between Christmas and New Year, which can sometimes be rather awkward depending on whether you or your loved ones are working this week, as it is in our house at the mo. If you're at home with either some time on your hands, or you need to escape from the family!, why not head on over to The Crafter's Cafe Open House where there are fun and games to be had right through this weekend.

One of the challenges is "So What is Hybrid?" which has been sponsored by WendyBird Designs -Wendy has given The Crafter's Cafe a template for a small gift bag, which can be downloaded, made up and entered into the challenge. And if this free template isn't enough to tempt you, Wendy is also offering every participant in the challenge a $2 voucher to use in her store! So without further ado, here are my small gift bags. The template is for 2 bags side by side on a sheet of A4 paper/card, and Wendy has offered several styles of aperture. As I wanted to try 2 different colours, I used digital papers and cropped them so they each fitted on half a side of A4. The contents of these little bags are a piece of homemade "Jewelled Flapjack" which I wrapped in clingfilm - however they could be used for all sorts of things as long as the items are put in a sealed bag e.g. sweets, hair bands (for little girls' party bags), wedding favours etc. 

This small green bag is made using a digital paper called The Stockings Were Hung 4 which was a goodie sent out by Paulette of Create With TLC in The December Club. I printed the paper on one side of my card, and the template on the other, and then cut and scored the template as per the instructions. The sentiment is also by Create with TLC, although I think this was a freebie download from the blog. I sized the sentiment to suit the bag and punched 2 holes in it to match those holes in the bag flap. The bow was tied using 5 lengths of raffia to give a bit of body to the bow and the only embellishments I added were 3 bits of 'Bling' at the bottom of the heart.

The pink bag was made in the same way as the green one, this time using a digital paper called Hip Christmas Paper 4 (again from the Create with TLC December Club). The sentiment on this bag is another freebie which I downloaded from Paulette's blog ... if you haven't discovered her blog yet, you simply must visit as she is sooooo talented and completely awesome in her generosity! Again the sentiment was sized to suit the bag, cut out and had one hole punched in it for the tie to go through. This lovely pink ribbon was on a blouse I got for Christmas and I think it goes perfectly with this paper. I left the ribbon longer at the back, so that the bag can be hung on the Christmas tree. The only embellishment I added to this little bag was a bright pink flower gem.

I would like to enter these little treat bags into the following challenges:

•  So What is Hybrid? at The Crafter's Cafe December Open House
• Challenge #3 Anything Goes at Card Crafters Circle
• Challenge #88 Anything Goes at Digi Doodle Shop Challenges

Thank you all for your support and encouragement (both on my blog and other forums where we have met) since I started card making, just eight very short months ago. I truly value all the comments that I've received.

I hope that you and your loved ones have a great New Year's Eve, and that 2012 proves to be happy, peaceful and prosperous for you all.

Hugs,
Helen
xxx

"Holiday Havoc 2011" Blog Hop with Craft Your Passion Challenges

Welcome to my stop on the Craft Your Passion Challenges "Holiday Havoc 2011" Blog Hop!!

We are very excited about holidays and wanted to add to the chaos and havoc. 

What better way to do that, than to have a BLOG HOP!!!

If you have hopped over from Julie's blog (what wonderful projects she has shared on this hop!), then you are in the right place. If you just happened to stop by and would like to join our hop from the beginning, please go to Craft Your Passion Challenges and follow along for a chance to win some AMAZING blog candy along the way and PRIZES at the end.

All Craft Your Passion DT members are going to be playing along in the hop with some very special guest designers.

Each designer along the way is featuring a project that showcases a digital image from at least one of our amazing Blog Hop Sponsors.

What’s more exciting is you can participate too by creating a project and linking it up over at Craft Your Passion Challenges for a chance to win one of several prizes.

But, there’s a twist. Be sure to visit all the stops and leave a comment (we will be checking). Once you have finished the hop, we would like you to create a HOLIDAY project using at least one digital stamp and enter it with our Linky tool.

While you are hopping, be sure to check out the blog candy the designer's have to offer you. You don't want to miss out on any of it!

I'm so excited about being a GDT for this Blog Hop - thanks for having me Jenn! I have been asked to showcase this very cute, and rather cheeky, Christmas Mouse with Mistletoe by Bugaboo Stamps. I have chosen to make a Flip Flop (or Swing) Card for this project - it's the first time I've tried this fold, and it's one I'll be doing again because I l-o-v-e it! Make sure you check out the Bugaboo website, because as well as the gorgeous image I'm sharing with you this weekend (and others like her), you can try out the free image that's on offer!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Christmas Red and White Centura Pearl Printable Card, and Neenah Classic Crest Card are all by Crafter's Companion 
• Backing Papers, Word Art on reverse of card (I decided to keep with the cheeky theme) and Snowflake Stamp in the sentiment on the front are all by Create with TLC,
• Christmas Mouse has been brought to life using Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours and then finished with a dusting of Iridescent Spray and Sparkle (both from Crafter's Companion):

• Fur - CG0.5, CG1, CG3
• Clothes - 178, 171, 68, 65
• Nose - 196
• Shoes - 120
• Bow - 14, 11
• Mistletoe - 109, 43, 175, 42
• Sentiments on the front of the card were computer produced and coloured using my normal word processing package.
• Sparkly red 'Merry Christmas' ribbon by Fantastic Ribbons

Showing the reverse of the card

Next stop by Alethea's blog, to see the lovely cards she has in store for you today.

Remember, once you have hopped to all the stops and left your comments (we will be checking), it's your turn to show us your "Holiday Havoc" project.

Make sure to include a digital stamp somewhere on your project, and link up your project over at Craft Your Passion Challenges by Midnight CST December 23 to be eligible for the prizes. Winners will be announced on our Monday, December 26th Challenge post.

Thanks for stopping by today and enjoy the rest of the Blog Hop!

Hugs, Helen x

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

• Challenge #7 - Use a Sentiment at The Cutie Pie Challenge
• Challenge #43 - Any Winter Holiday Sentiment at Aud Sentiments Challenge
• I'm Dreaming of a Traditionally Coloured Christmas at Papertake Weekly

Snowy Little Penguin

Hi,

Firstly, I must apologise for not having 'blogged' last week - my other half was at home on my days off, which kind of cramped "my style" and definitely my ability to craft! So I've got alot to catch up with this week. Here is my first card of the week:

I've done another joy-fold (J-fold) card this time as a square, although I messed up the dimensions, so the lower flap is slightly narrower than it should be. Oops!

My card recipe is as follows:

• Card stock for base is 300gsm Centura Pearl in Snow White and image is printed onto Neenah Classic Crest card, both available from Crafter's Companion
• The very cute digi-stamp is called Little Penguin Winter, available from Bugaboo Stamps
• Little Penguin has been brought to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens (from Crafter's Companion) in the following colours:
• Body - 120
• Beak - 33
• Hat - 84, 82
• Boots - 82, 81
• Snow - 144, 0 (Colourless Blender)
• The octagonal and circular shapes have been embossed using the "nest" of circles on the embossing board Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats which I used with my Ultimate Pro, both from Crafter's Companion. I then cut these shapes out and mounted them on the top flap of the card.
• The backing papers came from The Snowman Papercrafting CD-Rom (Crafter's Companion again!)
• Snowflakes were punched from the Snow White Centura Pearl Card using 2 different sizes of punch, available from Hobbycraft
• The ribbon came from Fantastic Ribbons, and was part of the blog candy bundle I won in October from the lovely Annette. I just love the glittery edge it's got.
• The sentiment on the inside of the card (I couldn't fit anything else onto the outside of the card!) is from the wonderfully generous Paulette at Create With TLC. (This has to be my second favourite site after CC! :o) Lots of smiles!) The sentiment is perfect for the occasion as this card is for my 6 month old niece who is celebrating her first Christmas. Awhhhh!

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

• Challenge #124 with a Bingo Twist at Tuesday Morning Sketches - my Bingo is the right side vertical line of Funky Christmas Colours (Purple and Pink), Embossing (Shapes), Snowflakes (punched and on one of my BPs)
• Challenge #1 - Celebrate (Baby's First Christmas) at Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenges
• Challenge #7 - Use a Sentiment at The Cutie Pie Challenge
• Challenge #43 - Winter Holiday Sentiments at Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog
• Challenge #164 - All Creatures Great and Small at The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge
• "I'm Dreaming of a Lilac (My Fave Colour!) Christmas at Papertake Weekly Challenge
• Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow Challenge (snowflakes punched and on one of my BPs)  at Winter Wonderland Challenge
• Challenge 19 - New Beginnings at Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge
• Holiday/Winter Projects at The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog

I hope you like my card.

Hugs, Helen x

CDAC Progressive Challenge #7 - What's Cooking?

Hi,

I'd stumbled across the Crafter's Digital Art Center Progressive Challenge a couple of months ago. I though I'd challenge myself to make cards to meet a given purpose, rather than purely making cards because I need them for an occasion. The first challenge in the current series is underway, and you have until 30th November to get your entry in. This is mine:

My base card is 300gsm Centura Pearl card from Crafter's Companion in Red which I have folded into a Joy Fold Card, or J-Card. I just love the Centura Pearl for its sheen (even under an electric light source) and its pure luxury! I used Beate's tutorial on Split Coast Stampers to make my card - it was really easy to follow. I used my Boxer Board to go with my Ultimate Pro (Crafter's Companion) so I could measure, score and fold in inches, and I managed to produce the card in next to no time! I'll certainly be using this fold again.

The apple digi-stamp is part of the challenge, and was donated to the challenge by Heart Songs Designs. I coloured this lovely image with my Spectrum Noirs from Crafter's Companion in the following colours:

Pips - 96, 91
Stalk - 92
Flesh - 175 mixed with 0 (colourless blender)
Skin - 11, 43
Leaf - 48, 43
Outline - WG1

I completed my card by adding word art (made into a designer paper) and a backing paper from Create with TLC. Both the apples word montage (which I recoloured in olive green to tie in with my card) and the apple design paper were freebies from the wonderfully talented and exceedingly generous Paulette.

I have deliberately chosen to leave a sentiment off this card at the moment ... as I have no idea who the recipient will be and why! :o) However, when I do add this, it will be in the form of a small circular element which I will use to slide the top card under so the whole thing stays shut.

If you want to join in with this challenge, just head over to the Crafter's Digital Art Center, join the Progressive Challenge Group and you can pick up your free images too.

I hope you like this card, which I would like to enter for the following challenge:

•  CDACPC#7 - What's Cooking? - cdadpc7, heartsong

Hugs, Helen x

Happy Birthday with "Lenny Cupcakes 2"

Hi,

My eldest came home from school last night and said it was her friend's birthday; could I do a card? Luckily I had this topper sat ready to mount on a card, so I quickly finished this card off. I apologise for the poor quality of the photos, but they were taken in great haste before school this morning (and it was quite foggy here so the light levels were not brilliant!).

My base card is 300gsm Centura Pearl in White, available from Crafter's Companion, which I folded to make a 6 inch square card base. The digital image on the topper is "Lenny Cupcakes 2" available from Stamp Fairy. This was the image I won from Karen in July, when the Stamp Fairies organised a Blog Hop to celebrate Gerda's birthday. Thank you Karen :o) !!!!!! It is mounted onto a digital paper from the set Urbanized 2 by Heather Jolly's Digital Scrapping. I've just tried to link to the site from this post but I get a message saying the blog has been removed :o(  I do hope this is just a blogger error, because Heather had some stunning sets on her blog available for download.  The "Happy Birthday" ticket is a freebie from Stamp Fairy. The red organza ribbon came from my stash (it was bought from Hobbycraft) and was tied into a little bow using the bow maker on my Ultimate Pro (from Crafter's Companion).

I used my Spectrum Noirs (Crafter's Companion) in the following colours to bring Lenny and his little friend to life:

Lenny

Fur: 96, 91, 98

Nose: 120

Paws: 33

Hat: 84, 82, 81

Friend

Fur: 104, 100, 92

Nose: 120

Paws: 33

Balloon: 12, 14, 11

Cupcake

Case: 171, 68

Icing: 137, 8

Cherry: 15, 48

I embossed the coloured image and my backing paper using the 2 largest sizes of circular 'nests' on the  Ultimate Pro Embossing Board "Springtime Sweets and Cupcake Treats" and cut these out so they could be layered. Before I did this I sprayed (quite liberally :D!) my coloured design with Iridescent Spray and Shine (Crafter's Companion again! lol!), although this layer of glitter really doesn't show up terribly well in the photo above - sorry :o(

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

• Glitter Challenge at Stamp Fairy
• Challenge #5 Bears at The Cutie Pie Challenge

I hope you like this card.

Hugs,
Helen x

"Let It Snow" .....

Hi,

Given the temperatures we've got in the south of the UK at the moment, snow is definitely wishful thinking! But maybe my latest project will help you cool down a little. :o)  I've made this gorgeous little Gift Tag for the present I'm buying for my office "Secret Santa" lucky dip.

My base card is from Kraft card, which was actually a pre-made card blank purchased from Hobbycraft. I chose the tag shape on the Teddy Surprise and Butterflies Embossing Board together with my Ultimate Pro (both from Crafter's Companion) and embossed the largest size and it's border onto my Kraft card. I then embossed the border size onto my Mat and Layer card. For this I used a sheet of Centura Pearl 300gsm card in the shade Christmas Red. This came from the Christmas pack which is available from Crafter's Companion. I just love the pearly sheen on this card, so I decided not to use any extra backing papers.

This lovely snowman is a Digi Stamp which was one of the goodies in Paulette's Create with TLC December Club . Unfortunately this offer has now finished, but I can thoroughly recommend following Paulette's blog and signing up for this club next autumn. I used my Spectrum Noir Pens (from Crafter's Companion) in the following colours to bring my snowman to life:

Hat - 96,91,48

Nose - 24

Scarf - 14,11

Jacket - 48,43

Star - 34

Outline - CG1

I then cut carefully around my image and mounted it onto the red card using sticky pads. My TOP TIP here is to cut in an anti-clockwise direction if you're right handed (clockwise for left handers) and then you can always see the border/line you're cutting out. This will minimise the risk of cutting the wrong part of your image!

My sentiment is another digi-goodie from the Create with TLC December Club which I sized to go with my tag and the ribbon is beautiful double satin called Holiday Green - this came from Fantastic Ribbons and was part of Annette's Birthday Blog Candy which I won last month. Thanks Annette! :o) I mounted the sentiment onto the ribbon so it will swing and then used the bow maker part of my Ultimate Pro to make the gorgeous little bow, which I then fixed to the ribbon above the sentiment. I completed my project by tying a further length of the ribbon through a hole which I had punched in the top of the gift tag.

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

• Challenge #84 "Let It Snow" at Craft Your Passion Challenges
• Challenge #60 - Tags at Top Tip Tuesday
• "When is a card not a card. When it's a ..." Gift Tag at Papertake Weekly Challenge
• Challenge #120 Tic Tac Toe (Bingo) at Incy Wincy Designs I've got a diagonal of Red, Any Christmas Sentiment and Ribbons
• Monthly Challenge of Holiday/Winter Projects at The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog
• Challenge #83 Colour Combo of Red and Green at Digi Doodle Shop Challenges
• Challenge 18 "Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow" at Crafter's Companion Monthly Challenge
• Challenge 148 Festive Cheer - Traditional Colours (Red & Green) at The Crafty Pad

I hope you like my project.
Hugs,
Helen

I'm so excited ..... !

Hi,

Why am I so excited? Because I've just received an e-mail from Jenn at Craft Your Passion Challenges inviting me to be a Guest Design Team Member for their Holiday Havoc Blog Hop on 17th and 18th December 2011.        :o) - BIG smiles here!!!!

I can't tell you anything else about it just yet, but please put these dates in your diary and watch this space!

I'm really looking forward to sharing this event with you.

Hugs,
Helen x