How Bizarre ... this is no April Fool!

Morning friends - hope today finds you all well!

It's time for a new challenge at  Incy Wincy Designs and this isn't an April Fool .... honestly! :o) Our team leader Chris found the Bizarre, Wacky and Unique Holidays site,  and then challenged us to come up with a card for one of these Bizarre, Wacky or Unique Holiday Days! OK, so this required some thought as she has totally banned normal cards featuring Birthdays, Christmas, Anniversaries; your card MUST be a funny holiday taken from the website! The good news is that there's plenty of choice!!!!!

This week's sponsor is Dustin from Doodle Dragon Studios who has kindly provided the DT with choice of image for this challenge, and here is my card celebrating April 3rd - Don't Go To Work Unless it's Fun Day:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White which I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Papers - are from a Crafter's Companion Club Inspire download from December 2009 called Christmas Twist. I've done my 'usual' and layered these papers digitally in my word processing programme, using a lime green line around each "piece" of paper to create a mat.
  
• Image - this fun image is by Dustin Pike from Doodle Dragon Studios and is called Relaxin Rudolph.  I've brought this chillin' chap to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Rudolph - EB1, EB2, EB5, EB8, CR11, IG1, IG4
• Hammock - TN2, TN3
• Palm Trees - CG1, CG2, CG4, BP1, BP2, TN7, TN8
• Grass - CG1, CG2
• Clouds - Craf-T chalk in Blue
• Outline - TB1
• Sentiments - the main one is computer generated by me using a tag which I exported from the Christmas Twist download into my word processing programme, before superimposing a see through text box on the top of it so I could write a suitable sentiment for "Not Going To Work Day Unless It's Fun". The December 25 banner is by Paulette from Create with TLC and was a freebie on her blog last year. 

We've got a new team member joining us from this week, so I hope you'll you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and give Jackie a very warm welcome and see the other wonderful creations from the rest of the team and this week's Guest Designer Bunny. Then don't forget to come back and show us your creations that are Bizarre, Wacky or Unique Holiday Days - don't forget to tell us which holiday you're celebrating from the website. You've got until Sunday 7th April 2013 to join our challenge.

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

• Day 91 - April Fool at 365 Cards
• Challenge 88 - Humour at Crafty Cardmakers
• Challenge #35 - April Fool's Day at Created with Love Challenges
• DDC #56 - Laughter is the Best Medicine at Digi Darla's Challenges

Hugs, Helen x

A Watching Angel

Good Evening friends and a very Happy Easter to you! Hope you've had a great day!

This is a very, very speedy post from me as I wish to catch a challenge that finishes this evening. I'd like to show you this digitally created card front:

I've used an image by Shelley at Shelley's Images which I coloured, scanned and then added to this lovely paper using a sentiment by Paulette at Create with TLC. I've struggled with the printer this evening, so couldn't produce a hard copy of the card ... sorry!

I would like to enter this project into Progressive Freebie Challenge at Crafter's Digital Art Center

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

Is Spring Coming?

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

I was going to title this post "Spring is Coming", but as I sit here typing this post with yet another snow flurry hurtling past the window and hubby's new weather-station display advising that the outside temperature is a paltry 1.5 degrees Celsius here on the south coast of the UK, I can't believe that Spring will ever arrive! When I cast my mind back to this time last year I was wearing cropped trousers and sandals to work, and this year I'm still well and truly wrapped up in my winter woollies! :o)

Never mind, over at Incy Wincy Designs this week, we're going to try and take your mind off the chilly weather and think of warmer climes as our challenge for you this week is Pastel Colours. 

We've got not one, but two great prizes from our fabby sponsors for you this week. Our first lucky winner will receive a Goodie Bag from Iva Nova Chest and our second lucky winner will receive two digis from Saturated Canary.


Krista Smith (the artist behind Saturated Canary) also gave the DT their choice of image to showcase this week, and here is my card featuring one of Krista's gorgeous images:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Snow White which I cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card.
• Design Papers - are from the Energy kit by Summer of Summertime Designs. The main paper is called "Plaid" and the banners are cut from the "Green Damask" paper.
• Image - is of course by the very talented Krista Smith from Saturated Canary. This gorgeous girl is called Springtime and I've brought her to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:

• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Eyes - LV1
• Lips - CR4
• Hair - GB1, GB3
• Dress & Gloves - GB1, TN2, EB1, CR4, CR5
• Socks - CG1, CG2, PP1, PP3, TB2, TB3
• Leggings & Shoes - TB2, TB3
• Flowers - CT3, CR4, LV1
• Grass - CG2, Craf-T chalk in Lime Green
• Clouds - Craf-T chalk in Light Blue
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is by Paulette from Create with TLC and was a freebie on her blog last year. I have cut this into a banner shape too, and then distressed the edges with Craf-T chalk in Pink. To save you doing the maths, 18,250 days makes someone 50, and this card is for my neighbour who is 50 today ... Happy Birthday to her!
• Flower and Gems - are from my stash

I hope you'll come over to Incy Wincy Designs and see the other wonderful creations from my team-mates and this month's Guest Designer Jackie. Then don't forget to come back and show us your creations featuring Pastel Colours. You've got until Sunday 31st March 2013 to join our challenge.

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

• JUGS #181 - Photo Inspiration Challenge at Just Us Girls
• Come Rain or Shine at Joanna Sheen
• Challenge #206 - Spring Colours at Creative Inspirations
• Easy as 1-2-3 Challenge at Crafter's Digital Art Center (1 Flower, 2 Design Papers, 3 Pieces of Bling)
• Challenge #35 - Bring on Spring at Chocolate, Coffee and Cards
• It's Springtime at Card Makin' Mamas
• Pretty Pastels at Jellypark Friends

I hope you have a great Monday!

Hugs, Helen x

Dance like no-one's watching!

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

Good morning friends and I hope you are well. Welcome to Deb, my newest follower ... hope you enjoy this crafting journey with me! So much for it being spring! Parts of the UK are under several inches of snow (which is enough to bring life grinding to a halt here!) although we've only got a bitterly cold wind and a little rain! I hope you are keeping warm and well, wherever you are.

This morning brings a new challenge for the Team A Divas at Whoopsi Daisy, and our theme for you this week is Use a Digi - easy peasy, and with so many gorgeous digital images and papers out in the "WWW", there can be no reason for you not joining in!

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

I've chosen one of Linnie's older digis to showcase this time, and here is my card using an image which Linnie launched last spring:

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - made from Centura Pearl in Red (originally from a pack of Christmas colours) which I cut, scored and folded to make a 12cm square card
• Design Paper - is from the Romance CD from the Popcorn the Bear Platinum Triple CD-Rom Collection.
• Image - This gorgeous girl is from Sheet 346 and she is just one of the gorgeous digis drawn by Linne at Whoopsi Daisy. On this sheet there are 4 beautiful images, including this ballerina. I've brought this girl to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:


• Skin - FS2, FS3, FS6
• Hair - EB5, EB8
• Bow in Hair - EB1, EB2, CR10
• Leotard - EB1, EB2
• Tutu - CR10, CR11
• Leggings - EB1, EB2, IG10, True Black
• Outline - IG1, IG2
• Edge Distressing - Craf-T chalk in Tan
• Ribbon - is red organza ribbon from my stash
• Sentiment - is from the Happy Birthday Sentiments Set by Debbie at The Crafty Pad Designs

Do come over to Whoopsi Daisy Challenge and see the other gorgeous creations the Divas have made "Using a Digi". Then, don't forget to come and show us your creations - you've got until Sunday 31st March to link your creations up. And, don't forget if you use a Whoopsi Daisy image, then you can make any style of card or project - you don't have to follow this week's theme!

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

• March Challenge #20 - Happy Birthday at The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop
• Challenge #156 - Use a Digi at One Stitch at a Time
• Challenge #170 - Just Dance at The Corrosive Challenge Blog
• Ribbon or Lace at Paper Crafting Journey
• March Monthly Challenge - Girly at Bunny Zoe's Crafts

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

Hugs, Helen x

Mother's Day Card

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



Hello again, crafty friends and welcome to "Who's the dimwit, Version Two"! Yes, that would be ummm, errrrrr (looking round room frantically) .... Me again!!!!! :o)

It's new challenge time at Lexi's Creations and this time Susan has set us the challenge of Mother's Day or a Special Female Birthday Card.  Obviously, Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day) in the UK has now passed, but you can show us the cards you made for your mother this year, as long as there's no backlinking, or you could make a card for a special female in your life.

Our sponsor for this fortnight's challenge is the lovely Lexi from Fairy Dust Crafts, who (as well as letting the DT loose in her store to choose images to showcase for this challenge) is offering our lucky winner 5 Digital Stamps from her store. Not only will you find the gorgeous digital images there, you'll also find rubber stamps and lots of other fabulous crafting goodies like Viva Decor, Promarkers, a variety of lace and ribbons, embellishments, flowers, charms etc. and all at fantastic prices ... now that's well worth a visit!

So, here is the card I made for my Mother in Law featuring one of Lexi's gorgeous images: 

My card recipe is as follows:

• Base Card - is Centura Pearl in Ivory, which I have cut, scored and folded to make a 15cm square card
• Design Papers - from the Paintbox Poppets Papercrafting Collection CD Rom this is a Card Companion Set meaning there are matching papers, sentiments and embellishments just ready to be printed! I love the soft colours of this set.
• Image - this gorgeous bouquet of flowers is called Roses and is by Lexi at Fairy Dust Crafts. I have brought them to life using my Spectrum Noir Pens in the following colours:
• Roses - PP4, PP5
• Seedheads - Gold Gel Pen
• Foliage - DG2, DG3
• Wrap - FS2, FS3
• Ribbon - PP4, PP5
• Outline - GG1
• Sentiment - is by one I created within the Paintbox Poppets Papercrafting Collection CD Rom Card Companion using the inbuilt Verse Writer. This natty part of the program means that you can tailor make a sentiment for the recipient, before printing out the set. And as my MiL is a "church lady" and believes that Mother's Day should be Mothering Sunday (to give it the correct title from the church calendar), I was able to oblige!
• Buttons - are faux button embellishments from the same Card Companion set. I cut the "buttons" out, and then stuck 2 more layers of card underneath each one to make them stand out from the card a bit more.

Head on over to Lexi's Creations and see how my talented teamies and our Guest Designer Viv are celebrating Mother's Day or Special Female Birthday. Don't forget to come back and share your creations with us! You've got until Saturday 30th March 2013 to link your cards up.

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

• Mum's The Word at Joanna Sheen
• Challenge 52 - Mother's Day at Dream Valley Challenges

Hope you all have a fab week!

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