Happy 18th Nikki

Hello everyone, just a quick post today cos I've gotta try and catch up with some housework :(

Tomorrow my 'baby' will turn 18, makes me feel old.....so I wanted to show you the card and matching tag I've made for her...it's ok...she won't check on here...

 She adores pandas....

The image is a Helz Cuppleditch one called 'Little Princess', coloured with promarkers and glitter added to the wings. The border stamp at the bottom has also been coloured with promarkers and gems have been added with a heat setter. I've added some flowers and pins and some ribbon from my stash. I then made the tag using matching watercolour card.

 

The sentiment on the tag is part of the stamp set. I would like to enter this into the Pollycraft matching card and tag challenge.  and Make it Monday. and Always crafting - creative Monday. All that remains is to wish my lovely daughter Nikki a fabulous birthday...where did the years go?

Hope I'll see you again soon.

Happy crafting
Helen xx

Less is more

Hello again, I just thought I'd make a simple card for the Less is more sketch challenge. I can't believe how much hassle this one caused!

 This is the second card blank. First time the word stamp didn't cling properly and fell off onto the card blank so I thought I'd get away with turning it over. Then I got brown ink from my finger on the card blank, so I turned it inside out.....and the stamp fell off again! Another rummage in the drawer found another thank you stamp so I got another card blank out and tried again....Yahoo...did it. In this case less was definitely more - work that is!

Thanks for looking

Helen xx

Jingle All The Way

Hi, I'm back, as promised, with a Christmas card. This one's for Crafty Hazelnut's challenge which is to include a sentiment which doesn't contain the word Christmas. I was lucky enough to find a Forever Friends set half price in a sale last week. That's another advantage of making Christmas cards at this time of year - places are selling things off.....can't miss a bargain.

 I've coloured with promarkers. The backing papers are HOTP Forever Christmas Cards stack (6x6). I've tied a multicoloured cord bow and added some gems with the heat setter (4mm). I've stamped 'Jingle all the way' on the tag. Here's a couple more piccies.

 

 

I would also like to enter this for Stamping for pleasure - Rudolph day

Remember it's never too early to start the Christmas cards. I've got quite a stash now. Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you again soon.

Happy crafting
Helen xx

Snippet Birthday card

Hi everyone, I'm back again, this time I want to share an A6 card I just made up using snippets from my scrap drawer. I'm really pleased with the results, so glad I didn't throw the bits away. I hope you like it.

 And here's a view from another angle.

The papers were from the Forever Friends Pink Parfait pad and started off A5. The leaves are cut using a Gentle Leaf die and the butterfly is Cheery Lynn. The plaque in the middle is Spellbinders Labels Five with faux stitching in black. I've used a rub on which has been in my drawer for years. I've also had the fabric flowers and bright green brad for years. I hope you'll agree that everything goes together brilliantly. 

I would like to show this off in the playground over at Pixie's Crafty Workshop - Challenge 18. If you haven't had a look at this blog it's well worth a visit and start using up some of those scraps.

Thanks for looking, I'll be back soon with a Christmas card.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Black and white

Hi everyone, I'm back again with my entry for Tuesday Alchemy's Black and white challenge.

 The backing paper is by Dovecraft - 6x6 Designer paper pack - Charcoal prints. I've distressed the edges with a Tim Holtz tool. I've cut a spellbinders Labels 5 in black card which I've then hand stitched in white and mounted with foam pads. I've added some black lace behind the panel. The butterfly is cut out in pearly white paper using a Marianne creatable die and my faithful Bigshot machine. I've added a large black bow, tied with a bowmaker, and some white card candi.

 I've had these papers for years so it's good to be using them at last. I've also been wanting to try stitching for ages so it's good to try that. 

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you've enjoyed your stay. If it's your first visit please have a look around my blog. I haven't been doing this long so any feedback is always gratefully appreciated. I hope I'll see you again soon and if you leave me a message I'll be able to visit you back.

Happy crafting (well it IS crafting weather!)

Helen xx

Tuesday Alchemy DT Call

Hi everyone on this wet and miserable Sunday....What better place to be than in your craft room on a day like this??
Over at Tuesday Alchemy they're having an open DT call, for which I would like to apply. I'd just love to be a part of their team for 3 months. Here are some of my recent projects. Click on the caption to go to the original post. I hope you like what you see.

Ferguson

 

 

Have a hoot

 

Childhood memories

 

Birthday time Boofle

 

Cute ladybug

 

 These are just a few of my recent projects. I hope you'll browse my blog to see what else I've achieved in the short time I've been blogging. It really is addictive.

Thank you sooo much for looking, I do hope you'll return and help me to build my followers.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Shopping girl 18th

Hi everyone, I'm back with another card share. This time I've made a card for one of my daughter's friends who will be turning 18 this week, as will my daughter....makes you feel old!

 The image is Bugaboo, coloured with promarkers. I've cut it out using labels six and drawn round the die to make a mat for it. The mat is an offcut of a sheet of 12x12 I've been using for one of my DT pieces for Craft your passion next month so you'll have to look out for that. The main backing paper came free with Simply cards and papercraft this month. I've printed the sentiment using word and matted with paper to match the image and added 3 felt flowers. There's also something special about her earrings. See if you can spot it on the close-up...

 I've been playing with my new toy again! I have made this card with a challenge in mind - One stop craft recipe challenge (1 image, 2 designer papers and 3 embellishments).

I also like to enter this for Cardmadfairy's pick a number challenge.

Thank you for visiting and also thanks for all the lovely comments you leave. I love reading them. I hope you'll come back soon and maybe tell your friends about my blog. I'd love to get some more followers.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Tilda with flowers

Hi everyone, hope you're all well and enjoying your weekend...

I want to share a card I've made for my late husband's mum's 75th birthday.

My wonderful husband Ted bought me a new Tilda stamp earlier this week so I thought I'd try it out. He also bought me another round the page punch so look out for that making an appearance soon. I've cut out the image using the largest die in the labels 5 spellbinder set. I then drew round the die on blue paper to mat  it. I've used the same paper to die cut the butterfly and flourish using Cheery Lynn dies. The flowers are by docraft and I've added some glitter to the dark blue one, punched a small flower in the matching blue and added a pink brad to tie back in with Tilda's dress. The white panel has been embossed with a happy birthday folder and I've rounded off diagonally opposite corners. This panel has then been edged with faded jeans distress ink. The backing paper is from the Papermania capsule collection and is cut with a deckle edge and edged with the same blue ink. I've added a few self adhesive pearls to the flourish and 75 in a small peeloff...it would be rude to shout out a lady's age...

 I would like to enter this in the following:-
Cardmadfairy's - pick a number 
Crafty Catz - anything goes 
Stamptacular Sunday challenge - loaded with layers 
Fussy and Fancy - punches and dies 
Aud sentiments - anything goes 

Thank you for visiting. I hope you like what you see.

Happy crafting
Helen xx
 

Footie Onion

Hi everyone, thought I'd sneak a crafty card in. I made a couple of others but I can't show you those just yet. This is just a simple card for DRS designs - sports challenge.

 I've used the Daisy and Dandelion stamp 'Onion plays footie' and coloured with promarkers. The backing paper, ribbon and buttons are from my stash. I've used the sketch from One stop craft challenge week 179

Thanks for looking, see you again soon

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Cute Ladybug

Hello everyone, I've managed to make another card so the migraine must be wearing off, at last....

I've used a Bugaboo image again, I think that they could be my favourite images at the moment, they're sooo cute. I've based the card on the Catch the Bug - time for a sketch challenge. 

I've coloured the image with promarkers and added glamour dust wings. The backing paper is from a cd (Crafters Companion - Cute Companions Vol 1). The 2 panels are coredinations card which has been embossed and sanded. All elements are matted with lime green and everything has been edged with frayed burlap distress ink.I've added some organza ribbon and some butterfly ribbon from my stash and added the sentiment 'On your special day'. The card is A5.

I would also like to enter this in the following:-
Paper sundaes - let's get cute
Whimsy stamps - distressing
Divas by design - buttons and/or bows
Make it Monday
Joanna Sheen - someone special

I hope you like it. Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope to see you again soon.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Cutie on a swing

Hi everyone, I'm back with a card which has been sitting on my desk since Monday afternoon when the dreaded Migraine struck. I'm still struggling with reading my screen and doing close work so apologies if anything's wonky.

I have used a couple of Bugaboo images which I was lucky enough to win a few weeks ago. I've had great fun trying to resize them so they match. I've coloured with promarkers and added ribbons to her hair.

The pink backing paper is from the Daisy and Dandelion Lovingly Yours pack and the spotty paper is from Wild Rose's Girly Polka Dots pack. I've added some cream lace and some flowers made from scraps with candi centres. The butterfly is Cheery Lynn. The base card is chocolate brown A4.

 I've used the sketch from One stop craft challenge week 179 
The colour scheme is taken from Craft your passion - photo inspiration
I'd also like to enter this for Paper sundaes - let's get cute 

Thank you for looking. I'm gonna have a lie down in a darkened room to let my eyes recover and hope I'll be back crafting soon.

Happy crafting
Helen xx
 

Christmas Fairy

Hi everyone, I'm back with another Christmas card. This one is using the sketch from catch the bug. I've used a Bugaboo digi stamp call Ava Mistletoe fairy, and instead of colouring with promarkers I thought I'd try out a free program which I saw recommended yesterday called paint.net. I can't enter this one in the challenge though cos I've just realised it needed to be a spring card...oh well...I printed it on a laser printer, well I actually printed it on my inkjet too but there was no comparison! I've used colours which I don't very often use for Christmas cards (I do have a tendency to go for green and red). Here's my card...

 I've had the papers for years and they started of 12x12. I've made the A5 card blank from a sheet of bright red A4 card. I've used the same card to mat each of the sections. The blue part behind the image has been cut with a spellbinder and also embossed. I've used a sparkly peeloff, shaping the word Christmas to fit the oval. I've added some glamour dust to the wings and added various gems with my heat setter.

I would like to enter this for:-

Paper sundaes - let's get cute
Crafty Hazelnut - lots of layers
Wags n whiskers - anything goes
Moving along with the times - Merry Christmas

I hope you like it and thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you again very soon.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Christmas bauble

Hi everyone...It's a couple of days or so since I made a Christmas card so here's a quick one I've made using some scraps up from my bits drawer....

 It's a small 4x4 card layered up with Merry Christmas paper which I've edged with Daisy and Dandelion red ink pad. I've added a square of green glitter card and some gold net before adding a Marianne's creatables bauble (I picked the die up in a sale earlier this week) made using a scrap of whitewash card. I've sanded it and edged with the red ink. The bow has been in my stash for years and probably came with a magazine. I used my new toy to heat set the red gems (4mm). Here's a close up of the layers...

I would like to enter this for the following:-Crafty Hazelnut - lots of layers
Pixie's Crafty Snippets - Challenge 17

Thank you for stopping by. I hope to see you again soon.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Birthday Time Boofle

Hi everyone, I'm back with another Boofle card. I made another Boofle (Mr Cool) while I was making my last card so I thought I'd put him to good use. I have, however, had a trip to the craft shop with my lovely hubby Ted. I got the one boofle stamp I didn't get yesterday (Big hug) and a few new distress ink pads so watch this space as I experiment with Boofle....Anyway, here's my latest card...

 I've cut Boofle out this time and as before he's been over coloured with a promarker. He's been mounted using small foam pads.  I also got to play with my Tim Holtz clock die. The hands are fastened on with a brad so they can move. The backing paper is from the Crafters Companion 'Men's collection' cd and the sentiment is a Daisy and Dandelion one from the 'Marshmallow does DIY' set, stamped with rich cocoa momento. I've also inked the edges of the backing paper with the same ink. The card candi started off white and has been coloured with Walnut promarker. I've added a brown liner to finish off.

Again I've made this a masculine card. I'm looking forward to trying some girly ones soon.

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:-
Sparkles monthly challenge - Men only 
4 crafty chicks - boys dig it 
Wags n whiskers - anything goes 
Everybody art challenge - card for a man 

Thanks for looking, I hope you'll come back again soon.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Claudia's Butterflies

Hi everyone, welcome back...

I've had a lovely day out with my best friend Sue today....craft shopping...just for a change. I've spent the rest of my birthday money plus a bit more from my wonderful hubby Ted. I got various papers, embossing folders, stamps and bits and bobs which I'm sure will feature quite soon, in fact I've used one of my new backing papers for this card. I also got some of the Boofle stamps but I'm gonna have to practise with these so watch this space. I've made this card for my next door neighbour's birthday, which is on Sunday. I hope she likes it....

The image is a super digi from Pollycraft. I was lucky enough to win her a few weeks ago when one of my cards was picked as one of the favourites. The quality of the digi stamps is fantastic. I've coloured with promarkers and added glitter to both little butterflies and a gem to one of them. I was going to add tiny gems to the other little butterfly but the eyesight wasn't up to it.... I've cut the image with a spellbinder die. The backing paper is Daisy and Dandelion - Lovingly Yours. I've punched a lace border (Martha Stewart) and a butterfly and tropical flourish, both Cheery Lynn, from pink card which has a slight texture. I also added some ribbon and flowers from my stash.

 I would like to enter this into the following:-

Cheery Lynn - challenge 24
Whimsy Stamps - punches or dies
Fussy and Fancy - punches or dies
Polly Craft - Cute critters
Crop stop - paper lace

Thank you for visiting. I hope you like what you see. Thank you to those of you who are kind enough to leave me a message. I love to read them.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Have a Hoot!

Hi everyone, hope you're all well. I had some great, if a little scary, news yesterday. I'm going to be a GDT member for Craft Your Passion for the month of May. I've never done anything like this before so I'm a bit nervous. I just hope I can do them justice, I'll certainly try my best...

Anyhow, here is my card share for today. I'm really pleased with this one...

 I've used a lovely digi stamp from Whimsy Stamps. It took me a few attempts till I was happy with the colouring, using promarkers. I've cut him out with Spellbinders Labels 5, which I've edged with Momento Rich cocoa. The tree has been made up of a piece of coredinations white wash cardstock which has been embossed using the Spellbinders M-bossabilities 'Flora' folder (design B) and then I've sanded it and edged it with Rich Cocoa. The trunk has been cut freehand from some Woodland Folk paper. I've used a Martha Stewart punch for the brown strip. Te green checked backing paper is by Serif, called 'Picnic in the park' and was free with a magazine a while ago. I made the sentiments using word and edged with Rich Cocoa.

I love this little owl and can see me using it a lot. I hope you like it too.

I would like to enter this into the following:-
Whimsy Stamps - Punches or die cuts 
Craft your passion - die cuts and punches 
Polly Craft - cute critters 
PaperPlay challenges - animal antics 
Make it Monday 

Thank you so much for visiting, I hope you like what you see and that you'll come back soon.

Happy crafting
Helen xx
 

Rudolph

Hi everyone, I thought it was time for another Christmas card! It is the middle of April after all....I've never been this organised. Every year I say I'll start early and every year it gets to December and PANIC....but not this year...thanks to my recent addiction to blogging I'll have a great stash...

This is for Crafty Hazelnut's Let's have a sing song challenge. I don't think I need to tell you which Christmas song it is...

 The backing paper has lots of writing on it including 'Santa Claus is coming to town', 'Jingle Bells' and there are pictures of Rudolph pulling a sleigh. I've distressed the edges with a Tim Holtz distress tool. I've cut Rudolph with my cricut using Doodlecharms. I've added googly eyes and painted his nose with Pinflair Craft glaze. The die cut is Labels 3 with gold peeloffs saying 'Rudolph the red nosed reindeer'. The spotty ribbon is by Anita and Rudolph's bow is from the Papermania capsule collection - Red Hot ribbon bows. The flowers are punched with a Martha Stewart Poinsettia punch.

I hope you like him. Thank you for visiting. I hope I'll see you again soon and that you'll join me on my crafting journey.

Happy crafting
Helen xx
 

White on white

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well and enjoying your crafting. I decided to challenge myself to make a white on white card today.....so here it is...

 The base card is 13.5 x 13.5cms. I've added some white paper which has a slight leafy pattern embossed on it and distressed the edges. On top of this I've used my new Martha Stewart round the page punch and mounted using foam tape. The image, from Crafters Companion, has been stamped on white pearlescent paper and I've colored it with promarkers. There's also a panel of the white pearlescent paper behind the flowers, which I've embossed using versamark in the folder to add some holographic embossing powder for a bit of sparkle. I've cut a spellbinder labels six die and embossed it with dots, onto which I've glued the image. This diecut is mounted on foam pads too. I've added some white flowers and a white lace bow. Here are some close-ups.

 I hope you can see all the different white layers in the photos. I would like to enter this in I ♥ ProMarkers - white on white challenge and Delicious doodles - loads of layers.

Thanks for visiting, I hope you'll leave me a message. Hope to see you again soon.

Happy Crafting

Helen xx

Bella with presents - Especially For You

Hi everyone, I've just got back from a trip out to spend some more of my birthday money on craft stuff. Today I bought a Tim Holtz clock die, a gentle leaf die, some flowers, an embossing folder, some magnetic storage sheets, 3 promarkers and a Martha Stewart round the page punch (scallop 3-dot). Looking forward to creating with it all. I have started to play with the stuff I got on Saturday so here is my card...

 The image is called Bella with presents and is from Wild Rose Studios. I've coloured with promarkers and used pink sakura glitter pen on the 2 small butterflies. The doily started life white and has been coloured with spun sugar distress ink. The backing paper is from the Wild Rose Studios Bella paper pack and is matted with a pinky lilac paper, which I've also used as the liner. The flowers are docraft with a pink brad and a gem heat fixed on top. The lilac butterfly brad has been in my stash for a few years (good to use these things up at last). The bow is a ready made one by docrafts. The sentiment is a Daisy and Dandelion message tag. I love this image, I think it's really cute. I just hope I've done it justice! Here's a close-up..

I would like to enter this in the following:-

Joanna Sheen - someone special
Stamptacularsundaychallenge - anything goes
Card crafters circle - gentle pastel colours
Craft your passion - die cuts and punches
Pollycraft Monday Challenge - cute critters
Crafters Companion - 4 legged friends
Penny Black and more - April

Thanks for visiting, I hope you like what you see. Please come back soon.

Happy crafting
Helen xx

Tea with Mrs Tiggywinkle

Hi everyone and welcome to my newest followers...

I've been wanting to make a Tiggywinkle card ever since we saw a hedgehog in our garden for the first time the other day...haven't seen it since so it could be a one off...Anyway, here is my card.

 The stamp is by Crafters Companion and the backing papers have been printed on my laser printer from the Crafters Companion Mrs Tiggywinkle cd. The die cut is Spellbinders labels six.  I've added a charm which is a teapot. This originated on a necklace which one of my daughters got years ago free with a magazine...why any kid would want to wear a teapot round their neck is beyond me but at least it came in useful eventually. I knew I hoarded things for a reason. I've added ribbon and flowers from my stash and a Daisy and Dandelion message tag sentiment which I've layered up with some of the gingham backing paper.

It was my birthday yesterday and I got an absolutely brilliant pressie from my bestest buddy Sue. A new toy! Here it is..

It's a heated gem setter. It's fab, no more faffing about trying to glue gems on. I've used it to add some pink gems to the corners of my card..

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

Craft your days away - metal (the charm)
Joanna Sheen - Someone special
Stamptacular Sunday challenge - Freebie Week
Divas by design - Charmed I'm sure
Crafters Companion - 4 legged friends

Thank you for reading my blog and can I thank those of you who leave me wonderful words of encouragement. Your comments mean a lot to me.

Happy crafting
Helen xx
 

Childhood memories

Hi everyone, I'm back again...This time I've made a card inspired by childhood memories....don't laugh...

 I got one of Crafters Companions Paintbox Poppets stamps last week and have just had my first go with it...

The background paper is from Papermania Rose Garden and is matted with pink paper. The piece of pink glitter card must have come with a magazine at some point and I've added more fancy flowers than I have in the past....Need more flowers!! I've coloured the image with promarkers and edged with spun sugar distress ink. The die is Spellbinders Labels Six. I think she looks quite sweet, but I bet she has all her teeth, unlike me in my photo!

 I would like to enter this in the following:-

One stop craft - pastels and die cuts
Card makin mamas - getting girlie
Penny Black and more - April

Thanks for stopping by. See you again soon

Happy crafting
Helen xx