Anything goes with Creative Knockouts

Hi everyone, I hope you've all had a fabulous Christmas Day. We had a lovely family Christmas lunch with 10 of us including both my parents and my hubby's. We then spent the evening with my late first husband's side of the family, so all in all it was a fab day. Getting ready for round two now...boxing day at my parents' house. Should be another good day...plenty of food and alcohol.....

Anyway, there's a new challenge over at Creative Knockouts. It's a simple one this week...Anything goes. We're sponsored by the fabulous Bugaboo...

I've used Theodore Grad to make this one, coloured with copics. I hope you'll pop over and take a look at the awesome inspiration from my very talented team mates.

Thanks for visiting. I hope to see you again soon
Helen xx

Merry Christmas 2013 Rachel

Here's the card I've made for my other daughter Rachel. More Copic colouring. Hope you like this one too...

Merry Christmas 2013 Nikki

Hi everyone, I thought I'd share the card I've made for my daughter Nikki. I've been colouring with my copics again. Really pleased with this one.....hope you like it :)

Anything but a card for Sparkles Monthly Challenges

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well. I'm here to share a Christmas plaque I've made for Sparkles Monthly Challenges latest challenge. It's our 3rd birthday this month and I got the honour of choosing the theme so I chose 'Anything BUT a card'...

It's an MDF heart, which I bought on a recent visit to The Hobby House. The die is by Crafts Too I think, I got it at the NEC. Now I just have to find somewhere to hang it...

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and leave some love for my very talented team mates and show us what you can do. Can't wait to see all your fab creations.

See you again soon
Helen xx

Tis the season at Creative Knockouts

Hi everyone, are you all nearly ready for Christmas? I'm not, I'm struggling to decide what to buy my hubby and two daughters this year. Think it's gonna be a year of bits and bobs this year.

Anyway, over at Creative Knockouts we've got a new challenge for you. It's called 'Tis the season' and we'd like to see your Christmas projects. Here's my DT card...

We're being sponsored by the fabulous Robyn's Fetish, who very kindly gave us images to work with. I chose Gingerbread Baby which I've coloured using Copics, adding glamour dust glitter using a glue pen. The dies are both Spellbinders and the round sentiment stamp is from a Daisy and Dandelion set which I've had a good few years. I've stamped it with versamark and added silver detail embossing powder. I've added some festive ribbon, from the local Boyes and have edged the backing paper, star and inked the sentiment using Fired Brick distress ink. Here are some close-ups...

I've attached the gingerbread baby using glue gel to add some dimension.

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and have a look at the fab inspiration from my talented team mates and enter a card. You could win some Robyn's Fetish images.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
LEJ Designs Challenge - Festive Fun
Through the craft room door - Anything goes
Paper Makeup Stamps - Sparkle

Thanks for visiting. I'm gonna have a look what everyone else has been up to now and catch up with some commenting. See you again soon.

Hugs Helen xx

Christmas Time with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Ruby's Rainbow. It's our last challenge until the New Year and our fab team mate Silvi has chosen Christmas as the theme...

I've used a freebie stamp, which I've coloured using Copics and displayed him on some layered Spellbinders. I've picked out some of the colours from the backing papers to make the flower and added Olive branch leaves.

I hope you'll join us for this one. Can't wait to see all your wonderful creations.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge - Anything goes Christmas
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Christmas Creatures

Thanks for visiting. I hope to see you again soon
Hugs Helen xx

Christmas Feasts and treats

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well. Today sees my debut on the design team at Sparkles Christmas Challenges. Our theme is 'Christmas Feasts and Treats' so we'd love to see food or sweets feature in your Christmas projects this month. Here's my card...

I've used the Makey Bakey Mice Christmas cd to print the topper and the backing paper. I've added some glamour dust to the topper and edged everything with red distress ink. I used a bow maker to tie the ribbon and added a Spellbinder die d-lite sprig of holly, with added glitter. The sentiment is a rub on on  a Spellbinder petite label 1.

We're being sponsored by the fabulous Di's Digi's. You could win $10's worth of digis...

Now it's your turn. I hope you'll pop over to the Challenge and have a look at the fantastic inspiration from my very talented team mates. I can't wait to see all the fabulous entries.

Thanks for visiting, I hope to see you again soon.
Helen xxx

Tic-Tac-Toe with Creative Knockouts

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well. Everything seems to be progressing well with the replacement bay window. I hadn't realised just how bad the old one had got, can't wait to see what a difference it makes to the temperature of the room. Maybe I'll be able to discard my snuggle blanket....we'll see...

Today there's a new challenge over at Creative Knockouts. We have a Tic-Tac-Toe board for you.

EMBOSSING	DISTRESSING	SHAPED CARD
STAMPS	SENTIMENT	DIES
FLOWERS	PEARLS/BLING	RIBBON/TWINE

We'd like you to choose 1 item from the first row/column, 2 items from the second row/column and 3 from the third. Please tell us in your post which items you have chosen. We're being sponsored by the fabulous Dilly Beans, who have very kindly given the DT some images and are giving 3 digis to the lucky winner. Here's my DT card using a gorgeous stamp called 3 penguins.

I've chosen Distressing, Sentiment and dies, and flowers, pearls and ribbon.  I've coloured using copics and added glamour dust to the hats. They're sitting on a layer of 'Fluff' snow. Here are a few close-ups...

Now it's your turn. Don't forget to tell us which options you've chosen. Thanks for visiting. I hope to see you again soon.

Helen xx

A recipe for Ruby

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well. I've had a busy day getting ready to have a replacement bay window tomorrow and general cleaning. I'm suffering a bit now, think I've done too much hoovering and steaming, but at least I've managed to get the bits done I had to do. Anything else will have to wait now...

Anyhow, there's a new challenge over at Ruby's Rainbow. This time we have a recipe for you...Flowers, Pearls and a charm. Here's my DT card...

This is for my sister-in-laws's birthday at the end of December. I couldn't resist the Tattered Lace die at the NEC recently. She loves cocktails. The flower die is my new Christmas flower, well you can't just use them for Christmas can you? I've added a doily in the background and some turquoise ribbon threaded through a pearl ribbon slider. I've added a charm to the 'For You' sentiment.

Now it's your turn...

Thanks for visiting. I'm gonna go relax a bit before I have to cook tea. See you again soon.

Helen xx

A different colour combination

Hi everyone, I've been playing in my craft room whilst my hubby has gone out for the day. I spotted a challenge a little earlier and thought I'd have a go. Here's the challenge I'm entering...A gem of a challenge - Purple and turquoise and here is my card...

I wouldn't usually put these colours together so I thought I'd give it a try. I printed out a background paper from a Crafters Companion cd, using the colouriser. I've embossed some turquoise vellum, which has been in my stash for years, and added a layer of turquoise organza ribbon. The flower die is one which I bought from the NEC last weekend and is rapidly becoming a favourite (Crafts Too Xmas Flower). I've added a memory box Sussex snowflake in mirri card and used an Xcut die to cut the sentiment label, which I've hand written. 

I hope you like it. See you soon
Helen xx

Animals with Sparkles Monthly Challenges

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge started at Sparkles Monthly Challenges. This month we'd love to see your projects featuring animals. Here's my dt card...

I've used a Mulberry Wood stamp, which was a freebie with Papercraft Essentials magazine recently. I've coloured with copics and given it Stickles highlights. I've finished off with a die cut poinsetta and a sentiment.

I hope you'll pop over and take a peek. Thanks for visiting, I hope to see you again soon 

Helen xx

Sparkle Time with Creative Knockouts

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Creative Knockouts. We'd love to see some Sparkle this week.

We're being sponsored by the fantastic Saturated Canary, who very kindly provided this super cute image, which you can buy here...

I've coloured using Copics, with Atyou glitter pen highlights and added glamour dust for the wings. The backing papers are from my stash of bargains picked up at the NEC last weekend (Santa's Workshop and Special Delivery - Helz Cuppleditch). The paper with the bows on is glittery. I cut a die cut out of this paper and then chopped it in half before adding it behind the image. The snowflake is Memory Box (also from NEC). The sparkly ribbon was bought from the local Boyes store in Grimsby. Here's a close up of the image...

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Crafting By Designs - Anything goes with a twist of Christmas
Inky Impressions - Red and green
Creative Creations - Sparkle and shine
Make it Monday - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting. I hope I'll see you again soon.
Happy crafting
Helen xx

A Christmas Candle

Hi everyone...you've no idea what a frustrating morning I had. I decided I wanted to make a House Mouse Christmas candle but couldn't find my white tissue paper anywhere....I turfed out the whole craft room, no sign of it. So I thought I'd have lunch, take the dog for a walk and then have another look....30 seconds after going back in my craft room there was the tissue...on my desk...under my nose all the time!!

Anyhow, here's the result...

This is only the second candle I've ever done so I'm really pleased with it. The ribbon and lace have been fastened on with pins and it's sitting on a spellbinder picot edged circle with twine threaded through.

I would like to enter this for the House Mouse challenge

Thanks for visiting. I'll see you again really soon.
Helen xx

Pink and Blue with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Ruby's Rainbow. We'd love to see your projects using the colours Pink and Blue. Here's my little bit of inspiration...

I've used my Party Paws cd, printing out one of the shaped cards and printing a blue pattern onto the reverse side of the card. I then cut out the shaped edge and added some acetate to the panel, to which I've added the pink butterfly. I've added some mirri card to the back panel and finished off with a glittery peeloff along the edge of the mirri and a tag sentiment. Now it's your turn...

Please pop over to the challenge and have a look at the fab inspiration from my talented team mates.

Thanks for visiting. See you again soon.
Helen xx

Banners and Pennants with Creative Knockouts

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Creative Knockouts. We'd love to see your creations using Pennants and Banners. Here's mine...

We're being sponsored by Meljens, who very kindly gave me this gorgeous image to play with. I've coloured using copics and used Forever Friends papers and ribbons. The bunting stamp is from a 'Party Time' stamp set by Helz Cuppleditch. This is for one of my daughter's friends. They finished their degrees in summer but the Graduation ceremony isn't until January.

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge, take a look at the fantastic inspiration from my very talented team mates and maybe give it a go. You could win 4 fabulous Meljens digis.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Inklings and yarns - anything goes
Through the craft room door - anything goes
Craft-Dee BowZ - handmade bow
Make it Monday - anything goes

Thanks for visiting. I'll share some more cards later on...See you soon
Helen xx

Halloween or colours with Ruby

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well and didn't suffer too much in the recent storm. We were very lucky to miss it in Lincolnshire but my thoughts go out to those who weren't so lucky.

It's time for a new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow. Our theme is 'Halloween or the colours Orange, Black and Purple' as we know that not everyone celebrates Halloween. I chose the colours option to make a card for my Brother-in-law...

The image is a Pollycraft one which I've had for some time. I've coloured him using copics. I've used my piercing ruler for the first time to add some interest to the black background. The sentiment is hand written on a sticker from a sheet I got years ago (Generations - HOLDthoseTHOUGHTS). Here's a close up of the image...

I hope you'll pop over to Ruby's and have a look at the fab inspiration from my team mates.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Bearly Mine - Orange, Purple and Black
Make it Monday - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting. I'll be back soon. I'm going to spend the day in my craft room (first time in ages) so watch this space....need to get on with those Christmas cards!

Happy crafting
Helen xx

House Mouse are having a blog hop

Hi everyone, just wanted to tell you there's a blog hop going on at House Mouse. I've been so lucky to have been a guest designer for them for the last couple of months. I love House Mouse. Unfortunately this is my last design piece. We'd like you to use twine...

I decided to make a pot to keep my rulers in cos I'm always searching my desk for them. It started out as a hotdog tin. I've used an image from the House Mouse triple cd. Here are some close ups...

The card used to cover the tin has been in my stash for a while. I made it using ink and shaving foam. I hope you'll pop over to House Mouse and take part in their blog hop. Anyway, must dash. Just been away on holiday and trying to get caught up. I had a set back of being really poorly through the night on Thursday and still aren't feeling 100%. Never mind, I'm sure I'll get back to 'normal' soon.

See you soon
Helen xx

Paper piecing with Creative Knockouts

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Creative Knockouts. This week we'd love to see your paper piecing. Here's mine...

The digi image was very kindly given by our sponsor 'Crafty Sentiments' and is called Harriet - Friendship. I've paper pieced the dress, bow, shoes, teddy and hair and coloured the rest using copics. The sentiment is a gold peel off, which doesn't show up in the photo very well. Here's a close-up...

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and take a peek...

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - Anything goes
Bearly Mine Challenges - anything goes
Make it Monday - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting. I'd better get on with making my wonderful hubby Ted an anniversary card for Monday. It'll be our 7th anniversary. We've just had a wonderful holiday in New York to celebrate (we went there for our honeymoon in 2006 and always wanted to return). Hopefully I'll share a couple of piccies with you (when they eventually get downloaded from the camera). Hope to see you again soon.

Happy crafting
Helen xx

Buttons with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Ruby's Rainbow. We'd love to see your creations using buttons. Here's the card I've made for my design team piece...

The image is from Di's Digis and is called 'Off-Puttin!'. I've coloured using copics. The dies are spellbinders and the sentiment has been computer generated. I made this fro a very good friend's birthday, which was just over a week ago. I hope you pop over and check out the rest of the inspiration at Ruby's.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Make it Monday - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting. I hope to see you again soon.
Helen xx

Sparkles - Halloween or colour challenge

Hi everyone, it's time for a new challenge over at Sparkles Monthly Challenges. We'd like to see either Halloween or the colours Orange, Black and Purple. You can use any or all of the colours. I don't really celebrate Halloween but we do have a family joke that my Mother-in-law is a witch and it's her birthday in November so here's the card I've made for her...

As you can see I've used all three colours. The image is by Crafty Sentiments and is called Harriet Witchy Ride. You can buy it here for 99p. I've coloured her using Copics. Here's a close up...

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and have a look at the fab inspiration there, and maybe join in. We're being sponsored by Di's Digistamps.


I would like to enter this for the following:-
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Halloween Hues
Make it Monday - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting. I'm just getting back to normal after my trip to New York...well as normal as I get, lol. Had a fabulous time, ate loads, drank loads, walked for miles and miles and only gained 2lb so I was well chuffed with that. As I'm writing this post I'm listening to the soundtrack for Spiderman - Turn off the dark...One of the 3 musicals we saw on Broadway...thoroughly enjoyed it. Saw Wicked again (3rd time, 2nd on Broadway)...still the best musical ever. Also went to see Matilda, which was also brilliant. Back to housework, shopping, crafting and blogging...oh well.

See you again very soon. Happy crafting
Helen xx

Case it at Creative Knockouts

Hi everyone, it's time for a new challenge over at 

Creative Knockouts.

We'd like you to choose one of the DT's cards and case it.

Here's mine...

The card is 8x8. I've added various square layers, embossing the smaller one. I've coloured the fab Bugaboo image using Copics, adding a small bow to the front of the bra and mounting with 3D glue gel. I just love the sentiment...I've made this for my Mum's birthday, which is tomorrow. Hope she likes it...If not, I'm going to New York for a week on Saturday.....

Here's a close up...

Thanks to Bugaboo for the fantastic image, I hope I've done it justice. Now pop over and have a look at the other cards and pick one to case. Good luck...You could win a great prize from Bugaboo.

I'd like to enter this for the following:-

Moving Along With The Times - Anything goes

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - Anything goes

Shopping Our Stash - Pink or Cancer Awareness

Paper Makeup Stamps - Pink/Awareness

Make it Monday - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting. I'll see you all again soon.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Autumnal colours with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge starting on Ruby's Rainbow. 

This time our theme is Autumnal Colours - use orange, yellow and turquoise.

Here's my little piece of inspiration...

I've used a Party Paws stamp, colouring the bear brown instead of as a panda. I've paper pieced the flower using turquoise card, cutting him out with a Spellbinder Oval and adding some small yellow pearls. I've used an orange button for the centre of the flower. I've layered up some yellow and orange papers from my stash, including a small orange square edged with a Martha Stewart punch. To finish off I hand tied a turquoise bow and added a small flower with the sentiment. 

Now I hope you'll pop over and check out the rest of the team's fabulous inspiration...

I would like to enter this for the following:-

Nutcrafters - Show off your colouring

Creative Craft Challenges - Anything goes

Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything goes

Card Mania - Cute as a button

Crafty Cardmakers - Cute and Furry

Thanks for visiting.

See you again very soon

Helen xx

Monochrome House Mouse

Hi everyone, I'm here to share the card I've made as a Guest Designer for the House Mouse and friends challenge. The theme is monochrome.  You can see the challenge here. I hope you'll join in...

I've used a rubber stamp and coloured using Copics. All the dies are Spellbinders and the papers are from my Christmas stash.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Make it Monday - Anything goes
The Glory of Christmas Challenge - monochrome

Thanks for visiting. See you again soon
Helen xx

Party Paws New Baby Card

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well. Today I'd like to share a card I've made for my niece and her husband to celebrate the birth of their first child Oliver. I've been to meet him this morning...he's gorgeous.

I've used a party paws rubber stamp which I've coloured using Copics, paper piecing the sling in blue polka dot paper and adding shading. I'm really pleased with how this turned out. Here's a close up...

I've used some papers from my stash and matted using silver mirri card.
I would like to enter this in the following:-
Scrap creations - Polka dots
Alphabet Challenge - P is for paper piecing
Totally Papercraft - New Baby

Thank you for visiting. I hope to see you again soon. Happy crafting.
Helen xx

Creative Knockouts #3 - Texturize it

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Creative Knockouts (formerly Dutch Dare). This week we want to see some texture on your creations. We're being sponsored by the fabulous Delicious Doodles, who very generously gave me this image to play with...

She's called Celtic Fairy. You can buy her here. I've coloured her using copics, adding glamour dust to her wings. The flowers were white and have also been coloured with copics, as has the ribbon holding the charm. I've used Bundled Sage distress ink to pull everything together and added an embossed bottom layer for my texture element. I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and check out the rest of the team's awesome inspiration.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Divas by design - anything goes
Flutter By Wednesdays - anything goes with a fairy or butterfly
Tuesay Throwdown - Things with wings
Crafty Bloggers Network - Things with wings
Crafty Cardmakers - Winged things

Thanks for visiting. I hope to see you again soon.
Helen xx

'Team Spirit' with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone, I hope you're all well and not feeling too cold. It's lovely to see the sun out this morning....washing machine's on so I hope the sun stays. 

It's time for a new challenge over at Ruby's Rainbow. Our theme is 'Team Spirit', so we'd like to see sports related projects. For more details see here.

Here's my little piece of inspiration...

I've used a cute little stamp which I picked up in a sale recently. It's from the London Line range and is called Man of the Match. I've coloured using Copics. The blue backing paper is from the Papermania blue capsule. The spotty papers are from my stash. I cut the spotty paper into strips and glued them to some card before cutting them into a star with a Spellbinder die. I've cut the next size up from red card, also used to mat the image. The sentiment came on a sheet free with a magazine at some point.

I hop you'll pop over to the challenge and have a look at the awesome inspiration from my team mates.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Through the craftroom door - anything goes
Cutie Pie Challenge - One for the boys
Make it Monday - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - male card

Thanks for visiting, I hope to see you again soon.
Helen xx

Fairies or butterflies with Sparkles Monthly Challenges

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Sparkles Monthly Challenges. This month we'd love to see your projects featuring 'Fairies and/or butterflies'. Here's my little piece of inspiration...

The image is one of the 'Wee Stamps' range by Whimsy Stamps and came free with papercraft essentials magazine some time ago. This is the first time I've used her but I'm sure it won't be the last. Here's a close-up of the image...

I've coloured her with Copics and added glitter to the wings. The image plate has been cut with a Spellbinder circle and mounted onto a Spellbinder Picot edged circle in pink glitter card. I've added hot fix pearls to the outer circle. The whole thing has then been mounted on a doily. The backing paper is by First Edition (Spring Feast 8x8 pad) and has been matted on pink glitter card. The Spellbinders and the backing papers came from The Hobby House, a fab craft shop, well worth a visit either online or in person.

The sentiment ticket came with the stamp and I've cut it out using a Whimsy ticket die (also from Hobby House). I cut an extra ticket from pink glitter card and added some hotfix pearls and a scrap of ribbon.

To finish off I've added some pink ribbon across the centre of the card, tied a bow with my bow maker and added a Cheery Lynn butterfly. I'm really pleased with how this turned out, hope you like it too. Please pop over to the challenge and have a look at the awesome inspiration from my team mates. Join us and you could win a prize from our sponsor for this month...

I would like to enter this for the following:-
The Hobby House - Our artists
4 Krafty Girlz Challenges - Anything goes
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes

Thanks for visiting, I hope I'll see you again soon.
Helen xx