Gone with the wind

Hi everyone, sorry I haven't blogged for a few days, I've been struggling with vertigo and fatigue related to my fibromyalgia. I managed to spend some time in my craft room yesterday afternoon and this is what I came up with...

I borrowed the gorgeous House Mouse stamp from my best mate Sue, it's called 'Gone with the wind'. I've used it to make a card for my daughters to give to my Dad when he turns 75 at the end of May. When we were kids (I have 3 older brothers) apparently my Dad used to 'borrow' my brothers kites all the time...I don't think they got a look in. I've been having a go at a few different techniques lately and for this card decided to ink the card blank rather than use a backing paper. I've used distress inks (forest moss and faded jeans) which I then rubbed with a baby wipe to blend it in. When it had dried I embossed it using a mask and then inked the edges with tea dye distress ink. I coloured the image using copics and also drew round the inside of the die with pale blue while the image was still in it. I then inked the outer edge of the image plate with tea dye. I cut out a  Bonsai tree using a Spellbinder die d-lite. I then coloured this using distress ink and a water brush to give a water colour appearance. This then got dunked in the melt pot. I love the result. I used a cloud  and a tag to add the sentiments. The ribbon has also been coloured using tea dye. Here are some close ups...

I would like to enter this for the following:-
House Mouse and friends - weather (wind)
Love to create - punches or dies
Cards for men - animals
The squirrel and the fox - Furry Friends
Make it Monday

Thanks for visiting. I hope I'll be able to come back soon. Happy crafting
Helen xx

Aud Sentiments 3rd Birthday Blog Hop

Hi everyone,

Thank you for helping Aud Sentiments celebrate 3 years of craft challenges.  We are celebrating in a big way with our 3rd Birthday Blog Hop! 

 We have prizes from  3 fabulous sponsors.  Participants in our challenge and the blog hop will have an opportunity to win prizes from Stamp and Create, Robyn's Fetish and My Heart Pieces.

  If you just came from Ginny's blog  you are on the right track.  If not, please go to the Aud Sentiment's Challenge blog and start at the beginning. 

As it's our 3rd Birthday we'd like you to produce a card/project for a birthday...Don't forget to add a sentiment. Here's my little piece of inspiration, using a gorgeous Robyn's Fetish image called Friends Forever. Hope you like it...

I've coloured the image using Copics and cut out and displayed it using Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Opulent Ovals). The image panel has then been layered onto a Timeless Rectangle which has been embossed with a small polka dot mask whilst still in the die. The sentiment is from a Paws-Fur-A-Moment set and has been cut out with the Petite Oval die. The backing paper is First Edition (Up, Up & Away). I've finished off with some ribbon from my stash, a couple of Spellbinder Floral corners and the word 'Friend', made with Tattered Lace dies.

 Don't forget to leave me a comment. One lucky winner will be chosen from all the comments left along the hop.  The more comments you leave, the greater your chance to win!  

Your next stop along the hop is Julie's blog. 

 Don't forget to create a birthday card/project and link it up to the challenge blog.

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

Helen xx

Yay - I got a Melt Pot!

Hi everyone, it was my birthday last Sunday and I decided to spend some of my birthday money on a Melt Pot. I couldn't wait to play with it. It arrived on Friday and I started making this project yesterday, finishing it off this afternoon. I've decorated an MDF heart from the Hobby House...

I made the flowers with a Spellbinder Bitty Blossom die and First Edition papers (Hobby House). The birdcage is a die d-lite called Bird Cage One, also cut from matching First Edition paper. The flowers, leaves and birdcage have all been dipped in UTEE in the melt pot. I love that glossy finish. I've rubbed some gold lustre onto the bird cage too. I painted the heart using cream acrylic paint and then added spots using a mask and frayed burlap distress ink. I've assembled it all, adding a doily, bow, gold pearls (Hobby House) and some wired pearls. I'm really pleased with the result.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Crafting for all seasons - no stamps
Happy Campers - Use a mask
One stop craft - not square

Thanks for visiting, I hope to see you again soon. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Helen xx

PS. Could I also thank those of you who sent kind comments about the card my hubby made me. They really made him smile xx

Dutch Dare you to make anything but a card...

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Dutch Dare today. We're being sponsored by the wonderful Bugaboo to make Anything BUT a Card. Here's the tag I made using one of their fab images...

I printed onto white twice for the butterfly and onto 2 different First Edition papers to paper piece the rest of the tag. I've distressed using tea dye distress ink, decoupaged the butterfly and finished off with pearls, ribbon and a flower. I hope you'll pop over and take a look...

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Can you digi it - Butterflies 
Artistic inspirations - Anything but a card 

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

Round and Round with Ruby

Hi everyone, it's time for a new challenge over at Ruby's Rainbow. Our theme for this fortnight is 'Round and Round' so we want to see plenty of spots, circles etc...in fact anything round.

Here's my card, using a cute Party Paws rubber stamp...

I've coloured him with Copics and added lots of circles, spots and candi. Hope you like him. Don't forget to go and have a look at the fabulous inspiration from my talented team mates and maybe have a go...we look forward to seeing your creations.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Craft Your Passion - Adorable animals 
Cupcake Craft Challenges - Cute and Cuddly 
Incy Wincy Designs - Fur or feathers 


Before I go I just need to share another card with you. It was my birthday last Sunday (14th) and my lovely hubby Ted wanted to make me a card so I let him loose in my craft room and here's the gorgeous card he made me...

I love it. I think he did a wonderful job. Anyway, better go and make some BBQ sauce - making smothered chicken for tea tonight. See you again soon

Helen xx
    

Sparkles Monthly - Hearts

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Sparkles Monthly Challenges. This month we'd like to see your creations including Hearts. Here's my little piece of inspiration...

 It's a small 4x4 card as I thought this size showed off the dies well. I've been playing with some gilding flakes. The heart is a Spellbinder Die D-lite called Vines of Passion. This is mounted on a Spellbinder decorative label 22 in black. I've threaded some burgundy ribbon through and fastened it behind the background layer, which is a piece of white card cut to size and then covered in glue and then gilding flakes. I finished off with 3 flowers. I hope you like it...

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Allsorts - Letter of your name (H for Heart) 
Card Crafters Circle - Die cuts 
Make it Monday 
 

My first attempt at Parchment Craft

Hi everyone, hope you're all well.

I want to show you the card I've made using the fab pressie I got from my best friend Sue. It's my birthday on Sunday but Sue will be on nights so I won't be able to see her so I got my pressie early during a lovely evening and yummy takeaway - so thanks Susie, we had a lovely evening. I had a go at Project 1 in the book and then added it to a card, combining it with some Spellbinders. Here is the finished product...

I made the corners with one of the Ironwork Motif dies, embossing it with a spotty mask through the die and cutting it in 4. The dies in the centre of the parchment are the 2 smallest Opulent Ovals. The sentiment peel off is on a Petite Labels One die. All dies are mounted on foam pads, finishing off with a double bow and some silver pearls (from The Hobby House).

  I've got a long way to go learning this craft but it's good to try something new sometimes. I'm really pleased how this turned out.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Card Crafters Circle - Die-ing to impress you
Papercrafting Journey - Monochromatic
Rhedd and Rosie - Monochromatic
Lexi's Creations - Punches or dies
Make it Monday

If anyone has any useful hints or tips regarding Parchment craft they would be gratefully received. Thanks for visiting and for all your lovely comments. I hope to see you again soon.

Helen xx

Altered Heart

Hi everyone, I want to share this project with you. I made it yesterday and it's my first attempt at decorating a plain MDF heart. I've painted it with aqua acrylic paint before layering tissue paper on it with watered down pva glue. I've used Frayed Burlap distress ink on the sides.

I used a Spellbinder d-lite called Vines of Passion, in brown card and made the turquoise flowers using the smallest size blossom die. The cream flowers are from my stash. I've added some hot fix pearls and a Cheery Lynn butterfly. Here is the end result...

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Creative Craft Challenges2 - Alter it 


Thanks for looking. I'd better go and do something 'useful' now...till I get distracted by the craft room again, lol

See you soon
Helen xx
 

Birthday Bloke

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge over at Aud Sentiments. We want to see your creations for a guy...and please make sure you use a sentiment...

Here's my DT card using a fabulous image from our sponsor Bugaboo...

I've coloured Gus using Copics and made him into a stepper card for a good friend's 50th birthday. Don't you just love that sentiment, lol. I've added some bunting using a Forever Friend's stamp, which I coloured with Copics to match his dressing gown. I've finished off with some candi and peel offs.

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and take a look at the fab inspiration from my talented team mates.

I'd like to enter this for the following:-
Crafty Creations - No squares 
Cards for men - Humourous 
Crafty Cardmakers - Humour 
Make it Monday 
Ginger Loft - For the guys 

Thank you for visiting. See you again soon.
Helen xx
 

It's Springtime

Hi everyone, I wanted to share a card with you which I've just made. I made it with a couple of challenges in mind...

I've coloured the gorgeous House Mouse stamped image using Copics before cutting it out with a Spellbinder Opulent Oval die. The papers are Forever Friends and all the distressing is Tim Holtz Spun Sugar. I've added some hot fix pearls, some ribbon from my stash and a couple of Cheery Lynn butterflies. The sentiment is cut using part of the Spellbinders Ornamental Tags Three die and has been curled slightly and attached with silicon glue. Here's a close up of the image...

I would like to enter this for the following:-
House Mouse - Spring 
Joanna Sheen - Spring into spring 
Cheery Lynn - Anything goes 
Make it Monday 
613 Avenue Create - Anything goes Spring 


Thanks for visiting. I suppose I'd better go do some more housework now. Unfortunately it won't do itself and the housework fairies appear to be on strike... See you again soon
Helen xx
 

Happy Bird day with Dutch Dare

Hi everyone, it's time for a new challenge over at Dutch Dare. This week our theme is 'Birthday Fun'. We're being sponsored by Doodle Pantry. I was very lucky to be given this cute digi to work with...

I've coloured using Copics and added Stickles and beads to the cupcake.

Backing papers - First Edition Up Up & Away (Hobby House)
Martha Stewart Border Punch
Spellbinders - Stately circles, Bird cage Two, Floral Corner One, Ornamental Tags Two.
Ribbon - Remnant from Boyes
Distress ink - Faded Jeans
The overall size is 8x8

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

I would like to enter this for the following:-
The paper shelter - use a doily 
7 kids college fund - things with wings 
Make it Monday 

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

Something a little different

Hi everyone, here's a card I've made whilst playing with some new dies and trying out different techniques such as embossing through dies and using clear embossing powder to add detail.

Here are a couple of close ups...

I've been watching quite a bit of Create and Craft lately and also following a couple of brilliant blogs by the very talented Sue Wilson and Julia Watts. 

DIes used - Spellbinders Filigree Vase and Ornamental Tags One
Mask - Creative Expressions - Small Polka Dots

 
I would like to enter this for the following:-
Natalie and Amy - Monochromatic 
Make it Monday 

Thanks for visiting. See you again soon
Helen xx
   

Happy Birthday with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone, so nice to see a bit of sun for a change...there I've said it now...cue snow/rain lol.

It's time for a new challenge over at Ruby's Rainbow.  It was my turn to choose a theme and I chose Birthdays. We'd love to see any project to do with birthdays - remember we're a multicraft challenge, not just cards. I, however, am primarily a card maker so here's my little piece of inspiration...

I was asked by a friend if I could make a 50th birthday card for her friend, who loves to shop and this is what I came up with. The card itself is 8x8. I used the Flippin Women cd to decoupage the character. You also get the rear view but I didn't use it for this one. The backing papers have been in my stash for a while and are docrafts Born to Shop. I've used a couple of Spellbinders to display the number (Stately circle in black and plain circle in pink). I've added a charm, some pins and a double bow, finishing off with a peel off sentiment. Here are some close ups...

I also decorated the inside of the card to match the front.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Make it Monday 
Crazy Challenge - Add a charm 

Thanks for visiting. I'll be back later to show you a card I made yesterday afternoon after a lovely few hours spent with my Mum in my craft room. We don't spend much time crafting together but yesterday we tried out a few things I've seen on Create and Craft recently and she couldn't wait to get crafting back home last night. Can't wait to see what she's made. We're definitely gonna try to do this a bit more often.

See you again soon
Helen xx