Happy 50th Birthday BBQ card

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all well.

I thought I'd share the card I've just made for my brother's 50th birthday.

He's planning on building a BBQ area in his garden...

I've use my Tattered Lace panorama dies again. Theses really are proving to be a favourite of mine. The image is BBQ Bill from Dr Digi. I've coloured him using copics. The white panel at the back has been embossed using a Hoogie board so that it looks like white brick work (I didn't have an embossing folder for this). I also used the Hoogie to emboss the Kraft card which forms the canopy. 

I've added bunting, grass and a couple of decorations on the back wall. My brother collects fancy ornaments like frogs and gheckos whenever he goes abroad. I've finished off with a die cut sentiment and a plaque with his age on. 

I would like to enter this for the following:-

Aud Sentiments - Use a two word sentiment

Crafting by designs - Masculine projects

Through the craftroom door - anything goes

Craft your passion - anything goes

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

Happy crafting

Helen x

Buttons & Bows with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone,

I hope you're well.

Here's a little piece of inspiration for the latest challenge at Ruby's Rainbow.

Our theme is Buttons and Bows.

I've used up some card scraps (Tatty Twinkles cd).

The die is a Spellbinder Medallion which I've had for years and never used before.

I've added a small doily (the card is only 4x4), a die cut sentiment, and finished off with a pink button and a lovely pink bow.

I hope you'll join us at the challenge.

Thanks for looking.

Happy crafting

Helen P xx

Teddies with Sparkles Monthly Challenges

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all well and enjoying the weekend.

It's time for a new challenge at Sparkles Monthly Challenges.

It's my turn to choose the theme so I picked Teddy Bears.

Here's my little bit of inspiration...

The image is LOTV. It's actually James, but I added the bow to make it Jenny. I've coloured using Copics. 

I've used my Tattered Lace Panorama dies to make this. I just love these.

I've printed the backing papers (well card) using a Tatty Twinkles cd and super smooth card.

I chose just one shape of die to make the apertures, cutting 3 different sizes. 

I used off cuts of the printed card to make the embellishments, using Tattered Lace dies and a punch for the flowers, which I fiinished with an adhesive gem.

I've kept the largest die cut (the striped one) to write on and glue to the back, when I decide who to send it to. This will cover up where the copics show slightly on the reverse of the card.

I hope you'll join us for the challenge. We have a couple of lovely sponsors...

Prize 1 of 7 Digi's from

Prize 2 of £10 voucher from

Don't forget to check out the awesome inspiration from my very talented team mates.

I would like to enter this for the following:-

Pile it on - Use 3 of something (flowers and apertures)

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Through the craft room door - anything goes

Cards Galore Encore - Anything goes

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

Happy crafting.

Helen x

Another House Mouse Happy Birthday

Hi everyone.

I hope you're well and enjoying a bit of Spring sunshine.

I'm quite excited as I'm going to see Collabro tonight...can't wait! Not sure Ted's so enthusiastic but I did go and see Linkin Park and Of Mice & Men with him a while ago...

Anyhow, I'm here to share a card I made yesterday so that I can enter Gruffies & Guests latest challenge, which is anything goes with the option of Ribbon & flowers.

The backing paper is a Wild Rose one from the Butterfly Garden 6x6 pack. 

I printed the topper from the House Mouse triple cd.

I've punched the flowers.

There are 2 strips of ribbon round the centre of the card, one pink and one green.

I've matted with some shocking pink textured card, which I also used for the image mount and the sentiment. 

I've finished off with a gem in the centre of the largest flower and self adhesive pearls in the smaller flowers and on the image plate.

Thanks for visiting. I'm off to make 3 Mother's day cards now. One for my Mum, one for Ted's mum and one for my late husband Alan's mum. See you again soon.

Happy crafting 

Helen xx

Anything but a card with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone.

I hope you're all well.

Today sees the start of a new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow.

Our theme for the next fortnight is Anything but a card.

As I usually make cards I had to have a think about this one...

I decided to make a gift bag to put some choccies in for Easter...

I started with an A4 sheet of paper. It's a fleshy colour with a linen texture. I folded the gift bag using a method I saw on Create and Craft a couple of weeks ago. I did it from memory but there are lots of tutorials online. I then added a rectangle of patterned backing paper then created the bunny from various circles and ovals cut using dies. I made the teeth freehand, finishing off with googly eyes and a bow...

I stamped the sentiment onto some spotty paper and placed it below the bunny.

I then had to decide how to close the bag. I chose to cut a scalloped circle, which I folded in half and glued to the back of the bag so that it folded over the front. It's then held together with a tiny peg. I have loads of these and have been wondering what to do with them...

I guess I'll have to make another one now...I've got 2 daughters...

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and have a look at the awesome inspiration from my very talented team mates. Thanks for looking.

Happy crafting.

Helen x

A Spring Birthday

Hi everyone,

I'm here to share a card I've made for a friend. I wanted to enter the latest House Mouse Challenge 

#HMFMC189 - Spring

I printed a topper and matching backing paper from the House Mouse triple cd. I had to do this just by accessing the files directly from the cd as I haven't got Parallels installed on my Mac yet. Must get the hubby to do that for me... I made the base card using a sheet of glossy light blue card which has been in my stash for years. I then added a Spring edge die cut (Tattered Lace) and the backing paper. I covered the join between the two using two different blue ribbons. The topper has been mounted on an angle using foam pads. I've finished off with a couple of fancy corners on the topper. These are actually from the Spellbinder Frosty Forms Christmas dies. I've added a pearl to the centre of each. 

I added a white deckle edged insert to hide the ends of the ribbon.

I would also like to enter this for the following:-

Card Mania - Spring

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

Not Just Cards - Anything goes

Through the craftroom door - Anything goes

Thanks for looking. I hope to see you again soon.

Happy crafting.

Helen xx

Make it green for Sparkles Christmas Challenges

Hi everyone.

It's time for a new challenge at Sparkles Christmas Challenges.

Our theme for this month is Make it green. Don't forget it must be a Christmas project.

Here's my little piece of inspiration...

I've used die cut holly leaves to form a wreath, adding a few berries and bows. I've also added some branches using a Martha Stewart punch, finishing off with a green doily. I printed the backing paper from a cd but can't for the life of me remember which one, sorry.

We have two fab sponsors this month...

With a $10 voucher for 1 winner

and

With a $25 voucher for 1 winner.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you'll join us, it's never too early to start those Christmas cards.

Happy crafting

Helen x