Paper piecing with Ruby's Rainbow (and an elephant update)

Hi everyone.

There's a new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow.

Our theme for the next 2 weeks is Paper Piecing.

Here's my little bit of inspiration...

I've used Boofle paper for the backgrounds and have stamped the owl on various shades of Core'dination card. I've used brown card for the matting and the picot edged circle (Spellbinder), finishing off with some brown organza.

The stamp is by Woodware and came free with Papercraft Essentials some time ago.

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge. Check out the fabulous inspiration from my very talented team mates.

Elephant update...

That looks a bit better than the last photo I showed you, lol.

Thanks for visiting.

I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs Helen xx

My first crocheted hat

Hi everyone.

As I mentioned last week I'm attempting to learn to crochet, along with my best friend Susie...we're certainly having a laugh! Well after a couple of attempts using a different pattern I finally realised I had the wrong wool for the pattern I was trying to follow. It was supposed to be a Bucket Hat but was more of a dustbin hat by the time I'd got 2/3 of the way through, lol. It was enormous!

I changed the pattern I was using and within 2 days I had this!

Please excuse the photo. I don't take a good selfie, partly cos my face is in it, lol. I'm really chuffed with this, I never thought I'd be able to do it.

Susie bought me a kit to make a little dog too. I've christened him Stumpy...

I'm currently trying to make an elephant. I'm waiting for the postman to deliver my stuffing before I carry on but I couldn't stop laughing when I looked at my work in progress...I'm saying nothing but I'll show you a piccie...

Honestly it's an elephant!!

Anyway, I'd better go do some housework so I can crochet when the postman's been. It's really addictive. Any crochet tips would be gratefully received. Thanks for looking. See you again soon.

Hugs Helen xx

Digital Delights Challenge #8

Hi everyone.

I'm here to tell you that there's a new challenge started over at Digital Delights by Louby Loo

As always it's Anything Goes as long as you use either a digital or rubber stamp. Here's my little piece of inspiration...

I've used a really cute image called Spider Stevie which you can find here.

I've coloured him using Copics, adding Glitter Magic glitter to his web.

I've used a Small Polka Dot Mask to emboss the red card for the background, adding guilding wax through the mask. I've added a sentiment from the Birthday Sentiment Set which you can find here.

I've used Tonic dies to cut the rectangles, Tattered Lace dies to cut the squares and the scalloped circle and a Spellbinder Victorian Number die for the 3. I've also added a piece of ribbon from my stash. I'm planning on giving this to one of my Great Nephews later on in the year...he loves Spiderman.

Now it's your turn. I hope you'll pop over to the challenge here and take a look at the fabulous inspiration from my very talented team mates and check out the great prize on offer.

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

Hugs Helen

The Earth Laughs In Flowers with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all well.

There's a new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow.

The theme this time is

The Earth Laughs In Flowers.

Here's my little bit of inspiration...

I picked a backing paper made up of roses (Wild Rose Studio Butterfly Garden). I've added some spotty organza ribbon across the bottom third of the card, placing a Tattered Lace Pin Dot Decorative Circle in pearlescent white overlapping the ribbon. I've added 3 roses and a butterfly to the circle  and stamped the sentiment directly onto the backing using Versafine Tuxedo Black ink. I've had the sentiment donkey's years...it was one of the first stamp sets I bought from Crafter's Companion.

Now it's your turn. I hope you'll check out the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the team.

I haven't been spending much time making cards lately but have a few birthdays coming up so I better get back in the craft room. I haven't been completely idle, I'm trying to learn to crochet. Maybe I'll share some of my efforts with you soon. That should give you a laugh...

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

Hugs Helen xx

Make it girlie with Sparkles Monthly Challenges

Hi everyone.

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

It's my turn to choose the theme and I went for

Make it girlie.

Here's my little bit of inspiration...

I've used a LOTV image from their Set 27 Beautiful Blooms art pad, cutting it out with a tonic die. I've layered it up with a Spellbinder picot edge circle die and a doily. The backing papers are from my stash and all the matting, layering etc is turquoise which is slightly pearlescant. The sentiment is by Circadesign. I finished off with an organza bow.

Our sponsor for this month is Crafty Sentiments, who are very kindly offering 3 digis to the winner.

I hope you'll join us, the lucky winner could be you!

Happy crafting,

Helen xx

Tulip Nancy

Hi everyone.

I hope you're all well.

Today I'm here to share part of the new release for March at

Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

We're going around the world with this release. I got the lovely Tulip Nancy to play with...

I've coloured her with Copics.

The backing paper is from the Around the world set which you can find here.

I also cut out one of the tulips from the backing paper using a Tattered Lace die. The circular dies are Tonic ones. I finished off with some ribbon and a few pearls.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you'll check out the rest of the New Release and admire the fantastic inspiration from my very talented team mates.

Happy crafting

Helen xx

Celebrate Women's Day with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone.

I hope you're all well.

It's time for a new challenge at Ruby's Rainbow.

Our theme is Celebrate Women's Day.

I've made a Mother's Day card...

I've used a Tonic Butterfly Doily die to cut the circle of butterflies into the turquoise square, matting with silver pearlescent card. I've inked the edge with Simon Says Stamp sea grass ink. Around the butterflies I placed a slightly darker silver circular frame with a scalloped inner, made using tonic dies. On top of this sits another part of the butterfly doily set, raised on pads, with added pearls. The sentiment is by Circadesigns, coloured with Atyou Spica glitter pens.

I've used a spotty paper for the backing paper, matting with silver after inking with sea grass. I've added a few flowers and a bow plus a few more pearls as finishing touches.

I would like to enter this for the following:-

TTCRD - Anything goes

Try it on Tuesdays - Feminine and fancy

Crafty Cardmakers - For A Special Woman

Come and get it - Monochrome

Allsorts Challenge - Sentiment in focus

I hope you'll join us over at Ruby's.

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

Hugs Helen x

Old fashioned Christmas with Sparkles

Hi everyone.

I hope you're all well.

I'm here to share the new challenge at

Sparkles Christmas Challenges.

Our theme for this month is

An Old Fashioned Christmas.

Here's my little piece of inspiration made using a Traditional Christmas kit from Crafters Companion.

I added some ribbon across the centre of the backing paper and a bow to the side of the image.

As you can just make out from the photo part of the image is raised on pads.

I hope you'll join us over at Sparkles. You could win a fab prize from our sponsor

 They're offering 7 digi stamps to the winner.

Thank you so much for visiting. I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs Helen x