Happy 2016 to you all

Hi everyone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas...now it's time to start thinking about the next one! It's never too early to get started on those cards and tags.

We've got a new challenge for you at Sparkles Christmas Challenges.

Our theme is Vintage Christmas Tags.

Here's my little piece of inspiration...

I've cut the tag using a Tonic die. I've had the little vintage postcard in my stash for donkey's years so it's good to actually put it to use. I've got loads more. I'm going to try to use up some of the stash this year as I'm getting a bit 'cluttered out' in my craft room. I think I may need a bulldozer soon if I don't do something, lol. I've added a spellbinder fircone and a few Martha Stewart branches along with a few pearls and a handmade bow. Now it's over to you...

You could win a fabulous prize from our sponsor for this month...

3 digis.

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

Helen x

Favourite Christmas Colours with Sparkles

Hi everyone.

I hope you're all nearly ready for Christmas.

I've still got quite a bit of shopping to do and haven't even though about wrapping yet.

Anyhow, today sees the start of a new challenge at Sparkles Monthly Challenges.

Our theme this month is Favourite Christmas Colours.

I went with red and green...

I've used a cute little Strawberry & Kisses stamp and coloured using Copics.

I've added glitter to all the dots on the backing paper to add a bit of sparkle and I've also glittered round the edge of the scalloped oval displaying the image. I added the glitter before I stuck the image down so the edges are all nice and clean. I placed some lovely red and green ribbon under the image too.

To finish I added a die cut poinsettia with a glittered leaf and stamped the sentiment using red ink and added it to a tag, placing this opposite the poinsettia for balance.

I hope you'll join us for this challenge. You could win a fabulous prize...

A bundle of digi stamps

and also

are offering this fabulous prize...

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

Die Cuttin' Divas - Christmas anything goes (Poinsettia, tag and ovals)

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut - Anything goes

Addicted to stamps - Christmas

Glitter 'n' sparkle - Traditional or Non Traditional colours

Stamping Sensations - Anything goes with stamp and ribbon

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

Hugs Helen x

Happy 24th Birthday Rachel

Hi everyone.

My lovely daughter is 24 today so I thought I'd show you her card...

I've used a House Mouse stamp, which I've coloured using Copics.

I've framed the image and die cut 'Daughter' using some self adhesive glitter foam.

The sentiment is a Circadesign stamp and has been mounted using a Spellbinder die and mirri card.

I've added a bow, some pearls and a couple of balloons to finish.

The overall card is 8x8.

I would like to enter this for the following:-

House Mouse & Friends - Rainbow colours

Craft-Dee BowZ - Handmade bow

Through the craft room door - Anything goes

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

Hugs Helen x

Get Well Soon with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone.

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

Our theme for the next two weeks is Get Well Soon.

Here's my little piece of inspiration...

I've used a topper and backing paper from the House Mouse triple cd, adding a doily, handmade flower and some pearls. I've used a pale blue card to do the matting.

I hope you'll join us. Hope to see you soon.

Helen x

Use die cuts with Sparkles Christmas Challenges

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all well.

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

The theme this month is Die Cuts.

I've used this rather cute Gingerbread man die, paper piecing all his details...

I've also used a memory box 'Merry Christmas' die, cut from red mirri board with glitter added to the right hand side.  The gingerbread man is mounted on some glitter card which actually came from some packaging from last Christmas, and has been cut using tonic dies.

The backing paper is by first edition and I used part of the larger design to make the border 'stop' as this is an easel card.

I've finished off with a tag and a handmade bow.

We have two fabulous sponsors this month...

$10 Voucher



and also this fabulous prize from Crafty Individuals.

I hope you'll join us.

I would like to enter this for the following:-

Craft-Dee BowZ - Handmade bow
CHNC Extra - December
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge
Craft Your Passion - Anything goes
613 Avenue Create - Paper Piecing
Glitter and Sparkle - Include a bow

Thank you so much for visiting. I'm going to finish my daughter's birthday card now. She'll be 24 next week...where did those years go???

Oh I nearly forgot to mention...I got a card printed on the letter page of Simply Cards and Papercraft this month. Isn't it great seeing one of your cards in print. Certainly made me smile. Anyhow, better get on. See you soon.
Hugs Helen xx

Christmas with a metallic twist

Hi everyone.

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

Our theme is Christmas with a metallic twist.

We'd like to see a metallic element to your creations this fortnight. I chose to use silver mirri card, plus a little red and green to make my card...

I made the topper using a peel off which has been in my stash for years...can't remember the last time I bought any. I've put it on a white rectangle and added Glitter Magic glitter. It's then been mounted onto red card and then silver. The backing paper has also been mounted with silver. I've wrapped red and white twine around the base card and added a little bow with several loops, using the bowmaker. Finishing touches include a ready made sentiment and some metallic holly cut with a Spellbinder die. The card is 4 x 4.

I would like to enter this for the following:-

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra - November

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - November

ABC Christmas Challenge - 4x4

I hope you'll join in the fun at Ruby's. I look forward to seeing your fabulous creations.

See you again soon.

Helen x

A Crazy Happy Bird-day!

Hi everyone.

I just wanted to share the birthday card which I made for my Mother-in-law...

The image is from the Tim Holtz 'Bird Crazy' stamp set with matching dies, which I bought at the NEC. My hubby Ted just fell in love with this set. I've coloured using Copics. I love the way all the wings, beaks and eyes also have dies so you can layer them up. I've used 3D glue gel for this. I'm really hoping Father Christmas will bring me the accessory set of stamps and dies to go with these.

I've been looking for a die to do the happy birthday for ages and spotted this memory box one at the NEC. You can't really see in the photo but the black and white papers are both pearlescent. 

I used a Cheery Lynn die and a tonic punch to make the flower, finished with an orange candi to pick out the beak colour of the owl.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention the tiny bow I added to the owl's head. I tied it using my new bow maker (also from the NEC). I love this, it's so easy to use.

The whole card has been matted with mirri board and contains an orange liner with a deckle edge.

I would like to enter this for the following:-

Craft Your Passion - Anything goes

AAA Cards - Anything goes CAS

Crafting When We Can - Don't forget the animals

Thank you so much for visiting. I'll see you again soon.

Helen x