Monochrome with Sparkles

Hi everyone, there's a new challenge starting at Sparkles Monthly Challenges. This month we'd love to see your monochrome creations. Here's mine...

I've used a Paws-Fur-A-Moment stamp which I've coloured with Copics. All the circular dies are from the Stately Circles Spellbinder, the largest one being the smallest one of the Grand set. I've used First Edition Papers and a LOTV sentiment. The butterfly is a Cheery Lynn one and I've added silver pearls to finish. It's hard to tell in the Photo but the smaller of the two circles around the image has been raised to form a frame using a plain circle die.

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

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Lots of layers
Forever Friends Monthly - Anything goes
Forever Friends Fortnightly - Pastels
Get Inky - die cuts
Incy Wincy - Animal Antics

Thanks for looking, see you again soon
Helen xx

Squares with Ruby's Rainbow

Hi everyone, it's time for another challenge over at Ruby's Rainbow. This time we'd like you to feature squares. Here's my little piece of inspiration...

I've used a Bugaboo image, which I've coloured using Copics. The image and the corner squares were made using the Spellbinder Adorning Squares dies, the sentiment was made using Labels 3. The mask used to emboss the background is Chicken Wire by That Special Touch.

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

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Forever Friends Monthly - Anything goes
Incy Wincy - Animal Antics
Make it Monday - Anything Goes

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

Foxy lady

Hi everyone, I was thrilled to be asked to be a guest designer for Little Blue Button Stamps


I was asked to make a card featuring one of the new releases for this month. Here's what I made...

 For more details please follow the link here. I hope you'll pop over and have a look at some of the brilliant art work. This one was lovely to colour.

Thanks again Olga, it was lovely to be asked...made my day :)

Thanks for visiting. I haven't been blogging that much these last couple of weeks but I have been crafting...just can't show you them yet. I will see you soon.
Happy crafting
Helen xx

Happy Birthday Nikki

Hi everyone, it's time for another challenge over at Ruby's Rainbow. We'd like to see your creations featuring Furry Animals. Here's mine...

I've made this for my youngest daughter Nikki, who's 19 today. She adores pandas so I just had to buy these Party Paws rubber stamps. I've coloured using Copics. I printed the backing paper from the matching cd. I've used mainly Spellbinder dies (oval, opulent oval, framed tag one and floral corner one), the lettering being made using a Tattered Lace alphabet die. I've finished off with some hot fix pearls, ribbon and a shoe charm (Nikki also loves shoes). Here are a few closeups...

I hope you'll pop over to the challenge and have a look at the wonderful inspiration from the rest of the team.

I would like to enter this for the following:-
Inky Impressions - Spots and/or stripes
Fab 'n' Funky - Lots of pink
Make it Monday
Cards und more - Animal friends
Creative Craft Challenge - Animals
Die cutting Divas - Anything goes

Thanks for looking, hope to see you again soon
Helen xx

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