Sending Butterfly Hugs and Kisses

This is my second post of the day - for my Ribbon Reel DT card, please click here or scroll down. Thanks so much.



Good Morning,

This week sees the second week of the CR84FN#46 Color Challenge, WMSC#81 over at the Waltzingmouse Stamps Sketch Challenge Blog and a new challenge at DYSU - #55 Designer Paper.



I couldn't wait to ink up my new Dainty Doilies set by Waltzingmouse Stamps and decided I would do a kind of "one sheet wonder" and design my own patterned paper to use on a card and cover a little heart shaped box I've had in my stash for WAY too long now ;). But first, the card...both these shots show you a little more of my doily background paper and the gorgeous sentiment taken from the 'Say It Loud' set by Waltzingmouse stamps.



I stamped the small doily shapes from this set in a very random way using pink, yellow and antique linen ink onto some cream cardstock - I just kept adding doilies until I was happy with the look. I then cut out a piece for my card, used Spellbinder Labels One to cut out the beautiful ornate square shape, exposing some of the pink cardstock base below. I stamped one of the awesome WMS Very Vintage Labels One images in Versamark ink and heat embossed using some pearlescent embossing powder. I used the 'Wonderful Wings' butterfly die set by Donna Salazar for Spellbinders and cut one solid yellow butterfly and then layered this with co-ordinating cut out butterfly. I added some little pink twine antennae and a sweet pink rose. The pink wings are so sheer IRL!



Here's a shot of that sweet heart box. I simply drew and then cut around the lid and stuck on with glue, I measured and cut a complete strip to cover the base - the lid was quite a tight fit, so I had to measure the height of the strip of paper with the lid on. I edged the lid with pink seam binding and pearl lace trim from The Ribbon Reel and then added another yellow and pink butterfly to the top of the lid.





and this is where I took my inspiration from:

CR84FN#46 Color Inspiration:


Sketch by Waltzingmouse Stamps:



and DYSU #55 Patterned Paper Challenge:



Have a wonderful day and enjoy the rest of your crafty week!!

Hugs,

Helen xxx

Supplies:

Waltzingmouse stamps: Dainty Doilies, Say it Loud
Ink: Versamark; Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink - Stampin Up; Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink by Ranger
Embossing Powder: Silver Pearl by Heat It Up!
Cardstock: Cream, Pink - Stampin' Up!;
Yellow paper - Papermania
Ribbon & Trims: The Ribbon Reel
Pink Roses: Prima

TRR #20 New Year New Start - Resolutions

A very Good Morning to you!!

It's time for another wonderful challenge from The Ribbon Reel and this fortnight the super-talented Zuzana is asking us to create a card or project with a "New Year, New Start" theme - "create a card with your New Year Resolution and use ribbon/lace/twine/buttons"

Big things or little things, my resolution is to take time to celebrate this life!! The next year will be an adventure for my family and I can't wait!!

There are lots of lovely elements to this card. I am in love with the Ivory Crochet Lace - WONDERFUL stuff - I threaded Ivory Silk Ribbon from The Ribbon Reel through it to create a lovely border on the left hand side of my card.



I also used the beautiful Silky Gold Crush and natural twine secured with a mini clothes peg. My goal was for this sentiment to be pegged up there to remind me - a sort of 'Note to Self' or 'Don't Forget'.



I used some of the the luxurious Antique Gold Velvet stitched with a zig-zag and added as a border to the bottom of my homemade bingo number card. That paper with all the different numbers on it actually reminded me of a calendar and my resolution for each new day in 2012. I couldn't resist using more zig-zag stitching to sew a border around the beautiful dog wood flower I used on the background paper from Pink Paislee's Nantucket line.



I went with my heart on this card and used a combination of colours that are favourites for me. I stamped my sentiment using words from Ali Edwards set from Technique Tuesday onto some My Mind's Eye (MME) Lost & Found 'Sunshine' paper. I stamped a large doily from Dainty Doilies Large stamp set onto some grid paper from MME's Stella & Rose Gertie collection, cut it out and added a Blossom nestabilities shape and mounted my sentiment on top.

I really had fun with this challenge and it really has been a good start for the year for us as a family. 2011 was really tough and frought with difficult challenges and we are ALL looking forward to all the good things 2012 has to offer :) We are all looking forward to my eldest son's 8th Birthday this Thursday and my husband will be starting his dream job in the next couple of weeks. We have so much to be thankful for and so much to Celebrate!! :))))

Don't forget to check out what the other DT ladies have created for your inspiration:-
Keilly,
Pauline,
Debbie,
Zuzana,
Fran and
Lenet.
Click here to return to The Ribbon Reel Blog.

This week I was overwhelmed by the generosity of the lovely Claire Brennan, owner of Waltzingmouse Stamps who sent me a prize for the Tag I made using her wonderful Stamps and Ribbon/trims from The Ribbon Reel. I was lucky enough to choose not one, but TWO sets....STAMP HEAVEN :) I used one of those sets - the beautiful Dainty Doilies Large.





All Ribbon, lace and twine available from The Ribbon Reel Shop
Waltzingmouse Stamps:
Dainty Doilies - Large
Technique Tuesday Everyday Words by Ali Edwards
Papers: My Minds Eye 6X6- Lost & Found Sunshine Collection; Stella & Rose 'Gertie'
Paper Collection; Pink Paislee - Nantucket Petite Paper Pack
Cardstock: Aqua Mist - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain, Antique Linen
Buttons: from stash
Punch: Stampin' Up!

Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Party!

Hi, I'm so excited to be playing along with the monthly Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Party today!! There's plenty of time to play - just link up your project on the Waltzingmouse Blog by 4:00pm GMT today - click here to find out more. Hooray - I love Waltzingmouse Stamps!!! The theme this month is "Sweet Things"



I didn't get a great deal of time to prepare to play this time around, but desperately wanted to share something so thought I would take the opportunity to show you a tin of chocolate shortbread I made for my sister Emma's birthday earlier this month. The shortbread has long since been enjoyed, so only the tin remains!!



I simply covered one of my husbands empty Coffee-Mate tins with pretty patterned paper. I then used a couple of favourite stamp sets on this project and of course, Emma's favourite colour which is the shade of raspberry you see in the picture.



I covered the lid of the tin in pretty raspberry pink felt that I picked up at my local craft shop. I made the pink pins myself by adding random pink beads onto pink pearl headed pins - I love doing this, reminds of when I used to make bracelets and necklaces for myself!! The vintage cream button is from PTI - I had been hoarding it in the old crafty cupboard for far too long!



The Rescue Remedies stamp set was just perfect for what I wanted and I love how the white embossed image looks against the Raspberry cardstock. I love how Claire's stamps fit so perfectly with the Spellbinders Labels Four Dies. I also cut another backing label using Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 8 dies and dry embossed some polka dots onto it using a Cuttlebug folder. I highlighted some of the dots by dabbing them with some white chalk ink - just to really make them stand out a little more.

and here's a view of the top of the tin...



Once my lid was covered I stamped and embossed the doily image from "Dainty Doilies 2 Small" and cut this out and adhered to the top. All that was left to do was tie it all up with some beautiful silk ribbon and pop a sweet little paper rose on top.



I decided to tie a little label onto the back of the tin with pink button twine. The word "Sweet" is actually from one of the Rescue Remedies labels - stamped in versamark, embossed with white powder and then cut and mounted onto a another white heat embossed "Very Vintage labels 4" Label. I added more of the pretty patterned paper that I used to cover the tin, some pretty cream lace and a mini paper rose. Super easy & mega quick using Claire's versatile stamps and nestabilities :-)

Here's a close-up of those "Sweet Things" - Emma's Chocolate Shortbread...Mmm, Yum!!!



Nothing really new here, but I enjoyed whipping something up super quick!! If you're interested, the chocolate shortbread recipe is from the Great British Book of Baking which was a BBC "Bake-Off" show. My sister actually gave me the book for my last birthday - I think there may have been an ulterior motive there don't you??!!



Here's the simple recipe for what I'm now calling "Emma's" Chocolate Shortbread :)
(makes 12 chunky pieces)-
260g Plain Flour
100g Caster Sugar (extra for sprinkling)
200g unsalted Butter, chilled & diced
40g Cocoa Powder
a pinch of sea salt (optional)

Method: Combine the flour, caster sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a bowl and then rub in the butter with tips of your fingers until the mixture resembles fine sandy crumbs. Pop it into a greased tin, press into an even layer using the back of a spoon. Using a fork, prick the dough and then bake for 25 mins in a preheated oven at 180C/350F/Gas mark 4.

Now I'm off to see what everyone else is bringing to the party today. Have fun!!

Hugs,
Helen xxx

I also took the opportunity to link into the following challenges:
DYSU 54 - Pink!!
Wild Orchid Challenge - Anything Goes

Cupcake Inspirations Top 5!!

Just got some very sweet news...one of my cards earnt a place among the "Top 5" over at Cupcake Inspirations blog...This was actually a birthday card I made for my sister and was posted via my DT position over at The Ribbon Reel. (There's still time to enter a card/project into the "polka dots with pink" challenge if you would like...)



Thanks to all those sweet cupcake girls that voted for my card!!

I'm back tomorrow with a little something for the Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Party!!

See you then,

Helen x

Sweet Girly Birthday Wishes

Here's a sweet little birthday card I've made...



The little girl and her puppy are some new stamps that my friend Lisa gave me for Christmas and the Birthday Wishes and little flowers are part of the "Eat Cake" Stamp set by Waltzingmouse Stamps. I used some copic markers to colour her in and paper-pieced her little handbag with the same orange star paper I used to create the background to the card.



The main background paper is from Stampin Up and is as old as the hills, but it has all the mid blue, orange and yellow tones that I wanted and it feels good to use up some of those things that have been hanging around and make something fresh and new with it.

I was so inspired again this week by the fantastic design team and vibrant colours of this week's CR84FN Color Challenge #45 inspiration board, that I had to play along!! These are not colours that I usually reach for, but I had so much fun putting this card together...lots of layers, beautiful vibrant colours, a sweet image to colour and some lovely stamps...



I played along with the SKETCHBOOK SATURDAY CHALLENGE #44- Chupa created a beautiful sketch this week on her Random Acts of Creativity Blog - pop on over and take a look if you have the time :)



I am also entering this into the "Happy 3rd Birthday Charisma Cardz!" Challenge #1 The lovely ladies over at the Charisma Cardz Challenges Blog have a special birthday week long challenge and some great prizes up for grabs to celebrate turning 3!

That's all from me for today - Enjoy your Friday!!

Hugs,
Helen xxx

Supplies:

Stamps: Studio g Smirk Stamp; Waltzingmouse Stamps - Eat Cake
Ink: Brocade Blue, Basic Black - Stampin Up
Papers: Stampin Up; Orange Stars - Makin Memories Just Chillin' collection
Die Cuts: Marianne Creatables snowflake die; Spellbinders - Labels One; Blossom Nestabilities
Fiskars Eyelet lace punch
Cardstock: Stampin up - White, Brocade Blue; PTI - Orange Zest

Winter Wishes

Just popping in with a couple of Wintery projects I made around Christmas time but have yet to share with you...

I've been having fun with the free 'Winter Wonder' stamp set from Issue 98 of UK Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine...the cute images and the 'magical' and 'wish upon a star' sentiments got me to thinking about cards for Christmas, but also something I'd had in my mind for a little while now - to make a "Wish Book" for my two little boys to write down all their wishes and hopes for Christmas - not just Christmas lists for Santa, but anything that makes it a magical time for them - a wish for any time of the year!!





I stamped both the images twice in black Stazon ink so that I could colour them with markers and then cut the bears out and pop them up on foam adhesive for added dimension. The oval image was then covered in diamond dust stickles glitter glue and edged in Brilliance Pearlescent Sky blue ink.

I just made a little cover for a small notebook (99p from WHSmith) by embossing some Kraft Cardstock with a Sizzix folder and scoring using my ScorPal to get a snug fit.



I edged with white ink to add to the Christmassy feel and stamped 'wishes' and a little snowflake along the spine. The red dotty label is by Papertrey ink stamps and the 'Wishes' sentiment is by Waltzingmouse stamps.



The label actually keeps the whole book together and slides off for you to write inside the notebook.





The card was made using the larger of the two images - I embossed the card base using Sizzix snowflakes embossing folder, adding a strip of vellum stamped with the christmas lights stamp and then finished with red and white bakers twine to make a border - ribbon, pom-pom trim and a little button and snowflake charm - and of course the polar bear image to complete the card.





Thanks for the continued support and hope that you like my little creations!!

Ive also entered these into the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown - "Shiny"
DYSU Do You Stack Up - "Winter"
Really Reasonable Ribbon RRR39 "Sparkle & Ribbon"

Supplies:
Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps Say It Loud Winter Holiday; Papertrey Ink - For the Graduate
Kraft Card - Bazill
Ink: Stampin Up - Real Red; Brilliance Pearlescent Blue; Black Stazon; Copic Markers
Sizzix snowflakes and plaid Embossing Folder
Marianne Designs Snowflake Die
The Ribbon Reel: - Pom Pom Trim; Red Gingham Button; Red & White Bakers Twine
The Ribbon Girl: - Red Dew Drops; Red Stripe Ribbon, Jingle Bells, Snowflake Charm

TRR #19 Polka Dots in Pink!!

Hi wonderful blogging buddies!!

It's time for another Ribbon Reel Challenge and this fortnight Pauline, my lovely friend and fellow Design Team member is hosting a Pink Polka Dot extravaganza!!!
Pauline has provided this unashamedly girly photo for your inspiration and asks that you create a project using pink and Polka Dots, with Ribbon/Bakers Twine. Yummy, don't you think?



It was my fabulous sister's birthday yesterday, so I created this particular card in her honour. I created my own custom patterned papers by stamping pink dots onto Echo Park's Springtime collection using Papertrey Ink's gorgeous "Polka Dot Basics" stamp set. The main sentiment is stamped using a combination of two stamp sets - the "Birthday" is from PTI's Giga Guide Lines set and the "happy wishes and kisses" is from Waltzingmouse's Say It Loud set. I love getting the most out of my clear stamps in this way.



I then created a little polka dot banner using Waltzingmouse Stamps "Bitty Banners" set and some lovely little adhesive foam letters to spell out the word "Sister". then suspended it using some Cotton Candy Divine Bakers Twine from The Ribbon Reel and some little mini wooden pegs.



I used ribbon to separate my card into 3 sections using some delicious Pink Spot Organza and some Pink Twill which I gathered using needle and thread to create a soft ruffle.



I couldn't resist adding a beautiful pink and cream Gardenia, Hellebore and Cherry Blossom flower backed with Pink Crochet Lace and more candy pink bakers twine from The Ribbon Reel -I can't seem to stop using them!!



Have a wonderful week and don't forget to stop by the Ribbon Reel Challenge Blog to see what the other members of the Design Team have created using Pink and Polka Dots!! You can enter your card/project here and could win a wonderful prize from the Ribbon Reel Shop.

All the best,

Helen xxx

Supplies:

The Ribbon Reel: May Arts Pink Crochet Lace; Pink Twill; Pink Spot Organza; Cotton Candy Divine Bakers Twine; Cherry Blossom, Hellebore, GardeniaStamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Bitty Banners; Say It Loud. Papertrey Ink - Giga Guide Lines; Polka Dot BasicsInk: Versamark; Versamagic Pink Petunia Chalk Ink; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Antique Linen; Stampin Up! Chocolate Chip
Paper - Echo Park Springtime Collection; Pink Card - Stampin Up!
Other: Adhesive Foam Alphas; Ranger Clear Embossing Powder; Needle & Pink Cotton Thread; Tombow Multi-Talent Glue; Foam Adhesive; Mini Clothes Pegs

I've entered this into these challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations:- 142
Simon Says Stamp:- NEW Something
Sweet Stampin - Spots & Dots