Helen Plus Three

Mother's day, quiet one this year, but it's ok. I enjoy the quiet. Got mum some flowers and made her a card. I decided I'd go pink on the card and a little wild with the dies and hearts.. don't need to make a card look old !! The giving brings as much joy as the receiving. I got a free lunch from Dad.. and flowers from my kids.... Wedding coming up.. next card to keep me busy...

I needed to make a card for a farewell. I didn't have stamps that actually said bon voyage, so I made it up.. as in 'leaving the coop ' with my birdie stamp... of course  I had some help from my sizzix Big Shot dies.   Then came the guy card, which I say is really challenging when you don't have those real  'macho' design stamps (if stamps can be macho !!) so IMPROVISE.. this are 2x2 embossing dies which I then punched out using my circle punch....  ..a little fun, colour .. it's for a 13 year old.. so it'll do.. I decided to leave off the leaves... . ...

a little something for those hardworking hands .....from my hands with a little help from Sizzix layered flower dies and the 'Candy Cup' die and Penny Black stamp. My sis, sis-in law are mothers handcream for the hardworking  Sizzix die cut for the little box, handstamped with Hero Arts ..

I'm looking forward to birthday cake....   and wishing you out there hugs as well.... Stamp is from Penny Black 'basket of love', 'Hugs' and scallop die cut from sizzix,  and the words from Inky Antics.

It's probably one of the oldest stamps in my collection. The main stamp design is from The Embossing Arts Co.. called Strawberry Border,  against a Sizzix embossed leaf  background, a Sizzix die-cut dragon fly and my favourite sentiment for always from Hero Arts. Some pretty embellishments - a bit of crochet ribbon trim from Pinkpaislee and classic lace Prima flowers..a little sprinkling of flower-soft Summer dust .. Life is made up of sweet bouquets of special moments and sometimes it's up to us to ensure that we get those moments and not just wait upon others to create them for us.

Completed the card, finally. Stamp set from Crafty Secrets(Clear) - Bouquet of Joy with Words using glitter back powder. Background stamped using - Versamark Dazzle ink - Hero Arts/Basic Grey  - Luscious Bold Flowers - embossed with Kaleidoscope powder (transparent) from Stampendous - Stencil drawn cut out /circle - Sizzix Scalloped circle die cut on pattern paper from Basic Grey(Cupcake) - Letters from Sizzix die cut set (Hugs) - Edge Lace punch (top of card) from Friskars. Colouring of design is created with a combination of chalk and Tombow pens

This was spur of the moment inspired for my niece. I had not stocked up on religious stamps apart from Christmas ones and well, occasions are ad hoc and so we don't always want to buy something that would hardly be used.  I got my Alx to draw a chalice, cos I figured her free hand drawing would top mine any day. Ran an embossing pen along the borders and lines and used Hero Arts Gold embossing powder to raise the glitz with some glitter glue on the corners. And well I bought a couple of embellishments which popped in front of my face at the strangest place and time - the Bookshop. The cross and the praying hands are actually hand sewn pieces that are meant to be ironed on to clothes. These were very appropriate for what I needed to add on. I had created the card originally without these two embellishments and I felt that the essence of the occasion ('holy-ness') was missing and so that is how it all came together. The big embossing die (background) is from Sizzix  (...

I've been experimenting with my new tool, this is my latest card for one of my craft buddies, a close friend who introduced me to this hobby... 'the master poisoner' we affectionately call her.. who 's just an expert at handicrafts. The white background makes use of a sizzix embossing die, a little hard to see, unless you enlarge. Big Flower in centre made with Sizzix dies, the white pattern is stamped on. Flower Pot Card /using Prima flowers(miniature to add on to main card) I'm still muddling through colour blends and mix as  I work. ....More to come while I have the time... Have a good work week (I'll try) and happy crafting if you do...