Monday 30 March 2009

Drum roll please....

After spending ages deleting multiple entries, and deleted comments I was left with 464...yes 464 entries for my blog candy! Wow...I can't believe how many visitors I've had in the last 10 days! lol Anyway, that's enough waffle from me...I know you're all itching to know who's won!

I let Random.org do it's thing...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

278

Timestamp: 2009-03-30 13:09:31 UTC

...and after checking 3 times...I can reveal that the lucky winner is:

Chrissie from Chrissie's Card Creations

Congratulations Chrissie!

Could you please email me (helenbrammer@hotmail.com) your address, so that I can get your goodies in the post!

Thankyou to everyone who took the time to comment and link to my candy...I'm sorry that there could only be one winner.

My candy is now closed...

...check back later to see if you've been lucky!

It's Candy Time!

The candy is now closed...check back later for the result!

Yesterday, my humble little blog passed the 5,000 hits mark...now I realise that compared to many, that's small fry, but I still can't believe that so many people visit me regularly. As a thank you, and to celebrate this milestone, I've put together some candy, containing some of my favourite things...


One lucky blogger will win:
  • 1 set of Woodware clear stamps - 'Circular Greetings'
  • 1 K&Co Amy Butler Designer Paper 6x6 pad
  • 1 pack of Woodware Dragonfly brads (in pastel colours)
  • 1 Ice Stickles glitter glue (Crystal Ice)
  • 2 lengths of Lace Raffia (1 each of white and pink)
  • 2 lengths of lace
  • 4 lengths of grosgrain ribbon (in pastel colours)
  • 40 paper flowers (5 colours, 4 styles - 2 of each)

To be in with a chance of winning these goodies, all you need to do is:

  • Leave me a comment on this post before mid-night (BST) on Sunday 29th March
  • Spread the word on your blog with a link to my candy
  • If you don't have a blog, you can still enter...but if your comment is 'Anonymous' make sure you leave your name in it, so that I can find you if you win!
  • Cross your fingers!

I will post worldwide, so this candy is open to everyone. The winner will be picked at random on Monday March 30th.

Good luck!

Sunday 29 March 2009

Three Challenges in One...Again!

Time is short this weekend (last minute extra lessons before music exams next week!), so I've combined challenges again: the fab Friday Sketchers sketch; the Daring Cardmakers dare to include 'a chick a bunny or both' on our cards; and the Cuttlebug Spot's 'Celebrate Spring' theme. The image is 'Totally Excited' by Penny Black, the papers are from the 'Pocket Full of Posies' mat stack by DCWV, the sentiment is a stamp by Hero Arts, the ribbon in from Poppicrafts, and the background card was embossed using the 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder.

Just a quick reminder...my candy closes at midnight tonight...so you'd better be quick if you've not already entered.

Docrafts Card Kit Swap meets the Secret Crafter

There's a new(ish) swap over on the Docrafts forum, where you make a card, then send the card (sealed in an envelope), along with an identical set of 'bits'n'pieces' that you used to make your card, to your partner, and they do the same. You then make a card with the 'bits' you're sent, open the card your partner made, and then compare. I took part for the first time this month, as I thought it sounded like fun, and this is the result:

As I've added some faux-stitching, I'm entering this card for this week's Secret Crafter Challenge.
The card on the right is the card my partner made with the same items - I think it's really interesting to see how people can use the same items and get really different end results!

And this is the card that I sent to her:

The papers are by K&Co ('Roam'), the image is Penny Black (from the 'Hugs' set), the flowers are from Poppicrafts, the sentiment is a Whiff of Joy stamp, and the raffia lace is from Hobbycraft.

Saturday 28 March 2009

Three Challenges in One...

The three challenges I've combined on this card are: Papertake Weekly (the sketch); Penny Black Saturday ('Spring'); and A Spoon Full of Sugar ('Easter')...could have added a few more too, as there seem to be loads of 'Spring' and 'Easter' themes this week...but I'd better leave myself something to do tomorrow! lol
The image is part of the 'Bunny Friends' stamp, the papers are by Sandylion, the pink card was embossed using the 'D'Vine Swirls' folder; and the sentiment is a stamp by Hero Arts (words stamped separately).


Can you tell I like my new Nesties? ;0)

Just Christmas & Birthdays meets the Creative Card Crew

I've been meaning to join in with the Creative Card Crew Challenges since they started a few weeks ago...but with so many challenges...and so little craft time...I haven't managed it until now. Their theme of 'Warm Colours' is perfect for a Christmas card, and I've followed the sketch from the Just Christmas & Birthday Cards Challenge for this card. The papers are all from the 'Festive' range by My Mind's Eye, the image is a stamp by Hero Arts ('Winter Pup'), and the sentiment is a stamp by Three Bugs in a Rug.


ETA - Ooops...just read the rules for the Creative Card Crew challenges...and we're not allowed to combine...doh! Note to self - read the rules before you make the card next time! lol

Whiff of Joy Challenge #23

The candy I won from Jacqui arrived in the post yesterday...and wow, what a lot of lovely goodies! I just couldn't resist inking up this beautiful 'Musing Melinda' stamp straight away, and having a go at this week's Whiff of Joy Challenge. The gorgeous BasicGrey 'Porcelain' papers, were in the candy too, the sentiment stamp is also by Whiff of Joy, and the flowers are by Prima.



The colours do match better in real life...but I had to rush to get a photo, so that I could get this in the last post yesterday.

It's not too late to enter my candy...you have until midnight tomorrow to enter...

Thursday 26 March 2009

Truly Scrumptious Challenge #3

I seem to be making a habit of messing up sketches this week...although I was able to salvage this one, and add the missing element (the paper strip underneath the ribbon...although because I'd stuck the ribbon too close to the bottom, I couldn't fit in a scalloped edge, as the brads were in the way!)
I did, however manage to remember the extra for this fortnight's Truly Scrumptious Challenge of 'Something shiny' - I used 3D gloss on the balloons. I received the image ('Michelle - Celebrating Donkey' by Whiff of Joy) in a swap, the papers are from the BasicGrey 'Cupcake' pad, the sentiment is by Hero Arts (from the 'Cupcakes' set), and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

Wednesday 25 March 2009

Sketch Saturday meets the Secret Crafter

I've combined this week's Sketch Saturday sketch with the Secret Crafter challenge of using your favourite colour...in my case turquoise blue. The butterflies were made using stamps from Clare Curd's Signature Range 'Doodles' set by Papermania - I stamped them with a Versamark pad, then embossed them with a pearl blue powder. I used the large paisley stamp (from the same set) embossed in clear powder to create a subtle background on the bottom two layers, and embossed the top one with the Cuttlebug 'Perfect Paisley' folder. The flowers are from Poppicrafts and the brads are by Papermania.



I'm sooooo excited...I found out yesterday that I'm the lucky winner of Jacqui's fabulous blog candy! Thanks Jacqui! I can't wait for it to arrive, so that I can have a play!

Don't forget...I have candy on offer too...click here for the details.

Monday 23 March 2009

Dutch Dare Challenge #40

There' s a fab sketch for this week's Dutch Dare Challenge...which I thought I had followed...until I started writing this post and took another look at it! lol I'd left the sentiment off deliberately (as I'm not sure what this will be used for), but I can now see I've also missed off the circular element behind the flowers! doh! It's too late to add it, as I can't think of a way of adding it without taking the whole card apart, so I'm not sure if it still count for the challenge...nevermind! (Note to self...pay closer attention to the sketches in future!)

My main image is a Sugar Nellie stamp ('MacBeth'), and the papers are all by BasicGrey (from the 'Sultry' pad) - the plain ones have been embossed with the 'Perfect Paisley' and 'Textile' Cuttlebug folders, then I've rubbed over the embossing with a fluid chalk ink pad to highlight the detail, and give a slightly distressed look. The flowers are from Poppicrafts, and I've used a piece of lace from Hobbycraft in place of the long scalloped edge at the bottom.

Sunday 22 March 2009

Just Christmas & Birthday Cards Challenge #23

I'm cutting it fine again for this week's Christmas card, using the sketch from the Just Christmas & Birthday Cards Challenge...although I did rotate it...and resize it...but I think you can still see the basic sketch. I've used one of my favourite Penny Black stamps ('Bedecked Antlers'), and some of the 'Rose Tinted Christmas' papers by DCWV, for a non-traditional feel. The snowflakes were cut using a die from the Cuttlebug 'Winter' set, and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.

Sketch & Stash meets Stamp Something

There's another fab sketch on the Sketch & Stash Challenge blog this week, and my colour choice has been inspired by the lovely 'Spring' weather we're having at the moment, so I'm also entering this for the Stamp Something Challenge, where the theme this week is 'Think Spring'. The new items on my card are the gorgeous K&Co 'Roam' papers. My main image is 'Gifts for You' by Penny Black, the sentiment stamp is by Stampendous, the lace is from Hobbycraft, the flowers from Poppicrafts, and the adhesive pearls are from my stash.

A Spoon Full of Sugar meets Charisma Cardz

This week's Charisma Cardz Challenge is a sketch...and although I really like the sketch, it took me ages to work out what to do with it. I'm not sure I like my finished card...I think it's the black & white...I usually use a lot more colour, but I had this image already coloured...I may have another play with the sketch some other time! My image is 'Blossom' (Sugar Nellie stamp by Leanne Ellis), the paper is by Papermania ('Inspirations' pack), the ribbon is from Poppicrafts, and the sentiment is a stamp by Hero Arts (from the 'Anytime Messages' set). The Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge this week is to use gems on our cards...I hope my little Papermania flower gems count.

Saturday 21 March 2009

Penny Black Doodles

This week's Penny Black Saturday Challenge is...'Doodling'. My first thought was...argh!...so I took the easy route, and just doodled some borders...and used a 'Flora-doodle' flower...lol

The image ('Cinnamon') was sent to me by my lovely friend Carol in a swap, the paper is by BasicGrey ('Blush'), and the ribbon is from Poppicrafts.


If you haven't already entered, don't forget to check out my candy before you go.

Wednesday 18 March 2009

Sketch Saturday meets ABC...

I love this week's Sketch Saturday sketch...plenty of space for lots of lovely papers and flowers - which is the 'F' for the ABC Challenge this week. I'm a paper flower addict, so I'd probably be able to enter all of the cards I make this week for their challenge, but if I don't do it now...I'll probably forget! lol I've used a stamp from the 'Hugs' set by Penny Black for my main image (which also has flowers on it), and papers from the 'Blush' range by BasicGrey. The flowers are a mixture from Poppicrafts and Sarah's Cards Ltd, and the brads are by Papermania. In place of the scalloped edge, I've used a piece of lace from Hobbycraft.


Tuesday 17 March 2009

The Sugar Bowl Challenge #6

The theme for the current challenge over at the Sugar Bowl is 'Mother's Day'...we don't have to make a card, just something that a Mother would love. I opted to make a Mother's Day card...although I don't know who I'm going to give it to...I've already made the card I'm giving to my Mum. I've used Annie ('Blossom' by Leanne Ellis), and coloured her in brown and pink to match some yummy BasicGrey paper (from the 'Blush' range). The sentiment is a Hero Arts stamp, the flowers are from Poppicrafts, the Lace Raffia is from Hobbycraft, and the heart charm and adhesive pearls are from my stash.

Monday 16 March 2009

Friday Sketchers #43

This week's Friday Sketchers sketch is a really simple one...with plenty of scope for additional embellishments. For my main image I've used a Rachelle Anne Miller stamp called 'Springtime' by Stampavie...I must have been feeling inspired by the glorious weather we've been having these past few days! The swirly paper is from the 'Two Scoops' pad by BasicGrey, and I've embossed a minty green piece of BG paper (from the 'Blush' range) with the 'D'Vine Swirls' folder to match. The flowers are from Poppicrafts, and the cute little sparkly butterfly brad is by Dovecraft.

Sunday 15 March 2009

Something a bit different...

I've tried something a little different from my usual style for this week's Papertake Weekly Challenge...no cute images...and really rather grown-up...and this from the 30 year-old who got asked for ID when buying a bottle of wine in Waitrose on Friday! lol
I loved working with this week's sketch - I've used it to make an image wallet to send to a friend, and I'm sure I'll be using it again, as there's plenty of scope for adding 'extras'. The butterfly is from the Clare Curd Signature Range 'Doodles' stamps by Papermania, and I've stamped it on to the same K&Co paper ('Blue Awning') that I've used underneath the 'Textlie' embossed green card. The sentiment is also from the CCSR (the 'Sentiments' set), and the dotted doodles border was made using a Hero Arts stamp (from the 'Whimsical Months' set). The ribbons are from Poppicrafts.