Helen | haiku cards

Grumpy numbers…

12 Feb 2017 2 Comments

by Helen in Birthday, Cards, CAS, Masculine

This is a contribution to one of my favourite challenges, The Male Room. One can never have too many male cards. I often need birthday cards for men, so always need ideas. This week’s The Male Room challenge is:

…and this is what I came up with. It’s not completely original as there are lots of “loading” jokes around the Internet, but this is my take on it.

Apologies for the dark photo – it’s pretty dark and rainy here.

We haven’t decided whether to give it to its intended recipient. Most people think it’s hilarious but he might not… What do you think?

An explanation in haiku:

Looking at the world
Through grumpy young eyes, as if
Spiderwebs obscure

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Zendoodle rollerskate

29 Jan 2017 Comments Off on Zendoodle rollerskate

by Helen in Cards, CAS, Ladies, Leaving, Zendoodle

This card is another in my zendoodle series. Possibly those who liked the Red Heart will appreciate this one. It’s a goodbye card for a colleague and reflects one of her interests. I used pictures from the Internet to create my own outline for the zendoodling.

I’m really delighted that Red Heart was one of the Top 5 featured by Muse and an honourable mention for Watercooler Wednesday. So glad people liked it, especially in such inspirational company! Hope the recipient of the card will like it next month 🙂

And my Triple Mat Nautical card was featured on Cards4Guyz. Shame more people didn’t take up the challenge there – I thought the Design Team’s example cards were excellent and really inspired me to try a new style. Thank you for that, ladies 🙂

And a haiku inspired by Roger McGough’s in the Radio Times.

My proud snowman, now
the only snow on the lawn
gone til next winter…

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Nautical birthday

22 Jan 2017 6 Comments

by Helen in Birthday, Cards, Masculine Tags: Nautical

A relative’s birthday is coming up and he loves boats, so I was intrigued to try a new technique (to me) from Cardz4Guyz – triple matting. I needed a new idea for a nautical card and I realise it’s not very original to use nautical stamps for this challenge, but I was pleased that I’ll have something different to send this year.

three mat ship birthday

Entered in Cards4Guyz #153 Triple Mat Technique

The sea absorbs drops
My tears vanish on the tide
Emotions washed clean

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Red and grey hearts

22 Jan 2017 2 Comments

by Helen in Cards, CAS, Love

This card is doodled and watercoloured for someone loved. Valentine, anniversary, birthday. I love those cards which have birds on a wire but I don’t have a suitable stamp, so hearts seemed a suitable replacement.

The colours are taken from Color Throwdown so I’d like to enter it in that challenge ctd426

And also entered in CAS on Sunday challenge 100: Hearts

Just know I love you
I give my heart freely: as
sure as the sun shines.

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Red heart

22 Jan 2017 16 Comments

by Helen in Cards, CAS, Love

Not only is it heading for Valentine’s day, but my wedding anniversary comes in a couple of months after that. So I was pleased that there are challenges around suitable for romance. I was inspired by Tracey’s Muse card – Muse challenge no 199.

The Muse card is

And here is my zendoodled take on it:

red on white love

I’d also like to enter this into the Uniko challenge #39: anything goes with option of Love

and into Watercooler Wednesday #102: love in red on white

Love like evergreen
Start by rooting in good earth:
Grow through many years

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Chinese peonies

18 Jan 2017 Comments Off on Chinese peonies

by Helen in floral, Non-card projects Tags: brush painting, Chinese

Today I had the privilege of attending a Chinese brush painting workshop. (Jack) Jiang Hongsheng is currently artist in residence in the library at work and offered a workshop to staff who were interested. Craftiness in work time! I leapt at it as you can imagine.

So this afternoon I spent two hours learning how to paint a peony in the Chinese style.

He was a good teacher and I was delighted at what I managed. I came last in art at school all those years ago…

Two Chinese Peonies

I have been really struggling with my mojo for making cards in the last couple of weeks so now I feel really inspired and invigorated! Thanks, Jack.

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An Irish Toast

28 Dec 2016 4 Comments

by Helen in Cards, CAS, Quotations

This stamp is an old one but NBUS, so I was delighted to bring it out for the challenge at CASology: Week #229 TOAST. There’s plenty of Irish ancestry in my genes…

I think it’s most suitable for good wishes on an engagement or wedding, or perhaps a pregnancy – a good new beginnings card at any rate.

My wish for today:
May your cup overflow with
health and happiness

Also entered for Time Out’s New Beginnings Inspired by Words Challenge: ‘With each sunrise we are given a chance for a new beginning’

Sounds a bit like an Irish blessing in itself…

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Christmas doodle cards

17 Dec 2016 2 Comments

by Helen in CAS, Christmas

A set of Zendoodled Christmas trees. Doodle and watercolour – love it! My favourite colours too, purple and turquoise.

I gave up on stamping. If only I were better at it… one of these days I’ll learn how to do it without smudging or missing some of the image.

Doodled Christmas tree

Meanwhile, this design is entered for The Male Room Challenge #50 which includes Christmas 🙂

The tree smells of pine
Brings freshness into my room
Cosy in winter

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Poinsettia Banner

17 Dec 2016 1 Comment

by Helen in CAS, Christmas

This is more of my watercoloured poinsettias and washi tape. Entering this in the Stamplorations December CAS Card challenge (colour twist red and green)

poinsettia banner