Wee love birds...

Good evening, dear Blogger friends!  Well, the sun has been shining and at least the roads are clear, but the snow will be with us for quite a while longer, I reckon!  Hope you're all managing to keep warm!
Today I have a card to share using another of the talented Sylvia Zet's freebies...Wee Love Birds...

...I'm still on my First Edition Boho Chic paper pad phase (just love the papers in this pad, especially the orange tones!) and I've teamed it with a soft aqua and touch of green...

...I coloured these sweet little birds with my Promarkers and paper pieced the heart, then doodled with a Quickie glue pen and added some Glamourdust.  Here's the colours for all you Pro-markers :

Blue Grey 1 FM, Cool Grey 3, Tea Rose FM, Vanilla, Sunflower FM

So easy to colour up!  (Little Man wanted me to order him some Flexmarkers after having a go with mine this afternoon, he picked sets 1 & 4 and sets 2 & 3 just happened to drop into my basket at the same time!  Ooops!)  The scalloped circle die is one of my all time faves and is from a Marianne doily die set LR0141...

...The layout is another Mojo Monday sketch (makes card making so easy!)  I decorated the inside to match the front of the card, printing the line image and just covering over the heart with a strip of patterned paper, so that the little birds sit on top...

...I embellished with some Mulberry paper daisies (to keep the card flatter), diamantes, pearls and leaves from the Cheery Lynn leaf border die.  I thought it would make a sweet anniversary card, so added an appropriate sentiment.

That's it from me, thanks for popping over to see me and I hope the sun shines again tomorrow!  Lisa x

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Charisma Cardz

Die Cuts

(Circle, Scalloped circle and die cut leaves)

Sweet Stampin Challenge

Lots of Layers

Snow, snow, everywhere!

Good morning, lovely Bloggers!  I hope that all my UK visitors are coping with this Arctic weather that we are experiencing - it is a long time since I have seen snow as deep as what we have just now!  We must have over a foot of the darn white stuff and it seems like it's never going to stop!  We spent Friday without power and had to bring in the camping stove to boil water for tea...it's amazing just how much we use electricity, whenever we went to do something, we remembered that there was no power, so me and Little Man ended up learning how to play Beetle!  Thankfully, we are up and running again now but I haven't ventured outside apart from feeding the birds and getting the milk in!  I'll be so glad when it's Spring!
Anyway,  I have a card to share again today...I am still loving playing with colour and sketches and this card is based on an old Mojo Monday Sketch (I have to say, I LOVE their sketches, so inspirational!)...

...So how about this for a colour combo?  Orange and purple, who'd have thought it?!  The papers are from First Edition Boho Chic and bits from my scrap drawers and the background (though it doesn't show very well) is embossed with Button Candy Texturz plate...

...The image is a freebie from the lovely Sylvia Zet and was great to colour!  Isn't she just the cutest little kitty?!  I coloured with my Promarkers and added a touch of Glamourdust to highlight.  Here's the colours for all you Pro-markers...

Body : Blue Grey 1 FM, Lavender, Cool Grey 3

Hat : Light Fawn FM, Soft Peach, Honeycomb,   Ribbon : Pumpkin, Mandarin, Spice

Large Rose and Bow : Pink Lavendr FM, Orchid, Amethyst, Wild Orchid FM

Ears, nose and pads : Almond, Blush, Sunkissed Pink

Mouse : Vanilla, Sandstone, Caramel

Roses : Light Fawn FM, Soft Peach, Pumpkin

Shadow : Glacier Blue FM, Pastel Beige

...I embellished with a couple of polka dot ribbons, pearls and mulberry daisy, then added an insert with the line image to coordinate.  I love the freshness of the result, it's so cheery and pretty.
We'll be spending our afternoon trying to dig hubby's car out of the snow so he can get to work tomorrow...I do wish it would just go now, but it's still falling from the sky!  Keep warm if you're in the snow and thanks for dropping by!  Lisa x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges :

I Love Promarkers

Anything Goes

Deep Ocean Challenge

Cute and Cuddly

Simon Says Stamp

Easter/Spring

One Stop Craft

1 image, 2+ embellishments, 3 designer papers

The ABC Challenge

Just as you Like

Amazing news!!....

Good morning, my Blogger friends!  Today I can share some amazing news...I have been invited to be a Design Team member for the fabulous Passion for Promarkers Challenge blog!  Wooohooooo!  Could not believe it when the lovely Denise contacted me and asked me to be part of the team!  I am so honoured and hope that I can do the team justice!
I'll be part of Team 1 DT, along with the talented Cathy, Julie, Lou, Nic (Coops), Shelly, Vicky and my fellow newbie, Lucy (LoopyLou)!  I can't wait to get to know all the girls from both teams and get started - my first challenge will be on Tuesday 2nd April, so watch this space!  Lisa x

Dreamy dragon...

Good afternoon, everyone!  Hope your start to the week is going well and that the weather is being kind to you!  Snow's gone...thank goodness, but it's still nowhere near Spring!  Despite this, my card is very Spring inspired in it's colour combo...

...I paid a visit to the Wee Stamps store and just had to have this gorgeous Dreamy Dragon...isn't he adorable?!  I could have spent a fortune, but was quite well restrained - I'll be back again next week, mind!  The papers are from First Edition Boho Chic (love this paper pad!) and the sketch I followed is the current challenge at Sweet Sketch Wednesday...

...I coloured the Dreamy Dragon with my Promarkers in the same colour tones as the papers and here's the info :

Main Body - Ivory, Vanilla, Sandstone, a touch of Caramel

Spikes - Light Fawn FM, Soft Peach, Honeycomb

Wings & Belly - Soft Aqua FM, Aquamarine FM, Duck Egg

Tree - Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa

Flowers - Tea Rose FM, Watermelon FM

Shadow - Aniseed FM

The little butterfly die arrived in the post this afternoon (it's one of the Cheery Lynn Exotic Butterflies, just lovely!) so it had to be added straight away!  I think these will be showing up on more projects in the future, they are just such a nice size and so delicate too...

...I decorated the inside of my card to match with the line image and some of the patterned paper...

...I finished with some Glamourdust and some lovely champagne gold pearls.  I love the soft, but fresh colour tones of this card, very Springlike, I think - if only Mother Nature would make the weather the same!?!
A big 'Hi!' to my newest followers and welcome to my little blog!  Thanks for dropping in and I'll see you all soon, Lisa x
I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Sweet Sketch Wednesday

197-67

One Stop Craft Challenge

Anything Goes

The Squirrel and the Fox

Autumn or Spring

Cute Card Thursday

Anything Goes (Happy Birthday CCT!!)

What a difference a day makes...

Good evening, lovely Bloggers!  The fickle British weather never ceases to amaze me...from sunshine and freezing temperatures, to torrential rain and now, this was the view from our window this evening...

...snow...aaaghhhh!!!  I thought Spring was on it's way!  I left Mum's house after our workshop this afternoon and it was grey, but dry...about 7 miles down the road, it was raining quite heavily, then a further 2 miles along, there was thick snow and snowing heavens hard.  By the time I got home, the snowflakes were the size of doilies and everywhere now has a blanket of white - very pretty but a right pain in the rear!!
Anyway, enough of my weather forecast, or should that be pastcast?!  I have another Saturated Canary card to share today, this one is Rose Red...

...I made the card using the fab sketch at Simon Says Stamp Challenge (how did I ever do without sketches?!)  The background is embossed with Embossalicious folder Floral Frenzy, my favourite folder of the moment, and the papers are First Edition (I think, Summer Breeze)...

...I coloured Rose with my Promarkers and paper pieced her dress with a paper from First Edition Boho Chic.  I have been trying different skin tones and used the same combo as for the Larakins, giving her a bit more colour!  Here's the colours for all you Pro-markers...

Skin - Blush, Dusky Pink, Pastel Pink

Hair - (new brown combo for a change) Tan, Shale, Umber, Black FM (I find the black Flexmarker ismuch easier to use and blend)

Dress - Pale Pink, Cocktail Pink, Antique Pink, Amaranth Red FM

Tree - Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa

Bird - Buttercup, Tulip, Sunflower FM 

Eggs - Aquamarine FM, Surf Blue FM

...Once again, I decorated the inside to match and added a red satin ribbon and bow.  Hope you like my card and thanks again for dropping by, it's much appreciated!  Hugs, Lisa x

I'd like to enter my cards into the following challenges :

Simon Says Stamp

Sketch 2

Bunny Zoe's Monthly Challenge

Girly

Creative Card Crew

Ribbon

No Matter Which Challenge

Anything Goes

Shabby chic...

Good afternoon, Blogger friends!  How about this?  I'm on a bit of a roll this week and am back again with another project to share!  I have created something to enter into the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge this week, which is Chic to be Shabby...

...I only enter the challenge now and again (usually after visiting Candy's blog for inspiration - it amazes me how this lady can take a plain piece of card or household object and turn it into a piece of art!), but thoroughly enjoy it when I do!  It takes me out of my comfort zone and makes me try new things, but I thought that Shabby Chic was a touch more achieveable for me!  I decided to create another box frame (you can download my template here and the instructions are on my tutorials tab at the top of my blog)  I printed onto the reverse with a freebie paper and printed a second sheet of paper to cut the flowers from...

...Behind the flowers is the Marianne Creatables Large Oval by Petra die, inked with Victorian Velvet, Marianne swirl in antique gold and small tab die with the word 'love', then I glittered the rose and flowers with Diamond Stickles...

I really liked this sentiment which reads, ' Family - like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.'  I attached some bunting using the same vintage paper matted onto blue cardstock and finished with some pearls.  All edges were inked with Vintage Photo for that Shabby feel and Die-namics corners were added to the corners on the front of the frame.  I also attached a stand to the back of the frame so that it stands securely without toppling.  I really liked making this, though it took a bit of paper shuffling to decide where I was going and it has found a nice home on my windowsill!

...Thanks for dropping in to see my creation, I hope you've enjoyed looking at it and maybe taken inspiration to try something Shabby Chic!  Lisa x
I'd like to enter my project into the following challenges :

Simon Says Stamp and Show

Chic to be Shabby

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge

Flowers

Seeing double...

Good afternoon, lovely Bloggers!  I'm back today as promised with the second card that I made yesterday...you'll probably notice that it uses the same layout as my last card (hence the post title!), but looks completely different!  I decided to make this one for the boys...

...As you can see, I'm still in colour mode and have double matt all my layers with nice bright coordinates.  The image is the Larakins from Emerald Faeries - I just adore these little imps, they look so full of fun!

I coloured the image with my Promarkers and paper pieced the hat of the lower imp.  I made the skin tone a bit pinker on these as I am experimenting with different shades...so, here come the colours :

Skin - Blush, Dusky & Pastel Pink

Blue - Midnight, Navy FM, Cadet FM & Celstial FM Blues

Red - Amaranth FM, Crimson, Burgundy

...Once again, I decorated the inside to match and added some glamourdust to the wings, pearls and buttons to embellish.  Just goes to show how the same card can look so different depending on the colours and papers you use.  Thanks for dropping by to seee me and I'll be back soon with some more crafty creations!  Lisa x

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Raise the Bar

That's my Boy!

Papertake Weekly

1-2-3

1 Card, 2 Larakins, 3 Buttons

Natalie and Amy's Challenge

Diecuts

Fab n Funky Challenges

Add a sentiment

A promise fulfilled...

Good evening, crafty friends!  Hope you all had a good Mother's Day weekend and that you're keeping warm if you're here in the UK with these freezing conditions - and for those of you in the South, I hope that the snow isn't causing too much trouble...all we can hope is that this might mean we get some semblance of a Summer this year!
Last year, I made a promise to myself that I would learn to crochet and after watching a couple of YouTube videos, I managed to make half a dozen crochet flowers!  So, when I noticed a book on learning to crochet in the book club at our village school, I thought it about time to fulfill my promise to myself and bought it.  I began last Wednesday and sat at first just making a sort of sampler, practising stitches, then soon got bored!  Flicking through the book and skipping all the beginners projects (I am a very imaptient crafter!) I found a project that I liked which it said was for "improvers"...well, "I'm improving", I thought!!  It was for a shell stitch scarf...

...the title was for a Chunky Seashell Scarf, only problem being that I only have a 3.5 needle and some double knitting wool that Mum had given me when I'd said about learning...oh, what the heck, I'll give it a go!  So, 2 balls of wool later and I have my very first crochet project - the scarf would have been longer, but I ran out of yarn...

...the first couple of rows are a bit dodgy, but I soon got to know the pattern and am quite the whizz at double treble stitches now (which is what the pattern comprises of mainly).  I plan to make a 'proper' one once I've bought myself a larger needle and some nice yarn and I hope it will grow a bit quicker than this one because of it...hubby said I was going to get repetitive stress injury because every time he looked at me I had the needle in my hand!  It is quite addictive and I found that every time I sat down for a minute, I picked it up and stitched a few rows...maybe crochet should come with a health warning?!
I have also been busy at my craft table today making cards, just to share and this is one of the creations I came up with...

...I am trying to use more colour in my projects and just love this combo of pink, orange and green.  The papers are First Edition Spring Feast, Isabella and Boho Chic and some scraps from my stash.  I love the way Tara, at Inking on the Edge, double matts her layers, so found some bright coordinating papers and when I couldn't find the colour I wanted, I turned to my trusty Promarkers and coloured the edge of some white paper instead.  I used the Saturated Canary image Boobie Love and paper pieced her top...

Colours used :

Skin - my usual combo (Satin, Dusky & Sunkissed Pink)

Hair - Light Fawn FM, Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa, Walnut, Umber

Jeans - Light Fawn FM, Honeycomb, Pumpkin, Spice, Amaranth Red

Tee shading - Watermelon, Tea Rose

Lips and rose - Antique Pink, Waremelon, Tea rose

I added some pearls, stickles and small polka dot buttons to embellish and decorated the inside...

...I really like the finished result and am enjoying experimenting with bolder colours...I'd just like to say a big 'Hi!' and welcome to my newest follower Claudia - I have been a follower of hers for years and she makes the most beautiful card and knitted creations....if you haven't been to her blog before, it's worth a visit in my opinion!  That's it from me folks, I'll be back tomorrow with another paper creation, thanks for dropping by...crafty hugs, Lisa x

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Simon Says Stamp

A Bit O'Green

Craft Us Crazy (2nd entry)

Anything Goes with SC

Joanna Sheen Challenge

Mother's Day (female card)

Dream Valley Challenge

Mother's Day (female card)

Cocoa girl...

Good morning, bloggers!  Hope the sun is shining wherever you are - it's another blissfully bright morning here in Wales, if somewhat cold (it got down to about -4/5 degrees last night, my poor primulas took a beating!).  It's rather a quick post from me today, I've been busy over the weekend with card orders and Mum's calling today to sort out for workshops, so it's all go!  The card I have to share today is made using an image that I found in my drawer, which was coloured probably about 2 years ago when I first got my Promarkers!  I couldn't bring myself to throw it,, so made a card with it instead!...

 ..I had just received the Marianne corner in the post, so had to try it out and the signpost and lantern dies have been in my stash since last Christmas (2011!) because I just had to have them!!

...I think the stamp is an Elisabeth Bell one (my lovely Auntie Di stamped me a sheet out to play with) and unfortunately, I don't have the colours because it's that long since I coloured her!  Well, that's it from me I'm afraid - I have a teenager who is home sick with a bug of some sort and a load of card orders to do before the weekend - but the sun is shining, so it's all okay!!  Thanks for dropping by , you're always welcome!  Lisa x