Wild Roses...

Good morning, crafty friends! I have been trying to get back into doing a bit of drawing lately, though always find it hard to get back into the swing of things after the festive season...and this is what I came up with...

 

This project kit has been added to my Craftsuprint store HERE and consists of 9 printable sheets including :

Predesigned CAS card front and mat

Precoloured topper sheet with decoupage

Digistamp sheet

4 Coordinating papers

2 printed inserts for 6x6 square and 5x7 cards

 For just £2.40

First up is the CAS card front with coordinating green mat - simply print off the sheet, cut out the layers and embellish to your hearts content, then add a printed insert for that finishing touch...a really quick card but with a lovely elegance...

...These two cards were made using the precoloured toppers and papers...

And with this one, I changed up the colours by using the digistamp individual flowers, coloured with Promarkers, then fussy cut leaving a small border...
I hope you like my new floral creations and will be trying to create some more designs in the coming weeks..
Hope you all have a terrific Thursday - we've got Parents Evening this afternoon, to see how the 'not so little' man is getting on, but whatever you're up to, have a good one!
Hugs,

I've opened an Etsy store!...

Good afternoon, dear crafting buddies! So, what's new?!  Well....it looks like I've gone and opened myself an Etsy store to sell my digital card and paper kits!! (https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ellasdesignwales)...It has been on my list of things to do for AGES, but I always lose confidence and make any excuse to never get round to it...but it's done and I'm now hoping that it is a success...uh oh, is that the voice of doubt creeping back in?!
I have wrangled over which way to go with my design work, as CDs just take so long to produce - by which time I have lost all faith in my designs and want to change them all! (I know, we are always our own worst critic!)...
...So here's a quick peek at some of the new predesigned card kits...

...They're priced at just £1.80 each (something else I wrangled with!) and contain 2 A4 elements sheets that make up one layered and decoupaged card and one flat printed card - although the decoupage can be spread over them both if you like and because the kit is in layers, you can change up the layout or add in extra embellishments such as ribbon, etc  There's also a printed insert and different variations where needed.

There's a couple of paper collections that contain 12 papers in each, corresponding with the papers that are on the predesigned cards...

This set is the papers from the Birdhouse, Beach and Sundae cards.

This set is the papers from the Better Things, Grapevine and Rose cards.

These are £2.40 for a set of 12 papers, so I'm hoping good value for money?!

I am so hoping that this little venture turns out ot be a good one, as many of my crafty buddies know it is so hard to make any sort of money from crafting, but needs must...either that or I'm off to find a job!?! I would be so grateful if you could spread the word about my little shop and cross my fingers that people like my designs...
Hugs,
Lisa x

World's Best Dad...

Good morning again, dear Blogger friends! Hope you didn't have too hectic a weekend as Christmas fast approaches?! We had a lovely visit from my Mum, sister and nieces and it was nice to catch up and see the girls! I think I'm almost organised with pressies...well, I think I am, maybe I'd better check before Christmas Eve?!
Anyway, I have another paper creation to share with you today, this time with a male theme...

Card Recipe - 

Trimcraft Widflower 6x6 Paper Pad

Prima En Francais 6x6 Paper Pad

Globe postcard topper A Play on Words CD

For You and World's Best Dad sentiment A Play on Words CD

Die-namics Photo Corner die

Spellbinders Petite Ovals

Lemon Grosgrain ribbon

Green Pearls

I cut down the front of the card to create a shortfall and decoupaged the suitcase and globe for added dimension...

...All edges were inked with Vintage Photo DI and a touch of glitter to highlight the globe, sentiment and compass. A printed insert was added inside on cream paper to finish.

Have a magnificent Monday (I have a day of flower arranging and dress rehearsal for the kid's Nativity!) and I'll be back again soon with another card to share!

Hugs,

I'd like to enter my card as a second entry into Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge for the month of December!

Crafting day!...

Good afternoon, dear Blogging buddies!  Today, I have thrown caution to the wind and sat at my crafty table ALL DAY, creating!  I needed a bit of time off from the festivities and was totally inspired by the uber talented Jen's cards from Deconstructing Jen - I am loving her style of cards at the minute and although I don't have a lot of dies like she has (I'd love to spend a day in her craft room!) I always find HUGE inspiration from her designs!  I have ended up with 6 cards...yes, that's right 6 and another one ready for a topper to go on!  So, I will have some crafty makes to share with you up to the big day - I will be scheduling them, so they may be short and sweet (I need to find a quicker way of posting as it takes me an age to upload pics, crop and write a blog post, so am going to try doing a card recipe rather than boring you all with the details!)

So for today's card, I have taken inspiration from THIS card that Jen made...

Card recipe -

5x7 Chocolate Brown card base

Orange gingham and green leaf paper from Lawn Mower Set

Red polka from BBQ Set, both A Play on Words CD

Kraft card for mat and layering

Marianne button flower and leaf die

Spellbinders Labels Eleven

Distress Inks - Rusty Hinge, Walnut Stain and Peeled Paint

Polka Dot Satin ribbon

Narrow brown Satin ribbon

Pearls

...I created the sentiment in PS and added a printed insert to finish.

Hope you're having a totally terrific Thursday and I'll be back tomorrow with some more craftiness!

Hugs,

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

Sentimental Sundays 

#237 Anything Goes until 20th

Sister Act Challenge

Anything Goes until 8th Jan

Creative Fingers Challenge

Anything Goes closes today

Crafty Creations

Something to Die For until 23rd

Scribble and Scrap

Anything Goes until 20th

Plush Pals with a difference...

Good morning, everyone!  I better not speak to soon, but I'm doing rather well with this posting lark at the minute!?!  It's because I'm still busy making samples (and probably will be up until the day) for the Ross Papercraft Show in Edinburgh on Saturday 27th September at Meadowbank Sports Centre, London Road, Edinburgh!  My old samples have been in and out of the box and handled that much that some of them are looking rather worse for wear now, plus it's nice to look at things with fresh eyes!

So for today, I have another card inspired by one of Jen's Deconstructed Sketches (told you I love this blog and you want to see the cutest Halloween treats she's just posted, oh my word!)  Anyway, this time it's number 159...

...and this is what I did with it...

I used Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes for the embossed background, the lemon polka dot paper from the Lamb design set and the Blue dotty paper from the Bear set which I then overprinted with the Green version to get the pretty aqua colour.  I inked the edges with Mustard Seed and Weathered Wood Distress Inks to define the edges and save having to mat and layer..

The flowers are from the multicolour flower embellishment sheet and I've inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, cut into the petals and scored and pinched them for more dimension.  I added some Marianne Design Button Flower leaves, buttons to the centre of the flowers and small twine bow.  The craft card die cut (SB Labels Eleven) was left over from making my recent Bear Aperture card and was just sat on my desk waiting to be used!  I printed the sentiment onto Safmat and adhered on top.  Here it is to share - click on the image then right click and Save Image As...to download it to your hard drive...

..I really like the modern feel to this card - so pretty and fresh...hope you like it too and once again, thanks to Jen for sharing her wonderful inspiration!
See you soon,

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

Fan-tastic Tuesday

Anything Goes Twist Add a Button (until 15th)

Fab n Funky Challenge

Cute as a Button (until 16th)

Try it on Tuesday

How does your Garden Grow? (until 15th)

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

Christmas is coming...

...whether I like it or not!  It's not that I don't like Christmas - I love all the twinkly lights and atmosphere, it just seems to come around so quickly!  Unfortunately, here in Wales we never really had a Summer (a couple of weeks of sunshine, and not consecutively, does not warrant a summer in my book!) and now the nights are drawing in and the days getting shorter, I start to lose my motivation!  BUT, I decided to try and plan ahead (yeah right!) and get some projects made for our church Christmas Fair, which is on the 1st December this year - I always try to make some sort of contribution and run a little craft stall with all proceeds going to the church, so need things that won't cost the earth to make or for people to buy.  So here's a couple of the things I've started...

...firstly, I made a couple of wine bottle labels - I will be making more of these and different styles...

...The flower is made from different sized daisy punches and I love these Marianne leaves.  A nice plush ribbon, a wire twirl and some red Stickles give a festive feel (I hope!)...

...Next, I picked up a pack of small notebooks to cover.  The first one I covered and attached to a piece of covered mountboard with a string hanging loop and a piece of magnetic tape on the back, so that it can be hung or attached to a fridge.  I wrapped a pencil in coordinating paper and attached with a small paper loop, then decorated with Love News Tilda, coloured with Promarkers...

Colours used :

Skin : Coral, Sunkissed Pink, Dusky Pink, Satin

Hair : Henna, Cocoa, Caramel, Sandstone

Top : Marine, Duck Egg, Cool Aqua, Tea Green

Trousers : Shale, Khaki, Pastel Beige, Ivory

Shoes, Shale, Caramel, Sandstone, Soft Fawn FM

Papers : Vanilla, Ivory

...The other 2 I covered and added Judikins Praying and Peeking Angels coloured with Promarkers...

...I'm hoping to get the sewing machine out and make some fabric projects, too, but we'll see how they turn out!!  Hope everyone in the UK isn't too affected by this terrible weather we've been having and that you're all safe and well.  Thanks for dropping by to see me!  Lisa x

Freebie...

Hey guys!  Been having a play in PS this morning and what with the Jubilee and Olympics this year, thought I would make my own union jack papers, but in a more pastel tone...

...The papers are in 6x6 format 300dpi and can be downloaded from 4shared by clicking on the images above.  Enjoy!  Lisa x

So distressed...

...the card, not me!  Hi everyone, I have something completely different from  my usual style today.  I decided to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone to create a card for Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge, in a vintage/distressed style!  The theme for this week is Take Your Pick...London, Paris or New York, so I had to go with good ole Britannia and make a London themed card...

...I thoroughly enjoyed making this card (although it did take a while), it was great to get my hands inky and think out of the box for a change - there is some fantastic DT inspiration over at Simon Says, which helped get me going! The papers I used are from the Serif free digi kit, British Street Party and I inked everything with Vintage Photo DI!  I don't normally do shabby/distressed, so was almsot hyper-ventilating as I took the edge of my scissors to the paper to grunge it up! ...

...I used some narrow DST and gilding flakes to highlight the union jack paper in the background, which I had overprinted with a shadow image of Big Ben and randomly stamped over the background and bunting with a My Mind's Eye stamp (looks a bit like a heradic ribbon)...

 ...I added the word 'crafting' to the sentiment in PS and made some bunting from another of the Serif papers...

...I cropped and resized one of the crowns from the blue crown paper, then cut out and added plenty bling...

...I finished with a union jack pin badge that I found in  my button box (amazingly!).  The best bit about this card is the fact that I so enjoyed making it and had a go at something new - my fingers are now brown from Distress Inks and I have lost a couple of hours, but I am happy! :)  Hope you like it!  Thanks for dropping by, Lisa x

I am entering this card into the following challenges :

Simon Says Stamp and Show

London, Paris or New York

ABC Challenge

J for Jazz it Up

(I have jazzed u woth diamantes and goilding flakes)

Southern Girls Challenge

#38 So Distressed

Allsorts
Free and Easy February

Practising with Promarkers

Hi there, everyone!  What wonderful weather we're having, and just in time for the school holidays!  I've spent the last week picnicking and messing about by the river, entertaining the children in anyway possible - so crafting had to take a back seat!
I ordered myself a few treats last week and as they came yesterday, I thought I'd have a play and create something...the first card was made using Sugar Nellie's Daisy stamp - I'm trying to get to grips with my Promarkers and understand them a bit more...I am getting better, but think I need some more lighter colours to get better shading.  Anyhow, I used First Editions paper pad, Spring Feast, nesties scalloped square and labels die, my new Nellie Snellen border die and flourish die (lovin' this one!) and a large rose from Sweet Lilac...

I love the way it turned out, (though the pictures never do them justice).  Next, I coloured one of Mo Manning's freebies - I think this monkey image is great, especially having 2 cheeky monkeys of my own...

...the papers were another of my new buys, by First Edition papers, called Up,Up and Away - I love the blue and green colour combo in this pad, great for boys cards.
Here's hoping the rest of the hols stays dry - we're (boys and me) supposed to be going camping one night next week with a few of my friends and their kids, should be fun!?!  Hope you are all having a Happy Easter and enjoying the weather...happy crafting!  Thanks for looking!

First of the year!

Hi there, everyone!  Well, I have actually made my first cards of the year!  I have been struggling to get back in to things - I think because I had so many cards that I had to make before the holidays, that card making had become a chore, so these two are just for fun...

The first card I made, uses the Tilda with Sunflower stamp, coloured using my chalks, patterned papers from my stash (they were part of a pack -I think they are My Mind's Eye, Bloom & Grow), paper flowers from Crafts4U and some vintage lace that Mam kindly got me on her latest trip to Abakhan.  I inked all the edges of the papers and around the oval with Walnut Stain DI and accented with Glamour Dust...

...the end result was quite vintage, I thought?  I would love to receive it, so I suppose that must mean I'm happy with it!!


The second card I made using one of the clipart images from Arthur's Free Clipart, coloured with PS - I used the image before on 16th May 2010 post, but made it very fresh this time by using pastel patterned papers which have been in my stash for ages (they were individual sheets that I bought from my local craft shop).  The flowers were from Crafts4U again and the pearly bits I found in the back of my embellishments drawer...

...it ended up quite girly, who'd have thought it from me?!!  And as I said before, I think the expression on the little girl's face sums the sentiment up to a tee!

Hope you like them as much as I do, I thoroughly enjoyed making them, so maybe I'm finally getting back into the swing of things!  Happy crafting!