Christmas in July!...

Good morning, dear Bloggers!  I don't normally 'do' Christmas this early, but having thought that the house would now be in turmoil and that all I would be able to do is colour, I printed off a load of digi stamps ready and this little cutie was one of them!

..This is Mo Manning's Kai in the Snow and I thought he would be just perfect for a First Christmas card...

...I decided to make an aperture card and then half way through remembered why I don't do aperture cards very much - because they're a pain in the tush!!  I used 2 Marianne doily die cuts to create the lace edge around the aperture and my Martha Stewart Snowflake border punch along the edges of the card...

...The paper is one that has been in my drawer for EVER and I think was an old Dovecraft pad?!...

...I created a faux nestie behind the image by drawing around my largest circle die and cutting out.  To save me having to bring in loads of different papers from the shed, I used white card which I coloured the edge of with my Promarkers - this also means that you can have perfectly coordinated cardstock to your image!...

...I embellished with some Marianne snowflake die cuts, holographic snowflake and crystal stars which Mam gave me some of about 5 years ago! (I only have 1 left now!)  The image and snowflakes were glittered with Crystal glitter, pearls added and a couple of blue pearl stars to finish.  I created the sentiment in PS using Papyrus font and will probably add a name somewhere before sending it out in a few months! (Can't quite believe we're in July already!)
My little man had his school trip yesterday to Drayton Manor - they left school  at 8.15am and didn't get back until about 6.30pm, but he was so on a high!  He loved every minute of it and went on quite a few rides, despite the fact that he's only ever been on the little dragon coaster at Rhyl!  I had the full explanation of all the rides, complete with hand gestures to show the ups and downs and how wet everyone had got on the log flume!  It'll be summer holidays before we turn around and then the dreaded 6 weeks of trying to keep occupied - let's hope that the weather plays it's part and that we can get out in the sunshine, especially as it looks like work might start just in time for then!?!  Oh, joy!
Thanks for dropping by to see me today and I hope you like my little card, despite being a Christmas one!  Enjoy the rest of your week and have a great weekend- it's workshop for me and our village Carnival, so I'll have to make a costume for little man before Friday!  At least the forecast is good!  Hugs,

Lisa xx

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

Papertake Weekly

Anything Goes

The Squirrel and the Fox

Christmas in July

ABC Challenge

Quite a Few (layers)

Here come the Boys

Use a Digi stamp

Passsion for Promarkers - Time...

Good morning, dear Bloggers!  If everything is going on course, this week will be demolition week!  (I am actually typing this post a fortnight ago!)  We are due to have our house modernised by the council and this week is scheduled for stripping out of the bathroom and kitchen and channeling the walls for a total rewire!  I dread the thought of all the dust and mess, but have packed up as much stuff as I can and asked friends and family for every inch of storage space that we can borrow!  UPDATE **  Work has now been delayed and we are back to square one, not knowing when the work is scheduled to start!  I am now sat in a half empty house (having been organised and packing all non essential stuff away) with all my crafty stuff in the shed!  I keep sneaking bits in to have a play and have managed to colour up a few images, so I might just have to go out to the shed again today to make a card!  One thing, it has made me be a (half) tidy crafter - I have been putting everything back away when I have finished my project!
Anyhow, it is is a new challenge over at Passion for Promarkers and the lovely Julie has chosen our theme this week which is 'Time', so we'd like you to use a watch/clock image or time related sentiment. We're sponsored this week by the fabulous Letraset, who are offering a Flexmarker Collectors set to one lucky winner.

Don’t forget you must use your Letraset products (i.e. promarkers, flex markers, aqua markers, tria markers, metallic markers or neon markers) and of course follow the theme.

 I decided to be a bit different this week and create a piece of home decor which I plan to hang on my hall wall after all the work is done.  I found this hanging wooden heart in my local B&M for a couple of quid and thought it would make a good piece for altering...

...After a lot of sticking, sanding, inking and embellishing, this is what I ended up with...

...It was so difficult to find somewhere in the house to photograph this as the weather today is not playing along - we have had TORRENTIAL rain on and off all day!  (The colours are a little more true in the next picture)  I started by drawing around and covering my heart with papers from First Edition's Dreamcatcher pad, then printed and coloured the clock digistamp and wings from A Year in Cards.  I coloured the image with my Promarkers and inked all the edges of the heart with Walnut Stain DI...

...I highlighted the patterned paper with diamantes and embellished with silk and paper flowers...whatever I found in my now limited stash, that worked with the colours.  I added Cheery Lynn leaves and used the Memory Box Corner Bow as tendrils.  The sentiment was created in PS and I added a few ribbon loops to finish.  I am really happy with how this little project turned out and can't wait until everywhere is finished and newly decorated and I can find a spot to hang it.  Thanks for dropping by to see me today and I hope that everything runs smoothly and I can get back to crafting and Blogging again soon!
Don't forget to hop on over to the Passion for Promarkers blog and see what my lovely teamies have been up to and link up your entries for this week's challenge....

Lisa x

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

A Creative Romance

Don't Be Square

Crafty Boots Challenge

Anything but Square

Joanna Sheen

Don't be Square

Cupcake Craft

Anything but Square

I'm back again!...

...Hello, dear Blogger friends!  Well, how's this for a turn up for the books?!  Yesterday, I received the news that work on our house has been delayed (not really surprised!), so despite the fact that I have packed up all my crafty stash and a lot of other stuff in the house, what was the first thing I did?  Only, get crafty!  I am so grateful that I only stashed my craft things in the shed as I was able to go out and bring in the stuff that I needed!  I discovered that I had won the challenge over at The Paper Shelter last week and my prize was a choice of 3 digis from their store...OMW how do you choose just 3 images from a whole store of deliciousness?!  In the end, I chose Spring Swing, Snow Angel (thinking ahead to the dreaded 'C' word!) and Cute Dressmaker. 

The challenge this week at The Paper Shelter is Buttons and/or Brads, so it was a perfect opportunity for me to colour up my Cute Dressmaker...

...isn't she a doll?!  I thoroughly enjoyed colouring her up and was inspired by the lovely Eileen's hair colouring on this card, to go with the white blonde...

...I coloured this little sweetie with my Pro/Flexmarkers and here's the colours I used :

Skin : Blush, Dusky, Sunkissed Pink

Hair : Sandstone, Champagne, Light Fawn, Buttercup

T-Shirt : Blue Grey 1, Dove Grey, Cerise, Vermillion (my all time fave colour at the moment!)

Shorts : Glacier Blue, Denim, Cadet Blue

Tights : Meadow, Apple, Bright Green, Antique White

Shoes : Cool Grey 1, 3, 4 & 5

Dress : Soft Aqua, Cool Aqua, Surf Blue, Muted Pink, Tea Rose, Watermelon, Dove Grey

Stans : Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa

I had cut out the image using my Go Kreate Frilly frame die, but the image slipped when I tried to emboss it and I ended up having to cut her out and 3D foam pad her on top!

...The papers I used are First Edition Boho Chic orange paisley (still my favourite paper and my last piece :( ) Spring Feast dots and Boho Chic aqua flower.  I added some bright turquoise grosgrain ribbon and bow and some buttons to embellish and tie in with the theme.  The sentiment was created in PS and cut using the largest Go Kreate Frilly frame die, then matted onto a faux die cut...

...I added my usual printed insert with the black and white dress form on and the sentiment 'Have a wonderful day!'

Thanks for dropping by to see me today and I hope you like my little creation!  Good luck to all those who are entering challenges this week and many thanks to Veronica and all the girls at The Paper Shelter for their fab challenges, DT inspiration and prizes!  Fingers crossed, I may just win again!

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

The Paper Shelter

Buttons and/or Brads

Simon Says Stamp

Anything Goes

Crafts and Me

Anything Goes

Stampin' for the Weekend

Anything Goes

Inky Chicks

Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations

Anything Goes with option of Ribbon

Party Time Tuesdays

#126 Anything Goes

Crafting for All Seasons

Make it Girly

Wee Florist...

Good morning, dear Blogger friends!  A quick post from me to share another little creation!  Whilst browsing through the Wee Stamps store to buy 'Wee One', I came across this little pretty and just had to have her!  One of my many crafty loves is flower arranging, so I thought that 'Wee Florist' was just perfect for me...

....isn't she so pretty?!  I went CAS with this one - mainly because most of my crafty stuff had already been consigned to boxes, but at least it gave me a brain wave on how to keep crafty whilst the work is being done!  I decided to print off a load of predesigned CAS cards like this, so that at least I can sit and have a colour in the garden if the weather is nice...should keep me from having withdrawal! ;-) 
Off to mow the grass whilst the sun is shining and before it gets too wild!  Thanks for popping by and I hope to see you again soon!  Hugs and crafty wishes,
Lisa x
I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :

Crafting When We Can Challenge 47

Keep it Simple

Less is More

Happy Birthday, Jen!

Wee One...

Good afternoon, lovely Bloggers!  Well, the weekend was spent packing yet more of our belongings and trying to shift some of the non essential items into storage in preparation for work commencing next week!  I will be so glad when this is all over and have to keep telling myself that it will all be worth it in the long run...I just dread to think of the mess and upheaval that this will all entail and just wish it could be done in a click of the fingers, but that's not to be!  I have now packed away all of my crafty things and will be unable to create for a number of weeks!  I have my DT cards made and posts scheduled just in case I can't use the computer and hope to be able to comment and visit you all on my tablet (as long as the router is switched on!)

Before I packed everything away, I couldn't resist buying one of the digistamps from the latest Wee Stamps release last week and create something to share.  I love altering things and whilst sorting out the pantry, I came across an old sugar box...

...I thought it would make a lovely gift box and decided to use my new Wee One digistamp (this stamp is just adorable!)...

...I covered the box with the blue baby paper from A Year in Cards and mounted the image onto a Martha Stewart punch around the page punched square...

...I coloured this little cutie with my Pro/Flexmarkers and embellished with a white, satin ribbon and bow, a couple of the stunning pins I got from Mandy and some paper and silk flowers...

...I finished by trimming the top of the box with some pretty gathered lace and thought that the finished article would be lovely filled with baby lotions, baby bath, talc, etc.
I must apologise in advance for my absence and hope that I can be back soon with some more crafty creations.  If I get chance, I will try to keep you posted via my tab as to how the work is going and when I will be back online!  Thanks for dropping by to see me and I hope you like my little project!  Crafty hugs,
Lisa x
I'd like to enter my gift box into the following challenges :

The Paper Shelter

Anything but a Card

The Hobby House (2nd entry)

Anything Goes

Totally Papercrafts

Flowers and Bows

Pollycraft

Anything Goes

Passion for Promarkers - Floral Fantasy

Good morning, dear Bloggers!  Packing has started in Haste!  With only a fortnight until our house is torn apart (literally!) we have begun to try and tackle all the 'stuff' we have in our little 3 bed semi!  I begin to wonder if our walls are elasticated as we have already filled about 10 boxes just with hubbies computer and electronic bits from the front room!  I just have to keep telling myself that it will all be worth it in the end and that it's only a few weeks of upheaval...we'll see!  On the plus side, whilst shopping for plastic boxes on Sunday, we popped into Colour Supplies to see if they had little man's chosen wallpaper only to find that it has been discontinued!  The plus side is that there were 3 rolls from the same batch on the discount table, so little man gets his chosen wallpaper and we get a bargain...result!
Anyaway, it's Tuesday, so time for another challenge over at Passion for Promarkers and this week's theme has been set by the lovely Eileen who has chosen 'Floral Fantasy', so we want to see at least 5 flowers on your creations!  This week we are sponsored by the fabulous Digi Stamp Boutique who are offering one lucky winner the chance to pick 6 digi stamps from their store!  Fab prize!!

Don’t forget you must use your Letraset products (i.e. promarkers, flex markers, aqua markers, tria markers, metallic markers or neon markers) and of course follow the theme.

 We were lucky enough to receive a digistamp of our choice to work with (thanks Sally-Ann!), so I used the ever so sweet Rosie from the Rosie and Dan Off to School collection...

 ...I decided to make an easel card with an aqua and lilac theme.  The plaid paper is one I made myself, the lace square is punched using my Martha Stewart PAtP Eyelet Lace punch and the star glitter card has been in my stash for ages!

 ...I coloured Rosie using my Pro/Flexmarkers, though I'm afraid I lost the scrap of paper that I wrote the colours down on!  (I will update if I come across it!)...  

...To fit in with the theme, I added a mulberry daisy with polka dot button centre, Cheery Lynn leaves and my favourite XCut flower punch, which I embossed on a foam mat and added pearls to the centres...

...I added some more flowers to the top left corner of the image and some on the sentiment on the stop bar, which was cut using SB Parisian Accents.  I embellished with polka dot buttons, organza ribbon and pearls.  I have to say, I really like how this one turned out and hope you like it too!  Don't forget to hop on over to the Passion for Promarkers blog to see what my wonderful teamies have been up to and we hope you can join in with our Challenge this week...Hugs,
Lisa x

Clean and simple times three...

Good afternoon, my dear blogger friends!  My, these weeks are just flying by and what wonderful weather we've been having - it was fabulous for getting the washing done, but not so much for crafting!  Everytime I walked into my craftroom, the sunshine called me back outside again!  We've been gardening, barbecuing, relaxing, swimming and my little man got man of the match in his footie game last Friday...such a proud Mamma and a chuffed little boy, too!  He has a match again tonight, so fingers crossed the rain stays away and he has a good game!
Anyhow, I managed to sit at my crafty table...well, to be honest, I was sat at it most of Monday, yesterday and today as I had 3 card orders to make, then Mum and I spent yesterday trying to get ahead with workshop cards (very trying!) and the same again today!  In between all this cardmaking, I managed to get a couple of hours to colour...oh, I do LOVE to colour!  I decided to make a few CAS cards after being inspired by the lovely Delphine - I love how simple her cards are, just showcasing the image and her fabulous colouring!  So this is what I knocked up in a few hours of therapeutic colouring...

...This first card was made using Wee Stamps Dreamy Dragon - he is just adorable!  I glittered his scales and the flower centres with Stardust Stickles, but it doesn't show very well in the image!

Body - Soft Aqua, Cool Aqua, Duck Egg, Surf Blue

Scales - Meadow, Leaf, Bright, Forest Greens

Wings and feet - Soft Fawn, Soft Peach, Rose Peach

Tree - Sandstone, Caramel, Saddle Brown

Flowers - Vanilla

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges - 

No Matter Which Challenge

BINGO

(Ribbon, Pearls, Sparkle/Glitter)

Natalie and Amy

Fantasy

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge

Fantasy and/or Fairies

...Next up, I made a card using Digi Stamp Boutique's Alyssa Relaxing and paper pieced the bath with a paper from First Edition's Dreamcatcher pad.

Skin - Blush, Dusky, Sunkissed Pink

Hair - Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa, Henna, Umber

Bath top and feet - Ivory, Vanilla, Sandstone

Pillow - Pale Blossom, Pale Pink, Sorbat

Bottle - Pale Citrus, Aniseed, Pear Green

Bow - Cocktail Pink, Vermillion

Shadow on bath - Dove Grey, Dolphin Blue

Shadow - Pastel Beige

I would like to enter this card into the following challenge - 

The ABC Challenge

O for Open (Anything Goes)

...Last up, I used Saturated Canary's Hugs and Kisses digistamp.  I wanted to make the colours a little brighter, so decided to colour her hair in purple...

Skin - Blush, Dusky, Sunkissed Pink

Hair - Orchid, Wild Orchid, Purple, Slate

Skirt - Dolphin, Denim, Cadet, Navy Blues

Heart - Cerise, Vermillion

Boots - Pink Pearl, Sorbet, Fuschia Pink, Lavender, Orchid, Wild Orchid, Soft Khaki, Sandstone, Caramel

Box - Soft Khaki, Sandstone, Caramel

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

Crafting When we Can

Mad about Markers

Hobby House

Anything Goes

...I really like CAS cards and I managed to make these three in the same amount of time it would take to make a 'normal' card with all the layers!  Hope the fine weather comes back again soon and I'm going to need it over the summer holidays as the council are planning to modernise our house...I am terrified at the thought of having to try and pack up as much of our things as possible and of the mess that the work will entail, but I will be so glad when it is all done and I can decorate everywhere as I want.  It will be a lot of work and unfortunately is likely to mean I will be absent from blogging for a while, but I will still be able to come and visit you all on my tablet and hope to get ahead enough with my DT duties that I shan't have to miss any challenges...fingers crossed!  Thanks for coming to visit me today and I hope you like my quick and easy cards...see you soon, Lisa x