Tuesday 30 April 2013

Passion for Promarkers - To die for...

Good morning, lovely Bloggers and welcome to another challenge at Passion for Promarkers!  This week our theme has been set by the lovely Nic and she has chosen, 'To die for'  - so, we'd like you to use at least 1 die cut or punched item on your card!  Easy!


Our sponsors this week are the fabulous Whiff of Joy who are offering a prize of 1 stamp of choice to the 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.
So, here's my card :
...If you read my last post, you will know that I had a bad day yesterday, my crafty inspiration had deserted me and it took me forever to come up with a card for the challenge!  I still don't know if I'm 100% happy with this one, I just feel that there's something not right!  I think I need to get myself some more paper pads so that I can use some different colourways, but one thing I do know is I'm lovin' the orange still!  The papers are from in my stash and the image is Pink Petticoat's Lola Rose...
...she is so easy to colour!  Here's the Promarker colours I used :
Skin : Blush, Sunkissed Pink
Hair : Cappuccino, Caramel, Saddle Brown
Top : Pumpkin, Mandarin
Trousers : Cloud Blue, Denim, Cadet Blue
Bird : Soft Aqua, Dusk Egg, Surf Blue
Greens : Meadow, Bright Green, Forest
The dies I used are Spellbinders Circles and Eyelet Circles...
...I added an insert with the line image and a sentiment to finish.  
Many thanks for dropping by to see my creation and I hope you can join in with our challenge this week!
Don't forget to drop by my lovely teamies and see what wonderful creations they have come up with - Cathy, Julie, Lou, Nic (Coops), Shelly, Vicky, Lucy (LoopyLou)

Monday 29 April 2013

Having a bad day!...

Good afternoon, Bloggers!  Have you ever had a day where nothing seems to go how you want it to?  Well, that's what I've had today!  Here's my story...
...After suddenly realising the date and that I was supposed to have a DT card made for tomorrow's Passion for Promarkers Challenge, I sat at my crafty table to create...6 hours later and I am tearing my hair out because I am still not happy with what I've made!  The day began with a little bird sat outside my craftroom window chirping at the top of his voice - I wouldn't have minded if it were singing, but it was a constant high pitched cheep, cheep, cheep that went on for over an hour!  Despite being a nature lover, I was close to going out and shooing the damn thing off when it decided to stop only for next door's dog to take over with a constant barking!  I tried to block out the outside world and coloured a digistamp that I had chosen after winning the Crafts4Eternity challenge a couple of weeks ago and shuffled some paper around!  This is the card that emerged hours later...
...I'm still not happy with it, despite the fact that I cut that many different colour layers that I could have made half a dozen cards with all the pieces!  It had been pinks, orange and greens, browns, every colour you could imagine!  Fed up with that, I then decided to do something different and made a butterfly box...
...not happy with this either!  Plus, it took me four attempts to get the lid and base to fit, something I never usually have trouble with!  My table was now resembling a jumble sale as I had got out paper pads, dies and cardstock to try and find inspiration!  Eventually, I managed to get my DT card made, but I'm not sure if I'm happy with how that turned out either!  All in all, I have had a pretty awful crafty day - let's hope the Mojo returns tomorrow!  Lisa x

Sunday 28 April 2013

Hummingbird...

Good evening, dear Blogger friends!  Well, that's another weekend over and nearly another month - can't quite believe that it will be May next week!  I thought I would drop by and share the cards that we made at our workshop, yesterday...
...This first card was made using a Hummingbird stamp from Anita's - I coloured the image with my Promarkers, then scanned it in and removed the Hummingbird wording that was below the flower.  It also uses the Sweet Sketch Wednesday sketch that I used for my Dreamy Dragon card a couple of weeks ago and is made with First Edition Boho Chic papers...
...The second card features one of my favourite sketches of the moment, which is Mojo Monday's sketch #257 and the ever so pretty Wee Kitty digistamp from Sylvia Zet.  The papers are First Edition Love Letters and as you've probably noticed, I took inspiration from my Love Owls card for Passion for Promarkers Button it Up challenge.  (This is one sketch which I think will definitely get well used!) 
I hope you all had a good weekend and that the sun shone for you - I managed to get out in the garden this morning and give the grass (well, moss and weeds mainly!) a bit of a tidy up and got rid of the rubbish that seemed to have collected round about.  I'm hoping that we get some more decent weather so that I can spend a bit of time on my very neglected garden and maybe get it looking a little prettier than it does at the moment!  Best wishes for the week ahead and happy crafting!  Hugs, Lisa x

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Daisy...

Good afternoon, lovely Bloggers!  Sorry to have been MIA this last week, I've just been busy doing other things...sometimes life just takes over!  I hope you're all enjoying this lovely Spring weather that we're having, it's so nice to feel a bit of warmth in the air and to see the sun shining!
Anyway, I have a card that I made to share using the sweet Sugar Nellie 'Daisy' image...
...It's quite a simple layout - the papers are from First Edition Love Letters paper pad and I coloured Daisy with my Promarkers and Flexmarkers...
...I kept the colours quite soft on the image and as usual, here's the colours for all you Promarker fans :
Skin : Satin, Blush, Sunkissed Pink
Hair : Light Fawn, Sandstone, Caramel, Saddle Brown, Walnut, Umber
Jeans : Glacier Blue, Cloud Blue, Denim, Sapphire
Tee : Blue Grey 1, Cool Grey 3
Flowers : Sorbet, Shocking Pink
Leaves and Grass : Meadow, Bright Green
The butterfly is one of my new Cheery Lynn Exotic Butterfly dies - these are so pretty and just a nice size for cards.  I managed to find a bit more of the luscious lime green polka dot ribbon and added a couple of buttons and touch of glitter for decoration...
...I finished off with a printed insert.  Off to try and tackle the huge pile of ironing that is the result of the fine weather and rustle something up for tea!  Thanks for dropping by to see me and I hope you're having a good week!  Lisa x
I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Anything Goes
Anything Goes
Make it Girly
(oldie is the sweet Daisy stamp)
Button Up or Show us some Flair
Happy Birthday Girl!

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Passion for Promarkers - Button it Up

Good morning, lovely Bloggers and welcome to another challenge at Passion for Promarkers!  This week our theme has been set by the lovely Lou and she has chosen, 'Button it Up'  - so, we'd like to see those buttons on your creations!

Our sponsors this week are the fabulous Digi Stamp Boutique and they're offering a prize of 6 digi images to the lucky winner!  Well worth an entry!
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.
For my card, I have used the fabulous Love Owls image (a bargain at just 99p!) and an old Mojo Monday sketch #257...
...I really like this sketch and shall be using it a lot in the future, I'm sure!  The papers I've used are First Edition Love Letters - love this green and pink combo, with just a touch of aqua blue...
 ...I paper pieced the body of the owls using First Edition Spring Feast papers and coloured the hearts, wings and branch with my Promarkers, and here's the colours :
Pinks : Tea Rose FM, Cocktail Pink, Watermelon FM 
Greens : Lime Zest, Lime, Pear Green
Creams : Ivory, Vanilla, Sandtone
Branch : Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa, Lime Zest, Lime, Pear Green
Flower : Aquamarine FM, Duck Egg
...I found this last piece of lime green polka dot ribbon in my stash (will have to try and blag some more off Mam!) and some pink mulberry paper flowers.  To fit the theme, I added polka dot buttons to the centres of the flowers and to accent where I would normally use pearls.  The sentiment reads, "Owl always love you...", so I thought it would be quite fitting for an anniversary card...
...I added an insert inside with the line image printed on and "Happy Anniversary".  I love the way this card has turned out, it's definitely a 'me' card! (If only hubby could make cards too!?!)
Many thanks for dropping by to see me and I hope you take inspiration and join in with our challenge this week!  Happy crafting!  Lisa x
Don't forget to drop by my lovely teamies and see what wonderful creations they have come up with - Cathy, Julie, Lou, Nic (Coops), Shelly, Vicky, Lucy (LoopyLou)


I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Pink and Green
Wonderful Wings
Flowers

Friday 12 April 2013

Something different...

Good evening, lovely Bloggers!  Today, I have something a bit different to share with you.  I have many crafty hobbies (well, a girl can never have too many!) and one of them is encaustic art.  For any of you that don't know, encaustic art is painting with wax, using an iron...yes, you heard right, an iron!  It's such an amazing craft and I love the way the picture just emerges in front of your eyes - you never really know exactly how it will turn out until it's finished, plus you can always go back in and change things due to the nature of the medium.  My crafty table was nice and clean this morning, not a scrap on it (this is something I am trying to keep up with between projects, but we'll see how long it lasts!) so I decided it was a good opportunity to get my iron out and do some painting.  This is what I ended up with...
...3 complete, framed artworks and a small mounted one which I will need to buy a frame for!  I was really pleased with the results, especially as I haven't had a go in a long while and I only needed 1 practice piece!  Here's a look at the individual pictures...
...I really like the first one as it looks as though you are looking out over the sea and there is almost a reflection of the clouds in the water.  I am hoping, one of these days, to have a stall at a local farmers market/craft fair and sell some of my cards and paintings, but it's always a gamble as to whether you sell anything or not...mind you, if I don't try, I'll never know!
Thanks for dropping in to see me and I hope you like my other crafty hobby - it was nice to try my hand at something different...why not have a go at something you wouldn't normally do, or rekindle an old craft that you've not tried in a while?  Have a happy and crafty weekend and happy shopping to those of you off to Ally Pally this weekend!  Hugs, Lisa x

Thursday 11 April 2013

Is Spring around the corner?...

Good afternoon, dear Bloggers!  Well, it seems as though Spring might be making an appearance at last!  The sun is still shining and the temperature is creeping up ever so slowly - we're supposed to get into double digits by the weekend!  The flowers are trying to force their way up through the ground and the birds are frantically nest building, plus I haven't had to keep the fire in this morning for the first time since before Christmas! (I'm starting to feel it now though and might just have to set it after writing this!)
So, to try and think of brighter skies and warmer days, I decided to colour an image with a much brighter palette.  I've got some lovely colours in my new Flexmarkers, so just had to give them a go and this is what was created...
...I just love this hot pink and aqua combo and it all started because of my Vermillion pen which I was desperate to use (this colour is delish!)...
...The image is Jules from Saturated Canary and I've coloured using my Pro and Flexmarkers.  Here's the pen colours for all you Pro-markers :
Skin : Blush, Dusky Pink, Rose Peach
Hair : Sandstone, Caramel, Saddle Brown, Cocoa, Walnut, Umber
Dress : Cerise, Shocking Pink, Vermillion, Maroon, Aquamarine, Duck Egg, Surf Blue, Cool Grey 3 & 1
Bow :  Cerise, Shocking Pink, Vermillion, Maroon
Tights : Sorbet, Fuschia, Shocking Pink
Cat : Blue Grey 1, Dolphin Blue, Pale Pink
Shoes : Cool Grey 1,3 & 5
The backrgound paper is from First Edition Love letters and the rest are just some pieces I found in my stash...
...I added an insert inside with the line image and a Birthday verse on and used aqua grosgrain, pearls and Glamourdust to embellish.  I'm really pleased with how this one turned out and especially love the bright colouring (something I'm going to try to do more of instead of playing it safe!), it's quite girly and feminine without being too froo-froo!  Thanks for dropping by to see me and I hope you are all having a good week - can't believe it's the weekend again after tomorrow! Happy crafting, Lisa x
I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Anything Goes (nice and easy!)
Birthday Girl in Pink
Pretty in Pink
Birthday
Happy Birthday

Sunday 7 April 2013

Braid in my hair...

Good afternoon, lovely Bloggers!  Dare I say it? It actually feels like Spring today!  I even managed to walk down the village without a coat...it must be getting warmer as I am a softie when it comes to the cold!
Firstly today, I thought I would share the cards that we made at the workshop yesterday...
...the first card we did followed a MFT sketch and used an Anita's stamp (not sure of the name, but I call it Puppy Love!).  The papers are from 12 Cards of Christmas and A Year in Cards...
...The second was a tri-fold landscape DL card using First Edition Boho Chic papers and a homemade plaid.  I'd just like to say a big 'Hi!' to all the girls who came and made a wonderful job of replicating the cards and thanks to Mam for the lovely fruit buns!
Secondly, I have a card to share which I made for my friend's daughter's birthday, today...
...I wanted to have a go at colouring the fab A Day for Daisies image, Braid in my Hair.  I kept the card very clean and simple, just focussing on the image and coloured her hair to match my friend's daughter who has beautiful auburn curls...
...I coloured using my Promarkers, which took a little while, but I thoroughly enjoyed and was quite pleased with the results - if you like to colour hair, then this one is for you!  Here's the colours I used, including some of my new Flexmarker sets that dropped into my basket last week!
Hair : Light Fawn FM, Nutmeg FM, Auburn FM, Firebrick FM, Rosewood FM
Skin : Blush, Dusky Pink, Sunkissed Pink
Dress : Soft Aqua FM, Aquamarine FM, Soft Green
Birds : Blue Grey 1 FM
I cut and glittered a number 11 using my Sizzix alphabet dies and added some random pearls and glitter to her sleeves.
I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Happy Birthday (2nd entry)
Anything Goes (2nd entry)
Happy Birthday
Boys and Girls come out to Play
Hope you all enjoy what's left of the weekend and Easter holidays - my boys are back to school tomorrow, so it's back to some sort of normality...if you can call us normal!?!  Let's also hope that Spring has made it's arrival at last, here in the UK and that there'll be no more snow until next Winter!  Thanks for dropping in to see me, crafty wishes...Lisa x
P.S. Don't forget there's still time to enter our Fantasy theme challenge at Passion for Promarkers this week!

Friday 5 April 2013

Ooops!...

Good evening, dear Blogger friends! Well, that's another week gone and the weekend is here again - I hope the sun has been shining where you are! 
I have a card to share this evening using a sweet image from Arthur's Clipart...
...I've used this little cutie before and think that her expression is just perfect for a Belated Birthday card.  As you can see, I still have my obsession with orange - I am just lovin' this colour at the moment and it seems to go with so many other colours too!  I tweaked another Mojo Monday sketch (#250) and used First Edition Spring Feast, Isabella and my favourite paper of the moment, the paisley from Boho Chic.  I glittered the background paper and added some diamantes for a bit of interest...
I coloured the little swim girl with my Promarkers and had my first attempt at making a cloudy background - I was quite pleased with how it turned out!  If you'd like to know the colours, then here they are :
Skin : Blush, Dusky Pink, Sunkissed Pink, Rose Peach FM
Hair : Honeycomb, Spice, Auburn FM, Rosewood FM
Hat : Antique Pink, Cocktail Pink, Watermelon FM, Tea Rose FM
Paddling Pool : Gold, Honeycomb, Pumpkin, Mandarin FM
Swimsuit : Aniseed, Lime, Pear Green
Duck : Buttercup, Canary, Sunflower FM
Sky : Blender, Glacier Blue FM, Dove Grey FM, Dolphin Blue FM
Grass : Aniseed, Lime, Pear Green, Leaf Green, Grass
I added some mulberry paper daisies, with polka dot button centres...I'm really liking these at the minute, it's funny how we go through phases of liking things, plus you have to think of postage costs these days too!
...I printed an insert with the line image and sentiment, using Crazy Girl Blond font from Serif...
...And an angled view to finish!  
I have a workshop in the morning, so will try and remember to post pics of the cards we make - hope you find time to craft this weekend and I'll be back soon with some more paper creations!   Thanks for popping in, crafty hugs, Lisa x
I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Spring Colours
Anything goes with Ribbon
Sweet Spring Recipe #118
Oh So Girly
What's your favourite colour?
(At the moment it is definitely orange!)

Thursday 4 April 2013

Hey monkey...

Good afternoon, Bloggers!  Hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend, whatever you were doing...we had a wonderful family weekend away in Yorkshire, visiting loved ones...

...We started in York on Friday, doing a bit of shopping and visiting theYork Museum and Gardens, then were staying at a little village called Slingsby, near the Castle Howard estate.  We visited Robin Hood's Bay, Riveaulx Terrace and Nunnington Hall and did a Treasure Trail around the village of Slingsby.  We ate out and had a lovely time visiting family and even the sun shone for us...if a little on the cold side!  Altogether, what more could you ask for than being with loved ones in a beautiful part of the country and the sun shining...if only it could have lasted a bit longer!
So anyway, I have a card to share with you today that uses the same sketch as the Dreamy Dragon card I made a few posts ago...
...This time I did it for a boy and used Mo Manning's Monkey Tricks and Dovecraft Masculine papers...
...As ever, I coloured this cheeky chappy with my Promarkers and he was so simple to colour.  Here's the colours I used :
Body : Vanilla, Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa
Face : Satin, Dusky Pink, Sunkissed Pink
Shorts : Aniseed FM, Lime Zest. Lime, Pear Green
Shadow : Glacire Blue FM, Pastel Beige
The leaves are cut using a Cheery Lynn Leaf border and the bananas are actually the waste from my Marianne lace ribbon border die...
...I added an insert inside, rather than decorating fully, using the line image and a digital sentiment...
...and finally, a sideways view...
...The sun is shining again today, so it's off to hang some more washing out on the line and then the dreaded ironing!  A big hello to my newest followers and welcome to my little corner of Blogland - hope you enjoy your visits!  Thanks for dropping by to see me and don't forget about our current 'Fantasy' challenge over at Passion for Promarkers this week!  Lisa x
I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Happy Birthday
Anything Goes
Name that tune
(it's got to be Hey, hey we're the Monkees from the old TV series!)
Something Borrowed
(mine is a sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday)

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Passion for Promarkers - Fantasy


Good morning, lovely Bloggers and welcome to my first ever DT spot for the fabulous Passion for Promarkers!  Woo hoo!!
Our Challenge this week is set by the lovely Cathy who has chosen the theme 'Fantasy', so think mermaids, fairies, dragons, etc!
Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Letraset who are offering a fantastic New Collector's set to the 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.
So, for my card this week, I 'm using the stunning Shelley image from Wee Stamps...
...isn't she just the sweetest?!  I decided to be brave and go for my first attempt at coloured hair and was quite pleased with the result!  I love this purple and aqua colour combo - the papers are from First Edition Isabella paper pad.  I used my Martha Stewart punch around the page Eyelet Lace punch for the card base front and attached it to a standard 14cm square card base...
...Of course, I coloured Shelley with my Promarkers and here's the colours :
Skin : Blush, Dusky Pink, Sunkissed Pink
Hair : Orchid, Amethyst,Wild Orchid FM, Purple, Slate
Body : Aquamarine FM, Duck Egg, Surf Blue FM, Marine, Petrol Blue
Fins : Tea Rose FM, Cocktail Pink, Watermelon FM
Turtle : Satin, Tan, Cinnamon, Aniseed FM, Pear, Olive Green
Rock : Cool Grey 1, 3 & 4
...I added pearls and Pearl Maker to the image and embellished with a lilac satin ribbon and bow with a pearl brad in the centre.  The 'hinges' are from the Spellbinders Renaissance Hearts Pendant die set and I cut them from a muted copper cardstock, then added aqua pearls.  I glittered Shelley's Tail and fins and decorated the inside to coordinate...
...I printed the line image onto the background and decorated with a piece of the matching paper and the second part of the sentiment.
Why not pop over and see what my teamies have been up to, they've been making some fantastic DT inspiration to share...
Cathy, Julie, Lou, Nic (Coops), Shelly, Vicky and my fellow newbie, Lucy (LoopyLou)
Thanks for dropping by to see me and I hope you can join in with our Fantasy Challenge this week!  Lisa x