Tuesday 25 February 2014

Passion for Promarkers - Make it Digital

Good morning, my lovelies and a Happy Tuesday to you all!  Today sees the start of another fab challenge over at Passion for Promarkers and this week it's the lovely Marie in the chair and she would like us to 'Make it Digital' - so use a Digital image and/or papers.  This week we are sponsored by the talented Nikky from Polkadoodles and she is offering 5 lucky people the chance to win her Dollie Daydreams 'Glitz' digistamp.

For my card, I decided to use the fabulous Soccer Boy digistamp that I bought from MilknCoffee after discovering their digistore and also the brilliant sketch that is running over at Fussy and Fancy Friday this week...

...I didn't want the card to be specific team colours. but just a little boy playing football, so went with papers from Prima's Bohemian Bamboo paper pad in red, blue, grey and green.  The great sketch has lots of layers, but because of the different patterns on my papers, I decided not to mat my layers as I felt it would make the card too busy!...
...I inked all the paper edges with Walnut Stain DI and just matted the image to give it more of a focal point (well that was the intention anyway!?!)...

I coloured Soccer Boy using my Pro/Flexmarkers and here's the colour list I used :
Skin - Blush, Dusky, Sunkissed Pink, Coral (my usual combo)
Hair - Cappuccino, Caramel, Cocoa, Umber
Top - Red, Crimson, Burgundy
Shorts - Cool Grey 1, 3, 4 & 5, Pacific, Cadet Blue
Boots - Cool Greys, Lime Zest, Pear, Moss
Ball - Dolphin Blue, Glacier Blue, Cool Grey 1
Grass - Meadow, Leaf, Bright Green
...I finished my card with a printed insert using the black and white line image and the sentiment ' It's your Birthday!'.  I really like the layout of this card and will definitely be using this sketch again!  Hope you like my little creation and can join in with Marie's challenge this week!  Don't forget to hop on over to the Passion for Promarkers blog to see what my lovely teamies have been up to and I look forward to seeing your creations too!
Big crafty hugs,
Lisa x
I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges :
Sketch Challenge
Spots & Stripes
One for the Boys

Friday 21 February 2014

Fickle crafter...

Good morning, dear Bloggers!  The sun is shining...and it's raining?!  Work that one out?!! 

Some of you may know that I am a bit of a fickle crafter and my style and likes tend to change with the weather (which is quite frequent!), but I am finding more and more that I am swayed towards the clean and simple style of card making!  I have also found a love of colour and really love the clean lines of a simple design with bold colour schemes.  Until recently, I would never have dreamt of making a card without mat and layering...God forbid!  And I felt a card was not complete until every inch was covered in something!  But now, I embrace the white spaces and modernity of a CAS design, I love the crispness of the geometric shapes and the lack of 'foofiness', the simplicity of  the layout and the way it focuses on the image or sentiment......well, for this week anyway!!! 
So with this in mind, I have a little creation to share with all you lovely peeps!...
...I found this AMAZING sketch over at Deconstructing Jen - I have noticed her sketches before, but never really used them until now, but I have to say I am converted!  I have only really found sketches in the last couple of years or so, but they are so handy when you're not quite sure where to start and are a real inspiration starter!  I have also discovered YELLOW thanks to the lovely Sue Bearhouse who has been using it a lot lately on her designs, which always looks so bright and cheerful! Thanks Sue!...
...The sketch I used is Deconstructed Sketch #139, the yellow polka dot is from Prima's Hello Pastel paper pad and the gingham is one of my own.  The rest of the papers are just scraps from my stash.  The sweet image is another from the Digistamp Boutique's Rosie Collection and she's coloured with my Pro/Flexmarkers.  Here's the colours I used :
Skin - Blush, Dusky, Sunkissed Pink, Coral
Hair - Caramel, Cappuccino, Champagne, Light Fawn
Dress - Buttercup, Canary, Sunflower, Gold
Hairband - Honeydew, Pastel Green, Soft Green
Shoes - Pastel Beige, Cappuccino, Umber
Flower - Blossom, Sorbet, Fuschia, Meadow, Leaf, Bright Green
The little Hello tag came from one of the sheets in the Prima pad and I added some buttons and pearls to embellish...
...I decorated the inside of the card to match the front and have added a sentiment circle with Happy Birthday on.  I really like the bright and sunny feel of this little card and hope you do too!  Thanks for coming by to see me and I'll be back soon with some more crafty creations!
Big crafty hugs,
Lisa x
I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
I'm joining in with The Deconstrusted Sketch #139
Fabruary Customer Challenge (2nd entry)
Spots or Stripes
Girly (2nd entry)
Anything Goes

Thursday 20 February 2014

Paper bows...

Good afternoon, everyone!  After making a paper bow using my XCut tag die on my last card, I decided to have a little play with some of the other dies in the set and thought I would share my results!
Firstly, this is the die that I used to make the pink paper bow on my Extremely CAS card...
...I cut out 4 of the die shapes, curled 2 using the handle of my embossing tool (or anything round) and cut fishtails in the end of the other 2, then secured them together with a brad or flower.  So, here's the bows that I made from some of the other dies...

...To see what the bow shapes would turn out like, I just cut them from whatever scraps of paper happened to be on my crafty table, but with a bit of thought and some inking, this is what they can look like!...
...I wasn't sure about the very rounded tag shapes at first, but layered up together, I think they make a great bow for on a box or present and it means that you can create them in papers and colours to coordinate perfectly!  I shall definitely be using more paper bows in the future and hope this has given you some inspiration to maybe look at your dies in a different way?!  Thanks for looking and I'll be back soon with a card, hopefully. 
I have my Sister and nieces coming over later (they live in Ireland so don't get over too often!) and Mum's coming too, so I don't know if I'll get chance to share a crafty creation today, but in the words of Arnie...I'll be back!!
Hugs,
Lisa x

Monday 17 February 2014

Extremely CAS...

Good afternoon, dear Blogger friends!  Hope you're having a good start to the week and that the weather is being a little kinder, especially for those of you being affected by the horrendous floods, here in the UK!  We actually had a dry day yesterday and the sun even shone - it makes such a difference to have the brightness, it seems to lift my mood!
Now, I LOVE clean and simple (CAS) cards, but often feel that they are not enough in some way for me to share here on Blogger - I always feel that I should add more to them or show more technique, but for a change, I decided to make something VERY clean and simple...
...I love this little image which is from the Rosie Collection over at Digi Stamp Boutique and thoroughly enjoyed colouring her up with my Pro/Flexmarkers. Here's the list of colours I used :
Skin - Blush, Dusky, Sinkissed Pink, Coral
Hair - Champagne, Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa, Umber
Top - Soft Aqua, Cool Aqua, Duck Egg, Marine Blue
Leg warmers - Cerise, Shocking Pink, Vermillion (one of my fave marker combos!)
Hairband - Buttercup, Mustard, Sunflower
Grass - Meadow, Leaf, Bright Green
I printed my image quite big (I used the 10 x 15cm print option in Photo Viewer) so decided that I wanted to simply frame the image in some way.  I created the white and aqua frame using square dies and mounted using 3D foam pads to give it some lift.  I then mounted onto a nice hot pink matt to bring in the colour of her leg warmers...
...I have seen paper bows around a lot recently and had C&C on in the background whilst having my dinner the other day - I noticed that the paper bows shown looked very similar in shape to an XCut tag die that I have and so decided to experiment!  I cut 4 of the tag shapes, which have a hole in each end, then cut the ends of two them to create the fishtail ends.  I curled the other two with my pokey tool and then attached them together by threading the stem of a paper rose through the holes and twisting around the centre to secure!  I am really pleased with how it turned out and shall be having a play with some of my other tag dies to see what they look like!
Hope you like my CAS creation and thanks so much for dropping by to see me!  Don't forget there's still a little time to enter into this week's Have a Heart Challenge over at Passion for Promarkers - a new challenge starts tomorrow morning!
Big crafty hugs,
Lisa x
I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
February Custome Competition
Use a die cut or punch
(I've used my square dies for the frame and tag dies for my bow)
Girly
Girly
Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Tuesday 11 February 2014

Passion for Promarkers - Have a Heart...

Good morning, my lovelies!  It's Tuesday again, which means the start of another new challenge over at Passion for Promarkers and this week it's the lovely Shelly playing hostess.  Being Valentine's week, she's chosen the theme 'Have a Heart', so we'd like to see at least one heart somewhere on your project!  This week we have 2 fabulous sponsors offering up some yummy prizes - firstly we have Letraset and secondly Angel Crafts...

Don't forget to be eligible to win the prize, 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 today's card, I have used another of my recent Wee Stamps purchases, called Bird Swing - don't you just love these little sweeties?!  I used the same layout as for my last post (which I'm sure I'll be using again too!), the scrummy papers are from a Paper Cellar pack that Mum picked up for me, called Floral 1 (original!?) and my trusty First Edition Boho Chic...
 ..I coloured the birdies with my Pro/Flexmarkers, though unfortunately my colour list seems to have gone AWOL - this is what happens when I pretend to be organised and try to get ahead with my DT cards!  If it turns up, I'll update the colours for you!  I added some Red Stickles to the roses, though it doesn't show very well in the photo and my Memory Box Precious Hearts die, fulfilled the challenge theme - still love these dies!...
 ...I shaped the bottom of the card by drawing around my scalloped border die and hand cutting, then layered one of the border dies above.  A blue satin ribbon and bow and another Precious Heart finished the card.  I added a printed insert with the line image and just a sentiment saying 'With Love', so it could be for Valentine's, an engagement, anniversary, etc.
Hope you like my creation and if you can 'Have a Heart' and join in with this week's challenge, we'd love to see what you make too!  Thanks for dropping by and don't forget to hop on over to the Passion for Promarkers blog to see what my wonderful teamies have been up to!
Big hugs,
Lisa x 
I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges :
Valentine / Love
Love (good or bad)
 Lots of love
Love is in the Air

Monday 10 February 2014

Oh no, it's snow!!!...

Good morning, my lovely Blogging friends!  Firstly, I must apologise for being MIA this week, only Mr Design Mojo decided to show his face and I was on a roll!  Last year, I got to the point where I wondered if I  would design again becuase of my lack of enthusiasm and with the uncertainty concerning our house refurbishment, but it seems, I have found some mojo at last!

Anyway...as I sit here typing this, this is the view from my front door...

...HUGE, cotton wool ball snowflakes are just cascading from a white sky!  There isn't a breath of wind and the silence is surreal!  It's coming down thick and fast and already sticking on the road...our fickle British weather never ceases to amaze me - if it carries on like this, they'll be sending my eldest home from school as it's 8 miles away!
Well, I do have a little crafty creation to share with you today (thank goodness, you say!) so without further ado, here it is...
This card came in the Top 3 at C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #245 - thanks for choosing me!
...This is the other card that I made using the ever so sweet Sympathy Bugs from Wee Stamps.  I coloured this one in very soft, muted colours and paired it up with a pretty paper from First Edition's Isabelle paper pad...
...I coloured the little bugs with my Pro/Flexmarkers and this is another one that I wrote the colours down on a bit of paper...famous last words!  I know it was Cool Grey 1, 3 & 4, Light Fawn, Aquamarine, Muted Pink, Pastel Beige, Soft Khaki, Khaki, Sandstone, Caramel, Umber, Blush...
...I drew around a scalloped border die to add detail to the card base and layered one of the borders on top.  I finished with some satin ribbon and bow, pearls, glitter and a little cameo using part of the image.  I added the sentiment 'Thinking of you' as this is going to go to  my lovely Auntie Di, who is a little bit poorly at the moment and I thought it might cheer her up a  touch!
Thanks for dropping in on me today and I hope that the weather is being kind wherever you are - we're up to about an inch of snow already, in the time it's taken me to type this!  Have a great Monday and I'll be back tomorrow with a new challenge for Passion for Promarkers!  See you soon,
Big crafty hugs,
Lisa x
I'd like to enter my card into the following challneges :
Get Well/Sympathy/Sorry
(My card is being sent as a Get Well card to my Auntie and uses Wee Stamps Sympathy Bugs, so I hope this is okay ladies?!)
Hey Cutie!
Anything Goes
Anything Goes

Saturday 1 February 2014

Happy February!...

Good morning, dear Blogging buddies and Happy 1st February to you all!  (Who stole January?!  Looks like this year is going to be another flyer!)  At the moment, the sun is actually shining and there's lovely ice patterns all over the cars, but I'm sure it won't last!

I thought I'd pop in and share a card with you that I made using the ever so sweet Sympathy Bugs from Wee Stamps - this was another present to self over the Christmas period as I have been hankering after them for a while!...
...For this one, I decided to make them a bit happier and used brighter colours, though I have done them very muted too (will share that one another time!)  I love pink and green as a colour combo, so out came my First Edition Love Letters pad for the pretty floral paper.  I kept the design quite simple and used one of my favourite dies (SB Floral Ovals) to frame the image, then cut a faux nestie by hand for the pink layer...
...My little bugs were coloured using Pro/Flexmarkers and highlighted with some crystal glitter.  I have lost the piece of paper with my colours on, but will have a go at listing the colours - just don't hold me to it!! :
Bugs - Light Fawn, Sandstone, Caramel, Satin, Tan, Shale, Antique Pink, Ruby
Wings - Muted Pink, Tea Rose, Watermelon, Honeydew, Pastel Green, Soft Green
Branch - Sandstone, Caramel, Cocoa, Umber, Meadow, Leaf, Bright Green, Muted Pink, Tea Rose
...I used a Nellie border die to extend the paper, so the whole thing fits on an A5 landscape card and finished with a hand cut fishtail flag (I'd still love the MFT fishtail flags,, but can't justify the cost just now!) and some little polka dot buttons.  I haven't done anything to the inside yet, as I don't know what occasion this card will be for, but always finish my cards with a printed insert or decorate the inside...we'll see!
So that's it from me today, I hope that the weather is being kind to you, wherever you are and that February starts as a Happy one!  Enjoy your weekend and don't forget that there's still chance to enter into our Anything Goes challenge over at Passion for Promarkers - it's a nice easy one, so no excuse!!
See you Soon,
Lisa x

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges :
Show us your new stash
(my new stash is my sweet Sympathy Bugs digistamp)
It's all New!
(My new is my Wee Stamps Sympathy Bugs Digi)
Anything Goes
Something New
(My new is my Wee Stamps Sympathy Bugs Digi)
Anything Goes