Hello, it's me ...................................

So, how do I start ...............

Apologies for the super long post is probably the best way to start off I suppose. I never thought I would be absent from the blogging world for so long when I last posted on my blog on the 5th of May 2013 but I never expected in my wildest dreams that my life would take such a drastic turn in the way that it did. At the time, several things were going on in my life that took me away from crafting and I didn't realise at the time my future had changed in the way that it did.

Aside from my work, which was getting busier and busier, for several years I had been battling with issues beyond my control, health issues, arguments with family and then the sudden death of my brother at the age of 37. I need time to regroup, make sense of what was happening and most of all, I needed to find me again.

Once I turned that corner and started crafting again, I found my love of being creative had changed. I no longer wanted to make cards of cute boys and pretty girls with flowers and ribbons on them. I wanted to be messy and and colourful and a whole lot less organised. Don't get me wrong, I do still  make the occasional card but not like before. My new love is most definitely mixed media and that is what will be posted here mainly from now on. There may be an occasional card on here but we'll just see how it goes.

To get us started, here are a few of my more recent makes, just a few pictures and unfortunately no details of the processes. This will be different for posts going forward though, there will be some technique stuff and photos and all the products I use will be listed.

Again, I'm sorry this is such a long first post but I'm glad you are still here and I really hope you pop in and see me again for my newer projucts.

Much love to you all

Lisa xx

Busy Bee!!

Well the sunshine seems to be making more of an appearance these past couple of weeks. And with the lovely weather comes longer working hours. I am now so busy with work, my crafting has had to take a back seat. As a result, this may be my last post for a little while. So here we go...
This week at Here Come The Boys is challenge #51 - Paper Piecing. Having never done this before, I was looking forward to trying something new. And I have to say, I absolutely loved doing this challenge. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I made two cards!!! So here they are.

 For this one, I used 'Fab George' from the Molly Bloom collection. I coloured him with my Polychromo's and decided to paper-piece his dungarees and cap with a spotty paper. I even gave him a little bit of sunburn on his shoulders (clever me!!).

I edged George with my distress inks and matted and layered him onto some bright card and managed to dig out a star button from a long ago craft show.

I used 'Summertime Fun George' for this more neutral second card. I paper-pieced his t-shirt, shorts and cap with blue spotty paper and coloured the rest of him with my Polychromo's. I backed him onto a nautical style paper and made some little corners which I edged with my pens.

Again, I edged him with distress inks and matted and layered him onto cardstock. 

And then I popped a little sentiment on to finish it off.

Little Boy Blue

Good morning everyone, I hope you are well. I cannot believe how quick that fortnight went, we have a new challenge at Here Come The Boys already !! Well done to our winner on the Sketch Challenge Nat #7. Your card was fantastic, well done also to our Top 4. We had some great entries on the Sketch Challenge.

Onto this fortnight's challenge, this time we would like you to make something which fits a Little Boy Blue theme, it MUST be for a boy/male and we are looking for a monochromatic theme. You can use skin and hair tones, but the rest of the card must be blue.

This is what I came up with

I have used Edwin With Airplane stamp from the Prince & Princesses collection from Magnolia. I have coloured him with my Polychromo pencils again. I am really getting the hang of using these now.

The backing papers I have used are from a Dovecraft Back to Basics pack.

The greeting has been stamped in Memento and is from Lili Of The Valley.

Here I have wrapped some blue and white twine around one of my layers.
I hope the Dt have inspired you and we cannot wait to see your creations. Have a great weekend, I am off to play in my craft room now.
Luv & hugs
Lisa xx

A sign of promise

I have woken today to a beautiful sunny day, I always think the day is more positive with a bit of nice weather. As I drive around doing my job I notice the things that shows everything is changing. I love this time of year, it is a sign of promise, daffodils and new lambs everywhere I go.

Anyway that's enough from me. Congratulations to our winner Linda, and our top 3 in the last challenge at Here Come The Boys. Yet again there were some fantastic entries. Well done to everyone that entered. Our challenge this time is a Sketch challenge.

I absolutely loved doing this sketch, it was brilliant to work with. I decided to turn the sketch around. Here is what I came up with.

I used some papers that I found in my scraps drawer which I believe where from the Docrafts Wellington range, that's the great thing about sketch challenges, using up all the bits we crafter's save " just in case ". The stamp was free with a magazine. This has been edged with distress ink Vintage Photo. 

I stamped the greeting on a scrap of white card.

The blue clock background was made with a piece of blue paper and stamped with a clock stamp in a darker blue to create my own paper.

All the layers were mounted onto Kraft card to bring it all together.

 I hope you find some inspiration from my interpretation of the sketch and from the other DT cards, we always love to see your creations. Good luck and see you next time.

Hugs
Lisa xx

Has Spring sprung ?

Good morning everyone, I hope everyone is well this morning, the weather has certainly been behaving lately hasn't it, hopefully spring is on it's way. I can't wait for the warmer weather.

Well done to everyone who entered the Lots of Layers challenge at Here Come The Boys  , there were so many fantastic entries, I had the task of picking the winner from all the fab cards. So well done to # 68 Chrissy and to our top 3 (4).

Onto to this fortnight's challenge, it's a No Stamping challenge this time. We want to see some different techniques that DON'T involve stamps or digi-stamps and of course it must be for a male.

This is what I have made :

I went for a gift bag this time, I have never done one of these before and I spotted this Kanban decoupage sheet in a reduced box in a garden centre a couple of weeks ago. Isn't he a cutie?
I started by doing my cloud background and onto this I added some waves which I cut with my Cameo.

I put the decoupage together and fitted it into the waves to create a feeling of depth. I left the little fish hanging from the side for maximum effect. I love how proud he looks that he caught a fishy !!
I die cut some clouds using a Sizzix die ( I think ) and used my distress ink Faded Jeans to edge the clouds, added the greeting cloud and VOILA a little boy's gift bag.

I hope you like my little creation, thanks for stopping by, see you next time.

Hugs
Lisa xx

Spring has sprung ........... I hope

It is a beautiful morning again here in my little corner of blogland as it was yesterday, with a little bit of luck, spring is on it's way and we can all hope the bad weather has now gone. I also must apologise for my absence this past month, I needed to take time out, I'm sure you all now how it is.

There were fantastic entries for last fortnight's Western theme, congratulations to our winner and top 3. 

Our challenge at Here Come The Boys this time is Lots of Layers, as always your card must be for a man/boy. Here is my card. I have managed to incorporate 11 layers into the design.  I have used a stamp from the newest Country Companions range from Docrafts. I love this little Frog, he looks so happy.

I have again coloured him with my Polychromo crayons except for his shorts and wellies, here I have used Promarkers. The shorts are in Yellow and Crimson and the boots are Cyan. 

I have taken some scraps of adhesive border edging to add a couple more layers, which I stamped with a fish image using Memento Bamboo Leaves. Each section has been layered with leftovers from my scrap drawer, it really is a great way of using up all the little bits.

As always, I hope you find a little bit of inspiration when you stop by, if you would like to leave a comment, I would love to know you have visited.

Luv and Hugs
Lisa xx

Brrrrr ..........

My goodness, how cold is it in the UK at the moment, perfect weather for a nice cup of tea and a bit of crafting.
We had some fantastic entries for out last challenge at Here Come The Boys . Well done to our winner and top 3.
This fortnight's challenge is a Bingo Board, you can find the board at Here Come The Boys, you can use any line across, line down, diagonal or the four corners to make your card and it must be for a male.
I suppose the weather might have influenced my card for this challenge, it was snowing as I was making it and after making wintery cards for the last couple of months, I thought something summery would be nice for a change.
Here it is :

I have used Edwin with starfish this time, and my line is buttons, twine and image. I have created my own background of clouds for this card and continued that on my topper. This was edged with Salty Ocean distress ink. Again, I have coloured Edwin with my pencils.

I then tied a couple of buttons through my twine and a little tag sentiment to finish my card.

Thank you for popping by, I would love to know you have been and good luck with the challenge.
Hugs
Lisa xx

Happy New Year to all..........

I would like to start by wishing everyone a very Happy, Healthy and prosperous New Year, I can't believe it is 6th January already. I had a few resolutions but sadly they have fallen by the wayside already. I always have good intentions at the beginning when I am not at work, but as soon as I go back, those old habits just creep right back in !!!

Anyway, let's get back to business, WOW, so many entries for the Here Come The Boys, well done to the winner and top 6. Also, well done to Lindy Lou, you won the Candy.

This fortnights challenge is a sketch challenge, this can be found here , this is what I came up with, I have used a Wellington bear stamp and backing papers from the Docrafts range, I love using these for male cards.

I distress inked around the edges, (Santa bought me lots of D.I's and other crafty stash) mat and layered all my squares and added some twine and a charm I found while tidying my desk. I hope you get what I mean.

Sorry for the briefness, of the post, gotta go shopping ready for school going back ,check the uniform is ironed and the usual mum stuff.

Take care everyone

Hugs 

Lisa x

Beginning to look like Christmas

WOW, can't believe it's just 2 weeks till the man in red comes, wonder what crafty goodies he might bring us all. My girls are grown up now so don't get quite as excited as they used to, but we had many fantastic times when they were younger.
That Here Come The Boys challenge absolutely flew by, we had loads of brilliant entries. Well done to our winner and our Top 4, amazing to see everyone's talents.
Our challenge this time is ............ Anything Goes - Christmas and New Year. We also have Candy to give away this time, just be a follower of the blog and pop your name in the sidebar MrLinky and you could win £10 worth of digital Christmas Candy.

So, onto my creation this time

I have used Magnolia's Edwin with Sack and I coloured him with my pencils again.

 I found some presents stamps in my stash, coloured and glittered them, then cut them out.

I found the fence die cut in my box. I think it is a Spellbinders DLites, I also used a Marianne D Christmas Tree and a Cheery Lynn Snowflake. The background is a cloud effect which I have used on previous cards and I love doing.

And there we have it, something a bit festive for the male in our lives. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year, I hope Santa is very kind to you all. Thank you for joining us at Here Come The Boys, we all look forward to seeing you next year.

Lots of love and hugs to you all

Lisa xx

So Much Rain .......

Good morning everyone, I hope you are all well, and if you are in the UK are staying safe. I cannot believe the rain we are having at the moment, and the floods are just terrible. I had a delivery in Wales last Thursday, just as this storm was moving in, and the conditions were scary. I hope you all manage to stay safe and warm and this nasty weather leaves us very soon.
Well done to everyone who took part in our last challenge at Here Come The Boys . There were some brilliant entries. Congratulations to the winner and the top 3.
This time our challenge is pretty simple, we would like you to make a birthday card, that's it. Here is my offering.
I have stamped my image 4 times, matted a few layers and mounted it all onto one piece of white card.

I went for a simple look this time, I still used my Polychromo's but thought I would try a monochrome look for a change.

 I stamped my sentiment onto a punched circle

The stamps are from Hobbycraft's own range I think.

I hope you have enjoyed looking at my crafty offering, I would love to know you stopped by and good luck with the challenge
Hugs
Lisa xx

A Quick Post

Morning all, I hope this post finds you all well. I have been a busy bee this week, lots of things going on so once I have finished this blog post I am having a crafty rest day.
Well done to the winner and top 3 from the die cuts and punches challenge. There were certainly lots of fab entries, glad it wasn't my turn to pick a winner, I would have struggled. All the ladies who have requested to join the GDT will be contacted shortly.
This fortnights challenge at Here Come The Boys is Favourite Film, WOW, did I struggle with this one, I am not a film watcher so needed husbands assistance this time. We went with Pete's Dragon .........
I have used Magnolia's Lilyrose the Dragon for the first time on a card

I have used Polychromos to colour my image.

 The sentiment stamp is from a new company called Doodle Do Crafts who make their own clear stamps.

I added some die cut corners and VOILA it was done.

Good luck for this challenge.
Luv & Hugs
Lisa xx

A short post ......

Good morning everyone, I hope this post finds you all well. I am currently suffering the effects of a rather bad cold, something I rarely get. I have to admit, I am a terrible patient !!!

Onto business, well done to everyone who took part in the Edwin challenge at Here Come The Boys . some wonderful entries for our favourite boy Edwin. Well done to our winner and runners up.

This fortnights challenge is Use Die Cuts and/or Punches, and we are sponsored by Bugaboo for a chance to win 7 digis. Here's what I came up with :

The image is from Bugaboo and is called Christmas Brat Elf, I have coloured him with a combination of PM's, Copics and pencils. He has been cut out and placed onto 2 die cut shapes.
I have used the same die cut shape for the sentiment.

The snowflakes are a mix of die cuts from Marianne D and Spellbinders. I have used a punch on the corners of the background papers.

I then added a couple of buttons to his boots, and that's it I think. I am now going to crawl back under my blanket, thanks for stopping by and good luck.
Hugs
Lisa xx

Chilly nights are on the way .............

WOW, hasn't the weather changed in the last couple of weeks, cannot believe the temperature drop, so cold. 

Thank you for joining us again at Here Come The Boys for our new challenge. Well done to our winner and top 3 for the Monochrome challenge, there were some fab entries, so glad I didn't have to pick the winner. 

Anyway, onto this fortnights challenge, Edwin Only, this time you MUST use Edwin on your card to be be eligible for a chance at winning, and that's it. 

I have used Ski Edwin with Snowflakes from the new A Christmas Story collection, I loved colouring this image, again I used my polychromo pencils.

I have stamped around the die cut image with a snowflake stamp in blue and edged with my ink duster brushes.  I added a little flocking to Edwin's hat. I used my glitter gel pen to create a snowy effect underneath him

I cut 2 Memory Box Snowflake corner and 2 Marianne D large Christmas Trees from white glitter cardstock and placed them at either edge for a different shape.

I hope you like my interpretation, and I cannot wait to see all your fabulous entries, thanks for stopping by 

Luv & hugs 

Lisa xx