Storm in a tea cup?

Sometimes we Brits can be a funny lot. On Sunday there were severe weather warning of gale and hurricane force winds. On Monday there were a lot of strong winds,some trees down and lots of homes without power.  Most people escaped unscathed, and as a result people have been complaining that we were warned at all. 

In 1987 we had a hurricane that wasn't forecast, in fact there is one weather forecaster who is famously remembered for denying it was coming, and there was an outcry that we were unprepared! 

Sometimes you just can't win!

Mundane everyday life....

Have decided that maybe I should blog more regularly, and not just to enter challenges. So I need to share what I've been up to on a more regular basis. I don't care if anyone reads it, but sometimes we all need to get things off our chests! 

Currently writing this post sitting in a doctors waiting room as Tom's chest is acting up again. Why is it always at weekends or bank holidays?? 

Still I'm thankful for the fact we live in the UK, so all our visits are free at the point if care. I read so many stories about other countries where this is not the case.

I know I am perhaps a little biased as they are my employers but the NHS is a much maligned institution, that does it's best with what it has. In my experience on both sides of the fence the staff work hard and get little thanks for what they do. In the eyes of the media, it's never quite good enough...

Ok rant over!!! 

P.s. Have now been seen and he has a course of Prednisilone which should sort him out. 

P.p.s. This post failed to upload yesterday so am posting it now. Will be back later once I've finished work to update on the latest saga!! 

Busy, busy, busy!

We're now entering that slightly chaotic period of the school year, concerts, sports day, teachers cards and gifts to make.

I'm also singing for 3 services in Norwich Cathdral this weekend so that's a write off crafting wise, and I'm on call the following weekend so that could be the same! Only six gifts and cards to make! Yikes!!! 

This can't be good....

I've discovered Pinterest.... Now my 'card porn' habit ( as it has been dubbed by a friend at work) has been taken to a whole new level!

I always think it's amazing to look at the work others have produced and now I can at least 'pin' it so I can actually find it again! 

I've been off work I'll for a couple of days this week so spent some time tidying and re-organising my craft room again. I'm nearly happy with the results! 

Another card to show you this time one I made last night for my Goddaughter to give to her ballet teacher...

Stamp - Bugaboo Brats Ballerina coloured with Promarkers

Card and paper from stash, and I've had them so many years I can't even begin to guess where from sorry!

Dies - xcut large ovals. 

I would like to enter this in the following challenges....

Little Red Wagon - #193 Monochrome
Paper Pretties - PWC266 Monochromatic Mania
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Pink and White
Cardmaking Mamas - Monochromatic
My Mum's Craft Shop - Just for Girls
CMC Copics Challenge - Anything goes

One of my other passions....

As well as crafting I also enjoy baking (and eating!) good cake and proper tea.

I have several favourite haunts to indulge this little passion, and am writing this post in one of them. 

Look what I've got...

And it was delicious! 

Cake is a bit of a running theme in this post, it even forms the subject of today's card....

Paper and Decopage - Tea Party from Dovecraft

Washi Tape - Cupcake Collection from Dovecraft.

Sentiment - Gingers House

Coloured with chalks.

Matted on Core'dinations Card stock (Cosmo Cricket Neutral Collection)

I would like enter into the following challenges....

Cupcake Craft challenge - Not for Flowers

Stamps+ Fun=Creativity - Cake Inky Chicks - Anything Goes Party Time tuesdays - Anything Goes Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes Thanks Lisa xx

Wedding card

How do you go about making a card for a bride and groom you know nothing about?

This was the dilemma I faced a few weeks ago, when we were invited to the wedding of one of the guys he works with at one of his clients.

First thought was go classic, heart on a pearl card...then I saw this stamp and couldn't resist!!

I also really liked this die from Memory box, I thought it was really clever...

So I ended up with the following...

Card- From stash

Stamp - Love me Do by Wee Stamps

Heart Paper - Boofle cd by DoCrafts

Backing paper - HOTP Creative Cardmakers Jewel Pack

Die - Heart Pocket by Memory Box

Peel off - from Aldridge Crafts

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

Delightful Challenges - Wedding or Anniversary Southern Girls Challenges - Punch it Out My Mum's Craft Shop - Dies, Dies , Dies Created with Love - Favourite thing (dies) Incy Wincy Designs - Make a pocket Everybody-Art-Challenge - Wedding Inky Chicks - Love Thanks Lisa xx

Father's Day Card

Thought I'd just write a quick post to show you my Dad's Father's Day card. It's my first attempt at a tri-shutter card, and it was a bit more complicated than I expected! I cut 3 different card blanks before I got one that folded and laid properly, but I am quite pleased with the finished result.

It was also my first time using Craft Serif Artist, which I actually found relatively easy. I have been a digital scrapbooker for about 6 years, and usually use photoshop elements, but came across Serif Artist when I bought the Party Paws DVD from Crafters Companion. 

I'm a HUGE fan of the 'Born to Shop' cartoons and when I saw they'd done a 'Bloke' version, I just had to get the kits!

Card - from Crafters Companion, folded using Ultimate Pro

Papers - It's a Mans world by Claire Curd (papermania)

Embelishments - Bloke at Leisure from Daisytrail

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

Craft Your Passion - Fathers Day/Masculine Crafty Cardmakers - Fathers Day Creative Creations - For You Dad Lexi's Creations - Father's Day/Male Birthday

Anything Goes - Father's Day Crafty Sentiments - For a Male Creative Craft challenge - Fathers Day Party Time tuesdays - Fancy Folds Creative Inspirations -Father's Day Glitter n Sparkle - Father's Day

Searching for my style....

Can you learn style or is it just a talent you have? I seem to spend hours looking at examples of other people's work and mine just doesn't seem to have that 'wow' factor that others do. Is this something everyone suffers from? Is it just it's harder to appreciate the beauty in your own work?

It seems I favour a clean and simple style, I don't like some if the really 'busy' cards that you find on some sites, but I haven't yet figured out how to make mine really special...any advice? 

In the mean time as I didn't share this when it was Mother's Day in the UK I'll share it now, little boy reminded me a bit of Tom! 

There is a bit of story to the making of this card, I made it while visiting my parents during Feb half term. I only took my laptop, some paper, scissors, craft knife and the 2012 limited edition Promarkers and thought I'd see what I could make.

Realised once I got to Leicester I had forgotten the crucial card stock and glue!!! Quick trip to the Range solved that problem, and away I went.

Card - Papermania
Image - Sliejke Digi Stamps
All other materials from Do Crafts Digital Designer CDs
Paper & Border - Tulip & Friends
Journalling Card- Forever Friends Best of British
Greeting - Wellinton Sunny Days

 

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:

 

Created with Love - Mothers Day

Creative Stamp Friends - Mothers Day

Love to Create - Mom or Special Lady

Celebrate the Occasion - Mothers Day

Chocolate Coffe and Cards - Mothers Day

 

 

Thanks

Lisa



 

Well it's been a while!

 

I decided that it was time to stop trying to keep quite so many balls in the air! For various crazy reasons I've not had time to do much, work has been manic, family life is just sometimes chaos and the house frequently looks like a bomb has hit it!

I also made the mistake of trying to keep up with lots of the different challenge blogs and therefore failing to do any! I've now picked a favourite few and am trying to enter a few challenges again

Things are starting to get back to normal and I've got a few things to share over the next few days....

Starting with...
 




Card from Stash
Sentiment from Ginger's House
Stamp by Sugar Nelllie
Coloured with Promarkers
Stickles used on wings and wand.
Stick on jewels were freebies from a magazine



 

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:

Passion for Promarkers - Birthdays
Crafty Sentiments - Use a Sentiment
2 Sisters - Bingo Bash (middle column gems, image, sentiment)
Addicted to stamps and more - #44 Addicted to CAS

Thanks
Lisa

Oops!

Bit of a nightmare morning! Having set my alarm last night for 5.30 so I could get to work for 7.30, I woke up at 6.42... Helps if you actually switch the alarm on!

Did quite well, was only 1 min late! However that was minus the 2 cups of tea I need to get me going the the morning so it was a bit of a challenging morning!

Early starts mean early finishes though, so I did get home in time to finish this...




Card  - From stash
Embossing Folder - Spellbinder M-Bossabilities Winter Wonder
Image - Sugar Nellie - Flakey (digistamp available at Funky Kits )
Coloured with Pro Markers
Dies- X-cut square parenthisis and Spellbinders create a flake 3

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

 

Cards and More - Ice and Snow Crafty Sentiments- White on white with coloured image ABC Christmas- B is for Boys Creative Stamp Friends - Winter/Winter sport Thanks Lisa



Cards and More - Ice and Snow

Crafty Sentiments- White on white with coloured image ABC Christmas- B is for Boys Creative Stamp Friends - Winter/Winter sport Thanks Lisa

Crafty Sentiments- White on white with coloured image

ABC Christmas- B is for Boys Creative Stamp Friends - Winter/Winter sport Thanks Lisa

ABC Christmas- B is for Boys

Creative Stamp Friends - Winter/Winter sport Thanks Lisa

Creative Stamp Friends - Winter/Winter sport

Thanks
Lisa

Normality Returns.....well almost!

I managed to print out and colour quite a few images last night, so I have the start of a few cards that I need to make in the next few weeks.

I do need to do something about the light in the living room though, I get in trouble with my husband if it's too bright, but some of the images I coloured last night needed more work in the light of day.

Here's the first card....

 

Card - from stash ( I have rather a thing for these shiny ones!)

Image - Pint sized Laura from Just Inklined

Coloured with promarkers

Cheers stamp I've had for ages, can't remember where it came from.

Black stones - Forever friends black and gold collection

 

 

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

 

 

Created with Love  - Anything Goes Creative Creations - Keep it Simple Stamp n Doodle - Boys/Male birthday Cardmakin Mamas - Clean and Simple CAS-ual Fridays - Make your Mark Allsorts - Masculine Thanks Lisa x



 

Ugh...

I know I said I'd be back on Monday, but I woke up with a splitting headache, sore throat and no voice!
Feeling a bit better now, but still pretty rough.
Spent most of Monday and Tuesday in bed watching Create and Craft and resisting the urge to spend money!

Did venture out yesterday to get some milk, and popped in to Aldridge Crafts to say hello to Jane and Sarah, came out with some dies and embossing folders....

Here is the card I made on Saturday...

Card - From stash

Stamp - The Lost Heart by Gorjuss

Coloured with Promarkers

Ric Ric  and Flowers -Papermania Capsule Collection

Peel off - From stash (probably Anita's)

Sketch - Crazy 4 Challenges (see link Below)

 

 

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

 



Crazy4Challenges - C4C169 Sketch Totally Gorguss - KISS (Keep It Simple Silly) ABC Challenges-  Birthdays Creative Card Crew -  Girly Addicted to Stamps-   CAS Creative Inspirations - Anything goes I love Promarkers - Anything Goes Charisma Cardz - Hearts and Flowers Little Miss Muffet - Hearts and Flowers



That's Better...

Well I finally found my craft room last night! Desperately needed to. Since my wonderful husband brought me a new printer/scanner/photocopier for Christmas I needed to reorganise as it takes up a bit more space than the last one!

One of my other New Years Resolutions was to actually get around to making my Christmas cards this year,  so I am going to try to make at least one a week! Here is the other card I made last weekend...

Stamp - Free with October 2012 Edition of Papercraft Inspirations

Coloured with Promarkers

Mat and card from stash

Paper from Crafters Companion (a free CD from YEARS ago)

'Snow' - Deco Art Glistening snow writer

Sentiment - Anita's Glitterations

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Crafty Sentiments - Winter Fun ABC Christmas - A is for Animal C.R.A.F.T - Christmas in January Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas - Recycled or something free Be back tomorrow with what I made last night! Lisa x

Well, life happens...

Sorry I haven't been around much in the last week, to say it's been chaos is an understatement!

I made a couple of lovely cards last weekend, intending to post them Monday morning.....

Then the snow arrived....

I took my laptop to work and an overnight bag as I was on call and didn't think I'd be making it home..

I ended up staying at my In-Laws in Norwich, and I couldn't get onto their wi-fi.

Tuesday- got up early made it into work on time! Getting home was a different matter....

Shift finished at 3.30, got home after picking T up from the childminders at 8.30. Sudden dump of snow at lunchtime = panic rush home = grid lock in Norwich.

Some of my colleagues sat in their cars trying to get out of the NNUH (Norfolk and Norwich Hospital) for over 3 hours!!!

Weds school was closed, and I had to stay off work to look after T.

Back to normal (ish) Thursday, but the roads and pavements were lethal. Still got no crafting done as needed to catch up on the accounts for the VAT return.

Friday, more snow, schools closed therefore 6 year old to entertain and snow forecast for the whole weekend!

Here's the first card I made, for Adrian's Grandma.

Card - From stash (probably bought at the Range)

Stamp - Wistful Emma from Fred she said

Coloured with Pro markers

Die- Lin and Lene Designs

Core-dinations card embossed with Fiskars Blossoms texture plate

Ribbon - free with Crafts Beautiful magazine

Sentiment - from stash (prob another freebie!)

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

Make My Monday - Die Cuts or Punches Oh-la-la Creations - Happy Birthday Creative Inspirations - One for the Girls Daring Cardmakers - Embossing Thank you Lisa

New Toys!!

I went to the Range yesterday after work to spend my Christmas gift vouchers, I wanted some fancy dies, for cutting frames.  I bought myself a Big Shot in November for my birthday and have been experimenting with it ever since!

However what I came out with was a couple of really interesting punches, that will punch borders, square frames, corners, circles and ovals! Talk about versitile! They,re made by X-cut (Docrafts) and they were £15 each.

Its a funny looking thing.....

 

 

But with a little bit for practice you can do this...!

And this!

 

 

I'm on an early shift at work, and DH is at rugby training tonight, so the craft room is having a blitz this evening, and then I should be able to get on and create!



Just a quick one...

Just a quick post to show you the card I made for my BIL's Birthday.

It's not the best card I've ever made, but it's the best I could do in the time frame and the chaos that is currently my workroom!

Card- Crafters Companion Centura Pearl
Mat- Green card from Yellow Moon (I think)
Image and word art- DoCrafts Digital Designer Wellinton Past Times DVD
Peel offs- From stash (probably Anitas from The Range)

Appologies for the finger in the photo, but I couldn't get it to lie flat for the photo!



Gatefold Card





Hi Ho, Hi Ho....

It's off to work I go!

I work Mon-Weds so don't get a lot of time to craft on those days. Must make that card tonight though, as it has to be posted tomorrow, so I'll have something to show you in the morning.

In the mean time, I'd like to show you the gift box I made for my MIL's Christmas Present....



Gift Box

I made it using the Fab Ultibags Board from Cratfters Companion, the card stock is also Crafters Companion Centura Pearl Printable Card. The little flower is from a bag of bits that my sister brought me for Christmas.

 

I would like to enter this into:

Crafters Companion Monthly Challenge - Anything but a card

Ooops!

Slight panic induced yesterday when I got an e-mail from Facebook notifiying me of birthdays for next week.

Apparently my brother-in-laws birthday is the 10th of Jan, not the 17th as I have it written in my diary!

So will need to make a card ASAP to send out to him.

Only slight problem I currently have my Goddaughters to stay and they sleep.... yep you guessed it, in my craft room!

Have sorted out the topper to go on the card, but that is as far as I've got. Hopefully will get it done tomorrow, although Monday evening is looking more likely! Ho hum....

Anyway thought I'd share a few things I have made for the festive period with you, just to prove I do sometimes get a chance to make things!

Post it Note Holder

Post it Note Holder

Jotter Pad and Pen

Jotter Cover and Pen



 

Teachers Gift Bag

 

These were made using templates from Split Coast Stampers, but I had to adjust them a little for Metric use!

The paper for the bag is from the Papermania 12 x12 Capsule pack in Chelsea green.
The Image on the tag is by Jazzy from Words to Delight, (I don't think her stuff is available anymore)
The ribbon was from my local haberdashers.

The card for the covers is from the Crafters Companion Centura Pearls dark range.
I also used the cream card from the same company for the mats.

The word art is by Dianne Miller from Scrap Girls, (it was one of their freebies)
The Embossing folder is a swirls one, I think it's by Papermania, but I wouldn't swear to it!

Hope you like them!

New Beginings

Tales of a Frustrated Crafter......

Why that title?

Well there never seem to be enough hours in the day to let me get my crafting done!

I work 3 days a week and have a 6 year old son, and a husband who works all the hours God sends, so you'd think I'd have plenty of time!

My New Years resolution was to find more time to craft, and to enter some of the challenges on the other Blogs I follow.

To do that I need a blog.....

So here goes!