UP CLOSE: Enterprising mum, Abigail Armstrong, has opened a new door on Christmas in Alsager and further afield with her clever creative skills.

The former behavioural teacher has launched Bows of Cheshire and Staffordshire bringing the festive touch inside outside.

And she's finding her eye for colour and design dressing up doors for both houses and businesses has really taken off.

The 27-year-old who lives in Sandbach Road Alsager is rushed off her feet with orders often completing 21 or more in a day.

She buys the fabric in long rolls then measures and cuts it into door lengths at home so she's ready with her basket of goodies to dress doors.

And the business is a family affair as daughter Tiger Lily (8) makes the bows which not only go on the outside but also the back of the door.

Abigail said: "I've always loved creative things and get my flair for design from my mum an interior designer who has similar skills.

"It all started last Christmas when I put a bow on an inside door at home which looked a bit bare and my partner and lots of other people said how nice it looked.

"I then came up with the idea of dressing front doors and tried out a few things over Easter to see how it looked and it's gone from there."

Abigail set up her business fully in October and so far it's going from strength to strength and she has plans afoot for new ideas when Christmas is over.

"I'm really busy but I'm aware after Christmas things will get quieter and I need to do other designs," said Abigail who says popular colours are red, silver, grey, pink and dark blue.

"My partner had to drive two hours the other night to pick up more fabric. I used to do interior design work when I worked for Dunelm and Terry's Fabrics."

Abigail charges around £45 to dress a front door but that does include a design on the back and the displays are resusable next year.

"It's lovely to see the finished doors and for people to make a real statement with their front door."

Abigail did Halloween bows in October and says she will be taking a well-earned rest when she finishes for Christmas and takes a holiday.

"It really is full-on but I love what I do and am now developing new ideas to do after Christmas."

For the time being though she's happy to drive around Cheshire and Staffordshire dressing front doors and leaving customers with big smiles as they close their front door.