Lemonade Anyone?

Morning all.  Time for a new letter over at The Alphabet Challenge.  This time we are going for L for Lemons/Limes.  To be fair my image only involves a lemon but it was all I had at the time.  The image is from Doodle Pantry but it seems that they are no longer trading so I can't link the image.  I originally went one layer for this (I know, I really will never learn).  However, I got so far and decided to cut it out. My background is one that I put together from scraps.  I had a habit of putting papers together and stitching them when inspiration was in short supply.  I have a whole basket of card fronts waiting for me to colour images and put together.  This was one of those images.

Since doing that I have remembered a whole pad of backing paper with citrus fruit all over it.  Oh well, I did at least get rid of one of my blank card fronts. When life gives you lemons, you just gotta go for it!

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading. 

Love Dawn x

I See Through

Morning all.  These challenges are coming around very quickly at the moment.  Or at least they seem to be to me.  Today we have a new challenge from Cardz4galz.  Debbie has chosen Vellum for this one.  I do like Debbie's challenges.  She picks some lovely subjects.  And, as a bonus, for this one I got to use some unused stash from ages ago.  I was lucky enough to be given some stuff by a neighbour years ago which I was unsure what to do with. I did give some of it to a friend who was just starting on her card making journey.  However, I kept some lovely vellum hearts and flowers.  For this card I chose to use the flowers and leaves on an acetate card blank (another blast from the past).  I'm sure I've got some acetate with the same flower design but it proved elusive this morning so I used the dotty pattern instead.  I just stamped the sentiment and chose to keep it very simple.

I hope you can see it clearly enough.  I didn't think about the logistics of scanning a see through card when I started making it.

Please pop over and join in the fun.  I have a stack of unused vellum that I could do with inspiration for.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Let's Celebrate Guyz

Morning all.  Hope you enjoyed the bank holiday weekend (if you were in the UK) or just the weekend (if you were elsewhere).  A long weekend does at least give me time to catch up on the design team work for this week.  This week's subject for Cardz4guyz is to 'Celebrate' the guyz in your life.

For my card I chose one of my favourite stamps from 2 Cute Ink (Heidi's shop is still down so I can't link the image).  I just love this cute little penguin and he's always celebrating something.  I kept everything else pretty simple with red, white and blue bunting but I couldn't resist using this new Congratulations Circle die from Crafter's Companion.

He pretty much did everything I needed for a celebration card so I've left him at that.  Please pop over to the blog and see what the DT have come up with and we'd love it if you'd join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Love to Dance

If you love to dance then maybe this is the challenge for you.  Dance is the theme for this fortnight over at Make My Monday.  I do love to dance when I get the opportunity but I'm much better at it after several G & Ts, lol.  When I was little I did go to a couple of ballroom classes but the only thing I remember is the waltz.  Oh, and of course we all loved the country dancing sessions in PE at school. (I do hope the sarcasm translated in that last sentence).

Anyway, onto my card.

I've had this image from The Paper Shelter for a while.  I think she's very '80s - which, coincidentally, is when I was in my prime.
Not sure the old joints would stand much of a Knees up nowadays. Oh, my gosh, listen to me!  I'm only 52!

Anyway, please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Winged Things

Morning all.  Time for a new challenge at Cardz4galz.  We want to see things with wings. Should be fairly easy don't you think?  Well, I thought so and, although my card isn't as originally planned, I'm quite pleased with the result.

I chose a stamp set I'd had free from a recent magazine.  I have to admit that I rarely buy magazines.  They are getting to be as expensive as a book and - given the choice - books are always going to win.  Anyway, I was going on a road trip to see a friend of my Other Half.  It involved engines and electrics so I was seriously in need of a distraction - hence the magazine.

My original plan was to go one layerish.  I would probably have created a one layer panel and stuck it to a card but you get the idea.  However, things didn't go to plan.  Having spent an age colouring my fox glove I messed up the background so this is how it turned out instead.

We have foxgloves in the garden and the bees go crazy for them.  I added the bees on foam tape for dimension and I'm liking it better than my original idea.

Please pop over and see what the girls have made.  There is some lovely inspiration.  We would love to see your take on the theme too.

Thanks for reading.  

Love Dawn x

Typically Tropical

Good morning all.  Had enough of the summer sunshine yet?  We have a fantastic summer theme for you at this month's Sparkles Challenge.  We want to see your 'Tropical' makes.  

I'm not sure I could stand too much tropical.  I wouldn't mind a little bit of tropical in a glass though or, failing that, a coconut shell.  I found this fabulous tropical drinks digi stamp set at Sweet Siren Co on Etsy.  They are a new company to me but I loved this set so I will probably be back for more.

I stencilled the leafy background with peeled paint distress ink. The coconut is coloured with pro markers but then I went over bits of it with pearlised paint to add a bit of sparkle.  I'm not sure what's in the cocktail but I'm imaging white rum or Malibu (now that takes me back to my drunken youth).  

Please pop over to the blog and join in the fun.  There are some wonderful cards to inspire you.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Do it Yourself

Morning all.  I hope you are ready for a new Cardz4guyz challenge as it's my turn to pick the subject.  No pressure, but I'm expecting you all to join in.  My subject is DIY.  Couldn't be easier for a Guy card surely.

I chose to use Carpenter Joe from Tiddlyinks for my DIY cards.  I can't actually remember why I purchased this one, or if I've ever used it before.  It did fit the bill though so I'm not complaining.  I also got to use a very old spellbinders die cut sign that has been sat forever in the box.  I think it was one of my first dies when I got my old wizard years ago.  I've used the tools but never the sign.  It just goes to show, if you hang onto it long enough, it will come in handy for something.

I even went daft and splattered some paint on my background - and you all know how I hate making a mess like that.

I used a few brads in the corners and flung some card candy at it (well, the middle bit looked too empty).

Right, your turn.  Pop over and see the fabulous DT inspiration and I'm looking forward to commenting on all your entries.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Bye Bye Back to Basics

Today should have been a new challenge over at Back to Basics and Beyond.  However, we have come to a mutual decision to close this challenge.  I have loved my time as a Design Team Member.  I've revived old techniques long forgotten and learned so many new ones.  I shall miss it.

Thank you to Cazro, our wonderful organiser.  Thanks to the lovely ladies on the design team, both current and past.  This was my second DT post and I still had a lot to learn.  I couldn't have done it without their support.  And finally, thanks to all those who have entered our challenges over the months and entertained and inspired us. 

Bye Bye Back to Basics and Beyond.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Friends are such a Blessing

Morning all.  Don't Mondays come around quickly?  We have a new Make My Monday Challenge today so I suppose that's a bonus.  This time we would like to see your Friendship cards.  I've been so lucky to make new friends through crafting on the internet and this challenge has been chosen by Debbie, who is one of them.  Living on the other side of the Atlantic we will probably never meet but she is such an inspiration and never fails to offer encouragement.  This card is a tribute to her and my other crafty friends.  

I've used a favourite set from Wplus9 which was just made for this.  I inked the background with distress ink (squeezed lemonade, spun sugar and worn lipstick) and just stamped the blooms around the edge.  I filled in the gaps with a cluster of flowers from an un-named set that I've had forever and never used.  After that I just stamped the sentiment and mounted it on a couple of other inked ovals for the middle of my card.

The gems are from my stash and I'm so pleased with how this turned out.  It's not at all like my usual stuff but I hope it's a fitting tribute to Debbie and the rest of my inspirational crafty friends.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Be Joyful

Morning all.  The Alphabet Challenge has a fun new challenge for you today.  The subject is J for Joy.  

I'm loving this one as it gives me a chance to use a stamp I bought 'just because'.  Have you ever just seen something that made you smile you just had to have it?  This is what happened to me when I saw Mo Manning's image Joy.  It made me smile so much.  You can see the Joy in the image.  And this was the Challenge that it had been waiting for.

I've kept the card very simple because I think the image says it all.

Please pop over and join in the fun.  I think we could all use a little Joy sometimes.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Is your Beach Body Ready?

Morning all.  Time for some 'Summer Fun' over at Cardz4galz.  Any Summer Fun would do but, as I've been dieting since 2 weeks before Christmas, I thought I'd show off my Beach Body to you.
Here it is, what do you think?

And that's as close as you are going to get to me in a bikini.  Yes, I have lost 3 stone.  Yes, I am a shadow of my former self. No, I still don't own a bikini and I have no plans to buy one.  Believe me, the world will never be ready for that.

The image is one of my absolute favourites from Mo's Digital Pencil and she's such fun to colour.  I love her curves.  Believe it or not, the sandy coloured backing paper is a Christmas one.  I've hidden the snowfake under her bum.

Why not pop over and join in with your summer fun designs.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x