Rabbit Food

Morning all.  I risk causing a debate with my latest card for The Alphabet Challenge but please believe me - I'm only joking.  My tongue was firmly in my cheek whilst creating my card for our 'V for Vegetables' challenge.  I was looking for something amusing to say about my image and - once I'd thought it - it was stuck in my head.

I don't have a lot of Vegetable images.  To be honest this was the only one I could think of at the time.  It's no longer available but it came from 2 Cute Ink.  It's a sweet image but I was unsure what to do with it. I suppose I could send it to my vegetable hating son.  Carrots are one of the few vegetables he will eat.  Carrots and broccoli.  My mum used to make him a roast chicken dinner and, as he would eat it with gusto, I made one at home.  I put it in front of him and he burst out crying.  I asked him what was the matter - it was just chicken dinner like Mamma made him.  Sobbing he answered 'Mamma's chicken dinner has carrots on it'!  Foolishly, I had gone with the broccoli option. I never made that mistake again.  Chicken dinner comes with carrots in our house.

Anyway, over to you.  Lets see what you come up with for this one.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Fluffing up my Krafty Feathers

Morning all.  Time for a new challenge at Cardz4galz. Amy wants us to use Kraft paper or card on our projects.  I have some pretty kraft paper with metallic designs on it so it was the obvious thing to go for.  I chose a lovely blue/green feather pattern as I have a feather die that I bought ages ago and then couldn't think what to do with it.  

I cut the feathers and inked them with distress inks (peeled paint, salty ocean, peacock feathers and a swipe of fossilized amber).  I actually hate this photo as you can't see how good the feathers look.  They are a bit single coloured in the image but they look fabulous in real life. They needed a little something so I added the amber coloured gems to the middle.  I'm glad I took the plunge with the feather die.  I've been a bit daunted by it before.  Now I know it can look this good I'll have another go.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

I can Bearly Contain Myself

Yes, the scanner is working again.  I have no idea what I've done to it.  Maybe the fairy's did turn up after all (see my last post).  And if they did turn up they forgot to hoover!

Anyway, on to today's challenge over at Cardz4guyz.  Please can we see Teddy Bears on your projects.  Now, don't tell them, but we have some very special bears in our house.  They are in charge of fighting the monsters under the bed so we can sleep soundly at night.  Yes, I am the wrong side of 50,  yes, I do still have all my marbles, and yes I do have two way conversations with Francis, Edward, Monty, Christopher, Charlotte and Jennifer Alice.  Well, in the case of Christopher they are usually heated debates.  I'm not the only one. Both my husband and my son also talk to them!

Did I come on here to show you a card or to admit to my little foibles. Here it is.

I've used a lovely sweet stamp from Bugaboo.  She's got lot's of fun teddy images and I own several. I created the card blank ages ago from some left over backing paper I'd used on another project.  I've got a basket of them but I forget to do anything with them.  I'm trying to get around to using them.

Anyway, I'm off to moan at Christopher for keeping me awake fight the monsters last night.  British Bulldogs is not a game for Mondays.  Maybe I can persuade him to fight them at Tiddlywinks tonight!

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Once Upon a Time...

...There was a blog called Make My Monday which issued a challenge for people to make a card inspired by their favourite fairy tale.  And I'm hoping that you all join in so we can live happily ever after.

For my card I've gone all Cinderella on you.  Unfortunately, the fairy godmother appears to have lost her way - story of my life!  Although I was lucky enough to meet my very own prince charming, I'm still waiting for all those helpful Disney critters to rock up and help with the housework.

I love this image from Sassy Cheryl's (unfortunately, she has just closed her shop so it's not available anymore).  I've teamed it with some backing paper with sweet little birds on.  I think there is as much chance of them helping to sew her a new frock as there is of me going to work in a pumpkin pulled by mice tomorrow.

I'm really sorry about the rubbish photo.  I've just changed my computer for a new Windows 10 thing and I am struggling like hell to get it to talk to my printer and scanner.  The printer recognises it but doesn't take kindly to the instruction to print.  The scanner (which is the same machine as the printer) appears to be in stealth mode and is hiding so well the computer can't see it.  Did I mention it was the same machine that it can see as my printer.  Grrrrr!

Anyway, I digress.  Off you go and create a good old fashioned happy ending please.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

A bit Wishy Washi

Morning all.  It's the letter U at The Alphabet Challenge and we'd like you to 'Use some washi tape' please.  I have to admit that I only ever use the stuff when it comes up in a challenge.  That's not to say I haven't got a drawer full.  Of course I have.  I love pretty things!
In fact, I love my gold and white washi tape so much I used three different rolls to cover a complete panel.  

I did emboss a white line between each strip but, to be honest, you can't tell.  Once I'd finished the panel I just added the sentiment onto a small gold and white vellum panel and threw some bling at it.  I've still got a drawer full of pretty rolls so I need to see your ideas please.  Besides, the DT have some brilliant inspiration for you.  Please nip over to see. 

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Move Over Pink - Galz Have a New Colour For You

In fact, if you count white as a colour, we have two.  Cardz4galz want to see your 'Blue and White' cards please.  

I do think blue and white lend themselves to a very clean and simple look (feel free to prove me wrong if you like).  Anyway, that's how my card turned out.  The stamp was on sale when I went to my local Crafter's Companion store and it, sort of, just fell into my basket.  I was pleased to have this project to try it out.  The trellis is from a pre-cut sheet that I've had for ages.  I just popped it all together with a scrap of blue behind.

Quick note to self, having cut out the stitched frame first, remember to add it before sticking on the flowers.  Believe me, doing it after is an absolute faff!

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Winter Blues with a bit of Sparkle

Morning all.  I was so smug about being ahead with this week's challenge cards that I almost missed the fact that today is the 15th.  And, if it's the 15th, it must mean a new challenge over at Sparkles Monthly.  I had a total 'Argh' moment when I realised I hadn't done a card and I hadn't even thought of an idea. So, rather than try and come up with something clever, I had a quick scan through the images I have printed out.  When I print a digistamp I always fill up my page with other images and pop them in a basket for when I just want something to colour.  I have to admit that the image I chose has been in there so long I have no idea whose image it is.  I can remember that it was one of the first digistamps I downloaded years ago. I'm not sure that the blog I got it from would even exist now.  If it does and if you read this please comment below and I will happily amend the post and give you credit.

Anyway, as I was in a rush I coloured her up and just mounted her on a card front that I had glued a cover die to.  I kept the background pure white and just added icy blue gems.  I need to add a sentiment but I'm not sure what yet so, at the moment, it's blank.

For a total rush job I'm actually quite pleased with it.  The fur on her coat has been coated in Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen so it adds to the bit of glamour.

Please pop over and join in the fun.  You've got a whole month to enter so you don't have to rush it like I did.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's Simple Guyz

Morning all.  Time for a new challenge at Cardz4guyz.  Clean and Simple cards are the order of the day and you can't really get much simpler than my card. To be fair the base was already done.  I'd cut too many 'Birthdays' on a different project and, rather than having them lying around on my desk, I stuck them to a card blank.  After that I just had to cut one 'Happy' and find a stamp to go with it.  

I chose a seagull stamp from My Favourite Things and that was that. Oh yes, I had to add a little bling just because it's what I do. 

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Not Hip to be Square

Morning all.  Are you ready for a new Make My Monday Challenge.  This time we want anything but a square card.  This makes it a real change for me as square is my go to shape (with the occasional rectangle for variation).  I wanted to move away from normal shapes altogether and go with something totally different.  To make my card base I chose my largest sort of semi-circle die and stuck it to a card base before cutting around to get the card blank.  I inked it up with worn lipstick and spun sugar distress inks and splattered it a bit with water.  The cat stamp is a new one that I had to have when I saw it. It's a Laurel Burch design from Stampendous. I loved the images but I'm a bit intimidated by the bold colours she uses.  The stamps came with a stencil so I added texture paste to my blank and used enchanted gold embossing powder over it.  When you do it with texture paste it bubbles when you heat set it and I love the effect.  

I have a crazy cat lady best friend and this will be going to her for her birthday. She loves red so that was my main colour choice.

It's not my usual style but I love how it turned out and I will be using the stamp set much more now I've coloured it once.  Besides, I have a crazy cat lady mother in law with a birthday in February.  She's gonna love this stamp set.

Please pop over and have a look at the DT Inspiration.  There are some beautiful projects to inspire you.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Try Something New (I Did Try, Honest)

Morning all.  Now before I start I need you not to be put off by my project.  Today's subject at The Alphabet Challenge is T for 'Try Something New'.  Now, in my crafting career I have tried pretty much everything so this was going to be hard.  One thing I did want to try, and I bought the bits ages ago and never got around to it, was Decopatch. I have numerous blank shapes and some large letters to cover.  I also have lots of decopatch paper.  Well, I tried.

To be fair, part of the problem is that I can't take photos of my work.  Believe me, I did try scanning it!  It looks a lot better in real life but I'm pretty glad it will only be coming out at Christmas.  My original plan was to use some little snowflake charms on some silver ribbon but I couldn't find them so I went for the snowflake confetti and added gems.  I think that's what I'm not keen on.  I'll find those charms in August, you watch.  

I'm pretty pleased with the actual decopatch work - even though it's a bit messy for me.  I got mod podge all over my hands - ugh!

Here's another that I covered.  

I did scan this one.  I need to decorate it but I'm a bit put off at the moment. I will come back to it when I'm in a better mood.

Oh well, the idea was to try something new and I did.  Now let's see you have a go.  It's good to get out of your comfort zone.  Honestly, it is.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Haberdashery

Morning all.  I get to chose the first subject of the year over at Cardz4galz and I've gone for the very girly subject of 'Haberdashery'.  Anything with lace, ribbon, buttons, thread etc.  I figured it would get me using some of my vast collection of bits.  In the end I used some hessian, lace and ribbon.  

I  blended some ivory card with antique linen and tea dye distress inks and added the fabric bits.  I wanted a vintage look so I dug out this image from a very old download which was free in one of the card making magazines.  I coloured it with brown and ivory tones with a tiny bit of dusky pink in her flowers.  The plan was to add buttons as an accent but I couldn't find any I liked so gems it is.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x