Time for more Trees

 Are you fed up with the Christmas Tree yet - for those that celebrate the Christmas holiday.  I have just three more for you on a card.  Today we would like to see 'T for Trees' on your projects at The Alphabet Challenge.  You don't have to go Christmassy.  You can use any tree but I had these hanging around so I thought I would put them to good use.

I've had the digi stamp for several years and it makes fabulous gift tags.  It's called Tiny Trees from The Lovely Studio.  When I searched for her site recently it doesn't seem to be active.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Something New

 Morning all.  I'm a bit late posting but, as it's my birthday, I had a lie in.  Today over at Cardz4galz we are looking for 'something new'. You could choose the new year or something you had for Christmas or just something you had - like me.  I was lucky enough, just before Christmas, to receive a new stamp and a new die from a friend who had bought duplicates.  Thanks Cazro.  I chose to use the new die for my card.  After all, we all need thank you cards after Christmas.

Yellow isn't my favourite colour but, after I'd chosen the paper, I couldn't find a shade of pink or green that matched.  Saying that, when I came back to it to take the photo it had grown on me.  I often find that when you come back to a card you like it better than when you made it.

I hope you will pop over and see what the DT have created.  It's a good excuse to get out your new stash.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Silver

 Morning all.  It's my choice to pick for the letter S over at The Alphabet Challenge and I chose 'Silver'. It's ideal if you are still making last minute Christmas Cards like I am.  I didn't make a Christmas card for this one though.  I used a lovely die that I'd bought from the Range.  I think it may have been Creative Expressions. I keep all my dies on magnetic sheets in photo frames on the wall so I get rid of the packaging and forget which company they are from.  I know I had it from the Range as they've had a clear out of craft stuff recently and I went a bit mad.

I cut the circles from white and silver card and used silver glitter card in the background I just framed them and stuck them on the card front and added a greeting.   It's a fairly simple make but looks so sparkly in real life.  Please join in our challenge as I need to have some projects to choose winners from.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Christmas Animals

 Hello again.  Here I am with today's post.  This one is for Cardz4galz and you are going to love it.  We are looking for 'Christmas Animals'.  Ideal for last minute Christmas projects and there is so much scope. I decided to go cute for my effort.  

I've had this cute little mouse for a couple of years and I honestly can't remember using it.  I don't know why as it's so sweet.  I love how this turned out.  Right, I'd better get to work.

Thanks for reading.  

Love Dawn x

Vintage Christmas

 Morning all.  Well, I'm a day late with this one.  I totally forgot to post this month's Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  So today you will be getting two posts. This month we are looking for 'Vintage Christmas' projects. This isn't really my style but that's the beauty of being on a design team - you get to go outside your comfort zone every once in a while.  

I used some vintage looking papers that I really didn't like.  However, as the Hunkydory topper was so big you don't really see them.  I distressed the edges on everything and added some floral bits and a sentiment.  I was quite pleased with the overall effect.  It pleased one of our Church goers on Saturday.  I did a card sale for Church funds  and this was one of the ones that sold.  Anyway, I'm off to post today's blog.  Don't forget, this was yesterday's blog.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Contemporary Christmas

 Morning all.  Apparently, I chose 'Contemporary Christmas' for today's theme over at Cardz4guyz.   I must have been either sleep walking or drunk as - when I came to post my blog title - I couldn't even spell it.  I love that I came up with it though.  I had a tonne of ideas.  As we are a Guyz blog I decided to go with a classy combo of black and gold (yes, I'm still a New Orleans Saints fan).

The wording is a cut out from the centre of a Christmas tree die set that I got from The Works.  I've not used the tree yet.  I love the wording though.  The embossing folder I've had for years and I used some metallic rub on stuff to give it the shine.  I'm really pleased with the result.  Please pop over and have a go or I won't have anything to comment on.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Gift Card Holder

 Morning all.  We have a handy new challenge for you over at Make My Monday if, like me, you need to give a gift card this Christmas.  We want 'Gift Card Holders' please.  Now my nephew is of that age where toys are to childish but he does like to play video games.  I usually get him a token so he can play online.  With that in mind I chose a fun image for my holder.

The image is part of a larger digistamp from The Paper Shelter called Santa's Family Selfie.  I just enlarged it and used the part with Rudolph on.  I think Charlie will find it amusing.  I know I do.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

When the Red Red Robin...

 Morning all.  It doesn't seem like five minutes since my last post, lol.  At least this one should go out at the right time.  We are up to 'R for Red' at this week's Alphabet Challenge.  Perfect for Christmas cards, right?

I had a root through my printed digi stamps and found this lovely one by Digistamp Boutique (sadly, no longer available).  I paired him with some paper from my scrap box and I'm chuffed to bits with the result. 

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Guess who forgot to post today

 Evening all.  I totally forgot that today was the new Cardz4galz  challenge.  Oh well, better late than never.  We have a lovely new theme today - 'it's snowtime'.  Check out the DT inspiration.  Everyone has made some lovely snowy cards.

I had a sheet of bargain stickers from The Range.  I only bought them cause they were 69p.  As it turned out they were perfect for my card.

Don't they look as if they are giving it a bit of a 'showtime' moment.  I'm imagining them at the end of a bit of a dance routine.  Maybe I'm just a bit weird.  

Anyway, must dash.  I've got tomorrow's Alphabet Challenge to schedule or it will be like deja vu.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

In the Pink for Christmas

 Morning all.  Today is the 1st December.  Are you panicking yet?  Yes, me too.  If you haven't sent all your Christmas Cards this year (I've not written one so far) then why not join us for a 'non traditional Christmas colours' challenge over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  Go on, you know you want to.  Even if you've made all this year's cards it's never to early to start next years.

I picked up a pack of these pink and silver tree stickers from the Range and thought they would be ideal for this challenge.  I can't remember where the papers came from but I think they matched the colour scheme really well.  I'm so chuffed with how this came out.  I used a sketch from a Pinterest board of mine and it came together really quickly. I didn't manage to use any scraps this time but now I have the offcuts of the paper to use in my scrap box.  It's never going to get emptied is it?

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Shades of Brown

 Morning all.  We have a colour challenge for you this time over at Cardz4guyz.  We would like to see 'shades of brown' please.  OK, I didn't say it was a bright and cheerful colour but it probably does make for good Guy projects.

I did dig about in my stash from years ago for this one.  I'm really pleased to have gotten some use out of stuff that's been hanging around.  I found an old book of Masculine images and used a couple of them for my project.

I even managed to get rid of a tiny bit of ribbon and one eyelet - believe me when I say that this doesn't make a dint in  my stash.  Oh well, as Tesco say 'every little helps'.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

We Wish you a 'Cute Christmas'

 Over at Make My Monday it's my turn to choose the theme this time.  I would love to see your 'cute christmas' makes please.  I had a root through my stash and found this adorable topper for my card.

Other than that I used some off cuts from my box of scraps and a holly leaf embellishment I bought a pack of from The Works.  I'm really pleased with it and I have enough toppers to make some more.

Please pop over and join in the fun.  If nothing else, it will keep me busy commenting.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's Quads

 Morning all.  We have the letter Q for you today over at The Alphabet Challenge.  Q for Quadruple - we would like 4 of something on your projects please.  Plenty of scope for this one so you've no excuse not to join in.   

I went through my scrap box for some pretty paper and started from there. I used a sketch from one of my Pinterest boards and some die cut flowers from some off cuts of white card.  I'm chuffed to bits with the result.  I keep using all these scraps but the box doesn't seem to get any emptier.  It's like the Magic Porridge Pot.  It just keeps filling up.

OK, I'm off to use up some more scraps.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Fun Fruit (or Veg)

 Morning all.  We have a new theme over at Cardz4galz this morning. We would love to see 'Fruit or Veg' on your projects please.  I had a fun set of free stamps from a magazine recently.  I was totally spoilt for choice but chose a fine looking pineapple - mainly as I found some pineapple backing paper lurking in my stash.

It does seem a little unseasonal in the middle of autumn but hopefully it's a bit of sunshine on a miserable day.  I love the cheeky smile and the cool shades.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Grandad's Garden

 Morning all.  We have a new challenge for you today over at Cardz4guyz.  We would like to see 'Gingham, Checks or Plaid' on your project.  I had a dig through my scrap box and this is what I came up with.

Now, anyone who reads my blog will know that I'm no gardener - but my Grandad was.  When we were growing up we lived on the same street as my Mamma and Grandad and also my Aunty Carol, Uncle Dave and two cousins, Paul and Mark.  Our houses all backed onto the local allotments and Grandad had one.  To be fair, it's a good job he did as it kept most of us fed all week - especially on a Sunday. Me, my two sisters and my cousins would be despatched to fetch the veg for Sunday lunch.  The place was just packed with home grown fruit and veg.  Gusgogs (gooseberries) and blackcurrants when you first went in.  A patch of strawberries covered in Mamma's old net curtains to keep the birds off.  Several apple and pear trees.  Blackberries trailed over a frame and a patch of rhubarb (but we had to take that home to prepare as it needed a twist of sugar in a paper bag). Our favourite wasn't a fruit at all.  It was a framework of peas.  We would eat them straight from the pod.  In all honesty, we probably ate just as much produce as we took home to cook - accept the peas.  We got so greedy with them that we were banned from picking any more pea pods.  The following week grandad went to harvest the peas and, guess what he found?  A frame full of empty pods still on the plant.  We were all lined up for questioning but Mark couldn't keep his face straight.  He'd eaten the lot.  I wish I'd thought of it, lol.

This card reminded me of how lucky we were to have all that fresh fruit and veg.  We never went hungry and we ate everything in it's season.  The smell of home grown tomatoes takes me straight back to the allotment, watching dad and grandad and our Paul working together.  You don't realise until you are older what would be important to you.  Veg just doesn't taste the same from the shop.

OK, before I start sobbing, please pop over and join in the challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Teeny Tiny Tags

 Morning all.  We have a small challenge - literally - starting today over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  We would like you to 'Make it Small'. Think bookmarks, inchies, ATCs, tags etc.  I chose to go with tags. To be fair my little snowmen are even tinier than they should be.  My new Windows 10 computer is printing an A4 sheet as A5 on half the page!  Anyone got any ideas?  Anyway, I'd printed them so I wasn't wasting them.  The images are from The Lovely Studio - their website was down when I tried it so I can't link it. I adore their little Christmas images.  They are perfect for tags as well as cards.

I'm trying to use my light box to photograph my projects but my camera isn't very good either.  Sorry about the quality.  I cut the tags out of some sparkly green paper and also some scraps of backing paper.  The backing paper ones I cut in half with a fancy border die.  I then layered them loosely together with an eyelet and added the images and the ribbon.  I've got a full set of twelve altogether.  

OK, off you go to make teeny tiny projects please.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

A very shabby vintage

 Morning all.  Today we have a new challenge over at Make My Monday.  We are looking for 'shabby chic or vintage' projects please.  This is not something I'm very comfortable with.  It's not really my style.  However, I found some old papers (which I didn't think I'd ever get around to using) and got to work with my distress tool.

I cut some leaves from the same set of papers and raided my flower box.  The lace is some sticky stuff I'd got a roll of.  I must have has an idea in my head when I bought it but I never got around to it.  I have a room full of stuff that I must have liked when I bought it then couldn't think what to do with it. I'm glad I finally found a project for the lace and papers.  I feel justified in my purchases now. You just never know when you might need something do you.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Pretty Patterned Paper

 Morning all.  We have a new letter for you over at The Alphabet Challenge this morning. We are at P for 'patterned paper'.  And the good news is that Cazro has recovered enough so we will have the linky tool for this one.  I'm so glad she chose patterned paper as I absolutely loved the sheet I've used.  I just needed an excuse to let is shine.

I totally fell in love with the humming birds.  I fussy cut a couple of them and layered them onto the paper.  I'm really really pleased with this one.  Can you tell I like how it turned out 😀

OK, over to you.  Please pop over and show us your patterned paper.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's so simple

 Morning all.  We have a lovely new challenge today over at Cardz4galz.  We would like 'Clean and Simple' projects please.  If you do join us - and I hope that you will - you will need to link your project in the comments section on the blog.  Unfortunately our blog organiser is ill at the moment.  Helen is doing a fabulous job of posting the blog but doesn't have enough access to the Linky tool.  Please bear with us and don't let it put you off joining. 

I love this card.  I got to use some scrap paper and that's always a bonus.  The butterfly is a stamp from Laurel Burch.  I was so pleased with it I made a couple more for my Church and Charity boxes.  Right, I'm off to work.  Please remember Cazro in your prayers.  We need her back on the blogs.

Thanks for reading. 

Love Dawn x

Leaf it out!

 Morning all.  I'm happy to report progress on my wrists.  The injections do seem to have worked.  I am still getting pain in my thumbs but the doctor did think that was another issue.  It's so nice to be able to craft after a days work instead of watching videos of other people doing it because your hands are so painful.  Thank you all for your lovely wishes and I particularly hope Sherri can get some relief for her wrists too.

Anyway, on to business.  We have a new challenge over at Cardz4guyz.  We are hanging onto Autumn and would love to see leaves on your projects please.

I cracked out a very old freebie stamp from a magazine and heat embossed the image onto some textured card that I had blended some distress ink onto.  I fussy cut them out and arranged them onto some pearlised card.  I did mat my panel on some metallic card I had in my scrap box before sticking it to my pre-embossed card blank.  I used some metallic dots to finish it off.  My hubby isn't keen on it but it did turn out similar to what I had in my head so I have to be fairly happy myself.

Please pop over to the blog and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

All Present and Correct - but just a bit late

 Evening all.  I've only just realised that it's the first of November.  Time for a new challenge over at Sparkle's Christmas Challenge. And what's even worse...it's my challenge.  Please can we see 'Presents' on your projects this month.  I used a very old See D's stamp set that I inherited from a friend when she moved house. I keep forgetting I've got it as I keep all the See D's sets in a separate drawer.

Because I've added foam dimension behind some of my presents it's gone a bit out of focus up one end.  I promise it looks so much better in real life.  You can't see it on my picture but my presents also have extra sparkle.  Well, if you can't sparkle at Christmas when can you?

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Escape it!

 Morning all.  We have a lovely new challenge for you over at Make My Monday today.  Caz has chosen the theme of 'Escape It'.  Think country retreat, seascapes etc.  Somewhere you can get away from it all.  It might even be a cityscape if that's where you chose to go for a break.  I'm a countryside girl myself.  I do love the see but we are about as far away from any coastline as you are likely to get in Derbyshire.  The Peak District is right on my doorstep so I consider myself to be a very lucky girl.

I embossed this lovely scenic stamp (a magazine freebie) on some pretty water coloured backing paper and just popped it onto some co-ordinating paper panels.  That's just about it.  I did brush over my mountains with a little distress ink that I had left on my brush.  I didn't want to colour the image but I did want a little definition.

Where do you like to escape to.  Please join in and show us your inspiration.

Thanks for reading.  Love Dawn x

The great outdoors (is ok if it's not raining)

 Morning all.  We have a new letter for you at The Alphabet Challenge this morning.  We have reached 'O for Outdoors'.  Now the outdoors is ok for me, as long as the weather is ok.  I'm not a great fan of wet weather.  Yes, I know I won't rust but why take the chance.

I'm also a fan of my garden, as long as I don't have to do any gardening.  Every now and again I will pop out and try and tidy it up but what's the point.  The weeds just wait a week and pop back up.  I like to sit by the pond with a book and a glass of something.  I have used the garden as inspiration for my card as I had this lovely topper in my stash.

In my dreams my garden looks like that. My reality is quite different.

 Anyway, that's my version of outdoors.  I'm sure you have your own ideas so let's see them.

Thanks for reading.  

Love Dawn x

Pretty as a Princess

 Morning all.  We have a very girly challenge for you over at Cardz4galz this morning.  We also have a DT call for new designers guys.  If you've ever considered having a go at a DT position I can recommend this one.  Cazro's blog challenges are a lovely friendly place to join.  The regular members are a very friendly and helpful lot and can offer help and advice to guide you in gently.  

Anyway, did I mention a new girly challenge?  We would love to see a 'Princess', or several if you feel like it, on your projects this time. Told you it was girly!

I bought this cute set of digital stamps from Drawn by Krista on Etsy. It's got a princess, obviously, and the most adorable frog.  Anyway, this is what I did with it.  I had the added bonus of being able to use some scraps of paper I had in my leftovers pile so I'm really chuffed with this one.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Driving me batty

 Morning all.  I hope you are all ready for a new challenge over at Cardz4guyz.  We are looking for an 'Animal' on your projects please. I have to admit to cheating for this one a little bit.  I've had to use a card I'd got in my stock.  My appointment for a steroid injection into my wrist was a 'good news, bad news' situation.  The good news is he decided to do both wrists at the same time.  The bad news is that I was unable to use both hands for a few days whilst the steroid worked it's way into the effected area.  I am, however, getting through quite a bit of reading and a tonne of You Tube videos.  I'm having to prop up my phone and use my Kindle App but I'm on my third book since Friday. 

I am slowly getting around to doing some commenting on the computer and I have managed to put some papers together to create finished cards when I'm up to speed.  My hands feel fabulous in the morning but I am still getting numbness and pain when I attempt too much.  Anyway, I'd better post this card.

I probably wouldn't have chosen a bat as an animal normally but, as my frustrated hubby pointed out, 'it counts'.  He was helping me go through my cards.  Bless him.  The digi image comes from a cute set on Etsy by Mya Detalles Que Enamoran.  I have found several new to me digi stamp companies recently whilst browsing Etsy - as you do.  Not sure my OH blesses me when I've been 'browsing' (shopping).

OK, over to you before I over do it.

Thanks for reading - and for all your good wishes regarding my wrists.

Love Dawn x

Shaking all over

 Just a quick post from me as my wrists are bad at the moment. I will have had my first injection by the time this goes live. Wish me luck. Over at Sparkles monthly challenge we are  looking for shaker cards this time.

I love this die set but never used it for a shaker before, What do you think?  I like how it turned out.

Please join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Outdoor Sports! But it's Cold Outside

 Morning all.  We have a new challenge for you today over at Make My Monday.  'Outdoor Sports' is the theme.  If you've read my blog before you will know that the Outdoor Sport I indulge in is Cricket.  However, as it's autumn and not cricket season in this hemisphere, I have gone for a Rugby theme. 

My son did toy with Rugby for a while as a child.  I well remember why I'm a summer sport girl.  Standing on a windy moor with the sleet coming sideways at you and no shelter anywhere.  The rugby mum with a flask full of 'laced' coffee was very popular that morning if I remember rightly.  No, summer sports are definitely my thing - although I've frozen at a few early spring cricket matches in my time too.  I've had the download of sporting chaps for ages.  It came from Crafts-u-print.  The artist is Gordon Fraser.  He has some really fun sporting designs. It's about time I dusted off some of these old bits and got them used up.

Please pop over and join in the sporting fun.  No freezing needed but you can lace your coffee if you like.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

 

N O spells No (layers)

 Morning all.  We have reached the letter N over at The Alphabet Challenge and we have the dreaded - by me - 'No Layers' card.  I find these so difficult to do.  My single layer cards look so flat - until now!  Yes it's a single layer but look at all that embossing.

I love that the embossing folder gives it so much dimension without adding layers.  I just inked the card before I started and stamped a sentiment in the middle panel.  I think the folder came in a goody bag I'd had and I can't remember ever using it before as it's so large.  I'm so pleased with the result.

Please nip over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Oriental Express

 Over at Cardz4galz this week it's my choice of theme.  I had chosen a different subject originally but it wasn't popular with the DT and I like to give them something they can enjoy so I had to come up with something else pretty quick.  In the end I chose 'Oriental' for my theme.  Firstly, because I love the oriental style and, secondly, my Mother-in-law's birthday was coming up and, as she used to live in Japan, it's a go to theme for me.

I'd recently bought a deep blue and gold coloured oriental paper pad from The Works and, at the same time, I'd seen a pretty girly set too.  I lasted two whole days before I went back for it.  I have absolutely no will power.  I teamed up my cherry blossom paper with some teal card and used a very only digistamp from The Digistamp Boutique (now closed and much missed by me).  I absolutely love it.  In fact I made a spare.  Sometimes I have to make a spare if I really love a card, just so I can still see it once I've used one.  It's a bit like keeping the pretty papers so you can just look at them.

Please join in my challenge - or I won't have anything to comment on.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Autumnal Happy Birthday

 Morning all.  Are you ready for a new Cardz4guyz Challenge.  This time we are looking for 'Birthday Cards in an Autumnal Colour Palette' please.  Well it looks like getting the same autumn paper pad out again.  But wait, hang on, I've found an old Men's paper collection with some green and brown tones in.  Yipee!

I used gold card for matting and for my sentiment and some wooden embellishments I'd got hanging around.  I'm quite pleased with it and I got to use some old stash so it's a win, win card.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Flora and Fauna for Christmas

 Well September just flew by in a hurry and I only just realised that today was 1st October and I needed to write my post. For today's Sparkles Christmas Challenge we would like to see 'flora and/or fauna' on your project.  I chose to throw in a bit of both. 

I'd fallen for this pretty set of papers when I saw them in The Works.  They'd only just gone on display and they didn't have many left so I think they are going to be popular.  I teamed the papers with a magazine freebie stamp set from last year.  I love how it turned out.

Now I'd better get off to work.  Please pop over to the blog for inspiration and join in the fun as we love to see your cards.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

emBOSSING IT!

 I've got some catching up to do.  I've been away for a week but I'm back to work with a vengeance today.  As it's Monday we also start the week with a new challenge over at Make My Monday.  I did this one a couple of weeks ago so I didn't have to rush about.  We want to see 'Embossing' on your project please.  Wet or dry, it's up to you.  I, sort of, went for both.  I used a pretty embossing folder on some watercolour paper then I wet it through.  I dug out my old Twinkling H2Os - they haven't seen the light of day for years.  I just let pools of pink and purple seep through the water from the flower centers.

The edges on the embossed flowers did a good job of keeping the colour where I wanted it and I love the way it shimmers.  It took ages to dry and I just added a floral die cut and a stamped banner.  

OK, lets see your embossing projects please.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Don't Stop Being Motivated.

 I'm really looking forward to seeing the entries into The Alphabet Challenge this time.  If all goes well it should provide me with plenty of get up and go!  We want 'M for Motivational Sentiments' on your projects please.  You wouldn't believe how many sentiments I read before choosing this one.

I think it's a sort of 'encourage you in the gym' type sentiment but, as I'm a stranger to such establishments I figure it would do as an everyday motivation.  I did used to use the gym at work (it's still shut due to covid restrictions).  My son always asked me about my lunch date with Jim.  Nowadays I'm more likely to mishear you and go for a gin!  Now there's an idea - don't stop when you are tired, finish the glass, lol.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Does it seem like forever autumn yet

 Morning all.  I'm here with another Autumn themed card.  This time it's for the Cardz4galz Challenge.  We would like to see 'Autumn/Fall Leaves' please.  Back to my one autumn themed paper pad.  I really am going to have to find some new papers before next year.  

I really love the glittery leaves.  I had a whole pack from The Works for a pound.  I do love a bargain.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Heavy metal - not!

 Morning all.  It's time for a new Cardz4guyz Challenge.  Billie has chosen to 'add some metal' to your projects this week.  Time to reach for all those unused Brads I've had hidden away for years.  I've got several that I've always 'kept for best'.  Silly isn't it?  It's like keeping all the 'pretty paper' because you don't want to cut into it.  My hubby will like this one.  He's a bit of a Mod at heart.  He loves his 60s music and rode a Vespa until he injured his arm which made it too painful.

I only had the one Target brad so I echoed it with the red white and blue cardstock.  The background is embossed with a Tim Holtz embossing folder.  It's a sort of grungy union flag.  I toyed with the idea of adding some ink but I liked the plain white behind it all.

Please pop over and join in the challenge.  We love to see your ideas.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Colour it Autumn

 Morning all.  Over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge we have another autumn themed challenge.  We would like to see 'Autumn Colours' on your projects please.  I kept this one really simple.

I'm going way back in my stash for this paper.  It's literally one sheet.  I cut out the circle and the square and matted them on gold.   I added the gems and called it finished. Probably the quickest card I've ever done but I don't think it needs anything else.

OK, I'm running out of autumn ideas now so I need to see your inspiration.  Please pop over and join in the challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Falling for you

 Morning all.  Are you ready for a new Make My Monday challenge.  We are looking for 'Autumn/fall' cards.  See, I did warn you there would be plenty of these themes coming up.  I did go to my one autumnal themed paper set but, instead of leaves, I chose to go with acorns.  

And where you get acorns you get squirrels.  This little cutie was from a set of critters at Tiddlyink (sadly now shut). I added a couple of gold leaves on my twine.  One is very shy and hiding behind the other.  A friend of mine has a squirrel in her garden.  She sits on the bench under the trees and shouts at it for digging holes in the ground to bury his nuts in.  Apparently, he takes not a blind bit of notice.

If only she could train it to dig holes where she wants to plant things.  It would save her so much hassel.

Ok, let's see your autumnal projects please.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Leaves it

 Morning all.  We have reached the letter 'L' over at The Alphabet Challenge and we want to see 'leaves' on your projects please.  Now, at this time of year autumn and autumn leaves are very popular on the challenge blogs and, although I love the time of year, I'm not a big one for autumn colours.  I searched through my massive paper stack and, unless you want to see a huge variation on one set of papers over the coming weeks, I struggled.  But leaves don't have to be autumnal do they?

Once I'd gotten over the autumn idea the rest just flowed really easily.  The leaf die was a cheap set from The Works and I used a Flora and Fauna stamp set that I'd just popped in my basket because it was small and cheap when I was purchasing some other stuff.  It seems I'm attracted to cheap!

OK, I'm sure you've all got more ideas than me when it comes to Leaves.  Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Knickers in a Twist - part two

 Would you believe it, I've done it again.  Today's Cardz4galz Challenge would love to see you use 'Stencils' on your projects.  Perfect, I've got a bamboo stencil I wanted to use.  I've also got some suitable backing paper and a topper with a guy practicing martial arts.  It looked fabulous all put together.  Not girly at all however.  I can't believe I've got my guyz and galz totally mixed up this week.  Oh well, that drawing board I keep going back to is getting some real hammer this week.

I had a quick flick through my stencils folder and pulled out a magazine freebie that I can't remember using before.  

I've just stenciled some worn lipstick distress ink on pink pearlised

cardstock and used some dies to finish it off.  I'm getting to be an expert at these last minute makes.  I even made three of this one as I had card stock spare.  

Right, time to see your GALZ projects.  I must remember the difference between my guyz and galz.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x 

Knickers in a twist - part one

 Morning all.  I hope you are all having a good week.  I've been so inspired lately and the cards have been coming thick and fast.  I have a whole list of subjects and themes I've been working through and I've been so pleased with my progress.  All I need to do is add the cards to the correct post when the time comes.  So, today's theme at Cardz4guyz is 'Yellow, blue and grey'.  Off I go to pull out a card that I am particularly pleased with.  I've managed to incorporate a lovely new die that I purchased recently - a floral image in a frame.  Wait...a floral image on a Guy card!  Rats!

Back to the drawing board quick.  

I promise, the background strip and the matted layers are yellow.  I had an awful time getting this to scan and the colours just don't look right.  Sorry.  

That being said, I am really chuffed with the result.  I was searching for suitably coloured backing paper and found a sheet with all those cranes on.  They were spaced out beautifully for die cutting panels.   I've cut a whole sheet of them.  I think they make lovely toppers.

Ok, lets see your yellow, blue and grey GUY cards.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x