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

 

'Stocking' up on Christmas Cards

 As it's the first of the month we have a brand new challenge for you over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  It's time to show us your Christmas Stockings. I have been giving all my old craft stuff a good rummage through and I found some decoupage sheets that a neighbour gave me several years ago.  It's amazing what you find in your stash when you start looking.  

It's not very clear on the photo but the panel behind the stocking has a lovely glittery patterned to it.  It's very Christmasy. I was a bit pushed for time so I did pretty much throw this together but I'm pleased with the result.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x