Slimline? Really...we've just had Christmas

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz we are looking for a 'DL or Slimline with flowers' card.  As we've just had Christmas and we're still eating up the goodies in the fridge this is bound to be the only thing slimline around here.  

I used some pretty paper and pearlised card for my project and chose a stamp that looked similar to the paper.  I stamped onto some spotty paper and ink blended them before I cut them out.  I did add a little sparkle pen and some gems to finish them off.

I hope you all had a good festive season and are ready to join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

You are all stars

 Morning all.  It's my choice of topic for this week's Alphabet Challenge.  We are up to S so I've chosen 'Stars'.  There have been so many star turns on all of our challenge blogs throughout the year.  Your cards are a constant inspiration to me and my colleagues as we try to inspire you.  My card is very simple and uses one of my favourite dies.

I wish you all peace and joy this festive season and look forward to seeing your projects in the new year to come.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Simply Christmas

 Morning all.  We have a really simple challenge over at Cardz4galz today for you. We are just looking for your 'Christmas Cards'.  I'm sure you are all still creating them, just like I am.  Here's one I made earlier.

I'm really loving the cute Gnome images at the moment. To be fair they aren't just available for Christmas.  They do make really fun cards for Christmas though.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Oh Gno!

 Are you all ready for another fun challenge over at Cardz4guyz.  Today it's my turn to chose the theme and I'd love to see 'Christmas Elves or Gnomes' on your projects please.  My original intention was to use an Elf digi stamp I'd got but then I saw these cute wooden Gnomes and had to buy them.  

Isn't he adorable.  Some of the bigger ones have string so you could make a card with a decoration that the recipient can keep.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.  I'd love to see your projects.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Card see the wood for the Christmas Trees

 Morning all.  It's monday again and the weeks are rolling around quickly.  Today's Make My Monday Challenge is 'Christmas Trees or a Forest of Trees'.  

Over the weekend I did a local craft fair with my mum and one of the organisers commented on my cards and how contemporary he felt they were.  I don't necessarily set out to make them that way, I just do what comes to mind.  However, now he's said it, I made an effort to create just such a card for today's challenge.  

My original plan was to use white and kraft card but it turns out my kraft cardstock is in storage.  I did find this bronzy coloured glitter card and a beige paper with neutral dots on.  I'm quite pleased with the result.  I think kraft would have worked better but I'm happy with it.  

Please pop over and see the forest of trees the DT have for you.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

R is for Reindeer

 Slightly later than it should be but at least it's the right day. Today's theme at The Alphabet Challenge is R for Reindeer.  My intention was to use a digital stamp for this but we've got the boat all tipped upside down trying to get sorted for Christmas and the printer is buried somewhere.  Instead I went for a classier look using a favourite die - I could get to the cupboard with the dies in.

I'm really pleased with how this one turned out.  Please pop over and see the wonderful work from the DT and get inspired to join the fun.

Thanks for reading

Love Dawn x

Sparkly Animals or Birds

 Morning all.  I have two posts for you today.  Over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge we are looking for 'Christmas Animals or Birds'.  I've not got a lot of room for crafting at the moment so I took the easy option to use a topper from Hunkydory to create this stepper card.

It looked a little empty so I add a few die cut stars and it's completely transformed it. I've decoupaged the topper and I'm really pleased with the result.

Please join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

The Big Apple

 Today, over at Cardz4galz we would like to see a 'Cityscape' on your projects please.  I have the perfect die for this challenge but I have absolutely no idea where it is. OK, time to dig out the cricut.

I cut the apple and cityscape in a creamy coloured card.  I then coloured the top part black and stuck it flat to my background.   I raised the bottom part on foam pads and re-inserted it.  I'm hating these short days.  I am really struggling to get a decent photo as I go out in the dark and come back in the dark nowadays. The artificial light on the boat is totally rubbish for taking pictures.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

The Cat in the Hat

Afternoon all.  Over at Cardz4guyz today we are looking for 'festive creatures' on your projects please.  My other half's dad and step-mum have rescued cats for the Cat's Protection League for several years so I decided to create a Christmas scene for them this year.

I used a cat silhouette die and popped a Christmas hat on with extra glitter and sparkle. I hope Santa gave them a wave.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

A Make my Monday post...On a Monday!

 Well, that's the plan anyway.  If it's Tuesday when this goes live it's cause my scheduling skills need updating.  

OK, the Make My Monday team would like to see your wreath projects please.   As my crafting life is upside down at the moment, my projects are all on the simple side.  I just inked some paper and die cut some leaves and created this:

My original idea was to add tiny hearts where the gems are but heaven knows where that dies gone. I think we are going green and gold for the Christmas decs in our office this year. Maybe I will just hang this one on the wall.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

I'm still a day behind

So, yesterday the new Alphabet Challenge went live and, once again, I'm late posting my DT card.  I have to clear a spot on the kitchen worktop to do anything nowadays having removed the dinette to accomodate a doggy den for our rescue staffy. If I've got my craft stuff out I've got to find somewhere else for my computer.  Plus, no-one gets fed until I've done either.

The Alphabet Challenge is up to 'Q for quadruple'.  We are looking for 4 of something on your projects please.  I'm in full on Christmas mode at the moment so you've got 4 snowflakes.

Sorry about the rubbish photo.  I had to take it under artificial light.  The snowflakes are in white glitter card and the stripes are in silver glitter card. I got some fabulous printable sentiment strips from Etsy - check out Emmalousshoppe - and I loved the 'season to be freezin' one.  I thought it was perfect for this card.

OK, please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

I told you life was unpredictable

 Morning all.  I'm a day late for Sparkles Monthly Challenge and I've not managed one for Cardz4galz at all.  I'm trying to get ahead of schedule but, due to doggy issues, I've been all over the place with my working hours.  Anyway, time to get on to the card.  Over at Sparkles we are looking for 'Winter Animals'.  My animals are for all year round but this cute winter scene is adorable.

I have to admit, I have a little soft spot for highland cows.  They are so cute. The papers and image came in a set of winter images from Hunkydory.

Please pop over to join in the challenge - and the Embossing Challenge over at Cardz4galz.

Thanks for reading.  

Love Dawn x

Remember me? I think I'm back.

 OK, life on a boat is a bit unpredictable.  We moved across the marina and had no internet for a while.  Then I got Man Flu. Then we had to dismantle my craft space to fit a soft cage for our rescue dog Ava.  We've had her for a couple of months and she's got separation anxiety and leaving her alone has been a huge challenge - well, it still is to be honest.

So, crafting is now being done stood at my kitchen counter and I'm having to plan what I'm doing in advance so that I can get just the relevant tools out.  My challenge blog cards really are a challenge.

Cardz4guyz are looking for a winter scene for this week's challenge.  I dug out a couple of dies and created this:

I'm so pleased with it and I finally got to use the Peace on Earth backing paper which I have had for so long.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Christmas flowers or foliage

 Morning all.  It's the first of the month so we have a lovely new challenge for you over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  We would like to see Christmas flowers or foliage on you projects please.  As I still have a tonne of stuff in storage I was limited to what I had for this one.  I found a holly die so used this as my main image and just used a generic leaf to add a few fronds behind.  I love the idea of ivory and gold together so that's what I went with.

I used the same coverplate die to emboss a pattern on my pearlised card as I used for the background challenge.  I added gems for the holly berries and some pearl ones for the corners.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Backing your backgrounds

 Morning all. Over at Make My Monday it's all about the backgrounds.  We'd like you to create your own background please. The DT have turned out some gorgeous inspiration for you so do drop in and check them out.  

I started by blending some distressed oxide colours to create a vibrant backing. I then wet a stencil and added it the inked background.  I wasn't too impressed with that so I used a cover plate die and, instead of cutting with it, I used it to emboss a pattern.  I added it to a coloured card blank and added the white leaves to create a stark focal point.

I hope it will inspire you to try the challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Thinking of...Monochrome

 Morning all.  Over at the Alphabet Challenge we have reached M for Monochrome and we would love to see your ideas for this challenge.  I chose to got very simple - even creating a one layer card (that almost never happens).

I used a beautiful stamp that was free in a magazine a few years ago.  I inked it up in shades of green and just added a sentiment and some gems.

It's not perfect but I'm pleased with it.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.  

Thanks for reading

Love Dawn x

Take three ingredients

 It's my turn to chose the subject, and the winners, for today's Cardz4galz challenge and I've chosen to give you a three ingredient recipe.  I'm looking for 'a stencil, an image and a sentiment' on your projects please.  This gave me an excellent excuse to get my Tracey Hey Stamps out of storage as I think they look fab on a stencilled background.

I blended three colours of ink in the background but got a rainbow of coloured hearts to I was thrilled to fine the sentiment to go with it.

Please pop over and join in my challenge.  I'd love to see what you all create.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Reach for the Stars - then stick them on a card for a Guy

 Morning all.  We have a lovely new theme for you over at  Cardz4guyz at the moment.  We would like to see some 'stars'.  I've gone a little bit patriotic with my card and chosen a red, white and blue colour scheme.

I used some stars backing paper and stencilled the blue strip down the middle.  I then just added my die cuts and sentiment.

I hope you will pop over and join in the fun.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

We're all mad here

 Morning all.  Over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge we are all going bonkers - all the best people are.  This month our theme is 'Alice in Wonderland'. I used a digital stamp I've had forever from Dustin Pike.

I think any white rabbit image lends itself to a 'late' birthday card.  I'm really pleased with this one.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Hot in the City

 Morning all.  Over at Make My Monday we have the theme of 'In the City for you.  This one was quite a challenge for me but gave me an excuse to dig out a stamp set I've had for years.  The set contains lots of collage stamps of images from capital cities.

The images have a very grungy look to them.  It's not my usual style at all.  I've used the London and Paris ones and the smaller Moscow image to separate them. I wanted to keep it monotone but didn't really like the large black gems I'd got so used these grey ones instead.

I can't wait to see what you all create for this one.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Literally Literature

 Hello again.  Today we have reached 'L for Literature' at The Alphabet Challenge.  We would like you to create something inspired by a book.  So many choices for this one.  Reading is a true passion of mine. I went through all my printed images and came up with so many options.  In the end I chose to use 'Memoirs of a Geisha' by Arthur Golden.  It's a while since I read this one but I had some oriental papers and a pretty image from Tiddlyinks.  

I would have liked to add some pretty detailing to her outfit to be more accurate but my artistic skills aren't really up to it.  

Right, I'm off to see what Ava's up to as she's gone quiet.  It's just like being a new mum again.  I'd forgotten how exhausting a new dog can be.

Please pop over and join in the challenge. I'm always looking for book recommendations.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Leaves it out

 Morning all.  Sorry I'm a day late.  We have a new arrival onboard Narrowboat Whisper this week and chaos reigns.  Ava the one year old rescue staffordshire bull terrier is ruling our lives a little.  My intention was to post this blog yesterday when I got back from mum's.  However, Ava chose yesterday morning to make her 'boat dog' title official by taking a dip in the water! Luckily, we were having our canopy fitted and the guy fitting it was able to haul her back aboard.  Cue everyone getting a soaking and all other things went by the wayside for a bit.  

Anyway, over at Cardz4galz we are looking for 'leaves' on your projects please.   I think it was meant to herald autumn arriving but summer just got here!

I was inspired by Cathy Zielski's video for this one and I love how it turned out.  I didn't have any large leaf dies so I used what I'd got.

And this is Ava, fresh from her dunking yesterday.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Remembrance

 Morning all.  For our theme this week over at Cardz4guyz we have 'Poppies/Remembrance'.  It's probably the most suitable way to create a floral card for a guy. I have poppy stamps but decided, once again, to turn to my cricut.

I used a piece of scrap backing paper to go behind the cut image.  I was going to use plain red paper originally but I'm so please with how this one came out.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Do you wanna build a snowman?

 Morning all.   Can you believe it's September already.  I wonder when we are going to get summer.  Anyway, as it's September the shops will be full of Christmas stuff already.  Our theme this month over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge is 'Build me a Snowman'.  I'm hoping that the entries for this one will be just as good as the ones for my Christmas food challenge.  I chose to build my snowman using a die that I had from The Works.

I went with red, white and blue for my colour scheme and used silver mirri card for the snowflake and sentiment.  I was going to use glitter card but it's still in storage at work.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

I like big books and I cannot lie!

 OK, today's theme over at Make My Monday  could mean only one thing for me.  We are looking for 'Hobbies' on your projects please.  For me, any time not spent crafting or work is usually spent reading. I have a 'to be read' pile that is so long. When we moved aboard the boat I bought a kindle to save space but I can't help myself when I see a bookshop, charity shop or table top sale. I signed up for two seperate reading challenges this year too. I'm 80% through the first one and 50% through the second.  Reading challenges have introduced me to some wonderful books that I wouldn't have read otherwise.

This is the first time I've used my cricut for a print and cut image.  I went through all the calibration stuff on my machine but ended up fussy cutting it as I didn't want to ruin the image.

OK, let's see what hobbies you all get up to.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Just Kitchen up

 Morning all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge today we have reached 'K for Kitchen' and we will accept anything food related.  Some of the DT cards are so creative.  Please pop over and check them out.  I've gone all clean and tidy in the kitchen - well not really, just on my card.

I was sorting through my mum's pantry the other day and found a cute little apron that the grandkids and great-grandkids use if they're cooking at Mamma's.  Her's has got pigs on but I've gone a bit prettier for mine.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Such a cutie - and an apology

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz today we are looking for 'cute animals or insects'.  I had a look through my printed out digital stamps and came up with an adorable little mouse.  I created my card, watermarked it and uploaded it to the DT blog.  It's only when I came to look for it to link today that I realised that I've mis-credited the image.  I wish to apologise to RivusArt on Etsy as I'd obviously misfiled the image when I printed it with some Ram Designs images.  I'm so sorry.  As soon as payday comes around I will purchase some more images as a penance - lol, any excuse.

 

Isn't he the cutest.  I've left off a sentiment but I will probably go with 'Sorry you're under the weather'.  I feel that this would definitely cheer up anyone who was feeling ill.

OK, over to you.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Just Beachy

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4guyz today we have the lovely summery theme of 'Going to the Beach'.  Although, on my card, I've made contingencies for the British weather by using a beach hut.

I really love the small sweet images from The Lovely Studio and I'm so sad that the store is no longer open.  I could sit an colour these images all day long. I kept everything very simple so the image could star.

Please pop over and see what the DT have for you.  They really are a talented group of lovely ladies.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

All the 3s and Typically Tropical

 Afternoon all.  Chaos abounds aboard Whisper at the moment.  I've popped on to do today's blog to find that yesterday's blog is missing so, firstly, let's pop over to Make My Monday where we are looking for 'Three of something' on your projects.  I chose to go with 3 squares and also added 3 gems.

I couldn't resist this beautiful paper from The Range - I really must stop going in there!

And now for today's blog challenge.  As it's the 15th of the month we have a new Sparkles Monthly Challenge and we've gone from 'Christmas in July' to 'Tropical or beach themed' in August.  Not that there has been very much tropical about August so far.

I used my cricut again for the hibiscus and, bonus, some scraps from my many paper offcuts.

OK, over to you.  Please join in with us - on both challenges if you can - as we love to see your projects.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's a jungle out there

 Morning all.  I was so pleased to see all the gorgeous ice cream cards for my Alphabet Challenge over the last fortnight.  It was so difficult to chose my favourites.  For the next two weeks we have the theme of 'J for Jungle Animals'.  I do have some lovely stamps that would have done for this one but I'm on a mission to use up some paper scraps.  I had a fun piece of colourful zig zag paper sat on my desk that I thought would make a fabulous Kids card.  

I cut the animal faces on my cricut and cut the primary coloured balloons from some normal dies (can't remember the brand but I had them from The Range). I'm so pleased with how it came out.  I'm certainly getting my money's worth out of the cricut since we moved onto the boat.  It's sat on the table and I don't have to dig in my drawers for it so it's getting some hammer.  

Please pop over and check out the challenge.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Is it Summer Yet

 Morning all.  Shhh, don't tell anybody but the sun's out in Derbyshire.  Which is quite appropriate as today's challenge at Cardz4galz is 'a summer day'. I've gone a little tropical on you for this one.  Well, summer's been missing in action around here.  We do have lots of trees on the marina but I'm not sure if we've any palm trees.

I cut the silhouette with my cricut in white card as I've run out of black.  I then used an alcohol marker to colour it.  The background is distress oxides and a bit of white gel pen.  I really wasn't sure I was doing the right thing with this one but I persevered  and I'm so please with the end result.  OK, let's see what summer is doing your end.

Thanks for reading

Love Dawn x

Music for the boyz

 Morning all. Over at Cardz4guyz today we have the theme of 'music' for you.  This has such a lot of potential for Guy cards. I used the Pretender Strat from Dr Digi's House of Stamps - keeping it simple with a pop of colour.

My son started to learn the guitar when he was at university.  I used to love it when he phoned just to play some new bit of music for me.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Run, Run - as fast as you can...

 Morning all.  Over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge I have chosen the theme of 'Christmas Food'.  There are lots of things you could chose - turkey, Brussel sprouts, Christmas pud etc.  I've gone for a couple of cute Gingerbread figures for my festive favourite.  Of course, in our house gingerbread goes at any time of the year.  There is a local bakery in Ilkeston, where I grew up, where my dad would buy gingerbread for us all.  From kids to great grandkids.  Usually, in latter years, in the shape of a duck.  Dad's no longer with us but, even at the age of 25, I still by my son gingerbread for a treat and he still loves it.

My digital stamp is an oldy from Digistamp Boutique - I really miss that shop for cute images.  I've printed several of these cuties as they are a favourite of mine for sweet Christmas cards.

Please pop over so I can see your Christmas food creations.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Spaced Out

 Morning all.  Are you ready for a new Make My Monday Challenge?  We are looking for anything to do with 'Space Travel'.  I used a great UFO image from Dr Digi's House of Stamps.  I don't think it's available anymore.

I'm really pleased with this one.  I hope you will pop over join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Oops, I did it again!

 When you are miles away from your computer and you realise that, not only have you forgotten to schedule yesterday's blog post, you've forgotten your own themed challenge.  So, without any further ado, here is yesterday's Alphabet Challenge card.

I'd chosen 'I for Ice Cream' as my theme and I'm pretty chuffed with this one.  I used my Cricut to cut out the ice cream and the sentiment.  I love the bright patterned papers and I think they worked ok for the different flavours.  I covered them with a little sparkle pen to really make it tasty.

Please pop over and show me your ice creams.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

I'll have a P please Bob!

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz today we have a new challenge for you.  We are wanting 'Something beginning with P'.  I looked at my penguins and pandas but, when I came to put them together with patterned papers I found these.

Pink Peacock feathers...perfect! The papers where in with my pre-prepared backgrounds and I just had to add a die cut feather and a sentiment panel.  I've had the background forever.  It just goes to show that the perfect project will eventually turn up.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Water Water everywhere - well, I do live on a boat!

 Morning all.  It's my turn to choose the subject for this week's Cardz4guyz Challenge.  I think I must have been looking out of the window when inspiration struck.  I would like to see 'On the Water' themed projects please. Right at this moment, on the water outside, I can see lots of boats, duck weed and a coot.  What I am unlikely to see on the marina is anyone water-skiing.

A friend asked me for a water-skiing card so I bought This image from SVG Brooklyn on Etsy.  It has the water skier in a circle and was perfect for the card I made her - which I then forgot to photograph, doh!  Anyway, my first attempt at cutting the image had the circle going off my card as I'd not lined my mat up correctly in my cricut.  Waste not want not.  I cut the circle from around my silhouette and used a black die cut frame instead.  The papers in the background are some of my favourites from a pad I had from the Range.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  I would have thrown the messed up image away usually but my papers were out and it just came together.

Please pop over and join my challenge.  It will keep me inspired all week.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Stick a Hole in it

 Morning all.  Over at Make My Monday today we are looking for 'apeture cards'.  I used this fabulously easy tutorial from Sam Calcott.  She's a definite go to for me if I'm looking for something different and her showstoppers are stunning.  I really recommend giving her a watch as she's very easy to follow. 

I picked some pretty papers and put the base together before I decided how to decorate it.  The only issue I had was cutting the two frames equally.  The two apertures lined up perfectly but I had to cut a couple of frames before I got them to look even.  I ink blended some white card with distress oxides and cut my flowers and foliage.  I am so pleased with how it turned out.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Oh look, another Christmas in July Card

 Morning all.  Over at this month's Sparkles Challenge we are, just for a change, going with a 'Christmas in July' theme.  Got to get them in, there's only 31 days in July, and - by the time we hit August - you will be fed up of making Christmas Cards.

Here's another cute Christmas topper from Hunkydory.  They really do make quick and striking cards.  I just layered this lot up and added the star die cut.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Are you having a laugh?

 Morning all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge we have reached 'H for Humour' so this should be a laugh.  I've used one of my pre-made backgrounds and used a funny sentiment from Dr Digi's House of Stamps.  They've got a couple of pages of silly sentiments and I've got both.

The only problem with facebook is that it doesn't give you chance to post the card.  It's way too late to remind me on the actual day.  Oh well, I can always post a Happy Birthday message on their news feed.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Being Catty

 Morning all. Over at Cardz4galz we would like to see 'cats or kittens' please.  Once again, I really am struggling for time at the moment, I've gone with a tried and tested topper sheet from Hunkydory.

I couldn't resist this one.  He's so cute and, like me, obviously likes a fish supper.  I would like mine with chips on the side though.

Please pop over and say hi.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

July - it must be Christmas

 Afternoon all (sorry - I'm late).  This morning we had a new Challenge go live over at Cardz4guyz. We are wanting 'Christmas in July' projects please.  I find Christmas cards really difficult to do.  I feel that they should all have the 'wow' factor. I figure the easiest way to do that is to get Hunkydory to do the work for me.  I bought a really sweet topper pack with gorgeous Christmas images and this is the first one from the kit.

Isn't he adorable.  I've done five cards with one topper sheet and I've got two tags left to put with a couple of them.  I added a few gold snowflake die cuts and varied the heights of the frames.  I'm so pleased with it.

Please pop over and show us your projects. 

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x