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