All that Jazz

Ok, so the other week we had International Picture of a Bird Day and, apparently, 30th April is International Jazz Day.  So, that's today's theme over at Make My Monday.  I had to turn to my cricut for the main image but the musical banner was a normal die.

I'm really quite chuffed with the result. Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Beautiful birdy

 Morning all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge we are at 'B for Bird'.  I already had an image coloured spare from another card so I decided to go CAS with it.  I just added a few die cut shapes and some flowers and gems.  I'm quite pleased with the result.   I may add a sentiment later but I couldn't think what I wanted it to be when I made it.  

Both the stamp and the flowers were freebies from a magazine.  I'm terrible for buying them and then never using them but I am pleased with these ones.

Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

This Wonder Women Wonders where she's put her Craft Glue

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz we have the theme of 'Movie Madness' for you.  Be inspired by your favourite film - or any film.  I had a fun digistamp of Wonder Woman (by Bugaboo and no longer available) already printed  so it seemed like the obvious choice.  All I needed to do was to colour her up and add some pretty papers.  Then I decided to use a couple of dies as well.  It's ended up about a quarter inch think by the time I had added all the layers.

I used so much paper and card my desk is an absolute tip.  So, as a result, I am now Wonder Woman.  I wonder where my glue is, my scissors, my ruler and my double sided tape. Off to tidy up before tomorrow's Alphabet Challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Cheers M'dears

 Is everyone ready for a Clean and Simple challenge 'cause that's what we're wanting from you over at Cardz4guyz today.  I bought a couple of new dies when I ordered the narrowboat die and I've used one for today's card.

I popped a little red vellum behind one of the glasses just for a bit of interest.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Drip, drip drop little april showers

 Morning all.  Halfway through the month must mean a new theme over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  As we are in April we have 'April showers bring May Flowers' for you to interpret as you will.  I've gone very literal for my card with a shower of lovely glittery flowers.

I'm hoping it would cheer up anybody feeling 'under the weather'.  Please let us see your 'May Flowers'.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Watch the Birdy

 Apparently, it's National Picture of a Bird day.  I didn't even know there was such a thing.  Every day is a school day around here. Anyway, no prizes for guessing what our new theme over at Make My Monday is.  We'd like a 'bird' on your project please.

This gorgeous stamp was a freebie with a magazine quite a while ago and I've never used it until now.  I'm so pleased with how this turned out.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Itching to go on an adventure

 Morning all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge we are about to take our 14th trip around the letters.  We began in 2011 and are very happy to still be going all these years later.  So today we have 'A for Adventure' for you.  

Adventure is something I am very much craving at the moment.  For those of you who regularly read my blog you will know that I live on a narrowboat based on a marina.  We bought it last year and have only managed a couple of trips so far.  We were planning a trip up the Erewash Canal for our anniversary but the water levels are too high at the moment.  The canal isn't bad but we have to travel a little on the River Trent so it's too dangerous.  Oh well, my card is the nearest to a canal adventure I am getting at the moment.

I'm not fabulous at scene cards but I'm hoping that I've pulled this off.

Please pop over and show us your adventurous side.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

In a Pickle

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz today we are looking for 'Cute Animals'.  Fabulous, I know exactly where I'm going with this one.  My son and his partner had a puppy in January and it's Libby's birthday coming up. This is going to be ideal.  Here's Pickle:

And here's my Pickle card:

I used my cricut to cut this little cutie out.  I will be adding a happy birthday sentiment but I had to upload this quickly as I'd just started with a migraine that left me in bed for a couple of days.  I'm really hoping Libby likes my Pickle card as much as we love the real thing.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's a colourful life

 Morning all.  We have a lovely bright colour challenge for you over at Cardz4guyz this time.  We would like to see 'Navy, Red and Kraft' on your projects please. I didn't have much in the way of navy card on the boat so I had to go with a piece of lovely patterned paper.  It had hearts on so that dictated the way this went.  Sometimes a guy needs a heart card, don't you think.

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Pink Christmas

 Morning all. Actually, it's afternoon 'cause I forgot to schedule this one...again!  Over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge we would like to see non traditional Christmas colours please.  I chose some pretty pink papers with snowflakes on.  Well, if you look carefully, you will spot that they aren't actually snowflakes at all but by the time I realised it was too late.  Should have gone to Specsavers!

The original plan was to add large silver snowflake. However, there are tools all over the place as we are altering the bathroom and I came across my poinsettia die first so it got used instead.  My tiny craft space has been littered with tools and stuff and I didn't have the strength to search any further. 

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Transport me away

 Morning all.  It's my choice of theme over at Make My Monday today.  I've chosen 'Transport' for this challenge.  Don't ask my why.  I chose it ages ago and I've really struggled to think of something. Living on the water I did think of a narrowboat but the die I've ordered hasn't arrived yet. So, here is what I've come up with.

I stamped and heat embossed the trees in the background and then coloured and fussy cut the van.  The stamps both came from a magazine freebie set that I've had a while.  I almost gave up on the van when I was colouring it but when I put it with the papers it didn't look as bad as I thought.  The yellow with the green should have been more cream coloured. Unfortunately, what it looked like on my small sample piece wasn't what it looked like when there was more space.  In the end it matched with the yellow paper and sentiment strip so I'm happyish.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's a jungle out there

 Ok, maybe not a jungle but definitely a Zoo.  We have reached 'Z for Zoology' over at The Alphabet Challenge.  Zoology is the study of all animals.  I was running a bit late with my DT card for this one so I used one of my premade card blanks and filled it with die cut animals and foliage.  For a chucked together card I'm really pleased with it.

I will probably add a happy birthday greeting to the bottom but the die I wanted was proving very elusive when I looked.

For those of you that don't know what my premade backgrounds are - I use leftover scraps to create card backgrounds and keep them in pouches ready to go when I'm in a hurry.  I just need to add the relevant greeting and image.  I can recommend it as a way to get through all those scraps.  The trick is remembering to use the bases when you need a card.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Spring into spring.

 Morning all.  It's very springlike on the marina at the moment.  We have some beautiful spring flowers popping up, which is very appropriate as this is just what we are looking for over at Cardz4galz. We would like your 'dies or punched spring flowers'.

Unfortunately, I don't have have any specific spring flower dies and everything I tried on the cricut looked a bit naff so I chose a lovely floral die and used bright spring colours.

I'm hoping you think it fits the bill. I'm fairly pleased with how it turned out.

Please join us with your spring flower creations.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

And they called it puppy love

 Are you all ready for a new challenge at Cardz4guyz. Today we are asking for 'dogs or puppies' on your projects.  Having recently become a dog mum to our rescue staffy, Ava, I was all set for this one.  Apparently, I'm also a doggy grandma to my son's new puppy pickle too.

I used a trio of images from Cricut for my simple card and I'm really pleased with the result.

Sorry my photo isn't the best.  It was dark when I took it.  You can have a consolation prize - here are Ava and Pickle.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

 

Oh so sweet

 Morning all.  It's the 15th of the month so we have a sweet treat for you over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  We would like to see a 'sweet treat' on your project please.

I couldn't really find anything I wanted to use so I dug out this old cupcake die.  It's not really a favourite but I used a bit of glitter card to make it sparkle.  I used the same glitter card on the frame.  The front itself pops up from the card blank for added interest.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading

Love Dawn x

It's Spring - apparently

 I know that, technically, spring doesn't start until 21st March but there are definitely signs around the Marina that spring is here.  We have some lovely spring flowers poking through and the ducks are getting frisky!  So, today's challenge at Make my Monday is 'Spring'.  Think flowers, weather, spring animals.

My favourite spring flowers are tulips so that's what I decided to go with.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Going Green

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz today we would love to see some 'Green' on your projects please. I chose to use some pretty papers in a green and beige colour scheme.  I kept it very simple and decorated it with some die cute flowers.  

The paper pad was a 6 x 6 so I managed to do two cards, inverting the papers, by cutting it this way.  I think the black accents give it a bit of a dramatic feel too.  I hope you like it.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Namesake Day

 Morning all.  Well, you learn something new everyday in this game.  Apparently, the first Sunday in March is Namesake day. Namesake Day is set aside for people to investigate the origin of their surname and given names, who or what they were named after, and what the names mean. As this is the case, over at Cardz4guyz we would like you to take a letter from your name and encorporate it into you project.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Merry Plaidmas

 Morning all.  1st March already!  Although I'm really ready for some spring sunshine. As it's the first of the month we have a new theme over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  We would like to see 'Plaid or Tartan' on your projects please.

I thought I had more sheets of plaid but this was the only one I could find so I paired it with some pink paper that was on my desk.  I added a decoupage topper and a few glitter snowflakes.

Please pop over and play.

Thanks for reading.  

Love Dawn x 

Baby it's FOLD outside

 Morning all. Over at Make My Monday we are looking for 'Fun Folds'.  I don't usually bother so much with these cards but I've been following Sam Calcott at MixedupCrafts on Youtube and she makes them look so easy. She's got so many amazing tutorials I really suggest that you pop over and give her a watch - then pop back and join in our challenge, obviously.

I created this one for one of my work friends who is due to have a baby girl soon. I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Xtra, Xtra

 Morning all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge we are up to the letter X.  Our theme for this challenge is 'Xtra Hearts'.  Here's what I came up with.

I used some pretty papers and a little glitter card to achieve this one.  I got out all my different sized Heart dies and just arranged them across my frame.  I am really pleased with the result.

Please pop over and join our challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Seas the day

Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz this morning we have the new theme of 'Seascape' for you.  I tend to think of those type of cards as easier for the guyz than the galz but here goes.

I have tonnes of these toppers left from an old Hunkydory pad but very few of the matching papers.  I found a pink spotty paper from a different pad and used it with what I had left of the seashell paper.  If that wasn't girlie enough for you I went with 'happy birthday princess' for a sentiment.  

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

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Tools of the trade

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4guyz today we would like a fun fold card please.  I've got to be quick with this as Ava is badgering me for a walk.

Please pop over and check out the inspiration.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Hearts and flowers

 Morning all.  As it is the 15th of the month we have a new theme over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge and it's my choice so I'd like to see 'hearts and flowers' on your creations please.  I chose some pretty paper with flowers on and painstakingly added lots of glittery hearts.  I'm really pleased with the result though.  It was worth the effort.

The design team have really risen to my challenge so it would be lovely if you could check them out and leave them some love.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Panda Love

 Morning all.  Over at Make My Monday this week we are looking for a little 'Love' on your projects please.  I've gone for a cute little panda with some love hearts that I think came from Crafting Desert Diva but I'm not sure so don't quote me.

Isn't he adorable.  He's going to my great niece for her birthday tomorrow.  She's a valentines baby.  

Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

I do

 Hello all.  It's fashionable for the bride to be late to her wedding so I'm reasoning that, being a few hours late, I can be late for my theme of 'Weddings' over at the Alphabet Challenge.  The real reason is much more mundane and has to do with life on the water when you are on a flood warning and making sure you've got fuel, water etc.  

I like how this turned out and, as the heart cut an outline at the same time, I've done something similar on another card.  So I've got a twofer in my stash of cards.  Keep your eye out as I may post it in the future.  

Please pop over and take a look at the inspiration.  The DT have excelled themselves.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Bling it on

 Morning all. Who's up for a new challenge?  It's my theme choice at Cardz4galz today and I want to see 'sequins' please.

I chose some pretty papers and some floral dies for my girly card and used the sequins for the centre of my flowers.  

Please pop over and let me see your sequins.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

All you need is Love

 Morning all.  Here's a chance to create something for the male valentine in your life.  Over at Cardz4guyz we would like a 'love' theme to your projects please. I used a cover plate die and some more of those endless glittery hearts for my project.

Me and my other half are a big long in the tooth for this soppy stuff so my card is going to a friend at work for there fiancé.  Please pop over to the blog and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's Kraftmas!

 Can you believe it's February already or are you finally happy that the seemingly endless January is over?  Either way we are happy to have a new challenge over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge. We are looking for projects using Kraft card please.  I'm really pleased with this as I think Kraft Christmas cards can look really contemporary.  I've paired mine kraft card with pink and white and added some glittery snowflakes.

I used some of the offcuts of the patterned paper left from my previous bird card.  It's not Christmas paper but I don't think it really matters as it's obviously a Christmas Card.

Sparkles Christmas Challenge is a monthly challenge so you've got a whole month to show us your Krafty creations.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Make my Tuesday?

 Sorry guys.  Yesterday was a total write off and I've only just remembered I hadn't scheduled my Make My Monday post. So, once again, it's better late than never.  We are wanting to see your patterned paper please.

I had already put my papers together and wasn't sure how to finish it off when I saw a magazine with this gorgeous stamp on the front.  I'm so pleased with it.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Take it away Madonna!

 Sorry this is a day late.  I've been laid low with a migraine for a couple of days. Better late than never - I hope.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge we are over to 'V for Vogue'.  I know you're all singing it in your head - at least the echoing bit.

The image I used is a Hunkydory Christmas one but I've hidden the snowflakes under the heart to make it a birthday card.  It's probably the only fashion type thing I'd got but I'm pleased with how it turned out.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Seeing Red - or pink!

 Morning all.  We would like to see 'Red or Pink' - or both if you like - on your Cardz4galz projects today.  I should think, with Valentine's day fast approaching, this would be a fairly easy challenge.

Having just done a couple of ruby wedding cards - which I totally forgot to photograph - I had loads of these glittery hearts left over.  I paired them with some floral papers and added a sentiment. Simples.

It really didn't need anything else.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

No Balls Please!

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4guyz today we are looking for 'no ball sports'.  This is such a good theme for the guyz in your life so I'm expecting a large number of entrants (that means you). This one was so easy for me as my nephew, Charlie, is now old enough to be allowed his first fight.  He's been training as a boxer since he was very young.  We aren't keen on the idea of him fighting to be honest, but the training keeps him fit and disciplined.  It also helped with his appalling eating habits as diet is very important to his fitness. He literally ate nothing but plain chicken and pasta, no sauce, before.

Although we are trying to be supportive of him as he loves the sport, we were a bit relieved when his first opponent backed out of a match.  This is the card I made for him.  I used a cricut cut file and he loved it.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x 

New...anything really

 Okay, on to my second DT card of the day.  At Sparkles Monthly Challenge we have the theme of 'New'.  Think new baby, new job, new home etc.  Last year I bought a lovely set of digital stamps from Rachel Vass Designs on Etsy (her shop only has one item in it at the moment so I think she may be taking a break). My set was perfect for new home cards and I've made several.  Well, now I've made another.

I love the simplicity of the design and just added a little colour and a heart brad.  OK, let's see what's new with you.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

HB2U

 Morning all.  So, after the Christmas break we resume pretty much normal service with the first of two blogs today.  Firstly, we go to Make My Monday with a 'happy birthday' theme.  Don't tell me you haven't been craving this after doing all those Christmas cards.

I've kept mine pretty simple.  I've done similar before.  I just love this die - I got it from the Works ages ago.  It pretty much does what it says on the tin.

I do like green and orange together.  I'm really happy with this.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Under the weather?

 Morning all.  We have reached 'U for Under' over at The Alphabet Challenge.  You can decide on what you are under.  As I had some digital stamps already printed out I chose to use one for Beccy's Place called 'under the weather'

Doesn't he look sorry for himself?  I'm really pleased with how this one turned out.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading

Love Dawn x

Going on Safari

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz our new challenge would like to see safari animals on your projects.  For this one I found a really old die that was one of the first I bought.

The papers are a 6 x 6 set from the works. I used some glitter card to give it a bit of glitz and I'm quite pleased with it.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

New Year, New Stash

 Sorry I'm a day late.  I had a lousy migraine yesterday. I hope you are ready for a new challenge and I hope you all had new stash for Christmas.  This week, at Cardz4guyz we would like you to use your new stash on a project.  Now, living on a narrow boat, we have very little space for new stuff so I didn't get anything crafty at Christmas so I found a paper pad that I hadn't used before.  Not exactly new but definitely unused so new in a way. Here's what I created with it.

I already had the sentiment printed out.  I think it came from Baer Designs on Etsy but I'm not sure (apologies if I've got that wrong).  I just added a die cut and some card candy to finish it off. It's a pity this image has a tea pot on.  If it was a coffee pot it would be ideal for my coffee addict husband.

Ok, let's see all your new stuff.  Make me jealous.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x