Ocean animals

 Morning all.  I've gone a bit out of my comfort zone for this morning's card.  We are up to O for Ocean Animals over at The Alphabet Challenge.  I had a free stamp set from a magazine a while ago that had all sorts of ocean stuff in.  I'm really not very good at heat embossing and my ink blending isn't brilliant either, however, I decided that I would do both on my card.

I think, because it's not my usual style, I hated it to start with.  I did think about binning it but couldn't think of what else to do.  It's one of those that I left on my desk and kept coming back to and, every time I went back, I liked it a little more.  It's never going to be my favourite but I have put an insert in and given it an envelope.  My bin is fun enough!

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

 

Pick three colours

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz we have a bunch of colours for you.  Please pick at least three from 'Green, Purple, Orange and Black'. I know that  these colours lend themselves to Halloween but I don't celebrate that.  Instead I decided to create a bright and striking floral card.

I'm really sorry about the quality of the photograph.  It was dark and I needed to upload it.  It's such a pretty card in the flesh.  The flowers are made from a spotty vellum that I've had forever.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Not Mush Room

 Morning all.  I hope you are ready for a new theme over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  It's perfect for this time of year.  We want to see 'mushrooms or toadstools' on your projects please.  I've noticed lots of varieties of mushrooms popping up around our area when I've taken the dog for a walk.  I'm not brave enough to pick them though.

I was a bit rushed for this one so, luckily, I had the perfect backing paper.  I just added my greeting and an autumnal Gnome.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

One for T

 Thank you to all those who joined in my Wheels challenge last time at Cardz4guyz.  I was so impressed by the variety of wheels on display.  We have a new challenge today.  We are looking for 'something beginning with T'.

Easy peasy as I had just the topper for a guy.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Just Kidding

 Morning all.  My themes are coming thick and fast at the moment.  I can't even remember coming up with this one.  Over at Make My Monday  I'm looking for 'Kid Friendly' projects.  I kept mine simple but went for colourful.

It's an added bonus that the papers came from my scraps pile and the stickers I've had for donkey's years. I'm trying very hard to reduce my stash and scraps as they take so much room.

Please join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Age is just a number Mum - just a really big one!

 Morning all.  We are up to the letter 'N' at The Alphabet Challenge and I have chosen 'numbers' for my theme.  It seemed fairly appropriate as my Mum had a big birthday coming up with a rather large number on it - although most people find it hard to believe - she's 80 years old.

To be fair, I'm quite glad she doesn't look or even act her age as we have been mistaken for sisters! 

Just in case you can't tell, she's the one on the left.

Please pop over to show me your numbers projects.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Round and Round in Circles

 Are you all ready for a lovely new theme over at Cardz4galz 'cause today we are going round in 'Circles'.

You can use circles on your project or, as I have, create a circular card.  This is my first ever circle card I think.  I can't remember ever doing one before.  It's a little bit small as my circle dies only go up so far and trying to cut a circle was not really working out.

As it's only small it did mean I could use some of my scraps.  I cut the birds from the backing paper and raised them up on foam.  I'm quite please with how it turned out.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's CHRISTMAS!

 Morning all.  As it's the first of the month we have a new theme over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  We want to see the word 'Christmas' on your projects please.  

I'm trying to make my Christmas cards a little bit 'more' if you know what I mean.  For this one I created a stepper with the sentiment overhanging and finished it with a glittery snowman.

With all that glitter and silver cardstock I had to pretty much sit on it until the glue set.  I'm quite pleased with it though.

Please pop over to join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

A Wheely Fun Challenge

 It's my turn to pick the theme for the new Cardz4guyz challenge.  I've choses 'Wheels' which should give you plenty of scope.  Anything with wheels on - or just wheels themselves - will do.

I've gone very retro with some sweet boys toys I cut from some very old backing paper.

I was sceptical when I started it but I love how it turned out.

Please pop over and give me something to comment on.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

In the Background

 Morning all.  Sorry I'm a day late with this.  I've had a very busy weekend and never got around to scheduling my post.  Anyway, over at Make My Monday we would like you to 'create your own background'.  As I was in a bind for time I chose to use some leftover papers from my masculine card to make a striped background.

I love these type of backgrounds for using up scraps.  These papers just go so well for a fella.  I just added the stars and 'dad' for the middle.  Simples.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

M for Masculine

 Ok, if I wasn't feeling the colouring option for Galz, I was definitely loving the idea of 'M for Masculine' over at The Alphabet Challenge.  I am really enjoying die cuts right now and I have some super cute Christmas Gnomes.  I used those dies and did a little fiddling to create a sweet guy with a birthday present.  I chose some guy type paper and created this twisted easel card.

I think he's super cute.  Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Watercolouring - when you don't have any

 Morning all.  I'm a little late with this post.  So sorry.  Over at Cardz4galz we are looking for 'Colouring - any medium'.  I was struggling with this one as I wasn't in the mood for colouring.  My alcohol markers are in the storage box as I've had a tidy up in the boat and my paints and brushes are in storage at work.  Ok, that left me with inks.  I dug out my distress inks and oxides but I didn't have a brush.  Out came my spectrum noir clear sparkle brush.  

As I wasn't feeling it I just chose a small butterfly image to colour.  I heat embossed it with white powder and painted it with my inks.  Unfortunately, my heat embossing went a bit all over the place and there wasn't much image to colour.  I stamped it again in black in and coloured it again.  I layered the two together and painted my greeting in the same pink and orange colours.

Not my favourite card but it worked out more or less as I had it in my head.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Do you want fries with that?

 Morning all. Today, over at Cardz4guyz, we are looking for 'Embossing - Wet or Dry' on your projects please.  I'm really not very good at Wet Embossing so I got out an old Spellbinders embossing folder.  It's always been my favourite pattern.

I kept it simple by adding some die cuts and a sentiment.  I love how it turned out.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

If you go down to the woods today...

 Morning all.  Apparently, it's National Teddy bear Day.  I didn't even know there was such a thing.  My teddies are now looking at me all aggrieved.  Over at Make My Monday we are celebrating by making Teddy bears our theme for this fortnight.

I found a set of Fuzzy Moon papers and toppers in a local charity shop  and they were perfect for this challenge.

Please join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Sepia Landscapes

 Morning all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge we are up to 'L for Landscapes'.  My DT colleagues have created some stunners (please go and leave them some love).  I must admit I was at a loss as to what to do to match their creativity.  I decided to use some small images of landscapes on my landscape style card.  I kept it all fairly monochromatic to compliment the sepia images.

I like the result.  It turned out better than I thought it would and it's not my normal style at all.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's hip to be square.

 Well the title says it all really.  'Hip to be Square' is today's theme over at Cardz4galz.  You can use a square card or use squares on your card.  I chose to use a square card for my project.

I just love this lemon die and I think blue and yellow look really lovely together.  What do you think?

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Nauti but Nice

 Morning all.   Over at Cardz4guyz this morning we are looking for 'Nautical elements on your projects please.  My card may come in handy as we are cruising the canals this week.

I kept this fairly simple just stamping the anchors in red and blue and layering with the same colours.  Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Sentimental

 Morning all.  As it's the start of a new month we have an lovely new theme over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  We want to see your 'Sentiment' as a focal point.

I will admit to buying this beautiful paper from The Works.  I couldn't resist using it and all I did was add my sentiment and some snowflakes.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Feeling Beachy

 Morning all.  I was absolutely thrilled with the standard of entries for my challenge over at Make My Monday and it was so hard to narrow it down.  I hope we get as many good entries for this challenge - On the Beach.  I do still miss going to the beach sometimes - even though living on the water is so lovely.  There is a little beach by the river where I take Ava for a walk sometimes.  It's not the same as by the sea though. 

I used a set of small beach die cuts that I had bought from Amazon.  I cut them in white and either inked them or coloured them with markers.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Here kitty kitty

 Morning all.  We are up to the letter K over at The Alphabet Challenge

today and we are looking for 'kittens or cats'.  I decided to have my cat playing amongst the flowers.

I'm not sure if they are having fun.  He looks a little startled to me.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Pink Cadillac

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz today we are going all girly with the theme of 'Pretty in Pink'.  The obvious thing to do was to go flowery and feminine.  So I did the opposite.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Watching the sun go down (or come up)

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4guyz today we are looking for 'Sunrise or Sunsets' on your project please.  I do love to see the sun setting over the water here on the marina.  The sky paints in such gorgeous colours.  I do have a fond memory of sitting on the seafront somewhere and watching the sun go down beyond the horizon.  It was one of those rare moments of blissful peace.  Here's my take on the challenge.

Ink blending is not my usual style and this was the second attempt.  It's one of those cards that's grown on me, with the added bonus of using some designer paper I've had for donkey's years.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Flutter By

 Morning all.  Today, over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge, we are looking for one or more butterflies on your projects please.  I do have several butterfly dies but I have a favourite one from Memory Box.  I first cut lots of them in white and stuck them flat to my panel.  Over the top I added colourful ones with their wings lifted up.  Other than that I added a few white flowers and leaves with some gems to match the colours.

I love how it turned out.  It's so cheerful.  

Please pop over and join in the challenge. Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Show us some Metal

 Evening all.  Like a bride to a wedding I am late to my own theme over at Make My Monday.  I would like to see something metallic on your projects please.  I've tonnes of brads, eyelets and charms that I never use so I decided to chose the theme and get at least some out of the way.  

I love these sunflower charms and I just had to add a few bees buzzing round.

Please pop over and join in the fun or I won't have anything to comment on.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Having a Roarsome Time

 Morning all.  Over at the Alphabet Challenge today we have a fun new challenge for the letter J.  We want to see your projects for the 'Juvenile' in your life.  I'm lucky enough to have two gorgeous great nephews - as well as several great nieces - so I cracked out the dinosaur digi stamps I had from JoKavanagh on Etsy.

Aren't they cute.  I used the same set of bright colourful papers for both cards.  Reuben will be two later this year and Edwin will be one.  I'm all prepared for both of them.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Who's a pretty girl then?

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz today we are looking for 'birds' on your projects please.  We love birds in our family.  My dad and grandad bred Yorkshire Canaries. My grandma always had budgies (the last one was called Cheeky) and my sister had a cockatiel.

I've decided to stick with budgies for my card.  Only because I had some in my stash.

This was one of those cards that I wasn't happy with whilst I was making it.  However, it's been sitting on my desk for a few days and it's growing on me.  It probably needs a sentiment but, for now, I am leaving well alone.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Campervantastic

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4guyz this week we are looking for 'camping or other outdoor activities' please.  I miss camping.  I was never lucky enough to have a VW camper but I had a Mazda Bongo camper van and it was such fun.  Unfortunately, it wasn't very economical to run on a daily basis so we sold it when we bought the boat.  We do have a tent but it's not the same as the campervan.

I'm not sure about letting the koala drive.  I do love this stamp set from Tracey Hey.  To be honest, I love all her cute characters and I don't use her stamps often enough.  I buy them and then lose my confidence in colouring them.

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

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Christmas Critters

 Morning all.  It's the first of August so, obviously, my thoughts are turning to Christmas - not!  However, as it's the first of the month we do have a new Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  We are looking for 'Christmas Critters' please.

Once again I turned to Hunkydory as their toppers make very striking cards.  

I realise that a mouse and a hedgehog aren't traditional at Christmas but I'm so glad the mouse has a snowflake cushion to save his behind from all the prickles.  I used the snowflake patterned card from the same set and just added extra snowflakes.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

 Morning all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge this morning we have a lovely new 'colour' challenge.  Here is the colour palette we would like you to use:

I've not really been in the mood to colour just lately, so I went through my stack of papers instead.  I created a slimline card and kept it very clean and simple.

I'm really pleased with this one.  It just came together so quickly and easily.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Oh Baby Baby

 Hello all.  Over at Cardz4galz today we have the new challenge theme of 'for a baby'. I was well prepared for this one as I'd had a sticker sheet with baby items on it and managed to do several cards at once.  Here's the one I made for today's challenge.

As it's Cardz 4 Galz I hit the pink patterned paper and just added the sticker elements.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Photo Opportunity

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4guyz  we have a really fun guy theme.  We would like metal on your projects please.  This could be metallic card, metal charms, brads, eyelets etc.  

For this card I did chose to case a card from Pinterest.  Here's my card and the inspiration is below.

I'd got some of the colour block pattern left over from another project and it seemed like a good opportunity to use it up. The metal circles are eyelets that I've had for ages.  I'm a bit disappointed in the birthday sentiment but I'm pleased with the card other than that.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Sparkle for the boys

 And for my second instalment of the day we are looking for 'one for the boys' at Sparkles Monthly.  I suppose my card could be for a wine loving girl but to me the die I used is perfect for my Father-in-law.

I saw the paper piecing idea on Pinterest and added it to a fun fold card. I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  The one I did for my Father-in-Law was just on a normal fold but I wish I'd done this one for him.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Celebrating Aleks' Birthday

 Morning all.  I don't always blog family birthday cards but I'm having my craft area re-vamped and I needed a card for today's Make My Monday Challenge.  As it happens today's theme is 'Let's Celebrate' and I already was.  Aleks is my great niece and it was her birthday yesterday.  

It was one of those cards that I had in my head but was a swine to translate.  The balloons were fine - apart from only one of my several alphabet dies seems to have the K.  The backing just didn't seem right to me.  This is the third attempt and I like it much better than the other two attempts.

Let's see your celebration cards please.

Thanks for reading. 

Love Dawn x

Flippin Awesome

 Morning all. Are you ready for a new letter?  We are up to 'H for Holidays' over at The Alphabet Challenge.  That could mean summer holidays or Christmas holidays if you wish to do Christmas in July.  As a practising Christian I don't refer to Christmas as 'Holidays' so I've gone with summer for my card, and what says summer to me is 'flip flops'.

I have to admit that flip flops aren't very practical for boat life so we tend to live in Crocs.  I have Croc boots for winter, normal Crocs for taking Ava a walk and Croc sliders for everyday wear.  I wonder if there is such a thing as a Croc flip flop.  I need to go and check.

Please pop over and join in the challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Feeling Blue

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz today we would like 'shades of blue on your projects please.  Unfortunately, I needed a sympathy card for a work friend who had recently lost her mum.  Here's what I created for her.

I did ink up my shades of blue cardstock but it's not very clear on the photo.  I do love this verse and it makes perfect sense to me.  I often find myself thinking of my dad when I am walking around the marina.  He was never here as we moved after he died but I feel that he would have loved walking around here with me, especially when the birds are singing.

Please pop over and join in the new challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Animal Magic

 For those of us in Britain of a certain age 'Animal Magic' conjures up fabulous childhood images of Bristol Zoo and the talking animals within (voiced by Jonny Morris). It was a children's tv staple when I was little.  It's also the subject for today's Cardz4guyz challenge.  As I was thinking back to my childhood, I decided to go with a baby card.

The circle goes through to the inside of the card and my giraffe is standing up on the insert.  I have one heart sticker left from the sheet of animals I bought from the Range.  I've never gone through a whole sheet before.  

Please pop over and have a go and maybe let us know of your children's tv favourites.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

So sorry I'm late

 I must apologise for these two cards being a day late. I only just got them done in time for Cazro to use them and then I went to bed and didn't get up yesterday.  I have the dreaded Covid.  I've had it before but it's really knocked me off my feet this time.  I ache everywhere (even my teeth ache). I had to get up today as Will has gone back to work and Ava needed a comfort break to the nearest patch of grass.

Ok so, firstly, we have 'Cocktails or Ice cream' over at Make My Monday. I went for clean and simple with a cocktail but I could do with some ice cream for my sore throat.

Considering I was feeling really rough and threw this together I'm actually really pleased with it.  

On the other had my attempts for 'a handmade ornament or ornament card' - for Sparkles Christmas Challenge didn't go to plan.  I was adamant that I wanted to make an ornament but having attempted several using You Tube tutorials I eventually decided that I was just not up to concentrating and made a card instead.

I do like the dark blue and gold together and the white glitter card is lovely in real life.

Please pop over to join us.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Gentlemen's Choice

 Morning all.  We are up to 'G for Gentlemen' over at The Alphabet Challenge so we are looking for Masculine makes.  I don't know why but I do like a seascape for a man's card.  I decided to use a die that came free with a magazine for my project.

I will be gutted when I've used all that lovely backing paper.  It's one of my 'go to s' when I make a male card.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Book Em Danno

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz today it's my choice of theme.  As well as crafting, my other hobby is reading and, as a result, I have chosen 'Inspired by a Book' as a topic.

My card is inspired by the cover of Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell.  It's on my wish list as I've not got around to reading it yet.  Here's the cover:

And here's my take on it

I hope you can see how I was inspired.  You can take your inspiration from the story or the cover or the illustrations.  Please show me your book inspired projects.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Anything for the Guyz

Morning all.  Over at Cardz4guyz today we have 'Anything Masculine goes'.  What could be easier - unless guy cards aren't your thing.  Then again, this would be a good opportunity to practice.

I've just had a new die set with a cute gnome in it.  He's supposed to be steampunk and, to be honest, I only wanted the cogs and gears but this one had all that and a Gnome.  Had to be done.

Isn't he the cutest.  He's just been given his retirement present.

OK, let's see what you've got for the Guyz.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

The Great Outdoors

 Morning.  How's the weather with you?  Is is summery where you are?  We've got a mixed bag of sunshine and showers.  It will be sunny tomorrow as I am back to work after two weeks off.  Over at Make My Monday today we are looking for some 'outdoor summer fun' on your projects please.  Our recent outdoor summer fun was cruising in our narrowboat up the local canal.  My project, however, shows a different summer scene.

I used a number of summery dies to create my scene.  I could do with a beach holiday to get over the hard work of doing the locks on the canal.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

An Oldie but a Goodie

 Hello all.  I totally messed up the dates for the Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  This should have been yesterday's blog post.  Oh well, better late than never.  This month we are looking for 'something funny and/or a pun'.  Go on, I could do with a laugh.  I've just bought a couple of sets of fun images from Artistic Revolution on Etsy.  These images are fabulous and so funny.

I paired the images with some silly sentiments I'd already got printed out and they turned out to be such fun.  I did another one for O/H's dad for Father's day but forgot to take a picture.  It's a good job he's got a sense of humour.

Please pop over and enter the challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x