Love letters straight from the heart

 Morning all.  The Alphabet Challenge this week is looking at 'L for Love Letters'. I have some lovely images from Etsy for this one and I've layered them together as a centre piece.

The geometric patterned paper made it really hard to line up.  It made my eyes go really funny. I'm happy with how turned out though.

Please pop over to join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Dies and punches

 Morning all.  If you have been here before you will have noticed my tendency to use dies on my cards. You can imagine how happy I was with this week's theme of 'dies and punches' for Cardz4galz.  I was recently sent some butterfly dies instead of the dragonfly ones I thought I'd ordered so here they are being put to good use.

Please pop over and join in the fun.  We love seeing your work.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

A single bloom

 Morning all.  It's that time of the month again. We have a new challenge over at Sparkles Monthly.  It's my turn to pick our theme this month and I would like to see 'A Single Flower - floral image' on your projects please.

I decided to go mad for this one and create a diamond staggered pillar card.  I did want to add some bees on acetate flying up from the pillars but I'm revamping the craft area on my boat and I can't find the acetate.  This was so easy to do.  I recommend this video from Iced Images she's very easy to follow.  

Please pop over and have a go at my theme.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Jolly, Holly Christmas

 Morning all.  We have a lovely new theme for you over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge. We would love to see some 'Holly' on your projects please.  I'm trying so hard to get rid of some of my old stash so, for this one, I dug out an old Dufex decoupage sheet.  I find the old decoupage images hard to make look right on a card.  I think they often look stuck on as an after though.  However, I'm pleased with this one.

I've taken the photo flat but it's one of those that have the bottom half standing proud when it stands up.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.  

Love Dawn x

Up, Up and Away...

 Yep, you are all singing it aren't you?  At least all those of my approximate age that can remember the seventies.  Over at Make My Monday we would like to see your 'hot air balloons' please.  

I dug out an old stamp set for this one.  I've gotten out of the habit of using stamps.

Please pop over and join in the fun.  You can even sing along. Everybody now 'Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon'...

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Jumping for Joy

Morning all.  Are you in the mood to do something silly.  When was the last time you jumped in a puddle or kicked up some leaves.  I know it's probably the wrong season for either but, over at the Alphabet Challenge, we have 'J for Jump' so that's what I chose to do.

The image was from Etsy and I love it.  Doesn't he look like he's having the time of his life.  Oh to feel that joy again.  Wouldn't it be fabulous.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Versatile Vellum

 Morning all.  Thanks to everyone who joined in my theme over at Cardz4galz.  I was so impressed by all the pretty scenes you created.  We have a brand new challenge for you this fortnight and we want to see 'Vellum' on your projects please.  I was lucky enough to receive a lovely booklet full of floral printed vellum from my mum and I've used one of the sheets for my card.

I cut the floral corner piece a little larger than my panel and wrapped it around so I could stick it at the back.  That way my adhesive didn't show.  I cut a beautiful butterfly from another sheet and added it, along with a greeting.  A few simple gems finished it off.

I am so pleased with how this turned out.  I might make a few more with my other sheets.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Messing about in boats

 Messing about in boats is exactly what I will be doing - God willing - when my blog post goes live on Tuesday.  I have two glorious weeks off work so we are heading off down the canal on the narrowboat we live on.  Isn't it appropriate that I chose 'Boats' for this month's  Cardz4guyz challenge. 

I also thought it would be ideal to get out my narrowboat die and give it an airing.

I'm really pleased with the result.  I've got another boat cut out but I was running out of double sided sticky tape so I may make another one of these when I've been shopping.  I've sold some of my cards on the marina at a couple of charity events and I think this one may appeal to the other boaters at the next event.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

The Eyes have it!

 Today is the start of a new theme over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  Usually 'CAS' themes leave me struggling.  However, I'm really chuffed with how this card came out.

I have some card blanks with an aperture already cut in so I just embossed a dotted square around it and added the image behind it.  I did feel that I ought to do more so I added googly eyes to the image and added a sentiment.  Ta Da! Nailed it.

Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x 

Snow! In August

 Hello all.  Over at Make My Monday this week we are being rather unseasonal.  We are looking for 'Snow' on your cards please.  Having previously enjoyed the bit of decoupage I did for my last card, I had a dig about in my old stash for some Christmas decoupage sheets.  

I used some vintage papers for the background but, having stared at it for a while, I wish I'd added another layer under the circle but over the strip.  

Ok, I've added an extra layer.  I like it better.  What do you think?

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Enjoy the scenery

 Hello all.  I have the choice for today over at Cardz4galz.  I have chosen 'Create a Scene' for my theme.  My card uses a lovely oriental image and I've decoupaged the cherry blossom frame.  I can't remember the last time I decoupaged anything.

I have to admit it did take forever to cut around those fiddly blossoms but it was so worth is.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

One, Two, Tree

Hello all. 1st of the month brings a brand new theme over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  We are looking for a Tree on your projects please.  Me - I've gone for three.

I've had these puffy stickers for the longest time so this seemed the perfect card to use them for.  

Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading

Love Dawn x

Man oh Man

 Morning all.  Over at Make My Monday this week we are looking for a 'Masculine' project. I know that Golf isn't just for men but I've used masculine papers with my topper.  It's a simple design but I like how it turned out.

I've had the decoupage topper sheet forever.  I'm trying very hard to use up what I have.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Home is where you moor it

 Hello all.  Once again I am late posting this one and, shame on me, it's my theme over at The Alphabet Challlenge.  I am determined that next week I will get my proper days off.  Yes, I know I've been saying it all month but...

Anyway, over to the theme of 'H is for Home'.  I was so tempted to do a narrowboat for this one as that's exactly what my home is.  However, I figured it would be a bit niche for a new home card.  I opted for simplicity instead.

I used a digital stamp from Rachel Vass Designs on Etsy and just added a paper strip and some gems.  I am so pleased with it.  CAS isn't always easy for me so when it works I'm so chuffed.

Please join in my theme and I promise I will comment on all the entries.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Having fun with fun folds

 Morning all.  It's time for a new challenge over at Cardz4galz.  We are looking for Fun Folds. I'm really enjoying fun folds at the moment so this was just up my street. I think this sort of thing really makes an impact for a special occasion. A friend asked for a special card for her mum so here it is.

I'm so pleased with this one.  Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Confused! Sorry

 OK, so things have changed a little over at Cardz4guyz.  We are now a monthly challenge (the third Tuesday in the month) instead of bi-weekly.  And I managed to forget this for our first monthly challange.  'Summer Holidays' is our theme for this month.  I've used another one of my beach clipart images as I do love a beach in summer.

I hope you will support us by joining in now we've gone monthly.  It gives you plenty of time to get inspired.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Summer Daze

 Morning all.  I'm a couple of days late for this month's Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  Sorry, I've been doing extra at work. We have the theme of 'Summer Days' for you this time.  I have some sweet clipart images from Pixel Popsicles on Etsy.  It's a full set of more 'mature' beach bodies.  I think they are so much fun.

The real tragedy is they've all got better beach bodies than I have!

Please pop over and show us your 'summer days'.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

So simple

 Morning all.  Over at Make My Monday we would like 'embossing - wet or dry' on your projects please.  I chose to dig out a small strip embossing folder and emboss it three times on my panel.  I then added three different coloured gems to the flower centre.  I do think it will look better with a sentiment but I couldn't decide what to do so I will add that later.

I hope you like my project and will pop over to check out the challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Hey there Girlfriend!

 Morning all.  We are up to 'G for Girlfriend' over at The Alphabet Challenge.  I'm really into using clipart at the moment and I found the perfect set on Etsy from The Ink Pot Store.  I have had so much fun with these images I've made multiple cards with them.  

I really love how these have turned out and there are so many more images in the set.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

 Morning all.  We are in the middle of Wedding Season at the moment and all the brides must be so pleased with the weather.  Over at Cardz4galz we are looking for your 'Wedding' cards or projects.  I'm on a mission to get rid of my old stash so you've got bonus cards from me as I just kept creating until I'd used three sheets of 12 x 12 paper. I have a couple of Gnome images left but they will be turned into cards soon.

I made the two fun folds first using the opposite cuts of paper and created the smaller card with some off cuts.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Just add sparkle

 Morning all.  First of the month means a brand new Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  And that's pretty much it.  We want 'Sparkle' on you Christmas Projects.  I found a topper with a little glitter added and some gorgeous sparkly snowflakes but it's so hard to photograph.  You have to believe me, it's so sparkly in real life.

I distressed the edges of my papers and used silver card for my greeting and behind the image.

Please pop over and say hi.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Fun in the sun

 Morning all.  I hope you are all enjoying the warm weather.  Keeping cool on a narrowboat is difficult.  I'm sitting here with the duck hatch and all the doors open but the windows covered.  What I need is a quick dip in a pool - just like my critters in todays Make My Monday Challenge.  We are looking for all sorts of 'fun in the sun' projects.

Aren't these little sea creatures just adorable.  I bought the clip art from Cinematic Circle on Etsy.  I added a sentiment and a couple of seaside die cuts and I love how it turned out.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Alice

 Morning all.  Over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge this month we are going a little whimsical.  We are looking for 'Fairytales or Story books' on your project please.  I have some Alice in Wonderland clipart from Etsy so I've used that. You really need to pop over to the blog to check the DT projects. I am totally in love with Vicki's inspiration.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

E for Embossing

 We are up to E for 'Embossing' (wet or dry) over at The Alphabet Challenge.  I will admit to never having much luck with dry embossing to I turned to my trusty embossing folders for this one.  I had printed my sentiment out and centred it in the middle of the folder.  The only issue is, the side I could see the sentiment through was the back.  So you have the debossed side of an embossed pattern on my card.

I always think that sympathy cards need to be simple to be effective.  I am really pleased with this one.  The sentiment does all that needs to be done.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Easy Easel

 Afternoon all.  We have the lovely new theme of an 'Easel' card for you over at Cardz4galz.  I do love an easel card.  It's an easy showy card.  I chose some pretty girly papers and decorated mine with a trellis and some florals.

I backed the trellis with vellum so it mutes the pattern but you can still see it.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

She sells sea shells

 Believe me when I say that the title is easier to type than it is to say.  Over at Cardz4guyz today we are looking for 'Sea Shells' on your projects please. In my dim and distant past we used to collect them to decorate plant pots but now I am all for leaving them where they are for others to enjoy.  I've bought some more clip art for this one.  

I love the illustrations on this set of images from Etsy.  I think they would look lovely on a clean and simple card but I had this piece of designer paper in my scraps bag so I dragged it out.  I hope you like it too.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Something fishy going off

 Evening all.  I'm a day late but better late than never.  Over at Make My Monday we are looking for 'Something Fishy'.  I bought some wonderful clipart from Etsy and I can now make fishy cards all year if I wanted to.

I used a couple of the images on here.  Aren't they fun.

Thanks for reading. 

Love Dawn x

A little Merry

 Afternoon all.  The months are rolling around quickly this year.  1st of the month means that the new Sparkles Christmas Challenge is up.  This month we want to see 'Merry' on your projects.

I used some pretty velum and just added the sentiment and a couple of snowflakes.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

D for Dogs.

 As a dog lover I am probably biased but I think they make the world a whole better place.  So, this week's Alphabet Challenge should certainly make me feel better.  We are up to 'D for Dogs'. And here's my little Ava to cheer you all up.

Look at that gorgeous face. And, yes, treats were involved in getting her to pose like that.

Here's my card for this week's inspiration.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Frenzied florals

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz we have the very girly theme of 'floral frenzy' for you.  What could be easier.  

I used all sorts of scraps to create a bunch of flowers and just stuffed them in the pocket I'd made by turning down the corner of my top layer of paper. I added some leaves and gems to fill the gaps and I'm pretty pleased with it.

Please pop over and see what the other DT members have to inspire you.  They are a talented bunch.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Feeling Blue? Perk Up!

Morning all. We have the fun new theme of 'Shades of Blue' over at Cardz4guyz  today.  I dug out some blue scraps from my paper bin and added a few brown die cuts.  I love how this turned out.  It's very much a card that my hubby would love.

Please pop over an support the design team.  There is some fabulous inspiration and we all have different styles so there's something for everyone. 

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Gardening

 I have to admit that I'm no gardener and, if I tried, I'd get my feet wet as I live on a boat.  However, 'Gardening/Garden' is today's theme over at Make My Monday.  Thankfully, I'm a better crafter than I am a gardener.

I have had the paper and the topper forever but I love the new banner die.

Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Catching up

 Sorry guys. Due to unforeseen circumstances I have been unable to post for the last few days so, without any further ado, here are the DT cards that are missing.

Cardz4galz

Things with wings (real or fantasy)

Sparkles Monthly Challenge

Flowers

The Alphabet Challenge

C for Circles

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Old age and underwear

Hello all.  Over at Cardz4guyz we have a fun sketch challenge for you.  

I used a fun image from Artistic Revolution and matched it with a snarky sentiment.  What do you think.

I absolutely love how this turned out.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x 

Fun with Fun Folds

 Hello all. It's my theme this week at Make My Monday and, as I've been loving fun folds recently, that's exactly what I chose.  I want to see your fun fold cards please.

I have no idea what this fold is called and I can't remember where I found the idea.  It's a gate fold with panels connecting both sides.  I love that it lets me showcase this beautiful paper.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Beautiful Butterflies

Hello all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge we would like to see more than two butterflies on your projects please.  This gave me a chance to use one of my favourite dies from Memory Box.

I'm quite pleased with the result.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Flower Power

 Afternoon all.  We have the lovely new theme of 'flowers' today over at Cardz4galz. Such an easy one to make girly cards with.  I dug out another old decoupage sheet for this one.

I don't even remember where I got this one from but it was in one of my storage boxes so it's nice to get to use it.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x