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

Stockings! In this weather?

 Hello all.  It's the first of the month and it's really hot here already.  However, as it's the first of the month, it's the Sparkles Christmas Challenge. We are looking for projects involving Christmas Stockings please.

I'm loving trying out fun folds at the moment and this one is becoming a new favourite.  I used an old decoupage sheet and some even older papers.  I am really trying hard to reduce my stash.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

A Body of Water Card...Made on a boat on a Body of Water.

 Morning all.  As a crafter that lives on a boat on a Marina I feel very qualified to create a card on the Cardz4guyz new theme.  We are looking for 'A Body of Water' on your projects please.  I chose to use some more of my old stash for this one.  I bought some oriental themed stickers from the V&A museum a few years ago.  One of my favourite pieces of art is 'the wave'.  One of these stickers reminds me a little of it.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Still a day behind! Make my 'Monday'

 Hello all.  The bank holiday still has me in a tiz.  You would think I would be more organised with more days off but we've had visitors and more Church services for the Easter weekend. So, on Tuesday, we have my card for Make My Monday.  Our theme is 'Things with Wings'.

My butterfly and papers were a freebie from a magazine ages ago.  I found them in one of the boxes I've had packed away.

Please join us in our challenge.  We love to see your ideas.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

What day is it?

 Well, I'm confused.  I usually have days off on Thursday and Friday.  This week I went into work for a couple of hours on Thursday. Tuesday felt like Wednesday and it's a 4 day weekend in the UK for Easter.  So, here's yesterday's card today.

Over at The Alphabet Challenge we are taking another turn around the letters.  Our theme this week is 'Alphabet'.  We would like you to pick a letter and create a card featuring something beginning with the letter.  I chose F for Feathers.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Deco Style

 Hello all.  Today's theme over at Cardz4galz is so very my style.  I've loved 'Art Deco' forever.  Our boat has art deco lettering and decals on the side.  Our old house had many Deco touches too.  

I am really pleased with how this one turned out and, at a later date, I will add a greeting - in an Art Deco font of course.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Straight down the middle

 Hello all.  I know we had fun and games last time on Cardz4guyz and we are sticking to fun with 'fun fold' as our new theme.  I'm trying to use up some very old stash so I dug out some more Margaret Sherrie decoupage sheets.

It's a simple z fold card but I'm pleased with it.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Daisy, Daisy...

 Hello all.  We have a fresh new challenge over at  Make My Monday  today.  We would love to see 'Daisies' on your projects please.  I made mum a mother's day card with this in mind.  I love the way the white really pops on the dark background. 

I did ink the centres of the flowers and used yellow glitter card for the die cut rings.  Mum was pleased with it too.

Please pop over and have a go.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Got the Zoomies

 Morning all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge we have, once again, completed another go around with 'Z for Zoom'.  We are looking for anything that goes fast.  Tempted as I was to get a video of Ava chasing a pigeon on the dog walking field, I went for something more conventional.  To be honest.  I've had the decoupage image for donkey's years and couldn't think what to do with it.  I used a sketch from Pinterest and I'm so pleased with the result.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Stripey!

 Afternoon all.  It's my choice of theme today over at Cardz4galz and I would love to see Stripes on your creations please.  I used washi tape to create the stripes on my panel and rose gold mirri card to enhance the design.  I kept everything else white so as not to detract from the background.

I did cut my square panel a little wonky so I stuck it on the card base wonky to compensate.  I'm really pleased with the result.

Please pop over to join my theme so I can comment on your lovely creations.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

It's all fun and games

 Morning all.  We are having lots of 'fun and games' over at Cardz4guyz this week as that is our new theme.  I had just the card idea as I'd just bought a download from Debbie Moore in order to create a card for my son's birthday.  I'd not used all the layers so I created this one from the bits left over.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out.  I think it makes a perfect 'Guyz' card.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Going Green

 Hello all. Over at Make My Monday we would love to see 'green' on your projects please.  It's lovely and green around here.  I'm lucky enough to live on the water and we have lovely fields to walk in. The whole place is alive with wildlife and I'm lucky enough to have a kingfisher for a neighbour.  He sits on one of the jetty bollards further down from our mooring and I've used him as inspiration for my card today.

I'm so very blessed to live here with all the bird life around.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Yummy Scrummy

 Morning all.  Over at The Alphabet Challenge Blog we are at 'Y for Yummy'.  I have a whole set of food dies and couldn't decide what sort of food to go for.  In the end I went for luscious doughnuts as I've used most of the savoury choices before.  And, if you are going to have doughnuts, you really need icing and sprinkles on them.

I just kept it simple and added a greeting.  I was tempted to through some sprinkles at the background but decided less is more.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Spring into Spring

 Tomorrow is the first day of spring in the UK.  It would have been my grandma's birthday.  We always had spring flowers out for her birthday.  For this week's challenge over at Cardz4galz we would love to see your 'spring' cards and projects.

I've gone all cute with mine.

I got this adorable clipart from Auroracraftery on Etsy.  I didn't even realise how similar it was to my blog name until I came to publish it.  It must have been meant to be.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Sweet 16

 I'm sorry that my posts this week are late.  I've been ill for about 3 weeks now and haven't been on the computer much.  Over at Cardz4guyz we have the challenge of 'S for ...'.  I've gone crackers with this one (a card I made for my nephew Charlie) - stars, stripes and 16.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Easter Blessings

 Morning all.  I know Easter is late this year but it's this month's challenge over at Sparkles Monthly. The colours for Easter Sunday are Gold and White and that's what I've used for my inspiration.  I've kept it very simple and, when I can find my Easter stamps I will add a greeting.  I've tipped the boat upside down but I can't find them at the moment.

Please pop over and show us your Easter creations.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Dies and punches

 Morning all.  We had some lovely entries for our 'stitched' challenge last time and I'm sure that the theme of 'dies and punches' will also bring out some awesome creations over at Make my Monday. Dies are my favourite thing to use when making cards.  I have so many.  I used some pretty floral and foliage dies for this 80th birthday card.

I hope you will pop over and join in our new challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

XOXOXOXOX

 I've been on a course this week and it's set me all out of kilter.  I'm sorry this is late.  Especially as the choice over at The Alphabet Challenge is mine.  How hard it was to pick a theme for the letter X.  I've gone for 'Xs and Os' hugs and kisses.

This frame has been in my stash forever.  I finally put it to use as a shaker window and filled it with Xs and Os.  I was going for a plain background but it wasn't quite the colour I wanted so I've muted it by layering a sheet of patterned vellum on top.

Please pop over and join in my theme.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Keeping Mum

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz this week we are looking for 'Mother's day' projects or something 'for a special lady'. In the UK mother's day is at the end of march so I have a couple of cards to make.  Here's the first.

The die I've used is a sunflower die but I really love using it in white.  I did add a layer in yellow behind to separate it from the background.

I hope you like it and I hope you will join in.

Thanks for Reading. 

Love Dawn x

Dress it up

 Evening all.  It's my choice for a theme over at Cardz4guyz and I have chosen 'Men's clothing'.  I'm not sure what was in my mind when I picked this but I've gone with a rugby shirt and boots.  I've had this in my stash for so long.

I couldn't decide on a backing paper for this so I kept it simple and left it black and white.

I hope you will join in the challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Christmas Critters

 Hello all.  We are in March already!  As it's the first of the month we have a lovely new theme at Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  Let's see your 'Christmas Critters' please.

These cute little deer are from a decoupage sheet I had but, me being awkward, I decided to use them for this instead.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Winging it

 And for my next late post I will be winging it.  The Alphabet Challenge are up to 'W for Wings'.  I'm obsessed with the adorable images at Cinematic Circle Clipart over on Etsy.  I used this cute flamingo for my card and added googly eyes to enhance his surprised look.

 I'm so pleased with this one.  I also managed to use up some scrap paper and stickers that had been hanging around in my stash.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Embellish it

 Morning all.  I'm running so late with my posts this week.  Over at Cardz4galz we are looking for 'Embellishments' on your projects please.  I used some sparkly brads to adorn my cute little bunny.

The image is from a clipart set I bought from Etsy.  I think she's so cute.

Thanks for reading.  

Love Dawn x

A little bit sketchy

 Hello all.  Just a quick post for today's Cardz4guyz challenge.  We have a sketch for you this time.

I love this for a challenge.  I went through my dies and decided on my theme first and then just through some papers together. Hot Dog! What a challenge.

Thanks for reading.  

Love Dawn x

Feel the love

 Afternoon all.  I know it's Tuesday but the marina is having some work done and the electric has been off.  We do use battery power when we are off grid but I try not to overload it.  I figure it's more important to run the freezer than the computer.  We have solar and, when we are travelling on the canal, the engine charges the battery but I was being cautious.  

Yesterday, the new Make my Monday challege went live and, of course, we have a 'love' theme for St Valentine's day.

I've gone very CAS and used one of the Fuzzy Moon images I got from a local charity shop.  I have a load of them and I am always looking for an excuse to use them up.

Please join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x