My tribute to the Ilkon Hookers

 Morning all.  Over at Make My Monday we have the theme of 'Hobbies'.  Well, you all know my hobby is card making and I also love reading.  Today I am concentrating on my mum's hobby.  She runs a lovely, friendly little class for crochet at the Ilkon Cafe in Ilkeston. Ilkon Art Gallery hosts the cafe at the back and every now and then I pop in to see them.  Mum can teach anyone to crochet and one of the ladies takes her husband along.  He calls them all his 'hookers'.  Here's my card and also the Ilkon Hookers.

So, now you know what I do to pass the time and what Mum does to pass hers - what do you do for a hobbie? Create a card with it on and join in our challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

X-ray Specs

 Morning all.  We are up to x for x-ray - black & white - on your projects over at The Alphabet Challenge. I've had these papers for ever and I'm glad they finally got a look in.

I think the flowers on the paper go well with the die cut flowers.  What do you think.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Did someone say splash (of green)

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4galz we would like a 'splash of green' on your projects please.  Splash is a dirty word around here as it was just the noise I heard the other day when we were moving our boat.  I was two boats away and I just knew it would be my husband.  He's been in three times now.  That's another phone ruined but luckily he kept hold of his glasses this time.  Bless him, at least he didn't hurt himself.  

Anyway, here's my inspiration for the challenge.

Just lately, I've been going through my paper scraps and putting them together and, after that's done, I find something to use as a focal point.  These lemons were already cut in one of my storage boxes.  I must have done extras at some point.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

My Hero

 Hello all.  It's time for the fellas in our lives again.  Over at Cardz4guyz we have a colour challenge for you.  Please use 'light blue and brown' on your projects. I made a totally different card for this challenge and made this one from the scraps.  When I came to it I liked this one better.

The image is a freebie I got from Cinematic Circle on Etsy.  I have very few cards for kids so it's nice to get some new ones in my stash.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

With a Spring in my Step

 Hi all.  Well, between the showers, there are definitely signs that spring is with us.  I even came home in the light tonight.  We have tonnes of Daffodils on the marina and it's a pleasure to go out walking with the dog. Over at Sparkles Monthly we have 'It's Spring'  as our theme this month.  We also have a DT call so, if you've ever thought of going on a design team, please pop over and give Caz a shout.  The DT are a friendly bunch and monthly is a good way to dip your toe in. 

Here's my inspiration for this month's challenge.

This is the second card I did for this challenge but I posted my first attempt before remembering I hadn't taken a photo.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

All Tied Up

 Hello all.  We have a lovely new theme over at Make My Monday.  We would like you to use 'string, ribbon, twine or thread' on your projects please. I did a lovely card using ribbon in strips on a backing panel but, by the time I'd put a focal point on the front, you couldn't tell it was ribbon.  Oh well, back to the drawing board.

I was sorting my scraps into possible card layouts and found the sentiment on velum.  My ribbon, behind the flower hides the adhesive anchoring the velum. 

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Wildflower Wreath

 Morning all.  Just a quick post before Church.  I should have posted on Friday but life is a bit frantic at the moment.  We are up to 'W for Wildflowers' over on The Alphabet Challenge.  I have some lovely Wildflower dies and really enjoyed inking them up.  

I wasn't sure how they would look when I was at the messy stage but I'm really pleased with them.  I just added water to distress ink and smooshed the white die cuts through. 

Please pop over and join in the fun. 

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Em-bossing it!

 Afternoon all.  I'm just back from work and it's a glorious day here on the marina.  I have the duck hatch open and the fresh air streaming in.  It's one of those days when you feel energised to do something.  If you are looking for something to do then why not try our 'Embossing - wet or dry' challenge over at Cardz4galz.  Here is my inspiration card.

I've kept it clean and simple so the embossing gets to shine.

Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Frosty the snowman

 Morning all.  Another late post from me.  I've been down with a migraine so here's yesterday's post.  We are looking for 'Snowmen/women' on your cards over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge. They can be on there own or in a family group.  I dug out some old Hunkydory stuff for my card.

The image is so large it didn't leave room for much more.  I just added some holly in the corners and called it done.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

V for Volume

 OK, this is Friday's post...on a Friday! Get me being nearly organised.  Over at  The Alphabet Challenge we want 'v for volume' on your cards.  Think dimension and foam pads.  Basically, layers.  I dug through all my old decoupage sheets for this one.  I don't know why I'm holding onto them as I don't often do that anymore.  

All my butterflies are layered up.  The main one has three layers.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Just Checking

 Morning all.  I know it's Friday but this is Thursday's post. Time has run away with me this week.  So, for Cardz4galz this week we have 'things with wings' as our theme.  I've been itching to use this digital stamp for a while.  

The image is from Dr Digi's House of Stamps.  I'm quite pleased with how he turned out.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Monochrome adventure.

 Morning all.  Over at Cardz4guyz this month we have the theme of 'a monochromatic colour pallette'.  I have, once again, gone to my Stamperia papers as they just work so well for this.

It's been so much fun using these papers recently.  They fit in so beautifully with the themes.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Vintage - just like me!

 I'm not old, I'm vintage. To be fair, I might even pass as retro until next birthday.  Over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge we are looking for 'Vintage or Mixed Media' projects please.  I did try mixed media but it's a style I really can't do well. Instead I went with some lovely papers from Stamperia.  They are so beautifully vintage.

I distressed the edges and used a little distress ink. I then added a couple of ephemera pieces to finish it off.  I am much happier with the result for this one.  I'm never gonna be a mixed media gal.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

A challenge to die for

 Morning all.  I've got my weeks mixed up so here is yesterday's Make My Monday card.  We have the theme of 'use two dies' which is right up my street.

I, technically, used more than two dies as the circles are a set. Then I used the banner to finish it off.  I'm pleased with this one.  I think it would do for either male or female.  

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

A Perfect Life?

 Morning all.  We are looking for 'Uplifting' cards and projects today over at The Alphabet Challenge.  It could be an uplifting sentiment or the time of thing you would send to someone to lift there spirits and encourage them.

There is a lot of pressure on social media nowadays for everyone to have a 'perfect' life.  We see spotless houses with matching decor, perfect meals prepared and served and matching outfits in staged shots.  I have a small boat with next to no storage so it always looks a mess.  My kitchen is tiny and I can't fit one of my roasting tins into my oven.  I am trying to be more 'put together' in the clothing stakes but it's muddy on the marina and wellies don't go with every outfit.  I would not swap this life for anything.  It's a beautiful way to live and the wildlife on the water and surrounding areas makes me smile.

My life is a long way from being perfect but it is a beautiful life.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Give us a Hug

 Morning all.  We have a lovely new theme over at Cardz4galz today.  It's perfect if you are making Valentines cards this month.  We are looking for 'Hugs and Kisses'.

I bought a fun clipart set from 'DigitalMstudioArt' over on Etsy and was spoilt for choice with images. I was so taken with how well these two went with my more vintage looking papers.  I added some gold accents and I'm so pleased with it.

Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Oh Baubles!

 I have a friend who, when frustrated, says 'Oh Baubles' instead of swearing.  She's the inspiration for my choice of theme for this month's Sparkles Christmas Challenge.  Somewhere on you project I would love to see some baubles please.

I need to add a greeting  but my desk is a mess and I couldn't find my Christmas dies before I took a picture.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Simply Moovalous

 Morning all.  We are going all CAS over at  Make My Monday this week.  I bought a fun set of clip art over on Etsy and had a ball creating these.  I'm going to do more when I get the chance as I think they are so cute.  

I'm not very good at CAS but I'm so chuffed with these.  The sentiments are from a set by Dr Digi and it was so easy to print them out along side the adorable Cows.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

A Corrugated Card

 Still catching up with this weeks posts.  This time we have 'T for Texture' over at The Alphabet Challenge.  I was lucky to have a couple of scraps of ridged card in colours that looked good together.  I used gold for my matting and die cutting and kept it very simple.

I turned out better than I expected.  I love those colours together.  Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Pink Posey Club

 Morning all.  Sorry this is late.  Over at Cardz4galz this week we would like some 'pink flowers' on your projects please.  I'd seen a lovely card on Pinterest a while ago that was very dark but had pink flowers on so this is my interpretation of it.

I used deep purples and blue for my background and gold for the accents.  I think the the pink looks stunning against the deeper colours. I'm so please with this one and I hope it will inspire you to join our challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Let's go on an Adventure

 Morning all.  I hope you are all well and looking forward to a new 'Cardz4guyz theme.  We couldn't get more perfect for the men this month with 'Epic Adventure' for a subject.  I have some more fabulous paper scavenged by Howard from the recycling shed.  I couldn't believe my luck with this set as I knew this challenge was coming up.

I won't be short of ideas for the fellas for a while.  I think the papers are Stamperia.  They are certainly fun and full of ideas for adventures.

Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Is it still snowing where you are.

 Well, we've had some very seasonal weather this week.  The water in the marina is frozen and the ducks are walking.  We've also had some snow - much to the delight of our dog, Ava.  She loves it and reverts to a puppy.  I'm not so keen.  I prefer paper snowflakes, which is good as that's just the theme of this months challenge over at Sparkles Monthly.

I'm so pleased with how this one turned out.  The pink and silver glitter card looks lovely layered together.  

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Patterned Paper - You mean I have to break into my stash!

 Morning all.  Today we have the 1st Make My Monday challenge of the year.  We have the challenge 'Use Patterned Paper'.  If you are anything like me you will have more paper than you can use in a lifetime.  I chose to use some of the paper that Howard brought for me from the re-cycling shed. It's a Heartfelt Creations pad and has some lovely toppers too.

I did use scraps from my previous card but I broke into a new sheet as well.  I may have to go for a lie down now.  Breaking into a new sheet! I must be mad.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Let's be Square

 Morning all.  It's my theme over at The Alphabet Challenge and I've picked 'S for Square'.  You can make a square card or project or use squares on it.  I'm pleased with mine as I was able to use some of my scraps again.

I used part of an old Memory Box die for this one.  I have done something similar using textured card behind the die cut panels and put them down the centre of a DL card.  It works well either way.

Please join in the fun so I can visit and leave comments on your creations.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

In the country

 Morning all.  For the first Cardz4galz challenge of the year we would like a 'country scape' on your projects please. I had a dig through some ancient decoupage papers and found a lovely country cottage garden.  I've framed it using some of the pretty papers I was given recently.  We have a recycling shed on the Marina and Howard, a fellow boater, found these papers in the shed and picked them up for me.  Bless him.

I hope you like what I've done for this challenge.  Please join in the fun so I can see your inspiration.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Getting ready for Christmas

 Happy New Year to you all.  I hope 2025 was happy and healthy for you and I hope 2026 will be more so.  So, for the first challenge of the new year we start with next years Christmas Cards. Over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge we have 'Animal and Tree' as a theme for you this month.  I dug out some old favourite dies for this one.

I'm not making any resolutions but I do hope to use up some of my scraps this year.  I'm please that this one has been made purely from my scrap drawer. I dobbed some texture paste on the trees to make it look like snow and my stag must have been sniffing as he's got some on his nose.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x