Animal Magic

 Morning all.  I know this is late but I have a fabulous excuse. Some of you will know that I live on a narrowboat.  I've usually used our dinette setup for my crafting but it was far from ideal and storage was practically none existent.  So, over the weekend my fabulous O/H and his friend Danny removed the dinette and made me a custom craft space.  I just popped on to post this - now I have the internet back - before trying to organise the stuff I've got piled up at the front of the boat.

This month, over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge, is 'Animals'.  Time to go through my clipart folders again.

I'm so in love with these highland cow images.  They are so cute.  The images are from Hampton and Morgan on Etsy.

Thanks for reading - I'm off to play with all the stuff I'd forgotten I'd got.

Love Dawn x

Kool for Kidz

 I almost forgot it was the 15th today and that would never do.  15th is  Sparkles Monthly Challenge day and this month I have chosen 'a kids card' as my theme.  Once again I've used some fabulous clip art from Dotwit on Etsy.  I've chosen the Football collection for my card.

I am obsessed with her images and this set has both male and female images which will come in handy when my great niece has a birthday as she's a cracking little player.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Oops, I forgot to Sparkle

 I don't know if I'm coming or going.  I totally got yesterday's date wrong and forgot Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  We are looking of 'masculine' projects please.  Come back later for the Cardz4guyz post and you could get two for one.

I have some papers and ephemera from Mintay so I used these and grunged it up a bit with my distress tool.

Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

You don't have to be mad to work here...we'll train you!

 Morning all.  Two posts in one day! Go Me!

We are on the 15th of the month so we have a new challenge over at Sparkles Monthly.  Our new theme is 'Trios'.  3 of anything on your project please.  My other half needed a leaving card for a colleague so I did this for him.

Not sure what's going off with my picture.  The central panel didn't look that wonky on the original.  I was looking for some manic, stressed out critters for the three images and found some lovely fun images on Orson Artistry (Etsy). I also added three sets of three gems.  Apparently, I nailed the brief and the other half was thrilled with it.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Pastel bunnies

 Morning all.  It's time for the new monthly theme for Sparkles Monthly.  We would like 'Pastel Colours and Rabbits' please.  We are also looking for new DT members so, if you've ever thought of giving it a go, please let us know.  We are a friendly bunch and can help you through the process if you have never done it before.

It turns out I have very few pastel coloured papers.  I managed to find some scraps with soft shades of yellow and pink but not a lot else. I have got an animal die set that does make a rabbit though.  What do you think.

I wish the papers had been prettier but I do like the design.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

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

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

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

Quilting a thank you

 Morning all.  Aren't the months going so quickly.  We have a brand new theme for you today over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  We would like to see your 'thank you' cards.  I made my card for my clever sister-in-law who went to Japan earlier this year.  She's a talented artist and was visiting lots of out of the way places to view Japanese arts and crafts.  She sent me a small box of beautiful washi paper.  I've used some of the papers on my project and done some Japanese Paper Quilting with them.  

I quilted some petal shapes and used them as a background for my large 'thanks' sentiment.

I hope you like my project and are inspired to join our challenge.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Running behind.

 Sorry I'm a bit behind with this week's posts.  I'm still decorating my craft space so things are a little upside down.  Firstly we have the theme of 'pumpkins and autumn leaves' over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  I've used a very old card blank with apertures in it for this one.

Next I have a card for Cardz4galz with the new theme of 'for a girl'.  What little girl wouldn't go mad for this little Pegasus image.

The images on this one are from Crafty Mama Creators on Etsy.  

OK, that's caught up for now.  Keep an eye out for my real friday post for The Alphabet Challenge.

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

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 

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

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

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

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

Two challenges

 Morning all.  I have two challenge cards for you today.  Firstly, The Alphabet Challenge are looking for 'Quick and Simple' projects.  I always think it's best to stay simple for Thinking of You cards.  This one would be suitable for a male (which I think is challenging for this type of card).

My second card is for my new theme of 'Christmas Florals' over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge.  I have a quick and easy decoupage pad and chose this cute house with Poinsettias on it.  I added a few extra bits of holly and a few flowers from a sticker sheet I've had for ages.

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

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

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