Pretty Bows all in a Row (OK, I lied, it's a Circle)

Morning all.  We have a new challenge over at Cardz4galz this morning.  I hope it appeals to your creativity as much as my Autumn challenge.  You all kept me very busy on that one and I loved the variety and standard.

This week our challenge is 'Pretty Bows'.  We want to see bows on your projects please.  

I wasn't sure where to go with this as I find bows a bit bulky and so I don't use them often.  Inspiration struck when I was looking through my dies.  I've had this wreath die for ages but I was never very pleased with it when I cut it from coloured card stock.  This time I decided to cut it from card that I'd blended with distress inks, to give it more interest, and it more than exceeded my expectations.

The die (Xcut - I think) came with all sorts of fancy bits to decorate it but I chose to just use the large bow from the set and then used a small bow from another die to decorate it.  I flung a few gems at it and that was that. What do you think?

Please pop over and join in the fun.  See if you can convert me to using bows more often.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Sympathy Tree

Good morning all.  It seems like ages since I last composed a blog post.  I had to schedule a few whilst I was away for a holiday.  Anyway, we are back to normal now with a new challenge at Cardz4guyz.  The challenge is to use leaves or trees - or both.  I have a beautiful tree die (I think it's spellbinders but don't quote me).  I decided to use it for this card.  The only problem is that whenever I get it out it just screams sympathy card to me.  I don't think I've ever used it for any other type of card (suggestions gratefully accepted).  Anyway, as sympathy cards for men are also problematic, I figured I may as well use the opportunity to create one for my stash.

I kept it very simple.  I find this is usually the best for sympathy cards.  What do you think?

Please pop over and check out the rest of the design team projects.  The girls have some fabulous inspiration.

Thanks for reading.  

Love Dawn x

Cosy Colouring

Morning all.  Are you feeling all Autumnal yet?  This week's Challenge at Make My Monday got me in that way.  Strange really as it's not an autumnal image.  Alli has chosen this pretty image for a colour challenge:

I'm not really one for a colour challenge.  Not sure why but I gave this my best shot.  I think I was partially influenced by an embossed piece that I'd inked with two of the main colours.  I'd done it for another challenge and then didn't used it.  As the colours were right I used it as my starting point.  The pattern reminds me of a knitted jumper so I dug out an adorable image from 2 Cute Ink ( I tried to link but the Etsy shop is down as I write this).  I gave him a cosy green jumper and a hot chocolate in Costa colours. I suppose I could have gone pink with the jumper and given him a Starbucks instead.  It has to be hot chocolate as I'm not a coffee lover, unlike my hubby who is so obsessed he has a hand grinder to grind beans when we go camping!

What do you think?  I'm not sure if I should colour the greetings strip or leave it white.  Now, I'm off for a hot chocolate.

Please join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Back to Skool

Morning all.  We have a new theme over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge this morning.  Perfect for September, we are looking for your back to school cards. My own son left school years ago but my Nephew, Charlie, started senior school this year and two of my great nieces started nursery.  Personally, I don't think you are ever too old for school and I've done loads of courses and exams since leaving all those long years ago.  My last one was a NVQ in business admin at a college in Nottingham which I took last year.

I had an idea of what I wanted to do with this card and was lucky to find some digi images that were a magazine download about a million years back.  I'd forgotten I'd got them.  Not sure what on earth prompted me to go looking but I'm glad I found them.  I've got some fab Christmas images in the same folder.  Bonus!

I die cut lots of ink splodges and coloured three of them in to match the sweatshirts on my little kids.  I had such fun colouring them.  You can't really see it on here but I gave the ginger kid some cute freckles.  My favourite has to be the grumpy one in the middle.  I just love his face.

Anyway, now it's your turn.  Please pop over and join the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Driving me Nutty

Morning all.  Time for my choice of challenge on Cardz4galz.  Don't ask me why I picked Autumn.  It must have seemed like a good idea at the time. And, to be fair, I had some gorgeous, colourful skeleton leaves that I wanted to use.  That also seemed like a good idea at the time.  However, I totally blew it with the leaves and it ended up in the bin.  So, here is plan B.

Plan B involves a sweet little squirrel  that is part of a set of Fun Animals from Tiddlyinks.  They also come with little odds and ends, like the acorn.  My friend has a squirrel in her garden.  Apparently, the cheeky little thing (not what she calls it!) will sit digging holes in her garden about four foot from the bench where she is sitting.  It's not at all bothered by her.  I'm not sure she's keen on the holes though.

Please pop over and join in the fun.  I'm sure you will have loads more ideas for this than I did.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Controversial?

Morning all.  We have a new subject for you today over at Cardz4guyz.  Jane would like you all to be inspired by the songs of The Beatles.  My heart did sink a little at this one.   I may court a little controversy here but I'm not really a Beatles fan.  I don't mind their music and individually I quite like what they've done.  However, I was put off in my teens by a boyfriend who was obsessed.  

Anyway, I digress, the subject is what it is so I'd better get my thinking cap on.  Now, having said that I wasn't a fan, one of my all time favourite tracks is 'While my Guitar Gently Weeps'.  I knew that George Harrison had written it so I wondered if it would count.  Anyhow, I've done a little research and it was on The White Album, yeah.

When Patrick moved to University he started teaching himself to play the guitar.  One of my favourite things is that he rings me up and plays to me down the telephone.  I have given him a wish list of songs I would like him to learn and this one is on the top.  I'm not holding my breath.  He's still playing Hendricks and Jonny Marr.

For my card I used a fab image by Dr Digi and mounted it on the stencilled background.  I've just discovered texture paste and added a few droplets to the background using a stencil I created from a raindrops die.  I'm really pleased with the result.  I think it fits the bill quite nicely considering.

And now, for your listening pleasure:

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Shape Up

Morning all.  Time for my choice of challenge at Make My Monday.  I do have a reason for choosing to 'Use Shapes' on your card.  I've been looking for an excuse to use the Shattered Triangle die from Altenew.  It was one of those 'see it and need it' purchases and then it just sat staring at me from the corner of my craft desk.  Anyway, I decided to use it for this challenge no matter what.  I will admit to shamelessly nicking the layout from this gorgeous card that I found on Pinterest. I love the layout as I have a million scraps of backing paper and I'm always on the lookout for ways to use them.  

In hindsight, I wish I'd embossed the background for added interest.  Oh well, I still have a million scraps to use.  Maybe I'll do it again.  The stamp is from a set I won long ago by Lawn Fawn.

Please pop over to the blog and play along - otherwise I won't have anything to comment on.

Thanks for reading. 

Love Dawn x