Whatever you Wish

How long have you got.  I've got a wish list that's way longer than the traditional three - starting with more time.  Today's Alphabet Challenge allows you to make 'whatever you wish'.  It's probably a good job as February is heavy for birthdays and I am working such long hours at the moment that I could combine this challenge with a card I really needed to make.  I think I've mentioned before that Will's step mum volunteers for Cat's Protection and loves her moggy's to bits.  When I saw the Laurel Burch cat stamps I had Viv in mind as I bought them.  I adored colouring him and making the messy, throw everything at it background.  It's so not my style but I had such fun. I've only just managed to get the ink off my fingers.

I used distress inks of various shades on the background and sprayed it with water.  I then flicked some sparkle from a spectrum noir sparkle pen before adding my stencilled texture paste.  I added embossing powder to the texture paste and heated it to give a sort of bubbled texture (it's not really clear in the picture).  I then added my cat - isn't he handsome - and a bit of bling.  I then ran out to the car to meet her at the pub for a birthday lunch.  Did I mention I was short of time at the moment.

Anyway, I'm sure you have lots of wishes to fulfil our criteria.  I'd love to see what you create.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Black and Bling

Morning all.  New Challenge day at Cardz4galz and I don't know many Galz who don't love a little bit of bling.  Lynda, however, would like you to team your bling with black - very classy.

I love a bit of jewellery but tend to stick to what I like and what I like is silver.  So, I've used gold! I'm a contrary Mary at times.  I've had this card in my head - in a fashion - ever since I bought the Moroccan tile dies from Xcut.  I just think they'd make an awesome screen background for an oriental type stamp.  I have several but my absolute favourite set came from Lakeland way back when they used to do some bits of craft.  It's still in really good condition and I love to go back to it when I'm in an oriental frame of mind.

Having backed my tiles onto gold glitter card, I heat embossed the stamp in gold embossing powder.  I then fussy cut it and mounted it on foam pads.  I did add the obligatory gem stones and that was that.  I am so pleased with how this turned out.  I really don't think it would have worked as well in silver.

Please pop over and join the rest of the Galz.  I'd love to see your take on the theme.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

My Brad

Cardz4guyz has a brand new challenge for you this morning.  Time to search out all those Brads and Eyelets you've had in your stash for years but just never think of using.  I know you've all got some.  Go on, go and find them.

I have to admit, I had a totally different idea for this card.  I had decided to make the brads (I'm useless at setting eyelets so that was never going to happen) the star of my card.  I'd sorted out 9 square brads to put in individual squares.  Trouble was I had three sets of three and they didn't quite look right together.  I went searching for some backing paper to put them on and came up with a ready cut square of cream and gold - which went with one of my sets of brads.  Quick change of plan and Voila!

I liked the square in the circle as I think it mirrored the dots in my square.  I just added my brads down the centre to finish it off.  Then I swore a lot, realising the top brad had the stripes going the wrong way.  Had to cut it off as I'd already put everything together and glued it back with the stripes going the right way.  There's always something isn't there.

OK, now you've found your stash of brads and eyelets, pop over and see what the DT have done with theirs and then join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Heart U

Morning all.  Make My Monday has a lovely new challenge for you this morning.  And, with valentine's day coming up, I'm sure you will be able to find an excuse to join in.  Wei has chosen the them of 'I Heart U'.  This has to be one of the quickest and simplest cards I've ever made.  Having previously made a card from soft green pearlized cardstock I had some scraps left over.  I cut loads of hearts and glued them to the same coloured card blank.  I then found a pink letter U from my box of chipboard letters.  That's it!  

Simples.  I sort of wish the U had been prettier but I love pink and green together and this was the only pink U in the right size.  I suppose I could have cut one especially but I have loads of letters that just never get used.  This seemed the perfect opportunity.  Anyway, I haven't made a card for my other half yet so lets see your inspiration please.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Rabbit Food

Morning all.  I risk causing a debate with my latest card for The Alphabet Challenge but please believe me - I'm only joking.  My tongue was firmly in my cheek whilst creating my card for our 'V for Vegetables' challenge.  I was looking for something amusing to say about my image and - once I'd thought it - it was stuck in my head.

I don't have a lot of Vegetable images.  To be honest this was the only one I could think of at the time.  It's no longer available but it came from 2 Cute Ink.  It's a sweet image but I was unsure what to do with it. I suppose I could send it to my vegetable hating son.  Carrots are one of the few vegetables he will eat.  Carrots and broccoli.  My mum used to make him a roast chicken dinner and, as he would eat it with gusto, I made one at home.  I put it in front of him and he burst out crying.  I asked him what was the matter - it was just chicken dinner like Mamma made him.  Sobbing he answered 'Mamma's chicken dinner has carrots on it'!  Foolishly, I had gone with the broccoli option. I never made that mistake again.  Chicken dinner comes with carrots in our house.

Anyway, over to you.  Lets see what you come up with for this one.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Fluffing up my Krafty Feathers

Morning all.  Time for a new challenge at Cardz4galz. Amy wants us to use Kraft paper or card on our projects.  I have some pretty kraft paper with metallic designs on it so it was the obvious thing to go for.  I chose a lovely blue/green feather pattern as I have a feather die that I bought ages ago and then couldn't think what to do with it.  

I cut the feathers and inked them with distress inks (peeled paint, salty ocean, peacock feathers and a swipe of fossilized amber).  I actually hate this photo as you can't see how good the feathers look.  They are a bit single coloured in the image but they look fabulous in real life. They needed a little something so I added the amber coloured gems to the middle.  I'm glad I took the plunge with the feather die.  I've been a bit daunted by it before.  Now I know it can look this good I'll have another go.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

I can Bearly Contain Myself

Yes, the scanner is working again.  I have no idea what I've done to it.  Maybe the fairy's did turn up after all (see my last post).  And if they did turn up they forgot to hoover!

Anyway, on to today's challenge over at Cardz4guyz.  Please can we see Teddy Bears on your projects.  Now, don't tell them, but we have some very special bears in our house.  They are in charge of fighting the monsters under the bed so we can sleep soundly at night.  Yes, I am the wrong side of 50,  yes, I do still have all my marbles, and yes I do have two way conversations with Francis, Edward, Monty, Christopher, Charlotte and Jennifer Alice.  Well, in the case of Christopher they are usually heated debates.  I'm not the only one. Both my husband and my son also talk to them!

Did I come on here to show you a card or to admit to my little foibles. Here it is.

I've used a lovely sweet stamp from Bugaboo.  She's got lot's of fun teddy images and I own several. I created the card blank ages ago from some left over backing paper I'd used on another project.  I've got a basket of them but I forget to do anything with them.  I'm trying to get around to using them.

Anyway, I'm off to moan at Christopher for keeping me awake fight the monsters last night.  British Bulldogs is not a game for Mondays.  Maybe I can persuade him to fight them at Tiddlywinks tonight!

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x