N O spells No (layers)

 Morning all.  We have reached the letter N over at The Alphabet Challenge and we have the dreaded - by me - 'No Layers' card.  I find these so difficult to do.  My single layer cards look so flat - until now!  Yes it's a single layer but look at all that embossing.

I love that the embossing folder gives it so much dimension without adding layers.  I just inked the card before I started and stamped a sentiment in the middle panel.  I think the folder came in a goody bag I'd had and I can't remember ever using it before as it's so large.  I'm so pleased with the result.

Please nip over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Oriental Express

 Over at Cardz4galz this week it's my choice of theme.  I had chosen a different subject originally but it wasn't popular with the DT and I like to give them something they can enjoy so I had to come up with something else pretty quick.  In the end I chose 'Oriental' for my theme.  Firstly, because I love the oriental style and, secondly, my Mother-in-law's birthday was coming up and, as she used to live in Japan, it's a go to theme for me.

I'd recently bought a deep blue and gold coloured oriental paper pad from The Works and, at the same time, I'd seen a pretty girly set too.  I lasted two whole days before I went back for it.  I have absolutely no will power.  I teamed up my cherry blossom paper with some teal card and used a very only digistamp from The Digistamp Boutique (now closed and much missed by me).  I absolutely love it.  In fact I made a spare.  Sometimes I have to make a spare if I really love a card, just so I can still see it once I've used one.  It's a bit like keeping the pretty papers so you can just look at them.

Please join in my challenge - or I won't have anything to comment on.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Autumnal Happy Birthday

 Morning all.  Are you ready for a new Cardz4guyz Challenge.  This time we are looking for 'Birthday Cards in an Autumnal Colour Palette' please.  Well it looks like getting the same autumn paper pad out again.  But wait, hang on, I've found an old Men's paper collection with some green and brown tones in.  Yipee!

I used gold card for matting and for my sentiment and some wooden embellishments I'd got hanging around.  I'm quite pleased with it and I got to use some old stash so it's a win, win card.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Flora and Fauna for Christmas

 Well September just flew by in a hurry and I only just realised that today was 1st October and I needed to write my post. For today's Sparkles Christmas Challenge we would like to see 'flora and/or fauna' on your project.  I chose to throw in a bit of both. 

I'd fallen for this pretty set of papers when I saw them in The Works.  They'd only just gone on display and they didn't have many left so I think they are going to be popular.  I teamed the papers with a magazine freebie stamp set from last year.  I love how it turned out.

Now I'd better get off to work.  Please pop over to the blog for inspiration and join in the fun as we love to see your cards.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

emBOSSING IT!

 I've got some catching up to do.  I've been away for a week but I'm back to work with a vengeance today.  As it's Monday we also start the week with a new challenge over at Make My Monday.  I did this one a couple of weeks ago so I didn't have to rush about.  We want to see 'Embossing' on your project please.  Wet or dry, it's up to you.  I, sort of, went for both.  I used a pretty embossing folder on some watercolour paper then I wet it through.  I dug out my old Twinkling H2Os - they haven't seen the light of day for years.  I just let pools of pink and purple seep through the water from the flower centers.

The edges on the embossed flowers did a good job of keeping the colour where I wanted it and I love the way it shimmers.  It took ages to dry and I just added a floral die cut and a stamped banner.  

OK, lets see your embossing projects please.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Don't Stop Being Motivated.

 I'm really looking forward to seeing the entries into The Alphabet Challenge this time.  If all goes well it should provide me with plenty of get up and go!  We want 'M for Motivational Sentiments' on your projects please.  You wouldn't believe how many sentiments I read before choosing this one.

I think it's a sort of 'encourage you in the gym' type sentiment but, as I'm a stranger to such establishments I figure it would do as an everyday motivation.  I did used to use the gym at work (it's still shut due to covid restrictions).  My son always asked me about my lunch date with Jim.  Nowadays I'm more likely to mishear you and go for a gin!  Now there's an idea - don't stop when you are tired, finish the glass, lol.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x

Does it seem like forever autumn yet

 Morning all.  I'm here with another Autumn themed card.  This time it's for the Cardz4galz Challenge.  We would like to see 'Autumn/Fall Leaves' please.  Back to my one autumn themed paper pad.  I really am going to have to find some new papers before next year.  

I really love the glittery leaves.  I had a whole pack from The Works for a pound.  I do love a bargain.

Please pop over and join in the fun.

Thanks for reading.

Love Dawn x