Happy New Year!

A little early may be ;0) but I hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!  To all of you, who pop by, leave comments and give me inspiration. I am really excited and looking forward to the New Year and new crafting experiences with all of you.

So I wish you all a blessed New Year may you all be SAFE and CREATIVE. Look forward to seeing you all very soon. Love Dawn xx

SCD TAGS 'Merry Christmas'

Morning. I am sad today :0( This is my last SCD challenge as DT *sniffs* I have loved these last 6 months so very much. I have made SO many things and found lots of new blogs with very creative people who have followed the SCD challenges. So I have made a 'Merry Christmas' Tag as my fair well. Of course I can always join in the challenges with all of you! Just don't be a stranger and always pop by to say hi.

Here's a close up of my tag. I have used a mask and then added a background, allowed to dry then added some trees and snow flakes. then with the Merry Christmas and the Lamp Post I put some clear EP on heated and this has added to the texture beautifully. I hope you will also join in with the Something Completely Different team. This is also my chance to say a Wonderful festive season to you all what ever faith you have or not. I wish you a spirit filled Christmas with lots of joy. Love Dawn xx

12 Tags! Seven

I am catching up lol. Haven't the 12 tags made everything speed up? I really enjoyed making this tag (well  have enjoyed making them all) I loved the flower and I used tattered angels sprays the petals and leaves really shimmer beautifully. I put rock candy all over the background so this fit's in to a challenge over at Linda's I have missed so many. (Bad Dawnie) I love Linda's blog and the CCC so much fun.

I bought the textures ages ago, but just haven't used them at all. 12 tags to the rescue lol. I think I will pretty much use everything I have Tim Holtz and wanting to go to the shop for more, I wonder how many of you feel exactly the same? I blinged the flower up with 'Dimond Stickles' You can just see the distress stickles on this photo under the JOY I love it's subtleness, it looks like morning due on the tree trunk. I hope your having a fab week end where ever you are. Try to craft as well as shop ;0) (more for me than you =) Love Dawn xx

12 Tags! Six

Your going to be sick of seeing me I'm here so often lol Third post of the day so please skip back and have a look.  The 12 tags are on the go and I am having lots of fun doing them.  Didn't have a lot as you can see but that was half the fun using Tim as a guide line (this is suppose to be trees and deer) Well I used the same technique on the snowman. I stamped an image on the back of some grunge paper (on the reverse obviously) then cut out carefully then I run through my cuttle bug with the Swiss dots I have Also used the Christmas tree.

Here's my close up. I ave also used some metallic rub for the gold (I used the end of a pant brush to dab here and there. It's so shimmery when it hits the light. Now I have more to post but I think I'll save it until tomorrow I am sure you have seen enough of me today lol. Love Dawn xx

12 Tags! Five

Hello again, its me I know 2nd post of the Day my SCD tag is below! So how dark is it at half past three where you live? I can't believe it and by four o'clock its SO dark. Can you believe Christmas is only two weeks away? I am usually SO organised but with all the illness and stuff  I'm not organised at all. But the tree is up and a home made reef is on the front door. But that's it lol no pressies no pantry (under the stairs lol) full of biscuits, crackers, crisps, juice, sweetie tins. You know what I mean all the stuff you can get a head of time to make the Christmas shop that much easier. Oh well not to worry still have TWO short weeks left ha ha ha.

Back to the tag. Lots missing to make this one! my Santa stamp isn't quite as big so he looks a little alone there lol I cut out some card stock and covered it in transparent Croco paint then the next morning I filled all the cracks with distress ink using Tim's Distress tool. Loved messing with my transparent Croco, it's also good if you want to paint something any colour then add a layer on top and you get a great crackle effect. Don't for get to look below this post for the SCD challenge. Love Dawn xx

SCD TAGS 'Christmas Character'

Morning everyone. So two weeks today until Christmas, how exciting is that? or is that pretty scary? I haven't done much to prepare for Christmas, I'll talk more about that in my second post of the day later. Any way another tag challenge for SCD and this week were looking for a 'Christmas Character' so angels, Santa, deer or what ever else you can come up with. Here I have chosen the most important character for Christmas and that's Jesus Christ. That's why I don't like the shortened version of the word Christmas because without Christ there is no Christmas.

Here is the close up ;0) I have been using alcohol ink on glossy card stock to create a different back ground. I am thinking of making some cards this way too. As I am not organised these should be fairly quick (who am I kidding lol) but they will still be OOAK cards. I'll show you one when I have finished. As usual you did great with last weeks Tag 'trees' and I expect no less this week. It's a fabby theme by Laura and gives you lots of things to choose from. So do pop around and see what all the other DT have made. What characters do you think they would choose over at Something Completely Different? Click the link to pop round. Now I have more 12 tags to catch up on ;0) Love Dawn xx

12 Tags! Four

I'm back, I haven't done Two posts in one day for ages lol. I was going to use this for my design project for SCD but I thought nah, I'll make something else. So make sure you pop back tomorrow. I love popping round to see your creations ;0)

 I can not tell you how hard I found this snow flake thing was to do for me, I tried lots of times. However, I was using stazon (black) and it just wouldn't give the detail I wanted. So I wondered to my self, would archival ink make a BIG difference, now I only have one colour (sepia) but I thought well with any luck it won't matter as I am taking the ink off. It SO matters that you use the archival ink. I got this result first time! Hope you liked my version of Timmy's tag 4. I have still to catch up but I have to say today's tag (tag 9) is my fave one yet! What about you? are you playing along? You don't have to do them all. I quite like one simple tag multiplied for all the gifts I send. After I have finished these I never want to give them away lol. Love Dawn xx

12 Tags! Three

Hi again, it's so cold here in NW of the UK I hope all our Scottish friends are faring OK Such dreadful news of people sleeping in their cars for two nights. So I hope you are all warm and well. I have another Timmy  tag to show you. I have changed mine slightly. With the tree branch and lace. I loved the tape flower what a wonderful technique he showed us there. I made a couple, they have got to come in handy right? For the speckles I just got my tooth brush out and flicked some paint around (not the TB I am currently using you understand lol) Us crafters really do alot of recycling don't we?

I am glad Tim mentioned about the distress ink on the tape I wasn't at all thrilled when  had a play as the colours were SO muted but the alcohol inks work a treat! Not happy with the birds legs hanging in the air I need some thing to ground the bird so when I find something I'll add it. I Will be posting some more tags later today so pop back again if you can. Love Dawn xx

12 Tags!

Hi ya gang ;0) how are you all? I haven't been about much. But today is a day full of craft  as I have some catching up to do. Welcome to all the new followers so nice to have you along. Oh and a big thank you to all my regular commenter's you are all the bomb! I am well and crafting big time now lol I have only done one Christmas card so I had better pull my finger out! And I may use some inspiration for good ol' Timmy! I did the 12 tags for the first time last year and I had such fun I thought I would get stuck in again this year. However, I am a wee bit behind oops! So here is my version of Tim's 1st tag I hope you like this version lol I have lots of crafty goodies but I couldn't possibly have everything Timmy even though I would love to lol.

Here is my close up! I haven't got any thing housey apart from this bird house and  made a robin as well (this s clearly not a robin though lol) I haven't got many ink refills (four) so I couldn't do the stamp the way tim did. However, I Will be buying a few more it's a really good technique isn't it? Pop along to Tim's blog if you want to know more details.

Here I had a go at the foam/ink stamp technique and I have to say I really like the idea of getting lots more ink refills lol I also used some scrap paper and a fragment instead of a bird! I actually think it's more fun putting your own bit's & bob's in as this tag is now unique to me and that is one of the reasons I love hand made goods. Let me know if your joining in. I know my fellow DT friend Sioux is also running the 12 tags along side Tim's so you have a chance of more prizes, so pop along there if you can. Well that's enough from me I have more craft to do lol. Love Dawn xx

SCD TAGS 'Trees'

Yes it's Friday! the end of the week. That means for the  SCD team, it's a new month December. It also means a new theme. Christmas is almost upon us. We're going back to a favorite of the SCD team and visitors alike 'Tags'. Each week we will change the theme, this week it's 'TREES' preferably Christmas inspired. However, you can use any tree in any way on a tag as long as the tree is the main focus.

Here's a close up so you can see a little more although you can click on the photos to make them larger! I would love for you to go to the SCD blog to see lots more inspiration. You all really liked last month we had lots of entries so much so I didn't get round all of them but what I did see was truly inspiring, so let's see what you come up with this week. I look forward to having a nosey around your blogs.

Now I would like to show you how Lola is coming on. She is very clever and I already have her siting, lay down and giving her paw of each front paw. She is also learning to speak this week and not doing at all bad. All her new teeth are through and I have managed to get a few baby teeth yay! Her and all the cats are getting along so well, no new photos of them at the moment. I'll take some over Christmas and hopefully put some up in Jan. for you all to see.

How have you been coping with the SNOW! to think last week I gave a theme of snow and we have had nothing but snow this week have we? Plenty of fun to be had, like trying to drive off the street to get some shopping in lol I managed to get out yesterday. But we were stuck in the house for a few days, However, Michael took Lola a walk and she loves the snow, she spent ages in the back garden too just running around like a loon lol. So enough chat thanks for stopping by have a fabby week end stay warm and safe. Love Dawn xx

Altered Element DT Recycle

This is my 1st DT post for the Altered Element, so I wanted to make it special. The title we were given was 'RECYCLE' as I am sure you do to. I think pretty much every crafter recycles to some degree. We save packaging and bits of ribbon off clothes. Christmas is a great time to recycle card and paper and even the crackers have gifts for the avid crafter lol.

In this part of the configuration, there are small watch parts & faces all available at Altered Element  (AE) Which I am so sad to say is closing down. However, they have amazing discounts UP TO 35% so make sure you get round there and stock up or buy some crafter the perfect gift! The configuration boxes went in a flash, I have looked to day and they have gone. But there is so much more. 

I have used AE stamps from ECO which is recycled rubber for stamps and they also have the other Eco items. I have used every thing form stamps to bottle tops to even a key hole cover (porcelain) there is so much around the house that can be useful. I am sure as a crafter we look at things and look at all the alternatives. I have even saved a couple of tic tac boxes which I have plans for!  I'm so bad even hubby does it! lol, before anything goes in the bin we think! what could I/Dawn do with this. Hubby has even given me a plasic tub that his shaving foam was in. It looks like a flying saucer I have no idea what I will make with it but I will think of something! ;0)

And Sculpey is also available at AE can be used for any thing. Here I used it to make an Eiffel tower, hearts and cherubs. I also used Friendly plastic as well as sculpy for the moulds,  all available at the Altered Element very effective and the possibilities are really endless. So stock up on the things you just have to have while this fantastic sale is on! There are lots more details of items I used and how I made the corset out of Sculpey Clay Here I hope you liked this little offering, I know how you all love to create. If you make some thing with one of these Configuration boxes of Tim's I really want to see what you come up with. Love Dawn xx

SCD Theme Month 'SNOW'

Hello hello, is it cold here in the NW of the UK or what? FREEZING! is the answer ;0) Yep and snow on the way (hope it's the good stuff) which brings me nicely to the challenge over on SCD It was my turn this week to choose the theme and I went for 'SNOW' so remember any thing at all you want to have a go at please do just include some snow in there some where! and the DT will pop around see what you have created. We're so thrilled at the number of you joining in the fun, you really like this format don't you ;0)

Here is a close up. This is all lovely DP from last years stack have lots left and it yummy. And this is a wonderful stamp SO Christmasy he he.  hope you will all  play along with us at Something Completely Different this week We would all love to see what you can create with the theme of Snow. I would also like to say a personal thank you to those of you who left get well comments your all so sweet and I really was very up lifted by all your love Thank You.  Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- My Minds Eye, DP. Stamp, Crafty Individuals. Ribbon, stash. Charm, Bo Bunny. Snow Flakes, Buttons from stash.

GSC visiting Artist. Nov 4

I feel dreadful! I hope you have all been well. But sadly I haven't done any crafting at all for almost a week (how poorly am I?) any how I am feeling a wee bit better but not quick enough to make something for GSC How bad do I feel? Very guilty. I always do my very best to the places I am committed DT GDT etc because 

1. It's an honor to be asked
2. I wouldn't commit to more than I can create (I can tell you it's very hard to say no when your asked)
3. My projects represent me!

So you see, I really take my commitments seriously. I would hate to get a reputation for being unreliable. Oh the shame of it. I always do my best (nothing less will do) and I hate, to be late although sometimes it can't be helped. Why am I going on so much? well I have had to miss my last entry as GSC as I was unwell. However, I have offered this as a substitute as it goes really well with the theme this week. They may decide not to use it as I haven't created it specifically for them. Any way, the whole month with the Gingers this time was about fashion/stitching and the final one for this month is 'Vintage Hues' Do go along and have a look at all the other DT for inspiration I know you will always find some there. A big thank you to Ali Manning who helped me so much even with a late entry at being a Visiting Artist at the wonderful Gingersnap Creations. My love to you all I had a fab time. Love Dawn xx

SCD Theme Month 'Numbers'

Hello, it's Friday the week end is almost here ye ha lol. And the DT of  SCD are playing with numbers this week. Yep you can create any thing you like but it must include 'NUMBERS' I have created an ATC. Well, I haven't made one for ages so I thought I would have a play. I have to say you all seem to be enjoying this month quite a lot ;0) I have been looking at your work and your all pretty super duper!

Here's my close up, some Tim Holtz DP and then some inking, stamping and a wee bit of cutting and gluing and finished. I do hope you get chance to have a look at the other DT members over at Something Completely Different. A big thanks to my new followers, so nice of you to join my crafting journey. I hope you see something to inspire you. Love Dawn xx

GSC visiting Artist. Nov 3

Where is November going? is time just racing away or is it just me? I hope you have all had a fun week end or if your like me just happy to get a bit done so you can get to the crafting table ha ha. My mojo kinda of disappeared I couldn't think of anything to do for the GSCs project 'Stitching' Any way I was doing the ol' charity clear out and there was some things I just couldn't give away! Well a denim skirt, silk top and a crochet cardigan, well I can use the material in so many ways can't I? Don't worry I still had a sack of clothes and a bag of shoes/boots to give away. I really should stop eating my own baking so often  ;0) I have gone up a dress size and can NOT be bothered dieting (why worry) so great excuse to give away some stuff and buy new things too he he. So liberating.

I have sewn lots of yummy buttons on here some vintage some not so old, some scraps of material a denim pocket (see all coming in handy already). I used a canvass 5x5 I painted metallic gold then a wee bit of pink. Sorry you can't really see the gold detail on the photos (try clicking on them to enlarge)

I have had these butterfly's in my stash forever, and they are just perfect to go along with this don't you think? I won't insult your intelligence telling you how I made this I think it's pretty self explanatory. Why not pop round to Gingersnap Creations  and have a nosy at the other super designers and see what they have been up to. Love Dawn xx

SCD Theme Month 'Wings'

I am posting on Saturday instead of Friday as I have been having difficulty with my computer so I am sorry I have  not visited, although I have caught up on visits for SCD.  And this weeks theme is Wings so create anything you like, as long as there are wings on the project that's fine. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with this week. Some of you have already finished It's great to stop by your blogs and see all your creativity.

Here is a close up of this weeks project. I do hope you like it. Every time I see little babies I just think of angels from Heaven. All babies are beautiful little miracles from God. Well,  I was thinking of gifts to make for Christmas actually and then while messing around with wings this is what I came up with. After finishing though I thought how lovey a gift it would be to send out  for a New Baby, baby broaches/necklaces for first time mothers or how about a small photo of the whole family. I just love the possibilities with this and of course if you are more apt at jewellery making you can add all sorts of extras. Let me know if you have a play with this idea. Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Wings, Maya Road. Image, Crafty Individuals. Ribbon, Stampin Up! Fragments & Distress inks Tim Holtz. DP scraps.

GSC visiting Artist. Nov 2 & WOYWW

I am having such a fun time playing with this month theme at GSCs and I hope you are getting chance to join in too! Before I show you that though I thought I would show my very messy desk.  lol ;0)

Because of the DT work I am doing I am in a right mess! if you want to witness more craft desks (maybe not this messy) then go along to Julia's blog (link on side bar) WOYWW and you can also play along!

I had an idea a long time ago to make a sewing box I have collected a few tins and I even did a 3D frame HERE I really like lace and sewing projects. Any way I was flicking through my new CS magazine and I came upon a wonderful article all about buttons. This spurred me into action. I had all the materials I needed to make this as I had had the idea for some time ;0) any way I made lots of buttons for all sorts of materials.

All contents made by myself

And finally here is a close up of the lid, I really hope you like it, I really enjoyed making it. Don't forget to pop along to GSC for much more inspiration. Thank you as always for your visits and the comments you leave. Love Dawn xx

We have a WINNER!!

Hello crafty friends. I hope you had a super & safe weekend last week. To those who have asked how I am after my operations Thank You. It's been two weeks now and although tired, I am well your all so sweet. Also Paris (kitten) and Lola (new pup) are also doing very well I will put some new photos up soon, you wont believe how much Paris has grown and her and Lola are always chasing each other round the house!

Well to all of you who commented and celebrated with me my 200th Follower the time has come to announce the winner! Drum roll Please drdrdrdrdrdrdrdrdrdr tah dah!

Sherry!

A HUGE congrats to you hun, If you will e-mail me I will organise your £20 gift voucher with the Altered Element A fab store with all the goodies you'll need for your next project! A big thanks to you all for following your all really super and make coming to blog land a real joy. Love Dawn xx

SCD Theme Month 'House'

New Month new themes for November! Each week it will be to make what ever YOU like including the theme given. This week is 'House' so you can make some steam punk inspired home,  or make a new home card,  tag book in the shape of a house or have you got some lovely stamps of houses? Really just play around with it. And to help you the SCD team have made lots to inspire you so go and have a look at the talented ladies to see what they have come up with. I have had a little wooden house shape for SO long and this was the perfect opportunity to use it. My garden inspired me this week as we had lots of migrants arriving this week so I really had birds on my mind. I have been putting out new feeders and lots of different things for them to eat etc.  So much so the feeders kind of reminded me of candelabra ha ha very posh thought lol. I really love Autumn and soon it will be Winter when the little feathered creatures will need our help even more.

Some of our visitors will be using us as a fuling station before moving on to warmer climates (the thought of the heat mmm I wish lol) and others are coming 'Home to roost' here in the UK for the Winter. Here is my close up, I wanted to bring some dimensions and texture to this piece. So lots of vintage sheet music, beautiful stamped candelabra went with my earlier thoughts, glitter and a fragment to lift  areas even more. I hope you like my 'Something Completely Different House' this week. I always look forward to seeing what you think of our challenge and what you make for us to see. I hope you have a wonderful week end. Love Dawn.

GSC Guest Designer for November

Yes this was the other little secret I couldn't tell you! I can not tell you how surprised and completely thrilled I was to be asked to be a GDT for Gingersnap Creations I am always on this blog site for ideas and a challenge or too! They also have a great group on yahoo too if you want to join in even more fun items lol. I am still shocked that they asked me. After seeing the contributors they have had in the past  and the fabby DT thay have now, (all wonderful crafters) and I am to join the ranks too *blushes* ha ha . So my first had to be kinda special! the theme is 'Haute Couture' that means Paris Fashion! to me any way lol. (not that I am big on fashion you understand lol)So I went to work on a familiar style for me ATC torso's  and there are plenty of fashion & sewing references. Hope you have time to have a peek through the photos, as I decided to make a kind of small ATC size book of Fashion! Don't forget you can always click on them to make them larger for more detail.

Such a wonderful way to begin the month of November for me any way ;0) I hope you like my effort and I have given you some ideas too. So hope you are all going to be popping along to GSC for a nosey at what all the other, terribly gifted designers have been up to. Love Dawn xx