ATC anyone?

Some quick ATCs I made yesterday I really like how they turned out :) let me know if you want to have a swap Dxx

ATC swap

I am joining in with a swap over at The Trodden Path It's a new group & they have classes for free & paid. Some very interesting classes available. There is a monthly ATC swap. The title of which is 'Vintage Risqué  and to be tasteful. We haven't even been assigned partners yet but I saw this, this morning and just got to work.

Some close ups you only need to do three I think. But I always like to do an extra one so I have one from the group of my own. I will also get three in return so it will be nice to get some in the post. thanks for looking Dxx

Cats & Dogs

More ATCs and more swaps. This has a title of 'Where's my Crown' I saw someone's ATCs had cute cats on and I had to do the same, but obviously very different. These Pugs and Pussy cats look so cute they have to have crowns, don't they? Only I don't get to keep them they go off into the world to make people smile. Here are some close ups........

The hats/crowns are from  Here & Cats & Pugs are from Here I am using more Digi images in my work it seems but hey ho as long as it's working I will continue to play with them ;0) I do like the back ground work for these ATCs though, you should of seen the colour of me ha ha I do this a lot in my journaling as well I love the ghost like images and the depth it gives. Love Dawn xx

Little Red Riding hood

Hi Me again, so how are you? feeling well I hope and looking forward to the weekend. I should be having James (grand son) but not sure I want to give him back the rotten cold he gave me lol. The ATCs are coming thick and fast aren't they? Here is another set. These however, are for a swap I am part of at  Blissful Art Swaps Click for more info ;0) Any way when I printed the template house they were smaller that the ATC size so I added them to an ATC card. I was really pleased with the finished swap but I will have to say good bye to these and I am sure I will get some LUSH replacements from the girls who are participating. Would you like some close up's? ................

These will be in the post to USA by Friday. Can't wait to see what this swap brings. I am loving the images from Inka of Altered Artifacts. See you soon. Love Dawn xx

Tag Swap

Hello again, You may think these tags look familiar, well they are ha ha. I made these for a swap called Autumnal fruits on Heather's blog. I just wanted to remind you what I sent ;0) and if you want any more details about them just click Here. But what I would really like to do is to show you what I received in return ;0)

The Lovely Sonia made this, isn't it lovely? I love all the doodling round the edge and this young girls expression is wonderful. Unfortunately there was no blog details so I can't send you over there. Sonia if you stop by leave me a link to your blog I would love to see what other things you have been making and I can also add your link here so others can pop by to.

Isn't this lovely? Love the texture for the flowers they are a sticker of some sort (peel off maybe?) what ever they work. The lovely Joanne made this I am always stopping by her blog not only is she a fab crafter but we both adore our cats lol.

And this is from the lovely Sue. Again a beautiful tag, love this bird so tweet! again, Sue if you do stop by please let me have your blog so I can put a link in and pop round to see you.

This was a love Swap thank you again to Heather and all those who joined in Love Dawn xx

Tag Swap

Hello every one ;0) I have now taken one of my boys to London and settled him in at his University digs. It's been a very busy time and art work has had to come second (Family first). So I haven't been around much I know. I have seen a swap for tags, how cool I thought. This will get me going, I love making tags. So I am joining the lovely Heather For her first swap/challenge.

For the swap you have to make three tags size 3x5 inches, each tag has a different theme made by Heather This is my version of 'Vintage Birds' with some stamps and a little help from the Graphic Fairy and Vintage Moth Some stamps and a wee bit of time ;0)

This is my version of the 'Day Dreamer' Theme image from Crafty Individuals and flowers & bird painstakingly cut from Laura Ashley DP ;0) Some stenciling and inking and some paint covered with clear crackle paint to add to the texture. If you enlarge the photos you will also see that the back ground is also covered in clear crackle. This has warped the tag a little but I'm sure it will flatten out with a weight on it for a while ;0)

And last but by no means least is my take on 'Season of mellow fruitfulness (Autumnal)' Some die cut leaves in co'ordinations card stock for texture both used as stencils and actual die cuts. Some stamping on paint chip (love using them) and actual leaf imprint on some friendly plastic and metallic rub on to show the leaf detail. I do hope you like these tags ;0) one of them could be yours if you join in the swap I hope you play along. Love Dawn xx

Swap

Hi, As you know I love participating in swaps, I do a few each month. Last month I was creating for my dear friend Petra. She had the great idea of altering a key. Where do you start? I was thinking key rings and this creation came from there.  Personally, I think it makes a great hand bag charm, don't you?

Isn't this key just so lush? I love the flower and the wings are my very fave part. Petra was also kind enough to send me some goodies, we are both generous as I believe most crafter's are ;0)

So here is the pretty picture of all the goodies together. I will not show Petra's goodies, I want her to have a good look or it will spoil the surprise ;0). As always love your comments and I had a poll last month, seem's no one wants to see cards (not that I do that many these days) you all really liked the Altered things and Mixed media as well as the journalling. I have actually set up a new blog for Journalling and that is all that's on there. So if you need a fix or you want to know where to start, what to do etc. go have a peek. I am just learning my self where journalling is concerned so I wanted to have a dedicated blog just for that. I hope you will pop by and leave a comment or even become a follower. Love Dawn xx

Journals

Hello hello. Question, how do you eat an elephant Answer, one bite at a time. I have been blog hoping around for ages looking at Journaling but each time I saw one journal page it just overwhelmed me and confused me more. This is one of the things I have been promising my self to have a go at. And never got round to. Firstly because I was a bit scared of the whole thing and like, where do you start? And secondly, I really didn't know much about crafted journals period. I have long kept journals,  I try to write in them often. So when it comes to a crafting journal what do you do? Any way my problem is solved  I was on my pals Kathryn blog and wow so much stuff on there worth looking at. Any way she is asking people if they fancy having ago at making a calender journal one per month not a bad way to start to learn is it? I thought to my self and I have already started TWO journals, can you believe that.

The first is this calender journal. So I guess I am kind of saying if you ever fancied having a go at making a journal/page then just do it one step at a time, it may seem like a huge elephant but it's the same as every 1000 mile journey begins with one step. You can do this in any aspect in life not just crafting so what you waiting for? Now don't get me wrong this is no out of this world piece. But do you remember your 1st card, scrapbook LO, ATC or any thing you made, you thought yes I can do this. And now when I think or see photos of my 1st cards LOs etc I think oh my, I thought these were good when I started . However, they are a start and we can develop along the way together. This is why I love blog land, it really has positive uses, and I am happy you are all a part of it.

This is another journal I have started. This is for a SWAP I am doing with a very friendly group I have joined. These are the cutest size too. just 3 1/2 x 5 the 1/2 is so you can bind it in and I made such a cool little folder to put all the swaps in that I receive. (although I haven't finished decorating the folder yet) I have done my 1st page the theme will be BIRD  the bird image is from Graphic Fairy (There is also a link in the side bar)  Ther really have great images here do try to pop along. Each month we will get another word maybe egg or nest whatever, for the full 12 months and then when the swap is over you will have a minimum of 12 pages (as you can do more than one a month if you like) to put in the journal. I love things like this not too much pressure. I am so happy about finding this group of lovely talented people in it. Any way I digress sorry for the lengthy post today but I had to share my experience of Craft Journaling. Love Dawn xx

Swap!

My Friend Lynn and I have been having fun making things for one another again :0) we had a theme this time and several things we had to include so the theme was 'Vintage Sea Side' and the three additions were a) something to do with the sea. b) Fabric c) the colour green so this is the criteria they had to fill but it could of been any thing! Lynn made this stunning matchbox I love the netting and the mother of pear bits caught in it, the images are amazing.

The back is just as beautiful as the front! and look at the goodies I got! a mini canvas (how cute!) and the little bottles filed with sequins and beads. I really like the paper she has rolled and added wire and beads to (so time consuming) and you will be seeing them in the next week or so I have used them already but can't show you just yet! So a big thank you to my Buddie Lynn your such a talented artist and  am so glad we're friends.

And here is my swap! This little wooden box is just gorgeous honest it smelt of age I fell in love with it although it had lost it's fasteners along the way. So I altered it to fit our swap. I painted using some paint them put some traditional Tan from studio as a top coat I printed a picture off the Internet and aged it then added it to the box and added a layer of crackle paint  wanted to add this to Linda's tim holtz Monday compendium but I hadn't posted it off and  couldn't show you all until she had seen it. After that some lace was added and inked.

Here's a close up of the bathing beauty!

And this is what I put in side. You may recognise a post card as I made this and showed it in a previous post. I collected some shells and put pebbles in a bottle some vintage stamps, botttle caps and some trim and a cake fork who knows what Lynn will make with all these. I have stamped some shells and used glimmer mist and stickles to decorate the inside lid of the box along with some sequins (thanks Lynn) that I thought finished t off beautifully. I really enjoy my swaps with Lynne and I suggest you give it a go as well if you don't already it's a way of making those internet friends more real and life like and I wouldn't want to swap any of the friends I have made here in blog land your all just the most lovely supportive and happy bunch. Love Dawn xx

A special gift.

Hello my fellow arty crafty peeps. The weather is on the change, not sure I like it. I haven't made much of late, so I thought I would share this beautiful piece of art I received in a swap a few weeks ago. I can't believe I forgot to post it. Oh my head is in bits with this and that. Dude is settling in really well and I love him so much, the best birthday gift! I went to see 'Eclipse' Pt 3 in the 'Twilight Saga' And this is such a cool film although not as good as the book and they have changed the director, but asn excellent effort, this was my respite yesterday evening after having James for a full week end (Fri-Mon) he is oh so tiring so I am resting a wee bit having just finished my DT tag for SCD I hope you stop by to have a look on Friday.

Any way onto some craftiness. I am a lucky lady to have a friend to swap with who can make things like this her name is Lynne and if you haven't been to her blog already then click her name and be transported to crafty distress heaven. She like me loves distressing and Paris we did a swap a while ago. I can not believe I haven't shown this sooner, maybe I wanted to keep this to myself subconsciously but this is art to share. I made a Shoe with some little gifts in it and I got this wonderful wall plaque in return.

I also received all these wonderful trims and material and all beautifully packaged. I felt so special I can tell you, opening this wonderful gift. So a huge thank you to my craft buddy Lynne who made this for me and I hope you pop round and see her she has a fab TT on distressing, You all come back now though, ya hear? ;0) Love Dawn xx