My First Christmas cards

Hi me again, how is your day going? it's still wet here in the NW of the UK So plenty of reason to be crafting. I am however finding it hard at the moment. I just keep making things hoping desperately that something will come to mind. It's not just the mojo, it's my passion for crafting it's self that seems to have left me. I am so sad about my feeling towards crafting at this moment. I hope it lifts soon. So I thought I would try some new stamps, I have bought some of Tim's new Christmas ones they are fab. I really like them but I just can't think how to use them (mind is so not working here). My theory is when lack of mojo hits, is just to make anything and keep going until you start getting some where.

As you can see, both are very similar, I think they will pass to give someone (just) but I can't help but thinking I am still way out from where I would like to be. There is something missing from both the cards, maybe a sentiment of the angel one, but what about the top one? What can I add to make them better cards? any suggestions? Maybe it's because I haven't made any cards for ages but I think I'm kidding my self by saying that.

These were my first attempts and these will not be going anywhere but the bin! (although I may cut the hearts out for journal pages). These are just total disasters, I was trying to create one layer cards, but these just don't look right to me at all. So I think this has been a brave thing for me to do, show my worst makes of the day! lol Although they won't be a complete waste of time, as I will salvage something from these two mistakes (card and hearts) So how is your crafting day going? 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

Tea Cup Tuesday

It's another  tea cup Tuesday TCT over with Martha and Terry these ladies each week invite us all to show our cups, china etc. However, this week I thought  I would show these beautiful coffee cups I bought. Made of pottery/porcelain I'm not at all sure. I would really like your help though as I bought them in Scarborough at a charity stall and I know there is a castle there and also one in Whitby not far a way, any way these were  a mere £2 for 6 coffee cups and darling saucers too! I loved them I immediately and I really like the way the saucers kind of hug the dainty CCs, I also thought I could make some Christmas gifts from them (see further down) my question is, do any of you know where these coffee cups are from? the initials are CC on the front.

Here is a close up of the front and this is the marking they have on the bottom of each cup & saucer does any one recognise them? They are in perfect condition not at all worn and still in the original box (although only the B mark on the box not where they are from)

Any way hope you can help out with finding out where this lovely set came from. Now I said I wanted to make some gifts out of them didn't I? To be honest I don't know if  want to part with them ;0) However, just in case I do I made one gift to see what it looked like.

Here it is! I have used my melt pot to melt some old Christmas candles that have glitter in and smell of cinnamon and other Christmas spices, as I have six I thought I would try one out, I will of course also make a gift box for it and perhaps put some Christmas tinsel in with it. I try not to  mention Christmas on my blog until November but this is getting more difficult, if I am going to make these  do have to think a head lol. So please do go and visit all the other tea cups and if you do happen to know where this lovely set is from I would be ever so grateful if you left me a message. Love Dawn xx

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

These are my boys, and the lovely Dita many have been snowed in where we live no buses or taxes running and the gritters only just out today! the snow has been so bad but I would rather have the white stuff for five days than rain.

As you can see it's very picturesque here, lots of beautiful trees, as we live near lots of green farmland. All the children are enjoying the Snow sledges are sold out and every one is using them at every opportunity.

I would like to wish you the best time at this most wonderful time of year. Let us not forget why we celebrate Christmas.

It is because of our saviour Jesus Christ, Our Father in Heaven gave his only begotten son to us, so that he may clean us of our sin, that we may return to him one day. You are the beloved children of your father in Heaven he loves you, wants you to remember him. Repent of your sins and live a Christ like life so that we may return to him in the eternities.

I love my father in heaven and I am so grateful for his son Jesus Christ. I am far from perfect but I know he loves me as he loves all of you. Have a Blessed Christmas and safe and happy New Year love Dawn xx

Hubbys Christmas card

Another image gifted to me, I really like it too! think it must be penny black. but I thought this would make and idea card for my Hubby (love him so much.)

Close up. How beautiful? coloured with copics and used the applique for the snow, made another flower and put some gold stickles on there as well as inking all the edges with gold ink too love this colour combo works well I think.

Here is a close up of the flower and long chain and heart, I also love the sentiment by WOJ this is so apropreate for my hubby, if I wanted anything for Christmas more it's him swoon...... ;0) Thank you for looking. Love Dawn xx

Tuesday Taggers & C.R.A.F.T. Ch

I was out with hubby all day yesterday (so tired) Christmas shopping and bought 99% of all the gifts I needed to get, that is a weight off my mind I can tell you. And I managed to make this last night and took lovely light photos this morning, (that makes a change lol) So I though I would use him for a challenge. The theme at Tuesday Taggers this week is 'Jolly Old St Nick' so here he is. I love this image but I don't have it my self, yet another lovey image that was sent to me, so how could I not Use him.

C.R.A.F.T. challenge are having a free for all, for some digi stamps pop along.

He is coloured with copics, here is his close up I used Glossy accents on his boots and buckle of his belt (should of taken it at another angle) But he is adorable and used the applique stuff to heat up for his fur trim I do love the effect alot!

I love this charm bought from Zoe Bunnys I get quite a few things from her (I have asked her to ban me until after Christmas but she keeps having new stock & sales darn it!) love the chain which asked her to get in and she did (nice, a shop that listens)I am sure they are selling like hot cakes and she is greatful for the suggestion (I hope lol.) well that's it for now I hope you like do have a nosey around. Thank you for looking. Love Dawn xx

Items Used- DP My Minds Eye. Gems & Ribbon stash. charm & chain Zoe Bunnys. glossy accents. Applique (available at sewing shops as well as some craft shops) Marther Stewart punch.

Three Challenge Card

Here is another of the wonderful stamps images given to me by Cheryl isn't she lovely I am going to use this for a few challenges. Magnolia anything Christmassy inc a magnolia stamp. Sketch Saturday 81 I have rotated the sketch, the tree is the oval shape. And Stampin Sisters in Christ 17 I loved the scripture and I do hope ihave enough treasure in Heaven, the challenge is to use your bling so here it is and I hope you like my efforts.

Here is her close up I coloured in with Copics ans put some glossy acents on the wellies I really like this image and it was a joy to colour in.

Look what the postie brought me today. This is from another Cheryl and an equally good friend, this is the little pacage I recived, you must pop by her blog there is a lot of goodies to see.

Here is a close up of this wonderful ATC and tag, they are wonderful and beautifully made just for me, so touched that blog land can become so real with lots of true friends and wonderful relationships, it really brings tears to the eyes whe special people do something for others. So a big thank you and HUGS to all by bloging buddies and all my visitors who take time to pop along and even leave comments I really thank you for spuring my crafting hobbie on.Thank you for looking. Love Dawn xx

Items used:- for the magnolia card. Stamps Magnolia & Dovecraft. DP basic Grey. EF Cuttlebug. Ribbon Stash. Brad Papermania. Gems stash. Marther Stewart Punch.Stampin'Up Cardstock. Glossy Acents. Stickles. Glitter paper (snowflakes)