Grungy Monday 11

Here we are again. All sharing with Linda & Tim.  I can't believe I missed last week! I am so into my journalling at the moment. I have an exciting announcement about my journal blog actually....... I am preparing a Journal challenge which will start in July (my Birthday month) one challenge each month. And if any one can make me a challenge button so I can spread the word (pref before the end of June) I would be SO grateful ;0) I do hope you will come and join in. July is going to be a busy month for me ;0)

And now for the close up ;0) I am so glad I got these mini clear stamps, they come in handy when you want to do an ATC or tag ;0). I think this is pretty much a Tim Holtz tag! I even use the die cut of his to create my tag. I finally used some of the ribbon and died it with some distress inks. I love this button (pity you only get one)You can use it on so may projects can't you? Well I hope you have a wonderful day where ever you are and that the sun is shining. Love Dawn xx

Domino Book

Morning, see the sunshine in my pics ;0) it's been so lovely the weather the last few days and looks like it's here to stay over the bank holiday week end to. ;0) So I have been crafting through the night so not to miss the glorious sun. I found this little idea on Terri's Blog, she in turn however, found it on Holly's Blog she has also popped a TUT on as well. I couldn't resist so I made a couple and both ladies said it was addictive lol I am inclined to agree, I was up until 5am because I had to finish them lol.

Here we have the blue one opened (this was my first) and the back. I used DIs China & Tumbled I love the colours but it was alcohol inks for the domino's Stream & Pearl. Each tiny page is distressed and I love how it turned out just with stamps & inks.

And, as I was warned, it was addictive so I made another. Only this time I took a lot more time over it. You can enlarge the pages if you like on all the photos. I have used a lot of lovely images from the Graphic Fairy I will be listing this there for Brag Monday. I will also be putting this in to the wonderful challenge that is SSS&S A Tim Holtz technique. Alcohol inks on a none porous surface is one, distressing the edges is another. I hope you like these Domino Books I really enjoyed making them even if I am dead tired now after only three hours sleep ha ha. I would also like to thank you for all your lovely comments from yesterday, it really makes me blush to know you really like what I share with you, all my bloggy friends. Love Dawn xx

Compendium of Curiosities #30

The weather was wonderful this morning. Blue skies and sun shining, but it didn't last long the wind has picked up and we're looking at lots of rain over the week end. So my shopping is done and I am going to craft so ner ner to you rain ha ha. I am Joining in with Linda and lots of others playing with Tim's book, this is from page 48 so if you would like to play along pop over to Linda's and join in the fun! And as Simon says S&S theme is of Love I thought I would use it for that challenge too.

Here is the close up, I had fun playing with paint & papers and I hope you like it too. This is a late posting today for me but I have been out and couldn't get to the computer this morning. I have been looking through some charity shops and got a great 'Jam pot' this is obviously donkey's years old but they are the best I think ;0) and also some bit's of leather some odd buttons (crafting is always on my mind) and the most stunning hammered pewter spoon. What have you found of late? Love Dawn xx

Birthday Cards.

How have you been my bloggy pal's? I hope I find you well to day and that you have had some fun crafting (or you will very soon). I have joined a wonderful swap for tea cups & saucers, this is where I will send a person one of my TC&S to a fellow swaper. If you like teacups like I do there is still time, to join in the fun, there is a link on the right hand side but hurry as we all have to have them sent off by the end of January so we have new gifts in time for Valentines.

I have two birthdays this week, both are on Sunday unusually, (friends from church) This is for Barbara I stamped this beautiful image on photo glossy paper, these stamps from the stampsmith are even better on glossy paper than on card stock although very nice on either.

Here's a close up, I also put some of that glass glitter that looks so vintage. There is also some vintage lace I have had ages it just fits so perfectly with the colours I thought. I put some stamped images and ribbon on the inside.

This card is for Pat. Different image (Oxford Impressions) but stamped on linen card stock I love the added texture here there is also another smaller male image on the inside.

Here is the Close up I love the added tag (from Papermania) I think I have had this tag for at least 2yrs ;0) every thing fits when it fits don't throw anything away lol. The remember scallop comes out (how cute) I have written a little message on her for her. I hope they like their cards, I really enjoyed making them. Have a wonderful day Love Dawn xx.

AIW Tags.

Hello, How was the week end for you? cold & more cold here. Didn't get out much, well except for church but more about that on my other spiritual blog (link on left side bar) I love the AIW stamps I have. And I thought I would make a few distressed tags (three of each) for a pack of six. These would make a nice gift, or at least come in very handy lol.

There above is a close up and also what they look like for writing on the back. Yes they are quite simple to make, but I really liked them and I thought perhaps some one else would like them to, so I have put them in my little folksy shop (link on left side bar) There are other items in there you may like to have a look at too, you can stop by any time. Well it's still early so I must get back to my other life as wife and mother and leave ol' Crafty Dawn until we can play again. Love Dawn xx

Vintage tag

So how did the weekend go? How cold was it? heating is on full pelt again. :-[  I have been prepping some things for altering, I hope to finish at least one of those this week. The cross stitch is coming on slowly. I can only spare an hour or so a day on it and I am not fast. er what else, oh yes I am going to make a start on a journal, just a small one (as I have never done one before) but  hope to get cracking on that too. Yes lots to get on with. And finally on to this tag.

I love this stamp from Oxford Impressions. Isn't she just darling? So I really made it vintage looking with my DIs and lace. The DP was from my friend Petra (sweet girl) and I just thought how perfect it was for this image. Nice to have a little colour isn't it  (thanks hun xx) and the ribbon is a perfect match. So do tell, what have you been up to? If you leave a comment I can pop round to your blog as well to see what you have been up to. Thank you again to all who comment they really are lovely comments. Love Dawn xx

ATCs

Hello, it's Thursday so the week is almost over, hope it's going well for you so far.  I had some fabby news yesterday, I was given the honor of being a Ginger Gem over at  Gingersnap Creations this was for my 3D letter A. I am very pleased I can tell you, and so I now have a GSC Badge proudly displayed on my side bar for all to see *blush* lol.  Today I thought I would show a couple of ATCs.  I decided to use tape for the base of this one I did hope it would be good to stamp on. However, this is not the case with distress inks, although  I haven't tried stazon as yet! so the smudge you see looks like the shadow of the bird which I re-stamped on separate paper and I think it gives a bit of depth now (so another happy mistake)

This is a twinchie I made a while ago, I have put this on to a masked ATC so this is going to be for challenge 15 over at Linda's Who is looking at page 58 of Tim's CC. I have been round and commented on a few already there are some fabby crafters out there. I missed last weeks grunge flower so I used the grunge flowers I was going to use for last week as this weeks masks. It was a wonderful prize last week of Tim's goodies, no idea what is is this week but I do love to play with techniques don't you? Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Tape, Tim Holtz Stamps, Stampin up & Tim Holtz. Image, Crafty indivduals. Pearls, papermania. Tiny alphas, Making Memories. Wings, Tim Hotx die & Grunge paper. All other items stash.

3D Grunge Letter A

Good Morning, How's your week end Going? I am enjoying the warmth I can tell you. I have made a special piece, called 'I Love Craft'. I have had these paper mache 3D letters for a while and I have finally decided to decorate them. This is the first one and I have gone for the grunge look.

I am also using this for a challenge over at Linda's, She is doing a Tim Holtz Challenge again and this week it's on page 44 Of the CCs, Chipped Enamel.  GSC challenge is 3D so I figure this covers it ;0) SSS&S is Layers and there are lots of layer's of paper glue Distress powder etc ;0) Play Date Cafe is a colour challenge and the colours are on the DP paper (although I admit they are not really main colours but I have missed playing). And finally, at The Shabby Tea Room it's Old meets new. I have used an old letter & image, that I've had for ages with some new design papers. 

There are quite a few details. I have used lots of lovely things and I look forward to making my next letter. I think every thing is pretty self explanatory Apart from the bottle cap. I filled this with an image I stamped & inked put some seed beads in, then filled with Glossy accents when dry I also put alcohol inks all over the back (not that you can see that but when I made t I didn't know what I would use if for lol. The metal 'inspire' is a button covered with paint then wiped off. Grunge paper using a TH Die Cut some shaped board and plenty of inks, both distress and alcohol and some really lovely DPs. I hope you have a a good look and please go have a nosey at the DT teams efforts for the challenges I have entered there really good. Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Design Papers (DPs) My Minds Eye & Tim Holtz.  Stamps, Paper Artsy. Board, Maya Road. Grunge Paper, ornate frame, alcohol Inks, Distress Inks, Grunge board and Distress Powder, Tim Holtz. Acrylic Paint Dabber, Ranger.

SCD Arches 'Lace'

This is a special day for me in the SCD DT stakes lol, It's September which makes it a NEW month and this month we are having 'Arches' and I get first pick which is 'Lace'. I know you all have some bits 'n' bobs of lace hanging around. I have used three different types on mine but as long as there is some lace on your arch that's all we ask, so you are free to do any thing you like, isn't that cool? You simply have to go to the Something Completely Different blog there are some fantastic DT arches all to inspire you to play. And with out you we would be playing on our own and that's not half as much fun.

Here's my obligatory close up ;0). I have really enjoyed making this. I love vintage style and lace. I had been thinking about the armed forces and the many letters our boys & girls receive. At the moment our church are all getting little packs together to send to the armed forces and this got me to thinking about all those mum's, dad's, wives, husbands, etc waiting for the next letter or watching the news it must be so difficult. So my particular love to all of you who are in this situation at this time. And with this in mind I have named this arch 'Armed Forces Air Mail'

So how was this made? I took a standard size tag and rounded the top (loosing the hole at the top). I then added some DP and some DIs then stamped some script and butterfly's. I added a strip of lace from top to bottom distressing with ink then I added this beautiful image, to which I added some glass glitter very vintage looking. (oh a little tip for you if you buy the clear glass glitter you can take small amounts and colour to your taste thus ensuring it matches with the inks you are using) I am sure you know this but that's my little tip ;0). Next add more lace to the bottom and top of the arch, yet more glass glitter and then some sweet pearls to finish. Oh and another stamp across the image at the top. I do hope you get to join in with the DT team over at SCD we would love to see what you come up with, Oh and I thought I would put this is a new challenge blog (well new to me ;0) I have found it's called Lot's to do, they are looking for insects or butterfly's and both of them are included in my back ground, I have both butterfly's & bees. I do hope you have a great week end. Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Stamps, Script SU. and all others Prima. Design Papers (DPs) & Distress Inks (DIs) Tim Holtz. Image, Crafty Individuals. Glass glitter, Deco Ice. Pearls, Papermania. Lace, stash.

SCD Torso's Bling

Well  another month is here with SCD and this month is going to be 'TORSO' and this week will be 'Bling' now your torso has to be the same size as an ATC as we will be doing a swap at the end of the month, isn't that fun? More about this later in the month. Now I visited some great tags last month and some really cleaver views on our weekly titles. I do hope your going to play this month too! We're nothing with out your participation.

So here is my Torso, You all know I love anything Paris related  and in my mind Paris is all the bling you will ever need lol so here it is. I have took some fragments and one I have added Alcohol inks to, I like the focal point it makes. The other fragment has Stickles (diamond) under it to make a blingy focal point at the top of the Eiffel Tower. I have also taken some distress stickles (more subdude) and used this at certain joints in the tower.

I think you can see the sparkle better in this CU shot. I have taken an image from the Graphics Fairy, and cut it out to fit the torso ATC I have used some inks to distress as well as some stickles etc and I stamped Paris on there too. I was going to add some swirls as well but I managed to stop my self ;0) Some times you can put too much on a project can't you? Well I hope you like this but please go to the SCD blog and go and see the other DT I know you will find lots of inspiration ;0) Love Dawn xx.

Items Used:- Image Graphic Fairy. Stamps, Oxford impressions. Distress inks, stickles, Ranger. Fragments and alcohol inks Tim Holtz.

Shabby Chic and news of Dude

Hi ya. Oh my, we had a great thunderstorm last night! and the rain has only just stopped (well about half an hour ago) and the sun is shining brightly. Don't you just love the English weather? I love a good thunderstorm. Looky here I made a card. I don 't feel as though I have made a card in simply ages. I hope you like it. I am going to enter this in to Linda's Monday Tim Holtz challenge click my side bar for more info or click on Linda's name.

Now as you know I love a close up ;0) so here you can see the sun streaming through so  got great picks today. Thought I was going to have to use my flash but no! So, how did I make this card? I have used Tim's Die Cuts on my Cuttle bug to cut out some copper metal shapes, but for more info of how to get the yummy texture look on pg 43 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities. The rest I think is self explanatory some vintage music sheets aged up even more, a pretty wooden dove covered in fabric, some lovely DP distressed with ink, and a beautiful vintage button to finish this card off in the centre of some delish aged ribbon. Hope you like it, oh and another follower has joined our merry band welcome, you have made me smile today. 

And as I am a super proud mummy to Dude I thought I would take some photos and share them with you, he is now in the side bar too! (if you click his photo on the side bar you will be taken to a list of shelters in tameside where animals need our help, there will be a local animal shelter near you  to) 

He has been with us just over a week now and well and truly made him self at home. Now hubby was never a big cat lover. I mean he would never harm one but much preferred dogs, I am sure you know what I meen.  Dude has warmed him up so much lol he is almost dog like in some ways, he sits at your feet when your cooking in the kitchen (like Dita used too) almost as if he's waiting for scraps, but never takes any thing. And when we sit in the front room to watch some TV, he walks in and then just flops down on his side just like a dog would. Hubby, also gets to play with him. Dude loves him too. But some times, just sometimes. I get the most loving cuddles as he jumps up, sits on my lap and he rubs his face against my cheek. Hunny is a little older (6yrs) and will curl up all adorable like and snooze bless her, but is coming round to playing more and seeking attention. I wonder why? lol so just a quick up date on the big fella for you. Love Dawn xx