RIP DITA

Dita our rescue dog of just over three yrs died yesterday in the garden peacefully on the grass in the sun. (this was a shock but I am happy it was this way, just old age I guess) She was a fantastic dog/companion we took her all over with us. This is her on her first day at her new home and away from what ever traumas she had previously suffered and below are her retirement years I don't want to spoil yr day. I couldn't talk about it, I am just too upset. I just had to share this with you I hope you don't mind. Love Dawn xx

You will be missed  DITA ?-15/06/10

Tea cups and ATCs

Morning, I hope your well. I managed to stop by a few blogs yesterday, gosh I have missed lots and I saw some stunning work of all types. I thought I would join Linda this week as she is starting a new Tim Holtz Technique Monday over the next few weeks. I have to say I bought the book and did almost all the techniques in a day I was that thrilled with the book and how easy it was to use. Any way Linda is hosting a Tim challenge each Monday, and there are prizes to. So why not pop along for more info.

Here is a close up of this weeks technique, (water stamping) it's bleaching with out the bleach, I normally share how I create things so you can all have a go to but we have been asked not to for these challenges, as all the challenges come directly from Tim's book. I do love to share but I see what they meen for the challenge so if you don't have the book I suggest you get one (there is a chance to win one on Linda's blog this week) it's worth every penny and it is a book you can come back to over and over again. (I do hate not sharing though). thanx for stopping by. Love Dawn xx

And it is Tuesday so I thought I would share another Tea Cup Oh how I love these, although I haven't seen any good ones for over a month now and I am running out of good ones to show you. I have to say I enjoyed all the visits I made last week, and there were some oh so special ones to see but the butterfly set was exceptional and especially as it was bought for such a great price for the whole set, I almost dare nit show mine after the beautiful goodies I saw last week, but here goes.

Isn't this so sweet I have six with saucers and side plates too! and all for £3 so I couldn't not get them I do love the flower on these (Poppy's I think) such delicate little things.

I had lots of request for the bottom of the cups so I have started to include them now, I have no idea if they are valuable as I am not really a collector, just some one who really likes tea cups, they don't have to be special I just have to like them and then they become special to me he he all my love to you, oh and if you would like to see some more darling cups why not pop along to Terry's and add your TC&S or just drool over all the wonderful delights that you can find there, I hope they don't mind my little addition ;0) Love as always Dawn xx

Items Used:- Clear embossing ink, Distress Ink from Ranger. Card stock. Stamps, Tim Holtz.

Monday Monday

Looks good to me...... Well the weather is set to improve for the week, sun for all the UK woo hoo. Hello fellow bloggers I have been ill and not crafting much however, I am working on a project that I can not share with you as yet as it is for a fellow crafter but I assure you once I send it off and she has received it I will let you all in on it. I am sure lots of you do the same too. I also want to say a big thank you to my new followers. I am so pleased so many of you are leaving wonderful comments too, so wonderful to stop by your blogs and share in your obvious talent.

Now I have three sons, and my baby has almost left high school and has had his Prom  last week. I thought I would share a few photos I took of this handsome young man with you all so here he is my baby, Matthew.

Now this sixteen year old is my baby only 6'3 good prospects and too yummy for words lol but then I would say that as I am his mum ha ha

Too cool for school. So to all you mums who have a girl and are starting high school this year START SAVING NOW! I swear, it was like forty wedding days when I dropped my Matthew off. I could say a lot on this subject but I don't want to be called a party pooper! I think it is important to celebrate but really American prom isn't until after college (about 18yrs) and although I agree they should have a celebration of finishing school I am not so sure I would have gone this far, is that just me? am I being a party pooper?

So my Grandson is back with his mum safe and sound, my time is my own again ye ha. and I am feeling much better this week so far, so  I am going to wish you all a fantastic week enjoy the weather don't forget the sun cream, so many people burnt after Saturdays yummy weather, and thank you to my new followers and a BIG thank you to all that comment your all super. Love Dawn xx

WOYWW 53 and some sewing!

Good morning, Hasn't the weather in the UK been Awful? well it has where I live the rain didn't take a breath yesterday at all! I am up before Julia this morning, and there is blue skyes which is lovely, we wanted to go to the zoo yesterday but I was not having a good day and the weather was horrendous anyway, but looks like a good day to go but I have the hospital in the afternoon so that kibosh's that idea maybe tomorrow before the little man has to go home. Well Hubby was so tired after yesterday I managed to get up with James at 6am. This is not un-known for me as my sleep patterns are some what irregular. I have an appointment at the hospital this afternoon (more questions and tests I assume) Any way,  I haven't been round the tea cups from yesterday (haven't had time) but I will over the weekend, I love looking at them and some ladies make such an effort (they have a proper English Tea ready for your visit) so sweet. So although I haven't been blog hopping I did get time to take a photo or two this morning While James was eating his crumpets.

Now my desk! Rather empty isn't it? That is because I was too poorly or busy with Grand son to do anything. And he is now happily brayering the table sat on my knee babbling away (so cute!) so I have to hurry. Oh if you want to know more or have a look at lots of other more productive desks ha ha then pop along to Julia's

This is one of my cupboard's with lots of inner draws. Each one has different things in I really would like a better system but this is all I have at the moment unless I can get alot more shelves! So here goes (sorry it's a wee bit blurred!

This as you maybe able to tell is my 'Punch Draw' and also some  more that I have on a shelf! now you can click on these to have a good nosey most are Stampin' Up! and Marther Stewart I find them the most reliable. I am sure many of you have far more than this I also have a few nesties but they are in another draw! for another day lol.

Now over the weekend, I bought a pattern and some beautiful material I have been wanting to make a bag for ages, it had to be a simple one though! now on the pattern this didn't have a lining so I improvised and added one! I am so not the best machinist but I have created the odd garment etc so here you go! 

Shawn my middle son took this photo I managed to do some clever editing and cut all of me out of the photo ha ha I even messed with the colour a bit so I look like I have a nice tan (my arms and legs are like milk bottles ;0)  me and computers don't mix so this is a huge achievement which I am pleased with (there is hope for the old girl yet!) I said it was a simple one I made this complete from start to finish on Sunday after church. I hope you like this today and It will be a while but I hope to get round a few WOYWWers later this evening and probably over the weekend too! Now I do hope you like my sharing time and I do hope to get some thing done later this evening when little man goes to sleep (I have a list as long as your arm of things to do!) Thank you all for your get well wishes, (I get used to this it's a way of life now for me) but I thankyou for your prayers and understanding. Love Dawn xx


Items Used:- Pattern Simplicity 2830 BIN 10 (£3.89) Material No Not Cath Kidson but from hobby craft £10.99 a meter and the lining was (£6.99) a meter. So no it wasn't a cheap make and I don't think I could sell them and make my fortune lol but I hope the infor is helpful Dawn xx

Tea cup Tuesday

It's that time again and I am very late today gone 5pm oh mt but I didn't want to miss showing and looking at the beautiful tea cup over at Terri's I was stuck on this blog as she was in Paris (a dream of mine I am trying to save up) and she is just a super crafter how also loves her tea cups like many of us.

Now this little cup may not look like much but I love it and I use this as my every day one as it's a nice size not too small and although yellow is not a fave colour of mine I love the flowers and how they are painted on this C&S so pretty. I have more than one of these and yes another chatiry find (most of them are) no craftyiness to show yu my ME is in full swing as well as my Fibromyalgia and I have my Grandson with  us, poor hubby is working hard to look after us both! so bye for now have a super week. Love Dawn xx

Bird Shrine

Oh My It's Sunday already, and I'm picking up the little man tomorrow for another week of joy and exertion lol. I am hoping to do some crafting but I don't know how much or if I will be posting much this week so please forgive me if I am not around much this week. I will get round to a few peoples blogs if I hope though (love your creations). I have a lovely tea cup set ready for Tuesday though so hope you pop back for that. But for now a shrine of sorts.

I hope you like this, I have had this frame for about a month and I wanted to do something with it  but didn't quite know where to go with it. Then I saw the challenge Alter it Monthly and I thought another opportunity to use this stamp set I hope your not too board of it. Having made it and looking at the DT I think it also fits in to the colour scheme for The Play Date Cafe Which this week is lemon, pale peach and peach. And the lovely Hel's from Sunday Stamper Is looking for letters (hope my letters at the bottom count he he)

I am sure you can imagine the work that went into this little creation. First this is just a chip board frame/shadowbox so it was primed with two coats then it was painted and then it had distress crackle on it, I love the effect I then put some DI into the cracks to help it show up. I made the eggs and nest from sculpey clay which was then baked and then coloured with copics. I found this cute chick and colored it with copics too (too much of a bright yellow so he had to be toned down a little ;0).

You can see the crackle effect better here I think. The sign was stamped with DI on embossed DP then I had some UV gel and let it set under a UV light, this looks like a piece of glass now and I am very happy with the result this new found gel gives me, it's even better then glossy accents (you know how much I love this stuff right?) and dries so much quicker under the UV lamp.

I used the same gel here too! This is some DP cut out, I have added ribbon and attached it to the bottom like a hanging pendulum, but it also makes sense with the chip board letters too!

'Life Time in a box' is the name i have given this piece. If you think of the eggs the chick and then the mother bird watching over them all, I am really happy with it. I also stamped the label's and cut them out distressed and coloured them attached some string and added the letters as you can see above.

I wanted to give you a closer look at the inside. I have stamped some feathers with feather images, and also scavenges some bark and more feathers and added them to this little box of life! I really like the added feather to the stamped image of the mother bird. You can see the chick how it had had it's added colour  and the detail in the eggs, I hope you feel it has the nest feel and you have enjoyed looking at this, as I have enjoyed making this. It took almost a week with drying time (lots of coast of paint on the box/frame) and to come up with the ideas but I feel it works well and was worth it. as I said earlier I will hopefully be working on some projects through the week in between looking after James (my grandson) so I may not be around much but I am sure I will still find time to visit some of your blogs and wonderful work as you are all so inspiring. Love Dawn xx

 I have also been given this rather different award by the lovely Anesha she is so inspiring, if you haven't go pop over to see her she is a very talented lady. Now the rules mmm quite difficult. You have to tell 6lies and one truth!

• I am a millionaire
• I am not happily married!
• I hate animals
• I have way to much stash!
• I love all the comments I receive
• I dislike the sun
• I have swam the channel

So which one it the TRUTH only one now the rest are big fat porkys (although I have to give you a hint I wish the top one was true lol)

I also have to award this to 7 other people and let them know (well I will have to do this later as i am of to church and pray for forgiveness for the 6 lies I just told lol) see you later and  will pass out the award to 7 of you and you will have to play liar liar to!

So my seven are:- Lynn, Irit, Hilde, Lorraine, Barbara, Viola and Linda. All these women are amazing and have fantastic blogfuls of inspiration so give them a visit. Love Dawn xx

Items Used:-  Frame, Twiddlebitz shadow frame  Eggs & Nest, Sculpey clay. Paint, Laura Ashley and Distress Crackle Paint Ranger. Design Paper (DP) My minds eye & Graphic 45. Distress Inks (DI) Crackle glaze Tim Holtz (Ranger) Stamps, Stampington & Co. Letters ? Ribbon, Stash.

Shabby Chic

Well after making one card yesterday I got in the mood and made this. I love the shabby chic style too. What's a girl to do when she like so many different things? Well simple, buy more stash ha ha.  Any who I thought I would play with The Shabby Tea Room well couldn't have a more fitting card could I? lol they are wanting 'Heart' this week! and while I am at it, I thought I would play with Tuesday Taggers they would like 'Texture' and I feel I have managed this criteria as well They are also being sponsored by Tanda Stamps and I popped by to have a look and gosh they have some grat stamps too (fingers crossed). And why not play with Sir Stampalot for a 2nd time this month, and they want 'Punches' in the month of June (not literal fisty cuffs I hasten to add lol).

Want a better look? here's a close up! I covered some plain chip board with CS and DP and then inked them up and added some gems & pearls don't you just adore the ribbon? Oh heaven for Esty buys, but it cost more in postage than it did for the ribbon! so a real luxury but it was very worth it I hope you think so too!

Mmmm so how did I make it? well it took a while but I think it was worth it. I love the feel of this card (no idea who it's for though ha ha ) these days I tend only to make a card when I need one as I have 100s (I do not exaggerate) and I still haven't got round to doing a craft fair yet! And I would just hate to give them away at £1 each as you don't seem to get alot these days for this kind of stuff and I would rather keep them. Any way I cot some CS then added some DPs then some more CS stamped it with a lovely script stamp (delish) The I got the sewing machine out and added the vintage lace. Then i got the cuttle Bug out and made a frame and dry embossed it. phew! I told you it took a while to make lol

Well I then stuck it all together and took some photos in the most beautiful sunshine, it's so sunny I hope you can see the cards detail ok. I hope your having  safe fun in the sun, and you enjoyed my card, don't forget to pop around to the DTs they do work hard to give inspiration in these challenges don't they? and if you can leave a comment and I can hopefully get round to your blog too! Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Stamp, Stampin Up (SU) french script. Design Papers (DPs) Mellisa Frances & Crafty Individuals. Card stock SU Ribbon http://www.etsy.com/shop/MemrieMare if you would like to have a looksey. Cuttlebug EF & Die cut, Nesties. Punch, Marther Stewart.

Time waits for no man!

I haven't made a card for a while but fathers day is coming up in the UK 20th June so I thought I would get a head start for a change. And it will come in handy for a couple of challenges too! Three Muses this week theme is 'Time' and I have missed participating so much but time doesn't seem to wait for any Woman either! lol I am also going to put this in for Tag it on the theme is 'Steam Punk' I am really loving steam punk projects! I probably won't qualify as it's not a tag (sorry but I wanted to show my support) you have had some fantastic themes these last few weeks and I have just had not enough time of late, keep up the fabby work hun.

The DP is just amazing! I could use it on so many projects! So I put this on some card stock, then stamped out an image and stuck this to some ribbon applied a charm through the stamped image and aged the whole thing with distress ink!

I couldn't stop there...... so I had a go at the inside too! the boys call their Dad 'Pappa Duke' don't ask I have no idea but i thought i would put this in the middle (I feel it really personalises for him from them) and then the boys can write what they like. They have seen the card and quite made up with it so I hope hubby likes it too! I am just thinking I suppose I had better make one from me and from our grandson, so maybe I am not ahead after all DOH! ;0) I just changed the font for this post as I think it adds to the steam punkiness Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Design paper (DP) Graphic 45 & card stock Stampin' Up! Stamps, Paper Artsy & Artistic stamper. Inks archival & distress inks from Ranger. Charm & ribbon in my yummy stash!

Twinchie & Box

A big welcome to my new followers, I have another three in this past week and I do hope you enjoy my crafting journey, I am so amazed I have so many followers and really all the comments make me continue and I really do love sharing my art with you all, thank you for all your encouragement. Thank you very much for all your wonderful comments, yesterday  was amazing, so sweet of you. I got to about 80 of  the WOYWWers yesterday and couldn't do any more! so popular now our Julia and her fabby WOYWW. I will show you my desk and another draw next week! sorry I didn't this week but I thought the post was long enough and I didn't want to make it any longer for you all ;0) I know how long it take to visit so many blogs! so thanx again for sticking to the end lol. Any way thank fully I made this Tuesday! or today would be empty! never end up crafting on a Wednesday any more lol.

I have made a twinchie! I really liked making this twinchie I have made it for a challenge with SCD as May is their B'day month and every week we have to make a twinchie the theme is 'crowns' this week and I think you will see the lion is king here! he he.

It's really quite 3D. I have used Chip board as a base and covered it in dictionary paper aged it  with some DIs, then, added a photo! I use two for a 3D effect I stamped a crown on a paint chip, than added some stickles and glossy ascents to make the crown even more special! I hope you like the effect.

Now On to my box, Do you like it? This was a plain box and I primed it with two coats of primer (gesso)I then painted it in copper cracking paint (see item list) then I left over night to crackle and I love the results you get. I put some design paper (DP)  inside the box (not shown) then I stamped with some black permanent ink heat-set it and then I added a twinchie! I hope you like this I thought I would show it as one post, hope you don't mind. Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Paint, Viva Croco copper and Daler-Rowney gesso. Stamps, Crafty Individuals. (CI) Inks, Distress Tim Holtz and Stazon. Twinchie card stock CI. Photo, CI. Clossy acents, and stickles glitter glue Ranger.  Paint Chip freebie at B&Q dictionary paper stash.

WOYWW 52

I have really been looking forward to this day, so bare with me this is a long post. I am so pleased about this weeks WOYWW not so much to show off my WOYWW 52 but to see all your creations, we all know how addictive this Wednesday is now and I am just as addicted as the next one I can tell you lol. Having seen your desks etc I know there are going to be some fantastic examples and it is going to be so hard to pick a winner (kinda glad I am not judging I can tell you) so good luck to all of you. I have no idea what the prize is but I am sure it will be worth it and I really did enjoy every Minuit of making this.

Now there are lot's of details in this piece and so lots of photos so stick with me here, hope you have a brew! I am going to use this for Sir Stampalot which this month is 'Punch'  A great Prize as always but so gutted I missed out on the Tim Holtz last month, anyway. This is a bottle top. I squashed it and the covered it in alcohol inks all over/ then I 'punched' out a cute photo from Crafty individual book, then I went round the out side with stickles glitter glue. I then put lots of glass seed beads in and coated the whole lot with glossy accents and left it to dry over night. I really enjoy making these I have done a few now, they make wonderful necklace or put on a bracelet to mention just a few.

Next some stamps from Crafty Secrets, I really love this stamp set. I have stamped one on a paint chip from B&Q great freebies to use. And the other I stamped on some white card stock and cut is out I added the bingo counter with 26 I though I bet that was the average waist size lol (not for me I hasten to add).

Now I love this white frame from Melissa Frances. I stamped directly in to the background with a stamp from Paper Doll Art, then I put the frame on the top. You can also see yesterdays Twinchie (this was my little sneak peek for today) all the detail for that is in last weeks post.

There it is! the acronym we had to include. Now this is made with a mini domino covered in alcohol inks I tried a few things to put the letters on and in the end I used a permanent marker and did it my self I love it!

This is a die cut using the fabby Tim Holtz (TH) ticket die cut. Covered  in TH distress ink (DI) then stamped with a freebie stamp from the Craft Stamper. I have a wee fairy on the frame too so cute!

This is some TH grunge board, with a butmterfly stamp form Laura Ashley. And this is a die cut also from TH alteration collection with some crafty individual paper. sorry this one is a bit blured.

I should also tell you that this frame has also been altered it was one of the frames on my WOYWW 46 you can click to go back to get all the details of how I did this and the paints I used etc. if you like, that is if your still with me  lol. I said it was a long post ;0)Told you this fairy was a cutie didn't I. OK almost done now.

I thought you may also like to have a closer look at this. I showed you some buys I got very cheaply (4 of these clock faces for 50p) so I am using one ,well it was pink and so perfect to go in the center of my Making Memories ribbon., made with a bow maker (these are so good to have in your stash aren't they? )Now you can go back to the begining as I haven't done close ups of everything ;0)have a good look around. The reason I made this is, I thought WOYWW was a great way to make new friends and get new ideas etc but I thought this little frame kinda encompassed all the things that have been or are usually on my desk at some point. Some you have seen over the last few weeks and now I have used them for this wonderful project. Now if you have read all this  (thank you so much) you may as well leave a comment and allow me to stop by your blog too. I would love to see what you have been up to as well. I do hope you like this frame/shadow box. I had a lot of fun making it and I am now going to look at all your amazing work and see what you have been up to good luck every one. Love Dawn xx

Some of hubbys craft and a beautiful tea cup!

Well my wonderful grandson has gone home and I am so tired! so haven't been able to do any crafting as yet! However, I do have some craft to show you! but first the lovely Tea Cup Tuesday pop by to see some stunning teacups, here is mine for this week.

Another beautiful charity shop find, guess if I wanna play again I had better find some more he he. I have found something and I am really enjoying drinking out of them too.

Edited to add (The mark on the bottom of the tea cup is a crown with the makers name AYNSLEY England bone china c957) I will start photographing the bottoms as well. thank you for all your lovely comments and hubby is so chuffed with all your lovely comments too! (if this art of his carries on I may have to share my table (perish the thought) oh he may have to get his own blog! lol) thank you all again I knew I wasn't being just bias they are really good bowls and yes one of them is an original Beatles record the other was a special Beach Boys but both were very scratched second hand buys!

Now onto my crafty goodness, while I was on my crafty weekend hubby decided to make something quite special (well I think so anyway) I was talking about altering things (like you do) and he warned me to stay away from his oh so precious collection of VINYL with a sweet smile face lol my hubby has been collecting for years sadly his original collection (from child hood no less) was stolen and he had to restart all over again.

He decided to make some thing him self with a couple of I hasten to add (damaged) albums and here is my cleaver hubby's efforts! I think they are really special. He heated them in the oven and while still pliable moulded them with his own two hands, so it just goes to show that crafting is truly addictive and my DH is often giving me ideas and seeing things in charity shops and saying "can you use this"?  or "this would make a great project"! so there you go I hope you have liked my little post today, I am going to try and get back into some sort of crafting routine and make something I have missed it but I am a little worse for wear so bear with me if I take a wee while to get back into my regular posting and commenting on all your wonderful projects too I am trying to catch up honest. Love Dawn xx