Book Mark or is it a tag?

Morning all, I awoke this morning about 6am and rather than turn over I got up bright eyed and bushy tailed (while all was quiet) and made this book mark/Tag ;0) I am really quite pleased with it, although I think I may add some thing to the top chain (who knows?) These are paint chips from B&Q I had some on my desk yesterday but I have used those for something else I did this  one this morning. I do love this stamp set, it's not been off the table since I got it, maybe I should put it away!

Here is a wee close up you know I like my close up shots ha ha, just as long as it's not of my face! (perish the thought) These tickets do come in very handy don't they I put some wings on there with a button and on the tag (on the top layer) I wrapped some string round and a wooden button I thought looked like a  wee egg so I put some copic marks on it (too look like speckles) I love this colour combo looks like Sunflower colours, so it's nice and summery for the birdy "soar, fly, B" the B is from the goodies I won, (rather cool kinda aged metal too) I thought it could mean two things B as in be and B for Bird, I hope this continues I really need to finish the flower off today so these stamps may yet be useful. Thank you for all your lovely comment's and to my new followers for joining me on my Journey. Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Stamps, Stampington &Co and Prima. Melissa Frances tag. German scrap wings, buttons stash. Ticket, Clasp, Tim Holts. Metal B Papermania. Letters American crafts.

Still struggling for my MOJO

Hello all I haven't anything to show you I am still not crafting as much as I would like to be. But I did receive this wonderful gift today from France ( I am so glad I put some goodies in with the ATCs I sent to her lol) Look what she has sent me (swoons) I love other peoples art!

I had to show you a couple of close ups! so much prettier in real life! I love the bottle caps and they are as beautiful on the back as they are on the front, this pendant included. The (bubble) round piece of art is wonderful the rose is made of wax and painted it's all so very yummy. Pop over to see my friend Esther on Her Blog I am always amazed ans surprised at what she comes up with.

Both the above items were bought for 50p each The clock doesn't work I was going to use all the insides for some steam punk stuff I want to make but it just looks so fab on the shelf I think I will keep it. These are not coasters (there a wee bit bigger) more for a pan & made out of cork I thought these could be altered like the flowers I have made for the art exchange (must get them posted off! I still have one to finish off) Well I must start creating and stop foraging for goodies, if I could just keep my mojo running for more than an hour or so I know I could finish a few things.... Thank you for stopping by have a wonderful day. Love Dawn xx

WOYWW 49

Morning, This is my desk today, although it's the mess left over from yesterday lol. I haven't even started today. As usual there are the baskets of this and that,  my lovely cat cup with all the pens sissors etc. then top right you can see a tin and a green shield stamp book all for a £1 from the car boot. I got lots of other junk too (my treasures their junk). In the tin there are untold buttons I have taken out all the glass and mother of pearl ones and cleaned them up and put them in little bags (such treasures) The shield stamp book is full, I don't know what I will do with it but it is very retro and I had to get it. The candle is out because I have been playing with fire lol the ATCs I did yesterday, on the desk you can see my first attempt (reject lol) I have also painted an ATC with some Croco paint ready for today and I am going to be making some book marks with the paint chips I got from B&Q yesterday, you can see I have already made a start lol so have a good nosey, and if you don't know what all this WOYWW is about It's the lovely Julia's brain child that we are all so addicted too. So pop along to find out more the link is on my side bar. Love Dawn xx

Hello blog land I missed you.

Long time no see? I have been away from blog land for over a week! Me ,I know I can't believe it either, I am normally so addicted. Problem with me is recently I have been buying more than using crafty goodies. I went to a car boot (not been to one for SO LONG) I found some really great junk, I won't tantilise you lol. I  hace also actually WON some candy! The photo above is a suprise package from the lovely Jude  What a fabby package don't you think? Thank you Jude it's a lovely goody bag.

Thought I would show you some of my disasters lol. Some ATC's I made last week when my mojo began to fail, I liked the back grounds but wasn't very happy with the out come of these at all. Yep these I think are for the craft bin in the sky. Unless any one wants them lol (don't all rush at once lol)

I can't count the times I sat at my desk only to be so dry I couldn't even go on the internet and get any inspiration. And I know it was there, I just couldn't get my mind and fingers to work at all. No amount of goodies could get me started. Any way I have two ATC swaps to do. One to my lovely ATC buddy Petra (so I am not letting you peek this time lol I have two of your three flower ATCs completed) And the above ATCs are in the post to France to my lovely bloggy friend Lilbulle Pop over to her blog you can not fail to be amazed lol I made these with glossy card stock I used a candle to burn them and create soot which I then stamped on with a clean stamp (nothing added) if you touch the surface you will leave finger prints etc so you have to be very careful. When you have stamped what you want to, seal it, you must use a fixative. It's very enjoyable and I felt my creativity and mind fuse together so I am back to crafting and blogging again. Gosh a week just seems like forever! Love Dawn xx

Items Used for the Soot ATCs:- Stamps, Stampington & Co. Glossy card stock. DPs K&Co. Coloured with, Copics.

Crafty day out at Capesthorne Hall

I have been out and about on Saturday I want to a craft fair at Capesthorne Hall never been before but we loved it, they do weddings and have lots of events this bank holiday it was a Craft fair here is a photo of some of my crafty buys. Next week end they are having a Country Fair (sounds like fun!)

This is a close up of some of the great value buys I thought these were just terrific for the price I had to get them lol but you all know that feeling don't you? ;0) I am going on a steam punk/jewelry craft work shop in May and I thought these would be super (look at these watch faces two for 50p so I bought two packets of each. I have been buying lots for this week end so much coming next week and then after that? Paris so NO MORE SPENDING from me, but I have plenty to keep me very busy.

Now I asked permission to take this photo I love this guys work I have one piece already (Will show you in a min) and while there I couldn't resist I bought another, if you click and have a look you will see why I had to cave in such beautiful work. I think a treasured antique of the future!

This is the one I already had, 'Daisy Fairy'

And this is the one I bought yesterday 'Grass Fairy' the artist is Gary White I think this art is totally original (no two pieces are the same) I haven't seen any other artist working with resin in this way and hey, I love fairy's so if you buy art because you love it then your on a winner he does some wonderful dragons, knights as well as castles (this is large work and fairly expensive), just thought I would share this with you, I know so many of you also love fairy's.

This is Capesthorne Hall we went in for a look around (not allowed to take photos inside) so take my word lots of inspiration I loved this house. This weekend there was a craft fair but I think we will be going back next Saturday too as there is a country fair on. Hubby and I love to get out if I am well enough so fingers crossed we will get to enjoy this view again.

The grounds were equally as beautiful, with a huge lake and so many things to photograph but I thought you may like to share the 'Blue Bell walk' I swear I saw a fairy's wing as she scuttled off! I hope you also had a wonderful Bank holiday weekend.

Oh and one last thing to share, I found a TT but I have lost it (I do that so often) It was a little TT about how to use your sewing machine in a different way. I have an attachment to cover the teeth on my machine some have a button to lower the teeth. I also removed the foot. The kinda free sewn this stamped image, now this is the first time so isn't great but now I know how to convert my sewing machine I may try this technique again. I love to try new things and I am a bit of a technique junky lol. My problem is with my illness I forget more than I remember so frustrating but it does mean I am usually doing some thing new lol I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my BH weekend and I will be back soon with some crafting goodies to show you enjoy what's left of your week end it's gone decidedly grey here (typical BH weather in the UK) Love Dawn xx

Altered Tag Book Complete

Hi I showed you the first photos Yesterday of this book. I have had the most lovely time playing with this I really felt my mojo running away with me (don't you just get SO excited when you get this way) Any way I have to reshow some photos as The Craft Barn Is running a competition which finishes on the 15th May So you still have time to enter. They have asked that you follow 9 sketches (I will put a link in my side bar too!) I didn't know what the prize was, but get this a £30 bag of goodies based on your style of book! (I may have to make another!lol) What a great prize! So be prepared lots of photo's to follow I will put some of the items used at the bottom if your interested. This is the cover, page 1

I have to say I used some friendly Plastic and a moult to make my Eiffel Tower and I crushed my bottle top put a vintage photo in (Crafty Individuals) and some glossy accents to get this effect (one of my fave pages) lol this is page 3.

Loving Oxford impressions I have a couple of sets of theirs now and YUMMY or what? And if your interested LB Crafts have them. The only UK supplyer (they're not on the web site but if you phone they will take yr order) I only put links of shops I know to do good service, products and delivery (You know that)

Now if you have been visiting you know I am a huge lover of anything French (Paris imparticular) this is constantly on my mind as I want to get there this year for a few days with hubby, I have used the fabby Tim Holtz Die here used french type stamp inked and stamps onto the flower which is made from some scrap material (you can't see this very well as the ink is so light on the material, shucks! it looks yummy I can tell you lol)  I have love how linen frays, it's also inked with the fabby TH DI (I have all the new ones now and I love this Victorian Velvet swoon) page 5& 6

More yummy Tim Holtz inks & Stamps here I love the clear EP technique where you stamp add colour then iron off the CEP so effective I amusing this for a challenge too! Tag Tuesday Louise wants to see Glitter this week, And I have managed to catch the angle right I soaked this with 'Rock Candy' lol not sos you would notice but I wanted a subtle look on top of the map. Page 7

I wish I would of had more travel stamps for this project but London and Paris are very cool, aren't they. I used lots of Crafty Individual stamps here of London I embossed with clear EP and more CI photos and I have to say some fantastic lace (this page) & ribbon (on the next page)sent by my yummy new ATC swapping buddy Petra (Thank you hunny the ATCs are so amazing that you sent, will e-mail you later) Oh this is page 9. But I did a back page too! wanna see?

More of the Yummy Tim Holtz stuff here (You can see the text better on the flower here, as it's dark) You see this leather piece? this was on my bag lol it has the brand name on one side put I thought this would come in handy so I used a very sharp craft knife and sliced down the middle and then embossed the word Journey on to it Page 10 Also entering this tag book for a challenge over at Wednesday stamper They are looking for things using the master Tim Holts on there projects. All too easy he he

So this is my very first mini book and it was great fun I won't be too scared to do one in the future it was very handy to have the sketches to guide me through and it only took a couple of days to make I am really pleased with it I hope you like it too. Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- DP K&Co Tim Holts, Grunge board Metal worded tag, fastening, inks. Ribbon, Buttons, stash. Stamps Crafty Individuals, Tim Holtz, Oxford Impressions, Stampin Up and Clear Stamps. Friendly plastic and Moulds, Stamp Bug LTD. Keys, stash. Postage stamp, Stash.Card Stock Stampin Up! Cuttlebug EF. Chip Board Album Maya Road. Glass square Altered Element. Punches Martha Stewart, dove craft & Stampin Up. Jumbo elets SU.

Tag book Part 1

Yes the up-loading photos had gone back to how it was COOL see if it's not broke don't fix it! (although I have lost my ability to upload video again) Can I just say a big thank you to all you nosey peeps who popped by yesterday lol (I thought I was bad lol) Hello every one I know a few of you were having a good nosey at my desk yesterday ;0) so I thought I would give you a close up of my Title page as well as my 2nd page of my first ever TAG BOOK! I have done six pages so far but I will be doing nine as I am following the sketches over at The Craft Barn There is also a competition too. But I am not so bothered about this If I finish on time I will enter.  I am also putting this in for Tag It On 36 (TIO) Our lovely friend Frankie is looking for 'Distressing' and it's her blogaversary, congratulations hun.  I thought as this was my first ever tag book (well first book kinda) I thought it may be easier for me if I used the sketches and it's  great. Like I said I did six pages yesterday.

I am really enjoying this and I have to buy some more or else make some templates to make more ASAP! Now I am using a Maya Road tag book (did I mention I love this so much?) I have put some DP on the tag distressed it and added some ribbon a glass square and put a sentiment under it  (I new these would come in handy when I bought them) he he. I also used the Die of Tim's to get the letters. I tell you what they are great. However I am disappointed in the sisix plates I had to buy a set of the long thing ones and also a hard think one too so they would go with the die (not to worry I thought I will be buying more of these long dies) But Oh My Word I have used them once and one is SO bent I found it difficult to put through the machine a second time (I have a cuttlebug not a big shot or what ever they're called) but you are suppose to be able to mix and match the dies one of the thin plates looks like a semi circle now I am not exaggerating either (should this happen? I don't think so) any suggestions oh and I can't turn it over to go the other way it's that bent! Any way moan over!

Page two! I have just painted direct onto the tag (with the crown paint for the frames remember?) then I used some packaging (bubble wrap) and taped to an acrylic blog and added some ink and stamped to get the varied distressed back ground (love how the back ground turned out here)

Then some more stamps & CS a wee bit more distressing and done, oh I also used a paper clip from SU but they are way to NEW looking so I distressed this too. It looks a bit more rusty now lol. Well I will hopefully be back tomorrow with the rest of the book I hoped you like the sneaky peek in to what I am making. Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Honestly there are so many to mention I am not going to list them but if you really see something you want to know about just ask.

WOYWW 47 & a card

Morning, This is getting to be my favoraite part of the week lol WOYWW 47 With Julia, I really do enjoy seeing what every one is up to and chatting to you all. It's also fast becoming aday I don't get much craft done because I go to so many blogs lol Although I did get one of my frames finished from last week if you want to have a look Here as well as a few other projects this week. So this is my desk today. I am doing something I haven't done before. I bought this chip board tag book from Maya Road a few months ago I really would like to make a mini book of some kind. I decided the Title as you can see is 'Travel' So I am going to be working on this on and off this week. I have also put a card below if you want to have a we nosey ;0) I will be going snooping around your blogs through out the day xx

Hello, Blogger has changed, again. Looks like we have a spell checker and we can add videos again now. It's also changed how you upload your photos again which I am not sure about. Any way I made a card for a few challenges as I was feeling I little laps with the ol' mojo. This is for The shabby tea room they have a photo for inspiration. Stampavie & More They are asking for distressed card this week, there is also DT positions available. The Play Date Cafe Which is a lovely colour combo of brown, blue, grey & cream Die Cut Dreams ch (DCD) which this week is hand made flowers Wednesday Stamper They would like you to use some thing Tim Holtz (I ask you now this wasn't hard for me at all lol). It's also for Midnight Madness Which is to follow sketch 51. If you have time why not pop along and go have a look, They have some wonderful DT egs and some prizes too!Like modpodge some stamps and lovely DT papers so pop along for more information and to join in.

I made this card to help me get back into gear with my mojo as I felt a bit slow and groggy. So it's nice to have a sketch and colour scheme planned to give you a bases to start. I decided to use a die and cut out some flowers with material I singed the edges then stamped I love the effect. I put this on top of a paper Dollie which I had already distressed  and added to some card stock as well as some textured card stock which I sanded and used a punch on.

I then stamped an image from one of the Alice in Wonderland sets I have and used Sepia Archival ink, I was going to add some colour either with copics or chalk for a change then I decided I quite liked the effect as it was. I hope you like this too, Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Stamps, Oxford Impressions & Tim Holtz. Card stock, Co'Ordinations & SU. Paper Doilie from stash. Inks, Distress inks & Archival. Lace from Craft Boutique. Die, Tattered Florals byTim Holtz.

Grace Kelly

Hello, I hope to find you all well. The sun is out here in NW of UK again. Monday was a bit rubbish but it's warming up I am happy to say, and thank you to every one wishing me well I feel a little better today and I hope to get out of the house and enjoy the sun later to day. This is the card I made for my son who is 18 today. He was very spacific in what he wanted. "It has to be black & white with Grace Kelly on it". So this is what I came up with. I don't think any one is as hard to make for as a) family and b) a man lol I tried so many types and card LOs alsorts of things it gave me head ache! Do you some times get like this over a card/project? Maybe it was also because I wasn't feeling at my best the past week, but this drove me daft ;0) but I was very happy when it was finished and thank fully he loved it. There is also a challenge this fits into Stampavie & More There looking for 'Distressing' and this has that I hope you like it, Also A DT position available if any one is interested.

I used some cream card stock and distressed it with inks. I used Tim Holtz stamps, as well as some of his other stuff (Thank you Tim) So here you can see the film stamp and I also used the film strip ribbon to go over it. I had quite a few GK images so I shrunk some and put them under the film. I also stamped the admit one stamp on the front and one I did in a green (like an aged ticket) which I put sticky cusions under to raise it up from the card to add extra dimetion.

This image was printed on some canvas (the sticky kind) not that you can see the detail really but you can IRL. I had to crown her as Shawn thinks she is like royality (well she was at one point wasn't she?) My son loves lots of B&W films so has a really good apreciation of the old film stars. I don't know where I got the crown from I just bought it as a single. I have since seen the Maya Road ones in a tin but they are always out of stock lol

He also loves Audrey Hepburn. I stamped the envelope with this stamp and also I got a brown paper bag and some tissue paper and stamped her all over in distress ink.  I also used the TH die cut for the insideof the card (the alphabet) It's a really good set! We bought him lots of toys from his child hood (very retro for him) He loved it with old figures from disney's bugs life, Bat Man die metal car as well as some CDs and other stuff he used to love as a child (he really loved the idea lol) as well as what every young adult needs CASH! lol Well thank you for all your love and caring, Have a good day. Love Dawn xx

Items Used:- Images of Grace Kelly Google. Inks Tim Holtz DI Ranger. Stamps Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous (At the Movies) Tim Holtz Die (Carnivale) crown, stash and gems Prima.