Dawn's World

Inspiration from The Craft's Meow.

2012-03-20T21:37:00.002+13:00

Day 2 over at The Craft's Meow's Birthday Bash had an inspirational photo

Isn't gorgeous. The DT really outdid themselves with the set they were using.
I chose to use one of the Freebie's that is available over at Facebook. (see here)

I printed out the digi once on card and once on copy paper to make a mask. Once I'd masked the image and stamped Hero Arts Old French Writing in Antique Linen. Then I used some Wild Honey to distress the edges. I matted onto cream and green card. I painted the flowers with a mixture of distress inks and Pearlescent paints. For the base card I stamped the Old French Writing down one side in the Antique Linen and stamped a flourish (Kaisercraft) in Milled Lavender in the corners on the other side. Finished with some tiny pearls.

Thanks for popping in to visit today. Hope this inspired you to visit TCM and see what's happening for Day 3

Dawn

Mygrafico challenge ~ Easter/Spring

2012-03-19T22:22:00.001+13:00

welcome to Mygrafico challenge this week... Easter/Spring. We got to work with this super cute set by Blackleaf Studios.

I decided to try something a little different....

I found some clear Avery tags and printed the little chickie onto them. I coloured with pencils and then carefully peeled them off and on the egg cups. I then sprayed with Crystal Kote finish to seal them. I then made a matching card.

I enlarged the image and coloured it in. Added some Glossy Accents on the dots and the chickie's beak. I used some freebie Easter papers from last year and added a ribbon knotted in the middle. I printed the sentiment out on to some yellow card and cut into banner

Do pop over to the blog and see what the others have come up with.

Thanks for visiting and hope you'll join us over at Mygrafico's Challenge.
Dawn

Happy Birthday to The Craft's Meow

2012-03-18T21:11:00.001+13:00

The Craft's Meow are celebrating their first birthday with a week long Birthday Bash... starting with a sketch challenge

I first came across The Craft's Meow last year while a member of the DT for Simply Scraping. TCM were sponsors and I got some lovely stamps to work with. One of which is Frieda at the Sea Shore. Here's my take on the sketch.

I used some PP from a pack I picked up for $5. I used two of the PP to paper piece the image. Also used the same PP for the card base. The black strip was punched with a Martha Stewart punch. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Enjoyed the walk this morning, me and about 69,999 others!!!!! It was estimated that over 70,000 took part. It took us 1.45 mins to walk the course, then another 20 mins to walk over the hill to the park where the barbeques were. Got sore feet that's all. My back stood up to it well.

Have a great week.

Dawn

Card Workshop with Papercraft Room

2012-03-17T21:52:00.000+13:00

I attended one of the Workshops by The Papercraft Room yesterday at the Fair. There were only two of us there so got some great tuition. The workshop used some Cheery Lynn Design die cuts and a Tim Holtz embossing folder.

First up was a simple card using this die

The lamp post was die cut twice... once white and once black. I had to add teeny tiny pop dots to them, ever so slightly off setting the black one to create a shadow. Then added the lamp post to the pre-embossed background ( Tim Holtz brick folder) The sentiment label was made by cutting the black one in half and off setting at each end. A Peelcraft sentiment was used. The whole lot was then added to a black card base

Number two used a similar technique using this large flourish die.

Once again, the two flourishes were popped with the teeny tiny dots and then added to the embossed background. The little punched flowers were also popped together and then all added to the background.

And the third card we did in the 50 mins

The grey core'dinates card was embossed with gears and clocks folder ( not sure who it was by) I then sanded it heavily to get the white to show through. Then it was a simple matter of adding some ribbon and a tag and matting onto the the card. I stamped the sentiment with Colourbox Frost white ink once I got home.

A fun workshop with some quite simple cards. I did buy the Flourish and Lamp post dies. They were very reasonable at $18.50 each. I also got a rolled flower die (here).

I was hoping to take part in the Hero Arts Scramble tomorrow but I will be just finishing a 8.4 km (5.2 miles) Charity Fun Run. Round the Bays ~ this year is the 40th year for the run. An estimated 70,000 people will take place. I am walking it this year... no running for me. Hubby's work has a team taking part.... all of us in bright orange Hapag Lloyd T-shirts. We are known as the Orange Brigade. Looking forward to it.

Have a great weekend and Happy St Patrick's Day.

Dawn

Photo Friday challenge - Everyday

2012-03-16T19:59:00.001+13:00

Carly set a fun challenge this week.... {Everyday} I've been busy this week and hadn't had a chance to even think about what to do... but this morning I was home before heading off to the Craft and Sewing Fair and was pottering about while eating breakfast.... and thought about the composition of my toast sitting on the bread board.

So that's my Everyday~ Toast and Vegemite.

I had a great day after this breakfast. Got to the Fair at 9.50am ~ just before the doors opened and I left at 3.00pm. I took two classes and bought lots and lots of goodies

and how's this for a sentiment....

This is on the shopping bag I had to buy to bring my haul home!

More to come over the next few days as I show you my class cards and make some cards with all that found it's way into that bag.

Cheers

Dawn

Kissing over at the Lily Pad.

2012-03-14T22:17:00.000+13:00

Over at the Lily Pad the challenge is KISSING.... this is just a wonderful technique. If you haven't tried it, you should ~ ( see here for a great video about it)

On Saturday, I made up a kissed panel and finally got it made up into a card to enter the challenge

I used two Hero Arts stamps. Designer woodgrain inked up with Cup'o'Joe and Dancing with Flowers inked with Soft Apricot and then kissed them together. I then stamped the Dancing with Flowers onto white card. I was very pleased with the result. The woodgrain really showed up well against the apricot. I matted it onto orange bazzil and then white before adding to a black card base. I stamped the sentiment in deep orange distress. Some twine and an orange button finished it off. So that's another one of my Saturday bits made into a card.

I've also added this to Jay Gee's Nook challenge. The first image on the photo board was my inspiration.

Enjoy the rest of your week.... I've been busy getting ahead with my Mygafico DT work for when I'm on holiday over Easter. We are heading to Perth for two weeks at the end of March and then tomorrow night we are heading out to dinner to farewell one of hubby's colleagues who is retiring. We are heading to Aubergine. Went there on Saturday and loved the food, so know what I am choosing to eat.

Dawn

CAS-ual Friday ~Sentiments as a Focal Point

2012-03-13T18:35:00.001+13:00

I enjoy making CAS cards.... and today's one came about by a chance mistake. On Saturday I borrowed Marisa's Wonky Labels and thought I'd use a folded card and cut two frames at once. But looked what happened to the bottom half of the card

so here's what I did

I used the bottom panel as an embossed frame. I stamped Penny Black's sentiment stamp with Cup'o'Joe Ink and added a brown butterfly and the flower made with pages from an old book. The leaf is a Sizzix die. A perfect CAS card for CAS-ual Friday's challenge.

The week is going well so far.... looking forward to having a day off on Friday to go to the Craft and Sewing Fair... there's lots of workshops and demos on all sorts of crafty sewing stuff. Should be fun if a little expensive...

well, my daughter has just rung and is talking to her Dad, so I'll go and wait my turn to talk to her.

Take care
Dawn

Monday Feature at MyGrafico ~ Vintage

2012-03-12T21:35:00.001+13:00

This week over at Mygrafico we got to use this amazing set.....

It is full of wonderful elements. A set of black and white full size patterned papers, a set of 12 full size (12.5 inches wide) ornate borders, a set of vintage brushes, and a set of 8x6 floral photo borders. The design team have come up with some amazing projects here and here's what I made

I used one of the photo borders, a label and two of the patterned papers. I stamped inside the panel with a Hero Arts sentiment. I used the PP to make the flower with a Cuttlebug die and punch the butterflies. This is a set I'll be using again in the future.. so many lovely bits.

Thanks for stopping by... do pop over and see what the others have done...

Dawn

I've been busy....

2012-03-11T14:44:00.000+13:00

stamping with friends on Saturday.... the best fun ever. I went over to Sandie's house from 10.00am till 4.00 pm. A total of 7 of us there... stamping, eating, gossiping and generally having a good time. Now I have to tell you we had a great age range.... with our youngest crafter being Andie ~ aged 10 and our oldest, Betty, being in her early 70's... how's that! Andie is already a talented card maker... and Betty was churning them out yesterday.... she came well prepared with lots of part cards done and finished off at least 6 before I left. I managed 3 completed cards and 5 bits done for more cards. Lots of sharing ideas, stamps and dies... I won't bore you them all today but will share two cards ~ both inspired by a magazine article in Australian Simply Cards that used Kaisercraft Bonjour paper pack. I used their examples as the start point for my cards... but edited and changed as I went along.

Firstly

I followed the same papers ~ which are more teal than the photo shows. I also used die cuts from the paper pack for the side and along the middle and used a silhouette~ but that's where the similarities ended... My silhouette was cut with a die from Marianne's ( courtesy of Lei) and put onto an oval. The butterfly was made up of a punched Martha Stewart one, an embossed brown one from Joy's dies and then one cut out of the PP. I used some of the PP scraps and brown card scraps to make up the flower, cut from a Spellbinders die. The lovely little sentiment is one from a New Zealand stamp maker called Hasting Rubber stamps and was borrowed from Betty... but I think I will buy it as it is so nice and tiny - about 1 1/4" long so perfect for adding to small ovals and tags.

And secondly

This one doesn't look anything like the magazine sample... I used only the colours and the idea of flowers on one side. I cut out a piece of pink card and embossed with Swiss dots. Had a laugh with this as Sandie had given me the pink card as she had a pink splotch on it from a stamp pad so I said I'd use the other side... but of course when I embossed it, the pink splotch was on the RIGHT side not the wrong side... so the piece of PP was a bit wider than I had expected it to be... then I realised that the pink panel and the PP over top where about half and inch too short on the card base, hence the punch scallops along the left hand side... A total comedy of errors... but a good save!. I stamped the Hero Arts Etched flowers with Cup'o'Joe ( my new favourite brown ink!) and used distress inks and an aqua brush to colour. I then trimmed around it and put it on dimensionals. A small sentiment in the right corner and all done.

And here's a quick peek at the rest of the day's output... all waiting to be added to a card and embellished

Thanks for bearing with me on this long post... I do appreciate your visits and your wonderful comments. Have a great weekend... I'm off to make up some of those bits and pieces into cards.

Dawn

Photo Friday challenge - OOF/Blurry

2012-03-09T17:29:00.001+13:00

I missed getting a photo for last week's challenge on sweetness so really wanted to try this weeks {OOF/Blurry} OOF stands for out of focus.... now I usually get lots of totally out of focus photos but this calls for a central focused image with a background out of focus. I read up on Aperture settings and tried to use my little Canon Powershot SX120 IS to do this... but I tell you, the erase button was getting quite a work out... I really think I need to get the manual out and have a decent read.... any hoo.... I did manage to get something semi-acceptable. But I really think I over compensated with my settings as it really grainy ( noisy) so here's the pic

And here's one of the other photos I took trying to get something acceptable

This one is really OOF.... everything! Still, that's how I will learn.

Thanks for stopping by and peeking at my shocking photography.. I'm off to stamp with some friends tomorrow, before heading out to dinner. So a good weekend planned.

And a big thanks to Paula and Sheila who both gave me an award this week... more about that next week. You ladies are so generous with your lovely comments. Much appreciated.

Dawn

Oriental Flowers

2012-03-07T21:05:00.003+13:00

Arlene is hosting this month's challenge over at the Die Cut Diva's Flickr group... and has chosen an Asian Theme.

I went with some rich red colours.

I started by downloading some Chiyogami papers (here) to use for my background. Next I took a piece of red card and dry embossed it with a Sizzix folder. Then it was making the centre panel. I took a small flower from an old Hero Arts set. I used Red Berries distress ink and Versafine Onyx Black ink to stamp all over my card scrap which I then cut with my Spellbinders label die. Edged everything with the Red Berries. I coloured the big flower with this ink as well and some with the black ink... one more darker than the other. I stamped the sentiment (another HA's one) and sponged the red ink while still in the die. Red ribbon and some gold gems and it was finished. Entering into Simon Says Stamp ~ Anything goes and Catch the Bug~ Anything goes.

I have to tell you that I am sitting in the dark writing this.... our power went off suddenly about 10 mins ago. A bit scary as it is raining hard, is VERY DARK and I'm on my own as hubby is down in Wellington over night..... The internet is off so hope this saves and will post when it comes back on.... in the not too distant future with any luck. I went out for a walk and it seem a few houses are without power but a couple around the corner are okay. My battery in the laptop lasts about an hour... so once that's gone.... I'll just have to take myself off to bed. Luckily my Kobo reader is fully charged so I can at least read. But the bad thing is that the alarm clock will have reset itself for midnight.... and will probably come on at some time in the middle of the night and scare the bejesus out of me... Just came back on for about a minute then flicked off again.

45 mins later.... and the power is on. I've gone around and reset all the clocks. It's now 9.00pm so time to get some more crafting done before heading off to bed.

Have a great rest of the week.

Dawn

Mygrafico challenge ~ St Patricks Day

2012-03-05T21:27:00.001+13:00

Here we are again for Mygrafico challenge Monday. St Patrick's Day is our theme... and you could win this set

The design team got to have play with it this week and we came up with some great projects... from cushions, to cards and note pads. Pop over for a look.

My project was a St Paddy's Pillow Box ( to be filled with Chocolate Mints)

I was a bit pushed for time this week, so a simple little project. I created the pillow box from a template found here. I printed out the sentiment and die cut and sponged. My leprechaun was printed and cut out and popped on the box with a flower.

Had a sick day today... bad headache first thing. But a good bit of extra sleep made me feel better. Spend the afternoon working on getting ahead with my Mygrafico samples... so be sure to visit on a Monday to see what I've been up to.

Take care

Dawn

Sue's 90 minute scramble

2012-03-04T12:24:00.001+13:00

Another Sunday morning challenge over at Hero Arts' Flickr Group this morning. Sue challenged us to use at least 3 inchies on our projects. I just managed to get TWO cards done... with a minute to spare. Hubby had headed off to visit the wharf for work.... so I got the 90 mins uninterpreted from 9..00am. Good time for me.

For my first card, I went with neutral colours.... I had a scrap of the PP I had made last week with some HA Etched Flowers so pulled out the trusty EK Success 1" and 1 1/4" punches and made some inchies and mats. I stamped a little sentiment in one, and used the flowers for the rest. Inked all the edges with Wild Honey distress ink. Took a panel of some DCWV PP and stuck it on the middle of a HA Latte card base. Added some light fawn Grosgrain ribbon and stamped a sentiment in Cup'o'joe ink.

This second card was inspired by Glenda J's card (here) Love her red and black together. I stamped the Luscious Ledger stamp with some Red Berries distress ink and punched out three bits with flowers on them. I then used Spellbinders Film strip die. I glued the punched pieces to the bits out of the die as they were not quite square, and popped then back into the spaces. Added to the red card that had been embossed with a Sizzix folder. Stamped the sentiment in the Red Berries and matted onto black card. Added as few gems to finish and got it uploaded with just one minute to spare.

Thanks Sue for a great challenge. Loved it ~ but now I'm "inching" to make a few more inchie cards! But not to be.... we are heading off in about an hour to meet up with our son, to watch the Warriors ( Rugby League team) play. Just watching it on TV at the Riverhead Pub,... then onto their place for dinner. Desert is in the oven as I type.... Apple Crumble.

Hope your Sunday is as much fun as mine...

Dawn

Card Recipe...

2012-03-03T20:20:00.001+13:00

For ages, I've been meaning to join into a challenge over at Catch the Bug. I just managed to sneak in with February's recipe challenge.. Hearts, Pearls and Lace.
I have two young girl birthday's this month... one for a 4 year old and one 6 year old.

I took a Bugaboo image (here) to make my card

I printed it three times... twice onto white card and once on green PP. I cut one of the images with a Spellbinders Oval - cutting of the leg to give the impression of this sweetie sitting on the edge of the oval. I paper pieced the green top and bow and then coloured the image with Copics. I fussy cut and laid over the oval image. The background PP is some left over from a Christmas paper pack. Goes wonderfully with the bright pink base card. I cut the scalloped oval out of the front of the card as it was my last piece. I covered the inside of the card with plain paper so you can't see the hole. Obviously covered the hole with the PP. I added some white heart paper lace along the bottom. I added a tiny heart from a Hero Arts set stamped in Tattered Rose distress ink all over the oval. Stamped the sentiment stamp from a Sullivan's set and distressed the edges with the Tattered Rose ink. Added some pearls at each end of the banner.... so all the ingredients of the recipe are there!

Also entered into Simon Says Stamp ~ Anything goes challenge

The weather in NZ has been quite bad, but up here in Auckland, the wind and rain have not been as bad as was expected. But a good afternoon to have been inside crafting. And I'm looking forward to tomorrow's scramble over at the Hero Arts Flickr group. Not too early in the morning for me.

Thanks for visiting today... have a great weekend
Dawn

Movie Madness....

2012-03-01T17:27:00.001+13:00

Well the Oscars are over.... did you favourite movie win? This month over at Die Cut Diva's, Hannah Nicole challenged us "to go to the Movies" ~ whatever you wanted to do that was inspired by the Movies.

I bought this Har Repotter image from Bugaboo a while back and finally got around to making up the card....

I printed out the image and coloured with Copics. Then using a Spellbinders Label, cut out the image and a background. I stamped the background with HA Envelope background and a distress ink. I added some black enamel accents.. ( can you see the boo boo.... needless to say there are now more enamel dots on the card!) I didn't see it till I saw the photo. I printed out the sentiment on the computer and cut into a banner. Added glossy accents on his glasses. A fun card for a teenage boy...

Tonight I'm off to my 3rd Diabetes Awareness class.... much less stressed than last week. Interview today went okay, I think.... but another 10-12 days till they decide. If nothing else... good experience.

Well better fly if I want to eat before heading out.

Cheers

Dawn

Extra, Extra.....

2012-02-29T18:44:00.002+13:00

read all about it over at City Crafter Challenge Blog this week. The challenge is to use 2 or more pieces of ribbon and 9 or more words....
I went for a steam punk look.... using a Tim Holtz stamp I got 30% off the other weekend.

I stamped onto some Hero Arts Latte card to give the idea of a sepia print. I cut to size and matted onto mirror card. The gears panel was made by adding Peelcraft stickers to black card and mounting onto the mirror card. I gold embossed the sentiment in the corner.

I got this finished off after work today. We had planning day ~ 9am to 3.30pm. Full on day of getting ideas of how to position ourselves for some upcoming major restructuring. Lots of break out groups and brain storming ideas. By the time it finished, I was ready to come home to relax. So finished the card and got the veggies ready for the stir-fry we are having for tea tonight. (well in about 20 mins if I get this finished!)

Thanks for stopping by. And thanks for all your good wishes regarding my interviews. One down...one to go. Yesterday's went okay, just a bit light on my examples I think. It will be about 2 - 3 weeks before I find out as they are looking for up to 15 staff. It's a new team starting in my office.

Dawn