A First on the Last.

You might have noticed that I haven't been around much lately, that's not because I've given up on my blog, oh no no no perish the thought! I've been a busy little bee. Infact I've been multi tasking, a task us females do with such ease (yer right!) I've been doing a particularly challenging CJ, playing with my new kiln and also trying to get some DT cards done.

So, as promised I have my very first enamelled effort to show you, drum roll please.............

Dragon Fly Broach

I hear you call "Is that the Sizzix Dragon fly that you use so much?" and the answer is YES I was thrilled to discover that I can cut copper sheet on my big shot!

I've used a few shades of green for the wings, I really like the way the enamels mingled together when I fired it. You're not supposed to over fire it because your work starts to go black around the edges, well guess what, I rebelled, over fired it an I like the black edges! It has the same effect as inking on cards, nice and aged.

So there we go a first for me on the last day of the year. I hope you like it, thanks for looking.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Phew! It's over!

Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas as much as the next person but you can get too much of a good thing can't you? I have so enjoyed spending time today in just my own company and getting to play with my new toys. You'll never guess what I got!.................wait for it................a kiln! and all the bits and bobs I need to start making my own enamelled creations! All thanks to my lovely hubby, thanks Mike I love ya to bits!
I don't know if any of my blogging buddies have ever tried enamelling before but if you have please let me know, I'd love to see what you've made and get some crafty enamelling tips off you. Please come back soo to see my first creation, it'll probably be pants but i'll be brave and show you it anyway!

DCM - I'm Free

Ooh I've had fun this morning, making this card for the DCM challenge. The challenge was to use something that you got free with a magazine. Well I subscribe to Crafts Beautiful so I had loads to choose from as they give you something every month. I really like the free Paper Nation Decoupage papers that came in the January Issue, so I decided to use them.I shaped the card like a fan and trimmed it with lace. The background paper is BG Phoebe.

Surprise!

Yes surprise surprise it's sneaky peak time again, I could have put them all in one post but I knew I wouldn't have much else to show for a while.

These K and Company products are so sumptuous, I've so enjoyed playing with them. For a proper look, full instructions, links to the products and a special guest appearance from Kirsty Wiseman go to Charmed Cards and Crafts

Sneaky Peak Time Again!

I had to show you this sneaky peak from the Charmed Cards and Crafts site because I am head over heals in love with these K and Company brad buttons, they are so so lush and so easy to use. I kept the card super simple because I felt that the button really made the card and it didn't need much else. It's so much fun to receive DT kits because you HAVE to use them. If I had bought those buttons I would still be at the stroking and admiring stage. Pop over and have a look at the full card and while you are there you can see all the other fabulous design team creations.

Thank you for the Thank you!

I got such a lovely surprise in the mail earlier this week from the lovely Debbie who was my Curvy Card competition winner. She made me this fabulous gift/card out of a cigar box! Isn't it amazing? she really is a fab altered artist if you haven't already been, you really must check out her blog. Thank you Debbie, I love it.

DCM - Caardvarks - Di Hickman

I've been such a bad blogger of late and TBH I can't see it changing 'til after Christmas (ho hum) Anyway desperate times call for desperate measures so today we've got a 3 in 1.

The DCM Challenge was to have the inside of the card playing a part on the outside, I think i've kind of achieved that, the flower is on the inside and when the card is closed it appears to be on the outside.

The design of the card is inspired by the latest sketch by Di Hickman and yes, I kept it the right way around!

Finally, the Caardvarks challenge was to use Ric Rac and for that i've used some of my scrummy velvet stash.

The paper is one of the free papers from the January issue of Crafts Beautiful and I've amazed myself by doing the writing by hand, which is for me a bit of a dying art.

Sorry about the naff photo's lighting is so crap in Britain at this time of year isn't it!

Another Charmed Sneaky Peak

Here's another sneaky peak at one of my designs for Charmed......

I'm so into these K and Co leaves, the results are effortlessly stunning.

For a better look and full instructions visit The Charmed page of inspiration.`

A Charmed Design Sneaky Peak

As promised here is my first sneaky peak of a design for Charmed Cards and Crafts. Karen sent me the most delicious box of K and Company stash, I've been having so much fun playing with it.

For the whole card, full instructions and products used click here.

Under the Spotlight!!!!!!!!!!

Guess what!!!!!! I'm this week's under the spotlight interviewee at Do Crafts, it's all about me and the world of blogging! Click here if you fancy a look.

Crafty Templates

Well, it's been such a busy time and I've been neglecting my blog but i'm here now with a couple of my latest Crafty Templates cards........ I think this one is just perfect for wishing someone a happy new year.
I just love using their templates, they're just so different.
And how about this one to say thank you for those lovely gifts.
Thanks for looking, I'll be back soon with some scrummy designs for Charmed Cards and Crafts.

DCM - Buttons and Bows

I'm a bit late with my little extra card this week, so much to do and so little time, and I haven't visited any blogs either -arrrgh- i'm sorry.

Anyway the dare was; to use buttons or bows (or both) on a card. I've gone for bows.

I used BG Figgy Pudding papers for this one. I kept it quite simple, my favourite parts are the chipboard photo corners that I made with a sizzix die.
Thanks for looking.

More Great News!!!!!!

Now, I know I've done quite a lot of blowing of my own trumpet just lately, and really I shoud probably stop now but I just want to sneek in this last little snippet of fabulous news..........I've been selected for the Charmed Cards and Crafts Design team, I feel so lucky because I know there were loads of brilliant entries. This is just fabulous news for me because I've been a big fan of the site for a long time because of it's amazing range and quick, friendly service, what better site could I possibly choose to help promote?
When something like this happens, I always feel sad for those who weren't so lucky and a little guilty too for basking in the glory, so i'm sending a huge hug to anyone who might visit my blog who submitted work.....mmmmmwwwwwahhhhhh!

Sugar and Spice

I've been quite busy lately and haven't got a real lot to show on my blog but I thought I'd show you this one. I entered it into the DoCrafts Cardmaker of the Year competition a while back but I wasn't allowed to show it on other sites. So now I know I haven't won I can put it on here.
It took a long time to make so I won't be making any more but I think it's quite sweet, I do like these 3D cards.
Thanks for dropping by, I really do value your comments.

Scrapstreet.com magazine! Yeah

You may remember seeing this card a while back, well this month it's famous! It's in Scrapstreet.com magazine

YEAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

DCM - Tweet Tweet

Tweet Tweet! YAY! Here's the brief........This week its Rhi here to Dare you... and the theme is to do with our feathered friends!(Are you remembering to feed them now it's chilly out)Robins, love birds, cartoon birds, stamped birds, paper pieced birds, dingbat birds. Its up to you. I dare you to make a card with a bird or birds on, it doesn't have to be a real species, the more weird and wonderful the better!

This sounded like a good excuse to get my BG Phoebe papers out. Here's what I came up with....

I love these papers, they're so tweet! (sorry, I couldn't help myself!)
Thanks for stopping by.

And the winner is.........

Oh gosh! It was so so so so so hard to choose a winner for my Curvy Card Competition, the standard of entries was phenominal! But, it had to be done and after much deliberation, the winner is..................................

Debbie!

I love how this card has been kept so simple yet the choice of colours and decoration make it so beautiful and elegant. Well done Debbie! Please send me your Address and I'll get your prize in the post.

Look what Shell sent me!

It was my lucky day again yesterday. I got this beautiful card sent to me from my lovely pal Shell for my birthday, tomorrow. Isn't she just the sweetest? I met Shell on the Charmed Craft Talk forum about 2 years ago along with a whole bunch of other lovely crafty pals. Isn't it funny how you can have such close friendships with people you've never met in the flesh.
Thank you Shell it is a beautiful card I think you need to get yourself a blog so that your art work can be shown off properly. What does everyone else think?

Charmed Challenge #1

More fab challenges!!!!!!! And from my favourite site too. I just love popping over to my second home at Charmed and now Karen has introduced a new challenge feature to the forum, I just couldn't wait to get stuck in. Oh yes, and the winner get's to be cardmaker of the month and they get a voucher to spend in the Aladin's cave that is Charmed Cards and Crafts!

Have a look on Karen's blog for more details. Here's the sketch.....

I love using sketches, here's what I did with it......

You also had to use chip board and ribbon. I used my new Gin X paper for the background and made a coordinating chipboard embellishment.

I'm so touched.

I got the most wonderful surprise from Kim at 'Creative Blogs' today. She has featured my blog on her blog and said the most amazing things about me and my work! I really am stunned. Thank you so so much Kim, it means the world to me.

Wow! Look what I got!

Just take a look at this beautiful card that came through my door today! It's from the beautiful Marlou. I was lucky enough to be the closest to guessing right on the song theme to this card. The song was Material Girl (which I nearly went for!) I guessed 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend' which is what Marlou was originally going to have as the theme, how funny is that! This photo doesn't do it justice, it's even more beautiful and touchy feely in the flesh. Thank you Marlou you are such a sweetie. Pop by her blog and see some more of her amazing creations.

DCM - Hang Up Your Stockings

DCM's Little extra this week is to use a Christmas stocking on your card.

Here's mine.....

I Googled again to find this stocking which I printed out and layered on some BG fruit cake papers. Simple but sweet, I think.
This was my last card for my guest spot at DCM, I thoroughly enjoyed my 2 weeks with them. Thanks for having me ladies.

Well Done Holly

I just wanted to share my daughter Holly's good news. She's a runner up in the Do Crafts Kid Crafter of the year competition! YAY!!!!! She gets a years subscription to Art Attack magazine. Here's what she made.........

She made me chop the head of the picture! So you don't get to see her lovely face. What do you think to the bouncy clouds, butterfly and sunshine? Cute ay?

DCM - Song Without Words & Leo's Children in Need Challenge

Oh my What fun! I've had a great time being DCM guest designer and this challenge was the icing on the cake......I would like you to create a card inspired by a song or a carol - it could be for Christmas or not! (you may have got all your Christmas cards done by now...) BUT there is a twist. the words of the song are NOT to be seen on the front of the card. You could leave it to us to guess! Have fun.......

I was a bit stumped at first but then I saw Leo's challenge; to use yellow on a card and make a £1 donation to children in need. So, put the two together and what do you get?........Yellow Submarine of course!

I found the image and printed it out three times and layered it decoupage style onto acetate, I then added a funky flower background inside the acetate card and Voila! Decoupage went funky! P.S I just made this card for fun, I won't be selling it. I'm sure there would be HUGE copyright implications if I did.

Curvy Card Competition

Hi all,
Don't forget to get your entries in for the competition to win a Fiskars Guillotine, you have until 30th November. I'm afraid it's too late to get the free template download (it's been removed) so it's just for anyone who got the template while it was available. All you need to do is email me the image (don't forget your name) or put it on your blog and let me know.
Here are the fabulous entries i've had so far.....

DCM - Baubles, Bells and Bows

This should have been such an easy one but I really struggled this week.....This week we'd love to see you making cards on the theme ofBaubles, Bells & Bows See how much of a dent you can make in the "I need to make X number of Christmas cards" list with this one.

I've ended up using an idea that I saw in the CB supplement, It's not a straight copy (promise!) but it was a huge inspiration.I've used BG Fruitcake papers and a selection of jewels and velvet ribbon.

Di Hickman- Card Sketch

I really love using Di's sketches, I also love to do my own slant on them, I normally turn them over but this time I've kept it the same way up and instead of the diagonal tear i've made a diagonal opening and added some bits of ribbon instead of the torn edge.

I used a cuttlebug embossing folder for the background and decorated it with the free toppers I got in quick and crafty ages ago.

Thank You

I just wanted to take the chance to say a huge thank you to all my blogging buddies that visit and leave such lovely comments, I sometimes feel so bad when I don't get the chance to visit your blogs and return the compliments, it's not that I don't want to it's just I always run out of time in my days. So here's a big hug to you all from me, I love you all to bits and your comments mean so so much to me. Mmmmmwahhh!!!!!

DCM - Guest designer! -YAY!!!

I was so thrilled when the lovely Kathy asked me to be DCM's guest designer for a couple of weeks (thanks Kathy, you're a real sweetie).

This week's dare- Golden Highlights was set by Keryn, here's what she said;Going back over my cards I seem to have a liking for gold as an accent colour. So this week I'd like you to make a card for any season or occasion but must include gold somewhere. It could be a brad, metallic card, heat embossing, ribbon, anything at all as long as it's gold.

Here's what I came up with for my example...

The gold accents don't seem to show up very well in the photo, it's the buckle, the two eyelets, some gold glitter and some gold embossing on the letter.
The card is covered in red felt with a black felt belt added. I added fluffy, white Marabu at the bottom.

Curvy Card Update.

I just wanted to let you all know that the curvy card template and instructions are no longer availabe for free download. I'm in the process of selling it to a design company, they'll then own the copyright and be selling it from their site. It all happened very quickly so i'm sorry I didn't get chance to warn you before the free download became unavailable. Thanks for everyone who has already entered my competition, I don't know how i'm going to choose a winner!

10 Minute Wonder

Oh how I lurrrve my new Cuttlebug embossing folders! This card was made out of a scrap of paper I was experimenting with, I wanted to see what my chalks would be like on it and I was so pleased with the results I made it into a quickie card. I think it's quite sweet.

Another Crafty Template

The houses on this one are from Crafty Templates, it's a bit different and i'm not sure I like it, maybe it'll grow in me.