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.

Don't Forget!

Just a gentle, quiet little reminder............................................................................DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY CURVY CARD COMPETITION!!!!!!!

DCM - Getting Corrugated - Di Hickman Sketch

I got in early this week Yeah!!!!
Here's the brief...... I seem to have developed a little bit of a fixation with old cardboard boxes....! My dare this week is to use some corrugated card on your card - it could be corrugated craft card or an old box etc. taken to pieces :) You could make the card blank from it or die cut shapes etc...
I'm not sure if i've cheated a bit because mine uses corrugated paper instead of card (oops).
I made it a double dare and used this week's Di Hickman sketch (which i've turned around).
I left it without a sentement because I just couldn't decide on one. It's always handy to have a card for any occasion.
The papers are BG Mellow, I've done some stitching in red and added some red velvet Ric Rac. Oh yes the corrugated bit........the flower and the two squares at the top.

Thanks for looking, your comments mean so much to me.

Scrummy Stash Cafe - Show us your Scallops

There's a brand new challenge blog called Scrummy Stash Cafe

If you haven't been there yet you should take a look. this is my take on their second challenge which is to use scallops in your card. I used my Sizzix Scallop frame to make my scallops and I then made them into fish. I've used hearts for the fins and the lips, I love the way they look like they're puckering up for a good old kiss.

I used my cuttlebug Curls and swirls alphabet to make my chip board lettering and one of my cuttlebug embossing folders on the big heart.

Another Chopped Bottle

I've been at it again (bottle chopping that is!) This tea light holder was a small beer bottle before Igot my hands on it. It sure is fun emptying all these bottles!

Idecorated it with blue and red glass paints and micro beads. I like the way the heart glows when the candle is lit.

Getting ready for Valentines Day!

I know it's a long way off but I like to be prepared! They're not going to be for all my boyfriends (really!) They're to sell in the staff room.

I love playing with my primas, for this one I seperated the petals and arranged them into a heart shape. The paper is BG Lilykate.

Altered Wine Bottle - Vase

Here's something different to have a look at! I fancied a change so I got my bottle chopper out and altered this wine bottle. It's the first time I haven't used glass paints on a chopped bottle, I just used ribbon, peel offs, sequins and embossing powder.


I was so pleased to discover that I could stamp and emboss the neck of the bottle to give it a smooth edge. It saved me spending ages sanding it down.

DCM - Cut

It's that time again so here's the brief from DCM....Any theme goes, so for those of you needing a break from Christmas crafting this is the perfect opportunity to have a change. All styles are welcome but there MUST be an element of handcutting somewhere. It could be a greeting, a shape, letters printed on your pc and handcut, anything goes as long as you did it by hand.

I saw This idea in Crafts Beautiful magazine and thought it would fit well with this dare. Each layer of the tree is snipped by hand to create the frill. I thought it looked really simple in the magazine but it was a real faffing about so I think this may be my first and last.

The papers are BG Phoebe.

Tagged Again

Yippee!!! I been tagged again by Marlou, Kathy, Juliet and Debbie Sorry ladies, I know it was ages ago but better late than never (worryingly i've been saying that rather a lot lately!)
Anyway, I have to answer these questions..........

1} If you could have £100 worth of scrapbook paper or assorted embellishments, which would you choose? Erm.................embellishments I think. I have way more papers than I know what to do with.
2}If you had to choose between using only stamps or rub ons, which would you choose? Well I don't use them much but i'd probably go for stamps as they last forever.
3}If you knew how to do both awsome cards and layouts, but could only do one for a year, which would it be? CARDS!!!!!
4} Would you rather own a Scrapbooking store or have your own scrapping room at home?? Theoretically i'm being given one of these right? well I'd take the store, sell it, renovate my already existing craft room the blow the rest on scrummy crafty stash!
5} Last but not least, what is your current cardmaking/scrapping style?? I don't think I have one style, I love to have a go at everything, although I have been really enjoying making my shaped cards for Crafty Templates (they're so much fun!)

Right here are the buddies i'm tagging.........(no particular order, i love em all!)
Emilia I've tagged her so many times now but she inspires me sooo much.
Sadie I love her style, so crisp and fresh.
Flossie Her creations are full of fun spirit, and she's such a sweety
Anna I love to visit her blog, especially when I've lost my mojo. Her work is so inspirational.

Crafty Templates - Design 2

Here's my second design from this months Crafty Templates pack. This one used the 'We Three Kings' template, I decided to type out the words to the 'We Three Kings' song and print it out for the background. I must admit, I'm really pleased with the results.

Crafty Templates Design 1

I used the 'Super Dooper Birthday Cupcake' for this one, it was such fun to make, I even used real hundreds and thousands and those iced swirly thingies.
Thanks for looking.

DCM - Ribbon Topped Recipe

Yeah!!!! I love recipes!!!! and that's what we got this week for te DCM little extra. Here's the recipe.......

4 brads/eyelets
3 circles
2 rectangles
and lashings of ribbon!

The pig's head, body and nose are the circles, the legs are the recatangles, the eyelets and ribbons are in the corners.
I got my first cuttlebug embossing folder yesterday so I just had to use it (I now think I might be addicted!) they give such fab results.

I also got the blue paper yesterday and I love, love, LOVE it (I think it's Papermania, I need to check).