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?