Handmade by Gem: July 2011

28 July 2011

Charisma #30 - 4 legged friends!

This week at charisma we want to see your 4 legged friends!

We are sponsored by the fabulous Digistamp Boutique...

AND.....

Bunny Zoe Crafts!!

Here's y take on this weeks challenge theme

The image is a Penny Black clear stamp, coloured with Promarkers. The papers are by Papermania and I've used punches by MS and XCut. The purple card is embossed with cuttlebug d'vine swirls folder and the sentiment is from craftwork cards. The ribbon and flat back gold pearls are from stash.

Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

24 July 2011

Some recent makes

I'm 26 today! I've had some lovely cards and pressies this morning (including some Thorntons from the Cats, I wonder how they paid?) and we are off out for lunch in a bit with my mum, dad, brother and his gf, but first I thought I'd share a few quick cards I have made recently!

The whole card front of this one is embossed with a cuttlebug folder, then I've just added some ribbon and a craftwork cards sentiment, I'm loving this one :)

I can't take credit for the design of this one as I imitated it from one I saw in a recent magazine but the effect is so stunning I Just had to try it. I used a resist heat embossing technique to make the white flowers then overstamped with a big n juicy variated colour inkpad and sponged around the edges with DIs.

And this one was soooo quick to make but I think it's very effective :) I really have to restrain myself from adding more and more embellies sometimes and spoiling the look!!

Thanks for stopping by today :)

21 July 2011

AUD Sentiments – Enjoy your Day!

Our theme for this fortnights AUD Sentiments challenge is to use the sentiment ‘Enjoy your Day’!!

Our sponsor is Just some Lines and I've used their lovely digi image 'The Cats Meow 7' for my card this week. The image is coloured with promarkers, cut with nesties deckled rectangles and inked around the edges with pumice stone DI. The green paper is by Dovecraft from their sugar n spice pack and the pink is from a DCWV stack.

I've used an EK success border punch on the green PP and MS and Xcut punches to make the leaves and flowers. The button, gems and ribbon are from stash and the sentiment is from craftwork cards. I've added stickles to the cats necklace and also the flowers on the green paper.

Please visit the main AUD Sentiments blog to check out the DT projects and to enter our challenge too Smile

Charisma #29 – Sunshine colours

We’re feeling all Summery at Charisma this week! So we want to see lots of sunshiney colours on your projects to keep the summer going!

We are lucky enough to have sponsoring us this week…

PRIZE ONE

Our first winner will get THREE digital stamps from the Make it Crafty shop!

PRIZE TWO

Four fantastic Digi's of your choice from Meljen's wonderful designs!

I've gone for something a bit different this week and altered a brown box that came with a mug in.
The papers are all from the DCWV Citrus stack, and the leaves and flowers were won in a blog challenge some time ago! The ribbon is from stash. Why are boxes SO flamin hard to get a decent pic of! I promise it looks so much better in person :)

Stop by the main Charisma blog to see lots more inspiration from our fabulous DT!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:
Crafts and Me - add a flower
Penny's Paper-Crafty - Alter it
Deep Ocean Challenge - Ribbons
DDH Challenges - Summer
Lollipop Crafts - Anything goes
One Stitch At A Time - Flowers
Scrappy Frogs - Summer flowers
Digi's With Attitude! - anything goes

18 July 2011

is anyone listening?

just wondering

14 July 2011

Charisma 28 – It’s in the Stars!

grr I hate it when blogger plays up! this was scheduled to post this morning but I've just discovered that it decided 'no can do'...so here is what should have gone out earlier!!

Time for another challenge at Charisma! This time we want to see STARS!

Our sponsors are…

PRIZE 1

PINK CAT STUDIO!!!

One lucky participant will win 5 Digital Stamps of their choice!! How fab is that?

PRIZE 2

a BIG welcome to our newest sponsor!!

CRAFTY EMMA'S Store!!

PRIZE 3

5 Digi's Of Your choice from.....

The Stamping Boutique.

Here's my project for this week. Ive used a digi from stampin dragon designs, coloured with Promarkers. The blue and silver paper is handmade and has little silver stars and dots on it, and the blue paper is by Dovecraft. The stars are from some table confetti, I have a habit of collecting some up wherever I go that they have it out on the tables!!

Thanks for visiting me and dont forget to enter the challenge!

10 July 2011

Gingerloft – Make it Sparkle!

This challenge is RIGHT up my street! We want to see lots of SPARKLE on your projects at Gingerloft for this fortnights challenge!!

I’ve used this gorgeous Gingerloft digi, coloured with Promarkers. The papers are from the Papermania birdsong stack and the leaf, tag and border punch are all by MS. The greeting is a stamp by Personal Impressions. The flowers are from Crafty Bitz, and the ribbon is from stash. I’ve added lots of glitter to the image and the flowers.

Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to visit the main Gingerloft challenge blog to see the other DT’s sparkly creations!!

SUNDAY
I Did It Creations - Floral
Kenny K Krafty Girlz - 1/1 - Anything goes
One Stitch At A Time - Anything Goes
Scrappy Frogs - Summer flowers
FRIDAY
Digi's With Attitude! - anything goes challenge
Wags 'n Whiskers - birthday
THURSDAY
Stamp Insanity - Anything goes
WEDNESDAY
Divas by Design - 1/2 - die cuts/punches
Penny's Paper-Crafty - Happy Birthday
TUESDAY
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes
Craft Room Challenge - Summer Birthdays
Creative Craft Challenges - 1/3 - Pretty Blossoms
Digital Tuesday - Bling It Up
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - 1/1 - Summer Birthday
Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes
Partytime Tuesdays - 1/3 - Square Cards
Try It On Tuesday - Flower Power
MONDAY
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
House of Gilli - Lots of sparkle
Kaboodle Doodles - Celebrations
KB Cute Monday - Anything Goes
There She Goes - Glitter, Glitz and Bling

8 July 2011

Wings

Here's a CAS card I made recently :)

The paper is from the V&A collection and the butterflies are made with a Martha Stewart punch. The greeting is a clear stamp by Fiskars and the dewdrops are from Sarahs cards. I've added pink and black stickles to the bodies of the butterflies.

FRIDAY
Digi's With Attitude! - anything goes
Stamp Something - bugs or butterflies
Wags 'n Whiskers - birthday
THURSDAY
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Butterflies
Meljens Designs - No more than three layers
Stamp Insanity - Anything goes
WEDNESDAY
Divas by Design - 2/2 - die cuts/punches
Penny's Paper-Crafty - Happy Birthday
Truly Scrumptious - things with wings
TUESDAY
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes
Clear It Out! - Wings
Craft Room Challenge - Summer Birthdays
Partytime Tuesdays - 2/3 - Square Cards

7 July 2011

AUD Sentiments - 2 words

My second post for today is to let you know about the new challenge over at AUD Sentiments - 2 words!

I've used the cute little Elvin by Digital Delights, who is our sponsor this week.

He's coloured with Prisma pencils and I've added glossy accents to his eyes to make them look big and shiny! The paper is from the Papermania birdsong stack, and the doily die is by Nellie snellen which I've used to make his green lily pad.

The sentiment is made with a variety of clear stamps and the ribbon is from stash.

Thanks for visiting!

Charisma 27 - All About Flowers

This week at Charisma we want to see FLOWERS on your projects!

Dont forget we have a DT Call open at the moment too, see the main blog for more details on how to apply :)

Prize One

One lucky winner will win a $20 Voucher to the Simon Says Stamp online superstore!! (not inc p&p)

Prize Two

Another lucky winner will recieve 3 packs of die cuts from Crimson Cloud!

I've used this gorgeous stamp from Imagination Crafts, which has been stamped with Versamark and embossed with clear ultra fine embossing powder.

I've then used a resisit technique by inking up my brayer with a Big n Juicy inkpad and brayering over the image. I then wiped off the excess ink from the flowers. The greeting stamp and the flower border are by Papermania and the gems are from stash. I've added stickles to the flower border too

Thanks for stopping by! Dont forget to check out the rest of the amazing DT projects at Charisma!

THURSDAY
Meljens Designs - No more than three layers
Stamp Insanity - Anything goes
WEDNESDAY
Penny's Paper-Crafty - Happy Birthday
TUESDAY
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes
Craft Room Challenge - Summer Birthdays
Try It On Tuesday - Flower Power
MONDAY
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes
Cupcake Craft - Single Layer Cards
Hooked on Crafts - Flowers
Kaboodle Doodles - Celebrations
KB Cute Monday - Anything Goes
Ooh La La Creations - Summer flowers
Stamping Scrapping Central - 1/1- Simple
SUNDAY
Sentimental Sundays - Anything goes plus a sentiment
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - CAS
SATURDAY
2 Sisters - Birthdays
Catch The Bug - 2/3 - Anything Goes
Paper Creator's Crafts - 2/3 - Special Occasion

4 July 2011

DT Call open at Charisma Cardz!

Yep you read it right...Charisma Cardz are having a DT Call!!

It's open from 30th June till 14th July 2011 7pm GMT london time!

*******

It's a chance to design for Charisma and be a part of a fabulous team!!

If you meet the following criteria then please please we'd love to hear from you!

*You must be an active blogger between 3-5 posts a week

*Have high standards of colouring

*Be able to photograph your work
and of course be able to create at least 2 projects a month! if not a few more! (depending on the weeks in the month lol)
oooo and must have a chatterbox within you!! lol

***Benefits***

1. You'll join a fantastic and friendly Design Team!!

2. You'll get freebies from our sponsors!!
3. You'll Gain experience as a DT Member
4. (MOST importatly...) Have LOADS of fun!!!

To apply please email us at charismachallenges@live.co.uk telling us why you'd like to join us, and at least three samples of your work and don't forget your blog address!

Really look forward to hearing from you!!

Vintage card

I made this card for my mum to send my auntie recently, as she was celebrating a 'big' birthday!

The photo is of them both when they were little, scanned and brightened up a bit using Paint shop pro.

I've inked aroud the edges of the photo and the card blank with scattered straw Distress ink. The sentiment is a stamp by Papermania which has been cut with Nesties Fancy Tags and inked with scattered straw too. The paper is from the V&A Collection, and the adhesive pearls are from stash.

Thanks for visiting :)

MONDAY

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

Hooked on Crafts - Flowers

Kaboodle Doodles - Celebrations

KB Cute Monday - Anything Goes

Make My Monday - Vintage

Stamps R Us - 1/2- there was a little girl

Unstampabelles - M, 1/3, no stamps allowed - Celebration

SUNDAY

Sentimental Sundays - Anything goes plus a sentiment

SATURDAY