A Look back at 2013! and things to come in 2014...

Hey y'all!

So i thought i'd pop by and take a look back at 2013 with the new year upon us and for many people around the world it's already 2014!!! Happy new year to those! We've still over 6 hours till midnight here in the UK! So i thought i'd stay in tradition and pick a creation/news from each month of 2013 that best represents my work and achievements in 2013! So let's go!

Jan 2013 January 2013 saw Charisma Cardz Challenges turn 4!!! eeeep!!! and what's more we're about to turn 5 this coming week!!! :) Feb 2013
Feb saw the brand new digi company Time For Tea Designs officially kick off and i was so proud to be able to become a designer for the lovely jo on her team! March 2013 March was a pretty quite month for me! Never the less i spent a fortune at the nec!
April 2013 It was a tough choice for Aprils card i love most of my creations this month! 
May 2013 I seemed to have tried alot of new techniques out in may inc brayering needless to say i've errr neglected that brayer since may! eeek! June 2013 This was my favourite card from June, however June saw me get back into scrapbooking once again! so i'm picking a layout too this month!
July 2013 July was a busy month for me always is being my birthday month! and prepping for our summer hols! alot of my friends also decided it was time for babys! hehe!  Aug 2013 August saw me published in Die Cut Crazy Magazine! wahooo! i was thrilled to be contacted! totally over the moon!
As August was my main holiday month i couldn't pick just one favorite creation so here's a ''few'' of my favs! My Heart Button Frame! And my favorite layout of my kitty! Sept 2013 September was a life changing month for me in many ways than one and in the crafting world that was no different... this bad boy came to live with me....
and boy did it open a whole new world for me!!! here's two of my fav creations (card wise)
and and not forgetting my favourite creation was of course my music note frame which Danny Mercer saw on twitter (can be seen on his profile!!!! eeek!!!) and not forgetting has been sent to Pitbull too!  Oct 2013 Oct saw me become an official Die Cut Crazy Magazine contributing editor! how thrilled was i to be asked! i still can't believe it when i see the magazines each month!!!  Nov 2013 My advent calendar was defo my most epic creation of the entire year well in my eyes! i loved making it! Dec 2013 well december was amazing!
I was on the front cover of Die Cut Crazy....
I was inspired beyond words (see this post) And i beat my mom at the door decorations for christmas this year!!!
2013 Has been a rough ride for me outside of crafting with life in general things i've never thought i'd ever have to go through i've had to endure and find the strength to get through even when i've thought i couldn't find that strength! But i did and i feel amazing that i held it together, I know there's much more to come on my journey but i'll get there and when i do i hope to share the most amazing news with you all.... fingers crossed i can share that in 2014 with you all!  2014 holds many things for each of us and i hope that I get that one wish this coming year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!

I'm off for a well earned Chinese and a few alcoholic beverages with my family! Love & Peace

Candy Cane Wreath

Hey! I'm back!

Before the new year arrives i'm squeezing in some blog posts i've missed over the last few days/weeks as i've been super busy with work! so today.... I have this fantastic Wreath to share!

It was my mom who inspired me this year to create something a little different, ahhh whom I trying to kid!, so she created some bog standard fir cones for her front door and as we go I wanted to outdo her! Ha-ha! I buy Candy Canes every Christmas to go on our table or on branches of our tree, so I thought why not make a wreath! 

You can find the full tutorial and more about my wreath in the Decembers issue of Die Cut Crazy Magazine!

And don't forget... For those who'd like to see a sneak peek of my work and the other talented ones from the DCC Family over at Die Cut Crazy Magazine, check out the link below you can download the special Christmas Edition Free! as a PDF! also available on ITunes Newsstand / Apple App Store on all ISO Devices, and of course... not forgetting our latest issue is available to buy! 

http://diecutcrazymag.com/pdf-version/

I'd like to enter my wreath to the following challenges:

Stampin With The Dragon (W2 of 2) - Last Minute Christmas

Wags 'n Whiskers - No. 119 - (W2 of 2) - Christmas

4 Krafty Girlz -  (W2 of 2) Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments Challenge - (W2 of 2) #96- Christmas

Creative Knockouts - #17 Anything Goes

Southern Girls  - (W2 of 2) Christmas Wishes

Divas by Design  - Anything goes (ends Jan07)

Little Red Wagon - #217 Anything Christmas 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts!
xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations are available to purchase and my 2014 Custom Order book is now open over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Love & Peace

Last of the festiveness! & Candle Tutorial

Morning all! 

I certainly hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! I did! and man i'm stuffed! i've finally been let out of the kitchen! haha (those who are on my facebook and twitter will know!) lol!

I'm here today to share the news of the issue of Die Cut Crazy (i know im a lil late it's been out a few weeks) but i've been so busy so better late than never! of course it's jam packed full of creativeness from all the DCC Family inc me! so i'm here this morning to share a few of my projects that can be found in this months mag! don't worry you'll still be able to purchase it even when Jan issue is out! why not subscribe ;-) that way you'll not miss any!! hehe! 

So here's some peeks of projects you can find from me!

It’s nice to receive and send your non-traditional cards at this time of the year, but I myself only being 28 have a love for a little different yet traditional at the same time which is why I created this Angel card! Keeping in line with a quite Traditional Image, but yet a modern feel packed with embellishments and a lovely hanging charm (which the recipient could choose to keep!) I actually created this card for our Stop4Life counselor who's helped me and my hubby on our journey and we've successfully quit!!! yay! and i for one with all the stress never thought i ever would! more pennys for craftyness eh! haha! I'm hoping to jet off to Miami next year! wahoo!!! can't wait!

I'd like to enter my card to the following challenges:

Pumpkin spice - #52 Anything Goes

Totally Papercrafts – No. 197 - Christmas using Non-Traditional Colors

Cute Card Thursday -  #301 Anything Goes

Creative Belli -#185  Christmas (2nd week)

*Card Recipe*

*C/Stock - Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla & Whisper White

* DSP -  Forever Friends Christmas

*Image - Lili of the valley
*Sentiment - From Stash

*Embellishments  - Gems from Meiflower, Prima Flowers, Buttons/Pearls and Charm from stash
*Ribbon - American Crafts
*Die Cutting - Silhouette Cameo

For my second project I decided to make something as a gift....

I’m all for handmade at this time of the festive period and love giving personalized gifts to my friends and family! This project is inexpensive and super quick! And perfect for my friend whom i made it for! Again I love the fact i can use my Cameo to design virtually anything i like! So i've written a lil how to...

  Take a pillar candle (preferably one that comes with cello wrap, makes a nice gift to be able to wrap it back up) and the bonus is you can use any colour size and smelly ones too!

  Carefully unwrap so that you can re-wrap it back up!

  Using sheets of any colour vinyl along with die cutters you can create any shapes for your candles (please remember that vinyl is flammable so these are intended as decoration when used on actual candles). And gently smooth them onto the surface!

  Re wrap your candle and there you go quick simple yet effective handmade gift! Not just for Christmas but any occasion!

I'd like to enter my candle to the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar  -  December Cold and Frosty

Little Claire's   - (Nov/Dec) #40  Make a gift

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! And don't forget to check out the Magazine! I've lots more projects inside and of course the awesomeness from the rest of the DCC Family!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! 
xoxo 

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Love & Peace

Little Snow Birdie...

Morning all!

Are you ready for christmas? two sleeps to go!!! eeek! and that means two more nights for me at work yay!

Before the fat man himself squeezes down the chimney or enters your house with a magic key... which ever story is fine hehe! he's getting his reindeer ready!

It's a brand new fortnightly challenge at That Craft Place this week and i'm here with another creation to share for the Design Team!

I adore how this turned out and in real life the colours are much nicer than a photo! 

doesn't that drive you mad!!! lol 

I adore these papers by My minds eye infact who can't love that paper brand! there colour schemes are lush! 

This challenge is ANYTHING GOES and as always we have a fab prize to be won so hop on over to the challenge blog and see what else our DT came up with to inspire you all! 

I'd like to enter my card to the following challenges

Sweet Pea Stampers (W1 of 2) - Christmas / New Year

Crafty Little Fairies  Anything Goes...2 week challenge

Cute Card Thursday - #300 Celebrations

Passion for Promarkers - include a sentiment

*Card Recipe*

*C/Stock - That Craft Place

* DSP -  My Minds eye - That Craft Place

*Mediums - Promarkers & Flexmarkers

*Image - Wee Stamps
*Die Cuts - Cut on Cameo

*Other  - Gems ''Meiflower'', Flowers - Prima, Stickles - Diamond Ice, Charm - Ebay, Martha Stewart Star Border punch, Embellishments from various places inc That Craft Place

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! And I can pop along and visit you too!! xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Be Sure to leave me a comment so i can pop by your blog!

Happy Holidays...

Morning all!

I'm late with my Design Team post for the wonderful challenge over at Digi Sketch Challenge we have a wonderful sponsor and a fantastic sketch to follow this week! 

So pop over and have a peek!

Mega quick post from me this morning as i'm mega busy with christmas tree cakes!!! eeekkk!

Here's my super quick card!

I'd also like to enter to the following challenges - 

Creative Belli  - #185  Christmas

Creative Moments - #32 Winter Wonderland/Anything goes  (2nd week)

*Card Recipe*

*C/Stock - That Craft Place

* DSP -  My Minds Eye

*Mediums - Promarkers & Flexmarkers

*Image - Penny Black
*Die Cuts - Sizzix Scribble Swirl

*Other  - Pearls ''Meiflower'', Ribbon - American Crafts, Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! And I can pop along and visit you too!! xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Be Sure to leave me a comment so i can pop by your blog!

Little Sweetie

Morning all!

I'm here this morning with something other than a Christmas creation!!! yay!!! lol I know how super tired everyone can be at this time of the year with all the festivities but i thought i'd pop by with a new creation that isn't Christmas at all! nope not one spec! infact it's what i'd call...

The perfect me card!

Yep i have to say this card is one of (theirs hundreds) of favorites that i've ever made! but it's also going to be in the next issue which will be out the first week on January of Die Cut Crazy! so i'm not gonna ramble on too much about how it's made and why it's so me?! as you'll have to buy the mag to find out and also see what else i've made!!! hehe!

So i've combined it and thought i'd share with my lovely DT gals over on Team B at Charisma this week for the challenge of Anything goes! we have some awesome prizes to be won as always!

I'm back to work tonight for what i can only say is.... 5 nights of hell!!! arrrggghhh roll on Christmas eve!!

Here's my card!

which i'd like to enter to the following challenges

Addicted to Stamps and More  - #76 Anything goes

Crafty Creations - #253 Anything goes (ends Jan08)

Paper Shelter Challenge - #141 Anything Goes (ends Jan07)

Crafty Sentiment Designs  -  Birthdays

Everybody-Art-Challenge  - #258 No Christmas Card

Sweet Stamps - #148 Glitter

Crafty Bloggers Network - (December) Girly

*Card Recipe*

*C/Stock - That Craft Place

* DSP -  The Scrap Cake

*Mediums - Promarkers & Flexmarkers

*Image - All Dressed Up
*Die Cuts - Cut on Cameo

*Other  - Pearls ''Meiflower'', Flowers - Wild orchid Crafts & That Craft Place, Lace & Ribbon - Ebay, Martha Stewart Doily heart lace punch, Chalks.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! And I can pop along and visit you too!! xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Be Sure to leave me a comment so i can pop by your blog!

#Nevergiveup on dreams! Inspired by @pitbull

Morning all!

A super early post from me this morning!

I've been meaning to share this creation with y'all for a while now however i've been snowed under with work and sleep and writing i've not had chance to show it off!

A few people who read my blog, facebook and twitter and know me in real life will know that this piece today means quite alot to me, i'm not going to go into the whole story but im sure if you follow me or read back through my blog or what not you'll get the gist somehow... anyways... I'm a firm believer of following your dreams and goals in life!

I heard a quote not long back that actually really inspires me by a famous American rapper ''Armando Perez'' otherwise known as ''Pitbull'', i happen to be a fan of his music (more so the words and the meanings)  and i was watching something on my ipad about his work with Slam in Miami, but that quote was this... ''It's important to know where your from, If you don't know where your from, you don't know where your going, and if you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything''. 

That right then when i heard that was like wooo that applies to me and my life how i have struggled for years not knowing where i was from and how i became me so to speak so for years i didn't know (and im talking 20+) here, where i was going that i didn't stand for something and fell for everything. But on hearing that i took inspiration from it... I do now know where i'm from, where i'm going and i do stand for something and that something means i won't fall for anything again! 

So for me Armando inspired me from those words to re-evaluate my life and really push and remember to never give up on my dreams! so i did what i do best and applied that to my art work! For i find that Creating is the key to my happiness whilst bringing a smile to others! 

I created this which i intend to frame to just remind me of that quote when i need that push!

Maybe one day i'll be able to thank him for those words with 15+ million followers i doubt it but #nevergiveup right!?

** Design Copyrighted @Charismacardz ** 2013 - Carlyann  Stamps by That Craft Place - Ditzie Designs Challenge Submission for -  All Dressed Up - CAS
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts!
xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Love & Peace

Christmas!!!!

Morning all!

Well it's certaintly starting to feel alot like Christmas for me that's for sure!

Work is a total nightmare of course being in retail it's the most busiest time of the year and Morrisons is no different i can asure you!

Anywayssss..... I'm here today to tell ya all about a new challenge over at That Craft Place!

This fortnight we're sponsored by the lovely All Dressed Up Digi Stamp Etsy Shop!

They're images are adorable and becoming a favorite of mine for sure!

This fortnight is all about Christmas of course! so why not pop along to the challenge and you could be lucky enough to win our fab prize!

We're lucky enough to be allowed to play with a digi this week and i chose to use this one called 'Merry Christmas little star' it's so adorable! I've been playing with the snow effect this week i need some more practise but i'm loving the effect in real life!

Here's my card!

*Card Recipe*

*C/Stock - That Craft Place

* DSP -  Basic Grey 25th & Pine

*Mediums - Promarkers & Flexmarkers

*Image - All Dressed Up
*Die Cuts - Cut on Cameo

*Other  - Gems ''Meiflower'', Flowers - Prima & That Craft Place, Stickles - Diamond Ice Chunky, Snow effect, Button - ebay

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! And I can pop along and visit you too!! xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Be Sure to leave me a comment so i can pop by your blog!

What a Cracker! Christmas and snow!

Evening all!

I thought i'd pop by with another christmas creation from me!

I loooove how this card turned out, I've soooo much i wanna do the list is endless at the moment! I just need like some extra time from somewhere! haha! just not enough hours in the day right now!

December is a busy bee month for me! and work is crackers (literally)! im not just talking about the pulling type i mean the ediable ones too! haha! I'm awaiting the white stuff soon it's forcast! hehe but for now i've been playing again with my snow effects!!!

Anyways... I've created another christmas card with the beautiful images from lili of the valley i really adore james bear he's so darn cute!

I'd like to enter my card to the following challenges 

Delicious Doodles -  No. 65 - Christmas/ New Year

Stampin' For The Weekend -  (W1 of 2) - Use Some Red

Divas by Design  - Festive

Stamp n Doodle -   Christmas

*Card Recipe*

*C/Stock - That Craft Place

* DSP -  Basic Grey Joyeux Noel

*Mediums - Promarkers & Flexmarkers

*Image - Lili of the valley
*Sentiment - From Stash

*Other  - Flowers - Wild orchid crafts, Distress Ink ''Tea dye'', Ribbon from stash

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! And I can pop along and visit you too!! xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Be Sure to leave me a comment so i can pop by your blog!

Die Cut Crazy Magazine! I'm on the front!!!! :)

Morning all!

Wooo hooo the newest & I may add Free holiday issue of Die Cut Crazy is out!!! Exclusive to subscribers! And if your not already a subscriber you really should be! every month is packed full of different ideas, designs and more! and what's more... i'm a contributing editor! (smiles) so you get to see more projects and things from me each month!!!

I thought i'd pop by this morning just to show ya something i'm verrrry excited about!!! I've not ONE but Two!!!! projects on the front of the mag!!! eeeekkkk!!!! 

Go check out Die Cut Crazy Magazine!  Don't have an apple device? no prob's head over to Die Cut Crazy's website to find out more and about our PDF versions! 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! And I can pop along and visit you too!! xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Be Sure to leave me a comment so i can pop by your blog!

Distressing!

Morning all!

Super quick post for me this morning i've lots of posts coming up on my blog shortly, however i'm just stopping in with some added inspiration for this week's challenge at Charisma which Team B have decided this week's challenge is ALL Distressed (sounds abit like me with work) haha!

Here's my card for this week!

*Card Recipe*

*C/Stock - That Craft Place

* DSP -  Dovecraft

*Mediums - Chalks

*Image - Lili of the valley
*Sentiment - Ribbon from That Craft Place

*Other  - Card Candi - Craftwork cards, Distress Ink ''Tea dye'' & Vintage Photo, Stickles - Golden Rod

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! And I can pop along and visit you too!! xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Be Sure to leave me a comment so i can pop by your blog!

Stars! #VisibleImage

Morning all!

So i'm here this morning to shout about a brand new challenge over at That Craft Place!

This week's challenge is

STARS!

Up to quite recently i've had a major issue with a lack of embellishments so i errrr went a bit mad, and stars.... well they were included! I was to originally use a different stamp set for my design team work today but i've misplaced it, it's somewhere in my craft-rooms honestly! grrr... so whilst i was at the NEC i popped by the lovely Visible Image stand (who are our sponsor this fortnight!) and said hello to the lovely Mark & Helen! Whilst i was there i brought the lovely Molly Rules stamp set (wiiiiissssh i brought more now i love how crisp these stamps stamp out) they're defo on my list for next stamps to buy! 

So what did i create this week?

Well... i've been inundated with Christmas things the last few weeks so i thought i'd actually make myself something for a change haha!

And dug out the STARS!

I also wanted to enter my project into this month's challenge over at Visible Image which is ''Make it sparkle''

I created a T-Bar Star Dangle Bracelet totally from scratch toooooook me absolutely hours and my finger tips are still sore a day later! And I absolutely love how it turned out! (never wanna take it off) haha! I've been inundated with requests to make more!! eeeekkk! my poor fingers haha!

I Stamped out the Molly Rules Stamps onto Frosted Shrinkles and coloured them in with Promarkers and flexmarkers before carefully trimming round them and punching a hole to create the charms which are soooo darn cute! I added some sparkle dusts to the one side of the charms just to give it a little more sparkle hehe! 

So here's my finished Bracelet!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! Be sure to pop by That Craft Place Challenge we have a fabulous prize from Visible Image!!
 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! And I can pop along and visit you too!! xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Be Sure to leave me a comment so i can pop by your blog!

Advent!

Hey All!

I'm back with a mammoth of a project today!
Which can be found in the Die Cut Crazy Magazine Special Subscription only issue of our Christmas edition out soon!

So with my hubby convinced that he should onnnnnly have  a One direction advent calendar (you've got more chance of me having a spice girls one) haha! With the holidays coming around so soon and the countdown to Christmas beginning soon what a fun and festive way to celebrate than to make your own advent calendar filled with your favourite goodies! I’ve been toying with the idea for years and this year I’ve made it my mission to finally complete that project (and munch on a few extra chocolates along the way!). Don’t get me wrong there’s nothing wrong with the traditional chocolate advent calendars but I thought how cool would it be to make something I could keep and use year after year and fill each box with something I like to treat myself through-out the month of December!

Completely made from scratch using card stock! and my cameo ;)
And after wrestling with card stock glue and sticking myself to everything bar the actual project after 3 hours i completed it!!! AND I LOVE IT! I'd like to enter my project to the following challenges

Cute Card Thursday  - #296 Anything but a Card

Fab 'n' Funky- #194  Anything Goes
Paper Shelter Challenge  - #138 Christmas

Penny's Paper-Crafty - #154 Anything goes

I love the simpleness of it and it's something i can keep and use over and over in christmas's to come!

I’d purchased the Cutting file for the advent calendar from the Silhouette Store via my cameo, a bargain of only $0.99! And Lori Whitlock’s video tutorial helps no end with the instructions of how to put it together! Which I thoroughly recommend! I changed the design by mixing the colours of the boxes instead of all white to make it more my own, and used the beautiful papers from Echo park along with some white die cut numbers also cut out via my cameo and finished it with some matching sparkly gems!
Each square is a box that comes out.....



Which can be filled with your favorite treats! I must admit i grossly under estimated how much a box holds so i need to go shopping for chocolate again! (haha) At the moment mine has Lindor Chocolates but there is so much more room in there I’m sure more sweets will be filled in there soon!

But i guess they'd be fab for kids, or anyone really you could fill these cute boxes with a present a day! beats the boring naff chocs in a normal advent calender I guess and now.... my hubby really does want one and nope!!! HE'S Stuck with with One Direction one haha!!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

Don't forget to Subscribe to the Die Cut Crazy Magazine here on app store! for your monthly creative magazine and also see more of my projects and inspiration every month!

 I'd love if you'd leave a comment to let me know your thoughts! And I can pop along and visit you too!! xoxo

Don't forget - Most of my Creations and Now I'm taking Custom Orders over at my Handmade Cards & Crafts Shop @ Charisma Cardz!

Be Sure to leave me a comment so i can pop by your blog!