TOP TIP TUESDAY use more than one layer and a fab paper piecing tutorial...

Hi there, this week over a TTT the lovely Anne has a fab tutorial on Paper Piecing and the challenge is to use more than one layer on your project. I don't know about you but I have only done this once and I really enjoyed it and loved the finished effect it gives. So why not pop over and have a read and don't forget if you have a Top Tip you can leave it in the comments section below the post. As always there are fabulous prizes to be won for the challenge and a separate one for the Top Tips.

I'll be back  later with a few Christmas cards to share.
Thanks for popping in

A fab new Award....

Hi ! I have been given this fab award by my lovely friend Carly. I have known Carly now for nearly 2 years since she asked me to be on the DT at Charisma when it first started. She's just so sweet and has worked really hard to make Charisma Cardz one of the top challenge blogs on the net. Thanks so much Carly this it's fabulous.

The rules of this Award are simple, I have to tell you three things about myself that you may not know and then pass it on to 5 lucky people, so here goes....

1. I taught myself how to play the guitar when I was 17, I don't play much now but I really enjoy listening to my youngest Son Matt play he's much better than his Mum ever was...

2. I once met the Fabulous Rod Stewart(swoooon!!!) back stage at the Apollo in Glasgow. He had on his famous leopard skin suit and had his hair spiked and coloured bright orange. Hanging on his every word was Britt Ekland his partner at the time. We're talking way back in the seventies here when I was just in my early twenties, what a night!!!!! Fabulous concert too.

3. My Hubby and I lived in Donegal Ireland for the first year of our marriage in a small village called Dunkineely.

I'm passing this on to the following five bloggers

Elaine..... who has been my friend for many years and I love her unique style of card making. She has an amazing nack of finding craft shops wherever she goes. A special friend.

Leanne...We were DT buddies on Charisma together and now we're blogging buds again on

TOP TIP TUESDAY. She's such a lovely sweet lady and makes totally gorgeous cards.

Allison....is also a DT buddy at Charisma, I love her special style and her creations always leave me thinking..." I wish I could do that!!"

Fiona....has a fabulous blog and makes the most amazing cards. She is very sweet and kind and always leaves lovely comments that make my day.

Joanne...is also one of my DT buddies at Charisma. She always makes the most amazing cards and projects, and reading her blog always leaves me smiling.

Have fun with your award ladies, and if you follow all the rules and visit HERE first, you can qualify for a $5 Gift Voucher from Digi's With Attitude.

TOP TIP TUESDAY...Seeing things differently

Good morning all, this weeks TOP TIP is from Leigh and she has some really fabulous ideas and tips on how to use buttons on your projects. Please pop over to the blog and see the gorgeous creations by the DT. It's put me in the mood for using all my button stash now. You tend to forget how good they look on your cards and the vast variety of buttons now available is amazing.

So lets see all those button projects this week and don't forget if you would also like to leave a Top Tip you can do so in the comments section and be in with a chance of winning a lovely prize from our Sponsors.

I don't have a card to show you today but I will try and create a button project within the next couple of days. I'm afraid my Mum is still very ill and in hospital so all my time is being spent going up to see her.

Looking forward to seeing all your lovely cards, projects and Tips this week.

Happy crafting

Charisma Cardz...Sympathy

Finally I've managed to get a minute to post this weeks challenge at Charisma.

It's Leah's first challenge for Charisma and she would like you to create a Sympathy card. Not an easy one this week but unfortunately we all need them at some time in our lives. If you are looking for some inspiration then pop over to the challenge blog and see the lovely cards that the DT have made.

As always we have some fab prizes for you and of course there's also the top three badges.

Now onto my DT card this week....

DP free Kate Knight from Cardmaking & Papercraft

Rose frame stamp from PSX

Sentiment done on Computer

Prima flowers

Thanks for popping in, happy crafting

I am aslo entering this card into the Lily of the Valley challenge and blog hop..Anything Goes

4 Crafty Chicks.....With Sympathy

Grannie's first cuddle.........

Big Brother Christopher with Niamh

Big Brother Daniel with Niamh

Grannie Vee and Niamh

My little Grand Daughter Niamh Emma arrived this morning at 10.51 am and I just had to share a picture with you. This is my first cuddle, she's just beautiful I could have held her all night.

It's not a very clear photo but I'll have plenty more in a few days, hopefully a bit better. I really need a new camera.

I made a Nappy Cake, my first attempt I was really pleased with it and my Son and Daughter-in-Law loved it so that's what counts.

I've had a day of mixed emotions today as my Mum was in Hospital for an operation too at the same time Niamh was born. My nerves are shot to bits. My Mum is 90 years old and had to have an emergency op this morning she is now in High Dependency Unit and hopefully will make a full recovery but she will be in hospital for a while yet.

I've got a busy week ahead and will try and keep up with my blog as well but if I'm awol for a while I'll be off getting more cuddles...lol

Thanks for popping in

With LOVE @ Christmas...Charisma challenge

Good morning , this post is scheduled today as I'm now back at work again. Not fully recovered yet but getting there.

Now onto this weeks challenge at Charisma.

Carly-Ann is looking for LOVE AT CHRISTMAS.

As always we are really looking forward to seeing your fab projects, remember the choice of what you make is yours as long as it fits the challenge.

For my DT card this week I have used Tilda in a red dress. Not a Christmas image but I think she looks lovely and Christmassy anyway.

Recipe

Image Tilda

DP Dovecraft Christmas Traditional from last year.

A little piece of Wild Asparagus paper green with red dot

( love these papers but don't have many left)

Martha Stewart Arch border punch

Poinsettia Mariane's Creatables

Circle and Oval nesties

Snowflake CB embossing folder

Sentiment free from Pollycraft

Thanks for popping in today and don't forget to visit Charisma and see the fabulous Creations from our very talented DT.

Happy crafting

TOP TIP TUESDAY...my first DT creation

Hi all, this week is my first official week on the fab team over at Top Tip Tuesday and I'm really looking forward to the challenges ahead.

This week we have a fabulous tutorial for you by the lovely Carol and some stunning work from the DT.

The format for the challenge has changed slightly so why not pop over and find out what you have to do to win some fab prizes.

Here is the recipe for my card.

Card topper from Kanban

DP free download from Bearly Mine Designs here

Martha Stewart snowflake panel punch

Large snowflake is a Sizzix Die

Sentiment free from Pollycraft

Tree charm and ribbon from stash

Oval Nesties

Thanks for popping in and I look forward to reading all your amazing tips this week.

I am entering this card into the following challenges

A spoonfull of sugar.........Embellishments

ABC challenge.............Glitter

Simon Says.........Punch em

Incy wincy designs.........Anything goes

Match Master @ Charisma

Good morning everyone! It's Thursday again and that means another fab challenge at Charisma Cardz. This week the lovely Alie has chosen the theme and she would like to see a matching card and envelope.

My DT inspiration for you this week is a Baby card and envelope, I have used a fab little image from the Digi Stamp Boutique who are one of our sponsors this week. The image is from a set of two called Baby Zoe and Henry. I really love this image it's just so cute and the other one Henry is gorgeous too. If you haven't visited Digi Stamp Boutique yet why not pop over and see all the fab new images for October.

Recipe

Image Baby Zoe DSB. coloured with Copics and I paper pieced the pram

DP a free download ( sorry don't remember where)

Thin cuts die Baby

Circle Nesties

Field of Sky Stamp (round the outside of the inner Nestie)

Martha Stewart Doily punch

CB Swiss Dots embossing folder

Nellie Snellen Mutli frame

Woodware heart punches

Nellies Choice punch frond

Ribbon Wild Orchid Crafts

White Flowers from stash

For the flowers I mixed Perfect Pearls with water, I saw Tim Holtz do this a while ago, and filled a Mini Mister spray, I then sprayed the white flowers a few times and I must say I'm delighted with the effect, and you don't have to put a sealer on either as the Perfect Pearls already contains a sealer. I think I will be doing this to all my flowers now...lol. Much cheaper option to buying all those Glimmer mists. You can see the fab shimmer it creates on the second pic.

Sorry for the poor picture quality but it's been so dull here today I couldn't get a nice light to photograph in.

Don't forget to pop over to Charisma and see the fabulous matching sets the DT have created and of course those fab prizes that you can win.

Thanks for popping into my blog today and I look forward to seeing all your Match Maker creations this week .

Take care

MORE FABULOUS NEWS.....

Hi everyone!!!! I just had to share my good news with you.

Leanne my lovely blogging buddy and owner of Top Tip Tuesday challenge blog has asked me to join her fabulous DT. Of course she didn't have to ask me twice and I jumped at the chance to be part of her fabulous team.

Of course you will all remember Leanne from her previous Charisma days. I'm so chuffed to be working with her again. I'm really looking forward to passing on my tips and hope you will all do the same. The more tips we gather the better crafters we all become!!.

So if you have some hot tips you use why not share them with everyone and also be in with a chance of winning a prize too.

**********************

FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS ONLY

Top Tip Tuesday has an open challenge , ANYTHING GOES so you don't have to include a Top Tip this time we just want to see all your fab creations.

Don't forget the PRIZES.........

4 of them this time....pop over to the TTT blog and see what they are.

Thanks for popping into my blog today

Happy crafting!!

TOP TIP TUESDAY...ANYTHING GOES

Hi there, no card again today but I have some fab news for you instead.

This week over at

TOP TIP TUESDAY

instead of showing you a Top Tip they have an ANYTHING GOES challenge with four delicious prizes on offer. You don't have to give a Tip with this challenge, they just want to see your fab projects and cards, how easy is that!!

The challenge will last for two weeks and you can enter up to three times.

So why not pop along and see the gorgeous cards the DT have created for your inspiration , remember, each card or project must be new and and linked back to Top Tip Tuesday.

Have fun!!