Charm's Creations

First day & Last day....

Can't believe it's the LAST DAY of the month already!!! So this means your last day for all those challenges to be completed.... most importantly for you to enter Charms Creations Challenge - $20 Voucher up for grabs AND a chance to be a Guest Designer too! You can enter TWICE if you want to as well!

CHECK OUT THE DETAILS HERE!!!

Its also your last chance to enter the Challenge Blog I run - the JANUARY 123 Challenge

I'm very excited about next months 123 Challenge - gotta make sure you check it OUT!

And also your last chance for the other Challenge Blogs I am on...

Stuck?! Sketches

Show Us Your Stuff

White with One

there's a HEAP of others I could mention - but maybe for next month ;)

And for us here in SA.... its the FIRST day of school....

my daughter Harmony starts Year One this year and is SOOOOO EXCITED.... can you tell?

and my son Chei, who starts Year Three, says he doesn't want to go.... and by the photo he is not impressed... BUT he was happy to see me go and was off with his friends as happy as can be!

gotta love the forced smile ;)

ANYWAYS.... only THREE sleeps til sale time!!! Make sure you share with your friends!!!

Love Charmane

Why not scrap a challenge?

As most of you know I am Creative Team Member for a few Challenge Blogs & I thought I would share them with you along with my samples - hopefully to get you maybe to scrap one or two over the weekend :)

First of all is the 123 Challenge Blog that I am Admin on - this has been running since Nov 2006! This year is going to be even more exciting - with our regular Websites who donate and some brand new ones too! We will also be having some Guest Designers as well - so stay tuned for that!

OK, so here is my January 123 Challenge sample for 2012

To find out the Challenge check it out HERE

I have used my White Mixed Fabulous Flowers, along with a Teal & Black Page Runner.... and a Silver Xmas Lovely Lollipop & Page Runner that I specially made up :)

and I love how the "splats" worked out :)

 

The next challenge is White With One - which I have been a CT member for quite a while and is a very popular challenge blog.... here is my January White with One challenge sample...

to find out the challenge - check it out HERE

I have used Lime Green & White Lovely Lollipops & crochet from Lime Tree Creations...

and a Lime Green & White Page Runner - which I have also specially made up :)

ohh and a great chance to use my white Cute clouds!

so I wonder what the criteria is?? It's obvious the colour is Lime Green!

 

Next challenge is a Sketch challenge - and I find Sara's Stuck?! Sketches the easiest to work with when I really am Stuck?!

January 1st Sketch sample looks like this...

Check out the sketch HERE! I have slightly altered it to fit the angle of my photos....

a closeup! I have used a Grassy Green Lovely Lollipop...

and another Custom Made Page Runner to suit my layout - Lime Green and Light Teal...

 

Last but definitely not least is Show Us Your Stuff Challenge One... I love this blog - because its all about using HANDMADE items - so this is always going to be up my alley! So if you buy or make your own why not give this a go...

There are 2 challenges each month at SUYS and the first one is usually a sketch from Sara - you can check it out HERE

Here I have used my Cute Cloud & also a Pinwheel from "Ah Scrap!"

I have used Lil Red Rocket Hot Pink & Denim felt flowers & Charms Creations Hot Pink & Denim Page Runner and a Denim Fabulous Flower...

and the journalling :)

Soooo.... I hope this will inspire you to give at least ONE of these challenges a go over the weekend! If you do please share a link in the comments section below so that I can check it out!

I'm off to scrap with some scrappy internet friends - a few that I haven't met before so its just a bit exciting!

See you when I get back!

xoxo Charmane

 

PS IF YOU WANT MORE CHALLENGE CHECK OUT MY FORUM "CHAT WITH CHARM" - THERE'S A LIST OF ABOUT 50 CHALLENGE BLOGS THERE!

December 123 Challenge...

I'm REALLY stoked about my 123 Challenge this month, it's come up better than I expected - yay! Always a good feeling! It's quite an EASY challenge, and of course my Creative Team have outdone themselves YET AGAIN! And we have a NEW CT Member in our group - so go and check out the work and the new fabulous member!!!

This will be the FIFTH year of 123 Challenge - can you believe it? I definitely can't! Way back in the ole days we used to get at least 60 layouts a month! I guess nowadays there's just too many options - but hey! that's cool - just means the ones that do enter have more of a chance to win something ;) We have some fabulous websites that have supported us through ALL of the years we've been running, and also have some new ones NOW and coming up! I am very excited about it!

soooo... here's some closups...

a mixture of my handmade fabulous flowers and Lovely Lollipops & Green Tara Roses & Kaisercraft flowers...

The apple button is from Lil Red Rocket... Other bits and pieces from Handmade by Suzanne!

Thanks for looking!

Love Charmane

123 Blog Train Winners...

are up on the 123 Challenge Blog...

Congrats to my winner...

Did you enter? did you win something over there? Make sure you have a look!

Kylie - could you please email me your addy via the 123 email {challenge_123@hotmail.com} OR charmscreations@live.com

Thanks to my cute little helpers too!

Love Charmane

October 123 Challenge...

I was a bit scared of the COLOUR criteria over at the 123 Challenge - but once I overcome my fear I made it work for me! Inspired by Lou Nelson, who gave the criteria {and a great tute too!} I hope she likes!

I even managed to use WIRE on my layout - and the gold circle is actually one of my golden bangles :)

I even used Watermark ink and stamped and used embossing powder... WOW! that was fun too!

It's great to "get out of your comfort zone"

You will also notice there are NO Charms Creations on the page!

The paint I used was Kaisercraft Metallic gold paint! I LOVED how it turned out :)

I REALLY hope to see more 123 Challenge Layouts this month, as interest seems to be dwindling - even with gorgeous inspiration and prizes!!!

BTW - Winners of the Blog Train will be up shortly too!

Love Charmane

123 Blog Train - First Stop!

If you have arrived here it’s because you have jumped on the 123 Challenge blog-train!!!

First of all, I have asked the 123 Challenge Creative Team Members to answer a couple of questions to let you all know a bit MORE about us at 123. So here we go…

A bit about me – My name is Charmane and I live in Country South Australia, with my gorgeous partner Ashan and my 3 amazing kids – Chei 7, Harmony 5 and Ryarne 2… I’m a stay-at-home and have been scrapbooking since May 2004, not long after the birth of Chei.

I’ve been involved in many different areas of scrapbooking – in magazines, teaching online classes, on numerous different design and creative teams, but I will just name what I am currently working on…

I am currently on the Design Team over at Handmade by Suzanne – a fabulous website that has a monthly sketch challenge competition and awesome DT members, along with a shop that is FULL of brand new products ALL THE TIME! And at reasonable prices too!

I have been running the 123 Challenge Blog since way back in December 2006, something that I am very proud of, as it was one of the first ever blog challenges {not like the millions there are now!} It has evolved over the years, but I am very happy how it is working now and am stoked with the amazingly talented Creative Team I have!

I recently started a Scrapbooking Forum called Chat with Charm, which started because another forum that I was a regular member on wasn’t running as it should be, so I thought it would be a good idea to start a “mutual” type of forum, based on blog challenges rather than a website that has a shop. This forum is a place to chat with other like-minded scrappers and where you have instant access to links to the enormous amount of challenge blogs that are out in there world-wide-web! I would love to see you ALL there! Please come and say HELLO!

OK, so if that wasn’t enough, I am on a Creative Member over at Lil Red Rocket – Shell, owner of LRR has the most gorgeous Handmade Embellishments – mainly funky buttons, which I am stoked to be on the team with more talented scrappers!

AND…. I am on the Stuck?! Sketches Creative Team {again} I’ve been on Sara’s fab team for quite a while {took 6 months off} I find Sara’s sketches the easiest to work with and LOVE to be inspired by her sketches and inspire others to use them too… and the CT are always amazing too!

If that wasn’t enough I have also been on the White with One Creative Team as well, I have always loved the idea of using White cardstock as a base, and another colour {it specially was a help while I was pregnant with Ryarne, I felt this was the only way I could scrap haha} I’ve been stoked to be on the CT there – the girls work just blow me away!

I also recently joined the Show us Your Stuff Design Team, which is a great little challenge blog, based on using handmade embellishments, which worked in well with my new little venture, which has really taken over everything at the moment, and really happened by accident – I didn’t think it would take off as much as it has – but hey I won’t complain! I am of course talking about Charms Creations, my handmade embellishments that I think that are quite unique to other handmade embellishments!

I have been creating like mad these last couple of weeks for the upcoming sale I am happening which happens to be tomorrow {Thursday 15^th of September} I will be having my stock uploaded to this blog at about 7:30pm SA time, but I have also set up a Facebook shop for the first time this month, and this will be the easiest way to buy my goodies! All details will be here and on my Charms Creations Facebook Page!

So please feel free to pop on over to browse and see if there is something that you like!

ok, So there’s a little about ME, now its time for the 123 Challenge details!

We have LOTS of prizes to giveaway – you will see as you check out everyone’s blogs what we have in store…

I have a Prize pack from Charms Creations to giveaway {photo coming soon}

 

 

For your chance to win, leave a comment and collect the words from each blog. Once you have finished, email the list of words to challenge_123@hotmail.com along with your name by midnight Wednesday 21st September...

And, here is the full list just in case you get lost...

Charmane Koch - http://ourbrightstarsandus.typepad.com/charmscreations/   - you are HERE!

Angela Churchill - http://angc-littlebitsofme.blogspot.com/

Nicolee Cable - http://nixnac.blogspot.com/

Louise Nelson - http://louise-justloolabelle.blogspot.com/

Kerry Murray - http://kerry-scrapskerry.blogspot.com/

Giovanna Scott - http://giovannascott.com/blog-2/

Mandy Dodd - http://www.teacupofscrapisms.blogspot.com/

 

 So, your next stop on the hop is Angela Churchill - http://angc-littlebitsofme.blogspot.com/

Don't forget to write down your word, before you go – 123 Challenge

 

Happy Travelling!!!

Love Charmane

 

August 123 Challenge...

Here's my sample.... and I must admit a bit disappointed that we only had TEN entries for last months challenge, which I thought was quite easy!!! This one is even easier I think - go and check it out HERE!

We always have fabulous sponsors as well! so you really do have to be in it to win it!

Anyway what do you think about my new colour combo of Lovely Lollipops? I've always loved pink and purple growing up and it is a much loved colour of girls isn't it?

I wonder what the WORD is for this month???

and experimenting with another style of page runner.... the sideways runner.... what do you think??? work in progress atm....

and one of my clay buttons - that I've painted with pink then over the top with red when that was dry to give it a bit of two tone...

and the journalling of course :)

Hope to see LOTS of entries this month! Theres so much fabulous inspiration from the Creative TEam and my gorgeous Guest Designer this month :)

xoxo Charmane

July 123 Challenge...

You HAVE to check out the amazing work from the Guest Designer and the Creative Team... just blow me away each and every time, but this would have to rock the most!

Make sure you leave them love over there - CHECK IT OUT HERE!

One of my LUSCIOUS Lollipops {bigger ones}

this month you can vary the word - make sure you check out how ;)

This canvas is one of the ones I started ages ago when Mum was showing us a month or two ago... Love how it turned out :)

MAKE SURE YOU GIVE IT A GO THIS MONTH!!!

Love Charmane

June 123 Challenge...

I've been meaning to put this up since the first, but just trying to find the time!! And its MY challenge blog too~~~ so here is my sample for the June 123 Challenge

I wonder what the WORD is???

I wonder what the colour is too??? and the extra criteria?

Why not go and check it out HERE! The CT have come up with some GORGEOuS layouts to inspire you as well!!!

I really hope that you do have a go at it this month! Some fabulous prizes up for grabs! As usual!!!

Love Charmane

May 123 Challenge....

its a doozy!!! You got to check it out HERE

Find out who our Guest Designer is and see her fabulous tutorial too!!!

Here's my sample...

Nice and bright, and still using the fabulous Echo Park Playground Papers and stickers!

the doozy part has got to be the handstitched title, BUT I have to say.... the Creative Team have done an awesome job and have all interpreted the challenge differently!!!

These lollipops worked perfectly with my page!!!

thanks for looking... and hope you all give it a go!!!

Love Charmane