Dottie's World

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Hi all, Karen and Louise here. We are putting our challenges on the shelf for a little while as we unfortunately do not get enough entries to make them viable; a huge thank you to our regular visitors. The blog will instead showcase project ideas and include more tips and techniques - with the occasional challenge and blog candy thrown in no doubt :-) We do hope you will continue to visit ♥

Conditional Christmas

2010-09-12T07:00:00.005+01:00

This is the time we all make a start on our huge pile of Christmas cards - if it isn't then it should be as you surely don't want that last minute panic :-) To get you started we would like you to create a Christmas card, the condition here is that you must not use traditional Christmas colours, so I don't want to see any reds or greens, anything else is good to go. The only absolute must-have is of course one of the gorgeous Charmed downloads.

Here is some inspiration from the design team:

Inside:

Gunn

The Great Outdoors!

2010-09-05T07:30:00.006+01:00

I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone, children going back to school and the thought of Autumn ahead already. Let's make the most of the weather whilst we can!

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Please make a card, project with an outdoor theme. That's the only requirement apart from obviously using one or more of the fabby Charmed Downloads.

XXXX

Gunn

Please leave a link and we'll come looking :-)

On the Beach!

2010-08-29T07:14:00.007+01:00

Hello Folks, Louise here. As this challenge goes live I will actually be sunning myself in Turkey! So I think it would be a fitting plan to make a beach/vacation themed card - make it sunny please! Don't forget your Charmed download!

Look at what we came up with....

Gunn

We look forward to seeing your wonderful projects :-)

Draw Winner

2010-08-22T11:00:00.005+01:00

So sorry I'm a week late with this, wont bore you with details but life has turned a little manic of late.

Here is the winner of the random draw. You stand a good chance of winning our draws as we don't get many entries into our challenges.

That is ROSIE.
Congratulations Rosie. I'll need your email so please send it thorugh HERE.

Please scroll down for this weeks challenge

Be Inspired!

2010-08-22T07:18:00.004+01:00

Hello Guys and Gals, Louise here,

We haven't had a photo inspiration challenge for blummin ages! So here we go, use this picture as inspiration to make a card (or even something else!)- maybe it will be the colours, maybe the flower, maybe the romantic feel of it - there are no rules with inspiration challenges, it's how the picture effects and inspires you. Oh actually there is one rule! The rule is -and believe me some people still forget this one - USE A CHARMED DOWNLOAD!

Karen

Please enter a link to your card in Mr Linky and we will come looking. Have a great week x

Your Favorite Charmed One

2010-08-15T07:00:00.006+01:00

This week I thought you can get an easy challenge. We have to admit to ourselves at least, that we often get favourites. That can be a book, a flower, movie, friend a family member or whatever....

This week I want you to take your favourite Charmed One- a new or old and just make a card or project with it. You can do whatever you want, just have fun. But your favourite has to be a CHARMED DOWNLOAD.

So let me see lots of favourites this week, and have fun.
*Gunn*

Gunn

Frame it!

2010-08-08T07:00:00.015+01:00

Hi gang :-)

Hope you are enjoying your weekend so far. Been raining cats and dogs here in London, I do hope you manage to catch a glimpse of the sun where you are once in a while!

Good news! From now on we will be giving you *something *on the first Sunday of each month! Strictly speaking this is the second Sunday of the month, but who's counting :-) This month there is a £10 voucher to spend in the Charmed online shop for one lucky participant in this weeks challenge. The draw will be performed at random.org and the result announced next Sunday. GOOD LUCK!

On to the challenge. This week we would like you to frame something on your card. It could be framing an element, an image or indeed the card itself. Along with the frame I would like to see a few dots, how you present them is up to you. Please don't forget the most important part - a Charmed Download, which must feature somewhere on your card :-)

Gunn

Please leave your link in Mr Linky and we will visit your blog and gaze upon your lovely creation :-)

Manly with a twist!

2010-08-01T07:29:00.007+01:00

Hi everyone, it's Adele here! Whilst looking through my stock box I noticed I am incredibly short of cards for men so I thought it would be a good idea to get a few in there rather than keep putting myself under the pressure of having to make them at the last minute - cards for men can be tricky enough as it is!

You have loads of images to choose from the Charmed Download collections so lets see what you can come up with........Now for a little twist, I want to see some ribbon on your manly cards!!

Karen:

Karen's Inside:

Louise

News Flash!

2010-07-25T19:58:00.004+01:00

Hello Folks, Louise here.

As promised I have popped in to announce the randomly picked winner of our 'That Summer Feeling' challenge draw. Thank you to everyone who played along, we loved looking at all your cards - you clever lot!

So, without further ado the winner is..........
Rosie!

Congratulations!

Rosie please contact Karen to let her know which download bundle you would like to have as your prize from Charmed Cards and Crafts (just title your email 'challenge winner').

Scroll down for this weeks challenge.

Lets Go To The Movies

2010-07-25T07:00:00.012+01:00

We are very sorry to announce that Sheila has left the team, in fact Sheila has stepped down from all her design teams to concentrate on living a little more - and who can blame her for that! We have enjoyed having Sheila on the team very much, and thank her for creating for us and sharing her wonderful creative talent. The door is always open Sheila when you feel you have more time on your hands.

Sheila set the challenge for this week before she left us and this is what she said:

I love going to the cinema with my grandsons.. gives me the perfect excuse for seeing all the latest kids Disney/Cartoon movies so with this in mind my theme for the challenge this weeks is....

LETS GO TO THE MOVIES!!

So find your favourite Charmed Crafts download and turn it into a movie/movie character or relate it to a movie/character - simples no? :-).

Here are examples from the team:

Maddy

Karen

Louise

Gunn

Please leave your link in Mr Linky and we will come looking.

Wow!

2010-07-24T17:34:00.003+01:00

Good grief I've just been looking at all of this weeks fab entries and just had to pop on to tell you how impressed I am. We have such talented customers and you make my drawings look so fab! Thank you.

Be sure to pop back tomorrow for a new challenge and to see if you won our prize draw.

Louise xxx

That Summer Feeling - With prize!

2010-07-18T07:00:00.007+01:00

The birds are singing, the sun is shining (some of the time) and very soon your children will be off school for six whole weeks YEAH!!! (muhahaha!) so let's celebrate summer!

I would like you to use a CHARMED DOWNLOAD to make a summery card - or something else if you prefer! OK so that doesn't sound very challenging.......I would like you to make your summer item DIFFERENT to what you would normally make. Maybe you always make tent fold cards so try a side fold card or something completely different! Maybe you always make big cards so make a teenie weenie one, do you get my drift?
Most importantly, have fun!
Louise xx

This week we are giving a Charmed download collection of your choice to a randomly picked entrant. One entry per person please but if you use an image from the new collection - Once Upon a Time- your name will be put into the hat twice. Good luck you have until next Sunday to show us what you come up with.

We are very lucky to have the lovely and uber talented MADDY as our guest designer for the next month. Welcome back Maddy, we have missed you xx

Maddy

Karen

Louise

Please leave a link in Mr Linky and we will come looking :-)

Have a great Sunday ♥

Vintage Style?

2010-07-11T07:30:00.005+01:00

Hello you ladies.
Time for a new challenge. This time I would love to see Vintage style on your cards, and be inspired by summer. It could be the colors, flowers, time of year and so on. Make the card or project in Vintage style and you are good if you - REMEMBER TO INCLUDE A CHARMED DOWNLOAD, that`s the most important thing with these challenges.

Looking forward to see what you can do when creativity is in summer modus...

*Gunn :-) *

Gunn

Karen

Adele

Once Upon A Time...

2010-07-06T07:57:00.008+01:00

...there were 13 gorgeous images and over 40 super sentiments - and now you can get your crafty mitts on them!! Yes, we have a FABULOUS new collection ready for you and we are very excited about it - and believe it or not this ENTIRE FANTASTIC collection is the mere prize of a normal little stamp!!.

The beautiful images have all been expertly drawn by our wonderful Lou, and the sentiments created by me. We hope you enjoy this amazing collection, there really is something there for every occasion. ENJOY!!

HOT IT UP!!

2010-07-04T07:00:00.010+01:00

Getting hotter where you are? Summer is well and truly with us. Lets celebrate that by bringing in some fiery colours! So in keeping with the weather I would like you to use hot colours this week, fiery reds or burning oranges and golds, along with a Charmed download of course :-)

Leave a link in Mr Linky and we will come look see.

Here are the example from the design team this week. Click on the links to visit each member and see projects in more detail.

Sheila

Gunn

We have a wonderful new collection on the way, it will be ready next week - STAND BY!

Have a wonderful Sunday ♥

Paper Piecing!

2010-06-27T07:28:00.007+01:00

Hi everyone, it;s Adele here and it's my turn to set the challenge this week!

Now paper piecing is a technique I have only really ever tried once or twice....and that was ages ago! I thought it was about time to have another go so this week I challenge you to make your creations including some element of paper piecing.

Don't forget to use a Charmed Download and leave a link so that we can visit.

XXX

Karen

Sheila

Louise

No Designer Papers

2010-06-20T07:00:00.037+01:00

Ok this is my first time as a Dottie hostess so be gentle with me :-), I would like the theme for this week to be

NO DESIGNER PAPERS!

You can use as many layers as you like, you can make your own backgrounds, using stamps...inks...chalks.. even embossing.. just don't use any designer papers.

And don't forget you MUST use a CHARMED DOWNLOAD on your creation too.

Have fun crafters

Sheila xx

Gunn

We look forwarding to seeing your entries. lease leave a link to your work in Mr Linky below.
Have a great week.

Meet The Martians

2010-06-17T23:13:00.003+01:00

A fun new bundle featuring The Martians, a very friendly four-fingered, floppy-footed family comprising Mum, Dad, Marvin, Elmo and Gramps (who seem to like to wear his y-fronts on top of his trousers) - AVAILABLE NOW...

FREE Father's Day Bundle

2010-06-13T09:48:00.008+01:00

Hi gang, Karen here :-) Last year for our Father's Day challenge we offered a free bundle of sentiments for you to use on your challenge projects, that bundle has not been available since so we have dusted it off and added a few things to it, to help you with this weeks challenge - FATHER'S DAY. If you look at my DT challenge card this week you will see that I created a frame, some tags and a sentiment inside for my project, we have given them to you for free in this bundle, plus the frame and tags are in transparent format too so you can layer with our digi images and/or print on patterned paper.

To get the free bundle just email me HERE, I will need your blog address also please. Please note that the free bundle is ONLY for people entering our challenge, you do not have to use any of the images/sentiments in your challenge project but you will need to enter using one of our digi downloads.

Happy creating :-)

Father's Day Challenge

2010-06-13T07:34:00.011+01:00

Hi Folks, Louise here,

Well we have Father's day coming up (20th June)so what better opportunty could we have to make cards for our dads! I'd like you to make a Father's day card- don't worry if you have no use for a Father's Day card, please still play along and make any kind of masculine card, I'll leave that up to you. All I say is a MUST is that you use a Charmed download please.

Look at what the fabulous Charmed team came up with to tempt you....

Go Green....

2010-06-06T07:00:00.006+01:00

On this one I kind of want to challenge myself and you guys has to come along on this one. I am not that clever to use the color green on my card, I mean as the main color. So on this one I want you to have green as the main color on your card. And the rest is up to you, but you have to use a Charmed download for this one, that is in fact the most important thing. I also would like you to include a metal charm.

Looking forward to see what you come up with for this one.

Karen

Sheila

Gunn

Please leave your link below and we'll come a-looking :-)

Easel Card Challenge

2010-05-30T07:00:00.008+01:00

Hi girls, Karen here. Nicole is taking some well-deserved time out so I will set the challenge for this week.

Have you tried making the very popular, and dead easy, Easel cards yet? My challenge this week is to make one so here's your chance to have a go. There are instructions on how to make an Easel Card on the Charmed site HERE. Theme, colours - anything goes, as long as it has one of the Charmed downloads on there somewhere.

Here are the examples from the team:

Gunn

To make it easier to enter we have included a Mr Linky for your link, we would love if you leave a comment too of course :-)

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend x

Thanks a Bunch!

2010-05-23T07:00:00.006+01:00

Hi everyone, Adele here. It's my turn to set the challenge this week and I am trying to think ahead in an attempt to be organised! SO - What with us having a couple of weeks away between now and the end of the school year. I am aiming to be one step ahead with all those thank you cards for the kiddies teachers. Especially seeing as this year my son will be leaving his Junior school for pastures new!EEEK...how old does that make me feel!

THANKS A BUNCH!

Anyway, this week is open to loads themes, images, styles etc. Only two main rules;

1. Your creations must include a thank you greeting on it.
2. It must include a Charmed Download.

Quick note from Karen here - This week is a special week. We are celebrating the return of the good weather (glorous sunshine AT LAST!) by giving away an adorable Pixie created by our Lou. All you have to do to get your mitts on this little beauty is to enter the challenge - simple as that! Once you have left a link to your project in the comments please contact me HERE and I will email you the image.

Here are creations to inspire from the team:

Karen

Hope you enjoy the challenge and come back to share your creation with us!

XXX

Sugar & Spice

2010-05-19T18:16:00.006+01:00

It's mid-week and to break the week up, and bring a little inspiration, I want to show you a lovely card made by the uber talented Beverley Rochester.

Beverley used an image from the Sugar & Spice collection - isn't it gorgeous?

Don't forget to enter the Sunday challenge, I love what you are doing with the sketch and I wanna see MORE!! :-)

Have a great rest of the week and thanks for visiting us here at Dottie's World ♥

Sketch Challenge

2010-05-16T07:00:00.006+01:00

Hello hello hello! We hope this Sunday finds you fine and dandy and enjoying the weekend.

Tis time for another challenge, remember that you have a whole week to complete so please do join in. When you have finished just leave a link in the comments and we will come looking :-)

I thought it has been a long time since we had a sketch so here is one I made previously. I simply want you to make a card using my sketch and one of our downloads.

What you use on your card is entirely up to you, as long as you include a Charmed download.

Here are some examples from our team:

Sheila

Karen

Adele

Gunn

Have fun with this one, I can't wait to see what you come up with :-) Have a great Sunday and a super week.

I Need Flowers

2010-05-09T07:00:00.009+01:00

Hello folks, Gunn here.

I live in North of Norway and we do have bit to much snow on the ground yet, and inside we do not have water, it is frozen and if we are lucky it may come back in the end of this month. So you see, I need colours and some flowers in my life now.

I want you to use flowers on your card in different colours, so go wild with this one. Any kind of flowers will do. But, the most important thing to remember is to use one of our Charmed downloads.

Looking forward to see what you make of this one.

Here are some examples from the team:

Karen

Karen (second example)

Nicole

Wednesday's Scenic Inspiration

2010-05-05T07:00:00.001+01:00

Another scene from our new FREE Pixie Scene Bundle. If you have already purchased both our Pixie bundles, then simply email through your order number and we will send you the download link.

Look how substantial the card above looks, yet the main part of the card was simply printed and stuck on layers of plain cardstock. A little lace, a few pearls, a simple rub-on, and a punched border and Bob's your uncle.

Have a great day :-)

Pixie Scene 3

2010-05-04T07:00:00.002+01:00

As promised here is another example card using one of the scenes contained in the FREE "Pixie Scenes" bundle. To get the bundle just email us your order numbers from when you purchased your Pixie bundle and the download link will be emailed to you.

After printing out the image I inked edges with Tim Holtz distress ink, coloured in the grassy area in front, added shadows and deepened a few colours. I then added a little fine glitter to areas of the grass and on the toadstool and flower. Having the scene already created and coloured for me saved hours of work. The sentiment is part of the scene.

Remember that you need to have purchased both our Pixie bundles to get the free downloads.

Pixie Scenes

2010-05-03T13:47:00.007+01:00

Hi, Karen here. It's been a while since our last release, so to make up for it we have created a number of scenes from our popular Pixie bundles, which we are giving away for FREE. Each day I will show you a card depicting one of the scenes, as you will see these compilations of images make for very economical and super quick cards. I used one of them yesterday in the Sunday challenge, and here is another.

You can layer the images yourself, but I know some of you find this difficult and time consuming. The scenes use the ready-coloured images contained in the bundles so all you have to do is print and stick. You can deepen and emphasise colours and add shadows if you wish but largely the work has been done for you.

In my card here I printed the scene, inked with a little blue distress ink in the background and layered onto pink and black cardstock, I then added a little Glossy Accent on the sun, hearts and raindrops. The border is created by using Martha Stewart edge and corner punches: Monarch Butterfly. A very simple but effective card. I made this A5 size but you can make it exactly the size you want (see our re-sizing tutorial here) - that's the beauty of the digi-stamps.

The scenes are available free of charge if you have already purchased our Pixie bundles, simply email through your order number and we will send you the download link.

Pop back tomorrow for another example card :-)

All Sewn Up!

2010-05-02T07:00:00.009+01:00

Hi gang! Nicole here with this weeks challenge. I would like to see some stitching on your card this week.....faux, hand or machine stitching is fine. :o) and of course make sure you add a Charmed Download as well!

The design team have provided you with some examples and we look forward to seeing what you come up with. Don't forget to leave a comment with a link to your blog so we can visit.

Sheila

Nicole

We hope you are enjoying the Bank Holiday so far. Happy Sunday ♥

Textures Galore!

2010-04-25T07:22:00.007+01:00

Hello everyone, it's my turn to set the challenge this week and still in desperate search of my mojo, I thought about what I like to see in a card:

Textures galore!

I would like you to include several different textures on your creations this week please. This could be embossing, felt, stitching, feathers, ribbon etc...as long as you include a Charmed Download, the rest is up to you.

Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with. XXX

Gunn

Karen

Don't forget to leave a comment so we can come looking....

Pocket it!

2010-04-18T07:27:00.005+01:00

Hello Crafters, Louise here.
This week I'd like you to fill your pockets! :) In other words include a pocket in your creation, I don't mind what you put in it as long as the pocket is there....if you are sending it to me £10 notes work well :D.
Dont forget Dottie's World challenges MUST include a Charmed download!
Look at what we came up with to inspire you...

Random Followers Candy

2010-04-11T11:14:00.005+01:00

We want to say thank you for following Dottie's World so here's a little random candy: one of our Delectable Annie Clear Stamps:

Can't click on members anymore (perhaps it's just me??) so have added the picture of our winner too. Here is our random winner from our followers list:

Jolanda Pieters-van der Graaff

Congratulations Jolanda. You have two weeks to claim your prize, or another random draw will be carried out. Please contact me, Karen, with your address details.

Thanks again to you all for following Dottie's World. Keep doing so as we will have these draws now and again :-)

Play with these colors....

2010-04-11T07:30:00.007+01:00

This week I want you to play with these colors of my choice: Green, Pink and Turqoise. And if you want to , make your own background paper using these colors. You can paint, mist, chalk or whatever medium you prefer- even play in photoshop.

The most important thing is to remember to use a Charmed Download- if you want to take part in this challenge. You have so many to choose from.

So get your play hat on and have fun- challenges are suppose to be fun :-)

I can`t wait to see what you come up with
Gunn * :-)

Gunn

Nicole

Adele

Butterflies!

2010-04-04T07:00:00.008+01:00

Hello...Nicole here.

This week I would LOVE to see at least two butterfly embellishments....patterned paper with butterflies won't do!! :o).....the butterflies must be 3D :o) and of course you must include a Charmed download!

Happy Spring!

Karen

Gunn

Nicole

Louise

Don't forget to leave a comment and link so we can come looking. HAPPY EASTER xxx

Paper Roses........

2010-03-28T07:30:00.019+01:00

Hi everyone, Adele here and it's my turn to set the challenge this week. With spring (hopefully) in the air I want you to think:

Paper Roses...............

or daffs, or tulips....you get the picture? BUT I don't want to see any pre-made flowers please - only die cuts, punched flowers or any flower/s you have made from scratch on your creations this week please. The only other limitation is that a Charmed Download MUST be used....but that is no limitation at all is it, there is so much to choose from! LOL

Don't forget the blog candy over on my own blog too.....it could be you who wins yourself a freebie Charmed Download of your choice!

Looking forward to seeing all your bloomers!!!!!!

Nicole

Adele

Don't forget to leave a link in the comments so we can come looking :-)

Step into Spring

2010-03-21T07:16:00.002Z

Hi Folks, Louise here,
I don't know about you but I love the fresh feeling you get outside when you feel spring has arrived.
To celebrate the new season I would like you to make a card with a spring feel. It could be just spring colours or even a spring theme like flowers or easter eggs. The only rule is that you use a Charmed download - click 'shop' at the top of the screen.
Happy Crafting !
Look at these springilicious examples!

This Week. - Add ons?

2010-03-14T07:30:00.003Z

Hello everybody.
Another sunday with another challenge. This week I wasn`t to sure what I really wanted. Suddenly it hit me- AddOns...
And by that I mean: You have to use 3 flowers, 2 brads, 1button and finally 1 charm.
And ofcourse you have to remember to use a Charmed download.
So go ahead and have fun.
Gunn oxo

Gunn

Challenge Winner

2010-03-08T09:13:00.002Z

On our Distressing/Destressing challenge we offered one participant two of the new Tim Holtz Ink Pads as a little prize. Unfortunately three of the entrants didn't use a Charmed download so they are excluded from the draw. The winner is:

ANJIE

Congratulations to you. As soon as the pads arrive two of your choice will be shipped to you. Please contact me HERE with your address and email details.

We are giving one of our Delectable stamps as a little gift to one of our followers. Come back tomorrow to find out who that is :-)

Bye for now and have a great day ♥

Pastel or Bright?

2010-03-07T07:30:00.006Z

Hi everyone, Adele here. Well today it's my birthday.....21 again and I have a little twist in this week's challenge. This week you have a choice but it's still fairly open. I want you to think;

PASTELS or BRIGHTS!

Make a card or project using a Charmed Download keeping to either VERY pale pastel colours or VERY bright, bold colours. Now if of course you want to make two creations, one of each, that would be fantastic. Perhaps try two versions of the same image.

Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with! XXX

Louise