123 Challenge...

The LAST EVER 123 Challenge - December 2012...

YES! You have seen right, and if you haven't noticed already, I unfortunately have not had the time these days to run 123 Challenge like I would want to.... so I have decided it is time to finish up....

We have had a fabulous run though haven't we? Starting way back in December 2006 - we've had lots of AMAZINGLY talented ladies creating AMAZING layouts through the challenges we have set!

I would like to thank EVERYONE that has contributed to 123 Challenge - our CREATIVE TEAMS, our SPONSORS and of course all of the lovely ladies that have joined in!

Without all of you we wouldn't have been running for so long!

PLEASE don't stress - we still will be choosing winners for October {just running a little late!} and of course November....

SOOOO - we have ONE LAST CHALLENGE.... and the criteria for DECEMBER is:

WORD: ART or ARTIST {a word with ART in it}

COLOUR: RED

THEME: A DRAWING {from your child or something you've created yourself for example}

And our fantabulous Creative Team Samples {more coming soon!}

Ebony Van Der Starre...

 

Kate McCulloch....

Tarrah McLean...

As much as I've wanted to keep running 123 Challenge I think now it's just not doable with running my Charms Creations business, 3 kids to run around after {4 including my partner ;) } other CT commitments and also we are planning to move which is another change altogether!

I hope you can understand my decision & THANKS again for your wonderful support!

XO Charmane

November 123 Challenge is...

COLOUR: PASTEL

WORD: SWEET

TECHNIQUE: use WIRE

 

DONATING THIS MONTH:

If you haven't noticed its all about PASTELS at the moment...

so we thought we should follow the trend ;)

so lets think all things PASTEL>>>

the colours are so girly and pretty....

Pastel Jeans are HUGE at the moment...

MMMM.... pastel cupcakes!!!

ok.... so its time for some CT inspiration...

Ebony.. the tricky bit this month is the wire... which Ebony has been clever and used a flower with wire stems...

Jodie has done a fabulous job using pastels... and love that arrow WIRE clip!

Bronny has created this gorgeous Art Journal butterfly girl - and she's been clever by creating the antennae using wire....

Kate has created this fabulous layout.... loving her Pearl wire :) its def about the wire this month!

I really love what Tarrah has done with her wire - she has created a cute heart on her page!!!

& my layout... my wire is in the little mini rose stems - that I love to add to my pages and twist and swirl around....

soooo what will you with wire on your page? and what pastel colours will you use? Can't WAIT to see what you all come up with - I am looking for some layouts to feature on the blog before the 15th - so its time to get scrapping!!!

Love Charmane

VERY Belated Winners for September are...

 

Michelle Logan - Congratulations - you have won a voucher to use at...

 

Melissa Heather - Congratulations you have won a voucher to use at...

 

Kerry - Congratulations! You have won a voucher to use at...

 

Could you please all email me at charmscreations@live.com to claim your prizes.

 

THANKS to everyone that entered - it really was a tough choice in the end!

 

Looking forward to seeing more NOVEMBER layouts!

 

xo Charm

123 & Friends Online Auction...

This year, I’m getting involved in Girls’ Night In again, to help raise vital funds for women’s cancer research and support. You can help me, and get involved, by making a donation online! Click on the link below to find out how.

I am also planning on involving the 123 Challenge Blog Sponsors, Contributors & Friends - not only will I be hosting an "in real life" get-together but also hoping on organising an Online Auction through the 123 Challenge Facebook Page - please email me at charmscreations@live.com or contact me on the 123 Facebook Page if you are interested in donating - I am looking for auction ITEMS rather than vouchers - so if you could send me a photo of your donation, along with your details - website/facebook page & details about what you are donating.

Not all of you would know, but my partner Ashan's sister Apsara passed away last year from Breast Cancer. After only a few years battling breast cancer she lost the fight :( Apsara was a very private person and didn't tell us how bad it really was. She was so very strong - fighting all the way, with the loving help and support from her husband Sanjeewa.

Unknown to us, she had a very aggressive cancer that in the last few months took over her whole body and in the end her organs started shutting down. Her husband gave the call for Ashan to come to Melbourne to visit her, not knowing this was the last time he would see her alive. Unfortunately, on the way there were a few dramas - but he made it in time, along with their mother and father who flew from Sri Lanka. She was incoherent at that time though...

She passed away the next morning, JUST before the kids and I were about to get on the bus to come and see her. She was just 38 years old.

I thank GOD that my 3 kids were able to share her last few months through the magic of Skype - they would chat every few days about those everyday things - she would always have a smile on her face & the kids loved talking with their Aunty.

This is our story. Please donate in remembrance of her & all of the other Ladies now and the future that are going through and will go through this terrible disease - and lets hope we DO find a cure! XO Charm

Please check out and donate on the Girls Night In page I have set up - HERE

MORE details will be coming soon :)

XO Charmane

More amazing 123 Creative Team Inspiration....

ohhh I am so excited to bring you some more fabulous inspiration from the Creative Team!!!

All so different but gorgeous!

First of all we have Tarrah's simple but stunning style....

then we have Nicolee's.... loving the strips here too :)

 

Marelle.... Loving the strips to create a frame around the photo & the use of bus yellow too! :)

and Bronny's very cute art journal page....

If those dont inspire you nothing will!!!

Looking forward to seeing more of your layouts - only 2 weeks to go!!!

xo Charmane

 

October 123 Challenge 2012...

WORD: MISS

COLOUR: SCHOOL BUS YELLOW

TECHNIQUE: USE PAPER STRIPS

 

DONATING THIS MONTH:

 

 

AND THE AMAZING CREATIVE TEAM INSPIRATION....

Let's start with Ebony.... who was so inspired she ended up creating TWO fabulous layouts.... first of all this one of her son.... LOVE her interpretation of using "MISS" on her layout :)

and this is the other layout she created - using her daughter this time.... Love all the strips & bits!

Next we have Amanda Hartmann's layout... using different lengths and thicknesses of patterned paper strips... love the yellow/pink/black/white colour combo!

This time it's Jodies layout.... how cute & again great use of the word MISS on her layout....

then we have Kate's fabulous funky page - using lots of "Flags" for her strips :)

Then we have Sophie's layout... I absolutely LOVE her idea of using the leftover strips from the patterned papers.... SOOOOO CLEVER!!!!

OK stay tuned - there maybe more layouts coming SOONER rather than later....

but I am sure these will inspire you for now ;)

Gallery coming SOON!

Love Charmane

BELATED Mid-Monthly Inspiration...

Hi Everyone! I am so sorry to not put these up earlier.... they days seem to get shorter and shorter... when i NEED MORE HOURS!!!

Here is some more inspiration for you, and I really hope to see lots more layouts in the last third of this month!!!

First of all we have.... Amanda Hartmann's gorgeous boy layout....

I am sad to say that this is the last time you will see Ange's fabulous Art Journal pages as she has decided it is time for her to step down from Creative Team Member :(

We have loved her amazing work :) Thanks for your Inspiration & your Support throughout the time you have been with us!

Make sure you check out her amazing work HERE

Ebony has created this fantastic layout.... another gorgeous metal frame has been used....

and here is Marelle's.... love the grey splats....

and silly me didn't realise that Tarrah's layout had HIDDEN journalling and a HIDDEN photo too.... how cool is that???

SOOOO>>>>>

I hope you have just that bit more inspiraiton to give the September 123 Challenge a go! Only 10 days to go!!!

Love Charmane

 

and the August 123 Winners are....

 

Lisette Smith...

Congratulations you have won a voucher to use at Scrap Therapy...

 

 

Loren Edwards...

Congratulations you have won a voucher to use at Charms Creations....

and Crece Thomas

Congratulations you have won goodies from Lime Tree Creations!

Thanks to EVERYONE that entered and THANKS to the Websites that donate!!! We really appreciate it!!!!

Looking forward to seeing MORE of your lovely creations for this months challenge!!!

Love Charmane

September 123 Challenge 2012...

 

WORD: MAN or MEN

COLOUR: GREY

TECHNIQUE:

use something METAL

 

DONATING THIS MONTH:

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT

THE

BRAND SPANKIN'

NEW WEBSITE HERE!!!

 

check out the shop HERE!

 

and some of the 123 Creative Team Members Samples...

it's Fathers Day tomorrow, so we thought why don't we create some masculine projects....

first of all I will start with Jodie's layout...

Jodie has used a mixture of metal embellishments on her page...

"The metal is brads, a bulldog clip and label holder"

Kate McCulloch has used...

"3 different grey washi tape.

Metal = bottle cap,

batman with the 'man' in it"

 

I love Sophies "feminine" touch to her page... so YES you can do a girl  page ;)

Tarrah has created this fabulous layout celebrating fatherhood....

and my layout I used a photo of Chei with his Lego MAN... and I've used a few Metal bits too - Brads, Paper Clips & Staples...

I'm looking forward to seeing lots of masculine/father/boys type layouts with maybe a few feminine based layouts too ;)

Upload your layouts to the September Gallery in the sidebar!

More Inspiration from our Creative Team on the 15th!!!

Love Charmane

And the July Winners are....

Vanessa W with her adorable layout.... We love that you have handstitched your chevron!

Congrats! You have won a voucher to use at Lil Red Rocket!

 

And Leonie Neal-Dawson - what can we say but WOW! Check out the layering of colours using the chevron mask! So much to look at on this page! Fabulous!

just have to share ONE of her closeups from her blog - make sure you check out the others!

Congratulations! You have won a voucher to use at Red Earth Scrapping!

 

and last but not least we have Mal Gardner! I am loving that Kraft Chevron! And the purple and orange colour combo is fab too!

 

Congratulations! You have won a voucher to use at Scrapbook Divas!

 

Thanks to each and everyone that gave the July 123 Challenge a go! We hope that you enjoyed the challenge and give the August challenge a go too! There is still time to enter!

Thanks to the Creative Team for helping choose the winners and for commenting on as many blogs as possible - we really appreciate the effort you put in creating your pages!

Hoping to see more of your creations in the gallery!

Love Charmane

PS Winners please email me so that I can pass on the details - challenge_123@hotmail.com