More ATC's

I really am steaming along with the ATC's.  I do love making them and rejoining the UKSN is giving me the impetus.

Here are some Parchment ones

Here are some decoupaged

More later.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - We are Sailing

Good Morning.  Thank you to those who managed to join in our Three D's Challenge despite it being such a busy time for everyone.  I will give my choices to Jenny to be published in due course.

The theme for this fortnight - the last of 2013 - has been chosen by Sue T.   I took the opportunity to use this theme to make a Birthday card for my Son in Law who is in the Royal Navy  - and here it is:

I made a gatefold card using Robert Addams new Nautica CD.  The sailing ship was printed out on photo paper which seem to enhance the beautiful blues of the sea and sky.  The backing paper is from the CD and is one of so many fabulous papers. I even splashed out - ha ha - on a set of Roberts' Nautical dies - the anchor, rope and wheel.

The team are looking forward to new things in 2014 and we hope that you will continue to support us.  More from Jenny in due course.

I hope that everyone has had a very Merry Christmas and I wish you all the very best for 2014.

Carol
xx

Have you got a 'Pinflair Punch'?

During my post Christmas card tidy up I rediscovered my Pinflair Punch which I haven't used for at least a year - could be more.
So I punched some forgotten Kanban toppers  and here are yet more ATC's

Stitch and Bead ATC

..... using a brass stencil for the pattern.
I used Gutermann Sulky thread for the stitching and some tiny red beads from stash.

It took quite a while to stitch but I needed something quiet to occupy me as believe it or not my awful year has continued with the need for an  emergency tooth extraction yesterday.  Roll on 2014.  It can't come soon enough.
xx

Beaucoup d'ATC's

Apologies for the bad French.

I have been making a start on the many ATC's I need and thought I would show some off to you.

I have done about 18 of the dresses but I won't bore you with them all.  They all come from the CD by Katy Sue - Fabulous Fashion.  I think my favourites are the Seahorse and 'Lucious Lips' -  the fish.

CD Sunday - The 3 D's - Die cuts, DL, and Decoupage

Well - you have me to blame for this one but I thought it would be a little different.  I look forward to seeing what you all make and of course I will have a little something for the winner of the Top 3.

Here is my own  offering:

I have used Artylicious - Season's Greetings CD -  for the background and the Angel - which has been decoupaged.  My die cut is the sentiment.

Are you all ready for the holidays?  I have finished and posted all my cards and now I am spending  a quiet weekend collecting all the Christmas craft goodies and boxing them up until next year.

Then I plan to tackle many ATC's .... if I don't get sidetracked by the latest Parchment Magazine.  It has just arrived and there are some good patterns just begging to be tackled.

Carol
xx

La Pashe ATC's

I took a break from Christmas cards and finished off some ATC's that I had started some time ago.

I am having a very quiet Christmas so I am planning to get many more ATC's finished ready for the UKSN swops.
Carol
xx

Workshop ATC's

I made a couple of ATC's at our December Parchment Workshop yesterday.  Not a lot of work to show for the few hours we were there but we did to a bit of chatting and shopping and chatting and shopping.  The shopping is easy as of course our workshops and lessons are held at The Art of Craft - our local Aladdins Cave.

Here they are

The gorgeous beads I used on the second one came from here.  I have quite a selection of these duo hole beads as they are so easy to stitch on to something and the colour range is fantastic.
The pattern for the first ATC is from here and is one of Amanda's free patterns.

Partridge in a Pear Tree

I had forgotten that I had bought this pattern quite a while ago and was pleased to rediscover it in time for this Christmas.  It comes from Form- A - Lines.  A little fiddly but well worth the effort.  I chose to use all sparkly Gutermann Sulky threads and was especially pleased with the effect of not using a green for the leaves. The range of colours by Gutermann  is brilliant.

I used an Artylicious backing paper for the card itself and finished off with a bow from a new purchase - Christmas Paper Bows by Craftwork Cards.
Sadly the beautiful sparkle doesn't show in the photograph as well as it does on the card when it stands in the light from a nearby table lamp.

CD Sunday - Home Sweet Home

This theme was chosen by Beryl and I don't think we have had anything similar to this before so new to us all.  I decided to combine mine with a Christmas card as this is a special time for such a  sentiment.

I have used Ooh La La's - 'Yuletide Wishes' CD with the addition of some die cut pine branches and a mirri card flower.  Not really a Christmassy colour but it goes with the card.  A nice simple card which doesn't need anything else as the beautiful image says it all.

Lots of great entries last week from our loyal followers - thank you all.

How is everyone doing with their Christmas cards - nearly finished??

Have a good week.
Hugs
Carol
xx

This theme will run for two weeks.  We decided that December is such a busy month for everyone we would just have the three themes (just).
I will be back on the 15th with my theme choice - something a bit different!!

'Birthday Book'

This second card project is from our afternoon Workshop session with Judith.

(New photo)

   
This is all white work with just a hint of colour in the background. I played about with the border a little.  We used a Siesta type grid to add very small embossed flowers in the border squares - 50 to be precise.  I didn't like mine when I had finished so I have hidden them behind some punched flowers.  I punched 50 pairs of flowers, using pale purple parchment, and stuck them together in pairs.  Embossed them into a cup shape and then fixed to the border and added a crystal to each one. Took me almost as long as the white work but I was happier with the result.

It is so difficult to get a decent photo with this Winter light so I scanned this one.  I will try another photo session if we get some decent light.

Tangletastic ATC's

... made using the Tangletastic CD by Peerless.

I am resuming my membership of the UKSN (United Kingdom Stampers Network) after Christmas and I need to build up my stock of ATC's.
Pamela gave me the idea to use this CD to make some ATC's so I decided to make some quick simple ones now but might try and colour a few sometime in the future.

Carol
xx

'Highlights'

This is the name of the pattern we used in our morning session at Judith Maslen's Workshop on Saturday.  This time we had two 'full on' patterns to work during the day and I must admit to being really tired when I reached home.  I hadn't realised that I had missed two of this years workshops and this was the first full day of crafting and concentration since my op.

Here is the finished article.  I am afraid it hasn't scanned well.  The photos were even worse which is why I resorted to the scanner.  This is No: 4 in the series 'Beautiful Hair'.

I am not 100% happy with the skin tone on the face and neck and would like to do this again - especially as I enjoyed creating the hair and think I could get better colours.  I may have another go after after Christmas.  There isn't time enough before the festivities.

So here it is - warts and all.

Carol
xx

More stamping and tracing

for parchment.  I haven't finished the other two Woodware stamping projects yet but I have found another one and here it is.

A quick and uncomplicated Christmas card .  This is traced and embossed exactly from the printed stamp impression on white card.  I have just added some snowflakes with gems and a little sprinkle of Glamour Dust.

Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'F' is for.........

.............Fine Feathers.

Caz has chosen our theme this week.  I love it when we have a 'letter' as a theme as the possibilities are almost endless.  We quite often do this for a theme in the ATC group that I belong to.

I rushed off to make a card using a CD I had just bought.  In fact I think most of the design Team had bought it and I wanted to be first.  Naughty I know but I did.

The CD is 'Tangletastic' by Peerless designs.  I love everything about Zentangle except doing it myself so a CD with all those beautiful ready made images was perfect for me.

This is my card

and I enjoyed making it.  The backing card and the two feathers are both from the CD.  The sentiment is a Carol Ann's Studio download with a mirri card backing.

I look forward to many many 'F's'.  At the time of scheduling this post my fellow teamies had all chosen something different beginning with 'F'.

Have fun.
Carol
xx

The Choir Boys

Here is my interpretation of this lovely pattern by Judith Maslen.  I just reduced the border a little - the rest is as per pattern.

I have loved doing this one and even used felt tipped pens as per instructions.  I know Judith won't believe me but I will take it and show her on Saturday when we are at her last Workshop for the year.

Lovely pattern Judith.

Carol
xx

Snow Flower

I have recently added to my collection of Woodware  stamps with the purchase of 'Bubble Bloom - Snow Flower' - in the Clear Magic Singles series - purchased from The Art of Craft.
I stamped it onto white card and then traced on parchment and then embossed the image.  I have added some punched and embossed snowflakes and some fine glitter.

The glitter doesn't show so well in the photo .  I thought I would try the red and blue just to be a little different and I think it works.

At the same time I bought another couple of big stamps in the series - Holly Sleigh and Jingle Bells and I am working on those with parchment.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Simply Square

Teamie Jenny has chosen this theme and I for one was very pleased as I love using square cards and square matting and layering.  I find them aesthetically pleasing and I think  90% of my made so far Christmas cards are all plain squares or scalloped squares.
I used this theme to make a birthday card for a friend and I used Ooh La La's latest Cd - ' The Shawn Jenkins Collection'.

 I chose the pyramage section of this folder but chose to do a flat pyramage.  I prefer the look when flat.  This is not an easy one to do as there are many little fronds to match carefully.
Pamela - the recipient -  had this sometime ago as her birthday was last month.

I am writing this on Saturday and have just come back from a visit with my Grandaughter who is 10 today.  I find it difficult to grasp how quickly they grow.  I delivered the homemade cake as requested and stayed just long enough to help her with her knitting.  She opened some more presents whilst I was there and I had to smile as one was a 'Make a Cushion Kit' and I know that this is coming my way after Christmas.  I have missed our crafting sessions whilst recovering and will be pleased to be resuming this special time with her.
Carol
xx

Christmas card - another quick one

Whilst I was discovering new things on an old favourite CD - 'Cards Kits and Pieces' by Crafty Computer Paper - I printed out the makings of this card:

It is all there for you.  Just print out two pages - some work with the scissors and/or guillotine and put it all together.  I love the style and the papers on this CD.  Somehow they are very different.  I have added the die cut greeting and the two red leafy scrolls.  The bow and the orange slices are decoupaged.  I think I make this one every year - just add a little something different each time.  An old favourite.
Carol
xx


p.s  This is Christmas card no: 65.  Getting there slowly. xx

Birthday Greetings

to a fellow 'parcher'. We are quite a close knit little group of friends who all attend monthly parchment lessons and workshops and the occasional little soiree.  We always celebrate each others birthdays at the nearest lesson or workshop and have been known to imbibe a little as well.
Here is my card to be given this afternoon at our lesson.  There will be cake and maybe a glass or two!!

This is a pattern by Dorothy Holness.  The colours are quite soft and the light not brilliant but I hope you can see it OK

CD Sunday - Pennant Parade

Good Morning to one and all.  Lets hope the weather is a little less damp than yesterday.
Thank you all for your good wishes for my trip to La Belle France.  I had a wonderful few days with my sister and we did nothing but shop, eat and laugh.  I do count my blessings that she and I get on so well together.  Having exactly the same mad sense of humour helps us -  but it is disconcerting to others.
We did have a delightful waiter at the Hotel the last night who told me that if I didn't eat all my first course there would be no desert.  Well I couldn't manage it all but did order some ice cream.  I got a funny look and when my desert arrived it was three little drops of ice cream (one each of the flavours I had ordered) on a saucer decorated with a minute meringue.  He was, though, holding my proper pud behind my back.  Needless to say he got a good tip.

Thank you for the kind comments about my stripey project last week.  Again we had some great cards entered and it will be difficult to choose a winner.  Glad it's not me.

For our 'Pennant Parade' I have used some parchment and based my design on a design by  my parchment tutor.

For the background card I have used Artylicious Season's Greetings - Disc 1. For the pennants I drew around the outside and inside of a die and then embossed the drawn lines. The letters were traced from my tutors pattern.  I used a newly purchased snowflake punch and embosser for the small snowflakes on the pennants. The larger snowflakes were die cut from a tiny piece of white glitter card I had saved.  Very difficult to find a supply of this -   or rather a supply of good quality white glitter card.
My fellow teamies have made some great cards and I look forward to visiting your blogs to see lots more of the same.
Carol
xx

Quick Christmas card

And lets face it when you have quite a few to make quick is needed.  This is from the La Pashe CD - The Christmas Box.
There is a section called Behind Closed Doors.  To make them up properly you need to buy some special card blanks - but I haven't so I just used some of the images to make a little theatre like scene.  Added some glitter and card is made.

Not much else to say except at the moment the weather is absolutely foul.  Heavy rain and thunder.
Carol
xx

CD through the back door

I don't know how else to describe this.  I have a favourite Cd - 'Card Kits and Pieces' by Crafty Computer Paper that I have had for quite a while.  I was looking through it again the other day and noticed - for the first time believe it or not - on the menu - Editable Graphics.  I followed the instructions of how to get there and found to my delight many images and other goodies to play with that are not on the main menu.

I found this vintage picture that appealed so I printed it on parchment and then had a play and here it is.

It looks very vintage and sparkly in real life - better than the photo I am afraid but I hope you like it.
I shall look more carefully on CD menus in future - just in case.
Carol
xx

Wet and windswept France

I had a busy trip to France for some much needed R & R and shopping.  It was wet and windy but good fun.
Here are a couple of photos. 1st - Saturday market in Boulogne

and 2nd some street entertainers in Hardelot - a 'posh' holiday spot further down the  coast.

We managed to get almost all the things on our lists and I must confess to having bought a really expensive handbag.  The most I have ever spent on one before and I am still reeling a bit from the shock

CD Sunday - Stripey

Good Morning.  I hope all are well and that the weather is good.  This post is a scheduled one as at this moment I should be making my way home from a little shopping jaunt in La Belle France.  Laden with goodies  hope.

There should be a good few entries in this weeks challenge as stripes can be used in so many ways on cards and projects.  I did a project this time instead of a card and I hope you will like it.  I enjoyed making it especially as I was using one of my favourite CD makers - Carol Ann's Studio.

The gift wallet of three pockets contains 18 ATC size cards with messages or sayings which  can be used as toppers or tags and I used Carol Ann's Studio Midi CD-4 Flutterby Purple.   All the sayings/messages are different.
Happy crafting.
Carol xx

CD Sunday - Travels Abroad

Thank you for your entries to our challenge last week.  I did think it was going to be a tad difficult but you all came up trumps again.  Lovely cards.  Now Sue is going to find it difficult to choose  just 3 from them all.
This weeks theme is 'Travels Abroad' chosen by Christine.  Now it was my turn to find it difficult.  I am sure I am not the only crafter  who finds sometimes that they have an idea and start to go down that road only to reach a complete impassse and there seems to be no way out -  or to work out what  final tweak is needed to put it right.
My fellow teamies came to the rescue and pointed me in the right direction after telling me nicely that I was being too critical -  and hopefully the result isn't too bad.

The tweak suggested was to change the colour of the watch face and I think it made all the difference.

I used Robert Addams - Vintage Transport CD for the three train 'stamps'. Tim Holtz papers for the rest and the watch die is also from  Robert Addams.

I am off on my own travels abroad in the not too distant future.   My sister is kindly taking me off to France for a few days shopping.  I am looking forward to the break and some serious retail therapy.

Carol xx

More cards from 'The Christmas Box' CD

All have some decoupage and some have die cuts.  My favourite die cut purchase for Christmas has been the string of lights.

Carol xx