Witching Hour at Ooh La La

I was inspired by my fellow teamie Wynn  - who is also on the Ooh La La Design Team - to enter their new Challenge  - #168.  I loved the image Wynn had used so I popped my copy of 'Say it With Words' into the drawer to look at the same folder. Obviously I couldn't use the same image but I fell in love with Background paper No:4 and wanted to use it.
As I have been stitching recently and was still in the mood I went to my folder of patterns (and I have bought quite a few) and found some wonderful ones for Halloween.
I chose the one I wanted to use.  But I didn't want to use white card as the background which is more usual for stitch cards so I scanned the background paper into my ACDSee Graphic programme and made a piece of card in the same colour range but plain and paler.
Here is my card.

The great Halloween table confetti that I have used was sent to me by one of the members of UKSN that I belong to and I have enjoyed using them as embellishments.
I hope you like my pumpkin.
Boo!!
xx

Stitching and beading

A change from stamping and decoupage for some Christmas cards.
These were stitched and beaded over the last couple of evenings.  The patterns are from here

Poinsettias

Christmas Hedgehogs

Christmas Cupcake

Some more Stamping with Woodware

I had another great day yesterday at The Art of Craft at yet another fabulous workshop with Jane Gill.  I have posted before about these workshops that are run by Jane and they are always enlightening as well as fun.  Jane is a designer for Woodware stamps and I love all her designs.  I have said before how much I like using Jane's designs with my parchment.  You can tell which are  Jane's designs as at the back of the pack of stamps there is JG at the front of the design no: and name.

These are the stamps that we used :

Our first project was a concertina card.  I have only ever made a much smaller version of one of this style when I made some Egyptian theatre Atc's and that was all printed out.  This one had us stamping and making everything from scratch. It was a full on morning session and I got very mucky with black ink and glitter but I did enjoy it and here is the first project:

Outside:

Inside:

It wasn't perfect and I must admit to have been careful with my photography but I think it is good enough to give away at Christmas.

The second project is my own favourite:

Here is the third and last:

I think they are all so different and show just what can be achieved with one set of stamps, black and white card and glitter.
So thank you to The Art of Craft and Jane Gill for yet another enjoyable day.
In case you are interested the stamp reference no: is JGS346Winter trees and they had them in stock yesterday.
Carol
xx

p.s. The next workshop that I am attending at the Art of Craft is a day spent Quilling.  That is next week so watch this space.  I have done some Quilling but a long time ago so I hope I can remember some of the techniques.

ATC Swap UK

The theme chosen for the month of October is VINTAGE.

I chose to do the maximum 5 again and I made them quite early and posted them off to the organisers.   The presentation is great and so much better than I can do so here is how they appear on the Facebook page.

These are Vintage Christmas (just in case you hadn't twigged that) and they all come from Joanna Sheen's ATC Assistant CD.
Carol
xx

Some more Black and Red Christmas cards with La Pashe

Here are some of the square ones I mentioned earlier.  I have a little tip to go with the last one.

Sometimes the curve shape of a die goes only one way and if you want to reverse it the effect isn't very good as it is obvious that it is the reverse of the die that is showing.  This was the case with the fir branch die I used in the card above.  I wanted the bottom two to curve the other way.  I used a large embossing tool and an embossing mat and and carefully smoothed the cut edges flat on the reverse.  I did it again from the front and in the end I think you would be hard put to see which side is which.

You may have already thought of this - but I only just did.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Silhouettes

Before I talk about today's theme I must just say WOW! - what a fantastic response to Jenny's theme of 'Christmas is Coming'. A wonderful selection of styles.  Good luck  in choosing just three Jenny.

Now - 'Silhouettes' is my choice and I hope you will like it.  If you are still in Christmas card mode there are many many possible images out there on CD's.  In fact Jenny and Sue have found a couple.

I have used Joanna Sheen's - 'Dancing with Shadows' CD for my card.  Not a Christmas card but with different embellishments it could be.

Here it is:

The image and backing paper are from the CD and I have added the street light and bow die cuts.  On seeing it here I am wondering if the bow is a little large but it doesn't appear so in the flesh.  They say the camera doesn't lie!!

Please come and join in with us at CD Sunday.  We all have been so pleased to see some new names amongst our regulars.  We hope you will continue to participate in our challenges.

On a personal note - I am no longer confined to the sofa and the CT scan just showed some deterioration in my spine.  In other words - OLD AGE.
Hugs to all
Carol
xx

Christmas with La Pashe

I can't believe just how many Christmas images there are spread out amongst the La Pashe CD's. I have found yet more that I missed from 'The Next Big Thing'. I had made one earlier (the Postbox) but had cut it out so long ago I have forgotten where I had got it from. Michelle kindly reminded me that it was from La Pashe.
Anyway here are  four more of the rectangular decoupaged ones.

There are quite a few more left in this series to do including some square images - which are always my favourites -  and I think by the time I have finished them most of my Christmas cards will be done.
I am liking the red and black theme and just hope that the recipients like it too.

Be back with more later.

Carol
xx

Christmas with Majestix

I am a great fan of the Card-io Majestix range of stamps and I have quite a few sets now.  I bought the new multibuy from C & C on Tuesday and they arrived yesterday and I have had a little play.
This is my first go and I was just copying one of the samples done by the demonstrator on the show.

There is a little glitter but it doesn't show well in the scan.  The die used was one of my favourites from Marianne.
I am looking forward to further playing.  Using the stamps on ATC's as well as cards.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Christmas is coming

A  pretty obvious statement you may say but it is never too early for us card makers with the number that we have to make each year.  Jenny has chosen our theme this week and personally I am pleased to have another contribution to my box ready to finish off and send in due course.
We have a selection of makes for you to inspect.  Our usual cards, two very different projects and something a little different from me.
Different only in the fact that  the CD I have used comes with the Docraft Papermania graphics programme.  I have designed an image which I have printed out to put on my card, adding a gold mat  and then  embellished  with one of my parchment poinsettias and a red gem.  I usually make my cards completely from scratch - using a CD somewhere of course - but I enjoyed the result I acheived.  I hope you do and here it is:

Docraft Papermania - At Christmas Time

Thank you all for the wonderful response to our request for Male Birthday cards. Wendy is going to have a hard job choosing her winner.  Talking of winners please note that we have some re-designed Top 3 logos and a Winners logo - all designed by our Sue.  We love them and hope you will too.
So have fun making more Christmas cards/projects.  Don't forget that you can enter more than one - but also don't forget to use that CD somewhere in your work.
I look forward to visiting your blogs.
Carol
xx