'Lucinda' - Victorian Christmas

Sadly the Saturday before last was our last Judith Maslen Workshop of the year -- and we were going down like flies.  Usually three of us devotees go together and kinda take it in turns to drive.  First to drop out was Charmaine who had the chance to go to Portugal to play some golf - who could blame her.  Then Jenny was proper poorly so that left me - who had to drive herself.  I was determined to go as I had missed the one in September.  I drove in awful weather (see I am playing for sympathy here) and after a full day of parchment concentration I was absolutely ..... well you know but I had a fabulous day as always.  I have already booked up for all of the sessions next year.
We had two new patterns as always. I haven't finished the morning one yet.  As it isn't a Christmas one it isn't a priority at the moment.
The afternoon one however has just been finished.  This is 'Lucinda'.

I am a little disappointed in the photo as some of the shading done on the front of the image seems to have suffered a 'whiteout'.  The shading is quite subtle  -  perhaps too subtle for the light outside.  My own addition to the card is to use some pretty tiny glittery snowball flat backed gems.  The last ones from my sheet and I can't remember from where I purchased them.
I have just purchased 'Daisy' from the same series so I will be busy.  I am trying to make as many parchment Christmas cards as I can this year and less decoupage type even though they are quicker to make.

CD Sunday- Colours of Autumn - theme chosen by Jocelyn

Good Morning fellow bloggers.  The last few mornings have been a little chilly but it does seem that it is more like Autumn than Winter - so we are OK with our theme.
Before I go on to post my own contribution to the theme I would like to add a personal thank you to Pauline and Meg for the wonderful creations they have made for us over the last 3 months as our Guest Designers.  They were also so beautifully organised and as I do the posting it was a joy not to have to ask for the card - it just arrived on time. Thank you ladies.

Now here is my stitch card contribution to 'Colours of Autumn'. 

The backing paper and the acorn and leaf cutouts and the sentiment came from the Joanna Sheen CD - Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.  The stitching pattern from here.  I used a multi coloured glitter thread by Gutermann. This gave me the Autumnal colours I wanted and was fine enough to give a delicate skeletal look to the stitching.  My own garden is bordered by quite a few large Oak trees so at the moment I am very well aware of every colour and hue in almost everyone of about a million leaves.
It was my turn to chose a Top 3 - for Something beginning with 'H' and my choice is now on the CD Sunday Blog.  I look forward to sending the winner the little prize that I have for her.
Please have a look at the wonderful Autumnal colours on my fellow teamies and Guest Designers cards.  I think you must agree that each one is fabulous.
Bye for now.
Carol
xx

Three more for the Christmas box

Stitching this time.  Two patterns from Stitching Cards and one from - I am not quite sure where.
I had some fun with half pearls and gems on these especially the rhinestone ones with the snowman.

It was a bit gloomy in the garden this morning but I think the photo is passable.  It wasn't as cold out there as I had expected.  I nipped out wearing a short sleeved T- shirt and it wasn't too bad.

Back to some more parchment now I think.  My Sunday chores are done so back to crafting.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Another Christmas card revisited

I first did this card back in 2013.  A  Woodware Christmas stamp traced onto parchment and embossed etc-  here is how it looked back then.
I have revamped this year by adding colour and Wink of Stella and using this new border again that I am really loving using. So simple when you want to emphasise the image and not take away the look with a fancy complicated border, adjust to width and/or length and do fairly quickly.
Here it is......

Hope you like it.  Any comments are appreciated and avidly read.
xxx

Christmas repeat

It will be fairly obvious to those that follow my Blog that I am a fan of La Pashe CD's and designs.  I love the artwork and design and find that I can use it all in the conventionial way of decoupage etc or with my love of all things parchment.
I first did this following card last year and because I loved the combination of the image and the new beads that I had purchased back then I decided yesterday that I wanted to make it again - so here it is.

Slightly different colour emphasis and a different border and presentation but essentially a repeat order.
Printed on to parchment (140gsm and matt photo finish setting) and embossed from behind.  The border is the new to me one that I saw on the internet and worked out how to do it and adapt it. I have used this on several cards this year as I just thought it so simple and attractive.  This time I coloured the sun tool impressions on the back and added Wink of Stella on the front.  All stitched to plain white card before matting and layering.
I enjoyed doing this again and have decided there are a few more that I may well repeat with a few tweaks here and there.

CD Sunday - 'Sprinkle of Snowflakes' - chosen by Wynn

Hopefully any snowflake sprinkles at this point in time will only be on cards entering our challenge. We had a few more entries last time which was great to see and one of those who entered used to be a fellow teamie. Thank you Caz for joining in with us.
As it was my challenge choice last time  I will be choosing my Top 3 in time for the next posting.
Now for a 'Sprinkle of Snowflakes'.  I decided to make a parchment card using an image given to us at a lesson by our Tutor.  This lesson was practice in using a black brush pen and some Glamour dust.  A very simple understated design but I think you will agree - very effective.  The edging was simply done with a small scallop tool and then I sewed it to the backing card with tiny white frosted beads.
The snowflake /snowball backing card came from one of my favourite CD sources - Carol Ann's Studio  A couple of sparkly snowflakes and a silver sentiment completes the card.

 I look forward to seeing you in my travels.  I think Wynn has chosen the right theme for this challenge period as everyone must be making Christmas cards at the moment.  Just have any something - big or small - from a CD on it and you can enter our challenge.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Christmas cards nos: 49 and 50 (2015)

I have had a few days forced rest after a deep cortisone injection into my spine  so I have been able to legitimately rest on the sofa and make cards. Perhaps a good thing for both the back and my supply of cards!!
First here is card no 49.  This was made using an drawn outline I found on the net somewhere.  I couldn't find to whom I should credit but if someone recognises please let me know.  I have changed the design by at least 30% and also changed it to a Christmas card using my own poinsettias and a script from Anne Quinn.  I love her fonts.

The second card (No: 50) I am going to show is  Bling Bling over the top and I enjoyed sticking every crystal on by hand!!

The card shape and border design came from Wendy Walters - in the pack I recently purchased from her.  The centre panel in her design was a beautifully coloured spray of Thistles but I used a holly image from a recently purchased Siesta Grid.  I coloured the holly on the back with pencil and spreading medium and put some dry pencil on the front for finer details.  Unusual choice of pale blue against the holly for the backing I admit but together with the staggered white mats it seems to go.
I then went to town and used a whole sheet of pale blue gems.
Off to Parchment Workshop this afternoon (at The Art of Craft) so how much work and how much spending done will depend on my back - but I know I need some pale blue gems.
Carol
xx

Carla Prediger pattern - Christmas card

Two and a half years ago I posted a stitch card I had made using one of a groups of patterns I had bought.  I did the most time consuming one first.  Well!! 0nly a year or so later !! (June 2013)   I have managed to use a second of the patterns.  Here it is:

The circular image is the first layer of a pyramage I found in a book from Holland - Pyramids.  I bought a few of these little books from The Art of Craft.  I then chose the blue and gold threads to match the image. The gold surround to the image is a die cut.  The threads are sparkly Gutermann ones and wonderful to use.  Not inexpensive but worth the cost.  Cheap threads just keep stripping and breaking especially when going in and out of 300gsm card.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Something beginning with 'H'

Now this one is my choice of theme which  I did choose  before I thought of what I was going to do.  I made the card some time ago and so enjoyed the making of it and the effect,  that I have been dying to post it and see if you all like it as much as I do.

Here it is:

I loved the series of 6 Farmyard stitch cards that I purchased and completed from Stitching Cards so I was pleased to see that they had added this wonderful Highland Cow to their patterns.  Isn't he or she wonderful?  I think a 'She'  as she has a flower in her mouth and I have given her some butterflies.  I found the fabulous tartan backing paper on Ooh La La's CD - The Paula Oakley Collection.  The paper seemed to be just right in colour and theme. The sentiment die was a new purchase from Tattered Lace but I added the butterflies to 'hold' it up.
I showed this to my son and he said it reminded him of Ermintrude from the Magic Roundabout. Do you remember her?  If not here she is

My fellow teamies and our guests - Meg and Pauline -  have made some wonderful cards so please go visiting.  The links to their Blogs can be found above their cards on the CD Sunday Blog.

So many things begin with 'H' so please come and join us.  Think of those HOLLY cards you will be making for Christmas and as long as there is something from a CD somewhere on the card then it will qualify for our Challenge.
See you when I come calling.
Hugs
Carol
xx