ATC Swop UK

Just thought I would show you these before my CD Sunday post tomorrow.
First though I hope everyone had a good Christmas.  I was away this year and had a great time with my sister.  Apart from eating well (she is a fab cook) and having a few glasses of something or other  we spent the time catching up, doing a very difficult jigsaw and playing scrabble.  I was hoping the jigsaw would take longer than it did so we didn't have time for Scrabble.  She is too good and I rarely win but no luck.  In one game she did two 7 letter words...........I wanted to come home.

Anyway enough chat.  Here are the 5 ATCs I have made for our Facebook ATC group.  This theme of Winter Wonderland  runs over two months - December and January.

I used the window/cats peel offs that I have had for quite some time.  I liked them when they first appeared so I bought quite a few sheets.  I found various scenes in various places.  They had to be scenes that the cats could see out of a window.   I then used some sheets of snow acetate that I had bought some time ago to add to the snowy scene.
See you tomorrow.
Carol
xx

Happy Christmas to all my followers and fellow teamies

I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and a Prosperous and Healthy New Year.
I am getting ready to visit my sister for the holiday and on the way to her visit my daughter and SIL who I don't see often enough.
Three great friends who come to me every month  for a day of crafting, eating, chatting and generally putting the world to rights were here yesterday.  We try a do a different craft each month and this time  we were making parchment inserts for coasters using Groovi plates as a source  for the images.  It was a mad idea I had had but  they loved it and they went home with some super coasters which they were going to give out as presents.
Because I was hostessing I had time for chatting and a glass or two but not much crafting time but I did make this one:

Not perfect as it was rather hurried but fun nevertheless.  We have fixed our date next month and more of the same has been requested.  With the great number of Groovi plates I seem to have aquired there will be lots of images from which to choose.
So have a good holiday and thank you for your support and kind comments over the year.
I will be back in time to post the next challenge by CD Sunday.
Carol
xxx

CD Sunday - 'Twas the Night before Christmas - chosen by Jocelyn

This is our last challenge before Christmas and I think Jocelyn has chosen a very appropriate theme.
I am sure that everyone is frantically finishing off their cards eager to get them in the post but before you do please check them to see if any will qualify for our challenge - appropriate for the theme and a CD used somewhere.  We would love to see them.

My team contribution comes from La Pashe.  La Pashe have so many Christmas images that I was spoilt for choice but I think I chose the most appropriate:

The CD's I have used  by La Pashe are  - 'The Gift of Christmas' and 'The Christmas Box'.  Image is called -  'Waiting for Santa'.  I have added the die cut string of lights and used a couple of layers of decoupage.

I have finally finished all my cards - or rather I have decided that I have done enough.  They are all ready to address and get in the post.  I really must start earlier next year

Please join in with us at CD Sunday.

Carol
xx

Christmas Wreath - Groovi Plate

To say I have a few Groovi plates is an understatement.  I have at last started to use them rather than just look at them.  I have been following their use by others at various places on the world wide web and taking note of those that I really like.  There are some plates designed by Linda Williams (parchment guru) and it is a couple of these that I have used for this card.

There are several cards out there that have been made using these particular plates and they are all of a similar style but I have done my own 'thing'.  The basic is the same - the inked wreath with a star tool used on the ends of the branches -  but  I have made my little white flowers slightly differently and I have used a different bow - which in fact is 3D as well as the flowers.
I really enjoyed making this card and should have bought the grid much earlier and done a few more of these but I haven't much  time now before my cards need to be in the post.
Carol
xx

Some more Christmas cards

Despite my best efforts I am so behind this year with my Christmas card making. Probably because I was feeling so poorly in July, Aug and Sept when I usually crack on with them.
Here are 3 more to show you, 1 x diecut, 1 x stitching and 1 x parchment work.

Diecut - with lots of bling:

Stitched card with beads - but needs some tweaking and I don't know what at the moment.:

and a parchment card using image from a La Pashe Cd:

I am thinking I might have to make some very quick cards or perhaps buy some.  I don't believe I said that.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Card of the week - 149 - from 'The Art of Craft'

Each week The Art of Craft send me an email with their card of the week and this one came some time ago but I liked the dies they had used by Creative Expressions - so I purchased them.

I have copied the card that they made except for the centre sentiment square.  On their card it was a white circle and I have used a red square.  I also added yellow flower centres with red gems.  The sample had green centres. It was all done on a 7 x 7  white card.

Here is my version:

Scan now replaced with a photo as the scan always flattens anything 3D. 

 It does look so much better in real life as the white contrasts with the red and green and the gems sparkle.
Here is a link to their gallery so you can look for yourselves.
Carol
xx

More 'White Christmas'

I thought that the comments I received for my CD Sunday 'White Christmas' card were so nice that  I would make some more - but slightly different versions.  I have made another four but here are just two of them:

and

This time I used my graphics programme on the image to add the frames and sentiment.  Some of the trees have been cut from Centura Pearl to show the sparkly side.
Thanks for looking again.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - White Christmas - chosen by Margaret

I know that secretly in our hearts we would all like a white Christmas but with our practical heads on hope that we don't have one -  so we get our 'White Christmas' fix from cards and decorations and .songs

So for CD Sunday's new challenge Margaret has chosen 'White Christmas'.  Our team have made some beautiful cards and I am sure they will be of inspiration to you so please have a look here.

In the meantime here is my contribution

I used two of Robert Addams CD's - 'White Christmas' for the image and 'Christmas Carols' for the background.  I use these Christmas CD's quite often and I love the images from the first one and the backgrounds from the second.  The bridge with the lanterns has always been one of my favourite CD images and I have used it quite often.
I have added the deer, tree and sentiment diecuts.  Black mirri card for the deer and white card for the trees. Just plain gold card for the sentiment.  I also used black mirri card behind the image to act as a frame.
This was a very simple card to make and hopefully you will try it.  I can recommend Roberts CD's.  I have long been a fan.
Please say hello as you are passing.  I always love to read any messages.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Last Workshop with Judith Maslen for 2016

On Saturday we had another great day down in Barton on Sea with Judith and all our fellow workshopees.  The weather was apalling but that's not new and our chauffeuse Charmaine successfully battled hard again aginst the wind, rain, dark and motorway drivers.
This time we made a quickish Christmas card in the morning using a star tool to emboss the Christmas Tree and added a few gems to represent the decorations. We used a semi square tool for the borders.  The inset surrounding the tree was coloured with pencil and spread with dorso oil.

I added some Wink of Stella to the tree and the star tool impressions in the border but it didn't photograph well. This pattern is called 'Snowy Tree' and will be Pattern No: jm 068-15

Our second card made in the afternoon was quite tough one.  A lot of work.  In fact I didn't finish it until this morning. It is called 'Shoe Heaven' and will be Pattern Sheet No: JM043-5 in the Boutique series.
Here it is:

To complete this pattern we did painting on the back with felt tips (or some of us did - I used pencils and dorso oil).  We did tracing with black ink. grid work, embossing and using the Almond tool.
I added some Wink of Stella to the embossed segment of the fans and glitter peel off to the diamond in the centre and a glitter scallop peel off to the edge of the pattern.

I already looking forward to starting again in March next year.
Hugs
Carol
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CD Sunday - 'Sparkle and Shine' - chosen by Wynn

With Christmas looming so large we at CD Sunday are continuing with our Christmas themes and 'Sparkle and Shine' should be a good one for you all to enter.

I have done a stitched card for this theme and I bought the pattern on line from Cardmaking Online in Australia and the very talented designer is Emelie.

Here it is:

The CD content is the backing paper from La Pashe 'Big One Backing Papers'. The colours were perfect.  The stitch pattern is very very fine and took quite a while but I really like the finished effect.  I have added some red chalk to the bow to give it some depth and shading and sewed very tiny glittery seed beads inside the green stitching and on the little red stars.  The Merry Christmas is a glittered peel off.   I can't remember who made the die I used for the bows.

Please visit CD Sunday - not only to see the cards for this challenge but to see the winner and runner-up  of the Sharon Duncan Sponsored Challenge - 'Paws' .  Thank you again to all those who enter our challenges.

I look forward to seeing all the 'Sparkle and Shine'.  See you soon.
Hugs
Carol
xx 

Parchment - Christmas and La Pashe

The image is from a La Pashe CD - 'The Christmas Box' - one of my favourites.  It is called The Gingerbread House (for obvious reasons) and makes a super card for a younger person.
I printed it onto 140gsm parchment paper using my Canon printer on Matte photo setting highest quality.  Just remember to let the ink dry before touching as of course parchment paper is non absorbent.
I added a border using one of Wendy Walters designs that you can adapt to any size.  Such a simple idea but I love the effect.

Here is the finished card

I embossed most of the image with emphasis on the white.  The image was then stitched to the red matt using red glass beads.  I also added 5 little black beads to the snowman.  The card is a white 7" x 7" 300gsm - also from La Pashe.
I can't make all my Christmas cards from parchment as they take so long but try to do as many as I can. I started this one in our Parchment Workshop at The Art of Craft on Wednesday and finally finished it last evening - of course I have done other things in between.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Stitched Birthday Card - plus another.

for a friend who is also a fellow CD Sunday teamie.

This year I decided to do a stitched card.  I thought an easel card would be different having not previously made a stitched easel.  I needed something to act as the 'stop' so I decided to stitch a nameplate using the stitching font (here) that I had purchased many moons go but not actually used.
Here is the card:

The pattern for the card came from here but the deco roses that I liked came with the Get Well Soon sentiment so I had to change that for the Happy Birthday.  I found a tag somewhere in matching pink and used Microsoft Word to add Pamela's name in the stitching font.  To this I then added the double rose spray by pricking them out from the main pattern.
As you can see a special birthday for Pamela so I added the very pretty transparent glitter peel off numbers.  I can't remember where I got that particular sheet and the numbers are running out - so when they are gone they are gone!
I loved making this and now I have braved stitched fonts I will try this again.
Hugs
Carol
xx

p.s.
I said I would like to try this again and I have.  A friend saw Pamela's card and said how much they liked it so I here is one I have made for her.

Her birthday is at the end of the month so all done in plenty of time.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Father Christmas

The theme for our new challenge - starting today - has been chosen by Meg and it is 'Father Christmas'.  I am sure that by now you are all in the middle of a frantic Christmas card 'make' so this challenge will be right on the button - as it were. As long as a CD was used somewhere in the make and you tell us which one it was -  you will be in with a chance of the prize.
Now just to show off I used 3 CD's - all by Robert Addams - in the creation of my card:

I used 'Let it Snow' for the image, 'Christmas Trees' for the hessian background and 'Christmas Backing Papers' for the matt layer.
I added the red ribbon to the top corner just to give the idea of a hessian sack full of goodies being tied up. The hessian look backing paper looks great in real life - very realistic.
Please join in with us and also visit my fellow teamies. We look forward to some festive blog hopping when we come to visit you.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Christmas parchment

I recently purchased 3 x parchment grids from Tattered Lace.  I particularly like grid No: 014 although they are all beautiful.
Using this grid I made a parchment poinsettia using 4 of the 5 layers provided.  The pattern makes a slightly exaggerated style of flower but I love it and enjoyed making it although it was very time consuming.  Not one to be made quickly.  I added some glitter to all the edges to give it some Christmas sparkle.
I made the base of my topper by using an outside square 'groove' from one of my many Groovi Plates and then made a border with crosses and a sun tool and drew my own inside line to complete the border.  I wanted something simple that didn't take away from the poinsettia.
The sentiment is also from a Groovi Plate   I particularly like the lettering used on this plate.
Hope you like it.

Here is a close up of the poinsettia

I like this simple style of topper and could well make it again with something else instead of a poinsettia.  On one of the other grids is a beautiful Angel I am wanting to use.
Love to hear from you.
Carol
xx

HALLOWEEN

is the theme for our current Facebook ATC swop group.  One of my favourite themes.  I don't know why as Halloween wasn't something that we took part in as children and my own children didn't either - but I love making Halloween ATCs.  At the last count I had 24 to choose from.  Yes I did say 24.
Here are the ones I sent off to the swop.  Beautifully displayed as always by group leader Sue:

I couldn't resist yet another Minion.  I had fun with the skeleton.  It was a freebie image which came in parts. Quite hard to cut out such small pieces and then arrange on a 2.5" x 3.5" card.
I loved the idea of the Pumpkin Maze and I hope the recipient tries to complete it.  The 'Boo' was another image from the net but the cats and the words are table confetti that I was kindly sent by a member of another ATC group to which I belong.
Here are just a couple more.  I will keep them perhaps for next year. There is bound to be another Halloween swop.

Minions - of course!

These are biscuits.

Happy Halloween when it comes and I hope not too many things go bump in the night!!

Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Paws' - a challenge sponsored by Sharon Duncan

Good Morning.  Not too chilly where you are  I hope. Autumn seems to have arrived all of a sudden down here. I have had the heating on already.
Sharon Duncan has very generously offered to sponsor a  CD Sunday Challenge and  today is the day (and for the next two weeks of course).  The prize - given by Sharon - will be a copy of her DVD called 'Playful Pups' and the design team have all made cards using folders from the DVD.
Here is mine:

I used one of the backing papers for my base card and changed the colour to tone with  my Labrador puppy (from Stitching Cards) and the paper ribbon and bow.  I took the opportunity to make this for a friends birthday as well as for the challenge.  The friend is a great dog lover and I knew she would like this image.
The team have shown how you can make such different things from one source and I think they are all great. Please visit their Blogs to see the work. I know they will appreciate it.  I am sure Sharon would love you to visit her site too so here is the link. There you will find a  video  to show you the contents of the DVD. Apart from the toppers etc there are some great backgrounds.  I love good backgrounds.
So please join in with us and  make something showing any kind of Paws - use  something from a CD of course - and tell us which CD you have used.
Have fun and I will see you on your Blogs.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Country Living' - chosen by Pamela

I used Joanna Sheen's 'Cottage Garden' CD for this card. I love the old fashioned image.  It was probably originally a Victorian card - it has that look.  I don't like all Victorian greeting cards as I find many of them a bit sweet and sickly but this one really suited Pamela's theme.
I have done a few mats and one layer of decoupage on the poppies.  The gems are some very tiny black faceted gems.  I die cut Happy Birthday twice - in red and black so that I could stagger them to give the illusion of shading. ( I copied this idea from someone else).  I used a white 8" x 6" landscape card as a portrait card (so the fold is at the top). That gave me the space I wanted for the sentiment.

I enjoyed making this Pamela for your first theme choice.  I hope you get lots of entries to choose from.
Have fun and I will see you on your Blogs.
Carol
xx

'Back to School'

This is the theme for September's swop at ATC Swop Uk.

I found out that our Organisers husband aka 'The Slave' loves Minions.  I do to.  I decided that I was going to send him some of his own so I used  all Minions for my 5 for the swop as well.

Here they are. 

and here are the extras for 'The Slave': 

They are all decoupaged and have some glaze in their goggles to look like glass.

I have collected dozens of these little sayings now so I don't think I am going to run out.

I am looking forward to seeing what I get in return.  We have some awesome ATC makers in our group.

Hugs

Carol

xx

Russian Angel?

Whilst rooting through my box of Christmas card making goodies I came across some sheets of decoupage just waiting to be cut out.  They are of 'Angels' and they look in a Russian style to me.  I have had them so long that I cannot remember when I bought them or from where I bought them.
They are printed on beautiful paper and a real pleasure to cut out and are about 6/7 layers if you use them all.  I always use 1mm sticky pads so they are not too high.

I found a backing sheet from a Robert Addams CD that tones in with the background piece on the Angel so I have used that as the  card.

The green and gold coloured card used for the mats and the bows are from the new pad of adhesive papers ( Christmas and Winter) by DCWV that I bought a couple of weeks ago. I have added 3 gems to the bows.
I have two more of the Angels ready decoupaged but the hardest part is finding the right backing paper for them.  I may just put them on a white card - we'll see.
Thank you for looking.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Things with Wheels' - chosen by me

Well - 'I will go to the foot of our stairs' - an expression I think I have heard somewhere.  I looked back here on my Blog to see when it was my last challenge choice (June) and here are my opening words -
"I hope you haven't had the week we have had here in the South East.  Torrential rain, thunder and lightening."
So for my opening words for this new challenge - please read above.
I hope the weather is now better and here is my card for this challenge:

I am tempting fate - there is snow on this one!!

I have used the 'Behind Closed Doors' folder from The Best of La Pashe 2012.  I also had the ready cut and folded card from La Pashe.  I think essential for this particular card as the images print out to the exact size.  No trimming that can so easily go wrong.
I did add a touch of Wink of Stella to the snow etc but of course it never shows in the photos.
I have made a few others from this folder ready for Christmas and I have bought some more cardstock for plenty more. They are easy when you are busy and unusual to send and receive.
So - I hope to see lots of wheels please.  Please have fun finding them and making something with them.
Hugs
Carol
xx
p.s. Just as a matter of interest I looked up - 'I will go to the foot of our stairs' - and here is what I found.

'A Christmas Wish'

A pattern by Judith Maslen from her series 'The Musicals'.  Judith says this was inspired by 'White Christmas'.
As usual I have played about a bit .  This time it is the border.  I have changed  the use of the Moon tool to the Semi circle tool. Readers of my blog may remember that the Moon tool is a tool  of which I am not particularly fond.  Judith may be interested to note that the outer 'footprint' of the Moon tool is matched by that of the semi circle tool - so it made the change easier.
So I did two rows of the semi circle tool with a mega sun tool impression between the rows. I then stitched some very pretty glass beads along the inside line using the juxstaposition of the  holes for placement.
The lovely tree, moon, snow and poem were done exactly as per the instructions.
I loved creating this card and I hope you like it.

I am also going to enter this in the current Ooh La La Challenge #213 - Anything Goes.

Carol
xx

An old favourite stitch pattern...

I first used this stitch pattern by Carla Prediger back in 2013.  I loved doing this one back then so I thought I would have another go but this time with a different colour thread.  This time the thread is a metallic mix of Silver, Rose Red and Green.  It is also by Gutermann and is CA 2776.  I love the delicate look it gives to the stitches.
I have tried to match the Rose Red  and the Green colours in the thread with the card used for the matt and for the sentiment.   I also managed to find an already printed sheet of backing card in the same rosy red colour used for the printed stars.

I die cut the sentiment using a Creative Expressions die and self adhesive cardstock by DCWV in Christmas and Winter Colours.  So much easier than trying to put glue on the back of the die cuts.
The holly leaves and berries were also cut from the adhesive card.

CD Sunday - Shades of Autumn

A very apt title for this coming challenge as the weather turned quite chilly today (Friday) as I was scheduling my post.

This challenge is Paulines first one  as a CD Sunday Team Member and we are hoping for lots of support from our regulars and perhaps regulars to her own Blog.

I knew I had some good Autumnal photographs in some of my folders especially ones taken at RHS Wisley which - luckily for me - is close by.  I decided to make some notelets as I really needed some and combined MCS Deco Follies, photos of Wisley and use of my own graphics programme - ACDSee which came on a CD with my old Pentax camera..

I love the Deco figures from the Follies CD and use them when I can.  Ideal to put into scenes.
This is what I did with them:

I used ACDSee to add frames and wording.
This brought back some very happy memories for me and for a couple of my fellow teamies, Pamela and Jocelyn.  I have know them both for quite a while now (we met through crafting) and we have had several 'meets' at Wisley together with many other mutual friends and we have had some great times there.
I look forward to seeing all your different shades.  Have fun.
Carol
xx

Modern Baubles

to go with the modern tree.  This is from the same Value Pack.
I made the backing paper - paper weaving.  On the hunt for the right backing paper I found some on a CD called 'Magical Christmas Moments' created by  Sharon Duncan for Cupcakecrafting.  There is a folder called Colourblend Creations and in there I found some fabulous paper just called A4 Glitter.  Wow I thought and just had to print off some straight away - (and why hadn't I noticed this before).  I chose three colours to match my baubles and then set about doing some paper weaving.  I cut 2cm strips and just played about for ages.  I like paper weaving and should do it more often.  When you have made it yourself you can just scan it and hopefully use it again and again.  The red matt behind the stitched image is from the Colourblend Creations folder - just the same red as in the Glitter paper.

Here is the card:

I enjoyed making this one as much as the others.  Whilst I still have this cough (6 weeks and counting) I am just sitting quietly and stitching (in betwen coughing fits).  But there is an improvement brought about by a humidifier.  My GP told me to buy, borrow or ? one and use it as much as possible.  I have done so and it has helped a great deal.  I was also told to turn off the fans I had going all day in the heat waves.  Not good for you I was told.
I have another couple already prepared for stitching so back to the sofa and my humidifier.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Modern Christmas Tree

I found a new to me Christmas Value pack on Stitching cards yesterday - here.  I bought it straight away as I particularly wanted to do the Christmas Tree.  I think it is just fab.  I sort of followed their colour ideas and then went on the hunt for a suitable backing paper.  I found one on one of my favourite CD 's by  Carol Ann's Studio. (CD-8 2nd Xmas CD)  This great purple toned paper is also done in red, green, pink and blue.  I love it because as well as being a background it is also the sentiment.  Nothing else is needed.
So I hope you like a more modern style stitched card:

Now on to the next one.  See you later.
Carol
xx

Stitched 'Bells and Holly'

Another stitched Christmas card for the box.  I used rather a nice multi coloured Sulky thread by Gutermann (CA 02776).  I managed to match the colour tones fairly well with the holly backing paper.

The pattern came from Form a Lines.
I did wonder about adding some die cut holly or some other embellishment but somehow nothing seemed right.  Oh dear - all these dies and I am not using them enough.  I can't be the only one - surely.
Hope you like the card - without extras.
Carol
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Happy Happy Reindeer

I am plodding along with my Christmas cards.  I am doing the stitching ones first and this one I have done before but I liked it so here it is again and the pattern is from here:

He does look as though he has been at the sherry trifle - or I should say She - as it is only the lady reindeers who keep their antlers in the Winter.
The decoupaged strip on the left has been cut from a backing paper.  I just cut part of one of the vertical strips and mounted it on to the same gold card I used for backing the image.  I then cut out 4 of the little images again and two of the bows to decoupage the strip.
I have stitched a few more - just got to decided how to present them.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - HOT HOT HOT

Good Morning everyone.  Jocelyn has chosen an unusual theme for this challenge and I think the team have had great fun producing some inspiration for you all.  Please pop round to visit them all - I know they would be pleased to see you.

Do you know that feeling you get when you have made something that you really like and it  all seems just right?  It is a rare feeling I know but I did feel that about this card.  Any sentiment on the front would spoil it I think so it will have to go on the insert when I use it - if I use it?
I knew I had a stitch pattern I wanted to use but how to incorporate something from a CD? -  so I went looking for a special background.  I found what I wanted on Funky Hands. I love their papers and it is such a shame that they are no more.
So I printed out the background and matched the colours with my threads and here is my offering:

The image is fun and cheerful.  There are some great stitch patterns available and I love using them as a change from doing parchment.
This pattern is from Stitching Cards and is called 'Chili Peppers' and the background paper is from Funky Hands -  Happy Happy Birthday - CD - folder 'Cake Anyone?'  which I stuck to the front of a 7 x 7 white card.
I cut some very thin strips in red from the backing paper to place over the corners and added some red gems to the strips and the topper.
Thank you for popping in to see what I have done and any comments are gratefully received and avidly read.
Carol
xx

Christmas cards with La Pashe

 I have so many of the La Pashe CD's and they are a wonderful source for Christmas images and styles. It would take quite a few Christmases to use them all but even if you repeat favourites  you just have to try not to send them to the same people that you sent them to in the past.
I used the  'Behind Closed Doors' folder from The Best of La Pashe 2012.- a folder I haven't used before.
I have made a few.  I have added some various colurs of Wink of Stella to them but it doesn't always show in the photograph .
So here 3 of them with closed doors and then open doors:

   

    

                                                                                      
I made these whilst nursing this horrendous cough which is now getting better but approaching it's 5th week.  I daren't try parchment as one cough at the wrong moment would have been disastrous.
You can purchase the correct size gatefold cards from La Pashe (at least I think you still can) so the make is quite easy. They do look better in the flesh.  I will put the Christmas sentiment on the back as there is a nice size blank piece of white card.
Carol
xx

BigSplashDigiStamps

is a new Etsy Shop run by my good friend and wonderful Parchment Designer - Judith Maslen.
This is a new venture for Judith, who is such a good artist, and these designs are for all those 'Digi stamp' fans who want to colour with all those myriad pens, pencils and brushes. There is nothing to say that we parchers won't use them but if you don't do parchment then you won't want all the instructions such as border grid patterns etc -  so these are perfect for you.
This is all as well as her established parchment pattern site.  You can find both the links in the sidebar.
Please have look at the new shop and help it get established.  I have already visited and purchased a couple of patterns. For one of them I shall use parchment but I may well get some watercolours out for the second.  They haven't had an airing for quite a while.
Thank you for your time reading this.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Let's shape it up' - chosen by Margaret

Good Morning one and all.  Whilst I type this on Saturday and schedule it for posting tomorrow the sun is shining and it isn't too warm but I fear things may change.  I am not a great lover of very hot weather so I will retire to the centre of the house (coolest place) and use my new all singing all dancing tower fan.

Our new challenge at CD Sunday has been chosen by Margaret who is one of our new team members.  Margaret has chosen the theme of shaped cards. As I said on the Blog -  'square' is a shape to me -  so I approached this challenge with caution as I wasn't in my own comfort zone.   I decided to try and incorporate shaped and Christmas and went to one of may favourite La Pashe CD's- The Christmas Box.
I printed out one of the tags as a 5" x 7" card.  In fact I chose my favourite tag of the two deer with the big goo goo eyes. I added the Happy Christmas greeting with one of my graphic programmes and the red bow was made using a die  - and as usual I can't remember who made it.
I then made 10 tags with ribbon tails and put them in a pocket on the inside left of the card.

Here are the piccies:

I added a greeting page to the inside right and in fact felt quite pleased with my 'shaped card'.  I know it is neither a startling nor an  awe inspiring shape but it has a shape.
I had some girlfriends around for a crafting session and I showed them this card and one of them dropped a very strong hint that they wouldn't mind if this arrived in their Christmas post so it has a home already.
I think I might actually make a few more of these.  There are some beautiful tags on this CD so plenty of choices to be had.
I look forward to some blog hopping and seeing some fantastic shaped cards.  Instead of us inspiring you - you could inspire us  - or me in particular.
Have fun.
Carol
xx

'Snowflake Fairy' in parchment

Here is another new design by Judith Maslen.  Judith has done three of these Christmas Fairy designs and I loved them as soon as I saw them.  This is my second one.  I really don't know which I like the best.

Here she is:

In her pattern Judith had drawn and embossed 3 snowflakes  (in about the same places I have placed mine).  I have never been very good at this very fine embossing and after all my hard work I couldn't bear to spoil it so I added a couple of die cut snowflakes.  I did paint them with Wink of stella first.
I spent a quiet day yesterday doing this pattern.  Am still coughing like crazy.  Have been told by friends who have been there that this can last weeks. I am coping as long as I don't stress myself - like doing housework.
Carol
xx