CD Sunday Challenge - 'Christmas Flowers and or Foliage' - chosen by Meg

Good morning crafters. This is my last CD Sunday card until after Christmas. Our challenge has been chosen by Meg and what a  super one to have to finish off the year.  Here is my offering:

I loved making this card.  I used Funkyhand Papercraft Factory - Twelve crafters crafting - Wintery Magic.  What a mouthful!  Very sadly Funkyhands are no longer active but I am very pleased to have a good few of their fantastic CD's.  With them I have a wonderful source of backgrounds and these so useful  'word' cards.
The Christmas Roses are some that I bought earlier in the year (can't remember from where) and the leaves were punched using one of my favourite punches.  They are in fact punched using green parchment.

I would like to thank you for your support of the  CD Sunday Blog and indeed of my own Blog.  We hope to have your continued support in 2018 and also to welcome new challengers via  Facebook.

May I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous and successful crafting New Year.

Brand new patterns from Judith Maslen

On Saturday we had our last visit of the year down to Barton on Sea for our workshop with Judith.
Two fabulous new  patterns.
Already looking foward to March 2018 when we start another round of workshops.

Here are the two new cards.

Gold Locket

Amber the Ostrich

We had a wonderful time learning  how to colour the gold on the parchment for the Gold Locket. We used Faber Castell Polychromos pencils on the front and then used a spreading medium to create the subtle nuances of colour.
Amber was fun to do.  Have a close look at her face. Brilliantly drawn by Judith with just a few strokes of the pen  I haven't added a sentiment. Can be done later.
Thank you again Judith for a super day. Pleased I managed to keep up even with the bad hand.
Hugs all round.
Carol
xx

Christmas card for my sister

My sister doesn't follow my blog so I am quite safe. I wanted to do something personal for her but am having to do very simple parchment. The white poinsettia had already been made and the leaves punched out.  The writing is from a Groovi plate and the border (by Wendy Walters)  is a favourite which I can cope with as long as I take my time.
Hope she likes it.

Take care.
Hugs
Carol xx

CD Sunday - Christmas Present - chosen by Pamela

Good Morning.  I hope it is a little warmer today than it has been . I am beginning to wish that I hadn't had a Smart Meter fitted as you can now see in £ s d exactly what the heating is costing per day.
For our challenge Pamela has chosen another Christmas theme . Hopefully you are all still making Christmas cards so you are sure to have something that qualifies for our theme.
Here is my offering:

This is from an old favourite CD that I have had for some years now - Crafty Computer Paper Co - Card Kits and Pieces CD.  Sadly it seems that this company no longer exists.

Everything for the card has been printed from the CD.  The lovely young lady is delivering her  present to a lucky someone.  One of my favourite embellishments on this CD are the 'dried' orange slices. They are very realistic and so evocative of Christmases gone by.

Please visit CD Sunday and look at the lovely cards by the rest of the team.  Please also don't forget that CD Sunday is now on Facebook so if you can't enter via a blog you can now via email and  Facebook. 

Keep warm and well.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Parchment and Peel offs

Whilst my hand is still troublesome I can't do what I call really serious parchment work - i.e. lots of embosssing . But I can do parchment work assisted by grids and PCA templates and Groovi plates and in this case peel offs and a PCA A4 Bold Grid.
This was done at my last lesson. The other ladies were doing much more complicated projects so I did this one which entailed less stress and strain on my hand although the snipping out took much longer than usual to do..

The peel off was provided by my Tutor.  I copied what she had done with it but I did a different border - one by Wendy Walters. I haven't decided the sentiment yet.
What I thought to be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (which can be sorted out)  looks more likely to be Arthritis (probably long term). I won't know for some time as believe it or not my appt to see the Consultant is not until 2nd March.
I'll see you again on Sunday with our next CD Sunday Challenge.
Take care.
Hugs
Carol
xx

More for the Christmas Box

Some stitched ones:

Now  a second stamped on parchment card using a Nellie Snellen clear stamp.

I added three of my parchment Poinsettias instead of the Christmas Roses that I used in the other card and the background comes from a CD.

Bauble Tree

I have been playing with a new PCA plate. I love the style - very new and modern and would be good with different colour combinations.  It is a lovely easy plate to use and the border is particularly good.

I have some more new PCA plates on order from Australia and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do with them. This kind of parchment work  is OK for me as it is not as hard to do as traditional parchment ( poorly hand still) but you can still acheive some good parchment with style.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Christmas Things with Wings - chosen by Jane

Hi to everyone.
A new challenge starts today and this appropriately Christmassy one has been chosen by teamie Jane.
But before I show you what I have done for this challenge thank you to those who joined in my 'Take a stamp' challenge.  I will choose my Top 3 later and will have a gift for the winner.
So here is my card for Christmas Things with Wings:

I used Magical Christmas Moments CD- Created for Cupcake Crafting by Sharon Duncan

The main image and the mats and  background all come from the CD but the sentiment with the perching singing birds is a  die cut - as are the bird perching on 'Holly Lane' and the leaves at top left.
I enjoyed making this one especially trying to get the colours right'.
The image is No: 23 and the backing papers come from the Colourblend Glitter section. There are some beautiful images on this CD and worthy of being used many times.

I hope you will join in with Jane's challenge and I will see you on your Blog.
Hugs
Carol
xx

PS

Now that it is up and running I can tell you about a new place that is showing our challenges- Facebook - so we now have three places for entries - the blog, by email and now a new Facebook page!
Our teamies Jane and Pamela have been working hard to acheive all this. This has taken a little while and you will have to excuse any funny looking postings on the Facebook page as there has been some experimenting.

Here again is the link to CD Sunday Blog Challenge and there you will find  the details you need.
Carol
xx

Link to CD Sunday on Facebook

More Christmas 2017 and Parchment

I am afraid I am having to reduce the amount of 'true' parchment work that I can do whilst my hand is so troublesome but I am adapting and managing  with what tools and gadgets I have.
For this card I stamped onto parchment using Stazon ink and a Nellie Snellen stamp called 'Christmas Time'.   I then centred the image onto an oval grid and embossed and pricked out the border.  The grid was designed by Alison Yeates and purchased from her company Kingfisher Crafts.

I then embossed parts of the stamped image to enhance the snow and even coloured the deer.  The sentiment was embossed using a Groovi Plate.

Having got all this ready I then realised what an awkward shape I had made to fit on a card.  I die cut a larger oval from blue card as a backing and fixed with brads.   I fiddled with this for a long time trying to decide how to present it.  In the end I removed the blue oval background and attached it to a larger piece of blue card cut to fix to a white landscape card - with a small white edge showing.
I then played about with some Christmas die cuts for decoration but nothing looked right.  Then I found these two bows with tails which looked perfect to me.  A couple of Christmas roses are the finishing touch.

I think it has a hint of Wedgwood about it and I hope you like it.
Hugs
Carol
xx

More Christmas 2017

Firstly here is a new stitched wreath.   I have used white card die cut with one of my favourite dies for the stitching and the first mat.  The stitching pattern is from here.

Secondly here are two parchment cards. They have both been made using borders that I completed some time ago whilst I was still able to do concentrated parchment.  I then found images to use in the centres. This first one is an Angel from a Tattered Lace grid. I have then sewn the parchment to the card using beads..

Here is the last one. The pre-made border as before and another Tattered Lace design from one of the grids. The bow was made using a Groovi plate. This time I used red brads to fix the parchment to the backing card and then put it behind a scalloped window card. Then decorated the frame with peel off glitter.

CD Sunday - 'Take a stamp' - theme chosen by me.

This will be a short post as I have the dreaded lurgy from h*** and feel very sorry for myself.

I used my choice to make a card for my second Great Nephew who will be One in January. I used a Woodware stamp (my favourites as I have stated many times).
The background paper is from  Papercraft factory - Funky hand CD  - 'Happy Happy Birthday' folder - 'Blow out the candles' design..
I was so pleased to find it matched the Giraffes hat.

I know Arlo will be too young to appreciated his card but hopefully it will give him a colourful image to look at.
Here it is:

I had fun stamping and colouring.
I'll catch up with you all at some time.
Take care.
Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

I haven't done much crafting for a wee while as I have a poorly hand (waiting for xray results) but I have managed to make some ATCs for our November swop - appropriately themed ' Poppies'. For the first time ever I have made them all the same.
Here they are:

I used MCS for everything  -  6th Anniversary Collection - Digistamps delights folder called Fabulously Floral.  No: 14 for the poppies and Topper No: 6 for the frame and Backgrounds for the back sheet.
I printed out the frames and images twice. First on good quality paper and secondly on photographic matt paper. The ones on the photographic paper were used to cut out three of the blooms/petals to be decoupaged and then glossed with a new to me product - Beacon Hobby Coat. This is such good gloss as it doesn't make the printer ink run when you use it. It does say that it gives a semi gloss finish but that is enough for my needs.
I am not able to do any serious parchment work at the moment so I am playing with Groovi and PCA plates and a little stitching when the hand isn't too bad.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - When Autumn leaves start to fall - chosen by Jocelyn

Just the right time of year for Jocelyn's challenge.  It is all very beautiful until you have to sweep them all up.  Or perhaps get someone else to do it for you!

I enjoyed making this card.  I love the range of colours for Autumn. They might not be as spectacular as they are  'over the pond' but they are beautiful nevertheless.

I made this one as a male birthday card.  I have recently joined in a Facebook Birthday List and there is only one gentleman on the list (brave soul) and I made this one for him.  It was a September birthday so I felt the colouring was just right.
Here is the card:

The fabulous bold backing paper came from a Funkyhands CD - Craft the Year Away.  The diecut tree was one I bought quite a while ago from E-bay. Before I started buying all my own dies E-bay was a good source.
I have a beautiful die of a branch with leaves which I die cut in several colours.   I cut off each leaf individually to create the falling leaves and the pile at the foot of the tree.

The Happy Birthday die I have had for some time. There are a few times when you need such a bold simple sentiment and I felt this was one of them.
I hope you can find some beautiful Autumnal colours to play with and I will see you on your Blogs.

Happy crafting.
Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

Our October 2017 theme for this Facebook group is Trees/Weather. I have chosen to embrace Weather and here is a preview of what I am sending off to our fabulous organiser Sue.

Now some may think that this is a querky take on the theme but Snow is weather and you make Snowmen from snow.  Once I had found these little cartoons I couldn't think of anything else but these.  I kinda like the font I found.   It looks jolly cold to me.  It is called appropriately 'Chiller'.
I hope you like my little makes.   I enjoyed the making but then I always do.

CD Sunday - 'For the love of Dogs' - chosen by Margaret

I think Margaret has chosen a great theme for her challenge as most of us love our dogs or dogs in general.
I don't have a dog now.  I am on my own and know that I am not physically up to 'walkies' so it would be unkind to the poor dog especially as I prefer the larger breeds and who would be taking who for a walk would be the question.
We always had dogs when I was living at home.  I was sad to leave the two we had when I left.

Enough  sentimentality.  My card today was made especially for a friend who is a mad dog lover and has 3.  Two Springers (my absolute favourites) and a Yorkie - who apparently is the pack leader!!

Here is my card.  It is in fact her birthday today (6th)  and she is away.  I sent it in time for her to take with her.

Isn't the dog just gorgeous?  Our Springers were black and white and beautiful enough  to adorn a chocolate box.  But this one is a beauty too.
The CD used was by La Pashe - The Pet Set CD
Everything came from the CD except for a couple of the mats.
We are looking forward to seeing your dogs - any shape size or colour.  They are all beautiful.

I will be away for part of this challenge so I will catch up with everything when I can.
Hugs and happy crafting
Woof! woof!.
xx

CD Sunday - Mellow Yellow - chosen by Wynn

Wynn has chosen a colour theme for us this time. Always one of my favourites. That and letter ones.  They both  give such a wide scope as you are not necessarily searching for a particular subject -  which can sometimes be quite obscure.
I chose a CD called 'A Walk in the Countryside' by Cupcake Crafting / Creative Crafting World.  It seems to have both names on the CD.

There are many little gentle  country scenes on the CD but I chose the Sunflower one of course.
Here it is:

Apart from the peel-off Happy Birthday sentiment (coloured with peel-off pen) it all came from the CD.  The ribbon and flowers are all paper. The image is a flat Pyramage.
Each  scene has several images and ways of presenting them together with a selection of backing papers and accessories. Even notelets.   All in all  a very useful CD.

I hope you like the ideas from the team.  I love all the different yellows that they have found.
Please come and join us.  Don't forget all those beautiful mellow yellow Autumn colours that are just beginning to appear around us.  Plenty of scope for a project or card.
I'll see you on your Blogs.
Carol
xx

Jolly Christmas - pattern by Judith Maslen .....with a tweak or two

Yes I have been tweaking again.  I love Judith's patterns but if there is a design with a half square or a Moon tool used on the border you can be sure I will make a pig's ear of it and it happened again.
I had spent ages colouring and embossing Father Christmas and I didn't want to lose him so I did the same as I did with the Owl.....took him out. (Parchment expression) and then redid the background with a scallop tool and a Star tool.  I then glued Father Christmas back in place with Perga Glue.   The bow I decided I would like 3D so instead of tracing the one Judith had drawn I made one using a Groovi plate.
If anyone is interested the link to Judith's site is in my sidebar and the pattern number is jm068-3
Hope you like it.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Just finished another Judith pattern - 'Christmas Morning' - jm068-2  so I thought I would post it here.

Love them both.
So more hugs
Carol
xx

'ATC Swop UK'

I am a couple of postings behind with our Facebook ATC swop group.
In August the theme was 'Pub Names' and here was my set of swops.  Beautifully arranged by the organisers - as always.

and our theme in September is 'Shades of Autumn'. I haven't sent them in yet (in the post) so I only have my arrangement for you - sorry. The background comes from MCS and the words from my ACDSee Graphics programme

Now some time ago I bought the bundle of Tonic ATC dies that was launched on Create and Craft. There were six sets in the bundle - all different of course .  This is the first one I have played with and  I had a lot of fun.  I will certainly start playing with the others as soon as I can - in between CD Sunday and Christmas cards.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'CAS' - chosen by Meg

I haven't made very many CAS cards.  My artistic leanings are towards parchment, decoupage and stitching and CAS isn't really a concept that goes with those disciplines.  Despite that  I have really stretched myself and produced what I think is  CAS in every sense of the word.
Actually I tell a lie - once I saw the image it took me very little time and I couldn't honestly say I was stretched.
I found the image on the internet and all I could see in my mind was the sentiment that I have used. I played a bit with the image in my graphics programme and then found the blue matting layer on MCS  - Country Life CD. I then added a toning  green and a blue border to the edge of the topper -   then the sentiment and printed it out as a topper for a 7 x 7 card.

Here it is

Ideal to send to someone who is perhaps troubled, worried  or stressed. 

I'll catch up with you on your Blogs. Please join in with us at CD Sunday.
Carol
xx

Yet another card for the Christmas box

This time I have been playing with dies.  I cannot remember where I bought this die.  It might have been from The Art of Craft but I am not sure.  I enjoyed playing about with it and deciding how to use it.  It couldn't be simpler and I like the look.

The black card is spotless but the little specks you can see are glitter. How ever hard I try I can't get rid of them
Hope you like it too.
Carol
xx

p.s.
Whilst having a coffee this morning I decided to go through my stash of die packaging  to fnd where the die comes from and I have found it.
It is a Nellie Snellen die -   in the series Shape dies - Christmas Window Scene -2 (SD131).  I think I did buy it at 'The Art of Craft' - my very favourite Aladdins cave. I have added the link.

More for the Christmas card box

At our last Parchment lesson we were using a couple of Groovi plates. We were also given an unusual card shape to use with our finished work but I decided not to use that yet and I made an easel card for my image.

This is the Groovi plate we were using ........

.............but I didn't use the centre motif, I used the Merry Christmas wording from another plate.
We all did various interpretations and added our own bits and here is mine.

I made the large bow for the 'stopper' and that pattern came from the same plate as the small bow in the centre.
As you can see I used ooodles of gems. TG  I know where I can get replacements from Amazon at a very good price.  Ask and I might tell!

Just off to finish an ATC for a swop next month.
Love you to leave a comment if you can as you are passing by.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Let's hear it for the boys' - chosen by Pamela

Pamela has given us a good opportunity to make a card to pop in the box for perhaps a husband, son, grandson, nephew etc,. etc,. We never seem to have enough so now is a chance to make at least one.
I have chosen to make one for my Great Nephew Ellis.  Some how it seems very aging to have a Great Nephew.  It sounds like something from a novel .
As you will see from the card this Great Nephew isn't very old yet:

I asked his Grandmother what his special interests are and I was told 'Diggers' etc and suchlike. I had a set of appropriate stitch patterns already on my computer so I chose the one you see and decided to make it into an easel card - just to add a little more interest for him.
My 'CD' part is background card for the image and his nameplate/stopper and for the 'tyre tracks' at the side. It came from 'Big One Backgrounds CD' by La Pashe. For the actual card itself I have used my standby 'sand look alike'  card so that hopefully it adds to the scene.
'ELLIS' and Happy Birthday are die cut using red glitter card and the number 3's are transparent glittery peel off's stuck onto backing card and more glitter card.
It is a wee while until his birthday so it will truly be in my box waiting for his big day.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Fairy

The Facebook parchment group I belong to has a challenge every month. The subject is decided by the group founder  and the winner has her winning piece posted as the group banner heading for the following month and then goes on to choose the next winner and so on.
I was lucky enough to win last month. The subject was handbags and I posted one of the miniature ones I make from Amanda Yeh's patterns.   So I get to choose the winner for August and the subject chosen is a Fairy or Fairies.
Obviously I can't enter the challenge but I can post a a piece of work and here is my card:

It is from a lesson I had many moons ago but I hadn't actually stitched the border to the image and mounted on a background but I have now completed it.
I have added a little Wink of Stella to the wings but as always it is difficult to see in a photo.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Past Times' - chosen by Jane

Firstly I would like to thank all those who entered my 'Anything Goes' challenge.  I will be choosing my Top 3 during the next couple of weeks.

Secondly we have a new challenge starting today. Jane has chosen 'Past Times' which I think offers almost (but not quite) as much scope as 'Anything Goes'.  There are lots of eras and many representatives of those eras that can be chosen.
I chose a ladies wear shop.   I am not positive as to the era - possibly Edwardian.   I am not sure but here it is:

I have done decoupage.  I haven't done a lot of decoupage this year and I do like to do some when the opportunity arises.   Now the image is of course La Pashe.  It couldn't be anything else - could it.      From 'The Big One'  CD .  A sentiment die and a bow die were used.  It is just a simple decoupaged scene which I think is quite pretty and evocative of an era that I didn't know but doesn't seem that long in the past.
Please leave a comment when you visit. Tis always nice to know that somebody came visiting.
I will see you on your blogs.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Layering stamps by Nellie Snellen

I have fallen in love with a set of stamps.  Christmas layering stamps by Nellie Snellen. I have been using them with my Tim Holtz stamping platform and I did more stamping yesterday than I have done in a year or so.
Yesterday I made a dozen Christmas cards and here are some photos:

Here are  three individual ones as close-ups;

I think they make great cards. Hope you like them.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Anything goes' - chosen by Carol (me)

Good Morning
We run a strict challenge choosing rota system at CD Sunday and my turn to choose the challenge has come around again. It doesn't seem that long since my last choice back in April.
Anyway for this time I have chosen something that I think will appeal to all - 'Anything goes'. It couldn't be simpler AS LONG AS SOMETHING FROM A CD IS USED SOMEWHERE ON THE CREATION.  I have said it now and I won't keep on.

Hopefully we all like the work we produce - otherwise what is the point - but am I allowed to say that I love this card. It just seemed to go so well - be so simple but I hope appealing. I bought the panda die quite a while ago and as soon as it arrived  I made up two pandas. One I sent to a friend and the other was kept in my album of dies ready to use.  I also have one of those 'go to' CD's for oriental themes and I took it from there. The expression on the pandas face just says Oops Sorry!! doesn't it. So it had to be a belated wishes card.  I had the idea of having him peeking out from -  or rather hiding in -  the bamboo so I just needed the right background and found it on my CD.
Here is the card I have been waffling on about:

The CD used is my  'Japanese Papers' CD. The background is the green with the moon and some of the bamboo (the paler more silvery colour). The rest of the bamboo and of course the panda are die cuts. I used one of my graphic programmes to add the words and sentiment. Simples as they say.

I hope you enjoy my card and I haven't bored you.  Any comments you wish to leave are always appreciated and I look forward to visiting your blogs and leaving my comments. Please come and join us - with 'Anything goes' there is no excuse.
Carol
xx

'Buttercups and Daisies' - parchment pattern by Judith Maslen

Here is the second project completed at our last workshop - 'Buttercups and Daisies.'
The important point to this pattern was to emboss the buttercup petals from the front to give a curved and shaped look.  I think this works. My colouring was done with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils although Judith designed the pattern for the use of felt tip pens. As frequent visiors to my site will know - I hate felt tips and don't use them. Judith knows this only too well and there is a certain gleam in her eye when she hands me the pattern at the workshop.

Here is the finished work:

I love our trips down to Barton on Sea and I am looking forward to the next trip in September. Judith is such a fabulous designer and teaches us so well.
Hugs
Carol
xx

'Sepia Owl' - A Judith Maslen Workshop

A week ago was our 3rd workshop of 2017 with Judith Maslen down  in the New Forest.
We had two new patterns (as always) and this is the first - 'Sepia Owl'.
A beautiful design - as are all Judith's designs.  I worked away quite steadily and was enjoying the work but there was a 'likkle' problem.  In the border design Judith had used a 'moon' tool. Stupidly I have a thing about moon tools - I don't like them if they are to be embossed.  But I thought that if  I concentrated and took my time I would  conquer this stupid dislike......but I still made a pigs ear of it.
I tried to sort it out when I got home but made it worse so in desperation I 'took out' the owl which was OK and had taken a great deal of time to complete -  and then set about remaking the card.
I traced and embossed the pattern as before except that instead of the 'moon' tool I used a semi circle with 'sun' tool additions.  I embossed the greeting instead of using the sepia pen and where the pattern called for the tracing and embossing of the owl I used the owl I had saved from the first card.  I very carefully used perga glue on the very edges of the owl and stuck it to the pattern where the drawn owl would be.  So now I have a card I like with an owl that looks very 3D.
Here is my version of Judith's pattern. I hope she doesn't mind.

Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Celebration' - chosen by Jocelyn

A broad field of choices for this challenge by Jocelyn  Could be - Wedding - Engagement -  Anniversary -  Birthday -  Special Birthday -  Graduation -  New baby- and I am sure many others.
I have chosen a Birthday celebration for my card. Not a special birthday but the birthday of a special friend.
Anne (the friend) and I are belong to a group of six who have been celebrating their respective birthdays together for more years than I care to remember. I first met Anne when we sold our house to her about 30 years ago. The birthday girl chooses where we go to Celebrate and we have an extra outing at Christmas.
I loved Anne from the first moment we met.  After they had looked round the house Anne said she loved it and wanted it. Her husband said very cautiously - we must be careful dear. You never know there could be an artesian well under the kitchen floor. I don't care says Anne.  I'll stick a pot of flowers on it and make it a feature. (you have to imagine the accents - they are both from Scotland) We have been friends ever since.
Here is the card I made for her. It was her birthday on 10th July.

I used MCS - 6th Anniversary Collection - Elegant Ladies - Design Set 4 for the beautiful background. It looks like velvet in reality. The stitch pattern came from I know not where. I would like to be able to attribute it but cannot - at the moment.. The little piece of lace and velvet ribbon I have had in my 'box' for sometime and it seemed perfect for this card. Gems and peel offs used for the finishing touches.

Anne opened the card early - at her birthday dinner - and loved it so I was pleased.
If any one would like the pattern just email me using the CD Sunday blog email address.

I will have been to another of our Judith Maslen workshops yesterday so hopefully will have some parchment work to show you fairly soon.
I'll catch up with you all on my visits.
Hugs
Carol
xx

More for the Christmas box

I found this image on the net. It was unamed and unclaimed so I do not know to whom to give credit. I printed it onto parchment, embossed it from the back and did one of my favourite borders which is very simple but I think effective.

Carol
xx

Christmas Snowman from La Pashe

A simple parchment border.  The Snowman has been embossed from the back and he has been backed with a square of snowy background card from La Pashe. The lovely brads and  silver supports are from Nellie Snellen. I used a simple silver peel off greeting. There wasn't room to emboss one into the parchment.

Two very different cards

This first card is for this Christmas.  The image is printed straight from a La Pashe CD onto parchment and then embossed at the back. The border was found in an old Parchment Magazine (2009) and was designed by Gwen Paxton. It proved to be a tricky pattern and I accepted the help of a couple of fellow parchers at our last Wednesday workshop. I finished it this evening and here it is:

This second card is so so different,  I was playing about with  'A Very Important Date' folder on MCS. I had something in mind as a Birthday card  and this is how it finished. I have one layer of decoupage to add but it was too hot this afternoon and it was making me fractious. I will add it later.

So a couple of very different cards but additions to the box.
Hope all are well.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday -' Up the garden path' - chosen by Margaret

Well it certainly is a bit cooler whilst I am typing this and we have had some much needed rain - which seems appropriate for Margaret's challenge -' Up the garden path '.
I am off out to a Garden Party in a little while.  Our parchment tutor has a beatiful garden and every year about this time we 'parchers' gather in her garden and chat and put the world to rights.  We hardly ever chat about parchment.  Funny that!

Any way - my card for the challenge.  Much to our Wynn's amusement I have strayed from my 'square is a shape' philosophy and voila!

I used an image etc from the  Behind Closed Doors Pop Up Card CD  by La Pashe. To add drama I have made it as an easel card.
I had great fun making this but must confess there were a few mutterings - but what's crafting without them.  We do get more when doing parchment.  That's because you can't just print another piece and start again.
It really does look better in real life. I know we all say that - but it does. The lovely little sprigs of trailing flowers were from my embellishment pot. They are stitched and I bought them from a friend at a show many moons ago.
The stone paving effect backing card is brilliant.  It looks so realistic that when you touch it you expect bumps. It was a free download.
The folder on the CD is called ' Secret Garden' and HERE I found this beautiful music of the same name 

Our team have made some super cards to give you inspiration. I will be showing those when I do the blog. Please visit their own blogs and share their enthusiasm. They always seem to make the challenge come alive.
Bye for now - off for some eats and perhaps a glass or two.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Card for a Christening

Son No: 2 told me that he will be off to a Christening  tomorrow.  A baby boy born to a couple of his  closest friends. I had a look through my 'go to' box of cards but there was nothing suitable there so I showed him a few images and he chose one - and here is the card that followed:

The image and both matching backing papers come from a CD - Messy Rabbit by Joanna Sheen. The frame is a new die I bought from Hunkydory. The letters and numbers were diecut using a freegift - I think from one of my monthly magazines?  This little Alphabet die is becoming a favourite as I like the fonts and the letter size is perfect.  I decided not to do any decoupage.  I'll just put the other image into my box of bits to be used later!!