Two Parchment Owls

Although the pins and needles are still ever present I went to our Parchment Lesson last Wednesday.
I am glad I did because our tutor Marylin had chosen a Woodware stamp for us to work with. They are my favourite stamps to work with for parchment.  For her sample she had made an easel card which looked really good especially as the owls had been very gaily coloured and she had done a very delicate border around the image.  I started to trace the owls but didn't like what I was producing as the tingles were making it difficult.  So I decided to leave it and try again at home.

So over the last two days I have managed to produce a card in between tingles and here it is:

I stamped the image on to the parchment with white ink and then embossed all the lines from the back.  No other embossing or shading was needed.
I used a Siesta grid for the parchment circle.  It was easier than attempting a complicated border of my own.  I used Faber Castell Polychromos pencils for colouring on the back and used a spreading oil.  The wonderful striped background comes from CD14 - Carol Ann's Studio.  I never tire of using her CD's. I used some pink and pale purple for the two mats and the purple  for the frame and sentiment.
I bought a box of 'eyes' recently and have been dying to use these pink and blue ones so here they are and don't they look fab.
I really really enjoyed making this and finishing it.  I have the tingles now whilst typing so I think a rest and a coffee is called for.
Hugs
Carol
xx

A parchment birthday card

sent recently to a friend.

This pattern is by parchment designer Linda Williams and is in the Pergamano book M88.  It is one of six very feminine patterns in the booklet and I loved making it.

Here it is:

When my pins and needles are over I intend to make it again perhaps with different flowers.

My pins and needles etc have now been diagnosed as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists and trapped nerves in both elbow and neck.  Am having a steroid injection into my right wrist first so I had better get up to date before then so I can rest afterwards.  Not the thing a crafter needs.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Sketch' - chosen and designed by Moi

I decided to choose a Sketch for my challenge theme because the Blog hasn't had one for quite a while and I think I have only ever done one sketch challenge before and that was on CD Sunday.

So here is the Sketch:

and here is the card in parchment that I made for the challenge:

The Robin is my own watercolour painting executed some time ago now when I was attending Evening Classes.
I scanned the painting and then printed it on to parchment paper and then embossed in various places to give it life.  I then made a border around the image to make a smallish topper.
Then I used a Groovi plate to give me the larger square and I traced the Merry Christmas sentiment on all four sides rather than just the one and then gave it all the same border that I used on the topper.
The larger backing square comes from a  Robert Addams Cd - Let it Snow.  The two layers were then attached to the backing card with brads - the two groups of three to match the sketch.  Also to match the sketch are the two circles and these are my own parchment flowers with fancy brad centres.

I enjoyed making this card and I hope to see many different  interpretations of the Sketch design. Please though don't forget to use a CD somewhere in your design and let us know which one you have used. More things to read here.
Thank you for looking.
Hugs
Carol
xx

The Queen and I are having a birthday today

and I thought I would show you just  three of the fabulous cards I received .  I love my parchment, stitching and decoupage but these first two cards are so different.

The 1st one from a forum friend:

The stitching is beautiful.  Not something I would attempt.  Thank you Yvonne.

The 2nd is from fellow CD Sunday DT member Margaret:

I was thrilled to receive this fabulous card as Margaret knows I love the Minions.  I have a talking Kevin  and Margaret sends me many Minion quotes when she can find them.  But this done in Tatting blew me away.  Thank you Margaret.

The third is a beautiful card from my great friend in Northumberland. Beautifully made and a lovely verse inside.  Thank you Joyce.

The reference to the Queen is because my Mother used to tell me that the guns firing a birthday salute on this day in Hyde Park were especially for me. I was only lickle and I believed her.

Hugs
Carol
xx

More art from Colin Thompson

Yes - I have another finished Colin Thompson jigsaw to show off to you.  I just love his work.  He is a British Artist who now lives in Australia and he has the most incredible imagination.  I can't afford to buy his artwork  or even if I could I haven't the room to display it so I have resorted to buying his jigsaws.  I love doing jigsaws - always have - so this way I get the best of both worlds.

This one is called 'The Inventors Cupboard' and here is the picture from the box:

Now here is my finished one. This is the best picture I could get indoors.  Bit difficult to cart it outside without losing pieces.  There are a 1000 of them.

Whilst tracking down Colin's artwork looking for future jigsaw purchases I happened on a site in America that sells items made using his artwork.  Of course I was tempted and here is what I purchased:

A Mug - obviously

and this that arrived this morning:

A Tote Bag

Both these items depict "The Bizarre Bookshop 2" - my favourite (so far) of his designs.

So later today I will break up 'The Inventors Cupboard' and start on the next one.  I have four new ones at the moment.  They keep me occupied whilst I still have the trapped nerve.  Although a little better it hasn't untrapped itself yet.
Keep well.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Christmas 2017

I know - I know - it is much too early but I did promise myself last year that I would start making them sooner this year .......and I have.

To start with just a simple parchment one using Groovi plates and punched flowers:

The frame is from the larger of the two frame plates, the centre pattern is another plate with added sun tool and 5 needle tool patterns.  The white dots are from a Pergamano grid and the flowers are punched from 150gsm coloured parchment paper. The 'Merry Christmas' is traced from the larger Groovi plate.
The wonderful brads and spacers are from Nellie Snellen and I bought them from The Art of Craft.

My pins and needles etc are still here but a bit less in severity hence I have managed some crafting. Now off to tackle some unfinished projects and make myself feel very good.

I see we already have some fabulous entries in our CD Sunday Birthday Challenge.  If you don't know about us please come visit.  As you see it is our 7th Birthday and we are celebrating with a special prize for the winner -  to be chosen by Pauline.  Here is where you will find us so that you can join in.  Still a week to go.

Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - "Spring Colours" - chosen by Pauline

A great choice for a challenge by Pauline.  So many colours of Spring to choose from  and use on your card or project.  As long as a CD has been used for any part of your creation you are in with a chance of being in Paulines Top 3.  So many CD's have some wonderful Spring ideas.

Now Paulines Top 3 is a bit special for this challenge as it is CD Sundays 7th Birthday on the 18th April and in celebration we have a special prize that will be added to the top prize.  More details and a picture are viewable here so I won't spoil the surprise now.
Now that the CD Sunday Blog post is there for all to see I will show you the special prize on offer.

Secret Slider

A fabulous prize to win I think you will agree.


My contribution to the teams ideas are these colourful Spring-like notelets.

These little beauties come from Jane Shaskys' - 'from the heart of the garden' CD2.  I like to have a few notelets in the drawer as it is often nicer to sent a physical note rather than an email.  The ones I made for a recent CD Sunday Challenge 'Shades of Autumn' (last September) have all  been used so  I needed a fresh supply - voila!

I also made a matching envelope to keep them in so I can find them quickly:

I am looking forward to viewing some stunning 'Spring Colours' and to see who wins our special prize.

I hope you all have a very Happy Easter and lots of yummy chocolate.

Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

Our Facebook group swop theme for this month is unsurprisingly Easter. The last theme I joined in with was the Dec/Jan Winter Wonderland so I felt I must join in with this one.  My crafting is still limited as the trapped nerve?? is still ever present.

I chose some simple but colourful images which I obtained on the 'net:

My favourites are the two 'HAPPY EASTER's'.  Each letter is decoupaged and they look as though they are made of stitched material.  Some stragetically placed gems to finish off.
Carol
xx