CD Sunday Plus - Challenge #109 - hosted by Jocelyn

 Back down to earth now with my CD Sunday Plus hat on.

Here is my team card for this challenge and yet again it is La Pashe decoupage. 

I love Anemones but they don't seem to do very well in my garden.  This decoupage image comes from the 'Nice and Easel' folder on the 'Big One' CD. The Bumble Bee is on the image but I added the ladybird from my box of 'little bits'.

The background image and the mats were cut using Carnation Crafts Shabby dies.  I haven't decided yet which greeting or sentiment to use.

I had a wonderful birthday week - phone calls, messages and  some truly beautiful cards including the lovely one from Aimeslee in Texas.  I had some exquisite parchment cards.  It is such a long time since I picked up my parchment tools.  They made me feel very guilty. 

Over the week I have had three special meals out with friends and family and  I have a house full of flowers -  and memories.  

The cards I received were so beautiful that I have decided,  that next week, (when the Challenge is under way) I will post some photos of them and of some of the beautiful flowers that I received.

So thanks to all for your felicitations.

xx

CD Sunday Plus Challenge #108 - hosted by Margaret

 As I mentioned on the Challenge Blog it is our 13th Anniversary this week - on the 18th.  It doesn't seem possible that personally I have been entering the challenges since then.  In the beginning as a challenger and later as a Design Team member and now acting as a sort of team leader cum blog writer and poster.

I was so scared when I entered that first challenge.  I had never done anything like that before and had only just started my own blog.  Fortunately there were and still are some lovely people around who are willing to help and advise - and -  Oh Boy did I need help and advice.

Just before I show you my card for this challenge I would like to show again my first CD Sunday card:

 

 This was designed by me and made during the time that I was seriously into parchment work.

Now here is my team card for this challenge:

 

This was stitched using a download stitch pattern from 'Add some Sparkle'. The vase and flowers are  Carnation Craft die cuts.  The mats and sentiment toggle were made using Carnation Craft Shabby dies.  I have used this stitch pattern before but with different colours and centrepiece.

 

I look forward to your visits.  I hope that our team will be back up to full strength on the commenting front.  We have had some illnesses and holidays to contend with.

 

I will do my best  to do my visiting but if I don't manage it all I have a genuine excuse.   I have a busy few days of things to do and places to be as I have a really big birthday celebration on Friday - 80. 

Hugs

Carol

xxx

 

Carnation Crafts

 As promised - mostly to myself - I have tackled some die cutting at last.  These are some new to me dies and vignettes by Carnation Crafts.

I saw some cards on Pinterest and in Carnation's own gallery that had been made using these dies, so to start with I have copied a couple that I liked very much.   I just wanted to use the dies etc and get the feel - as it were.  Then I will go on to use them in my own style.

Carnation Crafts seem to give several names for each collection depending on how many of the dies you are using but this collection seems to be called Embroidery and Lace.

Hope you  like them too.

Carol xx

ATC Swop UK

 Here are my latest swops for the Facebook group to which I belong - ATC Swop UK

86. Favourite Colour

 

87. Spring has Sprung

 

Carol xx

CD Sunday Plus - Challenge #107 - hosted by Jo

I think we are going to need an Ark soon in this little corner of Surrey.  Yet more heavy rain and it looks as though April is going to start with more than showers.  Miserable weather for the Spring holidays.

The card I made showed more hope for goodish weather for the garden at Easter -  as in this scene this little boy has found, (much to his Fathers disgust), some beautiful blooms for his Mother.

I used one of my Card Hut CDs -  Wild World -  and my own graphics programme ACDSee for the borders and text.    I think I now have all the Card Hut CDs and I do enjoy using them especially as they can be used to tell a little story -  rather than just putting a few images on a page.

I keep meaning to get back to some die cutting but since discovering digital crafting and re-discovering my love of decoupage I cannot seem to find enough hours in the day.  I have lost all interest in stamping though and hopefully some friends are going to take some off my hands. Like the rest of us crafters I have too much of everything.

I look forward to seeing your entries to our Challenge and I also look forward to your visits here.

Hugs

Carol xx