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

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 Flutter

Our latest CD Sunday theme and my cards at the recent Exhibition gave me the idea of having a go at designing my own card.  As I am starting my Christmas cards for this season it was a good place to start.
Here is my offering:

I used elements from 3 Pergamano Multi Grids in the making of the parchment oval.  This was sewn to the matting layers with red glass beads.  The butterflies are of my own design.  The wings have  been coloured on the back with pencil and blending oil and the top surface then enhanced with Wink of Stella clear.  I love this product - brilliant on parchment. I even spread some on the edge of the  green matting layer.  Difficult to see in the photo but it is there.
I have - I hope - kept the design clean and simple and any comments would be appreciated.  I hope to go on to design some more of my own.
Carol
xx

A water theme

for our second Judith Maslen Workshop for 2015.
It was off to the seaside on Saturday for the workshop.  There are three of us who travel together - an early start and my turn to drive again.  A round trip of about 140 miles but worth every mile.

Our first 'water' project was a white work pattern called 'Water Iris'. It was quite quiet in the workroom whilst we were concentrating on the embossing. It really is a skill that takes so long to learn and if our endeavours look anything like Judith's sample we are all pleased.
The really pretty detail on the image are the dragonflies and the little star tool  impressions.  I stitched tiny tiny crystal beads through the star impressions to add the look of bubbles and to attach the image to the card.
Here is my offering

Our afternoon project was quite different and I think my favourite.  Judith has designed a series of patterns around Musicals and this one was inspired by 'Singing in the Rain'.

I loved doing this one.  I used Faber Castell pencils and Zest It for the coloring.  This is done on the back of the image and then dry pencils used on the front to add shadow.
The almond shape decorations around the edge were originally one filled in with embossing and one cut out -  alternating.  I chose to use beads in the cut out shapes to add beads that I had of the same shape in order to attach to the background card.
Another fantastic day Judith thank you.  Already looking forward to July.
Carol
xx

Songbird Birthday Card

The image and sentiments were designed by our Parchment Tutor - Marilyn Pybus.  I finished it during our workshop yesterday
The extras I put on are the little butterflies.  I 'painted' some parchment paper with Wink of Stella Clear.  When dry I punched out the butterflies using my Pinflair punch.

The oval and the sentiments were stitched to the card with beads.
We were given a pattern for an Anniversary card as well  which shows two birds on the branch and of course Happy Anniversary in the banner.
Carol xx

ATC Swop UK

The group theme for February is 'Colour Blue and here are the ones I have made and they will be in the post tomorrow.

Usually about 25 people enter from 3 to 5 ATC's so the organisers have quite some work to do at the end of the month.  It is always organised beautifully.

Hope they like them.
Carol
xx

Stitching and beading

A change from stamping and decoupage for some Christmas cards.
These were stitched and beaded over the last couple of evenings.  The patterns are from here

Poinsettias

Christmas Hedgehogs

Christmas Cupcake

More from the sofa

I have been sitting quietly doing some stitching and a little parchment.  The programme selection on the TV is so awful and that together with my enforced resting means that  I am steaming through my Christmas cards.

This is a La Pashe coloured digital image that I have printed on parchment.  Then I  embossed and enhanced the colours where necessary.  The border shape was made using one of the new PCA Easy Embossing frames for the outlines and then stippling in the gap.

The next three are patterns from Stitching Cards used together with some beads and die cutting.

Carol
xx

More beads

I liked those new CzechMate beads so much that I ordered a few more in different colours.  They were all much admired at our Parchment Workshop yesterday.  I decided to use some on a Christmas card that was my planned project for the afternoon.  The milky white ones looked perfect for mistletoe berries. 
The printed image is from La Pashe - 'The Christmas Box' CD.  I printed it out on to parchment and did a little gentle embossing.  I used a new PCA embossing template for the border.  I touched up the colouring a tad with my new Spectrum Noir pencils and then stitched on the beads for the berries.
A couple of matting layers and some stick on pearls complete the card.

Hope you like it - I do.

Have a good weekend.  Let's hope it stays dry.
Carol
xx

New beads

My favourite bead supplier sent me a flyer about some new beads they had in so I sent off for two small packets to try. They are called CzechMates Lentil beads.  I like to combine beads with parchment and stitchcards.
Here is the parchment ATC that I made.

I love the effect of using beads.  There are so many beautiful beads to choose from these days and I wish I had the time to learn the art of jewellry making with beads.  I just love looking at the shapes and colours.  Perhaps I was a Magpie in an earlier life.

I enjoyed using the beads.  With the two holes and the fact that they sit flat made them easy to use.  I have now ordered some more colours.

Off to make some more.
xx

Beaucoup de beads

Today is a matter of one I did earlier but there is a reason for posting the following card.
Our parchment Tutor has organised a small local craft day in a nearby Village Hall .  It will happen next week and the idea is to have little workshops of card crafts other than our usual parchment.  Quite a few of us 'do other things'  and  I have been honoured and asked to do a small stitch card workshop.  I had to find something that could be completed in approximately 1  to  1 1/2 hours. I chose to demonstrate bookmarks and I have everything organised - done a test run to make sure it was feasable in the timescale and it is.  I have even allowed time for trying to thread the ******* needle.

We were also asked to bring in some of our favourite cards that we have been sent by fellow crafters to put on display and some of our own efforts to show what can be done and what else is 'out there'.

I made a birthday card for a dear friend a couple of years ago and it was a stitched and beaded affair.  Now she lives up in Northumberland but she has kindly posted it back down to me to put on show.  It is one of my favourite efforts.

The pattern is from here and is a beaded medallion - Wisteria.  The backing paper is from a Joanna Sheen CD.  It is also an 8 x 8 card - the first and only one I have made that size.
I am off up to Northumberland at the end of March for my yearly visit so I will return it safely then.
Unfortunately we can't use beads on the bookmarks for obvious reasons but as we plan to have another of these affairs I can choose  a project using beads next time.

A couple more ATC's

Here I have one that has been stitched with glitter thread and another parchment one with some beads.

Carol
xx

Stitch and Bead ATC

..... using a brass stencil for the pattern.
I used Gutermann Sulky thread for the stitching and some tiny red beads from stash.

It took quite a while to stitch but I needed something quiet to occupy me as believe it or not my awful year has continued with the need for an  emergency tooth extraction yesterday.  Roll on 2014.  It can't come soon enough.
xx

Workshop ATC's

I made a couple of ATC's at our December Parchment Workshop yesterday.  Not a lot of work to show for the few hours we were there but we did to a bit of chatting and shopping and chatting and shopping.  The shopping is easy as of course our workshops and lessons are held at The Art of Craft - our local Aladdins Cave.

Here they are

The gorgeous beads I used on the second one came from here.  I have quite a selection of these duo hole beads as they are so easy to stitch on to something and the colour range is fantastic.
The pattern for the first ATC is from here and is one of Amanda's free patterns.

Crafts-Too Challenge You(C2cu)- Challenge #3 -Texture- Twist 2 - add something shiny or glittery

Time for a change for Twist 2.  Texture is still the theme but now to add something shiny or glittery.  Time to go really mad with the bling!!.

For my DT card  I have used a Crafts-Too embossing folder with more shimmer sheet.  This has a shiny glittery look.  I have  stitched a butterfly with holographic thread with crystal and gold glass beads. Wrapped the topper with  gauze and ric rac  ribbon and added crystal gems.  Mat of gold mirri card on shiny pearl lilac card.

Here it is:

I hope you like it.

Happy blinging.
Carol xx
C2cu DT

Yet another Christmas card

I have combined parchment, stitching, beading and die cutting - all in the one card.  The Christmas tree pattern is a new one from here. I edged a piece of parchment paper using a scallop tool and a star tool and then stitched the parchment to the white backing sheet using red glass beads. The stitching pattern was pricked and stitched through both layers which were then matted with red and green card.  I used a Marianne Creatables Holly sprig die for the embellishments together with red pearls.

Study in Turquoise with parchment

The pattern for the border - by Sue McGuirk - is a download purchased from Craftsuprint.  The butterfly is from Pergamano Magazine M103 - coaster patterns - by Hiskia Wittenaar. The toning background card was printed from 'Enchanted Dreams' by Joanna Sheen
The turquoise beads from my stash - everyone sewn on by hand!

Show report

We were very busy at our stand at the Show.  We met lots of  people interested in learning to do parchment as well as those who are old hands and surprisingly quite a lot who have tried it but fallen by the wayside.
It was nice to see some familiar faces- a forum friend Rona and  fellow CD Sunday teamie Jocelyn who came to see me and we managed to sneak off for a coffee break.

I worked on several things in between chats and demonstrations and did manage to complete a project from start to finish:

This is from a pattern by Judith Maslen and making this one enabled me to demonstrate embossing (deer , lettering, sun tool and edges)  Use of a grid to make the snowflakes and then  to show how to fix the finished glittered topper to the backing sheet I sewed it on using beads.

CD Sunday - Exotic Birds and Blooms

This is the first of my DT cards for CD Sunday that I have had to make since I broke my arm.  I printed out an image from Japanese Papers - pattern source book Nature 2 CD - directly to parchment. Working one handed on parchment isn't too difficult.   I embossed where appropriate and then stitched to the background using toning beads.  The flowers were some I had in my stash.  I am never sure about red and pink together but I think it works on this occasion.

I was so pleased to be crafting again that I made some ATC's on the same theme using the same CD.