CD Sunday Plus - Challenge #141 - hosted by Jo

 Ocean Beach

The background was purchased from Aliexpress.   I created the border using my ACDSee Graphics Programme.   Two shells and the three pink starfish die-cuts are from Carnation Crafts - 'Around the Shore'.  The sea bird is a die cut, one of the Tiny Birds from 'Sparkle and Lace' - Tattered Lace.  The extra sea flowers are from Aliexpress.

I love sea scenes and enjoyed making this one. 

P.s.

Just a quick note to say that I am sorry that I didn't visit and comment during the last challenge.  A new medication had taken the rug out from under me and I have been spending most of my time asleep. I have stopped taking it now and hope to be back on track asap. Carol xx

Card for Kindness for UKSN

 I think I have mentioned before that I belong to the UKSN - United Kingdom Stampers Network.  We  have a few Postal and Exchange lists and one of these is CFK - Cards for Kindness.

A list is drawn up each month and we each send a card to the name we have been given and obviously receive one as well from another on the list.

I tried something different this month using a Carnation Crafts die set and Vignettes that I bought some time ago - Sheer Delight.  This is for our member - Jan.

The outside

The inside using Sheer Delight.

 

The outside die cut bouquet comes from Tattered Lace from a series called 'Sash 3D'.  This one is called 'Berries'.

There is quite of lot of 3D on the card which I love doing.  I always have liked 3D work.  This was the first type of craft work I learned from my Mother.

I have heard from Jan and I am pleased to say that she liked it.  The CFK list at UKSN is one of my favourite lists.

Hugs

Carol

xx

CD Sunday Plus - Challenge - #75 - Anything Goes hosted by Moi.

This is the last challenge for CD Sunday Plus until after Christmas and the New year.

I have saved one of the Christmas cards I made with the new Tattered Lace dies and charisma sets - Christmas Tidings - that I bought a little while ago.  I showed you one that I had made (here) and this is the second I kept under wraps until now.

Out of the two I made at the time I think this is my favourite.  I found the background on the net but couldn't find to whom to attribute it to.  Who ever it was - thank you - and I only used a very little.

I love finding images to use that say Happy Christmas without always having to add the  words - and I think this is one of those.

So for the card I used the aforementioned background over which I placed the bauble made using the die cut charisma in two embossed layers,  over the extra bauble die cut,   and then a die cut bow.

As always I look forward to browsing through the entries we receive.  I am still hors de combat with the carpal tunnel syndrome and will do my best to get back to commentating asap.

This won't be my last post before Christmas but it is not too early to wish all a very happy festive season.

Carol

xx

Halloween

I have dipped my toe into the world of Halloween card making.  It is not a 'festival' that I have ever really been interested in except that I have always enjoyed making Halloween ATCs.  So I joined a group of Halloween card swappers and set to with - I must admit - enthusiasm.  I enjoyed every minute and am quite pleased with the results.  I am now going to bore you with them all.

The scene came from ?  The ghosts and sentiments are a download purchase from Jans Digi Stamps. The book and candle are from Tattered Lace.

 

The crypt scene is from Tattered Lace, as is the cauldron. The others are cut using dies that I have had for ages.   May be from Tattered Lace.

The scene is a Tattered Lace background. The gravestone is also from Tattered Lace. The ghosts and 'Boos' are from dies I have had for some time and the tree is a download from Jans Digi Stamps.

The ghosts and cats are cut using  dies from stash and the rest are downloads from Beccys Place.

The scene is from ?.  I have added the sentiment using my graphics programme.

Another background from Tattered Lace. The die-cuts made using dies from stash.

Background from stash. The window, spider and web are all peel offs. The ghost is from Tattered Lace and the black cat.pumpkins  and sentiment are cut with a dies from stash.

Tattered Lace background. All the die-cuts used dies from stash.

All this was made using a pyramage from an Ooh La La CD called 'Faithful Friends'

  I have mentioned everything I used  under the appropriate image.  I used my graphics programme (ACDSee) for any borders and for adding my name to each image.  The font- in case you are interested is - chiller.  Looks good in red -  doesn't it?                                 

I am looking forward to receiving my swaps for this first venture into 'Halloween'.

Carol

xx

Another for the Christmas box

This time I have made a 7" x 7" card.   I needed the space to get everything on.  I have used all Carnation Craft goodies, for this one except for one sheet of backing paper:

It took me quite a while to design and stick.  A slightly new style for me but I enjoyed the playing around.

The gold and cream backing sheets were printed from Carnation Craft (lets call them CC for short) and Tattered Lace (TL). The gold comes from 'Illuminating' (TL) and the cream from 'Christmas Time'  (CC) - which is also where the circles and centres come from.  The Christmas Roses, Sherry and glasses are from CC Christmas Accessories.  I chose to use a sentiment die that I have had for some time.  Where from I disremember.

There are three circles in the Christmas Time collection and I have made up the other two but haven't decided how to present them yet.

I hope you are all well into your Christmas Card making.  This makes my no: 52.

Carol

xx

Christmas 2021

Back in February this year I made a Christmas card for a CD Sunday Plus Challenge - here.

At the time I said that I would probably make some more as I enjoyed making them, and the 'look'.

Well, I have made another 3 with just a tiny difference on each.

 

I still think that the charisma for the stag is fantastic.  There are another two decoupage layers that could be used but I prefer the single layer on this occasion.

Happy Christmas!

Carol

xx

Christmas 2021

I think this is possibly Christmas card no: 48.  For this I have used a new to me  collection  by Tattered Lace called 'Christmas Tidings'.  There are six die sets in the collection - each comes with  two outer rings and the image die. The Charisma image is in a download as usual and, I believe, on a USB.  To make it look like a bauble with a hanger you have to buy another die from the same set - The Festive Bauble.

I have made a couple so far and but am only going to show one of the two at the moment.

I found the background from somewhere and cropped it and added a couple of toning borders with my graphics programme.

Here is a picture of the die that I used for this card.

 

These dies and images do make lovely cards and am now off to make some more.  I will show you these later.    It is just the first one I cannot show you as I have made it for CD Sunday Plus and 'rules is rules'.

Hugs

Carol

xx

And yet more stitching - plus a little decoupage

 I sat and did the stitched one  last evening whilst collapsed in the armchair with the rotating fan whirring away.

I wasn't sure about this pattern as the stitch instructions seems to be a bit muddled - so I did it my way.

The die cut mistletoe charisma comes from Tattered Lace 'Sparkle and Lace'.

I decided to present this one as landscape rather than the usual portrait and I must admit I prefer it so.

Now this card I made for my son Chris - who has a birthday today.

This is to celebrate one of his many hobbies. This image comes from a La Pashe CD but the chips had dollar signs on them so I had to play about a bit to remove them.  

I am now running out of 'hobbies' so will have to encourage him to take up some new ones.

Keep safe and sensible.

Carol xx

More stitching

 I have sat and stitched these cards during these last few days.   Mostly in the evenings whilst catching up with recordings on the box.  I have quite a few toppers of various kinds already made up so I choose a border and then the colours to go with a particular topper and hey presto.  All the borders are from 'Stitch and Do':

The die cut topper comes from Tattered Lace and I bought the die-cuts from eBay.

This topper and the one in the card above both come from a Carnation Craft die and vignette collection.

 

 

I have used this topper before and it comes from Tattered Lace Sparkle and Lace Collection.

 

I can't remember if the topper is a peel off or a die cut. The bow is a die cut.

The hanging stars are cut using an old die I have had for some time.  Where from? I can't remember.

I really am enjoying mixing stitching with die cutting.   I like making a variety so I have plenty to choose from when sending off a card -  trying the match the card with the recipient - if I can.

Hugs

Carol

xx

CD Sunday Plus - Challenge #65 - hosted by Carol (moi)

 Here is my DT card for this new challenge:

I used Tattered Lace Collections - Wild Silk and Daisy Hill  for all of the card except for the blue bird which came from  Carnation Crafts - The Cherry Blossom Collection - Coming Home.  I have decoupaged quite a bit of the card.  I enjoyed the making of this especially adding the gold swirly bits which are made with a new (to me) die, also from from Tattered Lace - Flourish of Pearl.

I haven't added a sentiment as yet but when the time comes I will probably use my latest idea which is to tuck in amongst the design a sentiment I have made myself.  Here is an example of how I used that idea in a previous challenge.

I hope all are well.  I also hope that everyone is sensible when the restrictions are lifted.  Personally I will be very cautious.

On the day of our last challenge (4th) I welcomed some old friends (Mandi and Debs) to lunch.  It was so wonderful to see them after such a long time.  We have been friends since 2006/7.  We have met many times and they have stayed here with me I have stayed with them. We first met when we all joined an online forum at the same time and just 'clicked'.  My lovely fellow teamies Pamela and Jocelyn are also friends from the same forum.   Debs - is off soon sailing across the seas - hopefully to Jamaica - and if she reads before she goes  I am sending love and safe sailing and please come back fit and well.

Carol

xx

CD Sunday Plus - Challenge #63 - hosted by Margaret

The weather is miserable again which makes me somewhat fearful.   I have mentioned before that back in late May- during the last horrendous rainfall -  I had a very bad leak in my Conservatory/craft room roof and I certainly don't want a repeat performance.

No more leaks-  so far - so here to celebrate is a bright and cheerful card for this challenge:

This was made using Tattered Lace 'Sensational Celebrations' collection and a background from a La Pashe CD.  The small white circular doily style mat came with a  'lot' that I purchased from eBay quite some time ago.

I really do think that the fruit looks good enough to eat.  Some of the dies and charisma's are amazingly lifelike.

I am writing this on Friday - now 1. 15 pm,  and the rain has at last stopped, but we have been promised more for the next few days.  A few more fearful days chez Carol.

Keep dry.

Hugs

Carol

xx

More crafting with die-cuts

I am beginning to think that at the rate I am going I will soon have made enough cards for next years birthdays etc. as well as this years.

I am enjoying using Carnation Crafts and Tattered Lace Collections and in fact I haven't done any parchment for many months.  But it doesn't really matter - does it?  I am, though, still fitting in some stitching.

Here is my latest creation using Carnation Crafts 'Vintage Blooms' and 'Coming Home' -  and  'Poppy' from Tattered Lace - 'Floral Friends'.

It is a large card - 8" x 8".  I don't very often make one that size but I wanted to get everything on.  All the flowers are decoupaged. The backgrounds used are from Carnation Crafts -  'Crafty Little Mice' collection.

I love this collection from Carnation Crafts and will soon have a circular easel card to show you using the same blooms- (I hope).

Bye for now.

Hugs

Carol

xx

Stitching to relax

I have had a bad week.  I won't bore with all the details but in that torrential downpour last Sunday night - at about 10. 30 pm - I had a flood where the water came in through my Conservatory/Craftroom roof.

I suppose likening it to Niagara Falls is a slight exaggeration but it felt like it at the time.  It has taken almost all the week to dry out and to rescue and de-pong the carpet but we are almost there.

I was supposed to be having my first apres lock-down guests for lunch on Wednesday but I had to cancel.  I couldn't have coped.  That made matters so much worse.

In the last few evenings I have sat and stitched to help me relax and I am pleased with the two cards that I have just now finished.

Stitch and Do Cards Only - Set 50

Stitch and Do cards Only - Set 19

 

The images are both Tattered Lace die-cuts.  The teacup I die-cut myself but the bird was a purchase from E bay.

I have tried out some new threads that I purchased recently by Mettler.  Beautiful colours and the perfect weight for sewing on card but they can knot easily if you use too long a piece in your needle.

I love both of the patterns but I think the second one best.  I have used it before and bought a second set so that I could do it again.  I might even buy a third set.

Hugs

Carol xx

More stitching

 I have a couple of new stitched cards to share.

The first one is a pattern from Stitching Cards and is an Otter:

I used a Carnation Crafts rectangular shabby die for the  green mat layer and a Marianne die for the sprig of bullrushes.

The second is a little more complicated. The stitching pattern is from Stitch and Do with a little alteration of my own to the choice of stitches. I used just straight 'stripey' stitches for the blue and green triangles instead of the stitches on the pattern.  The decoupage image - the teacup - is a Tattered Lace die cut and that and the stitching are mounted on two layers of card cut using the trusty Carnation Crafts rectangular shabby dies.  The pink card layer is from a collection of watercolour effect A4 card that I have in my stash.  

As I am hoping to invite friends over for tea in the not too distant future I decided to use this card as an invitation card.  But as much as I love crafting - and my friends - it would take hours to make more than one of these cards.  So I cheated.  I made the invitation label removable.  Here are two photos - one with and one without.

And here is a photo of the whole card flat so that I can print out as many as I want to fold and use.  The original can be kept and used for any occasion.

Have fun and keep staying safe.

Carol

xx

A couple for Christmas and one for the box

 Stitch cards again.

Both the stitch patterns are by Stitch and Do and purchased from here.

Both the central images are from a Tattered Lace Collection.  I tried to match the thread colours as nearly as possible to the images and then added gems to the Christmas tree and half pearls to the second card. The mouse in the shoe is decoupaged.

This third card is again using a pattern from Stitch and Do. The threads are by  Gutermann.  The sentiment is die-cut from some glitter card,  and gems are from stash.

Carol 

xx

Yet more Stitch and Do cards

For these ones I haven't used the kits as such.  I have purchased the toppers with the ready pricked patterns and used my own threads and backing card.  I have sourced the 3D Push out die-cut decoupage from a few places.  In fact - on a couple - I have used a Tattered Lace or a Hunkydory die-cut image.

I have also purchased some A6 ready pricked toppers but haven't had a chance to use these yet.

Tattered Lace die-cut image

Tattered Lace die-cut image

Hunkydory die-cut image

I am really enjoying making these little cards.   I have been doing stitching rather than parchment at the moment.   I have such a collection of threads, needles and patterns etc  that my sister has bought me a wonderful new sewing box for my up coming birthday.

Off to do some more stitching.   I had my 2nd Covid-19  vaccination this morning and was told just to take it easy as the second could be more potent than the first.   I don't need telling twice to sit with my feet up and stitch.

Keep safe.

Hugs

Carol  xx

These are the sites where I purchase most of the bits and pieces.

Here  Here  Here

CD Sunday Plus - Challenge #57 - hosted by me

I am stepping up again - as hostess -  sooner than usual as our Wynn is still not ready to join us properly.

Even though our every day movements are still so limited the time seems to be flying by.  Easter next weekend and next month  my second birthday to be spent in 'lockdown'.   I don't gad about as a rule but I do like to have a birthday meal out with friends.  There are 7 in our group and we are badly missing our outings.

Anyway, on to business.  For this challenge I have made an easel card:

The dies and downloads I have used are  Flower Frames from Carnation Crafts - 'Summer Daze' - and  dancer 'Jasmine' from Tattered Lace Floral friends.  They have all been decoupaged.  The greeting comes from a favourite set of dies.

I used Carnation Craft shabby square dies for the card pieces which were cut from watercolour effect pearlescent card  (a favourite),  and I have left a space in front of the 'catcher' so that I can add a message of some kind at the appropriate time.    

 We have been receiving many great entries into our challenges and it is great to visit you all and see what else you all do.  Please feel free to leave comments as you pass by. It is always nice to hear from you.

Hugs

Carol

xx

 

More Stitch and Do cards

I have managed three more of these little cards in the last few days.  I have been catching up with recorded drama series from the TV,  and watching again old series - like all of Death in Paradise.  I can sit with my feet up and stitch away.  I can't bear sitting doing nothing.

Here are the latest three cards.  They all have 3D die cut decoupage images.  The first one is for Christmas.

These next two are for the go-to box.   For the second one I have used a Tattered Lace die-cut charisma teacup and saucer for the central image.

 

I really enjoy making these.  Just three colours are used for each one and now I have discovered that I can purchase just the pricked patterned toppers on their own.  Four sets of six arrived this morning.

I will post the site details for these items in my sidebar.  Just in case you would like to join in with my stitching.

Hugs

Carol

xx

P.S. I have now added a further site to the side bar for a great selection of 3D Push Out Decoupage sheets.  I have just received the latest 20 sheets that I ordered the other day.  Here  Art of Craft