Leaves

This is using a pattern by Susan McGuirk bought as a download from CraftsUprint.

80th Birthday

A Christine Coleman pattern or rather a combination from her numbers selection. A mixture of felt tips and pencils were used for the colouring.
The purple mirri card and the paler purple backing piece were both from 'The Art of Craft' where I was at a workshop yesterday finishing off some cards.

Dragonflies

This is made using a pattern by Judith Maslen. I love Judith's patterns. They are stylish and so enjoyable to work on and Judith seems to have designed a pattern to suit almost every occasion. I have attended a couple of Judith's workshops and Debs and I are heading South for the next one in March.
This pattern - as you can see is called Dragonflies, and involved two or three disciplines as well as embossing. Pen work, colouring with polychromos pencils blended with oils and then using a fine grid.
The addition of the very fine glitter to the wings and the sparkly gems are my own additions.
I have added a link to Judith's site in my sidebar at the top. I am sure you will enjoy looking at her patterns.

Using fancy grids and Cd's with parchment

This is where the true traditionalist parchment devotee will sigh but I want to show how using fancy grids and craft CD's can be used to create a pleasing parchment card without having learned all the skills of this truly beautiful and ancient craft.
I printed the the jug of flowers from a Cd straight on to my parchment paper. On my printer - a Canon - I use Matt Photo Setting - best quality -and remember to let it dry before handling.
I then used a Siesta ruler grid for the border - choosing a part of the pattern that would fit around the image. This is the hardest bit of all but I did a dummy run using paper and pencil - which also told me the size I should set on my printer when I printed the image on the parchment.
I then embossed the appropriate part of the image from the back and then fixed to my backing paper with brads. Ribbons and white half pearls were the finishing touch.

CD Sunday - Love is in the Air

With Valentines Day only a fortnight away what could be more appropriate and there will be plenty of time left to get those cards in the post.
You don't have to do one for Valentines Day though - anything to do with Love will suffice as long as a Cd has been used somewhere in the making.
For my own DT card I have chosen a pattern by Linda Moga Rivera in the January edition of the Parchment Magazine. I chose this one as it has lots of gridwork which is my particular love. The card base is from Carol Ann's Studio CD - Glitz 'n' Bitz - printed directly on to card. The coloured peel off edging around the heart was my own addition to the pattern.

Your entries last week were all fantastic and I really enjoyed my visits to your Blogs. I hope to see you all again and welcome some new challengees.

Ooh La La's new CD All Dressed Up

This is the outside of the first sample I did for this mornings show on Create and Craft. The topper was printed straight on to the parchment and then embossed. I added a little extra colour to the back of the dress as it was very pale and delicate in colour and that would have been lost in the embossing. A few crosses were cut in the lattice corners, gems and a parchment flower added. I did it as a Prom card

and here is a photo of the inside:

Here is the second card. I used the digi image printed directly on the parchment. Then coloured using pencils and embossed - especially the lower white part of the dress. I added some white pencil at the back so that the embossing didn't have to be to intense and therefore avoided 'crumpling'. I used an oval frame for the edging and then stitched it all on the backing card with beads. Spotted ribbon from my stash - bought at the Art of Craft. They have some great bundles for just £2.50 each.

Miniature Handbag - Take 2

Having purchased an eyelet punch and eyelets I have now finished the handbag. I would have preferred pastel eyelets but will have to search further afield.

I have now found some online and ordered them. Not many places had pastel shades.

Miniature handbags

I have been trying something new (for me) in 3D parchment work. I purchased a book of patterns for miniature handbags from Amanda, Ching-Hsiang Yeh in Taiwan. I started the pricking out of the pattern for the first one above whilst on the stand at the Sandown Show. The fastener hasn't been done yet and is held closed by a sticky dot. It needs a couple of eyelets and I can't find my punch at the moment.
The second one is complete.
Amanda's patterns are incredible and her instructions easy to follow.
I have put a link to her site in the title.

Ooh La La Blog Challenge - Three of a Kind

Sadly this is my last card for Ooh La La as a regular member of their Design
Team. I need to concentrate more on my parchment as I am hoping to start my work towards a diploma. I had to put it on hold last year. Wendy at OLL has kindly asked me if I would do the occasional parchment card for them and of course I will be delighted to do so. My association with OLL has been a long one and is by no means over. I love the work they do.

This is a very simple 5 x 5 lightweight card made using the 'Fleur D'Imagination' CD. I cropped and printed out one of the toppers twice and did my own one layer decoupage. Added pink card buttons to the centres. BP from the same folder. I have added a 'Just For You' sentiment but as it is a peel off it can easily be removed and the card used as a simple notelet or Thank You.

CD Sunday Challenge - Waters Meet

Our Cd Sunday Challenge this week is all about water. For my DT card I have chosen Ooh La La's Cd - Dreams of Tranquility. As I made several of the cards for the launch show for this Cd I know it well and there are many beautiful images depicting water as streams, rivers, waterfalls etc.
Please come and join us over at CD Sunday. I look forward to seeing many beautiful entries.

A big big thank you

to all those wonderful people who visited our Stand at Sandown. It was fantastic to meet and talk to so many enthusiastic parchers and would be parchers. I only hope those seeing what parchment is all about will have been inspired to either take up this wonderful craft or perhaps pick it up again where you left off in frustration. Quite a few have told me stories of trying and then giving up.
I hope that those I gave my card to will visit here and I meant what I said about contacting me if you need any help. I will do what I can if I can.

I hope to see you again in September. Same place.
Carol
x

A special visitor with my Tutor

A special visitor to our Stand today. It was great to meet with Nigel again. I last chatted to him at the NEC. It is always a delight to meet and talk to Nigel. He is such a charming gentleman.

Bookmark by Gilly Howe

Last May I posted a picture of a small fan that I had made using one of Gilly Howe's patterns. When I was looking through my patterns yesterday I found this included on her pattern sheet. I hadn't noticed it before so for my theme of bookmarks for the show I made it to add to the display.

CD Sunday Challenge - Sketch

This is the Sketch for the challenge over at CD Sunday this week
and here is my interpretation

I must admit I haven't done many 'sketch' cards and I did find it a challenge. Please come and join us and I look forward to visiting your Blogs to see the many wonderful creations.

Parchment Flower embellishments

Some new flowers for the Sandown Show.

Parchment Project - The Swans

This scan is of a project that we are doing in our parchment group. Our tutor has started an annual one day Parchment Festival and we as her pupils are given a project - to display at the festival. The Festival is in April (more about that in a later posting) and our pictures have to be finished, mounted and framed by the middle of March. Last year we did an A4 picture of a Japanese Lady in a kimono with fans etc. This year it is an A3 size picture (including the two borders and mount) of two swans on the lake. Still to do is the second much larger border and add the flowers to the trees and then perhaps more colour or more embossing - to personal taste.

Lacy trims

These are made using a couple of the Siesta fancy patterned 'rulers'. To be used as ready made embellishments.
It is fairly easy to adjust the lengths to suit requirements.

Bookmark - freebie design from Gemini Crafts

The parchment bookmark is made using a PCA fine grid and and tools. The ribbon is Lavender from Joanna Sheen. It has been mounted on Purple mirri card and then Silver mirri card. Unfortunately the scanner makes it look almost black.

THE STITCH AND CREATIVE CRAFT SHOW - ESHER

My parchment tutor - Marilyn Pybus and her stand - 'The Art of Parchment' will be at Sandown Park again this month - stand H8 and I will be with her for the whole 3 days. 20th -22nd Jan. As always Marilyn will be holding a make and take parchment workshop each day which can be booked on the day.
My great friend Debs of Debbees CD's will be joining us on the Saturday.
I hope to see some old friends again and always hoping to meet new ones.
Our stand is on the corner right by the entrance to Stephanie Weightman's workshop room so you can't miss us.

Please come along and say hello.

Hugs
Carol


Click on the title for all the show details.

Parchment Bookmark - V shapes

Another parchment bookmark. This one is from a pattern by Pat Hosking in a Pergamano Book called Pat's Parchment Celebration.
If you think there is a theme starting here - there is. I am preparing some work for a craft show later this month.

Parchment Bookmark

A parchment bookmark made using a pattern by Pauline Loweth. I have adapted it slightly. Where I have the open teardrop shapes there was a grid chart in the original pattern.

Oll Blog Challenge - Bling it on!

For my design team contribution on this challenge I have used Ooh La La's CD 'Shoes in Bloom. I have printed out the Wigelia and Pearls image on parchment and added some embossing and gridwork on the edges and some embossing to the blooms. I have then added gems to the flower centres, pearls to the shoe straps and a new pearl dragonfly embellishment from C & C.
This was done as a birthday card for my parchment Tutor.

CD Sunday Challenge - New Year - New to you

For my CD Sunday Design Team contribution this week I have used Carol Ann's Studios CD-13 for the backing paper. I have just realised that I use these CD's so often for my backing papers. As I have said before the colours are second to none. I digress. The 'New to me' part is the 'Happy New Year' stitch template purchased as a download from Stitching Cards and stitched in black and gold.
The parchment flower is one of my own designs this time. The half pearls and gems are from my stash.

Stitch and Bead card - 4th Day of Christmas

I know that this posting is very late but I was away at the crucial time and I have yet to learn the intricate art of timed postings. This card was my CD Sunday DT card for the Challenge - 'Stitch It' - on the 26th December. It was one of the 12 Days of Christmas stitchcard patterns that I purchased from Pinbroidery. I have very much enjoyed the making of these cards. A lady from my class has expressed the desire to start making these as soon as possible so that she has the whole set ready for next Christmas.
I used a Cd for the BP and it was Christmas Presence by Ooh La La.

CD Sunday Challenge - Check It Out

For this DT card I used backing paper from our Sponsor - Bearly Mine Designs - and the image comes from Ooh La La's Passion for Fashion CD. The ribbon is some gorgeous new stock I found at The Art of Craft and the little metallised hearts are from my stash but where they were before I can't remember.

OLL Blog Challenge - Toast to 2011

This is my DT card for Ooh La La's current Blog Challenge. I have used a Dancer from their CD - Femme Fatale - and added a glass and a bottle from my stash of embellishments.
I hope everyone has a great 2011 and I look forward to seeing all the wonderful creations to come.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday Challenge - Tag It

Our CD Sunday Challenge this week is - Tag It. For my design team card I have chosen one of my favourite CD's - Patchwork Petals by Carol Ann's Studio. I now have 10 of her CD's and they are all great but also they are worth every penny for backing papers alone. All very useable on parchment as well.
OK - advert over - I combined the challenge and the birthday of a friend of mine and she tells me she loves the card.
Please visit the CD Sunday Blog and see the great designs by our team.

CD Sunday Challenge - 3 of a Kind

Our CD Sunday Challenge this week is '3 of a Kind'. For my DT card I have used a photograph that I took at RHS Wisley on one of my very frequent trips. I am so lucky to be living so close to these magnificent gardens. I have used a BP from Ooh Lal La and one of my stash of my own parchment butterflies.

Congratulations to Beryl for winning last weeks sponsored challenge. You will love any of the Ooh La La Cd's that you choose. Of course I won't try to influence you ......but my own favourite one is 'Shoes in Bloom'.

Christmas Roses

A free Christmas parchment pattern designed Anne Quinn. The base card is a direct print of a red crackle backing paper from Ooh La La.

Parchment gridwork 'Butterfly' card

Gridwork is my favourite discipline in parchment work and this card is all gridwork. The 'border' is a design by Florence Holmes. Another of her challenging creations. It took me four attempts to achieve an acceptable base for the embossing. The beautiful backing paper pattern is from a Carol Ann's Studio Cd and is printed on parchment and card. The border was then stitched to them both with glass beads of toning colours. The butterfly is another of the Gothic Butterflies designed by Pauline Loweth.

CD Sunday Challenge - Christmas Sparkle

Our Sponsor this month at CD Sunday is Ooh La La Creations. I am thrilled that they are one of our sponsors. Doubly pleased as I have been on their DT for a while now. I have used the Christmas Presence CD - which is their latest creation- and it is has some fabulous images. They are so beautifully painted by Peggy Abrams and so different in concept. I really enjoyed making some of the sample cards for the CD launch on C & C.
For my Design Team card at CD Sunday I used the Snowman Bling folder. I added some Sakura Glaze and Stardust to lights and baubles and Glamour Dust and Glossy Accents in other places. Snowflakes - Martha Stewart punch and Bling. Cardstock was off white linen look.
Good luck with the draw everyone. If you win and choose any of the CD's you won't be disappointed - they are all great. I have been a fan for some time.

Wedding Card

A parchment Wedding Card I have made using my own adaptation of a pattern by Florence Holmes. The original pattern had a rose in the centre but I replaced that with the words. Also I used flat backed pearls instead of the dipdots in the pattern. I love Florence's patterns because they are always stylish and very often quite challenging - which I enjoy. Florence does know I have played about with her pattern.

Parchment Christmas card

This is using a freebie pattern by Anne Quinn, parchment designer and tutor.

12 Days of Christmas - stitch and bead cards - 8 Maids a Milking

Ninth card to be finished. Love the expression on the cows face.
The pattern for this and all the others in the series can be found at Pinbroidery.

12 Days of Christmas - stitch and bead cards - 10 Lords a Leaping

This is the eighth of the nine I have managed to make so far. The patterns for these stitch cards can be found as a download at Pin Broidery

12 Days of Christmas - stitch and bead cards - 6 Geese a Laying

This is the seventh of the eight I have managed to make so far. The patterns for these stitch cards can be found as a download at Pin Broidery

12 Days of Christmas - stitch and bead cards - 5 Gold Rings

This is the sixth of the seven I have managed to make so far. The patterns for these stitch cards can be found as a download at Pin Broidery

12 Days of Christmas - stitch and bead cards - Nine Ladies Dancing

This is the fifth of the six I have managed to make so far. The patterns for these stitch cards can be found as a download at Pin Broidery

12 Days of Christmas - stitch and bead cards - Seven Swans- a -Swimming

This is the fourth of the six I have managed to make so far. The patterns for these stitch cards can be found as a download at Pin Broidery

12 Days of Christmas - stitch and bead cards - Three French Hens

This is the third of the six I have managed to make so far. The patterns for these stitch cards can be found as a download at Pin Broidery

12 Days of Christmas - stitch and bead cards - Two Turtle doves

This is the second of the six I have managed to make so far. The patterns for these stitch cards can be found as a download at Pin Broidery

12 Days of Christmas - stitch and bead cards - Partridge in a Pear Tree

This is the first of the six I have managed to make so far. The patterns for these stitch cards can be found as a download at Pin Broidery. As the 12 Days of Christmas has always been my favourite Christmas 'theme' I just had to purchase these patterns and make them.
Hope you like them too.

Ooh La La Blog Challenge - Christmas Song

Our new challenge - which started this morning - is 'Christmas Song'. I have chosen 'We Three Kings' for my DT card and used OLL's newest Cd - 'Christmas Presence'.
This Cd has many many beautiful paintings with a soft and unusual approach to Christmas images.
I used the Magi folder. Card is made from purple crackle BP. Wrap is Xmas vellum with song titles and the mirri card used is purple. Punched with Martha Stewart Snowflakes.

CD Sunday Challenge - White Christmas

For my DT card for White Christmas I have chosen an image from Joanna Sheen's - The Pamela West Collection. Printed on parchment and embossed. I used a technique for the embossed fur effect gleaned from a pattern by Judith Maslen. A little glitter added and a couple of embellishments. The BP comes from the same folder

Reindeer with baubles

One of my workshop ladies did this pattern and I liked the look of it so I thought I would have a go. The pattern is a download from Form-A-Lines Stitching Cards. The BP comes from Christmas Presence by Ooh La La. The Christmas Tree adhesive stone and the red gems are by Papermania

Snowflake bead card

I made this beaded snowflake topper back in August when I was recuperating from an op as I found it easier to concentrate on beading than parchment. The young son of the Freecraftstuff site owner (Bob) has made some lovely snowflake backing papers and I have used one of them for my card. I will put a link to the site in the title. Bob has masses of free stuff on his site and it is worth a wander.

Stitched Dragon

This was made for a friend who should have received it by now and I hope she likes it. Guess where the friend lives! I made the backing paper using Tool Box.
These two stitch cards kept me busy on Sunday but I now have a parchment card to make for some more friends so I have to search through my magazines for the images I want. I know they are there somewhere.