ATC Swap UK

The theme chosen for the month of October is VINTAGE.

I chose to do the maximum 5 again and I made them quite early and posted them off to the organisers.   The presentation is great and so much better than I can do so here is how they appear on the Facebook page.

These are Vintage Christmas (just in case you hadn't twigged that) and they all come from Joanna Sheen's ATC Assistant CD.
Carol
xx

Some more Black and Red Christmas cards with La Pashe

Here are some of the square ones I mentioned earlier.  I have a little tip to go with the last one.

Sometimes the curve shape of a die goes only one way and if you want to reverse it the effect isn't very good as it is obvious that it is the reverse of the die that is showing.  This was the case with the fir branch die I used in the card above.  I wanted the bottom two to curve the other way.  I used a large embossing tool and an embossing mat and and carefully smoothed the cut edges flat on the reverse.  I did it again from the front and in the end I think you would be hard put to see which side is which.

You may have already thought of this - but I only just did.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Silhouettes

Before I talk about today's theme I must just say WOW! - what a fantastic response to Jenny's theme of 'Christmas is Coming'. A wonderful selection of styles.  Good luck  in choosing just three Jenny.

Now - 'Silhouettes' is my choice and I hope you will like it.  If you are still in Christmas card mode there are many many possible images out there on CD's.  In fact Jenny and Sue have found a couple.

I have used Joanna Sheen's - 'Dancing with Shadows' CD for my card.  Not a Christmas card but with different embellishments it could be.

Here it is:

The image and backing paper are from the CD and I have added the street light and bow die cuts.  On seeing it here I am wondering if the bow is a little large but it doesn't appear so in the flesh.  They say the camera doesn't lie!!

Please come and join in with us at CD Sunday.  We all have been so pleased to see some new names amongst our regulars.  We hope you will continue to participate in our challenges.

On a personal note - I am no longer confined to the sofa and the CT scan just showed some deterioration in my spine.  In other words - OLD AGE.
Hugs to all
Carol
xx

Christmas with La Pashe

I can't believe just how many Christmas images there are spread out amongst the La Pashe CD's. I have found yet more that I missed from 'The Next Big Thing'. I had made one earlier (the Postbox) but had cut it out so long ago I have forgotten where I had got it from. Michelle kindly reminded me that it was from La Pashe.
Anyway here are  four more of the rectangular decoupaged ones.

There are quite a few more left in this series to do including some square images - which are always my favourites -  and I think by the time I have finished them most of my Christmas cards will be done.
I am liking the red and black theme and just hope that the recipients like it too.

Be back with more later.

Carol
xx

Christmas with Majestix

I am a great fan of the Card-io Majestix range of stamps and I have quite a few sets now.  I bought the new multibuy from C & C on Tuesday and they arrived yesterday and I have had a little play.
This is my first go and I was just copying one of the samples done by the demonstrator on the show.

There is a little glitter but it doesn't show well in the scan.  The die used was one of my favourites from Marianne.
I am looking forward to further playing.  Using the stamps on ATC's as well as cards.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Christmas is coming

A  pretty obvious statement you may say but it is never too early for us card makers with the number that we have to make each year.  Jenny has chosen our theme this week and personally I am pleased to have another contribution to my box ready to finish off and send in due course.
We have a selection of makes for you to inspect.  Our usual cards, two very different projects and something a little different from me.
Different only in the fact that  the CD I have used comes with the Docraft Papermania graphics programme.  I have designed an image which I have printed out to put on my card, adding a gold mat  and then  embellished  with one of my parchment poinsettias and a red gem.  I usually make my cards completely from scratch - using a CD somewhere of course - but I enjoyed the result I acheived.  I hope you do and here it is:

Docraft Papermania - At Christmas Time

Thank you all for the wonderful response to our request for Male Birthday cards. Wendy is going to have a hard job choosing her winner.  Talking of winners please note that we have some re-designed Top 3 logos and a Winners logo - all designed by our Sue.  We love them and hope you will too.
So have fun making more Christmas cards/projects.  Don't forget that you can enter more than one - but also don't forget to use that CD somewhere in your work.
I look forward to visiting your blogs.
Carol
xx

More Christmas cards

I have been busy whilst confined to this sofa. I have been crafting whilst watching the golf and am exhausted mentally with all the ups and downs of the scores.  Difficult to craft with crossed fingers.
Here are 3 more cards that I have finished.  One more Judith Maslen parchment and 2 from La Pashe.

Carol
xx

'Special Delivery'

from the sofa. As a golf and Ryder Cup nut I am not minding my confinement to the sofa as much as I should.  I am managing to do a little parchment and am still trying out the new to me Spectrum Noir pencils. Last time I posted I commented on the difficulty I found sharpening them and my lovely friend Pamela gave me a tip.  To turn the sharpener - not the pencil.  Thank you Pamela it seems to be working.
Here is another of Judith's great patterns.  I really do enjoy tackling these designs.

Okay - back to the TV and the sofa and starting a new pattern.
Carol
xx

Penguin Playtime

Here is another parchment Christmas card to add to my collection and this is a pattern by Judith Maslen.
This time I used my new Spectrum Noir pencils for the colouring.  I was pleased with the blending effect and  the ease with which  the colours blended. I didn't think that I would like another pencil as much as I like my Faber Castell Polychromos but I might change my mind with more use for comparison.  I don't think they sharpen as well as the Faber but that is probably because they are softer.
Here is the finished card

Carol
xx

I have entered my Playful Penguins in The Great Penguin Challenge of 2014.  Thank you Squirrel for the heads up.
xx

CD Sunday - Birthday card for a male

Good Morning.  After my last disaster when I didn't schedule my posting and then met with an accident I am preparing this one very early.  So at this moment in time I am hoping it is a good morning and we haven't been visited by floods or pestilence. 
Wendy has chosen this theme.  As we never seem to have enough 'male' cards in our boxes Wendy is kindly prodding us in the right direction.

Best of La Pashe 2012

 

 

Again I am presenting a simple square card.  A favourite shape.   There is quite a bit of decoupage and I feel that this and the sentiment is all that is needed.   I love the La Pashe artwork and I prefer not to detract from it with lots of embellishments.
The team have all produced some very different cards so please visit their blogs for full descriptions of their masterpieces.

As always we hope you will enter our challenge and I will see you later.
Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

Our September theme is 'Teddy Bears'.  There always seem to be many images of Teddy Bears on CD's, on the internet and decoupage sheets etc so this one didn't present too many difficulties.  I did 5 again .....  3 stitched bears and 2 parchment bears.
Here is the picture that was shown on the Facebook Group page.  It always looks so much better than any picture  I can produce so I have copied and pasted and here they are.

The stitch patterns are from Stitching Cards and the brown parchment teddy was traced from a Judith Maslen pattern and the 'white on pink' bears come from the Parchment Magazine.
Carol
xx

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

Christmas cards - from the sofa

I am still confined to the sofa and there is only so much television you can watch with your full attention ....so I have managed a few more cards using things I could gather around myself and have them with in reach.

Nothing too involved with oodles of embellishments - as I can't keep running around to find them - but they are all adding to the final number needed.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Happily Ever After

Good Evening.  Better late than never.  What a weekend and a start to my week.  I am so sorry to be so late with my post.  I would have problems when I haven't done a scheduled post!!  I think it is called - politely - Murphy's law.
On Thursday I bent down to pick up a piece of paper from the floor and something in my back went 'ping'.  Very painful.  I was nursing my wounds and taking it quietly when to add to it all my left leg collapsed and I ended up on the bathroom floor giving the loo, cupboard and sink a good bashing on the way down.  I have now had a CT Scan, using crutches and waiting for more appts.

I am sure that someone somewhere is experiencing Happily Ever After and I send them all my best wishes, and here is my card for our theme, which has been chosen by Team member Caz

I used the Best of La Pashe 2012  CD for my image which I decoupaged after matting with a matching background and some  plain toning purple card.

Congratulations to Linby, Pamela and Misty's Mum for being in the Top Three in 'Quilting Fun'.

I wish you (and me) a good rest of the week.
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

Christmas cards - more die-cuts

I am determined to try and use some - if not all - of the dies I have been buying very enthusiatically.
So here are two more cards using a few more of the new purchases.

The card above uses two from a set of squares and a great corner die with the spruce fronds.  I love this die.

For this second card I used four dies.  I am not sure where the decoupage comes from.  I cut it all out some time ago, put it together and popped it into a cellophane bag but didn't make a note of the origin.
The first card is using a La Pashe image.  I am using a great many of the La Pashe images again this Christmas as I like them all.  If someone gets the same one again they will have to forgive me.

1st September - so 1st Christmas cards

I have started on the mammoth Christmas card make. My Grandaughter was with me this morning as I was finishing off one of the cards (the old gentleman in the bed) and I had just attached the bow and held it up for her to look at.

Her lovely comment was. "Yes Grandma - so simple but so elegant".  She is 10!!

Here is my so simple yet elegant card.

 She didn't see the next one so I was spared any comments.

Can you spot a theme here?  The dies used for the mats are by Marianne.  The bow is by Sue Wilson and the Merry Christmas is a new Robert Addams die.  The CD used is of course - La Pashe.

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

CD Sunday - Get Well

This theme is an instruction from our Sue.  We always need to have some Get Well Soon cards in our boxes so here is an opportunity to add another one and join in Sue's challenge.

For this card I went to Joanna Sheen's  - Messy Rabbit CD.  I love the drawings on this CD and even more the backgrounds.  Some are very whacky and unusual and a great source when trying to find  'just that one' to go with a project.

Joanna Sheen - Messy Rabbit

I scanned the image I had chosen into my graphics programme in order to match the backing paper to the image.  I love doing this and it is so easy to do.
There is some decoupage, a die cut bow and some coloured peel offs.  A little bit of everything.  I also used a new to me 7" x 5" landscape card.  I like these.  I invested in them as so many images on CD's are landscape and too wide to fit on a portrait card.

I hope you will join in with us and please leave a message as you pass by.  It is always nice to know you had time to stop.
Take care.
Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

This is the Facebook ATC Group I joined last month.  The theme for August is 'At the bottom of my garden'.

I suppose this could be anything from a compost heap, old rusty bed irons, sheds or of course - Fairies.
I chose Fairies and a shed.  Did 5 this time and none in parchment.  Two of the fairies are decoupage images that I have had for some time.  I think everyone knows these ones.  The other two fairies are images I found on the net.  A decoupage wing and glitter for one and extra die cut foliage for the other.
The funky shed was fun.  I decoupaged the front and then added the blackbird and black cat from die cuts. 

CD Sunday - Quilted Fun

Good Morning - for the second time.
I had prepared my post a little earlier and had scheduled it for today.  Imagine my horror when I came on yesterday to find that Mr. Blogger had thrown a wobbly and published my post a day early.  In my panic I just deleted it.  I didn't realise I could have reverted to draft.  But I will know next time.

Now desperately trying to remember what I had said.  Thank you for the great entries in our Food Glorious Food challenge and I hope you are going to enjoy Jocelyn's choice of 'Quilted Fun'.

Here is my card:

I used Katy Sue Designs - 'Grandma's Button Box' CD  for the  background card.  I embossed and die cut the matting layer and the image was found on the 'net'.  The Sue Wilson bow and the Happy Birthday were also die cut. The  little padded teddies were found in my - 'I know it will be useful one day' -  stash.

Now that I have had to write all this again I can say that wasn't yesterdays rain welcome and it is  pleasantly cooler this morning.

I look forward to  visiting your creations.
Carol
xx

A simple card

for a good friend.  This is a Judith Maslen pattern.  I have just changed the words and kept the border as a simple straight edge. This was all that needed to be said.

Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

I have recently joined an ATC  Facebook Group  - in fact this is my first month and the theme for July is 'Roses and Pearls'.
You can enter from 1 to 5 (no more) and I struck the middle balance and made 3.  Here they are:

I used some  internet images of roses in vases and then made a very simple parchment background  for them adding extra colour in the centre oval.  I used some new tiny button brads in a toning green to fix the parchment to the ATC backs.

Now the biggest surprise to me was how wonderfully our efforts are presented by the  husband of the swop hostess Sue.    Here is how mine appeared on the Facebook page.

Wow.  They look so much better than they did when I put them in the envelope.
I can't wait to see what the theme is for August.  It is chosen by a poll.

Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Food Glorious Food

Our team member Wynn has chosen this unusual theme for this challenge and I must admit that the card I have made is one of my own favourites of the CD cards I have made so far this year.  I made it a little while ago, as obviously we try have to have our cards ready and presented  in plenty of time before each challenge, and I have been dying to post it to see what you think.

Here it is:

It comes from a Joanna Sheen CD - The Gruffies & Happy Hoppers - which I fell in love with as soon as I put it in the drawer.
The background, image and sentiment all come from the CD but the ribbon I found in my stash.  It had been there sometime just waiting for the right time to use and I don't think it could have been a better match if I had made it myself.
There are quite a few CD's around that have food related images and themes so we look forward to seeing lots of fabulous work - as usual.

Thank you to all those that entered  my choice of the  'Round Again' challenge and Jenny will be posting my Top 3 choice on the Challenge Blog.

Lots of you will be enjoying this glorious weather but I am afraid I am not one of them.  I prefer cooler weather. My conservatory where I do my crafting is like an oven most of the time so much less time is being spent creatively and more time  retired to the couch with a fan going full speed.

But I wish you a good week.
Carol
xx

Border pattern

I have now finished the card using the Christine Coleman border pattern that I posted the other day.

Here it is:

For the centre panel I traced and coloured a stamped image by Woodware.  I then added some Itty Bitty bows from a new die set by Sue Wilson.  To get the colour right for the bows I scanned the purple card and then printed it out  on 160gsm paper (both sides).  It gave a lighter colour but of course in the right tone.

Carol
xx

The Forgetful Elephant

A parchment pattern by Judith Maslen.

Way back in April 2010 when I first entered Blogland I posted 'The Forgetful Elephant' that had been done by my great friend Debs.  Ever since then I have wanted to use the same pattern and at last - just a few years later - here it is.

This involves colouring on the back and the use of spreading medium and then pencilling on the front to create substance and shadow.  In fact the same method as that used in the creation of 'Cain'.  I am enjoying enhancing my skills in this area.  I have altered the background pattern very slightly.

I am trying to finish some projects that have been started before the lure of something new came along.  We all do it but in fact in parchment work it is to the good as it always benefits from 'resting'.

I have this one to finish:

This is a border pattern by Christine Coleman.  This is all finished now but it needs a centre image and I have found the perfect Woodware clear stamp.  I have stamped it onto card so that I can trace it and then do some colouring using the same method as above.

So watch this space.

Have a good day.
Carol
xx

'Parchtangle'

Some more Zentangle on parchment.  At the recent Art Stamps England Stamp and Papercraft Fair at  Newbury I visited the Sweet Poppy Stencil stand -  where I fell in love with a particular stencil which I purchased.  There was a sample of its use to make a Zentangle  but on card and I wanted to use parchment.  I experimented with drawing around the inside of the stencil with my fine liner black pens but didn't find it very successful.  So I used a graphite pencil onto white paper and then used that to trace on to my parchment.

Here is my card - mounted on black, white and then black card.

The border has been taken from a card design by Wendy Walters in the current Parchment Magazine.
I enjoyed making this card and I like the good clean lines.  No sentiment chosen yet.

Hope you like it.
Carol
xx

May I introduce you to 'Cain'

Cain is a rescue dog.  A dog that rescues people - not a dog that has been rescued.  He is a beautiful Border Collie and Judith has designed this pattern using a photograph of Cain so that his owner can sell cards with his image in order to raise funds.  All with Judith's permission of course.

I must admit that when Judith gave us the pattern of Cain for the morning session a few of us did say that we didn't know when we would use a card with a dog as the subject or in fact know someone with a dog like Cain but as we worked on him we liked him more and more.  I am very pleased with my effort - shouldn't say so- but I have.

I hope the lady owner raises a lot of money by selling cards of  'Cain'.  Here he is..........

And here is a close up of his head......

When drawing and colouring living things the eye always seems to be the most important part because if done well it can bring the animal to life.  I did the eye first before anything else and it seems to have worked - I hope you think so too.

Judith told us that the idea behind the method of colouring used on this image was to demonstrate that you could suggest the dogs fur or hair without having to show every individual hair done with very sharp pencils and lots of time and patience.  We coloured on the back of the parchment with the appropriate colour and then spread carefully and evenly with a spreading medium.  We then turned over to the front of the parchment and used the same appropriate colour to add shadows etc where needed.  If you look very closely at the white you will see very tiny little flicks with a white pencil to show the hair.  We had to make sure that they were done at the right angle so it didn't look as though the hair was growing upwards or in the wrong direction.

So from not being sure about Cain - I now love him.  He reminds me of a Border Collie called Flash  that we used to have when I was about 12 .

Another successful and enjoyable Workshop with Judith.  Can't wait for the next one in September.
Carol xx

CD Sunday - Kind and Caring Thoughts .....with Christine

Good Morning everyone.  Our challenge for the next two weeks has been chosen by Christine and I think the team have a lovely selection of ideas for you.
Before I show you my contribution to the pot I would like to say thank you for the entries in the last challenge of 'Round Again'.  I will choose my Top 3 and Jenny will post the details  in due course.

Here is my 'Kind and Caring Thoughts' card and it has come from a new to me favourite CD -
Joanna Sheen's - The Gruffies & Happy Hoppers.

Although I love the House Mouse I think I actually prefer these drawings.  I used some pretty pink mirri card for the mount and for the die cut balloons.  These matched the stitched balloons on the card perfectly.

I had another wonderful day down on the coast yesterday with friends at Judith Maslen's latest Workshop.  I have some finishing off to do to our projects before I can show them to you so I expect I will spend the day quietly working on them.

Have a good day.
Carol xx

Zentangle on parchment

or as one on my friends put it - Parchtangle.
I have made this for my daughter who prefers modern cards to handmade ones - such as decoupage etc - so I have decided that as Zentangle is all the rage I would make her one in that style.  Somehow I can't make myself go out to buy a 'modern' card.

She is animal mad and she and her husband have a beautiful cat called Jinks, hence my choice of this pussycat.  This is not my design  as  it was found on the 'net' but I have altered a great deal of the pattern content.  I have tried to track down the original artist but without success.