CAS on Sunday

I was idly looking through the lists of challenges on offer  and there are quite a few - when I spied one that wanted vellum.  Up my street I thought so I abandoned my coffee and here it is:

It couldn't be more Clean and Simple.  One plain white scallop card, one red die cut sentiment and three of my own parchment poinsettias.  I don't enter many CAS challenges as I tend to put a bit more on my cards and it does feel strange to hold back.  Meg of  'Bits and Pieces'  who is joining us as a Guest Designer on CD Sunday next month  -  seems to have the style just right.  In fact looking at her cards has been a bit of an inspiration.
I hope they like it.
Carol
xx

I am entering this in CAS Sunday Challenge # 65

Silent Night

Another from the new La Pashe Cd  - A Gift of Christmas.

Here is the Singing Snowman in glorious technicolour with a touch of Flower Soft snow.

I first saw the music die cut on a card entered into a recent CD Sunday Challenge and liked it so I went to ebay and found some for sale........amongst many other goodies.
I know it would be more practical to make smaller cards  to avoid the expensive postage but I look upon the cost of stamps at this time of year as part of my present costs because a handmade card is really a present.  Anyway that is how I justify it to myself.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Bear with me - chosen by Sue

I have taken the opportunity here to add to my stock of Christmas cards and to use the new La Pashe CD.

The blue snowflakes are peel offs  and the sentiment is a  die cut and the rest is all decoupage from the CD - A Gift for Christmas.  I think my Granddaughter might like this one.
I love the drawings and the vibrant colours on all the La Pashe CD's and this is no exception.  I have all of the images cut out now ready to assemble.
Please don't forget to visit the teams blogs for some inspiration - and I hope to be visiting your own blogs to admire your creations.
I would also like to remind you that next time we will be joined for 3 months at CD Sunday by our  Guest Designers, Meg and Pauline. We are looking forward to sharing their own special style and creativeness  with you.
Carol
xx

A Merry Christmas

I used another of Wendy Walter's parchment grid patterns but I chose stars for the embossed  images instead of the Daisies that Wendy used in her pattern.  I added the die cut sentiment - a new one - on  which I have used Wink of Stella clear sparkle.  The backing paper comes from a Carol Ann's Studio CD and nicely picks up the theme.  Small red half pearls add the finishing touch.

Ah! the Deer of them

A couple of deer under the mistletoe from here mounted on some gorgeous backing paper from Artylicious Seasons Greetings CD.  All the papers on this CD are great but I haven't used this one before.  The bow is of course a Sue Wilson die. The sentiment die was on the front of a Tattered Lace magazine. I love the chocolatey/coffee colours.

Lady Eleanor

This is a pattern by "Exclusive Designs by Elaine" and as you will see it is a picture of a lady with a parasol.
My Granddaughter is named Eleanor (Ellie)- after my own Mother - so I made this picture for Ellie's bedroom when she was 6 (now 11 going on 20).
This was done before I had a Blog and I found the photograph in amongst some Scanner files I was tidying up.

Not really presented very well.  I have learned so much more over the years but I enjoyed the parchment. All grid work - my favourite.

CD Sunday - Photo Inspiration

Our new challenge theme has been chosen by Jocelyn - and what a good choice.

Here is the photo she gave us and your good selves.......

A little unusual I think you will agree.  I sat and looked at it for some time and I couldn't get past the idea of ceramic wall  tiles.  Maybe that is what they are.  Next thought was mainly blue and white tiles - therefore  Holland.  I have a CD that has just the papers I needed to use as backgrounds for a couple of Dutch style ATC's -  which are what I had decided to make.
Here they are.:

Together with the die cut Tulips and the couple in National Dress (collected from the 'net' I think) we have Dutch style ATC's. I managed to use all the colours in the Inspirational photo.  The CD I used is from Crafty Computer Paper - Crafty Image Emporium CD-rom.

Although there are only four of us on our team at the moment I think you must agree that we have each come up with something so different to each other.
Talking of only four - there is some great news on the Blog so please have a look.  We are very excited and pleased.
I am really looking forward to seeing what you can create using this Inspiration.  Please join in with us at CD Sunday.
Carol
xx

Variation on a theme

Here is another Christmas card made using a variation on the Wendy Walters grid  pattern that I used in an earlier post.

 I just played about a bit with the corners and added more 'flowers'.  The die cut is a new one for this year and is a Cottage Cutz from Icon.  I am enjoying trying to come up with different  ideas with this basic simple grid pattern from Wendy
Carol
xx.

The Gift of Christmas - from La Pashe

My advance  copy of the new CD arrived on Thursday and the first card I have made is using my favourite Meerkats.

I shall certainly make this again and hopefully a little better.

There are some super images - 20 brand new ones so  I will be busy for a wee while.  They are already printed out and the scissors are ready.
Carol
xx

Blue and white for Christmas

Here is a variation on the pattern by Wendy Walters.  This time I  took the pattern all around the four sides and added one of my white poinsettias in the middle - slightly offset.  Some gems and a little glitter to finish.

I shall keep playing and hopefully I can produce many without repeating  myself.

Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Rock Star - chosen by Wynn

Good Morning.  Has everybody dried out since Friday?  I hope no one has really suffered with any flooding. I couldn't believe the rain we had here in Surrey.
To cheer us up Wynn has come up with a novel theme - new to us I think -  Rock Star.  I used to love a little Rock 'n' Roll  -  being of the right era.  We used to have a weekly hop at our Youth Club.  Memories!!
Enough! - back to business.
Here is my card

I used La Pashe CD - Something for Everyone.   Best place to start when you are not quite sure where to start - if you follow me.  I love the decoupage on all the La Pashe CD's. I like to cut out properly and I find it relaxing.

As you will have realised we have a small team at the moment.  Please stay with us and support us as we go forward.  We have some plans and will mention them as soon as we can.
When I joined the  CD Sunday team back in October 2010 I had no thought of one day being the longest current serving member. I miss Tess and Wendy and now Jenny and Christine.  I have learned so much from them all about Blogland and I am very grateful. It keeps this old Grandmother busy and active.
Please pause to say hello  and any comments are avidy read and greatly appreciated.
Carol xx

Poinsettias for Christmas

I recently discovered (a couple of days ago) a digital pattern by Wendy Walters - Grid pattern Guide - 4 petal flower. I watched the video on Wendy's site and was fascinated at how beautiful and simple it seemed and was in a hurry to have a go.  So I bought all I needed and had a play and here is the result.
Wendy suggests you use the simple pattern to create your own cards and that is what I have done.

I really enjoyed the making of this card and hope that I can produce many in a similar vein quite quickly as I have quite a few cards to make.  The poinsettias are my own parchment creation and the sentiment is one from a cracker die set from Tonic.  I separated the two words being careful to round the edges as I cut. I added small red pearls in the flower centres.
I then went on a spending spree and have bought several new dies that will be suitable to use as the central feature with this grid pattern. Can't wait for them to come. (and I better make a few more poinsettias).
Carol xx

ATC Swop UK

Here are the ATC's I made and sent in for the July 2015 swop.  The theme this time was 'Newsprint' and although you can send in from 1 - 5  I only made 2 this time and this is how they were presented by the organiser's husband -  affectionately known as 'The Slave'.

But here is a sneeky peek at the ones for August which I am sending in soon. The theme this time is 'Trees' and I  had a lot of fun with these and used some of my new Glaze pens (the old ones had dried up).   And I have had a go at showing them off like 'The Slave'.

Do you like the 'tree' easel I have used on 3 of them?


Ah well!!
Back to Christmas cards.
Carol xx

A day by the sea - Part 2

This is the second card made at the workshop - in the afternoon.  A Christmas card.  I was pleased as I am trying to really get started on making all mine.

Here it is:

Most of the work was done at the workshop - just the last bit of the grid and adding the sentiment and the branches done at home.  I know that holly berries don't really go with the fir tree but they finish it nicely.
We used the Faber Castell Polychromos pencils and blending medium for the colouring on the back and then I added some dry work on the front for detail and shadow. I love colouring this way.
About colouring pencils.  I bought my Faber Castell pencils some time ago and love using them but they can be a bit hard.  So I bought myself two tins of the Spectrum Noir pencils as an addition to my arsenal but I must admit that I am disappointed with using them with blending material.  You are supposed to be able to do so but I find they are greasy (perhaps because they are softer) and I have gone back to the Faber.
I will have to find another use for the Spectrum Noir.
Hope you like the card.
Another great pattern thank you Judith. (no long words tonight - too tired).
Carol xx

A day by the Sea

but I didn't see a single wave.  We were of course at Barton on Sea for our third Judith Maslen workshop for 2015.
We have such great days. Diligent but with gaiety (Judith and I are playing word games).
We had two new patterns as always and the first was white work with a hint of colour.
It is called  'Marguerites' and the pattern no: will be - jm069-1.
Here is my finished offering:

I decided to dress the image up a little more than I usually do. The background - printed straight to card - is from a CD - 'from the heart of the garden' by Jane Shasky. The sentiment is die cut and used the same card as the matting  layer. I printed out a paper version of the purple card and the background card and made die cut flowers and added dazzlers.  Also some gems to two of the grid sections on the image.
The pattern for the afternoon session was a Christmas card and I hope to finish that a little later.
Another fun but exhausting day.
Thank you Judith.
Carol xx

Sepia toned butterflies

I have now finished the last of the  butterfly cards  I made at Bristol using the Pergamano Grid No:31.  I showed the photograph of the unfinished one on my Bristol post. Here it is again.

Instead of using a contrasting butterfly in the centre as I had done for the others  I made one from Grid No: 17 (which has larger sized butterflies) using the same coloured parchment.
I remember that about 4 years ago I made a butterfly in the same colour tones using  a stamp by Carolines.  I also remember how nice I thought  the black gems/pearls were that  I had used on the butterfly so....
This is what I have done:

The overall colour looks better because this last photo was taken in my garden this morning with the sunshine.  The other was taken on the scanner.  What a difference?
I hope you like it.  I think I am butterflied out for a wee while.
Carol xx

CD Sunday - Add a stamped image - chosen by Christine

I must admit I don't do a lot of stamping these days.  I still buy stamps though - mostly to stamp out onto card and then use as an image to trace for parchment work  - or for ATC's which is another passion of mine.
This time I have used stamps to make a background card to suit the image I found on an Ooh La La CD - Faithful Friends.
As you will see I have a really early Halloween card for my box of 'here is one I made earlier'.

The image is a pyramage with only the top layer using sticky pads to raise it.  The matting layer is red and not black as it shows in the photograph. The little stamped cats are 'Kitty Silhouettes' by Stampendous and the diecut larger cat is by ???.  I didn't keep the packaging so I don't know the manufacturer I am afraid.

As you will see on the CD Sunday Blog we are losing both Jenny and Christine from our Design Team and this will be their  last  challenge and choice.  Jenny and Christine were both  founder members of CD Sunday and the team are really sorry to see them go but we wish them both  all the best,  and success to Christine  in her venture as a Hobby Demonstrator for Stamping Up.
All the best Jenny and Christine.

Carol xx

A mystery pattern

Whilst I was tidying up some 'stuff' prior to settling down to continue with Christmas cards I found this parchment topper that had been finished but not mounted. Unfortunately I cannot remember where the pattern comes from or who the designer is.  I suspect Judith Maslen as the border is similar to some of her other designs - but I am just not sure.

An unusual design with some interesting grid patterns.
Carol
xx

p.s.  Mystery solved.  I got in touch with Judith and she came up trumps (you'll see the pun in a moment).  Judith had been asked to do a pattern of a Jazz Trumpeter for a workshop and very kindly Judith designed such a card but also gave an alternative to those  of us who didn't want a Trumpeter - hence my rose. The Jazz Trumpeter pattern on her site is JM037(3)7
 

A Deco Delight

This is from a Kraftyhand's CD called 'Deco Delights'.
I love the brilliant blue.   There are 3 layers of decoupage, added gems, and some clear Wink of Stella  to give a touch of sparkle.

A very quick and simple card to make as apart from the gems it is all on the CD.

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

CD Sunday - Flitter and Flutter - chosen by Jenny

Good Morning. Whilst writing this the weather is gorgeous - puffy white clouds and the slightest of breezes. Let's hope it continues.
The card I have made for this challenge - which I made a few weeks ago - turned out to be the idea for the cards I made at the Bristol Parchment Exhibition (last Sunday).  A girlfriend was spending the day here and we were crafting together and it was really she who suggested it would be a good project.
Here is the one I literally 'made a little earlier' for the Challenge

I made a smallish square card (just under 150mm square) from some beautiful blue card I found (last piece). I die cut a circle 8.5cms diameter from a piece of backing paper from  Jane Shasky's 'from the heart of the garden' CD 1 and attached this to the centre.  I made 10 butterflies in plain parchment using Pergamano Multi Grid No: 31 and  attached these to the edge of the paper circle getting them as evenly spaced as possible.  I then added flat backed self adhesive pearls to act as the heads and bodies of the butterflies.  Heart shaped for the heads and round for the bodies. The centre coloured butterfly was cut and decoupaged from the same background paper as the circle. The antennae were made using haberdashery stamens.I used so many of my flat backed pearls that I have had to order some more and managed to get a great deal on Ebay.  I can now do hundreds of butterflies.
I look forward to 'flitting' from Blog to Blog to see your ideas on Jenny's theme.
Carol xx

Bristol Parchment Exhibition 2015

Back from my trip to the West.  I had a great few days with my sister and got back yesterday late evening.
Lots and lots to see at the show.  Some beautiful work as always but this year I was so taken with some coloured Zentangle work on Parchment. I was so busy admiring the work and taking photographs I failed to ask the name of the artist and I am sorry about that.
Here is just one of the fine pieces of work that this charming lady produced.

If it was a better photograph you would be able to see how delicate and fine the work is.
I decided to work on something simple. Simple to prepare and easy to demonstrate and something that didn't need massive concentration like a complicated grid pattern.  I made butterflies.
I printed out several sheets of parchment in different colourways using a favourite CD background from a CD by Carol Anne's Studio.
I cut this in half and used  half as a front only wrap to a square card approx 15cm x 15cm.  The card had been printed in a toning colour using Sharon Duncans CD - Embossibilities. The other half of the parchment I used to make butterflies using Pergamano Multi Grid No:31.
The finished butterflies were attached in a circle on the coloured parchment and then the wrap fixed to the card using the butterflies to hide the fixative.  I used heart shape and round white half pearls for the bodies and added a butterfly from Artylicious CD Butterfly Bliss to the centre.
I made two to show on the table (the first has butterflies made with plain parchment), made one whilst there in between chats and then made another at my sisters but it isn't finished yet.
Here they are.

I might leave the last one without pearls and put something else in the middle.  Depends how the mood takes me.
We met lots of lovely people as always - including Margaret and Vernon again.  Lovely to see them and we had the chance to sit down and have a cup of tea together and catch up with news. I am looking forward to it all again next year.
Carol xx

ATC Swop UK - June 2015

Our theme for June is 'Oriental'.  I sent in 5 as usual and used  a CD of Japanese backgrounds as the basis for all 5.  They all have a little decoupage - and this is how they have been presented.  As always -  beautifully arranged by the organisers.

Carol xx

CD Sunday - Four legs and a tail

Good morning.  It is jolly cold and wet whilst I am doing this scheduled post.  Surely our Summer will come soon.  If nothing else I want to test this new very expensive Conservatory roof and see how it keeps out the hot sun.  No chance at the moment.

Thank you all for your Bling and Glitter and it is now time for my choice of 'Four legs and a tail'.  So many possibilities - normal and everyday or different and exotic.
I went with a mouse.  From the very popular House Mouse CD's and here it is.

And a juggling mouse at that.  Everything comes from the CD except the red half pearls to highlight the juggling balls and some die-cut pine tree fronds.
I have taken the opportunity to start my Christmas card box with this one.  Just about 99 to go.
My fellow team members have made some great cards so please visit their blogs and get some ideas for your own creations. My last theme choice of Sentiments was well received so I hope to see as many for 'Four legs and a tail'.

I am off down to the Bristol Parchment Craft  Exhibition next weekend (Sunday 21st June).  I am taking  the opportunity to stay with my sister and catch up with all her news,  If anyone is coming to the show please drop by tables 87 and 88 where I will be helping my Parchment Tutor Marilyn Pybus.

Hope to see you then.
Carol xx

A Fine Hat

At our workshop last Wednesday I decided I wanted to make a particular parchment card.  I have made it twice before and both times I managed the central image OK but made a pigs ear of the background/border.
It is a lovely pattern by Judith Maslen and was designed back in 2012.  I have not yet determined if it was a freebie pattern or one from the Parchment Magazine but Judith is going to let me know when she gets back from her 'jolly'.
Here it is:

The background is by no means perfect but I love the image and I am determined not to abandon this effort.
I love the tones and would like to do more in Sepia.

Carol
xx
p.s.  Judith has now resurrected this design (originally done in 2012) and it is renamed  'Rosalind' and will be added to the Edwardian Charm range.

A plethera of butterflies

I have been playing with a couple of my Pergamano parchment grids, some beads and gems and a butterfly die - and of course a CD and here is my finished card

I traced the inside of one of my oval dies onto parchment paper and used that as a pro forma for the oval butterfly pattern on Grid 33.  To match the oval I had drawn I had to move the grid a little every so often to match up the outside edge. I then cut out the purple card  oval background using the same die which gave a little edge showing.  I then stitched the parchment oval to the card oval using tiny heather mix beads.  The two large butterflies were made using Grid 17.  These were embossed and snipped out  - fixed to the oval with Perga glue  - and then given a coat of Wink of Stella clear glitter brush pen.  This shows beautifully in the flesh but doesn't photograph well.
The card itself was printed straight from the CD using a backing paper on  CD1 of Jane Shasky's 'from the heart of the garden'.
The two purple corner die cuts were made using a Cheery Lynn butterfly corner.  I adapted them by cutting off one of the flourishes from each side.
The tiny little butterflies were made using my Pinflair punch.  I spread some of the Wink of Stella on to a scrap of parchment paper - let it dry and then punched with the butterfly tool.

CD Sunday - 'Add some Bling or Glitter'

Good morning.  Our challenge theme for this next  two weeks has been chosen by Sue.  As I am sure everyone has some bling and glitter it should just be a matter of choosing which CD to use.
I decided to go with both.  I have some beautiful glitter threads by Gutermann in my work box and a good selection of dazzlers so it was just a question of how to use them.  I hadn't done a stitch card for a while and as I  had just received an email from Stitching Cards  I went shopping.

I bought this new  pattern which is in their best seller list.   I thought it would be perfect for showing off the glitter thread:

The background card was printed using Joanna Sheen's CD - Fashion Boutique CD 1.  The pink silk 'material' compliments the stitching.  The toning dazzlers were placed in the corners and of course my favourite 'Itty Bitty Bow' as the finishing touch.
The threads are a joy to use and I really enjoyed the stitching on this card.

I'll see you on your Blogs.
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

A commission

It is quite a while since I have received a commission but I received this one from my daughter in law and was given just a week to complete my mission - if I wished to accept.
The remit I was given  was a wedding card for a couple who are mad about their camper van.  It is called 'Audrey' (I didn't ask!) and they spend a great deal of time and care with/of  Audrey.  I explained that if I was to follow this theme I couldn't produce a traditional white/cream all bells and whistles Wedding type card  - but I was told that that didn't matter.
Whilst we were chatting on the phone an image came to mind of a card I had already made.
You have seen it before - here it is. I had made it for a CD Sunday theme - On the beach.

There was the camper van. I somehow had to use this great drawing.  I won't bore you with all the ins and outs but basically I used the image again but this time on a 7 x 7 card (which I had to make myself) and details and decoupage from two other La Pashe folders.

The Bride, Groom and Preacher were strategically placed to cover the surfers and their board except for the chaps face.  I couldn't quite cover that so he is there as a spectator.  The champagne flutes were from another folder and the Celebrate swag and bows were die cut.
All I need now is to know what words are required to go inside and it will be finished.......... and a 7 x 7 envelope ....anyone?

Carol
xx

p.s.  I made a box instead of finding an envelope.  The box took almost as long as the card - won't be doing that again in a hurry.
As it turned out it didn't matter that I had to leave the 'spectators' face.  My son informed me that it could be him as he is the best man.  I am still involved in all this as  I am acting as chauffeuse for my other son who is attending the reception.

ATC Swop UK

Our theme for this Facebook ATC group for May is 'Black and White and 1 other colour'.
A perfect theme for some Zentangle - which I love- so here are the ones I sent off.

I have added some pearls and some decoupage to add dimension.

And this is how they have been presented. Always better than I could do.

Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Stepping Out'

Good morning.  Well I have certainly been 'Stepping Out' with Jocelyn's chosen theme.  I have just returned from another little trip away. This time to a crafting friend and her husband in Northumberland.  By golly it is a long way and the M1 is .....! (This is a public blog and I need to be polite).  Despite the journeys I had a wonderful time.
Back to earth though.  I found a beautiful image on an old CD that I purchased many years ago when I first started crafting.  It was one of a set of 3 and came from America.  The one I used is called -
Lunagirl.com. Victorian Edwardian Images Volume 2.
Here is the card I made:

I printed the image on Photographic paper as it seemed to bring the Victorian colouring to life.  I found another image of lots of forget me nots elsewhere and printed that out on good quality paper and punched out some of the flowers with my Pinflair punch and attached them with a smidgin of glue to add a 3D effect.  The matt layer behind the boot was a peice of bronzed card I found and this seemed just the right colour.  The bow, of course, is die cut, using the same card as the base card and a darker lining.

Whilst I was making the above card what should fall through the letterbox but the new Ooh La La  CD - The Paula Oakley Collection.  As I have a new Great Nephew and found a suitable 'Stepping Out' image on the CD to use for his 1st Birthday I went ahead and made it.  It uses a card from the Quick Card section.  I printed it out twice so I could decoupage and added a pretty toning bow.

So two 'Stepping's Out' for the price of one.  I enjoyed making both and I hope you will search your CD's for suitable piccies and  join in with our challenge.
See you on your Blogs.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Curious Cats

Good morning. I hope it is a brighter one than yesterday when I wrote this.  It was very gloomy with no sunshine.
Wynn has chosen our challenge theme for this week and I think that as quite a few of you have cats and or like cats we are hoping to be inundated with entries.

Here is my DT effort:

This is all from 'The Best of La Pashe' except for the two silhouettes who I like to think are looking at the crazy kitten with bemused smiles and thinking that they might help if the mouse was a  real one.
Die cut cats are Marianne Designs - French cats.

Christine will be back in a couple of weeks with her Top 3 choices for Layer it Up and please don't forget our concurrent challenge in memory of our late and sadly missed DT member Wendy  - aka Purple Crazy.  There is still a week left before the challenge is closed.
Have fun and please enter both challenges if you can.
Carol
xx

A holiday snap

I just wanted to share this with you as I haven't any new crafting to offer.   We went to Suffolk for a week - mostly holiday and partly tracing family history as our Father came from Suffolk.  In our travels, which included some doozy getting lost, we came across this church.

This is St Mary's at Uggeshall.  I had  never seen a thatched church before and as you might surmise it is very very old.  The flag was for St. Georges Day.
We had a wonderful week and found some very kind and friendly inhabitants.  We had good food although not cheap and we drooled over all the oh so pretty houses and cottages.  The county is stuffed with them.
We found a few gravestones of our ancestors and a farm where our Grandpa Jo had been a Farm Bailiff.  And also a house - still standing - where one of our ancestors had fallen down the stairs and broken his neck.  We had found the details in a newspaper cutting.  The current house owners were intrigued to hear the history of their house.

Hope it wasn't too boring.  Back to crafting soon.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Layer it up

Good Morning.  This is a scheduled post (I hope it has worked) as I am away on a short break with my sister.

The theme for this challenge has been chosen by Christine and here is my offering

I used a new CD from Kraftyhands - 'Sowing the seeds of Love'  and including the card there are 7 layers- all from the CD. The colours of the images on this CD are beautiful.

I am sorry that I won't be commenting whilst I am away but I look forward to catching up with all the entries to this challenge and our special concurrent Purple Crazy challenge on my return.

Have fun and be good.
Carol
xx

I have also entered Ooh La La Challenge #178

CD Sunday Extra - Purple Crazy


As many of you may already know we recently lost our lovely team member Wendy - aka Purple Crazy.  Last Autumn Wendy stepped down from the team as she was not at all well.  We were very saddened when we learned that she had lost the fight, and as well as sending our condolences to Wendy's husband and family, we decided to run a Challenge in her memory.  This is the Challenge.  It will run for a month alongside our normal Challenges and it will have it's own prizes.  These are a download from Polkadoodles 'Work and Play 9 - Love and Kisses' and at least one CD from Jenny - or may be more and a couple of things from me.. 

Wendy and I joined the CD Sunday team at the same time.  We  miss her flamboyant colourful crafting style and in honour of this we have all produced a card which we hope reflects all that was Wendy.
So please join in with us and make a Purple Crazy card that would have made Wendy proud.

Jane Shasky - from the heart of the garden

Please check the CD Challenge Blog for any details I may have missed - and you will find a Mister Linky waiting for you.  
Please don't forget our normal two weekly challenge - at the moment Clean and Simple which you will find here.

Please join us.
Carol xx





 

ATC Swop UK - April 2015

The theme for April - chosen by poll - is April Showers.  The maximum we can send is 5 but I have made 7 (I was on a roll) so I have to choose just 5 to send.

Here are the 7

I enjoyed making these and I have added some rain which doesn't show very well in the scan.  I used dribbles of Diamond Glaze.  I have since read about 'Dovecraft Liquid Pearls in Clear' so I have sent off to E-bay for supplies. I liked the look of the Red and Black as well and it seemed silly just to send off for one.
Will get these in the post asap.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Clean and Simple - chosen by Jenny

Happy Easter Sunday to everyone.  I hope you are all enjoying a good weekend.  It is quietish here but I am continuing to empty the boxes and put the crafty contents into new homes.  I have been ruthless and thrown away, given or sold many items now surplus to requirements. 
Thank you all for the tremendous response to my chosen Challenge - 'Sentiments'.  I am going to have to spend quite a while to-ing and fro-ing amongst all the blogs to choose my Top 3.

This new challenge - Clean and Simple - chosen by Jenny is a great challenge.  I have made a card I am very pleased with - in fact I think it is my favourite make so far this year.  Here it is:

I used Ooh La La CD - 'Carnival of colour' for the image which I printed on glossy photo paper.  I used a black mat to pick out the black on the poppies and the second layer of the butterfly. I used my favourite square white card and together with the way the glossy poppies sing out makes this my favourite make of the year.

Please join in with us and I will see you soon.
Carol
xx