CD Sunday - All Creatures Great and Small - chosen by Jocelyn

Good morning one and all.  It has been a little chillier down here in the South but (she says whispering) it is not raining at the moment.
Wow - what a great response to Wynn's Colour Challenge.  Wynn must have seen something that I didn't when she chose that picture.  But in fact I found the colours quite easily after I had taken off the sun glasses and so did my fellow teamies and all our lovely supporters.  The colours looked so good. A great choice Wynn and good luck with your Top 3 choosing.
Jocelyn's choice of theme offers  many many  possibilities so we are hoping for lots of cards or projects.
My contribution to 'All Creatures Great and Small' is:

I know that compared to most of the world's creatures these aren't the greatest or the smallest but I think that the fish is thinking that they are.  That's if fish do think!! 
The stitch pattern came from here and I used 'The Pet Set' CD by La Pashe for two  background papers - the stripes for the card and the second for  the paper fish which were cut out for the corners. 
I hope all is well with everybody.  I look forward to some more blog hopping to see old friends and make new ones.  I love reading blogs and looking at what others are doing and picking up hints and tips.
Please join in with us with your creatures - big and small - but don't forget to use a CD somewhere.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Bubble Blooms - from Woodware

A new (to me) stamp in the Bubble Bloom series by Woodware was the inspiration for this card.
I found the stamp at the Art of Craft last week when I was there for our parchment workshop.  I just knew I wanted to stamp it out and have a play with parchment.
This is the second one I have done. The first was a practice as there are several ways to interpret this design.
So only white work using embossing tools, a bold pricking tool and a couple of star tools.  I used 9 toning brads to hold the work to the background - one in  each corner and 5 in the blooms and tiny gems at the ends of the thin stems.

I think that I might like to do a coloured version next.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Colour Challenge' - chosen by Wynn

And what a 'Colour Challenge' Wynn has given us.

Surprisingly I knew where to go to find these colours and I went to a couple of favourite CD's - Robert Addams - Printable Butterflies and Artylicious - Butterfly Bliss for these ATC's I wanted to make.

I used Butterfly Bliss for the backgrounds and Printable Butterflies for  - of course - the butterflies. As I had to print out several sheets of different colours I now have made up many more for future projects - as long as I can find them again.

I think my fellow teamies have produced some beautiful cards and I hope you will go  visit and then suitably inspired -  join in with Wynn's challenge.
And before I go -  Thank you again to our four Guest Designers. It has been a pleasure to have had you on board.
I look forward to any comments you may feel inclined to leave and to visiting your Blogs.
Carol xx

The Craft Cupboard

As well as all the crafty things I love doing I also love Jigsaws.  I hadn't done one for a while so while I was under the weather recently and seemed to have lost my mojo I went to my cupboard and fished out a puzzle by Colin Thomson - my favourite puzzle artist.  His puzzles are so whacky and colourful and an absolute devil to do and  I can't resist them.
This one is called No 2. Curious Cupboards and this is what it will look like when
I have finished.  I have about 100 pieces left out of the 1000 to do:

I am so nearly there that I am neglecting other things that I should be doing.  The puzzle is a Ravensburger by the way.
This was another of Colin Thompsons that I posted a while ago

I said they were whacky - but such fun ...... and it is all finished now.

CD Sunday - Thank You

Good Morning everyone.  I hope all are well.
The theme for the next two weeks is my choice.  I thought it good to choose something that we all need a supply of - Thank you cards.  So as long as a CD has been used - and it is a Thank you card or project -  the subject/design can be anything you like.
Here is my card.  I really did enjoy making this one.  I went back to parchment this time and also used a new Woodware large stamp.  I stamped the image onto card and then used it to trace with white pencil onto parchment.  I then embossed and coloured and general played about - adding this and that in the way of patterns etc.

The wonderful stripey backing paper comes from one of my favourites - Carol Ann's Studios - her Glitz and Bitz CD.  The butterflies are just three of a large selection of different coloured ones I bought sometime ago. They are made from a wonderfully thick crinkly paper that is more like fabric with just a single lozenge shaped gem as the body. I chose the backing paper before I made the topper so I could match the colours using my Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. I used a PCA Easy Embossing plate for the shape of the parchment topper which gave me some more places to colour.
As I said I enjoyed making this one and I hope you like it too.

Before I go I want to say a personal thank you to Jane and Shaz who are our Guest designers.  This is their last week with us and they have been a joy to work with - talented and prompt.  What more could we ask?  Together with Meg and Pauline they have added so much to the CD Sunday Blog over the last 6 months.

Thank you for looking.
Carol
xx

ATC Swap UK - February 2016

These are the ATC's I sent in for the February swap on the Facebook ATC group.  The theme is "Love" obviously -  and here they are.

I don't think my presentation is really up to scratch but the organisers do a much better job.  I have gone for a mixture of styles this time.  Three stitched, one Victorian and one modern.

CD Sunday - Add a button or buttons - chosen by Sue

Good Morning.  I hope all are well, dry and have not been blown away.  We have had a good mixture of all sorts of weather since our last CD Sunday theme.
Our teamie Sue has chosen  buttons for her theme.  A great choice because if you are like me you have oodles of them in all shapes and sizes.  I have a lot of novelty buttons but typically instead of reducing my stash of those I had to use plain and simple for........

The background comes from Grandma's Button Box - a CD by Katy Sue and the topper is in parchment .  For the topper I used a couple of PCA embossing plates.  The diamond crosshatch is  PCA TP3270E and the butterfly from TP3198E.  I have used tiny white buttons on the wings of the butterfly as decoration and the topper is fixed to the card using white button brads. The little butterflies and the sentiment are die cut from white Centura Pearl card.

I did post a  scanned card to show on here which unfortunately flattened the butterfly but I have now managed to photograph the card outside and it is a much more true to life image.

Please don't forget to visit the blogs of our guest designers, Shaz and Jane as well as my fellow teamies for some inspiration and have fun with your buttons.
I look forward to receiving your comments - if you feel inclined - and visiting you at home.
Carol
xx

A visit to the Movies

Here is a birthday card I made for the husband of a dear friend of mine.  It is from the La Pashe CD - 'The Wrinklies at the Movies'.  Although the images on this CD are all great fun you have to be a little careful to whom you send them.  Fortunately I got a nice phone call of thanks so my recipient was not offended.
Here is my card.

Of course I don't need to say which movie!!
Carol
xx

When it is just the perfect card.............

It is my eldest son's birthday on Thursday and some time ago I saw the perfect card - in a shop!!  Yes - a shop - I can hear the indrawn  breaths from here.
Before you get down to the card I must explain why it was so perfect. Philly (to his friends) and his brother run their own Property Development/ Maintenance  company which involves almost everything to do with buildings.  They also both own BMW's - one silver - one black.

OK - here is the card

Rainbow Cards - Ian Mackintosh - Copyright Ling Designs Ltd

The sentiment was added using a scan and graphics programme and the two fellas have been decoupaged.
Hope is raises a smile or two.

CD Sunday - 'Seasons' - chosen by Jocelyn

I would love the season to be Summer - right now.  I am fed up with the rain - yet more whilst I am typing this.  I also have a stonker of a cough and every breath hurts my ribs but I do remember enjoying the making of my card for this challenge.  I plan to give it to my Grandaughter Ellie in due course and I hope she will like it  - and the egg to go with it.
So yes - an Easter Card for the Season of 'Spring'.  Easter is always in Spring so I am OK with my choice of card and season.

Here it is:

The background - multiple eggs - printed directly to card - was from Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady CD.  The stitch pattern was from here and the decoupaged blossom was from La Pashe.

I think Jocelyn's choice of theme is a great one as it opens up the whole year and many occasions.  So I look forward to visiting many Blogs - old friends and I hope new ones.

Please don't forget to visit CD Sunday and all the team's contributions. Just click on their names.

So as I retire to the sofa may I wish you Happy Seasons.

Carol

xxx

Garnets and snowdrop for a January Birthday

Here is a parchment birthday card I made for my sister whose birthday is tomorrow.  I found the pattern in the Parchment Magazine from January 2014.  The pattern is by Helen Osborne and I altered and adapted it for my own purposes.
Here it is

The 'gems' look very dark in the photo but in fact they are an almost  perfect garnet colour.  The sentiment is traced from a Groovi Plate and the rest is made up of parts of Helen's pattern.
I have spoken to her to wish her a Happy Birthday as she is out tomorrow.  The card has arrived safely waiting to be opened.  Hope she likes it.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Wild Flowers' - chosen by Wynn

Good Morning to one and all.  I hope that the rain has stopped where ever you are. My heart goes out to those who have been affected by the dreadful floods.  I can't begin to imagine how it must be. Perhaps I can but it seems such a trite thing to say.

Thank you very much to those who entered the 'Ring in the New Year' challenge. In due course I will be choosing and posting my Top 3.

Now Wynn has chosen Wild Flowers as her theme. Designed to add some beauty and colour to our pages I am sure and our team have come up with some lovely cards. Please don't forget to visit my fellow team members here - especially our guest designers Jane and Shaz
For my card I have used  -   'from the heart of the garden'  by Jane Shasky  -  a Joanna Sheen CD

 

The only thing not from that CD is the sentiment.  This is from a strip of little tear off tags mounted on some matching blue card.

Hopefully we may see some of these Wild Flowers a little earlier this year as it has been so mild  - as long as the promised cold snap isn't too cold.

Please come and join  in Wynn's  Challenge.  I know you will all feel better if you create some floral masterpieces.  Think of all those Birthday's, Thank You's and Anniversaries that you are going to need this year.

Carol

xx

CD Sunday - Ring in the New Year x 2

Hi everyone.  I hope you have all had a good Christmas and I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Coincidentally  - 'New Year' is my choice of theme for the next two weeks.  I thought I would keep it seasonal and as perhaps some of you may want to make some New Year cards  -  'here be a challenge all ready and waiting'.

For my card I used a stitch pattern from here

and the beautiful tartan background paper and the paper bow came from Ooh La La CD - Yuletide Wishes.
Shaz and Jane - our Guest Designers have made some super cards for us so please have a look on the CD Sunday Blog - click on their names and you will be taken straight to their creations.  And of course you can do the same for the rest of the team.
Just remains for me to say a thank you for your support and to reiterate my wish to you - have a Prosperous and Happy 2016.
Hugs
Carol
xx

My children found I had put the new Groovi Plates (parchment) on my Amazon wish list  and bless them I received 8/9 to play with. Very generous of them.
I made this card this afternoon just to have a play.  A Groovi Plate is an acrylic transparent  plate with an etched design on to emboss and then incorporate or add to in your designs. They are especially good for borders and edges. There are many different sizes and shapes.
Here is the Happy New Year card I made and I did use an Ooh La La Cd for the background paper.

All done with Groovi Plates.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'A Cool Yule' - chosen by Sue

Good morning .  The wind and rain has eased a little here but temperature wise I don't think it is a Cool Yule here yet.  Whilst I am writing this it is  9 pm and the outside temp is 12.0c

I interpreted the theme as more funky cool than snow cool so hence I have used an image from Ooh La La's CD - Festive Funnies.

  I put the image into my graphic programme and used the colour brush to give me a big enough border of the right colour to use for die cutting the palms.  I then just saved it and printed it out to use for the die cutting.
Here it is.

Just a hint of how to get a small matching piece of card when there isn't backing sheet the same colour on the CD.  I am probably teaching the proverbial but you never know.
This card is now winging it's way with all the other Christmas cards that were posted yesterday.

At CD Sunday we are welcoming our two new Guest Designers - Jane and Shaz.  We are looking forward to showcasing their work for the next three months and we hope that you will visit them and give them some support.
No more chat this evening except to say that I have spied some new followers.  Thank you very much for adding me to your lists.  With so many Blogs out there I consider it a great honour to be one  chosen to follow.
Hugs
Carol
xx

A third Christmas card revisited !!

Well - sort of revisited.  A couple of years ago  I made this card in parchment.
        

 I had discovered the card here.
 I liked the image back then so I decided to have yet another play with it. Not parchment this time. We card makers spend ages each year hand making all our cards.  They are all different and made with love and care but there are only so many hours in a day and quite often we just run out of time and let's be honest (whispering here) pop out and buy a box from a well know High St chain just for those half a dozen or so that we still need.
So......  I went back to this image and used my graphic programme to play around with the border and colours.  Added a message from myself after playing with comparable fonts. I printed out the image and matted to a toning card and then mounted using a  good quality blank landscape 21cm x 15cm white card of which I have a stack.  It still needed a little something so I added the white die cut trees which I then glittered with a Wink of Stella.
They are still handmade and basically designed by myself but they were so much quicker to make and I didn't go out and buy them.
Here is one of them:

I hope this might give some ideas if time is running out.
Just to rub it in - I have finished mine.
Hugs
Carol xx

ATC Swop UK

Now just waiting for my swop ATC's to come.  Shouldn't be too long although there is a lot of organising for Sue and 'Slave' - the lady and husband  in charge.
We had a choice of Egyptian or Oriental for November and I chose Egyptian.
This is how mine were presented on Facebook.

I chose to do the Egyptian mini theatres from Joanna Sheen's CD 'Egyptian Adventure'. They are just the perfect size for an ATC. I have made these before and it was a good excuse to make them again.
Here is my photo of them before I sent them off.

Our theme over December/January is 'Winter Wonderland'  and here are the ones I have made and sent off ready for that swop at the end of Janaury.  These are all parchment.

The last one is using an image from an Ooh La La CD.  Other drawings and backgrounds are from various places.
Carol xx

Parchment by Amanda, Ching-Hsiang Yeh

Amanda is a parchment/designer/creator/Mathematics teacher from Taiwan -  who I greatly admire and I buy and use her patterns when I can.
This wonderful display was posted by Amanda on Facebook recently and I asked her if I may put it on my Blog.  All those miniature handbags that I have made and posted on here were designed by Amanda.
Here is the photo of the display:

This is what appears under the photo - written by Amanda


"The work will be held at 12/25 ~ 1/25 at the Shanghai Museum of Chinese Arts and Crafts.
There are 12 pairs of shoes, I added some small decorations, and mounted the frame
Work size: 45*60 cm
Frame Size: 55*70 cm

The shoes patterns is from my book "Delightful Gifts in Parchment Craft" "

Visitors to my Blog have been very kind and complimentary about my own parchment work but  I wanted to show the work by someone I admire and who gives me inspiration.
I doubt that I will make the shoes but they are so beautiful I wanted to show them.  I have plenty more  of other patterns by Amanda for me to discover.  Perhaps when Christmas is over.

'Lucinda' - Victorian Christmas

Sadly the Saturday before last was our last Judith Maslen Workshop of the year -- and we were going down like flies.  Usually three of us devotees go together and kinda take it in turns to drive.  First to drop out was Charmaine who had the chance to go to Portugal to play some golf - who could blame her.  Then Jenny was proper poorly so that left me - who had to drive herself.  I was determined to go as I had missed the one in September.  I drove in awful weather (see I am playing for sympathy here) and after a full day of parchment concentration I was absolutely ..... well you know but I had a fabulous day as always.  I have already booked up for all of the sessions next year.
We had two new patterns as always. I haven't finished the morning one yet.  As it isn't a Christmas one it isn't a priority at the moment.
The afternoon one however has just been finished.  This is 'Lucinda'.

I am a little disappointed in the photo as some of the shading done on the front of the image seems to have suffered a 'whiteout'.  The shading is quite subtle  -  perhaps too subtle for the light outside.  My own addition to the card is to use some pretty tiny glittery snowball flat backed gems.  The last ones from my sheet and I can't remember from where I purchased them.
I have just purchased 'Daisy' from the same series so I will be busy.  I am trying to make as many parchment Christmas cards as I can this year and less decoupage type even though they are quicker to make.

CD Sunday- Colours of Autumn - theme chosen by Jocelyn

Good Morning fellow bloggers.  The last few mornings have been a little chilly but it does seem that it is more like Autumn than Winter - so we are OK with our theme.
Before I go on to post my own contribution to the theme I would like to add a personal thank you to Pauline and Meg for the wonderful creations they have made for us over the last 3 months as our Guest Designers.  They were also so beautifully organised and as I do the posting it was a joy not to have to ask for the card - it just arrived on time. Thank you ladies.

Now here is my stitch card contribution to 'Colours of Autumn'. 

The backing paper and the acorn and leaf cutouts and the sentiment came from the Joanna Sheen CD - Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.  The stitching pattern from here.  I used a multi coloured glitter thread by Gutermann. This gave me the Autumnal colours I wanted and was fine enough to give a delicate skeletal look to the stitching.  My own garden is bordered by quite a few large Oak trees so at the moment I am very well aware of every colour and hue in almost everyone of about a million leaves.
It was my turn to chose a Top 3 - for Something beginning with 'H' and my choice is now on the CD Sunday Blog.  I look forward to sending the winner the little prize that I have for her.
Please have a look at the wonderful Autumnal colours on my fellow teamies and Guest Designers cards.  I think you must agree that each one is fabulous.
Bye for now.
Carol
xx

Three more for the Christmas box

Stitching this time.  Two patterns from Stitching Cards and one from - I am not quite sure where.
I had some fun with half pearls and gems on these especially the rhinestone ones with the snowman.

It was a bit gloomy in the garden this morning but I think the photo is passable.  It wasn't as cold out there as I had expected.  I nipped out wearing a short sleeved T- shirt and it wasn't too bad.

Back to some more parchment now I think.  My Sunday chores are done so back to crafting.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Another Christmas card revisited

I first did this card back in 2013.  A  Woodware Christmas stamp traced onto parchment and embossed etc-  here is how it looked back then.
I have revamped this year by adding colour and Wink of Stella and using this new border again that I am really loving using. So simple when you want to emphasise the image and not take away the look with a fancy complicated border, adjust to width and/or length and do fairly quickly.
Here it is......

Hope you like it.  Any comments are appreciated and avidly read.
xxx

Christmas repeat

It will be fairly obvious to those that follow my Blog that I am a fan of La Pashe CD's and designs.  I love the artwork and design and find that I can use it all in the conventionial way of decoupage etc or with my love of all things parchment.
I first did this following card last year and because I loved the combination of the image and the new beads that I had purchased back then I decided yesterday that I wanted to make it again - so here it is.

Slightly different colour emphasis and a different border and presentation but essentially a repeat order.
Printed on to parchment (140gsm and matt photo finish setting) and embossed from behind.  The border is the new to me one that I saw on the internet and worked out how to do it and adapt it. I have used this on several cards this year as I just thought it so simple and attractive.  This time I coloured the sun tool impressions on the back and added Wink of Stella on the front.  All stitched to plain white card before matting and layering.
I enjoyed doing this again and have decided there are a few more that I may well repeat with a few tweaks here and there.

CD Sunday - 'Sprinkle of Snowflakes' - chosen by Wynn

Hopefully any snowflake sprinkles at this point in time will only be on cards entering our challenge. We had a few more entries last time which was great to see and one of those who entered used to be a fellow teamie. Thank you Caz for joining in with us.
As it was my challenge choice last time  I will be choosing my Top 3 in time for the next posting.
Now for a 'Sprinkle of Snowflakes'.  I decided to make a parchment card using an image given to us at a lesson by our Tutor.  This lesson was practice in using a black brush pen and some Glamour dust.  A very simple understated design but I think you will agree - very effective.  The edging was simply done with a small scallop tool and then I sewed it to the backing card with tiny white frosted beads.
The snowflake /snowball backing card came from one of my favourite CD sources - Carol Ann's Studio  A couple of sparkly snowflakes and a silver sentiment completes the card.

 I look forward to seeing you in my travels.  I think Wynn has chosen the right theme for this challenge period as everyone must be making Christmas cards at the moment.  Just have any something - big or small - from a CD on it and you can enter our challenge.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Christmas cards nos: 49 and 50 (2015)

I have had a few days forced rest after a deep cortisone injection into my spine  so I have been able to legitimately rest on the sofa and make cards. Perhaps a good thing for both the back and my supply of cards!!
First here is card no 49.  This was made using an drawn outline I found on the net somewhere.  I couldn't find to whom I should credit but if someone recognises please let me know.  I have changed the design by at least 30% and also changed it to a Christmas card using my own poinsettias and a script from Anne Quinn.  I love her fonts.

The second card (No: 50) I am going to show is  Bling Bling over the top and I enjoyed sticking every crystal on by hand!!

The card shape and border design came from Wendy Walters - in the pack I recently purchased from her.  The centre panel in her design was a beautifully coloured spray of Thistles but I used a holly image from a recently purchased Siesta Grid.  I coloured the holly on the back with pencil and spreading medium and put some dry pencil on the front for finer details.  Unusual choice of pale blue against the holly for the backing I admit but together with the staggered white mats it seems to go.
I then went to town and used a whole sheet of pale blue gems.
Off to Parchment Workshop this afternoon (at The Art of Craft) so how much work and how much spending done will depend on my back - but I know I need some pale blue gems.
Carol
xx

Carla Prediger pattern - Christmas card

Two and a half years ago I posted a stitch card I had made using one of a groups of patterns I had bought.  I did the most time consuming one first.  Well!! 0nly a year or so later !! (June 2013)   I have managed to use a second of the patterns.  Here it is:

The circular image is the first layer of a pyramage I found in a book from Holland - Pyramids.  I bought a few of these little books from The Art of Craft.  I then chose the blue and gold threads to match the image. The gold surround to the image is a die cut.  The threads are sparkly Gutermann ones and wonderful to use.  Not inexpensive but worth the cost.  Cheap threads just keep stripping and breaking especially when going in and out of 300gsm card.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Something beginning with 'H'

Now this one is my choice of theme which  I did choose  before I thought of what I was going to do.  I made the card some time ago and so enjoyed the making of it and the effect,  that I have been dying to post it and see if you all like it as much as I do.

Here it is:

I loved the series of 6 Farmyard stitch cards that I purchased and completed from Stitching Cards so I was pleased to see that they had added this wonderful Highland Cow to their patterns.  Isn't he or she wonderful?  I think a 'She'  as she has a flower in her mouth and I have given her some butterflies.  I found the fabulous tartan backing paper on Ooh La La's CD - The Paula Oakley Collection.  The paper seemed to be just right in colour and theme. The sentiment die was a new purchase from Tattered Lace but I added the butterflies to 'hold' it up.
I showed this to my son and he said it reminded him of Ermintrude from the Magic Roundabout. Do you remember her?  If not here she is

My fellow teamies and our guests - Meg and Pauline -  have made some wonderful cards so please go visiting.  The links to their Blogs can be found above their cards on the CD Sunday Blog.

So many things begin with 'H' so please come and join us.  Think of those HOLLY cards you will be making for Christmas and as long as there is something from a CD somewhere on the card then it will qualify for our Challenge.
See you when I come calling.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Cute Panda Birthday card

for my granddaughter next month. She is at that in between age  - will be 12 so doesn't want or need a babyish card but not quite grownup yet so I found this gorgeous Panda.  The grown up bit is the black sparkly letters for her name instead of silver or pink.
I have a great bamboo die so I googled some bamboo backing paper and used that.  Quite effective I think.
Here is the card.

Hope she likes it.  As she will probably get money I am sure she will like the inside.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Kayaking card for SIL

It is my SIL's birthday next month and he and my daughter are serious Kayakers (is that a word?) so I have found a pattern on Stitching Cards. My daughter has told me the right colours to use. Her brother joined in the discussion and asked me where his life jacket was.  Ask Stitching Cards was my reply.  I began to wish I hadn't bothered to ask.

I Googled for the backing paper by just asking for images of water and chose the one I liked best.
This is the second stitching of this image.  I thought I would be clever and stitched directly to the background paper (or one similar) rather than have white space.  I hated it when I had finished - it looked all wrong - so I binned it and started again.
Hope he likes it. I am not doing it again.
Carol
xx

Two more for the Christmas box and a birthday card

This first one is another design by Judith Maslen called 'Christmas Crinolines'- pattern no: jm068-6.
I enjoyed this one even though my unfavourite moon tool was needed for the edging.  With all this practice Judith at least I think I am getting better and perhaps it will become a favourite.

A lovely design Judith - thank you.

The second card was made using a Woodware clear stamp.  I stamped the image on card and then traced it onto parchment using a white pencil.  After I  marked the stitch marks with black pen I then embossed the flower petals and berries and then added colour to the berries and Wink of Stella to the petals. The spaces were cut out with a two needle tool and all was backed with dark blue card.  The bow is by Sue Wilson.
The border is from  Pergamano Multi Grid No 21.

I think I am on track with the Christmas cards I want to make this year.  A few more to go but it is only October... just.

Before I go here is a birthday card made for my friend Pamela. It is her birthday today so I hope she has received it.   Happy Birthday wishes Pamela and here is your card to share.  I found this sweet little magic wand die and so wanted to use it. It seemed a perfect match with this image from Ooh La La.

Hugs
Carol
xx

Midnight Visitor

This is one of Judith Maslen's latest freebie patterns available on her website here.

A very pretty pattern and a joy to make.  I used white embossing instead of the gold ink that Judith used and I changed the border slightly.  This was because I made a mistake.  The pattern called for alternate embossing in the moon tool shapes and I did two together so that if I had continued they would have been odd.  So I managed to change the sequence so that it still made sense.
As I said I loved doing this one and here it is.

Midnight Visitor

A lovely mixture of disciplines and one I think that novice 'parchers' wouldn't find too difficult.
Hugs
Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

Our theme for October is 'Occupations..  Have made 7 and will send the maximum 5.  I always seem to make more than needed as I can't decide which ones to send.  But then I have a few more for 'stock'.
I was a bit 'outside the box' on a couple - Scarecrow and Gift Organiser.  They are Occupations though - aren't they?

Here they are

They are all decoupaged and embellished.  It is amazing what you can Google. My own favourite is the Scarecrow.  I added a silver bird charm to rest on his arm.
Carol xx

Lots and lots of Holly

Now this one nearly stayed on the cutting room floor.  At least 6 attempts to get the border right. My stubborn Taurus traits kicked in again and I finally finished.
The pattern comes from the Parchment Magazine November 2012 and is by Carla Prediger.  I only used the border - which I loved - and played about with it a little.  The holly leaf embellishment I have had for years and just seemed perfect.
 I am pleased - I hope you like it.

Carol
xx

Christmas Angel

I used a beautiful Angel Die  from 'Creative Expressions' for this card.  I changed the border on the parchment again slightly - but using the same elements. There are 7 little dies - heart, rose, present etc., with this Angel so it doesn't just have to be for Christmas.

Carol
xx

Christmas parchment - different style

Now this is a freebie pattern by Anne Quinn.  I had made it a few years ago but decided I wanted to do it again. I enjoyed it just as much second time around.

This was all traced with a fine black pen and then detailed areas were embossed from the front and back.  The petals of the Christmas roses were embossed from the front except for the petal tips which were done from the back.  All to give a natural shape.  I then coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils from the back and used Zest it - a spreading medium.  The pattern calls for felt tip pens but I hate them so use pencils.  The colours used were:
Permanent green - 266
Deep Scarlet Red - 219
Burnt Ochre - 187
Medium Flesh - 131
Cadmium Yellow - 107
Juniper Green - 165

The parchment has been wrapped around a sheet of 280gsm  rainbow card.  I scanned a piece of rainbow paper and then printed to card.  Tiny tiny pieces of double sided tape were put behind the bow and pine cones (where they don't show) to affix the image to the front of the card.

Hope you like it.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Baby Love - chosen by Sue

Good Morning - and it is a fine one whilst I am typing this post.
Sue has chosen 'Baby Love' as her theme and I love what our Guest Designers and my fellow teamies have done for this challenge. Please look here.
Coming from a small family and being of a certain age there are limits to the number of new babies in our circle but I do have a gorgeous new Great Nephew - Ellis - so I have made this for his 1st Christmas. He will be 10 months old.  I know he will be too young to appreciate Great Aunt Carol's stitching but it will go in his box of treasures I am sure.  I still have them for my 3 children.

The stitch  pattern comes from Pinbroidery and I have used a backing paper from Messy Rabbit Christmas CD printed direct to card for the base. I love making stitch cards.  When you first look at all those black dots on a piece of paper it is difficult to imagine what it is going to look like. It is always a lovely surprise (that is if you haven't made a mistake). The challenge is then to find a way to present your finished stitch work.
Please join in our challenge and if you feel like commenting here I would be delighted to receive them.
See you on your blogs.
Carol
xx

Christmas Robin parchment - 2

This is the same La Pashe image as in the last post. Again printed on parchment and embossed.
I was perusing Pinterest - as you do - and I saw this simple border which I loved.  I worked out how to do it and also to change the rectangle shown to a square.  Not very complicated but you need to know what size you are going to do before you print the image. I love this simple look.
The sentiment is a peel off as all the die cut ones in my box were too large.
I will certainly be using this border again and again - easy to do, fairly quick and it doesn't take anything away from the image.
Carol
xx

Christmas in parchment ++++

I said I had printed out some more images from the La Pashe CD - so here is another card.

The border to the image was a very simple one made using a new purchase - a Square Deckle Groovi Plate by Clarity which was gently embossed and enhanced with a white pencil.  The image has been embossed in various places and touched up with a Wink of Stella clear brush.  The white poinsettia is one of my own  ready made ones with the addition of a matching blue card petal backing.

Christmas in parchment +++

More La Pashe printed on parchment - embossed and pricked. The die cuts were a purchase from E bay and the backing paper again from Robert Addams. The frame was made using MCS with its facility for changing colours. The glitter pen was used but hard to see in the photo.
I have just printed out some more images and found some new border designs - so I will see you later.
Carol
xx

Christmas in Parchment ++

I am still using La Pashe CD images and MCS and this time with some background card from Robert Addams.
I am enjoying this type of card making and at the same time trying to make each a little different.  As well as the embossing on here I have added some very pretty stick on gems that I bought from The Art Of Craft.  The corner triangles on the frame have been stippled.
Hugs
Carol
xx