More Zentangle from the Surrey borders

Here they are as promised.  The Owl, the Dove and the Rooster.  I have really enjoyed sitting quietly and losing myself making these.  I think the Rooster is my own favourite. 
These images were all designed by my Tutor, Marilyn, but the border pattern is mine.  Not that it is very complicated but I needed something that was size adaptable.
I would now like to find some smaller images and create a few ATC's for the UKSN group that I belong to.

Please feel free to leave a message if you wish.  It is always nice to know you have looked in on your way past.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Round again

Good morning everyone.  Tis my theme choice for this coming fortnight and my title is just another way of saying recycling.  It has always seemed popular in the past so I thought we would go 'round again'.
My fellow teamies seemed to have been more adventurous that I have which is a poor show on my part but here is my card.

The 'round again' bit is the creamy mat with the pink and lilac butterflies etc.  This was die cut from an old birthday card I had received.  I have added some more butterflies and a curly bow.  The CD I have  used is Joanna Sheen's - Jane Shasky "from the heart of the garden" CD2.  On the CD I  found a lovely background sheet with feint swirls in a  toning colour. Just perfect.

I have just realised that with all the die cuts on here it would have qualified for Jenny's theme as well.

I look forward to many interesting projects to make it hard to choose my Top 3.
Have fun.
Carol
xx

Zentangle Elephant - finished

As promised I sat at the table until I had finished my little elephant card.  Using a fine stamp edge tool I took him 'out' of the piece of parchment on which he had been created so that I had just the elephant ready to mount on any background that I wished.  I made  a frame using fresh parchment and a simple border that I created.  I then wanted to 'ground' him so I used my 'grass' die and cut out a strip in black to put behind him.  I stuck this to the new frame and then mounted the elephant using Perga glue very sparingly just on the very edges so that it doesn't show.  Finally I used a Spellbinder die to cut out a frame  in black card.

Here he is:

I hope you like him.  I have an owl, a cockerel and a dove to do in the series so I have plenty to do.
Carol
xx

Zentangle is the buzz word

down here on the Surrey borders at the moment.
On Wednesday it was our monthly parchment lesson and our Tutor - Marilyn Pybus -  had some small animal Zentangles for us to do.  I haven't finished mine yet.  Rather I have finished the elephant but not the presentation as yet:

Here is the example we were working towards:

I expect I will finish mine over the weekend.

Today we had another of our now popular craft days that are organised by our Tutor.  Not just parchment for these occasions.  Last time I ran one of the workshops - Stitched Bookmarks - but today I was just an eager pupil.  We did 3 workshops.  Made a box using the Hougie board and then decorated it, made a very fancy notebook with a cover in parchment (not finished yet) and this wonderful gift bag:

I thoroughly enjoyed doing the Zentangling.  The outlines had already been very expertly stamped for us so we could just get on and have fun.  The bag was provided as well.  I added the parchment butterfly and the other two crinkle cut ones when I got home.  I thought the three matched beautifully with the image.
A couple of close ups of the Zentangling

We have some more small animal images to Zentangle so watch this space.

I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I enjoyed doing them.  For a whole day I managed to relax and just enjoy crafting and good company.
Carol xx

Ooh La La Challenge - Let them eat Cake

I knew I had a Judith Maslen parchment pattern that would be ideal for this challenge so here it is:

I went to an Ooh La La Creations Cd for the backgrounds.  I have nearly all of them and I chose 'The Shaw Jenkins Collection'.  I used two blue backgrounds from the Bonus section.  Plain for the mat and striped for the card.
Doesn't that piece of coffee cake with what must be frosting look yummy?  I am also a confirmed coffee drinker so all in all a good pattern for me. Another great Judith Maslen design.
The parchment work consisted of embossing and shading, colouring with Faber Castell pencils and spreading medium, pricking with a Pergamono tool and then cutting out.

7th July
I was very excited to learn that I had won 1st Prize in the Ooh La La Challenge with this card.
xx

Bristol Parchment Exhibition 2014

It is all over now and I am safely back home. The weather was glorious - in fact a little too warm for the Exhibition itself yesterday.  I think perhaps some consideration  could be given next year to providing some  cooling fans or some such.  It is difficult to work on parchment when your hands are hot and sticky.
Any way back to the show itself and the exquisite pieces of parchment on display and their creators.  It was all fabulous but some was jaw droppingly good.
Lots and lots of lovely people stopped by to chat whilst Jenny (fellow pupil) and I were working on our tutors stand.  Jenny was creating a wonderful lacy piece and I was working on some ATC's. 
Here are the ones I managed to complete on the day:

Two of the lovely people I met and chatted to were Margaret and her husband.  It was great to see Margaret looking so well after all her trials and tribulations.  We managed to chat for quite a while.  I see on her blog that there are many photo's of some of the exhibits.  I did have my camera but didn't really have the time to take any pictures.  So thank you Margaret.  It will give a good idea of what was on offer.  This will be the third time I have met Margaret at the show and I look forward to many more such chats.

 
I look forward to next years event - especially as I get to spend some more time with my sister.  I am off now to put the washing in and then perhaps play with a few of my new toys.  Parchment and others. (We visited the new Lakeland store at Cribbs Causeway).

It is that time again

for the annual Bristol Parchment Craft Exhibition.  It is on this Sunday - 22nd June - 9.30am - 5pm - at Brunel's Old Station - Bristol.  Right next door to Temple Mead Rail Station.  After what happened to me year before last I tend to approach this event with some trepidation.  My sister lives in Bristol so I am going down early to spend a few relaxing days in her company.

I will be with my Tutor - Marilyn Pybus on her stand - and I will be making some parchment ATC's. Just what ever style takes my fancy

As I am travelling tomorrow I have been getting all my parchment tools and 'stuff' together today and couldn't resist having a play........

I hope to have more to show when I get back next week. 

Have a lovely weekend and I'll catch up with you all later.
Carol
xx
 

CD Sunday -' Dies'

Good Morning everyone.  I think you are liking our new and improved format of a fortnightly theme instead of a weekly one and having all the DT team back together.  It is making it easier for the team and from some of the comments I have read -  easier for our challengers.
Now it is Jenny's choice this time round and what could be easier than 'Dies'.  As we all seem to have hundreds it shouldn't be a problem - just don't forget, in the excitement, to use a CD in your creation.  Tis easily done. I have done it myself and had to start again.

Here is my offering.  I really had fun with this one and enjoyed the making.  I even bought a new die for it.  Daft isn't it when I have so many.

The CD part is the background printed direct to card from  Ooh La La -' Shoes in Bloom'. The colour matched the Wisteria on the old garden wall perfectly.  The old garden wall was a photograph I had taken in my sister's garden at a previous house and I used the new die 'Bille's Stones by Joy craft to cut out the arch.  If you look carefully you can see the embossed stones around the opening.  The view through the arch is another photograph I had taken during one of my frequent visits to RHS Wisley - here in Surrey.  The bay trees are also die cut and I think the die maybe one by Marianne - I am not sure.
I hope you like my offering.  Please feel free to leave a comment.  It is always so cheering to know you have visited.
Hugs
Carol
xx

The Scrabble Queen

This again is from the new La Pashe downloads of images and backgrounds for men but there are some that will do for ladies as well.  This is one of them - especially with the added letters and bow.

I just love all the La Pashe artwork and find the cards so satisfying to make.  I must admit I don't add many 'bits and bobs' - as my friend in Northumberland calls them.  I think the artwork speaks for itself. The bow is made using the Sue Wilson die.
My sister is a Scrabble demon so I may well save this for her next birthday.
Carol
xx

The Snooker King

Well I didn't get to the seaside unfortunately except in my day dreams and the days since haven't been a lot better but I managed to lose myself in some decoupage cutting yesterday.  One of my sons plays a mean game of snooker and also  poker - I am led to believe - so this card is for his birthday next month.  I expect it will hold something crisp and folding so that he can buy some more of those creepy Sci Fi box sets that are his other passion.
The card comes from a new download series of images and backgrounds for men's cards from La Pashe.  I liked them all.  I don't think I will manage to use everyone but most will be very useful.
Here it is:

I couldn't just make one card at a time.  Not worth getting the guillotine etc out  just for one so here is the second:

I don't know who this will be for at the moment but I loved the image and especially the splishy sploshy background paper.  Wonderful.  I will print it on to parchment later  for some of my parchment flowers.  Should look really good.

Have a lovely weekend and I will see you on Sunday for the next CD Sunday theme.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - At the Seaside

Oh! how I wish that that is where I was - lying on the beach somewhere in the sunshine.  Not fussy where but just somewhere.  Can you guess that I have had a bad week?

Back to the business in hand and less day dreaming.   Our theme this week was chosen by Caz and I did enjoy making my DT card.  I always enjoy using La Pashe CD's and this was the first image I thought of when I saw what Caz had chosen. Here is my offering:

La Pashe - Something for Everyone

 

 

 

 

I used a Kraft card as the base to resemble sand and tied round some straw/raffia that I found amongst my stash.  Just to add a little 'je ne sais quoi'.  Only a couple of layers of decoupage.  On a personal level I admit that I prefer designing for and using square cards.  Somehow they seem neat and unfussy and just generally pleasing.
I hope you all have a good week and I am hoping that I have a better one.
Hugs to all that need one.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Tots to Teens

Good Morning everyone.
There are to be a couple of changes at CD Sunday but Jenny will tell you all about those so I will just tell you about the theme and my own DT card.
The theme this week has been chosen by Sue and should offer a deal of scope as the age range is quite good and it can be for a girl or a boy.
I think there is no doubt that mine is a male card as the gorgeous little machined embellishment I have added is definitely a boy -  and a very smart looking one at that. I bought this embellishment - along with many others -  from a friend at a local craft show.
The card -  which is an easel card

comes from the 'Rachelle Anne Miller Collection' CD.  There are some great images on here suitable for lots of Tots.  I chose the train image as I wanted to use a new die of a Choo Choo train purchased quite recently. The card is very bright and colourful and so easy to make.  The Happy Birthday sentiment is on the back - in an unusual place but why not be different?

Please visit my fellow team members Blogs to see their wonderful ideas on Tots to Teens and we look forward to visiting some more of your amazing creations.
Have a good week.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - One for the boys

Good morning - and what a beautiful morning it is - as I write this. Time will tell.
When I first tried this morning to fire up the internet nothing happened.  I had seen a man kneeling by the telecom box at the top of our lane yesterday and I thought perhaps he had crossed some wires but it seemed that I just needed a reboot.  Me or the computer?
Jocelyn has chosen Team B's theme this week and it is a golden opportunity to add one more 'male' card to your box.
Here is my offering which is decoupaged and uses some new die purchases.  Well one has to have a play with them.  There are too many bought just to look at.....and I am sure I am not the only one.

I have used 'The Best of La Pashe' CD.  A wonderful supply of images for almost every occasion.  I haven't actually added which occasion to the card. It could be celebrating a New Job, Birthday, Fatherhood, Promotion etc etc.  That can be added inside at the appropriate time.  I loved using the balloon die and I can see it being used many many times.
I look forward to seeing all the entries on the Challenge Blog and please feel free to add your comments here.  I love to know that you have visited.
Hugs
Carol
xx

A very special card

Eve - one of our group of parchers sadly died at the beginning of March.  Eve is greatly missed by us all.  A truly lovely lady with a really wicked sense of humour and despite her illness a twinkle in her eyes.
We decided we wanted to do something as a group and I asked Judith (Maslen) if she would consider designing a parchment pattern for us all to do in Eve's memory.  Of course Judith did and in fact she was bubbling over with ideas as we chatted.  Judith wouldn't take any money from us for her work and suggested that we contributed to a charity.  We did in fact raise £80 for the Hospice that took care of Eve.
So over the last two lessons and some homework we have all been creating our own interpretations of Judith's design.
Here is mine - just finished.

Judith has told us that this has inspired her to do a series of similar designs so it won't be too long before this one and others will be available on her site.
I hope you like this as much as we all do.  Thank you Judith for your design and inspiration.
Carol
xx

'Wedding Flowers' - pattern by Judith Maslen

On the eve of our second Judith Maslen workshop for the 2014 season I have finally finished a design from the last workshop  in March. 
This is a lovely design but I struggle with creating realistic roses on parchment so I have done a bit ...put it away....done a bit more and have now done as much as I can.

It is the rose on the left that bothers me.  The centre looks more like a jam roll but the frustration with parchment is that you can't take your marks away.
I know we are going to have a most enjoyable day tomorrow.  I am just keeping my fingers crossed for no roses and no felt tips  - please Judith if you read this.

Have a good weekend.
Carol
xx

Parchment card using a Multi Grid

Multi Grids are made by Pergamano for use with parchment and fine embossing and pricking tools.  The are so useful for borders and embellishments and are now being used by most 'parchers' even if it is just as little something extra to the traditional ways of producing some wonderful creations.

There are now about 40 Multi Grids and I must confess to having purchased all but a couple and these involve 'baby' images which I have never needed to use.


Here is a birthday card I made using Multi Grid 17.  A favourite of mine especially when I have to make a card fairly quickly but still want to use parchment. The border and the butterfly are on the grid and I have added the 'trail' with a sun tool, and glass beads for decoration and  fixing the parchment to the card. The sentiment was written using a PCA embossing template.  I have added some 'oofle' dust but it doesn't show well in the photograph.

I think you will agree that the use of the grid produces the basis for a bright and eye catching card that can be made by anyone. Perhaps a way to try out the wonderful pastime that is parchment crafting before deciding if you want to then learn all the techniques  and then get hooked .... like I did.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Ribbon, Lace and Gems

Lovely blue sky and sunshine whilst I am writing this.  Let's hope it stays that way for the Bank Holiday.
Wendy has chosen our theme for this weeks challenge and strangely I found it difficult to make up my mind about what I would do for this one. My fellow teamies seemed to find it easier and time was getting on and I hadn't produced anything.  It was something to do with using lace and ribbon together.  Don't ask why - I don't know - I have plenty of both.
Anyway I have made a card that I like and here it is .......

 Yes it has ribbon and gems but the lace is the lace effect of the fan blades. It does look like lace in real life even though it is card.
I used a blue backing paper from Joanna Sheen's 'Elegant Fans' Cd  to outline the blades and the support.  The flowers were made using the same backing paper printed on parchment.  There is plenty of space on the back of the fan on which to add a sentiment. The bow and gems were from stash.

I have chosen my Top 3 for the 'Deco Drama' Challenge and the results are on the Challenge Blog. I look forward to hearing from the winner.

So have a good rummage for ribbons, lace and gems and I will see you on the Blog.
Have a good week.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Deco Drama

Good morning and a very Happy Easter to one and all.  Whilst you are reading this I am enjoying spending some time with my sister. I will be returning after my birthday which has come round to Easter again.  I was born at Easter time which is why I was named Carol.

We had some fantastic entries for  'Something old /Something New ' and I am hoping my choice of Deco Drama for this week will be just as popular.  I will have a small gift for the winner of my Top 3 and I look forward to having a difficult choice to make.
Here is my offering.  This was made as a thank you card to my friend in Northumberland with whom I recently spent a wonderful few days of holiday.

Deco Delights CD  - Kraftyhands

 

I hope you will visit my fellow teamies to see which Deco beauties they have used.  Also I would like to say that it is good to have Christine back with us.
Take care.
Carol
xx

ATC's

Here are some more ATC's.  This time from the new La Pashe CD - Flippin' Families.  We usually give our little works of art a title and in most cases that is easy but I need some help with the first one - the Titanic moment.  So if you can think of something appropriate please offer your suggestion in the comments.  I would be grateful.

The last but one has been named Dad van Dyck - just to give you the idea.
Carol
xx

Pretty Ladies in Parchment

At our 1st workshop of the year last month with Judith Maslen we again did two new patterns.
This is the one we did in the afternoon and is from her new set of 3 patterns called 'Crinolines' and this one is named 'Swingtime'.
The disciplines used were outlining with ink, colouring with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils using a spreading medium, some embossing and use of various Pergamano tools.

'Swingtime' - pattern by Judith Maslen

I have finished the work we did in the morning session but I have yet to mount it on a card.

What I would really like to show you is a card made using another of Judith's patterns from her series - Country Pub Signs.
This one is called 'The Pretty Maid' and I love it.  I shouldn't say this I know - but I am going to - I am really really pleased with how this one has turned out.  I did add a little of my own to the pattern.  I added the little daisies to the circle behind the maid  instead of tracing and embossing the ones that Judith had drawn. I also added the beads whilst stitching the parchment to the backing card.
I started this at our monthly workshop last Wednesday and just finished it last night.  Sitting propped up on the sofa with a hot water bottle warming my aching back.

'The Pretty Maid' - pattern by Judith Maslen

Please feel free to add your comments if you feel so inclined.  They are always avidly read and much appreciated.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday........Something beginning with 'D'

Good morning.  The weather is fine here down in the South and if I didn't have a bad back all would be well with the world.
We had some great entries in Jenny's sketch theme and I hope we can do as well for Caz's choice of Something beginning with 'D'.

As you will see from my card I was still in Alice in Wonderland's world, because for you I have a decoupaged Dormouse for my 'D'

MCS - 'A Very Important Date' CD.

 

 

I have really enjoyed using these images from this great CD.  I have decoupaged the coffee and teapots, cups and the Dormouse.  I added some more butterflies from the embellishments on the Cd.  I just resized a few.  It needed something in the gap.  The Happy Birthday peel off was coloured with a peel off pen.  A really simple card - all from the Cd - but I like the effect.

If I don't make it to your entries until later in the week please forgive me.  It takes some effort to climb off the settee.
Have a good week.
Carol
xx

More Alice in Wonderland ATC's

I have finished them all now except for the Queen.  I don't like her very much  and I think she will spoil the set so she is now on the cutting room floor.

The Mad Hatter

The March Hare

The Seven of Spades

The Two of Hearts

Carol
xx

Alice in Wonderland ATC's

Here are some more decoupaged ATC's from the MCS  'A Very Important Date' CD.

Dormouse

Alice and the White Rabbit

The Cheshire Cat and the White Rabbit

 

 

 

The Caterpillar

The background used comes from the CD.  I love these illustrations and feel that they stand on their own without the distraction  of embellishments. I think the Cheshire Cat is enough to give you nightmares and the Caterpillar is no beauty.

CD Sunday - Going round in circles

I am away at the moment enjoying some quality crafting time with a friend so I have scheduled this post.  Jenny is also kindly posting the CD Challenge for me.  Thank you Jenny.

Here is the card I have made for this theme which has been chosen by our Jocelyn.

Joanna Sheen - Jane Shasky - 'from the heart of the garden'.

 

 

I love these butterflies and I  have used them  a couple of times.  They are from the CD as well.
I will catch up with you all on my return.
Take care and have fun.
Carol
xx

Tweedledee and Tweedledum

I was having a wander in MCS for something different for some ATC's and found Tweedledee and Tweedledum from the 'Very Important Date' folder.  I love the artwork so I had a little play to get the sizing just right for the decoupage on the ATC and here they are.

Tweedledee

Tweedledum

Four layers altogether and the backing paper is also from the folder.
I think you could say that they have 'attitude'.

I hope all are enjoying the sunshine.  I had a workshop day with Judith Maslen yesterday.  Great day as always and I will post my efforts when I have finished adding a bit of this and a bit of that.
Hugs
Carol
x

CD Sunday - Simply Red

Good Morning.
First of all I would like to thank you all for your 'Quotations'.  My Top 3 choice has been posted on the Challenge Blog.  I have been making lots of parchment flowers so that I can actually part with some to send to the winner.

Wendy has chosen our theme this week and for this I used Deco Delights CD  by Kraftyhands. There are some beautiful colour choices on this CD.... and some lovely figures....grrrr. 

There are a couple of layers of decoupage and the addition of some black and crystal gems. I have this in mind for a girlfriend whose  birthday is this month. I know that she likes the Deco style.
Keep well.
Carol
xx

Fancy Dies by Nellie Snellen

I was perusing You Tube - as one does and came across this little bit of film and was really taken by the dies and what you could do with them.

So I bought the oval set and one set of the flowers bits and this is what I made.

The butterfly was one already made and in my stash.  I also found the background card in my box of ones waiting to be used some time.  The purple peel off gems were also ones found in a box -  and I had often looked at them and wondered when I was going to be able to use them.  We all have so much in what we lovingly call our 'stash'. As the dies were the only new things used for this card  I am pleased to have used up some stash.

But there is always a downside..... I have now bought the circles and the other three 'flower' dies.
Oh well!!

Carol
xx

Pergamano Multi grid 14

We had a lesson using our tutors design with Multi Grid No: 14

We also used a Pergamano Wing Tool and a Star tool.  Then small flower and leaf punches with green and purple vellum and some purple mini gems.  I chose to add gold peel offs to mine to finish off.

Carol
xx



We had a wonderful day at the Make It Show yesterday.  Quite a few new things to see.  I might be going back tomorrow but I think I am brewing something so I may not bother.