CD Sunday - 'Everything stops for tea'

Everything chez moi seems to be stopping for tea or coffee at the moment.  I am having a new roof fitted to my conservatory at the beginning of March so that it will be usable all year round and I can turn it into my craft room.  Everything is having to be packed into boxes in order to empty the conservatory quickly on the day they start and it is exhausting and thirst making. So an apt theme for me. On reflection I may need a brandy at the end - when I have to pay for it all.
Although I unknowingly chose to use the same CD as our Sue we have managed to produce quite different  cards.
Here is my offering and I enjoyed making the card.  The CD from MCS - 'A very important date' is a particular favourite of mine.

This is a 6 x 6 inch square card with a green 'mat' under the main image.  I have decoupaged the caterpillar and the cup and saucer and then added the cupcake, watch and butterflies.  I used the MCS programme to add the Happy Birthday sentiment  to the watch. I was pleased with how the plate just fitted behind his thumb so that he is holding it rather than it just resting.
I am ahead with the next couple of our challenges but hoping that I can find everything again after the big reshuffle.
Have fun with our challenge and I will be popping over to see you.
Carol
xx

Tucked away

in a box of earlier parchment work I found this.  It was one of the first serious parchment colouring projects I tried and it was  quite a while ago. I wasn't sure about it at the time  but now I have  decided that perhaps it wasn't that bad so I have backed it with some card and here it is.  It is from Pergamano's 'Around the World' book. The pens used were Pergamano felt tips.  As I don't  like using felt tips that is perhaps why I was unsure about the result.

 I have no idea what the hieroglyphics mean.  I tried looking the symbols up on some sites but couldn't make any sense of them.
Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

The group theme for February is 'Colour Blue and here are the ones I have made and they will be in the post tomorrow.

Usually about 25 people enter from 3 to 5 ATC's so the organisers have quite some work to do at the end of the month.  It is always organised beautifully.

Hope they like them.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Floral Frenzy

Team member Wynn has chosen this theme.  I think to brighten us all up during this cold and wintery period.

Here is my Floral Frenzy

I used Jane Shasky's CD  - 'from the heart of the garden'.  I chose this image because it looked so bold and colourful and held  promise of a beautiful hot Summer after this awful cold weather.
I have decoupaged but not used it all as it makes it so expensive to post.
One of my left over 'Christmas' green scalloped cards seemed to fit the scheme perfectly size wise and colour wise.

There are  many, many  wonderful floral images on so many CD's out there so I am hoping to visit many Blogs.  Don't forget Easter is early this year and a frenzy of daffodils and primroses would be perfect for your Easter cards.

Have fun.
Carol
xx

Pretty Crinoline Ladies

Here is a parchment project that I completed over our first two workshops of the year. These are held at The Art of Craft in North Camp.

This is pattern No: 3 - Friends - from a set of 3 patterns called 'Crinolines' by Judith Maslen.  Having done the first one (Swingtime) already,  I just have No: 2 to  complete.

This is a beautiful pattern to do as there is a fair bit of colouring involved.  Good practice for those of us who prefer gridwork and embossing and at least it was using pencils and not felt tips. 

We had a great workshop.  You can spend as long as you like - up to 4 1/2 hours - working or  working and chatting or even working, chatting and shopping. It is a veritable Aladdins Cave of goodies.
Good company and good fun.
Carol xx

Cats with a view

In my spare moments I try to add to my ATC swop  stock and here I have used one of my favourite peel offs. The black cats looking out of the window.
I have found some images in various places and the last one is in fact using a photograph of my front garden - full of grasses.

I used MCS to play about with them and give a background.  I wish we had that beautiful blue sky at the moment.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Tag Card - 6" x 3"

Good Morning.  It is cold but bright whilst I am typing this.  We did have very heavy rain last evening but the skies have cleared.

Thank you all for your great entries into the challenge for which I chose the theme Winter Walks,   and I will be sending a prize to the winner - announced today on the CD Challenge Blog.

Our team member Christine has chosen our current  theme and we have all been making Tag cards.  Tags always seem very popular so we are hoping to see many wonderful examples.

Here is mine.  Very simple I feel but it is in fact a tag shaped card.  The background is just there to help the scanning.

Docraft - Boofle Collection

Boofle and the hearts have been decoupaged.  I said it was simple and it was quick to make. It is 6" x 3" so would fit on a DL card as a topper with room to spare.

Please join in with us and I look forward to some more Blog hopping.
Carol
xx

Birthday card for a Golfer

The image and the backing paper and sentiment came from a La Pashe download of decoupage sports images.  The extras are from a stack of adhesive embellishments I found in my stash.  I had to add a smidgen of glue so that shows how long I have had them.

I used to play golf and must admit that sometimes I miss playing..... but not on a cold wet morning like today.

Here is the card:

I hope all are safe after the heavy rain and high winds.  We are OK here as far as I know.  I am about to venture out so I will find out what kind of state our local narrow woody roads are in.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Animal Antics

Good morning.  Well, we are well and truly into the year 2015.  Thank you to those who entered into our last challenge.  Especially at such a busy time.  I think that clearing up after Christmas can be  just as busy and stressful as preparing for the celebrations.
I will let Jenny know my Top 3 choices for Winter Walks and they will be published in a couple of weeks time.
Jenny has - in fact -  chosen our new challenge - Animal Antics.  With this one in mind I took a few stitching patterns away with me to do over the holidays.  I like to have some crafting with me when I stay with my sister so that I can be occupied whilst she is getting on with her everyday tasks.  In fact I took 4 patterns with me and stitched them all and this was the one I decided to use to complete my card.

For the base of the card I went to Jane Shasky's 'from the heart of the garden'.  A CD produced by Joanna Sheen.  On the CD are a few of my favourite background sheets - especially butterfly ones.  I printed out once on 280gsm card to use as the card itself and then  again on good quality paper - 120gsm.  I used the paper for the two butterfly embellishments.  I cut these out and added stamens as antennae.  No sentiment as yet as I think the card lends itself to a few possibilities at a later date.
I hope you enjoy the challenge.  I am sure there are many Animal Antics out there that can be used on a card or a project and we look forward to coming to your place to view.

Til then.
Hugs
Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

Our theme this time - Tis the Season - was spread over the two months of December and January. 

I chose 5 ATC's that I had made earlier for my 'stock'.  In between card making and parchment work I make ATC's to relax and just for fun so I always have quite a good stock.  Just sometimes they are perfect for one of the themes chosen by the three swop groups to which I belong.

So I sent them off and as usual they have been displayed beautifully by the organisers.

I have shown you these ATC's before and they all come from a La Pashe CD - Christmas Box.

Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Winter Walks

I hope everyone is well and content and has enjoyed the last few days with good company and good food, and that all those surprise presents were all that you desired.

I am away for the festivities so this is a scheduled post - and this one is my Challenge.  In fact I have taken it over from Caz who chose this one before she left our team.  Caz -  I hope you look in and approve of our samples.

I have chosen an image from a Joanna Sheen CD - Messy Rabbit - Christmas.  I love some of the quirky images on these CD's and the backing papers are so useful for many projects.

 I have used die cut corners and the Sue Wilson Itty Bitty Bow die.  Both the image and the backing paper are from the CD and the sentiment is from a La Pashe CD.

From one of the smaller images I made a very quick ATC.  This is often a good use of these extra smaller images on the A4 sheet.

This has also been decoupaged.

I would like to extend warm wishes to everyone for a very Happy and Prosperous New Year -  from me and my fellow teamies on CD Sunday.  We look forward to another year of interesting challenges.
Carol
xx

Alice in Wonderland ATC's

Whilst winding down from Christmas card making I have been adding to my stock of ATC's.  I have quite a few to send out after the holidays for two of the ATC groups to which I belong so they will be used up quite quickly.
I made some earlier using the MCS Alice in Wonderland images so I have found more images that I haven't used plus a repeat of a couple.

I have made one of the evil Queen of Hearts.  I didn't like the image but it was pointed out to me that she belonged in the set.

Here  are some more:

I would like to wish all a very Happy Christmas.

Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Stamp-It

Good morning.  The weeks seem to be flying by and do we really have only 10 days to go before Christmas Eve?
I am going to boast now as  all my cards are made and those that needed posting have been posted.  One in the post is my card for this challenge set by Sue - Stamp-It.  I don't do a great deal of stamping these days so it was quite a challenge for me.
Here is my achievement and I hope you like it.

I used a wooden backed stamp and a Versafine Onyx black ink pad with some added glitter for the image.The background came from Robert Addams - Christmas Trees CD and the tag from Carol Ann's Studio - Midi CD-11.  The bow is Sue Wilson's Itty Bitty Bow.
 I had cut out the image with the largest die in the set I was using but I wanted a mat for it so I drew around the outside of the die on the red card  and cut out by hand.  It just gave enough to frame the image.

As we are now posting fortnightly and and our next and last challenge for this year  will be on the 28th December I would like to wish all our followers and contributors a very Happy Christmas.

Hugs
Carol
xx

Parchment ATC's

I am now winding down after the Christmas card making marathon.  All now made and ready to post. Now some time to play before the festivities.  I am lucky that I don't have any preparations to do as I will be away.  Just need to take my share of goodies and that is easily done.

So I have been adding some more ATC's to my stock.
These first two use a couple of monogram patterns I came across in an old Parchment Magazine - 2002.  This was before I had even heard of Parchment Craft. The  article was by Dorothy Holness - in my opinion Dorothy is the Goddess of Parchment Craft.  I have been very lucky to have met Dorothy socially and also to have attended one of her workshops.  A wonderful teacher.

These were done fairly quickly as an experiment and I hope to improve greatly on future ones.

And these are more of the butterflies.  Just using different color inks.

Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Song Titles

Good Morning everyone.
We had some wonderful 'P's' in response to Wynn's challenge so we are hoping for the same for Jocelyn's challenge - Song Titles.  There are thousands of possibilities out there.
I used the opportunity to add to my Christmas card makes and here is my Song Title:

The First Noel

Artylicious - Season's Greetings  Disc 1

The mat layer and the card print came from the Artylicious CD (a Christmas favourite of mine).  The pattern for the stitching came from here. I can't remember where the bauble die is from but the bow is of course a Sue Wilson bow.  The Itty Bitty bow.   I enjoyed making this one.  The thread I used is a multi coloured thread in Christmassy colours and I think it is very effective.
I think the real Christmas countdown for many starts tomorrow -  and I hope all the plans are coming together.
Please join in with us. I love visiting your Blogs and getting new ideas as well as finding a new die or tool or some such that I need to purchase because it is yet another 'must have'...... and there is still time to add to my Christmas present list.

Have fun.
Carol xx

ATC Group UK

This is the ATC Group on Facebook that I belong to.  The November topic is 'Beaches'.  I don't know why but that was the choice.
Here are the 5 that I sent in for the swop.  Yet again this has been copied and arranged by the organisers. Beautifully arranged and certainly make the Atc's look at their best.

Carol xx

ATC's - a change from Christmas cards

I started these on Saturday evening whilst Strictly was on and then finished them  during the results. I must admit to not having been so enthralled with Strictly this year as in the past.
Anyway -  ATC's

I have traced out about another dozen to do.  Anything but housework!!

Carol
xx

Christmas card No: 71

This card is made using a La Pashe coloured digital image from one of the CD's printed to parchment and then embossed.
The frame using a PCA embossing template was stippled and a further template used for the sentiment.  The parchment was then stitched with beads to the light green mat before then adding the dark green mat and the background.

I think a nice simple card.
Carol
xx

Our last workshop for 2014

Sadly our last Judith Maslen Workshop for 2014 was on Saturday.  I was so glad to have attended this time as I have missed some for various reasons.
We had two wonderful patterns to play with and the whole day was fun, relaxing and informative.

The morning session pattern was a Christmas card called 'Christmas Jewels'.  My version is finished slightly different to the pattern but that is part of the creative fun.

Here is my version:

On Judith's pattern the snowflakes and the sentiment on the ribbon were drawn using white ink but I used some crystal snowflakes I had in my stash and silver peel off's for Happy Christmas.  I also stitched my parchment to the background using tiny crystal beads and holographic thread.

This is a lovely pattern to work and I think would be good for a beginner as it is all white work and a good exercise in embossing larger areas.

The afternoon project was No:2 in a new series called Edwardian Charm.  May I introduce you to
'Clarissa'

The only additions of my own are the five little gems on the right.  The special part of this pattern was creating the fur detail on the coat which looked very difficult but when explained by Judith turned out to be quite easy.  This pattern is a real mix of disciplines including black pen work, embossing, colour work and gridwork.

Thank you Judith for another fun packed year    I look forward to the workshops starting up again next year and I have already booked my place at them all.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'P' is for...... with Wynn

Good Morning.  I hope it isn't too wet wherever you are.  We seem to have had non stop rain here but fortunately it hasn't always been heavy.

This challenge has been chosen by fellow teamie Wynn.  I love the letter choices as it opens up a huge range of possibilities.  This time I have chosen 'P' is for Pink Pig.  Just so I could use the 5th of the six patterns I bought a while back from Stitching Cards  I think I have managed to use the five, so far, in a Challenge.

Here is my easel card.  When I first did it I thought I had gone a bit OTT but was assured that I hadn't. What do you think?

I used Ooh La La's  'Carnival of Colour' CD for the backing card.  The same one I used for two of the others as it reminds me of the walls of a farmyard barn  and seems appropriate. I have added some die cut grass, butterflies and sentiment and some cute wooden rabbit embellishments.

I have someone in mind to receive this and I hope they enjoy it as much as I did making it.

I have chosen my Top '3' for Silhouettes and Jenny will post your names on the Challenge Blog.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Easel Birthday cards

for my Granddaughter.  Her birthday is on Sunday and she will be receiving a Laptop as a present from all the family -  for birthday and Christmas.

I found two images I wanted to use for a card - so I made both and one is going to be from me and one from her Uncle.

From me:

This is all from La Pashe apart from the keyboard which I Googled

and this is from Uncle Chris:

Hidden talents - my son.  I had no idea he could stitch like this!!!!  The pattern came from Stitching cards and the card came from La Pashe.  I repeated the outside pattern on the inside but used a graphics programme to blur the meeces and add the sentiment.

Carol xx

Christmas stitch card using a Joy die

I attended a very good and relaxing workshop last evening at  The Art of Craft.  This was run by Linda from The Art of Craft who is the resident stitching guru - alway willing to help and advise.

We made a Christmas card which involved stitching on a template which had been cut and pricked using a Joy die - here.  The stitching on this one although not complicated and smallish in quantity was very fine and I didn't finish all the stitching in the time allocated - so I finished off the card today.
You will see by looking at the link that this is a wedding die but it works just as well as a Christmas card as you can see:

Here is the stitching in more detail:

                                                          

I always enjoy these workshops and there are always a variety of crafts from which to choose. Unfortunately the Quilling one I was hoping to attend last week had to be cancelled but I am looking forward to it being re scheduled.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - Coffee, Peach and Cream

This lovely three colour theme has been chosen by Christine.  Beautiful colours.  I found the coffee and cream image quite quickly on one of those beautifully printed 12 x 12 scrapbook pages you can buy.  This wasn't of course from a CD but once I had seen this image nothing else would do so I went to MCS to find a toning mat and background. Lo and behold I found what I wanted.  I can't remember which programme it was in and as I played with the colour slightly I haven't a hope of finding which one I am afraid.  I made enough card for the Sue Wilson bow and I found some coffee/brown flat backed pearls in my stash.
I have since given this as a card to a friend who has an October birthday.

Thank you to all who entered my Silhouettes challenge and I will let Jenny know my choice of Top 3 and will be sending a prize to the winner.

If you are anything like me you will be frantically making or even finishing off your Christmas cards but I hope you will find you are able to join in Christine's challenge.
Hugs
Carol xx

Halloween ATC's

Here are some ATC's that I made using up the Halloween table confetti I had been given by a kind member of the UKSN of which I am a member.  I enjoyed playing about with the tiny little embellishments.

I also had fun grouping these together using MCS.  Not something I had tried before.
Carol xx

Witching Hour at Ooh La La

I was inspired by my fellow teamie Wynn  - who is also on the Ooh La La Design Team - to enter their new Challenge  - #168.  I loved the image Wynn had used so I popped my copy of 'Say it With Words' into the drawer to look at the same folder. Obviously I couldn't use the same image but I fell in love with Background paper No:4 and wanted to use it.
As I have been stitching recently and was still in the mood I went to my folder of patterns (and I have bought quite a few) and found some wonderful ones for Halloween.
I chose the one I wanted to use.  But I didn't want to use white card as the background which is more usual for stitch cards so I scanned the background paper into my ACDSee Graphic programme and made a piece of card in the same colour range but plain and paler.
Here is my card.

The great Halloween table confetti that I have used was sent to me by one of the members of UKSN that I belong to and I have enjoyed using them as embellishments.
I hope you like my pumpkin.
Boo!!
xx

Stitching and beading

A change from stamping and decoupage for some Christmas cards.
These were stitched and beaded over the last couple of evenings.  The patterns are from here

Poinsettias

Christmas Hedgehogs

Christmas Cupcake

Some more Stamping with Woodware

I had another great day yesterday at The Art of Craft at yet another fabulous workshop with Jane Gill.  I have posted before about these workshops that are run by Jane and they are always enlightening as well as fun.  Jane is a designer for Woodware stamps and I love all her designs.  I have said before how much I like using Jane's designs with my parchment.  You can tell which are  Jane's designs as at the back of the pack of stamps there is JG at the front of the design no: and name.

These are the stamps that we used :

Our first project was a concertina card.  I have only ever made a much smaller version of one of this style when I made some Egyptian theatre Atc's and that was all printed out.  This one had us stamping and making everything from scratch. It was a full on morning session and I got very mucky with black ink and glitter but I did enjoy it and here is the first project:

Outside:

Inside:

It wasn't perfect and I must admit to have been careful with my photography but I think it is good enough to give away at Christmas.

The second project is my own favourite:

Here is the third and last:

I think they are all so different and show just what can be achieved with one set of stamps, black and white card and glitter.
So thank you to The Art of Craft and Jane Gill for yet another enjoyable day.
In case you are interested the stamp reference no: is JGS346Winter trees and they had them in stock yesterday.
Carol
xx

p.s. The next workshop that I am attending at the Art of Craft is a day spent Quilling.  That is next week so watch this space.  I have done some Quilling but a long time ago so I hope I can remember some of the techniques.

ATC Swap UK

The theme chosen for the month of October is VINTAGE.

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

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

Some more Black and Red Christmas cards with La Pashe

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

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

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

CD Sunday - Silhouettes

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

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

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

Here it is:

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

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

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

Christmas with La Pashe

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

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

Be back with more later.

Carol
xx