HLS August ATC Challenge

One of my fellow Facebook ATC club members has pointed her ATC making friends  in the direction of  a challenge currently on Happy Little Stampers.  ATCs using the theme of 'Water'.
I keep a book of ATC ready for swops and I have found 4 ATCs that follow the theme.  I will enter them into the challenge at HLS.  Wish me luck.

This image is from the net - a watercolour I think.  I have added some thread on the left and a silver charm anchor as the finishing touch.

A second image as before - but this time with a silver sailing boat charm as the finishing touch

This one has been called' Fish Beauty' and is several layers of decoupage all cut from a purchased decoupage sheet.

Lastly here is 'Father and sons'.  I have used an image of the sea as a background and peeloffs as the seahorses and seaweed and fish bubbles. The  fish are pretty little coloured plastic flat back fishes. The peel offs have been coloured in appropriate places.

I was going to enter all four but it would appear that I can only submit one.

ATC Swop UK

I have been a bit lax with my postings about our Facebook ATC Swop UK group.  I have just sent off my 5 for our August swop.
The theme is ' Song titles without words'.

Here are mine.  See if you can guess the titles.

I think that 3 are fairly easy but the other 2 might not be so easy.

Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Let's go Fishing' - chosen by Margaret

Although I know that women do go fishing I think this is probably an opportunity to make one of those difficult 'male' birthday cards .

Firstly -  thank yous to all those that entered into Wynn's 'Celebrate in Style' challenge and now hopefully you will be inspired to come fishing with us at CD Sunday.

Secondly -  for my card I used a download that I have had for a long time - from Alan and Barry.  This was a folder of blue and white willow type plate  designs. To go with the download I found  a matching background for the matting layer on a Funky Hand -  Colour me Happy CD. (Jovial Man folder).  I also used the same background paper to die cut the bamboo shoots and fish embellishmants.

Here is my card:

I added Navy Blue Nuvo Crystal Drops to the tree.  The blooms/fruit are not as round as I would have liked them to be. I am nowhere near as clever with the Nuvo drops as my fellow teamie Pamela.

Whilst posting this for scheduling I remembered that I had made a 'fishing' card for my cousin's birthday  this month. This is a cartoon I found on the internet and I just added a border and his name. Just a bit of fun. I do not know to whom I should attribute this  but I acknowledge his or her work.

Please join in with us and I look forward to visiting your Blogs. Please don't forget that you can join in via our Facebook page if you haven't a Blog -  or send in by email at cdsunday2@gmail.com.

Have fun.

Hugs
Carol
xx

Christmas Cards 2018

Here are another couple of die cut Christmas cards.  I have invested in the new(ish) Snap machine and I must say that I am very pleased with it.  I have had to abandon my Big Shot Plus as it is too heavy and cumbersome especially as I have arthritis in both elbows.  My Gemini can be touchy but I will keep it for larger dies.

Both the large die cuts on these cards went straight through the machine and cut with the first go and embossed with the second. Keeping my fingers crossed that this will be the case all the time.  You can get a battery for the Snap and I have decided to invest in one and used my Create and Craft discount and  points to reduce the cost.

Here are the two cards:
1st.

2nd.

A different style of card for me and I am enjoying myself.

Take care
Hugs
Carol

Christmas Cards 2018

I am finally back in the mood to make some Christmas cards.  I think my mojo went walk abouts.  Because I thought earlier in the year I was going to have to have my Carpal Tunnel Op I frantically made cards for everyone up to the end of December so that it would all be over by the time next year came around.  The op was cancelled and at the moment I have only the slightest of symptoms and I think that I am interested in making cards again .
I am die-cutting like a mad thing - trying new dies and different weights of card. I have lost the urge for parchment at the moment as I have so many cards to catch up on and parchment takes too long.

So here is one that I have finished. Lots more cut outs to assemble and a whole heap of bits left over which may be big enough for die cutting some embellishments.

I cannot remember the makes of the dies I am afraid.  My son decided where the flower should be placed.  He has a good eye for detail and I often ask his approval. More often than not he is right.
Hugs
Carol
x

CD Sunday - 'Celebrate in Style' - chosen by Wynn

Good Morning. I hope all are well and haven't melted away in the heat. It has been particularly hot down here in the S.E. and in fact I had heat stroke on the two very hot days. I could have expected it if I had sat out in the sun but I hadn't as I don't really like the heat.  I am weird and prefer the cooler months.

To get on with our new challenge. Wynn has chosen a good theme that allows a great deal of scope as there are many things and occasions about which to celebrate. As long as you do it in style and use a CD somewhere you could be a winner.

I decided to add to my Christmas box and here is my creation:

This was all from - MCS - Festive Deco Follies.  I decoupaged the car, the street light and the wreath and added a smidgen of glamour dust to the light.  I enjoyed making this card. A simple concept but I love choosing the figures, finding suitable embellishments  and making sure the proportions are correct.  Each year I choose one of my Christmas  makes to be my 'fall back' card in case I don't have time to make everyone on my list an individual card and this year I think this one will be that card.

We had a good few entries into Meg's challenge 'Anything Goes' -  and thank you to those who joined us - and we hope to see as many entering this challenge. If you cannot find anything in particular to celebrate you can always add to your Christmas box like me.

Please don't forget to use a CD and give it credit so that we can see the details.  Also please don't forget that if you haven't a blog of your own you can enter via Facebook (here)  or email - cdsunday2@gmail.com
Please have fun with Wynn's challenge and I look forward to viewing your cards whichever way they are sent.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Anything Goes' - chosen by Meg

Good Morning.

Our 'Anything Goes' challenges usually prove to be popular -   for obvious reasons. But don't get carried away and forget to use a CD somewhere along the way. It is easily done. I have almost done it myself and I am on the team. I think, in my case, it is an age thing.

I chose to make a birthday card for a special friend.   Now I read on her Facebook page that she has recently grown rather fond of Cacti but that they are fighting back. That gave me an idea for her card and for my' Anything Goes'.  Here it is:

Now the card base is from Carol Ann's Studio CD - page  Smudge 3.  The stitch pattern is from Stitching Cards and can be found here.  The Cactus die and pot I bought some time ago and this was a perfect time to use it.
I enjoyed making this using stitches and dies and finding a toning card and background.  I think I enjoy stitching almost as much as parchment.

I hope to see you on your blogs.

Hugs
Carol
xx

Christmas - 2018

Here is another card for the Christmas Card Box. I have actually made this card a couple of times but I just change the background a little each time and - of course - make a note of who I send it to.

The image is from a La Pashe CD printed straight to parchment. The bow, leaves and berries have been embossed and then some special Czech white glass lentil beads have been sewn in a few places to make some of the  berries 3D.   I used a PCA plate to add a border. It is hard to see unless you magnify the image.
The sentiment is a die cut and the card itself was bought - and I am desperately trying to remember from whom it was bought. I'll add it later.
Hugs
Carol
xx

p.s. I have found the link. Company is called Craft Creations and in my opinion they are second to none for their stock of background cards of almost every desciption. Here is the link to the page containing  the one I have used in the above card.

CD Sunday - 'A Gardeners World' - chosen by Pamela

Our lovely teamie Pamela has chosen the theme for the next two weeks - 'A Gardeners World'.  I think the team have chosen some lovely images on the theme so please  visit their Blogs and find out all about them.  The blog links are on the CD Sunday Blog, of course, as well as in my own side bar.

I chose a La Pashe image from the CD - The Best of La Pashe 2012 - Decoupage Plus. The image is called - Bench, Broom and Bonnet.

I loved all the little bits of decoupage. When I started card making decoupage was one of my favourite disciplines and I still enjoy it now.
I have chosen to give this to a family member later in the year. It will be appreciated I know because the person loves gardening and is very good at it.

I hope to visit many blogs and see many beautiful cards or projects. And on Facebook. We are receiving some beautiful entries via Facebook
If you have liked mine then please feel free to add a comment on your way by.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Things to eat' - chosen by Jane

Eating is on our minds for this challenge.  Quite a good portion of our day is spent either eating or planning to eat and even shopping for things to eat.  There should be no difficulty then in choosing what sort of eating you are going to portray.  There are quite a few CD's available with goodies to eat depicted on them.
I decided to think a bit outside the box - as it were - and as I am desperately trying to add to my Christmas card stash I went to La Pashe and produced this:

For this creation I have used - La Pashe -  Pop up card  of the Gingerbread House from - The Christmas Box.
I made a few Gingerbread House cakes when the children were little.  You can now buy kits so that you just do the fun bit of putting it all together.
I hope you will join in the challenge and we look forward to visiting your Blogs and CD Sunday on Facebook to see what you have entered. CD Sunday is here.

Hugs
Carol
x

Yet another for the Christmas Box

Same pattern but a different look

The dies I used for the tree decorations are by Marianne. They have a whole series of these itty bitty dies and I think I have at least a dozen by now. I love them - so useful.

Hugs
Carol

Another for the Christmas card box 2018

Yet another selection of colours and what is supposed to be a deep red backing sheet but, disappointingly, it looks more brown than red.   I have added some red gems to go with the red in the tree to brighten it a little.

I have more of these already pricked out and I have sent off for some more coloured threads. I like them all to be different.

I hope everyone is enjoying a good weekend.

Hugs
Carol

CD Sunday - ' Second Time Around ' - chosen by Carol (me)

Well,  my turn to choose the challenge has come round again. It doesn't seem a moment since my last choice.  This time I have chosen recycling - hence - Second Time Around..
I remember once participating in a  'Recycled item'  ATC swop.  The swoppers included my friend and  teamie Pamela -  and I have never know anyone make so many ATCs using recycled bits and pieces as Pamela did then.  I don't know if it was on her mind this time because when you see the fabulous item she made for my challenge you will be as blown away as I was - as it was her birthday card to me for my recent 75th birthday. It now has a pride of place in my Treasures Cabinet at home in my sitting room.

I am afraid my contribution isn't nearly as glamorous but I think quiet and simple maybe a reasonable description.
Here it is:

My recycled component is the laser cut image of the bird and flowers. I think it is meant to be a humming bird. The blue background is my CD part and is from MCS- Winter Twilights. I added some blue/green nailheads and the blue Birthday sentiment.  The aquamarine edging is there purely so that the card can be seen against the white background.
The laser image was part of a beautiful card given to me by one of my lovely neighbours. I am very lucky in that I have two wonderful elderly lady neighbours who are so kind and would do anything for one if they possibly could. The neighbour concerned would be delighted to know that I have reused her card. I fact it is going to my daughter next month for her Birthday. She is not a lover of handmade cards and I cannot quite make myself go out and buy one so this is the next best thing.
Please visit all my fellow teamies Blogs and study what they have made with their recycling. It doesn't have to be a lot but I am sure you can all find a little something. And together with something from a CD - a background perhaps,  you will then  have something to enter into my challenge.  I will be choosing my Top 3 and posting the result on the 1st July.
I hope to see you on your Blogs.
Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday -' Beautiful Blooms' - chosen By Jocelyn

 Good Morning fellow Ark dwellers. We have had some heavy constant rain here in the South and it isn't doing my own beautiful blooms in the garden any good. My Peonies look very battered.
But as a  team we have some beautiful blooms to show you on the Blog and here is my own :

When I made this card for the challenge the beautiful blooms in my garden were the daffodils and the beginnings of the primroses so I chose this image from Messy Rabbits CD by Joanna Sheen. I love the querky images on this CD and I hadn't used it for a while but I remembered Messy Rabbit and the daffodils.. Apart from die cut bow and the sentiment it all comes from the CD.

There are many CD's out there containing all manner of flowers and beautiful blooms for you to choose from so I look forward to seeing many cards entering Jocelyn's challenge.

I hope the weather improves again,  that you all have a wonderful time crafting and that as you pass me by you leave  a message and I will also visit you on your Blogs.
Hugs
Carol xx

Christmas 2018

I can hear the groans but yes  - I have started making Christmas cards. I would have made more by now but the planned hand op made me rush do make all my Birthday cards etc.  Now I am rushing to make Christmas cards before all the symptons come back and then I will have to have the op.
So.......I have been stitching.  One of my favourite Christmas stitching patterns and I plan to make quite a few more - all with different colour blends.

Here are the four that I have finished. Two of them were stitched whilst I was half watching 'The Wedding'.

There are so many colour and thread combinations that are possible with this pattern enabling it to  look fresh each time it is done.

Have you started with your Christmas cards?

The link to the pattern is here:

Latest parchment patterns from Judith Maslen

Last Saturday was our 2nd of the year visit down to Judith's for her workshop. Work being the operative word as we did work hard.  For some time during the morning you could have heard a pin drop in the room - which let's face it is unusual.
Fabulous patterns though and here is the morning one - that took all the concentration:

A very different pattern for the afternoon and although it took hard work and concentration it wasn't quite so intense.
Personally I was thrilled that I could make the workshop. I wasn't expecting to as I was due for surgery on my wrist - which was cancelled.  Re-scheduling is inevitable though and I am going to have to miss a workshop sometime.

Here is the 'afternoon' card:

I haven't added any sentiments as yet. They can be done at a later date using a peel off or die cut.
I thoroughly enjoyed my day thank you Judith and thank you to my two companions for the day especially our chauffeur.

CD Sunday - Art Deco - chosen by Margaret

Good Morning.  I am writing this on Friday afternoon and it is a bit cooler today.  I am off down to the coast very early tomorrow for our bi monthly workshop with Judith Maslen.  I am so pleased to be going as at one time I thought I would have had my op by now and there would be no 'parching' for me for a while. But as it was put off I am going South with a glad heart.  I do love our days down with Judith.
Back to the plot.  Margaret has chosen Art Deco for us for this challenge.  There are many CD's out there with this as it's theme so I am sure you have one tucked away somewhere.

My card is :

I used MCS Deco Follies CD for the ladies and my graphics programme ACDsee for putting it all together and the sentiment.  The background is a photograph taken in a garden in Bristol. I attended a kind of Garden Party there when I was staying with my sister.
I really enjoyed creating this little scene and I hope you like it too.

Now - today is the day we announce our 8th Birthday Challenge winners......... but you will have to visit the CD Sunday Blog to find out who we have chosen as our two prize winners.  You can find out here   or maybe  here .

Don't forget too that we will be showing you Wynn's Top 3 choice for her challenge of  'Anything Goes'. next weekend.

I hope to see you on your blogs and please don't forget to leave me a message on your way past.
Hugs
Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

Our theme for May  - unsurprisingly -  is Red, White, Blue/Royalty. I think you can mix altogether or do one or the other.
I have done Red, White and Blue. In fact very Red, White, and Blue  and for the first time I have made 5 exactly the same. I must admit I have always frowned a bit on turning out 5 the same but this time I have broken my own rule. There is a hint of Royalty there as the background is a kind of shabby Union Jack or part of a Union Jack.  I am coming down from all these steroids and felt quite down and unimaginative so I took the easy option.
Here they are. ready for the post. I think Chris is going to drop them in the box on his way past as he goes off for his cards night.

I love the bright colour effect.  Hope you like them too.

Hugs

Carol

xx

Creative Stamping

The latest issue of Creative Stamping arrived yesterday and I was bowled over by the free stamps this time.  They are a set of Wild Animals together with sentiments and embellishments.
Usually I admire the stamps,  read most of the magazine and then file them both for later use but this time I just wanted to play straight away.

So I got  out the stamping 'stuff' and started playing.   I managed one complete card and here it is.

The border took most of the time.  Several of the sample cards in the magazine used a border done with this stamp and it appealed to me.  Bold and very 'African' in design.   I tried stamping the border straight to the card but found it difficult to get a neat straight edge so after several abortive attempts I decided to approach it a different way and just stamped out about a dozen borders (3" long pieces) onto card and then cut them out neatly.  Having done that I then attached them to the card with double sided tape as a border.  Simples - as they say.
I then stamped the Elephant and baby onto card and cut them out and affixed them to the background.  The background was not stamped by me.  It is an image I have had for some time and used before and would like to give it credit if I could.
The sentiments were stamped next and  Voila  a 'Go Wild' birthday card.
I thoroughly enjoyed making it despite the resultant  mess everywhere -  and it is one more for the box.
If you get this magazine I guarantee you are going to want to use these stamps as soon as you see them.
Carol
xx

Facebook Birthday List

Here are some more cards that I made for those on the Birthday List.  These birthdays are now a thing of the past so I can show them:

The first two were made using a Kraftyhands CD and the third  in parchment using an image from an Ooh La La 'Shoes in Bloom' CD.
There were two others but these have already been shown as I combined them with  CD Sunday challenges - our '8th Birthday' Challenge and 'No patterned paper' challenge.
No more due now until July.

p.s.  My op was cancelled because the Surgeon didn't want there to be any risk of infection and apparently steroids can affect the healing process and it could be risky.  So I have to wait until I am steroid free and the pain comes back.  I have though been given a 'return ticket' so I don't have to join a long queue again. So it was all a good 'dry run'.  I can now start on my Christmas cards.

More playing with parchment

Here are a couple more cards made using the results of my play with parchment.  Both birthday cards to be added to my stock.

This is what I used to make the image. A glass heart pendant that I bought from the internet

This is the second card:

I enjoyed making them and have many more in the pipeline.
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 'Anything Goes' - chosen by Wynn

OK - back down to earth for me with a bump as big birthday is over and on Tuesday I have the op on my hand.  I will make my apologies now about my probable lack of commenting in the few days afterwards.  I hope it is only a few.

Here is my card:

I used Docraft Designer - Tulip and Friends #2 - Hot Diggity Dog. I think this a very sweet image and it was made with a friend in mind hence the name. I made all the card using Docraft except for the name and sentiment. I have a little graphics programme that came with my camera called ACDSee and it is much better at adding text etc than any of the others that I have found.
I will catch up with you when I can and if you feel like sending me some good vibes they will be much appreciated.
Don't forget that you can enter via Facebook here if you haven't a Blog. Our link to CD Sunday is in my sidebar.
I'll be chatting later sometime.
Hugs
Carol
xx

Playing with Parchment

At our parchment session yesterday I took along some images that I had created.  As there weren't really enough of us to have our lesson (only 4 of us) we played with some of  those images that I had taken along.

I had such fun making the patterns and here is what I did with mine to make it into  a very simple card.

There is so  much scope to play about with these by using any border that you like and adding other patterns around or in the picture itself.  In the centre of mine I did use a very fine grid to prick a pattern of holes filling the 6 white segments. The border was made by drawing outside and inside the same hexagonal die and then embossing between the lines  with a white pencil. The scallop edge was made using a Fine Large PCA Scallop Edge Tool and a scallop template. This was then filled in with a Pergamano Star Tool impression.
I hope to have more fun with these as the patterns I can make are endless - and that is no exaggeration.
We then ate lots of cake as I had taken a huge Minion cake along that I had made.  I like it when Birthdays last all week.
Hope you like this new image.
Carol
xx

Birthday Weekend

I had a fantastic Birthday weekend.  Great friends around for the day yesterday which we spent crafting and laughing and sometimes we couldn't craft because we were laughing so much.  We then went out to dinner and I must confess I got a bit tiddly.  Don't do that very often but I didn't have a 'head' this morning so I couldn't have been too bad.
I wanted to show you some of the lovely cards I received but thought I would start off with one that only one sister to could send to another!!!

Here are some of the beautiful handmade ones from friends.

I belong to a Birthday group on Facebook (UKSN) and here are the cards I received:

Hugs
Carol
xx

CD Sunday - 8th Birthday Celebration - with prizes

Yes - the 18th April is the official 8th Birthday for CD Sunday and the 21st is my own birthday too so I have hijacked the Blog - with the team's permission - and chosen the Birthday theme and designed the sketch for everyone to use.
Here is the sketch

and here is my Birthday card based on the sketch.

I used Docraft Digital Designer  - Me to You  CD - Spring Chic - Mother's Day.   This is only the third sketch theme that I have  done and I did enjoy making the card.   Sketch cards are growing on me.   I was quite resistant I remember when we first did one at CD Sunday way back 2012.  Perhaps we ought to do more.  Three in 6 years isn't excessive!
There a couple of super prizes on offer for the 1st and 2nd place winners. If you go to the Blog (here) you will see what we have for you.  The winners will be chosen by the whole team and because of that it will be a couple of weeks before the result is announced.,
I have some small celebration  planned for my own Birthday.   A crafting day and dinner out with some dear friends and I have already received  a present from the  'Government'  - a free TV licence.   What more could a girl want?    Yes you've guessed it - I will be 75.  Whilst I am on these steroids I don't feel old at all but I am waiting for the bump when they stop.
Please have a look at the wonderful  cards by my fellow teamies  for inspiration and then join in.   All you need to do is make a Birthday card following the sketch and use a CD somewhere along the way.
Don't forget that if you haven't a Blog then you can join in on Facebook here.
Looking forward to seeing you in my travels.
Hugs
Carol
xx

ATC Swop UK

Whilst I am waiting for my swops to arrive for our March theme 'H' is for..... ( in the post apparently) I will show the ones I have sent in for the April swop -  'April Showers'.  I have never know a more apposite theme as it hasn't stopped raining here for 3 days.
I found a background on MCS that looked just like a large puddle on a very dark and dismal day which it is at the moment.

They are all parchment this time. My own favourite is the middle one.
This - I believe -  is the 36th month for me as a member of this group. Doesn't time fly. It doesn't seem possible.
Hugs
Carol xx

p.s. Here are the same ATCs as presented by the organisers of the swop. So much better than I can do.

'Summer' - from Seasons by Judith Maslen

Here is "Summer" one of the Season series of patterns by Judith. - jm057 - 2.  I did this at one of Judith's workshops and have now just finished making it into a birthday card.

I used a colour toning backing card for the card covered in' Happy Birthday' in several fonts and styles. The long curly bow die is the finishing touch.  Love this die.