Ring in the New Year

Well I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. Time to get ready to celebrate the New Year and Carol has chosen our theme this time around at CD Sunday Challenge Blog. So let's all 'Ring in the New Year' together.

I've used a backing paper and image from the House Mouse triple CD collection by Joanna Sheen for my design. The die cut stars are also from Joanna as part of her Signature Dies collection. The embossed clocks are Crafter's Companion.

I'm just catching up after a tiring trip to Swansea and back over Christmas. Neil's mother is 94 and blind so we always go and look after her over Christmas. The trip back yesterday took 7 hours so I have lots of catching up to do - some of it on sleep!

I'll be around blog land later to check out you are ringing in the New Year in style.

A Cool Yule

First this week we say goodbye and thank you to Pauline and Meg for being such great Guest Designers for the last three months. 

We now have two new Guest Designers joining us at CD Sunday – Jane and Shaz and they will be with us for the next three months.  

Sue’s these for this time is ‘A Cool Yule’ and I do hope you will be able to join us. 

I have taken the backing papers from Romany Christmas by Crafter's Companion and used a stamp from the same set and used paper piecing for his hat, scarf and buttons. 

If you still have a few cards to make then this will hopefully give you some inspiration to get them finished. Don't forget to visit CD Sunday Challenge Blog for more ideas. 

Colours of Autumn

Time for a new challenge at CD Sunday this week and it's my turn again to choose the theme. We still have a few leaves left on the branches in our garden with some lovely colours to admire so I thought we would have a go at 'Colours of Autumn' this time.

Wynn chose our last challenge and she had some lovely entries to select her top 3 from. I hope you will all feel inspired to put on a wonderful display of colours of autumn.

This is my card:

I used papers and the main image from Fabulous Shoes which is a Katy Sue CD. The only extra things I added were a piece of recycled ribbon rescued from some packaging and a happy birthday stamp.

My fellow teamies and our guest designers have some wonderful inspiration to share with you so to visit CD Sunday Challenge Blog and take a look. We would love you to join in, all you need to remember is to use something from a CD in your design and let us know which one you used.

Sprinkle of Snowflakes

We had some great 'H's last time around for Carol to choose her top 3 but this time it is Wynn's turn to choose and she has picked a Sprinkle of Snowflakes for us to play with at CD Sunday.

I chose an image from Barkley Christmas CD from Crafter's Companion. I wanted to use a die I have purchased to make a snow globe. This is a useful die and all sorts of images can be used with it. I think it would make a nice birthday card too with a different image. Anyway, I added lots of tiny gems and glitter as it's for Christmas and also the corner dies cut from silver mirri card.

The dies I used are:

Snow globe by Impression Obsession
Corner snowflakes by Memory Box
Inner Circle in silver on globe by Spellbinders

I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs so please join our challenge and don't forget to use something from a CD and let us know which CD you used. It may be one we haven't got yet lol!

Something beginning with ..... H

Carol has chosen our theme for this time at CD Sunday Challenge Blog and it is something beginning with H. My fellow teamies and our guest designers have come up with some wonderful ideas so do please go and have a look.

Here is my card. My H is for Christmas Hugs and I've used this lovely image from Polkadoodles Angelberry Christmas CD. I used a Crafter's Companion die to make the cut and embossed background and used some gems for the centre of the snowflakes.

The Christmas Hugs is a rubber stamp and to finish I just added some ribbon.

I hope you all had a fun Halloween. We had a dinner party:

Don't forget to go to the CD Sunday Blog to find out how to enter the latest challenge. 

Baby Love

I had some bloomin' lovely entries for my theme of bloomin' marvellous at CD Sunday Challenge Blog and I shall be choosing my top three soon.

In the meantime it is Sunday again and it is Sue's turn to choose the theme and this time is is Baby Love. There is lots of lovely inspiration for you over at CD Sunday so do stop by to take a look and see how you can join in. All you need to do is incorporate something from a CD in your design and let us know which CD you have used.

Here is my card:

Apart from the ribbon, some black card for layering and a few black gems everything was from the CD Meerkat Madness for the Girls - simples!

Bloomin' Marvellous

Well what beautiful weather we are having. I do love this time of year. Just look at these colours.

This is my garden Saturday afternoon

and the following 3 photos are from Sheffield Park on Tuesday

I'd like to thank Wynn for choosing our previous theme of Pearls and Lace. Don't forget to check out CD Sunday Challenge Blog for our new challenge which was chosen by me this time around. Wynn will be letting you know her top three later....

So, this fortnight I have chosen 'Bloomin' Marvellous' for the CD Sunday theme and as you can see from the above photos it certainly is at the moment.

Here is my card:

I've used Winston CD by Polkadoodles for all my blooms. The main card was constructed using a Crafter' Companion accordion die and the matching overlay die.

Here is a closer shot so hopefully you will be able to see the detail.

The construction was a bit fiddly so I don't think I will be making these in bulk but it does make a very pretty card and something a little different. 

Please dust off those CDs and join us this fortnight for a 'Bloomin' Marvellous' time. As usual I will have a little prize for the winner.

Knitty Nora (Back in Time)

Recently we joined friends to visit Sheringham in Norfolk for a 1940s weekend. The weather was glorious, we had a ride on a steam train and got dressed up for the occasion.

All this nostalgia and the wonderful vintage clothes that people were wearing got me thinking. 

I used to be always knitting in my younger days so when we got home I googled 1940s knitting patterns and came across this wonderful blog by a very talented lady - 1940's Style. 

Having been inspired I decided I wanted to have a go. I purchased a copy of an original pattern from her which reminded me of a cardigan I knitted in autumnal colours years ago and then searched for some nice yarn to knit with. 

I chose four colours from a yarn which is recycled cotton so I feel there is an element of the 'make do and mend' ethos of the era. As you can see I couldn't wait to get started.

It arrived beautifully packaged.

Here are my colour choices. 

It's growing. I'm onto the pattern and colour changes now. Not bad as the yarn only arrived on Wednesday and I've been at work Thursday and Friday and out at a golf dinner Friday night so I'm very pleased with progress. 

Pearls and Lace

A new challenge at CD Sunday and Wynn has chosen our theme this time and what a great one it is. I have made this as a wedding card for a friend at work as her and her future husband belong to LARP (Live Action Role Play) and are having a hand fasting celebration in the woods next month. 

I used Flights of Fantasy CD from Crafter's Companion with artwork by Morgan Fitzsimons. The die is also from Crafter's Companion.  I just added some lace trim and a few flat back pearls in her hair.

I can't wait to visit your blogs and see all the pearls and lace.

Gorgeous Gowns

Carol has chosen a lovely theme for us this time - Gorgeous Gowns and I've used two CDs for my card: Main Image - Flights of Fantasy, Morgan Fitzsimons CD by Crafter's Companion, Backing Papers - A Touch of Magic from Linda Ravenscroft CD by Card Creations. I've used pink card by Docrafts for layering the backing papers. Just added a bit of Wink of Stella for sparkles and a die cut flower and an epoxy button from some of the backing paper.

Get those gorgeous gowns out and show us what you can do at CD Sunday Challenge Blog. 

Bear with me

Another fortnight has passed and time for Sue to choose the new theme at CD Sunday. Sue has asked us all to "bear with me", so here we go!

I used Tumble Tizzy Pastimes Collection CD Rom 2 by Cupcake Crafting for my image and backing paper. The image has been decoupaged to add some dimension. I used a Signature die for the bunting which was cut using some sparkly card that I have had for a very long time. It was just the right thing to match the ribbon. :-)

I do hope you will find time to join us again this time around and look forward to visiting your blogs. 

Don't forget to visit the CD Sunday Challenge Blog to find out how to enter and see who the top three were from our previous challenge.

Bingo!

Clarity Stamp Challenge this month is bingo and I have chosen the middle line - stencil, stamp, grunge paste.

I started with a blank white card and using the lovely feather stamp from Clarity and a Versamark ink pad I stamped randomly over the card. I then covered this with clear embossing powder and heat set it. 

I then moved to my 8 x 10 gelli plate and put some distress ink pads onto it. I used some of the new 2015 colours -  Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Fossilized Amber and Abandoned Coral. I used the brayer to spread the ink around a little and then pulled a print using the card I had stamped with the feather. 

Once this had dried I wiped the excess ink off the feathers so that they show through.

I then took a stencil. The one I used has three birds on it but I decided to use just one and spread gunge paste through it. I then removed the stencil and washed it while leaving the bird to dry. I left it overnight to make sure it was quite dry as I wanted to use my Spectrum Noir pencils to add some colour to the bird. I used Versafine black to stamp the word and mounted the whole thing onto some black card and then onto a white 8 x 8 card base. 

I'm entering this into this month's challenge at Clarity Stamp. 

Photo Inspiration at CD Sunday

We have waved goodbye to Christine and Jenny and have some exciting news to share.  Whilst we are regrouping at CD Sunday we have decided to invite Guest Designers to join us over the next 6 months.  We invited Pauline, Meg, Jane andShaz and we are thrilled that they all said yes.  Pauline and Meg will be our guests for September to November and Jane and Shaz will be our guests for December 2015 to February 2016. We are looking forward to sharing their designs and inspirations with you all.

For our new challenge this week it is my turn to choose. Here is a photo that I took in France earlier this year.

I hope you will enjoy this challenge and join us at CD Sunday Challenge Blog where you will find lots of inspiration from my fellow teamies.

You can take any ideas that you like to create your card - colours, shapes etc. and the team have come up with some wonderful interpretations. Here's mine. 

I used Sheena Douglass's A taste of India CD for the backing papers that I have woven in the aperture. The leaves and tiger are rubber stamps from a set of stamps that go with the CD. I used some cats eye ink pads to stamp the leaves and clear embossed these. The tiger is embossed using Wow gold embossing powder and coloured using spectrum noir pencils. 

I hope to see lots of inspiration from this photo when I visit your blogs.  

Rock Star

We have a new challenge for you at CD Sunday this week. Wynn has chosen the theme Rock Star. So lets see everyone rocking it and joining in. 

I used Mimic Creations CD for my card. This is a fun CD because it allows you to pick a background and then add what images you would like to add. The cartoon images are from music, film and TV. I've used this CD before when I've been looking for something a little different. Once the image is designed it generates matching backing papers too. I used a die from Joanna Sheen's Signature range for the star burst.

It looks like being a soggy Sunday so more crafting later might be a nice way to spend the day. 

Clarity Challenge - Anything Goes

I've decided I need to make more cards ready for Christmas so have taken the opportunity to make one with Clarity this month for their July Challenge No. 29 of Anything Goes.

I used my Gelli plate together with the mount to put it on. So much easier having the mount - I wish I'd got one sooner! I masked off the middle when I made the Gelli print so that I could stamp the lovely geese in the middle. I then masked the geese and added a moon mask which I used distress inks to make the landscape in the background. I used a white glaze pen to make the snow in the sky and used Spectrum Noir pencils to colour the birds. I framed the image using a black micron pen and stamped a Happy Christmas to finish.

Add a Stamped Image

Time for another challenge at CD Sunday and it is Christine's turn to choose the theme this time.

Christine would like us to add a stamped image.

I decided to use the Kimono CD from Crafter's Companion and printed off one of the pretty backing papers. I used a die by Crealies which looks to me like the Scrap Magic templates that were all the rage a few years back. Being a die I found this so much easier to use. I layered this up and then mounted it on another circular die cut from Spellbinders. The butterfly is from the Kimono range at Crafter's Companion. I used a stamp from the same set and used two printed backing papers for the paper piecing on her kimono. The corners were done using an embossing folder rubbed over with metalic wax. I

I do hope you will join us for this challenge and I will be visiting soon.

Flitter & Flutter

It's Jenny's turn to choose the theme this time around at CD Sunday Challenge Blog and she has gone with Flitter and Flutter. I couldn't resist using this image and backing paper from Woodland Fantasy CD by Peerless Designs. I have used die cuts and flat back pearls to reflect her headdress.

It looks like we are in for a bit of a heatwave but hopefully you have somewhere cool to craft and I look forward to visiting your blog. To join in please remember to use something from a CD and mention which one you have used.

Boys, Boys, Boys

Clarity's Challenge this month is Boys, Boys, Boys.

I used a Clarity stencil and two Distress Inks - Cracked Pistachio (January 2015) and Twisted Citron (May). These are two of the new monthly ones for this year.

I used one of the Wee Folk to stamp what I think looks like James Bond into the design.

I then took a micron pen and drew around the stencil and added a border. I then spent a while zentangling the shapes before using my Spectrum Noir pencils to enhance the colours. I didn't want to spoil what I had done with my writing so I used a black Spectrum Noir alcohol pen to change the colour of some peel off letters to add the words.

I then mounted my design onto black card and then onto an 8 x 8 green card.

Four Legs and a Tail

It's Carol's turn this time to choose the theme which is Four legs and a tail. Nice one for everyone this time I think. You'll find all the details of how to join in and lots of inspiration at CD Sunday Challenge Blog.

I've used the Pollyanna Pickering British Wildlife CD for my card this week. I started by covering a 7 x 7 card with one of the matching backing papers. I cut a mount for my chosen design using a Spellbinder die and coordinations card. I added little flat back pearls around the edge. The matching ribbon came off a present at Christmas time and it was just the right colour for this card.

I had some backing paper left over and used this to stamp some leaves using Versamark. I used three embossing powders - Gold, Silver and Verdigris making sure that as I applied each colour I only covered part of each leaf. I then added some flowers made from Kraft card and small wooden beads for the centres - a Poundland find!

I hope you have fun with this challenge and look forward to visiting your blogs.

Add some Glitter or Bling

Well I've enjoyed seeing all your 'Stepping Out' creations and now have the difficult task of choosing my top 3 - watch out on CD Sunday Challenge Blog for the results later.

Meanwhile Sue has chosen our next challenge with is to add some glitter or bling (or both if you like!).

I've been intrigued with the new trend of Book Folding lately so thought I would give it a go. I used Debbi Moore Designs Book Folding Volume 1 CD and this is what I came up with.

Inside

Front Cover

Outside

All the instructions are on the CD and are easy to print out and follow. There are also some lovely backing papers to decorate your finished project too. The book came from a charity shop. Any hardback book will do as long as it has enough pages for your chosen word or image.

This one has gone to a dear friend for her birthday.

I also made one for MIL's 94th birthday.

Have fun with your Bling and Glitter and I look forward to seeing what you all do with it.

Stepping Out

I can't believe that another fortnight has flown by and this time it is my turn to choose the theme for our CD Sunday Challenge. So here we are with 'Stepping Out'. My fellow teamies have some lovely things to show you over on the CD Sunday Challenge Blog so why not check it out here.

I've used a die by Presscut to cut out my base card and the panels to decorate it. The circle and tag Spellbinders. The shoe image and backing papers are from Fabulous Shoes CD by Katy Sue Designs.

I'm looking forward to visiting your blogs and see you 'Stepping Out'. Have a great Sunday!

Clocks for Clarity

Ingredients:

Weathered Wood, Old Paper Distress Ink Pads and water splashes for the background.
Tim Holtz die cut clock
Mice and alphabet stamps from Clarity

I'm entering this card in the Clarity Stamp Challenge this month.

Curious Cats

It is Wynn's turn to choose the theme for CD Sunday this week and she has chosen Curious Cats. I have three cats so this theme was perfect for me :-), in fact the little puss in the picture I have used looks just like my little Poppy.

I used a die to cut the stepper card base and then printed the image and backing paper from Joanna Sheen's Ivory Cats. I used a tonic punch to make the flowers, the centres are card candi with glossy accents added. I then die cut some foliage and the bow.

My fellow teamies have some great cards to show you so do pop over to CD Sunday and take a look at the inspiration and then don't forget to join in our challenge by using something from a CD and let us know which one you have used. I will be round to visit your blog soon. xx

PS: Don't forget our special challenge in tribute to Wendy aka Purple Crazy is still running for another week. You can find it here.

Layer it Up with CD Sunday

Here is a close up .....

Christine has chosen the theme this time for our CD Sunday Challenge.

I chose an image from Flower Fairies of the Garden CD to decoupage and layer up having first used the Happy Birthday Tattered Lace die to make the card base.

Don't forget that our Purple Crazy challenge in remembrance of Wendy is still running alongside our usual challenges with lovely prizes to be won and you can find it here.

'Tis the Wee Folk

Ingredients:

Distress Inks:
Tattered Rose
Tumbled Glass

Clarity Stencil
Wee Folk stamps

Versafine ink pads

Scrap from a Gelli Plate experiment

I'm entering this card in the Clarity Stamp Challenge this month.

Purple Crazy - A tribute to Wendy

Sadly we lost our DT member, Wendy earlier this year. She was a valued and much loved member of our DT. It seemed only right that we should hold a special challenge in remembrance. Our special Purple Crazy challenge starts today. Just pop over to the CD Sunday Challenge Blog for details of this challenge which will run alongside our usual challenges for a month. There is a special prize bundle too so make sure you join in and go PURPLE CRAZY.

Here is my card:

I've used a stepper die by Presscut for the card base I love these new style dies that are appearing at the moment. They are so easy with no measuring! :-)

I used two CDs - the backing papers are from Here Come the Girls from Creative Crafting World and the main image (isn't she fab) is from My Besties Sweet Geek CD with artwork by Sherri Baldy. I chose a digi image to colour myself but there are lots of pre-coloured besties and other things on this CD. I added glaze to her glasses and lots of die cut flowers, fronds, ribbon and gems just for Wendy and all in her favourite colour.

Please help us celebrate such a lovely lady by joining in our special challenge.

You can find our normal challenge clean and simple here.

Clean and Simple

Today is the start of a new challenge at CD Sunday. Clean and Simple (CAS) chosen by Jenny.

There are some great examples by my fellow teamies to inspire you over on the CD Sunday Challenge Blog. 

Here is mine:

I took a 7 x 7 plain white card for the base. I actually had a piece of backing paper leftover from another project (it was printed from the Cute Companions CD Volume 1) which I used for the bottom of my card and I also punched a balloon out of it too. I used a micron pen to draw the string and added a border of printed ribbon to make my CAS birthday card.

We had lots of entries for our last challenge so that will keep Carol busy choosing her top three. We hope to see you all joining in again with our new challenge.