WOYWW #347

Check out the tab at the top of the page for further information on WOYWWs.   Thanks go to the Lady Julia, our wonderful Hostess.

You catch me in the middle of ....... making ATCs....... again.  This swap is titled 'Black and one colour'.  Some marvellous work is being displayed on the Forum ..... and then there's mine!!!  lol

I have chosen Red, Green, Yellow and Purple to use with my Black - hopefully some form of abstract, I'm good at abstract!!!

I am hoping to get a little in advance with my swaps this year so that the gardening, decorating and visiting Paris can be done secure in the knowledge that I don't have a deadline to meet.  We'll see how long it lasts!!!

I shall be visiting late this week as I am out all day with a five minute appointment at the QE - just to say hello - and it takes a long time travelling on local transport so I don't expect to be back until later this afternoon.

My apologies for not visiting very many deskers last week, I really don't know what happened to the week ...... no doubt it was filled with much laughter and fun ...... yeah!

You have a good week ...... catch you all later ......

WOYWW #346

My thanks go to Julia for hosting this well known desker chat - it's well known in my circles at any rate!!!

I would have had a clear desk to show you but I started sorting out my papers for my next ATC swap - Love Paris ....... I do ..... most definitely!!!

We have the desk underneath all this

My sketchpad - the large size as I can cut lots of ATCs from one sheet.  I mark out my card with pencil and ruler and then paint.  Once the painting is completed I cut out the cards and back them etc.
The sketching pencils - one of my first acquisitions when I decided to try painting.
Lots of images from the web and my camera - I haven't quite decided what to do yet, I shall peruse the images later and await my muse (she loves Paris as well!!). 

First off I have to go buy a high chair from a localish shop and then go out of town to get some bird food.  When the ground is white with frost is not a good time to run out, the birds get upset when I change their diet!!  lol
Have a good week and I will be back later to visit ......

Updated:  My cards are finished now and can be found here

January Swaps

Another year of swaps with the Crafty Cardmakers.
I signed up for several swaps - 5 in all, one being an ATC.
Noobie Swap

I printed this image out some time ago.......had to print it out four times in fact!
Once I had fussy cut all the pieces, I had to cut out a card to fit the largest image.  .... and then of course I needed an envelope.......
I found a piece of paper in my book but it was only just large enough for the card, fortunately I had some washi tape which was almost the same pattern and colours, so I managed to make the envelope large enough for the card.  I then decoupaged the design and put the mouthwatering card into its envelope.

My partner followed a sketch from another Group and used such spring colours it really cheered me up - we are having our second day of snow!  Thank goodness that the snow is not staying around for long!!!!

Thank you Linda A 

Alphabet Swap - L (for Letters)
I am stretching the Alphabet swap a bit here.  I have used another kit from Craftee - which has changed hands and, as yet, does not now produce these kits - In one of my wiser moments, I bought enough kits to keep me going for the rest of the Alphabet!  Today we have letters, which are placed on patterned papers which are placed on the card.  A few flowers are added sparingly.

I received this gorgeous card from my swap partner.  'L for Lace' and the lace is sumptuous over a silver card.

Thank you Mary C.

Technique Swap

Believe it or not ....... this design started out as a Pepsi drink can!!! I opened up the Pepsi can and flattened it by placing under my workmat on my desk for several weeks.  I cut the tin in half and, using one half, embossed this design from the printed side.  I attached it with Collall glue and left to dry.  I used Collall because I could not really press the metal very hard onto the card and this glue is perfect.  Once the tin was dry, I added a silver peel off sentiment along the lower edge.

 I received a pocket card for my return swap card.  Beautifully made with a matching tag.  A thick. almost card, paper has been used.
Thank you Karen.




Colour Swap - Sparkles


I don't work with glitter very well.  I tried very hard to get away from it on this card but the sparkles are still there.  The paper I used has a dull side and a sheen to the other side, so qualifies for sparkle.  I used some ribbon peel offs from my stash, which also had some glitter along the flowers, for the folded edge.  The image was fussycut from a piece of wall paper, the design incorporated sketched views of New York and London.  
The lady is in fact hailing a taxi but for you and me she is waving Hi!  I added some Stickles to the shopping bags.

This card really does have fireworks and sparkles!!

Thank you Olive.

Last Swap Card for CWS

I have decided not to have any more swaps with CardWorkShop members.  

I find that each month is very stressful when arranging the partners and swaps.  

The Group will still be open so that the members can stay in touch and swap a card now and again.....



This is my card for Colour My World - Grey card with purple embellishments.



I embossed an oblong of pale purple card and then attached it to a grey folded card.  

I added some grey ribbon along the lower edge with purple flowers printed on it and thought that a small, tiny sliver bow added to the ribbon would complete the design.

That's it for now for CardWorkShop ..... 

WOYWW #345

First off - Welcome to my new followers - Thank you for being interested in the 'goings on' round here!!

This is WOYWWednesday - checkout the tab at the top of the page for further info - and our thanks go to Julia for hosting again.

After all the decorating - in boring magnolia. (not! It's natural wicker actually!!!!) - I have managed to get into my craft room.
Back to a normal desk this week.  I have just finished this card and cleared away, except for a bit of stash that found itself onto there!


The card is for the last CMW swap with CardWorkShop.  The stamps peeping out can be explained .... honestly!!!!

On the right ... ..a couple of stamps from Tiger.....which is a new shop in our local Touchwood shopping centre.  Whilst browsing a few things just happened to jump into my basket, including two wood stamps.

.....there's also a packet of 'reverse' stamps from Chocolate Baroque.  I have had to wait for these stamps to come back into stock and then ....... wait again for the postman to deliver them.... so there they sit.

The Reverse stamps were bought with some Christmas cash and, hopefully, will be very useful if/when I get to use my gelli plate!!


Nice and short as requested by our honourable hostess, Julia, who thinks she is in control of all us deskers.......... he! he! he!

Interesting News

I have seen this notice creeping around the internet .......

In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs.

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.

Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer

To my way of thinking this means that if you don't have a google account - gmail addy - then you will not be able to 'follow' me - sign in the follow box on right - time to change to Bloglovin perhaps. 

January Birthdays

While clearing out some files on my PC, I found a folder of Scrapbooking supplies ...... it was almost as good as being on the 'P' page!!!!
Whilst strolling through these 'new' supplies, I found some date stamps and this gave me an idea for this month's cards.  I chose one of the ribbon bands and the stamps from the embellishment packs then copied them to a Word document.  I formatted them to the size I thought I would need for the card and printed them out.
 

After printing them out I fussy cut  all the pieces and put to one side.  Using some left over paper from a Christmas pack, I cut it 1cm smaller than my card front and placed out my pieces.  I felt I needed to add some other embellishments but what?......
I coloured up some peel offs and then added them to the printed embellishments.








I used a plain card with a punched border for my next card.  After completing the card, I added a pink insert - punching the corners with matching daisies.









I used the same format for my third card as for my first ....  this time adding a pink insert which was punched in each corner with a rose punch - to match the rose fairy on the lower embellishment.

I am pleased with these cards and love the date stamps, but maybe next time I will add the peel offs to white circles!!!!

WOYWW #344

This is WOYWWednesday - checkout the tab at the top of the page for further info - and our thanks go to Julia for hosting again for yet another year!!!

My usual desk is not in use this week.  I have a new work surface ..........


I have the week ahead planned out day by day so that by the end of the week my room will be finished and then we go suite hunting.
I am bringing the room into the neutral age - magnolia - but the house will not be going up for sale!!!  (British joke!)
I hope that PJ will move the TV, Router etc tomorrow morning so that I can strip the paper off the right side of the chimney breast.
As you can see, there once was a rather large fireplace on that wall but because of the history of the house - yes! we have lots of stories - a smaller fireplace was put in during the sixties so that is what we have now.
I started 'leaving my mark' back in the eighties in other properties but am quite reserved in this house ........ just one small heart .......

Thank you for all the good wishes left here last week and the funnies - I love them!!!
I can't come visiting until I have finished the wall and washed all the paintwork down ready for painting on Thursday ........ but come I will!!!