WOYWW 291 : HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ok it's my least favourite night of the year ... well, ok, one of my least favourite because now I think of it there are quite a few in contention!  It has been an amazing year though so am counting my blessings rather than thinking of bad, sad stuff and I wish each and everyone of you a happy and healthy 2015.

Now then, this New Year's Eve sees us crafters able to blog-hop around the world all thanks to the lovely Julia over at The Stamping Ground ... I try never to blog if I don't have time to hop but am determined to make this a weekly visit throughout the new year as I missed so many last year ... not a new year's resolution you understand but, well, ok, guess it kinda is!

Just a few photo's to share as I have yet to pluck up the courage to head out to Antarctica the conservatory to get stuff in to start the cards for next year (so no workdesk for at least another half an hour ... first birthday is on 3rd Jan so that will head off with apologies for being late! Great start, eh!?!?!?!?

I seemed to have forgotten to take photo's of much of the Christmas crafting but managed a couple:

I like to make stuff for Christmas that can be put away once the festive period is over and then brought out again the following year ... all stems from childhood memories of two large embossed flat cardboard Father Christmas decorations that mommy had herself as a child and which came out year after year until they just fell apart.  On stuff I make under my "tatteredrocks" disguise I put "tomorrows memories and keepsakes being made today" and it all kinda stems from those Father Christmas shapes.

I made six of these wooden hearts this year ... each with a different message to personalise them a little bit ... they are about 8" across (maybe!) and I do enjoy making them.

Then I made a few of these decorations ... fell in love with them after seeing them in a Stampin' Up! catalogue and just had to get the dies and stamps to make them ... quite time consuming as each one has 40 "petals" ... not everyone seemed to like them but hey, I did!  

This was my friends Christmas present - she loves owls so as soon as I saw this cross-stitch chart I knew I had to sew it for her.

And these were also Christmas presents ... all started when I made myself a bobble blanket and youngest nephew saw it and said "I think I might like a bobble blanket" ... so now I am on a mission to make one for all the family (already got ALL the wool to do so!!!!) ... his is the grey and black one and the pink one was for his fiancee and the green one was for another friend.

They are full sized blankets ... 3,780 bobbles on each blanket (well, apart from the green one as I was struggling to get it finished in time so it is one ball smaller than the others!) and I just love making them. Good job really because there are around 35,000 bobbles to go before each of my family have their blankets!

Totally forgot to take photo's of this years Christmas cards but still chance I can get one before the holiday is over ... just need to remember to do so!

Well can avoid the cold of Antarctica the conservatory no longer so am off to grab my distress inks and butterfly die and Rock Candy Crackle Paint and see if I can come up with some birthday cards!

Happy New Year to everyone in craftland and look forward to WOYWW'ing with you throughout 2015!!!!!

WOYWW 290

Well, here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody's having fun!  Or something like that!!!!

Having fun?  What isn't crafted now will be finished just as soon as I can and apologies have already been sent to the late recipients of the little cross-stitched tree decorations I traditionally send out.  They will still be sent out ... just late!  And yeah, am beating myself up about it but only need to watch the news or think about family and friends who are sick right now to fully realise a few late Christmas gifts isn't the end of the world.

Will pop back later and edit this adding photo's but for now the cable thingy I need to hook up my mobile is buried somewhere under all the wrapped parcels so it should reveal itself as we sort them out for delivery sending to Father Christmas.

Just had to blog, albeit briefly, this Christmas Eve morning to wish all my wonderful crafty friends and all you WOYWW'ers out there a truly peaceful and magical and special Christmas.

WOYWW is where we can visit fellow crafters all over the world and all thanks to the beautiful lady whom is Julia over at The Stamping Ground and she can explain it all so much better than me!  

WOYWW 284

Well, I've just fallen off my chair in shock at making it to blogland AT LAST!!!!!  Can't believe it has been so long and really do need to get into the habit of posting at least on a weekly basis when us WOYWW'ers meet up for a peek around each others desks.  

My intention when starting my blog was mainly to have somewhere to record the crafty things I get up to and then realised it was MY blog so didn't HAVE to be just about crafting so maybe I really also need to try and fill in the gaps between my weekly WOYWW posts ... time will tell I guess.

SO much to catch up on but will keep this brief or the FAB - U - LOUS Julia over at the Stamping Ground, and our host each Wednesday will throw rotten tomatoes at me and slap me across the cheeks with a wet trout ... cruelty to trout I say!

My desk is still piled fairly neat and tidy from last night when I crafted my little fingers off trying to catch up on my Christmas crafting - am way, way behind and will have to admit defeat at some point but am not going down without a fight!

Second photo' is stuff piled on the chair beside me as I always run out of room when crafting at the dining room table ... I like to think the restricted space keeps me tidy and focused but, in reality, it stresses me out and makes me cross.

Am currently calm and collected but have yet to pick up where I left off last night so there is time yet for the meltdown.  Will only be a mini-meltdown because I don't have time for a better one.

Must crack on - simply got to get these cards done today so I can then move on to next project on the list.

Happy WOYWW'ing everyone and if you want to check out what is going on this soggy, damp & grey Wednesday morning, then you can do so at The Stamping Ground

WOYWW 271

Short and sweet this week because I either need another pair of hands or more hours in the day please.  This will please the wonderfully, fabulous Julia of The Stamping Ground fame no end as she does encourage short and sweet WOYWW posts.  Fellow bloggers can pop along to visit fellow crafters desks HERE - it is very addictive though so you have been warned!

Just a few specific bits and bobs out today making a couple of cards.

No time now but will take photo's of finished cards and come back here and edit this post later!

Went on Saturday to a workshop run by Sally-Ann Haynes (Sazzle) and learnt the tarmac technique!

Can't wait to try it again.

More on this later too ... or I will do a separate blog post just for this!

Happy WOYWW'ing xXx

WOYWW 270

Okay so another fabulous WOYWW (for the uninitiated that stands forWhat's on your Workdesk Wednesday) and is the brilliant concept of the equally fab-u-lous Julia Dunnit over at The Stamping Ground - a chance for us bloggers to hop all around the world popping in to see what fellow crafters have on their desks.  The Stamping Ground and a far better description WOYWW'ing than I have given can be found HERE

Now there SHOULD be LOADS on my workdesk but, well, you know that problem when you have SO much crafting to do you can't seem to settle to any?  My thoughts are flitting and floating from one project to the next and I am not actually working on any of them!  What's that saying ... "Procrastination is the thief of time" ... will slap myself around the cheeks with a wet trout later and just get to it! Honest I will!

So all I can share is a sneek peek of some stuff I have made for a forthcoming fundraising afternoon tea in memory of my nephew Nick ... I get the jitters big time when making stuff for events like this and am not sure if any of this will be of any use, if any of it is saleable, if anyone would want such "handmade" items, if they fit the brief (there was no brief but there is one in my head) etc., etc.,  There are 6 (I think!) of the Maya Angelou designs on the left of the photo (as inspired by Barbara Gray at Clarity Stamps) and there are three of the wooden hearts I make.  And then four tags ... can't decide whether to stick the tags to the front of a "traditional" opening card or leave them as my much preferred tags.  Not many people to whom I send tags seem to understand the concept!  

Oh the pressure!

Now what was it I was going to do?  Oh yes, CRAFT!!!!!

Happy WOYWW'ing everyone!

The best laid plans...

So what is it they say about the best laid plans of mice and men?  My plan sure has backfired on me and I think after 35 years and two weeks of very happy marriage divorce now looms.

Got it into my head I wanted to crochet a new blanket.  Now those that know me for real know I love blankets and am to be seen snuggled under one most of the time ... even on the hottest day I will have a blanket but be sitting full on on front of the fan ... ludicrous I know but there you have it.

I have crocheted more blankets than I can count in my time but nothing for years and years and years and didn't want to do the tried and trusted "traditional" granny square crocheted blanket so spent a few hours practising some new stitches (see last blog post) ... my favourite by far was the really quite complicated and wool eating crocodile stitch which, realistically, would have taken me years to make into a blanket sized project.  Then I came across the bobble stitch and knew I had found the stitch for me!  Also known as the raspberry stitch ... either sits well with me but feel "bobble blanket" slips more easily off the tongue than "raspberry blanket".

Then began the search for the wool I wanted.  Searched for ages and ages and finally found what I was looking for ... price seemed great too so ordered 12 balls.  I knew I'd need more but had no idea quite what size I was going to aim for with my blanket and so had no idea how far a ball of wool would go.  It arrived very promptly but Oh! the disappointment when I opened it!  Not what I was expecting AT ALL and I was sure they had sent me the wrong colours.  My sister was here at the time and she just loved it and said one word ... "Scotland" ... sealed the deal for me as I adore Scotland and our annual holidays there.  A quick check on the website showed they had sent the right shade and it was just the way it had been wound into balls that had it looking so very different to my expectations.

Not really having the time to start straightaway I, of course, had to and began stitching away ... soon used up one ball and blanket was only about 2" wide ... quick calculation by hubby and we figured I'd need around 30 balls so back to the website to order more.

Oh the shock when it was double the price I had paid for the original 12 balls.  I emailed them asking why the price increase in just two days and it seems I ordered during a sale period that ended the evening I placed my order and the wool had then reverted to its full price.  I hadn't even noticed the sale price but had no choice but to order another 18 balls ... hence the imminent divorce as my blanket is now going to cost the best part of a second mortgage.  Well, not quite, but working out far more than I really should be paying - got to say I am loving the stitch and the wool is just what I was hoping for and I am loving every sneaked moment I give to my blanket.  Few rows before bed ... few more when you can't sleep and then a few more early in the morning  before hubby gets up.  Veggies cooking for Sunday lunch so a few more done - think I'd do a couple of rows whilst on the loo if I could.

So, progress is slow but there is no rush to complete it ... will be impossible to work on if the heat of this summer continues (and they are predicting the hottest August in 300 years) as I will be buried under an ever growing blanket but, as with my cross stitch or even crafting to a certain degree - the joy is in working something and not necessarily seeing it finished and given away, hanging on the wall or folded (bobble side up of course!)  

The colours just don't show up here very well but they are a wonderful mixture of thistles and heather and peat and moss and are really quite lovely.

It's nearly 5 feet long ... er, got a way to go then to make it blanket size! (am aiming for a rectangle not a square so will have to see how I get on)!

At least I will have it to keep me warm when Phil kicks me out for spending way too much on wool - so if anyone is willing to take me in when I am homeless I can bring my own blanket!!!!!

WOYWW 269

Not much yet on my workdesk this bright and sunny Wednesday morning as I am still in recovery after doing 1710 miles in a week on our trip to Ireland last week!  Will be firing up the Gelli later though as I want to make some little items to give to my sister-in-law who is holding a fund raising event for Rethink and the Maya Angelou quote cards I made seemed to go down well - no idea if they are the sort of thing that would be acceptable as fund raising items but if they don't sell then they can always be put to another use.

Well, mindful that Julia over at the Stamping Ground likes our WOYWW posts to be short and sweet I shall keep this one short and sweet (do I get a gold star for that Julia please?) - my workdesk as I type consists only of some rather dodgy samples of some new crochet stitches I am trying to master - definitely more practise needed!!!

Oh yes Shaz's blog just reminded me of the new dies that came on Monday ... going to make some Christmas ornaments with them as seen in a Stampin' Up! Youtube video ... at least, I will attempt to make some!

And just why am I showing you my poor little samples?  Well, each Wednesday us crafty bloggers get the chance to visit the workdesks of fellow crafty bloggers all around the world and take a nosey at their workspaces ... all courtesy of the brilliant aforementioned Julia.  If you are a blogger then check it all out HERE

Happy WOYWW'ing!   

xXx

WOYWW 267

Wednesday again but no workdesk to speak of as I have cleared everything away for my holiday ... did have the Gelli out earlier in the week and had a marathon session with it but did I think to take photos?  Did I heck!  They would have been a bit on the boring side as I just made a repeat of the Maya Angelou saying that I made last week - made two to send to lovely, lovely ladies known to everyone here but am keeping quiet as I want their arrival to be a surprise.  I made another one for someone who commented on the original one I made and I made four to leave in each of the B&B's as we leave on our imminent holiday in Ireland to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary!

And in case you don't know what WOYWW'ing is all about then check it out HERE - a chance for us in blogland to hop around the desks of fellow crafters all over the world and see what they have on their desks on this What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday!

So you don't want to see eight photos all of the same thing but in case you missed it they all looked pretty much like this one that I gave to MaggieC (Silvercrafter) last week after she took me with her to Maria Simms workshop in Shrewsbury.

Maria's workshop was very interesting and a lot of fun ... a style of crafting that I would not normally do and which is not really my "thing" but I learnt a couple of new techniques and am now the proud owner of those fabulous Clarity stencil brushes ... still trying to decide between them and my much used blending tools but can see how they will both have a place in my crafting.  The stencil brushes do give a lovely soft effect and I look forward to having more time to play with them when I get home.

We tackled four projects at the workshop ... all based on the one cottage stamp - the first being a row of cottages to make a street scene and then my first ever use of a stencil brush!  It shows the masking using a post-it note technique at its best.

Next project was the use of the ploughed fields stencil ... the stamp and the stencil all from Clarity obviously ... and using just two colour distress inks to get the shading of the ploughed fields.

Sorry the photo is sideways ... it was taken the right way around and appears in my photos on the Windows explorer thingy as the right way round but post it here in blogland and it is sideways!  You'll get the idea though - just don't crick your neck trying to look at it please!

Then we had to use masks and do weird and wonderful things with the placement of the stencil which, as you can see, I totally messed up.  Was about to start this one again when Maria cheerfully said "it's a path leading through the fields" ... and as that so reflects my new life right now I thought "Oh, ok!  I can live with that mistake then!"

The last project of the day was a Christmas card ... combining masking and using the stencil brush to build up the sky.

So whilst these are not cards I am likely to reproduce I already have ideas to use the stencil on the Gelli plate and, as MaggieC pointed out, if you look at the stencil sideways (not hard when it appears that way here already!!!) you see a beautiful feather!

SO thanks again to Maggie for letting me use so many of her fabulous Clarity products and I look forward to the next workshop with Sally-Ann Hanes next month!

Happy WOYWW'ing everyone!  

Rushed birthday greetings

Oh that feeling when you find out ON THE DAY that a friend is celebrating a very special birthday and you so want to send her a card but, of course, you are already too late.

What the heck ... make one and send it anyway with apologies for not knowing ... but now everyone knows that the leader of all things WOYWW celebrates her birthday in July and her poor postman will need a trolley next year!  Belated 50th Birthday Julia Dunnit and hope you had a great day.

Oh yes, and sorry your card was a hastily made late arrival.

First time with the Gelli Plate!

SOooooo the stencils FINALLY arrived from Clarity so I was able to roll up my sleeves, take that deep breath and just Have-a-Go!

Fully intended on blogging ALL the prints I took but managed to zap them from my 'phone and am quite cross with myself as I now don't have a record of those first bloomin' awful attempts.  

No matter how hard I pressed or how ever much acrylic paint I used I simply could not get a complete print.  It was a very hot day though and I do wonder if the paint was just drying too quickly ... it is fast drying anyway so factor in the heat of the day and maybe that wasn't helping my inexperience with the Gelli & paints of any kind (give me a distress ink pad any day please!!)

One friend, in particular, had been very encouraging with the whole Gelli experience and I was heading off to Maria Simms' craft meet in Shrewsbury on Saturday (12th) and kinda hoped to make something acceptable to give my friend as a thank you for all her belief in me and for taking me to the meet ... I had seen Barbara Grey's youtube Tuesday video for this project (hence the wait for the stencils to arrive) and thought I would attempt it for my first go. Watched the video over and over again and after about eight attempts I managed this:

First pic is the front (duh! Like you couldn't figure that out for yourself!!!) 

Hadn't got any stencil brushes so just went for it with my distress blending tools jobbies and they seemed to work ok.

Dyed some of the wonderful Mr Holtz's crinkle ribbon (love, love, love that stuff) - it came out a little more brown than I intended (as I know my friend is not a huge fan of anything grunge!) but decided to go with it.

  The back made use of one of the first failed prints ... as all you Gelli users will already know the coloured ink here was what was left on the plate after pulling your first print ... good old buff titanium brayered over the top and hey-ho it releases the dried coloured paint underneath and you get this.  Was going to bin it as a failure but actually quite liked it and it gave me somewhere to write a little message along the  blank bit at the bottom and I could pretend it was supposed to be like that!

Alas, when cutting it to fit I did get it wrong and was left with a white edge along two sides ... the blue border was a case of "there are no mistakes in craffting, only layers" and is a layer to cover up the mistake!

A close up of the Maya Angelou verse that I have always loved and as this was intended for Margaret Craner (Silvercrafter) it seemed just the right occasion to use it.  Margaret has been so supportive and encouraging and has more belief in me than I have in myself and even though we have "known" each other for more years than I can recall we have never really "known" each other and a wonderful friendship has recently seen us battling through life together.  I shall be forever grateful for these past few months Maggie - thank you.

 And a close up of the fandabidozieeeee effects you can get with the Gelli ... can't wait to play more with it!

So this project was totally a copy of Barbara Grey's youtube Tuesday project and can claim only the execution of it and not the design or forethought that went into it ... if Barbara did it on that video then I did it too.  Hopefully as I get used to it and more used to using acrylic paints (I'm a crafter not an artist!) then I may even branch out and experiment but for now want to make a couple (at least) more of these to get to grips with the techniques and then who knows ... the world is your Gelli plate!

Er, maybe!

Thistles & stiles, cygnets & train tracks

Well, have got myself all geared up ready to attack the Gelli plate for the first time just the moment some stencils from Clarity arrive.  I have to say their service is pretty rubbish compared to my normal craft suppliers (I mostly use the wonderful Country View Crafts & have done for years!) ... have checked the post several times today hoping the postie was simply late  but nope, no delivery from Clarity!

So, no crafting news to share, but hey - this is my blog so I figure I can blog about anything I please so am recording here the lovely, lovely walk we had this morning.

Decided on a different route today, but still to our favourite woods & lakes at Earlswood and as the sun was already shining we went early - emerging from the car at 7.10am to enter the blissful coolness (it was freezing actually!!) of Little Falling's Coppice.  Headed over the "up & over"  bridge across the railway but instead of then heading into Clowes Wood we kept to the other side of the hedge and skirted the edge of the wheatfields and, well, just kept going!  It is a walk known to the nephews so we knew roughly in which direction to head.

Was delighted to come across thistles ... I love thistles!

Now, only having the shortest legs in the whole wide world I do struggle with stiles!  One defeated me a few weeks ago but then I had better luck last week but only with the help of hubby who "did leg-lifting" (mine, not his!!!!)  ... today was much the same but it was either turn back the VERY long way we had already come or get over the stile!  SO, leg-lifting again and over the stile I went.  

The bloomin' thing was much higher than it appears in this photo' ... really it was!

When you have crossed a field or several you come to another bit of the wood and then there are more fields and more fields and then more woods but eventually you come back to the railway and have to do the Stop! Look! Listen! thing and cross the tracks ... it's amazing they still let us take responsibility for ourselves and let us cross the tracks as a lot of these crossings are now padlocked but hey ... we did stop and look and listen and showed due diligence and managed it just fine!  Was exciting though and, as a lover of the film had to do my Railway Children bit ... "Stop! Please stop!" (but I didn't faint!) & "Daddy, oh my daddy!"  Ok, enough acting for today.

We looked left ...

... and we looked right ...

  and we crossed!

Finally made it back onto our regular route around the lakes ... turn left and take the shorter route back to the car or turn right and go the longer way around ... we turned right. 

Good decision as we were greeted by the serene and simply wonderful sight of the swans and their brood of cygnets gliding effortlessly towards us.  There were 9 cygnets originally and today there are just 7 but we are hoping they are now of a size they will be safe.  There are some awfully big fish in that lake though and, well, nature is nature ... but I do so want all the cygnets and ducklings to make it!

Bit of a slow ramble back to the car but it was a long walk (for me!) and already way too hot but I have patted myself on the back today and those that know me will know how difficult I find that and how rarely I ever think I've done ok.  But ok I reckon I did and am even planning on doing the same walk again real soon ... including that dreaded stile!

WOYWW 265

Don't these Wednesdays roll around fast?  SOOooooo fast that I seem to have missed two!! When I say missed I mean they happened and I was part of them but just failed miserably to get to join in with the weekly blog hop over at THE STAMPING GROUND - want to know all about it?  Well, in a nutshell, the simply beautiful and brilliant Julia Dunnit provides us crafty bloggers with the opportunity of linking up and visiting the workdesks of like minded guys & gals each week. So here I am sharing my desk!

First pic is of some new stuff that arrived this week ... you know, all that stuff that you don't fancy or want but absolutely, without shadow of a doubt NEED.  Unfortunately I NEEDED more stuff so am hopeful of another wee small delivery any day soon ... just a couple or three new stencils so I can eventually pluck up the courage to pull my first print off that Gelli Plate.

I did manage to make a couple of cards ... they are so bright in real life you need sunglasses but as they are get well wishes I figured I'd go the bright and cheery route ... just didn't figure they would turn out so bright the recipients would need to recover from sunspots once they open the envelopes.

As a lover of all things grunge I'm not sure about these but in an effort to branch out from my preferred colour palette of brown and dusky blue and muddy green I only got out my sunshiny distress inks and went with the flow.  I did use my absolutely wonderfully gorgeous swallowtail butterfly stamp - thanks again, Fiona Cullen - and all I can say is WOW!!!! Not to what I did with it of course but to the item itself ... it's HUGE and I can't wait to use it again.

I did the two cards the same but different ... the swallowtail is just visible if you stick your finger in your ear, stand on one leg and squint a bit ... the one that has the lighter coloured ribbon.

I do LOVE that ribbon that the inspiration that is Tim Holtz came up with but it is somewhat expensive I think so it only gets used on cards for very special people and I really need to find an alternative that will behave in the same way.  Even managed NOT to set fire to this ribbon too ... crafting without the adrenalin!

Just a couple more views of the cards and then it's off out to the lakes for me - the gates open at 7.30am and I already have my boots half on but wanted to leave ten minutes ago!

You need to do the finger in ear, standing on one leg thing again but the swallowtail is just visible in this one!

So Happy WOYWW'ing and see you in blogland!

xXx

Note to self ...

Have bought myself a notebook and am writing out 1000 times ...

I MUST make FLAT Christmas cards

I MUST make FLAT Christmas cards

I MUST make FLAT Christmas cards

Get it?  Yeah right!  So how come every idea I've had thus far (not that I have yet given it a great amount of thought) is for cards with sticky-uppy bits that will incur the horrendous LARGE stamp postage rate - which is ok when you only have one or two cards to send but not when I need to post everso many!

So, here I go again ...

I MUST make FLAT Christmas cards

I MUST make FLAT Christmas cards

I MUST make FLAT Christmas cards

Wedding day wishes

Lil' Sis' asked me to make two wedding cards and these are the results ... she seemed pleased with them so hope the recipients also like them when she hands them over.

Both were replicating designs I had done before so came together quite well ... as usual, not 100% happy with either but hopefully nobody can see the mistakes by me!

First one used the very last little scraps of a very favourite paper of mine ... one by K&Co that I would happily buy over and over again but which is no longer available ... I know, I've searched and searched and searched for hours and hours and hours .. ok, you get my drift!  There was just enough of the one sheet to die-cut the three little butterflies and, oh, how sorry I am to see the last of that paper.  

The paper behind the hearts is VERY glittery ... photo' doesn't really show the sparkle ... really so pretty when it hits the light.

Went totally against the grain with the next one and resorted to the dreaded pink.

I hate pink.

But the white card I used for the background kinda, sorta changes colour as you waft it around and at one angle takes on such a pretty pink tinge.

However pretty it is I still hate pink.

But it did dictate what colour this card needed to be.

Despite being quite a "busy" card I do feel it lacks "something" ... wish I'd put some clear embossed flourishes or something on the background but too late now.

The little tag pulls out and I just added the date.

Have made two cards along these lines now and both times the little tag was missed and I had to point it out ... hope the bride spots it eventually!

Again the photo' is rubbish but the butterflies really sparkle when they hit the light - am not normally a sparkly, glittery person but I do quite like these papers I have to admit.

Made two simple plain white boxes for them with a co-ordinated "label" on the front and they are all ready for the big day!

WOYWW 262

Now you may be wondering why I am sharing my VERY chaotic crafting desk with you ... well, pop along to THE STAMPING GROUND and our wonderful host Julia to Read All About It!!!

Basically my desk is as I left it to take Nephew Number Four to college tonight and I have yet to get back to it ... was asked to make two wedding cards and the one is almost in the bag and it just awaiting the names printing out for the front but the other card has some way to go yet but kinda, sorta, maybe, know what I am aiming for which is, basically, tweaking the sorry you are leaving card from last week (they both went down well, by the way and were handed over tonight to the friend who asked me to make them) - no more stressing about those two then!

So here it is ... one heck of a messy desk and work in progress ... oh and the can of fly spray!  Was working with both sets of French doors open today and kept getting dive bombed by huge jumbo jets blue bottles and other nasty little critters!  

Happy WOYWW'ing to you and happy crafting!

xXx

Got asked to make two "Sorry you are leaving" cards and I do struggle with "commissions" as I never quite know what the person asking has in mind and have to tone-down my love of grunge to produce something more widely accepted.  My friend has yet to see these so still the dreaded hand over moment but I have done lots of stuff for her in the past so hope she will like these too.

 I might see if I can remove the flower and cut a new one but this time stick the papers to cardstock first as this flower just looks too flimsy to me ... just don't want to wreck the whole thing by trying to get it off! Or another thought is I might stick two patterned papers back to back ... mmmm, will ponder!

I managed to get a little toned-down grunge on here with the background of the larger tag - felt any more grunge than that would send my friend running to the hills!

I got to play with my new Tim Holtz dies with the next card and I am currently loving the mirror effect of the little tiles - it really is clear, shiny and reflective!

 The card I embossed with the clocks was a different white to the base card I used which gave me an "oh piffle" moment but I ended up pleased it was different as it meant I got a tiny, little bit of grunge onto this card too by mucky'ing it up with Black Soot Distress Ink - sorted!

(goodness knows why the bottom photo' has appeared here upside down ... I didn't take it standing on my head - honest!)

Then I made two "new home" cards ... repeat of a design I've done before so they didn't take too long.  Hardest part is remembering not to lean on your glossy accents whilst it is drying!

 The word HOME is glossy accented ... so it is very raised and, er, glossy!

The flourises around the edge have Perfect Pearls brushed over them so they have that lovely subtle sheen ... looks much more effective In Real Life than on here.

And finally daddy's Father's Day card all ready for Sunday!.

xXx