Diecuts Swap

I know that this isn't ATC but it is interesting, I think!
Members of my swap Group decided to have a diecut swap, each participant sending a 10diecut selection for each member of the swap.  I spent a great afternoon diecutting away with all my dies ..... didn't know I had so many but it was great fun.
I duly made up six bags of diecuts, near enough 10 in each bag and then posted them off to our Hostess.
I have received this envelope of diecuts by return ......

Six envelopes of varied colours and sizes of diecuts, including a few extras from the Hostess as a bonus.
Love it.

Some of you will think there's enough diecuts in my box but sometimes I find that sorting through the box gives me inspiration ...... so there!
I find this all treasure!
Thank you Gwyneth, Pauline, Jan, Kathleen, Mel and Beth who did a brilliant job of hosting

Alphabet Swap - D, E, F

After consulting the 'List' I came up with the following for the next three letters in this swap.

D is for Diecuts


I used a scrap of painted card as the background for this card. Sorting through my box of diecuts - shortly to be stored like this as in Shaz and Dianne - found several that were good together and placed them all onto the card.  This Tour is authentic in every way.

E is for Embroidery.

I have taken an embroidered piece from a card I received back in 2001 and cut this to size.  I found some ribbon to match the colours of the flowers and attached that to the top and lower edges of the card.  The embroidery was then attached over the top of the ribbons.

F is for Fibres.

I cut a selection of these fibre sheets into small scraps and attached them randomly over a base ATC card.
I stamped the sentiment on a sheet of paper found in my recent purchase from The Works - love their tiny pads of papers - and then cut it to size.  I do believe that for once I have cut straight lines!!!
I attached this sentiment on 3D foam pad to save the difficulty of finding a glue that would work with these fibres.


I have received the following by return:

D is for Dress
Beautifully stamped and embellished, the dress repeated on the back.
Thank you Kate.

E is for Eighteen

Is that you? Another beautifully embellished card.

Thank you Mel.

F is for Families

A very modern card, totally different!

Thank you Barbara.

WOYWW #434

What'sOnYourWorkdeskWednesday - if you want to find out more then checkout the WOYWW tab at the top of the page - and our thanks go to Julia for hosting this weekly meet up.

Nearly missed posting this morning........
We have so much to do, why is Retirement so busy?
I haven't been able to do much crafting, what with unpacking, washing all the dirties (how can one get so much in just a week!), shopping to restock the pantry shelves and, of course, doing our Volunteer work.... but here I am.....
.... but I'm afraid it's an empty desk.

Yes! I know! How did that happen?  I have promised myself I will clear the detritus round the edges and you can't see how much detritus there is until you clear the detritus in the centre!!!
Clever eh!
Not really..... but has to be done.
The dieset peeping out on the right just HAS to be used this week - one of my swaps is for a card in motion and this die is for a pop up card.... needless to say it was bought and filed but never used!
Top right has a stack of butterfly dies and stamps which I purloined off PJ several months ago but STILL they sit there .... I am going to explore those as well and then give them back .... I am .... honestly....
I am also getting into Crop mode so at some point this week the desk will be filled with Christmas stash, it's still pilled up on the floor behind my desk.... waiting ..... and waiting ...



.... but I will start .... sometime ....




You all have a good week and I'll come visiting later .... promise.

September Colour Swap

Interesting Colour this month - White.
I used some of the small dies that I purchased from The Works, bought with ATCs in mind.


I used one of the fancy dies for the background and added an Xcut Butterfly with a Tim Holtz sentiment along the lower edge

This background diecut just about fitted onto the card!!  I added a small sketch to the centre and then popped a window diecut (free with a magazine) with a small cat 'looking out'.  Tim Holtz book supplied the sentiment again!

This card has a mixture of diecuts on as I thought I would use some 'out of my box'.  There are a cloud, butterfly and Xcut border diecuts on the same white card as background.  Tim's words along the lower edge.

 These are the cards sent by return - Thanks to JanW who hosts and sorts, what a girl!

  

An absolutely gorgeous card, love it!
Thank you Kathleen.

A delicate white dove on vibrant background.

Thank you Margaret.

Beautiful white embossing on white card with white pearls and silver highlights.

Thank you Philippa.

September Theme Swap

The Theme is Favourite Book for this month, there isn't a choice for me ..... has to be Angelique Book by SergeAnne Golon - from one to the end!!!

I first read this (these) book(s) as a serialised story in a Sunday Paper.  I wasn't supposed to be reading it as my Father judged it to be a bit racy, I read it under the bedclothes by torchlight ...... 
Once I was old enough to know better I bought the book, then the second one, then the third one .... you know how it goes!!
I still have the books, travelled round with me, reread a fair number of times, never to be parted from!  lol
I printed images of the first four books four times, then added the sentiment in the centre of the first 'card'.  I decoupaged each tiny book and edged the card with blue chalk ink.

My second book has to be Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare.

I found some vintage images online so printed them out, cutting one to card size and fussy cutting the drawn image.  Although they were printed on a cream textured paper, I sponged them all over with a small amount of cream chalk paint. I decoupaged this onto the card and then I printed the sentiment, fussy cut it and inked round the edges before attaching it to the lower edge of the card.

I couldn't choose a third book so went for all the Catherine Cookson books - I not only read the books but also watched the films.  Sounds sad but you see, my Father's family come from 'up North'.  

I printed out a collaged background of her books and then added a fussycut image of Catherine herself (at a book launch) and the sentiment was computer printed.





I received the following cards:


This is one book I have not heard of although I know of the central character.  I am going to have to read it now though!
Thank you JanW.

A great classic and, although I have not read this book, I have watched several versions on film.

Thank you Barbara.

                         Another great classic story.

Thank you GwynethRose.

September Swap

I decided to use up some of the freebies that I have from my Magazines.  
OK!!      I forgot all about the Magazines ....
....... they were read and added to a pile and then ..... well, I decided to remove the pile to the local library!
All the stamps and dies are filed almost on the day of purchase but the Magazines and papers are in a pile .... no longer!


I chose matching background papers and some toppers which, being diecut, would fit ATCs when removed from the card.  


Once the paper was attached to the card I added a border with an almost matching Sharpie marker.
I attached the topper with a foam pad and then chose appropriate sentiments from Tim Holtz book of words.  I cut the words before attaching to the card.

I received the following cards by return:

 All beautiful cards on a Cat theme, can't go wrong really!  
Love them all.

Thank you Ruby.

Inside my envelope I found these goodies, what a great surprise and so thoughtful.  Thanks again Ruby.

October Colour Swap

Autumnal Colours

I was stuck for ideas until I saw this post on Gecko Galz Blog so had to visit the Blog concerned.  

I purchased the papers that Electra recommended, they're digital, and went to printing.  These papers were great to work with and I was spoilt for choice, I printed and cut and spread them out on my desk and slowly pulled them into some sort of order!




I loved the little boy on Electra's third card so that's where I started.

I used the sunflower paper for background, the beauty of digital papers is that you can resize the images.  I edged the little boy image with blue and attached it with a 3D pad.  
Tim Holtz's words are 'enough'. 

The fairies had to be used, they were edged with a deep red ink and decoupaged onto the centre of the background paper.  I smooshed some 'autumnal' colour inks across the sentiment .... guess where from?!?! lol

I just love Art Deco so this image was a 'must use'.
I edged the lady image with black, the circle with gold and the whole card with brown ink. Decoupaged it all onto the background and realised I hadn't left room for the sentiment.  I trimmed the words and managed to fit them onto the card.  Hurrah! for Tim Holtz spacing!




I love this image of a couple having fun in the leafy wind.  I edged this image with red ink and popped it onto the centre of the leaf background with a 3D pad.   I placed the smooshed sentiment across the lower edge to finish. 

I am linking this post with the Gecko Galz September Challenge because, thanks to them, I have had so much fun.

Update - I won the Challenge ..... amazing!  
Thank you Gecko Galz for the wonderful papers and thank you Design Team for the inspiration.

WOYWW #433

What'sOnYourWorkdeskWednesday - if you want to find out more then checkout the WOYWW tab at the top of the page - and our thanks go to Julia for hosting this weekly meet up.
Sorry about this folks but I forgot to take a photo of my desk for this week, I have had rather a busy week  but am now watching the manoeuvres in the bay .....

I am away at present, with Little Soldier +PJ+ DDC, and having a rather hectic time as you can imagine.  Our day starts any time after 04.30hrs, this morning I dozed until 06.15 hrs, so we are taking it a bit easy today (!) 
We are sat round the far side of the Marina, safe for Little Soldier to run around and lots of traffic for us older folk to watch.  We are hoping to travel by Ferry across the Bay to Torquay tomorrow, travel on the Land Train and then come back by bus - lots of sitting down!!
The weather has been answered prayer...... sunshine, not too much warmth and a small breeze which makes it all the more enjoyable.
This morning we discovered a soft play area so DDC and I had a lounge about as Little Soldier exhausted some of his energy.
The Internet here is very intermittent so I may not be able to get round and visit many desks until I can get home and then I will do my best to visit as many as I can.
That's it then for now, catch you all later.

WOYWW #432

What'sOnYourWorkdeskWednesday - if you want to find out more then checkout the WOYWW tab at the top of the page - and our thanks go to Julia for hosting this weekly meet up.

Do you think that the Blog's too pink?!?!?  lol
I can't get used to it ..... maybe I need to Blog a bit more frequently!!

I am waiting in today for the roofing surveyor to come out and take a look at the workmanship of the guttering etc.  
I went internetty and mouthy and threatening and ....... they're sending out the surveyor!!
This isn't my usual way of doing things, I'm usually quite calm and 'get over it' but I was so upset, I took pen (keyboard) to paper (review site, contact us page) and ........ACTION!  I hope.

The desk ......

I have been inspired by some of the postings on Gecko Galz so I invested a little bit.  I am very pleased with the papers and, being digital, had a little play, then a cut out and now I am arranging.  My previous attempts are lined up above on the stamping block, I like them but these digi papers .......
Don't ask me what was in the sale or even why the acetate is cut down and lying on my desk!  No idea!  The stamped and coloured image is there because ..... I like it.......
So that's the desk today ....
How's yours?
Think I will pop round and have a look.
See you later ......

Changes are afoot .... oops! they're done!

Casting out all negativity and self doubt - this was my mantra for this year. 

It's taken a long time for me to even change slightly towards this.

Recently my life events were leading me to really repeat this mantra to myself.... over and over again  .... outside events have been confirming this mantra so that I was starting to believe that I am where I want to be.....

I just needed the confidence to 'do it' and then friends starting telling me the truth and encouraging me, not knowing the challenge I had set myself.

This week has been very traumatic but at the point of almost total collapse I heard myself saying out loud .... THAT'S NOT ME!!!


The label being applied at the time was definitely not me .... I hung onto the thought, wondered at it and so today I can reveal my new blog title and a whole new refit!!

I know that all this change first started with my hair colour.  When I went pink I thought it would be just the hair, but the colour started a new lifestyle in as much as the shell I hid in was 'gone' and now ....

I am who I am.....

.... and I am loved!

No longer am I a wannabe.               I AM         I am here         I am an artist.  

I have come of age ..... at last, I hear you say, but that is irrelevant ..... 

....I am here and you are welcome.... whoever you are and wherever you are.

May the God of all continue the good work that He has started, not just in me, but in you as well.

WOYWW #431

What'sOnYourWorkdeskWednesday - if you want to find out more then checkout the WOYWW tab at the top of the page - and our thanks go to Julia for hosting this weekly meet up.
Not a very good photo I'm afraid.... bit murky outside and yesterday was even worse!

view yesterday

The rain oveflowed the guttering, again, and I really felt down.  Another email of complaint went off to Adams Askey but I doubt whether I'll hear anything, they just don't seem to want to know.  At least it didn't come through into my lounge this time, I think the ceiling paper contained the water.

Onto brighter thoughts ....... 

My desk!

I am about to diecut some dressmaker dummies for a member of CRUNCH.  We hope to give the diecuts some quilled dresses ......   
Do not think for a moment that the desk has been tidied up ...... all the detritus has been moved to the chair as I thought I was getting out my Grand Calibur but then remembered that PJ had given me a Prizm.  My desk is set up for when I get five minutes, which wont be today ......

Short but sweet post today.
Thank you for all the tips and comments last week.  I have lots of food for thought but here's a heads up ...... changes are afoot!

August Swap - Anything Goes

I used some more of the 'used up old tube' of guache white that PJ gave me and dabbed it over some blue paper using a rather thick brush.  
My idea was to create some black images onto the blue, so I sorted lots of stamps that I thought I might use and slowly narrowed them down to just a few.  


I stamped these out on a piece of copy paper and then roughly cut round the images so that I could place them onto the blue background. 

I fiddled around until I had the layouts that I like and then proceeded to stamp the images onto the cards using Versafine Onyx ink.


I am rather pleased with the finished effect and may try this again .... if I remember!


I received these great returns:




I love this lady's cards - check out her Blog - and consider myself to be very lucky to be able to add another to my collection!
Thank you Catherine.

Another great Oriental card.

Thank you Milie.

Love this great sentiment.

Thank you Monika.

August Swap

Summer Holidays being the subject for this month's swap I have really thrown out a lot of ideas.  I ended up using the free digi given on the Group page.




I used card for the printout which has given the image a crisp line.  I used my inktense pencils to add colour and just touched the finished picture with the water brush.  I found the perfect sentiment stamp in a Little Claire set.



I received this gorgeous card by return.  



Brilliant cutting out and addition of clear gel.
Thank you Caro.

August Colour Swap

Bronze / Copper
This calls for a Steampunking swap ....yeah!!
I used some brownish, copperish wall paper as backgrounds for all these swaps.
all the embellishments were diecut some time ago so i just selected the ones I could use for this swap and painted them with the Cosmic Shimmer paints.
Once dry, I started to place them onto each card to see what I could come up with.  


I decided on flowers for the first card, attaching the side cogs flat and just attaching the centre of the 'flower' and leaving the petals free.  
I used a fine black gel pen to draw in the stems and stamped the sentiment in the top left with Versefine Onyx.

I used a corner die for the second card and added a sentiment from Tim Holtz's book of words.

A total mish mash of embellishments on this card!  

Printouts, diecuts and bought cogs all painted with the Shimmer Paints and attached to the wallpaper.  

I managed to fit the sentiment, again from Tim's book, in and around the circle.

I have received the following cards:



Lots going on here.
Thank you Kathleen.

I think the main element is a peeloff, a super one.

Thank you Margaret.

                                    Gorgeous papers and adornments on this card.

                               Thank you Mel.