Alphabet Swap - V,W & X

V is for Versamark..... oh no it isn't!


Don't ask me what went wrong, could be the inkpad, the inks, impatience..... will have to sort this out later.

V is for Vowels ..... oh no it isn't!

After I had stamped the vowels from several alphabet stamps (onto the not working Versamark card - waste not, want not!) I decided that 'vowels' was not really clear enough.

V is for Vowels, Velvet and Votes
I have had a background stamp from Stampin'Up for ages so today was the day to try it out.  It's called...... Velvet!!
I used one of my DO inks and left it to dry while I sorted out the vowels I had used previously.
This time I placed them onto my acrylic block so that they were all in the same direction, turned my card to the landscape layout and started stamping using Versafine Onyx.
I stamped across the centre of the card first and then filled in the edges.

My return card is very clever.  Neat monochrome layout with a small amount of bling!

Thank you GwynethRose.

W is for Welder and Wonderland.

I saw this little man displayed on the web so had a go at drawing him myself..... not too sure but now he is water coloured, I am quite pleased with him.  I added a few stickles to his flame as my bling!

 Just love Alice!  I have a folder full of Alice images to be used but these are just superb.  I love the colouring, the doodling.

Thank you Kathleen.

 X is for X-ray and Xmas (I pronounce this as kissmass)
Another image seen on the web, drawn and coloured with Inktense pencils.  I used for my base card some watercolour paper that had been lying on my desk and gave it a pale blue wash.
I had great difficulty in making the 'bones' visible as my 'ultimate white gel pen' just would not whiten enough for me.
I used some Tippex ..... white paint ......went out and bought some white pens!!!
Very pleased with the overall effect.

My return card uses a green letter infilled with lots of stocking images and the card is bordered with bling.

Thank you Barbara.

Holy Saturday

Good Friday

Age of Aquarius Swap #01

This sounded interesting especially as I had already bought a set of Zodiac Signs stamps cos they were small enough to use on my ATCs.

This is the first of four related swaps.

I stamped out the Signs on several card bases ready........ I was then ill for some weeks ....... forgot all about this swap.
Once I was up and about, clearing the olde deske, I found these cards at the bottom of the 'pile'.  I rushed to get them all finished, I knew basically what I wanted to do.

I had saved several internet images in my file so altered them to fit the card.  The idea was to use these images as silhouettes and paint round them.  That was the idea!
What really happened was ......

I didn't like the initial stamping so restamped the cards using the images as borders.  Then I attached the fussy cut internet designs and used them as silhouettes.  
So far so good!
I used Distress Oxides to paint the cards but then did not continue doing anything more as I felt they were complete.
I was left with the mask from the cutting out so decided to make another set.
This time I used watercolour paper and filled in the silhouettes with Distress Oxides as I was merely playing around now.  I used various brushes, sponges, dried babywipes....... just playing.....
I had to decide which cards to send now as I was getting close to posting date, if not past it, so I decided to send these cards.

They are my original idea although I am not sure it works across all three, I outlined the designs with a fine black pen...... never mind, time for lots of practice as there are another nine cards to complete yet!!  
I finished these cards and posted them off, cutting it fine but we wait to see........  

The cards made it in time for the closing date and I received the following cards by return.




Great hand drawn Ram with the Greek title for Aries.  Love it.
Thank you Ladyshadows.

This Taurus card has a lot of work on it to depict the stars.  Love all the stitching and sequins - even a small gold heart!

Thank you Wizardscard.

The split personality of Gemini is very well depicted on this card.  Devil or Angel ..... even the writing changes colour.

Thank you Scaritt.

Must start work on the next set now, the closing date is not until May but ..... stamp while the ink is wet .... or something like that!

PS    The typing and photos are mine, the haphazard layout belongs to Blogger - my layout is beautiful!  lol

WOYWW #460

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.

April on Sunday!  Can you believe it?!!  and it's Easter!  I have managed to sort out my Easter eggs for the 'children', I don't always buy chocolate so have to sort out alternatives .....anyhoos, the desk.....

I'm delving into a green lidded box this week.

It has sat under my desk since I moved into this room ... it's labelled  'To Sort'   ..... so I am.
Sorting that is!!

I have found some pretty card, some card fronts, a flower spray ...... roll on Thursday when I can continue sorting.

Thank you for all my visitors last week, I loved reading all your comments.   I shall be visiting as and when this week as I am hoping to get some quotes for this and that so will be extra busy.  Would like some of the work completed before we go exploring Norfolk.

Have a good week yourselves, take care and enjoy some crafting.

WOYWW #459

Last week I had several folks ask what was in the pink lidded boxes so I thought I would show you 'almost next to my desk' today. 

This is a shelving unit, of which I have many, that stands atop my desk.  Well, it stands on top of the join between my work desk (which used to be DH's) and my PC desk.

On the top shelf I have my files - the small blue ones contain Embossing Folders and the large Black ones my Creative Stamping magazines and stamps.

The next shelf has files and boxes - the small blue files contain my Dies and then I have two larger files, the thin lavender one is my work file and the large yellow one is my stamps file.  I keep a copy of all my stamps in here, before I put them away I stamp a copy in here, and 'one day' I will add the box number to each image!

The boxes!

I have labelled each box quite simply - felt tip general contents on a piece of A5 paper!  lol

It works quite well for me until I go to a stamp fair, buy a magazine etc.  After the last one I found that all my boxes were filled!  

I WILL NOT BUY ANY MORE BOXES!

These boxes were a birthday present from PJ and DDN .... and I don't have any more room.

So......

How to fit in more stamps ..... 

I cheated and unmounted a few wooden ones, this almost emptied the box and now I have a bit more room.........

When this box is filled then I will have to stop collecting stamps.  Honest!

Well, at least I can try!

Have a good week and I will try to get round to visit a few more of your desks this week.

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.

Mothers Day 2018

My cards to my daughters this year are quite simple as I just love these images!!!

Trimmed to match the card edges and a small piece of ribbon across the lower edge and .... yes!  Love them!
Slightly different as animal and colour choices but the same - no favourites round here!
Inside ..... same message different colours!!!

The girls surprised me with a meal at DDC's home, a lovely Sunday Lunch with all the trimmings.  It was soooo nice for us all to sit down together.

I had some lovely cards ....

.... and the flowers of course!

Lots of chocolates and ......

This gorgeous work of art from Little Soldier ..... 

....every time I look at it I am smiling and (mentally) jumping up and down!!

Such a smashing day - thank you girls (and boys!)

WOYWW #458

UPDATED:  This is my 'I can't remember how many' post.  We are now on Thursday 12.44hrs.

Good morning one and all.
The start of another busy day ..... must be Wednesday!
Now listen up ...... I'm sorry, I think I gave you all the wrong impression last week when I showed my desk ..... it's very rare I 'set' my desk up.
I take a photo of my desk ...

..... cut to the chase ......

......and then post this picture.  I did not think for one minute that anyone would want to see all the detritus that sits along the edges of my desk .... close to hand don't you see?!!

I am looking through my book this week - the file contains relevant pages from magazines showing examples of using the freebies - for inspiration.  After all the brilliant ideas I have had over the past month, I think I have worn my brain out!!

I also have something else to show you ......
Called into Lidl yesterday for a chicken, the only thing our old lady cat with eat, when I spotted this cutter.....

Tried it out as you can see ..... easy?  Easy, peasy!!!  I used some watercolour paper to try the blade and see how easy it is for me.  VERY easy so those edging scissors and my hands can take a rest for a while!

Well, that's my desk this week, I don't know when I will post this as my Internet is at best intermittent and low powered.  This is our fourth provider, they all seem to be very good and then forget we are here.  lol
Take care my good friends and have a crafty week.

BTW
If you would like to share your mess desk with like minded friends, please link up with us at Chez Julia (Stamping Ground).  There's lots of us over there, sharing all our little (or not so little) hobbies.  Come over and join in...........

Holidays and Chickens

When we came back from Brixham last year, the Chicken Hotel lady informed us she wouldn't be able to take the chooks this year.
After much searching online, PJ found another hotel that might be convenient for us to use.  
After all the illness and snow and frost (you get the picture!) it was decided that we would go over there and check it out, taking Little Soldier with us.  We made a few stops, mainly to see Uncle R as he has had an accident and we had to check he's ok.  He is, few cuts and minor bruises after a day in hospital but ok.  It was a good lesson to remind Little Soldier about being careful around cars!!  Uncle R was walking back to his own car and was knocked over by a naughty car.......
Then we called in for lunch 'somewhere' ....... and then set off to find the chickens!
It was a lovely sunny day, from inside the card, and the views of Warwickshire were marvellous.
  
One forgets how lovely English countryside is even in the winter.

It will be in full greenery when we come this way again ........

Eventually we found our Chicken Hotel, set above Edgehill battle ground.  
Difficult to believe that centuries ago our forebears were fighting it out in this beautiful place......

Little Soldier had decided to have 40 winks after his lunch so I remained in the car with him while PJ went to have a look.  He spent some time with Jamie who was in charge, although at first we thought a customer was the owner!  lol
Jamie made a note of the dates we wanted, confirmed that we were at Edgehill, recommended the local restaurant, and we were off home again.
We thought of visiting the Castle but as Little Soldier was asleep, and it was still quite early, we would make the return journey, preferably not getting lost!
A few miles outside of Stratford, the snow came down again but thankfully didn't settle just turned to rain ...... Little Soldier, woken up by now, loved all the rainbows we found......

So the car had a good run out and we had a lovely day seeing all the lambs etc.  Pity Little Soldier missed it ...... have to go back another day maybe ....

Alphabet Swap - S,T, & U

S is for Sewing and Stitching

I used some of the Stitching papers (The Works) for the background, tearing several into strips.  I diecut some buttons, fussy cut the stamped sewing machine (Magazine free stamps) then attached the stamped image in the centre of the card and added the buttons across the card.

Think that's an Oxide used there, with stamping and stitching going on!

Thank you Gwyneth Rose.

T is for Train,Train Driver and Tree


Just love this image from Mos Digital Images!
As it's digital, I was able to size it to fit the base card.  I used my Inktense pencils to colour the image as they allow me to fill in the details before washing with a waterbrush.

Love this elegant card, the gold 'beads' are just the right embellishments.

Thank you Kathleen.

U is for Under the Sea and for Unicorns

I am still playing with stamping and sorted a set given away free with a Magazine, just so I could use a mermaid!
I have wanted to use this set before but kept forgetting about it.  When I was ill, it was good to go through my stamps file and choose the stamps to use instead of the first ones I find in my box!!  Sorting and filing came into its own.  lol
I watercoloured this card, and added a few Stickles to the jewellery wrapped round her arm, hair and body.
I edged the card with a dark sea green Promarker pen.

This is a magical scene, the tiny gold lamplight and U button adding to the overall feel.

Thank you Kate.

Thanks Mel for hosting and sorting and posting ....

..... also for the buttonny gift!!

February swaps

A full month here, one I thought I could do without given that I have been so ill, but I do believe that it has helped me recover.
How's that? do you ask ....
I lay in bed planning cards ......
I managed eventually to get up and spend a couple of hours at my desk, slowly - that's s l o w l y - putting the cards together!!
I must say I have surprised myself that they all turned out so well.

Noobie Swap

Using one of my favourite stamps here - stamped some time ago but the colouring is fresh!  I sorted out some of the papers on or around my desk to use for all my cards so, I'm sorry, no idea of where the majority came from!

I received this beautiful card, watercoloured stamping.

Thank you LindaDG.

Colour Swap - Purple

 This is one of the Free stamps with Creative Stamping Magazine, I am still trying to use at least one of them each month. 
I fussy cut the image and used my watercolour pencils.  
I matted up a purple card with a striped then purple wrapping paper for the background adding a mounted stamped sentiment.

I received this gorgeous card by return, such a cutie!

Thank you Karen.

Style Swap - Love
I am not a hearts and cuddles sort of person so ....... what do I love?
Steam trains of course!!

I used a pale turquoise card and then die cut the image.  It's one of Sheena Douglass scenic sets and I used Versafine Vintage Sepia ink.

And what does Olive love?  Crafting!!!

I received this card, beautifully decoupaged.

Thank you Olive.

Technique Swap - Twisted Easel

I had to look this one up!!!   Took some working out but I think I achieved it.

I used a square white card for the base, some pinkish papers for the matting and then an image cut out from packaging.
In actual fact, I think the image was wrapped round the paper pad!
 I die cut some daisies from the pink paper and then sprayed them with silver (hair) spray.  The sentiment was among my stash.

Here's my return card, and it's just lovely!

Thank you Olive.

Slam Dunk!
This swap is a colour and technique mixture and I knew exactly what I would do.

I used a white square card for the base but, this time, I would have the whole of the front to stand proud as the easel.  I cut my papers ready to mat and then stamped my image and sentiment. 
I found some daisies among my stash, diecut the sentiment and attached them all in the corner of the base.
 Yep! all good!

 

Another great card here, notice the diamante used as decoration AND the stop. 
Excellent!

Thank you Olive.







ATC Swap - Love.  Love being steam engines!!

I used the Retiform technique again but only used this one stamp.
I used Distress Oxides, forest moss & hickory smoke, to stamp parts of the image in the triangle.  I stamped the whole engine on white card using Versafine Onyx and then fussy cut the image.  I attached this image flat to the paper and then glossed over the total card front.

My return ATC is fabulous, much more vivid IRL.

Thank you LindaDG.

A fabulous month of swaps, Thank you Jackie for sorting them all out for the members.