WOYWW #477

WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top to the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

This has been a dreadful week for me ..... I am a Winter Baby ..... heat is not good for a Winter Baby!

The craft room is not a cool place even with a fan blowing cold cool warm hot air into the room.

So I am downstairs in the lounge ..... watching old recorded programmes ...... and producing these .....

Remember them?

Still crocheting away, making piles of tiny blankets for premature and stillborn babies.....

Not wanted in the Summer in this heat? ..... 

.......we all need something to remind us of a new birth .... at any time of year....

but at least this heat has its upside ....

..... sometime ago our resident squirrel buried his 'finds' in the garden ....

 lo!  the heat has brought forth a peanut bush .......

.... this absolutely gorgeous flower appeared above the heron deterrent netting over the pond ....  This photo does not do it justice!  

It is the most delicate shades of white and pink .....

 
... its roots are buried down deep in the cool water of the pond just by the yellow mimosas.

We have had these plants several years now.

The 'architectural' plant usually produces these flowers in small bunches just above the water level.  Very pretty.

It appears to thrive in our pond and each spring we thin it out, called Architectural because it just goes its own way forming beautiful 'islands' in the pond.



Our faithful old cat (she's achieved 18 years) is struggling in this heat but has found her favourite place ......

Just far enough away from this to have her fur gently wafted ....

... even when the oomans come to bed!

         Disturb at your peril!!!

I hear it's going to rain soon ...... hope the storms don't come but one must have both I'm afraid ..... If they come to you ...... stay safe.

June Swaps

Guess sometimes when you think you've done something, it turns out you haven't ....... must've forgot to save the date on this one!!!   Here is the late posting .....


I have selected three swaps this month:
Noobie Swap


I used some of the papers given free with a Magazine some time ago....... no records
I matted some floral paper for the background on a silver card base.  I fancy cut the sentiment circle and attached with foam tape.

I received this stunning card by return .... 

Thank you LindaS.

Colour Swap - Red

I have had this folded red card in my stash for ages, perfect for this swap.
I printed and cut out some papers from Bear Creek, helps me to match the designs.
I then layered them onto the card using foam tape for the poppy sentiment.  I added some penwork to this topper just to accentuate the design.

This is the card I received back, so totally different.

Thank you Karen.

Technique Swap - Teabag Folding


I love this technique and decided to go with a Christmas Theme as this gold card was already folded ready to go....
I have lots of tiles printed so chose the holly as a direct contrast to the gold.
A peel off completed the front.

This is beautifully folded, love the colours.

Thank you Olive.

WOYWW #476

WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top to the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

After a super busy week when the desk has been smokin'...... this is how it is now......

I finished most of the July birthday cards and then started on my Group swaps.  
I have started a swap on ATCs For All, one of my favourite subjects (!), so I am busy getting some of these created.  My ideas are varied, I'm sure they will show up on this Blog, and I am slowly working my way through them.
Then I have two more birthday cards for this month to finish and, hopefully, on Friday I shall be sorting out my stamps into some sort of order.........
Who said retirement was slow and quiet!!
I will admit that I have visited several blogs without leaving a comment ..... I have found out that, on my phone, I am hitting the wrong button so my comments are not being published.  I don't know how long this has been going on and all I can do is apologise....... and promise to do better ......

2nd July Birthday

Wish I could tell you how I made this card!!!  lol  I can tell you when .... on a wonderful day of stamping!!
I attempted some masking and stamping or stamping and masking .... whichever!!

I stamped the images, fussy cut them out and then tried to form a scene.  Once I had decided how the scene would look I then number up all the masks, starting with the eggs on the nest.  
These were swiftly followed by the broken egg and the chicks.  So far so good ..... 
I then began with the stamps, stamping up the images and masking as I went.  By the time I came to stamp the chicken, I had a lot of small pieces of paper 'stuck' to the card!!!!  I added some colour using Distress Oxide inks and Inktense pencils.
 After a search through one of my paper boxes, I put together some patterned papers which I thought would show off the image and have some significance with the chickens.
I round the corners of the chickens image and edged with an ink pad before attaching to the card.
I treated the sentiment in the same way, and attached it, using foam pads, to a small off-cut of the white card and then added it to the base card to finish.
Happy Birthday Peter!

1st July Birthday

July is a busy month for me, not only do I have all my challenges but there are several Birthdays!
Here is the card I made for the first Birthday.......
For a neighbour who lives over the road.

I stamped out several images from this stamp set but for this card I am using the Tiger image.  
I brushed out some paint across some spare paper and let it dry.  I then gave it a quick 'gold spray' and left it to dry again.
After I stamped the Tiger and it had dried, I cut the image down to size to fit an A6 blue card.  I attached a piece of turquoise glitter card to fit the base and then added the image sheet. 
I stamped the sentiment on plain card, attached it to blue glitter card and used some foam pads to add it to the top left of the base card.

Happy Birthday Simon!!

WOYWW #475

WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top to the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

A little late..... OK, a lot late but better late than never!!!
My desk is full of stampings waiting to be attached to cards ..... can't see them?!!?
They are under the guillotine etc as some are stamped on painted backgrounds, which have dried wrunkled - turned up at the corners - so I am trying to flatten them.

I shall Blog the cards once they have been received.  I must say that I had a lovely day masking and stamping and painting and stamping and ........ you get the picture. 
Some of the stamps are brand new so I am pleased to get them used at last.
Short but sweet today as I have to make up the cards now, especially one, and get them dropped through letterboxes..... thank goodness they are for neighbours!
Here's some good news .......
The Painter is nearly finished now with the Hall, Stairs and Landing - yeah!!!

Have a good week, it's only 16C here today so liveable again!!

Artist Trading Card Coins Envelopes tutorial

What a title!!!

I was trying to sort out how to send my coins when I realised that, while I am making the envelopes, I could take photos and maybe help someone else to create their own.

I used A4 sheet of paper, doesn't have to be double sided but that's your choice, and managed to get three envelopes and the leftovers just the right size for 3 ATCs.  Value for money round here!!



I cut three pieces of paper across the page at 9cms.  Each piece of paper was then cut at 14cms length.

Using a 2ins circular punch, I punched a circle in from one of the short edges.  I tried to get the circle at an equilateral distance from three edges.

Time to start folding!  I folded each LONG edge at 1 cms in towards the centre.  If you're using double sided paper, then you need to fold onto the wrong side.

Use a bone folder to sharpen the folds.  Now fold along the SHORT lower edge, folding inwards again.

Fold the paper at approx 7.5cms so that the circle edge fits under the flap - shown pink in the photo.

Place DST or glue along the sides of the circle end of the paper and fold in to close.

Fold the 'flap' over the edge and your coin is safe and secure.

This was a great 'stash' buster for me and quite a therapeutic way to spend an afternoon.

June Theme Swap

Theme for this month is Landmarks.

I made these cards using paper found on my desk or in my stash box and I found most of the images on the web or in my files.


On card one, I outlined the lady and added shading with a white pen. 
Then I cut the preprinted sentiment, stained to match the colours of the image, and adhered in a 'pointy' sort of way!!!

On my second card, I cut some paper to form a second background to show off this image, found on the web again and fussy cut. I used Inktense pencils to colour the image.

Card three had Background papers as before but this time matted onto the card.  I punched the image and coloured it with inks, mainly Distress Oxides.
I printed out the sentiment, tore along the edges, stained them with the DO and placed them on top and lower edges.






I received the following cards:


Ha! Ha!  Couldn't be better!!!
Thank you Gerry.

Such teeny tiny embossed stamps.  Wonderful.

Thank you JanW.

Beautifully decoupaged and glittered.

Thank you Barbara.

Thank you Jan for another superb swap.

June Colour Swap

Lilac
That's not lavender or purple but Lilac..... sort of lavender with pink overtones!


I went image searching on the net and found one of some lilac sewing thread, I cut this into three sections and added them to a white card base.  I attached a fussy cut image with added black pen details.  To the top left corner I added some lilac threads held down with a pc printed sentiment.  I edged the card with a Sharpie pen.

This image stole my heart!  I fussy cut it out and then coloured it using Cosmic Shimmer Chalk Clouds.  I coloured up some 'wood' background paper and then used it to cover a white card base.  I attached the image adding a few details which were lost in the colouring.  I printed out the sentiment, cut it into words and attached.  The whole card was edged with a Sharpie pen.

This decoupage sheet was enclosed with one of my swaps and I decided that it was perfect for this swap.  After I had decoupaged the image, I attached it to the base card to which I had added some lilac paper.  I added a few more highlights with Inktense pencils and then edged the card with a Sharpie pen.





The following cards arrived through my door

Some one else had the same idea for the image but used better paper!
Thank you Kate

This gorgeous flower on a floral background is really neat.

Thank you Madge.

This handpainted card leaves me speechless!

Thank you so much Jacqueline.

Thank you Jan for organising another superb swap.

WOYWW #474

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 on over and join in...............you've caught me being busy ...... for a change .....

My desk today has all the workings going on..... I am creating some coins for a swap and practising my stamping and masking.

Once I had painted the backgrounds I punched out the 'coins' and proceeded to stamp and mask.   I am pretty pleased with myself for using the stamps that arrived with this month's Creative Stamping Magazine as I very rarely use the stamps straight away but, these are beautiful scene creator stamps, and I soooo wanted to use them on 'something'.

Thank you for all the lovely messages you sent on the birth of our second boy grandchild, Mother and child are home now and progressing well.  Felix has settled down as though he knows all about it and our wonderful Little Soldier is kicking off, showing us all that, emotionally, this is a hard thing to cope with!!  

We hope to have lots of conversations with him today as he spends some time alone with us ...... I shall try to avoid the 'baby' or 'Felix' words of course!!

I hope to visit a few more desks next week and leave comments..... 

Till then have a painty, stitchy, beady, stampy week.

ATCC - 2nd Swap

ATCC - Artist Trading Card Coins

Three more coins for a swap.


I painted the backgrounds and then stamped across the card.  I added some floral designs along the lower edge.

I sent these across to U.S.A.


Lauri sent me these coins and all I can say is WOW!


What a presentation!

I opened the envelope to find a gold folded card inside.

When I opened this up the inside was lined with black paper, two slots cut to hold the coins.

The coins themselves are magic!

Smashing stamping, collage and colouring.  The addition of feathers to the second coin is an absolute finish!  
Lauri must have spent ages putting all those elements together.
Thank you so much Lauri.

ATCC - First Swap

ATCC - Artist Trading Card Coins
I discovered these on YouTube by Joanne Hodges and couldn't wait to make some.
Afterwards I found her Facebook Group - I don't really 'do' Facebook but sometimes .......
The swaps were differently arranged by Joanne, we stated how many swaps we wanted to do and if we wanted to post international.  I decided to do swap with three international and waited for the partner list to be published.

My first selection went to Italia!
I decided to send my little birds across Europe.

They are diecuts given free with a magazine.  
The backgrounds are painted and stamped, the images coloured using Promarkers.

I received two coins by return......

Very well made cards and some text pages included in the envelope.

Thank you Joan.

June Swap

I didn't make the deadline for the ATCs For All Map It Swap so I have adjusted them slightly to make them more personal for this month's swap.

I had already made up the map backgrounds and punched out the flowers.

I stamped and clear embossed the the sentiments and images but the cards still looked very plain so ......

I added some flowers!

Each flower had Stardust Stickles added to the edges and then the petals 'lifted'.  

Once they had all dried I added them to the cards and then added a gem to the centres.

The sparkle doesn't really show but, believe me, it's there!


The following cards were sent by my swap partner:



Gorgeous green diecuts and toppers.

Collaged recipe - yum, yum!

A cat napkin..... and shades of red and pink!

A few extras included......

Thank you Gerry.