WOYWW #663

 The desk

As you can see I gave up on the die . . . . again!  I will try to sort it out when I have more time.  

With AGM's coming up, there are numerous letters to be printed and posted, figures to be sorted to present to the Committee of one group . . . .  all good fun!!

I have still managed to make a few cards, hope to get them in the post at the weekend but we shall see how it goes.

I want to try a new medium for my artwork so I might, might being the operative word, venture into town next week . . . . with the schools' half term, I may have company . . . . here's hoping.

Marianne has posted a new pattern, little bonnets.  Just what I wanted, it's not all about the boys!!  This will keep me occupied while watching tv, and will make a nice change to the preemie sets.

On Sunday, Fx came to play for the day, and one of the things that turned up was this blanket . . . 

 It was knitted for Dx, I was practising a new stitch.  The colours started out in LMR Colours (PJ was working on 6201 - Princess Elizabeth at the time!) When PJ had his accident, he didn't like those colours so I added the blue . . . . .   I used it for Dx and Fx when they were in their pushchair.  It sits on the back of the settee now and came into play . . . . Fx wants his own blanket to sit under while watching Tiger . . . . it will have to have green in it . . . . . . 

For those of you who asked . . . my brush is used for smoothing out the wrinkles when I am attaching two papers etc.

A little bit of pressure on the brush causes the base to smooth away, much better than my fingers or wrist. . . .  which aren't much use anyways!  lol

The screen this week says it all . . . . .

WOYWW #662

 Hi Woywwers

Just about to try a 'new' die and hopefully make a card  . . . 

The desk:

To the right . . . . the die.

I have had this die for some years, yes . . . I know . . . . anyhow I did try using it some time ago, thought it was a card maker as in title.  Turns out to be just the front of the card, so several pieces of paper are needed.  I have sorted out some paper pads ready to use, old ones so it won't hurt too much if I have to throw some attempts!!!

This little fellow, I am a rabbit fanatic, was on sale in Asda.  I love my little pot pets and they are kept outside in the pots on my plant theatre, in view of the kitchen window (to make me smile when WU)

I found this photo of the 'old man' during my travels on the web.  Brought back lots of memories.  This photo was poster size on my wall . . . among many others . . .  I still have my scrapbook from those days . . . . happy memories.  My beloved father was disgusted with me as I sat crying when Cliff appeared on Oh! Boy! . . . pink jacket and all.  Dad said he was a two week wonder . . . . 

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

One more job done

I love putting ticks on lists.  If I could find my list, and find this job, there would be a  big red tick against it!

DDC bought me a subscription to Creative Stamping Magazine many moons ago and I have now cancelled it as I think I have enough issues (100), nice round figure.

I have filed these magazines over the years but slipped up last September when I cancelled.  Now I am filing them all and will file the other magazines I have collected . . . . . I have various magazines left, Phil Martin's boxed sets, Papercrafting, Die cutting Essentials etc. so I have raided PJ's folders and have a nice selection of Purple ones to use.

Two boxes later, all magazines are tidied, photocopies in the 'search' folder and another space cleared.

This is under my desk . . . .  the next area to clear.  The bag to the left is all about beading . . . PJ really invested here but the novelty wore off after a while . . .  Boxes of completed cards to be cellophaned up for the Church,  cutting tools - nice and handy. . . . . .

Happy Birthday DDC if you're reading this . . . . . . love you loads . . . .xxxx

Knitting for the NeoNatal Ward

 I continue to crochet and knit for the premature babies at our local hospital.  Now I have found Marianne's Blog, I get regular posts so there are always new patterns for me to try.  

My latest batch . . . . .

These are ready to be added to my earlier sets.

I am trying to make matching sets as one of the nurses let slip that sometimes the clothes go into the Angel Baby boxes.  

A set is a matching blanket, cardigan, hat and bootees.

Sometimes I don't have enough wool to make another blanket so I opt for another cardigan, hat and bootees.

This little set, waiting to be finished and washed, is just a little different.  

The fawn flecked wool just needed an additional colour and I thought the lavender went well.

I found a whole pack of bright colours in Aldi, just two balls of each in a pack, but for borders . . . . . .

Some of the Mothers are very young and like their babies dressed in bright colours . . .

January ATCs

Four swaps still continue although our Honoured Leader, Jan, was taken from us too soon.  Barbara and Pauline joined forces to keep the swaps going . . . . . for Jan's sake, she so loved these swaps . . . .

Theme - A Winter's Day

The images were printed on copier paper and adhered to the cards.  Diecut snowflakes formed a border round the images.

These beauties were received from Rubes, Margaret and Barbara.  Thank you one and all 

Colour - Pink/Grey

I started with some pink paper backgrounds.  After finding this serviette in my stash,  I managed to tear it so that I had enough pieces to cover the cards.  I smooshed a printout with picked raspberry and, once dry, cut out the appropriate sentiments.  The sentiments were adhered diagonally.

I received these beautiful cards from PaulineM, Barbara and Margaret.  Thank you all
There were only two of us who entered the Coin Swap.

Coin One - Oriental

This theme meant I could use up my leftovers from the Chinese New Year ATCs.

I used the same process as before, only this time . . . . in the round.

Beautiful gentle coins from Pauline.

Coin Two -  On the Farm

I was going to use some animal stamps but looking at them closer, they weren't really farm animals so it's back to chickens!!  I used some leftover shaving foam papers for the backgrounds, fussy cut the chickens and added a sentiment.

These were my swaps from Pauline.

Partner Swap

I did this stencilling some time ago, kept carefully in my stash it was time to show it off. I added a few diecut butterflies, which were cut from gelli plate prints.  I found one gold frame so added that with butterflies coming through for card no.1 leaving the other two just plain.

These cards had papers which highlighted the subtle shades of the foxes, very pretty.

Thank you PaulineY

January cards part 3

 Die Cutting Friends

If, like me, you own a stash of interesting dies . . some from magazines etc . . . .  then you can understand why I joined this Group.  It challenges me, it takes time to sort through my dies but . . . . that is why I joined this Group.   

And I love it!

Free Choice 

I used up a kit bought for Charity to make this card, I love the way it all came together.

This photo does not do the card justice . . . it is beautiful in real life.

Thank you Madge.

Style -  Spread a little happiness.

I was really stumped for this swap then I heard Sting singing this song and  . . . . I printed out the sheet music and die cut it . . . several times until I had the right position!

This card is embossed and chalked.  Beautiful colours and colouring.

Thank you Pat.

Layout and font sizes courtesy of Blogger

January Cards part 2

 One of the Groups I have recently joined is known as CASMET - There is an explanation but it made no sense to me and, quite frankly, is not needed for me to make my cards and artworks.

There are four swaps per month and I entered all four for January.

Card of the Month

I tried out a new technique for this card, one I have wanted to try for some time.

This card from Madge is so pretty in real life.

Thank you Madge

Member's Choice - Winter Alpine Aperture

I spent some time on this, the second attempt, because I knew how I wanted it to look.  I am very pleased with the result.  The sentiment is attached across the top opening.

I received some beautiful snowdrops from PaulineY.  Thank you Pauline.

Pat's Letter - F

Frogs . ... oh! yes!  

This was meant to be a fancy fold card but I could not get it to work out.  I am happy with this one though.

Pat's Swap - It's a Man's World.

I love this card and have held onto it for a couple of years but now is the time to pass on the love!

Sara sent me this interesting card.

Thank you Sara

Font size and layout courtesy of Blogger.

January Cards

 I don't make Resolutions because I invariably break them but I have promised myself to try to update this blog a bit more often.  Although my days pass by in a blur of trying to outwit my body - it thinks it belongs to an old lady. . . I think the lady is more middle aged!! - I do quite a lot of interesting stuff!

For instance . . 

January Swaps

This month I have entered the 

Noobie Swap

 This is a new to me stamp, I love that different tops can be added. For this card I have 

added flowers to the wellied feet plus a couple of borders. 

 I have received this appropriate card by return.

Thank you Karen.

Technique - Something New

This time I have added what I thought was books, but as I coloured the design I realised they were presents! to the dress body.  I placed the image on a purple background.

I received this beauty from Olive who has tried out Quilling.  

Great card Olive, thank you.

Layout and font sizes courtesy of Blogger!

The Natural Rodent killer

 Roland and his friends have taken up residence at the top of the garden.  

Today I have visited our local hardware store and obtained some rodent removal stuff.  On my return home, I made sure that Roland & Co would find it and came back into the house.

After sorting some bags and boxes, I went into the kitchen checking up the garden.

One beautiful natural rodent remover was sat very still under the bushes.  The patience of these animals is beyond imagination, even the beautiful black and white coat does not deter him in his work.  One pink haired lady calling to him is another matter . . . . .

He was off!!

No doubt he will be back later . . . 

All my paperwork is now completed and posted so today I am, hopefully, updating the Groups photo albums (and this Blog at the same time) and starting to source out my designs for the Month of February.  I am ahead with some of the work, namely Gnomes and Houses.

Details will follow . . . . .

WOYWW #661

 Short and sweet today, I have a lot of work to catch up.  Time to send reminders that subscriptions need to be renewed . . . . .

so just an actual workdesk today, no crafting until it's out the way . . . . woohoo! I'm a poet . . . .

and here's a close up . . . .

Oneth of February

The Oneth of February . . . . the second month but who knows where the first month went . . . in sickness that's where!!

But today is a new day, new month and the sun is shining.

My desk is cleared ready for action.

My garden has given me its own piece of sunshine

Yes, I know it's all overgrown but look . . . . .

There . . . .

Spring is definitely coming!

The story behind this little bloomer is . . . . .

Way back when in the annals of time, when the sun always shone and life was good . . . . you know , those days.

PJ, DDC and myself took ourselves off to the Lickey Hills, somewhere south of Birmingham.  

Back then the village was a pretty run down sort of place, au naturel, much as it was when I was a little girl and the trams had just been phased out although the tramlines were still in the road.

Talk about stepping back in history!!  

They were just known as the Lickeys, now it's the Lickey Hills Country Park and so improved . . . .

But back then one descended from the bus and walked up through what was left of the village and into the hills.  

My mother probably picked blueberries from those bushes, her and my grandparents often came for the day out here and went home with a basket of blueberries.  . . . .

After we had flown kites, got lost, climbed hills, had a brilliant day we still had the walk back to the bus stop.  

On the way some primroses were spotted growing wild in what, at one time, would have been a front garden.  They were so pretty peeking out among the weeds . . . . PJ climbed up into the garden and dug a root out with his keys, wrapped it up in a piece of paper lying around and put it into his pocket.

This is all that remains after thirty odd years but  . . . . . the sun is shining, the primroses are peeking out from among the weeds and I remember, happily, that happy, happy day.