WOYWW #451

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.

I cleared my desk of most of the border detritus and am now working in the centre of my board. There is a C6 card in the centre of said board....looks so lost and lonely ....
I am preparing for a tissue technique swap.


I have this ATC card on which I have used Brushos on the crumpled tissue. 

I want to try a couple of other ways before I decide on the one to go with. 

To the left is a box full of ATC basecards which have been cut from Christmas cards, birthday cards and packaging.   
Just a tiny bit more tidying up!!!!

Looks like the snow has now gone and, although the weather is a bit dank, I would like to point out that the Snowdrops are in flower and the Daffodils & Bluebells are pushing their heads through the soil..... Spring iz a cumin ......

Thank you to all my visitors last week, I really appreciated the comments and am so pleased that so many of you liked my little village layout.

Little Soldier and I did not make Stay and Play as when we got off the bus he just wanted to come back home.  I think that fighting the bitter wind and awful cold air was just too much for him.... and me as I quickly agreed, popped into the supermarket to buy a cooked chicken and we came back home.  
I was exhausted by it all and have had to rest for a fair few days so, I'm sorry, I did not make my visits to you all.  
This week will be different, I'm back on my feet and catching up ....... so .... see you later.......

First Swap of the Year for UKATC Group

So we go bouncing into January with our swaps!  I say bouncing because we are having SUCH problems with yahoo that both my Groups will be going over to Groups io ASAP.
We have been unable to save our photos on these Groups, which is such a shame as it is good to see what everyone is making.  I show my cards and my received swaps on here but no-one gets to see all the other swap cards - I have started calling yahoo - yahell, it is frustrating to try and sort things out and yahell keeps their silence!

Onto the good things in life...... January Partner Swap.


I used one of my Chinese New Year Cards for my first card and then kept to the theme for the other cards.

This image is from TLC Creations and I printed it out slightly smaller than the ATC basecard so that I could back it onto silver card.

I don't know where I obtained this image, it was in my files.  I backed this printout onto a blue backing paper.

I have received the following cards:

They comprise of delicate shades of blue, green and pink papers and images.

A matching diamante is placed in each corner.

Isn't this little girl cute!!

Thank you so much PaulineY.

WOYWW #450

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.

Wrapped up nice and warm today cos it's COLD!   My heart cries for the folk stuck up North on, near or around the M74 .... I cannot imagine the awfulness of it.  
The nearest I ever came was once when the electrics on PJ's truck stopped while just south of Paris.  We had to pull onto an Aire de  and, if you have travelled in France, you will know that it is a basic parking area.  Well, it was New Year's Eve and we were stuck there for three days .... most places shut down, we had to wait for someone to come out from England to repair the truck.  It was a cold and lonely three days, stuck in a 6ft x 6ft cab with toilet facilities a few yards away in the snow!!!  We had really good sleeping bags thankfully,  as up in the Alps it could be really cold at night, but this time we had no heating ..... fully dressed in a sleeping bag with extra clothes on top .... we couldn't even cuddle as we were in bunk beds!!!  lol  I don't envy any folks stuck in snow.
But enough ....
You're here to see my desk......

I am about to make a start on a white on white card for one of this month's swaps.  I am going to use this embossing folder - something I don't use very often - but this came free with a magazine, Crafters Inspiration No 15.  
Underneath the papers, there's some stamps  - free with the final copy of Quick Cards, so sad - which I have yet to file.
On the left there are the papers drying ready to make a 'New Beginnings' ATC.  
This is an additional make for the month because one person entered the swap and she needed a partner.
Thank you for all your comments last week on my latest purchases, thought you might like a couple of shots of 2017 Christmas' layout.  
Hastily created as we were so close to Christmas!

Not very good photos but they keep me going all through the year and add to the excitement as the new Christmas gets nearer........
such a child!!!  lol

We are thinking of making something better for next year than a piece of batting over the fire!!



Once again, thank you for your visits and lovely comments.  
I hope to visit later today because when we come home from Stay and Play, we have a new Thomas sticker book to play with .... it's all go round here you know ...... all the best fun!!

WOYWW #449

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.

I'm not at my desk today, I'm back at the 'Christmas Shop'..... not quite the North Pole but I'm sure it's not much warmer!!!

Father Christmas came late.  Well, actually..... we found a shop selling my village houses .... half price .... yeah!  half price!

PJ and I went over there and 'had a look' ....


...... he chose one (ice rink - all ringing & dancing) and then I chose one ....

.... a row of shops all with flashing lights......

....half price .....


... so we chose another one each .....  
.... a fountain with actual water for PJ ...

......and a French Bakery for me .... 

....had to be didn't it?!    lol


..... and then we paid for them.

So that's Christmas definitely put away!



Well, these two children were never very good at waiting for Christmas.... 

....and the houses may go up in price next year ..... so ....

.....Christmas came early for one little girl....


...back we went to the shop .....

A drinking house and a row of shops .... all with flashing lights ....soooo beautiful .... 

I have to wait until next Christmas now to set them all out on show ..... the waiting will kill me!!!

Then we found out that we could get a club card and gain points ..... and where were the previous receipts?   Back home!!!  

But it doesn't matter cos the nice man at checkout said we could have the points added to the card at any time.

If we go today we can take the Little Soldier to the soft play area, have a cup of tea at the same time.

So we are off to the shop again .... keeping our hands in our pockets this time!!

I tell you there has been some weird conversations round here, mostly concerning houses and Wills!

So have a good week, take care of yourselves, stay warm.

December Swap

The theme is Red and Green

This must be the first time I have used free stamps from a magazine on the day I received them!  I thought this sentiment was perfect for the swap.

I had decided to use my Neocolours to colour the backgrounds on these cards.  I cut the paper to size and then coloured it with random strokes.  I sprayed some water and then put the cards to one side to dry.  I stamped the bows on a separate piece of paper, coloured them in with the red crayon and then fussy cut them.  I stamped the sentiment onto the dried cards and then added the bows.

Once the whole card had dried, I edged the card with a scarlet sharpie pen to finish.

I have received these cards, the last of all the December 2017 swaps. 
  

Tiny gold flecks add the the beauty.
Thank you Helen P.

Love the 3D effect.

Thank you Jill B.

My sort of ATC!  This one will be added to my decor.

Thank you Sheila C (also thanks for the pretty envelope).

Sad to see another year finished with but looking forward to 2018 colours, themes, and all the creations.

Year of the Dog

So 2018 has started here but for China .... well, they have to wait another month.  In the meantime, I have visited ATCs For All Forum to see if there is a swap open .... there is ..... I signed up!!!
2018 is the Year of the Dog - brown dog to be correct, check it out.

I gathered my supplies, die cuts, printed and drawn images, backing papers and envelopes.  I then started all the colouring, cutting, sticking that is needed to create an ATC....the best part!



I cut out some small cards from watercolour paper, attached some backing paper on both sides and rounded all the corners. 




I cut, coloured, drew and attached the images for the fronts of the cards.




I made up the frames and attached to card bases, cutting the opening beforehand and ensuring that the small cards would fit inside the openings.


I used a scarlet Sharpie pen to edge all the cards, small and large, before putting them together.



Each card had a cream backing this swap, and was placed in a red envelope with some 'craft' money - my New Year gift.



I am posting these four cards to VickiZ - hope they arrive safely.

They all arrived safely and she was suitably impressed .... I did so enjoy creating these.
I received the following cards by return:


Very impressed with this card, came over from Ohio.
Thank you Wolf_moon.

Here's one from Las Vegas, golden and shiny.

Thank you Karch.

Love this acrylic on newsprint from New York.
Thank you AmySi.



Another excellent batch of cards.
Thank you Vicki for hosting another superb swap.

WOYWW #448 - the New Year one!

The start of a new year and all those 'things' we wanted to do in 2017 and didn't ....we bring forward to 2018!

In 2017 I attached this printout to the wall behind my PC .... just at eye level .....I'm taking this into 2018 ... I read this so often in 2017 and achieved so much ....

Into 2018 I am taking all my friendships, new and aged, that I have made through this wonderful meet up on a Wednesday and beyond ....

Into 2018 I am taking all the soon-to-be-finished decorating of my house ..... two rooms down ....

Into 2018 I am taking a positivity about my health.... ok, so I have a rather nasty head cold at the mo ....hasn't stopped me working, I am just taking a few more tablets!  lol

Which brings me onto my desk ...

I am sorting out stamps I could use for the January challenge on UKStampers Group.  Just going through my file and making a list of 'useable' stamps.... it will be interesting to see what I finally use.

I hope that 2018 will be a good year for you, if it isn't then I pray that you have the strength to bear it, meet up with the correct Doctors and receive healing treatment.

I shall be visiting your desks later, while stupid films are on TV and PJ is snoring quietly watching from the sofa!