August Theme Swap

Tags .... not my best subject!
I bought some tags for this swap but then decided to use up as much as I already had in my stash.


I used some of the paper from the 'Watercolour' pad bought from The Works.  This tag was given away with a magazine at least a couple of years ago so I am pleased to find a use for it at last.  I think I have two more left in the set!
I used a sentiment form Woodware stamps for the corner print, added blue ribbon tie to the top of the tag to finish.

Another sheet of paper from the same pad, totally different one though.  This tag and other embellishments were diecut some time ago.  Once more this set came free with a magazine, I used a grey marble effect paper for the tag, brown painted paper for the rest.  Brown paper ribbon tied to the tag kept everything to the same colour scheme.

The cogs behind this tag, the tag and embellishments were put together sometime ago for a different swap but then I changed my mind.  I have attached this to a piece of metallic painted paper and used red/white butcher twine to tie to the top of the tag.

Lots of stash used up in this swap.  Marvellous!

I have received the following cards by return:

A tiny Kraft tag embellished with a musical note and ric rac.

Thank you JanS.

Two tags for the price of one and tiny again.

Thank you Dee.

Beautifully stamped and embellished in pinks and purples.

Thank you Philippa.

WOYWW #430

Weeeelll, it's like this see .....
We decided to go to the Drs - well, PJ did and I went along for interest's sake.... you know .... doing the listening bit.
When we came out of there, Someone decided we would go into town as it was market day so off to catch the bus we went.  In the market he bought the biggest cauliflower I have ever seen and a big cabbage - for the chickens of course! - and then we wandered about for a bit - The Cass envelope contains some masking ink & brushes, I just love looking round that art shop and the staff are so friendly - ending up at our favourite coffee shop.  When we came out, we were right by the Tram so 'Clever' someone! suggested going to Wolverhampton and finding Domino Crafts.
Suffice to say we ended up having a lovely day and my desk bears the evidence.

I'm not going into the ins and outs, but one can't walk into a shop, bone tired, have a sit down and then leave ..... so I had a look round while himself sat and chatted.  I was very careful and only bought a small amount ...... really precious stamps, some small bottles (to share with a friend), cut! price magazine, Chalk Clouds and a couple of stencils.  Pretty good eh!  
Then we had to find our way home.
Soooooo, it was like this ..... we left home for the Drs at 09.50hrs and returned home 19.00hrs.  I shall post the full adventure on my Recollections Blog.
I won't be going to the Drs with PJ again for a very long time ..... at least until my purse recovers!!!!
Hope you all have a good 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.

August Swap

I love this little girl, had the file for ages, love what Kris created.
I chose some metallic backgrounds for the cards, basically because they were on my desk after making this month's colour swap cards!

I printed out the coloured versions of these digis and fussy cut them before adding them to the backgrounds.
  
The base cards were tryout pieces of thin card, I used Cosmic Shimmer Paint - bought when I was at Julia Watts workshop - brushing it on to see what it was like.  

Perfect for this project.

As you can see, there is a progression of steampunking as you go from one to three. 

The small sentiment words are from Tim Holtz' book of words.

I received the following cards:

Lots of stamping, colouring and smooshing.

Thank you JaniceB.

July Swap - Anything Goes

The backgrounds for all these cards are scraps leftover from previous 'messings' with acrylic paints. 


I was also trying out some new diecuts from The Works and a few new stamps, bought at the Motorcycle Museum, from Woodware.


I love the way these cards all turned out.

  

I had to add a few blue free hand hearts to the third card in order to show off the diecut.

I received the following cards by return:

Distress inks had a work out here and then were topped with heat embossing.
Thank you Alison.

Stamping, colouring and fussy cutting.

Thank you Jill B.

This card is a really bright leaf green IRL.  Great amount of work going on here as well!

Thank you JulieW.

Alphabet Swap - A,B,C.

This is a new swap for our Group and I had to haul out my list and start at the beginning!  As I understand it, we will be creating three letters a month so here goes with ABC.
A is for Acrylic Paint.
I decided to go for Art Products as a theme so I painted up a couple of backgrounds in grey acrylic.  I used one of my homemade stencils for this card, and a willow green paint.  I then decided to use the paint for my stamping ...... I did have fun .... not.  Purple paint under your nails is not good.
I stamped off several printings before I felt happy enough to stamp onto my card.  Even though I had practised, the print was not clear and needed touching up to make the letters clearer.

Art Products was hard so it's back to stamping!! lol


I gathered all my stamps on Baking and Cooking together and then decided on the design.


B is for Bowl and Baking.

The background stamp is heart shaped so I needed to add an additional part to complete the design.  I watercoloured some of the ingredients and then stamped out the bowl and spoon on some cream paper.  I added a bit more colour to them, fussy cut them out and attached them to the card.  The sentiment I chose did not really fit onto the card so I decided to cut it in half and make two rows which I stamped out using Versafine Onyx ink.

C is for Cake and Chefs' Hats (toques blanches).


I stamped the hats over the white card and then stamped the cake onto some white copy paper.
I coloured the cake and cake stand, using a gold sharpie for the stand itself - not really a good idea so I used a fine liner to add detail.  Once this image had dried I fussy cut it  and added to the card.  I used the Versfine ink again to stamp out the sentiment.

Looking at these photos now, I realise that it may have given the sentiments more definition if I had stamped them onto white card and added them with 3D foam tape .... I have posted them now but it is something to remember!

I have received the following cards:


Beautiful Apple Blossom Fairy.
Thank you Barbara.

All the Bs - brilliant!

Thank you GwynethRose.

All things Camera - clever.
Thank you Beth.

WOYWW #429

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.

Hello and welcome to another WOYWWednesday, bit murky round here .... hope it's going to brighten up a bit as I plan to go to the Park - there's a Bouncy Fun Fair.   Nope, no idea but it sounds fun sooooo ...... 

Warning! 
New stash and I'm going to use it ....
I am sorting out ideas for a White ATC swap and I have my ideas sheet, white cards of varying whites - storytime there - and my dies folder.  These two dies were part of my winnings from Creative Stamping and I am going to see how they work out with ATCs .... lacy edges, fancy frames etc.

The cornflour is there because I 'heard' that if you add cornflour to gesso you get a white crackle paste as it dries ......haven't managed to try it yet but it could appear on these ATCs .... it's white!

May not visit until tonight - sorting out bouncy castles etc. - so catch you all later.

Storytime:  Way back in the day, the then husband and I decided to buy a new car.  Finances were worked out and a trip to Oxford to collect the car arranged.  When it came down to colour the clever husband decided that, as there were lots of shades of white, this would make it difficult to 'touch up' should the lovely new car get scratched.  Therefore white was out of the question, although this applied to all the colours really .... except one. 
It was decided we would agree with Henry Ford .... we would have black.
That little black Morris Minor outlived the marriage so it must've been a good choice!!!

WOYWW #428

Good Morning!  All bright and cheerful are we then?!?
First off .... please excuse the font on this post .... I can't get Blogger to Blog my Blog the way I would like my Blog to look!

My desk may look the same as last week but oh! no! it isn't!

Lots of cards lying there, all with envelopes and address slips.  They are ready to go into envelopes and be posted off - the cards will appear on Cardius Bloggus in due course, the due course may be next week though!
I have my ABC sheet ready to make a start on my Alphabet swap ATCs and my Tutorial for making Lavender Wands ready to appear under the cards.  My Birthday Calendar has been updated - Works has 2018 Calendar Tabs on sale - so my desk has lots going for it today.



It was Lavender trimming day at the Train's Garden yesterday and I am hoping that the flowers will still be fresh enough for the girls to make some wands at CRUNCH.  Every year I promise myself I will make some and sell them at the Open Day to help raise some funds.  This year, at least I can share the fun with my friends.


We hope to be able to show Little Soldier how to plant today.  We have some late sowings of peas ready to be transplanted and want to enlist his help .... and then we can wash the patio down .... towels will be to hand as will be a change of clothes!!  lol
Thank you to all my visitors last week, hope to visit a few more desks this week but we will see ......

BTW
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.