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Wednesday, 11 May 2011

WOYWW 101

Well, it's Wednesday again - and the day has nearly gone already - we were up at Guy's this morning for a foot health appointment for John and somehow the time since we got back has gone very quickly - so, it's time for WOYWW 101.

Update: it's nearly Thursday now and I still hadn't completed this post! (I stopped to do my Salt LO for tomorrow - more about that then).

I didn't take part in WOYWW last week because I was in the middle of having a really good sort out of my craft stuff - on reflection, perhaps I should have shown what a muddle I was in then. Anyway, I've had the biggest sort out I've had since this room was fitted out - which, unbelievably, was nearly four years ago - it doesn't seem that long.

Every box etc has been sorted (and I was a bit ruthless with what I kept and didn't some for the grandchildren and some for the charity shop - and some for the recycling paper bin). Everything is now properly labelled.

So, my actual worktop is clear of any crafting atm - a lot of photos to share today, mainly because I want to keep them as a reminder of what this room can look like when it's organised - not that the workspace will stay clear like this - in fact it's already been covered with various items since taking the photos.

This is an overall view of where I sit to craft, including my new very comfortable chair (the old one I had was comfortable, but was bought about 25 years ago ... a new one was needed). This chair will go up a bit higher than the previous one, which gives me a much better position at the keyboard and for crafting, so you will notice there is now a box on the floor to put my feet on because they don't reach the floor with the chair at the right height. Because I don't need to use the pull-out shelf for the keyboard, I've got items on there that are in use a lot, so they are handy when I need them.

I needed to buy a couple more Really Useful Boxes for inside my big cupboard (photo further down) and while I was at Rymans I saw some little folding crates that are made by RUB - only 99p each - thought they would come in handy, but as yet I don't know what I'm going to use them for - you can see them here near my rotating 'lazy susan' with my copics and promarkers etc.

To the right of where I sit there is a couple that has two pull-out shelves - originally to house my printer and craft robo (which I'm going to sell because I don't use it now - have got the large cricut). Quite a while ago I got a wireless network printer, so that sits the other side of the room out of the way. This means that I can use the pull-out shelves for other things, so I've got my boxes of scrap offcuts and inserts at the top and boxes of flowers sorted into colours and types and envies on the bottom shelf.

To the left of where I sit there are four drawers - I've even sorted and tidied them:

And further to the left is a corner cupboard - the door is open in this picture - the space goes much further back in to the left, so there is a trolley and things I don't use often stacked away.

The inside of my big cupboard:

This room originally, of course, was the 'spare' room which housed a couple of put-you-up beds, so they are still in here, covered with a Laura Ashley throw that matches the curtains - this gives me another surface to use. The boiler is in the corner of this room, but I have my back to it while crafting, so I don't have to sit and look at it - and it does mean this is the warmest room in the winter, which I love. You'll notice I also have to give some space to our linen bin and cushions for our garden chairs.


I am very fortunate to have such a lovely space to craft in (especially as our whole maisonette isn't very big). Today I haven't shown much of the shelves above my workspace - where I house most of my wooden stamps. I've now ordered a couple of extra shelves so that will enable me to spread the stamps out a bit and/or get more!

I'm also sharing this on Shopping our stash, a new challenge blog that is asking for us to show our workspace.

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Indigo, ice and inspiration

This card is for ABC Christmas challenge I for indigo, ice and inspiration - this photo inspiration was given:

It's also for the sketch given for Paper pretties 152:

The base card is stardream, which has a lovely sparkly look to it. The stitched paper is an offcut from long ago (no, I didn't stitch it), mounted on silver mirror card. The strip across the middle and the sentiment are from an old QVC kit and the snowflakes were rescued from an old card, with the addition of Poundland gems in the centres, so this is also for Bah! humbug 18: going green (the recycled snowflakes).



This is also for:

I did it: monochromatic
Creative inspirations 59: glitzy & bling
Do more with less: stitching with Alice Wertz
Scrappy frogs: anything goes
Flourish timeless 117: anything goes


Therapeutic colouring

I thought a bit of colouring in might be a good idea this morning - it must be a throw back to childhood, but it can indeed be very therapeutic to sit and colour in an image - I used copics, of course.

This is for the sketch given for Stampotique 29:

and I chose the colours from MME spring and summer papers for Stampin' royalty 70 colour challenge:

The stamp is a Stampotique one by Janet Klein. The strips with gold foil edges were left over from a recent Easter kit.

I'm also linking this for the 'home sweet home' challenge 40 on Anything goes.

Oscar



Sad news here last night - John's first guide dog, Oscar, had to be put to sleep - he was a very poorly dog in the end - he was 13 last November, so a good age for a golden retriever. He not only was so precious to John as a guide dog, but to us both as a pet - although he hadn't lived with us for some time now, we still felt an attachment to him and are very sad - he was so special. We are so glad that Bob brought him over to see us the day before his 13th birthday (we could tell then that he wouldn't last too much longer).

Monday, 9 May 2011

Vintage lace

This card is for the colour challenge for City crafter 55:

It's also for the sketch for May on Sugar creek hollow, which also asks for the card to have a vintage or shabby chic feel to it:

I used a shaped card for Aly's Sunday 41: shaped cards and Some odd girl: get into shape.

Papers are BG marrakech, the flower stamp is unknown, coloured with copics, the ovals are nesties, with the edges distressed with firebrick DI. Lace, ribbon and pearls are from stash.


This is also for:

Stampin' sisters in Christ 88: all things beautiful
Stamping vacation: Have you tried - ribbon over lace
Really reasonable ribbon 23: Double Dutch - two ribbons, laces or trims
Card cupids: flowers
Oldie but a goodie 18: say it with flowers
Let's craft and create 18: say it with flowers
Craft us crazy 7: moms and/or flowers
Raise the bar 65: flower power
Stampin with the dragon: May day - flowers
Crazy 4 challenges 86: April showers bring May flowers
2 sisters 38: distressing
Kaboodle 66: lots of layers
Crazy challenge 66: anything goes
Papertake weekly: anything goes
Scrappy frogs: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 5: anything goes

Green and black (no, not the chocolate!)

This card is for the colour combo for Cards & things 77:

and also for the sketch given for Everybody art challenge 140:

The papers are BG archaic and the image is one that I inked up ages and ages ago as part of a stamp swap - it was started on to black vellum and I've just coloured the dress, hat and shoes with copic moss.

This is also for:

Craft your passion 57: check it out
HLSC 21: green + birthday
Crafty Ann 40: happy birthday
Incy wincy 93: mother's day/girlie
My mum's craft shop 4: cute & girly
Southern girls: let's hear it for the girls
Mami doodles 25: let's get girly
Prairie fairy Fridays 52: here come the girls
Crazy challenge 66: anything goes
Sentimental Sundays 54: anything goes
Papertake weekly: anything goes
Scrappy frogs: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 5: anything goes

Sunday, 8 May 2011

Monograms

I'm surprising myself today - not only have I done my ATCs for the BF forum swap so early in the month, but I've just completed my inchies for the monogram swap this month. I used La Blanche monogram foam stamps, stamping with memeno tuxedo black on to Tutti Fruitti paper (scraps that have been in my box for ages) and I went over the letters with copic C-7, a bit less stark than using black. I stuck these to mountboard to make them more substantial. This is the second set I've made - I swiped the first set with versamark and heat embossed with UTEE, but lost the clarity of the letters - it's a pity it didn't work out.

This is also for:

Just for fun: size matters (inchies)
Secret crafter Saturday 133: dust off your stash - haven't used the stamp for a while
Totally stampalicious: kickin' it old school - stamp that hasn't seen ink for at least 6 months
Mark's finest papers speedy the cat 54: use paper, stamps and inks, but no embellishments
Rubber cafe: anything but a card
Craft your passion 56: anything goes
Pollycraft 91: anything goes
Papertake weekly: anything goes
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Scrappy frogs: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 5: anything goes

Silences make the real conversations between friends

The ATC swap for this month on BF forum is Friends. I don't usually get my swaps done so early in the month, but when I was having my big craft sort out during the week I came across a paperbag studio stamp that I love, but haven't used for a while, and couldn't resist using it. Unfortunately, it wouldn't fit on to an ATC with the sentiment, but I still decided to use it because I think it still depicts friendship. I stamped with memento rich cocoa and coloured with copics.


This is also for:

Lexi 39: friendship
365 cards day 37: pure contentment
Secret crafter Saturday 133: dust off your stash - haven't used the stamp for a while
Totally stampalicious: kickin' it old school - stamp that hasn't seen ink for at least 6 months
Mark's finest papers speedy the cat 54: use paper, stamps and inks, but no embellishments
Sweet stampin': childhood memories
Rubber cafe: anything but a card
Craft your passion 56: anything goes
Pollycraft 91: anything goes
Papertake weekly: anything goes
Top tip Tuessday 32: open challenge
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Scrappy frogs: anything goes
Catch the bug: anything goes
ATC challenges 1: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 5: anything goes

Christmas card club - pink + another colour

Yes, it's another Christmas card - getting quite a collection in my box now - think I've made about 60 so far this year.

This is for Sylvie's challenge for the Christmas Card gang - you can see who's in it on my sidebar - a group of crafters who are getting ahead with Christmas cards by challenging one another every other week.

So Sylvie challenged us to use pink and one other colour.

I based my card on the sketch for Double Dutch 67:

The green background paper on the pink card blank is Serif picnic in the park (a magazine freebie) and the patterned paper used for the squares is from K & Co secret Santa collection. I've used one of my favourite nesties for the scalloped circle, using another inside it to take away the inside circle. The sentiment was in a QVC kit either the Christmas before last or the year before (time goes so quickly!).

I used the colour combo for Picture perfect creations 57:


I'm also linking this for:

Crafty Ho's: pink, black (the text) and a splash of green
Cupcake: something beginning with C - Christmas
Paper romance: use your favourite die (scalloped circle nestie)
Wags n whiskers 53: use die or punch
Annabelle: say it with squares
Simply create 43: what did you say - sayings that either mums would say or someone else may say about or to mums
Secret crafter Saturday 133: dust off your stash - the sentiment panel has been in my box for at least eighteen months and possibly longer
Craft your passion 56: anything goes
Pear tree 47: free for all
Pollycraft 91: anything goes
Papertake weekly: anything goes
Top tip Tuessday 32: open challenge
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Scrappy frogs: anything goes
Catch the bug: anything goes
Sentimental Sundays 54: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 5: anything goes

Saturday, 7 May 2011

CHNC challenge 19: photo inspiration ... with a prize

This week has been a strange one for me in some ways - in between other things I've had a massive craft sort out - and was determined not to make anything until it was all done -so it was a relief when I was able to sit down last evening and make my card for CHNC challenge 19, for which there is this inspiration photo:

I've concentrated on the stocking and the colour combo of red, green and gold - the circular sentiment is gold foiled, but it was difficult to get a photo. The stocking is one that was with a QVC kit two or three years ago. The strip of red and white paper is s.e.i winter song snow bubbles (the other side of the paper). I used little gold brads to secure the little candy cane charms. The flowers and the stocking top are very glittery.

I used the sketch given for the May challenge on Christmas cards all year round:


I'm linking this for these challenges:

Sparkle creations Christmas 2011 week 22: metal (the charms)
Winter wonderland: the colours of Christmas
Cupcake: something beginning with C - Christmas
Paper shelter 12: bling it up (lots of glitter on the stocking)
Stamp and create: charms
Craft your passion 56: anything goes
Pear tree 47: free for all
Pollycraft 91: anything goes
Papertake weekly: anything goes
Top tip Tuessday 32: open challenge
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Scrappy frogs: anything goes
Catch the bug: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 5: anything goes

Although this post was scheduled to go live yesterday, somehow I didn't get around to finishing it in time.

Thursday, 5 May 2011

BF purple and white inchies

These are the inchies I received for the BF forum April swap 'purple and white':

Not so many of us this time, but aren't they lovely?! Purple is one of my favourite colours.

Prize from Penny Black at Allsorts

I'm still here, despite my lack of blogging - I've been having a craft sort out for the past three or four days - in between other things - a more thorough sort out than I've had for a long time - I've come across things that I'd forgotten about and also got rid of some things that should have gone a long time ago. So I've done no crafting since Sunday - lots of ideas buzzing around in my head as a result of being reminded of some hidden supplies - now I just need to find the time and mojo to put them into practice.

Meanwhile, this morning postie bought me this lovely PB stamp and a card from Brenda, for winning Penny Black at Allsorts April challenge with this card.


Sunday, 1 May 2011

Queen for a day

This weekend has been a very eventful one for the nation and particularly for the Royal Family as Prince William married his bride, Catherine. It was truly a very regal occasion and our future queen certainly looked at ease and happy. I'm sure that every bride feels like a 'queen for the day'.

The card is for the sketch on Cards & things 76:


Background paper is We R memory keepers Madame Royale Elisabeth, which is very glittered. The matching journaling paper is also W R MK, as is the rub on with the crown and wording.The lace, gems, pearls and flower are all from stash.

This is also for the following challenges:

Daring cardmakers: by royal appointment
Order of the opus gluei 99: the crown jewels
Spoon full of sugar 149: a right royal knees up
Creative Belli 116: royal (the lace, gems, pearls and flowers are 'forgotten' embellishments)
ECP 37: influenced by the royal wedding
Crafty pad 119: pearls & swirls
Stampavie and more 139: pearls
Totally papercrafts 64: glitter
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Paper cutz 89: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 4: anything goes
Sparkle forum 10: anything goes
Scrappekammeret 29: anything goes

Saturday, 30 April 2011

Let's listen to the music and dance

Another sticky note holder, this time with music and headphones, with the colours purple, aqua and blue for Polka doodles 17 colour theme. I love making these little sticky note holders - they are so easy (once you remember the right measurements to score in the right places!) and make a nice handy little gift.

This is also for:

Craft your days away 19: music & dance
Lexi 38: anything but a card
Phindy's Friday 53: glitter, glamour and glitz
Totally papercrafts 64: glitter
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Paper cutz 89: anything goes
Make it Monday 34: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 4: anything goes

Celebrate

Yesterday was certainly a day of celebration - I watched all the comings and goings on TV and thought it was a lovely day for the marriage of William and Catherine. Didn't she look lovely in her stunning dress, as did her sister and the pretty little bridesmaids?

There are a few challenges around atm with a 'royal wedding' flavour to them, so I thought I'd share this celebration card - it would be suitable for a wedding or any other special occasion.

Because of the 'bling' on the card, it was very difficult to get a picture of it, particularly because there is also so much white, so the first picture is a scan with the card closed and the second is a photo showing the aperture when the card is opened.



This is for:

Die cut dreams 88: wedding
Freshly brewed 44: wedding
Pixie cottage: royal wedding
Tanda teaser 170: wedding bells
Crafty sentiments: royal wedding
ECP 37: influenced by the royal wedding
Phindy's Friday 53: glitter, glamour and glitz
Totally papercrafts 64: glitter
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Paper cutz 89: anything goes
Make it Monday 34: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 4: anything goes

Music and dance

Here are three simple sticky note holders I made - the glittery stickers on the first two are from Poundland.

The background card and the dancing couple are remnants left from a Music & Dance Kanban kit and the flowers are from stash.

These are for:

Craft your days away 19: music & dance
Lexi 38: anything but a card
Phindy's Friday 53: glitter, glamour and glitz
Totally papercrafts 64: glitter
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Paper cutz 89: anything goes
Make it Monday 34: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 4: anything goes

Fancy fold card

This is a 3D fancy fold card made from a recently acquired QVC Kanban kit. I love the colour combo of this (similar to my previous card shown here).



This is for:


365 cards day 43: fancy folds accordion card
There's magic in the air Magical Monday: multi-fold card
Crafty Ann 39: fancy folds
DYSU 17: make it pop (3D)
Crafter's companion 11 (April): aqua and brown
Inspire me Fridays 4: anything goes
Daisy doodles 32: May flowers
Let's craft and create 18: say it with flowers
My mum's craft shop 3: flowers
Charisma cardz 17: May flowers
Prairie fairy Fridays 51: April showes bring May flowers
Craft us crazy 7: flowers
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Paper cutz 89: anything goes
Make it Monday 34: anything goes

On this your special day

This card is curved at the side and the middle shape is a cut-out window, so the inside of this is inside the card iyswim!

This photo shows the 'window' and also gives an idea of the copper and gold foiling which isn't apparent on the scan:


This is for:

Crafter's companion 11 (April): aqua and brown
Ooh-la-la 78: aqua, bling & sentiment
Shabby tea room 59: butterfly wishes
CCEE 1117: butterfly
Sukkersott 122: butterfly
If the shoe fits Fashionista Friday 77: things with wings
Inspire me Fridays 4: anything goes
Sarah Hurley 39: butterflies/things with wings
Crop stop 17: nightgale - textured bird, birdcage or nest
365 cards day 60: sparkle and shine
Daisy doodles 32: May flowers
Let's craft and create 18: say it with flowers
My mum's craft shop 3: flowers
Charisma cardz 17: May flowers
Prairie fairy Fridays 51: April showes bring May flowers
Craft us crazy 7: flowers
Stamping vacation: get the music in your challenge: free bird (the bird has flown the birdcage)
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Paper cutz 89: anything goes
Make it Monday 34: anything goes

CHNC challenge 18: use a die cut

It's Saturday, so it's time for a new challenge on my Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge blog - and the weeks are going by so quickly - today's challenge is number 18! You can find details here - please join in if you can. It makes sense to make Christmas cards throughout the year to ease the pressure off those weeks beforehand. If you haven't started yet, why not start with CHNC challenge 18 - all you need to do is to use a die cut. - - it can be one that you have cut yourself using a nestie, a sizzix or other similar die, a craft robo or cricut shape that you've cut ... or even a bought ready-made die cut - how easy is that?!

I based my card on the April sketch for Create 4 fun (also for Cute card Thursday 162: use a sketch from another challenge blog


Papers are My mind's eye from the signature Christmas glitter collection. I used one of my all-time Christmas favourite stamps Rubber Stampede 'Santa collage' inked with Adirondack earthtones terra cotta - I also used this to distress around the Nellie Snellen die cut (ran through my cuttelebug) and the other papers. I used this stamp for Christmas stampin all year long: use your favourite holiday image.

The colour combo is for CES 34 with this inspirational picture:

The sentiment paper has been recycled from a Christmas gift bag - it was originally a light cream colour so I gently coloured with some of the terra cotta, wiping with kitchen towel so it wasn't too dark. So this is good for these challenges:

Creative craft
: get recycling
For fun: green, no not the colour - recycle

This is also for:

Wags n whiskers 53: use die or punch
Little Miss Muffet 18: diecuts or punches
HLSC 19: Christmas
Totally Gorjuss 78: 1 2 3 - 1 image, 2 brads, 3 designer papers
Theme Thursday: vintage
Crafts and me 32: vintage/distressed
4 crafty chicks 35: distressing
Delightful: distressing
Stamp insanity 56: rockin' out heavy metal style
Simply create 42: time to rock the metal
Tuesday throwdown 46: brads or eyelets
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Paper cutz 89: anything goes
Crafts 4 eternity R17: anything goes
Inspire me Fridays 4: anything goes
Make it Monday 34: anything goes

Friday, 29 April 2011

Bunnies aren't just for Easter

This card is for the sketch for the current challenge on Forever friends:

Forever friends, of course, are well known as bears, but this bear is dressed up as a bunny - the image and the sentiment are from their Spring time stamp collection. I coloured the image with copics, cut out the scalloped circle with a nestie and distressed the edges with fired brick DI. The background paper and flowered strip are Craftwork cards vintage rose. I added two spotted ribbons, a few flowers and gems and also a little pom pom for the bear/bunny's tail.



This is also for:

Pile it on 17: 2 or more ribbons
Created by hand: ribbons
The lollipop ladies 19: ribbons galore
Crafty pad 118: circles
Crafts and me 32: vintage/distressed
4 crafty chicks 35: distressing
Delightful: distressing
Moxie Tuesday trigger: a polka dotted hullabaloo
Cute Sunday 139: dots
By the cute and girly April: cute and girly
Let's craft and create 18: say it with flowers
My mum's craft shop 3: flowers
Just add ink 66: just add a flower
Craft us crazy 7: flowers
Secret crafter Saturday 131: pink, cream & brown
Cupcake 139: fluffy bunnies - the pom pom is fluffy
365 cards day 54: make a card for 'some-bunny'
iCopic lover 27: pastel challenge
Anything goes 39: colour challenge: pink and brown
Iris' spot 18: anything goes
Simon says: anything goes
Paper cutz 89: anything goes
Crafts 4 eternity R17: anything goes
2 sisters 36: photo inspiration: