What’s on Your Workdesk? Wednesday #256

Oh what a beautiful morning……. it’s the last day of April and a third of this year has now gone past. woo hoo, those weeks are really whizzing by! It’s also the last day to add your name to my Monthly Art Draw to win this little hanger, just click here to go to the relevant post.

 

Here’s my desk:

and yesterday there was an uncharacteristic flurry of crafty activity which means I am ahead of the game for this week. I have had my paints and embossing powders out (as the jug of brushes can testify)  and can you see that MM piece? I even managed an image transfer, real arty stuff. (Didn’t work THAT well but I haven’t done one for over a year). The main work in progress you can see is a bit secret squirrel (it’s the other side I have been working on). Any ideas what it is?

Over here on the ‘clean’ desk (I try to stop the inks and paints migrating over here) you can see a stripy butterfly and a few  photos I printed out to make a brag book. They are not very recent because I realised that (shame on me) all last year’s photos are still in the camera and I have lost the thingummybobby/USB thing to put my data card into the pc. (The fitting on my poor camera has died so I can’t do it directly anymore). Really need to get a new one.

So there you have it. HERE is a 'how to' join in WOYWW,everyone is welcome.  Here is an explanation of the WOYWW madness.  And HERE is how we're going to mark the fifth anniversary of ourselves, the week after some of us get together for the WOYWW Crop. I hope you enjoyed your visit, would love to know you have been. Happy WOYWW!!

Try It On Tuesday Challenge – SPRINGTIME!!!

Don’t know about your neck of the woods but spring has certainly sprung here. The weather may not be able to make up it’s mind but the birds,  bees, butterflies and flowers are all going for it – and we’d like you to as well, as we challenge you make a crafty project on the theme of SPRINGTIME. 

We already have some very noisy starling babies in our roof (our cat and the one next door have a habit of sitting on the flat roof gazing longingly at the entrance to their nest – they can’t get in but boy does that set the parents off!!) So I had to have a bird on my tag, and a flower and, of course some green!! Hope you like, and that you have time to put something together and share with us this fortnight at Try It On Tuesday.

Ciao, Cindyx

It’s a Bug’s Life – CCM& More Challenge #115

Kimx is hosting our challenge today and she has chosen 'It's A Bug's Life' as her challenge to you. She would like to see Butterflies, Dragonflies, Ladybirds, or any other INSECT as your main image or focal point of your project

We are sponsored by HOBBY ART STAMPS 

and also by DI'S DIGISTAMPS, full details on the CCM&M blog.

Here is my DT offering for this challenge. For me it had to be butterflies and I dug out a large ‘Build a Butterfly’ stamp from docrafts. I was going to build up the colour so it was a bit darker (it is supposed to be a peacock butterfly) but I quite liked the vintagey orange so took that as my colour scheme.

It looked quite striking when I put it on a piece of black card so although I would not normally choose it as a main colour I decided to go with it. For my frame and die cut background I used Sue Wilson’s new Spanish Collection ‘Cordoba’ die. Sentiment is from a JustRite set (Fleur de Lys) designed to be used with labels 20 dies. Fabric flowers from stash. Someone will have to do something very special for me to get this card!! Hope you like, and are inspired to join us at Crafty Cardmakers and More. Ciao, Cindy xx

Fantasy Stampers Challenge #9 – Distress It!!

Now I know lots of crafters love a bit of ‘stressin’” as my mum calls it, so I’m sure this challenge will appeal to many of you.

For my DT project I decided to go 3D and distress one of the little mdf money boxes I picked up the other week. I painted all over with a deep brownish red and then a lighter blue and then even a bit of white to knock it back even more and then sanded it back to  the first layer in places. Then I stamped directly on to the paint, embossing some of it for a bit of texture.

I also stamped the door and some flowers onto card to fussy cut and layer up for a bit of dimension using promarkers to add colour. The trellis on the roof is made from laser cut trellis card (Anna Marie Designs) that has been coloured and covered with distress EP. The detail on the eaves is a sizzix border die cut treated the same way. 

 Several stamp sets were used, Paper Artsy Bricks and Mortar 3, Personal Impressions Butterfly heart with love, and Clear impressions Birdsong Collection.  Hope you like, as ever, my photography doesn’t really do it justice!!

Anyhow if you feel inspired to join in with us at Fantasy Stampers this fortnight we’d love to see what you can get all distressed about!! Any kind of project counts but it MUST include some stamping. Hope to see you there!!

Ciao,    Cindy xx

Exploding box cards

Well like many people I was blown away when I first saw these – so simple but really effective!!

So, being an absolute sucker for a card that’s a bit different (I have all sorts of templates in my stash!!) I had to have a go at these. Being lazy I ordered some blanks from craftwork cards, but while waiting for them to arrive I made one myself for Mother’s Day.

I made a similar one this week for a friends birthday. Because I like it to look like a card I decorate it so it arrives like this.

 

Then it opens up to this – such fun!

 

I have seen them done to all sorts of themes and (if you don’t go too mad with the embellishments!!) they really do fold flat. So easy, do have a go if you haven’t already.

Of course mine was a bit too bulky to go in a normal envelope so I tried to make a bagvelope. (My own term LOL because it couldn’t decide what it was)

Don’t look too close, I don’t know what it is about the measurements for bags and envelopes but my brain seems to fly out the window when I try to do it. Wouldn’t mind but I did train as a garden designer and  I am pretty good at technical drawing of all types of construction to scale –so really not sure why this simple technique befuddles me so much!!

Bye for now!! Have a good weekend!!

A BIRTHDAY CARD ….

Using up old stash for another birthday card.

I bought these little Kanban dresses with acetate overlays over a year ago because I though they were so pretty but, like many things in my stash, I need to use them up before they get lost or ruined.

I was not particularly fond of the frame that came with the pack as the colour doesn’t match that well, but decided to matt with a similar blue and mount on some Craftwork Cards ‘Correspondence’ papers. I used a touch of watercolour on the roses to make them a little more pinky/red and added a deep maroon ribbon. Used the rest of the paper to finish off the inside. I know just who this is for, and it’s going in the post today – cleverly that acetate overlay folds flat for posting.

See ya!

 

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #255

Sorry, it has to be said – where did that week go?

But to business. My current timetable means that I usually tidy up on a Tuesday as I am expecting a visitor, leading to a rather uninteresting photo and a totally unfounded perception that I am a tidy crafter so it’s nice to be able to show you a desk with a project or two on it.

So what have we got? My notebook where I am writing my list for today, don’t suppose I’ll get that lot done but it’s good to have a plan. A mini egg tub – sadly empty now. Can you see my ‘glue’ box to the right? I have covered it – I’m enjoying my new craft room so much I am on a mission to prettify some of my more mundane and recycled storage – the heroes box and the scissor tub are next on my list.

There are four ‘cards’ or cards to be on my desk – I have been experimenting with my dies. I was  intrigued when a tv presenter kept saying ‘and when you just emboss with this die…’. and it’s true, you can just emboss with a die. Different effect but quite neat. They have been inked and mica’d, one on Kraft one on white card.

You can just about see my hanging tub made by LLJ down to the left and that tag at the back is to remind me to pack it up and post it off – sorry Glennis! I did warn you I might forget. The room is slowly getting its final tweaks. I have added a fold up table so that I can sit and chat with a visitor (or just have more work space depending how you look at it lol). I can even see me using my sewing machine on that table and it is much easier to use a die cutting machine when there are no space restrictions at the back that stop you getting your plates out. Less frustration = happier crafter.

So there you have it. HERE is a 'how to' join in WOYWW,everyone is welcome.  Here is an explanation of the WOYWW madness.  And HERE is how we're going to mark the fifth anniversary of ourselves, the week after some of us get together for the WOYWW Crop. I hope you enjoyed your visit, would love to know you have been. Happy WOYWW!!

A Gorjuss Birthday card…

couldn’t resist. A card made recently for a cyber friend’s birthday. Stamping and old stash. Result.

This card is a sort of easel as it has a fold and a stopper on the back to make it stand up. A bit different.

 

Mmm. I was very careful but now I can see there was a blue smudge. Can you spot it?

Oh well, that’s what happens when you get inky!!

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday #254

 

HERE is a 'how to' join in WOYWW,everyone is welcome.  Here is an explanation of the WOYWW madness.  And HERE is how we're going to mark the fifth anniversary of ourselves, the week after some of us get together for the WOYWW Crop. Wow, that is approaching fast.

Today the desk is boring – empty – because I tidied up expecting a visitor who cancelled and decided to veg in front of tv last night for a change. Housework this am and a totally unproductive shopping trip. Nothing else to do today but craft, bloghop and maybe an hour reading in the garden.  I’m going for minimal stress for the next couple of months in preparation for the horror that will be ahead of me in July when I have to change work location yet again. I have a slightly negative attitude towards this change – can you tell?

Anyhow happier things – I went to Ally Pally on Sunday, met lots of crafty peeps, watched demos and bought a mountain of stash. Mainly things to alter and bulky things that cost a lot to post. And a few stamps…. a few dies…. some embossing folders ……and ……..oh well far too much as you can imagine!! Lots of ideas, and going to be playing as much as I can from now on. Here is a piccie of the haul on my OTHER desk (grin) the stuff on the shelves behind I had already.

 

Hope the sun is shining on you wherever you are. Happy WOYWW, Cindy x

Try It On Tuesday – More than One Fold

No it’s not an origami challenge (although that would be quite acceptable!) but this fortnight at Try It On Tuesday we are asking for projects that have more than one fold.

I decided to finally try out a never ending card. I bought the card blanks ready scored and cut some time ago although I am no longer quite sure where they came from. I was fascinated by the concept and had made them up ready to decorate – I have to confess I really wouldn’t know how to start to make one from scratch now!

Here is the front of my card standing up.

 

The centre opening folds out to reveal the second layout.

The centre panels flip up and down to reveal a sort of cross shaped card which you can sit up a bit like an easel. (Did you see that the small centre panels on the left and right are still there?) There are no rules on how to decorate the card but I left the bottom panels blank for a message.

The centre panel opens up to give you a fourth layout, and a final turn takes you back to the beginning which you can also sit like an easel for display.

 

 

If you are really clever and put non – directional images on some of the panels you would have a card that  was the right way up front and back all the time – I tried – but epic fail!! All the images are printed from a CD, either Fabulous Fashion (House of Zandra) or the Frou Frou digikit collection (Crafters Companion).

So if your mind isn’t completely blown by that we’d like to see what you can produce with More Than One Fold! Pop over to the blog to check out the DT inspiration and link your project.

Happy Folding!

14th April Crafty Cardmakers and More…. Floral Profusion

Fiona is hosting our challenge today and she has chosen  'A Floral Profusion' for her theme. She would love to see your creations which showcase your handmade flowers, the more the merrier!

We are sponsored by CRAFTY SENTIMENTS DESIGNS and there are 3 digi images to be won.

With the flower theme in mind, I decided to  make a hanger with one of our sponsor’s designs (Tess Summer Fun) as the centrepiece. I had great fun putting all the handmade flowers together and in fact cut far too many – another flowery project methinks!!

The colour scheme is perhaps a little unusual but I just went with the first papers that caught my eye. I’ve had them so long I no longer know where they are from – but surely I get brownie points for using up stash?

Flowers are such fun to make I do hope you take time to make a project for us this fortnight. As ever, more DT delights are available to view on the Crafty Cardmaker’s and More Challenge Blog.

Tags of 2014 - April

Oh yeah, catching up. Off to Ally Pally today for inspiration and some retail therapy but before I go thought I would share what I got up to yesterday afternoon. I was trying out a Saturday off as I changed my work day this week to help out(have worked every Saturday for the last two years) and me likey, hopefully I’ll be able to get this in my new timesheet.

OK to get back to this month’s tag. Well, apart from the distress ink and a couple of embellies I do not haveany of the products Tim uses so this is going to be just an ‘in the spirit’' of’ tag – obviously I can’t reproduce the techniques without distress paints but I can try for a close copy. Here’s Tim’s.

First I substituted Mme Payraud tissue paper for the tissue strips as a background. I decided later it might have been better to apply random strips instead of gluing all over. I added paint (fresco finish) and then inked over and ‘distressed’ with water. (Never mind the paint resist, I’ve got some glue resist going on there!). Quick check to see if this is where I should be going – a bit dark maybe but not too shabby.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, as I don’t have the die or anything vaguely similar to do the inserts I decide to use some trellis die cuts I have. I can’t really paint and sandback so I paint, emboss up with distress EP for texture, paint again. and then ink the edges.

So here’s the finished tags. I just cut out some random diamonds to go in the gaps and used a similar spiral die to make my roses. Haven’t learnt any new techniques really but I still like the end result!!

Fantasy Stampers Challenge #8 – Easter Photo Inspiration

 

Wow, time for my second DT piece for Fantasy Stampers already!!

This fortnight we are looking for an Easter themed project based on this lovely photo inspiration. How you interpret it is up to you but remember this is a stamping challenge so there must be stamping on your project.

I took the pink tulips and the colours from the photo for my clean and simple Easter card. The stamp I used is ‘Tulip’ from Wendy Vecchi/Studio 490 and I have stamped it a few times so that I could paper piece the flower heads.

Can’t wait to see what you get up to – over Easter remember that crafting has less calories than chocolate!!

A bad day’s work..

Oh I was in a bad mood this evening. Even more c*** with regard to work getting me wound up – and I wasn’t even there today! Home on my own this evening I decided it was time to make some art and I thought I’d have a go at the March Tag from Tags of 2014. Read it through and went for it. Three tags, cos I had a feeling this might not go so well and following Tim as closely as poss because I am not in the mood to think for myself. I just need to be doing. First stamp and I’m already feeling I’m not going to like this technique. Hardly any smudge.

Second stamp with multiple inks – none of them stamped very well – I am being a bit lazy and trying to just ink up part of a collage stamp that was to hand.No smudge as such and the second impression is nearly invisible..

Oh heavens, here is my improvised egg. I have to say, these look better in the photos than real life. I’m really going for it now, a real bull in a china shop.

Let’s just stick any old word on it, these are probably going in the bin anyway…and grunge it up a bit. Don’t have any distress pens never mind a spritzer so we’ll go for a bit of stencilling and colouring with water colour pens.

 

I could feel the anger coming off me in waves as I was doing these – maybe the Black Keys on  the Cd isn’t helping – time to change over to a bit of elbow….. and breathe………and laugh at yourself for being such a twit and getting all worked up..…….

I really wasn’t happy with my angry art so I made myself a smoothie and a cup of tea (sugar and fluids) and when I’d calmed down a bit I tried again. And I managed to get two ATCs out of the originals. The one on the right will be going in the draw in January. I’ll keep the other one. The one on the left may end up as part of a card. Not a proper smudge in sight but they are growing on me. Reminds me of a vintagey paper. Off to bed now.

Try It On Tuesday - Mid Challenge Inspiration

I’m posting my project mid-challenge for the current theme at Try It On Tuesday which is ‘Let’s see some beads’.  As always what you make is up to yourselves but somewhere on your project we want to see some beads - seed beads, embellishment beads, handmade beads, a necklace  …... whatever you fancy!!

Here’s my card, I have made a topper by stamping a very old flower stamp from my stash (yay) and added small beads to make the flower centres dimensional. Papers etc from craftwork cards (a bit obsessed with them at the moment).

Link up your project at the Try It On Tuesday Blog where you can also see some more beaded projects including one from our Guest Designer, the very talented Froebelsternchen.

DESIGN TEAM CALL

Last week we announced a Design Team Call at TioT which will run until the 20th of April.

If you are interested  in joining an easy going creative team please add D.T. to your entry to the challenge.

 

Cindy’s Monthly Art Draw – April ‘Spring’

A quick little project for this month’s art draw (or would be quick if I wasn’t such a fiddler – I won’t say perfectionist because that is not true but I do like a bit of faffing about).

I’m feeling a bit full of the joys of Spring (heaven knows why) and I fancied making a little house so this is what I’ve come up with. The template is one from Anna Marie Designs which I have had for absolutement yonks and I pressed into service a previously unused stamp set from Crafty Individuals for the vines and butterflies. I did use some new stash (the circle die with hearts) but I was given them by a friend. Punched flowers and a few candi centres. I even used the waste from the die – those little blue hearts were so cute!!

Usual rules apply, leave a comment on this post if you wish to be included in the draw, feel free to link from your own blogs and if you let me know you have I will put you in the draw twice. International players welcome, closing date 9.00 pm on Thursday 30th April.

 

What’s on Your Workdesk? Wednesday #252

HERE is a 'how to' join in WOYWW,everyone is welcome.  Here is an explanation of the WOYWW madness.  And HERE is how we're going to mark the fifth anniversary of ourselves, the week after some of us get together for the WOYWW Crop.

All lifted from Julia’s blog. so much easier than doing all those links myself. GRIN.

Here’s my desk. Shooting into the window doesn’t make for the best desk shot – it’s a nice day out there and there is a bit of glare.

I was busy last night prepping some cards for my friend to make when she comes round this evening. She had some bad health news last week and I suspect her mojo might be on walkabout. She always prefers to work from a recipe anyway. We decided on a cupcake theme last time I saw her and I have used some papers I got free at the Birmingham Hobbycraft show last year to knock up a few samples. Other than that, not much to report, have had visitors so not really been in my lovely room much the last couple of days. I do however have a  long list of crafty things to do, so must crack on!!

Happy WOYWW!!