What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday # 798

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop WOYWW which is now being hosted at Sarah Brennan's blog. Here's the link for that lovely lady - Sarah's Craft Shed - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Gosh, nearly forgot it was Wednesday again. 

We are deep in the throes of renovating downstairs to create an open plan kitchen/diner/lounge. It will suit us better going forward and when (eventually) it is just Kevin and I here. (He won't be able to hide in the living room while I am cooking). Also much better for get togethers now that the family is getting bigger both in numbers and physical size!! 

It's gonna be about 6 weeks in total in stages - I'm already frazzled. 

In between I have been retreating to the craft room but I am mainly occupied sorting the kitchen cupboards. This is my desk.

Don't ask. It is for a steam punk themed swap. I put it aside for a while, now I don't know where I was going with it. 

Anyhoo that's it for me. Off for a nosey.

Love n hugs

Cindy xx

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #797

Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop WOYWW which is now being hosted at Sarah Brennan's blog. Here's the link for that lovely lady - Sarah's Craft Shed - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Hello all, I'm back again. Just got back from a family holiday in Spain, 10 adults and Lionel who has just turned 18 months.  Or should I say Lionel and his 10 attendants. 

With one thing and another there has been no crafting for me lately - I should be prepping for a craft fair on Saturday but frankly can't be arsed and the thought of standing outside for a whole day has no appeal so I have cancelled. 

Missing the sun already and been back less than 24 hours. 

So all I have for you is holiday photos. Will try and get round everyone this week.

Love n hugs,

Cindy xx

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #793

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop WOYWW which is now being hosted at Sarah Brennan's blog. Here's the link for that lovely lady - Sarah's Craft Shed - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Well, have I been feeling sorry for myself or what? We finally get some decent weather and I tweak my back (no idea how) and have been unable to do anything for the last two weeks. Plans cancelled left right and centre, couldn't  garden, couldn't stand, couldn't walk, couldn't go out, couldn't even do anything in my craft room. I did watch a lot of the Olympics. But I am feeling better now and nearly back to my normal almost functioning self.

I have nothing to show, the desk is pretty bare as the back went just after I'd had a tidy up day, so I have pulled out some gelli prints. Did these well over a  year ago. Can't quite think what they were for, some ambitious project I'm sure. Colours are nice. 

So that's me checking in. 

Hope you are all well. Love n hugs Cindyxx

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #791

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop WOYWW which is now being hosted at Sarah Brennan's blog. Here's the link for that lovely lady - Sarah's Craft Shed - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

A different desk pic for me this week - it was too hot in my South facing craft room to get in there yesterday afternoon so I decided to start a bit of crafty sorting - starting with my many copies of that old favourite 'Craft Stamper'. 

Before regretfully assigning them to the skip I had a quick trundle through to remind myself of forgotten techniques and projects, removing a few pages to keep and possibly act on. The page in front of me caught my interest - you'll see why if you look closely. Next month's craft class project sorted I think.

We had a bit of a family 'do' at the weekend as we all met to celebrate Little Splodge's christening. He was an angel during the service and we all decanted to a local park for a celebratory picnic. There were so many of us it looked more like a small encampment than a family get together!!

Well that's it from me, hoping to get round a few peeps before the heat forces me out of my room again. Enjoy the glorious weather, drink water and laze about. 

Love n hugs,

Cindyxx

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #788

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop WOYWW which is now being hosted at Sarah Brennan's blog. Here's the link for that lovely lady - Sarah's Craft Shed - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Here's my desk: 

Yes, I am that sad person who writes when they last re-inked their ink pads. 

But I am pleased to report I have been doing some crafting that wasn't a card.  This is for a (very overdue) swap for someone I'm pretty sure has no idea about WOYWW so I'm taking a chance and posting because there is diddly squat else here to shout about.

Sorry to have been away but the last couple of weeks I was getting a bit overwhelmed (mainly with fun things to do so don't get all concerned for me) and unfortunately something had to give!! 

Still haven't resolved the weird photo saving/uploading problem but for now I have found a work around. Resolving it will have to wait until I have time (ie never) or when the workaround stops working,

Have a great week, 

Love n Hugs Cindyxx 

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 785

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop WOYWW which is now being hosted at Sarah Brennan's blog. Here's the link for that lovely lady - Sarah's Craft Shed - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

sorry I was awol last week but I was away with my sisters. Much fun was had, but my desk is in a much neglected state so here are a few photos from that last card class. My ladies  fell in love with the Bokeh idea and did themselves proud. 

Unfortunately I can't seem to upload any new photos right now so I shall have to post without and see if I can edit later as I think this may take some time to resolve. (My computer appears to be saving my images with a .jfif extension, I am just pushing the same buttons I usually do. The server is rejecting them. Any ideas?)

I also can't seem to capitalise the first letter of the second paragraph....

Have a great week from me, sitting here, refusing to let this stress me out.....

Cindyxx

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #783

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop WOYWW which is now being hosted at Sarah Brennan's blog. Here's the link for that lovely lady - Sarah's Craft Shed - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Oh dear.  Views of my desk at 10.00 pm on Tuesday.

Now, both these surfaces were absolutely clear at 10.00 am, no mean feat as I did a craft fair on Saturday and then was out and about all day Sunday. However it took by my estimate less than an hour to reduce my tidy craft room to this horror. In my defence I had to prep for my card class on Friday and had started pulling things out of boxes willy nilly as I tried to pin down exactly what I was going to do. It's gonna be a large class (10 currently signed up) which brings it's own challenges in regard to materials and tools but I am trying to work round that. We are going to try and do a bokeh effect background like this.  

Would you believe that despite my vast number of stamps I could not find a suitable floral silhouette stamp the right size/orientation? So am having to improvise to create my own 'cluster' which is why I pulled out so much stuff.

Sigh.  I'm sure we will manage, there's always a Lavinia fairy!!!!

I'll just finish with a couple of photos of my little splodge, who will be with me tomorrow. Just love him to bits.  

Have a great week!!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #781

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop - WOYWW. As you may know, Julia has stepped down after many years of commitment, fun and friendship - thank you Julia for everything.  WOYWW is now being hosted at Sarah Brennan's blog and here's the link for that lovely lady - Sarah's Craft Shed - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

In addition to attending the crop, Helen, Julia and I stayed a couple of extra days to look around. For a full and richly visual account of the weekend pop over to Helen's photo blog and drool over her lovely photos.

As we have been away the desk here hasn't seen any action - but of course, Helen and I managed to squeeze in some desk time in Stoke before we came home.

Thanks go to Sarah for finding a cracking crop venue and picking up the baton for WOYWW. We had a smashing time and it was lovely to see and catch up with so many deskers. Looking forward to many more years of Wednesday desk hopping. I didn't take many photos (again I  refer you to Helen lol) but here's a nice one of Neet and me. 

We all swapped at the crop and here are my lovelies. (I will sort out any remaining trades this week. I have a couple spare ATCs so if you want one let me know). 

Weather is pretty grim here in North London this morning, hope it is better where you are. The craft room is calling. 

Have a good week, love n hugs,

Cindyxx

What'sOn Your Workdesk? Wednesday #780 - 15 years!!

 A big achievement - as I'm late posting I have already read Julia's news, end of an era certainly but I am in awe that she has  committed to doing this for so long. Where we go from here we will see.

It's been a crazy busy week for me and the only crafting I've really got in was at craft club yesterday - here's my desk in full on atc production in preparation for the Crop and anniversary swap - do let me know if you want to swap!! 

Will be short and sweet from me as I am expecting company to arrive any moment. Probably won't be desking till after 4 today.

Have a good week,

Love n hugs

Cindyxx

What'sOn Your Workdesk? Wednesday #779

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop - WOYWW. Here's the link to the one responsible, the lovely Julia at Stamping Ground - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Morning ladies! Here's my desk.

After returning from Craft Club yesterday I got out all the bits for the big project from our Craft Retreat thinking that today would be a good day to finish it. It is the napkin covered journal you see front centre and I need to add a few finishing touches. I have so many bits to choose from I can't decide!! At the far desk there is a pile of birthday cards ready to be written for birthdays up till the end of June - feeling very organised!

Pleased to report that my class last week went down a storm. We did a technique with embossing folders using the de-bossed side - it probably has a name but I don't know it. We also did some carved wood technique which is virtually the same thing!! Here are some of my samples and finished demo pieces.

I had a phone call last night to remind me I had a stall at Horsenden Farm's Nature Day (where my husband volunteers) on 1st June. I had vaguely thought it was on the 30th so that has sent me into something of a tail spin. I have nothing  ready except cards which are notoriously difficult to shift at craft fairs. oh well, it will  be what it will be but any ideas for something quick and eyecatching welcome. 

Not feeling quite so organised now!!

Crop and swap coming up!! I will be taking ATCs for Crop attendees but do let me know if you would like to swap as I have had an idea and will be staring those soon. 

Have a great week all,

love n hugs,

Cindyxx

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #778

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop - WOYWW. Here's the link to the one responsible, the lovely Julia at Stamping Ground - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

May already and the countdown to the Crop begins!! Here is my desk. 

This is the mess from unpacking after Tuesday Craft Club. I got this far before I had to go out to meet friends. I managed to sew beads onto the sequins on my little stencilled bag (don't recommend it) and the other with the fairy silhouette has been rescued - the stamped 'dream' decided to bleed all over the place. A judicious amount of bleach and a sharpie sorted  that out but I did think I had ruined it. Not much else to report on the post retreat projects but time has been lacking this week.  I did have a play with this torn paper idea I saw on you tube but I'm not in love with it. Let that one stew and re-visit it in a bit I think. 

So a quiet day with some desk hopping and a quick tidy up in store for me today. I have to prep for my class on Friday (samples made but need to pack my bag) and rest up for a day of fun with this one tomorrow.

Have a  great Wednesday! 

Love and hugs, Cindy xx

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #777

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop - WOYWW. Here's the link to the one responsible, the lovely Julia at Stamping Ground - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Gosh I'm late today. And pooped. Had to be up mega early so Chelsey could get to some away-day work thing and then drop Lionel at the childminders. No problem, he was a sweetheart. Just I am still so tired from the Craft Retreat Weekend I have got home and sat literally staring into space for half an hour. However, duty calls, must get on!!

Here is my  desk from Tuesday Craft Club. I took just this one 'beading' project from the retreat that I didn't even attempt while I was away. It is very pretty, and in the end took me about an hour and a half, not that hard but extremely fiddly. Bit like those Lego flowers. Pleased with the result but would not willingly put myself through that again.

The desk on my craft room is just a pile of stuff from the retreat I haven't put away yet. I hope to do that today. Here are some of the other makes.

Fabric lamp and fabric covered note book

Art Doll and gelli plate bg tag with foiled glue leaf

Stencilled canvas bag - thinking about securing those sequins with a bead.

Mixed media plaque/assemblage. Loved making this and the photo does not do it justice!!.

I have some other projects that I haven't quite finished yet (plus one I am trying to rescue after making a big boo boo) so I'm planning a couple of crafty days (hopefully I can find some gumption) and I'll post those next week. 

Anyhoo, have a good week,

Love n hugs Cindyxx

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday # 776

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop - WOYWW. Here's the link to the one responsible, the lovely Julia at Stamping Ground - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Well here we are again. This is my desk late Tuesday evening, slightly staged as I had started putting things away before I realised I needed to do my WOYWW post. 

I did warn you I was starting Christmas again! I still have a big project to finish from my craft retreat last October (!) but after wondering how I can possibly store it I decided to pack it up as is (in pieces) and finish putting it together for Christmas 2024. That project is made partly using die cuts from a lovely Stamperia paper pad called Christmas Patchwork. The artwork is so yummy I had to stop myself from buying a whole pad once I saw the few random sheets and embellies we were given. I had lots left over from my craft pack and I used it to put together these  cards. Really loving how  these turned out. And I still have a few more pieces to use up. Nothing has been wasted - the postage stamp punch came out again!! 

Here's my desk even later in the evening. I have been adding the finishing touches to some cards I put together at Craft Club this afternoon - once again mainly scraps and ends of paper kits I've had for ever so a using up stuff win for me once again. 

My main job on Wednesday will be WOYWW and packing before I go off once again for an InkC Craft Retreat with Countryview Crafts on Friday. The supplies list is  rather huge but I do have nearly all of it (won't stress about the rest) and I won't make the mistake of taking anything else to do in case I  have any spare time. Learnt my lesson there. 

Finally here's my little splodge looking tall and grown up with his cute crinkly nose when he smiles.  I can't tell you how much he makes me laugh. 

Have a good week, hopefully I will have lots to show you next time!!

Love n hugs, Cindyxx 

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #775

Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop - WOYWW. Here's the link to the one responsible, the lovely Julia at Stamping Ground - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Wow that week went fast!! For once I have done loads of crafting - starting with my class last Friday when my ladies blew me away with  their creativity with the floating seagull cards. They were basically working just with scraps but produced some beautiful cards and have continued to do so at home (and there were only a couple of mistakes with the basic card fold........).

So, after the class I had a lot of scraps left and decided I didn't want to file them again so made a few more cards myself. (I did have to add a bit of vellum and some black card as my scraps were too small but otherwise a total win on the using up scraps front).

I had a few bits left that were really very small, but found a 'postage stamp' punch and made some backgrounds - really like these!! In the end I only put 5 pieces of card back in the scrap box. (Sorry but I am obsessed).

On Tuesday my desk (aka dining room table) was the site of some different crafty activity. For Mother's Day DD bought me some lego flowers. A nice crafty present which I accepted with good grace but actually it's a job isn't it? Not a present. So I dragooned my sister (lego nerd) into coming over for the afternoon and we finally put them together. The air was blue at times, it severely challenged my arthriticy hands but I suppose they turned out OK. I did not enjoy doing it one bit and had to open a bottle of prosecco to make it through. 

Weird as it may seem I will now going back to Christmas as I am severely behind. So don't tune in next week if you don't want to see Christmas cards!! 

Have a good week, love n hugs Cindy xx

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #774

 Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop - WOYWW. Here's the link to the one responsible, the lovely Julia at Stamping Ground - pop on over and join in, see what it's all about and join in yourself.

Hope you all had a lovely Easter, ours was quiet (by choice) but we did manage a Reggae night and a visit to see some friends for lunch and games. (My new f avourite game is called 'Splendour'). 

Once again though I don't know the date, day or time, my routine is completely scuppered and when oh when will it stop raining?

Well, I fib a bit, I do after all know that it's Wednesday and here's my  desk.

It's late Tuesday so apologies for the lighting. The pc screen at the back has my partially written WOYWW post, endless mugs and some butterfly die cuts. My up/down desk in the foreground sports my samples for my Friday class when we will be trying our hand at a Floating Seagull card.

I have wanted to try this 'fold' for a while and it really is very easy. It folds to go into an envelope and makes quite the mantel pleaser. 

It is also really easy to screw it up. I'm not quite sure how we will get on as I have messed the card base up a couple of times already and I really do know what I am doing. I have written instructions and I did the maths and everything. Fingers crossed it won't be a disaster. (Honestly it is three score lines and then glue two panels on to another one. Simples right?)

The logistics of this fold got me so discombobulated that once I had sorted it out I had no brainspace left to decide on a theme, colour or papers. So I have just raided my scrap stash and bundled up some bits in little packs - currently in my glittery box - so everyone will have to choose what papers go where themselves and also whether they want big butterflies, little butterflies, sentiment .... you get the picture. So they will all be different.

Well hopefully all the Floating Seagulls will be the same.

What could possibly go wrong?

That's it from me as I need to tidy up so there is room for 2 to craft - my friend is coming over this morning and she is on a card making mission.  So I will probably not be desking till late afternoon. Meet you then for a cuppa and a hot cross bun - still a few left!!

Have a great week,

Love n hugs,

Cindy xx