woywww.. and a case of the missing mess!

It's Wednesday again, and time for What's on Your Workdesk! I have been busy this week, playing tags, and trying to work too! If you haven't a clue what I am talking about, check out Mr Holtz's blog, or one of my other posts!! Such fun, and a challenge I have set myself to try to do each tag on each day.. so far, almost so good..missed a day!.
I am amazed that my desk is so tidy.. not sure why, as I have been making Tim's tags all week since you last visited, but maybe it's the challenge I set myself or seeing evryone else's tidy desks has made me put stuff away! Anyways here it is....( taken last night before I finished the tag with the poinsettia)



I am not sure if I will get round to many desks this week...I must try harder!
Happy Woywwing!

On the 7th Day of Christmas...

Seven is my lucky number, but in this case I am not so sure! I absolutely loved the new technique I learnt today, and will definitely be doing that one again! The canvas painty technique adding the Perfect Pearls mists is fabulous! Very difficult to photograph, but if you get a chance try it out.. it is so sparkly, and very touchy feely! All the instructions are on Tim's blog. I wasn't very happy with my flower, and I didn't do it in a hurry, but think I should have looked at the picture before I stuck it on the wrong way round and had to redo it! Also green glittery hot glue doesn't really happen! It was everywhere! Maybe I should have edged the flower in it to use it up?



I have thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the tags while blog hopping ( not sure when I have time to do it..but I have!)...and if you have a need for some of the ingredients we have a special offer on our website.. just put in the code 12tags and you get 12% off and a free set of a dozen manila tags too!
Have fun tagging!

It's the sixth Day of Tagging...

and my true love sent to me, a reindeer and a vagabond! I know it doesn't rhyme, but I don't care! I have finally managed to bust my electric Big Shot totally and completely, so am now hoping that Father Christmas will bring me a Vagabond!! Too much grungeboard, and it hates it! So I reverted to the trusty hand winding one, and here is my tag for today. Done in a bit of a hurry as off to meet my DD for dinner ... been a while since I saw her, so getting excited!! Little things please little minds!
I am entering this into ArtyJen's Splinter group for Tim's Tags and if you are so inclined you can also enter any Christmas make you have done, including your take on Tim's Tags into The Artistic Stamper's Creative Team challenge which this month is Christmas.



Happy Creating!
 

Two tags for the price of one!

Yesterday I was doing a great make and take at Pickleberry Papercrafts, which was great fun, and it was lovely to meet so many people! By the time I got home, there was very little time to do Tag 4 of Mr Holtz's Christmas marathon, so this afternoon, I positioned myself in my craft room, got out the inks, and went for it! So you have 2 tags today, one for yesterday and one for today!
I am sorely disappointed in myself , ans I had set myself a goal to do the tags on each of the days they are publish. I failed at the first post!! But does it really matter,. it is only a goal for me..not for anyone else, and if time takes over, so what , there is always tomorrow:)))
I quite pleased with tag no 4, but got frustrated with tag 5! Think that is the impatience in me!! lol



Have a very Creative evening!

Mal's snowman!- a treat for you

Well, I always knew Mal was a child at heart, but this is ridiculous! I heard him in my stock room  rummaging and mumbling.... Then he reappeared with camera round neck one hour later to show me this!

With a big smile on his frozen face he presented me with this photos, of Crafty the snowman, (love his wry smile :))and said it would be great to have a competition to cheer up all you frozen crafters.

Correctly list all the items with colours, and Mal will rummage in my room again, and come up with a selection of Tim's products for the winner!

Leave a comment with the items you think are there, and Mal will pick the winner on Friday 10th December.

Keep wrapped up warm.. fingerless gloves are good! lol

edited -this is my 500th post so is perfect for blog candy!!

Day 3... tagged in the snow

I am amazed by the fact that I can still find time to do Tim's tags, and do everything else as well! I even trudged through the cold and snow to the post office today, which managed to open! It's a miracle! Whether the post is going anywhere is your is guess as mine! I really needed a sled, and huskies, but the most I could muster was a tin tray and three cats!! lol
However I loved Tim's tag today..definitely one to remember the elements of... Just n case you are wondering, I didn't have everything, and substituted the moss for real ivy , which was complete with ice, but it melted! and I managed to cut my bird the wrong way round to his.. does it matter?..no not at all. It is my interpretation of his. I just love it as it so easy , all the instructions are there.. just follow them.. and with added videos :))) If you need any of the elements they are here on our website with links to all the products.



Keep warm
Hugs

Day 2...snowed in and tag happy!

Today we are snowed in. The post office is shut,( I walked all the way down there with all my post, and the doors were locked! grrr)  the trains aren't running, the snow is deep, and it is getting colder by the minute, so I kept warm by making T!m's second tag. I was lucky as I had all the ingredients for this one, and it was a pleasure to create! I am now part of ArtyJen's splinter group, for those of you , who create Tim's tags in your inimitable way! I love it! If you fancy joining in, add your links everyday and have fun.



Thank you Tim for the inspiration... I am off to get warm by our open fire....
Stay safe and warm and Happy Creating!

It's started! -tag time!

I know that there are lots of you out there, religiously following Tim's blog, and waiting for his tags to show every day! You are not alone!! lol There I am, every day waiting for him to post to see what gorgeous effects he comes up with... The first one was no exception, and I am totally, totally in lurve with the cut it up, make it wood like technique! Oh so many explanation marks.. how else do I express it?
I have managed today to make the first tag even though I have been out all day in London all day , braving the trains, and the cold snowy weather.. Had a great lunch with Hels and Ellen.. and a little retail therapy didn't hurt anyone..
I did prepare most of the tag before I left and put it all together when I returned. The only problem I had was my hot glue gun has sparkly blue glue in it!!!! I am sooo messy when it comes to glue... it ends up everywhere!!

For those of you who don't have white crackle paint ( neither do I , it has gone very hard and not paint-like at all!!) I used white dabber and rock candy crackle paint. 

So come on show me yours....
Happy Tag Creating

woyww.. and it's December 1st! Tag lift -off!!

oh my it's December.. what happened to November? It has been a few days since I blogged, and not quite sure where I have been or what I have been doing,lol,  but I just couldn't let today go by without showing you my desk, which is neat and tidy..err not! before I clear it down ready to start Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas!  It is snowy here, just ready for a marathon Christmas Creativity session!  Can you tell I am excited... but after last year and setting myself a goal to do each tag on the same day , I am going to try that again. Pop back later to see if I even managed to do the first tag!!
On the desk is also a first page of a calendar that I am doing as a workshop at Pickleberry Papercrafts ( snow permitting) on Saturday, and there a couple of places left if you fancy making a calendar, using Claudine's stamps and lots of Ranger products.



If you haven't the faintest idea what on earth woyyw is, then hop skip and jump over to Julia's for a look around lots and lots of desks!
Happy Woywwing!

Me and my shadow!

are often found wandering around at night ...making cups of tea, and creating silly bits of art in my head while trying not to wake anyone else up in the house! This piece was thought up while sipping one of those cups of tea, and it took a little bit of time, but not hours, and involved melting some clear wax in a meltpot. Use a project pan, as it can burn easily, and one of Mrs Vecchi's Botanical stamps. and of, course the spider!! What art would be complete without the spider? The words are from Mr Holtz's 100 Odds and Ends set, and are so neat, and tidy and just fit anywhere!
I stamped the flower in distress inks, and brushed the wax over them to give a bit of depth, and lightly covered them in Cafe Perfect Pearl's. If these aren't on the website they will be shortly!



Are you gearing yourself up to making Tim's 12 tags of Christmas? Last year I had a blast, and we had a brilliant splinter group courtesy of ArtyJen. If you are going to take part please let me know,so I can come and visit. Love to see what everyone has made :))
Have a very Creative Day
Hugs

Three birds hanging in a row!

The mojo re-appeared this afternoon, ( not sure where it had been.. somewhere hot and sunny, I expect! lol) and I spent about half an hour or maybe a little more, making a piece for you :))
Here is a little snippet of it:



 If you would like to see how easy peasy it is to make, then fly over (sorry awful pun) to our Creative Team blog, and if you like it a lot, it can be yours too!! :)))
Have a very Creative day!
Hugs

woyww...and the case of the expanding fairy!

I have been a really bad blogger, and not blogged since Saturday! you see I tidied up, had the fairy expand my desk to double the size, and promptly lost the mojo! Comes from having too much space, methinks! After last week I decide to tidy up, and thought I could move a few bits and pieces and make more room, so I did. But those of you who visit often, the desk is stil a great mess! a couple of WIP and not much more. So my intention this coming few weeks is to sidetrack you , so you don't notice I am not blogging as much! will that work?.. nah!



If you have just come across my blog by accident or tripped over yourself in your anticipation of finding out what woyww means click here to be transported to the delectable Julia, and be whisked into the world of desks!
Hugs and I will be round to yours later

King of the Tree!

I love Christmas and the build up to it, and every year I am like a child in a sweet shop, tinsel, baubles, present buying, christmas cards, mince pies and all! This year is no exception , and over on Gingersnap Creations on my monthly tutorial, I show you how to make a decoration for the tree!



I  have my first weekend off for ages, and plan to do a little light retail therapy and a long lie down on the sofa!
Have a great weekend :)
Hugs

Splattered!

It has been ages since I have joined in with any challenge, and I particularly like Linda's Compendium of Curiosities. This week it is from page 52 of Tim's book, and is the alcohol ink splatter technique.
 I have made 2 tags using a clear tag which had amazing effects, but almost impossible to photograph, and the second one is using Wendy Vecchi stamps. I made them plain and simple. The clear tag used Tim's new Falling Leaf stamps, and I did actually stamp on the non inked side.



Thank you Linda for the challenge, made me think as usual!! I have Hels coming today, so am off to get ready, as she told me that she will be here with the larks!! lol
Have a very Creative day!
Hugs
 

woyww..or back to normal!

It's Wednesday again, at least it is in this part of the world! Wednesday's on my blog and several hundred others..lol means only one thing... What's on Your Workdesk! Julia , our esteemed leader has laid down the rules, and indicated that we should show you what our workdesks look like! Well here is mine.



No tidy fairy this week, just a sort of pile I am working on ..trying to work on.. big fat mess! I did swing slightly to the left as well. Note the packet of unopened biscuits,( I thought my willpower was quite good as they have been there for a week! Tea and biscuits anyone?) and for those of you who are wondering that is my guillotine under the papers and book. Fo rthe sharp eyed of you , I did actually take the pictures at the same time, but picked up the birdie who had unceremoniously fallen over and move the Halloween papers at the back, as it is now almost Christmas!
I have actually gone out and bought some fab new really useful boxes, and today will be trying to tidy up the desk , so that I can work on it! I am feeling that the area I work in is getting a little small, so may be asking the fixit fairy, or should that be pixie? to perhaps enlarge my working area. But that is just a thought, as it would mean I would have a bigger space to make more mess in!!!
If you haven't a clue what I am talking about, and think I am completely nuts, then pop over to Julia's for the weekly take of desks!
Hugs

Shrink and show me!

I have finally finished my long summer and Autumn of shows and workshops! I have one more workshop  on December 4th using Claudine's gorgeous eclectic stamps, and a wonderful make and take at Pickleberry , in aid of Demelza House on the 2nd December. We would love to see you there and you get to make one of my wooden angels, sample the mulled wine ( hic!) and gorge out on mince pies!



I was up at Pickleberry this afternoon, and just had to show you what Kate created over the weekend. I just adore the use of the inspiration jars and lightbulbs using shrink plastic (courtesy of Julie) . How sweet are they?



Have you made anything fab with The Artistic Stamper stamps, as I would love to see and perhaps feature you on my blog. Please contact me if you have...

Have a Creatively good day
Hugs
 

41 Days to Christmas

I have been royally told off about counting days lol, so in my final card for the week,  I am showing you one of my favourite techniques first shown by Wendy Vecchi on her blog, which I have used time and time again! This technique is fiddly, and you need the patience of Job to do it, but boy the results are stunning!  Firstly you need the Rosette die, and I do have some more coming in stock next week, so you can pre-order by emailing me if you wish. Cut 7 rosettes,( I used the Retro Grunge Papers) and make them slightly different widths by cutting off the straight edge. Then gather them up so they are in a half rosette and secure one of the little rounds to the folded edge. This is quite a difficult bit as they spring apart, but with patience you can do it! Cut half of the round off when dry.You will end up with 7 little pleated skirts in ascending sizes. I didn't get time to photograph, so there are no step by steps. I edged all the elements in gold dabber.

I covered the card in different size stickers from the Seasonal Stickers , but you could easily use the new Seasonal Papers. Stick the tree elements onto the card using glossy Accents ( the mini bottles are in stock now!) . Add a star to the top of the Tree!

Old fashioned, and reminding my DH of Christmas's past ... he has asked for this card for himself!!!

This is the final card in my collection, and I have kind of got into making them this year, so more may come out of this marathon!!

Have a great Sunday, and be Creative!

Hugs



42 days to Christmas!

Today I am off to Cambridge for a workshop tomorrow, and a shopping trip today! Is that Christmas shopping you ask? Of course! lol I certainly won't be shopping for Christmas cards.. I mean I have them, don't I? I have at least 6! and here is the latest one... This is a technique involving masking, and distress inks, and some glitter!

I stamped the Father Christmas image in the middle of the card, and also stamped him on a post it note. Cut out the post it note carefully, and place over the stamped image. Distress ink round the edges of the card, starting with the light colours, and building up to the dark colours gradually. . Remove the post it note, and carefully distress ink the Father Christmas if you want to. I left his face blank.

I then inked up one of Tim's stamps in white Dabber, and inked it lightly round the edges.

Vintage style card!

Have a very creative Saturday

Hugs

43 days to Christmas....

 and I am into number 2 card:))

This was one of the most easiest and most effective cards I have made for ages. I used the Townscapes On the Edge die, and used it a couple of ways for these 2 cards. The first card has a separate piece of gold card cut out and fixed to it. I cut the die from gold card, and literally slid the townscapes over the front of the card, and the negative part of the die is just glued from behind. I did cut off a very small portion of the front of the card to allow the bit of the houses to be there. ( does that make sense?)  Perfect fit ! I added some gold embossed Snowflakes, and Santa's your uncle!

For this card, I actually put the edge of the card through the die and cut. I popped out all the windows and doors. The snow is created by just brushing an embossing ink pad over the tips of the houses and around the bottom and pouring on white embossing powder. Heat. It doesn't have to be perfect! It is snow! lol  I  added a small sliver of gold card to the back. The words are from a die I found at Pickleberry Crafts. Cut out in gold card and white heat embossed for snow. Add a Tim Mini Reindeer in White Snow cap ink, and you have card number 3 of the collection!

I do hope these are inspiring you....Christmas is coming!! lol

Have a very Creative Day

44 days to Christmas...

I had absolutely no idea that Christmas was so near! If you say it quick, then it doesn't seem so near.. does it? 44 days!!! ( I did research this time element , just in case you wondered, and this is the number of days until Christmas day!) My heart is pounding at the thought that I haven't bought any presents, or made my lists.. I make lots of them!! Have you made your cards.. probably.. I never make mine before Christmas Eve, and then they get sent to arrive nearer New Year than Christmas! But I am organised this year! I have made them..ok, I have only made 6! Actually I made them for my Christmas cards with a Twist workshop, and I had great fun doing them too. I have shared two with you already , and I thought I would share a few more with you this week. Then you can be organised like me!! rofl.



This is one of my favourite cards, and was so simple to make. I used the Winter Wonder Alterations die from Mr Holtz, some alcohol inks, a tiny piece of Ten Seconds Studio metal, and a few snowflake stamps from The Artistic Stamper.
Cut out the die from Glossy card, and alcohol ink in light colours. Add a few splodges of blending solution to lighten the colours.
I stamped the snowflakes on the card with Snow Cap Pigment ink onto the snowman.
I made a sandwich of metal with Humungo Tape and card, and cut another snowman and a snowflake out too. Make sure that you cut the snowman exactly the same way as you cut the first one, otherwise the hat will be the wrong way round! I ran both through the Snow Flurries Texture Fades , and in fact did them upside down so the snowflakes were indented rather than raised. A general tip is that the texture fades will emboss upwards if you run it through the machine with the Sizzix words on the fades upwards. I do have a couple that this doesn't work like this, so I would test them first.
I lightly sanded the metal and cut out the hat to fit, and glued on with Glossy Accents.
Attach to the card with foam pads.
I liked the idea that you could make a Christmas card with pink and purple!
Watch this space for another one tomorrow.. at this rate I will have enough cards to send out to my friends :))
Hugs

woyww...the fairy has been...

and whisked my desk into the place where it will be magically tidied up and sent back to me all clean and tidy! Actually it is buried under piles of uncut rubber and last years Christmas tags and more, and really is too disgusting to show you, so instead I have shown you my wall of stamps ( taken with my phone camera, so apologies for the slightly out of focus shot) . These are my stock, so that when anyone orders, I can whisk them into the envelopes or box pronto! It is like having a shop, but sadly it is only stock with no visitors :((((



This week's wonderful insight into those places you never thought you would see is brought to us all by Julia every week on a Wednesday come rain or shine! Never joined in, then you must! I insist!! lol
I am doing a bit of my blatant advertising here today too, and we have a couple of spaces on my Christmas Curio workshop on Sunday at It's Crafting Time just outside Cambridge, and you will get a whole lot to do , and a  wonderful lunch too!



 If you are interested please either call Nina at the shop 01763 262417  or myself on 01795 531860. We would love to see you there:))
I did manage a few of the woyyw desks last week, and aim to do more this week...so see you at your place :))
Hugs