WOYWW

Well, to be honest all that is on my workdesk today is my Advent House.  Windows done up to yesterday, the 14th and, because I am busy looking for more wooden figures to put inside, I am hoping someone will upload me to the wonderful Ms Dunnit's blog so that I can take part before I head back home.

The figures Jo got me in Lunenburg were fabulous (my favourite is the Santa I added to window 5 (which is why I have uploaded it again) and so here I am in Dusseldorf seeing if I can get any more.  If my quest fails I have ordered some over the internet but as I had to send a cheque and they say orders can take 10 days to process I don't hold out much hope of getting them in time.  Check out the wonderful laser cut buttons they do anyway - be warned you will find you NEED some - http://www.customlaser.co.uk  Enough chatter - here are my windows to date:

Number nine was the Spatter Technique (I use an old toothbrush) and I added Cinderella's Golden Slipper to the window.

Ten was Twinkling H2o's on Mulbery paper and the little angel was a button which I placed on a travel domino.

Number 11 was Dry Embossing (recognise the Swiss Dots Folder) and here is another of Jo's little gifts to me.  Isn't that a lovely little tree?

Twelve was my son's favourite when he came yesterday.  Shooting stars which I covered with Rock Candy to make them glisten.  The background is where you crumple paper and then smoosh an inkpad over, recrumple and then put another over and then iron afterwards (encaustic iron obviously).

Thirteen is a bit dark.  You might just about be able to see the number - it is the Joseph's Coat technique and I was surprised at how good my brayering was.  Thought I couldn't brayer but did well with this.  Another of Jo's little figures.

One of my favourite techniques - Caught in Crystal.  Just used a buckle and put one of those sticky dome things over the number for the dimensional bit on this one.

And now for a repeat of number 5 from last post but this time with the Santa on - isn't he just great?

Hope you are enjoying the windows - also that I get some good wooden figures for the other windows.

Not Done Any More Yet ...

... but am determined to finish them all.

In the meantime here is where I am up to:

Tag number 9 was a handmade rosette as I do not have the die, nor the tinsel - did try to find some but not at all lucky.  Enjoyed dong the rosette though and will no doubt make some more.

  

I just love this technique Tim came up with for no 10.  Will adopt this for some cards next year (which I will make before this New year so I remember).  Had to use a Spellbinders die for the snowman and I think he looks rather good with his hat blowing off.

Now to tackle the ones I haven't done as yet.  Hmmm....

A Few More Tim Type Tags

Been busy entertaining, going for tests, sending cards out etc etc but have also managed to fit in one or two more of Tim'sTags.  Not done them all as I found my improvisation skills were lacking in some areas and I now to sit and have a good think at what I can do to improvise.

Here is what I have done to date:

No faceted things so I used one of my Fragments and did the same technique.  Had to add individual gemstones/pearls as that is all I have.

This was one of my favourites.  I love the utee over the metal numbers.  Used a Spellbinders die and made my own tissue tape type stuff.

Had nothing at all to do this one, used a CB folder, a wooden deer and again made my own music. I didn't think it would look as good as it does as I thought the deer was rather "wooden" (no pun intended) but was pleased with the end result.  Now awaiting those deer dies!

Used a CB folder again for this - did find my Rock Candy and loved the effect - used one of Leandra's dies for the poinsettia and used a different Grungeboard swirl.  Looks fine to me though.

Left the next one out as I don't have a mask and need to make my own - no time.  Will upload the two that follow another day as I think you have had enough for one day.  Love the clear packaging technique though - more another day.

Been Busy

Well, still got my Christmas cards to write and must get them in the post as cards have started arriving here.  This task has been hanging around far too long because I keep being side-tracked by other things that I want to do.  Must get some semblance of cleaning done today as well as baking - we are having visitors tomorrow.  Methinks a quick flick of the duster by himself is in order (dust is not helping my chest so I can't do it can I?).

Anyway, I have been trying (and the emphasis is on the word "trying") to do some of Mr TH's tags again this year.  I was so chuffed I did them last year and so pleased with the results but this year has been a different story.

I set off with such good intentions but had so little of the items needed to complete.  Improvise!  Definitely the word of the week is "improvise" - I have had to do.  Anyway, here are the first three:

There's a reason for my doing them on cd's - had an idea for displaying them differently to last year's but the shape and size is not proving easy to work with. Ah well, no time to start over so as I am improvising so much it is not that much harder to work in this way.

Apologies if you don't think they look at all like the Masters but I am trying my best.   I thought I had loads of TH stuff - just goes to show - help - I need a Vagabond and all of his dies!  Santa!

In the meantime will link it to Jennie - why don't you link yours?

Done Up To Number Eight

Yesterday I finished off compartment number 8 in my Advent House which has been the Project I have whittled on about.  Until I got the front of the House ready I did not want to upload it and yesterday Jo's parcel arrived with some tiny wooden decorations in which I can now add to what I had managed to find myself.  The ones Jo sent me are gorgeous - thanks Jo - what it is to have a friend like her.

It was Jo who first reminded me that I had this Tiddlywinks Kit perched high on a shelf (for the past two years) waiting to be assembled as she had found one done by the creative Lucy Edmondson.  Jo had downloaded a picture of Lucy's Advent House and was showing it to a group of us at Vicky Stampers because we are also in Katy's Corner along with Lucy.  Lucy has done a terrific job, not a clue where she managed to get all the tiny things she has included in hers but I decided that I did not want to look at it and be influenced by what she had done.  So I have kept away but will Google her and find it so that I can give you the link.

Back to mine - first of all I painted it with cream acrylic paint, smudged it with Rusty Hinge and my Gold Dabber, then assembled it. Next I cut small rectangles to fit in all the compartments from various pieces of Christmas paper just to fill it up and stop it looking so bare.  The idea I had was to do a different technique in each one but I don't know if I will come up with 24 of them.

Anyway, here it is:

Behind the laser cuts at the top I have put a piece of acrylic which has been dabbed with Alcohol Inks so that when I put the flickering candles (battery operated) it will shine through like a stainglass window.  Because you can see the little notches where the pieces slot into one another I decided that a bit of Metalwork was the order of the day.  

Two borders later, a bit of Alcohol Ink to tone it down and that was done.  A bit more laser cut stuff on the front, some Shrinking Plastic on the chimney and it was ready to start being decorated.

Day 1 - Just a plain stamped background with some pieces stuck over to represent a window pane.  The little girl and her cat is a wooden button that I happened to have (the number 1 covers the holes) and I sat it on a travel domino rug.  (These rectangles are approximately 1 1/2" x 1 3/4" - quite minute)

Day 2 - (sorry about the blurred image - taken 3 times - gave up) is a "bubble" background with some snowflakes stamped on.  The card with the number on has just some hand drawn holly on and one of those bubble things over the stamped number.

Day 3 - is an Alcohol Inked background with a stag stamped on and a die cut number.  It might have something else put inside the compartment at a later date depending on how many things I can get that are small enough.

Day 4 - Perfect Pearls over a Versamark stamped image and a tag for the number today.  Again a diecut number.

Day 5 - just some gold embossing - both for the holly down the side and the number.  I thought a bit of colour was needed so used my gel pens to colour the holly in a little.

Day 6 - shows a marbled background - you know the kind with shaving foam and reinkers.  The number is a style-stone I have had lying about for ages, thought it rather an appropriate subject for this project.

Day 7 - Alcohol Inks on acetate (Lettuce & Butterscotch).  Some behind the birdcage and some in the back of the compartment.  The stamp used says "peace as fragile ..." and the number is one of those that has clear gel over it.

Day 8 - the last one for the moment - is a Distress Ink background (Rusty Hinge and Tumbled Glass) and I have used a little bell I had with a diecut number on it.

That's it for the time being.  Now to decide what to do with those goodies Jo sent me and think up some more backgrounds.  Will post in about a week with the next ones.

Am now including it in the Christmas Countdown Challenge on Created By Hand Challenge Blog thanks to Robyn.

Don't forget to check out Lucy's gorgeous Advent House and whilst you are there look at her other amazing work.

It's Wednesday Again!

Time is going much too fast and I am going much too slow.  Do not seem to be getting anywhere, doing anything and am way behind on Christmas.  In fact today I got my family cards off to Australia - a day late - and it was pure luck that I realised I must be near the final posting date!!

Am not in the mood at all for the festivities, by now the tree is usually up and dressed but I don't think that is going to happen at all this year.  Might manage one or two little bits but that will be about it.  Must get some ingredients for a Christmas cake (what now?) and douse it in spirits to try to make it seem as if it has been soaking a while.

Anyway, spurred on by the posting of international cards I got what I had made out and began sorting through, deciding who is going to get what.  Sorry folks - that is all that is on my desk today.  Bet when I begin my snooping around on everyone's desks in a short while I will find that they are full of festive cheer and far more organised than I am.  What am I on about?

Take a trip over to The Stamping Ground - see what Ms Dunnit has been doing and then click on some of the links below her posting. Surprising what goodies you will find.

Am hoping I can upload some photos of my project tomorrow - all depends on my skill with the camera (that's a laugh).  Hope all you WOYWW'ers are having a great day - thanks for visiting.

And The Winner Is ....

The winner of the Lisa Pavelka DVD is ..... drum roll ....

Sam21Ski

Please let me have your addie and I will get it in the post to you. Well Done!  Hope you enjoy and look forward to seeing some of the techniques in the dvd on your blog!

Not sure what the weather is like in the rest of the country but it is pretty bleak here - freezing fog seems to be the order of the day again.  Looking out of the window I cannot see very far but where the snow has been taken off the ground it is black ice by the look of things.  Trust me to have an early morning appointment!

Well, I am getting on with my project - not enough to show you anything yet - and because of my not being able to go to Vicky Stampers I haven't got the things Jo brought me back from Germany so am trying to find things to use.

Did some flowers (per LB) but cannot find my hot glue gun so held up for sticking the layers together so cannot show you those either.

In the meantime here is a birthday card I made for a friend who had a birthday last week.  yes, it is using that same image again!

It's a middle step card and I have two images of the same young girl which I was able to use and then a scenic one for the back step.  The paper is some my friend Alison bought me - gorgeous isn't it?  I used my felt tip pens for the centre image but my Promarkers for the other two.