Clean and Simple

Over on Artful Times if you are a regular you will notice that the thumbnail has disappeared.  From now on you just link in with your name.  Sorry about that but there are reasons as to why this decision was finally reached.  I do hope it does not put any of our regulars off.

Anyway, you will notice that the challenge is for "Clean and Simple" which is very much like what those who enter the Less is More challenges are used to doing.

I did, originally intend to do a canvas with something bright and colourful in the centre of it but time ran away with me and I ended up doing a card instead.  I have had two workshops to prepare for and one has stuck with me doing endless samples and not being overjoyed with any of them.  Still that is another story for another time.

This is the card I made

Maybe a bit too clean and simple for some of you.

The lady (old stamp) was stamped and cut out with an extra pair of legs from the knee downwards.  A circle was cut in the main card and I used the trellis die from Memory Box (obtainable from Oyster Stamps) to cut out the background which was then adhered to the inside.  Marilyn, as I call her (reminds me a bit of Miss Monroe) was then stuck so she appears to be sitting on the edge of the circle.  Her extra legs were stuck on with sticky pads.

I do think it calls for a sentiment of some kind in the bottom left but until I know who is going to be the recipient of this card I have left it VERY Clean and Simple.  It does look better irl as you then see the open circle with just the lattice on it.

Hope you join us at Artful Times.

ps I may not be commenting during the week as I am away but will catch up on the Sunday hopefully.

WOYWW 203

Short and sweet again this week - Ms Julia will be so pleased with me - am I earning Brownie points?

So busy, still the workshop samples for Vicky are not going well.  I am not one bit happy with them and I am way behind doing any for next week's crafting week away with friends.  Got to have them both ready for Sunday - and packed.

Well, next week I am away with sewing friends so here is my desk as is

Yes, my sewing machine has come out of hibernation - I really need to spend more time with it than I have over the last year.  I have done some laminating ready for next week when they will be doing some polymer clay tiles with me but that is about it I am afraid.  If only Chas would take over cooking as well as his usual washing up (bless).

Hopefully I will join you next week from my abode in Shrewsbury - where the weather forecast is not great - and be a little less frazzled than I am now.  In the meantime can I direct you to other WOYWW'ers at the Stamping Ground and see what they are up to.

If I get chance I will show you someone who has come to stay for a couple of weeks with us and is coming with me on my 'girly week away' so keep an eye out for her.  If I get around to it she will be above this post some time soon.

WOYWW 202

Short and Sweet this week.  Have a workshop coming up which is using polymer clay so have been digging out all my old stuff as the theme is "Trash to Treasure".  Those ladies are going to bless me when they come to condition it (not).  Here it is:

Nothing else to show you, have not been very productive but if you look closely you can see a pendant I made a long time ago when I did my first canes.  I have just got around to glazing it - centre right. Even though it is very simple it is one of my favourite pieces (think it is the colour).

Here is the centre of one of the tulips my son and his partner bought me at Easter - just had to take a photo.

isn't Nature wonderful?

Now hop along to WOYWW and see what treats you can find on the desks of others.  Maybe some inspiration, maybe some tips - you never know until you go there.

Masks and/or Stencils

Over at Artful Times Von has asked us to use either Masks or Stencils or a combination of both.  Now I do not get on with the TH masks that you can buy.  I only tried one and it stuck hard and fast to my card and took the top off when I actually removed it.  I haven't tried since.

Consequently I am using a couple of Dylusion Stencils here:

Apart from noticing it is a bit wonky because I scanned it in my book (my Pan Pastel one) you might notice that the stencilling is not quite the same as the stencil I bought.  I tried to match up the one in the bottom right hand corner and extend it to make a different shape. Similarly I did the same with the other one.  Both are done using Pan Pastels and both are done using just what was left on the sponge from last time I used green and last time I used one of the browns.  I loved the "mucky" colours they produced.

I enjoy doing this kind of journalling as I can keep adding to it and I already have ideas for when I get a certain rubber stamp as to what else is being added - you might see this again - altered a little.

Then I heard about a tragic accident that someone had had so decided to make her a "thinking of you" card and used some of my cut out bits from my die cutting on the corners.

I've put the two "home made stencils" alongside the card - the butterflies go up on the inside left in a bit of a flurry to add some interest.  The corners are self-explanatory.  I love using stencils like this - left over bits from die cutting.

Wonder what you will do?

WOYWW 201 and Don't Get Ideas in Your Head

At least not ideas that you will do a bit of tidying/downsizing.  I got myself in a right pickle and only threw out one small bin full of stuff. Made very little room for anything and this was what I have to face this morning - after Monday's attempt to make some room in my craft room for my new stuff.  Most of the day you note! (Was busy all day yesterday helping my son to sort something out).  Too tired last night to start again in here.

Welcome Sue Sarah and Gill - my newest followers, will tidy up and get some work done for you to see - promise.

This is my desk - or the little workspace I usually have (recognise the messy mat that found its way back on my desk?).

To the right of it

further to the right

now left of centre one

further left

Not even started on the ground floor level (or the floor) and what is above?  I give up!  What about all you others out there who follow WOYWW - are your rooms tidier?  Follow the link to find out!

A Total Air Head

That's Me!  Just in case you did not know already.  Read on.

Worked Leigh Show over the weekend for my favourite people, Oyster Stamps, and  it was mad busy on Saturday so Tracy who was demoing the NEW Spellbinders Artisan X-Plorer was so busy helping take cash that the machine was not getting seen.  In shot "I" to the rescue (that was my excuse) and snaffled it and set off on my table using it.  Fell in love with it - now known as "my baby" - and ended up demoing it all weekend  Guess what now sits on my desk at home?

It is an ideal machine for anyone who has a problem with turning the handle on a die-cutter but doesn't want an electric one and it is ideal for children (Chloe will love it and find it easy to turn, can't wait for her to come and see).  Despite its 4.5 inch wide footprint it can cut most of the thin dies and we found that it cuts beautifully the ones that you normally have problems with and have to cut, turn, cut, turn several times.

Of course, that is as well as it being primarily used to cope with the heavier jobs - it cuts metal and fabric - or at least it did for me last night - and Tracy cut chipboard with it last week (a very tiny bird at that).

The "Air Head" title comes from the fact that I was so enthusiastic about the two main products I was demoing that when I got home on Saturday evening, despite being a bit achey I set to and made a poster, adding a flower I had cut from Fabric, one from Shrink Plastic, one from Metal and on from thick Cardstock.  Nothing air headed about that you say.  No, next morning I left it and another one in the utility room!  Along with my list of dies I own, inks I own, etc etc - so much for non-duplication!  Have now got two of two PaperArtsy Fresco Paints.  You can see the paper on the photo above.

As well as the wonderful new Spellbinders machine I was using the Radiant Rain sprays.  Now to be honest sprays do not like me and I do not like them.  I have a tin overflowing with different makes and they all drive me up the pole with clogging.  I soak the nozzle, the 'straw' that connects the top to the liquid overnight but still they won't behave for me.

Five favourites 

BUT ... Radiant Rain sprays were used all two days by us and I fell in love with them.  The sparkle (and I am not a sparkle person) is fabulous, subtle, but very much there, lovely colours which mix (Sour Lemon and Teal Zircon or Bashful Blue made my favourite green). Tracy loved the sparkle and we enjoyed showing one another what we could do.  I think we ended up, with three colours only, left in the box and that was after I had raided the boxes under the table to stock up again and again.

Now I am going to make some cards using the ones I brought home.

As well as enjoying my time with my favourite family (the 'Oyster' one and the others who come with them to this show) I got to see my friend Ali from Ali-Craft who always has things to tempt me on her stand.  Bless her, she had brought the Dylusion Sprays I ordered in January and forgot about and I just had to buy some Artistic Outpost Stamps.  Check her website here as she has oodles of them and I don't know who else sells them.  Had to buy some PaperArtsy paints from her as well.

Over the weekend several friends called and some I managed to have a word with, apologies to those I was too busy to talk to but it was nice to see you.  As for you my dear Reader/Follower I do say check out the products I have been demoing - I am sure you will like them.

Maybe tomorrow I will get chance to use one or two of my new dies - and who knows - make a card as well.  We'll have to wait and see.

WOYWW 200

Oh Julia, do you realise, of course you do, you have now got to a double century, in number, of posts of WOYWW.  Congratulations!  and Hi WOYWW'ers who are out there.  Happy Day!

Ok, so some folks might think I have lost it, follow the above link and see who else has.

My desk today - well, busy doing prep for a workshop so this is it.  No time to stop and chat either so that will please you all as you are busily visiting others.

Yes, I have been die-cutting - and used my Vagabond for quick results plus I wanted to cut out in mount board.  Had to wheel it in - here is my die cutting station that sits outside (unless we have visitors when it is hastily wheeled in again or if I am wanting to use one of the two machines it holds).

top left - Cuttlebug, top right Vagabond, centre embossing folders.  Middle shelf plates for CB plus my small plates for my Grand Calibur, Vintaj dies.  Bottom shelf my Memory Box, Cheery Lynne etc dies in one of those fab Art Bin cases plus a big box of ephemera.

See you next week!