257 WOYWW

In a bit of a rush, head needs sorting to get myself ready.  In the meantime here are a couple of cards made during the tail end of last week

This is a birthday card, with an acetate overlay and some vellum for a friend who is having a birthday.  I don't think she comes on my blog.  

and this is one that my friend in America showed me how to do following a class with Hero Arts that she took.

Now I have softened the blow of you not seeing anything on my workdesk this is it.  An overhead shot (I am tall and have long arms) of my getting ready to spend a few days with my lovely friend Liz in Nottingham.

That is my tiny polymer clay kit ready to go.  I hope I have got everything we need in it.  The temptation was to put all bar the kitchen sink in, I think I have been very restrained.  Don't you?  Can't wait to spend a few days with Liz, claying around and drinking wine hopefully.  You might get some piccies another day.

I may not get to you until weekend but if you visit me I will visit you back, providing I have no glitches on your blogsite.  It will help if you can put your number so I can link direct - I often have to give up if you have not given a number and you have several sites. 

See you around at Julia's later.  Happy WOYWW week.

256 WOYWW

Yep, we are creeping up to the time we will all be swapping atc's again - and I still have not made a single one!  Still on with that project which has been sticking to my fingers like treacle.  Was going great guns today when the other half shouted for me to go to the shops - never got back to it did I? Been there?

Well, on Saturday I went to Ellesmere to see my lovely friend Hazel (Horseshoe Crafts) as she was having an Open Weekend.  What a lovely couple of hours I spent there - and there were lots of Makes and Takes to do but I only did three as t'other half was sitting reading a paper and eating delicious cake in the refreshment room next door along with a few other crafting widowers.

Here are the three I made

and despite saying I was not buying stamps this year I got this one as I once got a card made with this stamp and I am trying to remember how it was put together - but I know I liked it when I got it.

as for the card ,,,

Well you will have to wait a while before I get around to making it.  Project to finish, polymer clay to get out ... but more of that next week (if I get chance to post).

After we left Hazel we went to the Red Lion which is just down the road from the Town Hall and had a fabulous lunch.  Check Trip Advisor for fab reviews.  A good excuse to support Hazel next time she has one of these weekends and get a fabulous meal at a very reasonable price into the bargain.  (The desserts sounded gorgeous but we were too full to order - maybe next time)

Now what are you up to?  I assume you are a WOWWY'er or you probably would not be here.  Pop along to see what others have been doing this week - visit Julia!

Artful Times Challenge 54 - Make a Badge, Button or Brooch

This week the Challenge is to "Make a badge, button or brooch, as long as it is fastened with a pin". This is what I made

and the reason for my hand being in the shot - to prove it has a pin on the back.  

I used Shrink Plastic for the face, cutting a circle and stamping the image on.  I then coloured the back so it would not be overly pink (it was translucent)  and made some tiny holes in the top where I wanted to put the wire.  Next hit it with the heat gun (not literally) and shrunk it.  

Then I got various colours of wire and twirled them around a cocktail stick and wove them into the holes for her hair.  That's it!  A pin on the back and it was finished.

Why not pop along to Artful Times and see what the others have done - am sure you will be delighted with their makes before you embark on your entry - there are lots of things you can use as a base - I might even do another with a bottle cap!

Go on you know you want to make something - Give it a Go!

WOYWW 255

Here we are again showing our desks and what we are up to (or in some cases what we have recently made - Not Here sadly still making) or should I say "A meeting of friends brought together through the wonderful Queen of Bloggers, Julia."

Well, motivation has eluded me again but I am hoping that later, or as it is turned midnight should it be tomorrow - oh heck I am all confused -  I will get on with something I am making with my envelope maker so here is my desk.

all tidied up from yesterday.

I am using my iPad to help me make something but I took the page off so you couldn't see it yet (sneaky).

Last week I got a wonderful surprise package in the post.  Can you see the black and white box on the left?  It is an envelope box beautifully made by Sam(ski).  I love it and normally it will sit on the coffee table but I just had to have it with me for inspiration.  Inside she had given me a selection of notecards and matching envelopes using her Gelli Plate.  Now until I got these I did not want one.  Now ...  I rest my case.  Want to see?

Wish you could all see and touch them, they are really beautiful and yes, this is posed, but I just had to share.  Can you see the little notebook in the top left as well.  I am so lucky to have Sam as a friend. Thanks for cheering me up Sam.

If you go to the photograph above this one you will see my docking station which was my 'teaser' for you a few weeks ago.  How you missed it I will never know.  But ... one person did guess it the second week and that was the lovely Shaz from Oz.  It was a birthday present from my friend Lorraine, I was so surprised to open it but, as she said, her ambition is to bring me into the current century.  

Well, what have you got on your desk?  Pop along to see Julia and find out how many others have joined in this week and what they are all up to.  I guess most of them are getting the atc's done ready for the mammoth swap.  Must get some work done and then I can get on with mine.  Take care.  See you!

BLOG GIVEAWAY WINNER

As mentioned in my WOYWW Post to celebrate my birthday I was giving away one Tim Holtz die - ie

to a lucky winner.

And the Lucky Winner is

Sarah Anderson!  Well done Sarah, let me have your address and I will get the die in the post to you.

Here is my desk showing the lucky winner's name that was drawn from a hat with all the names scattered on  my mat after the draw to prove everyone went in.

Sarah's name is on my envelope maker

WOYWW 254

No creativity to show you here today.  I am working on something for someone who has just celebrated (yes, I am late) a Silver Wedding so I don't want to spoil it by showing you where I am up to now - until it is finished.

Did have to finish off a card before lunch and just 'enveloped' it without scanning or anything so am afraid I cannot even show you that.  This is the aftermath - nothing much as I tidied up as I went along.

But wait ...  

What lurks on my cutter?  It's my prize - a lovely stamp of a bicycle and the words "live your dream" by Unity Stamp Company sent to me courtesy of April.  Just arrived today so no chance to use it as yet but hopefully I will do something with it before next week.  I am so pleased I won the stamp the other week.  Don't you just love the little character April sent along to make sure the stamp arrived safely? thank you so much April!

Right, keeping it short and sweet today just how our glorious leader (Julia) likes it.  Before I go however, I have kept forgetting to say what the new thing was that appeared on my desk - well, Shaz in Oz was able to spot it - nobody else did - it was my new Docking Station.  A birthday gift from my friend Lorraine.  I should say a "well used birthday gift" as it keeps me buzzing all day when I am in my stamp room.

Off to J's now so see you there for more desk hopping.

ps do you like my little folded down bin that Jo made me - top left?

Spray Away with Artful Times

Well, the challenge this next two weeks is for you to get out those sprays.  I have oodles of them and bought some new Dylusion ones at Port Sunlight from Ali-Craft but haven't opened them up yet.

At weekend when I was working for Oyster Stamps the lovely Tracey had some new products - sprays by Lindly's Stamp Gang which is what I am using today.  My friend Mary stocks these in America, she knew Lindy and this year got Carole to take me to introduce me to Lindy's two daughters who have carried on the business since Lindy so sadly died.  If you like Mica - you will love these sprays.  They do have some fabulous products and are popular in the USA.

Do they clog up?  Was asked this question a few times on Sunday but I was honest and said I didn't know as I had only used them over the two days.  Now, five days later I have taken them down from the shelf and used them - no clogging!  So what did I do?  I stamped and diecut some flowers and then put some of them on wires so they waved gently as you move the box.

Another box from WRMK

trying to let you see the mica

This time I cut a hole in again, put some card behind with hares stamped on and some little chicks fussy cut across the base.  This is for my friend's little girl for Easter.

Those are the two sprays I used (from the pink and the blue set) and this was my attempt to let you see the mica left behind on the cardstock after spraying the flowers.  Loved how it puddled in the middle of the card so had a real good spray afterwards to get a deep colour on my cardstock.

This looks much better irl and I am going to use it to cover a book I want to make.  Here's another shot - love those runs

I took oodles of photographs of the card but won't bore you with them all.  It really is a gorgeous colour but has to be seen to be appreciated.  Photographs just do not do those sprays justice.

Anyway, why not pop over to Artful Times and see what the ladies have done - you will love their work.  Then get your sprays out whilst the weather is condusive and spray spray spray away.

WRMK Gift Box Maker, Lindy's Srays, Heartfelt Creations Dies and matching Rubber Stamp all from Oyster Stamps.