WOYWW 288

Thank you to Krisha and to Annie (Wipso) for the delightful cards which popped through my letterbox.  Nearly ready to post mine.

Cannot believe that it is so close to the Big Day itself.  Now getting in a real panic mode.  Typing this out Tuesday night as I am uploading some photos of Christmas Cards I have done - yeah - almost finished!  In fact I probably will have some left over so there will be a good start to next year as well. Must remember to keep sets of cards together and not split them or I could be sending the same ones out to the same people next year.  Just one or two 'special' ones to do now - the other half, my GP (who is lovely with me) and my son.

So this is a view of what is in my craft/stamping room - which is being abandoned at the moment

This is Chloe's card - still waiting for some words - must find something suitable.

there are quite a few of these girly ones

I like these three blue ones - all folds

The end one needs a poinsettia yet

Nearly forgot these three

So that is my neglected desk in my craft room as it stood last night - whist I tried to do a mail merge on the computer for addresses.  Pages no longer supports mail merging - what the .......  can you believe it?

So this is my desk this morning - I am in the utility room - got some sewing to do.  Making a cape for Chloe and altering a skirt for myself.  Chloe's cape is Black with a pink lining (although I bet she wears it the other way around, she loves pink) and my skirt is too big.

Don't think I have been losing weight, I wanted this skirt from M&S but kept on thinking I would make one - even bought some fabric.  Didn't!  Then found they had all sold out.  I found this one but it was a size 20 so I bought it and took it in but didn't take enough in so now I am doing it all over again.  If Annie saw how I am doing it she would scold me something rotten.

Now the confession is over go and see what others are confessing and showing on their work desks today.  Visit Julia, our Queen of Desks for the list of where you can go.

Artful Times Challenge 70 Wrapping Paper

Wendy chose "Design your own sheet of wrapping paper" for our final challenge of the year.  As usual I was last minute with it, had an idea in my head and was reasonably happy with the result until the other half looked at it with obvious disapproval.  Well, "like it or lump it" as they say, he will find his Christmas present wrapped up in it.

I just used some copy paper and scrumpled it all up and then undid it and swiped all over with Brilliance Peacock Ink pad (tri-colour greens and blues).  Then I scrumpled it all again, opened it up and went over with the Brilliance Gold.  Then the iron came out next day and I smoothed it out on the wrong side.  Next I stamped some tiny holly leaves in black because nothing else seemed to be showing and went over the berries with some red Stickles.  Still not jolly enough for himself so I went around each holy leaf and the centre vein with a green Gel Pen.  "Needs red" says he, so I stamped some words in Red Rocket and said "told you it wouldn't show'.  Here it is:

Feeling a bit more like trying again this morning I took a large, really big, sheet of paper and my Brilliance Jade Green ink pad (what's all this with Brilliance all of a sudden?) and stamped these images in a brickwork pattern all over.

Sorry about the photo but I guess Brilliance and a bright utility light don't work very well.  This was the best of the bunch.

I lined the stamps up (you need stamps of similar size, I messed up with the snowflakes) and stamped them in order, moving two along to the other end after each row.  Didn't take too long to do but it kept wanting to roll up so masking tape was the order of the day.

He liked this one - still not bright though for me this time.  Wonder what Wendy has done?  Wonder what you will do, and whose gifts will be wrapped in your own paper.  Hurry over to Artful Times and join us with this challenge - please.

In the meantime I would like to thank those of you who have joined in with the challenges during 2014, special thanks to Sam for helping out and always being there when I was down - and to Wendy for coming along and joining in.  Two good friends!  And now:

Here's my "C" card for you all

Merry Christmas!

WOYWW 287

I just cannot believe how quickly the days are going at the moment.  I think my feet are stuck in treacle the whole time - well something is happening as I do not seem to get any closer to being ready for Christmas.

Went to the Christmas Market in Manchester on Friday with my friend Paul, it was lovely to see him as we haven't met up for a while.  Photos lower down in my blog.

Anyway, I am here to show you my desk, aren't I?  Yesterday I actually made four Christmas cards - I now have a grand total of six ready.  I am sure if I get going in earnest I will reach double figures before long.  You might just about be able to see the four on the right hand side and two on the left.

Now I am hoping to make some flowers and I have my EBosser out, I have cut some ordinary flowers out in the hope that I can have a stash for after Christmas.  

The cards on the right are using a stamp that my friend Lorraine chose out of my old stamp box and it just didn't get put away.  I really like what I did but I am waiting for the berries to dry as I used quite a bit of Stickles, in red, on them.

Well, that is it for today, I must get on so it's toodle pip from me and I hope you all go and visit Julia in her craft room and see who else has called in and bared their desks for you to see.  If Shaz in Oz calls in she should be able to see my new crafty baby, Monkey - and look who has come down from her usual perch to sit with him - it's Katie Koala.

If Eliza (Yoda's mum) doesn't get on here today she says "Hi, Julia, and everyone else" - she's been busy at work and driving her truck around to get presents and things for the needy.  Bless her, she is never still.

The Great (Caring) British Public (not)

Today I was on the Metro travelling from Manchester to Bury and witnessed what a caring public we have - NOT!  A lady boarded the tram with one of those walking machines that have a seat on allowing the user to sit whenever necessary.  There are designated places on the tram for disabled people to sit and to park their wheelchairs/walkers.  The tram was rather full and the space for a wheelchair user was taken up with a young woman and her pushchair. One could argue that the pram could not fit elsewhere as there is no room apart from there but no apology was given to the disabled lady and the two men who stood leaning, where she could have parked her trolley and sat, occupied themselves looking at their phones.  For 25 minutes?  Really? The lady had to stand all the way holding on to the overhead rail and her trolley whilst the tram lurched from side to side.  Should she have said something? Should I have said something?

The sign I have got in my photograph applies to the two seats underneath it - give up for disabled, elderly people - occupied by two elderly ladies who vacated the train halfway through the journey but the seat was immediately taken by two young women.  Perhaps the disabled lady was invisible to all except me!  Or does this just sum up what a selfish nation we have become? Merry Christmas, Goodwill to All Men!

Anyway, now I have got that off my chest I will show you some photographs of the lovely half day I had with my friend Paul in Manchester. Here he is just before we entered the ginnel (because I like the faces etc on the archway.

and here is a closeup of what caught my eye. Look at all the tools around the edge and inside were all manner of carvings. Must go back with my camera and take better shots some time.

The Christmas Markets were mega busy - that is the cathedral in the background

The singing tree (above) in St Ann's Square treated us to "Oh Tannenbaum" whilst the one on the corner in Albert Square was collecting donations for Macmillan Nurses.

and this one, in Spinningfields, is self explanatory

These chalets were also in Spinningfields and a welcome resting place with a hot drink (chocolate or Gluhwein?) especially if it turns to rain - or worse - before Christmas Eve.  This is also where the ice rink is and the helter skelter which Paul threatened to put me on.

On our way back to the tram we walked along Market Street and saw this real live man (he acknowledged some money being put into his box so he was real).  Now how do you think he managed to do this? People were feeling beneath him - there was nothing there.  I think I will leave you with this puzzle.

Linking this to Annie's Friday Smile as I had a lovely time seeing Paul, lots of laughter and smiles all round, even though I was a little cross on the tram home.

ps liked these two printed pieces of fabric in a shop window thought Annie might like them too.

WOYWW 286

Oh dear, I have not been a very good blogger.  Meant to put some cards up that I did last week - also meant to include some photos from the Knit and Stitch Show - instead - nothing!  So quickly, here's an easel card I made for a friend who needed a bit of cheering up

and one for a friend who had a birthday

I was trying out my Sunflower Die that day!

Here is my desk, believe it or not.  Won't be like that for much longer as my friend Lorraine is coming over - and we are going to craft.  Must fly, need to get a meal cooked, a girl's gotta eat hasn't she?

Before you go, pop along to see Julia here and see what others are offering this fair morning.  Oh, and if you are the Tracey who left me a comment on the 13th - sorry, I just cannot get into your blog - did try, honest!  Over two weeks.

Artful Times Challenge - A Triptych

For our challenge over on Artful Times this week we have chosen a Triptych.  (NO matter how many times I type that word I transpose the 'y' and the 'i') and I chose these stamps for my rendition.  Then I realised it was "cute" and we don't do cute on Artful Times so I had to start over.

These are a set of three stamps I was given by my friend Mary over in the USA.  They are wood mounted and she had them bequeathed her and let me have them because I liked them so much. I stamped the images and then spent ages enjoying colouring in.  You know how sometimes you just want to sit, listen to the radio and chill - well that is what I did, with Promarkers to hand.  I am no colourist but I did enjoy myself.

As that was 'cute' I set to and made this one for the blog

Cheating somewhat I just used a script stamp on the background but I did like these lady pictures that I had in my stash and they lent themselves to cameo shapes.  Below is the outside of the triptych with Spellbinders Parisian motifs on.

Then to hold it closed there is a lace garter

Wendy and I are off to Harrogate for a couple of days, leaving the men to sort themselves out, which means this post has to be scheduled as we won't be back in time.

Please think about entering our challenge, no prizes at the moment but you can get our Blinkie and have fun in sharing your Triptych if you are a winner.

A New Home Card

This is my card for my friends Wendy and Peter who have recently moved into their new home along with their menagerie of cats.  Wendy and Peter used to live in mid-Wales and they seemed to be the ones who attracted lots of ferrel cats.  Being animal lovers (and soft hearted but don't tell her I said that, Wendy would hate to be described that way I am sure) they have adopted several cats, or have the cats adopted them?

I was quite concerned when they moved a long way away and, rightly so in my opinion, took the cats with them.  Anyway, things have turned out for the best and the cats have settled into their new homes, none of them packing a spotted handkerchief on a stick and battling their way back to Wales. They know when they have it 'cushy' don't they.

Oh gosh, I digress so much - here is the card I made for Wendy and Peter, both keen gardeners and with a beautiful garden to potter about in:

It's an easel card and I have broken out the Promarkers for it plus made some flowers to go on for added interest.  Just hope they like it.