Saturday 30 September 2017

Carpe Diem: A Quick Sky Background

A super speedy tag to share today as I am setting off very early with my crafty friend to make it to Llandudno by 10am for the WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday) annual crop.

Friday 29 September 2017

A challenging set of Prompts

This page was created for the September challenge on Mission Inspiration with guest controller Peg Adkins Robinson.  Eight steps, three suggested colours (Potting Soil, Vermillion, Aquamarine) and a choice of five words to inspire.  I went with 'Vision' and found a quote which certainly fit the challenge: 'Hold the vision.  Trust the process.'

Thursday 28 September 2017

Art Journal Play on Words

The prompt for challenge 36 on Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art was Fungi/Mushrooms and the required colours were pink, green and chocolate.  As I had just used the only picture that I had of a mushroom on another art journal page, I was forced to be a little more creative.  I also didn't want to repeat myself too much.

Wednesday 27 September 2017

WOYWW 434: So Excited!

On Saturday it will finally be time to meet up with many of our fellow deskers for the WOYWW crop in Llandudno; for more information visit the chief desker Julia over at the Stamping Ground, where far more desks than these may be visited.  My crafty friend and I spent much of our weekly craft session discussing what we would be taking with us; how many bags would be required and whether we would actually get much crafting done or spend most of the time meeting, greeting and gossiping!  I am really late linking up today even though this post was prepared yesterday;  I seem to have a hundred things to do, so apologies in advance if I don't get to visit many desks this week.
My side of the desk shows the start of a journal page; the first layer is an alcohol ink background on glossy card.  This was followed up with distress paint added with a natural sponge as the second step is to paint without a brush.  Not long after the photo was taken I laid the page aside to dry naturally as step 4 was to create a resist with a gel medium (or in my case clear embossing paste) through a stencil.  I will be sharing the finished page on Friday (if I get it finished) if anyone wants to see how it turns out.
My crafty friend was honing her Groovi skills by putting together her first complete 'picture' rather than just working on creating individual flowers.
We are both looking forward to the get together on Saturday and meeting as many of you as possible!

Tuesday 26 September 2017

More Halloween Tags

Having shared a journal page yesterday (see HERE); I decided to use the paper towel clean up sheet (used for cleaning the stamps used between changes of colour) to make two Halloween tags.

Monday 25 September 2017

Art Journal Prompts 39: Use Three Colours


As the advice given for week 39 of Art Journal Prompts (Use Three Colours) was to find a focal image first and work with the colours in it, I knew immediately which image I wanted to use and which colours it would call for; Vintage Photo, Fossilized Amber and Spiced Marmalade.  The image of the giant toadstool came from a magazine advert and had been sitting in my clippings stash for months.

Sunday 24 September 2017

Two Tags for the Price of One!

I've been in the mood to create tags over the last few days; so yesterday I decided to work on a pair; similar, but not identical.  The process and materials used were the same for both, but the end results were different.


Saturday 23 September 2017

Speed Crafting: Tag!

I have been swamped for the last few days and didn't make time to craft on either Wednesday or Thursday, so I was determined to spend some time being creative yesterday after work.  This tag took less than half an hour from start to finish, thanks to my stash of mop up sheets; this time a piece of paper towel.

Friday 22 September 2017

Art Journal: Blue/Green, Purple, Orange, Space

This page was created for the weekly challenge on Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art.  This week's prompt was Space and the colours allowed are Blue/Green, Purple and Orange.  I'm sure no one will be able to guess my favourite sci-fi show lol.

Wednesday 20 September 2017

WOYWW 433: Only 10 More Sleeps...

Hi everyone and welcome to the shed for another week's desk sharing.  See our hostess Julia at The Stamping Ground for all things desk!  It's getting exciting, as there are only 10 more days and one more WOYWW until the get together in LLandudno.  My crafty friend and I are really looking forward to it; even missing the home football match to attend!
My side of the desk (photo taken yesterday) shows the start of a Steampunk tag for a challenge.  I was working with the Top Hats stamp set by Creative Expressions and the Make Time clock die by Sheena Douglass.  As you can see, my cup is empty and it wasn't refilled for another two hours after the photo was taken! 
Greetings from Eva!
My crafty friend's side of the desk was far more colourful as you can see.  She was working on batch creating background papers using the Pixie Powders by Cosmic Shimmer.  Once dry, these will be cut down and stamped onto, ready to create the first Christmas cards of the year. 
The vase of flowers is inspired by April's desk each week; the roses were a belated birthday gift from another of my crafty friends who I haven't seen for a while.  If you want to see my finished tag, then come back and visit tomorrow when all will be revealed.  I'm feeling very accomplished already today as by nine o'clock I had been for my flu' jab, hung out the washing and prepared a meal to go in the slow cooker ready for this evening.  I have to go into work later (even though it's my day off) as there is a twilight training session.  Looking forward to the crop! 

Monday 18 September 2017

Art Journal Prompts 38: Abstract

I didn't have a great deal of time to complete this page in response to week 38 of Art Journal Prompts: Abstract.  Luckily I always have a stash of mop up sheets (including paper towels) that I can use!

Sunday 17 September 2017

Saturday 16 September 2017

Patchwork Strip Background

This card came about after a play session with my new Ecoline Brush pens.  I decided to make a patchwork background, having cut them into strips.  It was made for a friend's 70th birthday (as you can see) and I wish her all the best today!

Friday 15 September 2017

Art Journal: Rustling Leaves, Olive, Burgundy, Copper

There seems to be a bit of an ongoing theme with my art journal pages recently.  For two different challenges, I have ended up using the same set of leaf stamps and stencils, yet the pages have turned out so differently.  This page was created for challenge 34 on Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art: Rustling Leaves, Olive, Burgundy and Copper.

Thursday 14 September 2017

ATC Swap: B is for...

These ATCs were made for the September monthly swap with Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art (JJJAMA).  This month the prompt is 'B'.  For some reason I always seem drawn to using Claritystamp stamps for ATCs and this month was no exception.

Wednesday 13 September 2017

WOYWW 432: Normal Service Has Been Resumed

Hello to all my fellow participants and lurkers on 'What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday'.  For those wondering what on earth I'm on about, you can find out more at The Stamping Ground, where our hostess Julia is the keeper of the links.  You'll be pleased to know that normal service has been resumed and that, now school is fully back in the swing of things, my crafty friend will be back with me, sharing her side of the desk too.  What is more, we will both be coming to the crop in just over two weeks, and we are both looking forward to meeting many of you there.
My side of the desk shows the start of a set of three ATCs for a swap; can you guess the theme?  All the stamps that I used for them are by Claritystamp and I will share details and the finished versions on my blog tomorrow (in case anyone is curious).  As usual when crafting, I either have a full mug of cold Coconut Latte next to me (as I forget to drink it), or an empty cup (as I get so engrossed that I forget to make myself a drink).  As you can see, the mug (a Moorland design celebrating Stoke's promotion to the Premiership in 2008) is empty!
My friend's side of the desk is far more busy, as she brings two or three large bags of supplies with her whenever she comes.  Here she is working on a card for the September Claritystamp Challenge in memory of Jayne Nestorenko.  See you all next week; last WOYWW before the crop!

Tuesday 12 September 2017

Monday 11 September 2017

Red, Black, Grey, Magic!

This art journal page is in response to challenge 33 from Junk Journals Junkies and Mindful Art: Red, black, grey, magic.  I had a look for a quote which inspired me and found 'Love is the closest thing we have to magic.'

Sunday 10 September 2017

90th Birthday Card

This card was made for my husband's aunt on the occasion of her 90th birthday.  It was inspired by a quote on a card by DaizyBlueDesigns which can be found HERE. As you will see, I put my own twist on things and the card went down well with the birthday girl!

Saturday 9 September 2017

Art Journal: Nature

I had fun creating this page in response to the prompt for week 36 of Art Journal Prompts: Nature.  It is a variation on a theme, as I used the same colour palette as I did for a previous art journal page (see HERE / photo at end of post).  For once I found and added the quote after the rest of the page had been completed; normally, I find a quote that I like and create the page to fit.

Friday 8 September 2017

Thursday 7 September 2017

New Home Card

This card was made for my eldest son and his girlfriend, who took possession of their first home together yesterday.  I hope they will be very happy there, although I will miss seeing them every day.

Wednesday 6 September 2017

WOYWW 431: Craft as a Reward!

The week has seemed to fly by and once again it is time to share my desk with everyone; if you like the idea then hook up with our hostess Julia at The Stamping Ground where many other desks can be ogled!  I was on my own yesterday, as my crafty friend had to go in to work for the first week back.  Luckily, normal service will be resumed next week.

As you can see from the picture, I have found time to play with some of my Hobbycraft bargains since last week.  I have invested in a pack of Ecoline pens which are rich and juicy watercolour pens.  The best thing about them is that if you get the nibs wet, the pens are not destroyed.  The paper towel is a mop up sheet which I will keep for use as a background in the future.  I went on to make the other sheets into a background for a card, but I can't reveal that yet as the birthday girl hasn't received it yet.  I managed to finish everything on my To Do List last week and have rewarded myself each day with some time to craft.  It was a long INSET day on Monday by the time I had got myself organised ready for Thursday and Friday (part timer that I am), but I still took time to do some crafting when I got in (see HERE for details).  
That is my promise to myself this year; work then craft reward!
The best news is that Mrs D escaped the clutches of the local hospital!  Sorry, I didn't get to see you again before you left, but happy that you are free at last!

Tuesday 5 September 2017

Oxides and Ecoline Pens: An Experiment

The September prompt for Tag It Tuesday is Blue, Yellow, Red.  As my new Ecoline pens arrived while I was at work yesterday, I decided to see how they worked in combination with Distress Oxides; my other favourite product.

Sunday 3 September 2017

Saturday 2 September 2017

90's Rave? Not quite!

The prompt for challenge 32 with Junk Journals Junkies and Mindful Art (JJJAMA) was Neon Pink, Bright Green, Black and 90's Rave.  I was a very boring person in the 90s and I've never been to a rave in my life; I therefore chose to go in another direction and use my new Tim Holtz ravens stamps and dies instead!  I imagined an error reading the prompt (although I didn't include 90 ravens on my page; they wouldn't fit)!  I am also entering this page into the September Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge: Anything Goes.

Friday 1 September 2017

Halloween Tag With A Twist!

After another day out of the shed yesterday, I wanted to come up with something quick to share and cut down on my mop up sheet pile; this tag fit the bill.  The new Tim Holtz idea-ology Ancestors paper dolls pack that arrived yesterday morning also came in useful!