Saturday, 29 June 2019

Coordinating Scraps to Create a Tag

I finally managed to find time to join in with the June Challenge over on Tag It Tuesday.  Better last minute than never lol.  The four prompts this month were 1) Add mountains or trees; 2) Add dictionary text; 3) Purple and 4) Use a random scrap from your desk.  I used all four for a change.

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

WOYWW 525: Life's Short

This time next week I will be sharing my desk from Berlin where I will be with three colleagues and 31 Y8 pupils.  It is the fourth year that I have organised and accompanied the trip, but I still worry about getting everything done and not forgetting anything.  However, having read Julia's and Shaz's posts last week with the sad news about Erika I am trying to chill a bit more.  I didn't ever meet Erika, but I enjoyed her posts to WOYWW as Sumbunneh and realise that life is too short to spend worrying about what might be.  RIP Erika.
I have another alternate view for you all this week.  These trolleys sit immediately to the right of my chair and to the right of last week's view.  They contain my paints, mixed media supplies and regularly used items so I don't have to go far when in the throes of creating.  I have 10 samples to post tomorrow and can relax a little now until after the trip.  I will still be blogging every day but have nearly enough projects finished that I can share while away.  I will prepare all the posts at the weekend so the only one which will be live from Berlin will be next week's WOYWW.  
I will be round to visit this evening or in the morning as it is unlikely that I will get much visiting done next week.


These are three of the projects that I sneak peeked last week.  I will share the last one tomorrow.
Before I forget, happy 'BIG' birthday to Helen today!

Friday, 21 June 2019

Layering Colour on Grey Board: A 3D Effect

I was proud that this piece was chosen to be on display during the Clarity shows on Hochanda on Wednesday (6pm and 8pm) and a close up yesterday (9am, 1pm and 5pm).  I loved working with the stamps and stencils and Maria's demos are well worth watching on catch up.

Thursday, 20 June 2019

Creating Texture Through A Combination of Gel Printing and Stamping

Once again, I tried to use a stencil in a different way.  This time I used one of the new mixed media stencils from Claritystamp in a combination of traditional brushing ink through plus gel printing.  Maria Moorhouse will be bringing plenty more demos today on Hochanda at 9am, 1pm and 5pm.

Wednesday, 19 June 2019

WOYWW 524: An Alternative View

Welcome to my desk share courtesy of Julia and the weekly get together over on the Stamping Ground.  The reports may be done, but I am still as busy as ever.  Two weeks today I will be midway through the Y8 visit to Berlin and so much still seems to need doing.  I am also busy finishing off samples for posting before I leave so I have set myself a timetable to fit everything in.
My desk shot today is an alternative view as I can't really show you the desk itself.  This is the view immediately to the right of where I sit, with frequently used supplies readily at hand. 
These tags were made for challenges using supplies from my exploding box (the red one on top of the stack).  I haven't shared the step by steps yet as I am stocking up on projects so that I can continue my daily blog posts while I am away.



These are the full shots of the sneak peeks that I shared last week.  There are more shows later today and tomorrow that I have made samples for too.
As you can see,  I moved away from my green and blue phase towards pink and purple.  Hope to get round any desks I don't get to before work this evening when I get in from school.  Happy WOYWW everyone.

Tuesday, 18 June 2019

Mixed Media Affirmation Bookmark

I do like plenty of tags that I can use as bookmarks as I usually have quite a few books on the go at the same time.  I used some new mixed media supplies to create this one.

Monday, 17 June 2019

Sunday, 16 June 2019

Mirri Card and Alcohol Ink with a Stencil

I was looking for a new way to show off a stencil and decided to try using silver mirri card and alcohol inks to add a bit of bling.  I used the new Peacock Floral Urn stencil from Clarity for the project.

Saturday, 15 June 2019

Metal Leaf over a Die Cut Aperture


I've been using metal flakes quite a bit recently.  I decided to see how they would look with a Clarity aperture die.  The Town die is one of my favourites so I went with that one.

Friday, 14 June 2019

Distress Oxides over White Embossing on Kraft Card

This was the second sample that I made for Maria's Clarity shows on Wednesday showcasing the new Peacock Floral Urn collection.  They can still be seen on catch up (12/6/19 12pm and 4pm).  I used the stamp for this project.

Thursday, 13 June 2019

Triple Heat Embossed Tiles on a Card

I haven't done any triple heat embossing for a while, but I felt that the layout of this card was perfect for it.  If you look closely, you can see which three tiles have been embossed.

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

WOYWW 524: Report writing Finished

I am celebrating today.  My reports are finished for this school year.  I wrote the last 46 comments yesterday and will transfer them over onto the school system when I get into work this morning.
As you can see, my desk shows why I don't usually take a photo on a Wednesday morning.  This is the boring reality of my desk on a school day, early morning marking and a cup of Toffee Nut Latte to warm me up.  If you squint, you can see the start of my sister's birthday present in the background.  I got this far at a fabulous workshop with Maria Moorhouse on Sunday and now I just have to finish off all the decorating and embellishments.  This week is a bit of a come down after the fabulous crop posts all over WOYWW last week.  Thanks for sharing everyone who went.
Please visit The Stamping Ground to join in with the weekly desk share, or just snoop around other people's crafty spaces, I am sure Julia will welcome you with open arms. 
I can at least share my sneak peeks for Maria's Clarity shows on Hochanda today (12pm and 4pm).  I delivered them in person on Sunday as well as four more for shows a week today so you may get to see the full versions if you tune in.  Happy WOYWW everyone.

Monday, 10 June 2019

Rainbows, Rainbows Everywhere: An Irish Blessing


I decided to use only a small section of the frame from Claritystamp which comes with the Irish Blessing verse.  By masking and using a micron pen, I covered the front of my card with rainbows.

Sunday, 9 June 2019

An Uplifting Tag Bookmark

I am never one to waste interesting offcuts, so I used the die cut circle from yesterday's aperture card (see HERE) on a tag.  I am very pleased with the results.  It would make an uplifting bookmark.

Saturday, 8 June 2019

Friday, 7 June 2019

Using Metal Leaf Glue on a Stencil


The first of the samples that I made for the Clarity mixed media one day special on Hochanda.  You can see more shows at 9am, 1pm and 5pm today, if they don't sell out first lol.  I decided to try using metal leaf glue ON a stencil, rather than through a stencil.  As you can see, if careful, it turns out well.

Thursday, 6 June 2019

Funky Affirmation Notelets

These are the last of the samples that I made with Leonie's scribble square stencils.  I decided to see how they would look used on notelets.  I was rather pleased with the results, nothing like the previous set that I had made for another show (see HERE) even though I used a similar method to start with.

Wednesday, 5 June 2019

WOYWW 522: Deja Vu

I am starting with a desk shot as this post will be photo heavy.  You may already have seen lots of photos from the WOYWW 10th anniversary crop last weekend, but I am sharing mine today.
I could barely fit the richness of generosity from the swaps at the crop on my desk when I got home.  What a fabulous day was had by all.  So many friends, some meeting face to face for the first time, some who go way back!  Annie (Whipso) and Jo (Twiglet) who organised everything did us all proud.  Who would have thought that an idea cooked up by Julia (The Stamping Ground - please join us) and encouraged by Jan (LLJ) so many years ago would have brought us all together.  Such an array of crafting on display, some achieved more than others...  Cake, cake and yet more cake with a magnificent buffet lunch and over £200 raised for charity too.  So on with the photos.  Eva couldn't make it, so guesting on the other side of the desk...
I met Helen (Stamping by H) for the first time face to face, she even gave up her usual Saturday visit to Kew to join us. We discovered a second mutual interest in football and radio 5live.
Chris (Mrs D) was determined to do some crafting, even if only one armed at the moment.
Margaret (Glitterandglue), Caro and Camilla chatted and crafted at the same time.  I was meeting Caro face to face for the first time too.
Elizabeth (Silver Scrapper), Christine (Bishopsmate) and Catriona got on like a house on fire.
I surprised Anne (Copper Beech) and Neet!
Heather was checking out Maggie (Silvercrafter) and her amazing parching skills.
Even Zsuzsa (InkyDinkyDoodle) managed to make it for an hour, having persuaded her family to have a day out in the area.  It was great to finally get a chance to meet face to face for the first time.
Jan (LLJ) made sure that plenty of socialising took place as well as helping with the photography.
And of course it wouldn't have been a WOYWW crop without cake.  Julia cut the cake (with Annie watching on) and later wore the tiara as was right and fitting for the queen of deskers.
As usual the menfolk were very supportive.  Gordon and Doug had to try out the new photo corner.
The first raffle prize that I chose, 5 tickets and all drawn out of the hat.  I passed on one and passed another choice to a less fortunate desker.  Thank you Debbie (Tattered Rocks) for the amazing art work, I was so glad to have a chance to claim it as my own!
And finally, the traditional group portrait (Gordon and Doug were so patient with everyone's cameras and phones).  Back: Shaz (Silverwolf), Christine, Chris (Pearshaped), myself, Camilla, Zsuzsa, Annie, Heather, Jo, Margaret, PJ (hiding), Anne, Caro, Elizabeth, Catriona and Neet.  Front: Helen, Chris, Julia, Jan, Dolores and Maggie.  I am already looking forward to next year!

Tuesday, 4 June 2019

Music Card

The poetry stamp sets from Clarity are beautiful.  They can be used in sections or as a whole.  The verses can be stamped outside the frames on a larger card as I showed HERE, or within them as I show you today.  I love music so this is probably one of my favourites, it's so difficult to choose.