Pop Out Swing Card using Panorama Die

I haven't made a pop-out swing card for ages, but when I got this set of panorama aperture dies to play with, I couldn't resist.  They are part of the weekend wow from Claritystamp currently being shown on Hochanda.

Leonie's Altered Bursts Journal Page with Oxide Background

I couldn't resist starting with a journal page when using these new stamps from Leonie Pujol.  She will be showing these and other sets off today at 8am and 12pm on Hochanda.

Masking and Mixing Stamps to create a Logo

My brother is the musical director of the Cranbrook Community & Youth Orchestra in British Columbia, Canada.  He asked me to make a logo for the orchestra.  I immediately thought of using the Mountains & Hills mask from Claritystamp in some way, as Cranbrook is in the Rockies.  This is the end result, with help from my sister-in-law Pat Brennan who added some final digital tweaks.

WOYWW 534: Clarity Retreat and a Whiter Shed of Pale

Hello and welcome to another WOYWW link up with Queen Julia over at The Stamping Ground, where desks clean and messy can be found.  This time last week I was eagerly awaiting the first day of the Clarity retreat with Eva and this time next week I will be back at work, so I am feeling rather flat at the moment.

My desk this week shows the handmade cards that I received, mostly from the lovely ladies of Maria Moorhouse's monthly workshop in Shrewsbury (many of whom were at the retreat).  Top left you can see the folder I brought back with me from the Clarity retreat, full of instruction sheets and projects trying out different techniques.  Pride of place in the centre is the blue pottery dish, hand-made by Barbara Gray, which I was honoured to receive for my birthday.

This is what I got up to.  Maggie would be proud of me, I actually successfully used one of the Groovi lace grid plates.  It still needs finishing, but I was so impressed that I bought the Elizabeth plate so I could finish it off at home.  We practised so many techniques including stamping, brayering, stencilling, Groovi and Gelpress work.  Eva and I can't wait to go back next year.

Barbara kindly agreed to be the guest on the other side of the desk lol.

Meanwhile back at home my shed has begun its makeover.  As you can see from the shot taken this morning, the undercoating is underway.  I am hoping that it will be finished in the next couple of weeks lol.
Sorry that I didn't get round to visiting many of you last week.  I had to get more samples made after I got back from the retreat for posting yesterday and there may have been a drive down to Stansted to collect #2 son on Monday!  Happy WOYWW everyone.

Raindrop Acrylic Mirrors Craft Shed Sign

I enjoyed creating a plaque for my shed.  I decided to turn the small acrylic shapes into raindrops dangling below a rainbow.

Beauty Sleep Door Hanger with Mirror

I combined a door hanger with a mirror made from an acrylic oval into a beauty sleep do not disturb sign.

Acrylic Bauble Earrings and Pendant

I decided to think outside the box with these small acrylic bauble shapes.  I turned three of them into a matching pair of earrings and pendant.

Acrylic Bookmark

Working on acrylic isn't always easy.  I learnt a great deal working on this bookmark.  Even though it is possible to stamp and heat emboss on acrylic I think I prefer using a permanent ink instead.  Maria is on Hochanda at 9am, 1pm and 5pm today with more demos and ideas.

Two Small Stamps Create a Large Wreath

Maria Moorhouse is bringing a One Day Special from Claritystamp starting this evening at 6pm on Hochanda with a further show at 8pm and more tomorrow at 9am, 1pm and 5pm.  There are acrylic shapes and some fabulous new stamp sets.  I used one of the sets to create this simple but effective Christmas card.

Patchwork Birthday Card and Steampunk Top Hat Clock

I made this card for my sister's birthday today using the Clarity mixed media journal stamps.  I like the effect of mica powders and metal flakes on black card so built up a patchwork of colours in that way.

WOYWW 533: Enjoying Some Clarity

I am sitting in McDonalds enjoying the use of their free Wi-Fi (and an indulgent sausage and egg McMuffin meal), as Eva and I won't be heading over to the first day of our Clarity retreat until 8am.  We travelled down yesterday so we would be fresh for the workshops today and tomorrow.

My 'desk' today is therefore the bed at the Travelodge where we are staying and all the unopened birthday cards that I brought with me to open tomorrow.  I won't have much time to visit you all until the weekend as we travel home on Friday.  However I recommend that you visit Julia at The Stamping Ground to see a more interesting selection of desks for WOYWW.  

Eva and I went for a walk around Maidstone where we are staying yesterday evening.  The colourful building is the Travelodge.  We enjoyed a fabulous Italian meal and when walking back discovered that in the retail park next to the hotel (on the right) there is a Hobbycraft and The Range.  Luckily they were both closed by the time we realised lol.
Maidstone has some amazing historic buildings and was home to one of George Washington's ancestors.

The ancestor along with Caxton and a couple of others are pictured on this house.

We look forward to exploring further this evening.  Havea great WOYWW everyone.  Next week I'll share all the photos I take on the retreat.

Using Nested Dies to Create a Multi Aperture Frame

For my final project using the mixed media journal stamps, I used them both to provide a background, as well as focal points on a birthday card.

Die Cutting Vinyl

For my final sample using these dies, I decided to work with a different medium, black sticky backed vinyl.

Double Layered Tag Die Cut Top Layer

Even though the die I was using is larger than a #8 manilla tag, I still used it to create this double layered tag.

Pop-Out Card with Fancy Aperture

For once I used the aperture die whole, but as the focus of a pop-out card.  I used one of the matching stamps too.

Using a Square Aperture Die to Create a Panel Card

Once again, I changed the shape of a square aperture die, this time to create a panel card.

Floral Sympathy Card: 4th Year Blogiversary

I like to play around with aperture dies most of the time, cutting into them, changing the shape and mixing them with other dies rather than use them in their complete form.  As this was my first experiment with this particular die, I kept the theme monotone and decided to turn it into a sympathy card.

WOYWW 532: The Shed's Looking Blue!

Another week has flashed past and it is Wednesday again.  Once again I can't show you any actual projects on my desk as I am busy getting as many samples done as I can to take with me to the retreat next week.  This time next week I will be with Eva enjoying tuition from Barbara Gray.  I may be late joining in!  If you'd like to join in or see more interesting desks, visit Julia over at the Stamping Ground, where order is kept (except on her desk lol)!

I was busy writing up sample instructions and editing photos for future blog posts.  I though I'd show you some more alternative views of the shed as it went down so well last week.

Crafty friends are welcome to pop round and join in with the fun.

As you can see I have a new 'roof' on my shed lol.  #2 and #3 son sorted it out for me the other day.  It's actually good having the edge overhanging as it shades the windows when the blinds are open and the sun is out.  I am hoping that the rest of the shed will match the roof when I get back from the retreat next week.  #3 son has been charged with painting the rest of it to match the patch tests on the front while I am away.  I just hope the weather is good enough to get it done.

I can share sneak peeks of the samples for the shows that are on Hochanda at 12pm and 4pm today with Maria Moorhouse.  I was sent some dies to work with for the first time as people are away on holiday over the summer and I had time to do extra samples.  I will be sharing the full projects over the next few days so if you are interested please feel free to pop back over.

And finally a picture of the grand kitty Jess when she was smaller (although she's not that much bigger now).  She is coming to stay with us tomorrow for a few days.

Mandala Notelet

These mixed media journal stamps from Clarity aren't just for journaling.  They can be used for all sizes of cards too.  Here I worked with a 5" x 5" card blank.

Journal Page with Oxide Spray background

This is the second journal page that I made with the new mixed media journal stamps from Clarity.  This time I used Oxide sprays in the background.

A Quick Layered Tag

This is another project made with the new mixed media journal stamp set from Clarity.  This time a quicker and smaller project creating a bookmark tag.

Art Journal Page: Oxide and Stamped Background

I absolutely adore these new mixed journaling stamps from Clarity.  I haven't been able to put them down since I got them.  I have used them for card making, journaling and even home decor projects as they are so versatile.  Here is a journal page.  Watch Lou at 12pm and 4pm today on Hochanda.com to see more ideas and demos.

A Classy 8th Birthday Card

This is the card which I made for my great niece's 8th birthday earlier this week.  She is growing into a sophisticated young lady so I wanted to make her something elegant.  There is a clue to her name on the card.

Stencilling and A Gel Print Showcasing Small Stamps

For my final card in this series I used a mixture of gel printing in alcohol inks and stencilling to create a backdrop for the small stamps.

WOYWW 531: No Cake Today

My desk shot today is the view through the door from the other side of the desk as it was this morning.  Laptop open ready to write this post, cereal bowl for breakfast and candles ready for a sample that I am working on.  As you can see I have space for a few people to come and craft with me.

Alas no cake today as I am crafting all alone.  I am however looking forward to the Clarity retreat that Eva and I will be attending a fortnight today (the first of two days).

I'd like to introduce my new Grandkitty, Jess.  She is 14 weeks old and a supervised only outdoor cat.  That is to say, she is an indoor cat, only allowed out on her harness and lead or in her backpack pet carrier with the large viewing bubble on the back.  I was invited out to breakfast the other day and Jess came too.  As you can imagine, she created quite a stir as we went for our walk, especially as she spent most of the time perched on my son's shoulder (I think she was a parrot in a previous life lol).
I will hook up to The Stamping Ground, where Queen of Snoop Julia is keeper of the weekly desk share.  See you all soon!

Small Card with a Frame of Small Stamps

For once I decided to work on a smaller card with these small stamps.  I  used several to create a frame for the sentiment.

Paper Piecing and Stencilling Combined on a Card

Here is an alternative way of using small stamps on a larger card.  Instead of colouring the images this time, I stamped onto designer paper.

Making a Frame out of Small Stamps

Just because stamps are small doesn't mean that you can't work on a larger card.  Here I used one stamp to create a large frame.

Archival Ink Card Starting with a Gel Print

This card was made for the girlfriend of one of my sons.  She is a cat lover so one of my favourite stamp sets sprang immediately to mind.  Although I started with my gel plate, I decided to use Archival inks for everything on the card.

Clean and Simple Birthday Card for Cat Lovers

This is a birthday card that I made for a cat loving friend.  I kept it clean and simple, but I think it looks effective.

Farewell Colleague: A Leaver's Card

I used one of my favourite stencils for this card.  It allowed me to add a pun to this card for a colleague who was leaving.  I worked on an 8" x 8" white card blank to allow space for everyone to sign.