Oval-ly Abstract Panel Card

Sam Crowe makes her debut on Hochanda today at 8am and 12pm with a new range of stamps and stencils that she has designed for Claritystamp.  They are great for layering, mixed media and building up patterns.

A New Baby Card using Shrink Plastic

A friend and former colleague had her second baby recently.  This is the card I made for her and the rest of the family.  I love these stamps and shrink plastic seemed the way to go to fit them all on the same card in the appropriate size to represent Mum, Dad, big sister and the new baby.

WOYWW 556: A Crafty Afternoon Out

I had a lovely crafty afternoon yesterday with some of the JJAMMMA (Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art) group up in Stockport. 

As you see, I have learnt from prior experience (and WOYWW crops) to travel light.  I took my trusty colouring book and pencils.  The Derwent Inktense box were a purchase at Hobbycraft, as they are half price at the moment and I thought I would try them.  It was so good to catch up with friends old and new, as it was last September when I made it to the previous meet up. 

On the other side of the desk, Jane was giving Groovi guidance but was the only one brave enough to be photographed for the blog lol.  There were 12 of us altogether, including Lou, who drove straight there from Peterborough to make the meet up.  Eva was working unfortunately, so couldn't join us.
If you'd like to peek at even more desks, then please join the WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday) crowd over at The Stamping Ground, where Julia is in charge!  I'll be round to visit either this evening or tomorrow morning, depending on how tired I feel when I get in from work.  Happy WOYWW everyone.

Clocks and Cogs Birthday Card

I combined the new Clockwork Aperture die from Claritystamp with the Clocks and Cogs stamp set to create this masculine pop-out birthday card.

Safari Art Journal Page

I didn't find time to join in with Mission Inspiration in 2019 so I am determined to do better in 2020.  There are no longer individual steps to follow, just a theme, a colour palette and five words of inspiration.  This month the colours were clay, amber and sunset, the words: Safari, Jungle, Explore, Journey, Wildlife and the theme 'Animals of the World'.  Here is my interpretation.

Meme Girl Art Journal Page

In keeping with my new year's resolution to join in with a few more monthly challenges, here is my offering for the January prompts over on Mixed Media Art Journey. Six prompts determined by the roll of dice: hide a secret, make a spread (2 pages), use red, add a face, meme, use something recycled.

Autumn wreath Retirement Card

I used a ready made background in the shape of Clarity designer paper for this retirement card.

Clean and Simple White on Kraft Anniverary Card

I love the contrast of white against kraft card.  These stamps by Barbara Gray are intricate and detailed enough to work without colour.

Patchwork Wreath

The entwined floral wreath stamps are quite large, but this doesn't mean that they have to be used in their entirety.  I created a patchwork effect on this card using dies and a stencil.

WOYWW 555: Feeling Fitter

Thank you to everyone who sent good wishes last week.  I was cleared to drive last Friday and have been keeping up with the 30 minute walks on non work days and weekends.  The low salt diet is going well and I have even lost a little weight, so onwards and upwards.

I have been busy crafting as you can see, and found time yesterday for an art journal page.  I have decided as part of my new year's resolutions to take part in three of the monthly challenges that I didn't find time for last year.  So I am back with Mission Inspiration, Tag It Tuesday and Mixed Media Art Journey challenges.  I can't manage a weekly challenge (apart from meeting up with all the fabulous WOYWW deskers) but it is nice to be joining in with these groups again.

I did manage to finish the page and will be sharing the step by step on Sunday.  It may be then before I can visit as I have some projects which need to be in the post by Saturday lunchtime to work on tomorrow and Saturday morning.  Have a happy WOYWW and feel free to join us over at The Stamping Ground, where Julia has been keeping deskers in order for nearly 11 years.

DIY Wreath from Individual Stamp Elements

Rather than use the autumn entwined floral wreath by Barbara Gray (Claritystamp) itself on this card, I decided to build up my own wreath using the extra stamps which come with the set.

An Autumn Birthday Wreath on a Brusho Background

For this card, I decided to use Brushos in the background and stamp and heat emboss one of Barbara Gray's entwined floral wreaths in white embossing powder.  I used the autumn wreath set this time.

Spring wreath and Floral Alphabet Anniversary Card

For this anniversary card, I combined one of the new entwined floral wreath stamps designed by Barbara Gray with some of her floral alphabet stamps.

Entwined Spring Wreath

These new entwined floral wreath stamps from Claritystamp, designed by Barbara Gray, are beautiful.  They work so well with the floral alphabet and number stamps, but also by themselves.

Doodleology Shutter Card

I first saw an example of a shutter card a while back in a sample by Clarity DT member Wendy Thorburn.  She kindly shared the instructions and I have also watched various YouTube videos demonstrating the method.  In the end I used the measurements given by Diana in her YouTube video.  This is my version.

Uplifting Tag with Doodleology Squares

One of my resolutions in 2020 is to participate in more challenges with the groups that I am part of.  This is for the January tag challenge over on Tag It Tuesday.

WOYWW 554: A Wake Up Call

Not a great deal of crafting that I can share today  as I have been working on lots of secret stuff. 

My desk shows a shutter card that I was working on yesterday (I will be sharing the instructions on Friday if you are interested).  I was playing with some of the Doodleology stamps to decorate it.  You can also see the lovely glasses case (Yoshi) which was part of my Christmas present from my sister.

The outside of the finished card.

I had a bit of a health scare at the weekend, but after lots of tests on Monday, it looks like high blood pressure is the culprit.  I am therefore now on a no/very low salt diet, trying to get 30 minutes of brisk walking in a day and taking a low dose blood pressure tablet every evening.  On the plus side, I have lost 2 pounds since Sunday.  
I'll be round to visit tomorrow morning, as we have a Twilight session until 6pm after work today.  In the meantime there are plenty more desks to visit via Julia, who hosts WOYWW each week at The Stamping Ground. 

Large stamps through a Stencil

For my last sample with the new Doodleology stamps from Claritystamp, I decided to use small sections of the stamps and matching stencil through a second stencil.

Uplifting Tags with a View

For my last sample with one of the new Room with a View dies from Claritystamp I decided to split the image over two tags made from one of the pretty 5" x 7" designer card sheets.

Clean and Simple Doodles on Kraft

I felt that these new Doodleology stamps designed by Cherry Green for Claritystamp would work brilliantly on kraft card.  What do you think?

A Different Shape Aperture changes the View

Even though I used the same view die three times to make this card, they look different through the various aperture shapes laid over the top.

Decorating a Plain Cotton Shopping Bag with Stencil and Stamps

Having bought some plain cotton shopping bags in a sale recently, I decided to jazz one of them up using the Cherry Green heart Doodleology stencil and some of the matching stamps.

Making Curtains to Fit the View!

As these new dies from Claritystamp show a view through a window, I decided to make some tissue paper curtains to frame the scene.

WOYWW 553: The holidays have come to an end

And so things return to a normal routine in 2020.  Back to work and fitting in crafting around the 'day job' as my father describes it.  At least I only have to wait a day for each crafty 'fix' as I have every other day off.  Not today though, so as usual this post is being written the day before ready to join in with WOYWW.

I am being rather naughty as I am showing you a sneaky peek of some secret stuff that I was working on yesterday ready for posting tomorrow on my next day off.  I was using colouring pencils rather than my new water colours, not because the set that you saw on my desk last week aren't any good, but because I wanted a change of medium from my first couple of samples in this collection.  I am happy with the Boldmere set of 72 water colour pencils that I bought from the Works.  There is a great selection of colours, they go on smoothly and blend out nicely with water.  They will certainly do me while I save for my dream Albrecht Durer Faber-Castell set of 120. 

I can't show you the finished card that I was working on because the show isn't on until 18th January at 4pm.  I can share one of my samples from the shows at the weekend though.  If you'd like to know how I made it, pop back tomorrow.  Unfortunately there is nothing to show on the other side of the desk as Eva couldn't make it over to play.  Hopefully she'll be back in two weeks.  I'll be round tomorrow morning to visit as I have a meeting after work this evening.  Happy WOYWW everyone and don't forget to pop over to The Stamping Ground to visit chief desker Julia and links to many more desks.

A Doodle Valentine's Card

The heart doodleology stamps designed by Cherry Green for Claritystamp are perfect to use on a Valentine's card.

Birthday Bookmark with Window Die

As these new Room with a View aperture dies from Claritystamp can be split in half, I decided to decorate the front and back of a bookmark for my first sample.  The full set will be available as a One Day Special on Hochanda until 6pm this evening, with shows at 9am, 1pm and 5pm.

Stamping with Matching Stencil Colourful Mirror Effect

For my second sample using the Cherry Green Doodleology circle stamps, I also used the matching stencil.  More ideas will be demonstrated by Barbara Gray this afternoon between 2pm and 4pm on Hochanda.

Fabulous Doodle Stamps!

I had such a fabulous time playing with these doodleology stamps from Claritystamp designed by Cherry Green.  Barbara Gray will be bringing all three sets to Hochanda tomorrow afternoon between 2pm and 4pm.  Here's the first sample that I made with the circle set.

I've Rejoined the Club: Let's Celebrate

I've recently renewed my annual memberships to the Clarity New Design Club.  I have been a member of the newest club (dies) since it started in January last year and in the stencil club since its inception too.  I was a late comer to the stamp club (#88 was my first), but have carried on since joining nearly five years ago.  Each month I receive a stamp, stencil and die with colour booklets containing two projects for each item.  There is also a Groovi club. For this pop out card, I used the last die of 2019, but came up with my own design.

New Year Floral Card

I made this card on Monday in readiness for the new year.  I couldn't resist working with the floral number stamps from Claritystamp as they are so pretty.  I also had another play with my new water colour pencils.

WOYWW 552: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to my first contribution to WOYWW of 2020.  A wonderful family Christmas was spent over at my parents with the whole family including siblings, children, their partners and nephew.

My desk shot was actually taken on Monday when Eva made it over for a post holiday crafting session.  I was working on a New Year card and was using my new water colour pencils (a box of 72 from The Works).  I also wanted to show off my 'shed' diary which was a present off a crafty friend.  I will be keeping it in the shed to keep track of deadlines, upcoming shows and workshops.

As you can see from the other side of the desk, Eva travelled light as usual lol.  We will be able to get together next Tuesday as well, as it is our day off in common.

To finish, here's the finished card (details on blog tomorrow).  Wishing you all a happy, healthy 2020 and Happy WOYWW.  To see more desks or to join in yourself, please visit Julia at The Stamping Ground where more about WOYWW will be explained.