A Small but Cute Card

This time I used the A6 version of the Innocence stamp set to create a 5" x 5" card.  I coloured Innocence to match the background.

WOYWW 569: Three Weeks To Go

Only three weeks to go to the 11th anniversary of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.  That is an impressive length of time for a weekly link up to have been taking place and it is thanks to Julia at The Stamping Ground (ably supported by  Lunch Lady Jan), that it has kept going for so long.  So here's my contribution for this week.

As you can probably tell, my desk has been shamelessly staged this week.  All the tags that I have made in the last fortnight are on display (the last four will be blogged on Saturday and Sunday).  Tom and Peter are still keeping me company and I have a new book on the go (Peace comes to the Chalet School by Katherine Bruce).  It seems an appropriate book to be reading at present, as we approach the 75th anniversary of VE Day on May 8th.  I have also looked out my Clarity postcards, ready for the colouring sessions with Barbara Gray on FB live starting next week (10am every weekday morning).  I am working from home today and like to get an early start so I can take a short break at 10am to catch the live doodle session from the SHAC shack. 

I thought I'd better show a close up of the seahorse card that was on my desk last week as so many asked about it.  The stamp is from Claritystamp, designed by Cherry Green and it is done on watercolour card.  I can't say more, as I made it as part of an online workshop with Maria Moorhouse.  I have just sent off for her second, distance stamp class, so await a package of materials through the post.
I'll be along to visit later today.  A shout out to the Y8 pupils and the lovely Y7 pupils who made a video, in response to the one made by the staff.  I'll finish with the tag that I shared as part of that video.

A Layered Tag with Home Made Washi Tape

There are always four prompts for the monthly challenge over on Tag It Tuesday. April’s are: Use Washi tape, use an old greeting card, tint any medium and use through a stencil and use gears. As you will see, I only used two of the prompts, the minimum number.

Quarantine Quickie #19 and #20: Cold Feet / By the Book

With these two tags, my journal now has 20 pages on the book ring.  I am still thoroughly enjoying interpreting the Quarantine Quickie prompts over on Mission Inspiration.

Quarantine Quickie #17 and #18: Square One / Opposites Attract

For the first of this pair of tags I reworked an idea that I used for my ABC tag journal back in 2017 (Geometric: see HERE), also in response to prompts on Mission Inspiration. 

Texture on Kraft Card using the Innocence Mixed Impressions Stamps

For my second sample using the Innocence stamps by Dee Fitzsimmons, I decided to focus on the Mixed Impressions texture stamps rather than the character herself.  I also fell back on a technique that I enjoy, white embossing on kraft card.

Innocence in Watercolour

I enjoyed playing with the new Innocence stamps designed by Dee Fitzsimmons for Claritystamp.  This is the first character to get matching texture stamps for backgrounds.  They can be seen today at 9am and 1pm on Hochanda.  Here is my first sample.

Quarantine Quickie #15 & #16: Blue Moon / Bad Hair Day

Continuing with the pages of my quarantine quickie tag journal, inspired by the daily prompts over on Mission Inspiration.  I have caught up, so I am only working on them every other day and sharing two at a time.  Here are my interpretations of #15 and #16.  I have been using my stash of mop up papers and stamps and stencils from Claritystamp.

WOYWW 568: Back to Home Working

Well the Easter holidays flew by and I am back on my laptop three days a week working from home.  I admit therefore, that my desk photo was taken yesterday afternoon and this post written after I finished the three cards that I had just started at the time.

The fourth card to the right hand side I had made earlier in the day.  As no workshops can take place at the moment, Maria Moorhouse has found a virtual way to keep us going.  A set of materials and four full colour project sheets through the post and an email link to private YouTube demos of the projects.  I thought it was about time that I finished the remaining two projects as it will be time to sign up to the next class soon.  I was so busy that I had no time to replenish my Toffee Nut Latte lol.  As you can see, Tom and Peter are still keeping me company and occasionally I Face Time with Eva if the internet plays along.  I also tune in to Barbara Gray's FB live sessions each weekday morning at 10am.  Even though I am not doing the doodling, it is nice to have virtual company, whether I am crafting or doing school work.

These are the finished cards based on project 4 of the workshop.
It is only 4 weeks until the 11th anniversary of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday  and I shall be making an ATC to share on my desk that morning.  I can't see much getting posted this year as the royal Mail are so overstretched at the moment, but we could all share something on the day.  Thanks so much to Julia over at the Stamping Ground for starting (and keeping going) this weekly get together.  It is never too late to start joining in or just visiting desks if you are so inclined.  Happy WOYWW and a shout out to my Y8 pupils.  I will be round to visit desks once I have finished all my school chores for the day.  I hope you are all well and that Elizabeth and Christine are fully recovered!

Music Feeds the Soul: An Art Journal Page

I was really challenged by the colour combination for this art journal page, following the prompts for April over on Mission Inspiration.  The colours chosen were Royal Purple, Postbox Red and Grass Green (not a combination I would have gone for myself), so I hope you like my finished page.  The prompt title was 'Music feed the Soul' and the five prompt words for this month were Music / Dance / song / Melody / Soul.

Quarantine Quickie #13 & #14: Busy Bees / River Deep, Mountain High

I am thoroughly enjoying building up my quarantine quickie tag journal using the prompts from Mike Deakin at Mission Inspiration. When I finished tag #14 I had caught up with the prompts at the time.  Of course now I am behind again, but I don't mind.

Quarantine Quickie #11 & #12: Counting Sheep / Carbon Copy

When I completed these tag pages for my quarantine quickie journal, following the prompts over on Mission Inspiration, I had nearly caught up.  I have decided to continue sharing two pages at a time however.  Here are #11 and #12.

Stencil Background with Tag Focal Point: Tina's Wildflower Spray

For my final sample using Tina's Wildflower Spray stamps and stencil, I used the stencil on it's own to create a background and the large stamp on a tag as the focal point.  I do seem to keep coming back to tags in one shape or form.

Quarantine Quickie #9 & #10: Bubble & Squeak / Bricks & Mortar

As I finished these two tags for my Mission Inspiration quarantine quickie journal, I was only two prompts behind.  I will be able to drop to one prompt a day shortly lol.  As usual, I worked my way through my stash of mop up sheets for the backgrounds.

Quarantine Quickie #7 & #8: Run Rabbit Run / Safe Hands

I am slowly catching up with the Mission Inspiration quarantine quickie prompts at the rate of two a day.  Here are my interpretations of prompts #7 and #8.  I hope you are all keeping well at this stressful and challenging time.

WOYWW 567: Scary Times

Morning and welcome to the ever more quickly arriving weekly desk share with WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday).  #3 son is due back off his night shift at the care home shortly and will be straight in the shower as soon as his clothes are in the wash.  There are now four confirmed cases of Covid 19 at the home (isolated away from the ward where he works) and he is having his temperature taken at regular intervals while at work.

I admit that my desk is totally staged this morning.  I can't show you what I am currently working on as they are samples for some shows next week, which need posting later today.  Instead I am sharing an art journal page that I made yesterday and all my quarantine quickie tags following the prompts over on Mission Inspiration.  Those of you who guessed fairies last week were totally correct.

This is the finished tag from last week's desk (#3).  As you can see, I have now completed up to #14 and will be working on the next prompts tomorrow once the samples have been posted.  I have been having great fun with these tags and will use a book ring to make them into a journal once they are all complete.

The pollen count is high at the moment and I have to work in the shed with the window shut as the cherry blossom is in full bloom.  I will be round to visit as soon as I can this week.  Next week it may be later as the holidays will be over and I will be working from home again.  Thanks Julia for keeping us all linked up via The Stamping Ground.  Happy WOYWW and a shout out to my Y8 pupils as promised!

Vertical Twists Overlay Die Easel Card

For my third sample with the new geometric overlay dies, I used one of the larger dies twice to create a 5" x 5" easel card.

Quarantine Quickie #5 & #6: A Bird in the Hand / Two Peas in a Pod

I am catching up with the daily quarantine quickie prompts on Mission Inspiration and my tag journal is getting fatter every day.  Here are #5 and #6.  I have been using my stash for the backgrounds each time, but I don't think that I'll ever get to the bottom of the pile lol.

Mostly Monochrome Poppies

For my final sample with Tina's Poppy Spray I decided to go for a monochrome look with just a pop of colour.

Quarantine Quickie #3 & #4: Away with the Fairies / Mad as a Hatter

For my third and fourth tags in my quarantine quickie journal with Mission Inspiration, I decided to add the prompts with a micron pen.  Here are #3: Away with the Fairies and #4: Mad as a Hatter. 

Quarantine Quickie #1 & #2: Rooftops and Smoking Chimneys/Bell Book & Candle

I am rather late to the game over on Mission Inspiration.  The daily quarantine quickie prompts have been going for over a week already.  I am catching up at the rate of two a day and decided to create a new tag journal with the pages.  Here are my first two.

Gel Plate Background for a Wildflower Spray

For my second sample with Tina's Wildflower spray, I played with my large gel press plate to create a panel first.

WOYWW 566: Hunkering Down

Morning.  Welcome to the weekly desk share and virtual meet up at The Stamping Ground, thanks to Julia and What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday?

As you can see, Tom and Peter are back on the other side of the desk (Benedict was just too distracting lol).  I have been catching up with the Quarantine Quickie prompts over on Mission Inspiration and intend to make a tag book from the pages.  This morning I have started prompt #3 and you can see the two that I completed yesterday, which I will be sharing on my blog tomorrow.  Can you guess the third prompt from the stamps that I have out on my desk?
Shout out to the Y8s who are hopefully enjoying their Easter holidays even if they are confined to the house.  I haven't left ours for over a week since posting a birthday card to my sister.

Oops.  I almost forgot to share the tag that I was working on last Wednesday.  In case you want to know more, the blog post is HERE.  Stay safe everyone and happy WOYWW.

A Field of Poppies using Tina's Floral Spray

For my second sample using Tina's Poppy spray stamps, I used one of the mixed impression texture stamps to create a background.

Using Scrap from a Die to Decorate a Card

The scrap from the Waimea Falls designer card was too pretty to waste, so I used it to decorate the sentiment panel on this card.

Geometric Overlay Quarterette Retirement Card

Paul Church will be bringing these new overlay aperture dies (remotely) to Hochanda this evening at 6pm as part of the new One Day Special.  I was lucky enough to get one of the sets to play with, here is my first sample.

A Wildflower Posy on Kraft Card

I worked on kraft card for my first sample with the second set of Tina's floral spray stamps.  This time I used the Wildflower set.

Rainbow Tag: Irish Blessing

I made this tag in response to the JJAMMMA challenge this month.  We are not swapping tags at the moment, but we are sharing rainbows.

Tina's Poppy Spray Corner Accent

Barbara Gray from Claritystamp is introducing some beautiful new sets of floral spray stamps and stencils designed by Tina Cox this afternoon at 1pm on Hochanda.  This is the first sample that I made with the Poppy spray stamps and stencil.

WOYWW565: What a Difference A Week Makes

What a difference a week makes!  This time last week I was expecting to have to be in school today, but as the numbers are so low I have been removed from the rota and I am working from home instead. 

I got up early so that I could make a start on a tag before starting school work today.  As I spent three hours of my day off yesterday sorting out paperwork for the visit to Berlin at the end of June (we still have to proceed as if it will be taking place at the moment), I don't feel guilty about starting late today.  Shout out to Y8 pupils as promised!
As you can see, I have different company this week: a signed photo of Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock which was a birthday present from my sister.

I did finish the project that was on my desk last week as you can see.  Eva hasn't received it in person yet, but has seen the virtual version.
I noticed there are quite a few crafters sharing FB lives as we are all keeping ourselves to ourselves at the moment. Those and this virtual weekly get together are the way to socialise at the moment of course.  There were a few more desks linked in with WOYWW last week and I am sure the numbers will grow.  Thanks Julia, for hosting us each week over at The Stamping Ground.

I am looking forward to putting my feet up tomorrow and watching Barbara at 1pm as she shares the new Tina Cox floral spray stamps, stencils and Groovi plates.  Here's a sneak peek of what I made with the two sets I was sent to play with.  Happy WOYWW and stay safe everyone.