Saturday 30 May 2020

Wednesday 27 May 2020

WOYWW 573: Post Anniversary

Another week closer to the next anniversary of WOYWW lol. This time next week I will be back in school, teaching one of the hubs face to face.  A shout out to Y7 and Y8 who mostly won't be back in school.
In the spirit of finishing UFOs, I decided to make a start on the latest Maria Moorhouse Workshop, which I received three weeks ago and hadn't started.  When the photo was taken I was in the throes of the first project, making two versions.  The good thing about these virtual workshops is that I can click on the email links to the projects at any time and work at my own pace.  I was enjoying things so much, that the two planned projects turned into finishing all four.
Project 1 version 1

Project 1 version 2
Tom (Baker) was so overcome at my productivity that he fell over, although Peter (Davison) was not so phased. NB Shaz in Oz these are former Doctor Who actors.  I have signed postcards that I put into photo frames to keep me company.  I have gone back to using various Stoke City mugs for my beverage of choice, although it was empty by the time the photo was taken yesterday afternoon.

Today is #2 son's birthday.  As he lives near by, we will drop off his card and gift (at a suitable social distance).  It will be strange not to be able to give him a hug!  I will be along to visit desks when we get back, as can anyone by visiting the link up at The Stamping Ground.  Hope to see lots of you there. Happy What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday.

Tuesday 26 May 2020

Quarantine Quickies #39 & #40: Honey Trap / Ring of Fire


These are probably the quickest tags I've made for my Quarantine Quickie tag journal.  I was inspired by Barbara Gray's doodles for the first.  I am catching up with the prompts on Mission Inspiration using stamps from Clarity as usual.

Monday 25 May 2020

Sunday 24 May 2020

Quarantine Quickies #37 & #38: Two's Company / Three's A Crowd


It's been a while since I shared some pages from my Quarantine Quickie tag journal, following the prompts over on Mission Inspiration.  I have had to start a second book ring for the journal, as the first one is now full.

Saturday 23 May 2020

Friday 22 May 2020

Clean and Simple SHAC Doodle Birthday Card

The SHAC Doodle stamps by Barbara Gray are so versatile.  I didn't use either of the main images in the Hot Air Balloon set to create this clean and simple panel card, just three of the smaller extras.

Wednesday 20 May 2020

WOYWW 572: Happy 11th Anniversary

Eleven years ago, Julia came up with the idea of people sharing their desks, warts and all, and the idea of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday began.  I have not been there since the start (My blog is less than five years old), but I have been joining in regularly for the last four (plus) years.
So here is my weekly contribution for the 11th anniversary.  At the back is a pile of UFOs (Unfinished Objects) that I haven't managed to complete. However, you can see that I finally finished the colouring page that I have been working on at craft meet ups (including last year's WOYWW crop) for over two years.  I thought it would be an appropriate response to Julia's anniversary challenge.  I also have a tag to finish off (Three's A Crowd to go with Two's Company) for my Quarantine Quickie tag journal.  Tom and Peter are ever present and my Shed Diary keeps me on track with sample deadlines,  planned projects and school stuff which needs doing.  Happy WOYWW everyone and a shout out to Y7 and Y8 as always: miss you guys!  I'll be around to visit desks between school work and crafty projects.

Tuesday 19 May 2020

Monochrome Magic with Splash of Colour

Sometimes only a splash of colour is needed.  A monochrome card can be just as effective as using lots of colour.  I love the variety of small stamps in this set too.  They are excellent for pattern building.

Sunday 17 May 2020

Saturday 16 May 2020

Up Up and Away in a Beautiful Pink Balloon

I have enjoyed following Barbara Gray's FB live doodle sessions at 10am each weekday morning on the Claritystamp and Pergamano FB pages, so I  was delighted when I had a chance to play with the new SHAC Doodle stamps.  I started with the balloon set.

Friday 15 May 2020

Clean and Simple Fairy Card


For my first sample with the new Mel's Magic Moments stamp collection from Clarity, I decided to keep things clean and simple.  I also had a play with my new box of Derwent Inktense pencils.

Thursday 14 May 2020

Barbara's Floral wall Stamps: Some Ideas

The collection of Barbara's Floral Wall stamps are suitable for a variety of occasions.  Here are the four samples that I made when they were first introduced last year, with links to the step by step blog posts if you would like to reproduce or adapt them.


A Get well Soon card always comes in handy. (See HERE), as does a New Baby card.
I used my gel press plate to create the reflection (see HERE for step by step). 

I used a gel press petite on a second Get Well card (see HERE).
And of course we need a never ending supply of Birthday cards (see HERE for details of how I built up the wall using the small stamp and masks).

Wednesday 13 May 2020

WOYWW 571: All Up in the Air

Welcome to my latest contribution to the weekly sharing of desks, led by Julia over on The Stamping Ground.  Next Wednesday sees the 11th anniversary of WOYWW, whether or not I will have finished some UFOs by then ready to share is anyone's guess.
I was busy batch making some cards for a colleague at work so I can't show you the finished items.  My large Clarity nesting die folder was on the table with my trusty Grand Calibre in the background.  Tom and Peter still keep me company and my shed diary is keeping me organised too.  Not sure when I'll finish visiting this week, as I have a virtual staff meeting later today and I am working from home today too.  I am in school again tomorrow, so hoping the weather is good enough to spend some time outdoors.  Happy WOYWW everyone and a shout out to Y7 and Y8.

Monday 11 May 2020

Flights of Fancy: Somewhere over the Rainbow, an Art Journal Page

The theme for May 2020 Mission Inspiration is Flights of Fancy and the word prompts are Gnome, Dragons, Dream, Elves and Rainbow.  The three colours to be used this month are Earth, Moss and Sea.  As you can see, I used Elves and a rainbow on my page, working in my leather bound journal with handmade paper pages.

Saturday 9 May 2020

I will lift my eyes unto the hills: a Tag

This is my contribution to the May challenge over on Tag It Tuesday.  As you will see, I used all four prompts:  Add black marker or pen, add mountains or trees, use a die cut and add something from nature.

Friday 8 May 2020

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of VE Day

This is a tag that was made as part of a tag book several years ago.  However it seems the perfect project to share on today's 75th anniversary of VE Day and the end of the Second World war in Europe.

Wednesday 6 May 2020

WOYWW 570: Busier than Ever

Welcome to a very short addition to What's On your Workdesk Wednesday this week (join in with the fun HERE).

My desk photo was taken yesterday morning as I have nothing that I can show you today. Between working from home and getting some samples finished to catch the post later, it will be a long and hectic day.  I was just starting some tags yesterday (surprise, surprise) and had sorted out my chosen stamps and some inky copy paper ready to start.  Tom and Peter are still keeping me company and you can see my shed organiser which was a Christmas present from a crafty friend.
These are the finished tags which I will be sharing in more detail tomorrow.  The blog post is already written as I will be in school.  I may therefore not get round to visiting until the weekend.  A shout out to Y7 and Y8 pupils as usual and happy WOYWW to all!

Tuesday 5 May 2020

Quarantine Quickie #27 & #28: Pie in the Sky / Pull Your Socks Up

I am ready to share my interpretation of prompts 27 and 28 of the Quarantine Quickies over on Mission Inspiration.  As usual, I have used Clarity stamps and masks to complete each tag.  For once, I used pieces of the same sheet of inky copy paper as the background for both tags.

Sunday 3 May 2020

Quarantine Quickie #23 & #24: Shades of Grey / Stormy Weather

I have been watching Barbara Gray's Facebook live sessions in the SHAC Shack each weekday morning at 10am.  I decided to use a cheat version of one of her ideas to create tag #23 in my Quarantine Quickie journal, following the prompts over on Mission Inspiration.

Friday 1 May 2020