You Are Unique - a multi layered card

I combined the Beetle stamps designed by Cherry Green with some of Barbara Gray's doodle stencils to create this cheerful card.

Ongoing Daily Drawing: September Part I

 And so the daily drawing journey continues.  I have now started my third Daler Rowney cartridge paper sketchbook for 2021.  Here is the round up for the first part of September.

WOYWW 641: It Didn't Take Long

 Welcome to the weekly contribution to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday care of Julia at Stamping Ground.  Please pop over there for more chances to nose explore.

My desk is pretty much unchanged from a typical early morning as that is when I do my daily drawing.  It didn't take long to get back into the swing of things at school.  I have completed my first timetabled week back now and so far have managed to fit all the marking in at school without bringing books home.  I expect that will change next week though.  The shed roof passed the test that was torrential rain at the end of last week and yesterday with no leaks so now I just have to get round to painting it.  I have had the paint for a while and just hope I have enough tins of the blue that I picked up ages ago. 

I am keeping up with the daily drawings despite being back at work three days a week.  Here is the latest round up as I haven't shared them for a while.  The first half of September will be going up on the blog tomorrow if you are interested and have missed any.  I will be round on Thursday to visit as I now have meetings after school on a Wednesday and there is also a footie match at the Bet365 this evening - lucky tomorrow is a day off so I can have a lie in.  Stay safe and Happy WOYWW.

Embossing on Designer Card

Once again I combined one of Barbara's Winter Linocut stamp sets with Clarity designer card.

Rainbow Frames

Once again I used some of the bespoke stamps on the front of a card as well as on the back to personalise it.  This time I worked in my favourite rainbow coloured Oxides.  I was really proud when this sample was chosen to be demonstrated by Paul Church when the stamps were launched on The Craft store.

Robin Red Breast Linocut

I played with a second set of Barbara's Winter Linocut stamp sets and mixed them with some of the new frame dies from the Clarity Birthday weeekend.

Fancy Frame Anniversary Card

The great thing about these Nested Square Doodle Frame-Its Frames from Claritystamp is that there are always a few left over for other projects.  Here I used some of the smaller black and white frames left over from previous projects to create an anniversary card.

Fancy Alternating Frames Birthday Card

The Doodle Frame-Its Frames work brilliantly with designer paper to create an impressive surround for a sentiment.

Birthday Grunge Boy

The frames that come with the new bespoke stamp sets from Clarity also work really well with the Wee Folk stamps and the Frame-Its frames.

WOYWW 640: Shed Makeover Part 2

Welcome to the first WOYWW of the 2021-22 school year.  Please pop over to Stamping Ground where Julia will explain more about this weekly sharing of the desks.

I azm still keeping up with the daily drawings but my diary is now more prominent as I plan daily tasks for work and crafting.

As you can see, the shed has a lovely new shingle roof to replace the old felt and giant tarpaulins that were keeping me dry before.  #1 and #2 sons came over with a friend on Sunday and the five of us (including hubby and I) spent 8 hours getting everything sorted.

Hubby and I had already spent a couple of days clearing between the fence and the side of the shed, as it wasn't possible to get all the way round before.

The first job was to remove the fancy ends of the roof, the tarpaulins and the old felt.  On inspection the roof was in good shape and there was only one small section of board which needed replacing on the far side which was a relatively quick job using a left over section of the flooring.  The two lower ends were painted with a sealant first.

Here you can see the start of the work.  #1 son and I were busy peeling the backs off the shingle strips to help with bonding to the roof.  Hubby was on nail passing duty, #2 son is on the roof and their friend (who also helped with the floor) on top of the ladder.

#1 son (now fully recovered from Covid thank goodness) took his turn on the roof too.  The last of the ridge shingles went into place at 8pm as we were losing the light.  I feel so much better about the roof now.  #3 son and I will be getting the painting done and it will be like having a new shed!  We do have to replace a strip of wood along the bottom of the fence side of the shed though as it is a little worse for wear there.  

Thanks for all gthe great comments about the inside of the shed and the new floor.  I passed them on to 'the boys'.  I am in Stoke on Trent so if any of you are ever coming up this way please get intouch and you are welcome to join me for an afternoon in the shed.

Off to school for my first proper day on timetable teaching followed by a tutor session for #2 son who is learning German.  I'll be round to visit when I can.  Stay safe and happy WOYWW.

Bright and Beautiful Christmas Card

For my second sample with the new winter linocut stamps designed by Barbara Gray, I teamed the stamp up with one of the beautiful Clarity designer petite cards.

Personalised Card Labels

These lovely new bespoke name stamps from Claritystamp aren't just for labelling your handmade cards on the back.  They can be used on the front of cards as well.

Pine Trees Christmas Card

I love the new winter linocut stamps designed by Barbara Gray.  Here I combined one of the sets with a stencil that I thought matched up well.

Threaded Frame With Love

This time I used the frames and one of the coordinating aperture dies to create a threaded frame using baker's twine.

Amazing Frames Thank You Card

I had such fun playing with this new system of frames from Claritystamp.  I shall be purchasing the circles version for definite.

Drawing Every Day in 2021: Two Thirds of the Way There

 Despite a few days away this month, I have continued with my journey of drawing every day in 2021.  Here is a round up of the last couple of weeks in August.

WOYWW 639: Inside is Complete

 Well it took me 48 hours, but the inside of the shed is fully back in place and organised how I like it.

I thought I'd share an expanded view from my desk today so you can see the view to the door.  I have also finally hung up the lovely wind chimes that #1 son and his then girlfriend gave to me for my birthday two years ago.

The view the other way makes me smile too.  I can get to everything easily and have room for up to three companions if you are ever in the neighbourhood.  Now I just need to get the outside looking as good.  The boys are coming back over at the weekend to work on the roof and the final stint will be to get the outside painted.  We filled a skip last weekend with the remains of the old floor and old carpet from various summer make overs in the house and I am planning on ordering a second one for the remains of the roof and rubbish from the garage.

I finished my second sketchbook for 2021 yesterday and you can see the new one next to it ready for the last four months of this year.  I have a post scheduled for tomorrow with the last fortnight of August's drawings collected together.  

Don't forget to visit Julia at Stamping Ground to catch up with lots more desks and find out more about WOYWW.  I'll be round to visit later today and after the INSET day in school tomorrow.  September already!!  Stay safe and happy WOYWW.

Colourful Splatters

I mixed monochrome and rainbow colours to create this card using the splodge stamp from the Beetle stamp set designed by Cherry Green for Claritystamp.

Happy Birthday Easel Card

I used the new Numbers and Happy Birthday stamps with the corresponding die cuts to create this easel card.

Rainbow Drips Birthday Card

For this card I went with a bright and colourful theme.

Monochrome Mini Bugs!

For this second card using the new stamps from Cherry Green and Clarity I stayed with a monochrome look but used the smaller version of the stamps.

Kraft Beetle!

I went for a clean and simple look using one of my favourite colour combinations using one of the new bug themed stamp sets, designed by Cherry Green for Claritystamp.

We Wish Shoe A Merry Christmas: Ideas and Inspiration

 The current offer of the week at Claritystamp (until midnight on Sunday) is the fabulous shoe stamps designed by Cherry Green.  I thought I'd bring all my cards using three of the five sets of stamps into one place.

WOYWW 638: Best Birthday Present Ever!

 People of a nervous disposition may want to look away after the desk picture.  After a mammoth shifting of stuff, my shed got a new floor for my birthday and the pictures aren't all pretty.

At first glance, it may seem that nothing has changed in the shed, however in the last fortnight it has been completely emptied, the floor removed and completely replaced.

I started moving things out of the shed two years ago.  However a flurry of activitiy before we went away meant that there wasn't much left to remove on Saturday morning.

Once the carpet was removed it became very apparent how rotten the floor was.

There were even plant roots growing through it in the corner.

So the first job was to remove the floorboards and the polystyrene insulation below.  I let one of the boys get rid of the dead mouse!

Everything had to be removed down to the concrete plinth, although the ends of the batons holding up the shed were left in place initially.

So the first job was to replace the floor batons with new treated timber.

This was how far the boys got by the end of Saturday.

Sunday (my birthday) was full speed ahead.

So much so that I was sent out to choose a new carpet and underlay.

By the time we returned, the new floor was complete.

I managed to find red carpet with glittery sparkles so if there is ever a glitter spill it won't show up too much.  By 6pm the floor was complete and the skirting boards back in place.

I spent Monday (with hubby helping with the furniture) replacing much of the stash into the shed.  I wanted to be able to work in there again as quickly as possible.

As you can see, by Monday evening I was about two thirds of the way there.  I was able to make samples in the shed yesterday and have more to make to day as they are due by Friday.  Once they are posted I will finish getting the rest of the shed organised and the house can go back to normal.  If you want to see less crazy craft spaces than this one, then please visit Stamping Ground, where Julia will explain everyhting WOYWW related. Happy WOYWW everyone.