Huge Leafy Congratulations

I love these new leafy stamps and BOW-WOB papers from Clarity Crafts.  I had to play with my gel plate to create this card.

May Flowers Calendar

Having focused on April showers, I decided to go with May flowers for next month's calendar page.

Masculine Cards: Ideas and Inspiration

 I thought I would share some ideas for masculine cards - especially given that Father's Day is not that far away.  The links to each project are given below the photos.

For a sports fan (see HERE).

Groovy Jubilee!

As it is coming up to the second anniversary of the Coronation of King Charles III I thought I would use one of the Coronation stamp sets from Clarity Crafts.  I also gave this card an Austin Powers vibe with the addition of one of the KISS word stamps.

WOYWW 829/49: Still Chilled

Welcome to the weekly sharing of desks which is WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday), the brainchild of Julia, who has kindly entrusted it to me to continue after 15 years of togetherness.  Please feel free to link up your desk and visit others' - we are a friendly bunch.  

My desk shows the booklet and bits and pieces that arrived ready for my participation with the online 1-2-3 Landscapes & Stamping course with Barbara Gray.  I will not be able to participate live as I will be at work for the three Wednesday afternoons that it takes place but will watch the prerecorded workshops.  I need to do something about internet access to the shed or bring everything inside and watch where I can get a signal.  More reason to move inside over the summer.  In the background you can see my new stamp pen storage which is far better than the make up brush holder I was using before.

Channeling one of Mum's cats lol.

Still managing to avoid drawing faces.

A few simple ones in a row.

Still being creative to avoid drawing proper people.

I had a lovely time at my recorder group yesterday afternoon and also on Sunday over at Mum's where we had lunch together.  I am really enjoying this break and it will be hard to get back into the swing of working again.  Still only 31 more working days until retirement.

Sad news about Pope Francis on Monday morning.  

I think that the consensus appears to be that virtual ATCs will be OK for the anniversary so PIFs can be sent a photo of their ATC and we can all share one on our desks - only three more weeks until the 16th anniversary!!!

Stay safe and Happy WOYWW.

Hello Blossom

I kept things simple with my card using one of the Clarity New Design Stamp Club stamps from April this year.  There are four more that I haven't used yet!

A Gift For You

I finally got round to playing with the March 2025 stamps from the Clarity Crafts New Design Club.  This is what I came up with.

Oh So Sweet 16

 The latest prompt over on Try It Tuesday is Oh So Sweet.  I thought this project would fit the bill.

Die cut a topper from Clarity stencil card using the 3.5” nested circles die and a mat from pink card using the corresponding nested circles picot die.

Add 16 onto the topper in Kitsch Flamingo Distress Oxide using the Cherry Green Funky Number stamps.

Mat up the topper.

Cut a strip of Clarity stencil card 7” x 1.2”. Add Sweet in Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide using letters from the upper and lower case Doodle Alphabets.

Add the sweet-shaped stamp from the Doodleology Triangle stamp set at the end in the same ink.

Mat up the sentiment strip using the same pink card as before leaving a narrow border top and bottom.

Stamping directly onto the front of a 7” x 7” white card blank add a background of the ‘sweet’ stamps in Spun Sugar Distress Oxide.

Add a drop shadow to the topper stamping using a Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer watercolour pencil (#235), blended out with a watercolour brush pen.

To finish, add the toppers to the front of the card.

I Love Clarity Dies!

 I love the Fresh Cut dies from Clarity Crafts.  I have purchased every one that they have brought out so far and use them regularly in my crafting.  I thought I would share some projects using them here.  Links to the step by step instructions are given beneath each photo.

Here's a 'twofer' - two cards with one die cut (see HERE).

Mid Month Mini Mission: Doodled With Love

 The mid month mini mission over on Clarity Crafts Mini Makes and ATCs is Doodled with Love including a little turquoise.  I used one of the Cherry Green Doodleology stamp sets for mine.

#dailyart2025: April Part I

 April is already more than half over, so it is time to share the latest installment of my #dailyart2025 drawings.  I have now started my third Petite Watercolour Journal from Clarity Crafts and am also starting to be a little more free wheeling with my responses to the prompts on 365 Days of Drawing Prompts and Other Art.

A really strange prompt for the first of the month.

A bit of a cheat and I didn't really get the perspective right.

Largely a matter of shading and blending out.

Another quick drawing.

First drawing in the new journal.

I went for an easier perspective to draw.

The perspective isn't brilliant!

I went for the less obvious response.

A very quick sketch.  I went for a loose style.

Another quick response using shades of cool grey.

WOYWW 828/48: And Relax...

Welcome to the weekly sharing of desks which is WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday), the brainchild of Julia, who has kindly entrusted it to me to continue after 15 years of togetherness.  Please feel free to link up your desk and visit others' - we are a friendly bunch. 

My desk shows various Clarity goodies which arrived at the weekend.  I am also now onto my third Petite Journal which I use for my #dailyart2025 drawings.  I made a card (blogged yesterday) with the new Botanical stencils and Woodblock stickers.

It measures 4" x 4" and also used some of the mini designer/stencil card.

An oddly specific prompt.

I avoided having to draw a face by pronouncing the prompt differently.

I went with a very loose style - took me 5 minutes.

Again managed to avoid drawing the human form lol.

Another quick one.

I was much better visiting last week and actually made it round on Wednesday evening.  I will also do better this week as it is the holiday time.  Four more weeks until the 16th anniversary.  I am thinking that we could do a virtual ATC swap by sending photos via email to save on postage - what does everyone think?

I am having a lovely lazy holiday so far.  Lots of lie ins and music making / crafting.  The internet cable doesn't seem to be connecting in the shed but I have found a way to use my phone as a hot spot so will now be able to sign up Barbara Gray's 321 Landscapes and Stamping workshops.

I have been asked to do the inky make and takes at the Clarity Open Days at the end of May so am trying out some ideas.  Just waiting for my next parcel to arrive so I can really get going.

Stay safe and Happy WOYWW.