Two Small Stamps Create a Large Wreath

Maria Moorhouse is bringing a One Day Special from Claritystamp starting this evening at 6pm on Hochanda with a further show at 8pm and more tomorrow at 9am, 1pm and 5pm.  There are acrylic shapes and some fabulous new stamp sets.  I used one of the sets to create this simple but effective Christmas card.

WOYWW 505: Looking Forward to the Holidays

Well it's been a busy half term and, with a week and a half to go, I am starting to look forward to the holidays.  I have plenty to keep me busy, between writing progress reports and lots of craft projects to meet deadlines.  Once again I am afraid that my desk is not very interesting, as I can't show you much of what I've been working on.  However, I have been getting inky with Artistry inks as you can see.

The copy paper has some nice inky patterns from cleaning an acrylic block that I had been using as an ink palette.  On the other side of the desk, Eva popped in briefly between projects, to sort through some of her new stash and try out her new Tonic guillotine as she had been craft shopping. 

I did manage to start a fourth project after she left.
Why am I showing you pictures of our desks?  To join in with the weekly Wednesday desk share (WOYWW) hosted by Julia over at the Stamping Ground.  Please feel free to pop over and peruse desks from all over the world in, what must be the longest running blog link up ever (coming up to 10 years in 15 weeks!)  I'll be over to visit after work this evening.  I'm hoping that you will all find it easier to comment now that I have changed my comment settings to remove the link to google+.  As this will be disappearing in April anyway and the comments can't be transferred over, I thought I'd make a head start.  I have lost all the comments prior to the change which is rather upsetting!

An Abstract Art Journal Page: Circles

The prompt for week 48 of Art Journal Prompts is 'Circles'; I decided to go with an abstract response.

All Creatures Great and Small!

This tag was made in response to the fortnightly challenge on Tag Tuesday: All Creatures Great and Small.  It was my second attempt, as my first idea didn't work out, but I felt this stamp set by Claritystamp was the perfect one for the prompt!

New Home Card

This card was made for my eldest son and his girlfriend, who took possession of their first home together yesterday.  I hope they will be very happy there, although I will miss seeing them every day.

Kitchen Towel Background

I needed a quick project for today's post, so I decided to follow the advice of another crafter that I greatly admire and who blogs every day; 'Go with what you've got and don't think it has to be perfect.'  So thanks, Barbara Gray, I love how this tag turned out and I still have the top layer of the paper towel to work with.

Clean and SImple Birthday Wishes

This card was made for a friend, who often comes and crafts with me.  She is too busy over the next few weeks to make our usual weekly craft sessions and I will miss her company; Happy Birthday and I hope you like your gift too!  I was really pleased with the way that the card turned out.  Full of class, like the recipient.

Happy Mother's Day

This card was made for my Mum for Mother's Day today.  I finally tried out my Misti and the Altenew stamp sets that I have had for a while.  Happy Mother's Day Mum and thanks for all you do!

Gelli Petite Lacy Coasters

Dried Marigold Distress Ink

I'm keeping up my new year's resolution with my third post this year!  These coasters were made and personalised for a group of ladies who frequently keep me company in my shed.  They are great crafters and we learn a lot from each other.  Belated Merry Christmas!They were all made the same way but personalised as appropriate.  A piece of Sheen's stamping card was cut to 8.9cm x 8.9cm; the square gelli petite plate was inked up and a brayer used to smooth out the ink.  This was then 'stamped' onto the centre of the card through a section of the Clarity Lace Swatch to create the lacy pattern.  

Fine Wine Artistry ink.

Archival ink and the alphabet word chain letters were then used to stamp the appropriate name.

Stormy Sky Distress Ink.

Victorian Velvet Distress Ink

Shabby Shutters Distress Ink

Worn Lipstick Distress Ink

Wilted Violet Distress Ink

Martini Olive Artistry Ink

WOYWW #385 - Happy Birthday Son

Brushos and Pixie Powders

Playing with my new Gelli Petites

As promised last week, I am sharing the birthday card which I made for my youngest son, whose birthday is today.  It is not so much a case of WOYWW (hosted by the fabulous Julia) today, but What's on Your Floor Tuesday, as I am sharing some of the fabulous papers made by my friend yesterday during one of our regular Tuesday get togethers.  Next week she will be coming to visit on Wednesday and Thursday as it is half term, so I will be able to share my Workbench in all its messy glory.  My photo is a bit of a cheat, as it was taken yesterday morning; you can see the results of my labours here.

Mini Gelli Plate Play

Circle Gelli Petite and Rings mini stencil

It's Tuesday!  This is the day when I do most of my crafting as my friend comes over to keep me company.  Today I played with my new Gelli Plate Petites Bundle from Claritystamp.  This is no longer available as a bundle, but I was lucky enough to get the full set of mini stencils, the two sets of Gelli Petites, two mounts, two sets of 7"x7" card and the stencil storage binder while the offer was on.  I used some of my Artistry inks also, as well as the Claritystamp Word Chains and Word Chain Alphabet.  It was such a lot of fun and really productive.
For my first attempt, the celebrate card front, I used the Artistry Fine Wine ink pad alternatively printing directly through the Rings mini stencil, followed by a ghost print from the remaining ink.  I loved the borders which Barbara Gray made using post it notes to hide the centre panel, so used the same method to add a border round all 4 sides.  All it needed was a Word Chain 'Celebrate' stamped in Black Soot Archival ink (I love the Tim Holtz Archival ink palette!)