Some didn't, some did!

As you know my blogging has been somewhat erratic this year, partly because of a dodgy connection sometimes at our caravan and more often because I either haven't had time to play in my craft room or because I haven't had time to blog! So here are just a few that didn't make it!
  

                     Two Journal pages

The card I made for my Sister in Law

These did make it!

I loved making this heart and was lucky enough to be in the top five at Try it on Tuesday 

Some favourite journal pages

Following Tim's workshop

      including a page from my Italy Travel Journal...

So there it is a tidy end to 2013, we're out and about with grandchildren for a few days so I'll see you in 2014!

Thanks for looking, Chris 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'm just having a few quiet minutes and have hopped on to say 'Merry Christmas!" I have been neglecting you and my poor old blog for nearly two weeks now! Events kind of escalated again but now thankfully "all is calm". This was all related to the retirement complex where we live (I won't bore you with details!) Hopefully we are now on a smooth path towards 1914! 
So since you missed my Christmas cards I'll show you what I got up to! I started with all good intentions - a variety of stamps techniques etc. but got a bit behind and decided to limit myself a bit!

TH onto pearl card

A metal stencil I've had for ages and a Creative Expressions stag

? Tree with my NOZ December Almanac page as a background

 ? Tree and Paper Artsy Egg and Nog 1 scrolls and words

Once I'd broken into the Paper Artsy box my cards took a different turn and the rest are a combination of Paper Artsy E and N 1 along with Nut and Meg, JOFY mini JM01 Christmas tree, Lindsay Mason's Tinchies, Beth Hughes' Seasons Greetings and Paula Pascal's Essential Christmas

                                   

 Most of my other cards took a similar turn but this one is for you!

Hope you all have a Wonderful Christmas!
Thanks for looking, Chris

WOYWW 236

The date today here in the UK is 11.12.13 (and the day before my 66th birthday on 12.12!)but no date is needed because it's Wednesday - What's on your Work Desk Wednesday for those in the know and all hosted by lovely Julia who gives us the chance to show and snoop (for 'snoop' read 'gasp, admire, envy, smile and only very occasionally think "Phew! Glad that's not my mess to sort out!)

So here's mine, more of a shrug your shoulders and move on kind of desk at the moment, but a definite improvement on the dumped on desk of a fortnight ago!

 I've been making Christmas stamped backgrounds on my paper sandwich bags, which, by the way, have now found a permanent home in my craft room, He! He!. At the back of my desk a notebook to alter, to the right my brilliant December almanac stamp that I bought in Noz on our visit to France in the Summer, and on my mat a piece of stamped bag to go on a card! So, as you can see I still have some cards to make to be hand delivered! 
I've had a bit of a tough time lately but I'm sure I've been through the worst and feeling a lot more positive now, the sun is shining and we've been invited out to lunch today.

I'll try to visit as many desks as I can, I failed miserably last time so please accept my apologies!

Wishing you a lovely day, Thanks for looking, Chris   

Thank You Alison!

When I saw Alison's (sadly) final guest design trio for Paper Artsy I was absolutely inspired. Only thing is with the turn of events here I had little time to play and only got this finished yesterday, so in by the skin of my teeth here is the Christmas light I made.

Hubby had just finished a jar of his favourite night time drink and I immediately saw the potential to follow Alison's example.
Gessoed using kitchen towel to make a frosty sky, stamped with the houses from Lynne Perrella's collection LPCO12, dabbed on some more gesso mixed with glitter to give starry look

Here it is last night on my shelf

The base was just a napkin glued on with some lace.

So this was all just to say Thanks Alison for all the lovely projects you make that are so inspiring. 

Thanks for looking, Chris

Hoping to make the link to Paper Artsy before midday 

365/12 calendar journal

I'm still here! It's just that a lot has been going on around these parts - some lovely, some not so lovely and some downright horrible!  I won't go into the last part but believe me I've been dragged down by it a little bit! On the lovely side my brilliant hubby has been there to hang on to, my family have been great and we have managed a few outings! My youngest son took me for a day out at the Manchester Christmas market and lunch, hubby and I have been to the cinema(Hunger Games 2 - fantastic film) and at last I managed some crafty time! Oh! and we've had new windows put in - on Thursday, with a gale howling! It's lovely and warm now though.

First, because it's getting late (again!) is my December page for Kate's Kathrynwheel 365/12 calendar journal

I decided on a frosty theme but couldn't think how to start, looked at my inks and there it was - a drippy blowy page - got rid of some of my stress too....

  ...all that huffing and puffing!!!
Here is the completed page

It is the same page, just a different light coming in through the window!
I hope you will forgive me for not sharing my completed November pages but I think they are best not shared!

At least I've got through the worst - I hope, and I've got my birthday to look forward to this week

Thanks for looking, I'll be back soon,
Chris

Christmas value!!!!

On a recent garden centre trip I was quite taken by the lovely little villages made up of beautiful model Christmas houses, unfortunately the cost of them was beyond my purse so sadly walked away (for that read dragged away by hubby he! he!)
So, started on Christmas cards when we got back and while looking through my stamps -PING! - I got it into my head to make my own little village.
Of course I had loads of corrugated card so what better than to use some up and take the pile down a little. I started the first house in a bit of a rush and of course it came out a bit wonky (I know - embrace the imperfection, it has stayed wonky!) 

The next one I made just using what was left from the first bit of card so that came out a bit small - that's ok too, none of the little expensive villages had the same size houses. 

I carried on and eventually made five little houses.

All were gessoed then painted with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Snowflake and Sky - not very neatly as this was what I wanted

Some texture through a Dylusions stencil using
some leftover Dries White (glue I think, didn't bring it home)
When that had dried I painted over with Silver Adirondak Dabber

A couple of leftover sticky back pearls

Dries White through another Dylusions  stencil

Crackle glaze over part of a wall
Hearts cut freehand from some old painted scraps of Dictionary paper

Some scraps and more stencils

A large die cut snowflake originally destined
for a Christmas card

Lace, snowflakes, ripped mop up baby wipe, button, snowflake cut  from more dictionary paper

More snowflakes, some through the stencil and some stamped using
a Stampendous snowflake background stamp

As you can see I pretty well made a little village for free!

And when it was dark I added some little led lights

This is staying on my table at the caravan as part of my Christmas decorations - we are hoping to get up sometime with my grandchildren so I hope they like it!

OOer! I've just realised I've gone on a bit, hope you are still here! 

I've decided to enter a few challenges

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog challenge - Christmas

4 Crafty Chicks - Christmas

and although there isn't a lot of stamping I'd like to enter

The Fashionable Stampers challenge - Shabby Chic Christmas

Vintage Stamping Challenges - Traditional Christmas Time

Thanks for looking, Chris

WOYWW

Having missed the WOYWW boat last week I was determined to be a little earlier this week. We went off to see "Philomena" last week and somehow one thing led to another and we ended up having lunch out and then doing some Christmas shopping all followed by a fish and chip supper and quiz here at our retirement complex! Both were really entertaining (the film and the supper!)

Okay, I'm stalling...what is actually on my desk is just what I left before we went away, and what I took away with me on top of it....well...that's not really true either...when I got back Rita had done my ironing and left hubbies trousers over the ironing board so I ended up dumping some stuff on that too!!! It's not a pretty sight!

You can have a good look around if you like, there's a bag of completed cards, distress markers in Christmassy colours, my trusty pencil case, one of my art journals with some new pages completed, some new wool tops, papers, stamps etc., etc.
It's all got to be cleared away pretty quickly as I've got to make a couple of birthday cards.
So, want to see some really wonderful work desks? I suggest you go to Julia's Stamping Ground and follow the link you will find there. Some will be messy, some will be neat but I can assure you that you will be made very welcome!

Thanks for looking, Chris