WOYWW 247

Did I say things were going to change? Well they have - not as much as I'd like at the moment but I'm not far off. So....my desk - here on show at Julia's Stamping Ground where you will find all you need to know about how to join in - if you remember looked like this 

Now it's like this

centre

left

and right

 The photos above were taken yesterday when I'd finished

So this morning - a test drive so to speak - couldn't sleep so set to on round two of number one sons wedding invites - round one samples too plain!! He wants something more....my style - I had tried to do rather formal looking CAS style and it quite clearly wasn't what they expected so hopefully this next lot will do the trick!

We are off to see The Monument Men today so will get around at some point but I'm not going to miss a George Clooney film am I?

Ooh! Forgot to point out Happy Mail on my desk from Our Creative Corner's Laura - I was "pulled out of the random hat" the other week - Yay!!

See you later, thanks for looking, Chris

Happy Birthday!

I made two cards the other week, this one for a dear friend.

I used Wendy Vecchi Potting Soil Archival to stamp onto a small piece of linen and also onto a scrap of paper, both stamps came from the TH set Attic Treasures. The stencil is a new one that I bought at the show I went to at Event City and is by Memory box. I used distress inks Seedless Preserves and Shaded Lilac randomly over it and used the text stamp PA Mini 26 and Frayed Burlap just to add a little more to the background. The Happy Birthday is from Inkylicious stamped and bumped to give a more defined image on the background. I used a scrap of brown lace along the edge. 

I would like to enter in the challenge at Our Creative Corner - Blues, Browns and Purples

Thanks for looking, Chris

Strong!

Home again and just in time to enter! As soon as I saw this challenge - for the Quotes and Lyrics challenge at the Craftbarn - the first thing that came to mind was the old Rolling Stones song "Miss You"- but once I'd read the lyrics thought - Oh No! 
So, out with the quotes book that hubby bought me and found the quote that I have used here! Once I'd found the quote the main image choice - an Inkylicious stamp - was easy. I added some parts of stamps from Paper Artsy Lynne Perella set LPC004 and mini MN30 as well as parts of the Papermania travel stamps. The base tag was made by adding Frayed Burlap and Stormy Sky distress inks to my mat and running the tag through after spritzing the ink with water. The words were computer generated then rubbed around the edge with the distress ink, as was the edge of the tag.

The only thing then was to add some metal in the corner and a soft flower with a metal centre to emphasise how this lady, whom(who?- help!) I normally regard as a bit of a romantic, has a look about her that says she is also a strong character(look into her eyes!)

I am linking this to the challenge here

Thanks for looking, Chris

G is for .....

If you have ever read any of my blog posts that I have done while at our caravan you will know how I do go on a bit about the visiting birds! When I saw the Dragon's Dream Challenge Tag it on this time I just knew straight away what it would be - the subject - G and birds was right up my, err, garden!!!!

A combination of Distress inks - Weathered Wood, Frayed Burlap, Vintage Photo, Ghost stamping with a flowery corner stamp from a bargain box at a show and a Kaisercraft diamond stamp. The photo of course, a little bit of stamping using Potting Soil archival. The bird at the bottom and the bird on the branch are from an Inkylicious set and the branch is something that's been around and about my desk for absolutely ages just needed a little bit of the ink rubbed across it. Just to finish I punched swirly bit using a Fiskars punch and some computer generated words

I would like to Link to The Dragon's Dream TIO G and birds

Thanks for looking, Chris

Tim's February Tag

As Valentines day has passed I've changed tack totally from my original idea. The techniques followed Tim's as closely as I could which you can see here. I must admit to struggling as I didn't have some of the products Tim used, however I think I made the most of what I have!

The stencil is by Memorybox. I couldn't resist using my new Tattered Lace and Spring Greenery dies along with the Tattered Flower Garland and the Rosette die. The Blackboard technique is new to me and not one I will persevere with!!! I had a little dragonfly that I thought fitted nicely with the colours and a chit chat word. I know it looks nothing like colour wise but I must say is more me so fate definitely took part in this(and imagination of course!)

I am linking to Tim's 12 tags of 2014 February tag challenge

Thanks for looking. Chris

Love Paris!

I will always love Paris, we have been at different times of the year. One year we even went twice within six months(the second time we took the two youngest as they were studying art at the time and there were some exhibitions to see)

This card is the one I made for my hubby for Valentines day - not that I like the commercialism involved these days(just as I feel the same about Halloween!)but I knew he'd get me one! He did - big and with beautiful words - see, I'm not totally against it!!!!

I used craft card and used one of my new Memory box stencils with a cloud white Versamagic chalk ink, Frayed Burlap distress over that then Walnut Stain around the edges and corners then the white ink through the stencil again in the corners. The postcard was cut from a new set by Papermania - Madame Payraud. The Paris stamp is also a Papermania stamp from the Around the World set(half price in the Range the other day!) I added a little bit of my new TH Tattered lace die that I bought the other day with a voucher I got for Christmas. Some words stamped onto some French book paper and paper bag and then Walnut Stain distress inked around the torn papers and the hearts. I thought a bit of colour in the form of a little red Studio G heart would finish it!

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - We love stamps!

Artistic Stamper - Use Distress

Try it on Tuesday - Travel

Ali-Crafts challenge no 9 - Valentines

Thanks for looking, Chris

WOYWW 245

The sun seems to be trying to shine here but my heart goes out to those of you caught in  storms and floods - some of the images on the television show a very sad picture of what is happening around the country!
 A fairly messy desk to show this week - evidence of some experimenting, stuff not put away from some Autumny Wedding Invites ( samples for my son and his fiancé to look at and choose from)

 Can you see the brown paper towards the back of my working space?
I 'found' this on one of my trips to TK Maxx at £2.99 this DCWV 6x6 pad was a bargain, it is sticky backed, goes through my Big Shot and doesn't cut the backing so that anything cut out stays on the sheet - magic!!
Do you recognise what I've been cutting out? One of my purchases from the Event City craft show - the new TH die - spring greenery!
Okay so what else did I buy? 

Memory box stencils, the Sizzix accordion die(after watching Lindsay demonstrate how easy it was to use) - still not opened it but I have plans!! Another bargain buy - honestly the crush to get these was quite something - a box of Docraft embellishments, I bought another in a different colour - a pound each!! Although they are Christmas boxes the things inside are not all Christmassy. I saw the same box in the sale area at the Range on Monday for £4.99 reduced from £9.99.

Why was I shopping in the Range you ask - well you'll just have to wait and see - but things are about to change around here!

If you would like to know more about this desk hopping fun pop along to Julia's blog the Stamping Ground - all will be explained!!

Thanks for looking, if I don't return your visit it is often because  I can't get my phone to access your comment box - it just comes up with gobbled gook sometimes so please accept my apologies.

Chris

Card for a man

Our nephew is now grown up, he's always been a bit wild but he's finally settled down and has a new baby and he's had to grow up fast so instead of a frivolous card he had to have something a bit more fitting(LOL!)

It started with a combination of Frayed Burlap and Weathered Wood and a fair sprinkling of water! I used stencils then, again using Weathered Wood. Some paper from a pad I bought years ago, the stamps are from the little set of stamps I  got at Tim's workshop last year plus the Warehouse District set, and the background for the bike is text from a set of clear Tim stamps again bought ages ago and lost the pack! I used Wendi Vecchi's Potting Soil Archival ink to stamp, apart from the compass, which I did using the watercolour method and Seedless Preserve distress ink.
A little strip of craft paper and a set of little letters just finished it.

I would like to link this to 
Try it on Tuesdays where the theme is Travel
and Our Creative Corner where there is a three colour challenge without the use of black - browns, blues, purple

Thanks for looking, Chris

A Flight of Fancy

Firstly I hope I don't flabbergast you, please do me a favour and don't flee(just yet)from this frivolous post!

I've been having fun with the Dragon's Dream Tag it on challenge - F and green.

Oh! Such a fabulous challenge but what to favour as my choice - feline, flowers, something in fawn(!!!)?

I had no fear in falling finally on the feathered favourite 'Squawk' designed by my lovely friend Lindsay Mason!
He's fine and funky and I thought he'd make a fantastic funny tag - don't want anything fuddy-duddy or frumpy for this challenge!

So a frenzy of flinging inks and spray around, the ever familiar stencils, some filling in with stamps, a grunge board alpha soup F, some fussy cutting and some fronds and fibres! Almost finished, my feathered friend needed some firm ground to stand on - some fine lines made by using the edge of a ruler dragged across an ink pad(used here too)didn't look too foolish!

Using Dylusion ink spray - Fresh Lime, 
Distress inks - Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, 
Bird and words - Lindsay Mason

I'm linking to Dragon's Dream Tag it on challenge 'F and green'. There's still 'free'(3) days to have a go if you'd like to 

Finally, if you got here and didn't fall at the first post, Farewell and 'Fanks' for looking! Hope I didn't freak you out! Chris

Silence!

After a lovely day yesterday meeting up with friends at the craft show at Event City near Manchester it was definitely going to lead to a play day today! If you want to see more go to Jo's blog JOZART here, she has lots of photos of the fabulous displays. If you want to go the show is still on tomorrow (Saturday). 

Hubby was going out(a rare occasion) so I grabbed the chance to get inky!

My first thought was to get my Craft Barn challenge tag done, I'd had a few ideas but with one of the stencils from my purchase yesterday it changed slightly!

The quote was easy - once I'd wiped the Tremeloe's song from head   (don't know who I'm talking  about? A fab group from the 60's - yes THE 60's)It comes from a book of quotes that hubby bought me a few years ago. 

To make a base I put down Squeezed Lemon, Stormy Sky, Evergreen Bough and Brushed Corduroy in sequence on my craft mat, spritzed and then smooshed the tag through.
Then with the stencil I used Scattered Straw, Stormy Sky, Mowed Lawn and Brushed Corduroy to go down the tag.
A combination of Paper Artsy Stamps from Hot Picks HP1008 and HP1009 made the grass at the bottom of the tag. A quick run round the edges with Brushed Corduroy still on the pad. 
Then to create a sun - Scattered Straw using Paper Artsy Mini MN30 stamped repeatedly to make a sun shape. All it needed then were some rays - The edge of a ruler run over the ink pad and used as a stamp(couldn't resist adding a few to the sides of the tag too! A few scraps of wool and ribbon and the quote (computer generated) stuck down. 
That all added up to a lot of fun!

I'm linking to The Craft Barn Quotes and Lyrics Challenge - Silence and Dazzle

I made another tag that I hope to show you tomorrow if you'd like to come back

Thanks for looking, Chris

WOYWW 244

What a lovely morning  it was - two hours ago  - brilliant sunshine - now- rain again! But hey! this isn't a weather forecast it's WOYWW! 
I missed last week - we were away and there was absolutely nothing to show on Wednesday morning as we had only arrived at our caravan at 9.30 the evening before. I made up for it later in the week though and had a very productive week despite going to the cinema (twice!), having a day out in Settle, a few walks, church and being strand up a driveway near Arnside when the sea caught us unaware! We had stopped on our way back from church to look at the sea when we realised that cars were splashing through water on both sides of us, fortunately two very kind men let us up their drive where we all watched the sea come rushing in - Arnside has a particularly fast incoming tide-it totally covered a bench and bin just below the garden! We were there for about an hour and a half!

So, just what is on my desk, this being the day that we can show and tell courtesy of Julia at the Stamping Ground.
Mainly just stuff dumped from my bag when we came home yesterday!

I did take rather a pile of stamps! Two of my journals - new pages in each, paints, inks(didn't have the colours I needed at the caravan)and my trusty pencil case!
Just about to post when I though you might like to see my bargains - it also encouraged me to put those things away!

From the left, some lace I bought from the bric a brac table that is  in the church hall where we have coffee after the service! While paying I was told that the charity shop up the road was having a haberdashery event so we popped in there too!
In the middle some wool tops, buttons and felt squares from our trip to Settle. Oh! and the very bright bits are a present from my granddaughter who was sorting out her weaving wool box and insisted on giving them to me(I think they may have been bought by me in the first place but didn't want to dampen her generous nature)
On the left - yes that's my knitting! I can't remember the last time I knitted but I saw this beautiful wool in Aldi and couldn't resist at £4 for four balls. One and a bit balls has made my grandaughter a  scarf which I finished while babysitting last night and just brought home to sew into one of those endless scarves that go over the head.

So that's it, I've got few birthday cards to make so I'd better crack on - hope to visit at intervals over the day, Chris

February calendar page

I bet you thought I'd forgotten about my 365 calendar journal! Well, I did forget to show you January's page but it will be underneath my new February page!
First here is February all ready to fill in

I put a selection of inks onto my mat - Frayed Burlap, Peacock Feathers and Weathered Wood, spritzed with water then ran the pages across - I then dipped a screwed up tissue in more Frayed Burlap and dabbed onto the still wet page. I used the same colours to stamp images from the Tim Holtz SA set Attic Treasures very randomly over a piece of copy paper to use as my journal squares. The tree was drawn freehand onto the back of a patterned paper and then cut out and I used some little birds from a Papermania set to balance on the tree. Some grasses around the base finished it off.

 The quote came from a little book of K and co velum quotes that I 'found' while having a tidy last week!
Just to prove that I have filled in January's here it is

 Quite a lot of dabbing with a makeup sponge and stencilling were the base for this.
Now just a little look at what I saw from my window this afternoon as I was about to do this post - I had been watching the crows seemingly having fun flying around in the wind when they all landed in the big tree across the road! 

Haven't I seen a stamp like this?

I will be linking this to Kate Cranes blog The Kathrynwheel

Thanks for looking, Chris