WOYWW - the wanderer returns!

I don't get to show my desk as often as I used to at Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday, hosted by lovely Julia at the Stamping Ground blog, although I do confess to popping in to view some desks occasionally! 
I have no intention of going out in this cold weather, so here I am...my first full day in for a week!!! 
I will start by showing you my desk and my intentions for today!

The journal page is a bit wild but I have a plan!! The main thing on my desk is the distress ink colours printed out ready to stick onto my ink pads - I have been meaning to do this for ages, so this afternoon my card table will come out and I will have a film on while I do them! I may even choose a film that hubby will like!!!

Last week we had a short stay at our caravan and a trip up to Keswick where we popped into the pencil museum..I did have a bit of a spend...on essentials, you know....

...well, not entirely essentials but I did want some more Inktense pencils and when I saw the drawing pencils on offer I decided to add the book, I really would like to make 'Amazing Drawings'!!!

The next day I called into Rowan Tree Crafts in Carnforth, there was a new delivery of AALL and Create stamps and stencils, including the  Tracy Evans sets I wanted(although I have since seen another that I 'need'!)and another by Bipasha BK. I added couple of stencils too! 

Keeping this brief, I still remember Julia's wishes!!

I'll be around later!

Thanks for looking, Chrisx

T Stands For......time out, trees and tests

We have not been here for one reason or another since last Thursday, so I was happy to get some time at my craft desk today! 

It's only a quick page for Rike's 'Animals A from to Z' at Art Journal Journey but I really enjoyed making it!

 It started out with the two greeny yellow blocks of paint but I can't remember why. To that I added distress ink around the page and then stamped Paper Artsy stamps by Lin Brown. Next came the Sara Naumann blackbird on a branch. The rabbit and the hedgehog(Freebies) were stamped onto some lovely deli paper sent by our lovely hostess, Elizabeth! I added some snow using a Tippex corrector pen!A little bit of Script stencilling and the quote - one of my favourite Lin Brown ones and I felt relaxed!The leaves at the top were from the same freebie set!

Trees are featured because of these before and after pics!

This was at the end of November...

...and this was from last week! I am so happy, I have my view back and will be able to see the sheep which I couldn't last year

This was last May and those trees just got thicker and taller and we couldn't even see the crag in the distance!!

Speaking of Sheep...we went up to Keswick last Friday, it was sunny but cold! There was snow on the mountains(we have snow here today!) 

 We parked in the car park at the Derwent Pencil Museum, where I am going to join Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands for Tuesday

 We snuggled up in a corner, it was quite busy, so this is all I got - we both had Lattes and then...well...just a little spend, which I plan showing on my desk to tomorrow! 

Loved the cushions around!!

After a wander around the town and lunch we set off for Castlerigg Stone circle where I have 'borrowed' some of hubby's photos

...and added some of mine..

...when we took the scenic route via St John In the Vale.

Finally the tests...
Hubby's eyes ..needs new specs(when did they become so expensive?)
The MOT on the car - passed, but may need some work done in a couple of months
My blood test - OK, don't need more medication and it's going down again!!!

We went to the cinema after my appointment with the Diabetes Nurse.
Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in Murder On The Orient Express - wasn't expecting to like KB as much as John Suchet, who is in the TV version of Poirot, but really enjoyed the film and his portrayal of the famous detective!!!

Hoping to get some visits in this evening but if I don't I will be at yours before the weekend, so please, if coffee is on the go, keep mine warm !(I don't like mine too hot!) 

Thanks for looking, Chrisx

Slim and Slimy!

Hi everyone! We are back from our few days away and I have a journal page for Rike's 'Animals from A to Z' theme at Art Journal Journey!

We get quite a lot of snails on the paths around here and I always stop to look at them - they are such wonderful looking creatures!
Slim here loves snails too - Slimy is his pet! That isn't so strange, my GD had some African snails in a tank sometime ago. I think they were taken to her Mum's house to look after eventually!
My page started with a little bit of an experiment...

..while clearing out some old boxes I found a thin sheet of foam like material. I spread some paint on and made a print on my journal page.

 I also got a few more prints onto book pages, although I had to press more firmly as the paint began to run out.

I used a strip at the bottom and added some pink to my page.
I stamped some black drips and runs stamps - I am not good at keeping my stamps with their packaging and once again have no idea who to credit! I also added a few spatters.
Slim (Paper Artsy ElenaZinskiart and Slimy(Caravelle Studio) were both stamped onto my page and also stamped onto card and coloured with Inktense blocks and a water brush. I fussy cut them to be stuck in place to keep the details.I gave Slimy some gold dots with a sparkly pen. I added a Tim Holtz chit chat sticker to show how these two love each other!

I would also like to enter at:- 

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Grunge It Up
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Make your own background 

We are prepared for cold weather over the next few days although we have to venture out tomorrow to take the car for a service and an eye test for hubby!
I am also going to get the results of my blood test this week so finger crossed!!

Thanks for looking, Chrisx

You've got to do it!!!

Hi everyone! There are definitely signs of Spring around the corner, although it is still a month away and the forecast for this week is not good so I am not getting too excited! Today has been another quite chilly day!

To warm us up I have a journal page for Rike's theme 'Animals from A to Z' at Art Journal Journey.
I saw this advertisement for holidays in a newspaper supplement so decided on a torn book paper background which I gave a wash of paint to and them stamped randomly wth Paper Artsy and Kaisercraft stamps.

 I tore off the bottom and the top of the image and reversed where they belonged for a bit more contrast! 

The quote using a Dylusions stamp is one I believe in wholeheartedly and was at the core of my teaching style in the Special Needs School I taught at for, well, shall I say, quite a number of years!

I added the 'Follow' from part of a Paper Artsy Lin Brown quote.
Whenever I see elephants in wildlife programmes they are always involved with the whole family and from some of the clips I have seen they learn from their experiences, but are helped by other elephants if they get into difficulties! 

I am really enjoying Rike's theme and have more pages on the go - I've just realised that there are only a few days left too! 

Thanks for looking, Chrisx

It's Christmas again!

A quick post today! 

I have a 'Clean' card for ABC Christmas Challenge!

I used a Paper Artsy JOFY stamp from 
I dug out my Promarkers to colour it and added some doodled dots and circles.
I'm afraid I lost the set this came from so have no idea where it is from!

Thanks for looking, Chrisx

Wild and Free

Hi everyone! I seem to be having a busy time of it just lately - good job we are off for a break later this week!

Today is another day and having sorted out my medication and reflected on the lovely life Mona led, and her upbeat attitude, right to the end apparently, I am feeling much better! Thank You for your comments on my blog! 

I have tag for Tag Tuesday - for the Add a Quote theme.

The tag is some rescued packaging and I just used it by my mat for spreading leftover paint on.

I added some scraps leftover from other projects and today I added a butterfly (Indigoblu)which I coloured with my polychromos.I added a Tim Holtz chit chat quote.
Next I made a page in my A5 journal by rubbing over some dabs of paint with a baby wipe and stamped a Tim Holtz background stamp randomly over and a quote that has lost it's label! I also added a stem stamp that was lying on my desk
I now have journal page to link to Art Journal Journey, where Rike has chose 'Animals A to Z' for her Theme

Thanks for looking, Chris

Vintage - again

Hi there! Only a quick post here today!
I have been on the phone most of the evening - I had to ring the emergency doctor as I took one of my morning tablets instead of an evening one so needed some advice - it took three people who passed me on in turn to another - it seems I will be OK but shouldn't take any of my other tablets! What a numpty I am!!!

This afternoon I enjoyed making a card - it calmed me down after hearing that my dear friend Mona has passed away.

So the card I made is in two colours only - I really wasn't in a colourful mood!
I used TH stencil and a stamp set also by Tim Holtz. The warm wishes stamp is by Stampendous I think!
I will also remind you that the theme at Try It On Tuesday is Vintage! 

 Mona wasn't well when we played Scrabble on Friday evening - her leg was troubling her. She was in so much pain that an ambulance was called and I must say she didn't look well at all! She was feeling well enough to come home on Saturday, but when she couldn't bear to stand on her leg getting in the car she was kept in!
Events took a turn for the worse and it was family only visits and we feared the worse! I was told that she passed at 1-30 this morning! We shall miss her so much!

Mona just before her 97th birthday

Thanks for looking! Chris

TIOT is going vintage!

Our new theme at Try It On Tuesday is Vintage and as usual it can be anything you would like to make as long as it fits our Vintage theme!
The Design team have put their posh outfits on for this theme so do take a look

My original thought was to make a card but when I found this canvas in my craft room, already gessoed, I changed my mind.
I used the reverse of the canvas to make a box for my ephemera to fit into...

..and painted the outside of the frame with Paper Artsy Fresco paints. I was intending adding papers so didn't need to paint the base.

On my BIG clearout I found all sorts of bits and pieces to use.
Some Tim Holtz ephemera, some Indigoblu images, and some scraps of vintage style papers. I stamped onto some with butterflies.
I don't recall buying this fancy ribbon but it seemed to be waiting for this project!
I used a frame to add a photo of our young woman's beau and a wooden stamp shape to show where he lives. It's Paris of course!

 I used some copper acrylic paint to colour the frame!

Finally a corsage of roses was added to the corner and some more butterflies were stamped, coloured and fussy cut and added to the frame.
I'd like to think that the young woman is in Paris with her beau and the postcard was the one she sent to say she was on her way!! 

I hope you will join us this time, there are a few rules which you will find here!

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands For....the rescue!

This wasn't the post I was going to write at all but events took different turn today and I thought you might like to see!
First of all I had to go to get a routine blood test done at our local hospital!

It is very close to an area we used to visit years ago so I had promised myself a coffee and cake afterwards (err...my test was for my blood sugar...but you didn't read that!!!)

We didn't go in here,if I had a hot chocolate I wouldn't have cake!
We headed for an old favourite, Burton Road Bakery!

I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands For Tuesday

I had an Americano with my delicious Rhubarb and Strawberry slice, hubby had a Cappuccino with a Strawberry Shortcake.
After last week's hubby overload I don't have a shot this week as we had to sit side by side, space was a bit tight!!

 Just after taking this photo it filled right up!

 Afterwards we had a little walk and saw these lovely Spring flowers for sale!
Best of all was the street art, which definitely wasn't there last time we came down here!

 Now, you're thinking, what about the rescue...
We went out this afternoon, planning to take a long walk around the village..

...this is just outside the main gate and the river is at the red wall at the end of the road (notice the lovely newly resurfaced road!)

When we got to the river we saw this...

 It was a crew from the fire brigade having a practice rescue - the man we spoke to on the bank was happy not to be one of the ones in the water!!! 
The water coming over the weir was flowing quite fast and although there was a pulley system to help them up they finally had to abandon their plan and get out onto the ramp.
We spent some time there and got quite cold so we had to have our walk to get warm..

 ..the crocuses are flowering on the nearby green.. 

...and finally the church on the corner which was hidden by the tree last time I showed you!

I will be around for some of tomorrow so hope to see you then!

Thanks for looking, Chris