Welcome to a What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday ....

Morning peeps,

 

How's your week going? I'm guessing that many of my U.K. readers and followers have had a lovely weekend and a couple of really nice days but ..... too good to last, this seems set to change for a day or so. At least the gardeners will be happy to see a little rain!

 

Anyway, having just returned from a fairly extended vacation I found myself craft starved and hardly knew where to start! Don't know about you but, if I ever feel stuck, I trawl some magazines and/or challenges and quickly find my mind buzzing with ideas.

 

Catherine had set a challenge over on the Craftbubble2½ group (registration required) Craft Mad and Loving It and her theme is "TRAVEL" .... I decided to think laterally and use the Stampers Anonymous "Time TRAVELLER" set - see what I did there? I also saw a technique in one of the two Craft Stamper issues that had arrived whilst I was away and off I jolly well went, mind you, I DID use a little poetic licence, otherwise it's just copying - right? Want to see how it turned out?

 

 

 

 

Materials used:

• 12½cm square white, 250 gsm, card blank and matching sized envelope
• Snippets (albeit good sized ones) of white card, black card and grey card
• Metal tape (which I bought in ACE hardware in Florida)
• Clock embossing folder
• Black acrylic paint spread using a piece of paper towel
• Alcohol inks in stream and plum, applied using a Tim Holtz blender but NO blending solution (to keep the colour stronger) .... the finish was a little "tacky" at this point .... so
• Acrylic wax - to seal the tape/paint/ink layer
• Perfect layers cutting templates, craft knife and Cosmic Shimmer acrylic glue
• White card on to which I stamped the Time Traveller (by Stampers Anonymous) image using Versafine onyx black and then masked off
• Distress Ink in stormy sky and pumice stone simply pressed on to the white background to give colour
• Kaisercraft "tiny dots" image stamped in Memento London fog and then the "grid" image stamped using Versafine smokey grey ink

 

As is my usual habit these days the image was stamped inside the card and again on the front and back of my envelope, to make it fully co-ordinating. I may well make a tag using the same image and colours should the card end up accompanying a gift ...... we'll see. Here's the inside and the envelope

 

 

 

 

And the original article? It came from the June 2014 issue .....

 

 

 

Since I used three stamps I'm going to be entering this for the "ANYTHING GOES" challenge over at Addicted To Stamps - wish me luck.

And here's how the work desk looked AFTER that little lot!

 

 

 

 

I had a birthday recently and can't conclude my post without thanking each and every person who took the time and trouble to make and/or mail me a card and to those who sent presents too then a double thank you. I am blessed to have so many creative friends - check out their work.

Look at all these GORGEOUS hand made cards

And a splendid haul of non hand made cards too

These arrived shortly after I took the photos above!! Isn't that always the way?

And here are my craft related gifties, thanks to Lauren, Denise, Louise and hubby

I had thought that I might go shoe shopping for my birthday but with phone calls, texts, e-mails and personal visitors I found I had no time - something to look forward to later in the week perhaps? I was taken to our lock (and fave) curry house to fill in the gap left by pretty much eight weeks without a curry! YUMMMMMM - bet no-one that knows me can guess where we went! And, huge surprise, another pal (who knew we'd be at the Indian) popped in and delivered a couple of cards and presents - what a lovely surprise!

Have a great Wednesday, I know I'll try to!

Some highlights of my recent vacation - episode TWO!

Hi there, welcome to Sunday - you ready for the second instalment of vacation pix? Grab your chair and coffee and come join me on my recent cruise!

 

The Port of Tampa, as we sailed off in to the sunset!



 

Happy Scrappers Kathy and Carol - excuse the "SELFIE"!
In the background Carol is holding the freebie "formal" layout kit
I'll get the hang of these selfies if it kills me!!

Greetings from windswept Boston!
As selfies go this one was a little better, now, if only I could control the hair too!

Fort Warren, Boston

The fabulous Brilliance of the Seas Centrum

Towel Art, an alien from MIB!!!



The beautiful port of Cobh in southern Ireland as seen from the ship

We created a bit of a stir when we docked!! You can see our ship from the centre of town!!
When we returned from our excursion there were Irish dancers and a band playing on the quay and ...
loads of onloookers came to see us off!!! Or was that just to make sure we left?

The whisky tasting excursion to Cork! Can you guess where we are????

No light pollution here!

Beautiful Bruges

Beautiful canals of Bruges!

 

Trust me when I say that I have a lot more but figured that nobody but me would want to wade through THAT many!!! Especially not when they COULD be crafting!

I've caught up with the (seemingly) never ending stream of washing resulting from our vacation but now have the tedious chore of all of the ironing - which I HATE by the way (as do many of my readers, I know!). And another downside of taking a glorious (and long) vacation is .... the grass!!! Check out the before and after grass in the photo below - YIKES!!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!! See what I mean?
You can see the length it SHOULD be, to the right of the path!!!

 

And, since I caught up on most of my chores I decided to take some time out and catch up on some challenges. The card below fits two challenges (hopefully) ..... over on the Craftbubble 2½ forum there us a group called Craft Mad and Loving It (because we are!) ... registration required .... and the current Rudolph Day challenge theme is "WITH BELLS ON" and Festive Friday has a red/white colour inspiration - want to see what I made? It will also (because it uses snippets) fit the snippets challenge over at Pixie's Crafty Workshop and (let's face it) it's been several weeks since I entered Di's challenge!

Materials used:

• 15cm square white, 300 gsm, scallop edged card and matching sized envelope
• Crafty Individuals sleigh image stamped using Versafine onyx black ink
• Words from "Winter Wonderland" computer generated and cut out to fit over the original words.
• Matted on to red/white/red card snippets - using Mini Perfect layers guides
• Red/white bakers twine wrapped twice around the card and tied centrally in to a bow

I got to use some new stash ... I've had my eye on these babies for a while but everywhere seemed to be out of stock of the travel ones .... till I reached Birds in the Barn, that is!

And the colour inspiration was offered in the form of this photo ....

Oh, and, by the way - the peeps over at Scribble and Scrap have fortnightly candy ... Have a great Sunday

Some highlights from my recent vacation - episode ONE!!!!

Morning folks,

Oh my, this post is going to be picture heavy ... grab a cuppa and a chair and prepare to share some vacation snaps with me, apologies if you've seen some of them before peeps but I picked some edited highlights!!!

 

Kissimmee Old Town

OH MY! I've just spotted that my dinner appears to consist of half a cow!

Grissom Park - a lovely little park, shame about the funeral home right next door!

Lake at downtown Kissimmee, near the railway station

Hard to imagine that this ship is INSIDE a hotel .... AND that it's a bar!



Outside of the same hotel

 

That's the edited highlights of the Florida leg of my vacation, I decided to break it down in to two posts, to give you peeps a chance of doing something else today too!

Meanwhile, on the crafting front ..... over at Simply Less Is More, their new CAS challenge is: FLOWERS!
 

 

Materials used:

• 12½ cm square white, 300gsm, scallop edged card and matching sized envelope
• JOFY JM37 image stamped twice, once on to the card blank using Versafine smokey grey and once on to a scrap of white card using Adirondack red pepper ink, which I then just cut out the flower head from.
• Paper Artsy splatter pattern inked up in Versacolour gold and stamped, trying to avoid the flower stem
• I then used my Versamark ink pad to coat the red flower head before applying two coats of clear embossing powder and heat embossed for the super shiney flower head before attaching with dimensional foam pads
• Kaisercraft sentiment from CS913 "birthday" mini sentiments stamped directly on to card blank using Versafine onyx black ink

 

I have a rather late Rudolph Day challenge for Craftbubble 2½'s Craft Mad and Loving It group (registration required to enter) - the theme? It's got bells on! plus, over at Festive Friday they have a photo to inspire your Christmas make .... so, watch this space

Mmmm - doesn't this look scrumptious?

Have a great Saturday

Welcome to another weekend AND a new Friday Funny

Morning,

There went another week of fun and stuff and I hope your week has been likewise.

I'm sure that some of you have realised by now, that my hubby and I have been away on vacation, first in Florida and then on a cruise - how lucky are we? We docked at Harwich on Wednesday morning and picked up a rental car for the drive home, though this process was not without problems and we were over an hour late getting away. We then headed to Colchester in order to meet up with a crafting pal (and now a very good friend) at Birds in the Barn where they made us very welcome. Fortunately, it's situated within a garden centre so there was something for my dear hubby to do whilst Lauren and I shopped!!! Some lovely scones for lunch and then back with her, to hers, for a monstering by her four pooches!  Once that was accomplished we checked in to our hotel before heading, with Lauren, in to London to meet up with her own hubby and then a short walk to the restaurant where we enjoyed a FABULOUS dinner experience.

With chef Todiwala's sister, whilst at Café Spice Namaste!

Back to the hotel and, after the karaoke party in the next room was quietened by hotel staff, a very good night's sleep! Yesterday dawned bright and sunny so, after a farewell to Lauren over toast and coffee we headed home and the chaos began! After a number of weeks away you can only begin to imagine the amount of post that awaited us! And don't get me started on the length of the lawn! There was then a MAJOR unpacking exercise and then the laundry run started! My home now feels more like a laundry with washing hanging everywhere however, a nice day is forecast today so it should all dry pretty quickly so I can get it put back in the right places - wish me luck.

I have uploaded all of my photographs but need to crop and shrink so, maybe tomorrow!! If that's the case then you will certainly need to pull up a chair before heading to my blog tomorrow!

In the meantime ......just one ATC to share with you today, hope you don't mind - I'm kind of stuck in an ATC loop here!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Black card cut to ATC size
• White card off cut, slightly smaller than an ATC
• Distress Inks in worn lipstick, faded jeans and dusty concord - applied with a Tim Holtz mini blender and a foam pad
• Kaisercraft "grid" and "mini triangles" images stamped using faded jeans and dusty concord inks
• Stampers Anonymous line of stars stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink
• Stampers Anonymous man with umbrella stamped using Versafine onyx black ink
• Luminarte radiant pearl spray, to give super twinkle! Can't see it? Check it out below ....

 

 

I DID buy some lovely craft stuff at Birds in the Barn and you just KNOW that this will feature prominently in the next few craft projects so, watch this space ....

The Distress Ink is stormy sky and the Treasure Gold is amethyst

Oh, how I've missed my crafting and challenges - lots of catching up to do in blogland - my apologies for being absent but, I'm back now!

My regular readers will also recall that I swap ATC materials with a buddy from the Isle of Skye and, on returning home I'm sure you will not be surprised to hear that there was a new set of materials for me to make an ATC from. Want to see what I got?

Any suggestions for the creative use of these bits and bobs?

And now for the Friday Funny, courtesy of Marsha - thanks Marsha. It's a teensy weensy bit risqué so, if easily offended please do NOT read on ...

 

Why We Love Our Seniors
  

A farmer stopped by the local mechanics shop to have his truck fixed.

They couldn't do it while he waited, so he said he didn't live far and would just walk  home.
              

On the way home he stopped at the hardware store and bought a bucket and a gallon of paint.
              

He then stopped by the feed store and picked up a couple of chickens and a goose.

However, struggling outside the store he now had a problem - how to carry his entire purchases home.
              

While  he was scratching his head he was approached by a little old lady who told him she was  lost.

She asked, 'Can you tell me how to get to 106 Rose Cottage Lane ?'
              

The farmer said, 'Well, as a matter of fact,my farm is very close to that house. I would walk you there but I can't carry this lot.'

The old lady suggested, 'Why don't you put the can of paint in the bucket.  Carry the bucket in one hand, put a chicken under each arm and carry the goose in your other hand?'
              

'Why thank you very much,' he said and proceeded  to walk the old girl home.

On the way he says 'Let's take my short cut and go down this alley. We'll be there in no  time.'
              

The little old lady looked him over cautiously then said, 'I am a lonely widow without a husband to defend me..... How do I know that when we get in the alley you won't hold me up against the wall, pull up my skirt, and have your way with me?'
              

The farmer said, 'Holy smokes lady! I'm carrying a bucket, a gallon of paint, two chickens, and a goose. How in the world could I possibly hold you up against the wall and do that?'

The old lady replied, 'Set the goose down, cover him with the bucket, put the paint on top of the bucket, and I'll hold the chickens.

 

Have a fabulous Friday

Welcome to What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday

Morning

 

I'm having a perfectly splendid time and hope to have some photos to share with you soon. In the meantime, here's an ATC that I have made and would like to share - hope you like it

 

 

 

 

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• White card off cut toATC size
• Distress Inks: won lipstick, festive berries, faded jeans, applied using a Tim Holtz mini blending tool and foam  pad
• Stampers Anonymous "Random Thoughts" set of clear stamps and Versafine onyx black plus the colours of D.I.'s used for the images
• Luminarte radiant pearl spray to add shimmer - this was purchased recently from the discontinued area at Violette's but I'm loving it so really wondering why Violette's have chosen to discontinue it - should have bought two bottles!!! - ah well.

 

And a pic of my workdesk this Wednesday

 

 

 

Have a great Wednesday peeps

Welcome to the start of another weekend and the Friday Funny

Morning all,

 

How's your week been? We've been having a blast!

 

I have an ATC to share with you and yes, before you point it out to me .... I managed to cut the image panel slightly on the wonk - too nice an image to waste though!!
 

 

 

 

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Black card cut to ATC size
• Inkadinkado meadow image stamped using Versamark ink and then violet pan pastel applied using a Sofft tool and buffing with paper towel before setting with hairspray
• Stacey Stamps bird image stamped twice using Versafine onyx black ink, second stamping without re-inking
• Luminarte radiant pearl spray to give an extra twinkle

 

And now for the Friday Funny, this week it comes to you all courtesy of Marsha ...... so you all know who to blame!!! ENJOY

 

A LITTLE THREE YEAR OLD BOY IS SITTING ON THE TOILET.


HIS MOTHER THINKS HE HAS BEEN IN THERE TOO LONG, SO SHE GOES IN TO SEE WHAT'S UP.


THE LITTLE BOY IS SITTING ON THE TOILET READING A BOOK.


BUT ABOUT EVERY 10 SECONDS OR SO HE PUTS THE BOOK DOWN, GRIPS ONTO THE TOILET SEAT WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND HITS HIMSELF ON TOP OF THE HEAD WITH HIS RIGHT HAND.

HIS MOTHER SAYS: "BILLY, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? YOU'VE BEEN IN HERE FOR A WHILE".

BILLY SAYS: "I'M FINE, MUMMY... I JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT YET. "

MOTHER SAYS: "OK, YOU CAN STAY HERE A FEW MORE MINUTES.


BUT, BILLY, WHY ARE YOU HITTING YOURSELF ON THE HEAD?"

.

.

.

.

.

.


BILLY SAYS: "IT WORKS ON THE TOMATO SAUCE BOTTLE!"

 

I'd like to wish our pals, Mat and Len a very

for their birthday's which are TOMORROW

Have an EXCELLENT weekend

Welcome to What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday

Morning,

 

Another lovely day here and some crafting has been achieved - this ALWAYS makes me happy! I'd like to share this ATC with you....

 

 

 

 

Materials used: 

• ATC blank
• White card on to which the Forever Friends bears had been stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink
• Alcohol markers to colour ... I filled in the "blank" space around the image with SILK copic marker
• Stampers Anonymous flourish stamped around the edges using Memento rosebud ink
• Sakura clear glitter gel pen to highlight the rose and then Luminarte radiant pearl spray over the whole ATC to add twinkle

 

And it's my pal, Lauren's birthday on the 9th so, wishing you the HAPPIEST of days, matey

 

 

 

 

Have a fab WOYWDW ....... here's a pic of my work desk

 

Welcome to the start of another weekend and the Friday Funny

Morning all,

Just a quick drive by post for you all today ... and an ATC to share with you ....

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• White card offcut - cut to ATC size
• Stampers Anonymous flourish stamped three times using Versafine onyx black and set aside to dry thoroughly
• Distress Inks: worn lipstick, festive berries, dusty concord, faded jeans - applied with the Tim Holtz mini blender and foam  pad
• Three faux crystal gemstones added
• Luminarte radiant pearls spray to add a subtle twinkle ... too subtle? see if the close up below makes it any less subtle!!

 

 

And now for the Friday Funny, this week it comes courtesy of Marsha, thanks Marsha - you're in the draw. I hope you will all enjoy!!!!

 

The urine sample

One time I got sick and landed in hospital. There was this one nurse that just drove me crazy. Every time she came in, she would talk to me like I was a little child. She would say in a patronising tone of voice, “And how are we doing this morning?”       Or “Are we ready for a bath?” or “Are we hungry?”   I had had enough of this particular nurse. One day at breakfast, I took the apple juice off the tray and put it in my bedside stand. Later I was given a urine sample bottle to fill for testing. So you know where the juice went!     The nurse came in a while later, picked up the urine sample bottle, looked at it and said, “My, my, it seems we are a little cloudy today.”   At this, I snatched the bottle out of her hand, popped off the top, and gulped it down, saying, “Well, I'll run it through again. Maybe I can filter it better this time!”   The nurse fainted... I just smiled.         DON'T MESS WITH OLD PEOPLE!

 

It's my cousin's birthday tomorrow so ... Debs, wishing you a very

Have a fantabulous weekend - I  know we intend to!