What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #393

I managed to get here on the right day this week. Nothing crafty on my kitchen table though. Today is the busiest day of December for me. It began at 6am, getting my girl off to college, and will end some time after 3am (and around 120 miles later) when we get back from the midnight showing of Rogue One.

I do have something to share. If you were one of my half a dozen visitors last week, you might remember the moose and Santa faces. This is where Santa ended up....

The last Christmas card I make with my class, each December, is always a fun interactive one. To give to kids.....big or little.

The hat is on a slider so that it can be lifted from Santa's head for a bit of a fun. It kept me amused for ages!

Happy to have found a little window to join in with Julia and the Deskers this lunchtime. Hope to have another this evening, between the school run/dinner and picking up my boy from work at 10pm, ready for the cinema. Now I'm off to pick up my Mum and drive over to visit my brother on his birthday. See you later.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #335

November blogging has not quite gone to plan. My laptop died and Doug very kindly helped me restore it, while I was at the WOYWW Hallowe'en crop on Saturday. Since then I've been putting it back in order.

I do have a desk shot today though, hooray!

I taught a class earlier and this, the contents of the kitchen table, is the aftermath. Stamps and inks waiting to be put back whence they came.

We made four cards using the Wondrous Wreath stamps.

We started by learning how to stamp the wreath in three stages and cut it out with matching dies. Also how to deal with those tricky spindly word die cuts.

We then stepped it up a bit, by adding the wreath to a simple gatefold card.

Next, a change of colour scheme and some added bling.

Finally, a simple one layer card, once everyone was comfortable with the 3 step stamping.

Linking up with Julia and all the other lovely deskers out there. So good to see some of you at the weekend. It was such a great day. No photos from me, but there are plenty out there to see.

That's me off to collect my girl from the bus stop. I'll be round to visit this evening.

Me on Monday

The first Monday of the new year and it’s time for Christmas to go back in the box.

If you’d popped in a couple of hours ago, this is how you would have found me on Monday. I like to read the cards again, as I take them down, and think of the people that sent them. It makes the putting away of all the festive bits and pieces a bit less sad. I’ll just have to make the most of all the new found space….

….and remember the fun we had decorating.

Waving to Sian, as always, at the start of this week.

Me on Monday ~ Christmas 2014

Today I’m quietly reflecting, while I watch Moonrise Kingdom catch up with the ironing, on the past few days of family festivities.

On Tuesday….

…..the children decorated the tree.

On Wednesday…...

…..I packed the hampers…..

…..ready to deliver……

…..and whipped up a chocolate tart for the Christmas pudding haters.

On Thursday we….

…..ate…..

…..drank (the shandy that defied logic) and were merry with the inlaws.

On Friday…..

…..we did it all over again at home with Mum.

And we had clementines, always clementines, because…..

…..”Nobody likes the tangerines.”

That was ours. How was yours? Waving to Sian for the last time this year.

Friday Smile ~ Penguins

I’ve been meaning to join in with Annie’s cheerful meme for a long time and today I’ve finally made it! This little chap seemed the perfect candidate for raising a smile. Who couldn’t do with one of those on a Friday afternoon?

It was my last class of the year on Wednesday and if you visited then you would have seen the little penguins being assembled.

I threw it open to my class goers to choose what they would like to make. I thought it was probably a little late into the month to be making Christmas cards….

….but apparently not. I was asked for a card suitable to give to grandchildren. I didn’t think I could top last year’s tumbling gingerbread man so opted for a revamp….

….and swapped him for a penguin. Using icy blues instead of the festive red.

I’ll be back on Sunday with the final edition of Sian’s Christmas Club. Hope to see you then.

Christmas Club ~ Celebrating Seventies Style

It’s time for another edition of Sian’s Christmas Club.

At Christmas we….

….gathered at my Gran’s house for Christmas lunch.* After the washing up had been done and the Queen’s Speech watched, my Uncle would pour a drink for the grown ups and the present opening would commence. My turn to give them out that year, resplendent in crackly green polyester and with only half a head.

At tea time, around the kitchen table, we’d have sandwiches, followed by trifle and Christmas cake. Cousin M’s turn to cut that. I love that her lava lamp, a much longed for gift, is in the picture. My brother’s turn to have half a head.

Back to the living room and we’d be allowed the crackers from the mantel piece and off the tree. I love my Mum’s face in this picture. My brother had clearly had enough of his smart tie by this point. The waste paper basket would be almost overflowing with nut shells by now. Not sure what the game board on the floor is. Anyone?

We’d stay the night and spend the next morning playing with our cousins, before driving on to my other Aunty and Uncle for a Boxing Day lunch. I’d have to wear my Christmas dress again for them, which is why I’m dressed the same and my cousins are not. The mantel piece now free of crackers and oranges, but the chocolate decorations were still on the tree. We’d be given those in the new year when it was taken down.

The composition (and the focus) may not be the greatest, but I’m so happy to have these photos. I haven’t cropped them at all, because I love all the little details that have been captured inadvertently. The stuff that memories are made of.

* I think this was 1977.

PS I’ve been ignoring the Word Verification that has appeared on a lot of blogs recently. I write my comment and hit publish, without filling the numbers in the box. Seems to work for me.

Christmas Club ~ Pantomime

I didn’t have a blog of my own, when Sian hosted the Christmas Club, back in December 2010. I’ve shared some Festive memories here previously though, so I had a quick trawl through the archives to make sure I didn’t repeat myself. Then I saw this post from December 2011 and I knew that I wanted to repeat myself!

At Christmas we….

….put on a show. Here I am, circa 1976, playing the cat in The Four Musicians of Bremen. How I loved to be on the stage. It was my absolute favourite thing about Christmas, throughout my primary school years. From Snow White’s wicked stepmother, through Saint George and Mary, to Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat, I loved every single part I got the chance to play.

My little brother wasn’t quite so keen. Here he is playing one of the “Two Little Dickie Birds” from the rhyme. Whether he was Peter or Paul, I can no longer recall, but I do remember that he didn’t want to wear the red tights. They were mine and he had to fold the feet over inside his daps, because the legs were much too long.

Thank you Sian for bringing back the Christmas Club and giving me the chance to join in this time around.

PS There are different photos and more of a story in the other post, if you missed it.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #286

Nothing today, or indeed yesterday. Well nothing crafty anyway. I took delivery of a large order of books. It came in not one, but two boxes and I have been wrapping them, before packing them back in the boxes, ready to deliver or place under our tree, when the time comes. I can assure you I am not usually this organised!

I do have something to share though. Remember that screen card (you can see the finished article here, if you’re interested) that was in the prep stages last week? I put the punched out stars to good use as the ‘filling’ for this shaker card. A simple stamped background and envelope flap to match. A glittery star for added bling and some silky silver ribbon for that all important touchability factor.

Short and sweet this week. Linking up with Julia and the deskers, of course.

Stampin’ Up Saturday ~ Holiday Home

On Wednesday you would have seen the component parts for this card on my kitchen table and here they are all assembled.

I find it very tricky to photograph these screen cards to give a good view. I’ve put together a little collage so that you can see it open as well as closed and the inside stamping, which is only partly visible on the outside. Probably a little more work than you want for a Christmas card, if you have a lot to make.

Onto something that is easy to mass produce at this time of year. Some basic one layer stamping, using two shades of brown, with a die cut for some dimension. I added the candy cane twine for a hint of colour and the touchability* factor.

I’m loving the versatility of this little house set. Sian has used it to create some Christmas cards in another non traditional colour scheme. Aren’t they great?

If you’d like to know how to make a screen card, in this simpler form, I’ll be adding the tutorial next week. Are you making cards this weekend?

*Apparently this is not a real word.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #285

It’s Wednesday again and there’s nothing (other than a fruit bowl) on the kitchen table this morning. The kits are prepared and everything is stacked, ready for me to pack in the car. Of course, I will be looking in those boxes before I do.

This was the scene just after lunch yesterday. The last few ‘inbetween’ stages being made and a little experiment. I read somewhere, the other day, that with clear stamps it is better/easier to do the die cutting first and then stamp on the shapes. I always tell my class the opposite and generally we use rubber stamps. In the interests of fair play I thought I’d give it a bash. The results weren’t *bad* but for me the end product is cleaner and more accurate, when I do it the other way round.

In the last session we made the card above. I kept it simple, because that style was new to everyone, including me. This week we’ll be a making a ‘stepped up’ version, using those cute little house. Again? I don’t think I’ll have any complaints! I’ll share what we made later in the week. Santa and his sleigh may be involved.

Now, onto to the point of me sharing all this with you this morning. Although I suspect you already know. I’m linking up with Julia and the other deskers, for our weekly hop around the workspaces of the world. See you there.

PS If you’re looking for a gift for the handy man or woman in your life, then Friday’s post might interest you. Shameless advertising I know, but for a good friend, not me. If you appreciate a well crafted tool (no sniggering at the back) then take a look.

Friday Finds ~ Elementary

Something a little different this week.

I have lots of finds pinned on my secret Pinterest boards, but they can’t be shown here, this side of Christmas, in case the intended recipients see them. Instead I’m going to share a gift idea that you don’t have to make yourself.

Screwdrivers? Yes, that’s right. Something you expected to see here on my blog? Probably not. However, these are very special screwdrivers, designed by a good friend of mine so I hope you’ll indulge me.

When he was unable to find a modern screwdriver that fitted his needs, as a cabinet maker, he decided to make his own based on traditional designs. He is now making them available to everyone. The perfect gift for the handy man or woman in your life.

Find all the details on The Screwdriver from elemen’tary design here.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday? #283

The slightly blurry contents of my kitchen table, previously in boxes transported to class this morning. Now in the process of being returned whence they came.

I have embraced the Christmas crafting now that Halloween and Bonfire Night are almost past. I just can’t get into the mind set before then. There’s a traditional combination of red, green and kraft, along with a, less so, trio of blue and grey.

A couple of variations on a theme. One with a stamped background and….

….another using a mask and some white ink. Loving the mix and match handwriting and typewriter fonts in this set of stamps.

Are you yet to begin your cards or are you sitting smugly on a stockpile? I’m sure I’ll find the answer to that, on my travels around the desks of the world this evening. It’ll be getting dark here in the next half hour and I need to pop to the post office and see if I can find some laces for a pair of Doc Marten boots. I’ll be round later. We might just need the heating on tonight. Happy Wednesday.

One Photo in Twenty Words ~ Angel Bear

A monthly meme hosted by Abi at Creating Paper Dreams.

Our angel bear, bought the year we nearly lost our girl. Christmas, along with the memories, back in the box.

Christmas Tutorials ~ Gift Card Holder

Today I’m bringing you the second in my mini series of festive tutorials, as part of a “Project a Day” that UKS are running on the Homepage this month. There have been a wide variety of lovely items and plenty more to come. Why not check it out, if you haven’t already. All the projects shared so far can be found here.

Have you ever had to pick up a gift card at the supermarket as a last minute gift? Wouldn’t it be nice to pretty it up a bit before giving. Well, here’s how to do just that.

You’ll need cardstock, patterned paper, ribbon, a circle punch and a greeting stamp.

Cut a piece of cardstock measuring 10 3/4” x 4”. Score at 2 3/4”, 4”, 5 1/4” & 8 1/8”.

Fold the 1st, 3rd and 4th score lines in one direction and the 2nd the other way. The photo above shows the inside of your gift card holder.

Flip over (top to bottom *not* left to right) so that the outside is uppermost. Cut a piece of patterned paper 4” x 2 3/4” and adhere to the left hand panel. Put double sided tape just to the right of the 1st score line, as shown. Round the corners of the right hand panel, punch out a circle* and stamp your greeting.

Remove the tape liner and bring the folds together. This will form the section where the gift card will be held.

Flip back to the inside and mark the width of your gift card in pencil.

Centre your punch and punch approx 1/4” from the folded edge. Slide the punch to the right (up to your pencil mark) and punch again. Do the same to the left.

I used a slot punch for mine as it gives nicely rounded corners, but it also works with a square, as shown in the previous picture. Insert your gift card.

Fold the bottom up….

….and the top down. Wrap a piece of ribbon around the card and tie in a bow. I positioned the bow at the top of the circle, to give it the look of a bauble.

Here are some others I made previously, for a couple of birthday girls. Instead of simply rounding the corners on the front flap, I used a scallop punch. Mine is a Fiskars one and punches quite deep, so in this instance I cut the card at 11” long. As you can see, it’s easily adapted to the occasion and supplies you have.

*I used a 1 3/4” circle punch, but other sizes will work. Alternatively you could use a wafer thin die, such as a Spellbinder circle, if you prefer.

PS If you don’t have a suitable punch for cutting the gift card slot, then you might like this previous gift card holder tutorial I wrote.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday? #236

Christmas card production has been very slow this year. Lack of a permanent work space has severely hampered the process. I have been making them in fits and starts over the last few weeks. Cutting card to size, stamping images, die-cutting and putting everything away, ready to assemble, when I have a minute.

Cherry red cardstock, polka dots and pennies….

….turned into a tumbling gingerbread man, who’s raised a smile everywhere he’s arrived so far.

Pop over to Julia’s place, for more Christmas cheer, on a desk somewhere near you.

PS I’ll be back on Saturday with the next in my set of Christmas tutorials, this time for a simple gift card holder.