What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #340

Today's work space is the ironing board. Pressing some of my Christmas fabric for a couple of projects I have in mind. More about those on Friday. Hoping I haven't jinxed myself by saying that! The blog has had to take a back seat for a couple of weeks, while I've been driving 400 plus miles between Thursday and Monday, rescuing my boy from his hellish flat share to get some sleep.

I've got a couple of cards from last week's class to share.

Those lovely Wonderland trees again, along with a sprinkling of Falling Snow and my favourite Woodgrain background, finished off with a spindly word die cut.

Two of the same stamps used here, with a punched tag and a little bit of glitter. The first example may be a little more work than you want for a Christmas card, but not too bad if done in a batch. Although, unlike me, you've probably made all yours.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers this early Wednesday morning, before heading out in the dark with my girl. I'll be looking forward to visiting with a nice hot cuppa on my return.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #338

On the kitchen table today, a few things ready to be traced and/or cut out. Some booties and a bib/apron for the new baby, due next month. My niece has chosen a grey and white colour scheme for her nursery and I thought these fabrics would fit.

I bought a copy of Love Sewing this month, because there was a pattern I wanted, and found it much improved. It's quite an expensive magazine at £5.99, but worth that just for the Megan Nielsen Kelly skirt (full size paper) pattern which was free inside and the cute red wool coat ornament from Posie Gets Cozy. There are lots of others, including dresses, children's clothes and festive makes.

I made this pair of cards for a class, back in October, but it was just too early to share them here. I cut the little houses on a hillside with an edgelit die, stamped a sentiment and added a punched glittery star. It doesn't get much simpler than that for mass production.

I liked the negative and, by cutting a full size mat in white, I realised I could make two cards with one cut. To finish off I embossed with falling snow and added the same sentiment as before. I do like making cards that require a lot more effort, just not at this time of year!

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers, after a missed week due to that pesky migraine. Hoping for some festive inspiration when I go visiting later. Happy Wednesday.

Me on Monday ~ The Secret Santa Edition

It was a weekend that saw the weather change from damp, mild and autumnal to cold, crisp and wintry seemingly overnight. We woke on Saturday morning to the boiler running, as the heating came on for the first time since late March.

We drove to Devon so that I could go to my sewing group and The Mechanic and My Girl could go and visit our Uni Boy and do some Christmas shopping together.

We had all made pin cushions for the Secret Santa, which has become a tradition at our last meet of the year. I made one from a Kilner (Mason) jar. It was surprisingly easy to do. I completely forgot to take a photo of the finished article. I'll definitely be making a few more though. I received a beautiful Cathedral Window pin cushion in return. We sewed, chatted, laughed and ate a lot of cake. A much needed tonic.

We had a later start on Sunday and indulged in some big fat fluffy pancakes with lashings of maple syrup and freshly brewed coffee. Our day involved some pre-Christmas freshening up of a couple of neglected areas in the house and a tea time roast. It was good not to have anywhere to be.

Today you'll find me not long back from my monthly visit with the chiropractor and about to start on the dinner. I caught up with last night's episode of Homeland when I got up this morning and I thought I was confused last week! I'm sure all will become clear soon, won't it?

Giving a wave to Sian and the Mondayers. Have a great week everyone. Wrap up warm.

Silent Night

Wednesday began well, with a fun and festive card class in the morning. A lunch of leftovers, my favourite kind. Then, out of nowhere, came that little zig zagging patch of light, disrupting my vision. There was only one thing for it: take some medication and retreat to a darkened room for the rest of the day. Now comes the wrung out dish rag feeling. Fellow migraine sufferers will know what I'm talking about. A quiet one for me today.

In lieu of a "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday" post, as it's now Thursday, I've got a pair of cards to share from that class yesterday.

Trees stamped at full strength, then stamped again without re-inking to give a paler impression. A sky full of embossed snow and a little touch of glitter.

A change of colour scheme and stamped snow flakes this time. What a great font that is.

Both easily mass produced, which is just what I need as we hurtle towards December.

How is your seasonal crafting coming along?

SIPIDI! ~ November Pins

This month it's all about getting ready to document December. I've got my Project Life cards in the pages, leaving some empty pockets. They won't necessarily stay where I have put them, once I start adding photos and stories. I think having them out of the box will make it much easier to see which ones I want to use each day.

I bought a plain kraft album and my pages are 6" x 8" with a variety of different sized pockets. The cards above show the main colours: Lost Lagoon, Mint Macaron, Real Red and Very Vanilla. I suspect kraft will make an appearance in there too.

I've picked out some matching card stock and a selection of stamps that will come in handy to make extra cards. I don't tend to buy a lot of embellishments, preferring to make my own, but I couldn't resist these reindeer paperclips. The stars are punched from Gold Glimmer Paper.

I started a December Daily/JYC board, with a few ideas for page layouts, inspiration for hand made cards/embellishments and some free printables in my colour scheme. I'll be adding to that throughout the month.

Image from And So I Don't Forget.....

I particularly like the vellum banners in the pocket above, which have been made with a cut file. I don't have any sort of electronic machine, but they've inspired me to make some stamped vellum banners that I can add over photos with dark/blank areas. I also like the inclusion of an event that was in the news, and on my mind, with my niece arriving in Sydney the day before the siege.

It was great to see some of you joining in last month. Thanks to Amanda and Karen for sharing your October project inspiration with us. If I've missed anyone please let me know and I'll add you to the SIPIDI! board.

PS More information about SIPIDI! can be found in this post.

Me on Monday ~ The Getting Ready Edition

It was one of those weekends where I look back on Monday and wonder exactly what I did for a large part of it. There was the usual round of Saturday morning chores. The Mechanic had the day off and we spent a chilled out afternoon catching up with some of the Doctor Who episodes we'd missed, while we were glued to the rugby on previous Saturday evenings.

Sunday morning started lazily with coffee and croissants. I like to jazz them up a bit, by cutting a couple of pockets, to slip some good plain chocolate into. I then warm them through in the oven for a few minutes to let it melt. So good.

After clearing away our roast lunch, I settled down in the cosy kitchen for a little crafting. Bonfire Night has been and gone and I feel ready to embrace some Christmas planning and preparation.

I've made it easy on myself this year, with a set of coordinating Project Life cards for my December Daily/Journal Your Christmas album. I might stand a better chance of getting it done during the month. I don't want it to feel like a chore, as the big day approaches, which is something that has happened in the past. I have card stock and ink in some matching colours and I can be more creative, if I want to, or keep it simple, as time allows.

Me on Monday? Continuing with the decluttering of the lounge. I've decided on a change round and want to get it done by the end of November, ready for some festive decorating next month. Waving to Sian and the other Mondayers and anyone else calling by today. It's always good to see you.

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.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #330

Guess what? I actually have a desk shot for you this week.

I'm playing with my new embossing folders and dies. Coming up with a plan for next week's class. It's the first session of the month, in which we make four cards. The class is split down the middle. Half would like Christmas cards, the other half wouldn't. I always like to get double duty from my seasonal products so the answer is obvious. Make one Christmas and one birthday card from each.

Once I've finished giving myself brain ache with that task, I'll be pondering which of these fabrics to use in a little quilt for a new arrival. Gender unknown and due around Christmas time, I'd better get my skates on!

Linking up with Julia and the deskers on this sunny September afternoon.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #290

Julia asked us to share (if we had the time) how we leave our desks over the Christmas holiday. Mine has been de-legged and tucked away behind the sofa, to make way for the Christmas tree. The kitchen table is empty too. Cleared and cleaned, ready to bake up a storm this morning. All that’s left for me to say is,

“Wishing you all a….

….from our home to yours.

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.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #289

I’m sure you’re all as busy as I am, as we hurtle towards the festivities, so I’ll keep  it brief today.

At the kitchen table, on Tuesday afternoon, turning owls into penguins. As you do.

I’m off to teach my last class of the year this morning and I’ll be round to catch up with you all when I get home. See you over at Julia’s.

PS You can most likely ignore the Word Verification and just hit publish without filling the number in the box. The exception being Wordpress users. Sorry.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #288

Last Wednesday was one of those days that you just want to forget and I didn’t make it to the desk hopping fun. I managed to squeeze in a little bit of crafting yesterday and here’s the kitchen table just as the light was going.

I’m making little boxes. When you lift the lid, the cut out shape reveals the four tea lights nestling inside. This version is going to be blue and white with snowflakes.

This is the one we made in class. You can see the star shaped peep hole, which is underneath the lid, in the first shot. There was a card to match, but I’ve already given it away and forgot to take a photo.

Finally a mini cracker treat box. Perfectly sized for a lip balm (or sweets/chocolate) and made using the ever useful Envelope Punch Board. Three more projects to come up with for next week’s class and then I’m done for the year. Just like that.

I said it yesterday, but I’ll say it again: Apologies to anyone having difficulty getting past Word Verification. I seem to be unable to turn it off. I have tried and tried. I don’t think it’s just me. It has reared its ugly head on several blogs that I visit regularly. Come on Blogger, give us a break!

Me on Monday

These Mondays are coming around a little bit too fast for my liking this month!

It was a start as we mean to go on (with a treat of hot chocolates and a muffin for me and my girl), stroganoff cooking, Christmas shopping with her friend, Skyping/gaming with his friends, mini cracker making, first Christmas cards arriving, Never Let Me Go watching (naughty mummy substituting the film for the book. Do as I say, not as I do!) for GCSE helping, personal statement fine tuning (summing yourself up in 4000 characters, including spaces, is not easy), croissant warming, beef roasting, Christmas Club story reading/memory sharing (3 left to comment on, I’ll get there), tea in front of the telly (a rarity around here) kind of weekend.

Monday found me making the most of the sunshine to pre wash some fabrics….

….and watching an episode of Glee….

….while I ironed them. I have Homeland to catch up with still and Intruders (anyone else watching that?) but I was in the mood for something a little lighter, after the heavy subject matter of Never Let Me Go. There is a scene in the film (don’t worry, no spoilers from me) when one of the characters stands in the road and lets out his frustration. It’s a heart wrenching moment. All the more so for me as it could have been my boy standing there, having a meltdown. December is always a difficult month, but throw in a trip to London at the start and mocks looming after Christmas and we have a tough few weeks ahead of (and one thankfully now behind) us.

Waving to Sian again this evening, with grateful thanks. Without her clever ideas I wouldn’t have posted anything yet this month.

PS There seem to be some problems with Word Verification on Blogger at the moment. As far as I can tell it’s turned off, as always here, but if it’s coming up for you please let me know. Thank you.