What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #493

Two weeks in a row. What's going on here?!

My desk hasn't seen any action since Sunday, when I had a little photo shoot.  Removing the table cloth and trying to make the most of the natural light from the kitchen window. White on white is so difficult to capture.

I've got a new embossing folder that gives the card stock a very subtle texture and I've been using it on all my card mats. Gives the background a little lift.

Here's the card that I shared a close up of last week. Still can't capture that glitter!

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers this sunny morning. Back to the hospital with Mum this afternoon, after a bit of a cock up yesterday. Thank you to everyone who visited last week. I'll try to do better at returning them today.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #492

Well hello! It's been so long....blah, blah, blah. No apologies. Just life getting in the way and it always being Thursday when I think of it!

My desk was in a barn, up a mountain, at the weekend. I got more done than I had in a very long time and it still wasn't that much, compared to my very productive scrappy friends.

Seasonal crafting has now begun in earnest. Those snowflake dies cut like a dream. The stamping was a practice run for this wreath card....

We made it in class today and although time consuming, building up the layers, it's worth the effort I think.

That's me, coming to you from from a wet and wild Dorset this afternoon. Joining the Deskers hosted by Julia. Time to put the kettle on and visit a few of you.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #470

I taught a class this morning and one of my ladies had to cancel at the last minute. Rather than consigning her unused kit to a box somewhere I've put it to good use this afternoon.

It made sense while I had the supplies on hand. Now I've got three cards ready and waiting instead. This one is my favourite. Reminds me of the china tea set my Mum had when I was a little girl.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers this glorious sunny day. Happy Wednesday.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #468

It's the 9th anniversary of WOYWW this week. Can you believe it? 9 years of sharing our work spaces and little glimpses of our lives.

If you were here last week you would have seen the card samples from my most recent class. I always have extra 'Blue Peter' bits to make demonstrating flow more smoothly. Sometimes I make them up into more cards for my own use, when I get home, and sometimes they just get flung in a box.

This time I did something different.....

My first 12x12" scrapbook page in a very long time. I followed a sketch by the talented Laura Rumble and scrapped a picture of my girl on her 11th birthday. She turned 19 at the weekend!

I used up the leftovers.....

.....and added a couple of extra bits, like this stamped vellum circle.....

.....and this tab, to bring the pink across to the other side of the page.

I even managed to find a use for the tiny cut out heart. Did you spot it?

I'm linking up with the rest of the Deskers this morning, with grateful thanks to Julia who brought us all together.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #467

Another Wednesday rolls around and I actually have a desk shot this week. Admittedly it's from just before the National Scrapbooking Day shenanigans started! I was prepping for a class and making a few more PL cards for my 100 Day Project.

We had a new lady join us and she hadn't dabbled in paper crafting before. I kept the gift box simple and planned the other projects to include the use of punches and the Big Shot as well as basic stamping. I also need to keep things interesting for the ladies who've been coming along for several years. It's a fine balance.

One card made with a repeated motif to get used to the pressure required and one with a large background stamp used face up, bringing ink to stamp.

The square cut from the frame on this card was used on the other one. Waste not, want not!

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers this morning. Happy Wednesday.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #464

Welcome to another Wednesday of desk sharing. No actual desk shot here. The kitchen table is empty, bar the fruit bowl, and will remain so until this afternoon when I make another card for The 100 Day Project. I do have a couple of things to share.

You'll recognise the stamps I used on this card and box, if you visited last week. These were the projects from my April class, along with a triple stamped card that I haven't taken a photo of yet, apparently.

This one is from a March class. I use my letter dies a lot for personalising things. I was looking for a more general way of using them (they were a big investment) and came up with this card. Also pretending that Spring was coming!

That's it from me. Linking up with Julia and the Deskers.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #459

Well hello there! Long time, no see.

I didn't have much inclination to blog at the end of last year, for various reasons, all far too dull to go into here. I thought I'd make a fresh start in the New Year. That didn't happen, clearly. Here we are at the beginning of Spring and that seems to have given me the nudge I needed.

As I type this, my kitchen table is full of the contents of my larder cupboard so there will be no crafting happening there today. Instead I'll share with you a couple of things I made with these adorable panda stamps.

If you know me, you'll know I don't really do cute, but I couldn't resist these little chaps. I've made several projects using them, for both birthdays and Valentine's Day, but these are the only ones I've actually got round to taking photos of so far.

I'm looking forward to popping in on a few deskers while I drink my afternoon coffee. Happy Wednesday everyone!

What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday #440

A production line at the kitchen table this morning. Scoring and punching.....

.....ready to assemble closer to the time.

That involves gluing along one side and tying the ends with ribbon to make the basic cracker. Very quick to do.

We fancied them up a little more in class last week. The bear decoration took longer than the cracker!

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers 

What's On Your Workdesk? Wedesday #439

Last Wednesday passed me by, but I'm back this week to share the cards that were in the making when I last showed you my kitchen table.

Simple, yet effective. Looks like much more effort went in than actually did. My favourite kind of card. Ideal for mass production at this time of year.

More work in this one, of course, but I need something a bit interesting to break things up. Masking, sponging and stamping. One of my favourites so far this year.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers this afternoon.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #431

This morning my desk was a table at the local Arts Centre. I taught a class of nine lovely ladies how to make a little box and two birthday cards in shades of pink.

We die cut these little girls from paper.....

.....layered them up and added to a stamped background. They remind me of Mable Lucie Atwell images fro my childhood. Sweet without being too cutesy.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers this afternoon.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #430

August has been a busy month and it's been great to have a complete break from card making. With my first class of the Autumn term only a week away, I need to get my head back in the game.

All the new seasonal goodies are coming in so I need to start planning. Now I love Christmas, but firmly in its place, which is after Halloween. With that in mind I like to come up with a few alternative ideas for the Christmas products.

I'm easing myself in gently with the Quilt Top embossing folder.

Linking up with Julia and the deskers this afternoon.

What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday #426

With only a week to go until we're off to the Netherlands, I'm supposed to be whipping up a quick peasant style maxi dress at the kitchen table today.

I cut it from this fabric a week ago.

The rain lashing against the windows is not providing much motivation.

Hoping it looks more like August somewhere out there in the land of Deskers.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #424

Hello lovely Deskers and anyone else stopping by today. I taught my last class, before the Summer break, this morning.

This was the state of play just before I packed everything up.....

Third Wednesday in the month is always a four card session, usually focused on one particular stamp set. Today it was the turn of Badges and Banners.

I'll share the cards on Saturday as it's too dark to take pictures here this afternoon. If you want to see the projects from the last time I showed my desk, they are in the previous post. Happy Wednesday. It's good to be back.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #418

Good morning lovely Deskers and anyone else who is dropping by. I've done my first taxi run of the day, taking my boy to work for 5.50am. I've got time for a quick blog post before I head out again.

This was my work space on Monday morning.....

.....I'd decided on a stamp set and picked two colours.

Things had moved on a bit by Tuesday morning.....

.....and I was ready to cut the kits for class.

I use the sheet to help me pack the supplies I'll need, while I run through the process for the project in my head. I like a visual reminder.

Linking up with Julia and I'll be round to visit once I get home at lunchtime.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #417

It's Half Term here and I'm enjoying a break from all the usual driving. In fact my car is currently in pieces on the drive. The brake shoe broke on Sunday afternoon. Thankfully as I was backing onto our drive and not out and about with passengers.

This is how the kitchen table looked last time I did anything crafty.

Stamping up a bunch of ink samples, to show off the new colours.....

.....and some brown paper to wrap a gift.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers. Happy Wednesday.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #416

"What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday" is celebrating eight happy years of crafting, fun and friendship today. Who'd have thought it? I've been joining in since 2011 and met some very lovely people over the course of those six years. Here's to many more. Big thanks to Julia for bringing us all together.

I did have time for a little bit of playing with pretty paper earlier. I'm finally cutting into this lovely stuff, having admired it for several months.

I also stamped a whole bunch of greetings ready to add to some cards.

When I kit for class I can get four card mats from an A4 sheet and I end up with two little pieces, like the one in the picture above, left over. They usually go straight into the recycling because I know, if I keep them, they'll most likely never see the light of day again. This time I had a purpose in mind and I've used them all. Very satisfying.

Happy Anniversary to all you Deskers out there and Happy Wednesday to everyone else. I hope you've enjoyed some glorious sunshine today, like we have.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #412

Nothing much happening, on the crafty front, at the kitchen table this week. I do have a couple of things to share.

Here's what all those bits and bobs on last week's desk turned into.

A card themed for a wedding, although that versatile sentiment makes it suitable for any number of occasions I think. Minimal stamping, along with a couple of die cut pieces, made this a relatively quick card to put together.

This one has a layer of embossed vellum, which prevented me from getting a decent photo. Underneath is a stamped panel, that the camera refused to pick up when photographing the whole card. I've given you a close up instead so that you can see it. With the added bonus of showing off that pretty die cut band.

Linking up with Julia and Deskers this cold and frosty morning.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #411

Still the Easter holidays here for my girl. Which means I'm still at home at 8am. A novelty for me. Wedding season was in full swing at the kitchen table yesterday.

I've packed some of these lovelies into boxes and I'll be out the door to class in about an hour. Not everyone has a wedding to go to, so I've made the designs adaptable for Anniversaries and even Birthdays. How pretty is that embossing folder? I love the hearts/petals and it's another thing I'll be sad to see retiring.

A couple of people asked what that meant, last week. When a product retires it's no longer available to purchase. I keep my favourites for personal use, but I don't continue to feature them in class projects. There's nothing more annoying than not being able to get hold of something you like.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers on this sunny morning. Happy Wednesday.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #410

It seems that two weeks have sneaked by since I last shared what I was up to. Instead of a desk shot, I've got a shelfie for you today.

Like many of you, I don't have a dedicated craft room. I've got a floor to ceiling bookcase, in the lounge, which houses all my crafting goodies. As you can see it's in a *bit* of a mess at the moment and that's only the part I'm showing you!

My task this week is to sort it out. Stampin' Up released the list of retiring items on Monday, which means I need to order my stamps into current and retired. Makes life easier when I'm planning classes.

Very sad to see Kinda Eclectic go as it's one of my favourites. I think I would have bought it for those leaves alone. Petite Petals with its matching punch will be missed as well. It's one of the sets I recommend to people just starting out as it's great value and very useful.

Next week I might have an organised set of shelves to show you. It's the Easter Holidays here, meaning no school runs, so I'me hopeful. Linking up with Julia and the Deskers on this beautiful sunny afternoon. Happy Wednesday.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #408

Nothing at the moment. It's an Inset day at college and my girl had a late breakfast. No "school runs" though, giving me back three hours in my day and 70 less miles travelled this week. Enough time to get a dress cut out then, but which one?

I bought this lovely soft needlecord, from a friend at my sewing group, with the Lisette Traveler dress in mind. Love that cherry print.

I pulled this fabric from my stash, to make a shirtdress from the Sixties pattern in my previous post. In my head it was a lightweight denim in the perfect shade of blue. I got the colour right but the weight is wrong. Not enough substance for the style. I'm sure I can find something else to suit, but first....coffee.

The pliers are for fixing snaps, if I chicken out of making all those button holes!

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers on this wet Wednesday morning.