Now, the Workdesk.
Set aside the fact that you can still see building site through the glass door. In fact, get used to it really...we’ve started the clearing of that section but it’ll prolly be next summer before it’s proper. So the desk is in action, ta na! Everything sort of pushed back on top of other stuff so I could get to a challenge layout. I’ve got the snippy stickers out too...I’m going to use them to add a few words to the title. I think I said I was cutting them up because they are too snippy for real use. The packet of cards leaning against the drawer set is a workshop kit from Shopkeeper Gal. It’s been there a fortnight and I’ve just unearthed it. It’s a Christmas theme, so maybe it was a subconscious thing to ease it out of sight! You can’t see it, but my WOYWW11 snips bin is at the very far left. It would appear to be out of reach, judging from the state of the desk. So that’s it. A layout with a picture of my two year old daughter, completed on her 27th birthday. Seems about right.So how’s your desk this week? show and tell, all as usual please.
The folios really make sense to me, and I will be able to test them a little this weekend as I’m ‘attending’ an online crop and looking forward to it, I must say. Haven’t made a LO for a couple of weeks now. See the empty plastic boxes at right? they were the ephemera boxes that I was wading through each time I wanted an embellishment for a page. Now I have a folio for tags, florals, words...you get it. It should work.
It doesn’t look too bad does it. Does it? Well, OK, mostly it’s just stuff pushed back and piled, but I really have to get these cards done. And, I got into the mood to do ephemera sorting. Our Kelly Desker had a video on one of her WOYWW posts about how she sorted and stored ephemera. Really struck a chord with me, and just out of the blue yesterday, I decided to have a go.
I was driving home when the need to do this came upon me, and I didn’t get in till after 4pm, so then I had to work fast and smart. Thats a joke, but I made a start. Commandeered the kitchen island and started sorting my ephemera. Turned out to be an interesting exercise. Loads of tags for writing on, a fair few floral things, some travel theme die cuts and a good few words and messages. So only need five folios. I’ll show you more when I’ve gone further. If you’re interested, visit Kelly, I have absolutely no improvements or tips to add to her excellent video, of course. The motivation for finishing is strong...I need the worktop back for proper domestic doings. Like food! So, in the same week - birthday cards, folios, blimey, am I mojo specific? it would seem not! show us what you’re up to please, it’s no fun without you. Put WOYWW in your post title and link it here. Ever so many thank yous.
And then, my beautiful Aunty Sue’s birthday appeared in the upcoming events page of my diary. So I decided to stick to what I know for her card, and selected a big hydrangea stamp that I love. Stamped it, embossed it and thought it looked a little flat and dull. So I stamped three more on different papers, and set about paper piecing the thing. Oh my word, why, when I’m so impatient?!! Pleased with the finish though, and happy to report that Susie liked it, which is absolutely what I was aiming for.
Here’s a thing. I didn’t have a big enough piece of the black floral outline paper to adequately cover the card front, because of the shape that had previously been cut from it.The hydrangea is quite a large image so I had no choice for card size. So I ripped up the paper and stuck it on in a wanton collage fashion. Perfect coverage, if a little arty for me. And then, because I just don’t know when to stop, I added a coating of pearlescent shimmer to the flowers. 
I’m thinking that this fussy cutting phase is probably at end. As I type, I’m thinking about a new stamp that I feel may need to be coloured with a nice easy thump from
There couldn’t be much less room could there. I fussy cut all the little gals and am now trying to make cards from them, using the coloured cards. I need the cards to be relatively uncomplicated and quick, so far so good. You can see the snarky sticker book on the right under the ATG gun and on top of the small paper trimmer. I’ve started to cut the stickers up and use them as alphas now, I can’t let them just sit there unused and some of them I’m really not going to use, they’re too mean. I think Amelia asked if all my scissors have a specific use and if so, how do I tell them apart. Only one pair has a specific use and they are black Teflon for cutting sticky stuff. Every single other pair is just used at will...mostly when I can’t find the pair last used because of the mess - and that only takes minutes, frankly. The Teflon pair were brilliant. But.....they dulled and so obviously, I sharpened them. And that took off the Teflon coating, from right where it’s most needed. Sigh. Still use them for sticky stuff, but really, they’re only sharp snippers now. That little turquoise-y book at left is my re-purposed photo album, now containing die cuts that I didn’t use at the time of cutting, or multi cut because I could. Slightly smug about this organisational tool, of course it was a tip from Kelly Desker, not a brain wave of mine! So my desk will remain a mess till this round of cards are made, then I’ll have to tidy up. Really, I will. Show and tell then, gentle reader, show me how neatly you work......
OOh that’s a large pic. It wont reduce! Anyway, after this, these little images are destined to go on cards. I need to get them done because I have a bunch of other things to be done, quite specifically, some cards for a workshop! Going to try and come up with a kit pack. And my brain will not let me move on yet. Crafting is a therapy I know, but do you quietly think I need a bit more therapy? Ah well.
You can see that I’ve employed some of the gnomes - again, trying to use up card blanks inherited from Mary and scrapbooking scraps. Mary left me a lot of coloured cards. I favour white, really, so it’s a challenge! I’ve been able to stamp some particularly pertinent sentiments on the cards thanks to a great clear set that Kathy sent me. It’s a collaboration between stamp companies to fund COVID related charities. It’s a great set. The large unmounted floral stamp is a declaration of intent. I have a birthday card to make and this will be perfect if I can get what’s in my head onto paper. If it works, of course, I’ll show you, if it doesn’t, well I’ll probably whine at you. There’s a lot on the desk, and stories for all of it. See that lovely new girly stamp on the iPad stand? A gift, for which I thank you Soojay, I love her. I’m going to end up with an army of these characters, I just know it! Here’s a few more gnomes before I sign off and ask you to share some real inspiration:
And perlease tell me that you’re reading and pronouncing the word as gernomies...its not just me is it?!
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