Master of time/Master of boards

Just in case you think that all of a sudden I've got time on my hands, I want to reassure you that I'm, MAKING the time. It's a time-management coup - and very easy - you just neglect everything else.  Seriously.
I thought I'd show you the 'backgrounds' workshop we did a couple weeks ago. To put off getting the kits started for this week's workshop.  See, procrastination in every method!

I scribbled Distress Stain across this sheet before stamping it. 

None of these are new ideas or breathtakingly different techniques, but they use a combination of stamped images you may not have thought of as 'going together' and they make the most of the ink pads you have in your stash.  If you're inspired to try it, pick 3 ink colours and say, five stamps, and a sheet of clear, frighteningly blank card.  Cream or white in these cases.  The stamps need to be relatively non specific images and you have to prepare yourself to stamp them all over, upside down and off the edges.  You can.It's easier than you think.  And it's not wrong.    

These two sheets were white and just stamped, no inking or staining of the base sheets.

My card samples aren't fab, they were about showing what, when cut down, a great and versatile background you will have created.  These two cards have exactly the same images stamped on them, and use the same ink pad colours.  But...different stamps were inked with different inks....they look quite different in terms of prominent colour, huh.

If you knock out a couple of sheets next time you want to make a card with a strong background, you'll have em in stock to use as patterned stock next time.  Don't discount over stamping and die cutting from them either..

If you're an ATC maker, these 'masterboard' style sheets are really quite useful.  Like gelli prints but with stamps.  And I may well have an idea that involves you and a handful of ATCs.....coming up soon. 

Wake up and smell the rununculus...

If you ask me, flowers are an absolute staple for card makers, stampers particularly.  No matter how many I own, I can always make room for more flower stamps.  And I have.... whilst making samples for the workshop at Japonica. Which is now, rather alarmingly) at the end of this month!  
We settled on using the Stampendous Clear set, Ranunculus. 

And somewhere in our conversations, we talked about using Brilliance ink pads.  For me, this was an invitation to dust mine off, I haven't used them for ages.  Of course, I'd forgotten how much I like them.
So I've been making cards featuring these tight bud flowers. And initially, they caused me problems....and the mojo was being very stubborn. But I've managed a few..and had fun with the fact that I HAD to make time at my desk to do them.  I've had less fun trying to re-do them so that I can 'judge' how long they'll take, but that's a whole other story about not putting stuff away and trying to rely on a memory that is, apparently, shot. 

Modern and mono - I water coloured them with Brilliance Lightening Black.

Now remember, I'm not an artist, so when I say water coloured, I mean that I squished the ink pad onto a non porous surface (for me, that's my glass cutting mat) and spritzed it with water.  Then I use any old paintbrush to pick the colour up and paint as inside the lines as I can.

Done the same way, this time the flower heads were embossed...and I went to the trouble of a bit of decoupage too.   Quite a plain card, but not awful.

This 8 x 8 card is a challenge too far for me...I'm happy to scrapbook on 8 x 8, but a card? Ulp! So to avoid the arty 'clump in the corner with lots of white space' I've gone for a spring time wreath.  Same method..stamp and emboss flowers, watercolour with mixed Brilliance inks and then cut out.  Layer onto white mulberry paper, the edges of which I stained with leftover 'water colour' ink.

Big, innit.  

And then I retreated to type and comfort zone.  These are stamped in Black versafine and coloured with pencils.  So, so much safer!  I mounted the page onto the purple-ish card stock and then put them in a cuttlebug embossing folder. 

So if you're coming to Japonica, prepare to have inky fingers.  If you're coming to the Card marathon, prepare to use this stamp set...now I've started, the old mojo is finally awake and smelling the flowers!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 247

Well, considering what I plan to do and what I had planned, my desk is disturbingly untouched since last Thursday.  Events, as they say, have overtaken me.  Still, at least there's something to see that isn't just a mess!

See, last Wednesday afternoon was spent in the company of craft friends, and in the pursuit of craft shops.  No problem, straight to Snazzy's at Swindon.  On the basis that I have cards to make for the Marathon, I managed to score the two Hero Arts sets you see on my desk.  Love 'em.  Not sure if they'll appear in the Marathon though, but it was a very convincing excuse! My phone and ipad are in view, together they make look like an Apple jerk. My glasses are on my head, as a hair band, naturally.  So the case is empty; I'm in the habit of using it because it makes me happy. You can clearly see Brilliance ink pads.  Using them feels a bit like a blast from the past, but I love them, and the water colour thing I've been doing with them is, if I say so myself, very pretty!

And the elephant on the desk is the Diet Doodle Book.  A really fab gift from Laura who knows that I've been on a diet for the last six centuries, and knows too that I need to write stuff down to stay focused.  This doodly approach is fab, I might share some of it - kinda like journaling without having to make your own pages!  

There's a recent post about joining in this WOYWW lark that elicited a lot of response and so gentle reader, please would you cast your eye over it too, at some stage...just to brush up on the housekeeping of all these desks.  Thank you!

Meanwhile, link away so that we may visit....

A refreshing, solictied review:

I knew that I'd do a review for the TeaPod as soon as I visited the website and watched the video.  I drink tea. I like a great design. I really like choice. I like a new angle on an existing product if it works.  And the TeaPod was all that..and I'm a sucker for great packaging!  Did I ever tell you that it took me over a week to open my new iPod because I didn't want to spoil the sublime packaging...even the pristine cellophane.....Oh, I digress.

Mr TeaPod sent me a handful of samples from their range of eleven teas, all from Fair Trade estates in exotic Sri Lanka.  Just as well he chose.... eleven to choose from for heaven's sake - I have trouble choosing a mug to drink from! So, I made a cuppa, following the directions. Not gruelling. Drop the TeaPod in the mug, pour on the freshly boiled water and allow the tea to infuse.  

Then..use the TeaPod as a spoon, stir, add milk if desired and carry on as usual.The thing about the Teapod is that you can leave it in if you're a  herbal/fruit tea enthusiast, you get a real infusion, as it should be.  Unlike us 'builders tea' types who leave nothing but the spoon in - and here's an advantage...the TeaPod won't leave you with a blunt force trauma to the face like a teaspoon will! Although of course, you, dear Internet, are far too well mannered to even contemplate leaving a spoon in, I know. 
Of course, with no tea bag, there's no squishing against the side and running to the sink or bin....indeed, a polite tap on the edge of the mug and there was no dripping.  In the relative comfort of my kitchen, I had a fair trade brew which was very nice, perfectly measured and rather a fun thing to make. And then I popped the TeaPod and its envelope in the recycling bin.  

So bring on another test.  When I'm out delivering - and particularly if Mr D comes too, I take a flask of boiling water, a teaspoon, two mugs and four tea bags.  We share a mug of tea made the normal way - the second mug is to drop the used teabags into.  Colour me utterly delighted by the TeaPod then.  We each chose our preferred tea, I had my own mug and I didn't need the teaspoon and extras. And the pod goes back in it's little envelope (re-christened a 'sleeping bag', because one of us couldn't think of the right word...).  And now I don't have wet and mushy used teabags to deal with when sorting out the snack bag. Genius!  Now this may not be a large thing for you - but for us tea drinkers on the go, it's an awesome step up!  

 And then of course, there's the erm, arty, decorative potential of the TeaPod .

You can buy TeaPods directly from this page of their website.  Using that link will entitle you to a 15% discount.  How cool is that.  So cool, it's almost herbal, man. 

Furthermore, to infuse you with a similar enthusiasm, there's a chance for you to win a year's supply of TeaPods -  *insert little shriek* - I love this part! A year's supply - that's over £175 worth of TeaPods..how fab a delivery will that be! It's open to UK residents only - and worth a pop, huh! All you have to do is visit the competition page on the TeaPod website and answer a very simple question.  Mr TeaPod assures me that you will not be bombarded with mailshots and spam emails if you enter, it's not the way they work.  Like a lot of us, they intend to treat potential customers they way they would like to be treated as potential customers.  Does that make sense?  If it did, hurrah.
Excuse me now, I'm away to infuse myself.  Probably fruity this time.

WOYWW Housekeeping

Hey gentle readers. Things arise as a result of being a blogger with a MEME that need a discussion.  Or a gentle reminder...and so, in advance of another WOYWW, I thought to air a few often asked or commented upon issues.

1. Monica and I would like someone to explain how to comment on Google+. It makes me bad tempered that I had to join, had to open a GMail account and now can't work it out.  I know you lot will be gentle with the explanation.
2. Loads of Deskers want to point out that Word Verification is incredibly frustrating. If you use it, please don't be disapponted if your comment numbers are lower than average..it's really difficult to do - especially from a tablet!   There are alternatives that are pretty effective :  comment modification means that you have to approve comments prior to publishing. It means that you 'manually' control any Spam.  And you can also change settings so that Anonymous comments cannot be left.  That cut out about 9000 spam comments a day for me!  
3. Even MORE Deskers actually become quite agitated after going through the Word Verification process only to be told that the comment will then wait for Modification.   I confess that I'm one of them..especially if I'm using the iPad which hates Google and makes any process on it as difficult as possible.
4. Wordpress users are not exempt - Verification by having to type in the email and URL is equally time consuming.  Again, even Copy & Paste or Auto Fill aren't really the answer, but....I don't know if you have a choice or not - so Wordpress users, speak up!
5. Remember that the link list on WOYWW posts is exactly that - a list of links..click on any name at any number on the list and you will automatically have that particular blog load in your browser.  You don't need to click on names in my comments to find their blogs.
6. When you link to WOYWW, you don't need to worry about leaving your link list number on MY comments.  When you comment at other Deskers, you do need to tell them your link list number if you can possibly remember to do so...it's just easier/quicker to find you.  
7. During the Northern Hemisphere winter, my WOYWW post goes up between 2 and 3 am. (I'm in the UK, that's a GMT time). This gives you exotic International Deskers a chance to be in the first and teens, number wise. As the world turns, and my mornings become lighter and more bearable, so I start to post WOYWW live - and that will be anything from 6.00am to 8.30am.  It depends entirely on what my wednesday plans are!
8. If you wonder why your position on the list changes between typing in your blog address and the link appearing on my page - it's simple...someone else is loading their link in as well, and the computer will arrange them.....so, if you comment that you're number 15 and then discover that you're actually at number 19..take a smile from the fact that others were linking at the same time as you - that's real 'hands across the world ' stuff!
9. If your position on the list changes some time after your link appears - it's even less complicated.  It means that I've removed a double, incorrect or unfair playing link, and the list automatically re-numbers.  I figure that if you leave your number in your comment and it changes, your reciprocate will work out that actually, you're just above or below the number you mentioned.  It's still easier than searching 3 columns and 100 odd names.  Especially as we know each other by blog names even better than we know each other by Christian names!
10. I should re-iterate that whilst it's meant to simply be fun, some rules have had to develop...and yep, I sometimes do remove links that don't participate in the spirit of WOYWW.  If you aren't getting comments from people on the list, it's because your post isn't in the spirit of showing your desk and telling about what's on it. Simple. If I remove your link and you can't work out why, do ask me...because I won't necessarily email you to say - I figure the handful of times I've done so, the reasons have been really obvious! 

Loved and Used...

At some stage, I know not when, it became obvious to me that the stamps I overlooked when on a shopping spree were probably the genre of images that were 'arty' and the ones I wouldn't know what to do with.  Or the ones that I looked at and thought 'oh that's great, but really, I can draw that'.  Yeah.  But I never did.  And, I can't stamp and emboss my drawing can I?  So little by little I got brave and equipped myself with stems, squiggles, splotches and blotches.  This little gem stands out though, it really has been wonderfully useful.  And remains so.

The relatively early morning light is very blue!  Damn, I'm such a good photographer I didn't notice and have no idea how to change it

Ah well.  It's just to show you one of my most loved and more importantly, most loved stamps.  Yep, a wood mount.  But it's available as a cling these days too.  It's by Magenta (distributed in the UK by Woodware Crafts).  I've had it for at least 10 years.  And I use it on something - card or LO, at least once a month.  

This card is for a Batik Style Backgrounds workshop coming up.  I was unsure about it - because I was a bit unconvinced by the colours, but it's been well received in those terms of colour, and two people have said that they like a workshop card that gives them ideas for stamps they already own.  Oh. OK then!

A couple of years ago at a Christmas Card making day, I used this stamp to make a wreath on a card front - that is still talked about amongst the Marathonati. I think it's because of the useful-ness of a seemingly plain image.  Today, I'm planning at least two hours of uninterrupted desk time, and this stamp will be featuring.  I have Card Marathon samples to make and I think it only right and fair that I try to use it again.

I might show you more of my long serving trusty friends stamps if you show me yours.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 246

Please see the pages above if you're wondering 'what on earth 'or 'how doI?', and if none of that helps, please ask in a comment!
Welcome to WOYWW .  I thought my desk was within reasonable control until I uploaded the photo. It's quite hard to complain at myself, but really - why don't I put stuff away when I've used it instead of apparently and quite literally, dropping it from my hand?  The scissor sharpener being the case in point. Well, one case in point. 

I managed an hour long daylight session on Tuesday afternoon...you get to enjoy the fall out.  The card is for a workshop on using batik principles to create backgrounds.  I know you can't see much of it, save that Paper Artsy stem image.  That's one of my all time faves. You can't tell either, but having done tax returns, new vehicle paperwork, VAT returns and a year end analysis, my pile of scratch paper is about 1" high..it's not convenient when you work all over the place like this..things keep falling over the edge!

What are you working on today? We'd love to see the what and the where...put WOYWW in your post title and link the post here so that we can swing by and visit.  It helps ENORMOUSLY if you can turn off word verification...try comment approval instead?  Do some reciprocal visiting and enjoy!