It's genetic...

On Thursday, I conducted my second Christmas Card workshops for this year. The low September sun graced us with a well lit table and the talk was of everything, almost to the exclusion of Christmas. Even though we were making cards for the occasion. I like to think that this is because we are practical and sensible crafters who recognise the need to make time for all of the quality hand made greetings we want to send. Others, I've noted, think we're nutters. And they resist hard and usually very vocally. 

Sizzix dies, Hobby Art stamp

I was trying to rationalise our position to a protestor; if we can only carve out time for a workshop once a week where we make 4 cards, then starting now is a must, really. One needs the opportunity to pick and choose over workshops so that the cards you make are actually cards that you like! And..getting the cards made sooner leaves time to enjoy the season and have time for other things.

a slightly doctored stamp...I had to snip the nose to make it less cartoony
lovely stamp from Chloe Stamps

But these rationales fall on deaf ears, and to be honest, I'm a bit sick of hearing the 'not till at least the end of October' and such. For me certainly it's true..the sooner I do them, the better. No, I don't feel Christmassy, no I don't feel it brings on the winter too fast, I'm just trying some time management. I don't want Christmas to last 4 months, nor do I want the stress of trying to squash it all into a week. I think it's called balance. 

Marianne die mittens (I think) and the snowflake is from a Spellbinder set

No doubt that the people who 'accuse' me of contributing to the super extending of 'the Season' are the ones who 'don't get' the paper crafting thing anyway. And in some cases, are the ones who were surprised last year because they didn't receive a hand made greeting from us. Because I was super busy and hadn't made them early enough. But they don't get that. Let's face it - I'm relatively impatient and can't get involved with the wonderful cards and techniques that take ages to set up, layer, dry. Its all about fairly instant gratification for me. And even when I have a plan and know exactly what I'm doing, one of my average makes takes about 20 minutes on a good day.  

Woodware stamps - the robins are a set and the holly die is erm.....a green one

Understandably, if you don't make 'em, you have no idea how long it takes. And on that basis, their argument isn't really going to stand up in a logical and technical way to us who do the making.  But that's not a good counter argument because time spent on something is very much measured in 'worth' to us crafters. The pleasure of using the stash, playing with paper and colour, making something to give away is worth far more than the minutes spent. Each side of this opinion has different genes, frankly, and never will understand the others need or lack of need to play with paper and ink. So I give in; I'm not going to make the case any more. When people pop in to the shop to see what we're up to and exclaim that it's too early for Christmas, I'm going to agree. And get back to the glittering.  

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 328

You can find out a little more about this by clicking HERE. Or you can just jump in and discover that it's absolutely what it looks like and no more, no less!
My desk is a nightmare of indecision. I've got layers. Not painful but definitely needing a good seeing to! The gloomy light of Tuesday evening reveals that my five minutes here and there is working. Although I'm utterly distracted from matching photos to scrapbook papers. Now, I've decided to archive my least used wood mount stamps. This box is but a portion and I'm not getting rid of them. Merely clearing them away in anticipation of having to do this before the building work starts and because they are rarely used, bless them, and I really could use the space. To be untidy in.

You can see from the shelf that my action hasn't made much of a dent. I shall do some more while supper's cooking. It's about the only way to clear my desk off now! So please, after you've recovered from the horror, join us and show what your desk is tolerating! Put WOYWW in your post title and link it here. Thank you!

A little preparation..

I think it was a WOYWW post where I explained that I was trying to do some advance planning for scrapbook layouts. A five minute gap here and there means that I can at least try to match a photo to a piece of paper. On the whole, this approach has worked. The small amounts of time and effort totally paid off. I'd been too tied up on Friday to even think about Saturday's Artful Angels Crop, and so I had to get up early to pack. It was so easy, because I didn't have to spend ages finding pages and photos and sketches....the part that takes the longest.

I don't plan further than paper and photo, although I take my tablet with some screen shot Layout ideas. Titles and embellishments are decided as I'm gluing stuff down; if I went as far as choosing the title and embellies in the planning stages, it would not only take twice as long....and I might as well stay at home ! 

We were talking about our scrapbooking formats. I cant remember the last time I did a double page Layout - even a page with more than one photo on it these days seems unusual to me. So formulaic! Lisa Jane had me agreeing with her over paper choices, she referred to herself as a 'B side girl'. I couldnt agree more - I so often buy a sheet because I like the 'back' more. 'Specially if its got lines and margins! 

I did more than three Layouts (incidentally all on the B sides), but I won't bore you with the others just now. It's enough that you can read the smug in my tone of writing. I've spent a good hour today ordering more photos, and this time I've gone to the trouble of sizing some of them so I can actually move away from one photo per page. It might make me more interesting at the next crop. I'm also going on with this five minutes here and there to plan pages, as it's worked so well. That might me unbearably smug at the next crop. Lawks, won't I be a pleasure to sit next to!

What's seldom is wonderful.

No gentle reader, I don't mean this blog! I mean unfettered internet access and a proper keyboard. I've been away for 6 days and had use of a tablet every now and then. In 'our' part of Spain, they advertise 6MBP of broadband as high speed..I couldn't even get a comment to publish! Mr Dunnit stayed at home and worked really hard whilst I accompanied my parents to our place in Spain. Some of you will have seen on Facebook that it wasn't easy. Not living with your parents for thirty years and then being with them and 'in charge' and very much depended upon is really challenging!

Moody huh? One minute lovely bright skies, and then all went Indigo and thundery. Amazing!

The first three days were cool and rainy which was really difficult, of course, we'd planned to sit around all day on a beach, just watching the world go by! Ah well, they did in the end, get a chance to soak up some sun and we had a paddle in the beautiful warm Mediterranean, which to this day, is the greatest part of any visit for me. I love the sea. 
But look what happens when you run away at the beginning of September - the sun is lower and the mornings are quite distinctly on the turn towards Autumn; children are back at school and hey, an untidy desk and some  real Christmas seasonal craft plans need to be made. Don't count on me to lead, but as usual, I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 327

Some of you will know already that I'm away. I don't want WOYWW to be the test for how well my new tablet performs with Blogger, so I've scheduled this. Other posts (if there are any) will be live. Well, subject to the whims of the tablet and the broadband available! 

So my desk is really in a mess and it will most certainly stay like this until I return. Mr Dunnit is home, but I don't think he'll even notice it, it's so USUAL! And also...where on earth would he put it all?  For fear of a logical answer to this, I have not even suggested that if it bothers him, he can tidy it!

I was mid way through organising clear stamps into categories and then had another idea and then found myself busy doing real things, so that's where I've left it. So, now you know that I'm even prepared to be slovenly in absentia, share your doings will ya? 
Please put WOYWW in your post title, it helps in the long run, as does adding your link number when you comment at other people's desks. Link here and enjoy!

Well I'm smiling..

This is a very indulgent post. I have of course, got a kerjillion things to smile about, all the time. Particularly today though, you might wanna a join me in the ooh and the aaah over this lot....

I really scored with these. I got them in the Sizzix Mega Sale which as far as I can tell is a permanent thing to get rid of the 'older' stuff. Suits me. This collection of dies and stamps came to a combined total of less than £20 and is certainly worth twice that for sure. The real 'score' though is that I actually wanted them - they've all been at some point on my wish list. Cool.

But, there's always something that will wipe the smug smile off my face. And this time it's this:

'Bliss' is a word I use quite a lot. especially to comment on holiday photos, fabulous views, happiness, etc. So I jumped at the chance of owning the die for £2.48. I noted that it was a Bigz die, which means it's one of the thick ones. What I didn't take in is the 'XL' bit. And of course..there ain't no card I ever make that needs a 12" wide word on it. Or scrapbook page, come to think of it. Definitely the mistake purchase of the year.It goes a long way to quashing the hubris, huh!

Joining Annie at her weekly Smile, in spirit if not reality - will be travelling today so no chance of linking or visiting!

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 326

If you have a mind to join us, there are links at the top of this page which will tell you the why and the how. If you don't understand my frantic gabble, do say so. You won't be the first.

You can see that I've managed to keep the left side of my actual working area free of clutter. I do not know how, I can only assume that because I'm right handed, it's all buried under the tablet! The sharpies are there because I was 'touching up' some scuffed heels on a pair of shoes that Miss Dunnit wants me to sell. The tablet of course was keeping me company whilst I erm, create. The Indigo Blu tree stamp that you can see on my clipboard is there because when I go to see Shopkeeper Gal, the plan is to leave it there for someone who wants to buy if from me. I have been over to the shop three times in the last week and each time have forgotten the stamp - indeed, the whole clipboard, which is inconvenient to say the least. There are bits of card and patterned paper glued onto my shopping list so that I can match colours or procure further sheets. I can't remember without the clipboard and it seems now that remembering the clipboard is a feat too much! I love that star bunting die. I bought it last year for Christmas and didn't use it. But this year, I think it may well feature two or three times in workshops - it's there to remind me to check that it's still available. 

So, you're inside my head, you've seen my desk..it's about time you showed us yours then...please put WOYWW in your post title and link here. Easy. Harmless. Free. Friendly.