Saved by the (telephone) Bell

I gathered from a few comments yesterday that the state of my desk was rather alarming - causing shortness of breath, palpitations and itchy teeth in some quarters.  And there was a hint of challenge in some of the comments about seeing the 'after' photos....well, brace yourselves!



Y'all have Chrissie to thank for this.  I made a long overdue phone call and whilst we chatted, I sorted.  And then, whilst we chatted a little more I cleaned the stamps.  And put them away.  Chrissie is an interesting person and we had some catching up to do.  And after we said our goodbyes, because I still had time, I started a card.  And that is the story of Wednesday, after the WOYWW event.  Standby for slightly more interesting posts.  If I say so myself.  But at least you won't have to catch your breath when you visit.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 169

Well, I offer two shots of the same shame,it may look better or worse from the other perspective...you decide.  I'm not too busy to care, but I'm too busy to care, know what I mean?  No?  well....I need room but I don't want to stop...you get that, for sure.  I do have to stop later today though, so will promise to stop one hour before I have to and do some tidying.  Good for the soul.  Even better for the mojo!

Oh my life.  ipad is missing, being charged.  If you saw yesterday's post, you'll recognise some of the ingredients.   The A and P are still awaiting attention.  Ridiculous, but will probably now feature as gift tags on her Christmas present....it's certainly too too late to offer them as a belated birthday gift of some sort!  But, AP is my sweet Mama, so I know she won't mind!
Share your shame then...or your pride.  Let's see what you're working on and where you're having to work..desk, floor, tray, office.....reveal, I beg you!
Please put WOYWW in your post title and link here.  Cool.  See you sometime between now and next Tuesday evening!

Back to Basics

Blimey, if you could see my desk.....
Well, you will tomorrow of course, but by then it will be marginally better, because the stuff on top of the stuff that's spread out over the stuff will have been removed.  I hope. See, the weather made me stay in yesterday which was supremely helpful in terms of workshop preparation.  Me and that Shopkeeper Gal decided that in her new location, there might be a few people who'd like to start a paper crafting habit, and so we cooked up a couple of 'Introductory' workshops.  After all, far better to spend on a two hour workshop than buy all the gear, get home, get in a muddle and hate it.  

Resist colouring

Straight forward, heat emboss and 2nd generation stamping

Originally we were going to make cards.  But for newbies, learning the technique and then turning out a card is a pressure, so I thought about maybe trying stuff on tags.  Then I discovered that there are non-newbies booked into the workshop too.  So....I've split the  difference.  
 This large postcard edge die cut means that we are making sort of index cards covering basic stamping techniques using the two most popular inks...pigments and dyes.  It means that they can be used as mats for mounting on card fronts, or punched and stored on a book ring as reference cards.  Each card has the technique instructions on the back, so it will make a handy reference guide.  I think.

 gloss card......use the right ink for crisp DRY images!

See, none of it is rocket science, but thinking back fifteen years, when I came home from the USA with a bag full of stamps and embossing powders and no-one else to ask...it took me a while to work out the different ink properties. The inks range alone has increased exponentially since then, so a gentle, non-overload introduction might be a big help.

And there's the other joy of Workshops...sitting at a table getting to know people.  You can tell a lot from a person about they stamp, respond to sharing supplies, take an instruction...oh yeah, it's a fascinating, good life.







And the good old stamp outline, emboss and colour in...layer up with other images...

That was the week that was...

My word, has it finished?  Can I look back and sigh a bit now?  I've been to three major south coast cities this week, driven the company van down lanes so un-used that the grass grows through the tarmac and started a major domestic clearing out programme.  Crafty, no.  Useful and time consuming.  Yes.  And it's all good; the trips were in the company of one or other of my darlings, I like driving the van and the cupboard under the stairs is starting to resemble a useful storage place again.  So now, NOW, I can blog about my crafty week.  Erm........no really, I've made two cards and this:

Painted with 'Putty' dulux emulsion, Marianne flower dies and assorted  other stuff...

It's instead of a card, for a lovely friend...she's having a big birthday tomorrow.  I bought the Kraft letter on Wednesday when LLJ and I popped into Winchester. Always time for a browse and a coffee in the week, huh!  Of course we went to see Janet and I felt the need to buy stuff.  (The ribbon with crowns on, too).  So, in the best tradition of large padded cards (remember those?), this J, at about 8" tall, is bigger than the present.  Great diversionary tactic, huh! 
Two cards and a bit of sticking isn't a lot, given my facing some scarey workshops and the card marathon that I seem to be involved in, so excuse me do; I'm off to tidy up before spending a wet and dull bank holiday weekend at my desk.  That's the plan.  As the sun is shining out there presently, wish me luck.  And have a great weekend.  

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 168

Oh my life, the gloom of Tuesday's dusk photo may mean that you can't really see what I've been doing...and that's no bad thing.  Remind yourself, gentle WOYWWer, that however fast the days turn, we are still in August. And if you can, if your brain will let you - sum up the ingredients before me.  Kraft, white, red and gracious Mrs Dunnit, is that a SNOWFLAKE die cut?  Why yes it is, and thanks for not panicking.  I've succumbed...there's too much to do so when the idea hits, you've gotta do it, right?  Empty ipad chair - Miss Dunnit is looking up a recipe for supper time and the rest, I think is repetitive and obvious.  Although if you're a bit squeamish about such things, you won't like the fact that the inked and abandoned stamp will still be like that until I get back to the old desk sometime later today.  I have window shopping to do today, (and so does Lunch Lady Jan!) followed by a delivery in the newly signwritten white van...no, not 'altered', but certainly very public!  See you later!

Please join us - show us what and where you're being creative - you're a great inspiration - ideas, supplies, lifestyle, recipes, photography - this WOYWW has it all!  
Upload a pic to your blog, put WOYWW in the title and link here.  Turning off Word verification is massively helpful if you can bring yourself to.  

Just call me Mrs Flexible...

The border die and butterfly are Marianne and the rose is made by Joy.

Here's one of the cards I made for the Demonstration on Saturday.  It's absolutely, totally not my style.  But I'm a flexible professional demonstrator (really, I slay myself!) and making nice things to show to nice people is pretty much what it's about.  Thing is, I say this isn't my style.  I say this quite a lot.  And actually, I no longer know what my style is.  I fear that my style is just following the ideas.  Never did me any harm, but not overtly original, huh.  Anyway, this revelation - indeed, epiphany, means that I am now going to go about being proud of how flexible and accommodating my style actually is. You want die cut samples?  Lend me your die collection and I'm your gal.  You want mini books?  I can do that.  You want rubber stamping? Oh yeah, I'm your gal.  You wanna trip me up and ask for grunge, altered or steampunk?  Erm....try me.....I might very well turn out to have a style somewhere down that road.  It's my road less travelled, is all.  See my jaunty flexibility?  Please do not confuse this with anything non craft related.  And for your own mental health, do not even think about me being bendy.  There is a difference.  Ah... my life - it starts and ends with rubber....

Exciting times

So the Shopkeepr Gal and Mrs Perfection have laboured long and hard this week.  Closed the store last Friday and will re-open in the new premises on Saturday.  Apart from co-ordinating the installation of new table legs, I've been no help at all.  In fact, whilst I was there being the supervisor, I took this picture...sneakily...

Don't say I shouldn't have been facing the window and door because of the light.  I had my back to a window and door too...it's a push-me-pull-you shop with two entrances which will be especially useful in cases of rain and evening workshops...car park proximity is great, and that's if you can't park in the street outside the shop.  And of course, the light is lovely. I must say it looks fab.  And made me want to shop.  I couldn't.  The girls were busy unpacking and besides, Mr Dunnit was there 'doing' the table legs.
So if you're in Amesbury or fancy a wee trip tomorrow, the Kraft Crazy opens in new premises at 9am and there may very well be someone you know pretending to do a demonstration.  Good luck Tracey, Shopkeeper Gal..may the footfall be heavy and the natives friendly!  

Go to the mini roundabout in Amesbury, take the high street turning (ie put the bus station on your left) and continue to the T junction.  Turn right.  The shop is about 3 doors down from the traffic lights.  There is a public car park staggered opposite the Library...park. Put your back tot he car park entrance and walk through towards the surgery...you'll see Kraft Crazy as you get to the buildings.  The mini roundabout and car park are both singular features on the main road through Amesbury, so not difficult, promise!