WOYWW 429 - Just waiting for creativity

Happy WOYWW to you all (What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday - click HERE to join in).

There is lots going on in my life and I am struggling to keep my brain still enough to actually sit down and do some crafting.  Therefore, my desk has some random stuff on it.

Firstly - does anyone else have as many craft mats/cutting boards etc etc?  There is definitely room for a couple more on that table.

The tiny alphabet stamps from my new WeR Memory Keepers Precision Press+ set waiting to be cut up and put into the storage box.  (Read my initial review HERE.)

Alphabet stencils that are sticky on the back and I use all the time.

Some embellishments and ATC backgrounds (I am still trying to finish off an Alphabet ATC set).

Box of pens.

Book of toppers/papers from a magazine.

Mat gel, foam brush and stamp cleaning spray.

You can just see some completed ATCs.

The day is rapidly disappearing and soon it will be lunch.  This afternoon I plan a trip into town - post office, Aldi and hopefully a few balls at the golf driving range.

Perhaps I will sit down and do some Zentangle this evening - or not!

Ali x

My latest We R Memory Keepers purchase

I haven't done any stamping for a long time, but with a constant stream of ATCs to make and also planning to make more time for my journaling, I seem to have taken up the 'dark art' again.  I also found myself watching Create & Craft (any show title with We R Memory Keepers attracts me - I love my Envelope Board, Tag Punch and more), and the Precision Press+ sold itself to me (as well as the great demo's and DT makes).

I will update this post once I have played with it more (and tried out the fab selection of stencils), but here is my first attempt at using one of the layered stamp set that also fell into my basket (they were at a literally give-away price!).  I must admit it was the camera stamp that I really wanted (got a thing about illustration-style stamps).  I also got a floral set and will show that tomorrow.

It turned out really well.  I haven't got many inkpads now (stupidly sold my collection of TH Distress Inkpads a few years back), but the brown and grey looks very good.  I remembered that I can use my old Marvy LePlume pens to colour on the stamps, so going to try some bright colours tomorrow.  It also fits on an ATC.

Easy to use - and just works, like all WRMK stuff.

I mentioned the stencils, but it also has a typesetting board.  I am going to use this a lot, as I love to use words in my crafting.  It was simple once I worked out having it upside down.

Look - it comes out the right way up!

I need to cut all of the tiny alphabet stamps now - and put them in the included storage box.

Here are the stamps that also came with this bundle.  They are going to be well used.

I will be back tomorrow with more details/prices/photos.

Ali x

WOYWW 428 - stash haul and the Patchwork board game

Good morning and Happy WOYWW to you all.  WOYWW is 'What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday' and you can join in at Stamping Ground.

I staged these photos on Monday night, as we were off to our local agricultural show, Pembrokeshire County Show yesterday - and I knew that I would be exhausted this morning (and I was right - despite going to bed early I feel like a truck has run over me twice!).  We had a great time at the show, and plan to return tomorrow as well (we are Members, as it works out cheaper if you go for at least 2 days - and you get closer parking to the entrance and a very nice Members' restaurant/bar - so we can have a sit-down lunch and rest our weary limbs).

Stamps ordered from Create & Craft - with my £10 renewal of membership voucher and their various discounts, they almost had to pay me to have these!  My latest crafty bargains from TK Maxx - washi tape, napkins (it seems that they are 'thing' in crafting - will search Pinterest for instructions) and some modelling clay.

The washi tape set in closer detail - doesn't really show how glittery they are.

We enjoy playing board games in this household, and I always buy a couple of new ones every Christmas.  Yes, I know it is only August - but I started my festive shopping early, as usual - and could not resist buying this one as well.  Not had a chance to give it a go yet, but the reviews on Amazon are excellent.  I can imagine hubby's reaction, but he will enjoy it once he gets over the fact it is craft-themed!

I plan to visit as many blogs as possible this week, and also write some new blog posts (our visit to the Pembrokeshire County Show, ATC trading, starting a new embroidery project, Encaustic Art).

Ali x

WOYWW 427 - I was being creative outside today

It is 'only' 7.30 pm here, so still plenty of Wednesday left!  I went to a sketching workshop at a local National Trust property this afternoon, and left early to treat myself to lunch there - so no time to blog earlier and nothing crafty on my table anyway (except for a delivery from Create & Craft which I am itching to open, but leaving it until tomorrow when I should have time to play with the contents - will be blogging separately about that).

My photos show some of the wonderful surroundings at Colby Woodland Gardens - and also a page from the lovely sketch book we were given as part of the workshop (it has a kraft cover, so will be decorating of course!).  We met in the Bothy first (a lovely room in the old building which also includes the fabulous tea rooms where I had my lunch, and then bought an icecream afterwards) and did some exercises to get us going with the pencils/pens.  The tutor was an illustrator and print maker, and really great with us all (all beginners and 2 youngish children).

The page I am showing was where we had 2 minutes to start drawing an object of our choice (there were lots of flowers/leaves etc on the table), and when the alarm went off we moved on to the sketchbook of the person next to us, and so on until we were back at our own book.  This was a really fun exercise and lovely to have some sketching from each of us as a memory.  Mine was the favourite of the group - I think it could be a Christmas design!

I am tired now after driving there and back (50 minutes of country roads each way), and then getting my usual jobs with ponies/cats/dog etc done.  Tea is cooking, and I am grabbing a bit of time to sit down with my laptop in front of the athletics (have you been watching the World Championships?  It seems to be raining hard in London now - been warm/blue skies all day here).

Will hopefully get round to as many blogs as possible this week, and not as late as last week!  I am doing lots of challenges and trades through Facebook groups at the moment, and also started to learn Spanish 'again' (have attempted to do some daily on a couple of occasions, but always not given it the priority it needs).  When did I ever have time to work outside the home???

Ali x

ps  If you want to go and see some actual crafty workspaces each Wednesday and perhaps join in yourself, go to Julia's Stamping Ground.

WOYWW 426 - new sewing machine

I hope that at least some of my readers are enjoying some warm sunshine today.  It has been raining hard in Pembrokeshire - and also 'breezy' (as the weather girl said, ie blowing a gale!).

I am very happy to be in my craft room, listening to Stephen Fry reading the Sherlock Holmes stories (I got a free credit and one month's membership to Audible, and even the 70 hours+ of this was included).  It is wonderful to have his voice accompanying my crafting/decluttering/computer work.  All schools should play these and far more would be in love with literature.

The other new thing in my life is the little sewing machine I ordered from Hobbycraft last week (and which arrived within 2 days).  Only just got it out of the packaging this morning, and looking forward to having a play with it.  Not sure when exactly - life just seems to get more busy.  Priority in my craft room today is finishing a few more ATCs for the Alphabet challenge, as trading starts on 1st September, and getting some filing done before my trays collapse!

 Isn't it cute?!  Really light and easy to move around, but seems to have lots of features for its size - and all the reviews are excellent.  

(I will do a blog post about it once I have had a chance to try it out.)

If you would like to share what is on your craft table this morning, go to Julia's Stamping Ground to join in.

Ali x

WOYWW 425 - Pixie Powder, Butterflies and a Sketchbook

Good morning everyone.  It is raining and a Wednesday again.  Rain was needed here, so I won't moan too much - and at least I can get some crafting done without feeling I should be outside pulling up weeds!

I am going to share some photos of what is going on in my craft room this morning, and if you would like to join in, then go to Julia's Stamping Ground for the linky thing.

Firstly,  I actually went out and crafted in a group setting last week.  Not been able to get to a workshop for a while (they are normally expensive, on a day that I couldn't make or my health has got in the way).  There was a big birthday being celebrated at our local craft shop, and several workshops were hosted by the birthday boy to raise money for charity.  Despite him never doing anything like this before, he did brilliantly - and I really enjoyed it.

I was introduced to Cosmic Shimmer's Pixie Powders, which I had never heard of (seems they are the latest 'thing' in the craft world - but I had missed the programmes on the craft channel and do not read magazines now).  We used them in a simple but very effective way - mix a tiny bit with varying amounts of water and paint on to vellum (butterfly stamps had been used with black embossing powder and they were stunning).  Embossing onto black card created the backing of this wonderful project, vellum stuck on top, butterflies cut out and added, and voila!  I had time and some spare already-mixed up powder, so did two more butterflies, ready for another project some time when I get round to it.  They are really shiny and fab.

Of course I had to buy some - and the Metal 3D Paste (which was in their sale area at a bargain price).  If you are in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, then go and see Ben and his team.  They also sell online - SET Crafts.  (ETA - I have had lots of questions about the Pixie Powders.  I will blog again in more detail about how I am using them, but click here for a video.)

Here is my much-awaited Sketchbook Project book.  I am now thinking of ways to fill it - but I don't want to think too much, which I tend to do - so will be jumping in and at least getting some photos of the farm in there (especially the older buildings before they completely collapse!).

For those who are not aware of the Brooklyn Art Library (we must go on a visit there!) Sketchbook Project, it is basically the world's largest library of artists' books from every corner of the globe.  Order a book, fill it up, send it back (and you can have it digitised too).

I am going to have my breakfast now, sort out kitchen etc, feed dog/ponies/cats.  I went to the dentists yesterday for a big filling and couldn't eat much last night - so will make up for it today!  Then I can return to my cosy craft room (it is actually dark enough this morning to put lights on) and make 2 heart-themed ATCs for a trade I did last week.

Keep safe everyone.

Ali x

WOYWW 424 - Christmas In July

It is just about afternoon here and I am forcing myself to get this published, or the day will disappear.  I do wonder how time goes so fast.  I haven't managed to get a post typed for the past 2 weeks - due to other stuff in my life taking over, and probably not having anything to show on my craft table.

If you would like to join in with this global tour of crafty workspaces, get on over to Julia's Stamping Ground.

Today I am showing the space immediately in front of my pc, as I seem to be doing several things at once, which involve the computer, my phone, making notes, making phone calls and even doing some crafting.  I am starting on my first Christmas projects - some ATCs for a Christmas in July event in a Facebook ATC group, and also planning my very first Pocket Letter (need to do some more research into what they are exactly before I start) - just joined a Facebook group for those too.

I dusted down my Texture Boutique embossing machine (I always forget how much I love embossing), some toppers cut out ready, some ATC bases and a set of stamps from a magazine.  

I also show the floor behind my chair - my Christmas stash box needed sorting (which I do every year) and now I need to get some more bags to put the stuff in to, so it is easier to find stuff.  Buzz the Jack Russell is in his usual place - in the cat's bed.

I hope everyone is well and enjoying their summer (or winter).

Ali x