FAIRY THOUGHTS

WOYWW138 Nothing going on here

2012-01-25T06:59:00.001Z

Hi world
this week Wednesday seems to have arrived a day earlier.
Julia Dunnit over at the stamping-ground. blog says show us your desks, so here it is.
Beware if you pop over to look, it is very addictive!
Quick apologies to anyone I didn't get back to last week, especially Elizabeth (always like to congrat first past the post... stupid blogger and that white screen, just couldn't get past it

I normally have Tuesday to play at my desk, but this week I had to change my days and work. ( But I do get to play with crafty stuff at work , so it's not so bad ).

Anyway consequently there is not much going on my desk this week,
It is not so much Stamping ground. . . more like dumping ground. The C & H bag has some lovely pink bamboo yarn I have just started knitting for my Grandaughter.
There is a big heap of craft magazine to sort through, (I have read some of them!) and hopefully make something from.
I decided this year to try to make at least one thing inspired by every magazine I buy. It is not going well, maybe I should buy less magazines (said out loud by my handyman!!!!!!)
At the weekend I started a small memory book for my nephew who got married in November.... I've done the front cover. . . . well done, well done!!!! ( slight touch of sarcasm).

The wedding was at the Clock Barn so it seems fitting to use that as a theme.
I also made this bracelet at the weekend; Haberdashery fans out there might like it. I can't claim it as my design, I saw something similar in a mixed media jewellery book.

In my version I have cut the tape measure in half lengthways, so there were more pieces to weave. It took almost a whole tape. I also used the metal end as a focus for the fastening, a popper on the inside.

The only problem with it is it is a bit scratchy!! well can't win them all!

Ok now I'm off to see lots of other, more inspiring desks than mine, see ya !
janet . . . . aka fairy thoughts

P.S since I wrote that last night I cleared the desk at 2 am and made 4 tags for a craft swap. . . ah the menopause so good for creativity and midnight crafting. Dont have time to put piccy on now ... off to work, happy days
j

WOYWW 137 So thats what colour it is!

2012-01-18T06:56:00.002Z

hi world
Happy Wednesday.....again so soon
Tuesday is my day off, I love to craft on my day off, but sometimes I just have to do housework. What is wrong with me ? I mean I had that completely clean desk the other week!!!!!!
Today I had to hoover, so why not do my craft room as well.
I had a carpet there somewhere underneath all the 'stuff'.
Yes, there it is I had almost forgotten what colour it was..... even my handyman commented when he came home from work.
Anyway the desk is the thing on a Wednesday, isn't it. Why? find out from the lovely JULIA DUNNIT what's going on.
This is my desk after I finally did a bit of crafting today.

Most of the mess is from making my piece for Grungy Monday. studiol3
This challenge celebrates the techniques of the wonderful Tim Holtz, you know that guy who loves to share and inspire! This week we are using alcohol inks.
I din't get time to finish it, I had to go to Hospital after all that housework.
No, not for a brain scan an x ray on my poorly foot.

Well now I've shown you mine I am going to look at lots and lots (hopefully) of yours ... when I get home from work that is ! be see-ing you happy WOYWW
PS As a felt lover a friend sent me this , so I thought I would share it, it is amazing please take a look
http://cornit-felt.blogspot.com/2010/11/hanging-felt-vessel.html

Wednesday pm 10.00 I seem to be having blogger problems and getting a blank screen instaed of comment form .... so sorry if I dont get back to you this week

WOYWW 136 and an apology

2012-01-11T06:58:00.000Z

hi wednesday peepers.
How's your desk this week?. . . busy I hope, pop over to see Julia at stamping-ground to see what's happening on desks all over the world, but beware it is addictive.

I have to apologise for my desk at the weekend, I hope you don't find it too traumatic, it's not for the faint hearted LOL
I got a bit carried away, it became a little over loaded with 'stuff'.

Yes I know, they look a bit like Christmas cards, 'coz they are Christmas cards.

I decided to get ahead start for next year!
Actually I really enjoyed making them, I think because there was no pressure,......just playing . . I made 36.

I wanted to use some stuff up before I put all the Christmas crafty stuff away for the summer, especially the raffia as it is very messy.

I love these little gingerbread people, they were free from simply homemade. I coloured them with aqua promarkers. I am going to pack everything away now, so no more Christmas yay!

Anyway back today's desk. This was taken at the end of 'play' yesterday.
I have not taken part in Grungy Monday for a while (Christmas got in the way), so now it's catch-up time.
LInda at studiol3 asked us to make our favourite tag from this years 12 tags of Christmas.

I didnt get time to play along (although I did watch the first one) so I'm going to start with that.
I brought the pinecone die with some Christmas money (lucky me).

I said earlier no more Christmas so here is my Spring tag. See how it is done by Tim Holtz

The roses (made with the pinecone die) are fab, although, it took me a while to get the hang of the technique and when Tim says' use CARD stock'. . . he means use CARD stock..... NOT thick paper. Also, I didn't have a glue gun so I used glossy accents and waited ages for it to set!

Anyway I will try to get to everyone who visits this week.... promise and to see as many of you as I can manage
janet

WOYWW 135 never to be seen again

2012-01-04T06:55:00.004Z

Happy New Year wednesday peepers

Well now all the festivities are over Its down to some new year crafting and maybe use up some of the stash you had for christmas, let's see what you are upto on your workdesk. Pop over to Julia's workdesks to 'play along' with the nosey stuff.

I decided to have a tidy up (I know, I know ... boring!). So here is the tidy desk. . . take note , it will not look like this again for a long time. Note the DI pads randomly stacked up under the shelf.

Ah!! look that's more like it. Writing new stuff in my stash diary. Handyman tried to start my car (which I had not used since Christmas). The battery was flat so he had to jump start it. "You had better go for a little run" says he. I went to my fav local craft store who had a sale on. . . It would have been cheaper to buy a new battery LOL.

Well It didn't last long I had to make an engagement card for daughter no 3 who became engaged on Christmas day.

I also made a card for D no 1 and her hubby who stayed and we had a lovely time with them.

I'm also feeling a little bit smug this week. I made something I was very pleased with.

Can you tell what it is yet !!

For a while now I have been stacking my DI on top of each other, but the one I need is always at the bottom and it's a painwhen they fall over.
I saw something similar on sunshine girl 's blog.last week.
So I made it my New Year Mission. I made mine from foam board.

The pads can be removed singularly without the others falling down, they are brilliant.... If I say so myself . . . I made 4. Im going to make some to fit the stazons next!

Anyway that's enough about me, I'm off to see your place now . . well later after work
Also see these challenge sites
critter challenge blog. celebrations
craft your passion challenges. distressing
crafty boots challenges. celebrations

take care and happy crafting
janet . . . . aka fairy thoughts

WOYWW134 lonely and abandoned

2011-12-28T07:09:00.000Z

hi world,
I hope your Christmas was wonderfully fun and festive. mine was!!! if a little hectic

All back to normal in workdesk world, assuming Julia has survived the festive season and snuck away to her desk too. desk world head teacher

The last thing I made were 2 cards I made for my Mum (yes, of the Ironing fame!) and my Mum- in- law.

The cards are to put their Panto tickets in and to invite them to afternoon tea afterwards
We have brought them tickets for the last few years.

I also made a lot of these Calendars for friends and family and can finally show them, they were fun to make.

My desk has been a bit abandoned these last few days and very messy as you can see.
The naughty little Christmas Elves have left stuff everywhere.

Some of it is new stash (thanks to my lovely family for that) especially the Inca Gold which I have been wanting for a while. Look out for all things covered in it in the coming weeks.

I dont get many homemade pressies as I do the making in my family, but daughter no 3 (she became engaged on Christmas Day ...yey!) Mum to my gorgeous Granddaughter, made me this lovely wall hanging to put inmy kitchen.

She still has a house key and crept into my craft room when I was out and liberated some of my stash, but I think she did a grand job.
So did Erin
Well I'll be seeing you in your place soon . . . .Here's wishing you a Happy and Peaceful New Year

janet
aka fairy thoughts

WOYWW 133 Ironing update

2011-12-21T06:44:00.000Z

Hi Wednesday peepers,

Wednesday again so soon, time to blog hop over the worlds desks under the leadership of head hopper the very chatty Julia Dunnit.
This is my desk on Sunday evening, sadly abandoned mid making because of present wrapping commitments and the ironing, well someone has to do it !!!

Talking of the ironing;
A couple of weeks ago I posted about my Ironing and the things my mum thinks I should be ironing, which varies greatly to my ideas Share my Pain

Well the other day she and I were having a conversation about it, apparently I should not only iron my handyman's (my husband ) pants, but my tea towels and dishcloths .... yes dishcloths!..... why?

Well, my mum is a grand old bird of 84 who does all her cooking from scratch, bakes her own bread, shops, walks the dog, drives, surfs the internet, knits, sews, makes her own greetings cards and irons all things fabric.
Moral of this story. . . If you want to live a long and fruitful life. . .
. . . Iron your dishcloths
Here is the Christmas card she made me

I have a lot of comments about my drawers, so here is a little rummage through them,
They are wonderfully useful as the things I use most are right to hand.

They are all from 99p and £1 shops, they still sell them but now they only have 2 drawers.

Well I've shown you mine now it time to look at yours but first I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and peaceful New Year
janet

WOYWW132 is that my mess?

2011-12-14T06:54:00.000Z

hi world
Not sure who made this mess on my desk but i dont think it was me 'coz I have been downstairs in the kitchen.
No I confess, this is the mess I made not working at my desk yesterday. Pop over to head peeker JULIA DUNNIT 'S blog to see some more interesting desks.

I have been working in the kitchen this week (no, not cooking, although I made a mean batch of flapjacks on sunday). Sewing! I made a stocking for my granddaughter, so santa could leave her some pressies

She went to see him at the weekend.
Cute eh! I dont think she is very impressed.

This week I have been busy making some new decs for our tree ( handyman amazed me by announcing that he is going to decorate it this year , so that should be interesting).
These were inspired by Mollie Makes magazine (not Kirstie Allsop, more on her later)

The heart shapes were cut on the big shot.They are simply decorated with cotton Perle thread, stuffed and finished with a button and ribbon. I'm enjoying making these, even at 3 am when I cannot sleep. Dont ask!!
Kirsty Allsop make a heart shaped garland on her homemade Christmas programme the other night. so I cleared a small space on the desk.

And made these...... not for Christmas but to put over the window in my craft room..... they still need decoratring and I had to ask myself why I was making them when I still have a lot of Christmas stuff to do. . . the answer... why not.

hope to see you on your desk later . . . after work. . . and shopping. . . and dinner. . . and washing up...... so much to do , I still have a huge pile of wrapping too!!!!!!!!!!!
janet

101 REINDEER AND A MUPPET

2011-12-07T06:57:00.000Z

Hi world
oh my goodness it's wednesday again so quickly,
I'm sure someone is stealing my days!!
What is so special about Wednesday? see Julia Dunnits fab blog hopping phenomenon here http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
Anyway another busy desk today I have tried (and failed) to finish my card making.
On the left you can just see the mad reindeers I am working on..... lots of them (I love this stamp). Not quite 101 but It certainly feels like it.
On the right is a small empty box. I am well know to my family and friends for being a bit of a muppet, I often say the wrong thing, forget things and am sometimes just a bit 'dippy' I freely admit it!
But on Monday I suprised even myself. It was Christines 50th birthday, she didn't want a fuss or any presents (I remember being the same 50 is not funny when you hit it). Anyway I took her a present I made, when she opened it there was just an empty box . . . I had forgotten to put the pressie in, DOH! But she thought I did it on purpose, it was very funny!!!
Poor Christine I will give her the real present on Thursday, hope she likes it.

Here are a couple of pictures from the weekend showing some sneak previews of some Christmas presents I have been working on, can you tell what they are yet
.

This is how my handyman left my messy side desk on Sunday. It's not so much that he left his tools here, but more that he left them on top of my mess too.
He was making up my wooden letters (they will be decorated later, probably much later lol) so I had to forgive him. But I might 'borrow' the odd tool that looks useful.
Anyway I might pop by later so here's lookin' at your desk too
janet

WOYWW130 10 shirts and a hankie, share my pain

2011-11-30T06:49:00.000Z

Hi peepers
I normally take my desk photo at the close of 'play' on Tuesday (my day off) just before my handyman gets home from work. I only craft in the afternoon.
This week I was a bit crafted out so I did the ironing instead, yes that's right . . the ironing !!!!!
Normally I am a believer in smooth and fold. My mum thinks I am terrible for not ironing my handymans socks and pants etc ! . . . who does that?
Anyway, I have run out of shirts for work and as they pay me I thought I really should make the effort, so I ironed 10 shirts and a hankie.
I remember it wasn't so long ago that I used to have at least 20 shirts a week to do so maybe it's not so bad for two weeks
Here is my desk just before. I'm not sure what Julia will think of my defection to housework, dont think she will approve, Why am I talking about my desk find out here stamping-ground.WOYWW

Anyway it wasn't all work, work, work today, here is some other stuff I made this afternoon

A birthday card (I didn't do the cross stitch today that has taken a few weeks).

A grungepaper case for a make up mirror (Christmas pressie) the stamping doesn't really show up, it's the Eiffel Tower and a post mark.

8 Christmas cards similar to this one.
The snowflake is embossed on wood and the label is inkjed with DI and sprayed with water and cosmic shimmer and then stamped with Stazon............
So it wasn't a completely wasted afternoon.

I went back to my desk after dinner (yes, I did the washing up etc first)
I did some some inking on tags for some more cards.

Now i have really inky fingers for work tomorrow but at least I have a lovely ironed blouse !

Later this evening (after work)I am going to start with desk no 1 and see how far I get, sorry if I dont make the whole list. Happy WOYWW
janet

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 10 lizards leeping

2011-11-27T21:02:00.001Z

Hi world

It has been a very busy but productive weekend. Yesterday, handyman and I did the dreaded Christmas pressie shop. I am still suffering with my cold (2 weeks !!) but we did very well until the crowds got too bad and we gave up and came home, heavily laden with parcels. I dont 'do' crowds!!

Anyway today I made quite a few pressie (cannot show for obvious reasons), but there are a few clues in the photo. A sort of whats on my workdesk Sunday!!
I was very pleased with what I made and I have crossed a few thing off my very long 'to do' list.

I also made some Christmas decorations for daughter no 2 as it is her first Christmas in her flat with her fiance. She will have to buy a tree to hang her 10 leeping lizards.
She loves reptiles, especially Gecko's, hers is called Tango, she has a orange pattern down her back like the ones I have made. I stamped onto felt with stazon, which actually worked quite well. the glitter is stickles and silver beads on the eyes.

I hope she likes them.
janet

WOYWW129 This is not what i intended to do today

2011-11-23T07:18:00.000Z

hi desk hoppers
Wednesday again, time to hop around the world with the chatty Julia Dunnit
On my desk is the remains of my grungy monday piece for this week. studiol3.
It didn't turn out as I planned at all, but not in a bad way.
I had intended to decorate one of the S M I L E letters I brought at Ally Pally.
The technique for this week was using embossed metal foil and alcohol inks.
See Tim Holtz amazing altered pumpkin timholtz.-great-pumpkin-challenge.

I made a brick wall piece which I was going to wrap around the letter L (for leaf) and decorate with leaves.
I thought this would be quite quick and I would have time to make a couple of C pressies as well.
I liked the effect but it was too big to wrap around so I decided to put it onto a canvas as an autumn collage.

I die cut lots (and lots ) of small leaves using my new tattered leaves long plate, some are metal, most are yellow paper, which I inked with DI, some are sprayed with cosmic shimmer and some have crackle glaze on.
The word autumn is made from some old scrabble tiles with alcohol ink on.

Yes Vicky! the quote is from the birthday card you made me last year... it was just perfect so I took it off. Sorry!
All this took a lot longer than I intended (housework??)
Christmas stuff will have to wait. I did manage to tidy up a bit, This is TIDY(messy) side! lol

I must admit it was good to have a break from Christmas 'stuff'.
This is now on my desk as my next project (Christmas pressies). On the right are some fab Ginko leaves I found in Winchester at the weekend, love these leaves.
Housework will still have to wait, housework????? no sorry not yet!

Well time to see what everyone else (as many as I can manage anyway).

WOYWW 128 I seem to have lost a week

2011-11-16T07:20:00.002Z

Hi world
gosh is it really wednesday again so soon. Time to blog hop around the world under the leadership of Julia Dunnit. stamping-ground
Not much on my desk except mess. I am sorting my Christmas stamps, I seem to have lost my mojo!!
Lst weekend was really busy for me as I had a family wedding to go to, my handyman's birthday and family visiting for the weekend.
On the up side I had to work on saturday, so I missed the cooking marathon that was dinner for 9 (also known as WW3 as it happens) whoever would have thought my 3 daughters could cook a big meal together.
(I think the answer is they couldn't). It all turned out ok in the end.
All this activity didn't leave any time for crafting .
I had intended to spend my extra day off on Monday crafting, but as with all the best plans I decided to have a stinking head cold instead (actually not by choice!!). whats the next best thing to crafting?. . . craft stash shopping.... I did that instead!! I brought some new masks and christmas pressies.... for me.
I did have a go at making some Christmas Papers. . . . .I dont think they turned out too bad, you cant really see the embossing in the photo.

Here are the said stamps, which to use? could not concentrate enough to decide.
I had a look at grungy monday but couldn't decide on that either. grungy-monday have a look it celebrates the techniques of 'lord' Tim Holtz
tim holtz.

I did make a few very simple cards for my craft sale next weekend. I think I have lost the plot for that.
Still I think I have a bit of time to peek at a few desks before i look for my mojo!!
happy WOYWW
janet

all sorts of stuff on WOYWW126

2011-11-08T22:03:00.002Z

hi world
I'm down to one post a week now ..... too much to do.
This week i am going to my nephew's wedding and left the card making to the last minute as the wedding is on Thursday. I spent a long time designing and eventually making a fascinator to wear (not finished yet I still have some colouring to do !!! ). I will post another day if it works out

I also wanted to make something for Grungy Monday and Mojo Monthly I decided to make them altogether. Also here is my desk too. What's that all about see here Julia Dunnit is in charge of the worlds desks so pop over and have a good nosey. stamping-ground
On my desk is the last card I am just finishing (well, I have to make dinner sometime! and a girls gotta eat).
This is the first card I made .... for the grungy monday challenge studiol3. which is all about masks and Tim Holtz wonderful masking techniques see here timholtz.com.

I quite liked the look of this card, the heart is the mask. The heart stamp is from Papermania.
I like the way it seems to 'pop' off the card, however I dont think the colouring is quite right for a wedding card so this fitted with the Mojo Monthly idea of changing faces.... ie using the same stamps for different styles. my-mojo-monthly-november-changing-faces.

This is the 2nd card.... much simpler. I simply embossed 2 hearts with copper powder, cut 1 out and then layered it on top of the 2nd. I embossed the initials with the same colour and added the ribbon.

This is a tag I made a while ago ( another grungy monday piece I think), but it is using the same stamp and looks completely different.

This is the last card I made. The heart is embossed in red.

I didn't intend to make it into a Christmas card .... it just happened, just by adding the appropriate ribbon and some green brads. I think I might give it to my handyman, it is quite lovey dovey !!!

This card is also suitable for the stampman challenge of collage the stampman challenges.

I just have sometime to look at your desks now Happy peeping on WOYWW .

I am also entering the following challenges
catchthebugblog.anything-goes.

WOYWW126 and an addiction to magazines

2011-11-02T07:01:00.000Z

hi world

At this time of year my desk is not going to be anything but busy. In the middle you can see my next batch of 'using up stash' cards. I'm doing quite well, not too much left now. . . . . mostly ribbon.
Pop over to see desk moniter and general nosey parker Julia Dunnit stamping-ground.

I dont know about you, but at the moment I seem to be addicted to buying craft magazines, mostly for the wonderful free gifts. I hardly ever make anything from them and sometimes don't even manage to read them.
But no more, today I decided I would make at least 1 item from each mag I buy OR I'm not allowed to get another one. There's no point in trying to use the back log so I am starting now. This is a card from Novembers issue of Craft Stamper (probably my favourite). Sorry the light is terrible so not a good picture.

I die cut the appetures on the big shot and backed the window with some 'snow flake' acetate that I brought at Ally Pally. Through the windows you can see lots of embossed snow flakes.

Also I am in the middle of knitting a shrug from knitter magazine and making a beaded necklace from the beadworkers guild journal from last month. Not doing too badly , don't know how long I can keep it up (especially as the knitting and beading are not going to be finished before the next magazine pops through the letter box !! oops. It's all part of the 10 year plan lol.
I have just got a bit of time to see some of your inspiring desks. Happy WOYWW
janet

GRUNGY MONDAY 25 THIS IS HARD

2011-11-01T18:49:00.003Z

Hi world
well over at studiol3. linda set us a hard challenge . .. well it was for me anyway. The challenge was to make a loving tribute to someone who has passed away. I just couldn't bring myself to make a tribute to my Dad who died about 4 years ago, I dont think I would concentrate or do him justice. It is too personal.
Anyway as it is November (the month of rememberence) I decided to make something involving poppies and the 'forces' in general. Then I remembered my Uncle Colin who passed away earlier this year, he had been in the Air Force in WW2. He was quite a guy, a very accomplished artist, with a great sense of humour, I hope he would approve of my simple effort. He would definately have approved of Tim www.timholtz.com

I used crushed olive, faded jeans and chipped sapphire DI on a Tim tag embossed with the brick texture fade. I stamped various words and a poppy type flower. I added some red tattered flowers with a black brad in the middle and finally die cut a ticket and stamped it with remember. I may give this to my Mum (he was her younger brother) at the end of the month, or I may just leave it on my tag hall of fame!
Dont forget to buy a poppy and wear it with pride.

I am also entering the tag in the following challenges
craft-room challenge for men
come and get it challenges anything-goes
bah-humbug-die-cuts.

WOYWW 125

2011-10-26T06:55:00.002+01:00

HI wednesday peepers
I'm mixing my blog posts together this week as I dont seem to be getting anything done except blogging, how do you all find the time to craft and blog?,
On the left is the new book I had for my birthday, great for when I get time to experiment with 'stuff'.
At the back on the right is a lovely cupcake pin cushion Anne at work made me, again for my birthday.
Also on my desk this week is the remains of my grungy monday piece.
Linda ledbetter from studiol3. sets a challenge using the techniques of the fab Tim Holtz .

This week it is PERFECT DISTRESS. The first piece I made along with Tims video,(but had to keep pausing to 'find' stuff LOL), the colours were too similar so I made another one. I'm just getting into Christmas card making, so I thought why not?

The reindeer is from the Octopode Factory, I love their designs.
I was actually really please with the finished piece. The reindeer is really shiney, it looks almost like gunmetal. His nose is finished off with red stickles, just for the true rudolf look!!! Thanks to Vicky for the snow flake die cut, it is perfect to add a delicate contrast to the tag.

If you want to see lots of inspirational workdesks pop over to Julia Dunnit at stamping-ground where she acts as headmaster of all things desky. I hope to comment this week as I had probs with blogger last week.
here's looking at you!
janet
I have also entered into the following challenges
our creative corner faces
party time tuesdays. anything goes

MMOM

2011-10-24T23:52:00.000+01:00

hi world
here is a new weekly blog I have just found and I am going to introduce to you meet me on monday
I am posting this late so I will have to make it quick (have to be in the gym at 8 or I turn into a huge wobbly blob!!!
this is last weeks list

MAKING here is the card I made for Vicky rt work ( we work in acraft and fabric, haberdashery store)

I also made her a box to put a cake in (see below)

COOKING Rabbit stew at the weekend for all the family and my version of the royal wedding chocolate biscuit cake for Vicky (she's a bit of a chocoholic)

LEARNING I cannot do everything. . . that's a hard one to learn! Distress ink tutorial on grungy monday http://studiol3.blogspot.com/

WEARING everthing too tight

DRINKIING fruit tea. . . the menopause sucks!!!!

WATCHING QI XL Dounton Abbey not much else I'd rather be crafting

MAKING The box for Vicky. I brought the fabric in Arizona last year.
this week I will be making save the date cards for daughter no2 's wedding

VISITING a wedding fair . . . too much cake , if that is possible!

TEACHING a felt making workshop on Saturday. . . great fun and I get paid !!!
see you all later in the week
janet

Happy Birthday to me

2011-10-23T22:35:00.002+01:00

hi world
It was my birthday on Friday and it seems I have spent most of the weekend eating and entertaining my family. Not a bad thing you may say! and you may be right. I had some lovely cards and pressies. See the lovely card and pressie Vicky from work made me VICKY

here is the present from my granddaughter. Quite the artist!

And here she is . . . so cute

I have had a few problems with blogger this weekend and I have not been able to leave any comments for a few days so
sorry i didnt get back to you if you left me a comment
I will try harder this week and I will get back to you. . . . Blogger allowing !!!
janet

WOYWW124

2011-10-19T06:50:00.000+01:00

hi Wednesday peepers
gosh it's been a busy week, especially yesterday I did lots of crafting (a even a little bit of housework !!!!! on my day off). Want to see a world of work desks pop over to see Julia Dunnit at the stamping-ground. to see what it is all about.
Here is my desk as I left it last night (in mid craft) I had to cook dinner!!! and didn't get back to it later.
In the morning I made a card in 10 minutes (yes 10 minutes really!!!)
That was the challenge set by Linda Ledbetter at STUDIOL3. I was quite pleased with the result and might make some more similar.
In the afternoon I had to make an angel from a kit for display at work, it is quite sweet and quick to make although I had to wait a while for it the glue to dry.

Now I was on a roll..... with Christmas cards. . . I made 25 with 10 more nearly finished, they were small and I had them on a production line.

After all that activity I think I will sit back and look at a few of your desks for a while, then I have to make a cake to take to work for my birthday. oh so much to do so little time !!!!
janet

TIM IN 10 ONLY JUST

2011-10-18T21:02:00.000+01:00

Hi Tim fans

It's time to get back to all things Tim Holtz again on grungy monday. See Tim here www.timholtz.com
I didn't participate last week as don't really 'do' Halloween. But this week Linda's challenge is right up my street' make a card in 10 minutes' anything goes as long as you use at least 1 Tim product. See Linda's stuff HERE
I only just finished this in the time . . . mainly because I had to clear a space first to spray the florish with glimmer mist. The backing card is the brown paper type but the colour doesn't really show in the picture.
The poinsettia is a Marianne Creatable die with a brad in the middle. The ribbon was from work but seems to be available in lots of places. All done in 11 minutes . .
I know that is over the time but I also sprayed some card with colourwash but didn't use it as it was too dark, drank a cup of coffee and ate a bar of chocolate, well you need sustainance for speed crafting!!!!
Later on I made 25 Christmas cards, well I had to start sometime didn't I ?
See you later
janet

WOYWW123

2011-10-12T10:06:00.001+01:00

hi wednesday Peepers
am making this my first scheduled post as I am going out this Wednesday evening ... to see David Essex .... Swoon! ( younger members look him up on Google).

I hope I manage to link up to julia post this week ok see what it is all about here HERE

I have had a bit of a card fest today, trying to make a few cards for a friend to take to work to sell for breast cancer. I think I made about 10 not bad going for an afternoon.
I had to do something to take my mind off my dog, she had to go to the vet to have teeth cleaned and removed. She was feeling a bit sorry for herself when she came home in the evening, but generally ok.
The main card I had to make was one for my handyman (AKA my hubby!), it was not how I intended to make it, it is just how it turned out!

Anyway I will peep at your world of desks tomorrow night, so dont think I have forgotten you

janet

WOYWW 122 an alternative desk

2011-10-05T22:12:00.001+01:00

hi desk peekers, yes its that time again.
Chief desk hopper and general chatty person JULIA DUNNIT has been in Winchester this week where she may have seen my desk being created . . and not known.
If you read this Julia I hope you all came in for a fabric fix!

It was my departments turn to have a themed window display, I decided to organise a craft room with lots of projects being made and lots of 'stash'. It was fun making all the projects and our display lady Sue has done a great job putting it all together. Although it all looks too tidy!

This is my real desk, just as much going on but not nearly as tidy. This is the remains of making some more of the UTEE pendants I tried last week (actually I only finished 1). The little yellow box is still there. . unfinished. On the left is my new Ranger heat it gun, I've just noticed the sign on it that says 'Caution Hot' This is not a hairdryer. . . love it, LOL. I wonder if it will dry my nails, no lets not go there again!

I have also started Painting my S M I L E letters from Ally Pally.
I think these are going to take a while, not really sure what I am going to do just jet, this is just the background colour. I hope you will pop back another time to see what I do with them.

I'm off to see your desk. If not tonight it might be tomorrow.
bye
.

happy blogaversary karen

2011-09-30T20:33:00.014+01:00

hi world
there is some lovely blog candy up for grabs over at Ink, Paper, scissors.
It is Karens first blogaversary, I wonder when mine is, note to self, check when I started too.
I have had a busy day in my room today but nothing to show yet, pictures to follow later.
mind you it was really hot in there as the sun was streaming in through the window all afternoon . . . should have been outside really, maybe tomorrow.lol
have a look at the stash giveaway over at    crafting time      just right for starting your Christmas cards.
janet
ps saw this while blog hopping how about giving it a go. . . the a-z of me
  Dylan's blog if you link it back to me I can learn a bit about you too
A. Age: 52
B. Bed size: double
C. Chore that you hate: that's easy ironing!
D. Dogs: yorkie called rosie... thinks she rules the house and doesn't have any patience!
E. Essential start to your day: kiss from my other half
F. Favorite color: Oh go on then...Red.!! no lime, no teal oh so many!
G. Gold or Silver: silver
H. Height: 5’2"
I. Instruments you play: everything but only on an MP3 player lol
J. Job title: Craft specialist... yes really, only in retail store. . oh and mother , wife, nurse, cook, dishwasher, cleaner, babysitter, taxi driver, etc etc etc.
K. Kids: Mummy to 3 grow.n up kids, emma 25 (recently married to gary 'meiow'). Amy, 25 about to be married to matt (the font of all knowledge) and Lucy 20, mum to gorgeous grandaughter of 3 months and partner to Rob 'the gym'
L. Live: day to day coping with the menopause. not LOL
M. Must haves: .crafting time and chocolate
N. Nicknames: nope, well none I'd care to repeat
O. Overnight hospital stays: Ooh heck , both births, lots before having the girls... infertility also not LOL
P. Pet peeves: Rudeness. Bad service  in restaurants, hotels, lazy spelling, customers putting mobile phones before all else!
Q. Quote from a movie: from now on I'll write 2 letters a week.... Shaweshank Redemption.
R. Rhubarb or Custard: custard with hot apple pie.
S. Save or spend: Both in moderation, I know... boring!
T. Tea or Coffee: Coffee.... black
U. Underwear: has to be matching and pretty
V. Vegetable you hate: cabbage
W. What makes you run late: crafting!
X. X-Rays you’ve had: tons, broken wrist aged 7. Arthritis in my neck (probably due to crafting, LOL) foot ...old age
Y. Yummy food that you make: Angel food cake. chocolate truffles, roast dinner
Z. Zoo animal: Not a fan of zoos, they make me sad but i do love watching tigers

WOYWW121

2011-09-28T19:15:00.001+01:00

hi wednesday world
Time to peek at the worlds work spaces once again.
See what Julia the head desk hopper has been up to again, desk hopping
its well worth a visit!
This is my desk on Tuesday morning. I went to the scrapbooking and papercraft show at Ally Pally on sunday. All the stuff I brought has just been tipped on to my desk waiting to be 'put away' or if I'm really lucky played with.
Funny the way the letters fell out of the bag! might have to leave them like that lol

I did 'tidy' some of it and wrote it in my 'new stuff' diary I started this year.
I have display items to make for work but didn't have much time so nothing is finished yet.
This is what my room looks like this evening, a bit neglected, sometimes I have to go to work!

I did manage to make something from my new stash: a UTEE pendant. Someone was demonstrating heating the UTEE in a foil tray, but underneath and then pouring it into a cookie cutter on a heat mat . . brilliant who needs a melting pot! lol
The little butterfly is a part from a Primark necklace I have taken to pieces and made several things from. The UTEE looks orange in the picture but it is actually red lustre with a bit of copper in. . . . . very pretty.

Happy Peeking, see how many you can get to this week,

happy birthday girls

2011-09-25T22:51:00.001+01:00

hi world
It was daughter no 1 and 2's birthday on friday, here are the cards I made for them. I cannot believe they are 25 (OMG)

This is Lady Audrey from the Octopode Factory, I love these stamps they are sooo off the wall.
I sprayed the background with colourwash sprays, I used a combination of sequin waste, lattice and Tim Holtz masks.

Lady Audrey also has diamond eyes and earring, she is coloured with aqua promarkers and sakura glitter pens.

This is a gorjuss stamp and more to daughter no 2's taste. I made a similar background as before and layered it with my new sizzix die cut. This is a really good shape as the largest die is big enough to layer behind. The die also came with a magnetic sheet for storage.

I have also coloured her with aqua promarkers, I like these as they have a much 'softer' look, more like water colours than the ordinary promarkers. The butterfly is from papermania.

I also made a couple of cards for the stash

Anyway that's all folks.Happy crafting
janet

WOYWW120

2011-09-21T18:50:00.001+01:00

hi world
120 already omg.
Julia is up to her usual tricks this week, if a bit organised... for her. See her blog HERE and have a peek at some very interesting work spaces. Also check out her funny post on vinegar bottles). spray bottles. I tried to get one but Sainsbury's didn't have any!
Here is my desk, another busy desk with lots going on on it. hooray!
On the left are two cuffs I have made for daughters 1 and 2 who have their birthday on Friday.
I think is safe to show them...... they don't read my blog, too busy on facebook (yuk)!
But just incase, look away now girls.
I first saw these on the little shabby shed (as featured in Craft Stamper this month)

On the right is some red fabric, a bag of black buttons and a yoyo maker, more about that next week!
At the back you can just see my first Christmas card,
yes I know I said I wasn't going to start yet, but I saw this on Joanne Wardle's blog and had to have a go. made by joanne.blogspot.
I knew I would find a use for the horrible green holographic card one day lol.

The yellow box in the middle contained little wooden flowers, but the box is too good to throw away and just the right size for my new inchie bird stamps. I painted it with acylic paint.
Then I made a card with the inchies instead (I will get back to it).
I was pleased with the card, I used a mask for the background with a post it note in the middle as well. I used wild honey and mustard seed D.I. The birds are stamped with stazon, from a set by Inkadinkadoo

Well I think thats more than enough from me, I'm off to see the world (desks that is )!
janet

WOYWW119

2011-09-14T21:25:00.000+01:00

Hi Wednesday watchers

Is it really wednesday again, so soon?

It has been quite busy on my desk this week as part of it was in holiday mode.

Julia has a fabulously untidy desk this week. Check it out, along with lots of others here ; stamping-ground.

I have made quite a few cards this week , but I'm not showing them close up yet, just in case the recipient see them.

A couple of weeks ago I was inpired by sarah amongst the landrovers. to make a scrapbook page of my other half's old minis, well here it is sarah (i hope you get to see it )

The circles are supposed to be the head lights and the keys are cut from a Tim Holtz die.
The clubman was a real winner for me, he was changing the wipers the first time I met him.... ah!

It was my daughter and son in law's 1 month wedding anniversary yesterday so I made them a card... and they said it wouldn't last . The little envelopes were used to hold the menus at the reception. I like to re-cycle.

This is what I was originally going to put on the front , but changed my mind and went for the calendar. I put it on the inside instead.

Well I just have a necklace to repair and then I'm off desk hopping, maybe I will see yours, hope it's messy.
Happy Hopping
janet

now for something completly different

2011-09-10T21:49:00.003+01:00

Hi world
As I have been off work for a couple of weeks (and not going away).
I thought I would have a change from papercrafting and make myself a new knitting bag ... I have loads of fabric just crying out to be made into something usedful!!
This is the bag I made (sorry I couldn't find my card reader and the camera wouldn't let me rotate it so you will have to turn your computer on it's side to see it properly.
Why is it somethings just dont go right, the fabric was too thick, the vylene was too heavy, the handles I wanted to use wouldn't fit etc. etc.etc! It took me all day!!
Still I am quite pleased with the result.
A few weeks ago I saw some fab wrist cuffs made by Kaz at the thelittleshabbyshed.
Finally I found time to make one of my own (and the fact I now own some grunge board)
I embossed the board through the bigshot and painted it with acylic paint, then I inked up the numbers with distress inks. Next I stamped and embossed the clock images.

I added the clock ephemera, because the clock pieces stuck up quite a bit I covered them with glossy accents, this will also prevent them from getting 'caught' on clothes etc. The 'time' on the clock face is just ' after eight' Mmm chocolates!!!
Finally I sewed on a large popper, but I should have made it two, one on each side. the next one will be fixed better, I might make some more tomorrow. As this is very steam punky I am entering it at simon says stamp and show some steampunk challenge

WOYWW118

2011-09-07T16:04:00.001+01:00

hi wednesday peepers,
I see julia has sorted out her numbers this week. see what it is all about here WHAT'S ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY
My desk isn't looking very interesting today.
I have just come home from pickwell farm (yes if you are reading this zoe 'I know pickwell' I have to send my other half to the car when it is time to pay LOL.
Yesterday we went to basingstoke (terrible weather, the only place that was dry!) and I brought some chunky pieces of lace to use as masks (at the bottom, no! that's my feet, just above them to the right)... going to use them in a minute when I have done this so will put a p.s. on the bottom.There is also a packet of dish cloths I'm going to use too.

When I have cleared the messy sidde that is.
Also hidden just out of sight is a scrap page I did on monday,
I finally got around to doing something with my Arizona photos from last May. Here we are in Tomstone.

As I am on holiday this week I will have blogged this earlier in the day so I should have more thime to see your desks too.

P.S. here's the masking , it was very quick, only took a few minutes to spray with colour wash

I think they worked very well, top left = millinary net.with distress ink. top right = dish coth
the bottom are both the cotton laces, just shows you don't have to spend a fortune to be crafty!
here's lookin' at you
janet

GRUNGY MONDAY 21 FINISHED AT LAST

2011-09-03T23:52:00.003+01:00

Hi grungy world
grungy monday is taking a bit of a break in September but fortunately Linda gave us more time to make challenge 21. (Sorry if this is a long post ..... you dont have to read it, but I need to write it!)
Anyway this was lucky for me as I didnt have any fragments. Take a look at studio L3 to see what it's all about. GRUNGY MONDAY
I had to make a special trip to hobbycraft to get the fragments, It's all about Tims Transparent Illusions which was silly as they were £2 cheaper online! BUT if I hadn't gone there I wouldn't have brought the wooden word that was the inspiration for my piece. (a bargain at 49p)
I wanted to make a special mixed media canvas for my newly decorated craft room.
I liked the mini canvas that Vicky at work made for another colleague's birthday Something Arty Farty I wanted to make something similar.
The piece I have made is full of all the techniques I love to do, plus the new ones using the fragments.

The first thing I did was paint the word with metallic white acrylic paint and Ranger crackle paint. then I sprayed it with cosmic shimmer .... a lot, so the colour seeped into the cracks.
Not sure if it shows up but it is quite shimmery. Then I used a Tim 'mask' and colourwashed the swirl.
The little butterfly is a piece of broken jewellery glued on with glossy accents.

Next I made the fragments; top left is the faux etching, I manage to glue this on using glossy accents in the embossed areas. The 'ghostly' face is Piccasso, The hummingbird is stamped with a fragment glued on top. The text is made with the sticky tape transapencies method.

The words live, love, laugh are stamped on to the top of the fragments with stazon and backed with patterned paper.
The silver fragments top left are pieces of PMC that were left over from other projects.

The button at the top is embossed with UTEE, it is quite textural see the the crafty robin's photo frame.
The leaves are embossed with various colours onto card.
Everything is 'glued' on using an art modelling paste with acrylic paint added for colour, This was lovely to use, I just splodged it on in a random way, like you do ! great fun but messy!
Finally I inked the edges with distress inks .... well we cant leave those out now can we LOL.
This is the finished piece, I am quite pleased with it, not too bad as a first attempt.

I am also entering this piece in the craft room challenge (but cannot seem to get the side bar working (doh!) but do take a look there are some lovely 'home decor' pieces.
CRAFTROOM CHALLENGE thanks to zoe at the craftroom I have sorted the link thanks Zoe, see the shop here www.craft-room.co.uk/

WOYWW116 or 117? little ray of sunshine

2011-08-31T13:12:00.001+01:00

hi wednesday world
I am a bit confused this week, by my calculation it should be WOYWW117 but maybe that's just me I will check later. Or check yourself at julia's stamping ground blog being nosey and looking at other peoples workdesks

I'm on hols this week and could not put up with the terrible blue colour in my craft room any longer, so we decided to paint it over the holiday weekend (even though we had all the family over for dinner.
Now the chap in the corner is very handy (he even tried to explain the concept of dusting to me lol) well the painting didnt go quite to plan either! (dusting is a strange concept too!)

Anyway covering up that blue with wild primrose wasn't easy it took 5 coats, yup! 5 coats, it took ages.
I think this was after the 2nd one.

Where did all the stuff go.

HERE

AND HERE

And finally HERE, after all that painting and aching muscles it took ALL day to put the stuff back, I even threw some away (not much, but dont tell the 'handy man')

This is my desk just before I started this morning with a few bits I brought in Hobbycrafts sale. I might even decorate the word later and put it on my door

Anyway to sum up I'm never ever decorating my craft room again.
Well Happy wednesday hopping. The stamp I brought in Hobbycraft say

LIFE WELL SPENT Mmmm!

off to see your desks now (the computer is in 'my' room)
ps it should be 117 but thats julia for you LOL

WOYWW 116

2011-08-24T23:12:00.000+01:00

hi Wednesday peepers
Only just got time to post this today.
It looks like Julia has had a bit of trouble with todays post, (look but you wont see her desk LOL What's on your workdesk wednesday Have a look anyway
I have been to a leaving do for one of our saturday girls who is leaving to start a proper job as a teacher.
She has been at the shop for 5 years, we will miss you Nat.

Anyway my desk is a bit of a mess this week, Tuesday is crafty day buy I didnt get the chance to clear up at all, just dumped stuff ontop of everything else. I made some cards for work colleges next month. You can just see one on the left hand side.
I also made a card for Natalie but had to give it to her. I know it was on yesterdays blog too, sorry!

I have been sorting ribbons (dirty job but someone has to do it) into a thread box. I am wrapping them around the bobbins and fastening them with a paper clip . . . sad I know.
In the middle is a photo album I have just started of my beautiful granddaughter (I'll show some next week)

Regular peepers might remember a couple of weeks ago about the stocking competition at work. Well here is the window...... it's fab, well done Karen. So if you get the chance come on down to Winchester and have a look (better still come inside and have a look).

I will be on holiday for 2 weeks so I wont be there, some of the other staff blog so say hallo.
Can you guess which is my stocking (clue) it didnt win.... who did? .....natalie and it was the first thing she had ever quilted.
Anyway I have just got time to peep at a few desks before bed
night night

loads of cards

2011-08-23T10:50:00.003+01:00

hi world

now is the beginning of my card making season, loads of birthdays and stuff. here is the first batch
the first card is a birthday card for my new son in-law (opps a bit late ) he is another cricket fan.
I have started to print greetings on the computer and adding glossy or crackle accents. I really like the look of the crackle, epecially when the paper shrinks too.

This next card is a welcome home card for the happy couple from their honeymoon. I used the same tweedle dee and tweedle dum stamp I used on their wedding card. The background is a colour chart card. purple of course!

The last card is for someone at work who is leaving to start a 'proper' job as a teacher. I thought it was time I had a change from all the grungy stuff and made a slightly cute-sier card. The stamp was a freeby from a magazine.

The papers are from papermania and the embossing from a Tim folder (well he has to get in on the action somewhere). The ribbon is a knitting yarn I brought ages ago and have not used much except for present wrapping, it is very silky but looks ok.
well I'm off to try my hand at grungy monday http://studiol3.blogspot.com/ but not sure what to do as I'm not really feeling very well! And I still have lots of other cards to make too

WOYWW 115

2011-08-17T21:45:00.001+01:00

hi wednesday world
here is my desk for this week, not so much going on as the wedding is over and the (very) happy couple are now on their honeymoon in foreign lands.
We had a brilliant day and a good time as had by all (sunday was abit of a blurr . . . aghhhh!).

the most' interesting' piece is the christmas stocking pattern .... yes I know I dont 'do' christmas yet, but it is for the display competition at work and I have to have it ready for thursday to be judged. There are some little snow flakes I made but didnt use
The stockings will be going in the window next week, it promises to be a good show. If you are in winchester over the next couple of weeks come on down and have a look. cannot show mine finished as it is top secret at the mo LOL
On the right is my NEW heat gun.... not going to dry my nails anymore though LOL

Instead here are the letters from last week for the wedding. The dandelion design is from the painting on her dress and the snail is from spongebob squarepants (family joke!). They were worth all the work as the room and the table looked great.
Pop over to the chief peeper at stamping-ground. poor thing has shingles and needs support. Well I'm off to peep around the world now

ONLY JUST GRUNGY MONDAY

2011-08-16T21:48:00.001+01:00

Hi world
Here is another grungy challenge set for us by linda ledbetter over at studiol3.
This week it is all about distress stickles. Look here to see all things Tim Holtz
I only have 1 of these stickles so the piece was slightly limited and I only used it a little bit (actually it didnt show up as much as I thought it would, I think I prefer ordinary stickles)

Anyway I had to make a 30th birthday card for lucy at work. (how did the italics appear?) her favouite colour is purple so this is a purple bling fest.

The stamp is ' Lady Audrey' from Octopode and this is the first time I have used it but I love it. I embossed it with shiney black (using my new hot gun ... not to be used for drying nails ) and then painted with aqua promarkers. I put the bling on then cut it out on the big shot ... forgetting about it, it crushed of course but I quite like it.
The bingo embossed background is from Lord Tim.
The stickles are on the word bingo and around the edge of the frame.

The greeting is sprayed with colour wash plum, cut out and covered with crackle paint to make it look older. It is fixed with a brad from papermania.
As this is quite blingy I have also entered it on simon says-stamp-and-show-some-bling

WOYWW 114

2011-08-10T21:31:00.000+01:00

Hi world and Wednesday peepers
Have a look over at the stamping-ground
to see what Linda and the rest of the world is upto.
A very quick visit to my desk this week (I still have a necklace to finish for the wedding on saturday).
As you can see there is quite a lot going on here.

In the middle is the card I have just finished for the happy couple.
It is a bit alternative and not your usual wedding card at all, but as emma is arty I think she will like it.
I think I am about done with wedding stuff! LOL.

I have blogged a bit about drying nails with the heat gun lately (yes I know it might be dangerous). Anyway the gun got it's own back as I was about to make the card. . . it died ! No, not funny! I managed to borrow one from my mum now I need to get a new one.

Here is the card close up.
The stamp is tweedle dee and tweedle dum from Octopode, I have just brought 2 stamps from them and I love them already.
The backing paper is the same as the invitations but run through a tim holtz texture fade. Then I ran faded cordoroy and sapphire over the top.
The greeting is from papermania, so are the gems in the eyes.

Below is my messy side where I have been painting the letters for the wedding. . . . . . . . . nearly finished, I just have to finish the flower heads on the & and the G.
The table cloths are also white so I had to make a plinth to put them on (bottom right hand side) God I hope Emma doesn't read this before Saturday!!!!

This was supposed to be a quick post and then finish my necklace, so I'm off

bye

doing it all again next year

2011-08-09T21:43:00.001+01:00

Hi world

I may have mentioned a few times my oldest daughter is getting married at the weekend. We have had a lot of fun with the planning ( well maybe not all fun!).

Well now no 2 daughter has just become engaged while on holiday in Thailand and is planning the happy event next year.
We are very happy for them both .... but they could have given us a week off LOL!

Here is the card I made them, they are both into reptiles so there is a pair of loved up geccos instead of love birds.

It is a real nightmare to incorporate the word congratulations on to a card as it's soooooo long!

The gecco's are a sizzix die cut with a gem for the eye, so is the heart

The backing paper is from the paper cellar wild asparagus collection which i put through a tim holtz texture fade and inked over the top with mahogany.

oh well must get back to this wedding and finishing my necklace for the weekend

night night

WOYWW113

2011-08-03T22:33:00.007+01:00

hi wednesday peepers.

My, the weeks come around so quickly at the moment dont they (only 10 days to go to the wedding). Maybe that's just me, lol.

Check out julia dunnit's blog to see what it is all about and have a peek all over the world.

Anyway lots of stuff on my desks again this week.

In the middle of my desk sadly, is a nail varnish where I have used my heat gun to (very dangerously) dry my nails. I am verrry! carefull, but I really shouldn't do it lol.

On the left hand side is a pattern for a Christmas stocking. . . we have a competition going on at work to decorate a stocking using our new fabrics.

They are going to be use as a display in the shop.That is going to be a post wedding project, just enough time I think.

There is also stuff I have not put away from yesterday's grungy monday project. well there's only so much tidying a girl can do in one day!!!!!

On my mucky side are some letter's for the wedding... definately a work in progress so call back next week to see (hopefully) them finished.

I am going to try and see a few desks but so little time at the moment so apolagies if I dont visit you this week.

happy peeking

janet

ps dont know why or how but i seem to have posted this on last weeks listing . . . .muppet me !!!!

grungy monday18

2011-08-02T17:23:00.001+01:00

hi world
it's tuesday again so soon ( but only 11 days and counting until the wedding) and time for my grungy monday piece. look here at Linda ledbetters blog studiol3.blogspot. to see what it is all about and here at Tim Holtz web site for this weeks challenge .

Anyway I needed to make a birthday card for a friend and my challenge piece so I combined the two, fine I hear you cry, but jane is not very grungy, she is a girly girl so not so simple. but I think it is ok and hope she will like it
Here's my card. The background paper is from a 'Smirk' pack I brought at 'Make it ' earlier in the year. For those of you that think it's cheating this is what the paper looked like before I grunged it up!

This is what I used
Mahogany and lipstick DI
stamp from papermania (3 for 2 big greetings! )
Aqua promarkers
Sakura pens
Brads and heart charms -- from stash
think it is changed enough to call grungy but light and girly enough for jane
job done

PS here are a couple of cards I made at the weekend

well lets see what you have made
bye till next time

WOYWW 112

2011-07-27T23:26:00.002+01:00

hi world

OMG is it wednesday again already?

Time to look at the worlds desks HERE I'm a bit late today, I've just been to see Harry Potter, very enjoyable film, but then I'm fan of the books too. Anyway here's my desk, it's been a busy week for crafting.

I managed to make something for Grungy Monday but that's all finished and cleared away so I could start to make a count down card for my daughter who's getting married soon.

Cannot show too much in case she is looking (no hope really) too busy!!! There are tear off notes with funny and helpfull advise (hopefully).

My messy desk has been busy too, I am still experimenting with painting the blackout blind.

The colour wash spray didn't work, I think it was because it wasn't absorbant enough, the colour washed out.

I have tried several types of paint I'm just waiting for them to dry. I really wanted to use my Tim Holtz masks and I dont think painting will work as well. I will keep you posted (punn alert, sorry)

Oh I almost forgot have a look at Stampers Sue's blog she has some Candy up for grabs if you can name her beautiful beaded Wild Woman http://stampersue.blogspot.com/

Anyway I've just got time to peek at some desks before bedtime, just a few mind you.
night night

gungy monday17

2011-07-26T21:36:00.001+01:00

hi world,

It's Tuesday again and that means time for GRUNGY MONDAY17 Linda Leadbetter's blog and all thing. TIM HOLTZ

I missed last week.... lack of inspiration and time I think.

This week I have managed to combine the two weeks together. What I started out to do and what I finished was completely differents, but that's art!
I have just changed the colour in my bathroom so I thought I would make a new picture to go on the wall.

Unfortunately I didn't have either of the products to use and I couldn't justify an 18 mile round trip to get them, I had crackle glossy accents so I used that quite thickly and spread it with a paint brush, it was a bit gooey, but I like it. Funny I can spend hours , weeks even, beading a small box but wait a few minutes for paint to dry.... I dont think so! LOL.

This is what is used

colbolt acrylic paint

crackle accent

trimcraft paper... wild asparagus..... Just brought on sale in The Range

stamp... wild asparagus lovely 20 stamp set for £6

navy embossing powder

stickles

grungepaper flower covered with silver pearl paint and alcohol ink ..meadow and citris. My homage to last weeks challenge.

acetate to protect the paper in the bathroom

All I need now is for my OH to put a ring thingy on the back so I can hang it up.... well he likes to feel needed!
I'm off to checkout your stuff

happy birthday ian

2011-07-24T20:57:00.000+01:00

hi world

I never did get my grungy monday piece done, well maybe next week . . . ohh! thats tomorrow.
Anyway I have had too much other stuff to do including this card for my daughter's future father- in- law.
He has just turned 60 and a big Cricket fan. The stamp is from Papermana . . a set with lots of men's sporty stuff!, the papers are from Basic Grey.
The greeting continues with the cricket theme and I used a Tim Holtz die cut alphabet, so is the sign.
The backing paper has been embossed in a brick wall texture fade again from Lord Tim.
The brads on the sign are immitation screws.... You might have guessed, Ian is a carpenter/ builder, so it all tied in quite well.
There is just a little hint about time and age with the clock stamps and embellishment which was stamped and embossed with UTEE.
JOB DONE

WOYWW 111

2011-07-20T22:02:00.001+01:00

hi world
Is it really Wednesday again already, where did the weekend go!

It has been a busy week so far, with wedding stuff, but nothing to show there. But I have had a break this evening with something new on my desk, my grand daughter. Isn't she gorgeous? . . we're baby sitting! Obviously she isn't on my desk but she is stopping me working this evening. But hey we all need a break sometime!
This was my desk yesterday. Have a look at stamping-ground to see the worlds work desks via Julia's blog

Here I am starting to make my grungy monday piece, but it's not working out well so I may start again, I am using grunge paper, there is some embossing powder and alcohol inks.

On the right is my heat gun .... great for drying your nail vanish! opps. don't try that at home could be dangerous, but i can never keep still long enough for it to dry properly and I was really careful lol!

This is the messy side of my desk. I am experimenting with colour wash sprays to see if they work on black out material.

I don't have curtains in my craft room, only a blind, but it is a really boring plain white colour, so when we get a nice dry day with no wind (Mmm I wonder when that could happen!) I will take it outside and spray it.

It seemed to work ok, the colour bled a bit so I will have to make it quite a random design. I am looking forward to doing that, it will make a change to work on something big.
In the mean time I am off to look at your desks. Have a good week.

WOYWW 110

2011-07-13T23:13:00.000+01:00

Well it's wednesday again and time to show and tell. Hop over to to see the world's workdesks at stamping-ground.

I have just finished making my tags for grungy monday, see them at studiol3 .There are lots of inks and stamps about. . . . all nice and messy.

You should have seen my fingers! maybe we should include a picture of them as well. LOL

On the left are my two left over tubs . . they contain all the little bits of stash and things that are left over from each project, there used to be only 1 but it is so full I had to get another one, LOL

I try to use 'stuff' up on the next project but usually fail miserably.

I have a confession, actually this was my desk last night.

Now that I dont have to tidy up after crafting I feel the need that I want to.

So this is what my desk really looks like this evening.

Sorry but it's tidy LOL.

BUT, ready to make messy again, another day

Right I'm off to be nosey at your desks

janet

grungy monday I'm back again

2011-07-12T21:31:00.000+01:00

I've had a couple of weeks off from grungy monday.
I have been doing 'wedding stuff', but today I needed a break and had to do something different.

Have a look at this weeks challenge from Linda Ledbetter's blog http://studiol3.blogspot.com/

It's all about the lovely Tim Holtz Technique see it HERE
This is a lovely simple technique, one I will definately use again.
I decided to make 2 tags, 1 to sent to uk stampers and 1 to keep.
The first tag has a masculine feel .
I used dried marigold for the first embossing and then vintage photo.
The stamp is from papermania vintage cars.
I used mustard seed a, rusty hinge and vintage photo.
I added some die cut gears and stamped world traveller at the bottom. hey prsto .... job done!

The second tag has a more romantic feel.
For the base I used lavender with a glimmer embossing powder (must admit the clear is best as Tim says).
I also used dusty concorde on the edges.
The heart is inked with spun sugar, lipstick and mahogany, the stamp is again from papermania.
I layered the paper flower with the 3 colours I used on the heart.
The envelope is a die cut (left over from wedding 'stuff' ).
The love sentiment is from the same set as the heart.
Oh it was good to get back to normal crafting . . but dont tell my other half, he thinks I have been doing the ironing (he should know me better than that lol)
I'm off to peek at all the arty stuff you have been doing
janet

WOYWW 108

2011-06-29T22:54:00.002+01:00

HI world
I'm really late today posting my desk picture, busy, busy, busy. pop over to julia dunnits blog to see the world's work spaces http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

anyway i have had to stop doing non wedding crafty stuff to concentrate on wedding stuff.
on my desk are the menu envelopes (well some of them) they are a sizzix die cut.
However, they still have to be folded, stuck and decorated with a fleur du leuse and a gem, Then i have to print off the menu for each person (dont we all forget what we ordered months ago) and attach it to a card to put inside.

its lucky i love my daughter LOL

not much else to show as it is all under wraps until the big day in August. I'm determined not to leave it until the last minute (good luck with that janet i hear you say)
sorry if i dont get round to peeking at many of you this week, but i have a deadline to meet ahhhh!
LOL night night

WOYWW 107

2011-06-22T21:48:00.002+01:00

hi world
another busy week on the desk. hop over to julia dunnit's blog to see what it is all about WOYWW
At the front of the desk is the card i am about to make for my long suffering hubby for our 32nd anniversary. Sorry to say that i almost forgot to make one, it was a very quick make thanks to Joanne Wardle for her one layer cards. he'll never know.

the words have been embossed with red lustre from papermania. the i tied a red ribbon around the card job done LOL
earlier in the week i finishe doff aproject that was on the desk last week.
A baby vest for my grand daughter. My daughter loves mini cars

cute huh

WOYWW 106

2011-06-15T21:56:00.000+01:00

Hi world
well after the big move around last week I struggled a bit to get going 'coz I didn't want to get my work space messy . . . . now, I have well and truly.
Take a look at the world of work spaces HERE from the stamping ground blog.
Some of my work is absent as it has already been sent to the recipient.
The first card I made was for my dauighter who's just moved out.

This is a wardrobe fold card, the outside is completely different ( Inked and 'Arty') to the outside, cute ... more Lucy's style.

Then I made a birthday card for my niece's son . . . . . . 14 year old boys, a nightmare to make cards for LOL.

Next I made some ATC's for my swap group

What a busy week!
This is my next project see next weeks desk to see if I've finished it, something for Erin!!

Well I'm off to look at the rest of the world's desks.

janet

grungy monday 11

2011-06-14T21:09:00.011+01:00

Hi world
Gosh don't the Monday's come around quickly (must be my age).
Anyway, lots of lovely Tim Holtz http://www.timholtz.com/ stuff going on over at http://studiol3.blogspot.com/ again this week, take a look here at this weeks Tim technique, to see what it's all about. I have also entered this tag on Simon Says Stamp and Show Simon Says this is a similar challenge to grungy monday

I have a set of gift tags to make for my swap group so, as time is limited at the moment I decided to make them for this weeks challenge (only got one done though as I had my new baby grandaughter visiting .... have I mentioned her before? LOL)

I think the fairy image is from Dove craft. It doesn't really show up very well though.
I used lavender under the embossing powder and then victorian velvet, dusty concord and aged mahogany on top.

I stamped various swirls around the edge with mahogany . . . . . my new favouite colour!!
I stamped the quote with perfect medium and shiny black embossing powder... to make it show up a bit more than just flat stamping.
The tag is finished with a few Papermania gems and a selection of inked up paper flowers.

As the tag is intented to be used for a gift I tidied up the back and stamped to and from on to it.
The fairy shows up much better here.

Here is why I only managed 1 tag all day.

Cute huh!
I'm off to peep at yours
janet

WOYWW 105

2011-06-08T21:45:00.000+01:00

Hi world
well last week was great for WOYWW peeps, Julia had a great response to her 2nd anniversary see what it is all about here HERE
A BIG thanks to Doone for my pif, actually 2 prezzies, both were great.

This picture above is my desk on Sunday morning.
Anyway my work space has undergone a transformation this week. My daughter has moved out (I may have mentioned that in a few earlier post LOL, especially my new grandauhter).

This is my work space on Sunday afternoon

We spent a long time on Sunday clearing the room out and I spent nearly all day on Tuesday sorting out ( very tired as a consequence, too tired to make anything for grungy monday)

This is my work space on Tuesday evening; my fab new workroom
Thanks to les I couldn't have done it without you, I am soooo lucky.

This is my pif prezzie from Doone, The little box is a chanel perfume box altered into a sewing kit.

grungy monday #10 it's not mine

2011-06-07T22:26:00.002+01:00

hi world
don't the monday's come around quickly. I love grungy monday challenges check it out HERE
I think it is anything goes with distress inks this week.
A lot has changed for me this week.
My daughter moved out and into her new flat with her fella and 2 week old baby (sorry if I'm boring you with that one! but she is gorgeous).
Anyway I have moved my craft room around to make more space. . .
I am very lucky to have a whole room!
Consequently I didn't have time to make anything today so I'm showing the moving card Lucy made to send out.
It is the first proper 'arty' card she has made, it was all her own design and made them while I was at work.
She cut out a mask and then used distress inks with cut and dry foam on the background, probably; spiced marmalade, mustard seed and rusty hinge. the writing was done free hand.
I think she did a brilliant job. I think Tim would be impress for a first effort, check out his web site to see his 'stuff' http://www.timholtz.com/

Please pop in tomorrow for WHAT'S ON YOUR WORKDESK WEDNESDAY if you want to see
my new room, I love it.
I will try and get round to peeking as many as possible tomorrow, it's too late now and I'm knackered!
janet

grungy monday 9

2011-06-02T16:33:00.002+01:00

hi world
welcome to more monday madness ... yes I know its thursday and I'm a bit late but I have been busy this week. Pop over to studio L3to see grungy monday stuff there is lots of creative loveliness, based on all things by Tim Holtz. This weeks technique is HERE

I think I have lost a bit of my mojo as I was lacking in inspiration for this challenge.
I made two cards this week, but I'm not really happy with the colours (only have 3 colours of this paint.) This one is for my sister in law and I have used a Gorjuss stamp, which is cute, but the colours blend too much with the back ground papers. From Crafty Individuals.

I have coloured her in slightly with promarkers and added crackle glaze to the cat which makes it look like a tabby.
My other card is also an angled easel card for my (no 2) daughter's boyfriend.
Matt is a bit of a walker ( he walked from Winchester to Spain for fun). I used the technique on the tag. Again the colours are a bit muddy.

Anyway, the quote says the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

He should know!

I also made this card for my niece's 14 year old son... I hate making card for this age group but I am quite pleased with this as it's simple. the numbers were printed with the computer and then embossed.
The film stripe is a die cut from Lord Tim checkout his web site http://www.timholtz.com/
I'm off to have a peek at everyone else's stuff.

happy 104 woyww

2011-06-01T17:18:00.002+01:00

hi mad wednesday peoples
well I could hardly beleive my eyes when I saw julia's desk this week, I bet all the mess went back on as soon as she had taken the picture lol
http://woyww%20anniversary%20week/ this link isn't working for some reason so please use the title link instead.
I finally managed to finish my pif on Sunday, lots going on here with a new baby grandaughter to coo over, picture below in case you missed it on my last few posts.

Anyway my desk is not showing much creativity this week. I have been trying to make some stamps using my imagepac machine. I know the mechanics of it, but the art work is definately wanting at the moment. I did manage 1 stamp but it was only a text one.

Sometimes I wander why i bother. I will keep trying though maybe tomorrow as I'm on leave and won't have a baby to cuddle! So watch this space.

Erin's other grandparents (where she is staying this week ) live very near my favourite craft shop, so I had to pop in on the way to picking her up ... didn't I. I really like the gorjuss stamps so I treated myself to one and some basic grey papers, oh and some little wooden flowers by kars cute.

anyway I'm off to have a look round as many desks as i can today

happy peeking!

WOYWW103

2011-05-25T22:37:00.000+01:00

hi wednesday watchers.

Time to wander all over the world peeping at workdesks look here to see what it is all about WOYWW103 It's getting very exciting as the anniversary approaches.
On my desk this week is the remains of my grungy monday card and the card at the front contains a wonderful photo.

My beautiful grandaughter Erin who was born on sunday.
I made my daughter a card but in my haste to see them forgot to take a picture. LOL.
I probably wont get much time to wander around this week,
But please leave a comment and I will try and peek back.
janet

grungy monday8

2011-05-24T20:52:00.000+01:00

hi world
More Monday Madness here ... yes I know it's Tuesday but this is the only day I have to make something for GRUNGY MONDAY CHALLENGE

Have a look over at linda's blog to see what she has set us this week. The point is to use a specific technique from Tim Holtz's back catalogue of fantastic ideas. Take a look at his web site too he has some fab new stuff out now! http://www.timholtz.typepad.com/ That's the advert now for the card.

I didnt have much time this week so I will make it brief (more about that later)
This is stamping to look like watercolours, I think this does.
The background is made in a similar way but I combined it with last weeks colour blocking.
I ran the ink pad across the watercolour paper, sprayed it with water then smudged it with a baby wipe, simple! Cannot remember where the stamp came from.

The poppies are die cut and fixed with a brad.
This is the other stamp I tried too, but haven't time to finish

This is the reason I didn't have much time today. My mind was elsewhere.

My beautiful grandaughter Erin who was born on Sunday morning.
Take a look at all the fab art over at Studio L3.
Please leave a comment so I know you have stopped by
thanks

WOYWW102

2011-05-18T20:09:00.001+01:00

HI WORLD
Here is my desk for this weeks WOYWW102, see julia's blog Here to find out what it is all about.
It has been a busy week.
Lots of 'stuff' here ...on the left is a set of stamps and papers free with papercraft essentials this month, they stamps are very cute animals and the paers are very pretty too.
At the back is one of my finished books I made from silk the other weekend.
On the right is a bottle of 'Stiffen Stuff', a new fabric softener i had from work, which is very good for sculptural things.
After clearing away my grungy monday entry, I went back to finishing my daughter's 'This is your life book'. I think it is just about finished.
She was a very cute baby.

I used a book about hanging baskets, it had lots of pictures in that I could incorporate into the scrap pages . I used a lot of Golden Medium to stick the pages together.

She always loved balloons. Some of the pages I covered with text from a copy of The Lion, the Witch and the wardrobe, that's where her sisters chose her name from.
She just loves dressing up (still does but I didnt put any adult pics in . . LOL)

Lara Croft and on top of the Twin Towers in New York

I just have a bit of stamping tot do on the front cover, then it's done .... only 2 years late for her 18th

The Tatty Teddy, Me to you bear is a free gift on the lastest issue of DoCraft magazine.

grunge monday 7

2011-05-17T18:01:00.002+01:00

hi world
There is a great simple, but effective technique on Studio L3 Linda Ledbetters blog challenge this week. Take a look Here at Tim's demo of colour blocking.
Check out all things Tim Holtz on his web site http://www.timholtz.typepad.com/
I am decorating my craft room when daughter no3 has moved out at the end of May (so there is somewhere to put all the 'stuff ' LOL
This week I thought I would make the door hanger I brought at Artisan last year ready for my new room.
The colours didn't turn out how I wanted, probably because they were onto bare wood and not white card as in the video.
Anyway I used Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge and Barn Door distress inks. The clock is stamped with Barn Door.
I painted the grunge paper cogs with docrafts artist pearl paint in Blush.
I haven't had much success with the Adirondack dabbers, so these were much better. Then I used copper mixative with cranberry and hazlenut alcolhol inks on top. They are much redder than the picture shows them, the light is not good today.

The words 'I'm Thinking' are sooo not me as my friends will tell, I 'm not thin and very often I'm not thinking either, I like a bit of irony LOL.

Finally to add some extra texture the ribbon has been sprayed with Stiffen Stuff fabric stiffener. . . (very good stuff!) and wound through the cogs (shapabilities).

It might make my family think twice before they pass through my door..... anyway it's better than do not disturb!

Just before making this weeks piece Lucy and I went to feed the fish

Very interesting experience a bit like pins and needles, but not unpleasant, now we have lovely soft feet.
PS The big fish in Lucy's tank is a picture on the bottom of the tank, the fish are no bigger than 5-6 cm

craft stamper free ezine

2011-05-11T22:00:00.002+01:00

I' ve been intending to pass this on for a while but kept forgetting.
But I have just read this months copy of craft stamper, so it reminded me.
Craft Stamper have a new e magazine. The magazine is full of fab projects, the best from last years paper magazine. See how to get it here
You can also win a big pile of stash.

grungy monday

2011-05-10T22:06:00.001+01:00

Hi world
The start of another week and another Grungy Monday challenge from Linda Ledbetter over at Studio L3.
Her challenges celebrate all things by Tim Holtz
This week I find another technique from Tim that I have not seen before.
The wood grain background is very clearlt explained on his blog

I didnt have much time today in fact I didnt even start until about 5 pm. I dont think I quite did the technique justice. But here it is anyway

I decided to make a book mark tag for a friend who is always reading.
These are the products I used;
salmon paint dabber
Distress Inks antique photo, old pages

Book stamp from Elusive Images ,I made 2 pages
Paper flowers which I sprayed with sunset orange colour wash and dusted with orange cosmic shimmer.
Upon a time die cut alphabet dusted with red bronze cosmic shimmer

I squished, folded and rolled the pages so they looked older.

Take a look at all the lovely art on the Studio L3 blog its great to be nosey LOL

silky paper covered in paint

2011-05-08T23:02:00.001+01:00

hi world
Yesterday I had a brilliant day of painting and getting messy. I went to my lace group where we had a workshop making silk paper.
The aim of the workshop was to make a silk paper notebook cover.
But we were all enjoying making the paper that we just kept making more pieces (we were all very messy and inky). I love playing LOL
I had treated myself to some quality writing paper to make the pages so I decided to wait until my hands were not covered in inks etc before making the book.

We made the paper using silk fibres and added lots of threads, angelina fibres, sequins, leaves, feathers, glitter and paint. The paint we used were brusho paints.

We used them dry and then spayed water on the top, this made the powder spread and made lovely patterns of colour.
I also used my lovely colour wash paints by adirondack. These are sprays and are fab. I also used some masks which worked really well with the sprays. My favouite is the Tim Holtz clock.

I started making the first book today but it is not quite finished will try tomorrow.

I really enjoyed this technique,it is similar to felting , but quicker. I think I will have a go at making a 3d bowl sometime soon

happy mess making LOL

janet

WYWW100

2011-05-04T20:52:00.001+01:00

Hi wonderful wednesday watchers

it's that time of the week again when those that want to can have a good nosey around the world at other peoples work space, nosey on over to stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ to have a look
On my desk this week is a project from a couple of years ago. I started an 18th birthday book for daughter no3 but for various reasons never got to finish it until now.

The desk is covered with photos which i must fit into the book somehow, but there is only 1 page left. The trouble, is the thought processes have been long forgotten as to what I was going to do with them.

I have done the pages in a collage style using golden medium to stick it all together with lots of embellishments. Most of the pictures are of Lucy when she was playing at dressed up. She used to do that a lot.

Also at the back are some more of those lovely colour wash sprays which i will probably use as well, I was going past the shop that sells them at the weekend, when I say went past I mean popped into.LOL.

I'm off desk hopping now why dont you have a look too.

GRUNGY MONDAY 5 . . . . IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

2011-05-02T21:03:00.002+01:00

Hi world
the challenge on grungy monday studioL3 last week was dimensional.
Take a look at Tim's demo dimensional demo from Tim Holtz.com
I took a while to get some inspiration this week, I have had so much going on at home with baby bumps, visitors and weddings, (not the royal one either).
Anyway after the wedding on friday my daughter and her boyfriend locked themselves out of their new flat ( they have only been there for about a month so it didn't take them long). LOL.
They had to get a train and stay the night with us as everywhere was closed. opps!
I thought i would make them a key holder for...... just for emergencies.
here it is
If you try this technique take care, I sliced a chunk off my finger cutting the foam, now it's not easy typing with only 1 index finger LOL.

The key is a very old rusty one, found in the shed.
I cut out the rectangle to put the key in and put a piece of fake glass on top. The background paper behind the key also has old keys on.
Lots of Tim Holtz products here ; the bricks are embossed, The houses and the sign are die cuts. The ticket is also Tim Holtz, the spelling mistake is deliberate as a play on the fact that we had to hire a ladder to get into their first floor flat through an open window.
I have also put grafitti on the wall but it is quite faint and hard to see.

Hopefully they will see the funny side and enjoy putting it on their wall ..... near the door to remind them to take their keys.

WOYWW98

2011-04-20T21:07:00.000+01:00

Hi Wednesday world

Yes wednesday again, the weeks turn around so quickly. It's all craft! craft! craft!. . . . huh I wish it was. Checkout some of the other interesting workdesks on julia's blog .
we all enjoy being a bit nosey! don't we
Anyway wednesday is hot on the heels of grungy monday, which I make on tuesday, as it's my day off.
I cleared up at the end of yesterday, very rare I do that, we have visitors at the weekend LOL

I have just finished making some more books using the colour wash spray dies from the grungy monday challenge last week. http://studiol3.blogspot.com/

I loved using them so I had to make some more for the table top sale I am going to on Saturday. I sort of hope they don't sell because I like them all.

Also on my desk is another nestabilities storage book. This is a fab way of storing your metal dies using magnets. The first one I made is full up!!!

Anyway GTG Ironing to do .... boring but has to be done.

grungy monday 4

2011-04-19T22:33:00.000+01:00

well this weeks challenge from linda ledbetter at studio L3 is all about texture fades and distress.
I must admit this is another of Tim's techniques that I have not tried, there are so many on the web site Tim holtz.
checkout the video to see how Tim does it

I decided to make a tag this week as I have just brought Tim's no8 tag for the bigshot. i was feeling a bit pink today, so pink it was.
I inked up the music folder with victorian velvet and dusty concord, it looks a bit dark in the photo., it actually quite light, for a change.
I used the following products; birdcage and bird mover and shapers, kanban bird stamp, cosmic shimmer burnt red lustre embossing powder and papermania paper flowers. Tim Holtz fairytale alphabet.

WOYWW97

2011-04-13T21:18:00.000+01:00

hi wednesday people

time to see those desks again. checkout julia's blog to see what it' all about julia's stamping ground

lots of stuff on my desk this week. a lot of work has been done on the kitchen table too. But that had to be cleaned up as it was very messy paint-y stuff from grungy monday (see yesterday's post).

here is the result of the pile of knitting pieces..... yes elisabeth, it is from the 'knit your own Royal wedding' book. i didn't buy the book but my library knitting group are doing it for a display....if you haven't seen it, it is hysterical LOL.are you ready for this girls.... here is the groom

Here is some other stuff i have been doing.
you know the free case you get with ....... busines cards, well it is rather boring so i thought i would have a go at personalising it ... with friendly plastic. it was very quick.
i cut some pieces to the size of the central panel and heated it with the heat gun. i stamped a simple flower in to the plastic while it was still hot. when it was cold i glued it in place, i was quite pleased with it. . . it's different anyway!!
you have to wait until the plastic has cooled before the stamp will come out, but it does show up.
the plastic stretched a bit so i curled one corner to make a feature. i also glued some gems around the edge to add a bit of bling.

I have also made some more wire flowers.
the flower on the left is the same as the one i made earlier but the right hand one i made a bit differently.
i pulled the petals out a bit wider and then then twisted them and pulled them into the center
i think i was trying to get them to look a bit like a dahlia. the centre of each has beads glued in.
i have been trying a new glue from work it is called Beacons 3 in 1 advanced craft glue it is crystal clear to start will and glues very well. i may forget to take it back to work !!!! ops sorry vicky.

sunday was such a lovely sunny day it would have been a crime to stay in doors, so i sat in the garden and did some beading. i started this bracelet a while ago but had to leave it to do more important things. time to finish it i think. the base of the bracelet uses the new tila beads (little square tiles with 2 sets of holes parallel to each other. it also uses the new Swarovski sequins.... very blingy. i saw a pattern similar in the last Beadworkers Guild Journal but i changed it slightly.
i also made a beaded bead for the clasp.

also still on my desk is the book i made using adirondack colour wash dyes for the grungy monday challenge. the book looks brown here but it is really a pinky mauve colour with greeny splodges. this dye is brilliant, i will definately use it again very soon.
anyway time for some fun peeking at all the lovely desks

see ya soon
janet
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grungy monday 3

2011-04-12T22:09:00.001+01:00

Hi monday grungers

Have a look at linda ledbetter's blog grungy monday3. This weeks Tim Holtz challenge caused me a few problems, not least because I didn't have any colour wash. adirondack colour wash
Luckily I knew where I could get some, so I hot footed over there. I brought three colours lettuce, cranberry and stream.
I thought I'd make a flower brooch. From calico I cut out some of Tim's tattered flowers, I stamped them with a script and colour washed them with the lettuce and stream. I didn't really like them they didn't look right on their own, so I gave up on them. nothing was going right today and my kitchen was a real mess, LOL

I loved linda's scarf so I thought I'd have a go on an old scarf I didn't want any more. I followed the instructions but it didn' t really work, I dont think I heat sealed it properly. You can just about see the swirley pattern, the colour washed out quite a bit.
Anyway not to be defeated I had another go on a piece of calico. It's my mums birthday soon so I thought I'd make a note book. Followers of my blog will know like making books.
Here is the fabric before I cut it up th cover the book.

I used the same stamp as before and all 3 colours and washed it out before I heat set it so that the colour was diluted. It came out quite purple-y. I sprayed the surface with silver cosmic shimmer mist.

Then I used the flowers I made earlier and added a brad and fixed it to the book cover. I covered a book plate with copper utee to match the brad. I stamped 'notes' on a spare piece of the fabric and put it
inside the bookplate. I stamped some more swirls with stazon and glued some beads over the top.
it took a while but I actually quite liked it in the end.

I dont think i will give the book to my mum though.... too grungy

can you see what it is yet

2011-04-09T22:03:00.000+01:00

hi world
here is a bit of the project i have been working on for the knitting group i go to at the library. can you tell what it is yet ? no well it looks like a jumble of odd bits . . . tune in next
time to find out .... its quite funny (well i think so) and topical.

WOYWW96

2011-04-06T21:15:00.000+01:00

Hi wonderful wednesday peoples
It's that time again and another desk photo. Have a look at the lovely creative desks at WOYWW96.
It's been a busy desk this week, (have a look at previous post if you have time). Most of my makes have been cleared away and posted off to the recipients. All that is except my paper flower brooches from a couple of weeks ago.

I finished them at the weekend and left them to dry until yesterday when I had room on my desk to sort them out. They are quite interesting but I think I made them a bit too fussy, they should have had less shapes on each flower. I might try making some more with fabric bonded onto grunge paper and see what happens.

Also on my desk is the tag I made yesterday for Grungy Monday.
This is a Tim Holtz inspired challenge from linda at studiol3 take a look there is some beautiful art for arts sake!
Actually I was really pleased with the piece I made on this challenge. Here it is again in case you missed it.

If I dont get around to seeing all your lovely desks .... sorry but as you know there are a lot of you and only so many hours in the blogging day!
see ya

try grunge monday

2011-04-05T16:05:00.001+01:00

Hi world
This week I thought I would have a go at something different. Whilst blog hopping I came across studioL3 who have just started a Monday challenge called Grungy Monday (featuring all things Tim Holtz) have a look here. studioL3
You will also need to watch a Tim Holtz video, but come on that's not hard is it. lol
Tim's video

Here is my tag:

I have just brought a set of spellbinders shapabilities called sprightly sprockets. I used it to make the foam stamp (that will be clearer if you watch the video).
I didn't have any of Tim's medium so I used Golden Medium soft gel, it worked fine but I had to smooth it on the stamp with my finger (bit messy ). The base is a 'liberated' beer mat from an un- named pub!
The embellishments are also die cut sprockets, except the clock pieces which were 'claimed' from an old clock.
I usually make floral stuff so I thought why not a sprocket flower, I think it worked quite well. The colours I have used are pine needles, rusty hinge and a little mustard seed (sounds like pot pourri). I coloured the flowers with the same inks.
I enjoyed making this and will definately be doing more grungy stuff in future

see ya

another new home

2011-04-04T23:15:00.002+01:00

Hi world
My daughter (no2) moved out a couple of weeks ago, she has moved in with her boyfriend to a lovely roomy flat.
It's very quiet here at home now with only 1 daughter left.... it's about time the washing machine had a rest lol.

This is the tag i made her to hang in the kitchen.
I made it last week but forgot to photograph it, so had to wait until I went there for lunch today.
The flat is near to where I work so I can walk there in my lunch hour, yay! free coffee.
The background is smudged distress inks on glossy card. The clock is from lovely elusive images.
The little houses are from crafty individuals and the frame is a Teresa Collins stamp I made as a trial for my image pac stamp maker kit.
The dangly bits are shrink plastic cut out with the big shot.
The shrink plastic cut very well, I expected it to shatter, don't know why but I did.

Anyway, I think she and Matt will be very happy together.

see ya
janet

mothers day and movers

2011-04-03T23:30:00.000+01:00

hi guys
as it was mothers day today i thought i would share my attempts. i am lucky enough to have 2 great mums 1 is my own and 1 is my other halfs. they see each other quite a lot so we have to be very carefull that they are given the same things so they dont get upset lol. they are great ladies.

i think they are similar enough to avoid a fight ha ha.
the fan stamp is from papermania as is the backing paper. i embossed the fam with glossy black ... my fav of the moment. i made the stamp using my image pac system. (which i have got the hang of now).

i also had to make a couple of new home cards yesterday too. happy moving brian and margaret.

this card is made with a tim holtz die, the houses are great, i cut them out in matt black card mounted with foam. i used the top cut out piece to create the shadows at the back. the background is simply done with distress inks on shiney card. the moon is embossed with silver.

mum in law asked me to make a card for her to sent
too, i thought it should be a completely different style to the one i sent. the house was a free stamp from one of the magazines recently. i coloured it in with promarkers. a simple quicky card!
see ya. . please leave a comment

so many cards so little time

2011-04-02T21:31:00.001+01:00

hi world

i have been away for a few days this week, so the beginning of the week was

a zero crafting time. so at the end of the week i had to catch up and felt like making some cards. i was very impressed with joanne wardles one layer cards in craft stamper this month check out her blog

http://madebyjoanne.blogspot.com/

here are the ones i made today

the stamps i used here are from elusive images. i have embossed the clock and sentiment with glossy black emb powder. the rest of the stamping is done straight onto the card .... brave eh! actually it was really quick

the main stamp here is from crafty individuals my fab free stamps for re-newing my subs to craft stamper. only the frank mark is embossed with burnt redpowder from cosmic shimmer.

i have used various stamps here again the main one is from crafty individuals. i have embossed the butterflies onto vellum and cut out and just glued in the middle so it is raised.

i cannot remember who made this stamp except it is german and i got it at artisan last year, i have seen it used on quite a few blogs, it is a really useful stamp. again the frank mark is embossed with gloss black.

this isn't technically a one layer card as i have embossed the inage onto patterned paper and cut it out. i creased the fan to makeit look more ... fan like.
the chinese background stamp is from personnal impressions and the fan is from papermanis oriental collection. i made the stamp to go with it which i used on my mothers days cards (another day).
i really enjoy batch making so it's been a good day
it's nice to read comments so please leave one ta x x

clearing my desk

2011-03-27T21:37:00.000+01:00

hi world
today i decided to clear my desk of all the atc books i have to do for uk stampers.

i have had some of them on the desk for a couple of weeks while i was doing the invites.

the stamps i have used here were free on a new magazine called simply homemade.
it is a very pretty set especially the bunting.

i have used a lot of these little purple squares, they were left over from the invites so i thought i should use them up now rather than chuck them or stash them away. the image is much clearer on this atc as it has been embossed with glossy black

more squares and a paperflower with a glittery center. i have stamped on top with white swirls but it doesn't show up very much.

the stamped image here is a design emma and i did for the invites. i made the stamp using my imagepac stampmaker. i have got the hang of it now and they are coming out much better. the dandelion clock has been embossed using stardust.

this isn't an atc but an embossed image which goes into a book with a spare undecorated image for the recipiant to use. 4 others members will add to it as well. the image is from crafty individuals and was free when i re -newed my subscription. it is lovely i think i will use it a lot.
anyway those done, all i have to do is work out who to send them to and post them off. the price of stamps goes up on 1st april so stock up now.

WOYWW94

2011-03-23T19:55:00.000Z

Hi Wednesday world

This is my desk as I left it last night, just before I watched the new sitcom on BBC3 'white van man'. (quite good, but a bit fast and furious and manic).
anyway i have been trying to make flower brooches for my table top sale next month. i thought i would get a head start now that i have finished the wedding invites. sorry i can't show them before Emma has seen them can I.
the brooches are mostly made from grunge paper and painted with Tim Holtz dabbers.
they are cut out using the big shot and Marianne's creatable dies. i have also used patterned card and brads for the middle. none of the brooches are actually finished except for the red one in the middle which was made for me by Vicky from work. it is my inspiration for the others. hopefully i will get them finished in the next few days.
here's looking at your desks now. WOYWW94 stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
janet

opps nearly forgot

2011-03-19T21:37:00.000Z

Hi world,
I have been so busy this week working on Emma's wedding invites i nearly forgot to make my brother in law's birthday card. I remembered just in time (but not to catch the post) sorry Derek.

like most of us, i find it quite difficult to make masculine cards. These images are from elusive images and are perfect for most men.
The backing paper is from basic grey. the calligraphy is stamped in sapphire blue distress ink with smudges of old paper as well. The bicycle was stamped and embossed before cutting it out with a nestie, sometimes they just don't fit the right size so i decided to crop it a bit, i didn't want to cover up too much of the writing. I also inked the paper flowers to match. this was a nice quick card so i could get back to the invites. The invites are quite complicated, well not complicated, they just have a lot of elements to make.
Anyway I'm going to relax with a bit of knitting now. there is a new book out called knit your own royal wedding. I'm off to knit prince William for my knitting group!!!!!

on a roll

2011-03-15T22:04:00.000Z

hi world
i've been on a roll today.

i have had lots of atc books in a box for a while, just sitting there waiting to be added to and sent on.

i finished all 14, here is a selection.

all of them have been made from bits and pieces left over from other projects.

the little houses are from a tim holtz die cutter.

the paper flower has another flower stamped on top (a freebie from craft stamper mag.

the stamps i used here are from the papermania oriental collection. the tile has been embossed with gloss black embossing powder.

this atc was recycled from my husbands birthday card (well he didn't want to keep it, did he?)

the backing card here is a business card from a coffee house in london, i just liked the design in the background and thought it was too good to throw away. chocolate cake was a perfect partner.

i had some more books in the post today, but they will have to wait, i have wedding invitation to make!!!!

janet

WOYWW 92

2011-03-09T21:30:00.000Z

hi world

there has been a lot going on on my work desk this week. have a look at some more desks at the stamping ground web site http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/2011/03/whats-on-your-workdesk-wednesday-92.html

i have been making the mock ups for my daughters wedding invitations, but i can't show anything now as i have posted them off to her for approval!!!!

after all that wedding gooo i needed a change, so i had a little play with mixed media.

i had some artist paste stuff i brought in Lidl (of all places, lol) it is a bit like fine polyfiller.

i have had a few atc's from my stampers group recently so i thought i would have a go at something diffferent on them. back to the drawing board!

i'm not sure i like what i've done, i was a bit rushed.

i roughly spread the paste onto corrigated card, quite thickly, then i dropped alcohol ink on to the paste, it spread out quickly and blended together. i also sprayed on some cosmic shimmer in a toning colour. then i pushed a gold coloured ingot into the paste and sprinkled some beads on.

i wish i had spent more time planning and having more of a theme, sometimes whatever is great, but not this time. when they had dried the card curled up quite a bit too.

i will have another go another day

WOYWW 91

2011-03-02T22:05:00.001Z

hi world
it's wednesday again and time for WOYWW91
i actually did quite a lot on the desk yesterday this is the left overs.

i went to farnborough's 'make it ' show last week, it was very good better than last year.

there were some different suppliers than last year with lots and lots of cutting dies.

here is my 'buyers' journal i am doing this year, just stuff i buy and where i get it etc. i'm including a sample of everything so i can look back and see what from where etc. i brought quite a lot of little things , so it has taken quite a while to finish, i'm also die cutting lots of little cardboard 'buttons', some of which i used on some atc's yesterday but i forgot to photograph the coz i had to hurry and post them of.

but, the best thing on my desk is . . . the A1 cutting mat i brought for £18 what a bargain, it was interesting bringing it home on the train.

i bes ti still work on an A4 sized area though

crafting and cake

2011-03-01T22:47:00.000Z

hi world

well it's been a while since i last blogged. . . i've been busy, stuff like housework and eating cake.

anyway today i had to make a couple of cards. 1 for my brother who's birthday is today whopps! sorry pete it's in the post. well it will be in the morning.

i used a page from an old recipe book from the 1930's and aged it a bit more with vintage photo distress ink. the clock image is from elusive images. i brought a set at 'make it' for half price, wow. it has a lot of old images like cars and men. the image is embossed with shiney black powder. then i die cut the outside circle in shiney black card. the buttons at the top are also a new purchase from make it. there was a lot of new die cut producers, these button were from 'joy', i cut them in brown cardboard packaging and embossed them in black and silver.

the second card is for a fellow stamper who has just had an op, so get well to her

the background has been stamped through sequin waste with 3 different colours of distress inks. the bottom stamp is from dovecraft (holly swirls but you dont notice the holly). i wanted to make the card quite simple so it just has a simple message and flower.

i am still working on a stamp for my daughters wedding invitation

so hopefully i will have something to show soon.

ever had one of those days

2011-02-20T20:56:00.000Z

hi world

ever had one of those days when nothing goes right?

well i've just had 2.

yesterday went horribly wrong and i'm not even going to say anymore now, except it involves a little bit of silver and a lot of swearing!

but today i tried to make a clear stamp for my daughters wedding invitations.
i have the new imagepac stamp making kit, to say i've had mixed results is an understatement. the problem i have is the art work . . . getting it printed black enough to make a good negative.
the first one i made didn't work at all and all i had was a lump of acylic with very little definition.
next i made a stamp with the artwork that came with it, bingo, that was fine.

i printed emma 's stamp again, it was ok but not really enough definition to make it look really good for the invites. i printed on inkjet acetate.
at least i'm not a quitter .... it's too expensive to give up now.
i tried something smaller this time. i had some really pretty clock hands i wanted as a stamp (like the lovely tim holtz ones). i scanned them and printed it on the expensive plastic 'paper' that came with the kit (and i only have a bit left ).

that did come out much better. they actually looked quite good when put one on top of the other.

anyway to finish on a high, i made good use of the first block i made. i die cut it with tim holt tattered flowers, so now i have a clear stamp of them and it has a very faint impression of the dandelion clock on it too (and you cant but that). so, not all bad in the end

but on the whole not a good weekend,
i'm going to 'make it' at farnborough next week so lots of shopping!!!! maybe i can buy some stamps.

WOYWW 89 . . . in the kitchen

2011-02-16T23:31:00.000Z

hi everyone at WOYWW89

i'm not actually working on my desk this week , i'm in the kitchen. . . . not cooking!

i'm making a silver bracelet for my daughter (no2). it has been a bit scary as the silver is very expensive and i dont want to muck it up. i've only made small things before.

her boyfriend brought her a gecco bracelet when they were in minorca but all the silver came off after a while and turned her hand green. she asked me if i could replace it in pmc silver.
so far, so good as long as nobody touches it.
i am quite pleased with the geccos, i just hope that it all holds together ok and i dont break it, opps! shouldn't have said, that it's the kiss of death to tempt faith.
if you haven't seen pmc precious metal clay before , its brilliant. the special clay turns into 99% pure silver when heated with a cooks blow torch.... yes honestly, look it up, its a gorgeous medium to work with.

happy birthday lucy

2011-02-15T22:02:00.000Z

hi world,

it was daughter no 3's birthday on monday.... yup valentines day! she used to hate sharing her day with the rest of the world when she was little. but now she's a big girl she thinks it is quite cool.

this is the card i made her. it is very similar to the last one i posted, my cards have definately changed since i brought the bigshot.

in this months craft stamper there was an article about dye-ing ribbon with alcohol inks. i decided to use it on lucy's card.

i was really pleased with the results. i also made a background card with the same colours and over stamped on it with archival ink. i used watermelon, pink sherbert and sunshine yellow.

i think the little girl stamp is from kars and coloured in with aqua promarkers. but i left the ribbon at work so could not use it.

the shape on the base is mounted with foam pads because there is a hidden card inside . . it's lucy's bump card, (she is expecting a baby in may). there is a pull tab to reveal it.

the sentiment just says happy birthday, but the hidden card says . . . to my yummy mummy. she loved the card but i think she liked all the valentines stuff from her boyfriend more. how they change lol.

england 59 someone else 13

2011-02-14T00:07:00.000Z

hi world

well my visitors this weekend just had to watch the rugby and hubby was enjoying the sunshine by tidying up the garden, so, i disappeared into my sanctuary that is my craft room for an hour. i made some atc's.

a couple of weeks ago i had 27 atc books to do for uksn.

i had done about half and posted them off.

BUT i forgot to record who i made them for, so i was in a bit of a muddle, i got most of it sorted (isn't e mail wonderful!!) but still had a few to do. these are some of the results.

i do like to make one off 's but dont like to spend too long on each one . . . there was a lot of them to do. i am liking the colour charts at the moment , they are very versatile. i embossed it with a tim holtz postcard folder and then rubbed distress inks gently over the top was just the raised area was coloured.

this stamp is one i made from a self portrait my daughter did a couple of years ago. the sentiments says . . . . every little girl wants to be a fairy.

oh and england won the rugby, the garden is ready for spring, we all had a good afternoon

happy birthday jan

2011-02-12T23:38:00.001Z

hi world

last week was my best friends' birthday. i took some photos of the card i made her and then i couldn't find which memory card they was on (lol) i'm such a muppet.

i really like the easel style at the moment. the papers are from papermania. the stamps were free with a craft magazine recently, the flower shape and leaves are a die cut , i think they are mariannes or nellies or something like that. the sentiment is from crafty individuals. i was going to enter it into some challenges but i never got around to it. where do you all get the time from. mine just seems to disappear.
tomorrow i have valentines cakes to make for the family and birthday cake for daughter no. 3 also on valentines day, but no hearts in sight. must make her a card!!!!!

midnight crafting

2011-02-01T23:08:00.001Z

hi world

it's nice and quiet at 3.00 am, the perfect crafting time.

when you cant sleep it's the best thing to do. i made some atc this morning.

i only made the first two, the other 2 i made later in the day, well there are limits to what you can do in the middle of the night, especially when it's cold too.

it's better than tossing and turning trying to get to sleep.

the flower on the right was already made and re- used from another card, i just added the plastic letters ( well they need using up).

the atc on the right is also a re- make from other card, or maybe one i didn't finish and abandoned. atc are good for using left over stuff up. i added the crackle glaze coz i only brought it the other day and wanted to try it

the atc on the left has been embossed with tim holtz music folder. i stamped the clef after embossing, this made it a bit wobbley so i filled in the gaps with sakura pens which added some glitter.

lets see what i can make tonight!!!!!!

trying to get ahead

2011-01-31T21:33:00.002Z

hi world

this week i am trying to get ahead with the card making, i always seem to leave stuff till the last minute, so this year I AM going to get ahead. there are a couple of cards i made today

the stamps are from the artistic stamper, the mabel lucy attwell collection. i won the whole set last year . . . in a lucky dip competition.

the pictures are simply coloured in with pencils.

the top card has a paper flower which is inked with distress inks. the tag underneath is cut from the backing card from papermania diamonte spots.

the flower on the bottom card is die cut synthetic leather, melted with a heat gun. the backing paper has been embossed using tim holtz music folder.

i have recently taught myself (if you know what i mean) to stamp onto a bigger piece of card than i used to, so i can cut any shape i want using the nestabilities.

oh well 2 more to add to the card stash . . . i should say first 2 in the card stash

janet

finally finished

2011-01-30T21:11:00.000Z

hi world

i have finally managed to finish a piece of beading. i started this bracelet several months ago.
it is a very simple piece (i know , i always say that!). . . circular peyote, not as complicated as it looks, the twist comes from using different sizes beads. the center beads are swarovski crystals, they are very sparkly but also a bit scratchy. but i love it anyway. must get on with the next unfinished piece!

lovely blog candy

2011-01-22T00:26:00.001Z

hi there

i found this interesting blog http://anartsoul.blogspot.com/ while hopping around WOYWW 85 http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
there is some interesting stuff on the workdesk, well worth a little look

nothing to show today, lots of house work etc etc, and lovely coffee meeting with old friend ( as in, i have known for a long time . . not her age) i have not seen her for a while., so lots of catching up to do.

well you cant do everything, back to crafting tomorrow

instead here is a picture of sunset over phoenix, arizona. it was taken in the car so a bit fuzzy. eventually i hope to turn this into a hanging quilt. . . .part of my 12 year plan lol

janet

WOYWW85

2011-01-19T23:14:00.001Z

Hi world

well again there 's no work going on on the desk today, at work all day.

last week i decided to make a journal of all the 'stuff' i buy for my mad hobby.

just stuff like; things i brought and where and how much it cost. it could be useful and interesting in the future ( as long as it doesn't get in the 'wrong hands', especially the how much i have spent bit!).

yesterday i went craft shopping, like you do!

on my desk is lots of lovely 'stuff i brought, i like to keep it on my desk for a while to admire it. then it gets 'stored' away for use later. i think i'm a bit OCD with the storage thing. but not tidy. . . you cannot be creative and tidy.

i needed to record my purchases in my journal before i stored it away.

anyway i put little scraps of ribbon, paper etc, i didnt put the gems in 'coz that would be a waste! i cut the paper i brought with the nestabilities i brought. i need to make another die book ( see previous post) as it 's full.

i stamped all the stamps (from kars) and added some crackle glaze to the one i painted just to see how it worked as i have not used it before. then i had to make dinner (which was late suprise suprise ) so i just left it as it was.

how it should be messy!