WOYWW 224

Frankly I'm shocked by this picture. I dropped my beloved Panasonic Lumix and the screen has gone blank. It lights up, but there is nothing but a white screen. So I've been looking up fixes on YouTube, and if I'm lucky I'll be able to unscrew it, reconnect the cable and good as new. If you note the Drum of Tools (which my child demanded be sold to her for her mother at the school Christmas Store many years ago because it was on the Father's Table), sadly none of the screwdrivers are small enough.

Nothing else has changed because I've spent a few days in South Carolina visiting my father and his wife along with all of my sisters. But it only occurred to me to try the camera on the last day. Pretty good for blind shooting lol.

If you are wondering what's all this WOYWW, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a gander. Better yet, snap a picture and join in the fun!

WOYWW 223

Happy WOYWW! I've been shifting things. I had many of my craft supplies in those little compartmentalized bins. I've come to see that really didn't suit me. So I've been scooping things out of the compartments into little craft bags which go into shoebox style containers which are sorted by a general type. This is the "oooo that would be great for spindles" collection lol.

This was a bit of accidental creativity. While making a dowel sizer, I accidentally made a ring. There were two bits sticking out and when I was "de-hazarding" it, I saw and turned it into a heart. Yes I even sort my errands by type lol.

Head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a gander. Or better yet, snap a picture of your desk and join in the fun : ).

It has a ring to it orrrrrrrr what I was doing when I was supposed to be running errands

I usually hate going out. So I try to minimize the number of times I need to do that. So I write lists of things I want to accomplish when I'm out. I'm looking for a dowel that is the size of a size 7 ring and I thought I know I'll wrap wire around the ring mandrel then I can slide it over the dowels. And then I had these two sharp ends sticking out. Since that wouldn't do, I took my round-nose pliers to them and the image of a heart jumped into my head. I have to say it's comfortable and kind of cute. I see presents : D. And it's not even October!

I still haven't made it out yet, but my list is made, coupons are clipped and my dowel sizing device aka cute ring is made and convenient to carry : D. Now I just have to take a shower and dress to go out to run those errands.

WOYWW 222

222 always reminds me of the tv show Room 222 which I watched when I was a barely teen lo those many decades ago. I've never seen it on re-runs so it might not be the classic I remember, but I digress.

It's a bit of finishing up the leftovers from Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire and embarking on some new projects. The leftovers are the shrinky dink cuts that need to be stamped and shrunk (hence the cutting board) and the die-cuts to the left which need to be stamped, and the Kool Aid will be used in scented embossing powder at some point. (edited to add the link for more info on scented embossing powder)

The Peacock Feather Distress Ink is new and followed me home after I finally remembered to carry a coupon with me, and the erasers are going to be turned into stamps. The candy boxes will be turned into notebooks thanks to a pin I stumbled across, only modified of course. The toy wheel will be turned into a spindle (for spinning wool).

The candy will be given with the notebooks, but I'm still sorting out how to wrap it. Ideas are welcome of course lol.

I've been bonding with my "grand-pig" who is tired of being photographed. His name is Arnold Palmer (named after the beverage, not the golfer who made the beverage lol). His hobby is woodworking/home alteration.

If you are wondering about WOYWW, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a gander at crafty desks around the world.

WOYWW 221

This is the aftermath of Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-faire 2013. I haven't been back in my craftroom since yesterday. I've been catching up on things like showering and sleeping lol. The cutting board is what I use for heat embossing and shrinky dinks (holding it down with a paper piercer while I heat it with a heat gun). The styrofoam was standing in for my missing poking pad. I finished all 10 projects, some of my results were "ehhh" but I was pleased to have done them all.

My favorite challenge was the Scent-sational challenge (complete with the instructions). Make your own scratch and sniff pieces (I used cherry kool-aid on the cardstock buttons, but the possibilities are amazing, coffee, chocolate, ginger, basically any powdery smelly thing that doesn't have sugar and clear embossing powder.

This is my favorite card from the bunch (the rolled dough challenge). The challenge was to make a die-cut embellishment from paperclay. The matching dies and stamps were from Papertrey Ink's Simply Jane (even the background stamp and inside sentiment).

I did well at the fair this year, my embroidered nametag got a blue ribbon in the non-wearable handspun category.

My seahorse card got 3rd place.

If you are wondering what's all this WOYWW, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground. You can peer at crafty spaces around the world. Take a picture of your own and join in the fun : ).

The aftermath of Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2013.

After the (stamp-a-)faire. So many ideas, so much to clean up. It'll probably take a few weeks because I'll get distracted and make something in a tiny corner.

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2013: Whipping Up Scent-sational Cards

Scent-sational embossing powders!!!!This has tickled my fancy to no end!!! Ohhh the possibilities!! For my card I used Cherry Kool-Aid and UTEE, because all my regular clear embossing powder was where I couldn't find it.

Stamp sets: Button Boutique, Everyday Button Bits
Die: Button Boutique
Inks: Memento Ladybug, Mowed Grass Distress Inks
cardstock: Stamper's Select White and Summer Sunrise

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2013: Gallon:Quart:Pint

Gallon:Quart:Pint Challenge
cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores, scrap of Graphic 45 paper
Stamp sets and matching dies: Little Labels, Friendship Jar
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Scattered Straw Distress Ink

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2013: Mixing Mists to Match

For the Mixing Mists to Match challenge, I mixed Vintage Photo Distress Ink re-inker with rubbing alcohol and spritzed it through a paper doily onto a Classic Kraft mat. Then stamped the sentiment with Movers &  Shakers Sentiments. The card base is Deep Chocolate Brown.

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2013: Sprinkle of Salt

A Sprinkle of Salt challenge.
Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans Distress Ink spritzed with water and painted on salt applied to the top. 

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2013: Rolled Dough Designs

The Rolled Dough Designs challenge was definitely the most challenging for me in a time management vs. learn the process sort of way. The idea of a cameo card using Simply Jane setcame to me in a flash, so balance was achieved overall : ).

The cardstock is all Vintage Cream. The card base background is stamped with Tattered Rose Distress Ink. The frame is painted first with Scattered Straw Distress Ink spritzed with water and then Wild Honey Distress Ink spritzed with water and then stamped with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. The middle is painted with Tattered Rose Distress Ink and then moshed on the ink pad after it dried.

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2013: Tea Staining Techniques

The tea staining challenge had so many wonderful options, but I went with what I had on hand. The tea-dyed cheesecloth is left over from a pirate banner I made a few years ago. It's attached to the back of the Enchanted Evening mat with double-sided sticky tape and dry-brushed with gold paint. The card base is my favorite PTI color, Ocean Tides. The Star Prints sentiment is stamped with Paris Dusk Memento Dye Ink. The star is painted with gold Acrylic Paint.

Stamp-a-faire 2013: Limited Ingredients Challenge

Limited Ingredients Challenge. I used Melonberry cardstock, 1" strip Soft Stone cardstock, Stamper's Select White cardstock, Aqua Mist cardstock. Embellishments stamp set, Black ink for the sentiment and Memento London Fog ink for the Embellishment.

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2013: Sweet Sugar Coated Embellishments

Sugar Coated Embellishments challenge. Fine Linen cardstock, Melon Berry Leaves paper, Fine Linen Topnotch Twill Tape with chunky clear glitter added to it with 1/4 inch score tape. Botanical Silhouettes stamp set, Black Zing Embossing Powder, Corner Chompers (1/2 inch).

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-faire 2013: Custom Accents from the Oven

Custom Accents from the Oven: Shrinky Dink, Little Labels (die and stamp), Everyday Button Bits, Papertrey Ink Buttons, Aqua Mist cardstock, Twine

I used my crafty cutting board and a heat gun to shrink the accent. It's important to use a piercer to hold it down whilst using the heat gun : ).

August 2013 Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

Today's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop is based on Fast Food colors. I chose Fine Linen, Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate and True Black and it's sketch. The card base is Fine Linen, the stripes are Classic Kraft and Dark Chocolate and the accent is Classic Kraft with a True Black Border. The string is drawn on with a 0.3 fine line black marker.

Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-Faire 2013: Bake & Take

For my Bake & Take I used the Enchanted Evening, Hawaiian Shores, Spring Rain, New Leaf and Limeade Ice color palette with the tag and pocket sketch.

8/25/13 update:

After I posted the first card, I realized the due date was August 26th @ noon EST, so I deconstructed the card, stamped the patterns on the background of the card base and on the bookmark with Color Box Fresh Green Pigment Ink. The sentiment and images come from Papertrey Ink Funky Florals. The sentiment and border are embossed with Zing Cricket Embossing Powder on Hawaiian Shores. The cardbase is Spring Rain, the bookmark is Enchanted Evening cut with the PTI bookmark die and green embroidery thread is used at the top.

WOYWW 219

Since I wasn't photographing a lot lately, Dilly decided it would be good for napping (she's in her settling-in mode). The to the left is my "How you going to keep them down on the farm (after they've seen Paris)" card.

But I actually did have a flurry of activity last week as I got ready for the fair. No word yet on what made it in. I didn't get the novelty yarn done, but I'm thinking I'll be ready for next year wayyyyy early because I'm almost finished lol. The Disney ticket is an embellishment I decided not to use on my memory page entry. It's the endcap font from the Mickey Font cricut cartridge.

I LOVE endcap fonts. The Mickey end cap font has the option of ticket, license plate or dog bone ends, just don't put a space in it if you are using a Gypsy, CCR or the E2 (the spaces just won't cut then you have to cut them separately... ).

If you are wondering what all this WOYWW, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground where you can see other crafty workdesks from all over the world. Better yet, snap a pic and join in the fun : ).

Ribbon Bracelet

This is a ribbon bracelet I made from a Club Ruby Designers kit when I was on the design team. If my memory is correct, the only extras I added were a snap and beads from my stash. I couldn't find my original pictures, so I had to take it off the recipient's wrist to photograph it.

The button covers the snap (you can see the other piece of the snap at the far end. The striped ribbon is the base. The yellow satin ribbon is irregularly gathered.

 It was a lovely purse project. I love hand-stitching small projects in summer.

WOYWW 210

 My workdesk was neglected again this week. But I received my WOYWW 4 from DayLee Doodler aka Debbie. It's gorgeous and will go with my other WOYWW memorabilia collected over the years.

This is the one I sent out. Papertrey Ink cardstock (two layers). Embossed with the Darice Woodgrain Embossing folder.  unknown letter stickers. Tim Holtz tissue tape. Oriental Trading Co. Hiking brad. Antique Bronzed Distress Stickles. Handspun chain-plied Cinnamon Tussah silk embroidery thread.

The traditional spinning wheel detail from my completed nametag. It only took 15 years to complete (mostly it was misplaced during that time). But it is 18 stitches per inch and by the end I had to sit in bright light with a pair of reading magnification glasses over my glasses lol.. All handspun embroidery threads (silk, wool, silk/wool).

If you are wondering what all this WOYWW, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a gander. Better yet, snap a picture of your crafty space and join in the fun : D.

WOYWW 209 - whadda week

My craftdesk is still covered, so I used our new to this house kitchen table : D. One of my sisters and I swapped tables, always an adventure, mine required the removal of a door and the dismantling of the table to get it out. Now I know why it came with the house lol. I only got to make one thing this week, as I'm up to my ears in sorting and lots of life chaos (have I mentioned I aspire to boring?). This is my first attempt at Chinese-style Brush Painting. I needed a thank you card for my child's private lesson music teacher, and he likes goldfish.

Five years ago I bought this kit from BJ's (a wholesale shopping club), it came with a booklet (which I've been reading for 5 years). The need for a thank you card prodded me into action. That "rule" about if you haven't used it in 6 months, get rid of it is terrifying to me lol. Sometimes it takes me 10 years just to work my way up to trying something. I use the guideline, do I really see myself using this, and I have actually moved things along after as little as 3 months if I couldn't see it. No crafting rules for me, just guidelines.

The two sticks on the right are handles for the brush heads. The black rectangle at the top is a ink grinder/mixer, put in a little water then rub the ink stick (black stick next to brush handles) in the circle.

I probably had way too much delight in the miniature water pot and ladle (the pot is a little bigger than a quarter, but hey, one must find joy where one can right? The ladle serves up smaller amounts of water than can be poured (according to the literature, and I think it's correct). : D

If you are wondering what's all this WOYWW, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a gander. Better yet, snap a picture of your workspace and join in the fun.

WOYWW 208 - Celebrating 4 years of peekiness

 

 

Not only did I not dismantle the tower of stamps, I added packages of stickers to the top of  it.  I've been sorting things around my craft table for an upcoming garage sale. This is no easy feat, because I usually waffle about each and every thing I put in the garage sale boxes (plural!). I see the bin in the back is really starting to topple. Note to self, start there fast lol. Fortunately ATCs take up little space, so I have one ready to go : D.

If you are wondering what's all this WOYWW?, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a gander. Better yet, snap a picture and share your crafty space : D.

WOYWW 206 - Up, Up & Away

It *might* be time for a clear up lol. Stamps and alcohol markers balanced on my Mona Lisa mug. I put the prototype paper bonnet on my Gypsy so it could be seen in true scale. I'm not sure why the cardstock looked so enormous last week, it was only 8.5" x 11".

The final project using Papertrey Ink cardstock (a variation of this pin) because of a challenge on my sister's blog.

This card was in response to a challenge to make something with a farm animal on it. It's a "How You Gonna Keep Them Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paris) card.

The seahorse from the Cricut Art Nouveau cartridge. All the pieces are cut from white cardstock and then painted with Distress Inks (smoosh the inkpad on a nonstick mat, spritz with water and paint from the puddle). I also used some of the hints from Nadia's With Glittering Eyes post about creating perspective.

So if you like peeking at crafty workspaces, hop over to Julia's Stamping Ground. And if you have a crafty workspace you want to share, snap a picture and join in the fun : D.

Seahorse Card with Perspective

A group of very talented papercrafters at the Cricut Circle put on a series of challenges. One of them was All About Perspective with a wonderful tutorial by Nadia at With Glittering Eyes. I used the Seahorse cut from the Art Nouveau cartridge. All the pieces were cut out of white cardstock and then painted with various colours of Distress Inks (smoosh the ink pad on a nonstick mat, spritz with water and paint from the puddle). I bent the seahorse in the middle vertically and added extra layers of ink to accentuate the texture of it.

I also bent the seaweed and used pop dots in the middle of the seahorse to add more dimension. I opted for a plain Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink) card base because I wanted to emphasize the seahorse.

Circleville NDS Challenges.

The Cricut Circle Circleville had a National Scrapbook Day Challenge last weekend. For Sis's On Pins Challenge, I made this paper bonnet I found at this pin. I distressed the bonnet edge with the edge of a pair of scissors. The ribbon is 1 inch (which gives a reference to the finished size). The flowers (from the Beyond Birthdays cart) are bent to give some extra dimension and secured with stickles. The cardstock is PTI Ripe Avocado.

And this is my project for the E-I-E-I-O Challenge I pulled out my box of orphaned Cricut Cuts and found the windmill (from Heirloom?), the cow (from one of the Imagine carts) and the balloon from George(?). Jenny's challenge was to use a farm animal and the song "How you going to keep them down on the farm (after they've seen Paris) kept coming to mind. This is the result : D. The cardstock is PTI and so is the twine.

Today I'm working on a cardstock bonnet I found on Pinterest : D. The paper prototype is assembled. Only the directions call for it to be covered with fabric, and that would require finding appropriate fabric, which would add hours to the task. So I drew an additional bit to the pattern so the back can be easily attached.

I've also been doing a bit of gardening, the purple carrots have germinated. The hamster and guinea pig are loving all the radish seedlings I'm thinning. And if I can find other amusement for the squirrels the rest of the peas and edmame seedling will stay in the ground instead of being flung about while the squirrels dig and roll in the pots. Another scrappable moment lol.

If you want to see more workdesks all over the world, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a gander. Better yet, snap a picture of your own and join in the fun : D.

WOYWW 204 - portable workspace

Except for the April Papertrey Ink Blog Hop, I haven't even sat down at my desk until this morning. So today I'm showing you my "purse projects". It's a plastic pencil case I bought at the dollar store about 10 years ago to hold my portable projects.

Basically it's for some spindles and my long-term (about 15 years lol) handspun embroidery name tag. The paper towel roll (aka kitchen roll) holds some silk at the far end and it's either a wool-rayon or wool-silk blend on the middle and left. It usually winds up holding my needle threader too. The plastic bag hold more handspun embroidery thread. This is also where I stash little bits of things I find during my outings. The lastest is a nice paper doily that was too pretty to put a drink on lol.

The spindle in the middle is a Bosworth "Moosie" spindle made out of moose antler (Bosworth spindles are my favorite professionally made spindles btw) which I'm currently using to spin unbleached flax.  The snowman and the beaded spindles are ones I assembled from toy wooden wheels and decorated. The snowman is being used for some Churro and the beaded spindle (a semi-irregular peyote stitch using three types of seed beads) is my go-to spindle for silk (in this case a dyed silk "cap", not a cap for wearing just a name for a type of silk preparation for spinning).

My name tag sampler using a variety of handspun threads. The dark brown is a natural brown corriedale wool, the bottom blue is a blue wool plied with an undyed silk. On the needle is the wool-rayon(silk?) blend. I started it about 15 years ago, but kept misplacing it.. So when I found it this year, it's become my mission to complete it, and it's almost done! It didn't help that over the course of those 15 years my eyesight has become UN 20/20 and the stitch count is about 18 stitches per inch lol.

In a new level of scrappiness, I discovered that I could tie those little trimmings with twine to make an embellishment lol. This is the detail from my April Papertrey Ink Blog Hop card. I started working before coffee had fully kicked in, and stamped with the back of the stamp, and I decided I liked it.

Head over to Julia's Stamping Ground for more WOYWW fun.