Wednesday 30 April 2014

WOYWW 256

A very good morning to everyone ..it's that day of the week that we get to have good snoop around crafty workspaces round the world which means it must be Wednesday and time for WOYWW go check out the Stamping Ground to take part;the exceptional host Julia will make you welcome...its quite simple really post a photo of your desk/work area and tell us all about it.
I missed last week but still manage to have a snoop at my favourite sites...I'm nosey so can't stop myself! This was my desk at 10:30 pm last night; I dont usually craft this late and normally stop by 9pm to watch TV with hubby...It's our time to relax and catch up for few hours before bed and work next day...but I couldn't stop myself...next week I'm starting an online water colouring course thanks to a very dear and kind friend who gifted it to me...I am really looking forward to it as you can access site/lessons indefinitely so even if you don't mange each lesson in real time you can go at your own pace...ideal for me.They have posted a few pre course exercises this week one of which is to do a swatch of your paints...hence the reason the abandoned card I was working on has been pushed aside temporarily to make way fro my paints and bits. 

watercolour paint swatches 

This was my third attempt due to my OCD  the first one went well until the last line when for some reason the swatches seem to have grown substantially from the other two lines!...and I realised I had some duplicate paints...so that was no good although... I have kept it. The second I decided to use a ruler and pencil to mark squares the first row was just perfect...too perfect...so on the second line I tried without the marker lines disaster!...it was so different from the line above...it just did not work and I also discovered I couldn't rub out the pencil marks !...so it was third time lucky and it worked...whoopeeee!...as I still had a big blank piece of card left I did a second swatch with the colours watered down...I was determined to finish it hence the time. Despite the rather wonky lines I can live with this one...I cant go on a straight line it s the same when I write on unlined paper it starts off good then goes the wrong way!...but it not a test in perfection and will be good for me as that's one my problems...so hopefully by the end of it I will have developed some skills and relax about imperfection...and most importantly enjoy it.

the arty angle shot :-)

I hope you have had a good week and have lots to share...I will be visiting after work(early start again).Also I nearly forgot...Sorry Julia ;-)...I know its not short and sweet...I have made 5 ATC's for the WOYWW 5th Anniversary swap and still have two left to swap if anyone is interested either drop me an email or comment below.I hope you have wonderful week ahead...big crafty hugs Andrea X  


Sunday 27 April 2014

Cute Easter Bunny and Chicks

An early post today as I've a very busy day ahead with housework ,ironing and food shopping.We had a lazy day at home yesterday and I was very naughty...I  didn't even get dressed and after my shower spent the day in my pyjamas...much to hubby's dismay he wasn't impressed!..I haven't done that in many many years
I got some crafting time too as I haven't been getting creative in the craft room since before Easter!...nothing is completed to show you today from yesterdays activities although I do still have several Easter cards that I didn't post at the time...so today's card was hubby's Easter card and I'm pleased with how it turned out...I think it was my favourite this year.It's not very manly but it was a nice card to make and I like the finished result.

Happy Easter bunny and chicks


Close up Embellishments and Stamp

I like the soft mutes colours as is not my usual palette; I've used a lot of my old stash here, but sometimes old is best...the dies where one of the first set I ever got and the ribbon and lace I've had for ages' the papers I have had since I started crafting; I know they where magazines freebies but I'm sorry I'm not sure what they are.I also used the border die and the waste to create the shaped edges on the card base I like the effect...and I think it ties in nicely with the broken egg shells of the cute stamp.I decorated the inside with the same floral paper so that the ric rac design edge would stand out.  

I used the following products
Square white linen effect base card
Pale blue ,cream and white card stock-layering and die cuts  
LOTV stamp -Bunny with chicks coloured promarkers and copics
         delicate Asters,Leaves 
         vintage label 2- for sentiment
         border and edge- left over used on other side/edge card 
         butterflies 
from stash 
lace and pale blue ribbon
blue pearls
happy Easter stamp(magazine freebie)
pale blue/ cream floral paper and gingham paper- both where magazine freebies  
gold pen- faux stitching

Card Edge 

I hope you have had an enjoyable weekend and have a good day today whatever you get up to.I hope to be back again soon,as my track record of late hasn't been very good. Thank you for visiting it is very much appreciated.Crafty hugs Andrea x 

I would like to take part in teh following challenges:- 

Thursday 17 April 2014

Easter Card and Box Making!

Card and box in background 

This evenings post is the finished Easter card and box that I have been working on all week the remnants of which where on yesterdays post. Me and maths unfortunately don't work well together hence my dislike of box making...and why I left this till last!...I have to date not ever got it right first time and have always had to remake at least half the box if not the entire one at least twice!...I like decorating them; just not making them!...I am considering getting the husband involved and sub contracting the box making to him...for a nominal fee of course...a cup of tea I was thinking!...and maybe I will stretch to a chocolate biscuit too...it might just work. will try that next time I need one and keep you posted if it works :-).This card is the most elaborate and largest I made; most of the cards I make are square and its only occasionally I will do one this large...they always seem quite daunting and a very big space to decorate. the others are more simple and smaller...I went to town on the die cuts an embellishments it is for dear family friend and I'm hopeful she will like it .

Happy Easter to you
I used the following
A4 pearlescent taupe card - card base 
various pinks and  cream  cardstock die cuts and layering 
spotty and floral patterned papers- magazine freebies
cream die cut bird ,
cream die cut label - layered and stamped Happy Easter
cream die cut flourish ,green swirl leaves(vellum)  
die cut border-( pink vellum )
die cut butterflies ( green vellum) 
stamped bunny( quick cards made easy  issue 111) - coloured Copics and Promarkers
From Stash 
cream and pink doilies 
various mulberry flowers 
cream and pink satin ribbons
pink velvet ribbon
cream crochet lace
pearls,buttons, pink cotton 
Close up Bunny 

I hope you have a lovely Easter weekend with family and friends or doing as you wish/plan, the weather as usual isn't looking great here in the UK but that's the norm for a bank holiday!...so not a surprise. Have a lovely time and enjoy the chocolate ( I am hoping too) crafty hug Andrea x 

I would like to take part in the following challenges-

Wednesday 16 April 2014

WOYWW 254

A very good morning to everyone and a happy WOYWW as its Wednesday...my favourite day of the week that I hate to miss due to my nosiness inquisitive nature;-)!...Sorry If I  didn't get to visit you last week as I haven't been around due to work commitments that have had to take priority unfortunately.What spare time I have had I've been busy working on my WOYWW Anniversary ATC's and Easter cards. I have completed 3 ATC's to date; therefore smashing last years record of 1 by 200%...impressive or what!All my Easter cards are finished and on there way to recipients(sorry some may be late...time has as always went so quickly,I had weeks and weeks to go and then in the blink of an eye there was only a few postage days left...eeek!)


The -I tried to make it look interesting shot !

I had better get to the reason for today's post before Julia the wonderful host sends me to the naughty step!...What's on my work desk?...I've hidden the ATC's so no peeking!There is not much happening...this was my desk at 10pm last night...only the remnants of my box making efforts for one of my Easter cards that need to be tidied away(card and box post to follow)I have been very fortunate this Easter as only had 1 box to make; the remainder have went nicely into envelopes...I find box making frustrating however careful I think I have been I always seem to get the measurements wrong and need several attempts to get it right...this week was no exception and I had to make 2 lids...as you can see I still have the one that didn't fit,I was going to keep it but what's the chances of re-using a box lid again!...mmm...I dont think so! So what creative projects have you been up to?..I hope to find out for myself soon, I'll be back after work later today...I hope you have a good day ahead,thanks for dropping by...crafty hugs Andrea X  

Friday 4 April 2014

Watercolour Card

Hi I have another Easter card to add to my growing collection...I'm well ahead of my plan.This was my first attempt at colouring stamps with watercolours paints a few weeks ago.I have had the paints for a few years when I first tried water colour painting, I obviously didn't learn much at the time or certainly don't remember ! I really struggled with how to get the pretty light watercolour wash effect that I've seen on so many of my favourite cards and have since had lots of very helpful suggestions and ideas which I am very grateful for; and plan to put them into practice when I try again...so a very big thank you again to everyone.I very soon realised I didn't know how too achieve the effect I wanted...the finished result is quite bold.I've went bright
and bold with my papers and card choices in keeping with the strong colours...I like the combination of the blue and orange with the craft card 

Easter wishes -sorry dodgy light = poor photo!

close up 



pretty die cut edges 

I used the following
Square craft card base
blue,orange,craft and white cardstock  for layering and die cuts
blue spotty paper
Wee stamp-love you bunches (was part of magazine freebie set) -coloured watercolour paints-die cut and layered onto blue card 
swirl corners created  cutting a  radiant rectangles die 
from stash
orange grossgrain ribbon 
blue satin ribbon 
white crochet lace ribbon
sentiment  taken from  magazine freebie papers an d layered  orange card
faux stitching -white gel pen
button 
small orange heart brad
blue spotty flower brad
tiny punched heart 

Well I'm off now to do a little card making before hubby drags me away to watch TV with him.I am working this weekend but only in the mornings;so other than food shopping I plan to be staying at home and hopefully a bit more crafting. I hope you have a good weekend whether at home or away... thanks so much for your visit it is very much appreciated ...Crafty hugs Andrea X

I would like to take part in the following challenges-




Wednesday 2 April 2014

WOYWW 252

A very good morning and happy WOYWW  to all...my favourite day of the week.  So what do I have to share this week ?...any master pieces in the making...nope... not quite we do have an unfinished card surrounded by lots of bits...as usual I am being indecisive and not much else.I have taken a break from the watercolour /distress marker painting ...I do have loads of great helpful suggestions though; a big thank you to everyone who shared their ideas and  tips it is very very much appreciated and when I am  ready to try again I will  keep you posted on my success.
current project 


long shot 


pretty little drawers 

I hope you like my new cute floral drawers ...I couldn't resist them at such a bargain..reduced to £1.00 each unfortunately there was only two left and a small box that now holds my colour mist sprays, the drawers are perfect to store all of my ink pads...although if I get any more I will need to find something else to put them in!... it does mean though that bit by bit I am slowly running out of desk space...I may need to get another desk to work from at this rate...there is also some great  new Gorjuss stamps I bought 2 new sets (4 in total) at a bargain price and looking forward to having a play with them next...I've tried some of the little stamps and they stamp beautifully...so watch out lots of dark moody colour to come (maybe)how is your creative space?...can we get to see it ...go to the Stamping Ground to share it with us and if not check out the fab desks and workspaces that have ...off there myself now before work. have a great day and week crafty hugs Andrea X