WOYWW221

Good morning and a very happy WOYWW to everyone, the weekly blog hop where over 100 people worldwide every week get to share our craft rooms-desks-workspaces-floors-dining tables-whatever space we use to get creative in. Go check out the fabulous host Julia at the Stamping Ground to take part...you'll get hooked. 

Back from holiday and have had a nice relaxing long weekend too,I only had to work few hours early on Monday morning...we wont say too much about yesterday as the first full day back at work is never good in my experience...so lets leave it there!I even made made good use of the one wet day we had whilst away last week and got loads of stamps coloured for christmas cards...which has given me a kick start into action and now as you can see its christmas in full production.Sorry... I know to some this is so wrong and I shouldn't be doing anything Christmas related when summer isn't finished yet... but it is nearly September and in my defence some people stared in July!

Christmas colouring production line 

long view with -pile of favourite christmas papers bottom right

I made two complete cards over the weekend and dug out all my Christmas stash... had a good rummage and did a load more stamping on Monday. Now the plan is to do get some more colouring completed then hopefully make some cards at the weekend. I'm not working late any day this week so should be able to squeeze a few hours in before the weekend...I hope your are getting your creative fix and have had a good week so far. Off now to have a very quick nosey look around some desks before work.will be back later today  though for  a good look; have a fab week and thanks for dropping in...it is very much appreciated. Hugs...Andrea x 

Say it With Flowers

Its been a great crafty weekend and christmas card production is in full swing in the craft room,but Iv'e so many cards  that I haven't yet shown; I'm saving the christmas cards I made for another post ...today's is a CAS card using a fab new stamp I got recently in a bundle from eBay sorry; not sure with make it is as there was no packaging with it. I made it to say Hi to a friend who was having a bit of a difficult time I like the bright sunny colours.

I have a bit of a button obsession and some would even say that I love buttons...I have quite a collection of them...you can never have too many or enough!...the yellow spotty one is from the The Ribbons Girls and is a favourite.  

A happy Hello

close up floral stamp

I'm sure the card  just meets the CAS brief as I do find less is more a bit difficult to apply! Off to work soon so trying to keep it brief.I hope you have a bright and cheerful week and thanks for visiting it is appreciated ...Hugs Andrea x 

Products used

Square textured white base cad

Floral stamp-coloured Promarkers and Copics

Yellow gingham ribbon

Spotty and plain buttons

sentiment stamp -Hero Arts 

Challenges I would like to take part in-

Clean and Simple Challenge #15 Floral Fantasy
Challenges 4 Everybody-Challenge#27- Anything Goes 

Card Mania Challenges-Challenge CMC#28-Ribbon

Created With Love Challenge CWLC# 55-Anything Goes 
Make it Monday challenge MIM #155-Always Anything Goes 
Tammy's Scrappin Corner-Challenge#77 Anything Goes 
Crafty Ribbon Challenge - Challenge #58 Anything Goes With Ribbon
Happy Campers Craft Collective -Challenge #21-Use a Stamp

Blooming Birthday Girl

Good morning and its good to be home...we had a fab time away and are back rested and relaxed. The wet weather yesterday made for a perfect stay at home day so I finished unpacking and had time to do some card making...I've at last started on my christmas cards I've being saying this for at least the last 3 weeks if not longer and finally I've gotten them underway...no finished cards as yet but lots of stamping die cutting with my new stamps which I have been itching to use. Today is the more mundane tasks of housework,ironing and food shopping before going back to work next week. I'm working tomorrow but only in the morning which is great way to ease yourself back into things and makes for a short week..great!

Birthday wishes 

Having bought the Molly Bloom project kit when it hit the shelf's I couldn't wait to use it,I had bought last years christmas kit and I'm delighted to say yet again its fab. I finished this Molly Bloom card a few weeks ago...I've got a quite a few cards now that as yet I've not posted...there's been some sneaky peaks and progress updates on my WOYWW posts but many have not made it this far yet... will catch up eventually! I do love these stamps and the project kit is always good value for money,it has so many inspirational ideas and fab projects to do.

Close up Molly

My sisters birthday is at the end of the month; so I  think its going to be making its way to her as its a bright and cheerful card...just need to check which other cards I still have first...just to make sure its definitely the right one !

Cupcakes with glossy accents !

I struggled a bit with cutting out the finer details of the various bits and bent her hand... you can see the crease and the cherries have got to be the smallest things I've ever cut out!...the stalks where tiny and very difficult...so don't look too close!although I do like the glossy accents on them ...how do people manage to cut out such tiny elements so perfectly...thank goodness for die cutting I say!...I created the die cut circle background using the small flower stamps and heart from the set and coloured them with prisma pencils as wanted the colours to be more vibrant on the craft card...don't think they would have been with alcohol markers?...but I didn't try so might be totally wrong about that.

I didn't expect such a long post!...sorry.I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and the bank holiday, lets hope the wet weather doesn't get in the way to much!...thank you for visiting...Hugs Andrea X

I used the following products-

Square base card-craft card 

floral and yellow gingham paper-from kit -pink card layering   

Girl stamp - Molly bloom birthday parade kit coloured Copics and Promarkers  

Flower heart stamps - eyelet circle- kit as above - coloured Prisma pencils

Cup cake and cherry stamps- coloured Copics and Promarkers and glossy accents to cherries 

Buttons

Lace border die- (beneath ribbon )-pink card

From stash

Happy birthday (magazine freebie)stamped on craft card 

Just for you sentiment-magazine freebie

Time for cake stamp-magazine freebie

Pink bakers twine,heart charm.

Faux stitching

I would like to take part in the following challenges-

2 Sisters Challenge#158-Square Card

Colour Me Creative CMC  August Challenge#75 - Anything Goes- Entry 2 

Kraftyhands August Challenge -Anything Goes 

Alphabet Challenge- N is for  Newest Stamp or Decoupage- I used new stamp 

Card Crafters Circle- Challenge#89-Bright Colours

Chocolate Coffee Cards -Challenge#46 Sweet Treats

Crafty Catz Challenge #195-Real or Faux Stitching with Optional  Material

Creative Fingers Challenge #week 4 Anything Goes 

Kitty Bee Designs Challenge-Aloha Friday Challenge#6-Birthday

Patties Creations challenge #74-Anything Goes

WOYWW 220

Morning and a very happy WOYWW to everyone doesn't the week come around quick...what's WOYWW?...go check out the Stamping Ground to take part in the weekly worldwide blog hop of artistic and crafty spaces. Julia the host will only be to pleased to see you.

'craft' desk

My 'desk' is a bit different today and not quite as it usually is... as you can see it's a make shift desk on the corner of the  dining room table taken last night.We are on holiday for the week at a stunning boathouse near Berwick...its on the lakeside in the grounds of a large grade 2 listed manor house/hall and has 300 acres to explore...we've explored about 2!...although HB has been out on the lake on a rowing boat...I watched form the deck! It is so peaceful and quite and just a stunning spot...our nearest neighbours are a large heron who patrols the lake and some ducks! 

lake this morning just after 6am 

The weather has been good so no need to make any use of said desk as yet. This morning its raining and the weathers expected to stay this way the next few days... not that that will spoil our holiday at all. We have planned to go to the coast today...can see us being back early...and maybe making use of my desk...as you can see I travelled light marker pens and some stamps/card...so if I get the opportunity I can have a crafty fix and if not that's OK too...no pressure to do anything in particular; other than to have a relaxing time. I'm sure your desk has a bit more going on. 

Yesterday we had a fab day out at Alnwick Castle and Gardens and looking forward to some more exploring today once HB is up and awake...in about 3 hours time... gives me plenty of time to have a good snoop around the other desks this week...luxury indeed !.

Well despite no desk or work to show I've waffled on again...have fab day and wonderful week and thanks for visiting its much appreciated...hugs...Andrea X

Lilac and Cream Vintage Florals

I'm trying to catch up with posts as have neglected blogger in recent months; so hopefully I will squeeze in two posts today... if all goes to plan! I'm now officially on for a week and we are spending a few days away near Berwick. HB found this wonderful re-built Victorian boathouse after watching a television programme...so off we go on Monday, it's a part of the world we've not yet explored and we are really looking forward to it...we are planning lots of R+R and some sightseeing ...I dont even mind if it rains every day; we have had a pretty good summer and as a native Scot I'm not a sun lover by any means so will enjoy myself whatever the weather brings!We don't usually have 2 holiday in the summer so this is a bonus indeed.

Lovely in lilac 

This is one of several cards which I finished  a few weeks ago and still waiting to be posted...I'm still working on the wedding card for next week...so far have two finished and another two I'm working on,which means I will be spoiled for choice of what one to use !

Close up Tilda

                                                                                    

                                                             

I'm really pleased with this card I think its one of my best yet I still need practice with blending the edges with ink as its a bit patchy but overall I like the design and the colours I used so a success...it's not earmarked for anyone as yet but I'm sure it will make it to someone eventually...and as I've attached the sentiment with a peg its easy to change into whatever I need . 

lots of flowers 

I do love colouring Tilda's and this one I wanted to keep quite light which I didn't find easy... it's not the exact colours I wanted but as its all I had in this colour range I'm relatively happy.Putting the pearls around the frame was bit tricky...next time I'm going for ready to stick pearls!.. although it was worth it for the result and to finish it off you cant beat some pretty flowers. As usual the papers are magazine freebies 90% of my paper stash is I've actually only bought a handful of 6x6 and 12x12 pads since I started card making and have hardly used them some I haven't used at all yet!

another close up 

I like vintage look ive created,the papers led me in this direction.The die cuts behind the flowers are from my new Christmas dies which I haven't used as yet.. it makes a  pretty flourish and works with the vintage look I think found some cute die cut corners in my stash which I haven't' a clue where they came from ...which is  a shame as I  only have one set of these ones let and one much smaller set...they are made out of a very thin balsa wood; I think and I've lightly coloured them using pale pink chalks...not that you can see it !
Time for some ironing and packing and if time permits a bit of card making later.Thanks for visiting and hope you have a great week ahead hugs ...Andrea X 

I used the following:-

6x6 base card 

purple cream card - die cuts and layering

Tilda-with cherry basket coloured using copics and promarkers 

die cut scalloped oval inked using 

papers

die cut flourishes ,butterflies 

From stash:-

mulberry paper flowers and roses

fabric flowers 

lilac organza ribbon

doily 

cream lace

pearls 

die cut floral heart corners 

pearl brad (on bow)
peg, for you sentiment 

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

Colour Me Creative Challenge #75 Anything Goes
Crafty Calendar Challenge-August -Anything Goes 
Creative Corner Challenge -Anything Goes
Inspire Me Friday's Challenge#116 -Anything Goes
Sami Stamps Challenge #4- Anything Goes 
Jo's Scrap Shack -FFC#13-Anything Goes
Sister Act Card Challenge#20-Anything Goes 
Stempelsonne  Challenge#95- Anything Goes 
Just for Fun Challenge #1-Anything Goes 
Ladybug Crafts August Challenge-Something Floral

WOYWW 219

Good morning and a Happy What's on your Workdesk Wednesday wishes to everyone taking part in this weeks WOYWW... Julia's fab weekly blog hop...bursting with the creativity of crafty folk around the globe sharing their work desks.We get to share their trials and tribulations,success and failures,the good,the not so good and all points in between! its fab,its addictive so go check it out at the Stamping Ground  

Not a lot of activity in the craft room this week...work keeps getting in the way! I did finish the Molly Bloom card that I was working on last week(not yet posted) and it was to be the start of christmas card making but I didn't quite get there yet...

Apologies for the poor  quality photo taken very quickly a few minutes ago as I forgot to take them last night!...note the cold cup of coffee; there from I think Monday or may have been the day before...I'm always doing that! 
I have one of hubbies work colleagues wedding to go to next weekend which I forgot all about and decided I would make the card...I've almost finished 2 cards so far but not that keen on either of them...they aren't quite right...but I'm not sure why or what it is they need to make them right!the one with the red hearts is finished and I'm working on the layout of the other still...nothing is yet attached!...I dont have many wedding themed stamps(1 sentiment stamp to be exact...does that sound like a feeble excuse or what!)so I'm a bit limited. I stamped, embossed and die cut the stamp several times and I still have a few more to do before I need to decide which is my favourite one or run out of time!...whichever comes first. 

I hope you are having a good week whatever your up to and that you get to have some creative time...so that I  can have a good nosey look around .I hope you have a great week and thanks again for visiting ...hugs Andrea X  

WOYWW 218

Morning all I cant believe its Wednesday already this is a quick post as I need to get ready and off to work already running late!, I will hopefully be home early today and will be visiting and catch up with this weeks WOYWWers...what's that?... Its the wonderful and talented host Julia's weekly world blog hop over at the Stamping Ground; where everyone gets to share what's on their workdesk. Its addictive,fun,educational and inspirational and like me if your nosey a great way to see other peoples work spaces!...bliss;-)

I had last week plan to start  christmas cards using new stamps and dies I have but as yet I've still not opened them,as always I had less time than I  hoped for and was  distracted... this time it was cute Molly Bloom magazine paper kit and stamp set that my kind HB bought for me at the weekend that was the distraction !...not much progress was made as you can see as haven't had any more time since Sunday; I couldn't resist a bit of stamping and colouring when I got it home, next step... do I die cut her or cut her out and use the other circle that I stamped and coloured ?... hopefully after work today it will become a finished card!

Molly Bloom stamp-waiting to be finished!

new bits and bobs and current card in waiting 

Last weeks mess and magazine pile did get tidied away and has been replaced this week with some new goodies that I got at the weekend !Its mainly magazine freebies and some mail I have been waiting on;which much to my dismay didn't all arrive(dies and stamps did come) I haven't had a chance to have a  look at them yet so they are not getting put away until I do! 

I hope you are getting some time to enjoy your creative space whatever that may be and look forward to coming to visit you and see  what you have been up to. Happy WOYWW and thanks for visiting I will come see you after work today or in the next few of days..work permitting!

hugs Andrea X

Special Friends

Good morning, its nice to be cool for a change and not feel like im being baked. I do like sunshine although im not a sun worshipper and prefer cooler weather especially when I'm working. I'm working late today and I'm trying to get a routine of regular posts back so far so good. yesterday we popped into town for some bits and to make an opticians appointment,I've notice that I can't see small print as well as I used to and if on the PC for any length of time I end up in tears(well not quite..my eyes continually water!)which is not ideal when your at work and your mascara runs too...what a site!(when did this happen!)HB suggested I try on his reading glasses; it was like WOW... the difference was astounding and I hadn't even noticed It had deteriorated !

Special Friendship

Whilst out shopping  I couldn't resit some new crafty mags( in the end HB treated me to 3!) I got a fab Molly Bloom kit which I just had to use straight away...I've not finished  the card yet hopefully in a few days I will get it posted.So much for starting my christmas cards this weekend; that will now be later in the week ...to many temptations in my way; although I have made it my mission for this week to use my new Christmas stamps but need to finish the Molly Bloom card first of course 

Close up 

Today card is a sweet card for a special friend; as it's not for anyone particular I've attached a happy birthday sentiment with a peg so that it can be changed if needed. I do love LOTV stamps and could have them all(I say that about most things!) I've used mainly soft greens/aquas and lots of magazine freebies including the little glittered butterflies(not that you can see the glitter...sorry !),die cut flowers and the die cut flower border as the colours where a perfect match.The friends recipe sentiment is also from LOTV which I've made into a removable tag it does have a wiggly line border which wouldn't have worked with the label die shape; so I cleaned the ink off it before I stamped it. I'm happy with the overall result 

Tag removed ( note not perfect stamping !)

I used the following -

6x6 White base card

2 shades blue card stock for layering and die cuts

vellum- flower die (larger one from set used)

stripey and floral Design papers( magazine freebies)

LOTV best friends stamp-die cut square - coloured copics and promarkers

Recipe stamp onto labels 28 and smile stamp

Die/punches  used -Adorning squares frame,flourishes, butterfly,heart die,charm die,flower die and small heart punch 

From stash

lace,ribbon, pearl,flower embellishment, gem,brad,peg and bakers twine    

Well that's enough babbling on for one day! and I must get ready for work ... I hope you have fabulous week whatever your planning to do.Thanks for visiting and I will hopefully see you soon ... hugs Andrea X

Challenges I would like to take part in -

613 Avenue Create- Challenge#31-Anything Goes  

Challenges 4 Everybody- Challenge #26-Anything Goes 

Dream Valley Challenges-Challenge #62-Summer Days 

Great Impressions August Challenge - Square Card

The Ribbon Girl- August Challenge -Birthday Card

2 Sisters Challenge Blog -Challenge #155-Anything Goes 

Just for Fun Challenge Blog Challenge #1 -Anything Goes 

One Crazy Stamper- August Birthday Challenge

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge#77-Things with Wings

Crafters cafe challenge#22-Anything Goes 

Make It Monday #152-Anything Goes 

Bright Birthday Girl

Good morning and it looks like we are going to have another wonderful day outside what wonderful weather we have been enjoying(most of us).I can't recall it ever being this hot!..but I'm not complaining as I'm sure it wont last that much longer.

I'm doing an early post as have a busy day ahead and not sure if I will get another opportunity later. This is the last card made with the Saturated Canary stamps I coloured some weeks ago.This one is very bright and colourful and a colour combination I don't use often...yellow and purple is a bit bright for me usually but it seems to work... I think! 

Birthday Girl 

Close up 

I finished another card yesterday although I will save this for posting another day,I'm really pleased with how it turned out but more about that some other time. All goes well today I might even get a some time later to start another card. I'm thinking about starting Christmas cards as the new goodies I bought have arrived which are Christmas stamps and die set from the recent CHA event shows on C&C which had a fab offer...I couldn't resist when I saw the beautiful cards that they created,I'm itching to try them out!..I'm sure you will see my results soon.

Thanks for popping in; I really appreciate it and hope you have had a good weekend so far,enjoy the rest whatever your doing ... hugs

Andrea X

I used the following- 

white scalloped base card

purple, yellow and white card stock-layering and die cuts 

Ava saturated canary stamp-coloured Copics and promarkers-mounted using die cut rectangle 

Spotty ,balloon and spotty corners-Papermania 

I used the following dies- 

rose, flourish,stars,leaves and lacy edge border 

butterfly die- magazine freebie 

sentiment stamps- both from magazine freebie sets 

I used from my stash-

lilac polka dot organza ribbon,buttons,pearls and gem

I would like to take part in the  following challenges -A

Card Crafters Circle challenge#86-Dotty for Spots 

Creative Corner Challenges - Polka Dots 

Delicious Doodles Challenge #47-Anything Goes 

Patties Creations Designs Challenge#72- Entry 2-Recipe- I used buttons/ flowers and gems/pearls 

Polka Doodles challenge Week #31 Birthday Girl 

Sister Act Card Challenge #18-Anything Goes

Craftin Boutique Challenge #1 Anything Goes  

Milk  Coffee Challenge -Show us Your Colouring Skills 

Saturated Canary Challenge #49-'Set your Creativity Free'-Anything Goes 

Crafts and Me Challenge #139- Anything Goes