WOYWW 435

  Hi, and a very happy Wednesday to you, it's  been quite some time since I've posted although I have still been around and occasionally commenting on my favourite sites. Life, as usual, gets in the way and I can't keep everything on the go...I won't entertain bore you with any details. I'm hoping this time to get into a better routine and blog more often, as I do enjoy it. I'm working today so won't be back till later to visit and it may take me a few days to get around everyone.Since going part time I usually work midweek, although this varies week to week 

A6 card completed. sorry about my craft knife in

photo -very poor editing! 

6x6 card all done just needs glueing into place 

   I have begun making my Christmas cards, at last, usually, it's around July- August time! I have made two so far, a good start. I am very fortunate to have been bought a Brother ScanNCut from hubby as a very early birthday present, I've now had a couple of opportunities to use it and even managed to upload and rescale a shaped card file from internet which I posted on facebook/Instagram on Monday....it's going to be an exciting and long learning curve. My daughter gave me her old phone and I'm just beginning to get to grips with using App's it's only taken me a year !!. 

desk yesterday afternoon

Back to why I am here, it's Wednesday of course and as ever the wonderful Julia is hosting the ever so popular and friendly Whats on Your Workdesk Wednesday blog hop, which for me is ace as it's my way of getting in touch with people and in motivating me to blog. I see the WOYWW crop has just taken place and having had a snoop around blog land LLJ has posted loads of pics, it looks like it was a great day and fun for all who attended.... one day I will get there. 

above is my desk yesterday afternoon and the two Christmas cards I've made. it was a lovely sunny day yesterday and great for crafting. I coloured the stamped images on Sunday and got all my bits and pieces together, for reasons unknown I'm liking tartan at the minute and had several papers to choose from, both of those used where magazine freebies. My desk is not too untidy  The pile of the card to the left is a result of my die cutting and using the ScanNCut... it's the "to do "pile (hopefully I will sort it out tonight) sorry I've gone on a bit....I hope you've had a good week so far and I'm looking forward to catching up and being back. Best wishes and big crafty hugs  Andrea  xx

WOYWW 420

A very good morning to you. I hope life finds you well and enjoying the lovely weather we are having....I have never known it so hot !!!

WOYWW  has once again arrived thanks to Julia at The Stamping  Ground... hop by and nosey at the kaleidoscope of delights which is, of course, the incredible desks of fellow crafters. This week seems to have come around very very abruptly, alas there is not much to show on my desk... actually nothing!.... its empty, desolate of any craftiness whatsoever waiting  for some free time and creativity from my good self; I am sure others will have much more inspirational spaces for you to delve into.

The combination of very hot weather meaning spending time outdoors and generally being very busy has kept me away.  I had not posted any of the ATC's from the big WOYWW 8th  Anniversary swap and I thought it was about time I shared my work before the event comes around again..my posting hasn't been exactly what you might call regular!

Warning a bit photo heavy...for each ATC I also made a little wallet and a colour co-ordinated card.... all a bit different in design and style, on several  I made use of my recent purchase of Tonic ATC dies, which I really enjoy mixing and matching. 

 

I hope you are having a great week wherever you are and whatever you're up to. I will be back to visit after work lo see what other WOYWWers  have been creating,something to look forward too and maybe some inspiration
Big crafty hugs until then Andrea XX

WOYWW 419 EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE

A very happy and welcoming Wednesday to everyone.Time to nosey around the WOYWWer's desks thanks to Julia at The Stamping Ground ...link up and let us share in your crafty goodness.

I have exciting news and a card. My daughter announced last week that she and her partner got engaged💍 They have been together 9 years and I've watched them grow into kind, considerate and wonderful adults. No confirmed date as yet. I'm very happy for them both and wish them a happy healthy and long loving life together 💕

Making a card was difficult so I decided to go digital using a photo of them with a few crafty additions in the matting and the brads. I tried to keep it simple and sort of managed that!..

Below is my rather messy desk and a card finished for a friend. ATC's  I've sent I  will post next week ... Sorry to Chris and Shaz for their very very late arrivals. Chris sent a  beautiful ATC and selection of wonderful goodies.  A great assortment...they will be such fun to use, I will keep you posted when I do.

I am working today but will be back this evening to catch up with desks. I hope you have a great week .thanks for visiting .crafty hugs Andrea x  

WOYWW 418

It's a very happy Wednesday...and can only mean it's WOYWW over at The Stamping Ground. Julia our fabulous host has just celebrated eight glorious years (WOYWW 416) of allowing us to get a sneaky peek at each other's desks. I missed last weeks...I seem to spend all my time trying to catch up with everyone...apologies if haven't reached you yet. 

The postman delivered me some beautiful ATC's and cards below from in order from top row Angela, Claire, Julia, Shaz and Jan....aren't they all just stunning and so individual, just like their personalities ...I just love them, thank you ever so much. Hopefully, everyone will have received theirs by now... as I was a little late in posting them, oops!   

Beautiful ATCs received 

There isn't much to show for the last two weeks, messing about with some new bits and bobs below I've several birthday cards to make in the coming few months, one being my sisters fabulous 50. ...eek that means I'm next in the family!! I haven't any idea as yet what to do, planning now. Pinterest and Blogger being my sources of inspiration...although my brain is overloaded a bit....I've also some personal issues at work playing on my mind.😔....hopefully, I can sort it out. 

bits 'n' bobs 

It's been great taking part in the 8th Anniversary WOYWW and I will share them next week as some went abroad and they might not have received them yet. 

Have a great week and weekend ahead. I've an appointment to attend to this morning. but will be back again later today.Crafty hugs and thank you for visiting will be back soon.   Andrea XX 

WOYWW 416 - 8TH ANNIVERSARY SWAP

The big day has arrived. Sending a very big happy 8th WOYWW anniversary greeting to Julia at The Stamping Ground. I've been an on and off visitor over 5 years and have had long periods of time when I haven't blogged. WOYWW has always been my first post when I get back in touch and gives me a goal to aim for each week, it's where I have met new friends, and many many inspirational and talented crafters. A massive thank you to Julia for making it all happen each week over the last  8 years..impressive. ..Congratulations

Unfortunately, I won't be able to visit today as I'm on holiday this week in a forest with no internet /phone connection ..arghhhhh....I still had to take part.... So my plan is to schedule the post and asking my daughter to do mister linky for me on the big day,...I couldn't miss it.It does mean I won't get to visit anyone until I'm back at the weekend unfortunately and will post ATCS after the bank holiday.I've attached some little peeks at what's on offer

back of ATC wallets -tease I know!

So this was my desk last weekend a hive of activity in preparation fo the big day. I've made 6 ATCs, a couple similar but all different .I've made little wallets for the ATC's and cards...I hadn't planned to make the cards, this was a last minute decision..it would have felt wrong not to ... so a very busy desk.

the other side of the desk 

wallets side view- tee hee

 I have 4 left to swap if you're interested, let me know in the comments below and I will get in touch when I get back and get them posted.Have a great day and will get around as many as I can when I'm back ...I can't wait. A massive anniversary WOYWW hug to everyone. Andrea xxx 

sneaky peek card in the making 

WOYWW 415

Wow, I have now posted two weeks in a row I'm on a roll LOL.Today is another opportunity to check out the fabulous desk of fellow crafters thanks to the queen of hosts Julia at The Stamping Ground. I'm working today so have scheduled this and will be back later to catch up with everyone. My desk last night was a mass of die cuts. I bought the new Tonic ATC's dies and a few other dies and stamps recently and was having a play with my stash of scraps the last few days, I went a bit OTT but had some fun.

die cut galore

In the background and below is one of 3 different  ATC I am working on; not for any particular reason other than I liked the bright colours tropical colours. For this one I used several bits and pieces including a Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch some butterfly printables cut out that were free from a site called The Lilac Garden ....they are stunning colours. I coloured the backgrounds using Crafters Companion aqua markers then sprayed with a Calico Mr Heuy shine  for some glimmer and  edged with some distress ink, I think I used  Dried Marigold and Abandoned Coral 

Brightly coloured ATC 

Crafty stash 

That's been me this past week playing with my new bits and bobs and finishing off some little projects on the go...there is no new cards this week.I do hope you've had a lot of crafty time to yourself or with others and I look forward to dropping in for a visit later. Thank you so much for stopping to have a look and a very happy WOYWWW. Crafty hugs Andrea X

WOYWW 414

Goodness! the last time I linked up to Julia's, the queen of desker's and hostess of WOYWW was no 367, that's over 10 months ago ... It is a very happy Wednesday to all you WOYWWER's and I hope you are having a good week so far? I've got some appointments today and I hopefully will catch up with everyone(as many as I can) later.

This was the craft room last night I was working yesterday and managed to have some time in the evening to do some card making. I've been doing ATC'S for a swap I joined, the theme was Springtime in Paris. I can't share yet as swap not finished....sorry:-(

work in progress

As you can see there is a lot of bits and bobs around, the card I'm working on is the top pic with cute little bluebirds, it's from a Making Cards magazine I have every edition, it's a great magazine...and that's a lot of toppers and papers collected.

Below is the table to the left of my main work area with some stamped images I've coloured and a pile of papers. I'm always in need of simple thank you cards etc, and usually don't have any prepared... so I've changed that, I'm waiting to decide what to do next..not sure what to do. 

I usually spend ages choosing papers etc.I t takes me longer choosing what I might use than it does making a card !!

Thank you for popping in and I hope to be back again soon with the next batch of finished cards and some ATC'S.Happy crafting hugs Andrea x 

Catching up

I'm back again and it's not been 6 months this time..sucess..😊I have been doing some blog hopping and generally getting into a routine of sorts.I'm making a start on some Easter cards having just finished some more ATC's for a swap. I try to do some crafting at least twice a week and so far so good. I have also told myself no more crafty stash purchases.I have so much that I haven't used yet!..Wonder how long that will last :-)

Here are some of the ATC's I made recently for a butterfly themed swap. The floral cards were for hubby's colleagues, two people were leaving at the same time so I made similar cards in blue and pink using free Altenew stamps that came with a Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine.It is my first attempt at layering...went ok I think?

 same but different 

The photo quality isn't great..sorry. I can't get to grips with editing on this laptop!. the cards were more pastel shades in real life, they seem quite harsh and bright here. I went for gold text embossing on one and silver the other onto white vellum, with a co-ordinating coloured vellum strip underneath, my favourite is the blue card.

butterfly ATC's swap 

I went a bit OTT with the various butterflies I used and lots of sparkle. I do enjoy making ATC's. I think it's because they are small and anything goes really. There is tissue paper, ink, paint, die cuts, wood chip shapes, brads, gems a bit of everything...great fun to make.

Thanks for visiting and hopefully I will be back soon. I am slowly catching up with everyone and enjoying being back, its been great catching up with what everyone has been up too. Have a good weekend ahead and take care, crafty hugs Andrea x 

Broken Promises

Once again I did not manage to post weekly!..not even monthly!.its been well over 6 months!..I just don't seem to have had the time or made the time?.life is busy and lots going on with some big changes on the way. I started working part time as of 3 weeks ago. I haven't got a routine as yet or fully adjusted to having an extra 2 days a week although I'm sure I will:-)The plan, for now, is to post when I can and not make promises that I can't keep.

I have made a quite a few cards since I last posted as you can imagine. Including finishing the card for my sister's birthday in August!!(sneaky peak in my last post way back in June last year!),my sister in laws birthday, a baby card for twins (I have only ever made one baby card before.)and quite a few others, including HB's birthday,our Wedding Anniversary,Christmas cards! it certainly has been a while.

I'm also in a phase of wanting to try something different; some mixed media and I plan to start some art journaling, I've started small with ATC's.I've made some random ones and some sets of four(three and one for the host) for a few ATC Swaps that I've taken part in recently. I have really enjoyed making these.I have received some amazing mini works of art back as a result.will post some soon when I've finally uploaded the photos from my camera!

Today I've posted a card made some time ago for an elderly friend of ours.I used Heartfelt Creations Enchanted Mums paper pad and die set. I went a bit gem crazy, she often buys me crafty stash many of them I've used on the card including the peel offs, gems and the pretty pearl beads.I do love dragonflies and had a great time decorating them.   

I have finally made it and wrote a post, hopefully, this the start of more regular updates. I've got lots to share and I am looking forward to getting back in touch with fellow bloggers.Thanks for visiting, I hope you are having a good week and I hope to post again soon.crafty hugs Andrea x