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 

WOYWW 367

A very happy WOYWW to everyone and I hope you are well. Julia I hope you are slowly on the mend and you are in our thoughts .so whats on the desk? Sorry its covered !..taken last night. Photo quality is also not great as still getting to grips with new software ....which is currently outsmarting me !

desk this week 

I'm working on my sisters birthday card so cant reveal it:-),there may be some clues around but I can't' possibly say.

I can show the fab ATC's I received from Shazsilverwolf and Anne L. Shaz as always has created a wonderful colourful creation. I love the highlighted words,my colour mixing ends up muddy but I keep trying!Thanks Shaz for your wonderful creativity and style I love it.

from Shaz - stunning colour and design

Anne sent me the most adorable shaker ATC with amazing painted background, the card it came in was hand drawn, Anne you are quite an artist. I was also surprised to receive some gifts, it was very kind and everything was packaged beautifully. I love the cute little Polaroid frames ... still working on ideas to use them.

From Anne -card, envelope and surprise gifts 

ATC - shaker love the colours and Prima mini 

Isn't it wonderful to see such variety and skills,I do love blogging and sharing with other Woywwers. Hopefully next year I will make many more to swap. So a big thank you to Jan for holding the fort so brilliantly and making this all possible.

Not sure if I will be around next week off to Tenby for a week but week after I hopefully will show the ATC's I made although I see some have already been posted. I hope you have a great week and I will come visit as many as I can.Off to work  have a great week ahead. 

Crafty hugs Andrea X.

WOYWW 366

Good morning WOYWWers and a very happy Wednesday to everyone for week 366 .I didn't quite make it last week but I think that will be the way. I wrote this last night in two stages(was falling asleep so only did half before accidentally posting after first paragraph  not ideal !  ...had to retrieve now finishing off as I woke up at 2;30 am  arghhhh insomniac land once again .I will hopefully link up before I go to work in this morning. Work has been a bit hectic to say the least and I am having to work  more shifts again, so time and energy have been lacking, not helped by early morning waking, but I am not going to grumble as otherwise I would be finishing this after work tomorrow ...and that would be a  wee bit too late.

Thank you to Shazsilverwolf for her fabulous ATC which I received so promptly(unlike mine!) and I hope you have now received the one |I sent. So I'm not sure wether to post the ATC's today or not...mmmmm.

Thank you LLJ for keeping us posted on Julia and it's great news that the operation went well and she is now safely at home recuperating...  my thought and prayer are with her.  Thanks for also holding the WOYWW fort, its in very good hands. 

I wanted to say a big thank you  to Pauline and Darnell for always being there and their kind words and interesting entertaining and thoughtful posts

Pauline isn't a WOYWW participator but she is a kind and genuine person,  I made a connection with right at the beginning of my blogging, we started at a very similar time. Pauline has continued to be a fabulous card maker and crafter and is now featured in several magazines and design teams.She produces stunning work, always with great attention to detail. Despite her obviously busy schedule Pauline still takes the time to pop in and say hi and leave a comment whenever I write a post. 

Darnell  I think I met  through WOYWW .What can I  say she is one in a million. I do love her wonderful and witty posts and her thoughtfulness for others is outstanding,she always wants to involve everyone for no other reason other than wanting you to feel good. She is honest,genuine and to the point and has a very interesting use of word ..unique some would say, which you will understand should you know her already ...a very special person indeed. I  have linked them both up should you want to go visit and  say hi. 

ATCS wallets

So for today's photo I've decided on the ATC wallets I made for now with cards in... so you can can get a sneaky peak of what style of card making inside some folks should already have received theirs  by now..but who knows which one is theirs!

I am planning  to make a lot more for next year as I really enjoyed them.You can be as creative as you feel and its only a small piece of work, Dependant on your mood at the time you can create so many different styles,which I really like,Hopefully there will be more than four next year(there was actually 5 but the last one is a surprise for someone so can't say more than that!)  Have a great day and weekend  and if you do have the time pop in too say hello it is very much appreciated. Big crafty hugs Andrea XX

p.s sorry for rambling....  its just like old times tee heee 

Why Make Plans !

well my plans as usual did not quite work out I missed this weeks WOYWW and was late sending my ATC's as decided to make cards for them as well, I was happy with the results though and they are now posted and on there way as of yesterday (sorry peeps).I hope to catch up with woywwers and friends over the weekend although working all day saturday !

So what shall I show you today.. mmmm..not quite sure I have decided that I will not be making plans ....and just go with the flow, post when I can and don't put pressure on myself as that just leaves me feeling like I've failed. 

I'm posting some pics of our shared craft room and a card I made recently. I previously did not use printed toppers as I would usually stamp and colour in myself, but I buy Making Cards magazine every month as well as several others.....I'm addicted to magazines and have so many that I'm having to sell some on  Ebay when I finally  get around to it!  They are all piled up and in order,I've just not got to the next stage yet and I won't be able to post them as far to heavy!...so we will see what happens ...

I got distracted there!!!....Making cards have some really nice and often quite unusual toppers and papers and great articles  on how to use them  as well as some fab ideas and I must say they are very good most times but I know we all have very different tastes .

Pics of  our ( my) craft room.

Messy hubby's desk and my L shape behind

My favourite area  in the room,hubby was allowed to use the radiator shelf for his battle ship;-)

The rest is mine :-)))

Now for the card ...got there eventually LOL..The blue flowers and backing paper where from the magazine,I used Heartfelt Creations flowers and I think the leaves are also Heartfelt dies .I used a lot of silver card and paper to bling it up and also ribbon,lace and pearls.The little butterflies are Memory box dies.

 Close up of the beautiful flower topper and silver and blue embellishments.as you might have  guessed that blue is my favourite colour

I hope you have a good weekend whatever you're doing and hopefully I will be back soon and hopping in to say hello. Big crafty hugs and thanks for visiting,I really do appreciate it.

Hugs Andrea x 

WOYWW 7 Anniversary Post

A Very Happy Anniversary WOYWW 7

Well I made it this year just,... I wasn't posting much last year and didn't take part WOYWW 6, but it's a delight to take part this year. I'm not giving anything away just yet as  I don't want to spoil the surprise for the recipient. I do want to send a very.very big thank you to LLJ for being the kind host this year's Anniversary and her huge support of Julia Julia I hope you are enjoying the sunshine and that you get an internet connection!

craft room 9:30 last night

So what do we have today ....not much actually I've been busy at work last week,I spent the weekend at my daughters( had a wonderful time )and late shift Monday,so really only had last night to do anything and as you can see it wasn't much !.but I did manage to finish the little holder for my ATC's,well two of them two to finish tonight after work. If you look very closely at the second photo below you will get a tiny peek of it on my desk, any other clues have been re moved ;-).

sneaky peek of ATC for anniversary swap 

I did enjoy making my ATC's, I am planning to make some more as I enjoyed it so much, so will be ultra organised for next year!....I will post all four next week and their little covers before sending them.Well, time to get organised for work. Have a great day and even if you don't take part have fun visiting everyone and seeing over the next few weeks what others have been up to for the anniversary swap. That is the best bit for me. A very happy WOYWW 7 Anniversary to everyone and here is to yet another wonderful crafty year of sharing inspiration friendship and fun.

.Big crafty hugs Andrea X

Whats on your Workdesk Wednesday 363

I know its been a while since I posted. Having visited Julias site again late last week it made me appreciate what I've got, there are so many people worse off  than ourselves and in difficulty wetehr thats health or other ,also thanks to Darnell  for yet again a  fabulous and thoughtful post to give me a kick start  .So here I am back for WOYWW 363 being hosted by Lunch LadyJan this week a great blog hop of happy like minded and crafty sorts sharing there desks around the world. I hope Julia that the surgery and recovery are a success and like so many others you are in our thoughts and prayers and wish you well.Enjoy your break away  in the sun and I hope you have a really lovely time away. I wasn't going to take part in the WOYWW anniversray 7 on the 25th May..., then I thought why not .make the effort and do something enjoyable, so here I am with my desk hiding my efforts for the big day...I really enjoyed my crafty time making them and not quite finished yet and so as not to give it away my efforts they are covered with the peice of blue card on my desk below.

Sneaky peak at work in progress for anniversarry WOYWW and small corner of hubbys desk in view

The  card I made was just for fun having done some colouring and wanting a bright cheerful card to match and encourage the sunshine our way.the cute little ladybird was part of a great christmas pressie of a crafty "gooody bag" from a relative last christmas.

I love the ladybird embellishment 

Its been so long since my last post that Ive moved rooms since then and now "share" with hubby who does his model making (currently a fighter plane  )you can just see a corner of his space and his desk light behind mine. I have 90%  to his 10% of the room but needs must!...  I had to fill the space and it wasn't an effort !...although hisdesk is much messier than mine and is not much in view as you can see from the first photo...it's directly facing mine.I'm lucky enough to have two deks that form an L shape and also I did not want to shock you by posting a full on photo of his space ....I will save that for another day..LOL. I'm scheduling this as early start at work in the morning,but I will link up if I can in time, if not it will be after I finish work , Photo's where taken early yetserday evening .

second view with even less of hubbys desk !

I will visit after work or later in the week so apoligies if I don't get to you quickly and don't get to everyone .Its good to be posting again and sometimes you just need a bit of motivating to get started agin so thanks Julia for giving me that push I  needed .happy WOYWW and thanks for taking the time to visit, it is very much appreciated. Big crafty hugs Andrea  x

Christmas "Break "

Sorry for not being around much ,my weekly post went right out the window! ...the intention was there but fate got in the way. I've had a varied few weeks but all for the wrong reasons. Firstly I fell over and fractured a small bone in my wrist (lucky my left so can still write etc and go to work) a few days later we where on the way for a picnic and had a car accident, luckily neither of us where badly injured although DH did get whiplash and had a long trip to A+E he is ok...his beloved car didn't make it though and no picnic!.So for him new car hunting is now in full swing. Lastly I spent 4 days with excruciating toothache as couldn't get to the dentist,finally did Monday morning I now have one tooth less a large bill and now an infection.(best that I'm avoided at work.....as a bit grumpy...I do dislike tooth pain) Hopefully as they say things happen in threes so that should be it for a while now and many many people have a lot worse to deal with in life in the scale of things its nothing.

It has put most crafting on hold as is difficult do with one fully working hand and one not so good therefore I'm sharing a card I made for a friends granddaughter.She left the design to me and in the end I made two 8x8 cards,the one below and one in a similar style using the same stamp but coloured in lilacs and silver.tThis is the one she chose to have below.

. 

21st birthday card

The influence for the design is Annamarie Design cards, I love her style and technique, her cards and projects are so beautiful I wish I could replicate them but I don't have the skills or expertise to do so. I used a Gorjuss stamp from a set of four I got some time ago and have never used. I though the clock was apt for a 21st and decorated it with Annamarie Design card,stamps and embellishments lots of various die cut flowers and swirls and other additions as shown below I really went to town.

21st -close up 

It was one of the first and few 8x8 cards I've completed the size always seems a bit daunting at first ,I definitely prefer smaller cards. I'm hoping to be back to full capacity soon and resume my plan of weekly posts and my Christmas card making which is going ok or was should I say!.I hope your week is going well and I am still been keeping my eye on my favourite sites although I have messed up my blogger /chrome (just a bit but) that's another story and hopefully DD will sort that out when she visits this weekend .I should leave technology alone !...we dont get on.

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting. 

Big hugs Andrea x 

floral corner- close up

I used the following items:

Annamarie designs-8x8 card blank

blue and white cardstock 

blue felt- die cut roses

Gorjuss stamp- coloured copics and promarkers

Annamarie designs-to my wonderful  granddaughter and 21st birthday stamp

Annamarie designs-blue checked card

blue spotty card

spellbinders elegant labels die

die cut English roses 

die cut pin-wheel roses

butterfly punch

flourish die

die cut flowers-Arianna blooms

Arianna lace die -lace petal

embellishments used :

pearl chain

Annamarie designs- blue pearl sprays 

Annamarie designs-blue flower buds 

buttons key charm

pearls

21st and star confetti 

heart pin  

lace 

blue ribbon

organza ribbon

glitter

I would  like to take part in the following challenges :

Crafty Catz challenge#293-Special occasions

Crafty Ribbon Challenge #126  Happy Birthday

Southern Girls Challenge- layer it up 

TODO and christmas cards continues

well I have not  quite  managed a weekly post but better late than never!I have now had my eagerly awaited TODO for almost two weeks now,I haven't had the opportunity yet to use all of the features and thought I would share how I'm getting on so far.The letter-pressing and hot foiling I am saving for when I have more time.

The verdict so far is pretty good. I'm still getting used to all the plates being clear. My biggest negative so far is how easy the plates get marked and start to bend which is, I'm advised normal,but alas as I'm a bit OCD they look messy, its going to take some getting used   

I have several times now had my cutting side facing the wrong way onto the wrong plate,again I'm not used to having the die facing up when I die cut, I now have  several christmas designs well and truly etched on to my A base plate!. its very easy to use and effortless to turn; also if its is wrong height it just pushes the plates away, then you just reverse back, turn up the dial and away you go. 

I have had no problems with most of my dies, the one that I have had difficulty in cutting was a large spellbinders rectangle die, I think the die has been damaged some how as it is not totally flat so all sides are touching the plates at the same time. I had to try it at several different number to get it to cut all sides. The combination I finally used was the A and D then added the C plate which is used for embossing and letter pressing.

I am keeping a record of what dies cut at what number, the plate combination and card stock I used, as they do vary slightly. I have still to try with all my different card stocks and will keep you posted as to how I get on.

                                                           Christmas Wishes 

Back to christmas cards, I'm doing well now nearly finished card 5 it feels good I've had to rearrange my craft room set up to get all my Christmas stash to hand, it is not quite right yet, so work in progress continues and my desk area is in a bit of a mess. Here is one on my latest cards, 

I think this is a great christmas colour very rich and warming.The stamp was a Tiddly Inks magazine freebie set last year from Quick Cards and I've had a great time colouring the sweet images which includes some penguins! I've taken my colour inspiration from the burgundy with grey stars backing paper(another magazine freebie this time from Making Cards)and used grey pearl card for the snowflakes(die was another magazine freebie) and a snowflake border.

Got to go now as I have a pile of ironing that awaits as well as the rest of the housework,hopefully my next visit will be sooner.Thanks for visiting and happy crafting I hope you enjoy what's left of the weekend... hugs Andrea x

I used the following items:-

6x6 base card

grey pearl cardstock Annamarie Designs

stamp-Tiddly Inks set from Quick Cards Magazine, coloured Copics/Promarkers

circle die

snowflake die

snowflake border die

star die

Embellishments used:-

sentiment stamp-embossed wow red glitter powder 

organza ribbon,gross grain ribbon

punched snowflakes ( white pearl card)

gems ,snowflake charm and buttons

glamour dust glitter

silver pen -faux stitching

sentiment 

I would like to take part in the following challenges

Brown Sugar Challenge #160 Buttons and Bows 
Sister Act Challenge #120 Anything goes 
Fan-Tastic Tuesday-Challenge 99-Anything goes add a twist - Glitter