Wednesday, December 27, 2017

WOYWW #447-Ending the year with a fun mess!!

Hello WOYWW Deskers!  It’s Wednesday, which means its “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”, a blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas or Hanukah, and managed to get some crafty play time in as well.  I had intended to spend some time clearing up the holiday collection of stamps, papers, etc., so I could start the new year off with a clean slate; but that sort of, well, not sort of…did fail…epically!  Instead I decided to peruse some of the bonus lesson materials for the 2018 Wanderlust class.  Namely Dynamic Paper Painting, the idea being you will end up with a collection of papers ready to use for the coming year.  We were warned it would get messy.  Oh boy!

 Step one: Clear off everything from my card table turned journaling desk.  Ie; throw all the stacks of papers, stamps, inks, stencils, etc. onto futon or floor.  Step two…make a mess. What great fun!!
Here is where I left everything to dry; Next is to splash/splatter a new color and then add some black. 

And after all this, they will only get torn, layered and painted over to be little snipits of interest peeking through. 


So here is my desk, now hop back to Julia’s and portal off to other creative desks around the world.  And even if I don’t get to leave comments, know I do peek on almost everyone during my wait times for the printer or on hold on the phone...my few moments for a creative sanity check while at work.

And I wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy New Year!!

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

WOYWW #446

Hello WOYWW Deskers!  It’s Wednesday, which means its “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”, a blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground

I hope everyone had a great week productive week and can actually enjoy the last 5 days before Christmas!  I had my last concert last night, all the gifts are shipped, and I decided this morning to screw the cookie baking marathon—lord knows my hips don’t need them, and if I do feel like making a batch or two, I can; it’s just no longer on the list. 


And now that all the cards have also been mailed (and my list of who got what designs updated…cause, you know; spreadsheets are my thing)  I can get some play time in.  And this is the mess I’ve left…waiting for the paint to dry.

I’m getting around to finishing some of the Wanderlust Art Journaling Classes projects that really interested me but I just couldn’t get to during the year.  This is from one of the Art Gallery Activities; where we were to study Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”, get your inner feelings from it, and then use it as part of a page.  I’m still not sure where this is going; but  since I found his painting’s muted colors on the sad side, and feel sunflower are a happy vibrant flower, there will probably be much more color going down!

And around the journal; stencils, paints, Nuovo glimmer mousses, ink sprays, the iPad, my plate that is my palette, and some scrap paper; all that needs to get put away, filed, etc.  But if I do all that, I won’t have time to craft! And my Muse is in the House!!  There is still about 2 inches between the journal and the front of the desk---so Craft On!

So here is my desk, now hop back to Julia’s and portal off to other creative desks around the world.  And even if I don’t get to leave comments, know I do peek on almost everyone during my wait times for the printer or on hold on the phone...my few moments for a creative sanity check.  And I hope everyone has a very Happy, Safe Holiday!! Merry Christmas everyone!


Wednesday, December 6, 2017

WOYWW #444


Hello WOYWW Deskers!  It’s Wednesday, which means its “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”, a blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground

I am very happy to report that all the cards are done! And now my next few weeks of lunch hours will be spent writing them.  And hoping I didn’t forget someone and have to make one or two more! LOL!

This means I got to spend some time this weekend trying to catch up on my journaling, namely the Wanderlust course, since it sort of became a casualty of my crazy summer and fall.  I can honestly say I have watched all the lessons; but am a bit sad there are probably 10 or 11 I didn’t get to try.  Next Year Baby!! 

So what you see; on the left: all the paints I used on the last “One Collage” page.  I can’t show it yet…next week though.  The thistle mask (messy thing on the right) comes from Green Pepper Press Stencils. Can honestly say I don't know why it's there, as I haven't used it in a while.  The white scalloped thing on the craft sheet (from Ken Oliver Designs; like my Ranger one better) is Wendy Vecchi’s paint palette.  I found it on sale; and kinda like it, so far.  Easier to clean than the real paint palette’s, and better than using paper plates you throw out  (well, they are still easier…but not so much for the earth).  The mess further back: stencils that need to be re-filed, a mini distress ink tin, misc. stamp sets, a stack of art journals, and some ink sprays that all need to get put away.  Yup, my journaling desk is in its usual state of disarray. 

And here is the completed card from last week.  Ken Oliver Designs stamp and die set, colored with Color Burst pigments. Tim Holtz Texture fade on the background.


So here is my desk, now hop back to Julia’s and portal off to other creative desks around the world.  And even if I don’t get to leave comments, know I do peek on almost everyone during my wait times for the printer or on hold on the phone...my few moments for a creative sanity check.  Stay Crafty everyone!

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

WOYWW #443

Hello WOYWW Deskers!  It’s Wednesday, which means its “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”, a blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground

OK Peeps.  Christmas is 26.5 days away.  And as much as I love getting gifts, I’m actually happy all the “adult” family members agreed to no gift exchange, and all kids, except for the new grand baby, are at the age where only a gift card to the video gaming store or iTunes would be appreciated.  So, theoretically, I should be able to just finish these last 4 cards, open a wonderful bottle of port we picked up on our vacation, start writing my cards, and relax for the rest of the year.  Yeah… I crack myself up!

That being said what you see are the pieces-parts of my last card design. The stamp/die set is from Ken Oliver Designs, and I used Color Burst powders to paint it.  Hard to tell, but a Tim Holtz texture fade has embossed the white panel, touched with Ancient Linen Distress ink to bring out the texture.  There is a white diecut diagonally in the middle; If I use it, it will be red…or green.  But I’m not feeling it; but the card still needs something.  Any suggestions?   

Oh; in the upper left. is my new toy ('cause two other machines just isn't enough! LOL!)…. The little, cute, Tim Holtz Sidekick arrived yesterday!!  Can’t wait to open it up and play!


So here is my desk, now hop back to Julia’s and portal off to other creative desks around the world.  And even if I don’t get to leave comments, know I do peek on almost everyone during my wait times for the printer or on hold on the phone...my few moments for a creative sanity check.  Stay Crafty my friends!

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

WOYWW #442

Hello WOYWW Deskers!  It’s Wednesday, which means its “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”, a blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground. 
 
Zoinks!  Tomorrow is Thanksgiving!  Then a month till Christmas!  Fastest year ever!! 

My desk, still in Christmas Card mode.  Good news; I only have to make 15 more cards.  The bad news, I didn’t sell many at the craft show.  Did sell enough to cover the table costs; so that is something. 

So you see pieces-parts for a card idea.  The stamp is by Stampington & Co., I’ve probably had it for 15 years (remember it from the old house)…first time inked up.  I tried doing it in both black ink and silver embossing powder (since I’m using silver glitter paper for the die cut “Noel” (from Tim Holtz) that is the one on the right on the panel-the rest in a pile above the stamp) Think I've decided to just use the ink.  Hope it works.  The black frame is still up in the air; but will probably stay-as they are all cut out and hanging out in the upper right edge. The red panel is done with the Plaid texture fade from Tim Holtz, and black ink; that too is a maybe. At least they are all colored red (Distress inks; plain and oxide) and under the blocks flattening out.  The Poinsettia image is a Ken Oliver stamp and die set.  Will color those next, and then see where that takes me.  I’m not sure what else is floating around the margins there…hopefully nothing perishable, as this is how it was left Sunday night, not expecting to not be up there again until hopefully tonight. 

So here is my desk, now hop back to Julia’s and portal off to other creative desks around the world.  And even if I don’t get to leave comments, know I do peek on almost everyone during my wait times for the printer or on hold on the phone...my few moments for a creative sanity check.  Stay Crafty everyone, and to those that celebrate: Happy Thanksgiving!


Wednesday, November 8, 2017

WOYWW #440


Hello WOYWW Deskers!  It’s Wednesday, which means its “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”, a blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground

These weeks are flying by…the craft show is this weekend, Christmas is 6 weeks, 5 days away, Thanksgiving is 3 weeks away, there are budget committee and strategic planning sessions at work; I either need a few more hours in the day, and some stimulants to make use of them, or a clone-which may or not be much fun.

The desk is actually not bad considering all that has gone on.  I finished the wine journals and the cards I had been coloring on lunch breaks, and this pile is ready for tonight.  Foil die cuts of Tim Holtz’s trees to get layered over the block-stamped fronts. Then a quick gold embosses sentiment, the gold layers and card backs are done and stacked to the left of the Cosmic Shimmer pot, and 8 more done for the weekend. 

The Memory Box candle die cut is there to see if I can come up with some more quick cards, but at this point, I’m not going to go crazy. And yes, the little drawer of my ink applicators is out top right; it really is how I roll! Odd how I use the handles only when stenciling or journaling.

And here are the cards from my lunch hour sessions; both stamps are from Stampendous. 


So here is my desk, now hop back to Julia’s and portal off to other creative desks around the world.  And even if I don’t get to leave comments, know I do peek on almost everyone during my wait times for the printer or on hold on the phone...my few moments for a creative sanity check.  Stay Crafty everyone.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

WOYWW #439

So..I’m just sitting here on my lunch hour, coloring my card fronts in my office,

when I thought “here’s a different view of my work desk” and then..duh..it’s Wednesday…so, here ya’ go.

Now that I’ve colored the first card, I’m assembly-lining the rest.  Takes less time, and I’m less likely to screw up when you are not constantly swapping markers and cleaning water brushes.  The stamp is from Stampendous…I’m fairly certain. 

So that’s me-gotta get back to coloring; now go back to Julia and the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.


(Oh, speaking of crafty…went to my first adult (no-not “Adult”, minds out of the gutter ladies!) Halloween party in forever this weekend, and my friend Julie made these awesome meatloafs!  So cool and tasty!)

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

WOYWW #438

Hello WOYWW Deskers!  It’s Wednesday, which means its “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”, a blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground


Another quickie post.  After our fabulous vacation out at the Finger Lakes (New York Wine Country) I managed to get a few more cards made for the craft show in (glup) 2 weeks.  This stamp is from Technique Junkies. The inside stamp says “May you never be too grown-up to search the skies on Christmas Eve”, also from TJ.  The die cut is from Our Daily Bread.  The stamps on the left and right are the next two.  Tonight I’ll stamp a ton...well, probably 12 each, then color over the next few lunch hours. The good news, if I don’t sell any I’ll be all set for my cards!

And while all the good shots (I hope) are still on the camera, here are some from our trip that where on the phone.  This trip was all around Keuka lake, and the canyon and waterfall are from Letchworth State Park; “the Grand Canyon of the East”











So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

WOYWW #437

Getting my horses all in a row!  Welcome to "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday", the marvelous 
 blog hop founded by our Dear Julia at The Stamping Ground.      The Hop where we open our craft room doors and give everyone a peek!

Real quick for me this week, as I'm just about to head out with our best friends to the Finger Lakes...Upstate New York's Wine Country for a well needed vacation.  So, on that note, I'll be visiting when I get home. 

I'm in the process of not just doing my own Christmas cards, but I'm also doing a Holiday Craft Show in November, and need some Christmas Cards to sell there as well; so not so shockingly, I'm in a bit of a panic.  Here are my Impression Obsession horses, ready to get glued to the card fronts, and then I'll treat their hats with some Sparkly Fluff flocking, to make the white part all fluffy...I've learned to do that step last!  That brings me to 22 cards...Zoinks!  I'll really need to get my ass in gear when we get home!!

So you've seen mine...now go stop at Julia's to portal off to far more interesting desks around the world.  Have a great week!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

WOYWW #433


Hello WOYWW Deskers!  It’s Wednesday, which means its “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”, a blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground

Another short, but not nearly as shocking as last week’s post. My main desk, side desk, floor and storage sideboard are still organized.  Yes, that means I haven’t been over to that side of the room. LOL!  Instead I took my short stints at the journaling desk, where you see this WIP for the Wanderlust course.  It is to be an exercise in “Mindful Art Journal Painting”  I think that means the doodling part, with gel pens.  I don’t like doodling.  And I suck at it; just sayin’. 

The container to the left is my “good” acrylic paints, Distress, Liquitex soft body and inks, and a few of the larger tubes of Dina Wakely’s Heavy Body ones.  The white envelope is the September Stencil Club stencils from Stencil Girl; can’t wait to play with them!  Some of the new flavors of Dylusions spray inks, that don’t fit in the current container, and some of the other stencils I’ve just finished with on the spread I worked on from last week. Oh, and the fan is back, since we’re back in the high & humid 80’s in Upstate NY.  Yuck!  Oh, and the bar across the front is my new Ott Light!  I figured I spend enough time at that desk now that I deserved a real light.  Thank you Joann's for having a sale at the time of my revelation! 


Speaking of last week, here is that finished page, also a Wanderlust prompt. 


So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

WOYWW #432

Hello WOYWW Deskers!  It’s Wednesday, which means its “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday”, a blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground

A rather short post today, as its Tuesday, but I’ll be traveling for work for the next few days, so I want this drafted up.  But just because its short, doesn’t mean its been an uneventful 2 weeks.  Should I first tease with what I ended my Sunday working on?  This is the WIP for the September Wanderlust Journal page, waiting to dry so I can finish it, which fingers crossed will be next week.  It is a combination of Dylusion’s sprays and Dina Wakely paints, with Stencil Girl stencils.  The area of interest is the fact that you can see desk top…did you? And the clear futon cushion? 


Now, for those who know and love me: Get ready. This is going to be tough to see…




 
That is three days of nothing but clearing, tossing, organizing.  After the craft show craziness, it was too much for even me to handle; I couldn’t even walk to the chair!  Now, I’m still not completely done; I have two corners of the room that still need attention: but am completely motivated to finish it.  For Christmas Card Season is upon us, and heaven knows I’ll need all the space I’ve got! LOL!

So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

WOYWW #430

Hello WOYWW Deskers!  I can’t believe how long I’ve been gone! What started as being away for work for 2 weeks stretched into eight missed weeks of the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground

At least it wasn’t eight weeks away from my craft room; actually, I’ve spent more time in there since...well last fall when I was in full Christmas mode. The reason: my girlfriend got us into a craft show this coming weekend.  So, I have been in a card-making frenzy for the last 3 weeks.  Yes, I had planned to add other things, like the wine journals, maybe some mixed media canvases, but nope; all I’ve gots is cards. 

And I will only admit this to you, my WOYWW Comrades in Arms, I think I have too much stuff.  For every evening, I’d sit down at my desk, thinking I can bang out 6-8 cards, and then be paralyzed with all the possibilities and choices.  And all the muttered “Just pick up a stamp and start” wasn’t doing it-because which inks should I use? Oh, I want to use the Gelatos...or maybe the crayons.  Wait? the Color Burst powders would be awesome!  Grrrrr.

So what you see: A tin of Distress Crayons, which I didn’t use for the last set of cards, but had to be moved to find my phone. A roll of painters tape, for my attempt at keeping my Clean and Simple cards clean; didn’t work…all those fishy cards: those are the pile of rejects. Of 8 panels, only 3 came out CAS.  A new tube of Black Gesso, because I don’t know where the other tube went.  The acrylic blocks are flattening the 3 good fishy cards.  There are inky foam applicators spewed everywhere…Oh, and the box of glue dots I was looking for—hiding in plain sight.  


So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  I'll  try to get some photos of the cards as I unpack them, so until next time: Stay Crafty my friends.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

WOYWW #422



Welcome to the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground, where we open our craft rooms up to have you peak at our desks—our work habits, whether good, the bad and the ugly, and to meet kindred souls. 

A quick post this week, as the auditors just showed up at my credit union…and we all know once I’m home I never get a chance to do this.  So, after finishing my clay tile for the Wanderlust class, which you saw the start of last week, as well as putting a canvas together with found items (leaves in this case) also for the Wanderlust class, I still had “me” time to craft, but was more than a bit overwhelmed with the mess my room was in, and too frustrated to move anything to start something new, so I somehow decided that sorting my stencils was the way to go.  Well….I got piles.  Still there….Hey Muse!  Are you happy now?

And here are the aforementioned tile and canvas.

 


















So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.


Wednesday, June 28, 2017

WOYWW #421


Welcome to the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground, where we open our craft rooms up to have you peak at our desks—our work habits, whether good, the bad and the ugly, and to meet kindred souls. 

Upstate New York has actually had some terrific weather the past few days—cool temperatures and no humidity. And just enough sporadic rain showers to not make me feel guilty of time spent in the craft room! (What do they say…Time is precious; waste it wisely!)   So I’ve spent my precious time playing with the Dina Wakely Media Paints and her online class “Ordered Chaos” as well as catching up on the Wanderlust lessons.  This week was to use Paperclay to create a tile or wall hanging kind of piece. 

So here is my desk as of last night….many different things going on.  First there is the Paperclay tile, hopefully drying nicely. The green prints were some Gelli plate cast-offs.  The flowers and gears above are what will be placed on it, and have been imprinted to sit nicely.  The word, scissors and chain were pieces that I experimented with the new Finnabair Patina Effects Paste I scored on the trip to Michael’s to get the clay.  (I also picked up the Jane Davenport Watercolor Brush markers!) Good chance those gears will get treated tonight!.  The Dina Wakely paints that haven’t’ put away were used on a canvas board that is under the craft mat-it was dry, and I needed the solidness to roll out the clay.  And then there is everything else that just seems to hang out on the journaling desk; I really need to take some of the precious time and find a way to not just get organized, but find a way to keep it that way! 

And here are all the ATC’s from our Anniversary Swap: I received lovely ATC’s from Kelly Henkins, Carol Norby, GlitterandGlue, Shaz Silverwolf, our own Julia, and Darlene Wright. 


So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

WOYWW #420

Welcome to the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground, where we open our craft rooms up to have you peak at our desks—our work habits, whether good, the bad and the ugly, and to meet kindred souls. 

So yikes! You go away for one week for work, and it’s three weeks later before you get back into the swing of things.  And we’ve had a bit of hot, humid, icky (for me, in Upstate NY) weather, which makes my craft room unpleasant,  so I’ve been scrambling to work on my weekly projects for the Wanderlust and Dina Wakely “Ordered Chaos” classes, as well as all the summer birthday cards.  

This is the Journaling Desk…as I left it Saturday morning, as nothing was drying.  The top is a Dina project, the bottom is the June page for the Wanderlust year book…the prompt was “I collect…”  Duh…of course I collect just about everything.  You have all seen my room!

Here is my main desk, with remnants of a Birthday card.  I picked up Distress Oxide Inks at the Heirloom Rubber Stamp Show, (yes, I know I said I wasn’t going to get them...then I got to play…and they are pretty freakin’ cool) Now I need to find a place for them.












Oh, speaking of the stamp show…here is my backpack when I got home. Such a tease!



OK, and here is what was in it.  Plus the set of the Oxide Inks.  It’s no wonder I had to take Ibuprofen for the next few days after lugging that around.  And again, why we stop at the paper booths first always stumps me!


So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

WOYWW #417

Welcome to the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground, where we open our craft rooms up to have you peak at our desks—our work habits, whether good, the bad and the ugly, and to meet kindred souls. 

My desk this week…the ugly.  Working on two large (out of normal comfort zone) canvas’s for the Wanderlust class.  So…if working on an A2 size card is spaciously challenging…why I thought I could do 2 of these (well, I figured while one layer is drying, move to the other) at one time is boggling.  Yes; there is now paint on the carpet…the wall, and more body parts that I care to admit. 

The piece on the left still has the stencil and mask in place, so as soon as the under layer is dry, I can put a lighter color on top…as this was last night, I’m hoping the stencil isn’t cemented to the surface.  The piece on the right…./shake head.    All the collaged papers that were to go under wrinkled big-time.  Now, your supposed to spray rubbing alcohol over pieces and rub the white paint away revealing the first colored coat….and some of the printed pages.  I’m thinking disaster is awaiting.  There are piles of stencils everywhere.  Yes, I’ve given up cleaning them unless I used Distress or Dylusion’s inks, since they will keep reactivating.  There are  a few piles of stamps hanging out, as well as ink pads, icky paper towels, and a journal sticking out under the long piece. 


And here are two ATC’s I’ve received so far, from GlitterandGlue and ShazSilverwolf!  Lovely! I still have one ATC to trade, so let me know if you’d like it.

So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

WOYWW #416: Happy 8th Anniversary Deskers!!!

Welcome to the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground, where we open our craft rooms up to have you peak at our desks.  And it is a very special one today, the 8th Anniversary!! Congratulations and Thank You Julia!

I started following this hop just after the first year, and have met so many friends, most online, some in person.  This is such a fun way to bring the crafting community together!  So big Hugs to all!

So, on to the whole point of our hop; to share our desks and creativity, and messes, if only so we are not alone! LOL! And this is mine.  This is my mini journal project from the Wanderlust Classes by Kasia Avery.  Can you guess the theme?  What is really sad is that this was just the few butterfly themed items that were randomly piled on my side desk; I haven’t even started going through my drawers and binders for the others:  I should have made a bigger book! LOL! And since this coming week we will be working on the opposite, larger than we usually do, I really want to get this finished before Friday.   


So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

WOYWW #415


Welcome to the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground, where we open our craft rooms up to have you peak at our desks. 

Wow...I’m going for a record of bad.  Even my Christmas Card Frenzy doesn’t come close to this horrific mess!  The good news is I’ve been amazingly crafty-busy!  The bad new…is this mess.  Not only is the Wanderlust course from Everything Art keeping me hopping with the weekly lessons, but I’ve also started Dina Wakely’s Ordered Chaos at JeanneOliverDesigns.com.   Oh! And I have 9 ATC’s to swap next week!  Let me know if you would like one!


Last night I was bound and determined to finish my week 17 lesson with Kate Crane working with patchworks.  The second method calls for using scrap papers to make patches.  Yes, I have tons of Gelli printed scrapes and pages (I mean...who doesn’t if you play with a Gelli plate?) But I decided I didn’t like the ones I had, so after finishing the first method, I thought I’d make one  (ONE) print…Four are visible another 3 or 4 are on the floor drying)  The blue one is a base from the lesson that these will go on.  I was going to clean up, (really) if only so I could hit the ground running next time in, but then Dakota came in strongly indicating she needed to go out…NOW!  And it was 10:30! (I’m in bed by 10!) and I didn’t want to have to mop the floor or clean the carpet anytime soon… so downstairs we went.  I can only pray all the caps are tight on the paints!

Here is the first patchwork piece; not my style, but rather fun and freeing, as the sole goal was to play. 


So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

WOYWW #414: Brace yourselves!!

Welcome to the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground, where we open our craft rooms up to have you peak at our desks. 

OK: this is beyond bad, even for me.  But, if given the choice of spending half an hour crafting, or half an hour creating; I gotta go with the creating.  And to further drive myself crazy...in addition to the Wanderlust class at EverythingArt.com, I have just signed on to Dina Wakely’s Ordered Chaos at JeanneOliverDesigns.com.  So, for the next few months..there will be nothing ordered about the chaos in my craft room!

So, my journaling desk:  2 journals with the first mark making exercises from Dina’s course, out to dry for the next step.  Scattered about are neocolor water crayons, distress crayons, Pitt pens…all for making my marks.  The green/yellow squares are the covers of my tiny journal for the Wanderlust course. Grungeboard covered with texture paste and Gelatos.  I’ve decided on butterflies as my subject.  Stay tuned for that. They are sitting on my collection of acrylic paints; which was used over the weekend.  The messy canvas is started with Liquitex Inks, but they weren’t flowing over the canvas; so then I tried adding some marks, and we’ll go from there.  The little white drawer is holding my collection of Gelatos. Some stencils are floating around, and I’ve discovered using plastic disposable paints are the best palettes for me; once the paints are dry, toss them.  I was getting worried about cleaning normal palettes into our septic. 





This is my card making desk.  I had to hide the ATC’s, but envies are started.  I’ll have 9 to trade!! Well, baring a catastrophe in the next week.  Trying to keep spill-able substances far, far away.   















And here are the two journal pages from Week #18 at Wanderlust with Dyan Reavely, working on a quote from Winston Churchill.  My friend Julie came over so we could work on the lessons together…I think the alcohol consumption helped my handwriting…or at least it didn’t hurt!



















So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.


Wednesday, May 3, 2017

WOYWW #413

Welcome to Wednesday...which translates to "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday"  the blog hop masterminded by Julia at The Stamping Ground. Where Deskers all around the world open their craft room doors to share a peek.

My desk..as of 2 hours ago...you see pieces prepped for my mini journal for this weeks Wanderlust Art Journaling class.  Not really sure where it will be going...I'm thinking Winged Things...if only to justify some of the huge butterfly and bird stamp and stencil collection. 

The two (barely visible) squares are Grungeboard, that has been gessoed, and is currently drying.  The accordion fold will be the pages.  In the background, the mess that has yet to find a place; the paper trimmer, the new iridescent Gelatos, some stamps sets that need to get put away..some scraps of paper towel and die cuts.  Yup, its a mess...but it fits in with the rest of my life currently.  Ah well.

So now go visit Julia and hop around some less-frightening desks! Have a great week everyone.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

WOYWW #412

Happy Wednesday Everyone! AKA HumpDay and "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday", hosted by the wonderful Julia at The Stamping Ground.



Real quick, as once again I forgot it was Wednesday...well, not forgot, but time is no longer my friend!  So I was upstairs, working on kitting for a Mother's Day card class next week, and all of a sudden remembered I never posted the desk from this weekend.  So took a quick shot, and here it is. The Spellbinders diecuts are getting gutted...and even with an extra paper for a shim, my Vagabond is just not cutting like it used to.  Hmmm; any ideas? But that brush-jobby tool is pretty helpful, for the most part.

There are some stamps that will get packed to go. Other stamp sets and dies that will be used.  Kinda tough when I don't know how many people I'll have, and since it's at the Library, I'll have to bring everything.  Pieces for one of the sample cards is above

And here is one of the journal pages I completed for the Wanderlust 2017 class from Everything Art.online classes.  We had to use one nature printed image; I knew I needed to get the small Gelli plate all those months ago! LOL!

So that is my desk; now I have to go back upstairs to finish gutting those die cuts and start the next.  Have a great week everyone.







Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Wanderlust 2017 Catch-Up

I’ve been so busy trying to keep up with the weekly classes, I just haven’t had time to post. So this is more for my records than anything else. 

Week #11 is a week that involved soldering, some metals, and while really cool looking, I just didn’t have the materials to do it justice.  I tried with grunge board and may try to go back to complete it, but for now I have an Incomplete.

Week #12 was the Activities week.  Challenge #3 is picking 4 favorite supplies/mediums, and apply them in 8 layers…keeping the same order.  My choices: Distress Inks, Stencils, Gelatos, Dina Wakely Heavy Body Metallic Paints. The Wanderlust Book prompt was “I nurture myself with…”  Tried using the masking tape masking technique to block for the words…sorta worked.

Week #13 was with Jamie and Kasia using the Gelli plate…and using items found in nature…as we had just gotten dumped on with snow, it was back to my spice cabinet, and the Bay Leaves worked the best. I actually really like this…just need to make my writing better.

Week#14 was with Jessica Sporn, and I couldn’t wait to explore this one…Creating Art with meaning.  While my meaning didn’t get very deep, it matched the stilted conversation between the paints!  I do love how she explained it; and will come back to this again. And I think I’m getting better with the glazing/transparency part of painting; and covering up the first few layers.

Week #15 was painting a Mermaid with Mindy Lacefield using her processes. Her way of painting skin color and faces was interesting, and boy did I fall short!   Sort of like the Paint and Sip sessions I’ve done. And like all the rest, now I need to come up with my own subject matter and practice. 


Thanks for stopping by.  For info on the yearlong Wanderlust 2017 online course, visit Everything Art.com, The Adventure is just starting!







WOYWW #411

Welcome to the “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” blog hop hosted by the lovely Julia at The Stamping Ground, where we open our craft rooms up to have you peak at our desks. 

I just don’t know what is going on with me, time, or anything else for that matter.  But if ever there was a need for a time-turner…that would be now!  But I can say, I have managed to fit in quite a bit of crafting--just haven't had time to blog about it!  Mostly for the Wanderlust class. Unfortunately it’s been to get the projects done, without enough free time to really relax and explore the concepts or techniques.  But I’m still naive enough to believe that will change. 

But, for what you came for: Here is the desk as I left it Sunday evening.  This is Week 15’s journal page drying.  We got to paint mermaids…in the style of Mandy Lacefield.  My face not even close! LOL!  But it is my first person without the use of rubber stamps or stencils…so I’m putting it in the plus category. 

Here is a Birthday card for my Sister in Law with stamps and dies from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I went crazy when I saw the stamp set...and it’s corresponding stamp set…and the two coordinating paper sets…but the samples I’ve seen must be on cards much larger than A2, as there just doesn’t seem to be the room to show off those beautiful papers-so I haven't used them yet.












And here is my Brother’s Birthday card…using Tim Holtz products.  I thought it came together so well, I made another and gave it to my favorite Starbucks crew with some Lindt Truffles for Easter. 













And here is another Wanderlust Journal page..using objects found in nature and Gelli plates.  This was a lot of fun, even though I had to raid my herb pantry for bay leaves, as this was from a two weeks ago when we had 22 inches of snow...no leaves to be found outside then! LOL!


So that’s me; now go back to the Stamping Ground to portal off to other creative desks.  Stay Crafty my friends.