Tweet, tweet! What's on your workdesk Wednesday 144?!

It's that time again and it's what's on your work desk Wednesday?

First my next card from the demo at the weekend.  I had lots of fun making this one. 

I am liking this style of making up your own scenes just now.

For this card I first hand drew some clouds on paper and attached them to my white card with low tack tape.  I then created the sky using Stormy sky distress ink removing my cloud masks when finished.  The Marion Emberson stamps are from the PI sets Birds and trees plus Build a tree and the sentiment is from Find joy in everyday.  I created a stencil with the tree stamp so I could colour the green without marking the sky and used Distress inks Peeled paint and Crushed olive.  I also used the same two greens for the grass with a stamp from the Birthday kisses stamp set.  The frame was cut and 3d foamed over the image and a Spellbinder shapeabilities fancy tag was added with a sentiment also from Find joy stamp set.  Phew!
It is much easier just to show you how to rather than try and write out basic instructions, LOL.  :)

Now on to the fun bit and my desk...what state is it this week...no better I'm afraid...

Still in the process of unpacking after the busy weekend crafting.  Distress inks waiting to go away as is my heat gun.  Samples waiting to be completed and sent off to my line manager. 
I also have a few big family birthdays over the next week so really should be cracking on with some personal cards.

Why not pop on over to Julia's blog to see what other like minded crafters are up to.  Every week I promise I will go along and check out lots of other blogs, I tend to start with folk who leave comments with me and work back...one of these days I will get around everyone.
Enough waffle from me....have a great Wednesday whatever you are up to.
I'm away to be a "lady wot lunches!" 
Then I must get back and crack on with some more cards....housework?!  What's that?

Are you a purple girl or a pink?

Whether you are a purple or a pink girl I've got a couple of crafty bits for you today.  Personally I'm a blue/green girl with teal being my favourite colour at the moment, but enough about me.
The first card....

With this card I have used my Spellbinder Big scalloped circles nestabilities die to create a stencil which I attached to the front of the card.  I then used Distress inks Seedless preserve and milled lavender over the top to create the scalloped circle shape starting dark around the outside going lighter to the middle. 
The Spellbinder shapeabilities butterfly die was cut and embossed in my calibur and left in the die again to stencil the ink on the embossed area only.  The body of the butterfly was then added to the card and wee bling applied over the top. 
The black butterflies are from Marion's stamp set On your special day by PI and the sentiment is from Find joy everyday. 
A very simple card to create with the right tools.

The next item is a wee purse with a cellophane insert filled with sweeties.

This purse is created using an A4 sheet of card cut 4" wide.  I then scored 4" in from either end to make the front and back of the purse, followed by scoring the centre point between the two 4" marks so that it will fold up into an envelope if need be. 
I have used Victoria velvet and Spun sugar distress inks to cover the white card stamping with water to create a blotchy effect.  The flowers are from Marion's stamp set Find joy everyday, I inked the stems and leaves with a journalling pen and added bling to the centre of the flowers.  The cover in black card was punched with Martha Stewart traditional scalloped edger punch and attached with tape at the back and Velcro at the front.  The wire adds a handle to the purse and the little embellishment is from Spellbinder shapeabilities Ironworks motif.  The ribbon is from my stash.
Inside I have put a bag of chocolate Easter eggs but you could do what you want.

More tomorrow!

Get those fingers dirty!

Back again today with more inking.  I would have been on earlier but I had to make a quick stop at the "local craft shop for local people!"
(Another project I'm working on that I needed a few more bits for!)
As for the next card from my demo....here it is;

For this card I blended Distress inks together and masked the sun.  However I started by Distress embossing the foliage from Marion's stamps Find joy every day with Shabby Shutters distress powder.  The sun is Distress ink Mustard seed then the sky is Fired brick, Festive berry, Ripe persimmon, Spiced marmalade and finally more Mustard seed.  All of which are blended together using the distressing tool.  The sentiment is again Marion's stamps On your special day by PI.  The butterfly is from Birds and trees again my Marion which is cut twice and layers with paper from Tim Holtz Idea-ology paper stash kraft resist pad to which I've added a wee bit of Diamond stickles on the edge of the wings. 
Top tip!!  I also realised by swiping the distress tool across the foliage from right to left it created a slight shadow....I quite like the effect....of course I meant to do this and didn't come across by a happy accident!  Cough, cough!

Today I also have the last of my pictures from the Show in Birmingham and it is some work by the lovely Andy Skinner.  I love is mixed media style of work, it's very masculine and steampunky, if that is indeed a word! 
Why not let me know what you think?

He also happens to be a very nice chap and I had a lovely chat with him on both days at the show.  I'm looking forwards to later in the year when he will be up in the area to teach.

Well, that's all from me today I have 13 family and friends birthdays over the next fortnight so I need to actually crack on with those....I don't get away with sending bought cards anymore! 
As well as that I have been asked for some Mother's day cards locally. 
Plus my lovely dad was in hospital last week so I really should do him a Get Well Soon card.  Isn't it bad when you make cards and family are the last to get?!
More tomorrow, happy crafting if you get chance.
Goodbye from a lovely bright and sunny day up here in Scotland.....is Spring finally on it's way?

A big thank you!

To all the lovely ladies who visited Papercraft's Boutique in Elgin I'd like to say a big THANK YOU!
I had a lovely day playing with ink, sorry I mean crafting...sharing inking techniques and styles. 
I hope you all had as much fun as I did?
Thanks also for your comments on here and Facebook, I really do appreciate hearing your feedback.
Oh and I enjoyed my glass of wine last night, hick!

Today I was going to be really good and crack on with housework and other exciting jobs....don't get me wrong I have pottered about but don't really have much to show for it.  I did however enjoy a wee catch up with Christel this afternoon, thanks for the lovely cake and chat...that's what Sunday's are all about. 
I'd also like to say thanks to my best none crafting pal Gill who brought around a wonderful coconut loaf this afternoon, nomn, nomn!

So what did we get up to yesterday?
I was mainly using Tim Holtz Distress inks and Personal Impression stamps.
Here is my manly card!

This is a simple looking card...first I added the ornate frame from Marion Emberson Birds and Trees with distress embossing ink and Distress embossing powder Mustard seed.  Then I created a mask and covered the frame.
The whole area of white card is then covered with Black soot distress ink using the Distress tool.  Once happy with the cover I used Hero Arts stamp "Happy" with water to remove some of the ink then sprayed with a mini mister to remove a bit more ink and add texture.
The card is then mounted on a mat of gold then black card, surrounded with gold ribbon and the sentiment added from Marion's set Find joy everyday.
I love the texture that the distress embossing powder creates together with the removal of some of the ink.  A none complicated card to show a couple of inking and stamping techniques.

Before I go a couple more pictures from Stitches and today from the Sizzix stand.  Mmmmmm!

Nice "Timtastic" products.

I love how the middle photo is set.

Loving all the new dies.

It would also have been so wrong to not go and have a look at the cupcake display....mmmmm good enough to eat, might be a chewy mind!

A late post for me today so better go and crack on with tea, homework and ironing...in that order, more tomorrow.

Mmm nice samples on Bramwell Stand

Whilst I'm beavering away in Elgin I thought I'd show you some more pictures.  This time from the Bramwell stand.
Got to love these altered paper bags;

How about some stamps?

Some samples now....

But these next two were my favourites;

Both beautifully layered and colour co-ordinated.  More from me again tomorrow.  Have a great weekend everyone and I hope you get some crafting time in.





I just love Tilda.

Hi folks back again with a couple more pictures from the show and today it's Tilda time!
I just love their papers and materials but especially the dolls....so cute.

And the doll.....

I'm loving this style and the stand was set up beautifully.

I'm away to finish my samples for tomorrow's big demo day in Papercraft's Boutique, Elgin.  Do pop by and say hi if you live locally.

My surprise!

White rabbits!

I did promise yesterday that I would share my lovely surprise from earlier in the week didn't I?  But first I wanted to thank everyone who left comments yesterday for my Anniversary, it was very kind of you all and I had a lovely curry out at lunch too.
What you want to know is WHAT was my surprise!

From my boss Jan at PI, thanks very much for organising it for me.  What a wonderful surprise.  I know I should already have this book but I have just never got around to getting it...needless to say it has already be read from cover to cover.  I was so excited!  Better still......look.....

OMG how lucky am I?!  I know....I had to sit down too!
I will treasure it and one thing is for sure I'll be ordering the second book as soon as it arrives in the UK.  Convert tick!

Back to Stitches how about a bit of Paper Artsy?

I'm loving this latest trend of matching die cuts to stamps oh I think I'm so going to NEED some of these!

And some lovely samples too.

Steam punk still seems to be big this year.

More from me again tomorrow.

What's on your Workdesk Wednesday 143

Morning everyone it's that time again and my is my desk a mess today.  In my defence I am in the middle of getting ready for a demo on Saturday...this is how it gets in order to get those creative juices going!
So here goes.....

As you can see some stamps, lots of ink and that blue folder contains my Spellbinder dies....lots of playing on the cards today...with a brief break at lunchtime as hubby is taking me out for a curry!
Why?!  Well today is our Wedding Anniversary.  Is it 4 years or 16?!  It's our 4th Anniversary but 16 years married.  The downside of marrying on the 29th of February, LOL.  Still I got a lovely bouquet of flowers today and a yummy bottle of brandy so that's me one happy bunny.
And my card to him......on my....less is more is definitely the case, I had to sneak in to my craft room and make it quick.  He's off shift just now which basically means he is kicking around at home.  I started it last night but he came in so I had to finish it this morning whilst he's popped out.

Now I know these smirk stamps aren't the most popular but I like the simplicity of this one and I don't do lovie dovey cards....inside reads "cause it ain't your birthday!"
It made me smile.
Anyway back to the main post WOYWW is organised by the lovely Julia, why not pop on over to her place and check out what everyone else is up to today.
It only remains for me to say "happy hump day!"
Oh before I go....I had a lovely surprise in the post this week.  I was made up big time.....I will share what it was with you tomorrow....such a tease!!

Mmmm what more did I find?!

Sorry I missed you yesterday but I had an appointment with a mountain of ironing amongst other jobs plus I also had a lovely catch up with a couple of friends.

Did the cake work?
It most certainly did and it was very scrummy and went down well at the crop.  If I ever get handed Herman again I'm afraid he's turning vegetable!

Sunday afternoon cropping was as always great fun, lots of nattering and crafting plus lots of refreshment, what more could a crafter ask for?  I also managed to knock 6 cards off my to do list which is most unlike me.  Productive whilst chatting and eating.  Wonders will never cease!

This week I shall mostly be preparing for my demo at Papercraft's boutique in Elgin where I am going to be sharing some top tips with inking techniques.  So I may be quiet later in the week as I get my head down and beaver away!

For today I wanted to share a few more pictures from the show.....loving the products from Studio 490....fancy a look too?

Here is the lovely Hels Sheridan who was demonstrating the fabulous products.  "Caught you having a wee break!"  You should click on her name and pop on over to her blog for a wee look, she creates some mighty fine work, her samples were stunning.

Aren't they all stunning samples?

She also showed my some of the samples made by Wendy Vecchi from Studio 490 too.  Another fabulous blog to check out!  I do hope I've got these samples right.  Again aren't they just fabulous?

Peek-a-boo Hels!

Oh my, oh my.....I'm loving all the chipboard and embellishments that match and go with the stamps....a girl could have so much fun inking with these.  Don't you think?

I'd like to say a big thanks to Wendy and Hels for sharing their inspiration I can't wait to get myself some of these beauties and have a play!

Introducing distressing inks.

Morning all.  It's a bright Sunday morning here in Scotland and I am feeling a wee bit happy with myself, LOL...why?  Well for a start I am up and about, I don't do mornings!  (Believe me when I say it's a miracle on a Sunday morning!) Not only that but I have cake in the oven, smelling yummy!  (I must be coming down with something!)
After updating my blog I am going to sort out my craft bag then I'm away for an afternoon of crafting at our local Hopeman crop.  Whoop!  A good day is planned.

Now my cake could be interesting....remember I had a herman cake recently?  I got one back off a pal and decided to change the recipe.  :0  I know, mad or what?
So instead of using apple I've added carrot and honey...will it work or will it be a quick trip to the supermarket before the crop?!  If smells are anything to go by it's doing mighty fine but I may just have to taste test before going out this afternoon, LOL.  Maybe lashings of cream cheese frosting might help too.

Before we continue with pictures from the show I'd like to share what we got up to yesterday.  Firstly I'd like to give a big "thank you" to all the lovely ladies who came to Elgin yesterday to join me getting all inky with Tim Holtz distress inks and Marion Emberson stamps.  I certainly had a good day and I believe everyone else enjoyed their day too.  Here is the cards we created;

The products we used are;  Distress inks Peeled paint and Broken china.  Stamps all by Marion...It's all in the words, Find joy everyday, Build a tree, Just because and finally On your special day.  Spellbinder dies; Eyelet squares, Classic squares, Lace doily motifs, Butterflies, Long classic rectangles and Ribbon tag trio.  Bling by Zva creative, black seam binding from Elgin, Memento black ink,  PI clear embossing powder with Versamark ink.

With the first card we concentrated on getting the hang of blending the inks together then making a simple scene over the top. 
The second we created the background and then stamped over with the same colour for a different texture.  The butterfly we attached embossing ink whilst still in the die so that only the raised area could be covered (remove from die before applying heat!), this meant that ink could be then added and wiped back....magic!
The third card we again blended the different inks then spritzed with water using a Rangers mini mister, blotting before adding the black ink.

That's my buzzer going for the cake....how long do I have to wait before testing it?! :)
That's all from me today it's time to go and get sorted and packed for this afternoon.  I have a lot of birthdays coming up in March so I think I may try and get ahead of the game this afternoon and do a wee bit of card making.
I hope you all have a lovely Sunday whatever you have planned.