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This is intended to be mainly about my crafting stories, as a personal record of what I do. However, I interpret crafting quite widely, not just paper crafting but other things too. I have a butterfly mind and like to change from one thing to another depending on what I feel like on a given day - knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, cards, baking and several others, including my favourite right now, parchment, both traditional skills and Groovi, very relaxing and calming to do.

I have decided to put some structure into my blog so that each day will have something of a theme.
Monday- for Mindfulness; Tuesday - Tidy Up Day; Wednesday - What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday; Thursday - Technique and Tips; Friday - Finish Off Day; Saturday - Start Something New; Sunday - Anything Goes
These themes are not hard and fast and will be changed if I feel the need.

Wednesday 30 March 2011

WOYWW - 95

This was my desk on Tuesday afternoon, after I had finished off several annoying little jobs that had been hanging on.  You can see a Kindle, which has just had a new book loaded on to it (I prefer to do that through the computer rather than use Wi-Fi, and it then finished charging up through the USB.  The two black covers are hiding two half terrabyte removable hard drives, which I use to move stuff from one computer to another. The second picture is specially to show Jana.  My pincushion is a different colour, but otherwise just the same.Other than that, not much to be seen.

What I had removed, written and put in their envelopes, was all the cards I need for family and friends for April.  I have to do them early, so I can get May done, which is a big month for my family.  One part of the family is inconsiderate enough to have all their birthdays and anniversaries in May.  I tend to do them all, put them into one large envelope and send them all off together to one address for them to sort out.

I also did some cards to enter into the Less is More challenge this week, which you can find at http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/.  I thought that this would be an easy task, but it really stretched my poor little brain.  However, I did get some cards out of it that I was happy with and had a use for.  It made me look very differently at some of the things I had got in my cupboards.  The first two were just what I wanted for my two twin sisters-in-law, and had to be finished early so their brother (my husband, of course) could sign them himself and avoid family upset.  They were both based on Crafters Companion Flower Fairies, using the Rose Fairy.  I printed the background direct to the card, together with the sentiment, and the borders, which came from MCS Papercraft Library.  The cameos were also the Rose Fairy, and I edged them with a Red Krylon pen, which had the added advantage of masking any odd bits of white card left from cutting out.  Then I added a little glitter to her wings.

The next one was using a new set of stamps, based on Jane Austen.  This card is for a friend, who loves Jane Austen as much as I do.  I used distressed ink for this one, and blended the ink to soften the outline, and "paint" it in.  The sentiment came from the same set, as did the little cameo.  After I had cut that out, I sprayed it with gold glitter to give it some sparkle.  Then I used another Krylon, the pale gold, to hide the bad bits of cutting out again.  The ribbon was in my box and came from a set of Laura Ashley ribbons, which I thought complimented the image quite well.

The final one for this week (if you have not already nodded off), was also using the Vintage photo distressed ink, and a feather stamp from Clarity Stamps to cover the bottom part of the card.  Another ribbon from the Laura Ashley collection gave me the border.  I cannot remember where I got the owl from, but I thought he fitted the space well.  I trimmed the edges with shaped scissors, sprayed it with gold glitter.  You might be seeing a trend here - the fact that I like glitter (more sparkle that glitter).

I have also been busy trying to sort out some of my stock cards, putting them with their envelopes and into cello bags to protect them from all the plaster dust etc for when I need them.  Perhaps, tomorrow, I can get down to some more playing as well as doing May's cards.  I also hope to follow Elizabeth's example and do one or two Christmas cards and get a head start on that effort.
If you are still with me, then you might like to pop over to our leader, Julia, who kindly hosts the What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/    where you will find over 100 other desks and crafty things to feast your eyes on.

PS which way up should you keep your Tim Holtz distress ink pads.  I picked up a new one off my shelf (admittedly, it is 2 years old, but still sealed) and it was unuseable, all dry and ink free>  should I have stored it upside down?

26 comments:

Helen said...

I think your "less is more" cards are fab - all of them! I haven't joined in this challenge yet as - you have seen my blog!! - I am not really a less is more kinda gal!!

MvM-design said...

Nice desk , thanks for sharing!!
Happy Wednesday;-)

Caroline Hallett said...

Christmas cards already - gosh you are organised. nice Less is More cards and thanks for sharing - happy WOYWW

nnalorac said...

Love your Less is More cards Maggie, find them quite hard, hopefully will give the challenge a go soon when I can find some time! I had one of those pin cushions years ago, think it got the heave ho in a big tidy up! Have a lovely day. Carolxx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Well here we are with another WOYWW, Maggie! – quite a bit going on here again, do love the less is more!!
thanks so much for sharing..
Shaz in oz. x #71 (not 35, wrong link on first one!)

Karen said...

I love the pin cushion Maggie, its gorgeous did you make it?? Lots of really beautiful cards too :)
Have a great WOYWW,
Karen #79

Victoria said...

gorgeous book marks

Spyder said...

Lovely 'less is more' cards I must have a go at doing that!! Happy WOYWW!!
((Lyn)) #51!

Susanne said...

It's always good to have a day where you can get around to those type of chores. I'm one to procrastinate on little jobs more than big ones.

Jana said...

Love your goodies on display. I've been toying with the idea of getting a digital reader myself. Hmmm. LOVE your pin cushion. It's adorable. LOL. Your cards are wonderful. Why is it always such a chore to get our dear husbands to sign the cards?!?!?!

kaz said...

Loving all your Less is more cards, I love that Challenge sometimes it's nice to just make a Simple card.
Thanks for sharing
Crafty Kaz .

Sue Althouse said...

I read somewhere that it is not necessary to store Distress Inks upside down, but apparently this is misinformation? Thanks for the peek and thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment!

Marjo said...

Wonderful DL cards, Thanks for the peek and sharing. Have a great WOYWW

Hugs Marjo #22 oops thats 23

The Crafty Elf said...

Very funny post and I read right to the bottom so there you go. Lovely challenge cards, I made one as well to enter. Just found less is more and I'm liking it a lot - just sayin. Thanks for letting me peek and happy WOYWW.

sandra de said...

I love your cards they are always so elegant. Being a Jane Austen fan I am impressed you have the stamps for cards. I have to ask .... do you read Jane Austen's books every year??? I also like the blue cover of your kindle I bought a red cover after much indecision.

Anonymous said...

Great workdesk - I am sure I was watching in tim holtz video and he said it didn't matter which way round ink pads are stored they all need re-inking eventually

RosA said...

Love that Jane Austen stamp! And the owl is gorgeous too. Am wondering what stamp companies they are?

DottyA Cards & Things said...

My Goodness! I'm wore out just reading all you did this week... You got any extra MOJO you can send me... Boy I need some...
Love your pincushion too,,,Beautiful!
Thanks for sharing!!

Ruth said...

Gosh, you have been busy! These are all beautiful cards in their own way. I make such a mess that I'd never show anyone my workspace lol! Thanks for all the lovely comments on my blog...you're too kind, Ruth x

Anonymous said...

I just have to say thank you for visiting me and that I love your optimism that using your stash will give you more room. You're just going to fill it with new stash!

I love your cards. Such a beautiful layout and you show how easy it is to mix it up.

Thanks for sharing,
cheers, rachel #70

Hettie said...

Those cards are really gorgeous! Where did you get the Jane Austin stamps from? Will have to Google them. Thanks for your kind comments. Sorry I am so late but the internet crashed when I was wandering round the desks - again! The very nice man came earlier but it is still a little flakey! Ho Hum!!

peggy aplSEEDS said...

lovely cards! i especially like the ones for your twin sister in laws. lovely cameos. too bad about that ink pad. i wouldn't know how they should have been stored.

rach said...

Late visiting people this week! those cards are really pretty

Nicky said...

Love your less is more cards - my promarkers grow as they are only a couple of quid each DH didnt mind me picking up a couple a week - I kept a card in my bag so I knew which one I had lol

Elizabeth said...

Hi Maggie, again, I really thought I'd visited your WOYWW post already but clearly not :( Still better late than never. I now have 13 Christmas cards stockpiled and I'm really pleased with that because I won't get stressed nearer the end of the year. I wonder if it is better to store TH ink pads upside down - seen quite a few desks where they are stored that way. Maybe we should as Tim himself when he gets back from South Africa! August really is a wicked month for me, seven birthdays, including both my children. Hope this week was not as hectic as last week seems to have been. Take care, Elizabeth x #96

Hettie said...

Thanks for your message re Jane Austin stamps. Will place order whilst I am recouperating for some retail therapy!!