Welcome to my blog

I hope you enjoy reading my posts, and please leave me a comment. I always enjoy reading them, and will try to visit you in return.

For security reasons for me and for you, I would appreciate it if you would leave your name on your comments.

You are welcome to copy any of my designs, as long as you do not take credit for them yourself. I am very happy for you to sell them. If I have used anyone else's design, I always try to give credit where it is due. If I have missed anything, please let me know and I will put things right.


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 22 June 2011

WOYWW - 107

My desk this week is a real mess, but I am having a ball.  You can see lots of images in the process of being played with, my red A5 file which is developing into my stamp catalogue, and a lot of other detritus from present projects and past projects.
One of my birthday presents was the large Velvet Lady from Clarity Stamps.  Unfortunately, I still don't have the lamp post to go with her, so I had to improvise and use the one from Cute Companions - not quite right but it will do for the moment.  After all, Barbara does not say we have to copy her exactly, but if giving us ideas from which our own imaginations should take off.    I also used the little spruce tree for the background as I could not think how to create buildings.  To get the shading on the snow, I used a scrunched up pad of kitchen roll, inked up and smoothed out.  With care, it seems to work fairly well.  The lady herself was partially coloured with Promarkers (her skirt) and her jacket and hat were printed and cut from a free downloaded tartan backing paper, which toned quite well with the Promarker.


Then I had a go with the cottage kit, which also involved some use of  things that were a little different from the way Barbara worked, again because my stock is of ink pads is not large .  The first attempt will end up taken apart and redone, but the second was better, but I suspect the next version will be better still.  There are too many trees behind and around the cottage - Geoff said it looked as if it had a beard, so less trees on the next one.  I might try putting a lake in too to get some reflections. (EDIT - tried that and promptly chopped it off, didn't work)


My reflections were very variable too with the brayer, but I think they are getting better.   My first attempt had the same problem as I have taking pictures of the sea - the water was running out.  Never mind, guillotines work wonders to straighten up wonky work.  My first one (not shown) was stamped with the black Adirondack and worked fairly well, being quite dramatic.  The one on the left here was done with Adirondack Slate which I think gives a softer more misty look, which I quite like.  I also really like the blue one (Adirondack Denim).  The background hill on both was done with the kitchen roll pad again.  the tree reflection on the blue one smudged on the brayer, but I think that adds to the watery feel.

I was going to show you the pif I sent to Andria for the 2nd Anniversary, follow the link to her blog at  http://andria-drawingnear.blogspot.com/   .  Her photos are better than mine.  I am glad she finally got it and she says she liked it, so ... result.

Anyway, I think that is enough waffling from me this week and I am sure that you will all have fun by popping over to the residence of our leader, Julia, where you will find lots and lots of fascinating desks with loads of different styles, which you will find at  

25 comments:

Neil said...

Lovely creative space today. Thanks for sharing. Your cards look wonderful too.

Andria said...

Hi Maggie! You'll find your PiF to me featured on my blog today; thank you again for that! Your workspace looks very fun...I'm LOVING those cubbies behind the desk. Your stamped images are lovely! Happy WOYWW!

Hels Sheridan said...

Gorgeous cards... and your desk looks fab in all its busyness... just have to say... LOVE that pincushion... my Nan used ot have one like that... I have a little giveaway on my desk this week ;o))

Anonymous said...

Lovely busy desk there Maggie and great projects on show, although I don't think your lady has quite the right footwear for the snow, lol!!

Hugs
Brenda 81

Emma Williams said...

Lovely to see your creative space and you can tell your husband, from me...that my desk might be tidy but he should see the rest of my room, it's what I call organized chaos! hehe...
Your cards are wonderful and I love the one with the lady...fabulous!

Thank you for the lovely comment you left me earlier...always so good to hear from you!
Love Emma xx

shazsilverwolf said...

Great pics Marg- I see what you mean about Christmas now- oh my, that is SUCH a scary thought! Love Shaz

Twiglet said...

Lovely cards Maggie.

Elizabeth said...

Hi Maggie - snap! We've both been BG inspired this week and I had to do a bit of improvising too. Why is it that we can spend a fortune on stamps, ink and all sorts of crafty stuff but when we come to start a project we do not have the right stuff? It's a mystery. Really like your projects, particularly the lady - her plaid jacket is terrific and you've done a great job of colouring her skirt. Thanks for your comment and, yes, I can see photos on other blogs if they've managed to upload them but I notice I'm not the only one experiencing this problem today. I did try uploading from Picasso but that wasn't successful so I'll look into the other things you mentioned that might be causing me this grief. Of course, I could wake up tomorrow and it will all be okay again - it's happened before :) Hope you have a great week. Elizabeth x #74

Elizabeth said...

Hi Maggie, normal service has been resumed and I've got the photo uploaded at last! Elizabeth x #74

Vicky said...

Fabulous cards! I love the one with the lady and how you've placed the lampost- so elegant!

SueH said...

You’ve obviously mastered the brayer reflections Maggie, your card look great. I’ve had a few goes at it but never seem to get it right so the brayed is banished to the back of the cupboard at the moment. Lol!
Loving your new stamp too and the lamp post looks fine.

Happy Crafting
Sue
x

okienurse said...

Nice desk this week. Love all the projects and you do a great job with that brayer and coloring your images. Thanks for sharing. Vickie #107

Hettie said...

Lovely cards you have been working on. I often just like to sit and play to see different ways of doing things. Well done.
Thanks for your kind words on your visit. Hugs xx

Angie said...

Thanks for the advice ...I'm looking into it ..and my finances.
That lady with the lamp is stunning ...as is the refection pieces.

ScrappnBee said...

beautiful images! Love a messy desk! That means a well used space...well, and mine is never clean either! LOL! Love all your stamp images! You are very talented. Thanks for sharing! -Amanda (Scrappnbee) #41

The Crafty Elf said...

OH MY GOSH! I just love your work this week, it is stunning. All of it! Wow! Your reflections are beautiful. I love that Velvet lady and I know I'm repeating how much I love what you did this week, but I do. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful work. Such great inspiration.

ShazInOzCardsCalligraphy said...

Lovely things to see there Maggie and great pif too (went over and had a peek).. well done you!! also thanks for popping over and commenting regularly on my blog you make my day! and thanks for sharing, happy WOYWW! Shaz in oz.x

JoZart Designs said...

Your desk looks great but it's scary even thinknig about the "C******s" word... Eek.. .can't cope! LOL!
JoZarty x

Hettie said...

Hi Maggie - Thanks for your message. I am definately going to stamp on the phone covers. Practise first then go for it on the real one! I have new Butterfly stamps coming today so maybe I will use them (as if I need any more butterflies, but they were bought by my Mum in law for my birthday!!!. Will let you know what happens!

Sandie said...

Hi Maggie. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such a thoughtful comment. Your cards a amazing - love some of the techniques you mentioned and I must buy myself a promarker. They seem all the rage at the moment.

Anonymous said...

You have got some fabulous effects there, you could teach a class much better than I can with your skills. I only have 3 or 4 friends around once a month to just show a little of what can be done. Keeps me learning too as I try to do something different each time. This month it was a stepper card and making flowers. Next month I've called it 'Stamping magic' so will be looking around for some simple but different things to do with stamps. Keeps me on my toes.
x Tricia

Unknown said...

Wow your reflections are stunning. I wish I could master this technique. It is so effective. I am always in awe of Barbara's demos. My results are always (without failure) stripey! Loving your desk too. That storage is fab (and super organised). Thanks for visiting my desk this week ;0) xx

Eileen said...

Looks like you have 'mastered' the reflections Maggie .... I just adore Clarity Stamps but some of my efforts 'hit the bin' lol .... have a good weekend

E xx

akilli melek said...

fab cards and if you hadn't mentioned about the lamp post not being the right one I would never have noticed.
thanks for popping by earlier, I will try letting the images dry out before using my promarkers and see if that helps as you suggest.
caroline 113

JoZart Designs said...

Woo hoo! Congratulations Maggie ... you have won 1st prize in my blog candy so pop over to my blog.
Love JoZarty x