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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 27 May 2015

WOYWW 312 - six whole years of blogging

 What a great achievement - 6 whole years of blogging.  Well done, Julia.  You deserve a medal and our gratitude for putting up with us all for so long.  Thank you for all you do to keep us all going.

I will try to keep it short this week, as we all should but seldom manage.  My first photo is of the treetops that I can see from my craft room.  It just looked so beautiful this week with the different colours of foliage.

The next three photos are less pretty, but do show something of what I have been doing recently.  The things you can see are carefully placed to hide things that you are not allowed to see yet.   There are lots of backgrounds waiting for further inspiration.  Some are created using marbling with alcohol inks on water, and are on a variety of papers and card.  Others are the result of mopping up all the remaining ink left on the blending mat after an inky session.  Often, these mopping up pieces are the most useful as backgrounds.  I am often horrified to see people at classes just ignoring this bounty and washing it away.  What a shame and a waste of valuable inspiration.
 This batch were done on plain white card and a few on the ultra shiny Chromo card.  I like both sets of results.  The biggest difference is in what you can then use to colour in your stamping as coloured pencils work less well on the shiny card.



My final picture also shows the cover of the programme for this year's Land Rover National event which was held not far away at Eastnor Deer Park.  The picture covering the front and back cover shows an event from the past and is believed to be drivers lining up for a scenic drive round the estate, led by its former owner Major Ben Hervey Bathurst,  Note the lack of seat belts, roll cages and roof in many cases,  No Health and Safety in those days.

Now my caravan is finally sold, I only slipped over to see friends for the day, but it is a beautiful place to camp/caravan.

If anyone would like to swap ATCs, I do have a few spare ones apart from the one needed for the official swap, so just let me have your snail mail address and I will get them off to you asap.

Happy Birthday to all you deskers.

25 comments:

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Wow, those look like lovely backgrounds. They are so different and unique. Water and AIs. Never tried that before.

Loved the photo of the vehicles before all the safety regs went into effect. My kind of vehicle! A bit of a joke, but mostly true, since I hate seat belts with a passion. I'm too short and the harness cuts into my neck.

Happy, happy 6th WOYWW anniversary from #1.

Helen said...

Hi, Maggie, you are my swap partner but I believe you had one at crop, if not let me know your address and I'll send it straight off! you have a great view of tree tops as you craft - mine is similar but not quite as pretty!! Helen 9

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Well, I for one am grateful to Julia, because without WOYWW, it's unlikely that we would have ever met. The friendships I've made through this Desky Madness have been quite wonderful. Have a great day :-)
Hugs, LLJ 16 xxxx

Robyn Oliver said...

Hi Maggie, happy 6th WOYWW. Great messy desk there - and I agree, I cringe when all that lovely ink is washed away...you should check out my plastic ink mat on the right side of my desk today - lots to mop up when I finish colouring. Cheers and enjoy your week RobynO#18

Julia Dunnit said...

Morning Maggie...However carefully placed, I'm loving the background pieces, that pinky purple is so pretty, specially with the lime green in it. And..is that a teapot at the back? How very civilised!

Anonymous said...

I saw the AI technique at the crop and loved your samples - I'm keen to give it a try! I wonder - I know certain things ill change the surface tension of the water (like rinse aid) and wonder how that might affect the pattern? Might have to give it a go :)

Happy 6th-anniversary WOYWW!
Mary Anne (3)

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ah dear Maggie so good to be able to pop over and say hi and ...

..and see something of your desk.. so nice the view of the treetops.. and yes .. creativity possibilities are int eh eye pf the beholder.
every blessing dear Maggie ..

I really love your atcs below from the crop well done!!
hugs and happy 312, Shaz in oz.x

{Shaz in Oz – Calligraphy Cards}

Jac said...

What a lovey mess !! I am an offender of chucking the water away, but Now i hear what your saying and i have slapped my hands lol, I will indeed dunk my papers, cards, tags etc in and use it all up. Love that picture of the landrovers as well.


Thanks for the snoop on your workspace
Jac x
N0.39

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Marg, lovely backgrounds. I agree, so much potential wasted by washing a craft mat.Smiling at the landrover pic-H&S would have a fit these days! Lots of love, Shaz xxx

HeARTworks said...

Hi Maggie, I've always wanted to try marbling! I also can say that I use every drop of ink and don't throw it away! So I always have lots of backgrounds around! Happy Anniversary! Patsy

Lisca said...

What a lovely view! Great to see a busy desk.
A Landrover Ralley! How cool is that! Have you got a Landrover yourself?
I’m still travelling but managed to have internet today so I’m visiting as many of you as I can. Happy anniversary all! Six years is quite a long time.
Have a good week and CU Wednesday
Lisca#45

Marit said...

You are so right, the 'left over ink' makes for the most beautiful backgrounds. LOVE what I see on your desk! Happy woyww and 6th anniversary, love from Holland. Marit, #43 & 44 (forgot the asterisk the first time around, oops...)

MrsC.x said...

great backgrounds :)
Happy 6th Anniversary WOYWW-er!
heres to many more
Charlie x #35

Elizabeth said...

Hi Maggie, love your craft room view - very distracting :) The background pieces are lovely, especially that pink and lime combination ... like you I think it's a waste to just wipe ink away. I just have to use it up. The old photo of the rally is very interesting ... how times have changed. Happy WOYWW 6! Have a great week. Elizabeth x #54

Ayala Art said...

Oooooo that paper is dreamy! Lovely ink markings!

Nikki said...

Great view of the trees and wow have you got lots going on at the moment too happy woyww#6 I sent in an envelope in to the crop so not sure if you added one in let me know Hugs Nikki 9

Twiglet said...

Thanks for your pretty little posy of blue flowers - I love to see how everyone interprets our little ATC challenge. Happy 6th WOYWWaversary! x Jo

pearshapedcrafting said...

Love all your drably papers and the mop ups - mine usually go in my journals! I learned to drive in a Landrover so this sounds a great event! Chrisx 65

Cardarian said...

Hi Maggie!

It was lovely meeting you at the crop! I guess putting a face to the blog makes a big difference! Thank you for the ATC -it will be put into a special ATC Anniversary album!
Lots of hugs,
Cardarian

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi, lovely background papers and love the techniques you used. Have a great woyww anniversary day and happy crafting, Angela x 37

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I am one of those crafters who make you shudder since I toss out all the mops up and left over bits--not that I do much that requires a mop up! I love the view out your window, so pretty and green. I love that I can see a lot of green out my window across the room but the reality is it is a huge oleander bush and it drops messy leaves and flowers all year 'round. That tree should come with its own maid! Have fun playing! Judy #73

itsamistry said...

Lovely backgrounds I think that is my favourite part of arting. You have a wonderful view from your craft room. Happy WOYWW anniversary Anita #42

CraftygasheadZo said...

Love your inky backgrounds and your pics! Take care Zo xx 47

CraftygasheadZo said...

Love your inky backgrounds and your pics! Take care Zo xx 47

Kyla said...

Nice creative space and I like the backgrounds.

Kyla #26