Wednesday 4 January 2012

WOYWW 135 - Happy New Year

So, all that preparation and it's over in a flash! Happy New Year, the first Wednesday of 2012 finds us all back at Julia's checking out the desks of the world again. Sorry I didn't get to many of you last week, you may have seen I was away decorating at my Mum's house - it's going to be a long job but we did quite well for 3 days hard - very hard - work!!  My sister in law took some pictures but I don't have them yet. (hint hint, if you're reading this!)

So I can show you my floor today -

Some up-cycling from Christmas - the ribbons/berries are from the crackers, the scallop shells were part of our Christmas dinner starter, the corks - well you can guess! and the tins and boxes are from Mum's sewing box that we cleared out whilst we were there - buttons and bits and bobs which I will be "filing" into my stash - soon....

In the background is my Christmas pressie from Richard and Lynne (brother and sister-in-law)  - some new Tim stamps - just need it to be Christmas time to use them now!!

We were down at Mum's house for 3 days and got her bedroom stripped - of furniture to start with - then the wallpaper off the walls (the whole house is covered in wood chip wallpaper, what hard work that was and will continue to be!) then we had to wash the walls & ceiling and start the painting - got one coat done so far....  there's a long way to go but not a bad start!
You may also be amazed to hear that since I got back I have done some clearing out HERE too.... need to get rid of a lot of old tat - so made a start at the weekend, took one sack of clothes to the charity shop and threw out a load of old videos that I can no longer watch and a huge pile of magazines - not crafting ones, obviously!  2012 is my de-clutter year.... and that's the closest I will get to a New Year's Resolution.  Not setting a timescale either - but if it gets to a stage where you would notice the difference, I'll show you!

Anyhow, I have rambled on longer than I intended. I have to get my brother's birthday card made - he's hitting 50 on Friday!!
Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a good week.

41 comments:

sandra de said...

Sounds like you have been super busy and it is hard work. But, I am sure it will be worth all the effort. De-clutter for 2012 is such a good idea but my craft desk is in the way!! You certainly picked up some lovely treasures.

voodoo vixen said...

Sounds like you have had a busy time... I need to do some painting but I haven't gotten the urge to get brushes and roller out of the garage yet!! I like the idea of de-cluttering... as long as it doesn't inlcued my scrap room!!

Neet said...

hi Helen - well you have certainly attacked the new year with some gusto. Where did you get all that energy? Afraid I have been a bit of a couch potato.
Love that you save the bits fro the crackers - I do that too - rarely use them though and then wonder why I bothered. Maybe I should get them out and begin - like you could use your new stamps and make a head start on the C Cards - or would that be a tad too much!
Take care, be happy and thanks for sharing with us - Hugs, Neet #1

Tertia said...

Certainly sounds like you are going to be working very hard this year.
Good luck with all the jobs you have lined up. I find decluttering to be very healing. Makes me feel a whole lot lighter inside.
Happy WOYWW and a very happy New Year to you!

Inkypinkycraft said...

Christmas stash, love it and I have some of those berries off crackers too!!!great aren't they!!!happy woyww hugs trace x

jude said...

You sound like youve been busy over christmas period...wood chip hate it!nightmare to scrap off don't envy you there.Loving the christmas Tim stamps you could always start early with your cards!
Have fab wednesday hugs judex 10

Lunch Lady Jan said...

I LOVE sorting out and decluttering - it's good for the soul!! Good for you for doing so much, blimey, your energy is amazing. I've been sorting out as The Salvation Army are collecting locally and I really admire the work they do, so that's going to be my charity for the year :)
Happy New Year!
Hugs, LLJ #34 xx

Annie said...

Hehehe sounds like you have caught the sorting bug now....if you get a free minute or twenty I'm sure I can find you a bit to do here :-)
Happy 2012. Hope you have many many happy creative hours in the year ahead.
Hugs,
A x

Kath Stewart said...

happy new year helen...thanks for the first crafty snoop of the year..wishing you a happy 2012...hugs kath (29) xxx

Neil said...

Happy New year to you. I hope 2012 is a full, busy, fun and creative time for you. You've been busy I see. I've also been having a bit of a clear out too. Love the new stamps too. Why don't you make a start on the 2012 cards with them.... ps, the deer can be used for lovely spring and summer cards too....
Neil#49(ish)

Joanne said...

What a busy girl. At this rate Christmas will be here again so you can use your stamps. Happy new year.
Hugs Joanne xx

Julia Dunnit said...

Oh my gosh, all that work at your Mum's is carrying over to your place....good for you, hope the motivation doesn't wear off too soon. I don't mind the clearing, it's the what to do with it when you're faced with a bunch of bin bags! Good luck with the card for Bro, haven't yet had to start a card...more delaying!!

May said...

You've been so busy, hopefully soon you will have sometime for you to play with your christmas goodies x x Hugs May x x x x

Lesley Edmonds said...

Oooo lots to do!!!! Good luck on your decluttering!!!!
Happy New Year Helen x

Glenda said...

Sounds like you have lots and lots going on this week. January is the month for decluttering!

Ann B said...

I saved my cracker berries as well but mine are gold. We went out for Christmas lunch and the crackers are from the then. I had to 'rescue' them as the waitress was clearing them from the table - she thought I was loopy.
Don't envy you having to strip off the woodchip, it is a real pain in the ... I have bad memories of doing the same a few years ago and vowed I would move house before I had to do it again.
Ann B
#42

Helen T said...

Wow what a busy week... Happy crafting during 2012.

nerllybird said...

Ooh, you've been industrious. Chucking out going on here, too - I'm just no good at actually getting the stuff to its destination! Good to see some upcycling, I chose my crackers based on the fact that they were adorned with spotty ribbon...
Helen S

Cathy said...

I like what i am seeing ... ew didn't have any useful recycling bits this year :( Fab pressies in the background.
Happy WOYWW
Cathy xx

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a really busy week but it's best to tackles these things immediately and not put them off. Good on you for the declutter at home too, I think we should all do that once in a while! Lovely new goodies, especially the buttons, and I take the decorations off the crackers too!

Hugs
Brenda 76

Hettie said...

You don't have to wait until Christmas to use those stamps. Join in with Sandra and I on Rudolph Day! We are planning 10 cards/tags by 25th of each month so that we have alot done early!
Love your buttons and stuff.
Happy New Year.

Angie said...

Oh my how I remeber wood chip ...and the horrors of removing it.

My 'declutter' year was 2005 ...when I moved ...cut my things by half ...but as I am half sqirrel the cupboards and loft are all groaning again ....maybe its time for another lol. Happy New Year to you and yours.xx

Artyjen said...

Happy New Year! Wood chip? Ooh that's difficult stuff to remove! Good luck with that.
xoxo Sioux

Twiglet said...

What a good start to the year - clearing out and stuff to recycle and upcycle. Have a great 2012. x Jo

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Great bit of recycling there Helen from Christmas, I always keep bits from crackers. Well done on starting to clear your mum's house. Some great presents too. Happy New Year. Tracy x

shazsilverwolf said...

Great bit odf stash there, especially the Tim stamps,Happy new Year, Shaz x

JoZart Designs said...

Wow! you're on a roll in the clearing out stakes. I bet you can't wait to show us up by putting it on WOYWW! The bit that made me laugh was all the bits and bobs you are saving in the hope they come in handy... .corks, shells etc..... I thought you were clearing out!!!
Good luck for 2012! Hope it goes well with your Mums plae too,
love JoZarty x

Katie said...

You have been super busy! We had that wood stuff in my house we moved into it. It took us forever to get it off the walls, but I was a kid and thought it was fun!

Jacqui Chimes said...

Hi Helen - glad you are OK - my craft room got a good sort out this week - must be new year-itis

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Decluttering is good for the soul and even kind of soothing. You have been one busy person for sure!

Elizabeth said...

Woodchip wallpaper, ugh! It's got to be the hardest wallcovering to remove ever!! Good luck with the decluttering and when you need a break there's those lovely Timmy stamps to work with instead. All the best, Elizabeth x #60

yoursartfully said...

Hey Helen,

Woodchip wallpaper, gosh that brings back some memories and not good memories either, no wonder you're pooped!!!!

Nice to see that you managed to bring home some useful stuff though.

Lin x

Enfys said...

A great first crafty peek of the year - it sounds as if you have had a very busy start. Getting that woodchip stuff off is a nightmare isn't it?. Happy new year!
hugs
Enfys

Anne said...

You have been very busy. We are hopefully going to decorate my Mum's Thanks for sharing and a Happy New Year. Anne x

Robin Panzer Art said...

You are a busy, busy Gal! I don't envy you the woodchip project! Good luck with the decluttering project!Happy WOYWW #5 Robin Panzer Art Studio 33

Hazel said...

You've been busy. Like the new stamps - why wait till Christmas? I make Christmas cards all year, so I would be inking those up very soon - I even have my own challenge blog to encourage others to make Christmas cards throughout the year (Hazel, WOYWW 108) x

Unknown said...

You must be very organized to be doing all of this. Your Mum is lucky to have you decorating. Makes it more fun.

Netty said...

Oh wow you have been super busy Helen. Happy New Year, xx

Alison said...

Thanks for sharing your floor Helen! Great recycling! Never too early to start on the Christmas cards! Lol! x

Carmen said...

Wow so, so busy. You must just be completely knackered!

Thank you for the welcome back Helen. Now, If I tried laying on THAT desk I would end up splat on the floor with the desk on top of me. I had to downsize for the new house, am so squished! BUT my old desk is out in the workshop, covered in Craigs paperwork at the mo but supposedly kept for me to paint on... HOWEVER there may be in existence a barely clad photo of me wearing not much else but my Gauche Alchemy apron, sprawled across our dining room table. LOL. The things I'll do for a free apron!

As for Rocking Fridays - Oh I do hope you'll play along, it really does help funnily enough when you are feeling at your worse.

Hugs x

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi there Helen , thanks so much for popping over, and for sharing. You did get some nice stash from Christmas and from mums well done you on the cleaning out too, sounds great!Happy WOYWW! Love, Shaz in Oz. x #24