WOYWW 499

Well good day to you all and Happy Boxing Day!    I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day yesterday,  whether you were with family or loved ones, or celebrating by yourselves.

I am scheduling this because I am going to be at my brother's for Christmas Day and today so not sure what time I'll be home to link up...   and I am assuming there will be a WOYWW today anyway!

my pile of gifts all wrapped and ready to go to Richard's...





I forgot to point you last desk day to the post about our office Christmas party (which was here)


but I also (of course) had another morning at Kew last Saturday (avoiding the madness in the shops with last minute shoppers)  and that is here 

 I leave you with my sunny kitchen window sill and a couple of festive Poinsettias, one I bought and one I brought home from the office Christmas window display.

Not sure how long I'll be able to keep them alive as they are notoriously picky but I've given them a drink to hopefully see them over my Christmas break at least!







I'd just like to thank Julia for hosting this amazing desk sharing each week, and hopefully next year I will have "proper" things on the floor to share with you (not holding out any hopes for a proper desk, yet, although my knees would appreciate it)
See you next week for the big 5-0-0.  Happy WOYWW

WOYWW 498 it's the final countdown...

things seem to be getting pretty organised, dare I say it...

my floor desk is ready for gift wrapping duties...

the hamper was donated to me (we received a thank you gift from a client and along with some of the contents, they all knew I'd be able to use the container!!  They don't even ask now!)







however not sure my knees will let me get down there this evening.  it was pouring with rain on the way home tonight (always prep this post on a Tuesday night) and I took a tumble in the rain on a bumpy pavement because my blasted umbrella kept blowing inside out and I was wrestling with that and two bags (including the hamper) and fell flat.... ouch!  so it may get put off till tomorrow night after the hairdressers!   (not badly hurt, bit bruised but felt a right wally!)

 I was watching the Liverpool v Man Utd game on Sunday and when we got our two goal cushion I relaxed and started to play in a journal... been so long!

 I also got out some Christmas decorations on Sunday, there is no room for a Christmas tree, (you've seen why, every Wednesday!)

but the living room and hall window sills get decorated..

this is the day time shot (ignore the dirty window)

 looks much nicer at night!

and the hall..  seem not to have got a night shot!

so that's me.... Christmassed, and journalled!!

will be round to see your desks later - as many as I can before work, then what I can after the hairdresser after work.  I'll be there eventually!

Oh, I forgot... my stats show a huge surge in visitor numbers recently on the WOYWW posts... not sure if it's only me or any of you have noticed... coming from some very dodgy websites!  No idea how or even if I can block them, there doesn't seem to be a way.... Anyone else had that?  It is only on WOYWW posts....  talking of which, here's the link to join in....

It has just occurred to me that I should wish you all  a very Happy Christmas as this is our last gathering before the big day!  So thank you for your visits over the year, and eat, drink and be merry!  

WOYWW 497 or, it's beginning to look a lot like....

Well that week went fast didn't it!  Here we are again, grouping for roll call at Julia's  time to share desks once more.

 I can't share any more of the final version of these cards, as the recipients may happen to see...






I managed to do my Christmas shopping at the weekend, I think I have got everything... even put a couple of gifts in the post...




The Christmas card-writing fairy failed me whilst I was out shopping, so I had to write them myself...

This was the pile ready for posting on Monday morning....  they should be well on their way by now.

 

but I'd run out so there is another little pile in progress for the last few needed (I hope!)


and, the true sign that Christmas is just around the corner - the double issue of Radio Times, Christmas tv guide...

Am marking off what I want to watch and/or record.... had a surprise phone call from my brother on Sunday whilst I was out shopping, and am invited for Christmas day (and to stay overnight)  so anything I really want to watch I will set to record
Visiting my brother  will be great, for the last few years I've been here, cooking solo Christmas dinner (nothing wrong with that, no-one to fight for the remote control) but company at Christmas is always better and even though my niece and nephew are now quite grown up, it will be good fun. 

Looking forward to seeing what you've all been up to - I would love to think there will be some non-Christmas crafting to share by this time next week; I am quite ready for something other than Christmas cards!  I can feel a journal calling me....

WOYWW 496

So it's December... not entirely sure how that happened!  I am still working on Christmas cards, think I just have a few special ones to make now.. but I am so not in the mood any more!   But we're here for WOYWW - meeting like minded desk-sharers at Julia's

these were a few I finished at the weekend that I'd shared last week - used some of the new JoFY words as I planned.  . 

Last Friday saw me at the Christmas at Kew event which I told you about, and it was magical!  We were lucky that the rain of the previous few nights went away and it was mild too, I can't resist adding a link to my post about it -  Christmas at Kew 

In case you don't have time to follow the link, and as there really isn't a lot happening here, I'll add a couple of photos here too.

 this tree was spectacular

but the laser light show over the Palm House was magical.


Happy WOYWW and see you (and your much more crafty desks)  soon! 

WOYWW(or T) 495

So lovely Julia is away with Jan and scheduled... early!  It really threw me this morning when the blog came up in my reader list ...  however, I am now writing at my usual time and will join the early gang, a live non scheduled post! Hop on over to the Stamping-Ground to find out all about it..

 so this was my "desk" in action on Sunday morning...  Christmas card production line going...

and this was me in action squashed up against the sofa on the floor in my normal crafting position!    Self timer on the phone is a great invention!

 this was my "desk" this morning, aerial shot... the yellow cards were some extra makes from later on at the weekend, a JoFY stamp for Paperartsy, and some yellow spray - an A4 sized sheet of ordinary copy paper (which held up very well to the spray and water) to make some more cards...got 4 and some strips left out of that

the pile on the right are the "done" ones - ready to write - 41 of them...   I have some "special" ones left to make for my favourite blog buddies and my brother, and then I think I'm nearly done!

and this is as it looks tonight as I write..

the goodies are a Paperartsy blog prize (long story, won it months ago but they had some production issues with the aprons that were meant to be the prize, so they've reverted to a voucher to buy what you like from their website)

I ordered them on Sunday and they were here waiting for me when I got home from work.  The big (JoFY) Christmas words I'll use for the front of the 4 yellow cards... perfect!

So, an early What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday (Tuesday)  this week- will give me a head start in the morning and I'll find you at your desks very soon!

WOYWW 494

Well another week has flown by, it's time to join in our weekly desk sharing day... The Stamping-Ground for all the details
I can't believe how time is flying... not done a thing about Christmas shopping (thank goodness there isn't much to get!) 
I have however, cracked on a bit with the cards...

Sunday morning saw me cutting up my masterboards and sizing them to card blanks, I even got a few made up (see the grumpy penguins which have made a welcome return this year)  I finished mounting the original batch of images to card blanks too....

Still a way to go, but Kew just calls me on a Saturday... the photos from last week were just stunning, the colours... oh wow!  see them all here  but I'll add a couple here to tempt you over!

and this little guy came out in the Princess of Wales glasshouse again too (he's a Chinese Water Dragon, a type of lizard) 

Looking forward to visiting you desks soon!

WOYWW 493 - not a lot

Oops, here we are at Wednesday and I've done nothing more to my Christmas cards and have nothing to show.  Show?  for WOYWW - desk sharing fun hosted by the lovely Julia at the Stamping-Ground
Apart from some shopping from when I went to the Imperial War Museum last Saturday -

a beautiful poppy scarf, a postcard of the poppy display there, and a leather bound hand-made notebook.

the bag they put it in was quite interesting too.

the photo is a bit bright as I used the flash, and the leather is a little darker than it seems.

it's a dinky little thing!!

 I shared lots of photos from Saturday on t'other blog - here if you want to see all of them (including some other places I visited too)

but here are a few of my favourites

they look so beautiful

WOYWW 492

We're here again!  Gathering for our weekly desk-share desk-bare fun!   What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday
Julia has the linkup here... 

 the supplies I had out last week, have been put to use, I have created 4 sheets of tissue masterboard backgrounds


I abandoned the distress oxides after a couple of layers on the first one, and reverted to Paperartsy Fresco paint (my go-to!)  although one (bottom left) I did use Infusions. 

after that I stamped a layer of Christmas images - words, snowflakes, and some stars. 










Obviously, because that would mean I was far too organised, I haven't done anything else and actually cut them up and put them on card blanks!

but we have a little more progress!

So that's me for this week; I'll catch up with your desks very soon!  If you  missed it, last weekend's trip to Kew is here   Not sure if I'll go this weekend, I want to visit the Imperial War Museum (London) to see the Tower Poppies and some other exhibits in remembrance of the end of WW1; but the weather isn't meant to be great so I may force myself to stay home and make Christmas cards!!  Watch this space, as they say! 

WOYWW 491

welcome to a Halloween WOYWW  week 491..  Not that there's anything remotely Halloweeny here, it's just the end of October already (what the actual heck?)   -  as  I am gathering ingredients and trying to force myself to carry on with Christmas card production...

I'm falling behind so am intending to get some masterboards done, to make big backgrounds to cut up ...  got some distress oxides ready to use and some JoFY Paperartsy stamps ready to use, and 12x12 tissue paper for lightweight adding to card bases.

At the front are some tickets for the Christmas at Kew event that I am going to with some of my work colleagues at the end of November (just need to keep them somewhere safe now) .  I know November is early for Christmas events but the dates we could do in December had already sold out.  You'll have seen photos of the lights in daylight on my blog before, and I can't wait to see the trail at night.
This link tells you more about it

Not that I am actually making Christmas cards as I write this, because it's the Great British Bake Off final on tv... gotta get back to it! 

WOYWW 490

Happy WOYWW again - the day we meet at Julia's and share our crafty spaces.

Trouble is, nothing has happened here since last week!  I can't share my untouched Christmas cards again but I couldn't bear not to join in as I haven't missed a week in years.

so, time to 'fess up, a staged desk!  well, a staged floor....

 a journal page I did for the France Papillon challenge (I must be 8 weeks behind at least) and I haven't done any for ages now, not even a single layer .   (and I can't even remember if I already shared this...but it's the last one that is finished!)

this was a week where the prompt was 'my ideal day'  which, you won't be surprised to hear, featured Kew Gardens (for last Saturday's visit see here)  My reference to emergency party shopping the previous week intrigued some of you... accessorising for a dress to wear to a party at my boss's last Saturday - so no, Jan, no thigh high boots!   but I still managed a few hours at Kew in the sunshine in the morning.   

oh, and the party was great - I amazed my work colleagues by dancing (badly, have no sense of rhythm - I'd be rubbish on Strictly!) for most of the evening, 

so, my staged desk.  hopefully next week, something else will have happened to share properly! 

Neet wanted to see a pic of the new party dress... well it's about 20 (at least ) years old  and only a poor selfie as there is no-one to take one of me here...

WOYWW 489 - told you...

..that it would grind to a halt that is..    but before I share my desk, let's introduce why we're here... it's Wednesday... it's time for WOYWW  (anyone else championing Crackerjack there?!)    Again.   wasn't it just Wednesday?

so I spent ALL day at Kew last Saturday (6 hours, nearly 700 photos.... ) if you wanted to you could check them out here (obviously not ALL of them!)  and Sunday it was wet, so after some emergency party wear shopping I did very little. 

Before I went out however, I did assemble some more of the Christmas cards .. but I told you it was too good to be true, no more have been added to the total .   They need glitter or bling of some sort, too.    I know this is a bit of a cheat of a "desk" share this week - sorry!

I am delighted that the details of next year's WOYWW crop have been announced (here on Julia's if you  missed it) and I really hope to go - ten years needs to be celebrated!

Here's one of the Kew photos to whet your appetite - mainly because this is too short and sweet even for me !

WOYWW 488 don't all faint, but....

Well hello deskers and happy Wednesday....

time to report for duty once again at Julia's   share and bare all.... desk wise 

so, why am I warning you?  

I had an idea pop into my head, for a theme for some of this year's Christmas cards....

when I unexpectedly went to Kew after all on Saturday (yes, I got WET!) I put it off for a day but..

I was awake early on Sunday to watch the F1 Grand Prix which started a stupid-o'clock (6am uk time) and afterwards I thought.. well I'm up... get on with it.

It's one of my all time favourite stamps, a poinsettia by Penny Black, one of their brush art range, from years and years ago..

and  of course, Distress Oxides...

I used a variety of not very traditional Christmas colours (love to do that!) and in no time at ll I had about 18 (see first pic) stamped up ready to mount up - my favourites turned out to be the blues! 

and I have even matted and layered some of them into almost finished cards!! 











It took me a while to find card blanks to match the colours of ink I had used - but at least they're all stored in colour-organised boxes!  of course, the ones I wanted were all at the bottom of the piles..

can you tell I used to make a lot of cards!  

Go me!!  Early October and I've started.... will probably all grind to a horrible halt now, but at least there are some done.

well partly done... no middles stamped (I don't use inserts, just stamp straight onto the card base.) 

so, that's me... what have you got to show and tell this week?  I'll be over soon.. 

WOYWW 487 - back to work

So my time off work has come to an end and I am back to work today... had a great few days though, some glorious warm sunshine and lots of photos - couple of trips to Kew (here and here) , one to London and one to Hampton Court..    Somehow we have found ourselves in October... how did that happen?! 

time quickly to share a floor space for WOYWW  with Julia and the gang
I didn't go out anywhere on Tuesday to give my legs a rest (and the camera!)

 I got a few more layers done on a couple of the FB challenge for France Papillon..

this one is "pretty in pink"

and this one is "nobody said it was easy"

bit random on this one..


of course I didn't make a start on the dreaded Christmas cards (it was only a very vague idea, the weather was much too nice to stay in!)
guess I will have to soon though.

I'll visit as many desks as I can before work, the rest once I get home.

WOYWW 486

Welcome to another week of desks... Julia is hosting, as always - catch the link here 
I'll be late this week getting to your desks - and linking too, as I am off work for a week and taking an early trip to Kew today so unless Julia is really early, I will miss when the post goes live and have to catch up later.

but, you're here for a desk.. not that I have one of course; still working on the floor.

 the stencils I was waiting for last week arrived, and have been tested already... should have included the results... hang on I'll see if I can find them


(more stencils you say... yes. . what of it.... there can never be too many stencils) 

aerial shot of the tatty rug and my France Papillon journal (page doesn't really fit the theme but it's another one finished...)

here's the test of the harlequin stencil.  was only playing so it's not meant to be fabulous.



Anyhow, I will visit your desks when I can,
catch up later! 

WOYWW 485

Time for WOYWW again - saying nothing about how fast it's come round again

the new stash I was waiting for last week of course arrived on Wednesday but I don't know how to edit posts on my phone and I was at work, so had to save them for today..


two of the sets of texture fantasy/rust pastes by Finnabair for Prima. 

I did get to Ally Pally on Saturday, arriving about 12.30 after I'd been to Kew

this is the Stampers Grove stand who have taken the Paperartsy space in the hall and had a fairly good range of their stamps on show...





Lauren was demoing for Stampers Grove with some of the new Paperartsy stamps







when I arrived I thought it looked fairly busy but it soon seemed be thin out (it was lunchtime I suppose...)

 


and these few pics I took certainly make it look empty..


I did bump into Erika shortly before I left - I only stayed 2 hours - but no photo evidence to prove it!

I really didn't buy much - I don't think those of you I mentioned this to on Facebook afterwards really believed me... but this is it!

one set of stamps, 3 stencils, an ink pad (heard so many good things about the Versafine Clair inks, so thought I'd try a black one) and some odd bits and pieces. 
I can't remember the last time I bought so little at a craft show!

There just wasn't a lot there that was my kind of thing, a lot of stands with "everything's £1" or cheap bulk buys, or packs of card - I have enough to stock them myself -   and without the major draw of Paperartsy, I don't think I'll be going again..

I was lucky enough to be given a ticket by someone who couldn't make it, so it was worth going just to see what it was like without Paperartsy, if only to prove to myself what I suspected...

I finally managed a bit of crafting- my boss and another girl at work have birthdays this week so I made a couple of cards - forgot to take decent photos before I sealed the envelopes...

I made some backgrounds over some patterned paper and used some of my new distress oxides for the stamping - gathered twigs, which is a dark brown, and wild honey (the silhouette on the right was stamped first in wild honey then overstamped in gathered twigs as it wasn't dark enough)

I found a bottle of liquid pearls for the centre of the row of flowers that I hand coloured with sprays - can't remember the last time I used liquid pearls!