WOYWW 863

 Happy WOYWW  all.  Sarah is hosting  I can't quite believe it's so close to Christmas... my cards went in the post on Monday so will hopefully be winging their way to their destinations. 

 

I made a journal page in my Dina Wakley ledger journal 

using stamps by Tim Holtz that I forgot I had intended to use on Christmas cards until they were all made... 

next year, maybe! 

I took Monday off work and went to do my Christmas shopping,just one or two bits left to get.

I also need to buy food for Christmas dinner as I will be at home this year, rather than going to my brother's . I have started the list but will leave the buying till the weekend or early next week. 

I am working up to mid-day Christmas Eve and then we're off until 2 January so it will be a nice break - if we can get through the next week at work!  

Kew was glorious on Saturday (day after our office party and the sun shone like summer)

there was a mist rising off the ground as we entered, it was quite magical 

and the sun was bright on the dogwoods 

the alpine house behind the grass garden was especially stunning

thanks for dropping by, I'll be round when I can.

I edited this post as I thought it was this week we were posting a group card - so it will be here next week instead 

WOYWW 862

 Happy WOYWW all  - I had intended to have had the cards written and in the post but they're still sat next to me whilst I write this...a job for this weekend I think!

Anyhow; it's time for our weekly gathering at Sarah's to catch up with what we're all doing.  

my weekend crafting was another spread in the Dina Wakley watercolour journal - the base layer was distress oxide spray, spread with a big brush then added some stencilled grasses (Alison Bomber stencils)

then I started stamping some of Alison's umbells stamps but due to the texture of the watercolour paper they didn't work too well, so i added some stamped on tissue and stuck on. 

added some sentiments from Alison's stamps 

bosh, done!  

close up. 

You'll probably be surprised (Kim and I were!) to hear we had some sun at Kew last Saturday... made such a difference!

it was so good to see the dogwoods up close from the temporary crossing over the pond 

we also came across a muntjac deer new Queen Charlotte's cottage.  

thanks for popping by, I'll see you soon!  Happy WOYWW 

WOYWW 861

 Hello once again, tis Wednesday and time for WOYWW  You can find the link at Sarah's.  

I had a soggy day at Kew on Saturday - should have done what my Kew buddy Kim did and go Sunday when it was glorious!

but instead on Sunday I had a play with the journal page I started last week

Not sure yet if it's finished, I think it needs a bit more bottom right, but for now it's done 

I meant to tell you last week that the fabric Christmas tree I bought, is built on a metal frame, which has been covered with the fabric scraps. 

It's now in place on my window sill ready to celebrate Christmas, along with the amaryllis bulb which I've planted up and am waiting for it to grow.

So, Saturday, Kew, soggy - but at least not the heavy rain that was forecast, and we were lucky not to have flooding  like some

I did find some colour though

mostly in the form of dogwoods 

I was very jealous of Kim's photos she What's App'd with blue blue skies and lots of sun... ah well!!  

Thanks for looking, hope to see you soon at a desk near you.

WOYWW 860

 Morning peeps, it's time for WOYWW again already. Week 860 - what a huge number!

 Head to Sarah's for the link and see what everyone's been up to.

I had an idea for another Christmas card with one of the JoFY monsters.  

the base he's sitting in is from a Paperartsy HotPicks set and I just cut out the middle square

I probably should have tried to hang him so he's swinging! 

maybe I'll have another go 

and then I decided it was time to christen the new Dina watercolour journal 

splashed some of the Dina glosses on the page and then stencilled white paint over the top... at that point inspiration stopped (out of practice!)  I've stencilled some words ready for the page, but haven't decided on a focal image yet... 

come back next week and we'll see if it progresses. 

It's nice thick watercolour paper, it would take some liquid to get through that so hoping it will stand up to lots of mixed media play!

It was a wet trip to Kew last Saturday (and this week is looking similar) so it was a short blog!

i caught the heron in flight as it took off from just by us at the lake

and some gloriously bright colour from the callicarpa. 

Happy WOYWW - see you soon.

Next week amazingly is December - I mean, really??  

WOYWW 859

 Here we are again, Wednesday and time for WOYWW... 

Sarah has the link at Sarah's Craftshed  

I put a few more Christmas cards together,  not had another count up but think there may be just about enough now.

when we were at Kew on Saturday we took advantage of a members 20% discount week (double the normal 10%)  and did a (very little) Christmas shopping. .   but I also treated myself to a Christmas tree...

it's made of fabric scraps and I'd seen it a few weeks ago 

as you know, i don't have space for a proper sized tree and this will do nicely  on a window sill.  

I also bought myself a gorgeous Amaryllis bulb which I must plant up!  

we also discovered that you can walk across the bridge that's been built across the Palm House pond (it was even open to do so during the day)  and you get a great view of the lights on it close up 

we saw our colourful friend Goldie the Golden pheasant in the woodland too. 

it brightened up a very dull (but luckily dry) day.

That's  it for me this week, Happy WOYWW  and sending continued good recovery wishes to Neet. 

 

WOYWW 858

 Welcome back, it's Wednesday again - so time for WOYWW - head to Sarah's for the link. 

Thanks all for your wishes for my eye - the stye cleared up and all is fine now.

I can't quite remember why I did nothing much at the weekend for the Christmas card production - just 2 and some fussy cutting 

and some colouring of the JoFY monster... I have an idea how I am going to a couple of them on a card

I did remember to get a glue stick during the week, too.  

Today (well Tuesday) at work we were delighted to receive a thank you from a happy client whose mortgage we sorted - they sent 4, one of them for me

and yes, the empty hamper will be very useful too!

it's so  nice to be appreciated. 

Kew on Saturday was fabulous as ever, getting ready for this year's Christmas at Kew light trail so we got some sneak peaks - the pond at the Palm House was gorgeous bathed in sun (when it eventually arrived) 

the surface is covered in these lights - we think they're meant to look like waterlilies and in the sun who needs the dark and being lit up!  

it opens this Friday so no doubt on Saturday there will be more sneak peaks, even in daylight.

Thanks for looking, and see you at a desk near you soon .  I do hope Neet is recovering and there is news of her this week. 

WOYWW 857

 Happy November..(who stole the year?)  another week flew by and it's time for WOYWW again.  Anyone can join in - head to Sarah's for the link

I didn't get so many cards put together last weekend, I had to go speak to the pharmacist in Boots on Sunday as I had a sore eye - it's just a stye and is getting better now 

then whilst I was out I forgot to get a new Pritt Stick glue that had run out - the real reason not many card got put together.

I did these with wet glue just to get some more finished.

the weather at Kew on Saturday was fabulous, mild and sunny and just perfect. It made the colours pop!

we finally found some Fly Agaric mushrooms in amongst the grass near Queen Charlotte's Cottage - bucket list ticked

there were 3 or 4 altogether 

but the sun through the leaves was just magical.

Happy WOYWW to you all, and hoping Neet is doing better.  

WOYWW 856

I can't believe it is Wednesday again and time for WOYWW ... as always Sarah has the link to join in 

I bought more goodies... Alison Bomber had some new stamps and stencils out with Paperartsy.. I only got one of the stencils (such restraint!!!) 

I've not had a chance to play with the stamps yet 

although  I did stamp each set out 

Straight from the laminated sheet they come on - something Alison said in her FB launch that she does just to get an idea..

but then it was back to Christmas cards...

I got 2 paper cuts in making these from attempting to remove tightly packed card from storage boxes... blood was shed on one of the card blanks before I realised but luckily some judicious stencilling hid the damage!  

so there are another 13 made, and I found some small square envelopes to use for 3 others... I need about another 14 or 15 so well on the way. 

Kew on Saturday started chilly, but was sunny.. for a while

Loved the shadows of the vines 

sadly the blue sky didn't last all morning, but long enough for some great Yoshino Cherry backdrop

the heron has such a funny face!

thanks for looking, happy WOYWW  

WOYWW 855

 Hello again deskers,  time for another WOYWW with Sarah and the gang.. 

first off the new goodies... the new Dina journal - smaller size; (about 6 x 9 inch) with watercolour paper.  Not had time to play yet  some more collage tisssue - photographed the back of the pack this time so you might (if you enlarge it) be able to see all the designs!  

I spent a fair part of Sunday cutting down images and assembling Christmas  cards

22 in total!

it took almost as long to find the right colour card blanks for the images I'd prepped!  

before that of course, it was Kew on Saturday

there was no blue in the sky, but the trees were gorgeous..

and a gull kept a close eye on me on the bench by the lake!  

and we sat under red leaves for our refreshments!

I'll be round soon to see what you've been up to

Happy WOYWW 

WOYWW 854

 Happy Wednesday, lovely peeps.  Time already for another WOYWW with Sarah 

I had hoped to have new goodies today but they are still in transit from Harrogate.. yes, that means Art From the Heart which means Dina!!  ah well, something to look forward to for next week's desk (email says due to arrive Weds pm...) 

I did stamp out the new JoFY minis at the weekend  

and I even put together a single Christmas card...

one down,  many more to go! 

and cut up some card to serve as backing for some of the previously stamped images.

didn't get too far with that, and not sure I'll do more this way - will try and find some suitably sized card blanks (I don't have many white small cards left amazingly)  and my pre-scored coloured cards are not the right colours for what i stamped out (typically!)  

Was back to Kew on a regular Saturday last week, although engineering works meant I had to go by bus there and back, which is a pain (I use the bus in the summer as they get me there for 8 and the trains don't run early enough for the first part of my journey at that time of day and then get the train home)  Still there are trains this week and next, I've already checked! 

lots of gorgeous leaf colour again 

and a new exhibition in the gallery, featuring Indian twins the Singh Twins.  For some reason, both Kim and I had assumed they'd be brothers but no, twin sisters!   Can't explain why, and very presumptuous of us  

the post on "photosbyh" has a link to the Kew website feature about them.  

the artwork was stunning, and brightly coloured.  

It's on for several months so I will have time to have a good look at it. 

Thanks for dropping by, enjoy your week, and happy WOYWW 

WOYWW 853 OMG she's started C..mas

Welcome to another WOYWW - hope you're all well.  Head to Sarah's for the link... 

 I was at a loose end on Saturday because my Kew buddy Kim and I (wrongly as it turned out) assumed Storm Amy would force Kew to stay closed...  so once it sunk in properly that it was October I decided I'd better start getting some Christmas cards sorted... well, started, anyway

I got stuck into some masterboards - the big (A3) sheets are quite thin sheets from a cheap paper pad I bought from The Works lots of years ago, the A4 sheet is much thicker weight card.

I used my favourite Magenta wooden stamps I tend to go to for Christmas  

and I stamped out 9 A4 sheets of designs (mostly Paperartsy JoFY mini stamps 

I tried to get them all in one photo... but you can't really see them 

I have plans for the grid squares and the little hearts and stars..

so here's a couple closer

these are actually designs by Sara Naumann, for Paperartsy from several years ago, I've used these lots 

lots of different colour ways 

must have photographed them in bad light on Saturday!

Now all I have to do is cut them down to individual images and find enough matching or contrasting card blanks to mount them on. 

Just before I stamped that lot out, I also gave in and ordered 

some of the new JoFY minis launched a couple of weeks ago (I was SO not going to buy any more Christmas stamps, but I happened to see a blog post from a Paperartsy contributor that gave me so many ideas..

they arrived whilst I was writing this post during Bake Off, (just as I was checking my emails and thinking, oh they haven't been delivered... postman was late today obviously; unless they went through the wrong door... )

whilst I was giving in to temptation I added the leafy stencil (one of Alison Bomber's that was out of stock when i wanted it before) just because it was there!

we did go to Kew on Sunday - you didn't think I'd miss a weekend completely, did you?!  the weather was stunning  but I really don't like to go on Sundays because I feel I don't have a weekend; Sunday is my chill day.  

The colours were glorious, rich reds and oranges in the trees

taken through the gate whilst waiting for opening 

love the colour of these 

my favourite autumn spot 

Thanks for looking, happy WOYWW;