WOYWW 664

 Welcome deskers, tis once more time for WOYWW -  week 664. Thanks for your visits last week.  

There's been some more shopping ... as mentioned last time,  more goodies have arrived

First off I treated myself to some Prismacolour pencils 

they are pretty pricey and come in lots of different size tins - I decided as I don't do loads and loads of colouring (and the Tracy Scott doodle a day challenge that persuaded me to get them probably won't last long - given I've not really done any yet!) I'd get a tin of 48... 

then my latest Dina goodies arrived - 6 new paint colours (they would have launched at the same time as the matching gloss sprays but Covid caused a problem with them getting the right ingredients to make the paints, so they've only just become available)

there's 2 sets of "typed ledgers"  packs of quotes originally typed by Dina on several of her vintage typewriters and put into production by Ranger.

and to round off the order her birds from a previous release that I hadn't indulged in before.. well you have to round up your order to qualify for free post/packing don't you... ahem

the only actual crafting I've done this week is to stamp out the birds...

and I did test out some of the coloured pencils... 

I do hope you all survived all the horrendous weather we've had last week, 3 named storms causing havoc across the UK

I managed to get to Kew  safely on Saturday and found the storm on Friday had caused them to lose lots of trees - a FB post since has said about 20 - and my photos showed a lot of them...it was very sad but at least no-one there was hurt.

and in contrast one of my favourite plants in the Temperate House, the Silver Daisy Bush 

I'll be calling round later to see what you've been up to and to make sure you're ok.  See you then!

WOYWW 663

 Welcome back to another Wednesday  for WOYWW that arrives in a blur -  I was nearly last on the list last week as I had to leave for work early before the link was up, and can't work out how to join the link on my phone, so it had to wait till I got home - you certainly get less visits down there!  Thank you to everyone who left a comment.  

so, what have I got to share this week?  

just a couple of journal pages - as a change from pattern play

using some of the new Dina images I pre-stamped

and some scribbly posca paint pen work outlining some of the stencilled flowers 

I had hoped for some new stash to share (oops, I shopped again) but it hasn't arrived yet!  

  

I had another sunny visit to Kew on Saturday and some real signs of Spring on the way - check it out 

the forecast for the rest of the week is storms, wind and rain (and further north, snow)  so not sure that the next visit will be quite so pretty!  

Thanks for visiting, and see you soon

WOYWW 662

 Here we are again -  Wednesday when we meet at Julia's for WOYWW  

This week hasn't been as productive as last week,

I did some more pattern play

and a journal page in my Dina album 

got to use some of the images I'd pre-stamped from last week

I had a great trip to Kew on Saturday - the start of the Orchid Festival, was really good - and Channel 5 were there filming for the second series of their programme about Kew;  I was filmed (but not interviewed as some visitors were, luckily!)   they are filming up to July so no idea when the series will start or if I'll make the cut!  

took lots of photos - the blog is a long one here    the weather was lovely again, sunny and not too cold

I'll share a couple to tease you 

I am unlikely to get round any desks during my lunch break this week as it is unlikely I'll get much of one, things are very busy at work!  so I'll see you later.  

Take care and see you soon 

WOYWW 661 - the splurge continues!

 Here we are at Wednesday again -  time to gather with Julia at the Stamping-Ground for WOYWW 

I've finished splashing the cash now - for a while at least - I bought the WHOLE of Dina Wakley's new release in one go - figured I may as well as I'd get it all eventually and Art From the Heart had a bundle deal on so...I've never gone for it before but was feeling reckless!  

6 new stencils and some new collage tissue

6 new stamp sets

I spent some time at the weekend stamping out multiples of all the stamp sets on 3 different surfaces - plain collage tissue, white card and cartridge paper - all in black versafine clair ink, for now

plenty to cut up and use in a variety of ways for some time to come - grab it and use it!

I also had another couple of birthday cards to make - and used the final new goodies I decided I had to have - the other stamp set  and stencil in Tracy Scott's pattern making release for Paperartsy

stencilled background (distress oxide in shaded lilac) and white pen doodling inspired by the doodle a day challenge Tracy is running

and some simple colouring with Pitt artist pens (I have quite a collection of them now)  

I did this one whilst watching the end of the tennis on Sunday and Rafa Nadal making a superb comeback in the Australian open final.

I stamped some more patterns in my sketch book too but I'll just add one more photo  or I'll be in trouble with head girl Julia!

Just time to link the Kew visit from last weekend - at last, sunshine!

witch hazel against a blue sky!

the week coming sees the start of this year's orchid display - cancelled for Covid last year - I can't wait, I have my time slots booked for each of the Saturdays it is on  

thanks for looking, and I will catch your desks as soon as I can.

WOYWW 660 - splurge time!

 Hello deskers - tis Wednesday once more and another WOYWW - desk/crafty space sharing day.. Head to the Stamping-Ground for the details 

I've had a very productive week for once, been following Tracy Scott on FB -not as mentioned last week her doodle a day challenge - but instead Pattern Play - the latest topic for the Paperartsy blog and something Tracy is known for. She put together a video on You Tube and it can be found in the blog post here  

I had a go with my new stamps that I mentioned last week....

and was hooked

here are some of the pages I've created 

Tracy uses a sketchbook to try out her new stamps she creates for Paperartsy, to get an idea of how best to use them -  and as the video linked above, suggests, it's a great way to play - as you can see, it's addictive 

I've double some of the pages in the pics to take up less space and the inks I've used are all versafine clair 

some of the colours don't show up very well and there are some just in black

 

my second splurge was Sara Naumann stamps, also for Paperartsy and you can see from the card above I've played with them already too

I am on a total spending splurge (as the post header suggests) and there are some new Dina Wakley goodies arriving today (but too late to appear this week!)  and another Tracy Scott stamp set that I resisted to start with but now have to have to carry on my pattern playtime!  

 

before I go I will just add the link for last Saturday's trip to Kew (the forecast sun didn't arrive!) and as this is already a very photo heavy post I'll just tempt you with one more!

it's another from the walkway round the upper level of the Temperate House.

thanks for looking, and I will catch your desk spaces very soon.  

WOYWW 659

 Is it Wednesday again already?  Welcome for another mid-week desk hop at WOYWW 

I've been watching (only watching so far, after a bit of a bodged first attempt)  a daily challenge (ok, so I missed the start of it) a Doodle a Day challenge run by Tracy Scott, one of Paperartsy's designers on her Facebook Group Tracy Scott Creative Cafe.  I love a doodle, me.  Turns out I am not very good at random though.  If I could work out how to link to her FB group I would... but search her out.   She is amazing at patterns and colour...

I might have bought some pens to have a go though... 

there are black ones (on the left) white ones (in the middle) and a selection of colours (on the right)

Amazon, of course....

Then, on Monday, Paperartsy launched some new stamps and stencils by Tracy. and er... I may have put in an order (the stencils it turns out, she's been using for her daily doodles)  

Can't wait to have a play with them when they arrive (in transit as we speak!)

I finished the birthday card from last week,  and also made the second one (similar idea, different stamps) for another friend.

finished card

close up of part of it

I've used pinky purples as the recipient is a pink fan   (versafine clair inks, I love them0

the background layer is again Paperartsy stamps and the focal image is a Dina Wakley favourite.  

I can't remember the last time I was so ahead of the game with birthday cards for the month they are due!  

Several of you saw some of the Kew pics on Saturday (I always put some on FB as I walk round)  but the post is here 

It was chilly and foggy which made for atmospheric photos including this one as I walked from the station over Kew Bridge on the way...

the witch hazel was fantastic though.

so recently I've had rain,  cold,   fog,   cold,  wonder what this weekend will bring!

I bet it won't be warm sunshine though!

Thanks for looking and I'll be round soon to see what you've been up to. 

WOYWW 658

 Welcome back for another installment of WOYWW  - details to join are here We'd love to see what you've been doing

I don't seem to have done anything much since last week.  

I have started work on a January birthday card I need,  not sure it is going to work out but the design is still in  my head!

I'm using some Paperartsy stamps as it's been too long since I did... 

in case you can't make out the "design" I took a close up

excuse the shadow - using the phone!  

the background is a Seth Apter stamp for Paperartsy and the top layers are the stamp set in the picture above, by Sara Naumann

As predicted I did get wet at Kew last Saturday - fortunately not as wet as the forecast initially suggested. I think this weekend it will just be cold!

but I did get some great raindrop photos!

Short and sweet for me this week,  thanks for looking and I'll be round to see your crafty workspaces soon.

Happy WOYWW