Thursday 19 December 2019

WOYWW 550

I must make time to blog.
I must make time to blog.
I must make time to blog.

I know that's probably not enough lines and I deserve a detention.  I also know I'm a day late and I will probably be shot at dawn by our head desker!  If you want to join in the fun of seeing me hung, drawn and quartered,  head over to The Stamping Ground for the best weekly blog hop around crafters desks.

I have no real defence - life has just been so busy that time has become my enemy, or lack of time!  8 weeks - wow we've had Halloween, Bonfire night, one daughter announcing she's getting married next year, other daughter buying a house, a general election and christmas preparations. 

So inbetween all that I did make some Save the Date cards (crafting)

The one they chose is not on the pic, and the date they wanted 10/10 was not available, so they are getting married 2 weeks later!

I have also been busy making christmas cards, but took most of them into work to sell, so no pics of them!

I decided to make my Secret Santa gift as the recipient is a chocaholic.


And when you open the books up ...





All in a pretty case!

I hope everyone's preparations for Christmas are going to plan.  I still have gifts to wrap and gift tags to make, but all the shopping is done, as I'm working right up to Christmas Eve.  Just finishing work early as I have a hospital appointment.  Who has appointments on Christmas Eve??

I aim to blog in a more timely manner next year, but will probably have to prepare it on the Tuesday night, just so I remember!

Have a lovely week, and for those not blogging next week (which may include me) have a lovely Christmas xx






Wednesday 23 October 2019

WOYWW 542

So much for my good intentions of posting every week!  Whizz day again and time for WOYWW courtesy of Julia and The Stamping Ground

This week has seen the return of Heather "The Wanabee Quilting Queen" as I realised we are hurtling towards Christmas and I have not even started on the 2 quilts I should have made for my grandsons last Christmas!  Oh dear ... how bad am I?  So, I've decided I will be a crafting goddess over the next 8 weeks and get the quilts made, christmas cards made (for myself and my willing victims customers at work), delve into the world of candle making since I got a candlemaking kit for my birthday yesterday- still downstairs as I'm reading through the instructions, but will no doubt be somewhere in my craft room next week.  Oh, and I decided it's high time I made my own Christmas cake.  I used to make them with my mother when I was a girl - but have never made one in the 31 years since she passed away, so now is a good time to start.  If anyone has a well loved recipe then I'm open to offers 😉. 

My desk shows the start of George's quilt.  I'm hoping to report significant progress next week, but we do have my granddaughter for a sleepover on Saturday, so craft room will become guest room again.


Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by.  I'll be visiting this evening and maybe lunchtime tomorrow if I don't get round everyone.  Have a lovely  week, Heather xx

Wednesday 9 October 2019

WOYWW 540

Good morning all.  Oh dearie me where have the last 8 weeks gone!  I can't believe I have been AWOL for so long!  I've no excuses - just real life in all its forms - work, family, hospital appointments, holiday (to Barcelona, very lovely), visitors from Canada, and some DIY in the garden!  Aside from all that it's been very quiet!  Time to visit Julia and all the other deskers in WOYWW.

I don't have much to show for 8 weeks, so it's a short post from me.  A few anniversary cards is pretty much it.  Hopefully life has quietened down enough for me to do some crafting, but one never knows!


Hope everyone is well, and I'll be round to visit this evening!  Take care, Heather x

Wednesday 14 August 2019

WOYWW 532

Good morning ladies.  I'm back!  Fully refreshed and raring to go, and time to take part in the best blog hop courtesy of Julia and WOYWW.

A little bit of crafty shopping was done on holiday, but no crafting.   Far too much to do exploring and days out and generally having fun.

When we got home, I went to a local shopping outlet for some new bedding and a few crafty  goodies fell in my basket!  Bargain stamps from Sheena, £2 for a bag of 3 or 4 stamps!  Centre stage (or desk) is an ATC from dear Shaz in Oz, received on Monday.  Thank you Shaz, its lovely.

I used a new stamp I bought a few weeks ago, to make some background for some Gorjuss cards.  Just not got round to finishing them off yet.  I also bought some Gemini Junior plates as I read about using those in the full size Gemini and they don't warp as much.  I'll let you know!

That's all for me, short and sweet.  Please leave a message so I know you stopped by.  I'll be round to visit either at lunchtime or evening.  Have a lovely  week, Heather xx

Wednesday 24 July 2019

WOYWW 529

Good morning all, a lovely Wednesday morning and time for a WOYWW globetrotting trip around lots of busy desks courtesy of Julia at The Stamping Ground.  I have had a busy week crafting, I was asked to make a very special birthday card for a work colleague to give to his fiancee this weekend.  Only I forgot to take a photo of it!  I also had a request for Thank you Childminder card.  More pounds for the charity coffers!

Side desk is dumping ground today, so no photo.  On the main desk, I have started a sample album for favourite card styles.  I have two albums, and plan to put Christmas cards in one, and other cards in the other.   I struggle for inspiration sometimes.  The red balloon card was inspired by a sheet of backing paper.  There is also a new water colour pad, and a couple of dies, from a trip to The Range on Sunday.  And some Honey Doo Lily images to colour in.  I also stamped and die cut lots of flowers and boots for the first card in my sample album.


That's all from me this week.  I'll be visiting tonight, in between packing for our holiday on Friday.    Quick pic of our home for the next week - all 9 of us! Can't wait!


Have a lovely week, and see you in 2 weeks, Heather xx

Wednesday 17 July 2019

WOYWW 528

Time for a Wednesday blog hop courtesy of Julia and The Stamping Ground- if you fancy taking a peek at desks around the world, then click this link WOYWW and join in, we are a very friendly bunch.

I've not done much card making, but I did use up some of the bits in my UFO box.  Main desk has some of the results, plus some cork leaves and snowflakes that one of my daughter's bought for me.  I thought the blue/green tree picture might be suitable for a sympathy card.


Side desk has three more stamp albums.  I had good fun making the covers - these will be for general small stamp sets.  At the back of the desk is my new mini cutter.  I did previously buy a cheap guillotine, but it refused to cut straight, so that will end up in the scrap metal at the recycling centre.


That's all from me.  Hope you are all having as lovely weather as we are - just want it to stick around for a few weeks until we go on holiday.

Have a lovely week and please leave a comment so I know you stopped by.  I'll be visiting desks tomorrow, as we have visitors this evening.  Hugs, Heather xx

Wednesday 3 July 2019

WOYWW 526

Good evening all.  A tardy post from me today.  Not enough hours in the day, but I was AWOL last week, so thought I had better check in this week before you think I have been kidnapped by aliens!  I'll keep my post short and sweet.  If you want to see more then join in the desk hop at The Stamping Ground.

Side desk has lots of background experiments and some gold foiled Teacher sentiments for a dozen cards I am making for work.  At the back are 3 new Gorjuss stamps.

Main desk has a few eBay purchases and some Promarkers I used to colour in some stamps for the teacher cards.  The stamps are elsewhere waiting to be cut out.
I will visit tonight and tomorrow, as I still have a few things to do tonight.  Have a lovely week, Heather xx

Wednesday 19 June 2019

WOYWW 524

Good morning all.  Hope you have not had as much rain as we've had this past week.  I haven't been in the garden much at all.  Linking in with Julia at The Stamping Ground for another round of desk hopping around the globe, courtesy of WOYWW.

The bit of time I did manage to sit in the garden was spent colouring covers for my new stamp folders.  One for Lavinia, one for Honey Doo, and at Neet' s suggestion - one for Gorjuss.  And voila, here they are on my side desk:

I loved colouring them, close up shots below.


I didn't quite use every Lavinia Stamp I own, but not so far off.

Lovely mystical, magical fairies and gorgeous flowers/foliage.

I really could have got quite carried away!  Oh wait, I think I did.

Backgrounds are distress inks, and everything coloured in with my old favourites, Promarkers.  Added some Wink of Stella, and some Glossy Highlights and called it a day...




Next up was Honey Doo.  Another of my favourites.

I messed up when I started colouring in the background.  I used brushos, but quickly realised the paper was not suitable at all.

Unfortunately I had stamped all the images before I realised this teeny weeny problem.  So I ripped a scrap of card, stamped a flower and leaf, and did what we crafters do best - covered up the problem!

This was all coloured with Promarkers, including the background.  I added some Wink of Stella and some embellishments to give it a bit of bling for Jan 😁😁.

Last but not least, Gorjuss.  I used preprinted backgrounds, and coloured them all in Pumpkin to add a bit of brightness.

I stamped and cut out two of my larger stamps, and coloured them in, before sticking them on to the backing sheets.










All that I had left to do was make some spines.  By this time the rain was starting so I headed indoors and cut up a couple of card toppers I had previously made for the Lavinia and Honey Doo folders, and used the leftover backing papers for the Gorjuss one.

I just have the two generic stamp folders to decorate next, plus one more empty binder... oooh what should I keep in there.  I see so many different brands that other deskers have - Helen, Sarah, Neet, Angela - I think oooh they are nice, and then I forget all about them!  So ladies, if you could only have ONE brand of Stamp in your stash - what brand would it be?



One last photo - my main desk.  Way tidier than last week.  All the mess of Father's Day cards has been cleared away in anticipation of the grandees arriving on Friday.  Still got a few bits to clear, but that will be done tomorrow.
Have a lovely week, and I'll do my visiting after work as normal.  Unless I get chance at lunchtime- which is rare, but does occasionally happen!  Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment, so I know you visited  Heather xx

Wednesday 12 June 2019

WOYWW 523

Happy WOYWW to you all!  From the responses last week, several crafters would be happy for a pre-Christmas get together.  Julia's suggestion was a big house and an overnighter so I shall do some investigating.

I've had a busy week crafting - see below for the shot of my desk last night.  The aftermath of making Fathers Day cards for work.  Usually I am very good and clear away as I go, but there was just too much going on for that.

Side desk ....
Overflowing into the corner
And main desk

And a quick GIF of some of the cards

That's my short and sweet post.  Thanks for stopping by, and please leave a comment or  hi, so I can make sure to visit your blog.  Have a lovely week Heather xx

Wednesday 5 June 2019

WOYWW 522

Good morning all.  Time for the post-crop post of WOYWW.  What an amazing time we had.  Was wonderful to see everyone again, and meet some new faces.  I didn't take a camera, so have 'borrowed' a couple of pics from the lovely Lunch Lady Jan!

The group pic, with a lovely banner made by Annie's daughter:


Back Row: Christine, Chris, Sarah, Camilla, Zsuzsa, Annie, Heather, Jo, PJ, Caro, Anne, Neet, Elizabeth, Margaret, Catriona, Shaz

Front Row: Helen, Chris, Julia, Jan, Dolores and Maggie


And a couple of Lancashire lasses at their best, aka Neet and yours truly:




I don't want to wait another year till we all meet up again!  How about a Christmas Crop in November (she said hopefully)!!??!!

Carrying on one last crop related photo - all the ATCs and goodies received from the lovely ladies at the Crop.  

Plus an amazingly detailed ATC from Debbie (Tattered Rocks), who wasn't at the Crop but had sent them with Shaz & Doug.  

They were all beautiful.  We are indeed a very talented group of ladies!  


I can also now show the ATCs received last week.  

Top row: Diana, Sandra, Sylvia

Bottom row: Caro, Zsuzsa, Angela

Love them all, and the envelope and the extras, thank you so much ladies.




And now time for the desks ...


Side desk has seen me organising my stamps.  I had the Docrafts stamp storage folder, but I don't find it user friendly for the A6 wallets.  I had some 4 ring binders, which I have yet to decorate, and these suit the A6 folders so much better.  One folder will be for Lavinia, one for Honey Doo, and one for others.  At the back of the picture is one of my A4 zip folder where large stamp sets or specific brands are kept.  I have about 25 of those, mostly full!  Where did all these stamps come from??

Main desk has the first layouts for Father's Day cards for work.  This month's charity is connected to the Armed forces - not sure how exactly yet, but I'm sure I'll find out soon. I need to get a move on if I want to have a nice stash to sell!

I did have another idea for a layout, but I didn't write it down and have now completely forgotten what it was.







That's all from me for this week.  Except again to say a massive thanks to Annie & Jo for organising the Crop, and to Julia for keeping this amazing blog going ... for at least another 10 years 😁😁😁.  Have a lovely week, and thank you for stopping by.  Please leave a comment, as I do love to read them.  Hugs, Heather xx

Wednesday 29 May 2019

WOYWW 521

Oh my word, someone call the Time Police - it really can't be Wednesday again so soon!  It is, and that means a desk hop around the world courtesy of Julia at The Stamping Ground and WOYWW.

Main desk has the start of Father's Day cards for me to take into work and sell.  First idea for a card, so I die cut 7 sets of shapes, might as well do some bulk creating.  I have the idea for design no. 2 but won't be starting on that until later this week.  I received a few ATCs in the post - thank you very much ladies, but my photo doesn't show them - they are just to the left, past my Gold Sparkly Book - close up of that below the desk shot.  I will take a pic of all ATCs after the Crop.




Close up of the Gold Sparkly Book.  It originally had a clear cover but I kept misplacing it.  Now it has a cover that I can spot a mile off!  It's the book where I keep lists of the stamps, Inks, Promarkers, stencil pastes, distress oxide sprays, etc that I have, together with glitter card coloured in with the Promarkers (as featured many moons ago by our "Chief Enabler").  I just stock up on the silver glittercard now, and colour it accordingly.  Plus other useful bits and pieces.




A couple of people asked about the inside of my embossing sample thingy.  So a couple of shots of that.

No side desk shot today, as it is full of a little extra something I have made to bring to the Crop.  Does anyone know how many ladies are going to the Crop?  I hope I've made enough!!









And finally .... a sort of garden shot, but really a pic of our visitor yesterday!    Couldn't believe that he just wandered down the embankment for a munch!  



Have a lovely week, and I'm really looking forward to seeing many of you on Saturday at the Crop!  Heather xx

Wednesday 22 May 2019

WOYWW 520 - 10TH BIRTHDAY

Happy birthday to WOYWW - 10 Years old! Thanks to Julia at The Stamping Ground for this marvellous blog link up, and to all the other deskers who make it so enjoyable every week!  For anyone reading who wants to join in, please do so, it's great fun.  I joined in at WOYWW 427 ... and I was made very welcome - (they don't bite).

I took my photos yesterday afternoon, as my craft room is always quite dark in the morning.  I spent the morning having a proper spring clean - polished my main desk as well.  It has never looked this clean since Mr M built it last year!

And a close up of my finished embossing sample thingy.  It looks better in real life:

Side desk, would you believe a little more colouring practice. Some hair styles are too difficult for me to shade correctly, but I like this one ...

I have plenty of ATCs to exchange.  Many will be exchanged at the Crop, but if you want to exchange and you are not going to the Crop, please can you email me your postal address, and I will put yours in the post.  Use the email gadget in the right hand side bar of my blog.

Have a lovely, crafty week.  Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by, Heather xx


Wednesday 15 May 2019

WOYWW 519

I really can't believe another week has gone by so quickly, but here we are on a Wednesday again and time for another tour of crafty desks courtesy of Julia and The Stamping Ground aka WOYWW.

Lots of goodies purchased on Saturday at Happy Stampers - although I was struggling to spend my hard earned cash at first.  But not to worry, like a proper trooper I walked round again and again until my little shopping bag was full of goodies!  And when I got home, I did a bit of online shopping for good measure.  It was great to meet up with Neet, Shaz & Doug and Sarah.  Sarah had one of her cards displayed on the Clarity Stall, so naturally I had to buy the stencil she had used, plus a few others - natural saleswoman our Sarah!   I can't show a pic of all my goodies as I put them all away ready for a crafty session on Sunday.

Desk pic is what we are here for, so ... first up is my side desk - play time with Brushos and Clarity Stencil.  Not to be used for anything, just having a play.  I still couldn't find a guitar stamp, so I used a digital one to finish 2 cards off ready for Fathers Day next month, as I'm having another card sale at work for charity.  The lilac orchids are to finish off some other layered cards I had started.  There is also a shiny new glass mat - for some reason I woke up on Sunday and decided I couldn't live without one, so ordered it online and it arrived Monday!  Now ... what did I need it for??!?


Main desk has another 'experiment'.  I bought a stamp from Inkylicious on Saturday, and tried a few different ways to colour it - Promarkers top left, watercolour pencils top right, and Brushos both bottom pics.  It's the right card for Promarkers, but not for watercolours or Brushos - but I live and learn!  I wouldn't mind but I have 3 pads of watercolour card/paper so I really don't have an excuse for messing up the watercolour sample.  I also thought it about time I put together some colour combinations for hair colouring with Promarkers.  Believe it or not I'm still short of a few colours, so that's next on my shopping list.  However, the shading is coming along nicely.  I also got two cover/card/rings sets on Saturday.  I've used one to make samples of my really big (about 20) collection of embossing folders, which hopefully will prompt me to use them.  My plan during the week is to colour half of each sample with distress oxides so I can see how they look.  Oh, and do something really arty/crafty with the covers.  The beach house card is another trial of a different card.  This one is a smooth coated card from Rymans.  I only did this last night,  but early indications are it looks good, and no bleeding of colours ... I may have found my "go to" card for Promarkers!   Trouble is I now have too much white card for my storage drawers.  I wonder if Mr M would mind if I started encroaching on his office??


Aside from that, I've finished my anniversary ATCs.  Hopefully I've made enough, but if not I have plenty of time to make more as I have a week off work next week - woohoot!  Thanks for stopping by, and please do leave a comment - then I can be sure to stop by your blog.  My visiting will be after work as usual.  Have a lovely week, Heather xx


Wednesday 8 May 2019

WOYWW 518

Wednesday again, so time for a trip to WOYWW hosted by Julia at The Stamping Ground.  Now on the one hand my desk has seen some crafting action this week, but on the other hand it's all hidden as I had an idea for ATCs for the anniversary swap, and that idea got converted into a bit of crafting ... and well, what can I say, they are almost finished!   If you would like to exchange ATCs (either by post or at the Crop) please leave a comment and mention this, then I can make sure I have enough.  So, my desk shot ... side desk has the ATCs, so cannot be shown at present. 

Main desk has my first ever attempt at a masterboard ... just an A4 one whilst I am playing, a couple of colouring books and my graphix coloured pens.



Thanks for stopping by.  Please do leave a comment as I love to read them.  As usual, I'll be round visiting afted work today.  Have a lovely week Heather x

Wednesday 1 May 2019

WOYWW 517

Good morning all.  Time for another whirlwind tour of desks, courtesy of Julia and WOYWW.

My IT consultant (Mr M) looked into my issues with leaving comments, and he suggested I use a different browser, and that appears to have resolved the problem, so I shall be round to comment on all those desks where my comments were gobbled up by gremlins!  Unfortunately, I am on a team building event today, so will be orienteering and crate stacking amongst other things, and won't be home till late, so my desk hopping will be Thursday.

My side desk has what I am working on at present.  I've been having problems with promarkers bleeding and wanted to work out the best card and ink combination.  I cut pieces of each card type I have, stamped them each with different inks, so ended up with 5 cards x 4 inks- 20 card/ink combinations to try.  Oooh, I felt like a proper crafter like Shaz when she does her reviews of inks and things!  I'm not writing any reviews, just keeping notes of what works best.


I bought quite a few stamps in a sale and embossing folders, and they arrived on Friday, but not yet had a play, apart from using a couple of them on the card/ink samples above. These are on my main desk waiting to be put away.  I love the dotty numbers!


I've been busy writing my list of things I want to buy at Happy Stampers, dreading adding up the costs though!

Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by, and this week I will be visiting as many desks as I can tomorrow.  Have a lovely week Heather x


Wednesday 24 April 2019

WOYWW 516

Good morning all.  Time to link up with deskers around the globe for WOYWW.  We had our wedding anniversary on Sunday and Mr M was working on Monday, so I thought I would finish off our wedding scrapbook.  And ... it's still on my desk as I left it for the glue to dry.  Nexf to the front cover is our timeline- bit more shading in with the Promarkers.
Short and sweet this week!  I'll be round later visiting.  Have a lovely week Heather x

**last week I left a lot of comments, that did not appear on blogs (Tracey, Sarah LLJ,  Anne (Copper Beech), Neet,  Diana, Ali,)  ..... I think something do with Google accounts - but not 100% sure what has changed**  I will have a look Thursday, as it is too late this evening.  Anyone else having this problem  or just me?

Wednesday 17 April 2019

WOYWW 515

Good morning all.  Time for WOYWW.  Not much activity on my desk at the moment.  My grandson turned 4 on Sunday and my grandaughter turned 3 on the same day, so birthday cards were made - but I forgot to take photos!  Side desk has some layered cards, one with an embossed top layer - just having a play with new embossing folders.  I wanted a nice guitar stamp to make a topper for the blue card, but am struggling to find one - recommendations most welcome.  If I don't track one down, I might make my own! I thought it would be a good male card.
Main desk has some stamp cards that I've been practicing with the promarkers on skin and hair - still need to buy a few more so I can have different hair colours, but my collection is growing nicely.  I bought a couple more Gorjuss stamps - love the detail on them!
I've sent off for my ticket to Happy Stampers, so hopefully will catch up with some of you there.  For now, that's it for me, apart from to wish everyone a Happy Easter.  Have a lovely week, Heather x

Wednesday 3 April 2019

WOYWW 513

Good morning all, is it an age thing that the week just flies by so quickly?  Wednesday again means it's time for WOYWW and chief desker Julia likes us to show off our workspaces.  Head over to the Stamping Ground to join in the fun.

So, here's my desk ... nothing at all going on there this week!
My sister came to look after me on Monday night, so my craft room was guest room again.  It was great to catch up with her for a full night (Mr M was at work till midnight).

Hospital asked if I had anyone to look after me (I was having sedation).  I said yes, I have a nurse until midnight and then a paramedic will take over.  I think they were impressed!







So ... I'll show you my finished commission cards for Mother's Day.

This was my favourite one, I love the Lily stamp and die.


Sofia's dad bought both.  One for his wife and one for his mum.



Over £60 raised for charity from the sale of Mother's Day cards, so I'm really happy with that.  Please leave a comment, so I know you stopped by.  Have a lovely week, Heather x