WOYWW #230 - Google Nexus 7

Good Morning all you WOYWWers. We are well into Autumn here in the UK now, lots of the leaves have fallen from the storms earlier in the week and there is a crisp chill in the air.

I've been away for a few days to Swansea to visit my Mum for my hubby to sort her computer out therefore not much in the way of crafting going on here.

I did get my Christmas present early though, a Google Nexus 7 tablet. Thought I needed to get to grips with technology as I only have a basic phone, and with the onset of requiring glasses I find anything on those too small.

My Mum bought me a Goople Play gift card so I could buy some APPs - didn't want to register my credit card in Google Wallet, so this was the ideal solution.

I acquired a few new threads and some lace ribbon from Mum's too (she used to have a wool shop and since closing it a few years back she has all the left over stock in her house!) I needed the beiges for my son's Explorers shirt.








I did do a page in my 12 months journal along with my November calendar page though.

Finally, I have performed surgery on my Corsa Doll to enable a battery change, he is back saying "C'mon" now, and just needs sewing up.

Oh and I think I'll pop along to the local knitting club today as they are knitting sheep for the Knitivity. I'll let you know how I get on next week.

12 Months - October's Party

The art challenge on 12 Months is to take inspiration from a poem entitled October's Party.

I really like the imagery in this poem especially about the leaves making a rainbow carpet in the autumnal sunshine.

So that is exactly what I created.


Also I have jumped ahead and made my November calendar page.

I carved a rocket stamp for the days as Firework Day is just around the corner.

WOYWW #229 - October Frog Moon!

Strange title eh? Just sums up my crafting this week, that's all.

Happy WOYWW everyone.

I made my Alpha Challenge page with the letter "L" for Leap Day, hence the frogs leaping around behind the window which was the "twist" this time.

Then my Timmy Tag of "Blue Moon" - about time I used the royal blue glitter I had.





Lastly, a page in my 12 months journal for October. I tried the paint, PVA, paint crackle technique but it didn't work so I topped it all with some Ranger Crackle Paint which did the trick. Added a few pieces I had lying around and the cutting from a magazine which grabbed me.

TH #10 - October Tag

Always a double challenge in October for me as I have to find a different theme for my tag as well as attempt the techniques. Although I have to say I love the moon on Tim's Tag so I went from there.

Usually find it hard to stray from the colours Tim uses but the thought of "Blue Moon" came into my head so blues it was for me. Luckily I had some royal blue glitter and a moon shape already cut out in black card from some iris folding I did some years ago.

I added some acrylic paints in with some distress paints for the background marbling and used ultramarine staz-on for the stamping. As I hadn't got the frame die I used the frame embossing folder instead and inked it with Chipped Sapphire.

I used my Dymo to print the words and finished off with some stars, navy ribbon and tinsel for a magical feel. Love my mystical "Blue Moon" tag.

Alpha Challange #21 - Leap Day!

Yes it is the 21st edition of The Craft Barn's Alpha Challenge and this time we have the letter "L" with the added remit of including a window.

My special day is Leap Day which the extra day of 29th February added every 4 years to bring our calendar in line with the solar year.

What better way to use my frog die where I have 2 frogs leaping behind the "snow" acetate window.

I didn't have a window die so had to make do with a square die multiple times which is why it is a bit wonky - but I have "embraced the imperfection" to quote a well known crafter (Tim Holtz).







Don't know why his has taken so long to get round to this month.

WOYWW #228 - More Christmas Cards

Hi everyone and welcome to my desk for WOYWW hosted by Julia over at the Stamping Ground or perhaps in SPAIN this week as the post seems to have been already posted!

Shock Horror!

Dare I post early too?

Having been to craft club I have racked up 9 more Christmas Cards this week plus 2 matching gift bags and tags. Go me!

I have done a few things for my 12 Months journal too and a couple of swaps as well.

Well there you go. More details on previous 3 posts if you are interested.

October : Swaps

I have been busy the past couple of days completing a couple of swaps and doing some work on my 12 months in view journal.

The first swap's remit was to make something postcard size and the theme was "doors". We were given a picture of an arched door to use if we wished. I started with that picture and worked from there.


 




I backed the printed picture on card, cut round the door so it could open. I framed the door with some Christian ribbons and edged in more ribbons.












The words are the title of a section in Matthew's gospel, chapter 7, from verse 7.

Inside the door I wrote some words from this scripture. It seemed rather appropriate for the door theme to me.


The second swap's remit was "metal" so I tried to use as many metal techniques as I could.










1) gilding flakes on a strip of DST.
2) real metal - tomato purée tube cleaned of course! with some alcohol ink
3) aluminium tape on card, die cut, alcohol inked and embossed/shaped
4) metal brad
5) gold pen
6) gold glitter
7) perfect pearls
8) clock pieces

Juan Sheet with a Twist

Yes back to Craft Club today and more Juan Sheet.

This time we got to make some little gift bags with matching cards and tags all from JUAN SHEET! 
 
Just wondering if the Juan Sheet joke has worn off yet - although it still tickles me...







The gift bags are made from a piece of 12"x8" patterned paper which of course left a strip of 4"x12" for the cards and tags.






I made some cards from bits and bobs I had been sent last year too.

So that is 9 more > total 66 in craft box. Yippee.






Here's the video of the bags we made.

Here's another video of a similar bag with full sides, think I'll try this one next.

October - 12 Months in view

For the 12 months challenge I have done the October page in my zine. I love how the quote I found sees the positive side of the falling leaves as in the opening up of the view and seeing more. I used up my left over metal leaf and a few other spare diecut leaves, birds and acorns.



I have also done my tag using the techniques on this month's recycled article.

I swiped acrylic paints for the backing with some glitter glue spots.

I stamped some stylised Cow Parsley on acetate (our printer has enough problems with paper let alone acetate!!). I stapled these onto the tag.

I added some pieces of washi tape to anchor the acetate, then added some fibres and wrote "grateful" down the side.

WOYWW #227 - Explorers

Funny how a hospital appointment on the day you usually go food shopping can make you forget WOYWW! Well there it is, the reason I am late today, that and I haven't done much crafting lately either, besides the Christmas Cards - here. Oh woe is me.

So on my desk are my latest endeavours of sewing nametapes on my son's new Explorers uniform plus all his badges on his shirt plus the hems need sewing on his new trousers too.

I did manage to print off the giveaway tag pocket and flower of the month from the 12 Months in View challenge and make them up/stick them in my journal.Oh and a scalloped circle die fell into my basket too but that is the sum total of my crafting.

If you are curious as to how my garden is looking this month (also for the 12 months challenge) the post is HERE along with the shed all done - LOL.

Oh the joys of WOYWW and all the desks you can visit.

Juan Sheet - The Third!

Well quite a few sheets actually but still trying to use up all the pieces and the Craft Club topic did get me started on my Christmas cards.

I have made 33 this past week and already had 24 in my box (22 from last year - 2 from other craft club sessions). So 57 in all so far.






Had a awful lot of trouble with the freebie die I got on a magazine the other week. It is rather an intricate swirly Christmas tree and after my first attempts I went out and bought me some Baking Parchment, but that didn't work either.

I tried Quickutz ejection foam but that just marked the mirri card and popped out the whole shape, pointless, so I removed it and coated the die with baby powder. I think the sticky from the foam held some of the powder as it was a lot better this time but not sure I'll bother using it much!



Here are the 2 cards I made a few weeks ago. One with the Distress ink from an acrylic block technique, the other made with Glitter Paste.

12 Months Photo Challenge - October

Each month for the 12 Months in View Journal we are to take a photo from the same spot or of the same thing. I'm taking a photo from the window next to my craftcorner desk of our garden. So here it is this month.

Again not much happening, the Silver Birch has a few more yellow leaves, the Magnolia looks green still but there are a few tell tale brown leaves on the grass. However, if you look at the Wisteria in the foreground you'll see some NEW leaf sprigs! How curious is that for the middle of Autumn!


Thought you might like the view from my kitchen window which overlooks the garden just the same but from the ground floor. You might spot the tomatoes going red too.

And then there is the little tool shed which my husband lovingly restored the base of and relocated so we could fit in the much bigger bike shed. You might recall me taking delivery of this in pieces on a WOYWW a few weeks back.

So there's my little back garden haven for this month.

WOYWW #226 - Craft Clubs

I have been to two different Craft Clubs since I last posted my desk for the infamous WOYWW hosted by Julia.


Last night we made little felt things. I made a red heart and a pink and blue bird. As you can see I was jolly pleased with my achievement.

Everyone worked hard and managed a bit of chatting amongst the silent times of concentration!

Last week got me started on my Christmas Cards using the" Juan" Sheet Method where you use one sheet of patterned paper to make lots of cards. I made 7 cards from one sheet of 12"x12", and 4 from another sheet of 6"x 8.5" plus another 2 cards making 13 in all.


Other things this week are my October Calendar and my Alpha Page for the letter "J".