What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday??! AND the long awaited Advent Calendar!

Hello all, well I have been a bad blogger :o( I just haven't had the time I'm afraid. So I thought I'd make sure I posted before Christmas. Firstly to say a big Happy Christmas to Everyone, and secondly to show you the advent calendar that did finally get finished :o)

First my desk..... oh dear it has become rather "dumped upon" after I finished making Xmas cards. I did have it extremely tidy as we have put our house up for sale and I was informed that potential buyers would not appreciate my clutter!!! clutter!! charming! so for the estate agent photo's I cleared all my lovely crafty stash away, only for my crafty corner to not even feature in a photo! oh well.

You will see various lovely Xmas paper pads now redundant untill next year, some xmas stamps over to the left, a bit of bling to the right and not alot else really!

And here is my Advent Calendar. It's a lot more "bling" in real life than in the photo's! I used the Kaisercraft advent calendar kit which I saw on Susan's blog last year and the DCWV Winter Magic Stack along with lots of other bits and bobs from my stash too.

I made the tree baubles from fimo and coated with various embossing powders, nail varnish and glitters! They are not fixed to the tree so the idea is to put them in the drawers along with sweets to add to the tree as you count down.

 For the numbers on the front of the drawers and the snowflakes on the back of the drawers I firstly painted them white and silver then added a top layer of silver glitter embossing powder and holographic embossing powder to give them a glittery finish that wouldn't rub off.

I put the snowflakes on the back so once the drawer has been opened you can put it back in the other way round with the snowflake showing.

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?? WOYWW??!

Hello everyone. I don't seem to be finding much time for blogging at the moment, I haven't shown a card I have completed in ages! really must get around to that!

This week finds me finishing off my Mum's Birthday card which you saw the beginnings of last week, there were so many cut pieces last week as I have decorated both the inside sides too. You will see the bow is all ready to stick on and trim down and I've inked and stickled lots of flowers ready to apply too, it shouldn't take me tooo much longer now :o)

That's it from me, I'll be heading over to Julia's now to see what's going on on a few more desks. Thanks for stopping by. x

What's on your Workdesk Wednesday?? WOYWW?

Another Wednesday?? September already??!! Really?! where is 2012 going?

This week finds me making a start on my Mum's birthday card, I bought the First Edition Boho Chic paper pad specially for this, she loves orange / yellow colours. Going to have a go at using doilies on this card as my Mum kindly picked them up for me and I've never got around to using them.

That's about it really, I'll be heading over to Julia's later today to see what you are all up to. Thanks for stopping by. x

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?? WOYWW??

Hello all, sorry for being AWoL last week, time just seems to be on fast forward at the moment!

Here is my desk this week, in a complete mess and mid-way through a card using one of the lovely LOTV stamps I won a while back, it's looking a bit boring at the moment but is about to be blinged up a bit :o)

Lot's of other stuff just hanging around, I really need to have a good tidy up! But not now as I'm off over to Julia's for a snoop at some other desks :o) thanks for stopping by x

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?? WOYWW?

Hello all, just a quickie from me this week, I'm just finishing off another card, I have alot of September Birthday's which are rapidly creeping up on me! I also need to do a rush card for a knitting enthusiast which is proving a challenge to find a suitable image!

I'll be heading over to Julia's a little later to take a peek at a few desks. Thanks for stopping by x

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?? WOYWW?

Hello all! well it's wednesday... again! :o) so here is my desk and it is in a mess! You will see I'm mid way through a card which always creates lots of crafty messyness :o)

For anyone who may be wondering how my altered box turned out the there is a post below will full info, but here is a piccy too.

 Also, last but certainly not least I was the lucky winner of Anne's magazine draw last week! Yay! so here is something that will keep me company for a couple of lunch breaks at work :o) Thanks so much Anne.

Right that's it from me, I'm heading over to Julia's to take a peek at some more desks. Thanks for stopping by. x

An Altered Box! My First Attempt!

I've been wanting to have a go at altering something for ages and keep loads of boxes etc to do just that but have never get around to it.

So here is my first attempt, it was an A4 copy paper box originally. I covered the box with a canvass type material and lined it with card. I then inked and distressed all the strips and circles to edge the box with. The original lid wouldn't fit after all of the added layers but luckily I had another box with a lid that was just slightly bigger so I covered that in the same way and it all fits together nicely.

For the panel on the top I cut, inked, stamped and distressed a rectangle and heart, the heart was stamped with versamark then embossed with gold powder, I then just added the bronze heart with wings and corners just to finish off. I'm quite happy with my first altered project and hope to get chance to do more.

 

 

 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - Monochrome

The Crafty Pad - Things with Wing (Winged Heart)

That Craft Place - Steampunk

Incywincy - Anything But a Card

Paper Playtime - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Clean and Simple

Fab n Funky - Anything But a Card

Sarah Hurley - Alter Something

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?? WOYWW??

Hello all! Well I missed last weeks WOYWW and it still seems to have come around quickly!

This week I've got the ongoing advent calendar on my desk! I had been awaiting some gems I ordered from China! they took a month to arrive so it's been on hold a while, I'm painstakingly adding lots of gems to each of the boxes to really bling it up, you can currently see the backs of each of the boxes, I've decorated those so when the numbered drawer has been opened you turn it around so you know it's gone. The little pair of snowmen you can see over to the right will sit in the middle once it's finished, along with a tree and some parcels, nearly finished now :o)

That's it for this week, if your interested why I missed last week scroll down a bit :o) I'm off over to Julia's now to take a peek at some more desks. Have a great day. x

I missed last weeks WOYWW as I finally went for my Christmas pressie from my lovely boyfriend, he got me a Supercar Experience, we'd been waiting to book it as the weather has been so awfull, but we went last wednesday, and here I am in a Lamborghini Gallardo :o) rather suits me I think!

 And here I am in an Audi R8 :o)

We had a great day, very exciting :o) Would love to do it again.



A Wedding Card...

I always find wedding cards a bit of a struggle, but I'm quite pleased with how this turned out.

I cut the hearts using 2 X-Cut nesting dies, then cut into one to link them together. I used a swiss dots embossing folder and also 2 Nellie Snellen Dies for the border and silver square.

I created the sentiment on the computer then cut it out in a banner style. The just added a few pearls and ribbon to finish off.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Sparkles - Wedding

Papertake Weekly - Make Your Own

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Crafts and Me - Anything Goes

Love to Create - Spots and Dots

Charisma Cardz - Monochrome

Fab n Funky - No Stamped Images

Pennys - Wedding's / Anniversary's

Christmas?? in July??!!! Well Why Not? :o)

After seeing all the Christmas in July challenges out there I couldn't resist joining in :o)

I made this using a cute digi stamp from Sliekje Stamps, isn't he cute! I love dogs! I coloured the image using promarkers and added Glamour Dust to his hat and the snow. The snowflakes were die cut from acetate which I then covered with Glossy Accents and Glamour Dust, they are super sparkly you just can't tell so well in the photo's! The white panel has been embossed with a snowflakes embossing folder and I added a couple of pearls and some ribbon to finish off.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Totally Gorjuss - It's Christmas

Crazy Challenge - Christmas in July

2 Sisters - Christmas in July

Papertake Weekly - All Things Girlie

My Mum's Craft Shop - Cats & Dogs

Creatalicious - Christmas in July

I love Promarkers - Sparkle

Cutiepie - Glitter and Bling

Charismacardz - Favourite Animal (Dog)

ABC - T for Two (2 Snowflake Embellishments)

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?? WOYWW??

Hello again! It's Wednesday.... Again!!! And this week you find me carrying on with the box I was just starting last week (although only the lid is on my desk at the moment) the body of the box is at the same stage, I'm just on with the corners now, it seems to be taking me ages to do, but it's getting there now, although I have a sore wrist from all the inking on those edges! Once the corners are finished off I think it will look quite good, I've not decided if I'll do anything else to it yet, it will probably depend how much longer it takes :o)

I went to the Summer Crafting Show at Doncaster on Sunday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't busy at all, so I had a good look round, I didn't buy much, just a few bits and bobs that are in that bag over to the left. That's all for this week, I'll be popping over to Julia's now to take a peek at some more desks. Thanks for stopping by x

A Pretty in Pink Thank You Card

Here's a quick little thank you card, I cut the card and designer paper using some X-Cut Nesting Dies. The sentiment was embossed using Versamark and white embossing powder, I added a thin ribbon and some little buttons which have been recycled from a blouse :o)

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

Dream Valley Challenges - Anything but Square

Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Joanna Sheen - Going Around in Circles

Charisma Cardz - Recycle (I recycled Buttons)

Moving Along with the Times - Make it Sentimental

Crafty Creations - Free for All

Sarah Hurley - Buttons

Penny's - Anything Goes

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday? WOYWW??

Hello all, this week my desk is looking pretty boring, I'm planning on covering the box with the canvass type fabric which I am in the middle of cutting into sections, I then plan to ink up some card to make edging for the corners etc so it looks like an old case. That's the plan anyway, we'll see how it turns out!

You can also spy a new Memory Box die over to the left hand side, naughty me! I've liked it for ages so decided to treat myself :o)

That's it for this week, I'll be heading over to Julia's now to take a peek at some more desks. Thanks for stopping by. x

Oh almost forgot, is anyone going to the Summer Crafting Show in Doncaster this weekend? I can't decide whether to go or not yet, I went last year on the Saturday morning and it was just sooooo busy I couldn't really get to see that much! There were lots of lovely stalls though!

Summery, Girly Birthday Card

I made this card using some delish papers from the First Edition Summer Breeze paper pad, I love the summery feel to these papers, they're just perfect for brightening up our dull UK summer! I coloured the image using promarkers and added some Prima flowers, pearls and a ribbon with pins and a little flower charm to finish off.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Allsorts - In Bloom

Cute & Girly - A Day at....... Having a girly get together :o)

Sparkles - Summer Fun

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Joanna Sheen - Summer Daze

ABC - S for Surprise

Sarah Hurley - Dimension & Texture

Crafty Catz - Show us Your Metal

The Paper Shelter - Flower Power

Paper Pretties - Celebrate

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday??? WOYWW??

Hello all! This week finds me just adding the finishing touches to a Pearl Wedding Anniversary card, you will also see a few goodies that I picked up at a small craft show at Doncaster Rugby Club on Sunday, I also picked up some white cardstock, I was very restrained :o) Nothing else to show really, so I'll head off over to Julia's to take a peek at some more desks. Thanks for stopping by x

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday???

Hello All! Not alot going on on my desk this week, I've been making some little baubles for the Xmas tree which will be going in the advent calendar (scroll down to next post for piccie of advent calendar). I've made them using white Fimo then painted the blue ones with some old nail polishes which happened to be the perfect colours and also had some sparkle in them!! And the white ones have been embossed with white sparkly embossing powder. There's also some snowflakes which have also been embossed and are ready to stick onto the corners of the calendar.

There's a bit of new stash over to the left, I picked up some doilies and twine at the weekend, and I was lucky enough to win a challenge with one of my cards, the prize was a £10 Lili of The Valley voucher, so you will see the two stamps I picked, they're two bear ones, so cute! can't wait to make some cards with them. Right I'm going to pop over to Julia's to take a peek at what you've all been doing, thanks for stopping by! x

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday??!!!

Hello All! This week finds me doing a bit more on the "ongoing" Advent Calendar project.

On my desk you will see I'm making some little parcels to go in the display part of the calendar and you may also just be able to see some attempts at making some miniature Xmas tree baubles from Fimo (I've never used Fimo before), there will be an Xmas tree in the display part too and my plan was to make 24 little baubles so there could be one in each drawer (along with a treat) to put on the tree as you count down to Xmas, however I'm not sure if I like my baubles.... I may buy some beads and use them instead.... my other half says they're fine and it's nicer if I make them, but I'm unsure at the moment!

To the side of my desk is a "temporary" table which is actually always there as I never have enough room on my desk, you will see the advent calendar sat on there being pondered over on what to do next :o) oh and you will also see part of my pocket dragon collection keeping their beady eyes on what I'm up to!

Right, better hop over to Julia's and take a peak at some more desks, thanks for stopping by, have a nice day x

Summery Roller Skating Themed Card

Well, this was a challenge! I was asked to make a themed card for a lady who judges roller skating competitions. After alot of head scratching I thankfully came across this digi stamp on the Letraset site. I gave the boot just a hint of colour using promarkers and the blender pen, competition skates are white you see, but it definitely needed a hint of colour. I set to layering up some gorgeous papers from the First Edition Summer Breeze pad, I love the flowery design and it's loaded with glittery accents. I made the rosette using loops of ribbon, I punched out a small circle just big enough to emboss the sentiment on. I then added another little ribbon, pearls and a star charm to finish off.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Cute Card Thursday - Punch Drunk

Crafty Creations - How Charming

Truly Scrumptious - Flower Power

Crazy Challenge - Recipe (ribbon, pearls, dies, punches)

Sparkles Challenge - Summer Fun

Sentimental Sundays - Summer Fun

Craft Your Days Away - Bingo! (pearls, ribbon, glitter) 

Passion for Promarkers - Glitter and Pastels

Love to Create - Summertime Fun

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday??! WOYWW??

Hello to all, not sure how this Wednesday has sneaked around already but hey it's here! I've had 2 more lovely ATC's arrive from Spyder and Elizabeth (see below) and some fabby seeds from Lunch Lady Jan! can't wait to see them flourish :o) Thanks so much to all of you!

On my desk I am just finishing a little thank you card, with a cute little hedgehog on it and all of the bits and pieces that I've been using to make it are laying around. You will also see all the ATC's that I've received on display at the back, I need to find somewhere a little safer for them so they don't get damaged!

Think that's about it so I'll hop on over to Julia's to take a peek at some more desks! Thanks for stopping by. x

 ATC's from Spyder (left) and Elizabeth (right) I love them both, so much detail to take in!

 My last ATC that I was finishing off on my last desk post.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday??? WOYWW??

Hello all! Well there's not much on my desk this week, not had much time for crafting over the last week, I'm just finishing off one last ATC for Spyder as I was pleased to hear she changed her mind about taking part in the ATC swap, but since I had sent all the ones I had made to their homes I'm just making one last one, I've turned it over so as not to spoil the surprise :o)

You will also see on proud display, 2 ATC's received from Mark and Jill (detailed photo below) they are both fab and I love them! So much work in them both. Then in the last 2 photos are my ATC's that I sent out last week, I think they've all arrived with their intended recipients now. These were my first attempts at ATC's, I enjoyed having a go at them :o)

 ATC's received from Jill (left) & Mark (right)

Just look at the detail! I am soooo happy to have these beauties! :o)

 My ATC's

Right! I'm off over to Julia's to see what's going on on some more desks :o) Have a good day! x

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday's 3rd Anniversary!!!

Hello all, here we are at WOYWW's 3rd Anniversary, I've not been joining in for 3 years, but we're all celebrating just the same :o)

This week finds my desk with some ATC's packed up and ready to go out to their recipients :o) I had wanted to do quite a few so I could send them out to all of my regular visitors, but alas life got in the way and I only managed to make 5! of these just 1 is currently homeless and I simply cannot choose from all of my lovely visitors, so if anyone else has made extra and would like to do a swap please let me know in your comment and drop me your snail mail address to apriltate@sky.com  **Jill has now offered my lonely ATC a home :o)**. You will also see all the usual "stuff" on my desk and the pearls and twine over to the right are recent purchases :o)

I'll be heading over to Julia's later today to take a look at some desks. Thanks for stopping by, have a lovely day x

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday?? WOYWW?

Hello all! finally we have some sun here! yay! and I'm Christmas crafting.... seems a bit odd! oh well!

This week finds my desk in continuation to last weeks WOYWW... I have finished covering all of the little advent calendar drawers, I am now trying to decide how to decorate the numbers with a lasting finish, I was wanting a glittery finish but am worried that will all come off! so I'm in the middle of doing a few samples before I go and ruin all the numbers that come with the kit :o) Looks like I'll be testing just about every option, paint, stickles, glitter, embossing powder..... nail polish??!!....

I have been doing a few ATC's too, but have hidden all that stuff away to keep it a surprise for next week :o) Thanks for stopping by, I'm hopping over to Julia's now to take a peek at a few more desks! x

Vintage Style "Bon Voyage" Card

I fancied having a play with my distress inks that I recently bought, I needed to do a "have a nice trip" type card so this is what came together.

I found this fab digi stamp on the free vintage digi stamps blog, I printed it on a laser printer* so I could use the distress inks over the top. I distressed the edges with a distressing tool and mounted on a tag that I had cut from Kraft cardstock. For the backing paper I used Distress Inks again to colour the sheet then over stamped using a script stamp, again I distressed the edges with a distressing tool and curled a corner up.

I added some string, a couple of buttons, flowers and pearls to finish off.

*A tip for anyone who doesn't know, if you would like to use digi stamps with distress inks, print your image using a laser printer and the inks wont smudge it, when you use an inkjet printer the distress inks tend to smudge the image.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges.

Top Tip Tuesday - Clean & Simple + Tip (see above)

Creative Craft - Distressing

Kaboodle Doodles - Clean & Simple

Simon Says Stamp - Clean & Simple

Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes

Sarah Hurley - Tags & Tickets