What's on Your Workdesk? Wednesday #156

Oh my goodness....Happy Third Anniversary to Julia Dunnit and the wonderful Wednesday look about that is seen round the world!  I never seem to tire of looking at everyone's desk each week; it's a wonderful way to see lots of storage ideas as well as all sorts of crafty things happening all over the world.  Each Wednesday we take a picture of our desk and post it to our  blogs and then we link to Julia's blog  then we can go see all the wonderful spaces all over the world!  Who would have thought that when Julia started this it would grow and just keep going and going.  I know I'm totally addicted!  I love spending my Wednesdays looking around...there is a world of talent out there and I enjoy being a part of that!  This week, marking the anniversary there will be a ATC swap in honor of this wonderful adventure.  I have mine all ready to go and can't wait to get started.  So here we go! 

I am in the middle of coloring a little Magnolia image Tilda.  She is actually wading in water and has a shell in her hand.  I remember wading and what fun it was so many years ago.  Actually I don't think I'm too old to wade now!  In the background you can see a beautiful card sent to me by a dear friend Sylvia Nelson.  I'm sorry my picture doesn't show it very well but lately I've been having a hard time taking photos of my desk.  I have my distress inks out and some of my Pro Aqua Markers.  Not much of a mess, but I don't have a lot of room to really be myself.  One of these days, that is going to change and you can see the real me!

Well that about does it for me this morning.  I'm off to look around and see what everyone else is doing!  Have a wonderful day and remember to "Breathe"!

Happy Birthday.....

Good morning everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend and that it was a safe one.  We spent the days resting quietly in the cool of the AC as our temps were pretty hot!    This morning I'm sharing a card I made for a upcoming birthday.  I used a Saturated Canary image and colored this little lady with Ranger Distress inks.  She is all ready for the rain and I think she is just such a cute image.  Once she was colored, I fussy cut her and placed her on the blue oval background.  The sentiment is from Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3363 Inspire Me Sentiments PreCut Set.  I also used the Vivienne Butterfly from Memory Box cut out of a lighter blue card stock and then I used stickles over it to add a little shine.  And of course, you know me, I had to use lots of Spellbinders dies too. 

Well that's about it for me this morning.  I hope you enjoy my card as much as I have enjoyed making it.  It is always so much fun to get my fingers a little dirty.

Look What I Found......

I found this gorgeous paper in my scrap bin.  Several years ago I purchased two 12 X 12 sheets of this for scrapbooking.  Since I scrapbook no more, I've used this paper here and there through the years.  The other day I was going through some papers and found this little scrap of the paper.  So I decided to drag out some of my old Spellbinders dies and go to work.  Well I say work, I actually consider this play!  The name of the dies is Sunflower Set 2 and I'm pretty sure it is discontinued, but I'm determined to play with some of the older dies.  There are so many I've only used once or twice and it's time to dust them off and wear them out!  I found some sunny yellow card stock and some Gala Glitz and this pretty flourish and this is what I came up with. 

I hope you have had a good week and that you have a great holiday weekend planned!  I will be playing in my craft room this weekend.  I've been working so hard, I think it is time for a good rest! 

What's on your Workdesk? Wednesday #155

Each week a group of us crafters take pictures of our desks and post them on our blogs.  Then we go to Julia's blog and link our photo's to her blog.  This way we can visit each other and see what we have going on.  I have become quite addicted to this and love seeing what everyone has going on in their own little world!  That being said, here is my contribution:

Pretty clean, don't you think...not a lot going on here.  I don't really have any pending projects that are waiting in the wings.  And the reason for this is:

I've been digging in the dirt and watching my garden grow.  I love fresh veggies and pretty soon we will have a bounty of fresh produce!  I have pretty much taken on this endeavor by myself...occasionally my dear husband will run the cultivator through the rows to help with the weeds.  Right now, everything looks pretty clean and weed free and it seems to be growing every day!  Now, let me just say, it takes quite a bit of back breaking work to tend a garden and I'm getting a healthy dose of the business end of a hoe!  But I love watching everything put down roots and begin to grow and there are little butterflies flitting around everywhere.  So far, no varmits have invaded the fence and everything seems to be doing well!

So when I neglect to show you a pretty card, or some flowers I've just made, this is what is going on with me.  This and it seems a gazillion other chores that are now on my list! 

Well, in an effort to keep this as short as possible I will not show any more pictures of my garden.  I'm off to visit others on the ever growing list at Julia's blog.  Come join in the madness.....I've shown you mine, now show me yours!

Follow Your Heart.....

Good morning bloggers!  As we begin our new work week I want to share another card I made.  I just love this sentiment and I actually live by this!  I used one of my new Spellbinders dies, Lattice motifs and I have to tell you I have fallen in love with this one.  It reminds me days gone by and summer days of my childhood!  How do you like the flower?  This is homemade and I simply adore the curls and the delicate look of the flower...this is my take on the gardenia flowers you purchase from many name brand mfgs. I found a video on YouTube called Handmade flowers - paper gardenias by luvleescrapin.  If you would like to make these you can go there and watch the video.  I used white cardstock from Walmart and did a light blue color wash on the petals and then while damp I scrunched and twisted and then glued the layers together to make this little beauty.  Some colored stamen in the center and there you have it.  I'm seeing more of these in my future!

Well I'm off to visit my sister bloggers and see what they have had going on over the weekend.  I'm always happy to see new postings from everyone and see all the beautiful creations.

Have a wonderful day!

Supplies:
Canson watercolor paper
Nature Garden Collection paper from Prima
Blue card stock
Spellbinders Lattice motifs

Cheery Lynn Blog Hop!!!!

Today I am participating in a blog hop for Joan's Gardens to introduce to you to a new series of Flower dies from Cheery Lynn called "Build A Flower #1". These dies are Cheery Lynn exclusive flower building dies that Selma helped design; they include flower petals, flower bases, leaves, and different types of stamens. Cheery Lynn will be releasing more "Build A Flower" sets in the future to build a wide variety of flowers. All Cheery Lynn dies can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

I cut out the stamen and added color and then dampened them just a little and then I used an embossing tool to burnish the petals and curl them up.  Next I curled them around the end of a paint brush and squeezed each one to give them a little scrunch look.  To me they look like blooms that are just opening up and getting ready to strut their stuff. I set my flowers and leaves against a doily die from Cheery Lynn called DL184 Sophia's Heart.  This die can be cut in different  places and can make many usable parts. I have had so much fun playing with these dies and you can bet you will be seeing more flowers in the days to come.  I plan to use this Build A Flower #1 set a lot.  My mind is racing with all the possibilities!

I am very happy to join five other very talented ladies who are participating in this blog hop. Cheery Lynn Designs is the sponsor and has donated a fantastic prize package with a value of $100. All the guest designers were sent a set of the "Build A Flower #1" dies and we have posted cards today showing different flowers we created using these dies. We hope to give you a lot of inspiration to "build" your own flowers.

Would you like to win that $100 gift package from Cheery Lynn? All you have to do is be a subscriber to both Joan and Selma’s blogs and visit each blog in this hop, including Joan and Selma's blogs, and leave a comment. A winner will be selected to win the $100 prize package from comments left on one of the blogs - it will be a random selection done on May 24, 2012.  The guest designers are:

  Priss Steelman http://prissprojects.blogspot.com/
  Selma Stevenson http://selmasstampingcorner.blogspot.com/
  Nancy Hill http://flowersoncamasprairie.blogspot.com/

 Joan Morrison http://www.joanscottagecards.blogspot.com/
Diane Hover http://nelliesnest.blogspot.com/

 Glenda Brooks http://glendabrooks.blogspot.com/
 Deb Kozak http://debspaperpetals.blogspot.com/
 Joan Fricker http://www.atjoansgardens.com/

Your next stop on the blog hop is Deb:http://debspaperpetals.blogspot.com/

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday? Week #154

Happy Wednesday everyone and welcome to WOYWW!  What is this you are wondering?  Well every Wednesday morning you can take a picture of your desktop and post it on your blog.  Then head on over to Julia Dunnit's blog and she provides a link where you can link your post.  Then you can visit everyone on the list and have a little look around and see what they are doing. 
My life has been chaos lately and I don't have a lot going on here at the moment.  My Mojo is moving and I think she forgot to tell me where she is going!  Too many chores, I think!  I found some new brushes to play in ink with and some sculpty dough and I haven't put those things way yet.  Just mostly things that need to be put back in the cabinet and hidden away.  I'm hoping next week there will be a little more activity here. 

I did get a new shelf for my dies.  These, being one of my many addictions, have become quite a problem to store.  This shelf will help tremendously.  I still have several I need to get into the CD cases.  Wish me luck!

Now I'm off to visit some of the other girls!  I do so enjoy that part of my Wednesday!  Have a great day!

Tilda With Flower.....

Good morning everyone!  This morning I'm sharing a cute little Tilda image that I colored with Ranger Distress inks.  I just love these images as they are perfect for using inks to color.  I used Gala Glitz on the brown part of the flower and put stickles on her wings.  I made the rose using a technique I found at:

http://simplypaperandcreativity.blogspot.com/2011/06/wild-roses-tutorial.html

 You might want to give this a try; I think it makes beautiful flowers!  I also used the new Floral Ovals and Deckled Edge Classic Ovals Large Spellbinders dies.  My paper is from the Prima Fairy Belle collection.

We awoke to heavy rain this morning.  I actually slept in some this morning because of it, it just sounded so nice and made me really want to snuggle down.  We have been needing this rain for our plants and garden. 

So what do you have planned for this rainy Monday?  I will be working indoors today and hopefully have some more time to play.  So whatever you are doing take a moment and "Breathe".

Tribute to my Mom.....

Happy Mother's Day to you all!  I miss my mom terribly...we were very close.  She used to say she and I grew up together.  We really did.  She had me at 17 and she truly played with me.  She would build play houses for us and we'd eat tomatoes out of the garden on little green dishes that came in the oatmeal box!  She taught me to make mud pies....even putting Daisy flowers on the tops.  And when I was in my early teens and dancing everywhere, she danced with us!  And like every other mother in the world, she sat with me when I was sick, cuddled me when I needed it and spanked my behind when I deserved it!  So if you have the opportunity, hug your Mom today!!

Work Him Like a Borrowed Mule!

My grandson is, right this minute, smack dab in the middle of his 8th. grade trip to Philadelphia and Washington DC!  It is such a wonderful opportunity for him to see some things that I think are very important in his education.  Anyway, he needed some extra money for "stuff" while he was traveling and asked if there was anything he could do to make some money.  Well being the wonderful grandmother that I am, I jumped all over it!  He came last weekend and spent two days with us and, yes, I'm afraid we worked him like a borrowed mule!  There were so many things I needed help with and he is a big and strong 14 year old with lots of muscles and energy!  He washed my car from top to bottom and we pulled Ivy out of a landscaped area and then he helped my husband do some chores around here that he had been putting off for so long. 

Our ladder fit him!  He is always telling me how he has to fit the golf clubs he uses or it just won't work.  I think this ladder fits him to a tee!

And here they are with that ladder after they mounted the purple martin house on the pole!  I love that house and believe it or not the little birds are already checking it out!  They also put up two other blue bird houses while they were at it.  It was hot and humid and they were both ready for a cool drink!

Job well done guys!

OK that is it for me this morning.  I've been so busy this week, I didn't have a card to show today.  I'm hoping to find some crafting time this weekend so stay tuned!  Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

What's on Your Workdesk? Week #153

Good morning everyone and welcome to WOYWW 153!  For any of you that don't have a clue what I'm talking about...this is the scoop!  Every wednesday morning we all take pictures of our workdesk and post it on our blogs.  Then we link that post to Julia Dunnit's blog so we can all go snooping!

Come join us...it is addictive and I have to admit that I'm hooked on it!  I love to be able to look in on old friends and some new friends as well.  You can check out desks from all over the world.  Everyone is doing something different...isn't it amazing how there could be so many different types of crafting going on! 

For about a year now, I've been enjoying my own personal space.  My own craft room...no more corner of the laundry room.  Every week I show you this tiny space on my desk and everyone says how very neat I am.  I like to keep my work space neat and tidy.....that's just who I am!    So sit back and prepare to be wowed!

Pretty good, huh?  Ok, just because we have become such good friends, I'm going to show you the real me!

Now how do you feel about it?  You see, if I keep my little area clean, then I actually have a space to work.  Everywhere else can be chaos and I don't even bother about it.  I just keep working away. 

Well ladies, that is about it for me this morning.  I'm off to Julia's blog to see what she has going on and then off to the 4 corners to visit as many bloggers as I can!  Now I've shown you my dirty little secret.....show us yours!

Vintage Lady.....

My card this morning is to enter in Joan's Gardens Challenge #17.  The challenge called for:

Do a Vintage Card.....
Stamp a Background.....
Use Olive and Tan and any accent color......
Use some kind of feathers.....you might have to kill a chicken.....These are Joan's words not mine!

I can not remember where this vintage image came from...somewhere out there on the Internet.   I printed her on watercolor paper and used Ranger Distress inks to add some color to the edges of the card stock.  I stamped a piece of watercolor paper using a Heartfelt Creations background stamp...HCPC 3323 Large Elegant Word Background PreCut Set.  I then distressed the edges with a distressing tool and used distress inks on the edges of this layer.  I stamped and cut out the bottom piece using JustRite Classic Lace Edges Two and Spellbinders Classic Edges Two.  I used distress inks on this also; although it doesn't really show because of that big old bow.  I sort of got carried away, but I think it will be OK.   I added two tiny feathers to the hat and glued them down.   Everything is layered onto a dark green card stock.  My finished card size is 5 X 7.

That's it for me this morning.  I'm off to get a cup of coffee and think about my to-do list!  Have a great day and remember to "Breathe"!

For the Boys....

Being the grandmother of 4 boys, I always need a card for one of them.  Sometimes all of them.  So I try and find images that will work for them.  Of course they like the no frills approach and I struggle not to put flowers or pearls on their cards.  But boys are a whole nother breed, so I try and respect their wishes.  I did, however, add a ribbon on this one.  But if you notice, not a flower in sight!

I colored the image with my brushes and Ranger Distress Inks.  This one will go in my box of cards for the boys and then when I need it, I can just go to the box and pick one.  I hope you enjoy this one.

Well that's about it for me this morning.  Have a wonderful day and no matter where you are or whatever you are doing, try and find a moment just for you and "Breathe".

Magnolia Blossom Card....

Good morning everyone!  Happy Friday!  I'm so tired from all the chores, I would just love to sleep the day away.  But duty calls and I must answer.  I want to share another card.  Don't you just love Magnolia blossoms?  I think they are so elegant and we actually have a Magnolia tree in our yard.  But if you pick the blossoms, they immediately start turning brown and ugly.  I haven't been able to use them with other flowers and that makes me sad.  I colored the image using Ranger Distress inks and a water brush.  I have never caught on to Copics and actually sold all my markers earlier this year.  They were just lying here collecting dust, as I always color with the inks.  The sentiment is set onto a Spellbinders labels die and it happens to be from Heartfelt Creations.  A pretty piece of background paper some colorful card stock, a little ribbon and I call it finished! 

Enjoy your day and thanks so much for dropping by.  I always love hearing your comments, so be sure and let me know how you like the card. 
That's it for me this morning...remember to "Breathe"!

What's on Your Workdesk? Week #152

A little bit of a mess going on...however there is method to my madness!  I'm working on a Magnolia blossom, coloring it with distress inks and a water brush and I have some dies out trying to decide what I want to use to set up my image once it is finished.  The stick with the metal end is a removable storage disk that I use for my images from the web.  My picture is a little dark and I apologize for that but I didn't turn on my OTT Lite so this is what you get!  I promise to do better next week.  I've shown you mine, now show me yours!
If you don't have a clue what this is about; just hop on over to Miss Julia's blog and you can get the details.  Each Wednesday we all take a picture of our desk and we link it to Julia's blog and then we can all take a look at what we have going on.  I love seeing everyone's creative space and all their projects!  You can always get inspired and it's a wonderful outlet for me.  I'm totally addicted!  It's a good thing Julia doesn't sell drugs! 

Well ladies and gents too if you are out there, that's about it for me today.  I need to get cracking and visiting everyone's desks and see how far I get this week.  Still trying to say...I did them all.  I visited everyone!  I haven't been able to do that yet, but I'm determined!

Have a wonderful day and remember to "Breathe"!