What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday (week 76)

It's Wednesday again (so soon!!) and Julia over on her blog Stamping Ground is again sharing her work desk with the land of blog and asking others to do the same - and as usual there are well over a hundred bloggers who have done just that.

The above photo shows what's on mine at the moment.  It's a footstool - that's to say it was a footstool until I took it apart and started ripping off the old fabric!  Here's what it looked like yesterday

It's been in hiding under my craft desk for the last ten years so I thought it was time for a revamp.

I've taken the fabric off the bottom section and have just started the top (which lifts up revealing some storage inside).  I think the covered buttons on the top may be a problem, but I'm sure I'll sort something out!  

I haven't decided which fabric to use for the recovering yet - I did have some in mind, but discovered I don't have enough of it!  I may still use it, together with some contrasting fabric.  I may keep the little legs black or I may paint them - decisions, decisions - lol.

I've been showing some of my little drawers on previous WOYWW posts, so here's the next three

Chipboard shapes of all sizes and varieties

Friendly Plastic with tools and cookie cutters

Ten Second Studio metalwork tools, moulds and DVD.  (I keep the actual metal sheets elsewhere as they don't fit in the drawer)

That's about it for now, thanks for looking, I'll come and look at yours too if you let me know you've been.

Not another matchbox!

I didn't think I'd be altering any more matchboxes this year (after the 25 I did for A Swap For All Seasons a couple of months ago), but the final challenge of the year on my favourite Flickr swap group Art 'n' Soul is for just that ie "alter a matchbox and put a tiny surprise for your swap partner inside".

The matchbox I altered isn't one of the tiny ones - it measures approximately two by three inches (when closed).  I decorated it with scrapbook papers and rub ons from La Blanche, gold lace trim and a couple of holly buttons also duly altered.

My gift also isn't all that 'tiny'!  It's a stuffed fabric heart with wings and a charm.  The fabric I cut using Tim Holtz Alterations 'Heart Wings' die by Sizzix.  I thought this would make a nice little decoration for the Christmas tree.

On the other side I used a couple of the poinsetta flowers I made a few weeks ago with an embossed flower punch.  You can also see the reverse side of the heart and the red embossed mock velvet fabric.

Here's what it looks like inside the matchbox (the inside is decorated with Christmas sheet music coloured with shimmery gold Perfect Pearls, but you can't see it in the photo)

The closing date for this swap isn't until 11th December, so there's still plenty of time if you want to join in!

Thanks for looking x

Compendium of Curiosities - Challenge No. 21 'Perfect Distress'

Phew, just in time!  Linda over at her blog Studio L3 sets a challenge every Monday from Tim Holtz wonderful book of techniques 'Compendium of Curiosities' and today is Sunday, I'm late!

This week's technique is 'Perfect Distress' as detailed on page 38 of the book.  

 I made an ATC using Mona from one of Tim Holtz Stamper's Anonymous plates (Mini Classics CMS 062).  I used 'Tumbled Glass' and 'Pine Needles' Distress Ink and 'Blue Patina' Perfect Pearls.

Mona was mounted onto old book text and that mounted onto the card I was practising the technique on.  A couple of dotty ribbons and some gems finished the ATC off.

I also used a Tim Holtz bird stamp (Stampers Anonymous Artful Flight CMS069) to try out the techinque - using the same colours of Distress Ink, but this time 'Perfect Copper' Perfect Pearls powder.  I haven't 'made' the bird into anything yet, he may end up on a card.

Speaking of 'perfect coppers', if you're in the UK, wasn't Scott Maslen just unbelievable on Strictly Come Dancing last night - swoon, swoon - lol

Art, Heart & Healing - Week 3

This post is about what I've done for week 3 of Tam's free art course, 'Art, Heart and Healing'

This week, there were three parts.

Firstly we had to decorate the front of our board books to incorporate an altered photo of ourselves.  As I didn't have any printed photos of myself (yeah, a likely story - lol), I used one of my niece Chloe aged about three.  It's the photo I use for my profile picture on various sites, so it does represent me in that way.

Secondly, we had to create a 'celebration' spread inside the book

Lastly, we had to make an 'empathy monster' - you can see mine (as yet un-named) at the top of this post.  The idea of this little chappie is to be empathic towards you (although he cannot speak - as we know it!) he's a great listener - and has a beautiful kind eye!

He has a lovely heart too

Most importantly of all, he loves me!

I believe there's only one more week to go - another painting, I'd better get practising again



What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday, week 75

We went to visit my sister today, she lives at Southend-On-Sea so we had to go check out the beach - well not really, but we could almost see it from the shops!  It was a beautifully sunny day but very cold with it - so we had to keep going in the shops to keep warm!

The photo above is a side view of my desk and on it is what I bought in a couple of charity shops - all for under £5!

I can never resist old music sheets and these are from musicals shows which I love.

This huge bundle of red and green braid I thought would be useful for Christmas projects and the small reel of gold thread.

I couldn't resist the lilac coloured lace - and the little packet of tissues with oriental figures on - so sweet!

You can see part of a wonderful ATC (top right of photo) which I received today from the wonderfully talented Donna (Doings of Doone) - for being one of her first fifty followers - she's one very generous and busy girl!  Thank you again Donna if you're reading this.

I promised to show the contents of three of my little boxes (drawer units) each week, so here's this week's offering

Beads (mainly seed beads) which I keep in colour order

More beads - some larger and glass ones and some old junk jewellery.  The little drawers are deep enough to hold small glass jars too which is really useful.

I emptied the contents of this last drawer out so you could see all what was in it.  Several smaller sub divided boxes with black and white beads and some star shaped 'beads' too which are quite sparkly.  The tubes contain tube shaped beads and there are also some bells in packets.

Well, I think that's about it for this week.  I am of course linking this post to Julia's blog Stamping Ground who first asked the question 'What's On Your Workdesk' and if you hop along over there you'll be able to visit over 120 desks!

Thanks for looking and if you leave me a comment I'll be straight over to have a nose at yours, or just to see what you've been getting up to!