WOYWW 81 - Merry Christmas one and all

Oops!  Nearly forgot about WOYWW today.  With all one's timetable being pushed out of kilter (no panto, Mum staying etc) I forgot today was WOYWW.

So, at the mo, no picture of my desk - I'll add one tonight before Lil Miss B goes to bed (she's sleeping in the office at the mo).  I'll probably also add pics of them ice-skating, cos it's my work's Children's Christmas Party this afternoon and there's an ice-rink at the holiday camp where it's being held.  Working in HR means I get to go whether I have a child or not (ROFLMAO) but this year it is nice to be there for the right reason!

For now, I will sign off and say Merry Christmas to you all.  I hope you all have a fantastic time, and may your waistbands be elasticated! 

TTFN!

WOYWW 80 - the oh cr*p one

Here we are again, WOYWWing with the world.  For more info, for those completely clueless as to what I've just said, go to Julia's place to find out exactly what I'm on about.

Me - here's my desk.  A hive of industry.  Quite literally, seeing as there's a load of scrap lead frame (that's lead sounding leed not lead sounding led) which I was originally going to use to make a Christmas decoration for the competition at work.  Except that I'm not now, as the deadline is today and we had panto last night and and and.... well, time just ran out on me. 



Hence the oh cr*p in the title.  I've not written a single Christmas card and posted it yet.  Actually, that's a lie, cos I did the one I needed to send to Oz.  But otherwise? Nada.

The other major item on my desk is the bunting from the bunting swap.  Yay and thrice yay!  I will put up a photo once I've strung it all and found a good home for it.

Never let it be said, though, that I don't do any crafting.  This week I've just finished and posted my decorations for the Christmas Decoration swap on UK Stampers.  I did five in total, one in modern colours like immediately below, and four in the red and gold (further down).  I used Lord TH's alcohol inks to colour (can't remember which ones for the mo, but can find them if anyone is really that interested!), Inkadinkado and Habico stamps, Gold Krylon and clear UTEE.  Simples!

Yipes!  Gotta run - late for work..... Catch you on the hop!

WOYWW 79 - the hurried one

Hurried because I should have left for work ten minutes ago!!!

Morning all!  Welcome to another WOYWW, and if you don't know what that is, go HERE to find out.  Jingle-some Julia (in the spirit of bells and Christmas, that is) is our guide, or maybe even just a rally point, for the wonder that is WOYWW. 

One thing I must redress - Welcome to my list of followers, Lavinia!

Well, last week I had most of you doing acrobatics at your desk.  Mr B thought some of your comments hilarious (as did I)  with them bringing to mind ladies with their heads cocked at funny angles to try and get a sense of the pic.

This week you'll be pleased to see that normality has returned mwahahahahah at least that's what everyone else thinks....

After the mayhem of last weeks desk, I managed to catch a shot of Lil Miss B in action (ok, this particular picture was taken on Friday night, and I was actually trying to get her to go to bed, but she's turning into a proper crafter with a "I just gotta....."  ROFL

Here is this morning's mayhem on my desk.  And overspill onto the chair.  I got barracked by Mr B for not tidying up after myself, but oh ho, who left the bits on my chair and didn't put them away?

Then we have the desk itself.  A polyglot mix of birthday and Christmas card manufacturing, with cards in various stages of work.  Finished ones, half finished ones, half started ones and then naked snowmen.....LOL  I think that one was a project for the halflings in Mr B's school.  Lurking on my WOYWW easel is a Tilda that Lil Miss B proudly coloured in with my Copics.  I didn't tremble much while she was using them, honest guv!

And so, finally, the ubiquitous Christmas Tree shot.  I love to put up a picture of my tree for my friends who can't get to my house and to say "Merry Christmas".  I love trees and decorations and stuff.  This year we're doing the "frosted american wedding cake" look..... heheheheheheh never let it be said I under-dress a tree 

So come on then, how do YOU dress yours?  Share a pic when you share a desk!!!

Catch you around...... 

WOYWW 78 - the quiet one

I'm running late this week, and I don't have an awful lot to say.  To such an extent am I late, that I took this photo on the fly this morning with my phone camera.  And I'm typing this at work. 

So here you go - the desk in all it's glory post child.  Or even during child.

Nuff said.





Or at least it would be if Blogger would let me upload the correct picture!  Having said that, the photo is kind of apt as my craft room does seem to be a bit upside down at the mo!

Go to the delightful Miss Dunnit's Stamping Ground blog to track down more such desk-related delights!  Catch you around guys....

General Randomness

They're coming thick and fast this week.

Mr B asked me last night what Marmite was made of... yeast extract says I.

"Yes, but WHAT exactly is yeast extract, and how does it get made?" he says.

"Dunno" says I, "but how in the heck was it discovered.....????

long pause...........

.....What would have happened if the first person to discover Marmite didn't like it?"

Not mad enough????

I got accused of not rambling madly enough by the ever lovely Doone.  I must apologise for this lapse in current mental status.

All was rectified last night on my return home, and I have something suitably mad and random for you....

Me:  "So, how was school today?"

Lil Miss B:  "It was ok..."

Me;  "Only ok?  What did you get up to?"

Lil Miss B: "Nothing special.  I had to dress up as a banana"

Me:  " A banana???"

Lil Miss B: "Oh yes!  And not just any old banana - a Fair Trade Banana..."

The mind boggles..........

WOYWW 77 - Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

Hello!!!!

Another WOYWW hits us like steam train in the middle of the week…

Ok, nothing interesting to report this week. I’m not even showing you my desk, because it got hijacked by a 10 yr old on a Christmas Card Fest, and it’s been left in a state of disarray.

What I WILL show you is what I did to that dagger. Nothing special, just made the blade a bit more silvery, and did a bit of the old Ten Second Studio magic to the handle with some black metal, one of their Big Momma moulds, and some sand paper. Oh, and the cup and ball tool. Not the best of work, but at least from stage distance, it’ll look good enough.

Before....

After...

Typical though, both me and Mr B think the finishing touch would be a skull as a pommel at the base of the handle. Can you find skulls in the shops, 2.5cm in diameter, less than a month after Halloween? Can you heck….

So, off you go after this brief glimpse into the mayhem of my particular WOYWW this week. If I have time I will persuade myself to photograph the desk. To go and see other much more fabulous examples than mine, visit The Stamping Ground and the lair of the great Julia Dunnit for more info and a list of devotees.

Other news - Mr B himself went into school today with 90 – yes, 90 – polystyrene balls. He’s doing Christmas decs with the class for their school Christmas Fayre. I’ve had my teeth done at long last, so have finally got my front teeth for Xmas! It’s a long, long story – suffice to say that the crowns I had put in 20-odd years ago weren’t right from day one, and it’s taken until now to get it all corrected. My wallet feels lighter, but finally I can smile properly again. Yay! If you’re lucky, I’ll show you a pic…… or perhaps not, eh….. Lil Miss B is settling in nicely at school and is teaching herself to play the piano. I’m so proud…..

WOYWW #76 - the tricky one

Hmmmmm.

Today's is a toughy.  As I type this it's Tuesday afternoon and I know darned well that I've got panto rehearsal tonight and won't get time to do this later, so I should just do this now and schedule the post.

Trouble is, I have little to say (guess that will no doubt change though) and no photos to share (at the mo, that may also change).  I do, however, have a couple of things to blog about.

Thank you all for your kind words and support last week over the studying.  I've still not got my head down to my studies, though that is coming.  I've also not yet complained about my tutor.  I think that's going to happen at the weekend.  Tricky one, because if they refuse to assign me a new tutor, she could make my life hell.  I'm sure though, they have rules over that, and I'd get a refund ultimately.  But as I say, thank you all for your kindness, your input and feedback.  It's very, very much appreciated!

Secondly, just wanted to say a quick welcome to Kym's Craft Cards, who has joined the Mad Ramblers..... thanks for signing up to my perusals and ruminations....

My desk - at the mo, no picture, but this may yet be edited.  No picture, because nothing to report!  No cards (except one Lil Miss B made, but it had to go in the post before I got a picture.  I let her loose with my Copics - and they survived - Ulp!), no CJ, no studies.  My script was on there earlier but it hardly makes it worthy of a picture.  There might be something on there for five minutes later, in which case I'll snap a pic then and add some more.

In the meantime, by the time you're reading this it will be WOYWW, and you should be surfing the creation stations as displayed by the Great Desk Jockey, Miss Dunnit.  Well?  What are you waiting for?  Get on with it!!!  LOL - catch you around!

EDIT -

Well, 7am, I switch on my camera to take a pic of my desk and discover that I did, after all, take a pic of Lil Miss B's card.



She'd seen the card I made last week, and wanted to do something similar.  Bless!

My desk now looks like this - all geared up to "alter" a toy retractable dagger for panto, and make it look more authentic and less like a toy!  Check back soon for an update on how I'm getting on with it!



WOYWW #75 – the post-illness one.

Firstly, this week I’d like to welcome a couple of new followers - Debs H and Scrapcollectr - to my blog. You’re nutters, but most welcome nonetheless… ROFL.

Yay – last week I managed to get around EVERYONE – bar the one that linked herself straight back to the WOYWW page (LOL) and the one that had nothing against it (133, I think?). This is probably going to be a one-off – I was at home all week and was able to plug away, unlike a normal week! Health wise things are picking up around here – though I think it would be quicker if I could remember to take my antibiotics. Still a little muzzy/light headed though!

Another week has flown by and we are once again surfing the blogs of the world in the quest to share the state of our desk, all courtesy of our tour conductor extraordinaire, Ms Julia Dunnit. Visit her blog The Stamping Ground to find out more, and take yourself on a trip that will delight, amuse, inspire and occasionally dismay you. It’s a fab opportunity to be supportive, enjoy a good read and get/give tips amongst a new and amazing circle of friends we never knew were out there….

My desk this week – once again, little difference. There’s no CJ, for a start – read more about that HERE (huzzah, I say!). There’s a couple of little items there – some cheapo ribbon I picked up that just shouted Christmas Cards to me, a sheet of fab see-through stamps that fell into my basket on Friday, much to Julia’s Shopkeeper Gal’s amusement, and a little cross-stitch/beaded number (ok, to be exact, it’s a Mill Hill Charmed Mitten) that is needing a hanger attached so it can go on the Crimble Tree….

In my WOYWW easel you will also see my entry for this week’s Sketch Saturday – for a better pic and the Ingredients, go HERE.

Things are not going quite so well on the A Level front. Mojo in that area is almost non-existent. I know that being poorly hasn’t helped, but I’m finding the distance learning a real struggle, especially as I’ve only heard from my course tutor twice, and the second time I had to contact her! She doesn’t seem particularly interested in being supportive, if I was a course tutor and had an email from a student saying that they were struggling, I’d be on the phone to them, not send an email saying never mind, plenty of time, get your TMA (tutor marked assignments) in when you can and we’ll go from there. I shall be complaining to Oxford Open Learning. I hope to get my head back down to the studies this week, and maybe the light will dawn and I’ll understand what the heck is expected of me.

Still, enough moaning! Enjoy your surfing, hope to see you guys back round here soon!

Done it at last!!!!

Another WOOHOO from me – I’ve finally despatched that CJ that has been lurking shamefully on my desk for the last couple of months! YAY!!!

I always had it in mind what I wanted to do – Alison wanted us to use a cobweb stamp (shudder, I hate cobwebs, the real ones that is) but our pages were really to reflect something that meant home to us. When I read that, my mind was instantly drawn to the view from my childhood bedroom window. Urban (not city like the cityscape I used, but heigh ho, I wanted to reflect that it was London) but every May the Lilac outside my window would flower. Even now, I see them in other gardens and my mind is drawn back to home – where my Mum still lives, and has done since before I was born!

LH Page

 

RH Page

So, the Lilac stamp is Joanna Sheen, the cityscape is Crafty Individuals, though I gather it’s probably a royalty free image as a couple of other stamp companies have it too, and Big Ben is from Xelacrafts. The cobweb stamp is by a company I don’t know, though I’m sure that Alison would tell me if I asked. I added the hanging spider myself in pen.

Inks used are DI’s – Faded Jeans and Antique Paper. I also used Copics on the Lilacs, but can’t remember which ones (tut tut, silly me) though I DO recall one of them being V04! A touch of hologram EP over silver pigment ink for the spider’s web, and LOADS of masking….. hehehehehe.

The poem is by Komalik – the full version is way longer, but I think the first couple of lines sum it up beautifully. If you want to attach any meaning to the way I’ve put the words on the page, see them as the scent, wafting in the breeze…… lol.

Alison, I hope you like it, cos I had a ‘mare making it – between not having the right stamps, not having the right mojo, being ill, taking on board a ten yr old, and then finding my paper clay had - expired, shall we say? - it’s taken me a while to do this one, and not with the textural element I had hoped to give it. I’m pleased with the result though!

Sketch Saturday 06.11.10

Woohoo – things are getting a bit more like normal around here.  I’ve even managed to do some crafting that isn’t related to a CJ, and isn’t a desperate last minute dash for a much-needed card!  This is crafting for crafting’s sake.

I had received this particular Tilda image from Jo many many moons ago along with a few others, and it had been languishing in my “to colour in” box ever since.  New Copics mean a new found interest in colouring, so I coloured it in last week.  Then on Friday I popped to Kraft Crazy in Tidworth, and whilst picking up the stamps I ordered, I spotted the Papermania Persimmon set of papers.  A quick glance at the packet told me I liked them, and the colours would pretty much go with what I’d coloured in.  It was only when  I got them home and opened the pack that I realised they were not only a pretty much perfect match, there was a paper of blue and purpley polka dots that was almost EXACTLY how I’d coloured in Tilda’s bow.  Fate.

Other materials – three spots of Card Candy, a couple of prima style flowers, some flowers punched from the same backing papers and a couple of brads.

Oh, and lets not forget that I followed this week’s sketch from Sketch Saturday, eh?  Go and try their sketches for yourself – always life savers….  And I’m entering this into this week’s contest.

WOYWW 74 - at least I think it is!

Hi y'all!!!  Sorry.  Americanism.  Colonial sister-in-law.....

Well, I'm back in the land of the living, even if I'm somewhat zombiefied.  Mr Doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics and signed me off work for a further week with a "chest infection".  I'm typing this from the comfort of my desk at home.  Somewhat shocked, might I add, to see that it's 7.40am and there are ALREADY over 40 links on WOYWW.  Have to get up early these days to get in at #1!!!!

So here we are at another WOYWW - and for those who are unaware of what in the heck that is, go and visit Julia's Stamping Ground for more info.

On my desk this week we have.....

New rubber!

I still haven't done that CJ - woe is me! - but as I'm at home this week it will definitely be done today.  I've been too poorly to even think about crafting.  Anyway, the gorgeous stamps you can see come from Smeared Ink.  Some small ones on the left come from Xelacrafts.  I also won some blog candy but in my brain addled fug of memory I can't remember whose blog it was... sob.... but thank you very much to the lovely lady who sent them..... sob.....

Ok, I'm off.  Just a short blog from me this week.  I won't bore you with tales of the last fortnight, which include (but are not limited to) an hour in the dental chair followed by my crowns falling out three days later, after all the dentists are shut and 8 hours before we're due to leave(at 3am) for Blackpool. The sorry tale of me going on the Pepsi Max Big One and screaming myself completely hoarse that it was a full 10 mins before I could physically say a word....the Valhalla ride which got us so wet my Goddaughter POURED water out of her shoes.... The ensuing laryngitis.... the return visit to get my crowns put in.... Halloween where we all went out dressed up round a deserted village, only to find that all the kids were going round en masse, and we finally get to meet all our neighbours 5 months after moving in....

Nope, I'll save all those for another post - and will start the long blog hop to catch up on the doing of you guys - catch you around!

Yak.....

Not the wild beast.

Yak as in Yack. Yuck.  However you want to spell it.

Yak.


Why Yak?

I've been ill, hence the reason for not appearing in the most recent WOYWW list.  In fact, the reason for nothing at all for almost two weeks, no dancing, no panto, no blogging or surfing as such - nada.  I've been off work with what I suspect is a cold that developed into laryngitis (the Dr won't let me near him for some reason - wonder why?  LOL) compounded by coughing fits that make my stomach muscles cramp up, and then the next fit sends my back into spasm.  All in all I'm an all round wreck. 

So Yak.

Normal service will resume shortly. 

I hope.

At least Dr has agreed to see me today, so we'll hear what he has to say then.

WOYWW 72 – the one without the snappy title

I’m very glad we have WOYWW. Without it, Wednesday would pass by in a blur and get forgotten. We’d also find ourselves saying “OMG, where HAS the month gone”, rather than “OMG, where HAS the week gone”. Vitally important, that. We all think it’s making the weeks go by really fast but in actual fact it’s punctuating the month quite nicely, thank you very much, and slowing time down a tad.

OK, I’ve waffled enough. You don’t want to hear my mad ramblings….. hmmmm….I’ve heard that somewhere before…. *ROFLMAO*

We’re here for one thing and one thing only. Our illustrious, standing-in-for-Shopkeeper-Gal, Julia has this fab blog HERE where you will find out more about the wonder that is WOYWW. Go see. No, don’t go see, not yet anyway…. Heheheh

I think I’m playing a game with you guys without realising it. It’s called “see if you can work out what has changed on my desk this week….” The study books are still there but the CJ is actually open (*can I just add that it's not my entry page - didn't want to spoil the surprise for Alison, whose CJ it is, so am showing her own page!). We now also have the addition of a new storage box for my paltry collection of Copics (Silly Monkey Crafts has them on special at the mo, so I’m trying to work out how to extend my collection a little…..) and you might just spy a Joanna Sheen stamp of a lilac. This is for use in the CJ. I’ve been decidedly tardy in getting that one out in the post! To cap it all, the stamps I was originally going to use have also been used on the first page, and Mr B was cross with me for wanting to use the same ones. So – horror of horrors, hardship of hardships *snigger* – I’ve had to buy some NEW stamps to use. I’ll use the original one as well, but I need to modify it somewhat….

I have also figured that if I’m to use that button over there to the right… yes, that one, the one that says “Major Stamp Addiction”, I ought to put my money where my mouth is and show you guys what gives me the right to use it.

Voila.

In almost all these drawers (what’s that, 16?) there are stamps. Rubber stamps, acrylic stamps, see through stamps, un-mounted, wood mounted, kling on and EZ mounted. Wheels and medallions, borders and corners, cute and artsy – you name it. But it’s not all of them, no siree! There’s also, lurking somewhere, a postcard album filled with my un-mounted celtic knotwork stamps. As you can see, a real addiction. I tried counting them once. Did a rough guesstimate. And didn’t dare tell my then husband that it was somewhere in the region of 500. That was 4/5 years ago….. oops. Admittedly, some of them are TINY. Like the Stamp Tapestry peg stamps (got about 4 sets of those…..). So what would you do? Count them individually, or as a set? After all, I do use them individually on other projects where I don't use the whole set...

I’m a big fan of getting as much as you can for as little outlay as poss. Like buying medieval tile stamps from The Stampsmith – a WHOLE A4 sheet of them, about 25 stamps…. Cool….. I rarely buy wood mounted stamps these days – I simply cannot justify spending ten quid on a stamp when I can get a whole sheet of them for that. It has to be REALLY special (or a Hollyberry House medallion) for me to splurge like that!

The drawers themselves are labelled according to theme, but I think I’m in need of a bit of a sort out. "Miscellaneous", for example, is bursting at the seams – I need to create a new drawer for “Architectural” for a start. The one labelled “Fauna” may well need to be divided up into “Animals” and “Winged Creatures”. But under those circumstances, where would I stick the dragons? In “Fantasy” or “Winged Creatures”. The mind boggles….

And whilst we are on the subject of storage of stamps, as you can see from my medieval drawer (below) , my weapon of choice used to be the flat Ferrero Rocher boxes. They are the perfect depth for wood mounted stamps, and stack quite nicely too. They also hold a lot of UMs. I have more of those than I really want to admit to, though I will say that my post -Christmas gift from Mum used to include a stack of them she’d rounded up from her friends.

My fave companies? Anything with a decent Angel policy, for a start (hear that, Hero Arts?). But actual companies – Third Coast Rubber are top of my list. Stampsmith, Clarity, Crafty Individuals, Paper Artsy, Magnolia, Sarah Kay, De Stempelwinkel, Katzelkraft…..I could go on, and on, and on…. Which manufacturers always make you reach for your bank card without too much hesitation?

OK, that’s it. You can go now…… See you around!

Ride 'em, Cowboy!

Ok, that's a bit of a lame title, I know.  Especially as it has such a tenuous link to what we got up to on Saturday evening, but I thought I should post a little bit about what we did.

Verwood Panto Society hosted a fundraiser, and the Country band, Neon Moon, played for us for free.  We all bought tickets, and this meant that after the hall hire had been paid for, everything else went to the Society to help raise funds to pay for the new costume shed we just bought.  Neon Moon were ok - have to say that really cos the drummer is in the panto society! - but the music they played would only have been well known to fans of Country music.  It wasn't exactly a get-up-and-dance evening, except when Steve (the drummer) put his disco on when the band weren't playing.... Poor Lil Miss B was a bit bored most of the time.

Highlight of the evening?  The sunset on the way there.....



Super Blog Candy!

Going Buggy blog has some fab blog candy up for grabs, and to be in with a chance go here.

This is for US commenters,

 and this is for UK commenters

Go, go fetch!!!!

WOYWW 71 – going nowhere fast

Another week has whizzed by and here we are again at the behest of Ms Dunnit (see HERE for info), viewing a desk that has changed very little. Oh wait. It’s tidy!

Yup, you got it. Mr B put his foot down with a firm hand and pointed out that unless I tidy the desk, I can’t work on it. You see, I’ve been complaining that doing my studies at the table in the kitchen is a nightmare. It’s the main thoroughfare through to the fridge/larder/kettle, and so I was getting constant interruptions. I’d made noises about studying in the office, and lo, a tidy desk was born. (Working there also means I get to have X Factor on ITVPlayer – we don’t have TV reception here; long story for a different day)

And so, after Saturday’s card making session (see Tuesday’s post here) I wound up spending 7 (yes, SEVEN) hours in here on Sunday studying. It means I finally finished Lesson 1 at last. Modal Auxilliary anyone?  So, what is currently on my desk is my study book and a notepad.  And that CJ I STILL haven't done.  I will, Sarah & Alison, I will!  

Last Wednesday I had a card on my desk which was in the throes of being created. If you have a good hunt in the previous photo you might find it!  Here is the finished article. I like it; Mr B keeps asking me who it’s for – I say anyone who has a birthday coming up, or an anniversary, who might like it. LOL. 

Stamp: Flourish by The Fourth Dimension, + random corner I can’t identify.

Ink: Adirondack Cabin Fever (which I think needs replacing as the inks have merged!)

Glitter: Art Institute Autumn collection.

Punch: Martha Stewart, naturally.

I also have a confession to make. Last week I showed you all my ribbon storage. What I forgot to mention is that those hangers are only half the tale. The five sets of plastic drawers that run the length of the room have two drawers in them that are dedicated to the storage of ribbons on reels and fibres. I’ve not quite got around to sorting them out fully and displaying them on similar hangers, though I think that is in the offing shortly because I need some more drawers for the ever growing stamp population. In fact, all the drawers need a sort out really, and re-labelling.

Oh well.

So, this week it’s a welcome to pixiholly and Nicola Fail who have become followers of the Mad Rambler, and an apology to those of you I didn’t get round to. I know I suggested working my way backwards from the end of Mr Linky, but I actually ended up doing reciprocal blopping (blog-hopping). I think I’ve managed everyone who commented, plus a couple of extras, but otherwise….. sorry!

You want what and when?????

It always happens doesn’t it? That chance remark. That subtle, last-minute reminder. I should have known what was coming the month or so before when we arranged a trip on Saturday and the comment came up of “oh, that’s Mum & Dad’s Wedding Anniversary weekend”. So I shouldn’t have been surprised when, on Saturday, after getting in and realising that we hadn’t picked up a gift, we needed to go back into town to get one and he says “can we rustle up a quick card? If I tell you what I’ve got in mind, can you do it?”

We had, literally, two hours before the shops closed, and I’m supposed to rustle up a quick card and get back into town to find a gift?

Naturally, we did it. In fact, the card from last Wednesday’s WOYWW was the inspiration, as it gave me a launching off point. Mr B pointed out the colours he wanted, I had a bit of a fiddle, and Robert was my mother’s brother. Voila. One card.

Stamp: Flourish by The Fourth Dimension, stamped twice to make a longer image.

Ink: Versamark

EP: Moonglow embossing powder in Venus Violet Blue

Punch: Martha Stewart, naturally.

Ribbons:  Lilac organza and purple satin

Additional bling and a peel-off

As a result of this card, I was then able to go on and finish the other one from last week. I’ll put that one in tomorrow’s WOYWW though.

And the original trip we had planned? Mr B had bought me a hot air balloon flight for my birthday earlier this year, and unfortunately this was the third time we’d tried to book it, and the third time it had been cancelled due to the weather (on this occasion, low visibility and high winds at altitude). We’re cashing in the ticket, as they’ve said we cannot book again now until the spring, and unless you take your flight before the anniversary of the purchase is up, you lose your money and your ticket. Mr B is going to put the money to something else for me. Hmmmm, now what shall I choose? More Copics? Some Nesties? Maybe a Cricut……. ?

Once more with feeling – WOYWW 70

And so another week passes in Blogland and here we are on the merry-go-round of WOYWW. For those new to it, you can learn more here, over at the Stamping Ground where all will become crystal clear. Rather than mud like, which is no doubt how you feel after visiting my wallow hollow. LOL.

So what is on MY desk this week? Not an awful lot really. As per usual. It would be nice to have time to sit and craft properly. So you can see where I’ve had a stab at using one of my new flourish stamps to start work on a card (got some brown velvet ribbon to add to it next, and then I need something else – it doesn’t look right yet. There’s also some Kling on for mounting stamps. That’s Kling On, not Klingon. The image conjured up is quite amusing though, if somewhat unwieldy. Nail polish remover for getting the indexing off clear stamps. Some buttons which just appeared as well – methinks they came from Mr B.

In answer to a question or two from last week – no, not a SINGLE soul actively came up to me and went “oooh, WOYWW!!! Who are you?”. I did get a few curious looks, and a thumbs up from Hels, but that was it. Next time, it’ll be deely boppers at dawn, but by then I’m sure that all the rest of the WOYWWers will be clued in and it will become a national treasure. It would have been nice for one new person to pop onto WOYWW and say, I’m here cos I saw a nutter in a t-shirt at AP and wondered what it was all about. Mind you, they may have cos I’ve not got round to everyone this week… *hangs head in shame*.

As for how I came by the t-shirt – t’was simples! Word art in Word 2007, a small piece of clipart for the heart, and then it was printed onto iron-on transfer paper (not forgetting to mirror image it first, of course!) and ironed onto a t-shirt. I will quite happily email the file to anyone who wants to do their own, but it’s quite easy, and you can always put your own spin on it. Mr B has already said that next time he wants a t-shirt too. Not sure whether or not I should be alarmed by that!

Oh, and the only reason I didn’t stamp it was a lack of time – the design was done on Friday evening before travelling up to London, the ironing on Saturday morning after I had bought a t-shirt at Mum’s local Asda, finished literally minutes before leaving the house for Ally Pally! I couldn’t find the deely boppers in the loft, you see……

Elsewhere in my room I thought I’d show you how I store my ribbons. I have two hangers – one for ribbon, one for organza and rik rak – and can see all colours at once and it’s easy to cut a small length when I need it. They don’t tangle either. And behind the door – there! That’s the piano hiding. I see that Lil Miss B has purloined the music stand and put it in her room again, and not returned it. Tsk. Music in the Music Room, missy! Can’t say I blame her though – it’s a little dark back there, even with the lights on.

I had intended to post on Saturday/Sunday after a visit to Kraft Krazy in Tidworth, and an encounter with Julia’s Shopkeeper Gal. Except I didn’t take a photo of the shop when I’d intended to, and I hate pictureless blogposts. Anyway, Shopkeeper Gal is a lovely lady, very helpful, and the shop is a veritable treasure trove of goodies. I thought after AP that I wouldn’t need any more stash, but there were one or two things I didn’t manage to get at AP that were in fact on my list (Xyron adhesive for one) and needless to say it wound up in my basket. Oops……… I now have a nice list of workshops to um and ah over which I want to do.

Gosh – is that the time? Best get a move on. I’m never going to get round everyone’s desks, so this week I’m going to start at the end and work backwards, as they are the gals who get very few comments! TTFN!

*ok, yes, so the time is in actual fact about midnight, eh?  I 'fess up.  I did this on Tuesday and scheduled it to post just after midnight on Wednesday because last week my scheduled post of 6am didn't happen, and I wondered if it was cos Blogger works on US time..... Yes, the picture of my desk was taken on Tuesday, but that's how it's going to be until Wednesday night because tonight is panto rehearsal and we won't be in until nearly midnight......

WOYWW 69 – the long wordy one.

Well! It’s that time of the week once more when we head off into the ether to snoop at everyone’s desks, courtesy of the Desk Discovery Diva, Delightful Mrs Dunnit. *did you like what I did there? Cool, eh? A little bit of alliteration never hurt anyone.* I’ve not been too good of late at getting around all the desks. I’m determined to rectify that this week, especially as we’re having a quiet (!) and inexpensive (ROFLMAO) weekend at home. Gardening. And swimming. We have Lil Miss B with us this weekend, and Friday sees her visiting a few local schools to see which one she likes best, ready to start there after half term (which is the last week in October, for our overseas readers). It will soon be upon us, that’s for sure!


I laughed at the inexpensive comment above because we were at Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) for the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show (BSSBS) this weekend just gone, and now we have to live on bread and water for the next month. Or at least, baked beans on toast. My waistline thanks my crafting habit. Even Mr B got in on the act and hasn’t quite yet worked out where all his money went that day! More on Mr B in a mo – some of you that were there may have encountered him without even knowing it!

I met up with Jennie and Hels, and also Alison (aka CraftyTrog from UKSTampers, in the pic below.  I promise I'm not a giant really, just that Ali is quite petite). I got a couple of odd looks from folks, but I’m guessing that might have had something to do with my T-Shirt! See Julia, I did fly the flag after all, even if it wasn’t deely boppers! I even put the Stamping Ground blog address on the bottom under the WOYWW bit.  Mr B did comment that he wished I HAD worn the boppers, because then he’d be able to find me easily in the crowd. Normally he looks for the person wearing purple…. ROFLMAO.

So here, for your delight and delectation, is what is on my desk this week. Lots of crafting supplies.

Doesn’t look like much does it? No? That’s cos the rest of it is on the floor behind the desk….

That’s how you know you’ve overspent – when you start displaying it on the desk for the obligatory “here’s my stash haul from Ally Pally” shot, and discover that you’re probably not going to have room for a decent shot. Oops. I was good with it while we were there, but then I got home and the guilt started to set in. Bless Mr B – he said:

“did you have a good time?”
“yes”
“will you use the craft stuff you bought?”
“yes”
“will it enhance our crafting for time to come?”
“ye-es”
“Well stop feeling guilty about it then”

I love my man…… LOL


As I said before – some of you may have encountered him without knowing it. At lunchtime we were queuing for food in the Palm Court, and the flat screen telly was showing a Manchester City vs Chelsea football match. Now, Mr B is a Liverpool supporter, so what happened next was really funny. He was studying the telly intently, and then suddenly let out this really manly whoop of delight. Man City had scored! He immediately realised where he was (partly on account of the echo in the court, and partly because all conversation ceased, to be followed immediately by laughter on all sides) and clamped his hand over his mouth. Bless. Why did he cheer? Because he didn’t want Chelsea to win, and if they lost it meant that Chelsea were no longer unbeaten this season! LOL. All the ladies around us were most amused, apart from my mother in whose ear he had shrieked and darned near given her a heart attack!

We split up during the day to divide and conquer. Mr B and Mum sat in on a couple of demos downstairs, and I joined them for a demo by Barbara Gray of Clarity Stamps. I always try to go to her demos, because she’s so much fun. It’s like watching a cross between Graham Kerr (The Galloping Gourmet) and Marti Caine. Even Mr B commented on it.

“This lady must be popular”

“She is – what makes you say so though?”

“Well, this room was only three-quarters full for the last one, and now look”

Lo and behold, not only were all the chairs full, but there must have been about 50 people stood around the sides and back. It was like that all day too – I swung by the Clarity stand at 16.55, only to find Barbara like this:

I figured I should get a shot of Hels hard at work too (sorry Hels, I know you hate your picture being taken, but you did look as happy as Larry!) Tired but happy, eh?

Right – I’m off. Watch out for the girl in the T-Shirt!!!!




Morti
x

Not quite WOYWW 68

Greetings again fellow WOYWWers.  A great big huge huggy welcome also to Wipso and Sylvia-Anne who have joined the lumbering train that is the Mad Ramblings blog....

Wow, what an epic week (#67) for desks to view!  Unfortunately for me, life got in the way and I only got to about 60 desks.  I would take a picture for you this week (and may yet do so anyway!) but it would only be the same as last week's!!!

What we DO have on our desk this week though, *so I suppose that does in fact make the desk different* is a copy of the script for Peter Pan.  Yes indeedy.  Panto time is here again.  Verwood Panto Society are putting on a splendiferous production with no less than 6 - yes SIX - members of the cast flying, and it generally promises to be a good night out.

So I do hope that the great Desk Diva, Ms Jooooo-lia Dunnit will forgive me if I put in a blatant plug here for VPS and a picture of the lovely poster.  Not that I'm expecting to sell any tickets via my blog, but you never know!  Even if it's only one extra ticket, it's an extra ticket.  And Lord knows that this show is costing a lot to produce. 

Coming up this weekend is the Big Stamp and ScrapBooking Show, lovingly referred to henceforth as BSSBS, at Ally Pally.  Me and Mr B are off up to London on Friday night to stay with my Ma, then all three of us go to BSSBS on Saturday, and Sunday we go to visit my sister (who also happens to be doing Panto in Braintree, Essex, and in fact has written theirs as well as being the director!). 

Some of us on UK Stampers are arranging a meet up at The Artistic Stampers stand at midday, to head off for a girly lunch.

Me?  I'm contemplating doing my bit to plug WOYWW by wearing deely boppers with WOYWW strung between the "antennae".  So if you're there, and you do see someone who looks slightly lunatic, that's probably me......

WOYWW 67 - the pictoral version....

OK folks - I know you're going to be a little disappointed cos the *ahem, coff coff* description was SO good (rofl) that your imaginations ran a little wild.  I lied.  The CJ isn't on my desk at all.  Something else is though.... thanks Julia - it came today!!!!

And just because I love him, and I want to celebrate him being so great to me, for my own droolability (after all, t'is my blog)  here's a pic of the hunk himself, Mr B.  Taken on... nearly forget then!.... Sunday morning when we were on a soil sample collecting expedition to Cley Hill.  I know.  I lead such a glam existence!



Last item of news for tonight - I managed another 32 lengths tonight!  Woohoo!  I'm loving it!  If you don't know what I'm talking about, go here...

Ok - time for bed methinks!