WOYWW - Anniversary Special

Well another week has flown and I am proud to say one of my desks was totally covered with loads of creative goodness. And it even looked quite colour coordinated at the same time!

 Now don't go thinking that I am, the tidy organised person you assume I should be...well it's very nice of you if you do think that of me, and far be it from me to shatter your opinion...but i do confess that is the pre-messy shot...the bit where you look and think...before you actually DO IT!!

So, if you were following me on twitter (@paperartsy) you will have noted on Sunday I made it to HobbyCraft on Sunday for a fleeting visit. Paddy at Paddy's stamping Place (Manchester) had been telling me the great success she had die cutting with our flower dies and sheer fabric, and I was itching to have a go. I walk straight in to the fabric to see what colours they had (baby pink, baby blue, cream and black - not what I was hoping for) But, being optimistically optimistic at that particular moment, I decided to see if I could find some papers to match. Headed to the back of the shop, et voilà! Success. A K and Co paper pad thingy with lots of nicely matching papers. Bingo...but which one, the funky cool, shabby chic, heritage Oldfield worldy??? In the end went for a dusky little number and then (result) found some of HC's own branded ribbons in the bargain bin that matched pretty well. Marched up to checkout. Headed home, and 2 hours later realised I forgot the blimmin fabric which I went in there for in the first place! Typical of my highly organised self to not consult the list...I do that all the time, write lists and never check them off when Jonny on the spot....Jonny gets sidetracked...

So I guess you want to see the 'after'..well actually this is during, but you get the idea. Started at one end of the desk, and yes it is a large desk, probably bigger than most dining tables, and did a 12 noon till 12 midnight mega session .And then some more the next day...and it's all still a work in progress. (by the end of today this desk will be in full swing as a rubber pressing/ trimming/bagging station).

It is highly likely that I already have a heap of papers just like this in these colours, and a heap of ribbons, but seeing as my proper work desk in the other shed can't even be seen from the door, then this also means that most of my supplies are also hidden behind boxes, suitcases, and other piles of stuff that prevents me from getting to anything. Well more like I really can't be bothered to look. Fact. And as I don't get out much {being a workaholic without enough hours in the day with 4 kids, 2 cats a DH who needs constant reminding of priorities, and who all need feeding and ironed clothes} well...shopping is a much better option to escape that lot! Relaxing. Quiet. And a little bit exciting.

Yes I do want to try and clean up the shed to be a delightful workspace with good light, vibes, fun colour, modern furniture, everything labelled and boxed filed away, easy to reach, shiny and lovely and perfect......oh sorry ...just slipped off into a dream like trance then....well, the dream is on the list for JULY, I think it's been on the list for the last 2 Julys actually, but this year it WILL happen! Fingers Crossed. {Jo F-Y has promised, almost enthusiastically, to help so we shall she if she's sure once she looks through the door! Can't quite get my head around why she is so keen to get stuck in. Think she just likes tidying up people. lol}

Where were we...on the rest of the desk (over in the little corner to the right from previous shot) are more 'to do' jobs. Such as. Find a shelf for the newest Inka gold (aka Goop) arrivals.

A bunch of Viva goodies waiting to be photographed so they can make their début on-line in the shop.

And some mini sheets waiting for a hot spin through the laminator so they can magic themselves into index labels for stamps. I know genius behind the scenes stuff huh!

And here is one of the items I made with the new papers and ribbon! I painted the box with antique white kaiser paint, covered it with the papers, rand the ribbon around the edge, die cut the dragonflies with our new PaperArtsy dies and stamped over with the matching stamps. 

Love how the sepia accents match the tone of the brown papers and add another dimension at the same time.


I also made 3 other scrummy projects, but they are for the September issue of Craft Stamper, and if I showed you I would be in the naughty corner...so I can't.


Oooh but I can show you this

suffering from a lack of sheer fabric I opted to make tissue flowers - this is a technique we taught at ArtsyCrafts the other weekend, but then we only sprayed. This little one is painted and sprayed tissue (champagne Crafty Notions spray), then stamped in paint some more, and then stamped in black ink with a delicate script.. And feeling adventurous I decided to make it into a tissue rose...ohhh it wasn't hard at all - you should have a go, and I love how delicate the colour is too. 

So there you have it another big day for my desk, and a big anniversary celebration for WOYWW. Hop over to Julia's blog to see how you can play along too. Look at me sounding all expert and this is only my second week playing! LOL ....{confession ...shhh} I still haven't figured out what WOWWAC means, so I guess it is something I was supposed to do for this week, so now I'm going to feel like a right numpty when I work out what it is and how I have probs done the opposite or something this week!


Happy desk peeking!


Leandra