ATC Swap Fun...

 

Hey,

And welcome to June FINALLY.

It was a super busy May for me, work wise and personally. 

I have loved getting back out into NYC, as things open and my friends become accessible again!

My little Craftgang and I started doing a ATC swap this year.

The first theme was Beach.

And as I am heading to the beach this week and the ATC's have all arrived, I thought I would share the ones that I made.

I had such a fun time making them. 

I smooched a large piece of watercolour paper to create the background for the ATC and then cut them to size. I then blended in a bit of yellow for the 'sand'.

The stamps were perfect and are by Hero Arts 'Beach Please' I added a teeny tiny Lil Inker Sun die.

They came out so well.

Here they all are together. 

Clockwise top left, Lisette, Me, Cheiron, Tiffany

Love it when we get to make fun things for no reason.

Have a great weekend. Hubby is in the UK - WHOOP, finally we can go home, I am here with Clint Catwood, having a fun solo week off.

Cx

30 Days of ATStamps...

Hey,

Happy Monday!

Hope you had a good weekend?

I have been having a lovely time in January with my blog, I have posted quite a lot and a lot of it has been end of 2019 makes, which is nice. I have entered a few challenges, so new stuff has been made, but it's been nice sharing some of the things I made towards the end of last year. I got a bit of Christmas fatigue and really just couldn't muster up the enthusiasm for my blog!

Today I am showing you a really cool project / challenge that I did last November.

Carabelle Studios hosted a 30 days of ATStamps. I saw this post on The Kathryn Wheel blog and was totally hooked and had to join in.

Here are the prompts for the 30 days -

The prompts were great and the rules were reasonably loose - each ATStamp had to be 6x4cm, and had to resemble a postage stamp. Using Carabelle Studio stamps was optional and as I only had x5 of their stamps at the time, I mixed it up a LOT.  Mid-way through the challenge, I managed to acquire x3 more sets on sale. Also you could make more than 1 ATStamp per prompt and I did do this for some of them, as I had so many cool ideas in my head!

Here is a little glimpse of my ATStamp's -

From top left clockwise 1) close-up of the ATStamps, 2) a cent for scale as most people on insta thought they were much bigger! 3) the permanent home in my art journal for the ATStamps, they were too much work and too gorgeous to give away.. 5) my fave monster ATStamp 6) all of my ATStamps - I ended up with 38

Kathryn of The Kathryn Wheel, gave me a good idea for how to get started. I dug out all the scraps and stamped backgrounds, gelli plate backgrounds, smooshed backgrounds. I cut approx 40 6x4cm pieces from these backgrounds and they formed the 'base' for all my ATStamps. Some of them I didn't overly embellish and others I did a lot to.
I didn't have the Carabelle postage stamp base, so I used a Simon Says Stamp one from the 'Ho Ho Postage' set that I also have the dies for, I stamped and cut all of these and affixed the decorated piece to this.

The main photo today is of my fave ATStamp - Day 13 'Drink' I LOVE Monsters and I love Coffee too and this Monster stamp by Whippersnapper always reminds me of me in the morning.

This was one of the ATStamps that needed a bit of work.. I chose a green and orange background piece and stamped over it with a Carabelle text stamp. Then I prepped my Monster -

Sadly, I had to lose his bunny slipper! After I had trimmed down the Monster to fit the background panel, I added a sparkly M to his mug, as I suspect like me Mr Morning Monster might like a monogram ;)

Finally one fun fact for you, I didn't discover the challenge until 8 days in!! So I spent an entire Saturday afternoon prepping and making the first 9 ATStamps! Here is a photo of the first 9 -

I loved this little challenge, it was SO out of my comfort zone and I was really pleased that I decided to take the leap and join in. It was also fun breaking out my acrylic paint markers and using dots and lines to embellish these super small 'canvases'.

More projects like this in 2020 please.

Cx

WOYWW #313..Craft playtime for months to come...

Hey,

Happy WOYWW.

What fun last week's swap was. I have now posted all of mine and now I am starting to receive yummy snail mail - whoop!

I will show you the delights I received once they are all safely with me.

So for you WOYWW novices, join us and our fabulous hostess Julia over at her blog Stamping Ground for the weekly global desk nosy - make new friends, be enabled to buy new stash, fun times.

I have been super busy craft wise, because I decided I just wanted to have some playtime with my enormous stash and so have allocated the Summer months to play and DT items only - sweet.

Sadly Mr Broken foot is causing me issues (btw the original break has healed..) I am off for a foot MRI today (sigh).

I have nearly finished Day 5 of my OCC and JT and I are now playing along with The Daily Marker - 30 days of colouring challenge. You can see what we are colouring here.

Due to me participating in the colouring challenge, my desk is very tidy, I like to colour in a tidy environment. I have been known to go to the dining table when I have been too lazy to tidy my desk..but Hubby has quite a lot to say about that.

My desk today shows my finished colouring from Day 2 and some ideas about making them into cards, my glasses are there (spotty pair for a change) and my mini distress inks.

I've got some exciting news for you, but that will be coming later on this week...

Here is a little card for you - in the layout stage...

I got the Avery Elle flower die on sale and it makes a very sticky up flower, so I will be using it on a present, but I do like this layout. I used SSS inks.

I followed this video to make my flower..neat idea.

See you later gators.

Cx

WOYWW #312...ATC Swap Day!!!

Hey,

Happy WOYWW!!

You find me with mixed emotions today, I love ATC Swap Day at WOYWW, but my Ma left a couple of days ago and it feels a bit odd without her..

Well it's a good job I have you lovely people from WOYWW here with me.

No desk photo today, just the delicious ATC's and their wrapping!

Wondering what all this WOYWW chatter is about? It's that fab time of the week where we get to join the lovely Julia over at her blog Stamping Ground and have a global desk nosy..

This week we are swapping ATC's for the 6th Anniversary of WOYWW - you can find more info here.

I have 3 ATC's to swap (the one for my adjacent person not included) Julia if you are reading I do not have your address and I would love to send you something..

As you can see I made x2 kinds this year. Once again with their own mini envelope. The bigger envelope is what they are being posted in - all made by my fair hands, a Martha Stewart scoring board and American Crafts papers.

Thanks to Ma (she was my delivery girl) there is a little extra 'thing' in with each ATC.

I used Lawn Fawn and Newton's Nook stamps and a MFT stitched rounded rectangle die. All inks are by Tsukineko. All stamps coloured using Promarkers.

They were fun to make and I love how they have come out - that Lucky Waving cat is an "in" joke between JT and I :)

Anyway, msg me or leave a comment on my blog, if you want to be one of the 3 recipients. I am based in NYC by the way and happy to post anywhere.

Yay! I feel happier already.

Cx

p.s Kim - I just saw the post LOL - Thanks!!

WOYWW #306...Getting my ATC on...

Hey,

Happy WOYWW everyone!!

I can't believe it's been a week and a half since I broke my foot..I am back at work and it's all quite painful and annoying!

However, I am feeling quite pleased today, as I managed to finish half my ATC's for the WOYWW 312 Swap. I am making 8, so with one for the peeps either side of me that leaves 6 for swapping with other lovely WOYWWers, so just leave me a message or contact me before then and I'll keep one aside for you.

For those of you that are wondering what on earth I am talking about, pop over to the lovely Julia's blog Stamping Ground and join us for the weekly global desk nosy that is WOYWW.

My desk this week, gives you a sneak peek of my ATCs, you can see the stamp sets I am using and some of the papers that I'll be using to make mini envelopes.

You will also notice that I have a thing for acrylic stamp blocks...I have to confess, this is a small part of my block 'Collection'...yes I have a problem!

As always a card for you -

JT and I recently bought a big batch of Bugaboo stamps and this was one of them. So much fun to colour and it uses 3 things that I learnt / bought at the loft art retreat last month - super easy banner technique, Lawn Fawn stitched square die and glossy accents for the glasses.

Have a great day everyone. 

Cx

WOYWW #261...Feeling the WOYWW Love...

Hi,

Last week's 5th Anniversary WOYWW was so much fun. I loved making ATC's and the swapping part has been big fun. Thanks again Julia for bringing us all together.

WOYWW is a special time of the week when we join the fabulous Julia over at her blog Stamping Ground to say hi to all our friends, meet some new ones and nose at desks.

My desk is bland this week, as I have been all work, yoga and no craft - boo! You can see a little stack of received ATC's, my glasses, my mouse and a discounted pot of embossing creme that I am going to revitalise (it's dried out) and have a play with.

Here are some pics of the ATC's I have received so far.

From Kim - love how everything matches and KIM you star, I just (Tues eve) found the hexagon template and the mirrored hexes...AMAZING.

From Nan G - another one that matches..Love the mini envelope the ATC came in, with the little tab to close it.

From Sharon - can you believe it, as well as making an ATC, Sharon found time to make a card to accompany it too - wonderful. Love the colours of the ATC and the different elements.

Thank you ladies, I love getting snail mail and receiving these mini works of art has been lovely..can't wait for the rest to arrive.

Finally here is a card for you all (and especially Darnell). The sentiment is heat embossed and the flower is from some cheap place cards I found a while back..I mentioned them previously and Darnell was curious about what I was going to do, so here it is!

Happy Birthday flower card

Have a great day, team outing for me tonight, so I'll be late, but I will visit you.

Cx

WOYWW #260..Happy 5th Anniversary WOYWW..

Hi,

Well it is a very special day today. One that many of us WOYWWers have been waiting for.

It is the 5th Anniversary of WOYWW and today we swap ATC's (although some of us have already started...)

Our lovely hostess Julia keeps many of us sane with WOYWW every week on her blog Stamping Ground. Many a friendship has been forged because of our weekly desk nosying and I for one couldn't be more grateful.

So Julia if you are reading this - thank you very much, here's to 5 more years!

My desk is 'staged' this week as you can see :) Trying out my new compact camera....must turn off the date stamp!

Creating ATC's has been fun and I managed to make 12 of them - I have swapped 8 already, so there are 3 left excluding the one for the 'true' swap.

Here are some photos of them - all different and all with a mini keepsake envelope -

WOYWW Anniversary ATC's and Mini Envelopes - 1

WOYWW Anniversary ATC's and Mini Envelopes - 2

WOYWW Anniversary ATC's and Mini Envelopes

Aren't they gorgeous? The envelopes were such fun to make too. I am so proud, they are little teeny tiny cards. I got to use all different techniques which was fun fun fun - I love them..what a great way to learn about ATC's - more swaps please!

I'll be visiting you all much later on - as I am going to see one of my colleagues and his Jazz band after work.

Cx

WOYWW #259..My 100th Post this year!!

Hi,

I am most excited that my 100th post this year falls on the same day as WOYWW (join Julia and the gang on her blog Stamping Ground for more info about WOYWW).

Maintaining a blog is hard work, but made much easier when you have things like WOYWW and all your blogland buddies.

My desk is a bit random at the moment...I am doing a big OWH drive, so you can see some remnants from this - my 'love' stamp folder, newish glasses, scissors, inks, stamp press - with a stamp, mouse and some random stencils.

I am most excited about next week's ATC swap!! I made 12, 2 have homes already so if you want to swap, just leave a comment and we can swap addresses - I am based in NYC and don't mind posting to wherever.

I ran out of time to make a little card for you WOYWWer's..So I thought I would show you the pop-up Anniversary card I made for my President (Terry) to give to his wife for their 30th Anniversary..

Pop-up Card

Each panel was personalised as per Terry's request - aeroplane (travel), heart (love) - the 3rd panel contains a quote relating to food and family. I went for spotty papers, that didn't clash or overpower the rest of the details. The card was cut using a Silhouette template.

I love it, Terry loves it and I believe his wife does too :)

See you for a desk snoop later :)

Cx

WOYWW #258...missing my friends...

Hi,

It is that time again - WOYWW...join Julia our fabulous hostess and the rest of the gang over at her blog Stamping Ground for the weekly desk nose.

So my desk was a bit busy on Tues eve when I took the photo. Martha Stewart scoring board out, some random place cards that I bought for a project and didn't use..now trying to figure out how to use them now, my glasses, my mouse, a pencil and a stray heart from ATC making.

I am missing Lemon, it's hard being away from our friends and family and nice that they come and visit. Hubby's mother and sister are coming out in October which will be awesome. As my SIL is a very close friend of mine (how I met Hubby) and for Hubby and I to get to hang out with her - sans sproglets will be fun.

I made this little card for Lemon, so she knows how much we appreciated her visit.

Miss You!

The stamp is a new one from Simon Says Stamp, coloured using Promarkers - I thought the leopard paper by American Crafts suited the stamp perfectly!

I'll be swinging by your desks later.

Cx

WOYWW #254...Learning something new...

Hi,

Happy WOYWW!! Where did the week go?

Before we get our WOYWW on, let me explain what this acronym means...every Wednesday us crazy crafters, join our wonderful Hostess Julia over at her blog Stamping Ground and reveal our messy (or not) desks to the world. It's fun and Wednesday's have been fun fun fun for me since 2012. Join in!

I had a fun time in Montauk over the weekend..Hubby and I relaxed, which was the point and much needed.

My desk this week is still tidy, but showing signs of activity..it looks a bit staged?! I assure you it is not..I stepped back to assess the things I was working on and decided to take my photo then..So what is actually on my desk...Goo Gone is out as I needed to clean my mat before I started working last night..it was very sticky, from all the paper piecing I have been doing. I love Goo Gone, it smells odd, but who cares..it works! There are a couple of distress ink pads, a mustache stamp, craft knife, tweezers, bone folder, some hexagon punch outs, mouse, pencil, scissors and 3 cards I am playing with!

Cake card is a rough idea, I heat embossed the cake using a stamp that comprises of individual layers (meh!), the hexagon card is paper pieced together and the forty card is a replacement for the one I have already made and have now decided it's a mess.

I need some help WOYWWer's..I am keen to get involved in the WOYWW ATC swap..but I have never made an ATC before, so I am a bit bewildered and worried that I am not understanding it right! Here are my first attempts...

ATC's

Is this right? Should I be doing more? Gah! Please leave me a comment, that might help me solve this puzzle before WOYWW 260!

As usual here is a little card for you..

Cherries

I don't really like Cherries as a food stuff, but I do like using them on cards - I am especially pleased with the teeny tiny little leaf. Its a punch that I have had forever and rarely use.

Desk nosying will be coming from me after work and the gym, so apologies if I visit you late.

Cx