Red, red wine....

Just a quick update, I thought I would stamp up some images from the lovely stamp Shaz gifted me at the recent crop.  I have been after a decent sized wine bottle stamp for AGES (literally years) and Shaz kindly gave me this one.

So I stamped it on card with memento ink and was really surprised at how fine, crisp and detailed the image was.

A quick blast with the heat gun to set the ink and I started colouring it with inktense pencils applied with a wet brush so that I got that 'fluid' look.

I set the colours with a quick spray (I normally use a spray sealant but I was being lazy so grabbed my hairspray!) and was really pleased with the outcome.

I plan on making some masks so that I can stamp the glass and bottle separately and also mask the words and the wine label-I will let you know how I get on.

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

WOYWW

Time to celebrate...the procrastinator has been thwarted!!!  Look....

 I know!  I couldn't believe it either.  I decided to put some more vinyl on the record player and settle down to a sewing session and I finally finished it!  I thought that since you ladies helped me think through HOW to do it at the WOYWW crop I would share it on a Wednesday (not actually my workdesk but I hope Julie doesn't mind).

The red sticking out the sides is actually my fluffy rug I placed this on top to take the photo!!  I think I made this in time as the weather in the UK took a turned colder at the weekend (not unexpected in the latter part of November) so I should be snug as a bug with this new topper on the bed.

My "Man Bites Dog" cards this week left me wondering whether I should actually show them considering the awful news from Paris and Lebanon recently, but they really were the first four cards drawn randomly so I decided to:

A series of horrifying acts of violence....senseless.

 Kyla

Quilt procrastination

So, how am I getting on with the quilt I hear you ask?  Well.........I was distracted!!!

On my recent trip to London we went to a Manga Exhibition at the British Museum and also a quick visit to Tate Modern.  As Banksy said "exit through the giftshop" and this meant I ended up being surrounded by lovely art books!!!!

I treated myself to a pocket watercolour book (it is nice a simple, unlike some of my other books which confuse me and put me off painting) and also an urban sketching book.

I really enjoy urban sketching and on trips out I often have a small drawing pad, pen and a mini watercolour kit.  I have sketched on trains, buses, in pubs....anywhere I find something interesting to record.

So I was all prepared to crack on with my quilt after having made an effort at the weekend...only to find myself distracted by flicking through the books..which ended up being more than a hour!

I am determined to crack on with  it.....oh, but there is ironing and bottling of the sloe gin, and filing....etc........ah, why am I SO good at procrastiation!!

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

 

Music to quilt by

So after a fabulous weekend in London visiting my brother, sister in law and my new niece Emily (she is SO cute) and a quick trip to the British Museum and Tate Modern whilst we were there I found myself extra busy with a mix of gigs (The Legendary  Shack Shakers) and an evening out with friends sampling a new Veggie and vegan restaurant in Bristol (1847-great good and service) not to mention crazy hectic at work to boot.

So I decided this weekend I need to crack on a finish some UFO's (unfinished objects-I am sure you all have them).

The one I chose to tackle is my quilt! Now some of you know I have been struggling for quite a while with this but I made great progress at the recent WOYWW crop with all the advice (couldn't convince anyone to finish it for me though!!) so I put on the record player and plugged in the sewing machine and tired not to swear too much as I tried to make some progress!

Christmas cards

So after saying I don't usually make quick cards here are some more!!  I must admit I tend to batch make Christmas cards as it just makes life a little easier.

These were made from a topper pack I bought at the NEC, it was a selection pack which you could only see the top and bottom layers in the pack so it was a bit of a gamble-but for £1 it was worth it as they are really good quality.

 I used a blank square card and a micron pen to add some detail around the edges of the card.  Then I added some colour around the edges with TH Distress Inks and highlighted the card with some stickles.

I kept this card much more simple as the toppers were a bit more 'fussy' but I still added some colour around the edges and used the micron pen again to add a border.

I managed to make about six cards in under an hour, not enough but a good start to my Christmas cards (I did make some back at the start of the year after I was inspired by Hettiecraft...but I stashed them somewhere safe and the inevitable happened and  I have NO idea where I put them!!).

Still avoiding making Christmas presents (mainly as I have NO idea what to make-last year I made handbags and fabric book covers so am at a loss for this year) so I may resort to vouchers and having to shop for presents!  If you have any ideas please let me know!!

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

WOYWW

Welcome to another What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday....only 7 more until Christmas!!!

Not that I am worried....after all I have only made one present so far!!!

So with this in mind you'd think I was cracking on making presents...but no, I am sat here colouring in!!

Like many others I do find this a calming distraction.  Rather than the Sci-Fi colouring comic book I have used previously I thought I would pull out my Secret Garden one that I bought over a two years ago, one of the first in the craze.  Sometimes you just need to do something different.

My "Man Bites Dog" cards this week were 'Priest Burns Lost Tourist' ....ooh that sounds like a script from a film!

Happy crafting and please feel free to join in WOYWW where many of us share our desks across the globe.  Full details of how to join are here 

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

A couple of quick Kanban cards

A couple of weeks ago at the WOYWW crop Lunchlady Jan was selling some craft stash to raise money for the local brass band that she plays in.  Well, it was for a good cause (I used to play tenor horn in my school orchestra so I know how much sheet music etc costs) so I bought a pack of silver and cream embossed cards and a pack of Kanban toppers.

Not my usual style as I tend to use plain cards but these are a really quick way to make some cards that really look impressive.  

 One tip when using die cut toppers and you push them out of the card often there are small 'tags' left on the topper so I use a sanding block (really cheap, under a pound in the hardware shop or poundland sells them too) to lightly sand them so they have nice smooth edges.

I used sticky pads (again from the hardware shop-I tend to get quite a lot of my stash from 'different' places) to attach the toppers, lightly curling the edges to hide them yet still giving some dimension.

The downside is that these cards are far too big for my cellophane bags so I used some old overhead projector acetate sheets I had hanging around and made my own covers.

Quick and easy cards-now if only all my projects were that quick!

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

 

Converse and drink!

Just a quick update for a card I made recently with one of my new stamps.

The converse "daps" (as we say in Bristol!) is a stamp from Deep Red which I stamped on white card.  I then stamped again cutting it out and curling the edges slightly adhering it over the original image with some foam tape to give a little dimension.

I matted and layered it on some black off cut card and the background is from a sheet of wrapping paper I found in an arty shop in town.

 I really like this card.  I think it is perfect for young, older, male or female (in fact many of my friends....most wear converse and drink!!).

Happy crafting

Kyla

Craft haul from NEC

I was lucky enough to go to the craft show at the NEC yesterday. I went with two ladies from work, Emma and Michelle and Emma's husband (who I also work with) kindly drove us....he did a great job as it's all motorway  and it was chucking it down.

As you can see my haul wasn't too large. I did buy some Buddha heads and texture balls from powertext as I intend making a canvass as their product looks amazing (Emma uses it a lot and blogs about it at www.bakeandmakeinbristol.word press.com). 

I also bought some more visible image stamps as I love the quality of their stamps and they are a little different.

A few bargains such as three greeting dies for £5,embossing folder, crafters companion stamps,x cut snowflake  die and a Sheena Douglass  stencil for £1 each!

Also after seeing card-io majestix at shows over the years (small stamps they use to build up entire scenes ) I relented and bought a couple of sets....they always look impressive-fingers crossed I can replicate their demonstrations. 

A few other bits and pieces and now I am shattered but looking forward to playing.

Happy crafting 

Kyla 

WOYWW

This week is a look back to the first Autumnal WOYWW crop that took place on Saturday.

About 12 deskers met up and it was great to chat, exchange ideas and eat cake! It was great to see both Shaz and MaryAnne looking so well after their recent illnesses and we missed Sam (Hettiecraft) who was unable to make the crop.

I took my camera but was too busy eating Fiona's lemon drizzle cake (seriously, it was so good I had 3 pieces!!) to take any photos.

 

 We made and exchanged Halloween tags (I only made a few).  I made some mummy ones with googly eyes.

Tags from left to right are: Dolores (Cardarian), Marcie Lee, Debbie (Tattered Rocks), Bluebeard and Elizabeth (Alteredbooklover) and Lizzie J.

The stamp in the middle is from Shaz Silverwolf.  I mentioned previously that I have been struggling to find a decent wine stamp and Shaz very kindly gifted me this one (it is made by Stamps Happen and is exactly what I have been looking for-a huge thanks).

I took my half finished quilt and between all of us I think I have got it sussed....just need some time to actually finish it!

It was a lovely day, full of laughs, catching up, coffee, cake, a great lunch some more cake and even a little crafting!  We had the raffle and Jan was selling craft stash for her brass band so I bought a few bits and pieces (well, it's for charity, so it would be rude not too!!!!-amazing how we can enable our crafting addictions when we want to!).

 A great day out.  It is never long enough to catch up properly with everyone but I love seeing others craft in the flesh (Fiona's delicate hand sewing, Morti's stitching, MaryAnnes amazing wool creations, Debbie's finnibar inspired creations, Cindy's delicate paper folding, Helens journal and Shaz's colouring to name just a few).

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

November 365 Journal

Just a quick update as I have actually finished my November 365 Journal pages in time for November and more importantly I even remembered to photograph them before I filled the squares in!

The page is coloured with Dylusion sprays and a few TH die cut leaves added with some other leaves stamped with archival inks in various colours.

I doodled around each of the squares with a black pen and stamped the dates-all ready to fill in.

Happy crafting

Kyla