What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - 256

Happy Wednesday dearest desker. I am busy mid-week with sewing on boy scout patches for my nephews, making soup for DD who has caught a dreadful cold and cough, making tags, knitting little hearts and looking longingly at Violet (my sewing machine) who wants me to put her to work on an art quilt AND a pair of shorts. And oh my, the temps have plunged us back into winter today which my back does not appreciate at all! And, of course, I have day job too!

 Funny how the weather begins to affect you as you get older! Now I know why old people move to Florida! Well I have a couple of Silver Dollar City sacks laying on my desk because we spent a beautiful sunny day there a few days ago. That day was perfect in every way. We had so much fun and my favorite Chinese shop was there for their Worldsfest! So of course, I had to buy a few things. For my non-Ozarkian friends, Silver Dollar City is a huge old-fashioned theme park started the same year I was born, (I actually got in free for a year the year of their fiftieth anniversary) and it was originally built around a cave attraction, and is set in gorgeous hilly landscaping with tons of shops, rides, crafts, shows, and great places to eat. Thank goodness we walk a lot, although I avoided funnel cake this time! I actually took my knitting with me because when DH and DD are on the scariest roller coasters, I watch our stuff, sit, knit and people watch! I thought of my mom because she LOVED Silver Dollar City, so I know she helped give us that beautiful sunny day. Maybe I got a little tan too.

I got a little gift in the mail this week from Unity Stamp! It was from a drawing for commenting on their Facebook page. I can't wait to play with it!
So I'm off to make some hot tea for DD...I can hear the sweet thing coughing now! I'll link up and see you all in the morning!

My little nephew and I, acting cool for our selfie!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch Happy

Envelope Envy--A Little Review of My Mini Scoreboard

For quite a while, I envied those crafty bloggers who handmade their own envelopes. So impressive. I had envy-lope! But then I discovered their tool of choice for this craft--a simple scoreboard. I immediately went scoreboard shopping--they are at craft stores and online everywhere, but I landed on the Martha brand with a coupon. I was hooked. And now I love making envelopes.

Why make your own envelopes? The biggest reason is because, most purchased envelopes are white! I think the joy of making your own envelopes is that--
1. You can make an envelope to match the card
2. Your envelope can be as unique as the card inside
3. Mixed-media cards fit better in homemade envelopes
4. You can make an envelope out of any piece of paper as long as you cut it to the dimensions needed.  
     What a great way to upcycle.
5. There are many scoreboards out there to choose from that make it sooo easy to do! There is even a scoreboard that clips out the little triangles. I don't mind doing that by hand though.

I wish, back in the day when DD was in grade school that they had had these scoreboards available! I would have done things like, made envelopes out of copies of her daily school papers to send things in a fun way to the grandparents for example. So cute! But now I do make envelopes out of sheets of music, dictionary papers, even pages from vintage recipe and craft books. Pretty adorable.

So, being a happy envelope maker, imagine my thrill at discovering a mini scoreboard! I didn't know if it would work as well. Same brand as my big one--50% off coupon that day--the verdict is, I think I love it even more.

Mini scoreboard front - still in package

Mini scoreboard back

 The three things I love most about it: how the bone folder hooks into the front, the complete envelope guidelines on the back, and how lightweight it is and easily fits into any of my tote bags.

Those guidelines allow you to simply line up your paper, once you've cut it to the dimensions, and quickly score it!

Then snip out the little triangles (there may be a technical name for those, idk) which allow a nice clean fold.

 

Use your handy little bone folder to neatly fold down the flaps, add a little glue to seal the bottom flaps, and done. You may use envelope gum for the top flap--I don't really worry about that, I just use a sticker if I'm sealing it. And I have to add that I've even had a postman at the post office comment on my pretty envelopes! No more envy-loping for me. Have fun!

My larger scoreboard--I love making envelopes with double-sided paper!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Score

WOYWW 255--Live, Love, Craft

My work table on a Tuesday evening--love my new Bic Markits but I also color with dollar store eyeshadows!

Well we made it through the weekend, and Wednesday's on its way! Happy What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday lovelies!
I say "made it through" the weekend, because it was our first Easter without my precious mother, and it was a bit difficult for my sister and I. My mom just had a way of making family holidays so magical and fun. She always got all of us a chocolate bunny, and always made her pea salad and deviled eggs! But we feel like she is with us in her rightful chair, smiling at everything we still do.
Anyhoo, my  desk is recovering from Easter activity. I still see the dollar laying there that my little nephew insisted on paying me to make him another custom bubble wand necklace. It just doesn't get any cuter than that. What a charmer. I think we blew bubbles--blueberry scented ones--for an hour!

My traveling embroidery basket, and a couple of my mom's handkerchiefs

Knitting a heart

I realized something the other day. Something profound. I MAKE OR CRAFT SOMETHING EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE! Isn't that cool? I bet you do too. So, this week I'm filling up art journal pages by detailing what's happening in my crafty life every day of the week...when...what...where...all the details. Now, I may not finish something every day, but I do draw or stitch or cut or glue something every day.

And, Masterpiece Classic fans, Mr. Selfridge is getting really good this season! I just hope Harry doesn't stray again. The last Call the Midwife broke my heart! (I do love my PBS)
So, take care of yourself, walk barefoot in the garden, drink tea, laugh a lot, and make something every day. Hugs!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch Daily

Sunday Threads

My God is my joy.
Acts 2:28

WOYWW 254--Feeling Embossy

Look at me - I went to the dollar store! I needed some extra spring organization in my crafty corner. They have a lot of handy (and cheap) organization! In the midst of organizing--notice also the new little white cube there I'm trying out (big Michaels sale)--I've got the little Texture Boutique working hard on scraps I have lying around. I can just stick them in a container and have them for future tags, cards and srapbooking! I love embossing things. Of course you can also emboss on the Big Shot. But, when all I'm doing is embossing, it's nice just to pull out the little compact Texture Boutique.

Little baskets from the dollar store to organize projects that can travel around.

The verdict is, I really like the white cube and need three more! (but the sale's over...boo)

Embossing for a few more Easter tags and scrapbooking

Click here to visit What's-On-Your-Workdesk-Wednesday at the the Stamping Ground. You can peek on mid-week creative doings all over the planet! Have a happy day, and after I have had my coffee, I'll go visiting!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Emboss

A Little Mixed-Media Tag for the Holiday

Paper scraps laying around, some little diecuts that have been in the stash for a decade, baker's twine, a scrap piece of felt, a tiny twig from the yard, dark pink pearl cotton floss, a piece of trim and a few bling stickers, doll clothespins, and a little one-dollar red ink pad...it was fun to put these all together to make an egg-themed tag.

See all the festive egg-themed tags today over at Tag Tuesday!

I had this little bag of these Easter-themed diecuts, and never really liked them (maybe too cutesy for me). But then I decided to run them through my Texture Boutique, and wallah. Love them!

Getting out my little Texture Boutique always makes me realize I need to do some mass embossing of paper scraps for future cards, tags, and scrapbook pages!

This tag takes me back to childhood Easters, running around in the backyard looking for dyed eggs in our egg hunts with our Easter baskets in hand, the sheets and aprons blowing on the clothesline, the new garden planted with the radishes and lettuces (bunny food), and egg salad for lunch the next day. It meant spring was here!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Hunt

Sunday Threads

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1

Making My Dollar Cling Stamps Work

I love these little packages of unmounted dollar cling stamps. One dollar for two or three stamps, especially with sentiments, is pretty good! Now, I'm not referring to clear stamps--which I try to buy on sale because they can be pricey, and are to be used interchangeably with a clear stamping block to get the full benefit--I'm talking about these little rubber stamps that have foam glued to the top showing the design, and can be used as they are. But, why not make them better?

It hit me when I was cleaning out a shelf and found this mound of blocks my daughter and nephews used to play with all the time. Wallah! My new stamping blocks available to me in pretty much any size, color or shape!

Suddenly, three one-dollar packages of cling stamps became nine wonderful blocked rubber stamps.

I just pulled the foamy print top off the rubber stamp (very carefully--because I tore one of the foam pieces a little), and there was enough glue already on there that the rubber stamp easily stuck to one side of the block, and the printed foam part easily stuck to the other side. I added a little glue with only one of them.

I may be late to the party on figuring this out because I've since heard of crafters using their Jenga blocks!  But I think this works really great, and I prefer stamping like this rather than with the flatter foamy version, and feel more in control of what the stamp is doing.

I do not remember what we paid for these blocks so long ago, but now they're being upcycled a bit! And there are still plenty of blocks left, it was a huge container of them. Woo hoo! This would be a good yard sale find if you need some so you could pay next to nothing possibly. Happy stamping.

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch, Stamp

WOYWW 253--More Ear Candy Than Eye Candy

Here's the side view of my madness and mess! Inbetween my stitching and art journaling, I've been making ear candy earrings, little tags for them to go on for a future craft fair, more bubble wand necklaces with my new Urban Ice beads, and bead and wire rings--I call them Bliss Rings!

I'm using blocks our kids don't play with anymore to mount my dollar cling rubber stamps (not clear stamps though).

I'm just in heaven when I'm at my crafty table and watching Call the Midwife and Mr. Selfridge! Loving this new season of both  shows. In other news this week, hubby and I are getting the gardens ready for planting and airing the house out on the pretty days. My little nephew is taking his first acting class--stay tuned, he may be the next Brad Pitt. (who is from my town, and his sweet family lives here) And we've started our flea market booth now. How do I have time to work? I have no idea.

Join our desky linky party here. You will meet busy creative souls all over the planet.

Have a wonderful day lovely deskers! Crafty hugs!

Sunday Threads

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
Ecclesiastes 9:10

I ♥ My Craft Room--WOYWW 252

So I actually don't have a whole dedicated room for my craft room. It is in the corner of a master bedroom and there's a door that opens onto my greenhouse sunporch. At times the sunlight is so gorgeous. I have that little crafty corner stuffed to the brim with pieces of happiness--being all the crafty things I love...including my creations and my crafty supplies. I never pay full-price for anything, and I constantly find creative ways to get my hands on a few craft supplies almost every week! Hmm...does somebody have a problem? Oh well. It's all organized, and I don't buy what I don't have room for! So you can't call me a hoarder. Now, here is a completely different angle of my work desk today!

I was looking through one of my Stampington magazines for inspiration while enjoying a cuppa.

By the way visit Ms. Julia's workdesk linky party here - and visit my crafty tribe members in every time zone on the planet.

I made another trip to my new haunt, JoAnn's! I've discovered all the gorgeous colors of craft and bead wire--I pumped up my supply! I'm going to make some pink copper wire rings. I'm calling them "bliss rings" 'cause they're so cute and make you happy when one is on your finger. I am not going to show you the two additional crafty-themed tote bags I bought, cause then you'll know I have a problem!

I got those alphabet stamp blocks, bling stickers, and rolls of trim for a dollar each. Woo hoo! Used sales and coupons on everything else, including the gorgeous variegated machine embroidery thread. I can't wait to work on an art quilt with that. *happy sigh* On the way out the door, they gave me more coupons for next week! Boy, they've got my number.

Now, who watches "Call the Midwife" on PBS? I am thrilled beyond imagination that it is back on!! I don't think there's ever been a better character than Chummy. She just makes me happy. And they always show her or someone sewing! Love it.

Have a happy day lovely desker.

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch