WOYWW 434 - new Bible and napkins

Happy Wednesday to everyone.  It is raining and blowing a gale here, so I am mostly staying indoors (thankfully Buzz the dog doesn't 'do' bad weather either, so he is happy to keep me company in my craft room).  I haven't managed to do any actual crafting yet, but I have done another Spanish lesson and had a good tidy up.

If you would like to join in with this global tour of crafty workspaces mid-week, then go to Julia's Stamping Ground.

My photo today shows my new Journaling Bible (which is interleaved, so I get a full empty page every page, which will be great for mixed media and digital journaling), some bargain stamps from Creative Bea (she offered some stamps in damaged packaging at a reduced price on Instagram.  I missed out on those, but she still let me have a set of each at that price - I love a bargain!) and some fab napkins that I bought from an Etsy shop.

I have two Bibles now.  I always love the Bibles shown online that are full of tip-ins, tags, charms, ribbons etc etc, and this will leave my other one to be used for Bible study (which is smaller and lighter).

We are off to Spain next week, so I had better go and sort out my suitcase/beach wear - a job that I have been meaning to do for ages (we haven't been abroad for nearly 3 years).

Ali x

ps  Have a fabulous time at the Crop this weekend.

WOYWW 433 - colouring and Spanish

Perhaps I should be learning the colours in Spanish?  My crafty table this week is showing what is really important to me right now, ie getting some ATCs coloured and in the post, and continuing with my quest to finally learn Spanish properly.

Happy WOYWW to you all - What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday for those who have not encountered these initials before.  If you would like to join in, then go to Julia's Stamping Ground.

My cheap pencils from WH Smith do a satisfactory job so haven't invested in any of the more expensive brands.  The stamps used to create the ATCs are from PaperArtsy.  You can see one of the ATC 'backs' that I designed for myself - easy to print out and stick on the reverse side.

I have signed up for a Spanish evening class - starting next week, if there are enough people signed up to run the class (it seems that Spanish Year One is not particularly popular in our part of West Wales.  The classes a bit further east are fully booked, so hoping that at least two more people decide that this is the year to learn Spanish!).  When I went to pay (you have to pay for the whole year in advance), the lady mentioned that they followed the BBC course and to look on Amazon for used bargains.  I found this one for 7p, plus postage!  Looks almost unread.

My health has worsened in the past week, so today I am attempting to take it a bit easier (after a day yesterday of gardening, cleaning out the woodburner and driving to and fro from our 'hopefully sold' bungalow trying to meet up with people collecting furniture - and that is another long/depressing story!).  Some crafting, my next Spanish lesson online (I will blog about that, as it has been fantastic although difficult) and lots of tv watching!

Hope everyone is safe with all of this horrible global weather/natural disasters.

Ali x

WOYWW 432 - I now have Distress Oxides in my life

Good morning to everyone.  I was missing last week, as when it came to Wednesday morning I just didn't have the energy to sit down and type a post.  I have had a stressful few weeks - and last Monday 4th September my two ponies were put to sleep.  They were both struggling with health issues and I knew that none of us could cope with another winter.  Now that I am not having to go out on the yard for mucking out/lifting heavy hay etc, I cannot imagine how I coped for so long.

Here they are (my last photo of them; taken earlier in the summer) -

I am not one to sit about and be bored, so I have filled my extra time with more seriously concentrating on learning Spanish (ready for our planned purchase of a property there) and getting our house in order.  There is still lots of decluttering/spring cleaning to be done, but slowly I can see progress.

Crafting is still my main way of distracting myself and I went to another workshop last week.  This one was an Introduction to Mixed Media, and we made a tag using Distress Oxides.  I had been thinking of trying some for a while, but had been resisting making any purchases until I knew that I would really use them.  I enjoyed the class so much that I came home with two of my favourite colours!

In the photo (taken quickly this morning whilst it is still dark - and we have the heating on now, so it is definitely autumn!) you can see the finished tag (although I want to add some more vivid colour to the butterflies, and perhaps some sparkle), the Distress Oxides ready for some action, a paperbag that an ATC came in, along with an ATC-sized diecut (thought I could make an ATC out of both of those), some A3 collages that I made from magazine cuttings at an art group a couple of years ago, which I have folded to make covers for future journal projects, and some Etsy shopping (washi tapes and a truly gorgeous planner charm, which I hope to attach to my new Journaling Bible when I have it).

Looking out of the window as it gets lighter slowly, it looks like the worst of Storm Aileen has passed over Pembrokeshire.  We went to Barry yesterday to visit family and had lovely sunshine there.  It started raining just as we got home at 5 pm, and by the evening it was very windy.  Will venture out later and see how many branches are down in the roads.

I hope that everyone is safe after all of the horrible global weather we have had in the past few weeks.

If you want to join in with the mid-week tour of crafty workspaces, trot along to Julia's Stamping Ground.

Ali x

WOYWW 430 - a bit of shopping

Good morning to you all - and Happy Wednesday.  Nearly another month has gone by.  A difficult month for me approaches (difficult stuff with animals and learning to live with that), but all I can do is live moment by moment - and it will pass.

What do us crafters do when we are stressed?  Go shopping of course!  In the UK that normally includes a visit to The Works, because at least we can save money whilst treating ourselves.

I did actually go there to look for a specific mixed media book that had been spotted at other branches around the UK.  Did not find it in our small branch, but a few other items caught my eye and ended up in my shopping bag.

Just a small book on abstract art - but lots of interesting stuff in it.  Cheap 3D paints, which were worth trying at that price.  A cute crochet kit.  I cannot crochet.  Therefore, I may give that away as a present.

I also bought some Skittles whilst in the supermarket.

The dark fairy digital designs were for a specific ATC swap, so one has been coloured and cut out.  I bought them from Etsy as a digital download.

The palette has some left-over Pixie Powder in a small amount of water.  You only need a tiny amount, so I leave the rest for another day (it is easily refreshed with a bit of water).

I have lots of projects to complete/start, but I really need to tackle some housework/gardening today (the amount of white hair from cat & dog, and cobwebs/dust, are threatening to take over the house) before I can sit down in my craft room again.

Ali x

We all need to find joy in our lives

I was super-excited and proud to be selected as a member of the Launch Team for Candace Payne's first book, Laugh It Up.  Click HERE to pre-order.

Haven't we all been a fan of hers since 'that' video?!  Click HERE if you either haven't seen it, or just need to cry with laughter all over again.  I watch it often, always with tissues ready.

I am not as good with words or positivity as she is, so I suggest that you at least go and view her trailer on her official Facebook page - Candace Payne Official

There are fab bonuses if you pre-order - including a Bible Journaling Tutorial video, The Simple Joys ebook and a taco recipe!

I will share more details about the book, including my review, upto the release date of 7th November.

Ali x

Do you go back and read old blog posts?

I do fairly often.

It is interesting to see how my crafting has progressed - or not!

Also interesting to see how other aspects of my life have effected me (never sure whether it should be affected or effected!).

I should be getting on with a sketching project, but seem to have found myself going through the Blogger archives.

I will have more to blog about later, but for now here is a short video from my earlier walk with Buzz the dog.

WOYWW 429 - Just waiting for creativity

Happy WOYWW to you all (What is On Your Workdesk Wednesday - click HERE to join in).

There is lots going on in my life and I am struggling to keep my brain still enough to actually sit down and do some crafting.  Therefore, my desk has some random stuff on it.

Firstly - does anyone else have as many craft mats/cutting boards etc etc?  There is definitely room for a couple more on that table.

The tiny alphabet stamps from my new WeR Memory Keepers Precision Press+ set waiting to be cut up and put into the storage box.  (Read my initial review HERE.)

Alphabet stencils that are sticky on the back and I use all the time.

Some embellishments and ATC backgrounds (I am still trying to finish off an Alphabet ATC set).

Box of pens.

Book of toppers/papers from a magazine.

Mat gel, foam brush and stamp cleaning spray.

You can just see some completed ATCs.

The day is rapidly disappearing and soon it will be lunch.  This afternoon I plan a trip into town - post office, Aldi and hopefully a few balls at the golf driving range.

Perhaps I will sit down and do some Zentangle this evening - or not!

Ali x