What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 125

It's Wednesday... AND it's Christmas!!!
Christmas in October!
Won't be at my desk long, only enough to dig out some tape and make a gift tag. :O)
Will explain farther on...
Before starting to prattle:
Remember to go check out all the other hubs of creativity this week at:
WOYWW
Hosted by Stamping Ground:
HERE

My 'clearer than usual' Space:

Top Left is the Hubcap for the Landfillart.org Project and some sh-tuff gathered this weekend to use on it. Idea is fully in my head now... just need to get it all out, together and mailed off.
Need to do this SOON so that the photographs can get taken for the book.
Seriously hope everyone takes the time to pop on over to:
http://www.landfillart.org
Read about this great Global Artists Project, biggest one ever!
Troll the Gallery... there are some aweeeeesome Artists involved.
So Proud to be part of this Project!
*getting off soapbox... crrrrrreak*

Nothing else was in the 'making' this week. Our internet was off for almost a week, so time was spent cleaning, clearing and enjoying life un-plugged.
The rest of the mess is just mess... ;O)
Cameras recently unloaded, glue gun from fixing a chair we found this weekend, dowsing pendant, some keys I have to put away and just... sh-tuff...
oh! and COFFEE, of course.

Around my desk (can't see) are a few boxes/bags of things we found this weekend during the City of Ottawa Treasure Hunt weekend: You put out any stuff you don't want at the curb with a FREE sign... and if your looking you go out hunting! Great Fun.
Got some frames, tins, bits and pieces, ribbon, yarn and my favorite find was specialty Rubbing Papers and Crayons (for gravestones etc...).

Also got LOTS of canning jars, which are already filled for the most part.
Been a busy canning week:
Last of the Apple Chutney done and more Marmalade (in smaller jars for gifts).

Marmalade Madness:

Today we're celebrating:
Christmas in October
A Goofy Holiday Tradition/Celebration with my Aunt & Uncle who are heading off to spend the colder months in Mexico, lucky ducks! Apparently where they stay Christmas is a non-thing.
We drag out all the super tacky-glitzy-fluffy-musical-ishy Christmas Decor, Fibre Optic Tree, Decorate Cupcakes and exchange our Gifts.

Every year we come up with some kind of Fun(ny) Gift for Anne & Dave ,
I'm real proud of this year's find!
Red-Nek Wine Glasses!!!
It was the 1st time I'd ever seen these, they are a HOOT!
500ml Bell Canning Jars on wine stems; canning rings and sealers to boot.

MERRY CHRISTMAS in OCTOBER!!!!!!

Scrap Our Stash October Design Team Page: Quotes

Time for another wedding page...

Planning to do a few pages using quotes from the songs we used in our wedding; yet again Scrap Our Stash comes through with a perfect challenge.

The words are from 'I Do' by Paul Brandt, the song was playing while we signed the registry.

Pattern Paper and Lace Cut Cardstock are Little Yellow Bicycle 'Lucky Me'. As is the white strip behind the Lace Cut Cardstock: It's the backing from the LCC package. It's patterned in very light green shamrocks... such a waste to toss and it was already co-ordinated!

Bling Letters and Rings are My Big Ideas.

The rest of the Bling-age is Recollections.

Now it's your turn to take the October Quote Challenge.

See all the details HERE!

Celebrating 500 - Sassy Steampunk Progressive Challenge #3

So are you ready for your next challenge....?
For Challenge #3:
Use Steampunk Victoria to create a project that is Victorian or Vintage!
Those that successfully complete this challenge will earn their 4th, and final, free image from this BRAND NEW, never before seen SSD Steampunk collection!
After that, it's PAR-TAY time on Paper Craft Planet on Saturday, October 22nd!
We have more freebies, trivia questions, and prizes...
So you'll want to make sure you stop by there every day this week!
********

I decided since this was last one to 'Go-Big or Go-Home'. ;O)
Victoria is on a 12X12 Scrapbook Page!

Used one of the Photos from the
Steampunk Photo Shoot done by the fantastic Robert Allard.
You can see a few more pictures from that shoot
HERE
on his site.

The journaling blocks were inked around the edges, crumpled then inked over with brown. Then smoothed out and inked in 2 shades of yellow for a crumpled parchment look.

'Badge' is a print out of the badges we all wear when we're dressed and about at a function.

Pattern Paper and Key Sticker are unknown.
Inks and Markers are Stampin' Up!
Gems are Recollections.
Rub-Ons are Forever in Time.
Brass Butterfly is a de-golded salvage item.

This set of challenges has been aweeeeesome fun!
Thank-You Sassy Studio Design!

Celebrating 500 - Sassy Steampunk Progressive Challenge #2

Hello and welcome to Part 2 of our Sassy Steampunk Progressive Relay!
We are celebrating reaching the milestone of 500 members in our group on Paper Craft Planet!
The relay is part of our week long festivities leading up to Saturday's party!
First, let me thank all of you who participated in round one!
We had 40 entrants!
That means 40 of you scored the next image in the relay - Steampunk Amelia!
These lucky gals will be the only ones to get her for free!
And if they want to get their crafty little hands on image #3,
this is the challenge I have for them:

Create a project using Steampunk Amelia plus a clock(s) and/or gears!
Those that successfully complete this challenge will earn their 3rd free image from this BRAND NEW, never before seen SSD Steampunk collection!
After that, there is only one more challenge left in order to finish the relay!

********
Amelia made a landing in my inbox overnight...
Her luggage got held up midway.
Girl can't be without her stuff!
*wink-wink*

I made a 4 1/4" X 5 1/2" card.
Pulled the colors for Amelia from the background, only brighter.
Couldn't resist adding a few freckles,
She seemed all the Sassier with 'em. ;O)

Cardstock, Inks and Stamps are Stampin' Up!
Markers are a combination of Pentel and Stampin' Up!
Pattern Paper is Graphics 45: Steampunk Debutante

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 124

All that space I had cleared last week is but a memory now...
The crafty chaos has crept back in.... bit, by bit.
Took a picture as soon as we got up this morning.
There's a lot of 'progression' sh-tuff on my table today:

Working away on my piece for the Landfillart.org Global Artist's project (psstt... check it out! 1041 Artists from around the world!):
*Got the hubcap: Beaut too... nice and chrome-y! :O)
*Got some ideas... just gotta see where my Muse takes me in the next few days.
Pulled a collection of rusty, copper-y, brass things together to see if anything jumped out and said 'pick me!' we'll see what happens today.

Also printed off some of the Amelia digi-stamps for the 2nd round of the Sassy Studio Design: Sassy Steampunk Progressive Challenge. I'll be starting that ASAP (after coffee, of course) since I have 12 hours left to get step #2 in.
Most of my Steampunk stamps are above that... again: see and be inspired, I hope! :O)

The rest of my 'workspace' is in the kitchen, LOTS more canning to do:
*Last batch of Apple Chutney (unless I find a deal on more apples)
*More 4 fruit marmalade
Gettin' those Christmas Gifts done now so I can relax *fingers crossed* closer to the holidays. (nuh-huh...)

The Mess-Fest:

1st 16 1/2 L of Apple Chutney... made Friday:

The Stamp Man Challenge: Circle it!

New challenge......circle it!

Hello, hello, hellooooooo! Lisa Sparkle here with this fortnight's challenge!

So, you'll be wanting to know the new challenge theme then.....well it's circles.
Show us some circles on your projects.
Don't forget that it doesn't have to be a card, we love to see lots of interesting projects.
*********
I went steam-y again... been that kinda day. :O)
I made a wreath out of Old Canning Rings... saw the idea HERE.
I've been saving any damages rings for this... took awhile I tell ya! But worth it.
The ring is held together with counter-edging, you can see it through in the overview shot.
First picture was taken inside then my 'herd' of 4 boys came parading in from school so I locked myself in the backyard to take the rest. *ahh...peace*
***Click on pics to open BIGGER, with no woodgrain from blogger template****

Big Brass Flower is imaginisce: Steel Magnolias
Small Silver Flower Brad is Creative Imaginations.
Keyhole and Screw Head Brads from Keepsake Craft.
Gear is a painted Tombo Tape-Runner bit from inside.
Birdcage is PLAID: Pump & Pearls.
Keys are 7 Gypsies.
Owl and Clock are Blue Moon Beads.
The rest is stash sh-tuff...
Vintage lace, leather scrap, and some de-golded items (butterfly, spoon, bookmark, flower center, jewerley findings...), feathers, ribbons and a mini-cameo.
The Center of the Key Hole is filled with sparkly Black Nail Polish (Not my thing... off to the crafts room it goes!).

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC103

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC103

This week, Jax has chosen another beautifulcolor story to inspire you...

The suggested colors are :

Rust...Storm...Deep Sea

We are also happy to welcome another brand new sponsor to The Cafe...

Clear Dollar Stamps.

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Feeling steam-y today so I went that-a-way with my card.

Cardstock, Inks, Gear paper Punch, Markers and Embossing Powder from Stampin' Up!

Stamps from EKSuccess.

Textured Metallic Cardstock from DCWV.

Page from a book 'donated' to Art by our bunny.

(ie. she thought it was tasty!)

DragonsDream TIO #100 - Ticket to Ride - Beatles

TIO #100 - Ticket to Ride - Beatles

So come on...

Show me your tickets and make it MEGA to cheer me up and make me proud!!!

I only ask to use at least one real stamp...

******

I went super cute-sy this time.

Hope that cheers you up. :O)

Kitty Stamp from Penny Black.

Ticket Stamps from Close to my Heart.

Ribbon from American Crafts.

Inks and Markers from Stampin' Up!

Pattern Paper from K&Company.

Flower from Prima.

Brad from Keepsake Craft.

Celebrating 500 - A Sassy Steampunk FREEBIE and Progressive Challenge

Sassy Studio Design recently reached 500 members in their Paper Craft Planet group...

and the 'gift' is for us!

They are giving away 4... count 'em 4, Steampunk Digi-Stamps.

1st one is up on their Blog:

HERE

The catch is it's a progressive Challenge, you need to earn the next 3 with Crafts!

Deets on the Blog.

********

I was thrilled to see this challenge!

HUGE Thank-You to:

Sheena of KanataNewf - Time Well Wasted for sharing!

I used Josephine on a 5 1/2" X 4 1/4" card.

Stamp set used was Rubber Cafe's Charity Steampunk.

Inks, Markers and Cardstock are Stampin' Up!

Screw-Top and Mini-Brads are Keepsake Crafts.

Silver Lacey Cardstock Gears is Little Yellow Bicycle.

Heart Charm is an unknown stash finding.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #123

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #123

*GASP*
It's ... SPACE!
Odd isn't it?
Had a wonderful 'playdate' today with the fabulous Kraftin' Katharine. :O)
We each worked away on our own Teacup Chipboard Books, mine's on the Cutting Mat...
First time hosting a guest in the Studio, 'course I had boot the hubby out to make some room. lol It was fun and the hours just drifted away.

Pop on over and see the rest of the Desks at Stamping Ground:
HERE

Thanksgiving Long-Weekend...

This weekend, despite the fact that Greg's quite sick and I started a new medication regime with some truly unpleasant side effects, we pushed through...
Taking everything at a slow, leisurely pace and had a great weekend...
On *our* time.

6 people, 5 cameras and 3 days...
My poor hard drive is stuffed to the max full of wonderful new images.
Collected only a teeny sampling of the almost 1600 pictures we all took into a Picasa Album attached below.

If you have not experience the magic of the Lime Kiln Nature Path in West-ish Ottawa:
GO!
*BRING BIRDSEED*
...and a heavy dose of patience and childlike wonder.
Place seeds in the palm of your hand, raise your hand to the heavens and wait...
Soon you will feel the teeny little prickling of chickadee feeties on your fingers as they come to eat right out of your hand.
The boyz were totally enchanted, begging to go back 2 days in a row.
We also wandered up as far at the ruins of the old Kiln and Powder Storage. The boys spent hours climbing on the old walls and posing for pictures...
We logged over 10 hours there in 2 days. Easy.
The boys found many snakes, chipmunks, red squirrels and bugs of all kinds.
The also spent a lot of time, as you can see from the pictures below, looking for fairies.

Monday was our annual 'last-day-they're-open' trip to Mountain Orchard.
Came home with 8L of Apple Cider and 40lbs of Apples.
This week will be all about Canning Apple Chutney and Apple Butter. yum.

Pictures are here:

Thanksgiving Weekend 2011 (Oct 8-10)

Not going to be doing to much 'artsy' this week.
Plans to take it easy, implement some decisions,
and make some important changes regarding everyone's health.
Stay Well.
:O)

Pictures go Bye-Bye!

It would seem that in the opening of my Google+ account, somewhere in the transfer of pictures, 'they' lost ALL my Blogger Pictures.
all.every.single.last.one
When a web album is deleted it is gone... forever.
Sooo...
Starting newest to oldest I need to manually add them back.
one-by-one
Apologies for the inconvenience.
I'm replacing away as fast as I can.
*le sigh*
yeah.

THREE MUSES - BOTTLES or JARS

THREE MUSES - BOTTLES or JARS

Theme for this week is BOTTLES or JARS.

We three Muses can't wait to see what you come up with, all we ask is that you have fun and show us what you create.
Enjoy.
********
4" X 4"
Base Textured Cardstock is from Bazzill
Image from: HERE
Jar Stamp, Cardstock, Inks and Markers from Stampin' Up!

Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse

while all the others were making ships. ~Charles Simic~

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal: Artful Amblings Sept. 30th

Artful Amblings Sept. 30th

THE PROMPT: Eye opener
THE SONG: Why are we sleeping - Soft Machine/Kevin Ayers
Written Lyrics HERE
PRODUCT/TECHNIQUE: Eyes (photo's, stamps, drawing... whatever)
*******
I made this page in my 8 1/2" X 11" hardbound book.
It's a high pain day here so not a lot of fidgety art going on, decided to play with my camera instead. Took a picture of me, then a picture of that picture on the laptop screen, messed with it a bit and voila: starting point.

Markers are Sharpies.
Ink is from Stampin' Up!

Journaling:
It begins with a blessing And it ends with a curse; Making life easy, By making it worse... *Social Media* Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Live Journal, Chats... Is it making it easier to stay connected? or getting so complicated we can't connect at all? All those EYES watching, reading... Do we really KNOW people anymore?
*tap* *tap* *tap*
*click* *click* *click*
Are You the person in Your computer? Am I?
The entire WORLD >>in here<< only a tap or a click away.

The Shabby Tea Room Week #82 : 'A Shabby Autumn'

Week #82 - 'A Shabby Autumn'

Hello shabby friends and welcome to another fun week of inspiration and creativity here in the Tea Room! This week Melissa is our fabby shabby host and she has chosen the theme of :
'A Shabby Autumn'

... and Melissa asks that you create a card or project inspired by the photo with an autumn or fall theme! Easy peesy, right??!!??

The Shabby Girls are pleased to welcome back our regular bi-monthly sponsor -
Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps

Thank you for playing along with The Shabby Tea Room this week!
***********
Fall makes me thing of layer...
layers of clothes, layers of color, layer of leaves covering the ground....
My Shabby Autumn Card is abut layers.

Base is Confetti Cream Cardstock, layered with Autumn Pattern Paper, layered in Mulberry Paper; layered in more Cardstock, Birch Tree Bark (real) and Yarn, then finally layered with this sweet bird.
Card is 4 1/4" X 5 1/2"

Cardstock, Stamp and Inks are from Stampin' Up!
Pattern Paper from Make it Special
Mulberry Paper from Memory Stor
Image from Flickr Collage Group.

Cupcake Craft Challenge #162: Black and White Christmas

Cupcake 162... Black and White Christmas

Yep, it's Monday morning again, which means it's time for another Cupcake... Wahooooo!

*** Black and White Christmas ***

How exciting!
The Cupcakes really enjoyed playing with this one,
although there was a little groaning, me included!

****************************************
This meant digging out my bin of Christmas Sh-tuff and blowing off the dust 'groaning' here too. lol
I did find the *just* the B&W a bit challenging... Kept picking up stuff with a tad of Red (tut-tut) but I was true to the challenge. I do lurve a creative challenge!
Clean & Simple.

Textured Cardbase and Film Strip are DCWV.
Pattern Paper is unknown.
Welcome Chipboard is Teresa Collins.
Felt Snowflakes from AVON.
I peeled the Red bling off them and added
Clear Bling from Recollection.
Lace is from my vintage auction stash.

Forever Night Freaky Friday Challenge # 11: ANYTHING GOES WEEK

Freaky Friday Challenge # 11 ANYTHING GOES WEEK

This week it's ANYTHING GOES

You are open to create any type of project with the set guidelines.
*******
Decided to go the super-creepy route. ;O)
4" X 6" Collage Postcard
'Angel' Image from Altered Artifacts.
Wings and Graveyard Scene from Flickr Collage Group.
Sky from a Magazine Ad.
Inks are Stampin' Up!
Glued on Cereal Box Board.

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #29 - Ribbon Birthday Cards

Challenge #29 - Ribbon Birthday Cards Sponsored by My Craft Spot

Good Morning Birthday Sundaes Friends!
This week we have another fun challenge for you.
This week we want to see you using Ribbon on your Birthday cards.
********
Dug deep through my stash for this ribbon... It was one if the very *1st* things I ever bought when I started Scrapbooking, in a Lot off eBay.
Card is 4 1/4" X 5 1/2".

Cardstock from Stampin' Up and American Crafts.
Brads from BoBunny.
Ribbon from Daisy Kingdom through Offray.
Stamps and Inks are Stampin' Up!
Markers are Pentel.

The Friday Mashup FM#26: Lisa’s our “Fan Favorite”

FM#26 Lisa’s our “Fan Favorite”

I have to take this opportunity to thank the lovely ladies of The Friday Mashup for their blog, their inspiring ideas, and for picking my card to run for the Fan Favorite! I stumbled onto The Friday Mashup awhile ago, and I love the ideas here! Thanks for letting me part of this!
I am a huge fan of the fall! I love the change in the air, the cool crispness of the mornings, the "snuggle in the covers" time, the "put on a sweater or sweatshirt for the first time in the season" times. I love the beauty of the fall, the changing of the leaves, the big orange pumpkins, the giant golden sunflowers.

I love the holidays during the fall. I mean, Halloween and Thanksgiving? Does it get any better? I was thinking of all these lovely fall related things when this idea was born.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a "Fall themed" project (it's right around the corner, people!).
2. Or Make a Project that uses "Brads...lots and lots of Brads".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a fun "Fall themed project that uses lots and lots of Brads".

I can't wait to see what you've come up with.
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Card is 4 1/4" X 5 1/2 ".
I was trying to use of snippets and bits from several other projects...
lots of fall-ish colored sh-tuff floating around my cut-off pile.
Waste-Not, Want-Not! :O)
Cardstocks, Inks, Brads and Stamp are Stampin' Up!
Textured Cardtsock from Bazzill
Image is part of a larger printed piece (desktop background)
Mulberry Paper from Memory Stor

HDH109 Macabre Monday: Inner Workings

HDH109 Macabre Monday Inner Workings

Ok, macabre fans... your challenge this week:

HDH109
Inner Workings

You are to create a dark, Gothic, or Halloween-based art piece
that either is quite literal (clock works or guts) or just
simply decorate the inside of your project as well as the outside.
*******
Card is 4 1/4" X 5 1/2"
I've had this quote tucked away in my "ooooo I wanna use that!" file, thought this was a good excuse to brush the cobwebs off it. ;O)
This guy was a freebie digi from Dawn Moore @http://lostinpaperscraps.blogspot.com called Hairy Manster. I love him!
The 'brain bowl' was snipped from a comic book and coated in 3D Crystal Lacquer.
Eyes are also coated in 2 layers.
Heart was created by rubbing red on pink cardstock before punching it out, adding more ink around the edges. Then it was coated with 3D Crystal Lacquer which I messed with/swirled a bit and broke-up before it was 100% dry.
CREEPY! and 'i' are stickers.

Digi from Artist Dawn Moore
Cardstock, Heart Punch and Inks from Stampin'Up!
3D Crystal Lacquer from Sakura
Stickers from Karen Foster and SandyLion
Cardbase from The Paper Company
Pattern Paper from BoBunny
Lace from my vintage auction stash