What’s On Your Workdesk this Wednesday?
Oh joy, back in my newly revamped studio and actually making some ART!!! I can’t tell you how good this feels. However, my studio is now a MESS again – it didn’t take long, did it – but at least this is “working” mess as opposed to the usual “dumping ground” mess.
Working your way round the room:
Never fear, Cindy – I shall be getting to the To-Do eventually! Awful to think it’s currently being used as a support for my box of embossing folders!! Not a good start.
(Julia, please note – that box on the top shelf hasn’t fallen off yet!)
There is an additional pull-out unit pulled out because I have been sitting at the computer working on my butterfly cutting files.
Pakistani Art
Last week I posted the sketch I made of the proposed thank-you card for my surgeon.
I have now completed this, in time for my hospital appointment tomorrow (if they actually want me to go in – more later) when I propose giving it to him.
As there is a lot of information in this, I have made a separate blog post which you can view here.
Here is the video I made of the project.
Other creative stuff
The other day I got my paper trimmer out and cut a lot of my heavy cardstock to size for card bases. I’ve decided to abandon A5 and A6 as standard sizes and to go with the US “note card” size of 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches. The proportions of their 8 1/2 x 11 inch letter-sized paper are so much more aesthetically pleasing to my eye than the taller and narrower A4. I also prefer to work in inches to metric, and so many supplies are manufactured for American use – embossing folders, backround stamps and dies etc., designed to fit their standard-sized cards, so I think this makes a lot of sense.
Obviously this meant quite a lot of offcuts of my cardstock, so I cut lots of ATCs, and die cut some nice tags, and the rest of the small offcuts I saved for future use. I cut sets of 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch cards, 5 x 7 inch cards, and 5 x 5 inch square cards, and pencilled on the front of each one what size they were. I’m going to cut mat layers for them as well, and everything will be stored together in a card making box.
Part of my ongoing problem with card making has always been that it takes me so long to produce a card and I’m really inefficient, which tends to put me off doing it, and when I have to produce a card for a special occasion it’s always a bit of a chore. With advance bulk preparation, this should make it a lot easier, and much more enjoyable too, because the boring donkey work has been done and I can move straight into the creative phase. I’ve been watching a lot of Jennifer McGuire recently and she has all sorts of tips for streamlining the work and being more productive.
These cards were all stacked up while I was painting the Pakistani panel, and at the end there was a lot of paint on my glass media mat that I really didn’t want to waste. I spritzed it with water and pounced and dragged some of the tags, ATCs and scraps through this till it was all mopped up, and I’ve got some fabulous backgrounds to play with now!
Where some of the lumpy dried up paint has been picked up, there’s a gorgeous knobbly texture on the card. I can use the smaller pieces for die-cutting flowers etc.
Embossed Butterfly cards
I also wanted to make a thank-you card for the nurses at the Breast Unit who have been consistently so kind, bright and friendly, and so encouraging. Our hospital is brilliant at finding the most amazing people to work for them. In all my dealings with the hospital, I have not only experienced the most expert and professional care, but the staff going the extra mile and showing real love and affection. It is not surprising that it has won the Hospital of the Year award. We are blessed indeed.
My cousin has a birthday coming up very soon as well, and since she is an expert card maker, I always feel I’ve got to pull out all the stops on her behalf as she knows exactly what goes into our creative process!
I watched such a brilliant YouTube video the other day and absolutely loved the effects the person got, so I decided to make an attempt at this. Some of my new stash was essential for it (see below) so I was glad it arrived in time.
A mock-up – this is how much I’ve done so far.
Again, to avoid making this post much too long, I have posted details of this separately, here.
More new stash
I mentioned recently that I was keen to get my hands on the new Ranger Distress Archival inks which are now available in the full-sized ink pad, but only available as a stack of the four colours. I had to ask to be notified when they had come in, and this happened quite quickly, and the delivery even more so. I also added the Distress Ink, Distress Oxide and Distress Stain Spray in the new Speckled Egg colour to my order, which is necessary for the two cards I planned to make. It’s a beautiful colour and I think it’s going to be very versatile and useful.
Although I do wish Tim Holtz wouldn’t keep bringing out more and more absolutely fabulous products that one has simply GOT to have and can’t live without… my poor bank balance…
On that subject, I was highly amused last week at Zsuzsa‘s comment on my blog that given how much she spends on her weekly grocery shop, her crafty purchases didn’t really seem that extravagant after all. Well, that’s a new justification, and one I am happy to run with!! Thanks my friend.
Layering stamps and dies
I have sorted through the layering stamps and dies that I got off Ebay recently. I have worked out what order they should be in, and have marked the dies and the base sheet of the stamps accordingly with a Sharpie pen. I shall know if I’ve done it correctly when I eventually get round to trying these out. It’s a bore not having an instruction sheet with them, but that’s what you get when you opt to pay less on Ebay!
Each set is now in its own baggie with the flower and leaf dies in their own individual baggies inside.
A non-right angled right angle
When I first got my Glass Media Mat, I also bought the accessories, which included a straight edge which fits over the edge of the mat and which you can slide along to make nice right angles, for drawing or laying things out. I thought, “What a good idea,” until I tried it, and none of my lines were straight!
On closer examination, this is what I saw.
You can see that the wretched thing is distinctly OFF. I was very annoyed, and set it aside and haven’t bothered about it since. I suppose I should have sent it back, but who knows what was going on in my life at the time and I probably simply couldn’t be bothered with it.
Anyway, this week, I thought I would try and sort it. Both my hubby and I tried without success to undo the screws. I cut several strips of mounting board and layered them together, and glued them onto the ruler which I previously lined up on the mat. The trouble is, it didn’t work. I have taken those strips off and I intend to add longer ones that stick out more at the sides – this would make it more of a T-ruler and there’d be less room for wobble.
Has anyone else got this Media Mat accessory, and if so, have you had any problems with it?
Jennifer McQuire uses a T-ruler and last year I ordered one online. When it arrived it was distinctly bowed and wouldn’t lie flat. I thought I would straighten it by softening it with a bit of heat applied with my Ranger Heat Tool. Ooops. I melted it! Really bent, useless after that! Straight in the bin.
Kitties
Lily luxuriating on my hubby’s office chair. That kitty is a Lazy Lump.
You can see how scratched and damaged the faux leather is from the kitties’ claws. It’s really bad on the back of the chair, where they leap up and hang on for dear life with their claws.
Ruby playing in the little house on the cat tree. She has also adopted this as her latest favourite sleeping place – right in the middle of a heat wave. Oh well, I suppose she knows her own mind!
In the garden on Sunday.
We planted the cat mint initially as an added enticement to keep the kitties from wanting to get out of the garden, when we were having problems in the early days with the defences. However, our two kitties belong to a rare group that do not enjoy cat mint! They totally ignore it and treat it like any other plant in the garden. I did have my suspicions when the first plant arrived, because it said on the label, “Cat Mint. Attracts……………..
BUTTERFLIES!
What?
Anyway, two different varieties further, and absolutely nil interest from either of them!
Talking of the garden…
Our garden
We sat out for lunch on Sunday under the umbrella. It’s been much too hot for that since then.
Health update
Before my operation, I received a lot of bumf from the hospital including a letter with my appointment for my post-op follow-up/biopsy results with the surgeon at the Breast Unit, due to take tomorrow. They gave the date but not the time, which they said would be confirmed. By Monday, when I still hadn’t heard anything, I phoned them and they told me they couldn’t give me a time till after their meeting on Wednesday (today), after which they would phone me. I will either be called in at a particular time, or they will do it over the phone. I’ve got wise to the hospital’s ways over the years and realise that they never give bad news over the phone, but always in person. I shall therefore know later today whether the news is good or bad, depending on whether they call me in on Thursday or say they’ll do a phone appointment. The surgeon will tell me whether or not they found any cancer cells in the lymph nodes he removed, and the normal-looking tissue surrounding the lump. If there were, this will most likely mean further surgery, and chemo. I’m much less bothered about additional surgery than I am about chemo because it is so horrible and I really don’t want to go down that road again and have more side effects to deal with, and above all, to have to cope with the loss of my hair. Anyway, I am trying not to get ahead of myself with this – all may be well after all.
I have done extremely well since the operation, with no problems at all. I have been doing my shoulder exercises three times daily, and finding them easy and causing no pain. At the end of last week I stopped the pain meds as I no longer need them. The wounds are obviously still tender to the touch but much less so now, and I have to continue to wear the lovely supportive bras day and night for a few more weeks. I still can’t sleep on either side, but my lovely comfy electric bed allows me to get just right on my back so it’s not too bad.
Last week my lovely hubby, who is known for his generosity, gave me an extra present – his wretched cold!! He came home with a bit of a sniffle and a cough which lasted for a few days and didn’t incapacitate him much at all – this is always the way with him. I told him to keep away from me as much as possible because I knew what the result would be if I caught it, and I was right – it pole-axed me completely. Saturday as the worst day, streaming and coughing and feverish and feeling horrible – far worse than cancer has made me feel haha! By Sunday it was definitely a bit better and I am fine now, with just a bit of a cough, and I have no worries about attending the hospital tomorrow if they do call me in.
On Friday my two weeks post-op will be up, and I can start doing normal things again. This means I won’t need nearly as much help from my hubby, who has, as always, been brilliant. I can also leave off the support stockings which will be a relief as the weather is so hot!
Have a great creative week, everybody. I’ve got my work cut out to get those butterfly cards finished by Thursday…
I know those boxes won’t topple, you’ve said so and now proved it, but my sight and mind will not allow me to take that in…they still look very precarious to me!! Good to see you enjoying some desk time. The card for your surgeon is absolutely lovely, the colours make me very happy! So glad you’re healing and feeling good, and you’re right, try not to get ahead of yourself with treatment plans…one day at a time.
Interesting post again, thank you.
So pleased to hear you are back up and about, I have added your blog to Bloglovin so I can get your updates a bit sooner.
I have just received some card to make some bases, hope to remember the swooshing bit, you have some lovely backgrounds there.
That card for the surgeon is beautiful, he should feel very honoured to receive it.
Have a good week, good news tonight and stay cool
Christine #11
Your glass mat trials are awful. I am the queen of sending things back and yeah, you probably should have done it. What is the point of something that is meant for squaring up to NOT be square? I had my own T ruler hassle last week as well. Got one, in a massive box, didn’t help, it was cracked. Returned it, ordered another, got it, in a flat envelope with no padding, also broken. Ordered another, got it, big box again, thankfully OK. Bah! Should have gotten a metal one but the price was much higher and I was being cheap. Lucky I wasn’t in a hurry, just wanted one. Here’s hoping you got your call and all is looking good. You CARD is looking fabulous and nice to get to see the video of the process. Love the butterfly ATCs but the stars are those leftover paint backgrounds. Just stunning.
big hugs and hoping for good news….
Happy Hot Day Desk Hopping!
Mary Anne (1)
Still can’t comment on your blog, Mary Anne, so I hope you come back and see this.
Your post was interesting. The sketchy face images are very different!
Thank you for your visit, and I’m sorry to hear of your T-ruler woes! I’m glad you like my projects this week. The butterfly cards are not ATCs – they are 5 x 7 inches. I’ve had awful problems sticking the butterflies on but all is well now!
I had my phone appointment with the surgeon this a.m. and all is well – no cancer detected beyond the lump. However, no definite answer on the chemo question until I’ve seen the oncologist.
Happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi #15
Firstly, I’m really glad that your surgery went well and hope for a good meeting when you do get called up by the hospital. I love the card you made for the doctor, it’s fantastic, so vibrant and beautiful, I love the design! The mop up experiments were very successful too, great backgrounds for your various projects! Hope you’re over the worst of the cold now, must have been hard going in this heat.
Hugs LLJ 4 xxx
Another lovely post Shoshi. Love the card for the surgeon, that should please him no end. And the butterfly cards too. (When I went to have my pacemaker changed I made a card for the pace girls but never thought about the surgeon. he is a favourite guy of mine too. He admired the card made for them so much I felt dreadful so `I made him one and posted it. next time, if there is a next, I will remember them all.)
Thanks for the kittie photos, I loved the sound of my reading (in my head) “Ruby in the rhubarb” glad it was she and not Lily, it wouldn’t scan right.
Gosh, Shoshi, you have a lot of things in your craft room, looks as it there is little space left to work in, is it a push left or right? Sorry about the board attachment, it is not too late to complain to Tim and I am sure he will be most distressed to hear – go write to him. My bff has his own personal poky tool from a complaint she made. They are very good at dealing with complaints – I have had lots of replacement paints and things from Ranger but anything with his name to it he will see it is dealt with I am sure.
Good luck with the rest of the week (telephone call especially)
Hugs, Neet 3 xx
That is a stunning card Shoshi and I am sure your surgeon will love it. Praying that there is good news at your next appointment and that further surgery/chemo will not be required. Hope the kitties aren’t too overheated in this weather. The butterfly card mock ups look great and the mop up tags and ATC backgrounds are fab. Meow to Lily and Ruby. Keep cool, stay safe and Happy WOYWW. Sarah #6
I totally agree about the Tim Holtz poducts LOL! Why does he have to keep bringing out new things all the time and make them so irresistible! He should come with an addiction warning! I’ve still got my eye on the ‘salvaged patina’ even though I already have some very similar colours – and did you see his launch for ‘prize ribbon’? Even he admits we didn’t need another blue, but in the same breath he says, yes, we do! He can talk anyone into buying his stuff, whether we need it or not! I’ve pre-ordered several of his new dies as well – after watching the samples he presented, you just can’t resist! Happy to be of service with my grocery bill comparison! You’ve been so productive this week, Shoshi! It’s like you’re on fire! What a fab card for your surgeon and even your mock-up looks amazing and the steps are interesting to follow in the video. The butterfly mock-up looks like a finished project – how can you possibly top that? The inky backgrounds look wonderful too – totally my kind of thing! So good to see you not just ‘recovering’ but actually going full blast! You’re definitely on a roll, so go with it! The kitties look cute and the garden beautiful! xx zsuzsa #17
I don’t think you should take it as definite if the hospital want you to come in, it will automatically be bad news. You may need further treatment, but Trust in the Lord. So easy to say I know, when you are not the one going through it, but I know you have faith. Sending love and prayers your way xx
Your peacock card is just beautiful and is going to be much appreciated. You are so thoughtful thinking of those involved in your treatment.
Love to the kitties x Angela #12
Well I hope you have had a call to say they will do the review by phone… sorry you’ve had a bad cold too; that’s all you need in this heat! the finished card for your surgeon is just fabulous .
Have a good week and enjoy your garden- love the photos you shared. Helen #2
I meant to say also, have great the tags look from your offcuts. I’ll have to make notes next time!
Someone is going to love that card, it’s so special. I’m with you on the donkey work making cards. I think that’s why I like making the Masterboards. I have fun doing them without any thoughts of how I will use them and then they are there ready to use. The kitties are looking well but they seem to get away with things that the dogs are never allowed to do. They are obviously very spoiled kitties. Nice garden pics too. Wishing you a very happy and creative woyww, Angela x13x
Tim Holtz! I know …it’s all ‘I must have that!’ ‘stuff’! My glass mat came from Dovecraft, now craftlable because they had a very good sale on! I agree…shoulda taken/sent it back! My not so local Craft shop sent me an email saying they had ‘salvage patina’ in stock….so of course I had to go get it, and other things. Kitties are lovely! And I love the tags too! Just nipped over to watch that embossing video, then thought dam! bet my comment has disappeared! But No, its still here! Yay! so I’ll leave now and go water my garden! Can’t paste on your comment box…so I’ll just say! Happy Late WOYWW!?
((Lyn))#16
What a lot to read today Shoshi – all very interesting – and I love the Pakistani inspired card.
Shame about the non right rightangle thingy…
Happy WOYWW!
Stay safe and keep well!
Susan #5
Calling All Crafters! – My Blog!
Your card looks lovely, hope you were able to send it/give it to him. I wasn’t around last week so I missed your update, just read it now and glad you are doing so well and not in pain. Well done on all the cutting of cardstock, that’s quite a job to get through but at least you are all prepped now. I have a love/hate relationship with US size cards, as I feel that they are mostly too small but then so many supplies are made for them that it can get a bit frustrating if you make larger cards. Had to laugh at your glass mat accessories, really I think that whole range of products must have been rushed out the factory and bypassed quality control. My glass mat got scratched on the first day of use and I wasn’t even using anything sharp on it! The ruler is the same as yours and the “scraper” tool does nothing to remove anything stuck on there lol. I don’t even have the glass mat on my table now for at least a
year, and the little feet keep falling off, so I just got fed up with it. I have a t-ruler that I bought in an art shop, it’s brilliant – and straight!
Lily’s little cute face! And I see you do have the same cat tree, my Lily is in that little square house right now, I can just see a tail. She also started using the larger rectangle house at the weekend. In the sunroom, which is where I moved that cat tree to, it is averaging 45-50C, and she is snoozing in that little house. I also have rhubarb, I pulled a lot of it about a month ago but it’s ready to go again. Thanks for visiting, late but sunny, Happy WOYWW! Elle #19, EOTC
Hi Shoshi – thanks for stopping by – I love hearing from you – oh my – your art work is stunning – such a lovely thing for you to give – I am sure the Dr will appreciate it. Your using up left over inks gave a great result. Loving your butterflies. And am so glad you are feeling better – see you next time Maurs xxx #26