WOYWW March 30th

It's Wednesday again and time for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday with Julia over at The Stamping Ground.  I can't believe it's the end of March already! Spring is beginning to rear its lovely head here - at long last! The days ARE getting longer and the temperatures are SLOWLY warming up. Hopefully all that snow is behind us though I'm not counting on it!

Well, here's my desk this week

Yup, it's a lovely mess again. I tidied up at the beginning of the week but it's Wednesday now and a mess again. I should have cheated and taken a nice 'clean' picture on Monday. The box I keep beneath the desk (nicely out of sight) was full of scrap pieces of paper, so I dragged it up to the desk and pulled out the Big Shot and die cut some things. That's what I'm in the middle of. I have so much scrap pieces of paper (boxes) so I thought I better use some up. A screw that held the handle on my Big Shot fell out (not sure how!) but I couldn't fix it so had to wait for hubby to come home. Apparently I was using the wrong screwdriver (who knew!). All is well now.

I did finish my first box card. There is a picture in the previous post. It is still sitting on my desk as I have to make the envelope to go with it.

I finally did start a stitching piece to keep me busy at night. I haven't been working on it long. It will be a fairy. I could finally get hold of a Nimue pattern here in the US and gave in as I love the look of them.

Well, I'm off to visit some desks. The men are coming to finish our driveway today - yeah, no more puddles in the mud! Hubby is trying to take Thursday and Friday off. He's been working overtime since about October so it will be a nice break for him. Depending on the weather we might take a drive somewhere.

Box Card

This is my first attempt at a box card. It was sitting on my desk on WOYWW so I thought I'd share. It turned out okay I think. It's a gift for American Mother's Day for my Mum. I always send her a card/present for both UK and US Mother's Day just to show her that I'm thinking of her!

I think I will make one for my dear MIL but with flowers instead!

Spring is coming! Spring is coming!

There are flowers growing in my garden, well in the grass. Not sure what they are and if the grass was long enough they'd be mowed away BUT it is something other than dull, dead grass.

My 'kids' came down yesterday and we had a barbeque over at MIL's. We haven't all got together since Christmas so that was nice.

She has lovelier flowers growing at her house - they were bursting with colour.

WOYWW March 23rd

It's Wednesday again. Time to join Julia and the gang over at Stamping Ground for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday. It's a fun trip seeing what everyone is up to. I spend way too much time travelling around looking at desks on Wednesdays!

This is mine as I left it Tuesday night. Not staged, just how it ended up. There isn't a lot of space on it, but there is enough space to work on things.

You can see a card propped up reading to take a picture of and my first try at a box card waiting for me to decide what to do next. There are also a couple of pieces already coloured and ready to go. Up front are instructions for said box card, that I FINALLY got to print off my printer. It's being a pain. It doesn't like this laptop, or Windows 10, and I have to restart the computer to get it to print. Tried several solutions, none working!

Here's a close-up of that card!

Well, I'm off to look around the other desks. Hope everyone has a great week. It turned out busier last week than I thought as daughter came to spend a (surprise) couple of days and son also popped over! Hubby and I also had a busy weekend (I posted about it last couple posts). I'm also still doing well on my Photo 366 challenge - proud of myself for sticking at it lol

I'm days behind!

Sunday was my FIL's birthday (as well as my niece's but she lives in England) so we went with them to the Living History exhibit at our local fairgrounds. There were rooms packed with all kinds of old-fashioned goodies from around the 1800s. I love history. I'm not really up on my American History but I am interested so I went along. I could have spent hours looking at all the old stuff. MIL has mobility problems though so we weren't there as long as I wished we could be. I think next year hubby and I will drive alone so we have more time to look around.

It was a Sunday morning - pretty early when we went - so it was quiet. A good thing for MIL so she could take her time. She only took her walking stick with her. I think she realises that she's going to have to give in and either be wheeled around or take her walker.

I persuaded MIL to come watch the Native American dancing with me. There were a small group performing from a branch of the Pottawatomi Indians. It was fun to watch.

 The drumming was fantastic to hear. It is so rhythmic and energetic. There is just something about Native American drumming that is haunting.

This little boy did a hoop dance. He was having so much fun! He ended up taking his shoes off and dancing without them!

The girl below did a great hoop dance. They do this with about eight hoops and pick each one up from the floor with their feet and dance until they intertwine and raise them linked on their arms or in a ball around them. It looks really difficult!

It was really great to see the young kids being taught their culture. The older man drumming was telling us stories of in the 20s and 30s where the kids were taken from them and taken to 'white' schools in an attempt to wipe out their culture and silence them  It was a horrible time in American history.

Not a bad weekend in all. Not much crafting going on but lots of going out and staying busy.

On Saturday morning hubby drove me to a scrapbook store he and his dad had passed on their way to a shop they were going to. It was a little way away but rather fun. It was a very big place. Scrapaloo was its name. Not sure how they came up with that one!

They had everything imaginable. I could have spent a lot of money there. I didn't. I was very good (only because I'd already spent enough this week!). It will be a great place to go when I do Mum's calendar. Everything is arranged by theme.

I did buy some Washington D.C themed headers as they looked very unique. I liked how wide and open everything was and there was plenty of space to wander and look.

That afternoon we took a drive down to South Haven to visit the lighthouse. It was very, very cold! There were people sitting out there along the pier fishing - brr.....

The sand was frozen into shape! Looked really weird. Sunday was a busy day too - we went to a Living History exhibition. I'll post pics tomorrow!

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday

Wednesday again and it's time for WOYWW with Julia and the gang over at Stamping Ground.

My desk is as I left it last night. There is more mess this week and less spare desk. The two cards sitting up front are waiting to be finished. They need something - not quite sure what. The mornings one I think I have an idea for - it came to me in bed sometime in the night. Yes, that's what I was thinking about when I woke suddenly in the darkness of the early morning. The other one needs a sentiment of some sort but I'm not sure what.

I got a couple of other cards made this week - several posts this week. I seem to be in a purple/pink mood which is strange for me as I certainly don't usually like pink!

Well, I'm off to hop along to other desks in between exercising and housework!

Spring is in the Air!

After the rain and dreariness of the last two days I woke up this morning to glorious sunshine. Really beautiful. The sky was blue and although there was a nip in the air, it was a lovely day and I couldn't pass up taking a walk outside. The nature preserve is about a twenty to twenty-five minute walk from my house. Although we are in the middle of a 'city' the preserve makes you feel like there is space everywhere.

Things were still pretty bare - no flowers peeking out. Spring hasn't quite made it here to Southwest Michigan yet, but there were signs that things were beginning to sprout!

The lakes looked really beautiful.

And there were lots of birds around!

I did do some crafting today, but I didn't finish anything. It is still sitting on the desk waiting for What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday tomorrow.

It's dull and dreary outside today after a really wet day yesterday. There is mud everywhere. It's the perfect day to stay inside and craft.

I did a little more stamping and colouring and then decided to make an Easter card for Mum. It will be a nice little surprise for her. I was looking for some Easter paper I was sure I had somewhere - purchased for her yearly calendar - but could I find it? Of course not. Is that surprising? My decorative scissors that I lost around Christmas still haven't shown up anywhere. Anyway, I went with a different paper instead. I think it worked out okay. 

My middle son came up yesterday - he usually does on Sundays bringing his washing along with him! He came alone this week. I cooked up Chicken Quesadillas.

They are filled with bright peppers, onion, chicken and spices.

They all like them!

Those pesky crazy cats/birds

Well I gave in and bought one set of each. Now to decide what to do with them. The good news is that at least I have started colouring them.

I should be up in my room doing something crafty and interesting but I woke up this morning with stomach cramps so I'm currently wrapped up in a blanket in my favourite chair and watching re-runs of The Great British Baking Show.

A card

I actually got around to doing a card for my sister for her birthday.  It was fun to do. I'm not great at colouring but I'm getting a little better!

The stamp is from Unity Stamp Company. They have great stamps at very reasonable prices!

WOYWW March 9th

Wednesday already! Can't believe it. I'm joining up with Julia and the gang over at Stamping Ground for WOYWW.

What a difference a week makes. This time last week we were having another snow storm. We got about eight inches of snow. This morning when I wake up it is 16C (60F). Yesterday was beautiful and sunny and I actually had my windows open. Yikes! I had to find a tee shirt to put on as it ended up about 19C and I was too hot in my jumper.

My desk is quite tidy this week - only because I cleaned it up yesterday. I was tired of all the paper sitting on it. What you don't see is the box with all the scrap paper on the floor lol. I am working on (yet) another book - you can see the back cover in the background - but I pulled out some new stamps and stamped them ready for colouring. I have cards I need to make. I finally used my crazy cat stamps and gave in and bought the crazy bird stamps. There was a great sale at Joann's and I gave in. I'm so weak!

Hopefully next week - or during the remainder of this week - I'll be posting some finished cards. I'm hoping with all the paper out of the way I won't be sidetracked. I'm going to pull out some stitching and maybe do that at night while watching the telly.

I'm off to look at the other desks. Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday.

Photo 366

I am SO proud of myself! I have actually taken a picture, on theme, per day every day this year! It may not seem like a great deal but I always have difficulty sticking to challenges like that. In the past it's probably been because I'm so tired with work that I just couldn't keep up mentally with everything. Now that I'm home it's a little easier BUT I still have trouble sticking to things. I have to make lists and check off different things or they don't get done. I get easily sidetracked.

Anyway, it's been good taking a picture a day. Sometimes the theme isn't easy. I don't have a car and public transport is non-existent and with the weather being as bad as it has been (and cold!) I really don't want to walk out and about. Have I mentioned that I can't wait for Spring?

The other day - can't remember the theme - but I ended up taking pictures of my cat as he tried to pinch my lunch. I swear that since the dog died Shadow has been channeling him begging for food. The cat did not used to do this when our dog, Ben, was alive.

He just looks so sweet and innocent lol

I think since this challenge started I've got some wonderful pictures of the cat!

Grr...more snow. When is it going to end? I hate this time of year. I want Spring! I am growing impatient - sort of like a toddler with a temper tantrum. I feel like stomping my feet. At least this year I don't have to go out in it. I would like to go out walking somewhere, anywhere!

Been working on another album. I got frustrated during the week as I couldn't get the cover to lay how I wanted. I ended up going back to Youtube to get some ideas.

I didn't like the way the others seemed to bunch up around the crease where the spine meets the covers. This one seemed to work out better.

I've also decided on which binding system I like better. There seems to be two camps - Stack the Deck and Hidden Hinge. I've used both and I like the Stack the Deck better. The pages seem to lay better. I think I'll give the Hidden Hinge one more go - have an idea of how to change it so I like it better lol.

I like how the pages ended up. I ended up using the dimensions I chose. I think that now I'm getting the hang of it I can venture out and make some changes. I like the larger albums as I think photos will look better in them and I can journal alongside the pictures which is what I tend to do.