WOYWW 673

So my NEW old table arrived just after I took those photos for last weeks WOYWW. Don't you love old wooden tables. It went up for sale on Facebook for $150 and came with a bench and 3 cushion covered chairs. 

I love sturdy tables to craft on, Those fold up tables wobble when you go to stamp and you don's get a good impression. I used to think it was me and my lack of hand strength.

You can see the length of the two tables. I'll use the rectangle table to craft on as it has space, a friend is coming over for a crafting weekend soon so I'll attempt to keep that table clean LOL.

The oval table will be used to house the essentials and crafting on my own.

I've been working on decorated envelopes. Early this year I challenged myself to the 365 Challenge where you write one letter/postcard a day and send to someone for 2022. 

I decided to make decorated envelopes as well to go with them.

If you'd like to be on my 365 challenge list please send me an email with your address and I will add you to my list bridget.larsen@gmail.com

Check out The Worlds smallest postal service

Hope over to Stamping Ground to see more desks and what crafty people are doing

Decorated Envelopes

 So I started decorating envelopes again. This one is going out to the USA, it's a male recipient so I thought I'd better not make it girly lol which is most of my designs.

Some over zealous ink splodges on some pens annoy the heck out of me. 

I had to hurry up and think of a design as I am out the door this morning to go and try out a new masseus closer to home, normally we drive 45 minutes or more to get to one. This masseus came recommended.

WOYWW 572 - 11th Anniversary - UFOs

Well it's that time of the year and week when we show off our desks. This one is special because its the 11th Anniversary, my oh my thats a long time to keep going but that shows how popular this desking is.

We used to make ATCs and swap with everyone who posted a desk, but with Covid hanging around and International flights being non existent in and out of most countries. Julia Dunnit of Stamping Ground has decided not to enact that this year but instead we are to do a UFO.

Cue a UFO that has been sitting around for nearly a year waiting for me to start it lol. Thanks to Covid (yes I have something to thank this awful virus for) I have had time to do some gardening and I needed pots for my seedlings which can be quite expensive when you are needing lots. This is where the Newspaper Pots come in. When my Street Library is ready I will put these pots with seedlings for people to take with them for free.

Since moving to the islands I've been motivated to recycle and reuse anything and everything where ever I can so step up  newspapers. I went and got a whole trolley full of newspapers from the local supermarket on a Sunday when they were throwing them out from not being able to sell. They go straight into the ground when your seedlings are mature enough. The newspaper will decompose.

So on my desk is some newspaper, cans, instructions and a new box of scissors that I got for $9, what a bargain and you all know how much I love my scissors LOL. Of course I can't forget my cup of tea. Next week I'll show you when my UFO is completed.

Some seed packets I got from Bunnings last week for winter planting and some favourites for later. Here is some information for the gardeners on how to dry out seeds before planting.

So hop on over to the Stamping Ground to see what everyones UFO's are.

WOYWW 569 - Window Art

How has lockdown been for you? I'm down to one day a week work at one job, the second job shut down.

Those of you who are crafters will notice that I haven't been crafting since WOYWW 513 when I went to craft camp and ate all this wonderful food, but the bigger news is I am now going to run that Craft Camp as the previous coordinator has too much on her plate. Next years dates have been booked and I am about to contact all the previous attendees to see who is coming so we can lock down the camp.

Apr 25th was Anzac Day for Australia and New Zealand. You can read about it on my post HERE

Everyone in Australia was doing driveway commemoration due to the social distancing rules. We normally go to a commemoration  park on the island called Pat's Park.

I wanted to do something at home so I decided to make some Poppies and stick them to my window. My inspiration came from a cousin's daughter in the US who decorated her mum and dads windows with hearts to show her support for Healthcare workers, it's such wonderful display of support and artistic creativity.

I have posted her photos below mine with her permission, thank you Rachel.

 So I found a poppy flower template on the internet and printed it out onto 80gsm paper which I cut out.

 There were three sizes but I only used the larger one, next year I'll plan it better and use all three. I also used a Stampin Up flower punch I had that almost looked like a Poppy flower, and a circle punch for the stamen. I would have liked to put green leaves too but didn't have enough time.

 I then traced the flower onto a thick plastic to trace onto the red cardstock, You can see the Australia map I punched out as well to use as the stamen on some flowers.

 I stuck the completed flowers on my arms to transport them outside to the window.

I couldn't reach the top of the window so that is why the flowers ended where they did.

I made a mistake on one and glued the Australia Map back to front so now all the eastern states are on the west hahahaha.

This is my cousin's daughter Rachel, she used a Silhouette Cameo and Cricket

 She did an awesome job decorating all the windows of her house downstairs, I believe it took her a day to do it. They live in the US, I have visited this beautiful house and gorgeous family, I am so glad they are my family by marriage.

So each Wednesday we virtually visit craft desks around the world via Stamping Ground and see what others are up to. 

Also entering this into CARDZTV Anything goes Challenge

Sending love and healing to those deskers that are suffering from Covid. May you heal through all the work the Healthcare workers are doing and from our love. Saluting all those front line and Healthcare workers out there that are putting their own lives at risk to keep us safe. 

Penpals during lockdown - Folded Letters

Are you writing more letters due to lockdown? I have acquired a few new penpals and re-united with old ones that dropped off due to one reason or another. Here are some folded letters links you may find interesting.

Folded letters from the war
http://riowang.blogspot.com/2011/09/triangular-letters.html

https://www.improvisedlife.com/2011/12/06/triangle-letter-how-to-mail-for-free/

Folded letters tutorials

What else are you doing to keep yourself busy? I've been doing alot of gardening in my sorely neglected garden and happy with the results.

Stay safe and stay motivated.

Anzac Day 2020 - a different world

Anzac Day 2020 a new way to remember our Veterans. ANZAC Day April 25th is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand.

A view looking aft of lifeboat carrying unidentified men of the Australian 1st Divisional Signal Company as they are towed towards Anzac Cove on the day of the landing.

Why is this day special to Australians?

When war broke out in 1914 Australia had been a federated nation for only 13 years, and its government was eager to establish a reputation among the nations of the world. When Britain declared war in August 1914 Australia was automatically placed on the side of the Commonwealth. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany."

So due to this Covid-19 lockdown I decided to decorate my window with the Poppies that are used for this day.

Due to lockdown and self isolation rules, (we normally attend the dawn service at Pat's Park at 5.30am to honour our Veterans), majority of people on the island did driveway remembrance.

Found a poppy template online. Here's a printable pinwheel poppy

 First I printed the template and cut it out 

 Cut it out onto hard plastic so I could trace around it

 Placed them on my arms to transport them out to the front window

I ran out of height to fill it up to the top of the window, also didnt realise red came in different shades

LEST WE FORGET

Exploding Box tutorial

I saw this online today and love it. I love construction cards and 3D items. I thought it would be hard to do but it is a simple one, one of the many self isolation activities we can do

Exploding box tutorial

An observation I made that I would make changes to is to mitre the corners before glueing down the paper on the flaps

Problem solving the box

Here's another more intricate one 

Silhouette Cameo 4

Friday was a very exciting day for me, my Silhouette Cameo 4 arrived, luckily I had a day off to receive it...not that me being home matters as they deliver anyway.

Purchasing Cameo stuff in Australia

Hubby had offered to buy it for me ages ago when it first came out, I refused the offer because at the time it didn't interest me and didnt do too much that I needed it to do.

Now that its at Version 4, it can do so much more and I was happy to take up on the offer.

I couldn't play with it straight away because it came with a US plug. I needed to get an adaptor to be able to use it.

 USA Plug

 AUS Plug

Adaptor

When the delivery guy pulled into the driveway, I was hanging out the clothes, I ran to the car knowing that he had something from Silhouette, hubby said the order is coming in three parts, 

I have 2 so far. Hubby ordered the tool set separately

Its so good to have the first glimpse of whats inside

The box unpacked with all its goodies

The next day I got another exciting delivery, not craft wise. See next post to find out what it is.

Posting this on Sunday because I had a busy Saturday making Chinese Sticky Rice Dumplings, coming up in another post.

Granny Square Drawstring Bag - Crochet

I love small projects like this Granny Square Crochet Drawstring Bag.

Isn't it cute and super easy.

Here is the Video link, I need to watch something to really get it.

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One Million Stars

Last year I participated in folding these ribbons to make stars for the One Million Stars project. It hasCBA finally gone up at this LINK

Here is the VIDEO of it on facebook:

I will have to go and see it for myself and take pictures.

You will find more pictures and inspiring stories on the main ONE MILLION STARS PROJECT

WOYWW # 335 - Foiled and Ink Technique- Melbourne Cup 2015

This was my desk/dining table in the craft room when a fellow Crafter Doreen Worth came over to spend a wonderful day with me laughing and creating. Lots of mess and inky fingers. below is the results of this glorious day. 

I was trying to replicate this Foiled Technique by Penny Ward and as you can see it turned out nothing like it hahaha

Yesterday we had the biggest horse race in the world, and the most expensive. The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a Nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three year olds (horses that is) and over.

There was only one horse that was Australian, all the rest came from overseas, that is what this race commands, all these overseas investors.  I think the horse owner wins $3million. Anyway I bet on the winning horse $5 each way and won $466 woohoo it paid $86.70 to win and $21.60 to place and I put $5 to win and $5 to place, should have put more on it. They say they have never had a horse pay so much and be in lane 19 win, creating more of a history. It is unheard of that a horse that has 100/1 odds could win this prestigious race.

The winning horse created history, the rider Michelle Payne is a female and she is the first female to win the Melbourne Cup Race in its history.  Her brother Stevie  Payne is the horse's strapper and has Downs Syndrome is now famous. I never knew what a strapper was before yesterday, Stevie and Michelle are going to do so much for Downs Syndrome awareness. This race was just so awesome in so many ways.

Now the horses owners are a story in itself, POP nearly died in February of various complications. The Syndicate, Mike Botting, Greg Williams, Sam Brown, Scott Jenke, Adrian Brown and Tim Ashdod - a podiatrist, engineers, It consultant, solutions expert and a producer hid it from their wives that they were saving up to buy a horse as one last try because previously they had owned horses that didnt do well.  oh the horse is called Prince of Penzance or POP, Horse profile

I dont really follow horse racing but I love this once a year race. This is why this race is so unique, a horse bought for $50,000 won the race that usually attracts more expensive horses.

Joining Julia in her Stamping Ground to look at desks all around the world

WOYWW 332 - A Day of Fun with the Ladies

 Shock horrow, I had to find a place for two friends to come around and craft for the day. My usual desks did not work so I had to clear of the dinning table that lives in the craft dungeon. This is the lovely clean table. My daughter gave me the chalkboard you see hanging upside down, she keeps writing on it upside down and I dont have the heart to rub it off so I just hang it like that hahaha.

 I took over the table with my Galaxy Envelope decorating, Doreen kindly let me take over her side of the table to dry off my envelopes as she had finished all her projects by then and we were just sitting around chatting.

I didnt take a photo of the mess when the ladies were here, this was the cleaned up version that will hopefully stay like that and I have a work top to work on from now on because all the other desks are chockablock. Yep my craft room is the kitchen and the laundry as well, I told the ladies all I needed was a bed in there and I'd never have to go upstairs hahahaha.

 A close up of stuff. The two Christmas cards were Doreens contribution to the projects we did. I forgot to photograph Annette's which was Christmas themed and mine is the tiny little fridge magnet holder beside the bone folder and has a calendar on it. It can hold a quote that turns into a bookmark or a gift card

Of course we had to have food, I provided the lunch of make it your own sandwiches in the form of triangle bread rolls. It was a yummy experience. We sat outside to eat as the table was full of craft stuff. Still bummed that I forgot to take a photo of us crafting and making a mess, oh well we were having too much fun for me to remember!!! LOL

There was a craft fair on last week. This is the first craft fair I have attended since we moved to Brisbane so I had no idea what to expect. It had a lot of quilting stalls, so wasn't the best crafting show, I will have to attend the other two earlier on in the year to judge what is the best show. Can you see my scissors haul LOL. I will never run out nor worry if I lose one now hahahaha.

Joining Julia's Stamping Ground and her fan of Deskers for a sneak peak around the world

WOYWW 329

Working on 3 desks lately, this is my writing desk, letters on their way out the door, cook books on the left because I was in a recipe Round Robin where we all own a recipe book and send it to participants and they write or stick recipes in it and we get our books back full of recipes from around the world. The yellow book is one I just finished putting recipes in and will be posted.

 Playing with my Dylusions spray and die templates to make awesome designs on envelopes

This envelope above to the left was decorated by mopping up the excess ink on the laminated sheet I have to protect my table. It made a pretty one of a kind envelope that you can't repeat again LOL

 This desk had pocket letters on the go. I was testing out the Chameleon pens and colouring that candy cane in the book, it turned out well but the water colour paper bled too much. So going to try it on an envelope. The quotes to the right were ready to go in envelopes for my monthly envelope exchange that Jean Wilson runs. You can just see my Christmas CD I decorated with Lumieres, I was showing my friend how it is done, we can start to decorate them now as the weather is getting warmer. I have found you cannot do these CDs in winter, so its a seasonal design for sure LOL

My third desk downstairs that is, I fished out some lumiere and folk art paints as I was searching for my H2os, still cant find them LOL

Joining Julia in her Stamping Ground to visit crafty desks all around the world

WOYWW 320

This is my craft club desk....I was decorating envelopes with Delusions. I made a huge mess, I cleaned up the inksplats on those laminated sheets I make for this messy job. My OCD kicked in after each set of envelopes was sprayed LOL and I used baby wipes and toilet paper to clean up..

Yellow and white tickets are raffle tickets we buy. stash to the front right corner is what I bought. We sat in a group of 8 this time-large group-usually its only 4 of us.

I'll take a photo of our group next time so you can see.

Off to another craft group tonight then an early morning start for work tomorrow 3.30am whew hope I can make it.

Joining Julia at her Stamping Ground to see more desks of crafty people

WOYWW # 308 and Postcrossing Official Postcards Number 2 & 3

I almost forgot WOYWW, wow imagine that, what a dilemma hahahaha.

Anniversary WOYWW is here again-week 312 which falls on May 27th, so if you'd like to participate HERE is what Julia has in mind for that post. If you'd like to swap an ATC with me let me know in the comments so I know how many to make and send me your snail mail address via EMAIL. 

On Saturday 25 April we remembered 100 years of the War in Turkey called ANZAC. Hubby and I went to the Dawn service at 4am at the Shrine Rememberance Cenotaph in Brisbane City, about 40,000 people attended. It was very sad to hear of one war story where a family of 6 brothers went to war and only 2 came back. Imagine receiving 4 Dead Man's penny and 4 pink telegrams. (Dead Man's Penny was sent to families with fallen soldiers, and the Pink Telegrams was to announce their had been killed in action)

You can read about it in THIS POST

So this is my desk at craft club as I made a start on my WOYWW Anniversary ATC Swaps

This is the drying process on the floor. 

Nothing like what I imagined and set out to do but unique in itself hahaha

My Postcrossing Postcards have really taking off after only a month. 

I purchased some notebooks to write back in to some members who want to be postcard penpals.

 I love colourful writing paper with designs on each page.  

My 2nd postcard arrived from USA, she was kind enough to send me 2 postcards which is not the requirement. The top postcard is an oil painting by George Caleb Bingham made during the Festival of Arts Laguna Beach California. The 2nd postcard is a postal car on the Burlington Worlds Fair Exhibition Train. Both a Vintage postcards to be treasured.

The USA stamps that graced the envelopes the postcards came in.

My 3rd postcard arrived from Germany on 27 April, 

below is the gorgeous stamp that was on the envelope.

Joining  Julia's Stamping Ground to see more desk around the world and what they are up to