Wednesday 19 January 2011

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 85

Good Morning All,

Yippee, it's getting lighter earlier in the morning - I noticed this morning when I was taking snaps of my workspace that there was daylight outside and it was still only 8.15am! Two photographs for you this morning - I'm feeling generous : )


So far it's not been a very productive week but last night I started on the second of Barbara Grey's (Clarity Stamp) tutorials using this lovely Wild Poppies stamp. Needless to say, I was not happy with my first attempt so I'm ready to have another shot at it today - I've got a second piece of design paper prepared. It looked a simple enough exercise but there is more to this stamping lark than meets the eye : (

I did not have all the required materials but, as usual, I improvised! The main missing ingredients in this picture is the design paper from K & Co and Adirondack ink pad in Red Pepper so I've substituted the paper with Basic Grey Ambrosia, it's similar looking, and the Cranberry ink pad. Oh, and I had to substitute the sentiment stamp as I don't have the particular Clarity stamp for that either. I'm getting good at substituting and I think that the Sheena Douglass sentiment, Optimism is A Breath of Fresh Air, is just as appropriate.


And this is a rare glimpse of my paper stash. Most of it is stored by colour rather than make but I there are a couple of exceptions. Christmas themed papers are kept in a separate plastic 12 x 12 folder, as is fancy card, i.e. glittery, mirror, etc. There is also a Papermania folder up there with Henbury Lane Poinsettia and another holding black, white and Kraft coloured 12 x 12 card - I like to keep these basic colours together, and there is another holding just the Swiss Dot 12 x 12 card for the same reason. The rest of the boxes are filled with coloured cardstock, off-cuts and scraps, stickers and templates and masks. All very tidy and accessible.


So what else can you see? The Quality Street box, just visible on top, is empty of chocolates (sigh) but now holds fabric - fat quarters for card making. To the very right is my collection of scrapbooking and cardmaking books and below the shelf you can just see the boxes into which I have sorted the recycled bits from Christmas cards.

Now, if you have got this far and are wondering what this is all about, then I suggest you pop over the our noble leader, Julia Dunnit's blog Stampin Ground where you will discover a world of workspaces, desks, cubbie holes, and so much more of some incredibly talented crafters and, if you have not already 'dunnit' you can join in too : )

Now I'm off to take a look at what you are all doing today.

Bye for now
Elizabeth

29 comments:

Hazeyj said...

Lovely to see how organised you are - I store all my papers and card according to colour so my see through boxes tend to be rainbow coloured! Thanks too, for your kind comments, Elisabeth! hazel x

Zue said...

I love the 'Wild Poppies' stamp, she is a very inspiring lady!
Improvisation is what it is all about, nothing wrong with that. If Barbara had had your inks she would have used them too.
Have fun
Sue xx 67

Clare with paint in her hair said...

Fabulous project! I don't have any clarity stamps but my mom is obsessed with them and her shows on tv!

Clare (89)

Minxy said...

Oh i just love poppies, will have to investigate that stamp for sure.
Thanks for visiting me today
Happy WOYWW
Minxy #1

alexa said...

What a great selection of papers! Admiring your collection, and that stamp looks lovely ...

Create With Joy said...

Thanks for stopping by! I love your post and pics but am REALLY looking forward to seeing your cats! :-)

Have a wonderful week!
Ramona
http://create-with-joy.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Nice and organized Elizabeth, love that Poppy stamp.

Hugs
Brenda 100

Anonymous said...

Love the work on your desk - looks good to me.
Substitute is my middle name. Everything is only an idea , you have to put your own stamp on things - substituting acheives that.
x Tricia (80)

katemade designs said...

it's always interesting to see how people store their stash. Thanks for the peek.

oneoff said...

I need to get on with organising my paper like that; you've given me a good nudge to get on with it! I love what you've done with the Poppies stamp: very clean and elegant. That improvisation is working beautifully.

Bernie

Anonymous said...

Hi Elizabeth. Lovely desk. I like the way you store your papers...very ingenious! Thanks for stopping by my desk. Happy WOYWW! #15

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

I am another Barbara Gray addict, and am really inspired by her shows. I just wish I had a quarter of her talent, but you seem to be doing well.

lisa said...

The last commentor has said exactly what I was going to say, Elizabeth. I think you take the idea and then turn it into your own, although sometimes it's hard because the original looks so good and you spend ages rummaging for something the same. Your paper is so organised. I keep meaning to get colour coded but it takes away precious crafting time. I will get it done sometime!!
Hugs Lisax

Dragon said...

Great snoop at your paper stash... I might pop round and borrow a cup of one of them!!!
Frankie
xx

Carola Bartz said...

I love that poppy stamp, it looks beautiful.

Marjo said...

Super space, love the paper storage. Thanks for the peek and sharing. Happy WOYWW, hugs Marjo #10

Unknown said...

love the paper storage, good idea, mines in a filling cabinet, out of my way !!!

Thanks for the peep

Hugs
Judie xx 69

Spyder said...

Love your card, that samp looks lovely the kind you can use for almost anything. I keep a lot of my papers stored that way too
Happy WOYWW!
(Lyn)

Neet said...

Love your organisation - what a great way to store your papers. Poppies, they are my favourite flowers. There is nothing I like to see more than a field of poppies (not that I see one often) and I have poppies ;in various guises all over the house (silk ones, ones on mugs etc) Look forward to seeing this card finished as it is looking good. Will we get a full view of it later - pretty please.

akilli melek said...

oooh pretty pretty stamp. I know what you mean about keeping theme stash separate, i have christmas and halloween separate. Although there have been times where i am plundered those boxes to find a certain colour at other times.
It is nice to get a bit of sunshine after the long nights isnt it
caroline #53

Wiccababe said...

fab desk and super way of storing your card and paper to hand

Debbi #39

Ciara said...

Oooo, I like that stamp. Paper storage is always a tricky one and I think you're right, by colour is often the best way to sort it. But then if I buy a collection, I'm never quite sure if I should keep it together it split it up by colours. Decisions, decisions!

Jinny Holt said...

Great paper storage and loving that stamp

Thanks for sharing

Jinny 116

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Love the clarity stamps, loads of paper too I organise mine by colour also.. and thanks for popping by! Shaz in Oz.xx

peggy aplSEEDS said...

i loved the peek at your paper stash! and the stamp is great. i'm all for improvisation. thanks for sharing!

okienurse said...

So organized and your desk is so neat and tidy!

Tertia said...

Very organised, thats what you are! Those poppy stamps look great.
Tertia 110

Susan said...

Hi Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing your storage ideas. Love that stamp! Thanks for visiting. Am loving the ATG gun but it is bloody sticky and there's no hope of getting the papers apart if you make a mistake! Susan xxox #19

Nicky said...

Great what you are doing with your stamps and love the storage of your papers ~ Nicky 24