A warm welcome to all my visitors,

Thank you for taking the time to come and look at my blog, I really do appreciate it. I would love you to leave me a comment, even if it’s just to say Hi. It means I can come visit you!

All my designs are original, so copyrighted to me. If I have been inspired by someone elses work, I have named them in the post, and where able, I have provided a link.

Please feel free to use my designs for inspiration, I just ask you to credit me, and provide a link back to my blog.

Thanks, Shaz XX

Tuesday 31 May 2011

WOYWW #104

At last I seem to have Blogger working properly,yay!!!!! I haven't been able to log in, let alone post for a couple of weeks. This week I updated to the new Firefox4, and Blogger seems to be working fine again.So if you use Firefox as your browser & are still getting Blogger problems, this may help.
I'm on a bit of a mission to use up some of the images that I have stamped in the past, so the last few posts use up stuff you have probably seen on my desk at one time or another.
 So, on my desk this week are a couple of cards:

 I used three versions of the Crafty Individuals Treeline stamp, and the base card was covered with a sheet of Papermania paper from the Simply Elegant pad, which I overstamped with a tree from Crafty Individuals Elements plate CI 209, in Adirondack Espresso. The three versions are: brayered background using Latte & Sandal  (top left), oil pastel in oranges and yellows (centre) and sponged Adirondack ink in Sunset Orange and Red Pepper, with a Post-it mask for the setting sun (bottom right). The sentiment was stamped onto a scrap of brayered card ( Latte &  Hazelnut) in Black Soot then heat embossed. It is all one stamp, I masked off one half of the sentiment with low tack tape, inked the part I wanted, peeled off the tape and stamped. That way I could place them separately.

 I brayered white card with Adirondack Lemonade and Distress ink Wild Honey, with a Post it mask. The Fennel Heads stamp was stamped in Black Versafine, and I added a Dandelion head from Lavinia Stamps, part of a set of three, all slightly different, called Dandelions, lol. I cut the image to a tag shape, added an eyelet & some narrow gold ribbon. From the leftover piece I cut another tag shape, and overstamped this with an Artifacts Stamp, from the Stamp Bug, called Darting Dragonflies. I used Wild Honey again, but stamped off first, to get a paler imprint.The sentiment was stamped over the top in Black Versafine- this is another e-bay buy, so I don't know the maker, sorry. The base card uses some free paper with Making Cards magazine, a strip of gold vellum run through the D'vine swirls folder, and a strip of Black organza ribbon, then gold  organza ribbon over the top. The tags were mounted with sticky tabs.


For quite a lot of years I worked in the Retail trade, so I know only too well that people are quick to complain, but very rarely praise service they receive. So I try to give praise when its due, and to this end I want to say a big Thank You to Inkylicious. You will have seen I use a lot of Adirondack & Distress inks, and this is where I buy them from. For two VERY good reasons. Firstly, their prices - Adirondacks are £3.79 and Distress inkpads are £3.90- best prices I have found anywhere. Also, their postage is a very reasonable £1.50 for orders under £50, free above that. Secondly, their service is second to none. I ordered four pads last week, on Thursday evening at 5.15. As it was evening, and a Bank Holiday weekend as well, I expected ( and would have been happy) to get them during this week. I was astounded then, when I got home from work at midday on Saturday, to find them lay on the mat waiting for me! This is definitely a retailer who will get my custom time & time again- so Thanks again guys! Oh, they do lots of stuff besides inkpads too!
Talking of inkpads, I thought this might be useful. I downloaded the inkpad labels from Ranger inc, for Adirondack pads & Distress pads, then printed then out onto a label sheet- I used one that has 4 labels on an A4 sheet. I cut them down to size, then before I stuck them on the pads I swiped each label across the inkpad it was meant for.I really recommend wearing gloves to do this bit!  Now I don't have to unstack them to find the one I want. The two links take you to the respective Ranger pages for the pads- you can click on a link on the page to download the labels template. You can also download the colour charts, and ones for the Alcohol inks too.

35 comments:

Sarn said...

LOVE your gorgeous pieces of art. They are FAB. I don't think I've ever seen so many ink pads outside of a shop!

HAPPY WOYWW!

Hugs, Sandra Take a peek at MY DESK here

Annie said...

Happy WOYWW 2nd Birthday. It's so lovely to be linked up with so many creative friends. Happy crafting.
A x

Deb said...

fabulous stamping! love your collection of ink pads!
Happy Crafting, Debxx

Anonymous said...

Your ink pads make my 6 look very sparse.
Love the cards
Thanks for visiting.
x Tricia

MaudMartha said...

Hi Shaz, great tip about storing your ink pads, I end up rummaging in the drawer for mine - but then I don't have as many. I haven't seen Inkylicious before but I'll certainly check them out - I usually use Joanna Sheen if she has things in stock. Your wolf is very similar to my GS dog ICE - children often think she's a wolf. I'll come back for a better look at your blog so have joined up as a follower. Teresa x

Hettie said...

Wow! What alot of adirondack pads. After taking part in Grungy Monday last week I will be ordering more of those now as I love my three but want more. They are fab inkpads. It is soo nice when you have a good supplier! I am the same with Craft Obsessions - very quick and reasonable!
Lovely cards there! Going to have to look closely at Shaz in Oz's blog for tips on brayering and give it a go!
Happy WOYWW! xx

fairy thoughts said...

fab tags. i love the cow parsley stamp. but i love the pile of ink pads even more, so jealous lol.thanks for sharing
janet

Helen said...

what beautiful cards! One day my ink pads will be as organised.... or not!

Asia King (aka Joanna K) said...

Happy 104th WOYWW! Lovely to "meet" you in the blogland and what a fab collection of inks! lol ;))

Hugs
Joanna x

lisa said...

Your cards are absolutely gorgeous, who can resist trees!! and I think your ink pad labels are brilliant, so organised. Thanks for the tip of downloading them.
I agree with you entirely about Inkylicious. They are quite local to me and have fantastic products at excellent prices. We need to sing the praises of craft stores more, there are so many closing down.
Happy WOYWW 2nd Birthday.
Hugs Lisa #85

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

I won't repeat on Blogger what I just said about all your ink pads. Suffice it to say,I turned a deep unattractive shade of green. I am sure you have more that our mutual local shops. One question - which way up do you store them? I ask because I opened a brand new one (cannot remember where I bought it) and it was too dry to use. In answer to your question, the holiday could have been better if we had not both got tummy bugs. Still we are both over it now and looking forward to the next trip. Thanks for your visit and I love your cards. Happy Blogging Anniversary.

fairyrocks said...

Lovely work with your stamps. I am very happy to see how you put the color of your inks on the sides. I was wondering if this isn't what I might need to do too?. Thanks so much for the inspiration.
Keep smiling and creating

Unknown said...

Hi Ya lovely art and I love your staking system (as I do it too) ;0) I would love to know more about your other inks from ranger though how do you find them? and why have so many when you already have the TH ones?

Love Dawn xx

donnalouiserodgers said...

hee hee]]

I am a grab at random fling it to one side when I've finished kind of gal,

i really do look upon these wonderful desks that are organized so beautiful and dream one day someone will do that for me, for I know I have not the skills within me to do it for myself..(sloth/messpot that i am)

dx

happy 104

karen said...

Lovely cards you have made! Always feels good to use up stuff you are storing away! I especially love the three treeline stamps and how they each look so different and yet co-ordinate!
Happy WOYWW 2nd Anniversary!
xoxo
Karen #70

ShazInOzCardsCalligraphy said...

Hi there Shaz, happy anniversary and wow! what a beautiful set of pads there.. to say I am green is an understatement, might look out Inkylicious and see if they post over seas.
I love your first two projects of course we thing alike on so many things.. love our brayers and love the work you have done with them. Would you believe for part of my pIf I did my very first tag.. I did brayer and Stampscapes on the front with embossing and then, glimmer mist etc on back, well must away glad you are back with us, love Shaz in oz.x

April said...

Loving the colours on both of those cards, they're great. Like your ink labeling idea too, very handy! Thanks for sharing.

Spyder said...

aw...I've only got three TH inks! but one day I'll have a few more! Love your cards and Happy WOYWW anniversary!
(lyn)

Kim said...

Those are beautiful pieces! I really must remember to run velum through an embossing folder; fantastic results. I neglected to trim my ink labels down! LOL! What a mess! My next rainy day project is to redo my ink pads! Have a great weekend.
-Kim #98

Nicks said...

great way of organising your inkpads


Happy 104th week, so lovely you 'meet' you and so many others on wednesday

Geri said...

Lovely cards and Happy WOYWW Anniversary! Thanks for visiting my blog! ♥

Darcy Marshall said...

Happy Anniversary...

I don't use firefox, have tried it before and didn't like it. Will just have to struggle on till blogger gets sorted.

Great cards, and well done you for praising the service from the shop, not enough ppl do that.

Nicky said...

Great cards and lovely lots of ink pads - Happy WOYWW Anniversary

Elizabeth said...

Love your cards Shaz, I could do to do the same thing with my bits and pieces too. Brilliant collection of ink pads. I've just taken delivery of some Inkylicious goodies today (see my most recent post. I'm off on my holidays tomorrow but didn't want to go without dropping by and wishing you a great week ahead and many thanks for leaving a comment - it's much appreciated. Elizabeth x #81

Angie said...

Love what you are doing ...fantastic tags ...could not agree more about service ...may give them a try ...thanks for the tip. i think you are the last for tonight ...will try to complete the list tomorrow.xx

Eileen said...

Glad you are back with us .... I have been having trouble too .... Fantastic work Shaz ... I have been having a good 'nose 'round!! You are so organized with the inks pads! .... thanks for the shopping tip ...very good prices!

E xx

uhooi said...

Uhooi,,
Waw,, This card is very nice, beautiful and creative,,

Uhooi.blogspot.com

Kirsty.A said...

Gorgeous cards. I admire your labelled collection of inkpads

SueH said...

I’m making a really big effort to get around everyone seeing as it’s a special week. Mind you it’s taking forever and I have a bit of a numb bum now so It’ll be back to my random visits next week I think. I just don’t know how some people manage it every week.


Just one or two ink pads you have there Sharon, and don’t they look lovely all piles side by side waiting to be used!
I really love your tree line card , the colours you’ve used are perfect.

Happy WOYWW 2nd Anniversary and …………….
Happy Crafting!
Sue
x

okienurse said...

great looking card and tags. I think the idea to label the ink pads is great! I will have to download labels soon. Sorry I am so late getting around but it was a busy week. Happy WOYWW #104 and the 2nd anniversary of blog snooping! Thanks for sharing Vickie #55

Dragon said...

LOve your arty pieces and wow what a lot of pads!!! Have a great week
Frankie
xx

RosA said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm still trying to get around to them all. I LOVE what you have done to your inkpads! Alas, mine are just in a big plastic box and although I try to keep the different brands in little separate piles they still get jumbled up. Love that card with the trees! Great stamp!

Lisa-Jane said...

That is a great idea for the ink pads, might have to do this myself otherwise it is always the last one in the pile that I want!
Happy Anniversary #75

Julia Dunnit said...

YOur ink pad collection looks delicious, doesn't it! I've never got into the habit of stamping extra images so this isn't a mission I have to talk myself into - it's working incredibly well for you though. ace cards!

Unknown said...

Love the cards - and envy your ink collection!

An End of an era

An end of an era

I write this with a broken heart, that only time can heal My beautiful, wonderful wifelet Shaz (Silverwolf) passed away peacefully in the ea...