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

Wednesday 4 April 2018

WOYWW #461

Well I hope everyone had a good Easter, and at least here in the Midlands we didn't get the forecast snow! Back again at The Stamping Ground, where our illustrious leader, Julia, attempts to keep us in order. For anyone new here, there is a page at the top of Julias blog with all the details about this years crop in September, at Llandudno again.  If you've never been, do see if you can make it, it's a fab day of meeting bloggers, eating cake, a bit of crafting, eating cake, lots of chatting, and did I mention the cake? There's a pic in my banner from one of the crops- surprisingly, we all look like normal folk. 😎😎
 Anyway, the workdesk.
Bit of a mess, so nothing new there. Black box at the front holds my Card-io/Majestix stamps. Next to that my stamp scrubber- cost a whole £1 from one of the pound stores, just a paint pad. Works a treat. Scissors, post-its being used for those Retiform pieces I did last week. I've actually stamped them up, and started layering-go me!
The spray bottle with the orange stuff in is homemade stamp cleaner. All that is, is some baby bath, water, and a few drops of glycerine.  Again, dirt cheap and works like a charm.





This is as far as I'd got, not entirely sure about the brown one, maybe I've used too many colours? It looks a bit busy at the moment, but I'll see what it looks like when I've matted it. I think I may try this again, using less 'boxes' next time. I'll blog them when I've finished them off.




The two I've matted up so far.

This is definitely a good way to use those small 'filler' stamps that most sets seem to have.



There are some Christmas cards again in the post below, but something I discovered while doing them may be of use to anyone else with Cosmic Shimmer Gilding wax pots.
When I embossed the back tag, I decided I'd try and help the embossing pop by rubbing on some Gilding wax. I have a whole load of colours in them, gifted to me by the friend giving up cardmaking, and I'm pretty sure none of them have been opened yet! So I found out a pale blue one, only to discover on opening it that it was totally solid. Checking a couple of others, they all seem to be the same. So, I did a bit of Googling to see if there was any way of salvaging them. It appears this problem of them drying out in the pots became apparent a while after they'd been launched, and Creative Expressions, who make them, introduced a product called Gilding Wax Blending solution. Googled that, and it's not available anywhere that I could find.
 EDIT: Just done another search, as I wanted to find out how they tell you to use it, as my bottle has no instructions- and actually discovered now a whole list of places came up that have it in stock, so it's not unavailable at all, my mistake. On the CE site, it says to mix a little wax with the blending solution to create a paint, which isn't what I wanted at all, so I will try a few drops in a pot and report next week!

So, I had a think, and wondered if the Low Odour Thinners I have ( Daler-Rowney) would be any help,as it's intended for blending wax pencils amongst other things. So, I decided I had nothing to lose, and added a couple of ml- I have some small syringes for glue- to the pale blue. Put the lid on and left it overnight. Went back to it the next day, and it had indeed started to soften it up, so I gave it a good mixing with a plastic palette knife, and I think it's as good as new. If you can't tolerate chemical smells- although I really can't smell this one- there is another brand available from Amazon called Zest-it, which as the name suggests, has a citrus smell to it. I'm also guessing Gamsol, which is just a brand name, would do the same thing.
 Funniest part of all this, I was looking for my bottle of stamp cleaner- I'm not exactly much of a cleaner of stamps,- and what did I find but a bottle of that Blending solution for the waxes, so she must have bought it with the waxes, and gifted me that too. I'll try it on a pot and see if it's any different to the thinners.


 
And look who we have here!   LLJ and her lovely Hubby Gordon were up in Worcester at the weekend, so we drove over- it's only about half an hour from us- and we had a lovely Carvery lunch. Was lovely to see them both, it's been ages, especially as we didn't make it to the September crop last year. My hair is a bit redder than that picture makes it look, lol, I don't do pink! And just a few hundred yards away was a Garden Centre, so yes, plants were bought!


And finally....................
 Next weeks desk will no doubt feature craft stash, as this weekend we are off down to London to go to Ally Pally on Saturday. First time visit for this show, we're trying to go to some different ones around the country, as we can't get to Happy Stampers in May,  it clashes with a friends wedding, and definitely not doing the NEC anymore, as it's just ridiculously expensive, and for me, doesn't have enough paper crafting. I shall be meeting up with Helen, (Stamping by H), Erika Philpot, and a lady from the Christmas Card Club, called Sylvie, who flies over with a friend from Gibralter! Anyone else going, drop me a message, and we'll meet!




31 comments:

Helen said...

I saw on LLJ's post you'd met up - sounds a fun time, and a visit to a garden centre too (I love them, even though I'm no gardener, and have no garden to speak of) Good luck with the gilding wax! Your cards look fab as always. Helen #2 See you Saturday!

Neet said...

Well, first of all, enjoy Ally Pally, secondly (and this really is joint first) how lucky you were to get to meet up with Jan and Gordon again. Lovely photo of the four of you. Whilst talking meet ups and shows, you will be missed at Port Sunny.
My you have been busy with those grid technique cards. You do them differently to me as I am sure I have only ever put one thing in each section (or part of thing probably). You have some fabulous colours going on, love the shades.
Great tips about the gilding wax - now where did I put mine?
Hugs, Neet xx 3

okienurse said...

Busy looking desk! I think the Reitform pieces are really nice. I especially like them mounted! I use a weakened down version of the baby shampoo to clean my stamps too! I didn't know to put glycerin in it... Lucky you visiting with LLJ and hubby. Unfortunately I never get to see anyone although I think I might try this summer to link up with a couple ladies here. Have a great time at Ally Pally! Vickie #8

Lunch Lady Jan said...

I adore that sparkly deer, it's the pattern on it that really grabs me! And those Retirform pieces are great, love the colours. I hope you have a wonderful time in AP, meeting up with the gang - have lots of fun :-D. It was fantastic to see you both on Sat, such a good catch-up, even if it wasn't long enough! I'm impressed with your plant haul too, makes me realise I've got to get my garden sorted!!
Hugs LLJ 10 xxxx

Sarah Brennan said...

Have fun at Ally Pally. Pity you can't make Port Sunny but we'll see you at the crop. I like that Retiform technique! Sarah #?

Annie said...

As I said over on Jans this morning....it’s so good seeing you all together looking so happy. Don’t we have a lot to thank WOYWW for? I’m really looking forward to meeting you for real in September....just hope nothing gets in the way of sending going. Hope you have a fun time at AP at the weekend.
Hugs,
Annie x #12

glitterandglue said...

Morning Shaz. Great picture of you both with LLJ and Gordon. Glad you had such a good time with them. Meeting up with friends and sharing food together is just so precious!
I really like those retiform pieces - even if Google does think you mean retriever!! - they look so good - and actually, I am rather partial to the brown one! Think it's great.
I have looked back on your last two posts - you are SO organised with your Christmas cards! Phew - talk about impressive! Do you buy or make your own tags?
Take care girl. God bless.
Margaret #1

Anne said...

Another lovely photo of the four of you. yes I saw you on Jan's as well :-)Christmas Cards !!! You are organised!!! Enjoy the show. Anne x #15

Christine said...

Lovely photo - mini crop really but without the craft and crowd!!!
Love the card and what a find - I just love the way you experiment and find out all these useful tips. Will try out that stamp cleaner pad - hate having to keep going to wash out my stamps.
Hope your skies are sunnier than ours
Have a good week
Christine #21

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi Shaz, good to see the retiform is working out well .. and yes busy is an issue. A lovely Christmas card too!

Was interested to hear re the creative expressions waxes softenig with the fluid.. I've some odorless MS or gamsol so will try it I have two waxes as hard as rocks and as they're expensive I haven't yet thrown them out.
Enjoy sat at Ally Pally with Helen and crew!
Happy WOYWW!
Shaz in Oz.x #22

{Shaz in Oz – Calligraphy Cards}

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

PS great to see catch up with LLJ and hubbies too.. :D

Monica said...

Your backgrounds are fantastic I am so impressed. That looks like a fun time. Hope the shows are good. I usually read your blog on Bloglovin and for some reason never comment from there!
monica #29

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Shaz, the only shows I have lined up at the moment are the local ones. I'm booked in for a workshop at the Newark show run by Oyster Paper Crafts and then it's the shopping the following day. Later I will be going to The Doncaster Dome though sadly Paper Artsy wont be there this time. I hope you enjoy your trip to Ally Pally but I'm sure you will and of course I have to see the goodies you bring home. By the way I like the hair colour! Thanks for the visit to mine and happy woyww, Angela x17x

Elizabeth said...

Hi Shaz, brilliant post this week - I've copied the recipe for the stamp cleaner and made a note of what to look for a stamp scrubber. Oh, and there's the blender for hardened wax ... I have a few pots of them so that's another thing to look for. I must say you're a marvel at finding inexpensive cheats so thanks. I love your label cards - just gorgeous. I like the Retiform pieces - they are all lovely, including the brown one. So many good ideas, Shaz, and all ones I need to try for myself. Thanks for the book recommendation - it's now on my wish list. I can't resist a good cat story. :) Have a wonderful week. Hugs, Elizabeth x #25

StampinCarol said...

I love your Retiform, especially the cat one (we're cat people without a cat). Glad you're finding a way to fix your wax pots. Sounds interesting and your tag card is gorgeous! And how fun to get together with other deskers!! Bet you had a fab time! I haven't taken in a stamp/scrapbooking convention in quite some time and I think I'll be gone with the next one comes close. Oh well. Hope you have a great week! Thanks for popping by!
Carol N #27

Debbie Rock said...

Pick yourself up my dear friend - it is indeed me! As you know hernia is inoperable but hey-ho I shall endeavour to find a way!
Love your brown card & tags are always a hit with me (not that comes as a great surprise). Enjoy Ally Pally - can’t wait to see everything Doug forces you to buy. Love to both xxx

Sue said...

Hi Shaz, I like the brown one the best:)

Have a fab time at Ally Pally.

Great photo of the four of you.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Happy WOYWW
Sue #14

Angie said...

Love all the creative happiness going on. I actually like the brown one it caught my eye first!
Thanks for the visit!
Angie #28

Julia Dunnit said...

Love that you got to spend time with Jan and Gordon, a much needed real life sighting to reassure that you’re as wella you say. I never bought the gilding waxes but appreciate the tips because I’ve heard of several miffed users around the workshop table over the last couple of years. Such a good technique for the stamps as you say, that are ‘fillers’, already like the results!

Julia Dunnit said...

Meant to say, have fun at Ally Pally! Don’t leg Doug force your arm when it comes to buying, I know how insistent he gets!!

Jan said...

Happy WOYWW & thanks for sharing! xx Jan (36)

Stacy Sheldon said...

Ooh that is so fun Shaz, I am grinning over the smiling faces and the it's not really pink hair. :) (red really is a booger to photograph I know my cards look faded or orange frequently ) :)
I am wondering if the wax has like a hmmm what's it called metallic rub-ons type consistency if you can like apply it to embossed pieces with a finger and not have to blend it?
just a random thought.
~Stacy #31

Suzanne Alexis said...

I confess, I like the brown card best! All of the colors drew my attention right away. Your crop sounds like fun. I wish we had one in Chicago. We haven't had a lot of snow, but getting it last night was a surprise! We might have more on the way, too. Thanks for visiting me and have a great week!

Suzanne #35

craftyani said...

Enjoy Ally Pally those were the days when I used to come home with bags full of items. You are so lucky one of the things I had to give up coming to live in Spain. Perhaps one year I should fly back like your friend from Gib does. Ani#4

Twiglet said...

You make such lovely things Shaz - all that technical stuff is really scary to us fabric girls you know!! lol. Great photo of you four buddies - no doubt a good time was had by all. xx Jo

Lindart said...

Hi Shaz, great photo of you and LLJ and hubbies! Glad you got together! Your cards turned out great, and to tell the truth, I like the brown one best! That was even before I read what you said about it! I have no idea what Gilding Wax is, but I'm glad you figured things out - you are so clever! Have fun on Saturday - can't wait to see all the new toys you pick up! Thanks for your visit, Lindart #30

Heather M said...

Hi Shaz, the retiform pieces look great! Thanks for the tips on gilding wax ... that will be stored away for the future. Nice photo of you and LLJ and hubbies! I hope you have lots of fun at Ally Pally and buy some nice stash, which I'm sure you will! Thanks for stopping by earlier, I'll try mixing some glitter with the translucent paste. Have a lovely week Heather x #13

Ginny Maxam said...

Hi Shaz! Thanks for popping over to my blog earlier, I am finding Sunday afternoons a good time for a cuppa and trip around the desk world! Your desk is very inviting, your brushes are calling my name! I enjoy play chemist in my craft room too, saves so much - so I can spend more! I know only a crafter would understand that logic!
Have a great week! Ginny # 33

Carmen said...

I am going to look for one of those pad things to clean stamps and things. Good idea.

I really like the brown one of your designs - it might even be my favourite.

Sorry I'm late - hope you are having a good week.
Carmen x #37

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

Great makes and I really like that photo of the 4 of you! Thanks for your visit last week, Shaz - just trying to catch up with everyone! xx

BJ said...

Oh that will teach me not to get round to replying quickly, reams of blog posts to scroll through! Love the stamped section pieces and like the brown one best as it happens - LOL. Thanks for the visit. BJ#7

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...