Treasure Hunting

 There is a craft Artisan event in a neighboring town from where I live this weekend and I decided to go to  work late so I could drive out and see it this morning. ( if you're local its at the Merrill civic center) called "Christmas in the Country" and some of the booths in it are the same artists who had some of my favorite booths at Shepherd's market way back when... 

 I have been actively searching for a small metal table for the porch to put between the rocking chairs and I found this one and those 2 old beater/whisks in the simpler times booth. It's not old but, it is sturdy and has good weight to it. The small green pitcher and the gnomes, and the Joy ornament were from the ladies who are a mom & daughter team with lots of has been painted on things, my mind just went blank ( I am so bad with names I do better with faces) The taller green rusty pitcher came out of the booth where they were sewing the pot holders and the Honey was locally sourced by a lady whose husband is a third generation bee keeper. I did see quite a few things that IF I had a huge house they would have followed me home also but, I felt really cool about the things I did find. Izzy approves also :) Hope you all are having a fantastic Friday also. Thanks for stopping by.

A catch up Post

 I am getting really bad about not either blogging things that were made for not team challenge samples or just random things. So here is some more eye candy for your Sunday. I did do an order from Red Lead Paperworks stamps not too long ago and I was totally tickled to see how they packaged everything. 

Everything was tied off with the ribbons and that box, its hand stamped. very cool 

The inside of that box contained the wood mounted stamps I had picked up from them. 

Sometime after that arrived, I had seen that Polly was asking for humor cards for a Ways to use it Challenge And I had received a few silly Diamonds sentiments that leaned towards the snarky side of get well in the mail that week so, The sponge one was one of those and when I opened the drawer with people in it to get the operating room ( also from Diamonds) I seen this old Art Impressions Nurse right next to them so, out she came and The sentiment on her card is from Riley & Co.

I snagged a piece of this white crepe paper ( hobby lobby) to use thinking of curtains but, wanted to keep these simple so, I just stamped them with Versafine on some Neenah cream and die cut those panels with the Impression Obsession Crazy stitched set rectangle (it's one of Anna Wights) used some grey scraps for contrast and called it good enough. 

Today there is a featured stamper challenge going on at SCS and Shelly's gallery was chosen. Right off the bat this pretty blue card caught my eye. I felt really at home with the design, and knew I could use it as a Sketch type inspiration. and then a little farther down the first page I seen this Santa card and thought ah ha. So, I kept the colors and the Christmas theme of the Santa card and tweaked the layout of the Blue card to do this one. 

A look at the layers and depth. The bears eyes were done with black liquid pearls. ( that's not the right name will grab the bottle but, its a ranger thing that dries very glossy and 3-d)

The base here is a premade A2 one and the Sentiment is from Impression Obsession also one of Jeanne's sets called Christmas coffee sayings. Its stamped on another of Anna's IO dies ( the original sized pinked stitched banners) and that is tied onto the sheer ribbon with some natural hemp string. The cocoa bear is on a Die cut from the Penny Black Posted die ( I like the simplicity of this one, most of my postage dies are more detailed and have lots of stitching or piercing and such) I did add a transparent heart button to his scarf and some pop dots under his arms to hold the cocoa. ( really I know people who have some coffee with their cream ;) so, the coffee sentiment still works here) Added some white dots over where I had thought to add pink to his cheeks. I thought he turned out pretty cute. I have been pushing around a small pile of cocoa bear pieces for a couple of weeks now trying to decide if I liked the browns together. Which made me end up inking most the edges with some DOX vintage photo ( of course right) just to tie them together a little better. That's about it from me, Thanks for stopping by.

WOYWW # 674 {Still sorting}

 

Happy desk peeking day, if you'd like to see more spaces or play along 

the link up for this blog hop starts here at our hostess

Miss Julia's Blog.

There is also a new Instagram hashtag of #WOYWW

 

 Every week I have been taking photos and not posting them because, I have been really on a tear up here the last little while. When I got the new sound processors in March I came home with 1 of those 10 drawer units from the Container store and I LOVED that... and then I ordered another one. so this is the front side of under the table with a view of the second one. those plastic boxes were inside the file cabinet and all of those contain wood mounted rubber stamps. 

This is what it looks like yesterday. a few weeks ago I ended up ordering 6 more of these drawer sets so there is now 8 of them that completely fill the under side of these two husky tables. ( they are sitting on a piece of plywood) and they contain wood mounted rubber stamps. on the other side I do have three drawers with ink pads and on both sides there are a few empty drawers but, not that many. 

This is some new loot that came in the mail on Monday so it was sitting on top of that side of the table Tuesday when I got home the Nellie the nest lady and the Geraniums were eBay finds. 

 I got that geranium for like .99 cents and shipping because, the back side of that block was filthy with packed in ink and glitter. ( I cleaned and cleaned that rubber and fortunately it stamps just fine. that is not always the case so, I tend to shy away from ones where the rubber looks "iffy" now as I have bought a couple that the rubber came in crumbling kwim?) So, I did start painting it last night before dinner. and this is what is going on this morning. I am not quite done "organizing" I am about to start more purging I think, but it is much closer than it was a few months ago. I still have stamps on the wall, and all the other wood mounted stamps are now under this table together. on one side or the other. so, that is much more functional for me than trying to dig and shift boxes around. 

On the home front things are going well, supposedly my new truck should have been done being built last week and so the wait is two more weeks to have it reach us here. ( crossing fingers) it was pushed back a week because, the different plants are taking turns shutting down for weeks/month at a time because of the chip shortage. So, I had sold the dealer my truck a couple of months ago because, it had 97,700 miles on it and those trucks are worth more to trade in to trade them in at under 100K on the odometer. I have been driving hubs all this time and he has been driving one of the other work trucks. But, I am looking forward to not wearing black all the time. ( driving his truck means the seatbelt is grubby and in pale clothes I end up with a line across the front of me) wouldn't it be cool if you could toss seat belts in the wash? Anyways, there is no water in line one ( the part of the irrigation district water canal that is right next to my property) for year two now. Hubs has cut his grow plan way back as far as the veggie garden goes and it actually started snowing here in April so we picked up feet of snow in the mountains but, they are not releasing the water again. and we tell our selves 7 more years and he can retire and we can move to where people are not fighting over water rights and Forrest fires. 

I am hopeful that now that I can walk around again up here ( I had the hoarders episode look going on while I was sorting those stamps ) and I keep moving things around I will have more interesting desk views to share again. That's about it from me, hope you are all doing well. Thanks for stopping by. 

WOYWW # 664 {well loot of course}

 

Happy desk peeking day, if you'd like to see more spaces or play along 

the link up for this blog hop starts here at our hostess

Miss Julia's Blog.

There is also a new Instagram hashtag of #WOYWW

 

 what you see when you arrive at the top of the stairs, on the other side is what just may become my IC sample on friday. ( I add more paint to it every time I come up here) we shall see. 

what you would see if you looked down. all 23 of these old Diamonds stamps arrived in the mail on 2-22-22 (wasn't that fun to write on everything yesterday?) :) only one of these is a duplicate for me. So, it was an exciting thing to win on eBay because, with so many stamps in the lot it really knocked the price per stamp down over buying them one at a time. 

the other eBay win that arrived on Tuesday. I had shot this one first before I unpacked the box of Diamonds. Really that's about it here. just the room is getting closer to being shot. ( er, I put more stuff away) (yes, some of it went into the closets. some went into the trash) mostly the closet. but, I have less of that hoarders episode going on which makes me happy. interesting side note, having some stamps out on the wall to see has actually made me use some of them. (more than normal when they are tucked away in boxes) I did one for the ways to use it bird challenge last week from that Stamps happen one on the wall with the red birds. 

I wanted to see if I could paint it so, I did. its up on foam tape over that base. the name of the stamp is Stamps Happen the birds and the bees.  Thanks for stopping by.

WOYWW # 663 {a shopping fool}

 

Happy desk peeking day, if you'd like to see more spaces or play along 

the link up for this blog hop starts here at our hostess

Miss Julia's Blog.

There is also a new Instagram hashtag of #WOYWW

 

 So as it happens the shades we ordered in January arrived in February.

Like so, they pull up from the bottom or down from the top. and are a slight insulation barrier against the heat/cold outside. but, light still passes through them. 

This was my desk on the 9th. there has just been not as much time to get these posts together as usual.  I think its the coming up with something chatty to say. ( and I do need to run out the door and drive to get the ice today) so, I am going to hit you with a lot of photos and run.

this was a week or so ago, that snowman die in this loot shot is the one from the desk shot above it. which did make it into a tag like so.

I spent a lot of time trying to decide if the shadows were "good enough" the prints are paper pieced onto the die.

A closer look at that, his name is Patches the snowman from Cheery Lynn designs.

One day there was a clean and simple challenge to add a heart on it, so I water colored this one that is an older D.O.T.S. heart.  I did finish that and post it on scs but, I may have blogged it too as the finished card is not in the uploads folder this morning. will edit later.

I have been spending those eBay cards and finding things on ETSY too. 

this is this Mondays haul, 4 auctions were delivered on the same night. So, as it stands these stamps are just like this on the table this morning. The funny part is they all travel through the mail at different speeds so, Its a little overwhelming to have them land at once but, I am still plugging away at making space for these things. That's about if from me. hope you are all doing well, Stay safe out there.

WOYWW # 656 {loot}

 

Happy desk peeking day, if you'd like to see more spaces or play along 

the link up for this blog hop starts here at our hostess

Miss Julia's Blog.

There is also a new Instagram hashtag of #WOYWW

 

 So, this is what my desk looks this evening after work. that box on the paper trimmer is filled with used stamps that are part of the on going loot happy mail spree I am on.

So, starting with last week I am just going to flash it all at you.

These arrived last Wednesday night. I had happened to ask for eBay gift cards for Christmas, so somethings came before and some things are coming now.

Thursday's loot. the Northwoods stamp the seller included the card she had made with it. and an additional heat embossed image too.

Friday's Christmas Eve loot. 

 

On Christmas Even I got all the Christmas cards out of the envelopes and Hung them up where I could enjoy them.

 These are Christmas gifts that I had received from June & Dale,  and James & Brianna 

These were from me to me (yes, my tongue was in my cheek as I typed that) I just love her art and I was so tickled to find that Carolyn Shores Wright sells on both etsy and artfire. 

I think when I pack away the Christmas ( Santa ) Stamps that are on display on the wall I am going to switch them out for my birds & Birdhouses. I think the Snowmen will stay out longer as it really has been snowing like crazy the last 6 days here.

More Christmas loot, the cling mounted Peddlers Pack stamps were also found on etsy and ( they have a shop there) and they had included the snowman card front that Joyce had made with them. ( its so gorgeous) 

And I walked around the desk and opened and spread out last nights haul for your viewing pleasure. this also included two free gift stamps from one of the sellers but, they are stamps I will re-gift later. 

The delivery truck that takes the dry ice to the city I drive to to pick it up, ( I was supposed to go last wednesday, called me when I was driving that they were stuck in another city north of there and were not going to make it until Thursday. So, I turned around and went back to work. and Thursday we had out Co. Christmas party, Friday were were closed and that left me with Monday that we had to go get the ice and Hubs decided to drive me over. ( some views out the window since I had the shotgun seat) 

we had driven past a snow marker that said the snow as 4' deep. ( but, the reality is it's probably about 3' deep in these photos where it had not been pushed / blown there by the plows) and its been snowing since these were shot. Luckily enough I probably do not have to go next week so, could be two weeks before I have to go back again. ( I hope) That's about it from me, hope Santa was good to you all too. Thanks for stopping by.

WOYWW # 655 {Last Minutes Views}

 

Happy desk peeking day, if you'd like to see more spaces or play along 

the link up for this blog hop starts here at our hostess

Miss Julia's Blog.

There is also a new Instagram hashtag of #WOYWW

 

So it came to my attention that I really needed new tags so, as I wrap I then go make a tag and that takes a lot of time ha ha so I got the bright idea to start chopping up scraps to make things to put on the tags.

 

Like so ( these are last weeks photos, I just found them in the uploads folders oops) 

I have been wanting to make things with snowmen lately and soon for happy winter projects I think. And maybe Christmas thank you notes. So, as newer stamps have arrived in the mail I stuck them on the shelf behind the table so I could see them which lead to getting out some of the older stamps I have had in the file cabinet out to be seen too. 

This is what my desk looked like yesterday after work. (yes... those are all new to me ones from eBay ) 

 A closer look at those stamps 

And we did actually buy a fake tree this year, the lights are embedded in the branches and it has a remote control to make it blink or be multi colored lights etc. but, for me I like the white lights, hubs always used to laugh at me that most the ornaments I bought over the years tend to be white. and I'd say at least half of them are Red. there are other colors in there but, they just do not pop the blend in with the greenery to my eyes. and Hubs dug out his train ( this thing was a gift in the 70's and it still works) So, that's about it from me, I will be driving all day today and its snowing so. it maybe really late or tomorrow (late) before I get around. I hope you all have a really beautiful Christmas with your families this year. Stay safe out there and thanks for stopping by.

WOYWW #653 {to be continued}

 

Happy desk peeking day, if you'd like to see more spaces or play along 

the link up for this blog hop starts here at our hostess

Miss Julia's Blog.

There is also a new Instagram hashtag of #WOYWW

 

So, the amount of things that have been "put away" has not changed much from last week, I still have things everywhere and I had picked up the lazy susan off the closet floor and stuck in on to the desk top towards the center left and I am not liking it there, it blocks the meager amount of light coming in through the window during the day on the weekends. I know when I bough this it was a two piece thing and I screwed it together so, you can you know remove the top thing and use it as a separate tray. ( I may just do that to cut the height down) A more interesting view of the desk may have happened on Tuesday nights post as it was one where I was taking photos of those loose flowers that had been painted for this week's Wednesday watercoloring challenge. (you can see that post here)
 The truth is I probably have enough Christmas cards done to get mine ready to go in the mail but, I am actually in the mood to make some so, I have been when time allows making more cards rather than writing on the ones I have to send them out. 

A closer look at the recent eBay loot that has arrived.  the long tall one is from Stamps Happen called an angels work, the top snoopy stamp is an stampabilities one called operation Bowl and the one below it is called thinking of cookies. the sentiment is from Diamonds ( its hard to see) but it reads "you're not getting any younger step on it" I think I will use it with that couple from Art Impressions on the bike. ( the older couple with the dog that the perspective of them driving through the windshield from Diamonds has been on my wish list for a long long time, so far it has also been obscenely priced this last year but, maybe someday I will get lucky and I think that sentiment will work with them too.) :)

 The time  has been even tighter this week, my friend at work is doing local Jury duty and my husband has Federal Jury duty next week ( 80+ miles away) so, I took him with me yesterday to get the ice so we could find parking for his ( full sized truck) near that court house and such during the daylight, as for him to be there at 8AM it will be full dark out for the whole traveling there and back thing. The fairly good news about that is, if he is picked for a trial they usually only last a week according to the paperwork. so cross your fingers. 

We are hoping to start decorating for Christmas this weekend, I am actually looking forward to it this year again. That's about it from me, stay safe out there & thanks for stopping by.

WOYWW # 644 {the ususal}

Happy desk peeking day, if you'd like to see more spaces or play along 

the link up for this blog hop starts here at our hostess

Miss Julia's Blog.

There is also a new Instagram hashtag of #WOYWW

 

 

 So, Tuesday evening after I got home from work I had these deer scenes on the table as I had finished off one to be a Featured Stamper card on Monday afternoon so, I started adding more paint to the other one and because, I had a stack of things I had stamped off and a stack of old backs to pads of wc paper I taped up a few more of them so that, I could you know paint pretty much continuously.

 

when you have to have drying time, and Patience is not my virtue. this works for me when I have a chunk of time to paint to go back and forth between a couple of them at the same time so that, I do not have that whole go away and come back later thing like if you are working on one specific piece like yesterday's harvest moon. That one I did all by it self on Sunday afternoon over a lot of hours because, I did walk away from it. 

I have an its just about overwhelming amount of new stamps and dies in my room right now and this is a pro-craftination at its best behavior.

So a while back there was this seller on eBay who had that fishing prank set of stamps ( the guys in the boat and the fish tying the lines in knots set) and I decided to poke around in their other auctions. ( all of these came from the same person) and on the same day they arrive this also came in.

These are sweet grass stamps. (there are a lot of people who fish in my family) and my husband found these and bought them himself as a surprise. Wow right? 

And then on Monday night these arrived in two boxes from PA from Janice. Her kindness is just such an amazing blessing to me. We do not have stores like this where I live and the fact that she thinks of me when she is out bargain shopping in hers is so cool. Thanks Janice!

I had set a package of papers off to the side and it missed being photographed but, WOW. I had told myself there are stamps on the floor in here again as its so many I have them waiting to go into the evernote file and such and I told my self. you do not need to do anymore shopping... and then I sat down at the computer and hubs had sent me a link that one of these ebay sellers has sent him a 25% off one time use coupon. (and they have 4K items for sale, so I started poking around in their store last night and have set aside a few links but, seriously) I guess there are worse vices to have. :) Thats about it from me, Stay safe out there and thanks for stopping by. 

Oh, computers are in and done and no more complaints from anyone YAY, and where I live in the US freezing happens at 32 degrees Fahrenheit so, its not below zero yet here its just below freezing some mornings. 25, 28 things like that. we will lose the garden probably tomorrow morning because, its not going to go back up to 40 in the AM again like it has been doing after a cold night. its going to stay below freezing for the next week or so.

WOYWW # 642 {Loot}

 

Happy desk peeking day, if you'd like to see more spaces or play along 

the link up for this blog hop starts here at our hostess

Miss Julia's Blog.

There is also a new Instagram hashtag of #WOYWW

 

 So, the last few months I have been making piles of these rubber stamps in the closet rather than you know making cards to store them on as they come in because, the last little while they were so random that there was never enough to fill a card with similar stamps. ( I have my unmounted rubber ones with sentiments with like sentiments, specific animals with animals people with people type of a situation.) and then the pre labor day and labor day sale hit. and the one stop shopping places sold out of things I wanted so, I ended up doing orders direct with a few of the mfg.'s and these stamps shipped weeks ago, they have all gone through a grand tour of the U.S.A. courtesy of the postal service. and then they all arrived within 2 days of each other. so, at this point I think I have to put them away so I can walk in the closet again. on the bigshot is stacks of cling foam with rubber stamps that Janice mailed me and or hubs bought on eBay and a few of mine from the file cabinet. there were orders from SSS, ColoradoCraftCo, Riley & Co., Stamping bella (2) & Ellen Hutson. I still have two SSS stamptember orders one is in the mail and one is processing coming sometime. 

So, I took some shots of things spread-eagle so you have better peeking views. 

arrived on Saturday from eBay.

after I shot this one I realized you can not really read the words on the funnybones ones and they are pretty silly so, did it again. oh yes, I found that skinny water coloring Palette on Amazon thinking it would use less space than the round one. ( I may pick up a second one some time) I like that it has more wells to mix in than the round one too.

I find these just so useful for so many cards I make. I really think people need more smiles you know?

and now it feels almost as overwhelming as when I had a room full of wood mounted stamps to sort though. (not quite) but, seriously I have to start this and get it done. If you'd rather see what was on my desk creative wise click the home button and scroll down to yesterdays post for the Watercolor Wednesday challenge. ( I am hosting this week and we are taking a look at a video done by Debby Hughes painting coffee cups with two paintbrushes in hand) That's about it from me, stay safe out there and thanks for stopping by.