Little Leftovers {What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #357}

Hello! Hello! I've been out and about far too much recently and haven't been at my desk, so it's been a little while since I was last able to join in with What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday - I've been missing everyone - but, I've been back at home this week and have been enjoying the lovely light in the evenings!

I've been trying to reduce my stash of smaller scraps, so my desk is suitably covered in lots of little 'Punched' leftovers - I have stacks and stacks of hearts, butterflies, stars and circles to share out at my next scrapbooking crop. (So many, in fact, that I have a blister on my finger!)

I also have a selection of smaller scraps, which I stamp up, using some of my smaller stamps - cameras, envelopes, leaves, balloons, etc - which I'll take along to the crop to cut out while we have a cuppa and a catch up first thing. It's always nice to take something 'mindless' along!

I'm really looking forward to catching up with everyone (and seeing whether those desks have been tided - or messed up - since I last visited.) I'll see you all this evening!

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That Messy Inbetween Stage {What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #352}

Well, hello there What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday folks! Unusually, I have an 'inbetween' shot of my desk looking messy this morning, because I haven't had chance to catch up (or clean up) after working on several things at once over the weekend.

On the left-hand side there's two new little binders, which I use to store all of the leftovers from my counterfeit kits and behind them, a small stack of scraps which have been stamped on. I'll be taking those to my local scrapbooking club in a week or two! I find that stamping onto my scraps at the end of a crafting sessions means that I use up the smaller scraps more effectively - and cutting them out at the crop means I can be productive but still have a nice old natter with the ladies!

In the centre is a small kit box, containing the kit that I made up for my article 'Creating A DIY Planner Kit From Your Own Stash' which is now live on the Planner Squad. I've been using it this weekend, so check back later in the week when I'll be sharing how I've used it!

Behind the kit box, is a stack of chocolate wrappers (I ate them all and they were delicious!) which I'm saving for 'something' because I hate waste and, finally, on the right-hand side is my tool box - which currently appears to be sat *on* all of the tools, instead of keeping them all in one place!

I'll need to clear everything off the desk before I can start on new stuff this week - I'm really looking forward to making a start on my March Counterfeit Kit. What are you looking forward to working on this week?

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Little Star {What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #351}

Hello! Hello! It's time for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday and I simply cannot believe it's almost March! What am I doing with my time? Where is it going? 

Having cleared the desk at the weekend, it's now clutter free and home to a few of binders and a little star shaped dish that I found in the homeware section of my local Poundland. It's now home to all of the embellishments that we're lying around on my desk. I wish I had bought more of them - it's adorable. Short and sweet this time! I'll be stopping by throughout the week! 

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Transferring Designs {What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #350}

So, before I start 'showing off' what's on my workdesk this week, I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone that visited for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #348 and apologise, profusely, for not returning the favour! I went to work that morning 'full of the joys of spring' and by mid-afternoon was 'full of cold' instead. I've spent the last couple of weeks in bed, with a temperature - and boxes and boxes of tissues! I swear that I'll make it up to you all somehow! :)

Now, onwards. Thanks to the 'treasure' that is scheduling, I shared the details of my lovely 'new to me' binder with everyone over the weekend and, now that I'm feeling a little better, I have actually been able to start using it. Oh, the simple pleasure of using something once it's been made!

I'm intending to use it to house all of the paperwork associated with running my own little etsy store - including receipts, tax returns, etc - and I'm slowly, slowly transferring over some of the stacks of loose paperwork that have been cluttering up the craft room. 

Last night, I sat down to start transferring in some of my sketches, 'how to' notes and completed tutorials - a lot more fun than transferring in receipts - and came across at least three or four designs that I had completely forgotten about! Along with the sketches/notes for some that I keep meaning to attempt, like that necklace design in the photograph above. I'm not sure if it's easy to see, but it will eventually include a beaded bow! 

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Beading Blocks {What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #348}

This week I've been working on the development of some new beading tutorials and beadwork kits - creating some new designs; working on colour combinations for the kits and, trying, with some mixed success to write the etsy listings. Listing is my least favourite part of the tutorial writing process!

Once I'm busy with the beads, time and the possibilities seem almost endless. The architectural nature of dimensional beadwork is what appeals to me most. I love watching structures and shapes develop with the addition of each new bead.

It reminds me a little of my childhood favourite, Lego, when I would sit for hours working out how to create new shapes and structures with the same basic building blocks. Some things never change, eh?

Does anyone else have a childhood favourite that has morphed into something else? Or even something that has become a lifelong obsession? I would love to know about it!

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Pin-teresting Times {What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #347}

Just recently, I've been 'busy' sifting and sorting through My Pinterest Boards, adding some new boards - Planner, Reading and Tutorials - organising the boards into alphabetical order (making them much easier to locate quickly) and refreshing the view by editing some of the board covers. It's amazing how much difference a little bit of 'pretty' can make!

This *might* indicate that I have too much time on my hands (!) but really, during winter, who wants to be outside in the rain and wind, when there's the internet, tea and biscuits at home?

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Play Or Put Away? {What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #346}

Well, it seems that my desk is full of things that need to be tidied away. Last weekend, I visited my local scrapbooking club, taking with me the remnants of my Document December Kit and this month's Planning For Perfection Kit. 

I was so productive while I was there - working on the Stamped Planner Dashboard Tutorial, I shared earlier in the week and completing the scrapbook layout that you can see on my desk for our Just One More Thing feature over on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. (It should be live this morning, so do pop over if you have chance.)

After all that creativity, I didn't have the energy to put anything away. But now, I'm ready to start playing again and I think I'll start with that little stack of patterned papers I discovered down the side of my desk last night. Such a happy moment. It was like finding a £5 note in a winter coat!

Oh, and just a quick note to say thanks to everyone that has visited via Stamping Ground and What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday since I started in the New Year. I already feel as though I'm joining a community and it's lovely! 

Mending {What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #345}

This week I've been spending some time (and some considerable effort) sorting through my wardrobe, setting aside clothes and accessories (like belts, bags, shoes and jewellery) to clean, alter or mend.

I set up my lovely, little sewing machine ready for some simple mends to hems, pockets and seams and have now added five or six items of clothing back into my wardrobe. It feels amazing to have them wearable again!

Then, simply because I needed a little change of scenery, I took all of my belts (and I mean *all*, I adore belts) down to my living room to add in some additional holes. For several reasons, this was so satisfying!

Firstly, I love nothing more than making/mending and eeking out a little bit of extra use from an item that other people would throw away. Secondly, it reminded me of how much weight I've managed to lose over the last couple of years and has, therefore, re-affirmed my health aims for 2016. And, last but certainly not least, I saved so much money by altering my old belts, rather than buying new ones. Think at least £3 - £30, depending on the belt and all for the measly cost of £3.50 for the leather belt punch! Not bad results for such a simple project, eh? 

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Color Crush {What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday #344}

So, I came across What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday a little while back and decided that, in the New Year, I would join in by sharing some of the projects that I've been working on in my own little creative corner of the world. 

This week, I've been busy setting up my new Color Crush Planner, as I am hoping to make it as useful (and fun) to use as I can!

I made these dinky little planner style clips using some of the stash in January's Counterfeit Kit. Aren't they cute? If only I could think of a way to make my tax return as much fun!

Before I start work on that horror of horrors, I'm off to visit Stamping Ground for more What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - I'm really looking forward to sneaking a peek at some new work spaces!