WOYWW 140

How many Wednesdays are there in a week?  Not enough if last week was anything to go by as it took me three days to get round everyone and I was only able to leave messages on about a third of the desks - just ran out of time. Still that is the global phenomena that is Julia's massive desk hop at The Stamping Ground.

After a shaky start my desk has been much more productive this week and is showing a bit of colour.

The Yahoo group I belong to has a monthly stamping challenge set by our blog Mum Cath of InkyFingers and this week it is to use an acrylic block as a stamp-pad.  She has some brilliant examples on her blog and shares a few of the ways you can use this technique with various media.

I used my Big and Juicy pads (still big but not as juicy now as when they were new) and brayered the ink on the block, spritzed with a little water and 'printed' the result on glossy card stock, stamped with Archival inks and added a few branches at the edges.

Pressed a little too hard on the fairy castle stamp so the image is not as clear as it should be.

Then I dug out my (very) old Marvy Le Plume markers.  Half forgotten I had these - I know, I have too much stuff if I can't remember what I have - thought they would have dried up after 5 years or more but they were fine, if a little 'gloopy'.  Scribbled yellow, orange and a little purple on a small acrylic block and printed three times before overstamping with flowers in Adirondack purple.

This is my favourite of the three cards - I do like a bit of dramatic colour and purple and yellow is just that.

The last card is also markers and matt card stock but a bigger block this time and another favourite stamp by Paperbag Studio.

I like the faded edge this technique gives, reminds me of faded old sepia photographs.

Also on my desk is a set of acrylic paints,  picked up on my supermarket shop (Tescos) last week - much more fun putting this in your trolley than cabbage, and I love cabbage.  Great to be back in the crafting mood as I spent all of last Friday and Saturday feeling sorry for myself having picked up a stinking cold on Wednesday, was cheered up no end at the weekend when I found I had won a lovely piece of art from Cindy of Plantslist, a gorgeous Asian slide-mailer to celebrate Chinese new year, can't wait to see it - thanks again Cindy.