Wednesday 29 January 2014

What's on your Workdesk Wednesday 243

Well, I'm keeping up with my aim of blogging and crafting/playing more so here I am for the second week running, joining in again with Miss Dunnit's big blog hop.  If you want to join in, or see more messy and creative desks then click on the link.



This is my desk on a dull, damp Tuesday afternoon after a little retail therapy at Hobbycraft.  Not my favourite place for craft supplies but I ran out of gesso the other day and had to make an emergency purchase.  Of course a few other things sort of fell in my basket on the way round but they don't count because they were 'staples' - DST, a huge bottle of Matt medium, a tube of blue acrylic paint and a packet of bronze coloured chain, all of which are on my desk, somewhere.

Also there, my storage tin for all my markers, and a 'few' of my stamps including some of my Paperartsy Lynne Perella, and Indigo Blu that I want to use on that lovely blank, for now, journal page.  The item in the bubble wrap is an Alice chipboard tag for a swap I'm doing for Louise Crosby's Facebook group, all finished and ready to go but I can't share that until it has arrived.

Finally a question for all you Stampers who love to make your own backgrounds.  What card do you use?  I love to use Distress Inks and spritz or drop water on it but the card I have been using lately doesn't react well to getting wet. Not sure if it's the weight or the quality of the card but the water breaks through the surface and I get ugly 'dimples' and spots so any suggestions gratefully received.

Gosh, that was a long post for a Wednesday, hope Miss Dunnit doesn't give me detention, I have a lot of crafting to do today.

27 comments:

sandra de said...

Now that is a pretty blue for your background and I am in awe of your markers. My thought about your cardstock? I tend to use tags to do any stamping and they hold the water quite well. Manila folders are a good substitute and quite cheap considering what we pay for cardstock. It will be insteresting to read other crafters thoughts.
Sandra @8

JoZart Designs said...

Great to see you too, we've both been awol! I love your resist card in your previous post.
Re the card, it is a combination of surface finish, quality and weight that effects the absorption of water based colour and the way the surface glaze holds. Think how water colour paper takes quite a lot of liquid! I can't recommend where to purchase the best but ask the retailer/art shop about quality and when you find one that works stock in!
Jo x

Twiglet said...

Love the card on your earlier post Ann. Have a good week. x Jo

Annie said...

I'm running late with my visits today [well late for me :-) ].
Have had a busy morning playing with the twins but they are both down for their naps now so I'm having a quick catch up with my friends :-)
Hehehe I'm chuckling at the need for an emergency purchase....of crafting things :-)
Hugs,
Annie x # 38

famfa said...

Great desk - love the look of that box full of pens. Good luck finding the right card - someone on here will know
Famfa 4

CraftygasheadZo said...

Love your desk, as to the card, Sheena Douglas uses the back of Centura Pearl card which is 300gsm and I've tried it as I saw her do it on TV. It works! Really good card. Take care Zo xx 64

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Try Theuva card from Clarity. I have seen Barbara Gray spritzing onto it. Your desk is amazingly creative but still so tidy. How do you do it? Thanks you for your visit today. It is still worth doing the bird count because it does show what birds are missing and possibly in danger. There are several species that seem to have vanished from our garden and immediate area. Have a good week. xx Maggie #2

Robyn said...

great marker storage.
one thing I like about stencils is they are easy to make yourself!
Thanks for visiting and the snoop around.
robyn 7

Robyn said...

I use either water color paper if it is going to be really wet or Neenah classic Crest- comes in lots of weights. 65-150lb

sara j said...

Happy Wednesday! I would be right at home at your desk....just enough room to work, and all sorts of interesting things to choose from, including a lush supply of colored markers. My fav! I know what you mean about disappointing backgrounds for cards. In the end, manilla works best for me, and after I color it and do everything else, I usually mount it with a very small margin around it on colored card stock to make the actually card. This often requires I cut a piece of any old white or beige card stock and mount it on the inside right so I can write it in, but it seems worth the small effort.
Have a great week.
Sara j #45

Neesie said...

Wow it's WOYWW and I completely forgot! Oh well I'll just enjoy visiting your desk Ann ;D
I have that problem all the time...things just land in my basket or trolley. Chocolate is a big offender!
Enjoy your desk hopping and I'm sure Julia will forgive you...she's good like that :D
Thanks for visiting me earlier by the way...always great to have you pop by.

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Ann, I'm another for Neenah or Centura. Both seem to cope well with water. I popped into our local Hobbycrafts a few weeks ago- is it just me or are they getting very 'meh' these days. they don't seem to have the same quantity of interesting stuff they used to, it is becoming mainly staples. I am having to do the images to prompt me to use stamps. believe it or not, I have stamps that have only ever been inked when making up a catalogue sheet, I just completely forget about them. Have a great week, Hugs, Shaz #35 xx

trisha too said...

Emergency gesso, oh no! That's why I buy it by the gallon . . . not that I've used it all up yet, but that's the point.

Ann, we could definitely create together--"push to the left, push to the right," and we might have enough room for the two of us, lol!

I use whatever paper is handy, and iron it if it gets wonky.

Thank you for stopping by this woyww, and a Happy WOYWW to you!
:)trisha
#21 this week
with a BIG mess

Lorraine said...

have you tried heavy watercolour paper perhaps

Karin said...

I like to use Ranger's manilla or watercolour cardstock.
Happy Wednesday,
Karin 104

Unknown said...

Love your marker storage tin.
Looking forward to see what your lovely blue background becomes.
Happy WOYWW
Hayley G #106

fairy thoughts said...

well you asked a question there and you will get lots of answers .... all different, card paper is as contentious an issue as which pens to use... I use a variety of different qualities and iron it if it goes bumpy. But often find the stuff in poundland works just as well.
have fun playing
janet #37

Julia Dunnit said...

i use a 120gsm satin smooth stock, but I cannot remember the 'brand'..i buy it from shopkeeper Gal, so will ohoto the packets next time im there. It responds very well to abuse actually, so am very happy with it! Youve got a nice assortment of stamps for that page, how lovely!

Unknown said...

So glad to see you again.
I come and go myself, but trying harder to be steady.

Art Joy of Sharing with Peg and Shel said...

Hi I understand your problem with the paper. You basically want a coated paper to work on if you're going to move your ink. I recycle old manila folders from work. I also recycle envelopes from the mail that are a coated paper. Yes gesso does work but keep in mind that the color will affect your end results. Peg R -13

Unknown said...

I really like that blue background and your marker collection. #3

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ah some inky colour, Ann, and stamps already to go... mm, water on paper agree with above suggestions must admit dont do it much :D and glad you liked the link over from my blog!!... pretty impressive for me I remembered who said it :D happy WOYWW, Shaz in Oz.x #29

lisa said...

It's impossible to go into hobbycraft and not come out with something is it?
Re the card I use the reverse of the Centura Pearl from Crafters Companion. It's cheap and works brilliantly with inks and DI's and lots of water. It's thick so stands up to a lot of use!! Hope that helps.
Hugs Lisax #59

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

You have a lovely selection of supplies here for creative playing. Do you know, I've never been to a Hobbycraft! I have to rely on online ordering for crafty bits. Thanks for stopping by yesterday.

Fiona #40

rose AKA Walk in the Woods - she/her said...

I love that background blue in the journal and would love to see where it goes from there!

Neet said...

Not a clue on your query but I even get wrinkles on my good watercolour paper. I then put it to dry with something weighty on it. Works for me.
Glad to see you picked some things up in Hobbycraft - they do seem to be better (in Bolton) than they used to be.
See you in a month or so
Hugs, Neet xx thanks for the visit earlier xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Being late had its perks this week. I got to see your completed (and lovely, I might add) journal page, not just the start of it on your desk.

I have the same problem with inks. I bought a journal for my monthly calendar pages that was NOT cheap, and the inks bled through the paper and buckled it. I have CS that is 110 lb that also buckles. When I try to wipe it off, I get little bits of CS on the towel. I have had better luck with the file folders, but they also buckle. I hope you find a good solution soon. I'd like to know, too.

Thanks for visiting me already and happy slightly belated WOYWW from #1.