I'm showing you a different work desk today for WOYWW. It's a designated corner of our dining room table - much like it used to be in our old house! I spare you the view of my real work desk - it looks bad - so bad that I am actually ashamed of it, so I'll keep it a secret until I get my act together and tidy up.
I got these diamond painting card kits in the post on Friday afternoon and by Saturday morning, when I took these photos, I had them completed! It's so addictive! Remember my acrylic pouring adventure last year? It's like that on the addiction level, only much easier to manage physically. Sticking down the tiny little shiny dots is a very relaxing process - everybody who's tried it says how therapeutic it is. So I'm officially addicted (again, for a while at least) - I got myself some larger kits for Christmas - these were just a quick fix, cause I just couldn't wait until Christmas! It's supposed to be a cross between cross-stitch and paint by numbers. Loads of videos on YouTube, if you're interested, just search diamond painting.
I haven't neglected my Advent Journal either! I fell behind a few days but managed to catch up. All up-to-date now - just waiting for today's prompt to be announced. Two more days to go! Here are pages 15-22:
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| Day 15: Contemplation |
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| Day 16: Things that tickle |
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| Day 17: Human touch |
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| Day 18: Reminisce |
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| Day 19: Festive |
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| Day 20: Things that touch your heart |
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| Day 21: Letting go |
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| Day 22: Where would you like to be? |
Visually, my favourite is Day 18 (Reminisce) - I think that came out quite well - but I really put my heart into Day 20. That page is dedicated to the memory of Hatchiko, a Japanese dog who's waited for his dead owner to return for 9 years at a train station! True story!
My advent journal is really chunky now. I took a side view to show you - I'll need a ribbon to close it!
So that's it for today! I hope your Christmas preparations are going well. I'll have to pop into town to do some socially distanced last minute shopping so I might be late visiting, but I'll be back soon. Stay safe everyone and Merry Christmas! See you again next week! xx
What amazing pages you have to show us this week....gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas and hopefully 2021 comes with better news for all.
Hugs,
Annie x #12
Well done for keeping up with the Advent journal Zsuzsa. Great diamond paintings too. Enjoy the bigger ones after Christmas. Merry Christmas and here's to a better 2021 for all. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #11
ReplyDeleteYour journal is so gorgeous, each page is a visual feast for the eyes! I’m sure us deskers would be woman enough to cope with your desk, we’ve seen it all over the years, lol! The diamond painting looks fun, I can see how it would be relaxing, glad you’re enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteHave a Merry Christmas away from the madness!
Hugs LLJ 7 xxx
Hi Zsuzsa. Those pages are amazing - so much thought and work has gone into each one! Well done. Have a really happy and precious Christmas.
ReplyDeleteTake care. God bless.
Margaret #4
Hi ya Zsuzsa, I've often wondered about those crystal cards they always look so sparkly, the Owl one is really beautiful. Looks a very relaxing craft, I can imagine you sharing an A3 sized one with us in the new year hee hee..
ReplyDeleteYour advent art journal looks fantastic, love the gold burst in day 16, Art definitely tickles my fancy!! Hard to pick a favourite though, enjoy the last few days before Christmas & have yourself a Merry one HUGS Tracey xx
Thank you so much for the beautiful card that’s just arrived! That’s a keeper for sure, I’ll get a square frame and keep it with my Christmas decorations and it can come out each year! The greeting inside was lovely too xxx My son Owen thought the card was fab as well, he was very taken with the Crystal art!
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
LLJ xxxxx
So glad it arrived in one piece! I was afraid that RM would put it through a grinder LOL! Glad you like it!
DeleteWow. All your advent pages are fab. I just love them. Amazing. I have to admit I am not even slightly tempted by diamond painting, but can appreciate they are lovely to look at. I fear my old eyes would just end up crying at the tiny size! I missed your pouring adventure, having dropped from WOYWW for a bit, but art is obsession, for many of us. I say roll with it!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to all of WOYWW!
Mary Anne (3)
Well said Mary-Anne LOL - I'm rolling with it all the time!
DeleteOoh such gorgeous and inspiring pages in your Advent journal - I adore the gold text and tree against the blue and the story of the dog is so emotional - what amazing work, I love it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a lovely Christmas and stay safe and well,
Diana xx #18
Fantastic pages! Love all the colors ~ especially 18, but 19 is so perfect for Christmas and 20 is precious! I just told my sister what you said about the diamond painting. She's looking for a craft project and that sounds interesting. Merry Christmas! Love, Karen #32
ReplyDeleteYour Advent Journal is beautiful! I seen a movie about that dog, very heart-warming yet sad. Gorgeous diamond painting, that is getting so popular these days.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and God bless!
Carol N #29
Hi I'm here at last. It's been a busy day as the washing machine is feeling poorly and the second guy has been out to try and fix it and we think he has now found the problem but can't complete the job until the new year. Following his visit we went to pick up the Christmas order from the supermarket. The Diamond painting kits look interesting but your journal pages are brilliant. Take care my friend and wishing you a happy Christmas. Hugs, Angela x10x
ReplyDeleteyour journal pages are as always, simply stunning! please bring them next time we are able to crop in person! Thanks for stopping by and have a very happy Christmas. Helen #1
ReplyDeleteWell, Zsuzsa, I expect to see you in rehab in the new year for your latest addiction lol!! I think the diamond painting must be as addictive as cross stitch - something to do with the discipline of repetition, and getting into a rhythm. You'd think doing the same movement all the time would be boring but it isn't! Your pages are amazing - well done keeping going with that journal when you must be very busy at the moment with Christmas preparations.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visit. If you can get to a Lidl near you, I am sure they would still have those umbrellas there - my hubby only bought it two or three days ago. It's so much fun, isn't it! Typical of him, though, not to know what he's buying, because he never reads any labels or instructions lol!
Printing the sentiment on the card - I have designed a lot of card and grid templates on the computer, using my desktop publishing software. You can move things around in frames and place things exactly where you want, and then print them out. It's really useful for loads of things. I've got a grid with cutting guidelines for ATCs, for instance, and lots of different card toppers etc. I like using technology to help with my creativity.
You are right about Ruby in the box - we always say "not their idea" if we put them somewhere and they immediately get off! Usually they are back again within a couple of minutes, just to make the point, I think! I found such a good funny about kitties being "in" or "on" things with boundaries this week - must remember to post it. It was hilarious!
Polo necks/turtle necks. Yes, turtle neck is US-speak, I think. However, strictly speaking, a polo neck is a longer tube that you fold down in half, and a turtle neck is sewn down, so it's a high-ish neckline, but fixed. I did think twice about getting those tops, though, because they were far from inexpensive (lots of really cheap ones online but mostly synthetic and you can't guarantee good sizing either), but you get what you pay for, and they are fabulous quality. I know they are going to last me at least as many years as my old ones! I just need to find a purple one now, and I'll be set up.
My hair - it's not as long as it used to be! I used to be able to sit on it, and it was certainly down to my waist when we got married (very dark in those days - now co-ordinating nicely with the kitties haha!!). My hubby was delighted the other day when I said I was going to grow it really long again. Since going whole-food plant-based, it's really thickened up again which is great, and I've noticed far less shedding in recent months. I'm going to grow it so I can sit on it again, I think. By this time next year it should certainly be to my waist or below. It's so much less hassle than having a short style which needs constant maintenance. I can do loads of things with it long, and it's easy enough to trim the ends myself. Saves me a fortune! All the more to spend on arty-crafty stuff...
Off to get some supper now - with cat like tread tarantara tarantara!
Have a lovely Christmas and happy WOYWW, and a stroke for Oreo,
Shoshi x #25
Lovely journal pages - made me realise just how much I like the colour teal and of pale blue (knew there had to be a reason why I always reach out for Tumbled Glass and Broken China).
ReplyDeleteThe story of Hatchiko reminds me of Greyfriars Bobby from Edinburgh who sat on his owners grave after he had died, for 14 years until he passed himself. Things like that really get to me.
I've not seen the diamond kits but you are not the only one I have read about who is quite addicted to them. I am not a glitter fan so I am probably safe from spending in that quarter. Your pictures do look really nice though.
Well, thank you for the friendship over the years and especially this Covid time, good job we did not know what was ahead of us twelve months ago.
Have a Happy and Wonderful Christmas with your family - Stay Safe and Well
Hugs, Neet 8 xx
More fabulous pages. Where are you following the prompts from? Enjoy your books, perhaps you might be sharing a few tips next year 🙂. I think the diamond art may be a tad fiddly for me, they look lovely though. Have a great Christmas x Angela #19
ReplyDeleteI couldn't find you at first but here you are! Thank you for my visit! I'm running late as usual. The diamond kits are brillant, you must be very pleased with them. Your pages are fagulous and at last I now have a few Tim Holtz inks and will be having a go. Have a great rest of the week and a very Merry Christmas! Stay safe, Happy WOYWW ((Lyn)) #24
ReplyDeleteEnjoying your advent pages. Such a gorgeous view from the side. I am sad I didn't get a chance to do one this month...maybe I should do something in January to welcome the new year. Merry Christmas xo
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea, Lynette! Hopefully, you'll have more time in January. I'm thinking of doing Kasia's 14 prompts as I didn't have time for both.
DeleteI wish a merry Christmas to you and your family, and a happy Near Year that brings you healthy, creativity and less restrictions! Those journal pages are amazing, my favourites are number 20 and 21! Diamond painting sounds fascinating as well, I had never heard a word of it, but I'll now have a look.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visit yesterday - Happy Christmas Eve! Love your advent journal, so gorgeously vintagey and I love the shiny bits! My mum and sister have really got into those diamond paintings, they are so sparkly. Sometimes it is good to do something that just takes you out of it. I know what you mean about teenagers, don't think my son talked to us for about five years, he was a very difficult adolescent!! 26 now and a little improved. especially since his fiancee has come to live with us during Covid. Though I think it's just he doesn't want to look like an absolute dickhead in front of her. (Only joking, love him to bits). Still haven't had their results so don't know what we'll be doing tomorrow yet. Have a wonderful day, stay well, stay safe, Cindy xx
ReplyDeleteHi Zsuzsa, belated happy WOYWW. I've no doubt I will at some point try diamond painting - but I cannot fit anything else in my craft room at present, so it will have to wait. It does look right up my street though! Well done for keeping up with the journal - I would constantly be playing catch up. Thank for stopping by my blog. With the Lavinia stamps, I just added everything I wanted, and Mr M paid for it. Normally he buys me a machine - but I have all the machines I want. Have a lovely Christmas, hugs Heather xx #30
ReplyDeleteOh your Advent Journal is super amazing, love it - especially the Angel pages and the building pages and the use of old stamps too, adorable.
ReplyDeleteHave a Happy Christmas, Love BJ#17
No, no, NO! Please do NOT get me addicted to something new!! How could you, Zsuzsa!!! I will not try diamond painting, I will not try diamond painting, I will now...what the heck, I probably will, right? LOVE your advent pages, particularly the one Hachiko one, whose story is so poignant.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and yours a bright and joyous holiday season - may 2021 be all that you could possibly hope for. xo
WOW love all your luscious photos Love the gold splats in your Advent Journal. Wishing You and Your family a MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS
ReplyDelete