WOYWW #629: This and that (another scattered post)

It feels like I haven't posted in ages, but it's only been two weeks. I've been working in short bursts keeping my creative juices flowing with the help of some challenges on Facebook and Instagram - more about those later. Here's a desk shot for WOYWW #629 taken a while ago. Since then my desk has gone through many transformations, getting progressively messier. 

First things first though, my overseas ATCs have arrived all the way from Australia and the Unites States! How exciting! With proper postage stamps too - none of those disappointing electronic printouts that Royal Mail uses these days. Wonderful ATCs and postcards to brighten up my day! Love Susan's shiny gold butterfly on the happy yellow background and Felicia sent me not one but two beauties! The quirky one made me 'giggle' indeed and I just love the glitter in the birdie one - one of Felicia's signature moves. I took a separate photo of that one as the glitter didn't show up in the group shot.

And if these didn't spoil me enough, this little masterpiece came from Debbie, in loving memory of our Shaz - thank you so much Debbie - it's such a perfect memento and I'm so glad I met her in person two years ago, not realising that would be my one and only chance to see her. 

Right, so onto my challenges quickly. In the Mixed Media Emporium Facebook group, the monthly theme for July is watercolours, which are not my preferred medium, even though I love watercolour effects. It's just that they never seem to do what I want them to do - they're so temperamental - you know where you are with acrylics but watercolours have a mind of their own! In the order of appearance below (1) silhouette with brushos (2) texture effects with distress oxides on labels (3) negative painting with ecoline fluid watercolours (inspired by Nina Ribena). 

Another challenge I took part in was over on Instagram, called #fodderchallenge I didn't do all the prompts, just a few of them that took my fancy. You can see them below (these are more in my usual style with acrylics):

I've also got myself a wax seal kit - why didn't I get one earlier? I could have used them for the mail swap! I got the letter 'S' as they were out of 'Z' - to match my fake name (Susan) but then I realised it covers my tag-along surname as well (Smith) so perfect! I've a got a few more designs on order. They're not just for sealing envelopes, but they could be used on all sorts of projects. Here I used them on some envelopes I made from my tea dyed papers with some gold gilding wax to highlight the raised areas. 

So that's it! Nice to be taking part in WOYWW again this week. I might have to skip next week again - see how it goes. I'll leave you with this rose shot I took yesterday - I know I probably shared an almost identical one last year, but these colours never cease to amaze me! 

Happy #629!