I almost didn't link up to WOYWW today but Shoshi gave me a little nudge behind the scenes, so here I am. The heatwave has returned to the UK, but thankfully it won't last long. I survived going to the office yesterday and won't have to go in again until Friday, and by then the heat will be gone. And if it rains, so be it - I'll take the rain over the heat any day!
I snapped this photo of my desk just a few minutes ago after tidying up a bit. I call it organised chaos:
Some eagle-eyed deskers might spot a stamp carving tool. I had to buy a new one as I have no idea what happened to my old one and I had some urgent stamp carving to do. This one's much better than my old tool, anyway and it wasn't expensive. I gave it a good trial run:
Then I used these bits and pieces in my scrap journal / glue book, along with some of my bleached papers from last week:
Previously I had made these pages:
My journal is quite full now - it only needs some finishing touches before I can do a flip-through:
I've also made these random pieces with more scraps and by-products of my experiments (this first one was actually on my desk last week, but wasn't yet completed - I added the fish as an afterthought):
These images came from Marta at
Maremismallart as a free download in exchange for a voluntary donation. I've been using them in my image transfer trials.
Oreo set up camp on my craft room chair again - I've found him snoozing there in the mornings for several days in a row now - he's still looking a bit sleepy here:
What else? Oh, yeah, we went to
Witley Court last Saturday on our customary, end-of-summer family outing. Witley Court was a grand Victorian manor house that sadly burned down in 1937, but even the ruins are spectacular! Here are a few photos:
Thanks for your visit! I'll be around soon! xx
PS: The LifeBook Free Taster Sessions are back!
L like those prints from your self cut stamp, they work really well. And your journal pages are quite stunning, you have the knack of putting different papers and images together so well. I love the fishy ones!
ReplyDeleteHugs LLJ 7 xxx
Your self cut stamps are really lovely and I love how you have used them to create such beautiful artwork. You make it all seem so simple!! xx Jo
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you decided to link up this week, Zsuzsa! If you hadn't, you'd have deprived us of a treat. Your pages are just mouth-wateringly gorgeous... I love the effects you are getting, and your signature colour scheme is one of my favourites! I love the random butterfly/fish piece especially, this week, and I must say your desk is looking remarkably tidy and organised! Your carved stamps are brilliant. What have you made them from? Is it lino? The distressed look from them is perfect. I'm afraid you've set off another attack of "spurting" here - you will know what I mean lol!! Lovely to see Oreo again, looking very regal as if he owns the place (which, of course, he does - he'll have you sitting on the floor next, like my hubby!). It's great that you were able to have such a nice day out, too, and a lovely family photo to finish off with. A great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting. I'm glad you like what I did with the DVDs. Sorry if I didn't make the technique clear. The paint I used was my Pebeo fluid acrylics which I thought would be easier to use in such small amounts and they worked well. The domed effect just happens - the plastic does expand a bit when it softens, and there are often unavoidable bubbles between the two layers which will dome them a bit, too. I love the bubbles which add some interest. Not allowing the paint to dry before baking will cause a much more domed effect from one big bubble, but I haven't tried that. These little ones were quite fiddly to do but I'm definitely going to do a lot more so that I've got plenty to choose from when making mosaics from them. I also want to make some bigger ones.
The cooking of the blackberries and puree-ing them isn't much hassle really, nor is the cooking of the apples. My hubby does all the peeling and chopping of the apples because like you, that drives me nuts! Also I'm not too brave about any creepy crawlies there might be lingering in them!!
I agree about kitties - they know much more than we give them credit for. They like to keep us in our rightful place - as their slaves, so they don't reveal everything to us - just on a "need to know" basis. Our old Beatrice was also extremely bright. Ruby is a simple little soul really, rather like Phoebe who was my little Devon Dumpling! Sometimes just being cheerful and charming is enough in life if you're a kitty. It's strange that the one word they seem not to understand is "No." Hmmm.
Thanks for your good wishes for my radiotherapy. At least it's only 5 sessions but I've been warned that the after-effects could be pretty horrible! One just has to plug on and get it over and done with!
Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi x #15
Your stamp carvings look great. I used to do this with the children at school and I have done nothing like it since I retired. The fact is there are loads of techniques I used to do with the children that I really need to get back too, that might happen if I ever get on top of the MDF stuff! Loving your journal pages and Oreo's face is priceless. Nice to see you all having a good time together too, long may it continue. Have a lovely woyww evening. Hugs, Angela x19x
ReplyDeleteI love your organised chaos! the hand carved stamps look fabulous - can't wait to see them cropping up in projects here there and everywhere! glad you survived the office - ours is pretty hot, but it hasn't seemed too bad this time. Witley Court looks very impressive. You're right about the lie in (I am a morning person) would far rather be out early than mid-day it seems such a waste. Helen #1
ReplyDeleteI like your carved stamps. Is it hard work doing the cutting? Some fabulous art work x Angela #11
ReplyDeleteThank you for your reply, Zsuzsa. I thought they looked like lino. I used to do lino cuts many years ago - we learnt at school. I remember one girl used to do absolutely amazing ones - really big, and full of detail and swirling patterns. Somewhere I've still got one of her prints on orange tissue paper. There's something very intriguing about the method, I think. I'm not sure if I've still got my carving tools.
ReplyDeleteLooking back through your post again, I am intrigued by how you are using the vintage book covers as covers for your albums and wonder how you are doing the binding. I can see there are signatures, but does the stitching go right through the spine? It's a very intriguing idea, and it gives new life to a beautiful book cover whose contents might be rather less relevant today. (Not that I would ever sacrifice my Victorian Bible, though!!)
I have never worked with resin. I suppose the little tiles do look a bit like that. Another reason why they get a bit domed is that the edges melt and flatten more than the centre. They are lovely and flat on the back which is going to make sticking them down much easier than those broken bits of china.
Shoshi x
Love your self cut stamps! I really must try this!
ReplyDeleteA lovely set of journal pages!
Happy WOYWW!
Stay safe and keep well!
Susan #23
Calling All Crafters! – My Blog!
Cool prints from the carved stamps Zsuzsa. I have never tried that and it looks so interesting. Loving the latest pieces and pages too. Meow to Oreo. Stay safe and Happy WOYWW. Sarah #6
ReplyDeleteAlways enjoy your posts. Can't wait to see a flip-through of that delicious journal xo
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit yesterday. I’m sorry to say I was head down sewing all day so I didn’t manage one visit so I’m getting round my favourites before I get back in my sewing room this morning.
ReplyDeleteI’m really loving your organised chaos. Is that lino you’re using to make your stamps with?
Hugs,
Annie x #9
Organized chaos indeed. Your scraps are better quality than a lot of my beginning pieces LOL!Love fishes in all their forms but my knitting mate (who I blame for my chronically late WOYWW visits) has an actual phobia of them. Poor lamb. The carved stamps are fab and the journal too - your blog always comes at a point in the list where it feels like a bit of a treat for getting so far along - I savor every image and drink in all the inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW!
Mary Anne (3)
Your self cut stamps are gorgeous! I loved to see Oreo again. The heat wave is probably over now, we still have it (but at the moment, I enjoy it after dark and rainy days in Sweden... which was also nice, because the nature is different - I like both).
ReplyDeleteThat is not your son at the end? Gosh, he is a young man now (if it is him - but why would it not be).
ReplyDeleteSweltering in the heat along the prom yesterday I recounted the story of you pouring the bottle of water over yourself. I was feeling the need for doing just that myself.
Anyway, love the photos of your day out but your book pages are the ones that get me every time. I love how you journal and as how I try to do something similar I never achieve that look you get. The single pages with the fish on are beautiful and I do like the fish pictures - might have to follow that link.
As for carving my own stamps, I don't think I ever will. My dreaded lesson at school was t4eaching lino cutting to thirteen year olds. Detested that part of the curriculum. Somewhere I have a couple of stamps I carved at a class, but I was not good. You look to have it in hand though.
Have a good week, Hugs, Neet 17 xx
Your stamps are just stunning, Zsuzsa...love the way they look in your work. And your journal pages always look so pro, in colour, texture and style. And holy smokes, your son is so grown-looking. How did that happen so fast? Love your posts, and your inspiration. Thanks for stepping in each Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to visit Witley! Peter and I found out about it when we visited some friends about 3 years ago and always meant to visit, it looks gorgeous and I didn't know the fountain works . . . excellent.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of you all
Christine #18
Oh I just love that photo of the three of you! Witley Court was incredibly grand wasn’t it! Beautiful gardens, I wonder if it’s still privately owned. I love that you have organised chaos and that you decided to post, you are an inspiration…I can’t tell you how marvellous your journal looks in that hardback cover, the thought of a shelf filled with your book looking art makes me a bit giddy!
ReplyDeleteI love your stamps, these 'sort of abstract' selfmade images are the best! The pic of you and your loved ones is nice, you all look relaxed and happy. Keep it that way dear, and enjoy your weekend! Hug from Holland, Marit #2
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful little book! You have made all sides so beautiful. I really like the ones you did as a test first as well.
ReplyDeleteSussie nr
Thank you for your reply to my comment, Zsuzsa, and ah yes, I do remember now, how you "cloned" the book covers. Silly me... i hadn't come across the hidden spine system before, so thanks for the info on that - one to add to the crafty arsenal! I know about the hidden hinge system and have used it on several occasions. I got caught out once by being over-zealous with the sticking down when it came to the ends and had to pull it apart a bit to deal with the cover - I was terrified I was going to ruin the book and all my hard work!! Your book covers look extremely realistic. I suppose you could add even more realism by hand-embossing the pattern, like the original tooled leather... It's such a cool idea and really enhances the book generally, even though you couldn't improve on the contents in any way, in my humble opinion!
ReplyDeleteI love the way in that video she has used an embossing folder to decorate the spine of her book. It's got a real vintage look.
I'm afraid I'm a bit of a bodger at times too. Sometimes I try to plan everything from the beginning but something usually goes wrong or I forget something, or I get a fresh idea half way through and the whole thing turns out completely differently from what I'd planned, so I don't do tutorials either!
Shoshi x
Ooh I love your stamps, and as always, I love your journal pages. Oh and nice to meet Oreo, I wonder if he would like Miss P, she doesn't like anyone lol. So sorry, RL got in the way, and I am terribly late. Happy belated WOYWW! Elle #13, EOTC
ReplyDeleteMissing you this week, zsuzsa (#641) - hope all is well with you. Thank you for the further link about the binding. I've used Tyvek in the past when I've wanted an ultra-strong fabric or paper. With hinges where it gets flexed back and forth a lot, card can weaken over time, but Tyvek seems indestructible!
ReplyDeleteShoshi x