Wednesday 31 July 2013

WOYWW - Top Secret!

Please bear with me if you're popping in from WOYWW, I have a little story to tell, which explains why What's on my Work-desk is TOP SECRET and guarded by my trusty paper dragon.
 If WOYWW are just a collection of meaningless letters to you you need to hotfoot it over to the wonderful Julia's 'Stamping Ground' and click HERE to join in the fun! But back to my story! Why is my Chinese dragon keeping guard over my work desk?  A couple of years ago I wandered into a pretty  little shop near The British Museum called Blade Rubber Stamps. Once over the threshold I was in an Aladdin's Cave crammed full of inks, papers and the most amazing rubber stamps. My favourites were a quirky collection of designs rejoicing in the name 'Paper Artsy'. I couldn't resist buying some and I settled on an 'Ink and the Dog' plate. I noticed Paper Artsy had a blog, so casually I checked it out. I was hooked! I fell in love with Lynne Perrella's designs for Paper Artsy and started buying the stamps online. When a mistake was made at HQ and I was sent the wrong Lynne Perrella plate, I was allowed to keep it and Leandra kindly replaced it with my original choice free of charge! The elves, she told me, did sometimes make mistakes when under pressure! Wow! Such generosity and they employed elves too ! Then last spring I expanded my crafting activities, having a go at making some exploding Victorian boxes from Cafe Retro Art Gallery, which I heard about on Helen Cain's blog! I decorated Kristin's RCAG boxes - she's also a supplier who really takes an interest in customers' work - with PA images. I sent a pic to her and Leandra just to let them know how much I loved using their products. Kris featured my boxes on RCAG Facebook page and Leandra sent back an email saying I really ought to blog! Me blog? How? Magpies and technology = nervous breakdown! But she assured me it was not so very hard and - although I have not always been the most accomplished blogger - Magpie Heaven kind of got off the ground, thanks to advice from lovely people who started to follow me, and since April it's been amazing creative fun and I've learned so much about crafting! Thanks to WOYWW I've made lots of crafting friends and creating has become a huge part of my life and - I have to add - kept me sane through some tough times. Now that is why WOMW is TOP SECRET this week! Still puzzled? Well, towards the end of August all will be revealed! What I can show you on my workdesk/ dining table (!) this week are materials I'm planning to make into a card for my step-sister in Switzerland, it's her birthday in August. It's going to be my first chance to use the Lynne Perrella stamps I won in the Paper Artsy draw a while back.
 I'm off now to take a peek at other desks and a little bird told me there are lots of secret craftings going on out there!!!

45 comments:

  1. you're such a tease... love all things Paperartsy as you know... also in on the secret and I just had to go check my own "desk" shot today in case I'd caught mine in view... luckily not... have a good week. Helen.

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  2. Wow thanks for sharing your Fabulous WOYWW xx Jan (15)

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  3. Hiya Ms. Julie Ann, 1st, thank you for such a kind and warm comment you left. :D Next, what a great post you wrote this week. (Minus the tease) I totally understand what you mean by not feeling like an accomplished blogger, and having supportive people to help you get off the ground. I feel like my world has opened up since joining in with all you great crafters over at WOYWW. I feel like I have found my people. You definitely have a new follower. Me. :D Have a great weekend. (((HUGS)))
    Kimmie
    http://happyhomeschoolroom.blogspot.com/2013/07/woyww-217.html

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  4. I am with you on Lynne Perrella her stamps are amazing and I have always loved her style and have many of her stamps. Ha blogging just go with it, it all works out in the end. If we all knew what to do all the time the world would be a boring place. I will be back to see what you are hiding.
    Happy crafting.

    Happy WOYWW
    Eliza & Yoda 4

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  5. you'll have such fun with those stamps!! and I wouldn't dare go near that dragon - he looks mean!!!
    happy WOYWW and have a great week :)
    no. 8

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  6. Oh, I can't WAIT to read your secret. I have a feeling I know what it is, but since I live in the States, I won't say until I read it on your blog. Happy WOYWW from #2.

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  7. Oh you tease...you realise none of us will sleep now til you do the big reveal! :-)
    Hugs,
    A x # 3

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  8. Although I don't own any PA Stamps, my LSS stocks them and I have always been admiring them from a distance. Can't wait to see what you have been creating with them and hear your news! Have a great week and Happy WOYWW! And by the way just have to say I love your Dragon too! Danie #25

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  9. Hi Julie Ann - you are a dreadful tease! Can't wait to see your top secret project - and I LOVE your trusty paper dragon! Have a good week MMx #42

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  10. G'day Julie Anne
    thanks for dropping by my blog and leaving a message for WOYWW. Oh I too adore Paper Artsy stamps as well as Retro Cafe Art...I think we may be cyber sisters LOL.You are a tease though regarding your surprise!
    hugs
    Annette In Oz #4

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  11. Ooh, I love surprises! We shall look forward to the grand reveal.....
    And I don't know anything about Lynne Perella stamps but enjoyed your story of how you discovered her!! Have fun :-)
    Hugs, LLJ 20 xxx

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  12. Those stamps look so very interesting.Hmmm...little teaser you!!
    Judy #55

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  13. I love looking at all the wonderful desks on WOYWW too. I love to see what you all do with the stamps and gorgeous papers. You're all so talented. I can't wait to see what all of these secrets are. Love you dragon too.
    Have a great week and thanks for visiting already.
    Von #34

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  14. Oooooh Top Secret - very Secret Squirrel huh!!! LOL!! Will have to be patient until August when we can see what you're working on. I'll just have to snoop on everything else you creatively do until then instead. ♥ Karen ♥ 56 x

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  15. mmmh, how very interesting - you got my attention, will have to try follow this blog now so I dont miss what's happening. Well done on your success too, still struggling with my blog, must take notes on how it 'should' be done LOL.

    Lynda #59

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  16. Ooh, we like secrets, and we wouldn't go near your dragon to try and discover what's underneath in case he breather fire on us and set our fur alight!!!

    Waving hi from The House of Bears @#78 this week

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  17. I LOVE stories like these - it's endlessly interesting to discover the journey that got someone to HERE, IYKWIM. I am waiting with antici...........pation to see the secret project. :)

    Happy WOYWW!
    Mary Anne (17)

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  18. I think you are in good company in the blogging world, most of us just jumped in and had a go... we really haven't a cookin' clue how it all works! LOL I look forward to the big reveal, love those stamps!! Annette #1 for the first time in 4 years!

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  19. Exciting! I love those Lynn Perella stamps too but don't have any.....yet!

    Dawn #94

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  20. Leandra is one of my very favourite people in the whole world. She is lovely and it comes as no surprise that she did what she did.
    Am looking forward to seeing what is hidden - end of August - that's ages away - no sneak peeks?
    Thanks for sharing and for visiting me earlier.
    Hugs
    Neet xxx 19

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  21. Happy WOYWW!

    I am so glad you started blogging, and you lucky thing winning those stamps - you are the second person I have visited who has won PaperArtsy stamps!

    I am intriqued by the lump under the dragon!

    Cazzy x #92

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  22. What a teaser! :-) And what a great way to present your secret anyway :-) Love the dragon. Best, Suzanne
    #60

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  23. Fabulous Lynne Perrella images and graphic 45 paper! I know they will make a sensational birthday card for your step-sister in your talented hands! Lots of August birthdays in my family so I am in a manic card making mode here in Texas!

    Lynn #103

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  24. Love your Lynn Perella stamp, have been using those stamps myself this week. Happy stamping and Happy WOYWW

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  25. Hopw we get to see your secret eventually! Happy WOYWW x Jo #11

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  26. I love the Lynne Perella stamps too. Leandra is a lovely lady so I'm not at all surprised that she just sent out the original order. Looks like you have a happy post secret. ;-)
    Happy Wednesday to you.
    Karin #122

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  27. I have just two of her sets which were gifted to me and I love them. #85

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  28. Looking forward to that reveal... #114 Ann

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  29. Love Paer Artsy stamps- great images & quality. Looking forward to the reveal. Have a great week, Hugs, Shaz xx #22

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  30. I seem to be the only one who wouldn't have PaperArtsy as their first choice, but fortunately we all have our own styles, or the world would be a duller place. I loved reading about how you got into stamping, and am very interested to know what the paper dragon is guarding so carefully1 Kate x #18

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  31. Tee hee, I have a suspicion too, though of course I know nothing of the specifics of what the dragon is hiding!! Looking forward to the big reveal... and happy WOYWW to you (even though, yet again, I'm missing in action).
    Alison xx

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  32. aha, a grand secret surprise, what's not to like already!!!

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  33. ahh what beautiful stamps i have never seen these stamps....I am eager to see ehat you are hiding under that cloth....waiting..hugs from Greece Zeffy#40 (wrong post link)#149

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  34. Oooooh! Do tell! I can keep a secret! No! OK I'll just have to wait along with everyone else!!! I love those stamps and as I just happen to be going to London in a couple of weeks I might just have to find that shop!! Thanks for your encouraging comments! Chris46

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  35. You're a big tease and cruel to make us wait a whole month
    Bridget #63

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  36. What the ??? your not playing WOYWW right lol a MONTH that's just not kewl LOL look forward to seeing what your dragon is guarding hugs Nikki 119

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  37. FIrst off, thank you for the lovely things you wrote on my blog...sent me right to the sky!! I love your story about how you got drawn in, and that's exactly how I think about it...you get into this little (or not so little world) and it's just fun! Full of nice people, cool art, and new ideas. Like those lovely stamps you have on your desk. Way cool. Will have to go investigate that now! Thanks so much for visiting the Fun Room. Have a great week and see you next Wednesday!
    Sara

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  38. What a lovely description of how you started crafting and the lovely connections you have made via woyww. We all owe Julia a big hug for what she has created. Now a top secret project ... can't wait to see the reveal. Have a lovely week.
    Sandra @69

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  39. That paper dragon really cracked me up!! Sorry I am really late!
    xxDaniella#100

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  40. Oh I love a mystery, look forward to finding out what it is. Love the stash pending for the card. Thanks for visiting my post-hols desk BJ#120

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  41. Love the story of your beginning, Julie Ann! Congratulations on what I expect to be under that dragon! Well-deserved! Thank you for coming by the Playhouse! I hope you have a wonderful week! Darnell #118

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  42. How intriguing!!! Can't wait to see what your fearsome dragon is guarding .... know what you mean about the whole blogging thing - a whole new world opened up for me when I wandered into Blogland and I can't imagine life without it now :o)xxx

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  43. Hello. Well Im Roberta aka Bert #122. And Im new and very slow at this. I seem to get lost in all the goodies in every one sites.. just wanted to say thank you for sharing and letting me peak. Have a lovely day. Bert

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  44. Hmmmmmm I have a feeling I know where you might be showing your creation, I can't wait, how exciting, bet you're really excited. I am definitely happy you started blogging, a beautiful friendship I would have missed if you hadn't lol. I was wondering, I know August is busy, but in September, would you like to do a challenge with me? I would love for us to swap smell stash (papers, embellishments not mega stash) then see what we can do with it, maybe we can include some rules, like a colour scheme. I thought it might be fun. Happy woyww :-) hugs kezzy xxxxx

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  45. Aaah no fair secrets! ;) I do love the paperartsy stamps and look forward to the dragon revealing its secret. just getting a chance to do my snooping. :) Happy WOYWW! Nan G #75

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