WOYWW #508

Hello Fellow Deskers and Bloggy Friends,

I've missed a few weeks of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - life getting in the way again :o) but I'm back! Join us over at lovely Julia's Stamping Ground and show the world what you've been up to in your creative space this week.

Most of my crafting at the moment is being done at the dining table in between Other Stuff, so I'll show you that, as it's more interest than my actual Workdesk ...


I've been totally obsessed with rolling old newspapers into tubes. There are some wonderfully inspiring tutorials on YouTube showing you how to weave these into baskets - you can see my very first attempts here.


I have a LOT of practising to do before mine look anything like the amazing ones I've seen on YouTube, but even these first efforts are actually useful containers for my craft room.

The colours you see here are just as I found them in the newspapers - you can roll towards the unprinted edge to get plain greyish-white and you quickly learn how to roll in the right direction to make use of any colourful parts in the paper - I found that there are a lot of blues and rusty colours (the old teal-and-orange trick in action I suspect). You can also colour the tubes in various ways before rolling, or paint the baskets when they're finished, and apply various decorative finishes - for example napkin decoupage works well.

The best thing about it though is that all you need is old papers, a kitchen knife, a skewer and some glue - plus something like varnish to finish them. And lots of patience :o)

I'll be at work when this posts itself. If I'm lucky and she's not given up on me, my lovely friend Zsuzsa will link up for me, but otherwise I'll do it when I get home from work this evening. Looking forward to a catch-up snooping session later, see what everyone else has been doing this week.

Thanks for visiting me today, see you at Julia's!

Love Annie xxx

Comments

I've not given up on you LOL - but almost missed it! Only spotted yours after I'd linked mine! What a wonderful idea to recycle old magazines and newspapers - I must look into that! You have quite a collection of little baskets already and they look really good! xx
shazsilverwolf said…
Hi Annie, what a fabulous idea! Looks like you're doing a great job with them, lovely little baskets. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #6 X
Your baskets look amazing Annie, a fabulous way to recycle those newspapers. If I had any papers i'd definitely like to try this out but sadly do not. Have fun creating its a super obsession.
Happy WoywW Tracey #7
Lunch Lady Jan said…
Wow, that's so clever! I think your attempts look pretty professional to me, what a great idea and a good way to upcycle. Thanks for the info!
Hugs LLJ 10 xxx
Caro said…
Wow! Your baskets look fantastic. It is a technique I have seen but never tried... maybe I should have a go. Thanks for sharing. Take care and have a great week. With love Caro x (#26)
Helen said…
well, they are pretty impressive! my you tube hasn't recommended me anything like those, will keep my eyes peeled! Helen #4
Wow you have been busy - I think they look great, but I'm not sure I would have the patience. On the other hand there are craft magazines here going back 15 years....... Happy Wednesday, Cindy #17
Hi Annie, looks like you've been busy and more to come. The baskets are brilliant. Have a great woyww, what's left of it and a happy creative week, Angela x14x
Sarah Brennan said…
Wow Annie, no-one would guess that these baskets started out as newspaper. What a brilliant idea. I've not come across it before so thanks for sharing. It would make a great project at school as the base product could be donated easily. Happy WOYWW. Sarah #3
Julia Dunnit said…
Sorry to be late, Annie. It’s great to see you, sometimes the Other Stuff is real life attributable, am delighted that sometimes yours is a therapeutic craft in this case. Blimey those baskets are great, they look really rigid too, I expect by the time you’ve painted or lacquered them they would be indestructible! I’ve seen similar with magazine pages in coils, but these newspaper ones seem more achievable, frankly!
Dorlene Durham said…
Wow! These baskets are amazing. Truly a great use of recycling! I'm very impressed! Have a great week. Dorlene #25
Helen Wallace said…
Once again you demonstrate your skills as an Artist and crafter. Nothing really daunts you does it? My Mother had those skills too, she'd see something, like the look of it, say "I can do that" and she did! Pfft. Now that's a gift! Hurrah for Annie x