An Arty Swing...

Good evening all, hope you are well and having a decent week...half way through now.....I actually got my Clarity samples into the post today...phew...just hope they arrive o.k. It is always a worry!

Today, I want to share an Arty take on the new Duo Stencils from Clarity....I'm really becoming hooked on Stencils....so sorry crafters, but we are going to be going stencil mad ....I can feel it in my water......

This is the finished project, I do hope that you like it.

It started off as a piece of Theuva card and using the outer part of the A5 Duo Swing Stencil and some Black Adirondack ink I began to sponge some colour onto the work. I then added some sequin waste and more black ink.

Changing next to use the inner part of the stencil and a sun outer mask I created the sun using Spiced Marmalade Distress ink.  Once again using the sequin waste also then covering the sun over. 

Next using the 7x7 Lone Tree Stencil, Clarity Stencil brush and Adirondack inks, Lettuce and Meadow plus sequin waste the land was created.

The cloud mask and cloudy blue Adirondack ink, sequin waste and the sky was achieved.

All the stencils and masks were then removed.

Some matting and layering and design finished....there are so many different ways of using this stencil....I would love to see what you come up with....

To find these stencils and many, many  more...go to the Clarity Web Site...

 http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/

Just a reminder before I go, Barbara is on our tv this Sunday with some fabulous new stencils and stamps....C&C Sunday.....9-11am and 2-3pm.

O.k. That's all from me for today.

Enjoy your evening and be kind to each other....

Hugs, Jo. X 

The Majestic Magpie

Good evening all and welcome to our new followers. Thank you for joining in with this journey through the amazing world of craft and beyond...

I have been really busy the last two days and nights, getting my Clarity samples ready for this Sundays tv shows...I have one more to finish, then they will be in the post tomorrow....brilliant new stamps and stencils by the way...

Today, I'm sharing one of last months samples with you, it uses the Magpie Montage stamps.

I used the reverse of Centura Pearl card and Distress Inks, Peacock Feathers, Bundled Sage and Spiced Marmalade....Also the honeycomb Stencil some spritzing and blotting.

Both stamps were stamped using Onyx Black VersaFine ink.

I coloured the Magpies using Distress ink and water on my nonstick mat, added some Perfect Pearls before I began to paint ...this really does give a shine...

Right, back to the craft table....and for those regular readers it is one of those nights were I need my lucky red knickers.....they worked last week.....so I'm hoping for another win......(well the boys are) 

I hope you have a good evening whatever you are doing ....

Thanks for looking in ,

Jo.  X 

Clarity Cumbria

I'm so pleased to be able to tell you that I'm going to be running regular monthly Clarity workshops in Lindale, Cumbria....

The first one is to coincide with Barbara back in the classroom on C&C....

Saturday 5th April.....also on the same day the lovely and very talented Maria Simms will be launching Clarity North East....full details of all the regional workshops can be found here....

  http://claritystampchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/p/clarity-workshop.html

It is a really good way of meeting fellow crafters, learning new skills and oh we always have coffee and cake.....

If you would like any information don't hesitate to email me on...

jrcrafts28@gmail.com

Hugs....Jo. X 

Flying High.....

Oh, how lovely is that Friday feeling....? 

I do hope that you have something nice planned for the weekend....I'm off to C.J. Cardcrafts  in Stockport tomorrow for our regular workshop day....I do enjoy catching up with my crafty friends....and believe me Mark is very crafty!!!!!

Today I am going to show you one of my recent makes....with one of the new A5 Clarity Stencils ....oh they are fantastic.....and you can see them now on the web site....

 http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clear-Stamps

And yes, I have just ordered all of them....oh how naughty .....but nice!!!!!

This was really quick to make ...but I do think it's so effective,

I started by using low tack masking tape and masked off all four sides..Then 

using the cloud mask, a make up sponge and cloudy blue Adirondack ink  I created my background.

Next step was to very carefully take off the masking tape....I always say a little prayer at this point...how many times is low tack....not ...low tack.??

Now for the Boy with the Birds Stencil.....I used more low tack tape and filled in the stencil space with another make up sponge and Denim Adirondack ink.

I do love the reveal when you lift the stencil up.....oh ...how lovely....

On another larger piece of Theuva card I used the cloud mask and cloudy blue ink again to make another background,

Once the stencil was taken off the topper I used a fine liner pen to doodle a border.....then added a little bow using Bakers Twine.....some matting and layering and job done...

Thank you for looking in today as always I love to read your comments .....or if you are like my Mum, I just love to know that you are keeping an eye on me....

Enjoy your Friday evening.....and please be kind......

Hugs....Jo. X 

Home Sweet Home.

Well today was another lovely Wednesday with good company, some chatting, coffee, chocolate and yes, some crafting.

A couple of the ladies had asked if we could make cards suitable for new home so that is what we did.

This is the first card we made,

We created the background by using Distress inks and then spritzing water through the stencil and blotting it. 

This really gives a great effect....the Clarity quirky cottage stamp was stamped using Distress ink Barn Door, water was then used to drag the colour thus giving a watercolour effect.

We stamped the Clarity keys stamps and used gold detail embossing powder...cut them out ...and added them to the design....A clarity sentiment to finish off the design....

Our second card uses the same cottage stamp but this time we used Memento ink and Alcohol markers...

It is really good to see how the same stamp looks so different depending on what other products you use with it...

I do love Glossy Accents to add dimension and gloss to a project.

If you would like any of the stamps or stencils that we used they can all be found here.....

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clear-Stamps 

I'm off now ....time for feet up and cuddles with Tess....

Enjoy your evening ....hugs...Jo. X 

Sweet Lilac Sunday.

Good morning do hope you are well and keeping warm and dry in this terrible weather.

Today, is the day for a new challenge over at the Sweet Lilac Challenge Blog....

And the new theme is Baby.....

I have been waiting for an opportunity to use my fantastic new Clarity Victorian Alphabet...(designed by Barbara Gray)..so here's my project ...I do hope you like it...

It's so lovely to use I can see these stamps bring featured on here so much...

To start with I put some masking tape on my card ....to give me a straight edge..

Next I stamped the letters using Gray Flannel Memento ink,

I added some colour with my Graph' It markers ...I wanted to keep it all quite pale...

Some matting and layering and some lovely lace from Sweet Lilac Flowers...(yes, they sell lace too!)

Next some little wooden embellishments...how cute are these..

Here is a close up of the letters...I hope you like them as much as I do..

And of course there has to be some amazing Sweet Lilac flowers, here is a close look at them.....

If you would like to enter the challenge or take a look at the other DT projects then just go and visit...

 http://sweetlilacflowers.blogspot.co.uk/

The winner each month receives a hamper of Sweet Lilac Flowers...

Thanks for visiting today and as always, I really appreciate you all and your comments...

Take care....Jo. X 

Happy Valentines Day.

Good evening all, I do hope that you've had a day full of love and happiness, and that you're feeling contented this  Friday evening.

Karl and I will be having a quiet meal in as I've been a little under the weather this week, but once the antibiotics kick in I will be all fine and dandy again...

It has been another busy week with three magazine commissions to get ready and then tomorrow is workshop day in St Helen's.....

Here is a sneak peek at just a couple of things that we will be making...

Using Clarity Stamps and a Marianne Die,

And Distress inks with Clarity Stamps,

Thanks for looking in today ...and have a lovely evening...

Jo. X 

Be my Valentine.....

Good morning all, and Happy Friday...

Today, is a new challenge over on the Fussy and Fancy Friday Blog Challenge..

The new theme is ....Be my Valentine....

And here is my inspiration.....I do hope you like it....I specifically wanted to use another colour scheme other than the traditional red...

I started with an MDF heart.....once again if you would like some MDF visit the MDF Man....... http://www.mdfblanks.com/

I used glue and some rather gorgeous paper from Graphic 45....from the Secret Garden Collection...

I let it dry for a few moments, then cut the heart out with a craft knife....A glass cutting mat makes this easier...

I then lightly sanded the edges with a block also from Rob...Mr MDF....

I choose some matching orange card and cut out two hearts with a Marianne Die....LR0159...I then edged the paper with Inka Gold Paint- Old Silver...

I used cut 'n' dry foam....I also used the paint on the heart dies and the matching flowers from Sweet LilacFlowers..

The sentiment is from Claritystamps and I used a Memento ink -Tangelo..

I cut some post cards out of some more Graphic 45 paper, then assembled all the ingredients...adding some metal embellishments and bakers twine...

Here are some close up photographs...

Love these roses...

And these dies..

There are three dies in the set...this is how they look when cut out...

Marianne Dies have sponsored our Challenge today ....so thank you.....

I hope you like my inspiration, the other DT members have made great projects too... I would love you to go and take a look here...

 http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

And even better why don't you enter the challenge.....

I would love to see your interpretation ....

And on that note I must leave you as I have lots of jobs to do today...a long list awaits me.....wish me luck....

Craft hugs....and have a good weekend....Jo. X 

What a workshop

Good evening all, I hope you've had a good day.

Mine didn't start too well but once I got to Hazel Grove and met up with the lovely ladies it was all happy thoughts....

Today, we used some Angelina Fibres and an iron.....and not a shirt in sight...

This is the first card that we made...

Using Clarity Stamps and the seaweed stencil...

We had a visitor too and he was first to use the fibres!!!!

Did you know that you can colour your fibres with Alcohol markers? Gives a great effect..

Our second card used both the sea horse stamps, the stencil and a really lovely sentiment from Clarity....

All the Clarity products can be found here....

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/

I do love this sentiment....and to be honest true friends are so special....and mine...you know who you are....xxxxx

As usual we did have a laugh....some chocolate....and it's Chrissie's Birthday tomorrow....so Happy Birthday Chrissie....lots of love from us all...xxx

Before I go ...I would just like to show you a photo of Mikey ....as some of you know he has epilepsy and has been quite unwell .....in fact, twelve months ago we were looking at permanent disability.....but with the help of Remploy ...Mikey got a place to study with The Devere Group..and then got an apprenticeship place at Gusto restaurants...he has just passed his exams and been offered a permanent job and further training....

We are so proud of you Mikey ....well done babe....xxxx

So on that note I am signing off for the night....

Catch you soon....hugs....Jo. X