Outdoors.

Good morning all and welcome to Friday.

Today is a new challenge over at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge blog and the new theme is ....Outdoors.....

So here is my inspiration, I do hope that you like it...

I started by using the A5 washing line stencil from Clarity.

Attach the stencil to your card using low tack masking tape and then begin to sponge in the colour. I used Slate Adirondack Ink.

Start off gently and then build up some shade and depth.

Then remove the mask.

Add some sky using the cloud mask, a sponge and cloudy blue Adirondack ink.

Now some matting and layering and highlights with a white gel pen.

On a separate piece of card stamp out the blustery day stamp.

Add some colour using Watercolour pencils.

Attack this to the card and add some bakers twine, a bow and some hat pins.

I do think that the blustery day stamp and the washing line stencil go really well together.

If you would like to enter the challenge or even have a look at the other DT inspiration just pop along to the blog here......http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk

Thanks for looking in today, I am off to the publishers with some card samples and remember that Barbara is on t.v. On Sunday with the Clarity show 9-11am....

Enjoy your weekend ...

Love and hugs

Jo. X

 

What a brilliant day...

Good evening all, this is a quick post from me as today is my Birthday and what a lovely day I have had.

It was workshops in Hazel Grove and we had a very yummy gluten free cake baked by Alex...and decorated by Rebekah...thanks so much....

Well do you recognise me???? All I need are some tassels !!!!!

We used the blustery day stamps from Claritysatmp and a variety of Clarity Stencils. Along with the very useful cloud mask.

Hope you like what we made....

I was given the most amazing cards and presents and thanks Jane for calling in for a coffee and catch up.

When I got home I had these flowers waiting for me..(thanks T.P. Sue, Sam and Yvonne) ..and some fizz in the fridge....

We had a really special family meal last night at Gusto in Cheadle Hulme and to anyone out there who suffers with a wheat allergy ....they make Gluten Free pasta meals....oh I was in food heaven....

So thanks to all my friends and family,

I feel so blessed.

Love and hugs

Jo. x

Blustery Day in Cumbria.

Good evening , I do hope your bank holiday weekend is going well.

We have just got home after a lovely couple of days in Lindale, Cumbria. A big thank you to my wonderful Sister who not only helps me with workshops, but makes gummy chocolate cake and is a great friend too.

Clarity Cumbria went really well yesterday and the crafters mastered the art of the cloud mask and the use of stencils.

Here is a snap shot of some of the projects...

We used the clarity blustery day stamps...

I have a really busy week ahead ( no Bank Holiday for me!) with Workshops on Wednesday, Magazine deadlines and Clarity Samples to get in the post....oh you are going to love the new stamps and stencils....

Enjoy your Sunday evening...

Love and hugs...

Jo. X

 

Fussy and Fancy Blog Hop Candy Winner...

Good morning and Happy Friday all.....

 

Today all the Fussy and Fancy girls are announcing the winners of our recent Blog Hop Candy.

Just to remind you the blog Candy that I am giving away is a hamper of the lovely Sweet Lilac Flowers.

 

 

I must just thank everyone who left a comment on the blog and also welcome our new followers....

I do hope you enjoy sharing this crafty journey.....( it may get a bit bumpy from time to time!!!)

Well there were 38 comments left and the winning number chosen at random was .........( drum roll....)

.......no 14...... So Julie Rose.....that is you...

Please could you email me your address and I will get your flowers in the post......

My email address is. Jrcrafts28@gmail.com

Thanks for looking in today....I am off to the Lake District later .....tomorrow is Clarity Cumbria day and I am really looking forward to it..

Have a good weekend

Stay safe...

Much love

Jo. x 

The Kitchen Set.

Good evening, I do hope you are well and that you have had a good day.

I have been in Hazel Grove where we have had workshops using the Kitchen stamp set from Clarity.

It was so good to spend the day with the crafty ladies, they do make me smile and Alex gives really good hugs too.

It was just the day that I needed.....

Our first project was to make a Recipe tag book using Centura Pearl card and Distress inks...

Our second was a general greetings card using the same stamp set and Distress inks, but this time we added some Perfect Pearls....

We even had a competition to see who would be on the ' naughty table' and I am sorry Paul Church but I did tell them how I had to help you clean up your sticky mess in France!!! lol...

They do like the flowers that you made for me though...

I really can't tell you much more because ....What happens at Craft Club.....stays at Craft Club...

So on that note I will sign off for the night....

Thanks for stopping bye...

Hugs to all

Jo. X

 

Shaving foam and Stencils.

Good morning to you all and thanks for taking the time to join me today. It is Sunday and I am going to spend the whole day with Karl.....oh I did miss him last week....call me an old softy but I love him so much....

Yesterday it was workshop day over at Crafts 4 U 2 Do in St. Helens a lovely craft shop and a very knowledgable manager, Chris.

We used the large poppy stamp from Clarity.....one of my favourite stamps....this is one of the cards that we made...

The background was created with the shaving foam technique and then the image stamped using Black Archival Ink.

Shade was added using a charcoal stick ( thanks for the inspiration Mandy ) and then highlights with a white gel pen.

Whilst in France Sazzle brought some shaving foam and whilst using the technique a few of us....did that what if....thing.....

What if you use it with Stencils like you do with grunge paste.....so Maria started to play.....oh we did have fun and yes we liked the results...

So yesterday after creating our backgrounds I gave the ladies my stencil folders and said....go and play....

Tape the stencil to the card and cover with the foam.

Scrape off the excess, we used a plastic 12inch ruler.

Take the stencil away and hey presto .....this one is Lisa's....

And Joan made this one....

Look at these...

And

 

And

Just be warned that it is very addictive.....and the time just disappears .....

Thanks for another great day ladies and see you next month.....

If you would like to try this technique go to the Clarity web site where there is 20% off all stencils at the mo...

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk

Enjoy your Sunday....love and hugs.

Jo. X

 

Sweet Lilac Flowers...Anything Goes....

Good morning, and welcome to Thursday and a new Challenge on the Sweet Lilac Blog.

Our new theme is Anything Goes....so that gives you plenty of scope for ideas....just remember to include some of the gorgeous Sweet Lilac products...

Here is my piece ..

Thanks to all the people who took part in last months Challenge and Congratulations to the winner , who receives a hamper of flowers.

This piece started life as an MDF tag from the MDF Man....if you haven't used his products ...do go and visit his web site..

http://www.mdfblanks.com

Coat the surface with glue, and place the tag down onto the paper. I used some Graphic 45 paper.

Now cut it out using a craft knife and a glass mat.

Gently sand the edges.

Now to make some large blue flowers. Take 3 flat flowers.

Put some glue into the middle of one and scrunch it up.

Put some glue into the centre of the next one and add the scrunched flower.

Same again with the third and this is what you make...lovely isn't it?

Next I glued some hessian to the tag

And started to add some flowers and a small glass jar filled with some blue beads.

Then some more flowers and some hat pins.

I cut a tag shape and stamped one of the Clarity word chains.

Made an embellishment using my meltpot.

Added some colour to the tag. Then glued it into place along with some ribbon.

 

I do hope that you like my tag ...here is a close up of the flowers.

I do love to use these flowers and look forward to seeing all the lovely projects this month...

Do go to the Sweet Lilac blog and have a look at the other work from my fellow D.T. Members.

http://sweetlilacflowers.blogspot.co.uk

Right that is all from me. I still need to unpack after the brilliant week I had on France with Barbara and the rest of the Clarity family.

Thanks for looking in and see you soon.

Jo. X

 

A great time.

Hello, and Happy Monday.....I do hope that you are well....

I have had a brilliant time in France with Barbara, Dave and the Clarity family.

We had a Murder, Mystery night.

Oh what fun...

I won't be able to look at some people in the same light again.....oh Papa....Pierre....etc...

Some photos from France....

And.

And

And something Crafty to finish with..( thanks Maria for the butterfly and Paul for the flower )

Thanks for looking in today...a busy day tomorrow travelling ...

See you soon

Love and hugs...

Jo. X