Another canvas.

Good evening , yah...we have made it to Friday....and I have a day off tomorrow....

On Wednesday it was workshops in Hazel Grove and it was so good to see all the ladies plus a lovely new crafter.......As usual we had lots of fun as well as making a canvas....

We used the grunge paste through the Clarity stencil....when dry we used black gesso,

Then gold gilding wax then alcohol inks to add some colour...

It was so good to see everyone having fun, moving out of their comfort zones and being so pleased with the end results....and all the works of art looked so individual....

Thank you ladies....you rock....

I have also taken my art work to Crookilleycrafts Emporium In Bramhall where they are on sale....

I have made some canvas work...

Very War Horse...don't you think.... ?

And my favourite poppies...

And trinket box's. ....square...

And round....

And hearts

Oh and a little birdie....

So if you are in Bramhall village...do pop in and have a look...lots of great gifts and all made locally by crafters...

Enjoy your Friday evening....and have a lovely weekend....

Pop back soon...

Jo. xxxx

 

Love is in the air...

Good evening and thank you for sharing a few minutes with me...

Today I just want to spend a few moments reminding you about the Sweet Lilac Paper Flowers Blog Challenge...

This is a monthly challenge and the winner chosen at random wins a hamper of the gorgeous Sweet Lilac Flowers...

http://sweetlilacflowers.blogspot.co.uk

The theme this month is Love is in the Air....

So I have decorated a large heart which now hangs above our bed...

Here is a close up...

I hope you will pop over and have a look at the inspiration from the DT...and even better enter the challenge...and remember it doesn't have to be a card....

That is it from me for tonight....Karl is on his way home from London...

And I have to tidy up all this craft stash before he gets home...oh and make him some food....

Take care and pop back soon...

Jo. xxxx

 

 

The Bokeh Technique.

Good evening and thank you for looking in...

Oh what a busy day...but on a positive note my Clarity samples are in the post on their way to Barbara...and my bags are packed ready for workshops in Hazel Grove tomorrow...

As promised today I am going to explain the Bokeh technique to you...well my understanding of it...

It really has taken the craft world by storm...so get in and join in with the fun...

It comes from a filter used in photography , the Bokeh Filter...it can also be found in some software ...

It gives a blurry, soft focus type of effect around objects such as a light source...hence as soon as I saw this I thought of Jo' s bubbles Stencil...just made for the job...

Here is an example......look at the background...

I started with some masking, my Clarity Stencil brush and Sail Boat Blue Adirondack ink.

Then I added some soft circles in blue ..

Next came some in white...now I love the Brilliance ink pad for this....I also find it useful to do some masking on the stencil...

How lovely is that....

So many stamps could be added to this type of background...

I must warn you it does become a bit addictive...look just one colour....and I love the bubbles stamp in the mix too..

This was one of our Clarity Cumbria makes...

Same process...but this time we started by blending Distress ink on our card ...

Then came some circles..

Next some white orbes...followed by some stamping...

And finally here is one of last months DT samples....well it just had to be done...

You see different stamps but same technique...oh I just love it...and yes I may have just used it again this month...

Barbara did a brilliant tutorial on her blog ....

http://barbaragrayblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/so-sorry-im-latehad-important-date.html

Do go and have a look...

I look forward to hearing what you think of this technique and hopefully seeing some of your projects...

That's all from me ...

Much love,

Jo. xxxx

 

Clarity Cumbria...

Good afternoon all, from a very wet, Cheadle Hulme....how is the weather with you today.?

Yesterday it was Clarity Cumbria and what a fab day we all had...Karl, Tess and Eric came too....although they didn't stay for the workshop...

Debbie had been busy making T shirts for us all,,,,

What do you think? I love them ....thanks Debbie you have done a brilliant job...

Look at the lovely ladies...what a great bunch....and great to see two new ladies, Eileen and Dee...

Wee used the Wee Folk stamps....this was our first card using Jo's Bubbles stencil...( well we just had to do it!!!)

What a great job they all did...

Next it was time for some Masking techniques....and off to Paris....

Once again what great work the ladies created...well no lunch until the designs were completed!!!!

Our third project involved the Bokeh Technique...one of my favourite new tricks....I will try and write a separate blog post explaining this tomorrow...

How fab are these...

After tea and cake...thanks Sheila....it was time to use Alcohol markers on acetate....

I do love the way this looks so 3d....

Look at the gorgeous array of colours...

It is always great to catch up with crafters, swap techniques and stories....not all about craft....and not all repeatable....lol...

Our Sunday lunch is in the oven and the leek and potato soup is in the soup maker....such a fantastic gadget....my friend Jane gave me a great recipe for tomato soup....another success ...thanks Jane...

So I will say bye for now....enjoy your evening and let's hope we all have a good week ahead...

Love and hugs...

Jo. xxx

 

 

Tic Tac Toe...

Good morning all, I do hope that you are well this Friday morning...and that you have had a good week...I have been working on the next lot of Clarity samples...and once again I have new favourites...when you see the stamps you will know what I am talking about....

I have also been planning and getting ready for Clarity Cumbria tomorrow...I am so excited as our lovely group of crafters is going from strength to strength and we have our largest group to date....we also have a new lady Eileen who is traveling a long way to come and join us...( I must be on my best behaviour!!!)

Back to today....we have a new Challenge over at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge Blog...and our theme is ..Tic Tac Toe....or Some of you might know it as Bingo....

Here is the Bingo card...

Our lovely host is Beth,,,,and we are sponsored by Live and Love Crafts...

http://www.liveandlovecrafts.com

I had a brilliant time making this design....now you can choose a line from the Bingo card..either horizontally or vertically......but I went for Full House......well it was such fun.....here is my design...

As I created the design I actually did tick off the products and techniques used...lol...

I started with the main image...one of my favourite Clarity stamps...Petite Musique...I stamped In black ink and then embossed using clear embossing powder...I do find this more forgiving than stamping in VersaMark and using Black embossing powder...

The emboss gives a lovely raised edge to the design..

Next I used an embossing folder ( for the dry embossing)

And added some ink with my stencil brush..

Next came the sentiment...

And some colour...now you know how I do love my Spectrum Noir Pencils...

And a black border...

 

 

I needed to use a punch, now I don't have many..but as look would have it this one was just perfect...

And some lace....good job Sweet Lilac Flowers sell flowers and lace...some ribbon just finished off the border...

Another tick ....and the design is taking shape...

Not many things left now...

Pearls...oh that is an easy one...and next on the board ....

Charm...that is what I needed....and it just so happened that I had bought some gorgeous charms from the on line shop of Live and Love Crafts....( our sponsorers...)

Here is a closer look..

 

So if I have done this correctly all I need now is sparkle...so out with the Stickles...

And Full House it is...

I do hope you like what I have made and that you can join in with the challenge...also check out the brilliant inspiration from the rest of the Design Team....

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk

I am off now to walk Tess and Eric then time to get the workshop bags packed.....

My ladies are in for a special surprise tomorrow...but it is a secret....I will take photos and tell you all next week..

Have a good weekend.....and remember to smile....

Much love and hugs...

Jo. xxxx