Out and about.

Good afternoon and thanks for looking in today....I have just had lunch and so I thought it was a good time to sit and have a catch up...

How is your week going? ...Karl is away this week so I am trying to catch up on my long list of jobs....

I went and posted my samples yesterday....as Barbara is on TV this coming Sunday....more goodies for you to add to your wish list....or NEED list.....

I have sent the class email to the ladies ready for next weeks workshops.....and got all the samples made....

I have even made some commissioned cards this morning and unpacked another rather large Clarity order....( I still get excited when my order arrives.....what am I like!!!!)

Today I am going to share with you a sample that I made for the latest Clarity show in Germany....

This is one of my favourite stencils....and yes I do keep using it....( sorry ) But it has to be done..

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clarity-Stencils/18000-/Circles-Box-Frame-Stencil-7-x-7-Inch

I used Gelli card, adirondack inks and my stencil brushes...Plus some sequin waste...To create the background. Using the inner of the stencil to mask off the central square.

Then using post it notes to cover this part of the design, I worked on the central square and created the landscape.

The Wee boy was stamped in Black Archival ink...

I coloured the tree using my Spectrum Noir pencils...

One of the things that I like to do is to extend the design and so more ink was added using my stencil brushes....

The Wee boy needed a reason to be outside playing so I drew him some bubbles to play with...And added Glossy Accents to them...

Black fine liner pen and a not very steady hand add the finishing touches....I like to follow this through onto the card blank too..

Not sure if I would be joining him today as we have sun one minute and then hailstones the next....

Hope the weather is better where ever you are...

Well lunch over...so better get on....got some canvas and grunge paste waiting for my attention...

Then it will be time to walk the dogs......

Enjoy your afternoon all,

See you soon.

Love and hugs.

Jo. xxx

 

On your bike......

Good evening all and thanks for spending a few moments with me today...

We have had lovely weather and I have had a day of dog walking and gardening...

Yesterday was Clarity Cumbria and it was our one year anniversary....I am so chuffed that we have been going for twelve months...and I feel so lucky that the ladies come back month after month...you see our first one had five names on the list.....but now we have Well over twenty....and some that visit when they are staying with family...

Sheila made us a Birthday cake....thanks Sheila...

Lisa wanted to take a photo.....(I don't do photos!!!)

Notice the Wee Folk on my top....thanks Debbie...

We used the Bicycle stamp.....

Our warm up project used one of the new stencils too..

Look at these...

Next we used Shrink plastic....we took it by the horns....controlled it....and no disasters....yah...

The class cards..

After lunch....some fussy cutting..

We love to fussy cut...don't we Barbara...lol....

And the after tea and cake....some distressing....and look I love this stamp....it is another favourite...

Look at these beauties....

And some homework....

Canvas work...have fun ladies....

And the best quote of the workshop......when Gill said....why does the image of my bike look green.....?

I had to reply....Because you have stamped it using green ink......!!!!!!

(She had picked it up instead of her black...only a crafter would understand our humour....)

We did laugh...

That's all from me....time for some TV before bed....

Hope you have a relaxing evening....

Love and hugs...

Jo. xxx

 

 

Horsing around...

Good evening all and thanks for popping in today...

I really don't know where today has gone.......the to do list still has many things on it...grrrr

So please excuse me if this is a quick blog post....you see tomorrow is Clarity Cumbria and I have been focused on that ......

I thought I would share this make with you ...using A Clarity stamp and Stencil...

I made it for my niece...you see she loves horses in fact she has a beautiful white horse...

Here they are in a local competition...

 

Rachel is getting married next year....and I am lucky that I am making the wedding invitations...etc....

We are still looking around for ideas and inspiration...It is all great fun....

Right...better get on...the bags are packed....I seem to take more each time I go ....Mind you us crafters do like to make sure we have everything....don't we....no need for a kitchen sink as there is one in the village hall.....

Look ...Tess and Eric watching everything I do....They are such a help....

Enjoy your evening....

I will be back with all our makes from Cumbria....it is shrink plastic weekend....so that should be fun...

And our one year anniversary....

Hopefully Sheila will make us a special cake....yah...

Love and hugs from me...

Xxxxx

 

When is a Fern....not a Fern....?

When it is a wreath.....

Good evening all , I have just got in after workshops in Hazel Grove....and what a fabulous time we had...

We used a brilliant little Fern stamp from Clarity....you may remember it from the canvas on Saturday's blog.... Here we used it to make a wreath...I know...my new obsession...!!!

Start by stamping....remember to turn your card...

And keep stamping..

And keep stamping..

This now has so many possibilities....change the colour of the ink...and you get a whole different look....

I am thinking brown and oranges for autumn....

I went for this gorgeous little number...the Daisies New Design stamp no 99.

Our second card....used the Fern again...

Oh and those wonderful little Wee Fairies.....( hey Donna.....see what I mean...)

I must thank all the crafters today....it really is just like a big crafty family and you are the reason that I love what I do........

Julie we are going to miss you whilst you are in Germany...but good job Barbara is on German tv...

Have a lovely evening all....

Time for some food...

Love and hugs.....

Jo. xxxx

 

Be Yourself....

Good afternoon and thanks for looking in today....how has your day been?

I was woken up early by Mr Eric....oh my little star!!!! So the washing was on the line, the dogs had been walked and all by 8am...

I then spent the morning working on samples for the next Clarity TV show...it does come round so quickly...

The afternoon has been spent sorting things out for workshops in Hazel Grove tomorrow.......as you know one of my favourite days...

So today I thought I would share a card with you that I made for the German show...

I wanted to show how well the masks work with the Wee Folk stamps...oh and the new alphabet too...

I started by stamping the words....fingers crossed that this actually means...Be Yourself....

Then some masking...I am so pleased that Clarity make the masks...

Then using a combination of masks, inks and sponges I created my landscape...

How cool is that...and so quick to take shape...

Next I added the Wee Folk.....I drew some bubbles By hand and added some shading with charcoal...

Sometimes it is nice to just let the art speak for itself...no glitter, or bows...Just good one layer work...

So that's my blog post for today...still got some ironing to do so better dash...

Hope you have a good evening....

Love and hugs...

Jo. xxx

 

Afternoon all....

Good afternoon all, thanks for looking in today....I have been gardening this morning...so now it is time for a well earned cup of tea and catch up with blog land...

Yesterday it was workshops day at C.J. CardCraft and we decorated MDF letters and made wreath cards ..one of our new ladies Vicki hadn't used PanPastels before...so I made a little canvas to show her how easy they are to use....

Now when I checked on the PanPastel blog their new Challenge theme is Anything goes....so I am going to have some fun and enter the Challenge...

Here is the finished canvas...And here is how I made it...

I started with a canvas board from Clarity and used a post it to mask the sun....the PanPastels just glide over the canvas....

 

Next I added the sun using one of the little sox....

To give the impression of clouds....I just used a rubber and removed the Pastel..

How cool is that...

Next the foliage...I used this brilliant little Fern stamp from Clarity...

I also edged the canvas by dragging the Archival ink pad around the circumference ...

To set the Pastels I like to use one of the Crafters Companion sprays...this time I choose the Spray and Sparkle...the iridescent one,.

I have a spray booth.....o.k. A box......

Next came the butterflies...one of my favourite Clarity stamps...And some mount board...

Plus some little flowers on the fern branches...

How quick but effective is that.....

Here is a closer look...

If you would like to join me in the Challenge ...pop over now.... http://panpasteluk.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/challenge-8-anything-goes-with.html

Just before I go back into the garden I would like to wish a Happy Birthday to one of our wonderful crafters from yesterday....

Happy Birthday Susan.........hope you are having a great day....

Look ....I found this photo of us two ....yah....

Right....must get on...still lots to do....

Have a great week....let's hope we get some more sunshine...

Love and hugs

Jo. xxxx

 

Springtime Flowers...

Good morning all and welcome to Friday...and a new challenge over at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge Blog...our new theme is ......

.....Springtime Flowers.....

......and is hosted by the very lovely and very talented Vannessa.

.........we are sponsored by Sweet Lilac Flowers and Marianne Designs...

Here is my inspiration ...

Using some beautiful paper flowers from Sweet Lilac and a Marianne Design....LR0169

This really is a gorgeous design ...and perfect to cut into four and make corners...

I stamped this Wonderful Clarity sentiment onto some yellow card....

And the butterfly three times onto white card...

Added colour with Spectrum Noir pencils and cut them out...

I do love the way the corners look...

This little star stamp just took the plain feeling away from the yellow card...

And look how good the flowers and leaves look...

And here is the finished design...I do hope that you like it...also pop over and see the other wonderful designs from the DT ...... http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk

I am off now to get my craft bag sorted ready for tomorrow's workshops at C.J.Cardcrafts in Stockport, Cheshire...I always have a lovely time when I visit the shop and Glynis looks after me so well....

The crafters who regularly attend have become really good friends and we have a new face book friend coming this week...so I am really looking forward to meeting her...

Enjoy your day all...and have a happy, healthy weekend...

Much love...

Jo. xxxx