Vintage..

Good morning all....

Today I thought I would remind you about a Challenge over at the home of paper flowers.....http://sweetlilacflowers.blogspot.co.uk

Sweet Lilac are a family run business and they sell the most gorgeous paper flowers and leaves....they also have a blog Challenge that runs every month and the winner receives a box of their wonderful flowers...and even better the winner is chosen at random....

TheIr new theme is Vintage.....

And here is some inspiration for you...I hope you like it...

I started with three pieces of card and coloured and stamped them with Distress ink....this crackle stamp from Clarity is such a useful stamp...

Here are all three

Next I stamped the topper....now this is such a gorgeous stamp....and I really don't think it is used nearly enough....it is aptly named Friends...

Some matting and layering...and some lace..Also ..from Sweet Lilac...

This is the selection of flowers that I decided to have a play with...I do love the colour tones....

Also do remember that you can use Distress ink to change the colour of the flowers and leaves..

I also included one from a new range ....Gypsophila...( Gyps 002) A definite must have...

Another thing that I like to do is to cut into some of the flowers to make small leaves to add accents to the arrangements...

I use glue gel to attach the flowers to the card.

Some gems and hatpins and the design was finished...Here is a closer look...

I do hope you pop over to the blog to see the work by the design team and even better ...why not enter...after all someone has to win the hamper of flowers....you have until 14th of June as the new Challenge will start on the 15th June...

I am off now to tackle the garden....with the help of Tess and Eric.....

Wish me luck....

Have a good weekend , take care and pop back soon...

Jo. xxx

 

Thank you...

Good afternoon all,

I do hope your Friday is going well....I just wanted to spend a few moments with you today to say Thank you to all the lovely people who messaged me, emailed me....sent me a text, a card, flowers, wine, an orchid , candles, some chocolates .....oh my....the list goes on....I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.....

I had a wonderful Birthday yesterday and I did have some help to open my presents.....

Mr Eric had a brilliant time....

Here are just some of the amazing handcrafted cards that I reviewed..

And I always get a buzz when the florist walks up our drive...

So a big Thank you one and all....

Hope you have a very happy and contented weekend....

Hugs...

Jo. xxx

 

Use some Metal...

Good morning, hope today finds you well...

I would like to welcome our new friend and follower, Kersten...it is great to have you join in with this crafty journey....

Today is a special day so I am going to blog early then it is family time and I am looking forward to lunch with my wonderful husband....

As you know I am really enjoying playing along with the girls at the Less Is More Challenge....

This week their Challenge is....Week 225- Add Some Metal.....

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/week-225-recipe.html

Here is my offering....

I started by looking through my box of metal embellishments.....and then decided which stamps to use....

This is such a useful stamp set....from Claritystamp..

I took a piece of gelli card and stamped the borders..

Then the Taylor's dummy...

Next I added some colour using my Spectrum Noir pencils....these really are fabulous and a great way to add shade to colouring...

The sentiment needed a border, so out with a black fine liner....

Then more shade using my charcoal pencils...And finally the metal embellishment....

And I couldn't resist an extra little touch of this metal pin...

And there we have it..... I do hope you like it..

Do pop over to the blog....the dt make the most wonderful creations...

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk

Right, I had better get a move on..... Have a lovely day......and thanks as always for your support , I really appreciate it...

Much love...

Jo. xxx

 

 

Afternoon all.

Good afternoon ...and how is your week going? I must admit I have had one of those days where it has been one step forwards and two steps back!!!!!......and not many jobs ticked off the list.....

Oh well.....at least I got the washing in just before it started to rain....I really needed to make some samples for TV today...one...that is all I have managed....good job I am not on the last minute.....mind you I do love the new stamps....and when you see them ....you will know why......

So today I thought I would share one of my favourite type of cards with you....a wreath card....now this was featured on C&C but I have waited until now to blog the ' how too' as it was one of our projects at Clarity Cumbria on Saturday....

It starts with a piece of gelli card and the smaller dare I say stubby ( sorry Mandy) stamp from the Shepherds Purse collection...

Stamp it in the middle at the top of the card..

Next turn the card 90 degrees and repeat, again....and again...And again....

Next the aim is to stamp into the gap that is left....once again...turn the card In between each stamping...

The couple from the Wee Folk wedding set look right at home inside...And notice I have made some shrink plastic doves....

Now....stamp onto vellum , using black ink and clear embossing powder....and heat then cut out....oh I do love a bit of fussy cutting...

Before attaching this to the wreath add some bakers twine...I used 3d glue gel......also I added a little colour using my Spectrum Noir Pencils...

Here is a closer look...

As usual I added a little charcoal shading....I don't think I make any cards without using charcoal these days...

I do hope you like this....and it would make a wonderful wedding card especially if you could match the colour of the vellum to the bridesmaid dresses....

Thanks for looking in today...must go , still jobs to tick off that list....

Hope your day is more productive than mine......

Love and hugs...

Jo. xxx

 

Sunday...a day to rest...

Good afternoon all and thanks for popping in today....how is your weekend going? Today I am having a rare day off....it was another busy week last week ....Wednesday was workshops in Hazel Grove....always a great day....and always so much laughter...and this week Julie made gluten free cakes....and oh they were delicious....thanks Julie....( sorry that you missed them Wendy x )

Then yesterday it was Clarity Cumbria, another highlight of my crafty life...so off I set at 7 am and Sheila had my breakfast waiting for me...now this is another group of the most lovely, friendly and kind crafters that you could wish to meet...as always we did have cake....Sheila makes the most wonderful cakes...I was spoilt again with gluten free cake...thanks ladies...Freda brought extra sweeties....and Rachel brought us chocolates...( well we do like to nibble whilst we are creating!!!)

We started by making a gift card, that had two cards inside....This was based on the wedding invitation that I designed the other week for TV...

Our class stamp was the Shephers purse stamp set...and yes Mandy...I told you I just can't put it down...

This would make such a lovely gift....and could have a gift card or voucher inside...here are the ones that the ladies and gentleman made....( don't want to forget you Peter)

And this is the insides...

Next we did some wreath stamping....you all know how I love yo make wreath cards...

Look what a great job the crafters did....

Now our next card did cause such laughter....mind you I think my book choice could have been better.....!!!

I thought I had vetted the pages!!!!

But you know some people will find naughty words anywhere.... ( but not me!!! lol..)

The venue that we have is just perfect , with plenty of light....if you ever fancy joining us, just email me ...all the dates are on my workshop dates page on here....

Must go now....Mikey needs a lift to work...did I say I was having a day off? ....well may be half a day....

A long walk with Karl and the dogs is just what I need....Eric has started hiding in the grass...

Can you see him?

Is that better?

I think he is playing hide and seek for Labradors.....

Enjoy your evening all, and have a lovely Bank Holiday Monday tomorrow....

Karl is on call so I have a long list of jobs to keep me out of mischief ....

Much love and hugs....

Jo. xxxx

 

Hello Sunshine...

Good afternoon and thanks for looking in today....oh it has been very wet, cold and dark here in Cheshire today..

So when I noticed that the new Challenge over on the Less Is More Challenge was themed..

...Hello Sunshine..

.I just had to join in... http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/week-224-theme.html

Do pop over and have a look, or better still spread the word and join in....go on you will enjoy it......

Out came some inks and some of my favourite Clarity stamps...this is what I came up with ....

 

And do you know ...it instantly brightened my day...

I started with a piece of Gelli card and an aperture Stencil..

Next I took a selection of Distress inks, normally I work with three but as I wanted as much dimension as possible I decided on five colours...

Oh look how they blend....it is amazing what a little elbow grease can do...And a spritz of water...

Next came some stamping ..

And a tree...

And then the all important sentiment...

Add into the mix a black Sharpie pen..

And a lovely ...sunny...happy card is born...

I do hope that I have brightened your day too...

Oh talking of things that make us smile....there was a story on our local Radio about a lady who will be 100 years old at the end of the month, she is in a nursing home and hasn't any family or friends....so they asked to see if anyone would send her a card....I just had to join in....

So out came so faithful stamps , I rustled together a card and got it in the post....I know I will probably never meet the lady ...but I just hope she will feel loved on such a special day...

You know the world really is made up of lots of little acts of kindness....

Must get on now...dogs to walk....meal to cook...and then time to sit and relax....yah....

Enjoy your evening...

Love and hugs...

Jo. xxx