Bank Holiday Monday..

Good afternoon all and thanks for looking in on this ( wet ) Bank Holiday Monday....hope your day is going well so far...

What have you been up too...? Anything crafty?

Have you managed to watch Hochanda yet? After a few minor teething problems , which to be honest is expected with a new venture...I have found the Channel such a refreshing change....full of great demos, and so inspiring , and off course Barb was on twice....yah....just perfect...

Today I am going to share a card with you that I made for a very special couple...as it was their Silver Wedding Anniversary last week,,,

I started with the wonderful Clarity stencil , some ink and my much loved brushes and a piece of Stencil card...

Then I added this wonderful bride and groom,,,,I do seem to use this wee couple so much..

Some charcoal for shading...

Some numbers...

And some embellishments..

Here is a closer look...

On Saturday I had the day off, the first one in ages...and boy did I need it....especially as I have a couple of really busy weeks ahead....

So Karl, me Tess and Eric set off in the van....we went to the seaside.....

We were so lucky as the sun shone all day.....

Now this was the first time that Eric had been to a beach...you see Tess doesn't do water.....I know ....she is a Labrador !!!! But Eric on the other hand....oh he loved it...he went straight in.....And he didn't want to come out...

And I am sure he was smiling on this photo....spot those pearly white teeth....

I do hope that last picture made you smile as much as its is me.....

Smiling is good....

Time for a spot of ironing now....oh ...not so good..!!!! But it has to be done...

Enjoy the rest of your day....

Thanks for visiting, and pop back soon.

Much love and hugs...

Jo. xxx

 

Fantasy for the Weekend...

Hi and thanks for your company this Friday morning....hope it is treating you well....

Did you manage to watch any of the Hochanda shows yesterday? I had a bit of a early glitch with my recorder but all sorted out today......remember Barbara is on with Clarity Stamps and Stencils tomorrow 6-7 and the Groovi on Sunday 10-11....sky 663.....FreeView 39..... FreeSat 822.....

Today I just wanted to remind you of the current challenge over at the Sweet Lilac Blog......

The theme is Fantasy.......and remember you could win a hamper of the wonderful flowers...also the winner is chosen at random...

Here is some inspiration for you...

And here is a photo tutorial of how are created it...

I started with a piece of Gelli card and stamped the Toadstool stamp...from Claritystamp...

Next came the large moon mask....

And some Distress Ink blending....now you know how I love blending with these wonderful inks...

Before taking the mask off , I spritzed some water on ...and patted it dry with some kitchen towel.

Then I added the Wee Fairies...And some flowers ...

Plus some magic stars...

I used Spectrum Noir pencils to add colour to the toadstools...

And then the most beautiful flowers from Sweet Lilac .....these are from the gypsophila range...oh I do love them.....plus some bakers twine.....

To add some sparkle...I used Stickles Glitter Glue....I like to put a small amount onto my craft mat and then I pick some up and paint with it....I use an old Wink Of Stella brush...one that is empty but I love the brush nib.....so it is perfect for this...

And the finished design

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Bank Holiday Weekend...enjoy whatever you get up too...remember to keep smiling.....

Love and Hugs....

Jo. xxx

 

Happy in Hazel Grove...

Good evening....I am sat with my cup of green tea, some relaxing music and my feet up....at the end of another busy but wonderful day...Karl is in the other room watching footie on TV......so I thought it was a good time for a catch up....

Today at our workshops we used a brilliant stamp set....the Remountable large village set ....mmmm I can't believe that I didn't already have this one....soon rectified....

Here is our first card...

Or.....

Depending which stencil was used...

Start with masking off the lower part of your card, attach the stencil and brush through some blue ink...

Next stamp all the elements.....this is such a cheat and a quick way to create this landscape...shhh don't tell,...

Join up the horizon line with a black fine liner...and add the green ink...

Then out with the Spectrum Noir pencils, black Sharpie and ruler...

Job done...

Our second card was a Christmas card....a sneaky way of me actually making a start...yah...one done...lots still to make....

Again a quick and easy card...well we do need some like that at Christmas...

Before I go just a reminder that Barbara will be at the launch of Hochanda tomorrow....

Hochanda stands for ......Home Of Chrafts, Hobbies, AND Art....

It launches at 12 noon on....Sky....663........ freeView...39 and FreeSat...822...

Then on Saturday at 6pm with the first Clarity Stamps and Stencil show.....followed by Sunday at 10am with the Groovi show....make sure you book your seat...

Thanks for your company....United are 1-0 up at the moment ....so Karl is a happy bunny....hope it lasts.....

Take care....

And see you soon....

Much love...

Jo. xxx

 

Time to feed the soul...

Good evening everyone, hope Tuesday has been kind to you....I have been getting organised ready for our two workshops tomorrow in Hazel Grove, Cheshire...

Once all my bags were packed it was time for a cup of tea and some time to play.... You see I do think that playtime is good for the soul...well it is for mine.....

I had a canvas that I had painted very roughly a few weeks ago...so I started to add some Sweet Lilac Flowers, and some embellishments....then into the spray booth o.k. Cardboard box....and I sprayed it with Dylusions Spray paint...

Last of all some silver Gilding wax....Not bad for 15 minutes and a brew....

Here is a closer look.

Not sure where it is going to live yet!!! I will have to ponder that over another cuppa....

So go on....put the kettle on....

Don't forget the biscuits......

Pop back soon...

Love and Hugs,,.

Jo. xxxx

 

The Lake District Stag....

Good afternoon and as always thanks for popping in for a catch up...it has been a busy few days..

In my last blog post I shared a wedding card with you...well I am going to start today by showing you the gift that went with it.....it is so nice to be able to personalise items....don't you agree....and the little logo in the top right hand corner was taken from the design on the wedding invitations.......

Yesterday I drove up to Kendal for the Summer Crafting event at the Paper Warehouse....and what a brilliant day I had....the staff are wonderful, ( what a lovely lunch we had too) the shop is full of must have items and I met some lovely crafters....thanks to some of the Clarity Cumbria ladies who came , it was great to see you...oh and thanks to my Mum and Sister...it was great to see you too...

There were 14 demonstrators all together including Sarah, Pauline and Linda.....I just couldn't resist snapping this shot of Linda ...ready for action.

One of my Demonstrations was using the Woodland stencil and animal stamps ,

So for those of you who couldn't make it,,,,,I thought we would have a short photo tutorial...

Start with a piece of Gelli card, and tape the stencil into place. Add the sun mask, and tear some copier paper...carefully brush in the sky using the blue then some pink Adirondack ink.

Please excuse the copie paper , it is a well used piece , well I am a crafter...

Next work on the landscape, I like to start at the bottom of the picture with a dark green...and build it up using a lighter green to give perspective...

See how the scene is building...

Now for the sun, swap the sun mask for the outer part and using a make up sponge gently add some yellow....followed by a little orange...always remember to dab the colour on the mask first...this will blend the ink and give a better result.

Next the stencil is removed and we can start stamping....using black Archivalink....oh look at that stag....he is right at home in the Lake District...

Then an owl in the tree, and a squirrel on our Sharpie faux twine....

Also take the Sharpie around the edge of the card and a fine liner around the aperture ....what a difference that makes.

When I got home ...it was party time as it was Eric's first Birthday....I really don't know where the time has gone...

He is such a good dog.....but I had better share a photo of Tess too....no favouratism...

They both had a lovely long walk this morning and as the sun was shining Karl and me had a coffee in the garden.....well it is my day off...

Enough from me....time for Dinner....

Enjoy your evening...

Much love,

Jo. xxx

 

Happy ever after .

Good morning all and thanks for spending a few moments with me....how is your week going? I hope it has been a good one ...our weather is certainly ' changeable ' here in the U,K .....and it is perfect for my garden...everything is growing at a rate of knots.....especially the weeds......I must get out and tidy things up....

It has been another busy week on the craft front....I had a lovely couple of days making samples for Barbara with some fabulous new stamps and stencils....but shhhhhh....they will be heading your way soon....

I also had to go to Crookilleycrafts in Bramhall with more stock. I am so grateful to all the wonderful people who by my crafty makes....and order more.....

One of the commissioned cards that I made this week was for a wedding...and I do like to make them match the colours of the wedding theme if possible...

I started by stamping my wreath and the wedding couple.( looks odd at this stage....but have faith...)

Then I stamped and embossed the butterflies on some good quality vellum...and cut them out....

Next it was play time with some gorgeous Sweet Lilac Flowers and some embellishments....

Also some glitter, well it is for a wedding after all...

I lovely verse for the inside..

Here is a closer look

I wish the bride and groom every happiness. It did remind me though that I need to make a start on the wedding invitations for my nieces wedding next Easter.....whoops.....

I hope you like this card as you know I do love wreath cards and find them so versatile....just by changing the stamp, the colours, the embellishments you can change the whole feel of the card .

I must go as today I am putting the final touches to my demonstrations ready for Saturday .....when I shall be at the Paper Warehouse in Kendal as part of their Summer Crafting event...demonstrating Clarity Stamps and Stencils....I am so looking forward to it....especially as it is my home town.....I am looking forward to catching up with so many friends....

Have a great day....hope you find something to make you smile....

Much love,

Jo. xxx