Flowers.

Good morning...hope your Friday has started well...

I am so pleased to tell you that today I am hosting the new Challenge over at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge Blog...

I have chosen the new theme of.....

Flowers...

We are sponsored by two wonderful companies, Magnolia-licious and Sweet Lilac Flowers...

I do hope you can create something and enter our Challenge...remember it can be a card, canvas or piece of mixed media...I am really looking forward to visiting all your blogs and reading about your designs.

Here is my inspiration...hope you like it..

And here is how I created it....

I started with a piece of stencil card and this wonderful Olive branch wreath stencil, as always I taped it at the top to make a hinge.

Next I added some Lettuce Adirondack ink...

This is what I had when I lifted the stencil up.

Nice, but I felt that it needed more depth...so out with the Meadow Adirondack ink.

There that's better.

Next I added some shade around the edge of the card.

And a verse from Clarity to the centre.

I found a lovely little wooden dragonfly in my stash and I added some colour to it with DI

And then added it to the card

I gathered some of my Sweet Lilac Flowers and leaves

And then added them to my card design

 

Some glossy accents just finished the design off, it looks like water droplets on the flowers.

I do love this verse, it is one of my favourites.

If you would like to see the samples from the rest of the DT, and they are fabulous , just visit our blog...

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk

That's it from me today...I am off out for a coffee with a friend....I seem to have been working so much recently that friends have taken a back seat,,,.so this week I have had a word with myself.....and already caught up a lovely friend of mine from our cub leader days...and today it is coffee and catch up with Bethan...

Friends and Family are so important....and I will leave you with that thought...

Have a wonderful weekend

Much love and hugs.

Jo. xxx

 

Bells...

Good evening all, and how is your week going? I have had a very busy few days getting some orders made...I am so pleased that my little order book is fit to burst at the moment...

Did you see Barbara on Sunday? Great shows as usual....and today on HOCHANDA a one day wonder....perfect for all Groovi Chicks ....

Do check out all the new stash on the Clarity website...( and as you know I love poppies...that is all I am saying...)

Today I am going to show you a step by step for one of my samples....

As you know I do love working with Stencils....and this design is so quick and simple...but hopefully effective...

It all started with a piece of stencil card and the bell stencil.

The top was taped to make a hinge...

I started with a stencil brush , some yellow and orange ink. ( and yes...I love my new carved pumpkin D.I. )

Next I added some detail with a make up sponge and torn paper. My top tip here is always remember to dab your sponge on the side of the stencil first....not straight onto the card...

When I took the stencil away...this is what I had

Next I covered this area up with the inner part of the stencil...and then added the outer part.

I then repeated the brush and make up part of the design....but this time I just went a shade darker....

This helps with the illusion that this bell is behind the first one...

Then I just added some ribbon and a seasonal flower.

I do love this type of illusion.....here is a closer look

I do hope you like this....or is it just not your cup of tea? Do let me know...

Before I go I need to just say Hi to a very good friend of mine who is under the weather at the moment...

I hope you feel better soon Sharon....and Mike....thanks for looking after her....hugs to both of you...

Time now to do the pots and then more pyrography....both boys are at work and Karl has gone to watch some football.......so me and the dogs are going to craft...

Thanks for popping in...

Enjoy your evening..

Love and hugs as always..

Jo. xxx

 

Papyrus

Good afternoon and thanks for joining me this Thursday afternoon.

Yesterday it was workshop day in Hazel Grove and we went Christmas crazy making cards ready for the festive season. Unfortunately our Birthday girl couldn't be with us ....so we ate her cake .....

After sending her this photo.....and yes It was a dare!!!!! ( workshop calendar coming out soon....lol....)

Oh we have such a giggle.....but then life is so much better when you smile...don't you think....?

Thanks Julie for the yummy cakes...

And as for the afternoon crew well all I can say is the camel was in the building .....wasn't it Eileen????

Onto today....I have a special blog step by step for my lovely friend Donna...

This is a card that we made in Cumbria...

And here is how we made it, I must admit the design came about quite by accident...it was an idea that went wrong....but then it turned out right in the end....just shows you....sometimes you just need to keep on joining ...

Start by stamping the lovely Papyrus stamp from Clarity...

Turn the card around and stamp again...leaving a small gap.

Next mask off to the middle...

And add the stencil....making sure that the middle off the stencil is in the middle of the flower.

Start in the middle section with Lettuce Adirondack ink.

Add Meadow around the edge..

And then finish off with Cracked Pistachio in the top right hand corner.

Remove the stencil...

Don't worry about inking the flowers , you won't see this when we have coloured them...

Turn the card around again....and repeat the process

Mask off.

Add the stencil, and then the inks...

Remove the Stencil

Add some Black sharpie pen around the edge....also my latest fad....faux bakers twine....

Now....I bet you are saying...what about the gap in the middle? ( and that black mark!!! There is always one )

Well simple...

Just draw in a thread and bow with your black fine liner pen..

And colour the flowers with your Spectrum Noir pencils.

Add it to a card blank....

 

And job done.....

I do think this would make a lovely design for a set of say Thank You cards....as the Papyrus design looks fab in different colours.

So Donna , I really hope that helps....

Also if you still need the Snow Globe Die...Glynis at CJ CardCrafts has some in stock and is happy to post them out.....just call her on 0161-477-7027

Well , my soup maker has just finished so time for a late lunch...

See you soon.....

Much love and hugs,

Jo. xxx

 

Snowflakes.

Good evening, and hope your week has started well...mine has, what a lovely day...

I have spent the day making samples with some wonderful new stencils and stamps ready for Barbara on Hochanda TV on Sunday.

Mind you the day just flew....before I knew it , it was time to make a meal and walk the dogs...

Today I am going to share a card with you that I made for the last show....it uses the new Snowflake stamps...and you can image how chuffed I was when I got the show email from Hochanda tv and this card was featured....

Oh what a buzz that was....

I started by creating the background ....a piece of stencil card and some white embossing powder.

I randomly stamped the snowflakes with VersaMark ink, then added the powder and heat embossed.

Next I used some Distress ink with water and spritzed .

I do love this technique...whilst this was drying, I made my topper.

Again stamping and white embossing powder.

Then I used the Distress reinkers direct and painted with them .

It just seemed a bit too white to me...so out with some peacock feathers D.I.

Followed by some matting and layering.

I wanted to add some embellishments, so I made some using white vellum and clear embossing powder...

Then a circle punch and a pearl gem.

Some glossy accents on the topper was just the finishing touch..

And the whole design came together.

Perfect for someone special at Christmas...

Now that reminds me...I need to make some more cards....only three made at the last count...mmmmm

Anybody else got lots to make ? Or are you all on top of it and organised????

Take care and see you soon,

Jo. xxx