A bit of mixed media..

Good afternoon all and thanks for popping in today. I am just home from our workshop,,.early today as it was local so not much driving and the lovely ladies helped with all the tidying....in fact I was a very lucky girl and had lots of wonderful presents today...thank you all....

Today we got a bit ' down and dirty ' and had some mixed media play time,,.

I wanted to try and recreate the look of Chinese lacquered furniture ...have you seen it? I just love it...

Not everyone's cup of tea though....

We started with a simple wooden box from Creativ, added some Grunge Paste, through a Clarity Stencil, some embellishments....

And then the black gesso....followed by some Inka gold , and some gilding wax...

Just look at what the ladies made..

I just love how they are all so different

Fabulous work...

And no two the same

Even the inside of the box was decorated.

Well it does just finish it off,

Now there are many different ways of doing this and some crafters like to paint the embellishments with gesso before adding them,,,,it is what ever way you choose...also mica powders are another way of adding the metallic shine....it is up to you,,.

Thanks for your company...I am off now to walk the dogs...it is dry at the moment...

We have had some rather horrible hail showers today..

Enjoy your evening all and remember Hochanda on Sunday and Monday with our Barbara...

Much love and hugs.

Jo. xxx

 

 

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Filigraphy Hot Air Balloons.

Good afternoon all and thanks for joining me again today...I really can't believe how cold it is outside . Yesterday I got caught in a snow blizzard driving back from workshops at the paper warehouse in Kendal....and it is nearly May...

Keeping with the filigraphy theme from my last post , I thought we would look at the very lovely Filigraphy Hot Air balloon stamps...

Here is one of my samples featured on Pauls shows last week...

And here is how I created it....

I started with a piece of stencil card and stamped the larger of the two balloons using a brown Archival ink...Potting soil...such a useful colour.

 

Next I used the mask for the Paris skyline...oh how romantic!!!

At this point you could use a brush, but I like to build up the colour using a make up sponge..each to their own...what ever method suits you....I started with Latte..

Then some Hazelnut, using copier paper to add detail

Followed by Espresso

Yes, I like that...

To create some movement in the sky I used peacock feathers distress ink on a piece of Acetate and smooshed the colour on, exactly where I wanted it...

A couple more stamps

Some Brushed Corduroy DI to frame the design

And finally some ground espresso DI just to give extra depth to the whole design.

I love to shape these hardly little line sentiment stamps...

I added some colour using my Spectrum Noir pencils, and a touch of Glossy Accents was the finishing detail...

I did enjoy making this card, and for once it is quite masculine,

I must use my masks more than I do...note to self.....

Do you find that you have certain favourite craft items....? The ones that you reach for again and again...

I have just finished packing the Car ready for tomorrow's mixed media class in Heald Green , Manchester...

Oh it's going to be messy....but fun...

No bank holiday for me this weekend as my to do list is longer than ever...but hey ho...I really can't complain as I love meeting and crafting with so many wonderful people,.

Do remember that our Barbara is on Hochanda this Sunday and Monday...

Here are some snippets ...just to wet your appetite...

You are going to love the shows..

Take care all, enjoy your weekend...

Much love and hugs...

Jo.,Xxx

 

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Filigraphy Foliage.

Good afternoon all and thanks for popping in today. How is your week going? I have just got back from the post office, and have posted my next batch of samples....our Barbra is on Hochanda this coming Sunday and Monday....oh ...you need to see what she is bringing....I know...I would tell you if I could....shhhhh

Also did you see her blog yesterday? With the brilliant news that the very talented Tina Cox has joined the Clarity demonstration and design teams,,.now there is a very clever artist...

I have just managed to watch Pauls shows from Sunday...I am one of those who has lost Hochanda for a while,..so I am on Catch up...

I thought today I would share one of my samples with you,..

Now I did have to laugh at Paul and Ben when they were talking about this card....every time Ben said....whoever made this !!!!! I was jumping up and down shouting at my iPad....it was me,,,,It was me,,,,,,my name is on the back.....oh it was so funny,,,.Tess and Eric did give me some funny looks.

 

Now those of you who are regulars here know that I am a bit obsessed with the Smooshing technique,,,

Well this time I wondered what if I use the stencil instead of the acetate....now I haven't seen anyone else do this...but if they have ...well great minds think alike...

Sort of Stencil Smooshing...

So I chose two colours of Distress inks and rubbed them onto the back of the stencil and spritzed with some water.

Then turned the stencil over and put it directly onto a piece of stencil card and gave it a gentle press.

This is what I had when the stencil was removed. Oh I am liking this......I may just be using this again...

Next I used Black Archival ink and stamped the filigraphy foliage stamps into place.

I had a gap where the stalk was, so out with one of the line writing sentiment stamps....

Oh yes that looks better. A couple of hot air balloons and a little blackbird and my design was finished...

Now that was fun....

Here is another sample using the same stencil,

But look how different they look, I do love to use one stencil or stamps in so many different ways,,,it's just the way that my mind works....

Do you find that you do the same?

I have another busy week this week and must get on as it is our regular workshop day on Thursday at Grosvenor House Papers in Kendal, then Saturday is Manchester crafts and we are doing some mixed media,,,,..and I need to get things sorted ready for our first Clarity Belfast the following Saturday....I am so excited as it will be my first ever trip to Northern Ireland....not many sleeps left ladies....

Enjoy your evening all,

Much love as always

Jo. xxx

 

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Sunday, a day of rest.

Good evening all and thanks for popping in. I do hope you have had a lovely weekend, mine has flown ....

Today has been two long walks with the dogs, one in the sun and one in the rain....a rather large basket of ironing , some cooking and some cleaning....but tonight is going to be a catch up on tv sort of night....a much needed evening relaxing with Karl...

Yesterday was our regular workshops at CJ Cardcrafts in Stockport , where we have an inky workshop in the morning and then a Groovi workshop in the afternoon....

I even took my 'arm and hammer' toothpaste so that my hands were clean ready for the Groovi class.

The morning ladies made the most wonderful pieces of art , and we had chocolate cake for Susan's birthday....Thanks Janet.

The afternoon ladies made two beautiful projects too, and Wendy , one of our regular Wednesday crafters made the beautiful blue piece of Groovi work...top Right....

I am so proud of her.....you know some of the ladies have been coming to my classes for over five years now....they really are like my family, and when I say I am proud of them , I really am....

Another lovely friend of mine Fi is not well enough to come to the Groovi class , so I set her an online challenge...sort of homework.....and yes she got ten out of ten for her two designs....look,,,

And I even got my name on this one,,,

Plus some tassels.....thanks Fi , I love it....and for those who look closely there are two angels with radiation symbols....as Fi and me both used to be Radiographers....how wonderful is that...so clever...

It did mean that I missed our Paul on Hochanda , so I am looking forward to catching the show later on catch up.

Enjoy your evening all,

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

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Baby plates....

Good evening all, hope your week has ended on a high note...even if the weather is set to take a downwards turn...but never mind ...it has been good to see some sun over the last few days...

I don't mind as tomorrow I will be at CJ Cardcrafts in Edgeley we are having an inky play in the morning and a Groovi time in the afternoon...

So today I thought I would share a recent Groovi sample with you...it used the new baby plates...

I do love this rocking horse...

I started with a circle, just the right size for the rocking horse.

Then I used the hearts from the border plate, and just made them into a circle,,..it is so easy to do,...and luckily they just fit perfectly..

Next I added some white work, and then some colour on the back with my Spectrum Noir pencils....a delicate pink I thought...perfect for a little girl...

I also made three bows , cut them out and then used a brad to attach them to each other and the card.

I do love to use brads...

A little wooden rocking horse from my stash...I knew I was saving this for something special...

How pretty, and this could be a card for a new birth, a little girls birthday....or even a get well card...

Whilst I am out tomorrow our Paul is on Hochanda at 11am, 2pm and 6pm...so I will have to watch the shows on Catch up and see what he gets up too...

Here is a sneaky peak of some of my samples..

I am off now for a shower, and then time to relax...( whatever that is!!)

Thanks for your continued support all

Enjoy your weekend

Love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

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Alphabet Word Chain Stamps,

Good afternoon all, and what a gorgeous afternoon it is, I do hope that the sun is shinning for you ..

It is a beautiful day here in Cheadle Hulme, and Tess and Eric are enjoying some time in the garden...

I am sat at my craft desk working away, but I may just get five minutes later with them and a cup of tea.

Yesterday it was our regular classes in Hazel Grove, and as always it was a pleasure to be in the company of such fabulous ladies.

I still have some samples to share with you from Barbara's last to show,,.

This one uses the wonderful new Alphabet Word Chain stamps...

I thought it was a great way to show how useful and versatile these are...

I started with a large piece of card and put a strip of masking tape on it...

Now I did write Barbara's blog address on paper first...so that I could copy it....

I used Black Archival ink and stamped the letters....phew....they just fit on.....that was lucky.....

Then out with three Distress inks and a piece of acetate....and some smooshing.....

By adding the colour this way , I could see exactly where I wanted the colour to be...

Some black card to make the letters pop...

And job done, a bright design to advertise Barbars blog address, and I was so pleased that it looked good on the tv too..

Better get on , I have a Lasagna to get in the oven ready for when Karl and Adam get home...

Hope you have a lovely evening,

Much love and hugs..

Jo. xxx

 

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