Crafting in Cumbria..

Good afternoon all and thanks for joining me...

I do hope that you have had a lovely weekend....Yesterday it was our Monthly workshop day in Cumbria...and what a fabulous day it was....and we even had extra cake , thank you Rachel

Our main project was a Mixed Media art journal...which we completed throughout the day...

Whilst waiting for various parts to dry we made a card using the fabulous new stamps that Dee had requested for the open day...I knew that I needed these as soon as I saw them,,,Thanks Dee...I love them ..

We used the large butterfly stamp, Artistry ink pads, white gesso , a selection of stencils and some Kraft card. Just look at the colours...I love them all.

And just look at the journals

We decorated the front and the back

And they looked even better in the flesh...

Look at this one that Freda made....to take to her sewing group...

It is stunning...I love the zip detail...

We did have a few giggles too....and a Birthday girl....

Happy Birthday for yesterday Gwen...

And even the weather was good for the drive home.

Plus , I have some good news , the foal was found in time by the farmer and is up and about and doing well...

Always good to end the week with some good news...

Take care all,

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxxx

 

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Mother Earth

Good morning everyone, hope Friday finds you well.

Karl has left early so I have been out with the dogs. We were walking down the fields at 7-30 this morning just as one of the horses gave birth to a foal....obviously I kept the dogs away but was really upset as the foal just didn't seem to move...I have left a message with the farmer so I am really hoping that everything is ok...I shall be walking down later to check as I am just heading out to an appointment .

Before I go , I have a few minutes to share a card with you....

This uses one of the new Clarity stamps....Earth

I started with a piece of stencil card and stamped the main image

I then masked the image and started stamping some leaves from Tina's flowers stamp set, using a variety of artistry ink pads.

Using a lovely palate of browns, oranges, yellows and greens .

Then using a brush I dragged some more brown ink away from the mask, this will add a shadow effect around the image, look , this is what I had when I removed the mask.

 

Next , I added some colour to the main image using Soectrum Noir pencils.

I used a sentiment stamp and an accessory stamp to compliment my design

I do hope you like what I have created....

Mother Nature is so wonderful, I was looking to see how the frogs in my pond were growing the other day and I spotted one having a sleep in my montbretia grass. Look....how cute is he....

Oh, just seen the time...I had better dash...

Mikey and Fran moved in to their new flat on Wednesday and all went well...it is beautiful and I am so happy for them both...

Clarity Cumbria tomorrow...so lots still to do today...

Have a great day all

Much love and hugs...

Jo. xxx

 

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Clarity Open Days

Good afternoon all and thanks for popping in.

Sorry for the lack of posts but it was a very busy weekend down in Kent...

I had workshops on Wednesday , then an early start on Thursday...the open days Friday and Saturday , I finally pulled onto the drive at 10-45pm on Saturday....long days but well worth it....and I even managed the drive both ways without any problems...

Unfortunately, we were so busy that I didn't have much time to take photos so I have borrowed some from Lynne, and some from Clarity...thanks both....hope you don't mind

 

I managed to take a couple before the doors opened

This was my crafty space

Three lovely ladies hatching a plan

Sam looking professional

And then,,,,Jayne joined us lol..

I do love catching up with this wonderful lady

We normally have a group photo , but time just got the better of us ...as soon it was time to open the doors

And let the fun begin

It was so good to meet Alex from Hochanda, what a special lady, and wow, so stunning...I did feel little and old next to her...so don't look to close...please

( you know how I hate having my photo taken )

 

 

 

 

I made lots of samples with Stencils and ink blending

And the odd canvas too

It was so good to catch up with Barbara, the team, old friends and make new ones....

A really fabulous two days...

Back home now and preparing for the next few workshops. Plus on Wednesday karl and I are renting a van to take Mikey and Frans things to their new flat in Nottingham...

So that is all four of them now moved out so we are back to two adults and two dogs...

I'm getting off now as a trip to IKEA is in order this evening to buy more furniture for the kids....

We are getting quite good at this building malarkey...

Before I go, do tune into our Rosie , tonight and tomorrow with her one day special....

It was such a pleasure to meet and spent time with her , what a lovely lady....

Much love and hugs..

Jo. xxxx

 

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Today's canvas

Good evening all and thanks for popping in.

I hope you had a lovely weekend, I had a most wonderful day in Bolton on Saturday. I would like to thank all the lovely crafters who came to say hello, brought me gifts, coffee and had a chat. The day whizzed , Jane, Penny and Martin on the Art of Craft stand are such wonderful people and I am really looking forwards to seeing them again.

Then yesterday we spent the day helping Adam and Danielle move into their house, they got the keys on Friday. It is just perfect for them and is only five minutes away....so we are off there again tonight....to build some more furniture...well that's what parents do isn't it...

So today I thought I would sare a canvas with you...I made it for a recent show with Rosie, when the Inka Gold was launched....now you workshop ladies will know just how much I love this product...

I started with a canvas that I had painted ages ago...but didn't like it...perfect for what I wanted...after all we never throw anything away ...do we...????

I attached my stencil and sponged through some grunge paste, and left it to dry .

Next came the embellishments

Followed by the black gesso

I do love this technique...

When dry , I added a wash of Inka gold, mixing the colours as I went along.

Look

Then some splats....another favourite technique of mine...works great with Inka gold too.

When dry I used a craft knife to scratch back some of the colour , this adds some highlights.

And finally some metal embellishments and some glossy Accents...

I think she looks fab,,,

Right better get on....so much still to do and a very busy week ahead...

Thanks for popping in,

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

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Pamper your pet

Good morning everyone and thanks for popping in .

Today it is a new Challenge over at the Fussy and Fancy Challenge blog and our new theme is

Pamper your Pet

Our host is the lovely and talented Diane.

Here is my design

And yes , my inspiration is our two lovely Labradors Tess and Eric

And here is how I created my card

I started with the circles box stencil and kept the inner square stencil in place , I used a piece of Stencil card.

Next came the distress Oxide inks, first Faded Jeans through the stencil.

Then I removed the main stencil and added some smoothing with fossilised Amber, and worn lipstick.

My new favourite technique some flicks with wilted violet

Next I removed the inner stencil and stamped my two trusty pets, a Clarity club stamp.

I masked the dogs, added a moon mask and created a landscape.

Using my spectrum Noir pencils I added some colour to the dogs and then grounded them with some charcoal pencils

Some matting and layering

And finally some finishing off touches and embellishments

And my design was complete, glossy Accents looks great on their noses.

Here is a closer look

 

Aw bless them....

I do hope that you enter our challenge , you can find it here http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Enjoy your Friday , and I hope you have a lovely weekend planned .

If you are coming along to the Crafting Live show at Bolton tomorrow , do come and say hello to me. I will be demonstrating all things Groovi on the Art of Craft stand ....

So I had better go and get my bags packed

Take care all.

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxxx

 

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