One stamp set, three designs.

Good afternoon all and thanks for joining me. 

Today I have been having a play with a fabulous set of Stamps, 

Wildflowers, by Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz.

http://tidd.ly/941bb9b9

They are available from Craft Stash 

This is a quick and easy design .

I started by brushing some distress ink over a moon mask..

I used Picked Respberry and added a little 

Midnight blue Artistry ink. 

Next I flicked some seedless preserves ink and water.

Followed by some stamping using black Archival ink .

http://tidd.ly/7b118200

And a black sharpie line .

The sentiment and butterfly are from The summer blooms stamp set (it was sat on my desk )

http://tidd.ly/5f6b9fb4

Finally I added some stickles glitter glue. 

My second card is completely different .

This started off with distress Oxide ink and water .

I added the colours one at a time .

Drying the card each time , before adding the next colour. 

Followed by some water spritzing 

I then added a moon mask and some black soot distress ink 

This created my landscape. 

Next I added some wild flowers .

A sentiment and a couple of butterflies .

The finishing touch was some white dots with my Posca marker .

My third card is something I just made up today..

I do like to just play and so something a bit different .

I just felt like a change of colour ..

I know purple is the on trend colour but you know me 

And orange will always be my favourite 

I started with a circle die cut , 

http://tidd.ly/8b6301c7

Blended some orange and pink distress ink then flicked some water .

http://tidd.ly/4c413a94

And stamped one of the wild flowers. 

On a separate piece of card I restamped the wild flower .

Then my next layer I blended the same inks and added more water spritzing .

I matted and layered the designs...

Now this is what I had,,,

But I didn’t want to stop here ..nice as it is..

So I added the decorated die cut 

Now that looks more designer...hope you agree...

The dots are glossy Accents...

http://tidd.ly/1f925981

and they will dry to a clear glaze . 

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

I have certainly had a lovely time. 

Do remember that there is only a week left of the special offer from Craft Stash, 

Either click on the ribbon link to the right or the following link. 

http://tidd.ly/798af3e2

If you use the link from my blog and the code 

AFJRC10

(Only once per customer though )

You will get 10% off your order 

I am off now to put my feet up and catch up with Karl

He has been out at meeting all day and has a 5-30 start tomorrow 

So some quality time is needed 

Take care all

Love and hugs 

Jo. xxxx

Our Cumbria workshop

Good afternoon all , thanks for popping in. 

I do hope that your week has started well.

It was another very muddy dog walk for us this morning..

Roll on summer .

Today I thought I would share some photos with you from 

Our Cumbria workshop on Saturday. 

It was great to be back with the gang

Although a few regulars were not well so we wish them 

All the best and hope they are back with us soon..

We had a couple of new ladies which was fabulous and we now have a waiting list...

Oh my... I really can’t believe that.

Thank you so much 

We started by playing with some of the new paper pads from Clarity..

Look at these wonderful cards...

I just love them all. 

Then we used another sheet of the paper on an MDF heart...

Added some distressing...

And made our own flowers using some  Foamiran 

Yes , you have guessed it

I do love this stuff...

Look at these 

Just fabulous 

I am so proud of you all. 

Sheila made some yummy biscuits...Thanks sis

And it was soon time to head off home 

Whilst I was in Cumbria the little man went for a car ride too 

In the evening Fran came for a visit and we took her to see some friends in Didsbury..

Well , after a long day...

Just what I needed...

A pothole in the road 

My poor little car ended up with two flat tyres...

Now I did have a spare...

But who has two!!!,

So it was a very long night 

And Prosecco was definitely needed when we finally got home...

So today I am a couple of hundred pounds lighter...!!!!

Oh well

Beans on toast for Karl for tea...lol..

Take care all

Love and hugs 

Jo. Xxx

Fussy and Fancy

Good morning all ,

 thanks for popping in this Friday morning. 

I do hope that you are feeling well and ready for the weekend.

It is our Cumbria workshop tomorrow and I am so excited as I haven’t seen 

these lovely friends yet, this year. 

It seems ages since we were last together .

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

Our host is my fabulous friend Annie, 

And she has chosen 

Fussy and Fancy as her theme 

Here is my dt inspiration 

I do hope that you like it. 

The main focal point is the Foamiran flowers. 

I have been playing with this wonderful foam and having a brilliant time...

Have you tried it yet ? 

Honestly it is brilliant...

I started by die cutting some petals in a peach  colour. 

I then added some extra shade with Distress inks . 

There are many ways you can colour the foam . 

Now you can shape the foam as it is, gently heat it with an iron (not steam) or I like to use a heat tool. 

You then scrunch and twist the foam and shape the flowers . 

I use a glue gun to stick them together...

And I just love to play and make my own stylised flowers...

That way they don’t have to be realistic...

But you can make specific ones if you like,,,

That’s the thing 

As a crafter we can just play .....

I used another die cut and stamped a sentiment from Clarity 

And then added some colour 

I added this to my card blank along with a piece of backing paper from The Brighton Rock Claritybacking papers. 

Then some splatters using Inka Gold...one of my favourite things. 

I needed some extra foliage so this is another favourite die of mine..

It is so useful 

I added some string for that rustic look 

And then it just needed something extra 

Mmmmm

A butterfly...that’s better 

Just finishes it off 

And no ladies..

It wasn’t to cover up a mark....well not this time anyway..!!!!

We all know how useful these butterflies are 

I would love you to pop over to the Fussy and Fancy blog 

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

And look at the other designs by the rest of the design team .

And even better you could enter the challenge..

I love looking at all the designs...

Well, I had better stop chatting to you and get on...

The dogs have been walked, but I need to do some good shopping, get some petrol 

and then get the car sorted for an early start tomorrow, 

Have a lovely weekend all. 

Safe travels to all the workshop ladies 

See you soon 

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

Spring florals

Good morning all and thanks for popping in. 

I hope your week is going well. 

All ok here thanks even if it was another very muddy dog walk this morning .

Today I just wanted to tell you about our workshops yesterday , it was our usual Wednesday workshops 

In Hazel Grove , Cheshire. 

Here I am so lucky to be able to spent time with two lovely groups of ladies. 

We craft, chat, drink coffee and eat cake,,and it is great to see how friendships develop .

This is our afternoon group , beavering away.

Yesterday we used a fabulous set of stamps from Apple Blossom...available here 

http://tidd.ly/5f6b9fb4

This is a fantastic set of fifteen Stamps and it holds so many possibilities .

It is available from a wonderful online craft store CraftStash...

Simply click on the CraftStash banner on the right

This is our first card 

We stamped using a permanent ink and then added colour using distress inks and water..

https://www.craftstash.co.uk/ranger-tim-holtz-mini-distress-pad-kit-4.html

We added some ink and stamping around the border...I do love how  well purples and pinks go together...and after all

I do believe that shades of purple are going to be very on trend this season.

A grey pencil was used to add some shade to give a 3d effect to the wreath . 

Then some stickles to add a little sparkle. 

https://www.craftstash.co.uk/ranger-stickles-glitter-glue-twilight.html

I had a play at repeat stamping the wreath stamp using the coloured Distress ink pads and my stamp press 

And this is what I came up with...

Rather cool , I thought . 

This was our second card, I went for a spring feel to this one...

We used pencils to add colour to the stamped image this time and have you seen the lovely little butterflies .They have had 

Glossy Accents added to them. 

https://www.craftstash.co.uk/ranger-glossy-accents-2oz.html

I do love to do this. 

Now as you lovely readers know I have a bit of a thing about wreath cards 

So I had a play with the little butterfly stamp 

Look 

I think this is great for a quick little topper...

Don’t you ? 

Now the other thing I like to do is pattern building...so I couldn’t resist using a fabulous little corner stamp that 

Comes in the stamp set 

So I had a quick play on a piece of copier paper 

Look 

Like I say so many possibilities 

Imagine this design with some colour added to it.
Now I have some exciting news for you..

If you fancy getting your crafty hands on this stamp set....just follow the link on my blog and it will take you directly to it...

And you can get 10% of your order by using this code 

AFJRC10

And this is here for two weeks..

Now that is a real treat for a Thursday 

Now I must love you and leave you as I have a walk planned with a certain little man..

Elliot is here for the day..

Oh happy Grandma times..

Take care everyone..

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

Ghosting

Good afternoon all and thanks  for popping in. 

I do hope that you had a lovely weekend. 

Everything is ok here , the little man was a dream to look after on Saturday evening and Sunday..

Although I must say that both Karl and I were shattered 

And in bed at 8pm last night .

On Saturday it was our Manchester inky workshop..

And we did some stencil play 

Just refreshing on some techniques...and generally getting motivated...

Oh and getting our steps in....!!!! Sh...h...h...ladies..

We used the fabulous Pocket Watch stencil from Clarity 

Our first tag was made by gently brushing distress ink through the stencil. 

Then we went onto some ghosting. 

We covered the tag with ink...Distress and/ or Artistry ink 

Placed the stencil down and spritzed with water. 

After removing the stencil, we dried the tag 

And this is what we had 

Next we did the negative ghosting effect 

So we started off with ink on the tag 

And sprayed the back of the stencil with water..

Then placed this wet side down on the tag 

Left it for a few moments, removed the stencil and dried. 

Look , this is what we had 

One positive and one negative. 

These are great backgrounds and can easily be made into a tag or a card 

Here I used this fab die cut from Craft Stash 

It is Bird on a Branch by Apple Blossom. 

https://www.craftstash.co.uk/apple-blossom-craft-collection-bird-on-a-branch-die-set.html

This is Tracie’s tag...I love her colours . 

After lunch we made a card using the stencil 

And look at the colours that Susan used ,

I love these 

So many possibilities with these backgrounds 

We even had time for a bonus tag

A no planning...

Just for fun, 

Five minute tag 

I did enjoy making this, and I love using staples as accessories,,,

And I couldn’t resist taking this photo to show you Elliot on Saturday evening , 

Ready for bed...

And he slept through until 8-30am...

Today , I am getting orders completed and catching up with washing and ironing .

Wednesday is out Hazel Grove workshops..

See you soon ladies..

Enjoy your afternoon

Love and hugs 

Jo. xxx