Crafting in Cumbria

Good morning all, 

I do hope that you had a lovely bank holiday weekend. 

It was our Cumbria workshop on Saturday , and 

we had a play with some fabulous Stamps from Lavinia Stamps. 

Although we had a couple of ladies on holiday , we still had a full class 

as we had a couple of new ladies join us. 

I couldn’t get everyone in the photo...

Our first card was a nice quick warm up card...

Just to get everyone into the swing 

Then after coffee, a design that took a bit more time....

But look at these beauties...

Fabulous work ladies and gent 

After lunch it was time to get into the Christmas spirit..

If only I could have kept them all, 

That would have started my Christmas cards off a real treat...

Soon it was time for tea and Sheila’s homemade cakes..

And before we left we made our ATC’s and did our swapping..

I love the way my little collection of artwork from my friends is growing..

I love to look at them,,,

Each one individually made..

And so special. 

It was funny driving home,,,

I had to remember to stay on the M6

And no drive on autopilot and end up in Cheadle Hulme,,

The journey only took an extra 10mins...so that was ok..

On Sunday Sheila and Graham came down for the day, even though we 

had rain all day , we still had a wonderful time..

And we cooked a Sunday roast...

(Poor Sheila, she saw me two days in a row!!!)

Yesterday we picked up the little man and he has been on a sleep over...

At the moment he is still fast asleep..

He loves the bike/stroller that we got him for his Birthday ..

He is growing up so fast..

Just time to put some washing in , 

Before he gets up..

Take care all

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

Lino cut Hares

Good morning all, 

I really can’t believe that it is Thursday already ...

Hope your day has started well..

We had a power cut first thing, but we are back up and running now,,,

And no, it wasn’t anything that I had done...

Yesterday it was our regular  Hazel Grive workshops..

We had a play with the fabulous and funky Lino cut hare Stamps from Hobby Art.

There are so many stamps in this set..

This was our first card...

And in the afternoon I mentioned that I though he would look good with wobbly eyes..

Lucy  just happened to have some in her stash.  

So look. 

Love him...

Then we had a chat about CAS cards 

Clean And Simple. 

These need to have lots of white space, but not look like there is something missing..

Perfect...

Clean and Simple..

With just the right amount of colour..

Great for a man’s card too..

I love these little tree, (leaf ) Stamps...

It is always great to see new ladies at our classes...

So welcome Beryl..

Now when I was making the first card, 

I took a fancy to the foliage stamp that I used at the top of the card..

Now you know me...

I had to try...

And see if I could use it in another way...

You guessed it...

And yes, it makes a lovely wreath...

The flowers are on the stamp plate too..

So versatile..

Must go...off to register with the doctors and vets today..

Hope I don’t get them mixed up!!

Enjoy your day..

Hi from the little man..

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

An early Christmas card

Good morning all, 

Hope you are well this Tuesday morning

I am just back after taking the dogs for a walk...I have to confess 

It was rather longer than I intended , as I got a bit lost...

But never mind it got my steps up

And both dogs are fast asleep now...

Today I am sharing a card that I made yesterday...

I used what came out of my first and second craft boxes that I opened

An early Christmas card, 

Using the fabulous feather stamp from Lavinia..

I think I may be making a few of these...

I have used liquid Pearls for the baubles but gems would look  just as nice..

(Not sure where my gems are )

So a quick coffee then on with finding things for tomorrow’s workshops..

See you soon ladies.

Have a great day 

Love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

At long last .

Good afternoon all, 

Thanks for joining me today ...

I am so sorry for my lack of posts but 

We have finally moved....

We are so, so happy to be in our new home,,,

Although the day we moved was a very long and exhausting day 

Ten hours and two full van loads later....

And no,,,it wasn’t due to all my craft stuff!!! lol

Both Tess and Eric are happy...and have settled in well. 

Look at that pile of boxes...

We are slowly getting them emptied.

My pots are all in a corner of the garden , I just need to potter 

outside and decide where they are all going 

Marie from Prospect Holmes popped in on Thursday morning 

with flowers and bubbles,,,, she knows me so well...

My craft room may take a while to get sorted , 

I am so glad that I labelled and colour coded the rooms and boxes .

I have a busy week ahead with our Hazel Grove and Cumbria workshops..

Hopefully I will get the emails out tomorrow ladies...

I had better get on...

Take care all

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx 

 

Clean and Simple

Good morning all, 

Hope your Friday is going well, 

I am just back from walking the dogs, we had rain in the night 

but it is lovely and sunny now.

Karl left early again, bless him he works so hard. 

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

Our theme is 

Clean and Simple 

And our fab hostess is Tone 

This is what I came up with..

I started by stamping this wonderful stamp from IndigoBlu. 

Colour Me - Daisy 

One of my new favourites...

Perfect for this type of card 

Next I used low tack masking tape to make a border .

And then began adding some ink...

First the yellow. 

Then the red in the centre 

And finally the orange in the middle...

I do find this a great way to achieve good blending 

Next some water spritzing....

And a black fine line border...

I do love the way this has developed 

Now see the difference that the charcoal pencil has made...

And these blender pens from Clarity are fab too.

A sentiment and a little butterfly from Hobby Art and the design is nearly complete 

Just some dots of clear glass to add the finishing detail...

Glossy Accents does the same  job...

They dry so clear...and yes this is my favourite finishing trick...

And on the ink, they pick up the colour...just love it 

If you would like to see the rest of the dt samples or join in please visit the blog here 

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/2018/08/challenge-218-clean-simple.html

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you have a lovely weekend planned 

We actually exchanged contracts yesterday...so well on our way to move next week..

We visited the house yesterday so that I could choose curtain fabric, it was very emotional,,,

We seem to have been on this journey for so long...

I really appreciate all your support...

Thank you so much all...

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

Pigs in Blankets

Good morning all, 

Hope your week is going well, 

We actually had rain here yesterday,,,and oh my garden loved it. 

It was our regular Hazel Grove workshops, 

We had a few regular Crafters on holiday. plus a couple who are unwell...

Hope you feel better soon ladies. 

Here is a card for you...

With a group hug.

Yesterday we used a really quirky stamp set from Hobby Art

Pigs in Blankets...

The images really make you smile.

We even made a start on Christmas....

Although a couple of ladies did say that they had made some 

Christmas cards already!!!! Really !!!

Love these images 

And so lovely to colour too...

Take note Eileen ....pigs...not camels!!!! lol...

Must dash..

More boxes to pack 

This is my dinning room at the moment...

Fingers crossed we get some good news next week...

Take care all

Love and hugs 

Jo. Xxxx

I’m still here

Good afternoon all, 

I do hope that you are keeping well and that you had a lovely weekend. 

So sorry that I have been neglecting  you..

This house move business really is like a full time job.

So many boxes to pack and so many cupboards to clean .

We have finally got the loft empty....

Why oh why did we keep all that rubbish...

We have visited the tip (sorry recycling centre ) so many times, 

Given so much away, 

And yet we still have so much to do...

We certainly won’t been moving ever again....

Mind you the way the solicitors are messing about we may not be moving this month!!,

No chain...a cash buy , so you would think it would be easy ...

Oh no...

Anyway onto something crafty 

Today I am going to share some die cutting with you,,,

But with an inky background...

Hope you like it 

I started by using one of the fresh cut dries from Clarity 

And cut it out using white card. 

Very delicate and pretty 

I then started to create my background, using a piece of card a little bigger than the die cut .

First I blended the yellow ink 

Followed by the orange 

Then the red.  

Finally some fine wine...

And a bit more blending .

I used my fan brush to add some water splats...

And when dry I attached it to some white card. 

Finally , I added the die cut with some glue..

I do love the contrast between the white card and the bright colours behind ...

Right, tea break over...I had better get back to it, 

Karl left at 4am today so I have been busy since...

Trouble is now I have sat down it is hard to get up again...!!!

Take care all...

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx