Winter / Christmas

Good morning all ,

thanks for joining me on this Friday morning. 

Today it is the start of a new Fussy and Fancy Challenge.

Our theme is

Winter / Christmas 

Now I know you will have stamps, stencils  etc on your craft desk just waiting for this challenge. 

I know I did, 

Our hostess is the lovely 

Gina, 

Here is what I came up with 

Here is how I created it, 

Well to be honest it sort of created itself, you see I didn’t really have a plan.

I started with a piece of card and some ink,

This really is a great way to just start and then play.

If Mr MoJo takes a holiday , encourage him back with inky play.

It really does work .

After some water splats , I stamped my arch, 

These Lavinia stamps are so fabulous to use and stamp beautifully. 

Next I added a tree , and I wanted to use a different stamp than the normal tree or now feather stamp..

Next came the fairies, the moon and the edges, 

Blend8ng the edges really does help to frame the design 

I do love the way the design just grows, so it was foliage next .

Now at this point , I just thought something didn’t look quite right...

And I couldn’t put my finger on it .

So I trimmed a couple of centimetres of the width,

and yes, that looked so much better . 

Then I added some splats of haematite Inka Gold. 

( don’t put these products away, keep using them ) 

A sentiment and some gems , and walk away 

Sometimes you have to know when to stop...

I am so happy with the way the arch turned out , 

Hope you like it too. 

If you fancy having a look at the Fussy and Fancy Challenge Blog 

you can find it here 

https://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/

I would love to see what you make , 

I must go , it is our last Groovi Class of the year tomorrow. 

So I have mince pies to bake,,,whoops sorry , to buy.

Take Care everyone 

Have a lovely weekend, 

and enjoy the beginning of December 

Love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

Wednesday in Hazel Grove

Good morning everyone ,

Wow, it is very windy here in Holmes Chapel and 

we have had so much rain that 

both  my water buts are full. 

(First time this year, ) 

The roads were so wet yesterday that on my way home the warning of skidding light came on in my car .

It was our last Hazel Grove workshop of the year, 

as our next meet up is coffee, cake and chat. 

We started by making a tag .

This was based on one that I had blogged a few weeks ago and one of the ladies had asked if we could make 

something similar. 

It was great to see everyone’s creations, and wow ladies your 

blending has come on a treat. 

Due to ill health we are missing our camel lady at the moment, 

but I do need to let her know that Rhona did the most amazing blending on her tag , 

and Wendy made a fabulous second card,,,

I know,,.!!!,

They were on the top table 

Not the naughty table !!!!

For our second card we made the wreath card, 

These little Lavinia stamps are perfect for this, 

and so many other things...

If you pop back tomorrow you may just see them used again. 

I am up early again today as I have so much to get on with .

Not as early as Karl though as he left home at 5am..

Take care everyone

Wrap up if you are going out

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

Cumbria Lavinia Christmas Party

Good morning all, 

Hope you had a lovely weekend.

We had our Christmas Party in Cumbria on Saturday ,

what a wonderful day spent with such a fabulous group of Crafters. 

You know , things happen in life, 

accidents, ill health, family break up etc 

Events that let you know who your real friends are. 

Well I have seen first hand with all my lovely Crafters across all the workshops 

just how they rally around each other , 

friendships have been made , and 

this really is the nice side of crafting. 

There has been so much nastiness around in the industry , especially with recent developments , 

and I have seen first hand some really disappointing, underhand behaviour. 

So it is so fabulous to see the other side and be involved with real, 

genuine , kind, decent people....

It really warms my heart. 

We started off using these fabulous little stamps from Lavinia 

You know how I love a wreath card 

Look at these gorgeous cards , 

After coffee and chocolates 

(Thank you Barbara )

We had a play with blending, layering and a log slice 

It was great to see the ladies and gentleman (morning Peter ) 

Create this card, they just took it slowly , building it up 

one step at a time, 

And look at these beauties 

We stopped for lunch and what a banquet it was , so much yummy food, 

Thanks everyone, and thanks Sheila.

After the crackers had been pulled , and our tummies were full .

We had a couple of prizes to give away including a Lavinia Calendar which the

very lovely Tracey Dutton had signed ( big thank you Tracey ) 

Well done Gwen on your win. 

Even though we all felt like a little nap, 

we created this card, 

Simple stamping and using a die from Clarity 

After more tea and cake...( oh yes , I was so full ) 

We created a little tag 

I do love using stamps in a different way...

Now I didn’t have time to photograph everyone’s tags 

but here are a few 

I just love the different colours. 

To the few ladies who were unwell and unable to come 

Hope you feel better soon.

I must get on, 

Lots on the list for today , 

As it is little man’s day tomorrow and workshops on Wednesday 

Oh and thanks to Mary , my back is so much better 

Tens machines are wonderful 

Take care all 

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxxx

Christmas Bells

Good afternoon all, 

Hope you are having a good day

and that you have a lovely weekend planned. 

It is our Christmas Party tomorrow in Cumbria , so I have 

been busy getting things sorted. 

I am suffering with a bad back at the moment so it has been slow going today. 

Tomorrow we are using some fabulous little stamps from Lavinia, 

Now they were on my craft table , 

when I came up with a plan .

Hope you like it 

And this is how I created it ,

The stencil is from Clarity, 

I just brushed some ink through it .

Added some detail .

And then created the second bell. 

Using a deeper blue to give the impression that one bell is behind the other .

Next , 

The fun part.

Building up the floral garland, 

I used a variety of colours of VersaFine ink 

Some liquid pearls and chunky embossing powder finished off the design .

The sentiments are from Lavinia too. 

Whoop , 

Another Christmas card made...

Have a lovely weekend all. 

Safe travels tomorrow to the Cumbria gang...

I have my Christmas jumper ready,,,

Much love and hugs 

Jo, xxx

Rue, on a Tuesday

Good morning all, 

and thanks for popping in, 

I just have a few minutes to catch up with you ,

Before a certain little man is here. 

The day will then be dedicated to him...we have a park to visit, 

A new toy to play with ,

and a new book to read.

So I had better get my skates on. 

Firstly over at CraftStash today they have a great offer ,

You get 35% off the most expensive item in your basket...

   Just use code BF35

Also I wanted to introduce you to 

Rue on a Tuesday 

 I have been playing again..

I started with a few colours of Distress Oxide inks blended on my tag, 

I then spritzed some water. 

 Next some background stamping 

I added some black ink around the edge , 

Fo,lowes by some moon shadow. 

    Then I stamped some foliage in black VersaFine Clare ink. 

I do love the way the scene build up. 

Now, my latest must have craft item is a log slice.

I just love using these 

A light coat of gesso and away we go 

I stamped Rue onto some Rice paper from IndigoBlu 

And then attached her with some slap it on 

Once dry , I attached her to my tag , adding her wings 

I added a couple of sentiments 

And some liquid glass.

A bow and some dew drops and my tag was complete. 

I must admit , 

that I am really pleased with the way that it looks. 

Hope you like her too,,

Better go,,

Look who is here...

Lots of love 

Jo. xxxx

                                                                                       

Monday Morning

Good morning all, 

Hope you have had a lovely weekend 

and that Monday is gentle with you. 

We have had family time and even made a start on the dreaded Christmas shopping. 

Today I want to let you know about today’s special offer over at Craft Stash 

 

 

Starts Monday 19th November - 

 

Papercut Birds Freebie Spend Over £20 Get 1 Free, 

Spend Over £28 Get 2 Free,

 Spend £35 and get 3 Free, 

Spend Over £40 Get 4 Free 

Auto Applied At Basket                ONE DAY ONLY - EXPIRES MIDNIGHT

 

 

There are some great die’s , 

Look at this parrot one 

It can be found here , 

http://tidd.ly/97c44632

And this one 

I do love herons 

http://tidd.ly/9056420c

And for those quick Christmas cards this cute little robin 

He can be found here 

http://tidd.ly/fa21e562

I am off now to walk the dogs , 

Then got a commission of 50 Christmas cards to make 

It is great to get a large order from a local comapany

But look at my desk 

Another busy day ahead 

Take care all

And Jane , hope your feeling better today 

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

Mid week catch up

Good afternoon everyone, 

thanks for joining me once again. 

Another day of mixed weather here,,

Some rain , some sun, and some cloud. 

How about you ? 

What has your weather  been like today ? 

Yesterday it was our regular Hazel Grove workshop .

We had a play with a great set of stamps from Hobby Art. 

Bee Friendly

There are so many fabulous images on this stamp set 

This floral stamp is one of my favourites.

Here I have used luscious powders and water to add the colour. 

The background is created by blending inks and then some over stamping .

The picot aperature die is from Clarity 

Our second card used some of the background stamps that are on this stamp plate.

You really do get so much for your money 

And who wouldn’t love this amazing bee stamp. 

Great for so many different cards. 

I must thank Phil, who put all the tables away for me..

What a great help.

I may just have to borrow him again, Margaret. 

I must go , time to walk the dogs again 

Before it gets dark.

We have Mikey and Fran home for a few days , 

So lots of catching up to do .

Take care all 

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx