Catch up time

Good afternoon all, 

I hope you are keeping well and that you had a wonderful Bank holiday weekend. 

It was a rare weeeknd for me, as I took a few days off work. 

It was so good to just spend time at home, relaxing, walking the dogs and playing in the garden with a certain little man. 

It was also my Birthday a few days ago , 

another year older. 

I must say I was blown away by all the messages, gifts and lovely cards .

Thank you all so much. 

So today I thought I would share some of them with you 

How wonderful are these 

And this one made me smile, 

So much like Tess and Eric. 

I have been busy today working with some new release stamps from 

AALL & Create, 

Wow they are so wonderful...

(You will love them as much as I do ) 

But sorry you will have to wait until 13th June.

Speaking of AALL & Create , I am teaching a workshop in 

Carnforth on Saturday. 

I am really looking forwards to seeing some wonderful friends (I made sure I didn’t say old !!!) and meeting some new crafters. 

Take care all , 

and enjoy the weekend when it arrives 

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Wednesday in Hazel Grove

Good afternoon all, 

Hope your week is going well.

I just wanted to pop in today and have a chat with you 

about our Hazel Grove workshops yesterday. 

We had a play with the gel press plates (or Gelli plates as I keep calling them ) 

We used ink, Billy Brayer, Brusho powders and basically had a real good time. 

Val came up with an idea, which I will share with you soon. 

This was our first card using the petite gel press plates. 

I love the white space on these type of cards. 

This was our second, 

I love adding layers, and layers to a card , 

Building up the design.

Here is a closer look 

Just a piece of card, 

I still find it so amazing 

I did have to add some of my favourite bubbles too..

All the stamps are from Lavinia Stamps. 

Thanks for your company ladies. 

Today it is hairdressers, shopping and then some gardening. 

Enjoy your day all..

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Cumbria Crafters.

Good afternoon all, 

thanks for joining me on this lovely Tuesday afternoon. 

Welcome to our new blog follower, good to have you join us Heather.

I am just packing my bags ready for our Hazel Grove workshops tomorrow , 

and I realised that I haven’t shared the photos from Saturday with you. 

It was another full class, even though a couple of our regular Crafters were in hospital. 

Get better soon ladies. 

It was great to have Maggie join us  again, glad she arrived safely from Spain. 

We started by some scene building, and using a fabulous border stamp from Lavinia to create the fields.

Look at these beauties. 

Then it was out with Billy Brayer and the Gelli plate. 

I love using the smaller shaped plates 

Plus the larger 6x6 plate to make backgrounds 

The ladies really made me so proud with their fantastic cards 

These two were slow to the piano...!!! lol...

But you can see why, with all the decoupage flowers. 

Such beautiful cards. 

After tea and cakes, thanks Freda and Sheila, we made something a bit different. 

A book mark . 

Now some ladies took this home to finish, 

I will be checking up on you...

I still find it amazing that we can make such wonderful things from just a piece of white card. 

Just another reason why I love what I do. 

Karl is on his way home, so hopefully we can have a cup of tea in the garden before walking the dogs .

Take care all 

Much love and hugs 

Jo Xxx

You make me so happy

Good afternoon everyone. 

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday. 

We have a family gathering this afternoon , so 

I am just nipping in for a quick catch up, before they all arrive. 

Jenson is out of hospital and doing well, 

So I am really thankful for that, it was such a 

worrying time. 

Yesterday it was our monthly Cumbria workshop , 

another wonderful day.

I will pop back soon to tell you all about it. 

Today I want to share a very special card with you .

You see I get so much pleasure teaching , 

and it is fabulous when I get to see the cards that you wonderful friends make. 

The other month Jane asked me to demonstrate the wreath card. 

Now you know they are my favourite type of cards , so I jumped at the chance. 

Imagine my delight when this beauty arrived on my door mat. 

Thank you so much Jane. 

It is beautiful, and you have created it just perfectly, even down to the spiders web. 

It really did make my day. 

I am so proud of my talented friends. 

Group hug 

Take care all.

Must dash 

Lots of love 

Jo xxx

Seeing is believing

Good afternoon all, 

Well, what beautiful weather we are having at the moment. 

I do hope you had a lovely weeeknd. 

Ours took a nose dive when Jenson was admitted to hospital, 

So on Saturday, I went to the Happy Stampers Show at Port Sunlight 

But only spent and hour or so inside.

Karl, Adam and Elliot came with me and played outside.

This was Elliot picking a daisy for grandma. 

It has been such a worrying time as Jenson stopped feeding and was just sleeping all the time. 

He had a high temperature , rash and looked so poorly. 

Thank goodness yesterday we got some better news and he is slowly on the mend. 

So good to see him awake again. 

We are hoping that he will be home in the next few days. 

So I have been on Grandma duties for  the last couple of days.

Elliot, Bless him has worn me out. 

Today , he is in nursery.

So I am catching up in my craft room. 

I have a Lavinia card to share with you today. 

It is one of my dt inspirations for the current ‘Make It Bright ‘ Challenge, 

You can enter it here 

https://laviniastamps.com/lavinia-stamps-monthly-creative-challenge/

This is how I created it. 

I started by adding some  ink to my card. 

I then covered it up and added another colour. 

And finally a third colour, I used a dragging motion to look like rays coming way from the centre of the design. 

I removed the mask, added some water splats, then some stamping using the 

Seeing is believing stamp from Lavinia.

Next I added a couple more dandelion heads, plus some script stamping using second generation stamping. 

Finished off with a sentiment and some liquid glass. 

Here is a closer look 

I do love how the silhouette stands out against the bright background. 

I adore the way that Tracey draws here floral stamps. 

I am so excited as today I have cut my first bunch of sweat peas from our new garden, 

Thanks to my brother Chris for starting them off for me from seeds. 

Thanks for joining me today, 

I had better get on. 

Lots to catch up with.

Love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

Dandelions

Good afternoon all and thanks for joining me.

I can’t believe it is Friday already.

This week has flown ( that’s bank holidays for you )

Today I am going to share the cards that we made on Wednesday, 

at our Hazel Grove workshops. 

We used mica powders.  I bet you have some in your stash, maybe even  perfect pearls.

Stamping with versamark ink and brushing the powder over gives a great background. 

I love the effect when using black card. 

We used a fabulous stamp set from Hobby Art. 

Dandelion Wishes.

This was our second card, where we painted with the powder mixed with water, another great technique. 

We were spoilt again with fabulous baking from Julie, 

plus Christine very kindly brought me some cuttings for our garden.

I really am blessed with such wonderful crafty friends. 

Thanks ladies. 

I spent yesterday on granny duties as I had the boys for the day, then Adam and Danielle came for tea. 

So I am well acquainted  with Peppa Pig. 

Today I have been playing with shaving foam and Brusho powder to make backgrounds. 

Well it works a treat. 

So we might just be doing it in workshops soon. 

Smells rather lovely too. 

This was today’s play. 

I am having a day off tomorrow and going to the Happy Stampers Show at 

Port Sunlight for a couple of hours. 

I have my list ready, 

If you are going , it will be good to see you .

Take care all.

Special wishes to Susan who was in hospital today, love and hugs lovely lady.

Enjoy your weekend all. 

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

 

Lovely friends in Belfast

Good afternoon all, 

hope your Sunday is going well. 

I am sat in our little motorhome with a coffee and the sun is shinning through the windows. 

We have just got back after having a lovely walk around Delamount Country Park. 

I do love coming over here to Belfast.

We get to catch up with lovely friends, eat wonderful food and just generally have a great time. 

I feel so blessed. 

These are the lovely ladies who came to yesterday’s workshop.

We started with a quick and easy warm up card. 

I do love to make these type of cards. 

Then we got out the gel press plates, inks and some Brusho powders even Billy Brayer travelled on the ferry with us. 

These backgrounds are so addictive to make. 

All the stamps are from Lavinia stamps. 

Rory and Darcy are so cute. 

We even had time to book the hall for Saturday 12th October for our next visit.

So ladies, get that date in your diaries. 

For those ladies in Scotland, we have a new date for Glasgow.

Saturday 22nd June.

Just drop me an email or a pm to reserve a place. 

Enjoy your bank holiday tomorrow.

We are travelling home as we both have another busy week ahead. 

Take care all

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx 

Let Go

Good afternoon everyone.

How are you today ? 

I am sat in our little motorhome in Cairnryan waiting for the ferry over to Belfast.

So whilst I enjoy my coffee I thought I could have a little catch up with you. 

Today I am going to share a photo tutorial with you. 

It is from the recent AALL & Create show on Hochanda. 

I have used a fabulous stencil,called  Let Go.

I started with some stencil card and blended some ink.

Followed by some water splatting.

Next I placed the stencil and taped it down. 

Then I dabbed the Archival black ink through the stencil. 

This will mark your stencil but don’t worry it cleans off with nail varnish remover of Crafters Companion 

stick away spray. 

Look how sharp that is.
I then blended some black ink around the edges. 

Added the moon and some hills, 

Then out with my white Posca pen. 

I do love the way this adds dimension.

Here is a closer look. 

This is a wonderful technique to do with a stencil. 

I do hope that you like it. 

Right I had better go, as it looks like we could be boarding soon. 

Fingers crossed for a calm crossing.

Sharon, we will be with you soon. 

Enjoy your Friday evening everyone 

and have a great weekend.

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Make it Bright

Good afternoon all, 

Wow May 1st....white rabbits...

I really can’t believe how quickly this year is going

Today it is the start of a new Challenge over at the Lavinia Challenge blog 

https://laviniastamps.com/lavinia-stamps-monthly-creative-challenge/

The new theme is 

Make it Bright

Here is my dt inspiration for you 

I thought I would make a little piece of art for this empty frame. 

I started by blending some Oxide inks onto a piece of white card. 

Nice bright colours. 

Next some water spritzing or happy clappy

Followed by using the large moon mask and then the 

fun part of the stamping. 

I do love these Moon pod stamps. 

Some more stamping and then I added some colour using my Inktense pencils. 

For the white areas I used a Posca pen.

A cute little bee, and some scribbling just finished off the design .

Here is a closer look 

I do hope that you can enter the challenge, you can win 

£40 to spend on Lavinia stamps, and the winner 

is chosen at random. 

It is another lovely day here today in Holmes Chapel.

I really should be out in my garden , 

but too much to do in my Craft room. 

It is our Belfast workshop this Saturday.

See you soon ladies. 

This was Tess and Eric at 7-30am this morning 

Looks like they have fallen out with each other...lol.

They have a side of the lane each.

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday, 

and catch up soon.

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx