Winter

Good morning and Pinch, Punch first of the month.....

So that means that there is a new Challenge over at the Clarity Challenge Blog....the theme this month is Winter....

And this is my Design Team card,

I used Linen card and PanPastels, as you know I do love my Pans...

The deer stamps are from the Clarity remountable Forest set and I stamped them in Versafine ink....Vintage Sepia....then coloured them with watercolour pencils....

The blossom and birds are from the remountable English Garden Elements set of stamps....I do like to mix my stamps ...don't you? 

To seal my Pans and give a winters dawn feel, I sprayed my work with Iridescent Spray and Sparkle...

A bit of matting and layering, some ribbon and a lovely poinsettia from Sweet Lilac paper flowers...and job done....

There are some fabulous creations from the other DT, ....even a snow globe so do pop over and have a look....

I am so proud to have been asked to join this DT and do hope that you will join in the Challenge too....

Crafty Hugs....Jo.x 

Strictly come flower arranging...

Yesterday was a lovely day at the Happy Stampers show in Port Sunlight, it was good to catch up with Kay Halliwell-Sutton, travel with Jane and Brenda, watch Linda Simpson demonstrate Mica Powders and to be wowed by the fantastic magic that Maia Simms made with her Gelli Plate...

Oh and I bought some goodies too.....

Then today, Karl and I went to Daisy Nook Garden Centre to see their floral displays and help them raise money for a fantastic Charity.... The Christie Hospital ...(especially close to our hearts as that is where we met when I was a Therapy Radiographer and Karl worked in the Physics department) 

Thanks to an advert that a Facebook friend of mine posted.....thank you Beryl Martin....

As we were walking round Karl pointed out that one of the displays had been created by one of our craft class ladies.

Here is Joan Quinland's interpretation of the Samba, Salsa and Limbo...

How fabulous...

Look at the leaf platting...

As we were having our lunch, I read the programme and to my surprise found another display from one of our crafty friends....

This is the work of Chris O Hara and Sue Goldsbey,

And is their version of the Argentine Tango, 

Just look at those colours,

I just had to take some photos to share with you all, I do hope that you like them.

I have a busy week ahead .....I am now part of the Clarity Challenge Blog Design Team and their is a new Challenge on Tuesday so pop back and see what I have come up with....

Wednesday is craft classes, Saturday is workshop day at Crafts4u2do, I also have some Clarity samples to get in the post and another magazine piece to compose....but, I do love what I do....so I am really looking forward to it....

Hope you have a good week planned too,

Ttfn.....Jo. X 

That Friday feeling....

Yes, it is me....again....and oh, I do like my Fridays...

What have you planned for the weekend? I am going to Port Sunlight tomorrow to the Happy Stampers craft show, I am really looking forward to catching up with Jane, Linda, Brenda, Mike and Mark to name a few...

We are starting off with Bacon butties and coffee, (just coffee for me...) and then the shopping will begin.....Clarity Stamps will be there with Dave and Maria at the helm, ...Kay is also there with IndigoBlu and there are many other stands that are a must see....oh, and we need to catch up with the lovely Linda Simpson too.....

Today I am going to share a commissioned make with you....

This clock is made from a kit from the talented Karen Clare....aka 'The Clock Lady'...(heads up ladies...we will be making clocks in our workshops on October 30th) 

I also used the foxglove stamps from Clarity and my new dylusion inks sprays....oh so yummy....

This is the card that compliments the gift.....using the same stamps....

I do think it is nice to have things that match....don't you ?

Right that is all from me for today.....

I have a date night tonight with Karl.....both boys are out ....so I am cooking a special meal, got a nice bottle of wine and we are putting our mobiles and iPads in a drawer.....so Mum if you ring I won't answer.....and crafty friends if you pm me.....I will get to it later....

Have a good weekend (I know I will!!!!) and see you soon, Jo. X 

Hi, I'm still here...

Good evening, so sorry I have not posted for a while but as usual life has been a little hectic...I know it always is.....

Hope you had a good weekend ...it was grey in our house on Sunday....after the football....(thank goodness last night was better...) 

Well, I have been busy painting Terracotta pots....thanks Mikey...

Mikey asked if I could paint a pot for a local restaurant Gusto..and put their logo on it...

So I did.

Then he came home and said could they order another eight.....

Well, they're done and delivered....

Imagine my face when he came home and said they wanted them in all their branches now.....

So I could be gone for a while!!

I used the brilliant Letterbox kit from Clarity and a brilliance ink pad...Moonlight White...

See you soon.....crafty hugs Jo. X 

Christmas Elves...

Good morning all, well here we are Friday...nearly the weekend....

What are you doing today? 

I'm busy preparing card stock and getting ready for tomorrows Christmas workshop over at Crafts4u2do in St Helens...

But, before I get stuck in I thought I would show you this card that I made yesterday using products from the wonderful Hobby House...

The topper is from a sheet of toppers called Christmas Elves and is designed Mo Manning....the papers are just from my stash, as is the ribbon ....

The hat pins are from the Hobby House pin wheel and those gorgeous little boot embellishments are also from Hobby House...and as you all know, I do love my embellishments....

The flowers are from Sweet Lilac paper flowers and the leaves I cut using a Marianne die...

Finishing touches were added with Stickles glitter glue,  I really enjoyed making this card...my first Christmas card completed.....oh, so many left to make...

I would like to enter this into the Hobby House Blog Challenge...

Challenge 4- our Hobby House Artists....

Thanks for looking in today....have a good weekend and call back soon. 

Jo. X 

It's me......

Hi, sorry I have been a bit quiet this week, but I have been busy doing things that have to stay hush, hush for a while.....all exciting stuff....

Well, yesterday was workshop day in Hazel Grove and it was so good to catch up with everyone....as always, we did have such a laugh...

We had a new crafter....a gorgeous little black Kitten.....but Alex won't let me give it a home.....boo hoo...I thought it might help Tess with her phantom pregnancy......don't worry ....I was good and left it alone.....

We had a play with Mica Powders....I chose to use Perfect Pearls as I find them the best on the market and they have a built in binding agent...

This is the first card that we made....using a favourite stamp of mine from HobbyArt....the Border Poppy ....

We used gold embossing powder, mixed water with our mica powder and then painted with it...

The background uses Tumbled Glass Distress ink and the brilliant Cloud mask from Clarity....I have to say I have been using it on a lot of my cards recently...

Our second card, using the same stamp but creating a different effect...

We used smooth black card, VersaMark ink and then added the mica Powder with a paint brush....left this for a few moments and then buffed the area with a tissue...(I find tissue better that kitchen roll...it is less abrasive) 

Top Tip...if you put talc on your card first it help with the static, but also helps to show up where you have stamped...

These are some tags that I made as inspiration for other ways of using the stamp...

I have just treated myself to some Dylusions sprays...oh, I love them...I now have a spray booth....all in the name of research....just for you Rachel....

So I am off to play...

See you soon....Jo. X 

New blog Challenge Day

Hi lovely crafters, blog followers and friends...good to see you,

Well as it is the 15th of the month, it is the day for a new Blog Challenge over at the  Sweet Lilac Paper Flowers Blog...and the new theme is ....

..............Vintage.......

Here is my DT inspiration, I do hope that you like it,

I used a lovely paper from the Secret Garden collection from Graphic 45 and yes, I did stroke it first!!!

The sentiment is a Clarity Stamp, I used Versafine ink....Imperial Purple...

The butterfly is also a Clarity stamp, stamped onto Vellum and then cut out. 

The gorgeous little cameo is from HobbyHouse and they come in a variety of colours...

The flowers are from Sweet Lilac as is the lace.....I do love their products and if you go to their on line shop you can see the full range of products....

The green leaves are one of the white flowers coloured with Bundled Sage Distress Ink and then cut into sections...

We had some wonderful entries last month and congratulations to the winner...oh, did I mention you win some Sweet Lilac goodies....

Why not go along and have a look at the other DT work ....just click 

HERE.....

If you like the Graphic 45 papers, have you checked out my lovely friends blog....Clare is the only UK DT member for Graphic 45 .

 http://mycreativespirit.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/happy-birthday-diane.html

Well, that's enough for me today...take care . Have a good week and call back soon. Jo. X