CAS for Christmas.

Good evening all, and thanks for joining me....I do hope that you are well this Wednesday and having a good week.

I have been ticking those jobs of the list....oh yes and adding more jobs back onto the list...you know how it goes....

This morning I had a lovely time catching up with the Hazel Grove ladies , we went to a local Garden Center and had coffee, some of us had cake....( and even the camel made an appearance!!!! )

It is so nice to take time out to just catch up with friends...

We did miss Mary ..who is quite poorly at the minute...please get better soon lovely lady....we miss you...xxxx

You see friends are so important....and real friends are even more important...

When I got home , I was just catching up with social media, emails etc when I saw what had happened earlier this week to a lovely and talented friend,,,Nikky Hall....

Do check out her blog

https://polkadoodlesandme.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/how-one-day-in-time-can-change-your.html

In short her tumble dryer caught fire...damaged most of her house and unfortunately her two lovely cats were killed...my heart goes out to her and her husband....

The machine wasn't even running at the time,,,I for one will now unplug my washing machine and tumble dryer when ever they aren't in use...

For anyone who wishes to help, Frances Day has set up a just giving page.

I have been and donated...it doesn't have to be a lot , but every penny counts ...

So please take care all....

This evening I have started to write some Christmas cards...and fingers crossed I may actually get some posted tomorrow...

So here is a CAS, Christmas card...the sort that I need at the minute....not just Clean and Simple...but QAE

Quick and Easy...lol..

I started with a piece of stencil card and yes , Jaynes new Christmas stamps..

And Black Archival ink

I stamped the tree once,

And then twice more, overlapping...

Then added the sentiment , cat and little bird.

On separate card I stamped the tree twice more and added some colour using Elegant Emerald Artistry ink and water..

And then cut them out.

Sparkle was added using some embossing glitter.

Then the middle tree was decoupaged.

 

Finally some shading was added to give a little depth...

Shame that the sparkle doesn't show up very well...

I do hope that your Christmas preparations are going well...not long now...

Although I will be glad when the weather turns a little colder...we are having lots of very muddy dog walks at the moment...and this morning Eric went paddling in a very muddy puddle,,,oh he was so pleased with himself....Tess and me just looked on in disgust....Bless him...

Must go....time for a hot chocolate before bed...if only I could make the Black Forest gateaux hot chocolate that Costa sell...have your tried it? Oh it is my favourite....mmmmm

Much love and hugs.

Jo. xxxxx

 

Posted with Blogsy

Lovely people..

Good evening and thanks for joining me again...I do hope that you have had a good weekend, not long now until the big day...

How are your plans going ?

Well Donna, you must have read my mind, because on Saturday we did have a Christmas card making class,,, well I had to start making mine at some time,,,

We used Jaynes Poinsettia and Holly & Ivy stamp sets...

 

And some of the Festive stencils

The idea was to choose designs that can be batch card makes

I do love this bauble stamp...it may be an old one,,,but it comes out every year..

We also had some Groovi play time,,,

Using the moonfairy plate

And thanks to Susan we had lots of chocolate too.

I had better go as I need to catch up with our Paul on Hochanda...

Take care all,

Much love and hugs.

Jo. xxx

 

Posted with Blogsy

Poinsettia

Good evening all, and thanks for joining me this Friday evening...I do hope that your week has gone well.

I can't believe how quickly the days have gone...and I still haven't started on my Christmas cards!!!!

I have however been using the wonderful Jayne Nestorenko Poinsettia stamps with my pyrography machine...all these boxes need now is some Christmas cheer inside!!!

I have been making some little tree decorations too, they just need finishing off,

I stamped on these great little bits of wood from Creativ

Then burnt the design

Both sides

Followed by some colour, all they need now is some sparkle , a little hole ( thanks Karl and his drill ) and some ribbon..I do think these would fit in well at the Christmas markets.

This is Adam and Danielle last week at the markets in Germany,

And here is Mikey and Fran at our own Christmas markets in Manchester.

I must find time to go and have a few hours wandering around with Karl....but you won't be seeing that photo....,( as I value my camera!!!)

I hope you have a lovely weekend planned , it is workshops for me tomorrow and then our Paul Church is on Hochanda on Sunday...

Here is a sneaky little look at one of my samples...shhhhh

Fi, I think you may just Need this new plate....

On that note , I am off to finish sorting out my bags...take care all,

Have a wonderful weekend,,,

Love and hugs..

Jo. xxxx

 

Posted with Blogsy

Pure Jayne Nestorenko

Good afternoon all, and thanks for joining me today and yah we have another new follower...now you know how excited I get with we have another member to our happy little gang...

It has been another busy time here but I am happy to report that all projects are safely at the publishers, samples in the post for Paul's tv shows next Sunday plus the tree and decorations are all up.

Plus I have just spent a wonderful couple of hours in Manchester with Mikey, it is so good to see him so happy and looking so well. We were joined by Fran his girlfriend and her Mum,,,,,such a special time....

With such special people...

Speaking of special people did you see Barbara on Hochanda on Sunday and Monday? And did you hear the phone call from Jayne Nestorenko? Such a lovely, talented lady and what wonderful designs she has given us to work with .

When I saw the stamps I knew straight away what I wanted to create ....and that was a nostalgic scene, the sort that makes you all warm inside....

This is what I came up with and I really hope that Jayne approves....

I used craft card and stamped in Brown Archival ink...potting soil.

I stamped the children first and made a little mask for the little girls head. Next I stamped the scene, and as it is such a large stamp my Misi came in very useful .

Then onto some colour, I used my Spectrum Noir pencils...

Followed by some Picket Fence Distress ink , it makes great snow on Kraft card...I put some on my mat and painted it onto my design

And a little bit more , I just blended and built it up slowly

There. That's looking better..

A little sparkle with a gel pen, you see I didn't want to go over the top with glitter on this one.

The snowflakes were stamped in VersaMark and then heated with white embossing powder....

Then the fun bit...Chunky white embossing powder heated from underneath....and it is only me that holds my breath whilst I am doing this ?????

As a finishing trick I just edged the children with a dark pencil to make them pop...

 

They really are the most gorgeous characters, and look the little girl has actually caught a snowflake...

On a separate piece of Kraft card I stamped the mittens, coloured them, cut them out and then attached them to the design with a piece of string...

Now how many of you remember having their gloves on string or ribbon threaded through their coat and down their sleeves...or is that just me,,,? Well it did stop us loosing them,,,,,,

Memories....it is so good how art can bring back so many different memories...

I had better get on....tea is in the oven....

Enjoy your evening and pop back soon

Love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

Posted with Blogsy

I love Stencils

Good evening all, thanks for popping in...

I have just got home after a fabulous day at Grosvenor House papers in Kendal.

We had a day of using stencils, you see I love stencils , and there are so many different techniques that you can do with them, from embossing, to using grunge paste, spritzing through them, using them with the Groovi plates and lots more.

We concentrated on using inks,

The sunshine stencil used with two colours of ink and a bit of a twist.

Then some ink blending through the leaf wreath stencil.

After a wonderful lunch, we made a Christmas card....well it is the first of December...

Followed by another one, well I do have to make a start on mine..lol.

It was great to meet a couple of new ladies and I am looking forward to seeing you all agin next year...the dates are out for the first six months of 2017 ...just book in with Jane at Grosvenor..

I am off now to catch up on some tv with Karl....I have a magazine commission to finish tomorrow, and then I am hoping to have some family time at the weekend.

Do remember that our boss lady, Barbara is on Hochanda on Sunday and Monday.

You really don't want to miss the shows....

Take care all.

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxxx

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Nearly December

Good evening all and thanks for popping in.

Another late blog post but it has been a busy day with workshops in Hazel Grove.

I spent yesterday finishing off my samples for Barbara's tv shows this weekend and got them in the post this morning. I have to say the new designs are just fantastic,,,believe me you will definitely Need them ..

Today we had a play with stencils and made designs by mixing and matching stencils...something that I love to do...

It is a great way to make cards that have to go in the post, Jo's Poinsettia Stencil works really well with many of the wreath stencils...and these cards are so quick to make,,.no masking needed.

We also made little gift bags

And all the sweets did go inside the bags!!!! honest....

We had homemade mince pies this morning thanks to Julie, I do seem to eat my way through workshops at the moment.... oh it is such a hard job!!! lol..

I came home unpacked my bags and I have just finished packing them again ready for our day workshop at Grosvenor House papers in Kendal tomorrow..

So just time for a hot chocolate and then off to bed....take care all

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

Posted with Blogsy

Thanks Josie and Chris

Good evening everyone, and thanks for popping in today. I do hope that your week has started well.

I have had a wonderful day , I stayed overnight with a lovely friend and was woken up with a male scratching to get into my room!!!! Don't worry Mum, he is a cat....and a cutie .....

After breakfast we headed off to a Parchment , Groovi workshop .

Run by these two wonderful and very talented ladies, Josie and Chris,

There were lots of friends there, and I met some new crafters too. It was great to put a face to a name and meet Glynis .

We were all on our best behaviour, we'll sort off!!!,

Thanks Lynne for sharing your pencils.

 

Look at these card designs

 

Now this was the one that I was aiming for..

You know, I have been trying to teach myself snipping, but it isn't easy at home on your own...so hence the class today..

Josie was so patient with me, as I had got myself in a state about it, and had convinced myself that I couldn't do it....

As you know I love Groovi, the plates, the designs and making samples...but I have a real block with the grid work and the snipping...

Sometimes a negative comment by someone can get stuck in our heads...do you ever find that....?

Thank goodness for Josie and Chris...

Now I know I need lots more practice,,,but I am on my way...

My first bit of grid work and snipping.

I am hoping to have a little bit of time off over Christmas to get some practice in...

Hey..look ...

I have even got some homework...lol...

It may just take me until next Christmas to achieve this...

I had the most wonderful time and I can honestly say that anyone who wants to learn in a friendly and pleasant environment, just book one ( or two ) of these workshops...

I can't wait to go back and join in again..., look at these stunning samples made by Josie and Chris.

 

Thanks ladies....from the bottom of my heart....

Take care all...

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

Posted with Blogsy