Rain today

Good afternoon everyone and thanks for joining me, on this Sunday afternoon.

Sorry I haven't blogged for a few days but it has been even more hectic than normal here, with lots of Clarity samples to make, workshops, magazine work plus the wife, mum and grandma duties....

Our Hazel Grove workshops went well on Wednesday and we made a start on Christmas cards...yes, I have actually started mine...

On Friday I spent the morning with young Mr Elliot , and the afternoon with friends having afternoon tea....oh and yes we had Prosecco....very nice it was too...( thanks Ladies )

This evening we are off to drive through Blackpool illuminations, for Elliot you understand...so I thought I would share a photo tutorial with you...

If you watched the Clarity shows with Maria the other week you will recognise this card....

And here is how I made it...

I started with a piece of stencil card, and stamped the clock face, masked it and then randomly stamped some cogs with VersaMark ink, added white embossing powder and heated.( to make a resist )

Next I added the stencil and began blending some ink.

When I removed the stencil , I had this .

 

Next , I added some shading around the edges

On separate card I stamped the extra bits, and cut them out.

Added some light and shade, loook what a difference the charcoal makes to the cogs

Then I assembled all the parts, and by using a brad on the hands they can actually move . So that any specific time can be used on the card.

'

Oh and the clock face I heat embossed twice with clear embossing powder...nearly forgot that bit...

Sorry it is such a rush...but I need to get on...

More time,,,that is what I need ...mind you ..don't we all...

Time Flies.....it certainly does....

Take care everyone...

Much love and hugs...

Jo. xxx

 

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Mondays child...

Good afternoon all, how is your week going? I have been busy making samples all day....and I don't know where the time has gone...just not enough hours in the day at the moment ,

Have you been watching Barbara and Paul today ? Paul still has one show to do, not sure if he will have anything left to demonstrate with...

I really love making book marks , and I made one using Tina's new plates from Yesterday .

That little Robin is just so cute....

He made an appearance on this sample too...It started out with the new snowflake plates....but he had to join in the fun.

Yesterday we had quite a journey back from Glasgow...the M6 was closed and we had to divert through Lancaster....it added over 2 hours to our journey ....thank goodness we had stopped at Tebay to exercise the dogs and have some food. The poor people on the North bound side ...some of them had over 3 hours delay...

It certainly gave our new motor home a good run. We picked it up on Friday morning and drove straight up to Glasgow...we found a wonderful campsite and Saturday's workshop went really well. Thanks to all the ladies for coming and Eileen for making such yummy cakes.

Some of the ladies are coming down to our Cumbria Retreat in October...oh I am so chuffed ...it sold out straight away and I have a waiting list... bless you all.

This is our new baby , and yes we updated it because of our little man....Elliot...we now have seat belts in the back so that we can take him away with us....oh ....so exciting times ahead....

Uncle Mikey came home last week so that he could have cuddles...

Elliot is doing so well and gets heavier everytime we see him...

Adam and Danielle are back home and enjoying being a family...They have taken Elliot up to Kendal today to see my parents...It is greatgrandad's birthday tomorrow...

So Happy Birthday Dad....and yes I have made him a card...

Better get on...it is our Hazel Grove workshops on Wednesday...and yes ladies...we have eggs,,.

Take care all.

Enjoy your crafting....

Much love and hugs...

Jo. xxxx

 

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Anything goes - Mixed Media

Good morning everyone and thanks for popping in. Today is a really busy day as we are picking up our new little van, loading it up and heading up to Glasgow ready for the Clarity Workshop tomorrow.

Life is just so hectic at the moment, I do feel I am spinning so many plates...

The plate for today is a new Fussy and Fancy Challenge..

I am very honoured to be hosting this Challeneg and I have chosen for

Challenge 195

The theme of

Anything goes ....Mixed Media ...

Now this just means mixing it up a bit, maybe inks, paints, ribbon, alcohol markers, gesso, oh so many possibilities. Most of us do this without even realising it..

Here is what I have come up with, I do hope that you like it .

It all started with an off cut from a play with Distress Oxide ink pads...

I trimmed it down and added a sun using my Clarity mask

And then some foliage using a couple of Clarity stamps

Now at this point , I had just the die in mind....a fabulous one from Apple Blossom dies.

 

How cool is that...? I just love this versatile little die .

All it needed , was some white Posca pen adding.

 

Then onto the background , and out with the Inka Gold

I added some water and had a play ....not to much though....remember to leave some white space...

Some matting and layering

I took an MDF sentiment and painted it with Black Gesso, and then began to assemble my design

Some more white dots, I do love the way these dry

And my design is complete....

And perfect for a variety of occasions, also for those difficult male cards.

I told you it was easy....oh and fun...

I would love you to check out the designs from my fellow dt members, and even better I would love you to enter.... http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Remember it can be a card , tag,

piece of MDF, a canvas ,

etc as long as it is Mixed Media....just have some fun...

I had better get a move on...

Have a lovely weekend all, oh and remember our Barbara is on tv this Sunday and Monday

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxxxxxx

 

 

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So busy

Good afternoon all,I do hope that you are having a lovely bank holiday weekend. The weather has been lovely and we have got lots of gardening done, it is so good to get some order outside...the plants have all gone mad and grown and grown, they are like triffids .

Life has been so hectic since our last catch up. The Summer event at The Paper Warehouse in Kendal was a great success and extremely busy. It was great to see so many friends there, and to have so many sell outs. We have had lots of design work to do, with so many lovely new products. Then last Saturday it was Clarity Cumbria , which is always such a wonderful day.

We made a start on our Christmas cards,

Some Kraft card and snow

After lunch we carried on with the festive theme

And a nice, quick and easy card to finish with

I do love these Jayne Nestorenko designs.

Just before I go , a have a new photo of Elliot to share with you...the little man is doing very well and hopefully they can move back home later this week

Have a great week all,

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

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So much Thunder.

Good afternoon all and thanks for popping in....oh my...what a busy week it has been. Lots of crafting jobs on my list , medical appointments and then due to a flood at their house Adam, Danielle and Elliot have had to move back in with us.

Do I mind? ...what do you think? In fact I am here in the living room now, watching the little man whilst he sleeps...The thunder is bombing away and Elliot is still fast asleep. He is dong so well, and he really is the light of our lives at the moment.,,so many horrible things happening around us...

Today I am sharing a little photo tutorial with you...

This is one of my samples for this weeks tv...using one of the new stencils...

As usual I started with a piece of stencil card, I added some ink...keeping it lighter in the middle

Next came the petite Gelli plate , some artistry ink and another great stencil

I added the design through the stencil, one aperture at a time

Using a variety of colours of ink, some positive, some negative images .

After cleaning the stencil and replacing it. I added some VersaMark ink through the stencil. Then washed the stencil and added some clear embossing powder to the card. Heated it and oh yes, I love the result.

Some stamping, a word and some white pen with my Posca marker...

Something a bit different and a bit arty....

Mmmm what do you think?

 

Rossella is on Hochanda today with some rather lovely Pergamano products and some flowers...very nice indeed

A box that I made , plus I decided to make my bag into a card,,,just something a bit different,,,

I hope you have a lovely weekend planned, I am off to Kendal tomorrow...and I am really looking forward to it....Janet and Jane look after me so well...A fantastic shop...and so many great crafters...

See you all there

Take care all,

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

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Another Monday

Good afternoon all, and thanks for popping in....I do hope that your week has started well.

I have spent all day working on samples for upcoming television...more new goodies , you are going to love them....I started very early as Karl left at 6am ...so I just got up, walked the dogs and then started crafting...I needed a productive day,,,as it is another very busy week

Toaday I have a card for you using the Elements stamps...all four on one card...I do love to make these sort of designs..

I started with a piece of stencil card and some masking tape

Next came the stamping

And some inking

I used Artistry ink pads

And filled in one corner at a time

Until all four were complete

Some water spritzing....or Happy Clappy as we call it at our workshops

And then I removed the tape

Added a word

Followed by some charcoal pencil and some white Posca pen dots.

Some matting and layering and glossy Accents...and job done...

Four elements on one card . A bit like the weather at the moment,,,we seem to have days with sun, rain, and wind all entwined .

I must admit we had a little sunny spell today so I treated myself to a coffee in the garden,,,my trusty companions joined me

A little update on Elliot and I am happy to say he came home on Friday....so this weekend we have been so excited as we took him out in his pram....our first walk pushing the pram...Grandma and Grandad were grinning like Cheshire cats...

He has to keep going back for more tests , but the main thing is that both Danielle and him are at home,,,

He wanted to say hi...to you all....

I have had so many cuddles,,,

And I just love every minute of it... puts everything into perspective...

Better get on...I have a chilli to make before Karl gets home,,,

Good to have a catch up....thanks for joining me

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

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