Flutterby

Good afternoon all, I hope your day is going well. 

We have rain here again today, 

so I had another wet walk to the Post Office. 

Today I was posting some more samples to HOCHANDA. 

These are for the next One Day Special shows which are this Friday and Saturday. 

There are some new stencils on the shows, and 

here is one of my samples using the butterfly one. 

I just wanted to show the detail of this stencil, and I wanted to do something a bit different. 

After all that is our job on the dt, 

and as you know I do love using stencils. 

It is so nice to use black card just for a change. 

I applied the VersaMark ink through the stencil using a little sponge. 

( use an elastic band to create your own applicator ) 

Next I added some mica powder , I used some Luscious powders. 

Just look at those colours. 

I also added a sentiment. 

I gave the powder a few minutes to bind, then a gently wiped the area with a tissue. 

Look at the detail. 

As my sample is going to be handled quite a lot I fixed the powders using a spray fixative. 

I am sure you all have some mica powders in your stash,,,

Why not get them out and have a play..

I’m off now, 

Got the boys coming to play for a few hours. 

Take care all 

Pop back soon

Love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Romance is in the air

Good afternoon all, 

I hope you are keeping well, and keeping dry. 

It has rained here all day.

So I had a wet walk with Eric this morning followed by a wet walk to the Post Office. 

It is cake day so mini Victoria sponges were the cake choice today. 

I have loved playing with these new stencils from Lavinia. 

Here is a Clean And Simple design for you. 

I just love this type of design. 

I started by adding ink direct to the stencil 

And then spritzing with water, 

And placing it on my card 

This is such a great way to use stencils, when you live the stencil this 

is what you get. 

So out with some stamps, ( make sure the ink is dry first ) 

All that was left was to create a simple scene,

Stamp some extra hearts, and some matting and layering. 

I do think that this would make a lovely anniversary or engagement card, or even a card just to say 

I love you 

Just before I go,

I thought I would share a photo with you. 

We had our first family walk since the beginning of the lockdown. 

It was so lovely , it brought a tear to my eye. 

I am so proud of our little family. 

Take care all. 

Time now to walk Eric again. 

Oh yes, 

It is still raining.

Love and hugs 

Jo xxxx

Enjoy the journey

Good afternoon all, 

I do hope that your Friday is going well and that you have a lovely weekend planned. 

I have just got back from a long walk with Elliot and Jenson, 

It was lovely, even in the rain. 

Tomorrow we are going to catch up with Mikey and Fran, 

It is so good to be able to see the family again. 

I hope you are slowly managing to see your family too. 

Today I have another sample to share with you. 

I must admit I have made so many recently. 

I also have many more to make, so many deadlines. 

Good job I love to create..

This one started off with one of my readymade backgrounds..

This was from a tv demo quite a few months ago, 

I knew it would come in handy one day 

I added some stamping, these stamps are great for men’s cards . 

I also stamped some images on separate pieces of card, added colour and cut them out. 

Next I started to assemble everything 

I stamped the feather a couple of times, It is so lovely to cut out and decoupage. 

I added extra, shading and some embellishments, 

I adore the metal letters, and the Tim Holtz film  strip just had to be added. 

This would be great for a teenager, or someone who is travelling...

That is when we can go travelling again. 

Thanks for popping in, 

It is always lovely to spend time with you. 

Take care 

And be kind 

Love and hugs 

Jo xxx

July Challenge

Good morning all, 

Wow, can you believe it , 

July already..

I am particularly excited as my darling Elliot will be 3 this month..

He seems to be growing up so fast, 

I am just glad that we can finally see him again..

As it is the first of July 

We have a new Lavinia Challenge

My favourite stamp.

Now that might sound easy, but oh no, 

It is so hard to choose, 

I have so many favourites, 

Bet you do too

So I went for one that I use so much,,

Years ago I fell in love with the idea of using the feather as a tree,

and I have used it so much since. 

I have made a YouTube video, if you fancy taking a look 

https://youtu.be/ilWJHxBtYA0

Obviously I was just going to use one stamp but then little Pipin ran into my design 

and just sat there...

I started by adding some ink to my card using Billy Brayer 

I just have to keep using this new colour 

Next I added some purple just to alter the colour tone. 

Followed by some stamping. 

Next I added the moon and some scenery, but it still needed something else. 

So out came one of the new stencils 

I kept to a pale colour to keep the tones nice and light. 

I do love how that looks, it really adds atmosphere to the design 

I used Inktense pencils to add colour, but I like to add a secret ingredient to my water when I water colour them. 

This really adds some glimmer to the tree. 

The finally some white Posca pen and some glitter...

A lovely, relaxing scene. 

I do hope you will enter the challenge, 

It is on the Lavinia website, and you could win £40 to spend there. 

It is dry here today, Eric and I have just had a lovely walk , 

It is so good to get some fresh air.

I hope you have a lovely day, whatever you get up too.

See you at 11am for coffee and biscuit.

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

I adore these stamps,

Good morning all, 

Hope you are feeling well and positive today

I have walked Eric and been to the post office. 

At the minute I am up to date with stamps, kits, workshop deliveries etc.

Plus today is cake day so the lovely staff have a fresh cream and strawberry Victoria sponge to have with their coffee..

Next job on my list is another magazine commission

So I thought I could have a catch up with you, and then a coffee before tackling it. 

Today I have a recent Aall & Create sample to share, 

This uses stamps by Tracy Evans and these are more of my new favourites, haha 

I have so many,,,

I know, 

Just like the rest of you, 

I found the frame in my stash, so just added some paint , 

And then cleaned my brush on a piece of card ready to be used as the background. 

I stamped and coloured the flower..

Have you noticed...

A new , ink pad 

Speckled egg,

I made the whole sample just so that I could use my new ink pad..

I had great fun, stamping and colouring these images, 

Perfect for any crafter 

Then my favourite bit, 

Putting it all together 

Look at the detail. 

So many possibilities with these. 

Thanks for popping in, 

Fancy a coffee, ? 

Shall we have a biscuit too.? 

Ok. 

Come on then 

Love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Lockdown Lavinia homework week 14

Good morning everyone. 

I hope you are feeling well this Monday morning. 

I have another Lockdown Lavinia homework for you. 

As things are slowly returning back to dare I say normal 

this will be the last lockdown homework .

I will still be setting the workshop ladies homework though. 

They don’t get away that easily. 

This week we are going to be looking at reflections. 

Here is a closer look 

I hope you will play along at home. 

I have made a YouTube if you fancy having a look 

https://youtu.be/ypxwG1rRxYk

Now for me there are 3 main ways of creating the reflection, 

and I would always make the reflection first. 

For me the easiest way is to stamp on acetate 

And then transfer that onto the card 

Using Billy Brayer is a great way to add the horizon line. 

Remember to use a dye based ink on him though. 

The second way is to ink up the stamp and roll Billy Brayer over it. 

And then rolling the image onto your card 

The third way is to stamp onto the gel press plate , this is good if you want to do 

multiple images 

You then transfer this to your card .

Add some scenery and a moon. 

It is such a lovely way to add a new dimension to your card designs. 

So have fun. 

That’s all from me for today 

Coffee time here, 

I got so wet this morning walking Eric, then doing the food shopping. 

So a lovely warm coffee is on the cards for me. 

Take care all

Love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Love the Bees

Good afternoon all, I hope your Sunday is going well. 

I have had a lovely morning first we walked Eric and then 

we took the boys for a walk and they came back to have lunch with us. 

Oh and I mean the little ones, Elliot and Jenson..

I do love this bubble that we can have now. 

We have just taken them back home , 

So that is 13,050 steps and tired grandparents...

I just have time to make a coffee and then sit and watch the Aall & Create show on Hochanda, 

featuring stamps from the lovely Tracy Evans. 

Here is one of my samples 

I do love this Bee set. 

The background was one of my spare pieces from using the rock salt technique .

I added some background stamping to start and build up the layers. 

Next I added some white Bokeh type circles using distress crayons and the stencil. 

Some more stamping, and I couldn’t resist shrinking some bees. 

You know how much I love shrink plastic,

I also added a metal letter (thanks Lisa , I love these ) 

Here is a closer look

Here is another design , using the same stamp set 

And here is a closer look.

I used inks and a stencil on my gel press to make this background. 

This one features an embellishment from another lovely friend Anne, 

I have been so spoilt recently...

Thank you ladies 

Thanks for popping in, 

Off now to make that coffee. 

Thanks to all the ladies who joined in yesterday with the online workshop.

It was so lovely to spend time with you all. 

Take care everyone 

Love and hugs 

Jo xxx