Adjust the Sails.

Good evening everyone, I do hope that you have had a good day....

I have been kept on my toes by our little man.....but he has settled in well....sleeps until 6-30 and is getting the hang of going outside to do his business...

Tess is really good with him....and she is teaching him so much....especially where the dog food is kept.

I am off to the NEC tomorrow to catch up with friends and do some research.....oh and shopping...

So tonight I thought I would share a card with you....it is one of the ones that I managed to make for Barbara for the tv on Sunday....

( oh I had one day to make the samples between Glasgow and workshops...I am so glad that the stamps and stencils are so fantastic to use.)

 

 

I stamped the boat using VersaFine ink - Onyx black and then added some colour using Spectrum Noir pencils. I do love the way these pencils blend so well ....I did use my little paper stump too...

Next came the stencil, ..now you know that I love my stencils.....

First I added some Butterscotch ink using a stencil brush....

Next came some shade using Latte and a make up sponge....

This was the result....quite good but I felt that it still needed more depth....

So out with the Espresso...

Now that's better....

Next some aptly named Sale Boat Blue....and the scissors.....

Some matting and layering onto black card.....plus adding the topper...

And the sentiment...

I really enjoyed making this card...even though it did change direction twice....but then that is what life is all about.....

The stamps and stencil are available from Claritystamp.... http://www.claritystamp.co.uk

Enjoy your evening.....

See you when I get back....or at the NEC...

Much love,

Jo. X

 

Travel....

Good Morning, and here we are the first of November....so that means a new challenge over at the Clarity Challenge Blog...

Our new theme is ......Travel....

I must say that once again we had some fantastic entries to our last Challenge and congratulations to the winner who gets a £50 voucher to spend at Clarity....

Here is what I came up with....

I have been wanting to use this fantastic Clarity film strip Stencil for ages now....well done Dave ...I do love the design...

I started by covering the stencil with Black Soot , Distress ink.

Then used my eBosser to get this impression.

Next I cut a mask out of copier paper...

Placed the mask over the card and began stamping....

Until I had created this...

Next came the sky ....

And then some ground...

I just needed to add some light ....so out came my Spectrum Noir pencils...

I thought this sentiment was just perfect...

Plus this stamp...

Some Tim Holts embellishments, matting and layering and The design was complete..

I do hope that you like it.....and that you will enter our Challenge........http://claritystampchallenge.blogspot.co.uk

Also have a look at the other samples for my friends on the D.T......some very inspiring work....

All the stamps and the Stencil are available here.... http://www.claritystamp.co.uk

Thanks for looking in today....hopefully by now Karl and me will be on our way to collect our new Labrador puppy...Eric.......oh we are all so excited....

Remember to watch Barbara with some fantastic new Clarity stamps and stencils on C&C tomorrow at 9am...

Lots of Love,

Jo. X

 

 

Meet Eric

Good Morning all and Happy Halloween,....I hope you have a great Friday.

We have a very exciting weekend ahead.....we are having a new addition to our family.....

You see Tess is my Craft Buddy and when I have workshops, retreats and shows she gets lonely.....so we have got a little friend for her......meet Eric....

We went to meet him after the last Clarity Cumbria workshop....oh and his brothers and sisters ....

Just how cute are they....thank goodness we didn't have to choose.....only one male pup left needing a home....

( good job....otherwise we would have them all !!)

So tomorrow we are going to collect him....we have his bed ready.....a cute little lead and collar....lots of puppy toys......etc.....

 

Tomorrow is also a new Challenge at Clarity so I will be back with my make....

Enjoy your Friday evening....

See you tomorrow.

Much love...

Jo. X

 

Back Home.

Good afternoon all,

I do hope that you had a good weekend...

I have to say that I am a little tired today ....but what a brilliant time I had in Glasgow....it is so good to be part of the Clarity family..and even though we all missed Barbara we still flew the flag for Clarity....Dave was manning the till....and Heather and myself did the rest...

Wow ...look at all those Stencils....

Len is such a great help and always looks after me with plenty of cake....

It was so good to see some regular crafters and to meet new ones too.

At this point I need to wish my friend Denise a speedy recovery.....I had arranged to catch up with her on Sunday but unfortunately she is in hospital at the moment...so ....get better soon Denise.....big hugs...

 

I had better get on....as I have some catching up to do...

I have workshops in Hazel Grove on Wednesday...and Barbara is back on our screens on Sunday and as usual there are some fantastic new stamps and stencils...

Enjoy your Monday evening ...

Love and hugs to all....

Oh and Heather....early night ...tonight...matey....x

Jo. XXX

 

Life is Bubbles.

Good morning and welcome to the weekend...

I hope you have a lovely relaxing one planned....I am in Glasgow playing sorry working on the Clarity stand at the SECC...

Today I am sharing a card that I have made using Jo's Bubbles Stencil, Grunge Paste, Sail Boat Blue Adirondack ink, and then VersaMark ink with Clear Embossing powder...

How fab is the sentiment? ....the bubble and sentiment stamp are both from Clarity...

Look how cool the Grunge Paste looks with the clear embossing...

The clip is from Ranger and a few of you have asked about the little glass bottles....well a few companies make them .....Tim Holtz also Woodwear....( plus some stationary shops)

Enjoy your Saturday....

Stay safe.....and pop back soon,

Jo. xxx

 

 

 

 

 

Off to the SECC.....

Good morning all ...well hopefully by now Dave, Heather, Len and myself will be on our way up to Glasgow to set up ready for the SECC....the show is on Thursday , Friday, Saturday and Sunday...if you are coming please do come and say hello....I just hope that the rain has stopped and that the dreadful wind has gone away....

Here are a couple of my sample boards....

I will be demonstrating with the new mini blending tool....honestly ...if you don't have one yet...you really need one....( well at least two!!!) ....and Clarity have a fantastic show offer on .

Here are some samples made using Grunge Paste through a stencil and then coloured with inks.....

I will also be using Perfect Pearls too.,

And I will be using the new Stencils.....Sam's Eggs and Jo's Bubbles....

Well , it would be rude not too....

Must get on...lots still to do...

Have a good week, take care and see you soon,

Jo. xxxx

 

Such an exciting weekend.

Good morning lovely people, here we are at the start of another week.

How was your weekend? ...

Mine started with Clarity Cumbria on Saturday, this month we created a canvas each....and I have to say they were all so different and all so fantastic.

Here we have a group photo.....what a great bunch of crafty ladies they are .....

And as always thanks to Sheila who keeps us all on order....and makes yummy cakes....

It was a quick visit to Cumbria and dash home, ready for a 5-30am start on Sunday , and then off to Doncaster...Done....

As always it is great to Demonstrate next to my mate and über talented Maria......we had Sam and Heather keeping order and Dave plus Len in charge of tills...( the men have the money!!!)

It was made even more exciting because Sam and myself have our own design on A Clarity Stencil.

Here we are deciding which one would sell out first...

Oh I do love having friends that you can have a laugh with ....we have such a great time......

Whoops.......we did work hard too Barbara.....honest.....

So,,,,here we have Jo's Bubbles.......( note.....not tassels!!!) ...and yes I actually designed and drew it by hand....how fab is that....honestly ....just pinch me.........

And here is Sam's Eggs.....

I do hope that you like our designs....and that you will buy them......

Quick backgrounds .....simply made using Adirondack inks, Sail Boat Blue ......turning the stencil and then Butterscotch...

The possibilies are endless ...I am so looking forward to seeing what you come up with...

 

I really can't tell you have thrilled I am to be part of the Clarity Family...

I am now off to make some samples ready for Glasgow.........as Clarity will be at the SECC later this week.

If you are going do pop along and say Hello..and remember Dave loves Jelly Babies.....

Hope you have a good start to the week....

See you later....

Much love and Hugs...

Jo. xxx