Clarity Open Days

Good afternoon all and thanks for popping in.

Sorry for the lack of posts but it was a very busy weekend down in Kent...

I had workshops on Wednesday , then an early start on Thursday...the open days Friday and Saturday , I finally pulled onto the drive at 10-45pm on Saturday....long days but well worth it....and I even managed the drive both ways without any problems...

Unfortunately, we were so busy that I didn't have much time to take photos so I have borrowed some from Lynne, and some from Clarity...thanks both....hope you don't mind

 

I managed to take a couple before the doors opened

This was my crafty space

Three lovely ladies hatching a plan

Sam looking professional

And then,,,,Jayne joined us lol..

I do love catching up with this wonderful lady

We normally have a group photo , but time just got the better of us ...as soon it was time to open the doors

And let the fun begin

It was so good to meet Alex from Hochanda, what a special lady, and wow, so stunning...I did feel little and old next to her...so don't look to close...please

( you know how I hate having my photo taken )

 

 

 

 

I made lots of samples with Stencils and ink blending

And the odd canvas too

It was so good to catch up with Barbara, the team, old friends and make new ones....

A really fabulous two days...

Back home now and preparing for the next few workshops. Plus on Wednesday karl and I are renting a van to take Mikey and Frans things to their new flat in Nottingham...

So that is all four of them now moved out so we are back to two adults and two dogs...

I'm getting off now as a trip to IKEA is in order this evening to buy more furniture for the kids....

We are getting quite good at this building malarkey...

Before I go, do tune into our Rosie , tonight and tomorrow with her one day special....

It was such a pleasure to meet and spent time with her , what a lovely lady....

Much love and hugs..

Jo. xxxx

 

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Today's canvas

Good evening all and thanks for popping in.

I hope you had a lovely weekend, I had a most wonderful day in Bolton on Saturday. I would like to thank all the lovely crafters who came to say hello, brought me gifts, coffee and had a chat. The day whizzed , Jane, Penny and Martin on the Art of Craft stand are such wonderful people and I am really looking forwards to seeing them again.

Then yesterday we spent the day helping Adam and Danielle move into their house, they got the keys on Friday. It is just perfect for them and is only five minutes away....so we are off there again tonight....to build some more furniture...well that's what parents do isn't it...

So today I thought I would sare a canvas with you...I made it for a recent show with Rosie, when the Inka Gold was launched....now you workshop ladies will know just how much I love this product...

I started with a canvas that I had painted ages ago...but didn't like it...perfect for what I wanted...after all we never throw anything away ...do we...????

I attached my stencil and sponged through some grunge paste, and left it to dry .

Next came the embellishments

Followed by the black gesso

I do love this technique...

When dry , I added a wash of Inka gold, mixing the colours as I went along.

Look

Then some splats....another favourite technique of mine...works great with Inka gold too.

When dry I used a craft knife to scratch back some of the colour , this adds some highlights.

And finally some metal embellishments and some glossy Accents...

I think she looks fab,,,

Right better get on....so much still to do and a very busy week ahead...

Thanks for popping in,

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

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Pamper your pet

Good morning everyone and thanks for popping in .

Today it is a new Challenge over at the Fussy and Fancy Challenge blog and our new theme is

Pamper your Pet

Our host is the lovely and talented Diane.

Here is my design

And yes , my inspiration is our two lovely Labradors Tess and Eric

And here is how I created my card

I started with the circles box stencil and kept the inner square stencil in place , I used a piece of Stencil card.

Next came the distress Oxide inks, first Faded Jeans through the stencil.

Then I removed the main stencil and added some smoothing with fossilised Amber, and worn lipstick.

My new favourite technique some flicks with wilted violet

Next I removed the inner stencil and stamped my two trusty pets, a Clarity club stamp.

I masked the dogs, added a moon mask and created a landscape.

Using my spectrum Noir pencils I added some colour to the dogs and then grounded them with some charcoal pencils

Some matting and layering

And finally some finishing off touches and embellishments

And my design was complete, glossy Accents looks great on their noses.

Here is a closer look

 

Aw bless them....

I do hope that you enter our challenge , you can find it here http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Enjoy your Friday , and I hope you have a lovely weekend planned .

If you are coming along to the Crafting Live show at Bolton tomorrow , do come and say hello to me. I will be demonstrating all things Groovi on the Art of Craft stand ....

So I had better go and get my bags packed

Take care all.

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxxx

 

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A stitch in time

Good evening all and thanks for popping in.

Well after some sun this afternoon it is raining here again, so more wet dogs...

I have been busy all day getting some workshop prep done , I really don't know where the time has gone.

Tomorrow I must get to grips with my samples and demos for the Clarity Open days in Kent next week...are you coming? I am really looking forwards to catching up so many people.

Tonight I am going to give you a quick photo tutorial of one of my recent samples. This is from a recent show on Hochanda with Rosie...

I started by making my shrink plastic tag

Look how it shrinks

Next I did the stamping

Then added some colour using spectrum Noir pencils, plus some charcoal shading

On separate card , I stamped , coloured, and cut out three buttons. Then added some clear embossing powder...

Some matting and layering and a little faux material swatch, and the design is complete

You're sew special ......and you are...

Believe in yourself....

A lovely thought to leave you with

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxxx

 

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The Gentlemen's Collection

Good evening all, I hope you had a good weekend and that Monday has treated you well.

I had such a busy week last week that I just ran out of time , so I am so sorry that I didn't have time to catch up with you.

Wednesday was our usual workshops in Hazel Grove, and as always it was great to see everyone...Julie made us more yummy cake,,.Thank you...

Thursday was my monthly workshop at the Paper Warehouse in Kendal, and once again it was a full class we even had Johnathan joining us with his camera....good job I had my lippy with me !!!!

Then Saturday it was an inky morning followed by a Groovi afternoon in Edgeley at CJ CardCrafts.

Great classes and wonderful ladies made even more special by my lovely friend Fi making a surprise visit...

It really was a very special day...

So as you see it was quite a busy week, plus Danielle was admitted to hospital again, also I had samples to make for Barbara's one day special today...

The new Groovi plates are so useful, especially as men can be so difficult...!!! I mean to make cards for,,,!!!! lol..

I decided to make a book mark, something useful...

Here is a closer look

I really enjoyed making this...so I made a coaster too.

Well it is Father's Day soon

I have been out at a meeting today , so I haven't managed to catch all the shows...but I have recorded them...and I am looking forward to watching Barbara and Paul later...

Just need to catch up on emails and paperwork first.

It is pouring down here, so it's going to be a wet dog walk tonight...

Take care all,

Much love and hugs.

And after the terrible events on Saturday evening it makes it even more special to have such lovely friends and people who I can trust and care about...

Love ya all...

Jo. xxxx

 

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