Workshop Wednesday

Good afternoon all, 

hope you are having a lovely, sunny Thursday.

Another busy day here, 

but I have found time to take Tess and Eric for a long country walk. 

Yesterday it was our regular workshops in Hazel Grove and we had a play with watercolour pens. 

I used Spectrum Aqua Markers.

For our first card I used a combination of stamps from Lavinia and Hobby Art.

After all that is what us Crafters do at home isn’t it ? 

We stamped using VersaFine ink, 

Scribbled some colour using the pens onto a tile,  and then added some water and watercoloured the scene. 

The sentiment is also a Hobby Art Stamp.

Our second card had a different feel.

We stamped the poppy , added some ink around it, and then watercoloured the image. 

The splats were added at the end. 

I do love the simplicity of this design.

It also looks great with different coloured inks around the edges. 

We were treated in the morning to Easter Rocky Road and very yummy it was too.

Thank you so much Julie. 

Have you got any watercolour pens? If so , do you use them ? 

I think it is great to find a product that you haven’t used for a while, 

Get it out and have a play. 

Must go, 

Lunch time here.

Enjoy the rest of your day, 

and Mum , I will phone you later...

Love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Little Frida

Good afternoon all, 

thanks for joining me today.

I do hope that it is lovely weather for you, 

as the sun is shining here in Holmes Chapel. 

I have been in my craft room all day, getting inky.

I just have time for a quick catch up before tackling the ironing mountain.

Today I thought I would share another one of my tv samples for 

Leonies show using products from AALL & Create.

As soon as I saw the Freda stamp, I knew exactly what I wanted to create with her. 

You see I drew this pallete shape last year and had it made into MDF shapes. 

I was just waiting for the right opportunity to use it. 

I added some grunge paste and let it dry. 

I painted the whole thing with black gesso, let it dry, then added the coloured paint. 

I used inka gold and this fabulous stencil to add texture. 

Some splatters of white gesso for detail. 

On separate card stock I stamped Freda, plus accessories then added some colour and cut them  out. 

I do love to add extra detail by using elements such as the paintbrush.

Here is a closer look. 

This was such a fun piece to create. 

I hope it makes you smile. 

Enjoy your evening .

Love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

Groovi Saturday

Good morning everyone, 

I hope you had a lovely weekend.

It was our regular Groovi workshop on Saturday, and 

although we had a couple of our regular ladies on holiday we still had a full class. 

We used the new King plates. 

They make gorgeous frames. 

I know that a few of the ladies find a full frame quite daunting.

So I wanted to come up with a design using just part of the frame. 

I do love to use just part of a design, and this 

can be teamed up with some stamping, die cutting etc. 

It is good to mix and match all our various crafts.

This little corner can be used sideways, to create a gatefold card. 

I came up with a template to make it quick and easy .

Then the envelope design was born. 

I do think this is so pretty. 

Thanks for your company ladies, and for all the hints and tips that we swapped.

When I got home, I found a little visitor, 

Elliot was playing football with Grandad, Jenson had to spend the afternoon in hospital.

He was home later so that was good. 

Then after we spent Sunday morning painting the shed both boys came round for the afternoon...

Jenson had a lovely afternoon nap.

The weekend goes so quickly...

What have you got planned for this week? 

I have workshops on Wednesday, and Saturday.

I also have some design team samples to make, pyrography commissions to finish, not to mention 

I need to make Adam a Birthday card...

He will be 30 next week...

It only seems yesterday that he was a baby, like little Jenson.

The sun is shinning today, 

We have two baby blackbirds in the garden, I do love to watch them. 

Although we have a pair of Mistle Thrushes and they are very territorial, and seem 

to chase most of the other birds away..

Take care everyone

Have a lovely day and catch up soon

Love and hugs 

Jo. xxx

On your Special Day

Good afternoon all.

Well, we made it to Friday. 

I have got my bags packed ready for tomorrow’s workshop, so only a few 

little jobs to do now and then I can go and cook some food. 

It is fish tonight, what are you having ? 

Today I thought I would share a lovely floral card with you. 

I have used a gorgeous stamp set from Hobby Art Stamps 

http://www.hobbyartstamps.com/Jean-s-Flowers.html

I started with two pieces of stencil card, both 7x7.

Stamped one up with first generation stamping 

and the other with second generation. 

One for the front of the card and the second is going to be the insert.  

Some inking and more stamping 

I do love using Becky’s background stamps. 

I added some splats and some colour using my Inktense pencils and  water. 

Look how vibrant the colour is.

Then all I needed to do was to add a sentiment, a Bakers twine bow and some butterflies .

Again from Hobby Art. 

It makes such a lovely design for inside the card too. 

So that is my inspiration for you for today.

I do hope that you like it.

Have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing.

I am really looking forwards to having a day off on Sunday.

Elliot and Jenson are coming round to play...

Happy Days 

Much love and hugs 

Jo. x. 

Flower Dream

Good evening all and thanks for popping in. 

I hope you managed to catch Leonie with her Let Loose 

shows today.

She was showcasing some fabulous stamps and stencils from 

AALL & Create .

Here are a couple of my samples from this afternoons show.

And 

I just adore this stencil, 

It was designed by Abs himself...

Here is how I created them 

I find it easier to work with the stencil on its side...

I used pigment paint powders, so that is Brusho, colour burst, pixie powders etc. 

I added one colour at a time was was quite specific about where I placed them .

Next I spritzed with water. 

Look at those colours. 

I carefully lifted the stencil and placed it ink side down on a second piece of card. 

This is like getting a free print...

I stamped up a background for the main design, and then added a sentiment and 

a couple of bees before putting it in a frame. 

Here is a closer look 

The second print was simply matted and layered.

Again I added a sentiment and a couple of butterflies, 

before also adding some liquid glass. 

I really enjoyed making these, and I hope you like them too.

To buy any of the products just visit here 

https://www.aallandcreate.com/

I am off now to make a cup of tea and catch some tv with Karl.

I was working until 10pm last night, 

so I think this evening I will go and put my feet up. 

Tomorrow is going to be a day of Groovi preparations ready for our 

workshop on Saturday .

See you soon ladies. 

Much love and hugs

Jo xxx

Happy Days

Good morning everyone, 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

For those Mums , who are reading this, I hope you had a lovely day yesterday.

I had a lovely morning being a Grandma,

so that was me in a happy place. 

Today I have some very exciting news.

I am so proud to have been asked to join the Lavinia Design Team. 

After working with Tracey and Kevin for a while and getting to know their company I have decided that the time is right.

So I have a Lavinia card to share with you today.

This was inspired by the team for their April Challenge 

Buds and Blossoms 

Here is how I created it. 

I love this honeysuckle stamp, and it looks lovely with gold embossing powder. 

Then out with my Brusho powders, look.

I told you these little pots would be very useful...

Next I spritzed with water,,.

I love how this moves the colour...deep breath....

Some more splats with the Brusho water mix 

When dry I added some background stamping and distress Oxide ink around the edges. 

Some matting and layering, 

Followed by a Lavinia word and a black bow. 

I love the detail of these stamps.

If you would like to enter the challenge you can find it here 

https://laviniastamps.com/lavinia-stamps-monthly-creative-challenge/

I am so lucky to be working with such lovely craft companies, who have such great ethics, 

hand draw their images and are just such genuine fabulous human beings

Just before I go,

I have a magazine commission to work on 

A photo from the weeeknd

The boys ready for bed ,

Elliot with his new lawnmower...oh he loves it so much 

Thanks for popping in 

Take care all

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Another busy week.

Good afternoon all.

Wow, I really can’t believe how quickly this week has gone. 

Has it flown for you too? 

On Wednesday it was our regular workshops in Hazel Grove. 

It was great to see everyone and we had a fabulous birthday cake for Marjorie. 

Thanks Julie.

I really do eat my way through workshops at the moment.

We started with some inky play, and made this card. 

It is quite a challenge getting some of the Ladies to stamp in a random fashion. 

Then we went for a  more clean and simple design.

The stamps are from Hobby Art and are Lisa’s scribble journal stamps..

They are fabulous for journaling, but also great for cards and other projects. 

On Wednesday evening we went out for a meal with Mikey and Fran to celebrate Mikey’s Birthday.

Then yesterday and today I have been in my craft room making samples. 

Although, with the sun shinning, I have been tempted to go into the garden, it is so 

beautiful outside. 

We are having Elliot and Jenson for a sleep over tomorrow night, so wish me luck...

It is the first time they have both been together, over night...

We have got a surprise for them (well Elliot really ) 

It is a great little tent, and yes I can fit inside...

Enjoy your weekend, whatever you get up too

Much love and hugs 

Jo. xxx