Nautical nostalgia

Good morning all, 

I hope you are keeping well, 

Another wet day here, I got soaked this morning walking Eric and then again 

at the post office..

Karl left at 5am as he has an analyser to fix in Glasgow, 

I just hope he is not too  late home.

Today I have another recent sample to share with you, 

This uses a couple of new stamps by Bipasha BK for Aall & Create .

 Here is a closer look 

The large nail, I actually found on our trip to Scotland last year...

Karl had to laugh when I saw a box of them in an antique shop and I got so excited. 

I can’t believe it was twelve months ago , especially as that was when we had to say goodbye to our beloved Tess, 

I still miss her so much. 

I started by creating a nice, vintage type background. 

I do love making these, 

Next I stamped my focal image and added some colour. 

The stamped images have thread drawn into them so , obviously I had to add to brown thread to my design..

As always I added some white Posca splats, plus some to the nail. 

I really love the way this looks 

I must get on and create some more samples as Abs is back on out tv screens later this week 

No rest for the wicked, 

Take care everyone 

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Lavinia homework - week 12

Good morning everyone, 

I hope you are well this Monday. 

Another busy week here, 

I have so much to achieve this week, 

So better start tackling some of those jobs. 

It is week 12 of our Lavinia Lockdown homework. 

I have loved seeing everyone’s backgrounds over the past few weeks.

So this week I thought we would concentrate on our fabulous Lavinia stamps.

So our homework is to create a piece of art using inks and one stamp / set set only.

Here is some inspiration for you. 

I started by creating the background,

Nothing to difficult, 

Just oxide ink and Billy 

Next some stamping, 

I have chosen the seed heads stamp set. 

It consists of two lovely stamps, on an outline and one a silhouette.

A great combination .

The moon adds some atmosphere. 

Next I added some colour 

Followed by some ink splats. 

And finally some white Posca pen. 

Here is a close up 

Sometimes it is nice to limit our choice of colours, products, stamps etc. 

It really helps focus the creative mind. 

Have fun. 

I’m off now to finish a magazine commission,,

Whoop, the deadline is tomorrow..

So better get a move on. 

Take care all 

Love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Hot air balloon

Good evening all, 

Hope you are keeping well. 

I am late on parade today, sorry, it has been a bit of a manic day. 

Lots of orders to get packed, samples to make and a workshop to get ready for .

Anyway, 

I just thought I would pop in and share a sample with you. 

This featured on today ODS on Hochanda. 

Look

This is the side view

I am having so much fun at the minute trying to come up with different designs, and different ways of using the stamps. 

I started with my background, I just felt that the stamp would look great with the Bokeh background 

But I felt it was very flat, 

So that is when I had my light bulb moment, and stamped 3 more balloons, 

Then some fiddly gluing, 

I must admit , I was so happy with the results. 

Although it did remind me of some Christmas decorations that we used to have when I was little. 

They sort of opened up , and became 3d...!!!

Do you know what I mean ? 

Anyway, 

Better go, still got to tidy my craft desk....well try and find some space..!!!

Take care all, 

Thanks so much for popping in

Enjoy your weekend

Love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Wings

Good afternoon all, 

I hope you are feeling well today. 

I have had a couple of ladies message me, 

Saying that they are feeling very low at the minute. 

It seems as though the last few weeks are starting to cash up with everyone. 

So please take it easy, take care , 

and just try and keep positive. 

I am sure the sun will shine again in a few days and that always helps. 

When I start to feel down and low, and we all feel like that at times, 

I walked around our garden. 

I get so much pleasure , just looking and yes, talking to the plants, oh and the birds.

We have 3 baby blue tits, oh boy do they make a noise. 

The nuthatches are still my favourites and I get so excited when I see them. 

I have just picked my second bunch of sweet peas

The first bunch Elliot gave to Danielle, he loves the garden too.

Even when he had to see it by face time,,,

These smell so lovely.

Did you manage to watch Leonie this morning on Hochanda. ? 

She had some new stamps from Aall & Create , these one are designed by Janet Klein. 

One of her stamp sets is various insect wings...

So I decided that I wanted to make something different, and not just add them to her character stamps. 

So I made a flower.

Here is a closer look 

There is also a new set of pig stamps, 

So I used one of the wings as a heart. 

For this one, 

I started with the background , I used stencils and inks, 

Next , I started to build up my scene. 

Then finally added the pigs, 

This sentiment really made me smile. 

I must get on, as I have some workshop prep to do. 

Anyone wishing to join in with the online classes , just drop me an email.

jrcrafts28@gmail.com 

They are all done via Facebook live sessions. 

Take care everyone,

Enjoy the rest of your day, 

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Lockdown Lavinia homework week 11.

Good morning all, 

Hope you are keeping well. 

Here we are 

Monday again.

So time for some more homework. 

This week we are going to have a play with the cling film technique.

I do love revisiting some of these old ideas. 

These backgrounds works so well with Lavinia stamps. 

I have made a you tube video if you need a refresher on the technique, 

https://youtu.be/oZOthdVEheg

Also and just for Sylvia I have included the little caterpillar , 

Hope you like him. 

I have another busy day today making samples for upcoming tv shows, 

So I must grab a coffee and get on. 

Take care all 

Stay safe 

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Paw prints

Good evening all, 

I hope you are keeping well.

Eric got a shock this morning when we went for a walk and it was raining, 

I must admit the gardens do need the water.

Today I am sharing another couple of samples with you. 

These are using stamps and stencils by Janet Klein. 

I just adore the sentiment on this one. 

I started off by using part of the stencil to create  the sun. 

Next I added some flowers. 

I have really got into adding my own doddles to designs at the minute, plus some extra splats .

I stamped some characters on separate card, added some colour and cut them out. 

These are just so adorable. 

The heart is made up of the wings, I love to do this with stamps, 

Here is a closer look. 

My second design, 

Is a little gift. 

A simple bar of chocolate, 

I just decorated and added a wrap to it. 

How cute is he 

I do think this is just such a special thing to do, 

and give it to someone just because you can. 

I love random acts of kindness. 

Thanks for popping in, 

Take care all.

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Homework week 10

Good morning everyone, 

I do hope that your week has started well. 

Today I have some Lockdown Lavinia homework for you. 

I really can’t believe that it is week 10.

This week I thought we could have a play with the 

Bokeh effect. 

Such a great photography technique, to enhance the visual appeal of an image. 

The work Bokeh comes from the Japanese language and means to blur. 

I have a couple of samples to share with you 

And here is a little photo tutorial. 

I have also made a YouTube video 

You can find it here 

https://youtu.be/XGOdeW8j9SE

Just choose a couple of colours of ink, and blend them onto some card . 

This is a great way to practice your blending. 

Next add the white circles, try to have different sizes , and vary the brightness. 

Most importantly remember not to overdo it and make it look like a snow storm.

You can punch some circles out of card, or acetate, or use your die cutting machine. 

I have used a couple of stencils. 

Start with some stamping, 

I used distress oxide ink first to help create some depth. 

Next I used the VersaFine Claire black ink. 

Finally , a sentiment, 

Remember not to overdo the stamping as you really want to be able to see some of your background, 

This is such a lovely technique to have a play with and is a great way to help get your Mojo back if he has gone into lockdown. 

Take care all.

Thanks for popping in 

Much love and hugs 

Jo xx