Busy weekend

Well yes that was a busy weekend, on Saturday I went to Crafts 4 U 2 Do in St Helens. We made a wall hanging using three of the MDF butterflies from none other than the MDF man....

We started by covering them with some fabulous Graphic 45 papers and cutting them out....some sanding and gilding...

Then we made some embellishments with die cuts, Clarity stamps and some Sweet Lilac flowers.

More gilding,

More cutting out, some lunch, (and yummy cakes ...thanks Lisa).

Then the best bit...time to play and decorate the butterflies....what to glue where....

Some ribbon and job done...Thanks for your company ladies ...and Chris, you still make the best coffee....

Then there was Sunday...a few of us went along to help Maria Simms move into her new Craft Unit....the Maria Craft Hub....although, I'm not sure if that is the official name....oh my ....just how much craft stash can one person have!!!!! It does look fab though....A great place for workshops.....

We did work hard although this is the only photo that I have!!!!!

I'm off now.....so much to catch up on this week....

Enjoy your evening....

Jo. X 

All About Love

Good morning all, hope you are well...things still a bit up and down here but better than they were.

Today it's a new Challenge over on the Sweet Lilac Blog...and the new theme...especially with Valentines day in mind is....All about Love....

I must thank all the crafters who entered last months challenge and congratulations to the winner...remember you can win a hamper full of lovely flowers from Sweet Lilac...

Now I did have fun creating a tag for this Challenge....a tag from The MDF man himself ...Thanks Rob.....

You can see all the fabulous MDF products here....

 http://www.mdfblanks.com/

This technique was demonstrated by Rob at the NEC last November and I have used it so many times since...

Firstly cover the MDF with pva glue and spread it out evenly with your fingers....

Then place it glue side down on to a sheet of paper...I choose a stunning piece from Graphic 45

Carefully cut around with your craft knife....I have found that having a glass cutting mat underneath really helps...(thanks for the advice Paul Church) 

Then a light sanding over the edges....

On a piece of white card I stamped the letters, I and U using the letter box kit from Claritystamps using Archival ink - plum

I then used VersaMark ink and clear embossing powder and created little tiles by repeating the process three times...these were cut out.

I used Aged Mahogany Distress ink around the edges of the tag and randomly stamped the music stamp from Claritystamps.

Sweet Lilac also sell some gorgeous lace, so I just had to add some along the lower edge..

I used some coordinating rose heads to make a heart...top tip, try your spacing before you glue them down. (now how do I know this???) 

Some ribbon and a metal embellishment and my tag was finished...I do hope you like it...

Now you've had some inspiration why don't you make a project and enter our Challenge....

Just pop along to the blog and check out the other DT projects ...they are brill.

 http://sweetlilacflowers.blogspot.co.uk

And remember you could win a hamper of flowers...

I'm off now to do the weekly food shop.....not my favourite job....I would rather be buying craft goodies...

Catch you soon...Hugs, Jo. X 

Garden Heart

Hi all, sorry I haven't been in touch or been around for a few days but unfortunately Mikey has been quite poorly again...

I'm hoping for a better night tonight and hopefully some sleep...and then a better day tomorrow, so many jobs to catch up on....

So today, I'm going to share one of my last lot of Clarity Samples with you..

I do love this set of stamps.....The Garden Heart....it's such a detailed stamp but so crisp and clear, which is good especially when the camera goes in for a close up!!!!

I used a VersaFine ink- Majestic Blue and just kept stamping again and again..

A small amount of colour was added using watercolour pencils.

Some  ribbon, a few gems and design finished....ideal if you need a quick card...

That is all from me today....thanks as always for popping in ....

Big hugs.....Jo. X 

Monochromatic ...

Hello lovely people and welcome to Fridays blog....a little later than I wanted...oh, I've had PC and Internet issues today!!!!! But at least the weekend is in sight.

Today, is new challenge day over at the Fussy and Fancy Friday Blog Challenge and the theme is ......Monochromatic ......(I do like a bit of monochromatic ..) 

So here's my interpretation for you....I did have to use the gorgeous new Sea horse stamps from Claritystamp.......well, they did sell out so fast on Sundays shows....did you see them? 

I started out by stamping the Sea Horses in Versafine ink - Imperial Purple.

I then used the clarity masks to protect them....as it was the first time I'd used them I added a little talcum powder underneath, just to reduce the tacky mess.

Don't forget that Monochromatic doesn't have to be black and white, it can be any colour.....so my sample is going to be tones of purple and white...

Then I taped the seaweed stencil at the top of the card. This enables me to lift up the stencil at any time to see how my shading is building up and I know that it will lie back down in the same place.

I gradually built up the background using my Stencil brush and Adirondack inks....Cool Peri and Purple Twilight.

On a separate piece of card I stamped the Clarity sentiment...I do like this one...and used my brush to add a little colour around the edges.

I took the stencil away and stamped some bubbles with the bubble stamp from Clarity. Took the masks away and stored them on a piece of copier paper.

A little colour was added with colouring pencils. 

Ribbon, Bakers Twine and hat pins were added before adding the sentiment.

I used Glossy Accents on the bubbles ...well I just had too....

I also used one of Tim Holtz lovely little bottles ...oh these are so cute and put some purple dew drops in it.

Here is a close up of the Sea Horses....they really are stunning and so versatile....also nice and easy to colour....Thanks Barbara....

If you need more inspiration just go to the Fussy and Fancy blog .....

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk

And have a look.....even better create a project and join in....

For any of the Clarity products just go and look here.......

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/Clear-Stamps

Enough from me ....I am off out for a meal tonight with Karl, Adam and Hayley....it's Hayley's Birthday tomorrow and I still haven't finished her card....

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Hayley.....oh, and on that note it's my lovely friend and fellow Clarity and F&F DT member Sam Crowe's Birthday today...Happy Birthday Sam........love and Hugs.....xxxxx

Have a great weekend all....

much love....Jo. X 

Zentangle...

Well, today was our first workshops of the year...so we took it easy and had a couple of relaxing Zentangle workshops...

We started by making some basic tiles for future reference ...using first a pencil and then later a black fine liner pen.

We then used the Clarity Kingfisher stamp to create this card...

A branch and border were drawn free hand, so that the bird had somewhere to sit.

More Zentangle was added to the image ...the amount depended on the individual...then a little masking, some sky and land was added..

This stamp is perfect for zentangling and can be used for a wide variety of card designs...

Our second card was made using the Filigraphy leaves kit and a butterfly from the Filigraphy Framer kit..

All the stamping was done using a black Archival ink pad...colour was added on this image using watercolour pencils...

Glossy Accents can be used to highlight the leaves...

It was so good to see everyone after our Christmas break...and thanks Julie for our presents...

Thanks for popping in today....

Stay safe and warm.....Jo. X 

A Reminder....

Good afternoon all,  hope you are well and that your new year is going well.

Just a quick reminder that the wonderful Barbara Gray is on Create and Craft tomorrow 9 to 11am and 2 to 3pm

With some fantastic new stamps and stencils.....

Here is a sneak peek......

These stamps are definitely going to feature in some workshops this year...

Before I go ....welcome to Hayley our 120th follower....glad to have you join us....enjoy your Saturday evening and pop back soon...

Jo. X 

Happy New Year.....

Well, here we are a New Year and a New Challenge....

I do hope that you all had a lovely evening last night...it was just Karl, Tess and me as both Adam and Mikey were working...(we did have a fabulous time though).

Back to business...first of all Thank you to everyone who entered last months Clarity Challenge ...oh there were some fantastic pieces of work....you really are a very clever lot...and Congratulations to the winner....£50 to spend on Clarity products.....yah....

This month the theme is.....New Beginnings.......

Here is my take on the theme......

I started by using the smaller pieces of card that come in the 6x6 Gelli plate card pack...I stamped the quirky cottage stamp using black Archival ink.

I stamped it once again and cut  it out to make a mask,  I also made a sun mask...and placed these onto the card...

I loaded my Brayer with two Adirondack inks....Sail Boat Blue and Pesto,

I then brayered these across my 6x6 Gelli plate..with the blue at the top..

Next, I placed the brick wall stencil onto the Gelli plate, covered it with copier paper and gave it a rub....took the paper away....and then the stencil...

I then took my stamped and masked card, placed it image side down onto the Gelli plate...and gave it a rub....

This is what I got when I took the masks away..

I then coloured the sun using Butterscotch Adirondack ink and a stencil brush.

I added colour to the house using my Distress Markers.

I used the brilliant Letter Box set of stamps and black Archival ink to make the banners...

Bakers twine is great to thread them together ...although I have to say if I didn't have a needle threader this would be impossible for me...

I used my VersaMark pen and Clear Embossing powder to glaze the house...I really like this look....

Some matting and layering and the card was finished.

I couldn't decide which card I liked the best, so I just used both...

These toppers are really quick to make and I was thinking that they would make brilliant new Address cards....

I do hope that you like them....and that you will enter our challenge....

http://claritystampchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

Also have a look at the work of my fellow DT members...some fabulous samples....

Thanks for starting the year with me and I look forward to many more crafty chats with you...

Hugs...Jo. X