Serengeti in Cumbria....

Good afternoon everyone, and yah...we have another new follower....happy dance time...welcome aboard! I am always chuffed when we make another crafty friend...

I hope you had a lovely weekend...it was Clarity Cumbria on Saturday for me..and we went on holiday to Africa .

The flight was a bit bumpy but the inflight entertainment made up for it...( no duty free though. lol...)

We had a good old play with Spectrum Noir AquaTints and made some backgrounds...these really are just perfect for using with the new African themed stamps...

 

Look at these gorgeous cards...

These are just so stunning and vibrant...

You ladies really made these stamps come alive..

It was another fab class we did miss a couple of our regulars...but we still managed to eat all the cakes...

I wonder where we will go to next month.....mmm....

It was great to see my parents and my Mum found another use for those little wooden coffee sticks that we crafters collect...now anyone who has had a limb in plaster knows what that itching is like !!!!!

I did offer to decorate her plaster....but alas she declined my offer...

I do think it is crying our for some stamps and stencils on it...don't you......?????.lol..

And on that note I had better say goodbye and get on with my list of jobs for today...

I hope the sun is shinning for you....

Enjoy your evening

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

 

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A bright place.

Good morning lovely people, and thanks for joining me today. I have had a really busy week, but as always it is all good fun and I wouldn't swap it for the world. After waking up this morning to the terrible news of more terrorist attacks , I find I need my friends and my art more than ever....a sort of safe place to escape to....

Wednesday was our usual craft classes in Hazel Grove and even the heavy rain didn't dampen our day...

And we did have fun with the laminator!!!!!

Today I am off soon up to Kendal to visit my Mum and Dad....fingers crossed Mum might get rid of her plaster next week.....yah...

Then onto my sisters ready for Clarity Cumbria tomorrow...where we are going to visit Africa....and yes...please dress according ladies....lol...

So today I thought I would share a photo tutorial with you of one of my designs that featured on Hochanda with our Barbara.

I do love these stamps....and as you know ...my favourite colours...

I started by stamping the lovely lady with Archival black ink...

Then using the mask, and some copier paper I added the design to her dress using the Wee animal stamps and Potting Soil Archival ink...

Next some colour with distress inks.

There, she looks happier in her new dress, place the mask over her to protect it..

Next came the sky.

And then the landscape.....followed by some water spritzing.

I stamped the rest of the design and added some charcoal shading...

I felt the word Home just brought the whole design together...but I wanted to do something a bit different next . You see I feel that as part of the DT one of my jobs is to come up with new twists and new designs...and things that will help to inspire ...

So I carefully worked out where the tree had to go.( that took a few minutes!!!) ...and stamped directly onto the card blank.

I stamped and dressed the warrior and cut him out.

Then added him to the design and finished off with some clear Wink of Stella....for that touch of sparkle...

A card just perfect for today , to brighten the world...

As am typing this , one of my dearest fiends has told me some sad news...so this is specially for you lovely lady....you know who you are...

In fact let's have a group hug...I am sure we all need one...

There....that's better....

Must go....the M6 is calling...

Much love and hugs.

Jo. xxxx

 

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Clarity Glasgow

Good evening all , thanks for joining me this evening...and please join me in welcoming our new follower...

It is always great to meet and catch up with fellow crafters.

Yesterday it was our Clarity Glasgow workshop , and as always it was a fabulous day...lots of hugs, lots of laughter and lots of crafting...oh and lots of cake ...thanks Eileen...

We started with a typical Clarity card design...using the fabulous Floral Crook Stamp.

 

And then we used the poppy stamp and some linen card along with some Distress inks and Inka Gold paint .

The white area has been masked off , so that it can be stamped later...you see these are inserts for bags...

And then with the brilliant alphabet stamps they can be personalised...name,,,,blog details etc...

Here we are with our bags...I am so proud of these ladies...look at their brilliant work...

And no comments about Bag Ladies....please...lol...

After lunch we had a relaxing time , cutting out and paper piecing

And then finished off the day making book marks...

I have to show you a present that I was given,,,,it was made for me by our youngest crafter , Erin...

She was unwell and not able to join us yesterday , so Erin,,,we all send you love and hugs and hope you feel better soon...

Thank you so much for my canvas...I love it and it is hung up in my craft room...

I will treasure it always...

Today I have been finishing some Groovi samples ready for Maria who is on Hochanda on Wednesday.

I must admit poor Karl was not too impressed with me on Friday evening...

We were alone in our hotel room....

he came out of the bathroom ,

dressed in a little white towel...

Bottle of champagne in hand........

Only to find me engrossed in my Groovi and the bed looking like this...!!!!

 

Oh Barb...what have you done to me....????

On that note I will sign off for tonight...

Hope you sleep well and have a good week ahead...

Much love and hugs..

Jo. xxx

 

 

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Out of Africa.

Good afternoon all, thanks for popping in today , sorry I haven't caught up with you over the last couple of days but well, life has just been more hectic than ever. Together with a dreadful headache that has kept me company for a few days....plus two rather lovely cold sores...mmm

I blame it all on my two little furry friends and our mishap on Saturday....

Anyway , hope your week is going well...I have just got all my bags packed ready for the journey up to Glasgow tomorrow , for our Clarity Glasgow workshop on Saturday..

So looking forward to it...and Eileen's cake,,,.oh and Emma's hugs...oh I could go on...

Did you catch Barbars shows at the weekend? I recorded them , fab shows...well done Barb and Paul...

Here is one of my samples....

As soon as I saw these stamps ....I loved them ...and I got to use all my favourite colours...

A win,,,win....

I had an hours play with my Spectrum Noir AquaTint inks and I made so many backgrounds....all the kitchen surfaces were covered..

Then it was just a case of stamping some animals...black Archival is a must...

Now just look at that meerkat...how cute is he...

Next came the charcoal pencils....you know how much I love these.

They just give a bit more depth and dimension...

The hardest bit of this design was choosing which stamps to use and which ones had to stay behind...so many gorgeous animals...

Speaking of animals...

I realised today that I haven't drawn a winner for the fab Wild Flowers Stencil...

So I wrote all the names down of you lovely crafters who left me a comment, screwed them up, and put them in Eric's dish....look at these two...

I asked them to choose a winner...and before I could stop them they had three of the bits of paper ...one was quite soggy...sorry...

So here we are ...the three....not one..( thanks Tess and Eric!!!) ..winners of the fab Clarity Stencil...

So ladies , if you would like to pm or email me your address , I will get your stencil in the post....

Jrcrafts28@gmail. Com

That's is from me today...

Take care all,

Much love and hugs

Jo. Xxxx

 

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A beautiful Rose

Good afternoon all and thanks for popping in today, I do hope you have had a lovely weekend.

Yesterday it was our Manchester workshop based in Heald Green, and what a great day it was...made even more special by the Church hosting a coffee morning with lots of cakes....now you know how much I love cake...

We used a wonderful Clarity stamp, the Rose ...it is just fab..and guess what ? Perfect for making wreath cards...

And this one is Anna's ...she went straight to top of the class...

Look at the inside..

A great little stamp when used on a tag with the Burst powders.

And as a piece of art in a frame

And finally on stampbord...

There are just so many ways of using this fabulous little stamp...it is a real worker.

After the class I drove home, emptied my car, a quick change and then Karl, Tess , Eric and me set off in our little motorhome for a couple of nights away at a campsite in Hope...

It has been such a busy couple of weeks that we both just needed to catch up on some sleep, fresh air and quality time together.

All went really well until last night when I was getting the dogs ready for their walk. I put their leads on , opened the motorhome door, but forgot to tell them to sit. They both jumped out of the van , followed by me, who ended up face down in gravel. So I am now looking like I have been in a fight, with cuts and bruises to my hands, arms, legs and face....

 

But luckily no broken bones....I am so glad that I bounced...( just you in plaster then, Mum.)

Today it has been a lovely , sunny day and we have walked and walked...both Tess and Eric are shattered.

So are Karl and me....

Just time for some food, showers and then feet up.

Have you watched Barbara today? I have recorded the shows and I am really looking forward to catching them when we get home tomorrow. The new Stamps, Stencils and Groovi products are just fantastic.

Sleep well everyone,

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxxx

 

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Flowers and Lace

Good morning all , thanks for popping in today....the first of July....another month nearer to Christmas...( sorry, it just had to be said)

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

It is hosted by our wonderful leader and lovely friend , Sheryl...

She has chosen Flowers and Lace for her theme

And we are sponsored by Sweet Lilac Flowers...

Here is what I have come up with....I do hope that you like it..

Do pop over to the Fussy and Fancy blog and look at all the other samples from the fab DT...

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.co.uk

Even better , I would love you to enter the challenge...

My card started off with one of my all time favourite Clarity stamps...Friends...

 

I added some colour using my Clarity stencil brushes...

They really are so easy to use...I couldn't live without them

Then I framed the girls using a couple of stamps from the Wee Foliage set, these stamps never leave my desk.,,

Colour was added using Wink Of Stella pens, as this adds just the right amount of sparkle too.

The background paper is a Graphic 45 paper from the Botanical collection and is called Robins Eggs.

The lace is from Sweet Lilac , and is a perfect backdrop for their gorgeous flowers.

I do love to play with embellishments, this often takes me longer than any other part of the card...

I stamped the word friendship from the word chains,,.and just chopped it into two...as I only wanted the word Friends...

Oh yes....there had to be a Clarity butterfly on there too....

I do love this image...just adorable...

I am a big fan of these little leaves too...they just finish off the floral design...

Well, I had better get on, I need to go and buy some food as the fridge is empty...and then pack my bags ready for our Clarity Manchester workshop tomorrow...

Oh I nearly forgot, my Mum sends hugs to all you lovely ladies for your kind words and support whilst she was in hospital. I went to visit my parents yesterday after the Kendal class,,,

Mum is doing well, and managing to get round with her pot leg and crutches...in fact I think the Groovi system is just what she needs at the moment....perfect to her her out of trouble....

The Kendal class was fab and the ladies were just such good company,,.

And Jane looks after me so well...

One of our regular ladies, Muriel has been in hospital and was too ill to come and play....so we made her a card as we missed her so much...Mona took to her....

You see Crafters really are the most kind, friendly and generous people in the world...

Love you all

Have a great weekend....and remember my Boss lady is on tv this weekend...

Barbara is on Hochanda on Sunday with new stamps and stencils, and Monday with a one day Groovi special...

Take care all...

Much love and hugs.

Jo. xxx

 

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