Snow at Christmas

Good afternoon all, 

I hope your weekend has gone well and that you are now relaxing. 

I really can’t believe that we are in December already.

So the first of the month means a new Challenge over at Lavinia. 

This month of theme is 

Snow at Christmas 

Here is some inspiration for you. 

I started off by using a background from my stash. 

It is so good to be able to do this. 

Not just make the backgrounds , but actually use them. 

This one was inks and Brusho powders on the gel press plate.

Plus quite a lot of water by the looks of it. 

I added some stamping, these geese are fabulous. 

Followed by the foliage. 

Next I blended some blue ink around the edges, followed with some black ink. 

For the extra colour I use Inktense pencils and water .

Followed by some background stamping using the Christmas verse , and the a moon was added. 

Some highlights with a white Posca pen. 

Finally some chunky white embossing powder, You know how I love using this. 

Here is a closer look. 

Remember the winner is chosen at random and wins £40 voucher for Lavinia stamps. 

That would be a lovely Christmas present. 

Must go, time to walk Eric again. 

Thanks for looking in. 

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Blooming Field.

Good evening everyone and thanks for popping in. 

Karl is away this evening so I am working late. 

I have decided to take a few minutes away from my craft desk and have a chat. 

Did you see Leonie on HOCHANDA tv this evening. 

She has been launching some fabulous new stamps and dies designed by Olga. 

Here is one of my samples. 

Having the dies means that a project like this is so quick and achievable .

First I stamped the images, then die cut them. 

I painted them using distress oxide ink and water. 

Slowly building up the colours. 

Next I added them to my board and built up my design, adding some accessories

and the sentiment. 

Some splats of Posca pen finished off the design. 

I hope you like it. 

Time now to fill Eric’s hot water bottle and so some physio.

Enjoy your evening all. 

Much love and hugs 

Jo Xxx

Saturday catch up

Good evening all, 

Hope your weekend is going well. 

Well, what a busy week that was. 

On Wednesday it was our regular Hazel Grove workshop. 

I had to set off early as I had some samples to drop off at the publishers. 

We made a couple of cards using Lavinia stamps. 

We used a petite gel press plate with inks. 

We had a new crafter joining us, which is always a pleasure. 

I must thank the ladies for helping me tidy up , so that I could get away quickly. 

It was a quick change at home then off down to Peterborough.

The staff at HOCHANDA are just so lovely and kind, they really do make 

it such a wonderful experience. 

Abs had given me lots of instructions to follow, so that kept me on my toes. 

This was my first demo. A CAS design.

My second included some dies along with fabulous stamps from Olga. 

My third included a fabulous stencil too. 

It was lovely to have Karl with me as he drove us back home after the show. 

Thanks to everyone who watched, and your lovely comments. 

Yesterday Eric had his Physio appointment , and Katie was so pleased with him. 

He is improving , so all the changes that we have made are really paying off.

Today we have  done some shopping, and spent the afternoon with Elliot and Jenson.

Family time is so important. 

Tonight we are going to watch a film , 

as both of us have another busy week next week. 

Take care all.

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Lavinia samples

Good afternoon everyone, 

I do hope that your week is going well. 

I am having another one of those busy weeks, but I am getting through and still smiling. 

Tomorrow is it our Hazel Grove workshop, 

then straight after I am heading down to Peterborough ready for the 8am show on Thursday. 

Oh Abs , I really need a later show, this getting up at 5am is not good at my age !!!!

Then on Friday my lovely mate Mandy has two shows with some fabulous new 

Lavinia stamps. 

I have been busy making samples, here are a couple, 

I do hope you like them.

This one started off with a print using the circular gel press plate 

Next some stamping and ink blending 

Finally some finishing touches and off course the white Posca pen came out. 

Here is a closer look 

Now, this one is quite different, a CAS one.

I started by doing the stamping .

 Then added some Brusho powder mixed with water. 

I added some extra spritzing too. 

I wanted to try and give the impression of movement, so I added some dots and dashes. 

Here is a closer look. 

I do hope  you can find time to join in with the shows. 

I had better get on. 

So much still to do today.

Take care all

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Thursday at HOCHANDA

Good afternoon everyone, I do hope you are enjoying your weekend.

I have just come out of my craft room for five minutes to have a catch up. 

I am so busy at the moment, but I just need to take a tea break. 

Thanks to everyone for all your lovely messages, support, encouragement and love. 

I was so nervous about driving  down to Hochanda, setting up the counter, and doing the live shows. 

I had one of those days,  took a wrong turning on the way down, had trouble finding the hotel, left my tea in the fridge at home, 

Got to HOCHANDA and they couldn’t find the samples. 

Oh it just kept happening, 

Got back to the hotel, the carpark was full, and I had to park a distance away, and yes it was raining. 

I had arranged an early check out for Thursday but at 5-30am, the night porter was no where to be seen, 

and no way of getting hold of him. 

I waited 15minutes, getting more anxious and then spotted a member of staff in the bar area, 

Luckily he sorted things out for me, and I managed to get to the studio for 6am.

My cold still hasn’t gone so the air conditioning just made it worse.

So if I looked a little tired , believe me , I was shattered and stressed. 

On the positive side Yiannis was so kind and a pleasure to work with.

(Oh and for those who watched the Fly High stamp set , I told him that it was called Mile High club !!!) 

Here is a photo of the post it note pad that I made in the first show, 

The front and back, 

And this is the inside 

This is the present that I made for Yiannis. 

I had a lovely  time making it. 

This is the main demonstration from the second show 

The time really did fly, oh and Billy Brayer enjoyed his trip out. 

The weather was just horrendous on the way home, the Motorway had warnings and speed limits of 40mph due to the rain 

and the flooding. 

Them my car decided to flash warnings that I had 2 flat tyres, it was the noise from the water 

but it still unnerved me all the way home, 

I finally got home at 5pm , my arms were so sore after gripping the steering wheel .

What a day.

If you missed the shows , they are on Catch up 

And YouTube

https://youtu.be/AMtP7KKLxDg

Anyway, 

I get to do it all again next week lol.

Fingers crossed we don’t have as much rain...

Enjoy your Saturday evening 

Please take care all

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxx

Vintage style

Good morning everyone, 

How are you today ? 

I am feeling much better thank you .

Poor Eric is suffering after his physio, we found out that he has problems with his front legs and spine too, 

No wonder he collapsed with all the pain. 

Katie the physio was so good with him, and gave me lots of good advise.

So last night he had a heat bag on his spine and I massaged his back...

Karl has requested that it is his turn tonight ! 

Today I thought I would share one of my samples from the weekend wow, 

Using these fabulous stamps by Tracy 

Now this was one of those cards where, I just didn’t know where it was going.

I really didn’t like it until the end. 

So it just shows you, keep going .

I started creating the background using stencils, 

You know how much I love stencils 

I just love this  background 

Next I used a piece of vintage pattern paper, 

Added some stamping, and put the two together.

I also stamped on some ribbon, I love to do this. 

I even got a needle and thread out. 

I stamped the dress form again, added colour and some glossy accents. 

Finally I found some lovely little embellishments, 

And the finished piece just came together. 

Today I am in my craft room , trying to get some demos together ready for Thursday, 

You know me. 

I am so nervous, terrified...

Not just about the shows, but the drive too.

So please send me some positive vibes....I really would 

appreciate it.

Hochanda , 8am and 12noon on Thursday 14th Nov 

Much love and hugs 

Jo xxxx

Wow.

Good afternoon all, 

thanks for popping in and joining me on a Sunday afternoon. 

I hope your weekend is going well. 

I was just beginning to feel a little better after my cold when the gp decided it was flu jab time. 

So now I have a sore arm, headache and sickness to deal with,,..oh deep joy. 

Have you been watching our Tracy on Hochanda this weekend ? 

Her shows are just the best, and so inspirational. 

Here is one of my samples 

I loved making this. 

It is just so me,,,

I began by building up the stamps, 

I just thought that the blocks were perfect for the little quirky bird to perch on. 

The tape measure also made a great grounding for the blocks. 

I do wonder sometimes, how my mind works...

Next I added the stencil, percent for a sunrise...oh and my favourite colours of ink 

I didn’t mask off the bird as I was going to add colour to him later....oh and I was 

a little short on time, 

You know me,

I added some colour using distress oxide inks and water. 

Then some finishing touches with charcoal pencil. 

I found a spare frame, so some ink and stamping and the whole design came together.

Tracy has one more show at 3pm....so just time to walk Eric and then get the kettle on. 

Eric has his first Physio appointment tomorrow, so that is my afternoon sorted. 

Take care all

Much love and hugs 

Jo Xxxx