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Sunday 28 February 2016

Sunday catch up.

Good afternoon friends and followers , I do hope your Sunday is going well. I am having a catch up day after a very busy week.

Yesterday it was our Manchester Craft workshop and it was such a lovely day....and as always we did laugh and giggle so much.

All the ladies managed to finish all our projects and Susan even did some extra projects.....

( well done Susan, especially as you had been so poorly in the week )

We used this wonderful Easel and paintbrush stamps from Clarity...

Now as usual I was talking too much and forgot to take photos until the end of the day...but I did catch a few of the ladies cards before they packed them away..

Look at these gorgeous pieces of art,,,,

We also had a chat about the use of Journals...one thing that I have noticed is many crafters are nervous about using a journal...especially if they are expensive ones....

So I bought everyone an inexpensive , but nice hard backed note book....

With the idea that we created a couple of pages using the stamps and techniques that we had been using in class...

It is a great way of jotting down hints and tips too....names of stamps, colours of inks etc...

Just play.....

It was great to see, everyone got stuck in and made the most wonderful pages..

It is also a wonderful tool to use if Mr MoJo goes on holiday...

And best of all as it is yours....you can do exactly what you want ....try out new techniques, and it so addictive...

I find myself thinking...I will just do another page....

Oh and another...!!!!

Some of the ladies bring them to our regular classes ...and they are great to look back through..a kind of art Diary...

A couple of ladies asked about the designs that we created on Thursday when I visited Grosvenor House Papers in Kendal.... So here they are....

We used the large remountable village stamp set.

Plus the sunshine stencil

I love this stencil....

Just one more photograph to catch up on..

This was sent to me by Sue,,( thanks Sue ) and she took it on Feb 17th when I went to a lovely craft group in Lowton, Cheshire to introduce them to Pyrography ...such a great bunch of ladies...

I think we have caught up now...phew....

Just time to walk the dogs before our Sunday meal...and the sun is still shining ...two walks in one day and no rain...just perfect....

Then Karl and me are going to sit with a nice cup of tea and catch up on some tv. Hope you can have a relaxing evening too...then we can be ready for the new week,,,.

Enjoy your evening

Love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

Friday 26 February 2016

It's Craft O' Clock

Good evening all and thanks for coming to visit. I hope your day has gone well.

I had a wonderful day yesterday at Grosvenor House Papers in Kendal, we got all four projects finished and we even had time for some lunch...( and very nice it was too ) Janet and Jane are always such great hosts .

It was a poignant drive through Kendal though as some cottages are still having work done after the terrible floods, it brings it all home when you see it in the flesh...

It did mean that I had to record Barbara's Clarity shows on HOCHANDA , as it was quite late when I got home and unpacked , I have only managed to watch one so far..and I am looking forward to having Sunday off and watching the other two.

Today I thought we would spend some...... TIME ....together.,,.sorry...I couldn't resist that...

Here is one of my samples from the shows yesterday .

As you know , I do love repeat stamping , especially wreath cards...( I have made the odd one or two !!!!)

So I wanted to come up with an idea along those lines, but not to repeat myself...

So I started with a piece of stencil card and stamped the paint palate in the 3,6,9 and 12 positions and the paint easel in the centre .

Next came the paint tube to represent the other numbers.

Then , I added some colour with Spectrum Noir pencils and the usual charcoal for some shading.

I thought that the paintbrushes would make wonderful clock hands, so I stamped them , added some colour, cut them out and a punched circles of card to house them .

I used a brad to keep them in place.

When assembled this is what I had

It just needed finishing off , so out with the Letterbox stamps.

The artist stamps are from a most wonderful new stamp set...found here

http://www.claritystamp.co.uk/New-In/19675-/Brilliant-Work-Of-Art-+-MASK---Unmounted-Clear-Stamp-Set

I would like to try this again on a canvas , with a hole drilled in the middle and working clock parts....yes , one to be kept on the list for a future project .

It has been lovely to chat but I must get on. It is Manchester Crafts tomorrow ,all the prep is done and my bags are packed....

We have a full class and I am really looking forward to it...

But I really do need to put my feet up now...

Enjoy your weekend , whatever you do...

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

 

Thursday 25 February 2016

Up with the lark , or should that be cockerel ?

Good morning...so glad that you could join me at such an early hour.

I have to be up and on the road very early today as it is workshop day at Grosvenor House Papers, we have four fabulous projects to do , so I shall be cracking the whip....

Janet and Jane are the most wonderful hosts and we do get a rather splendid lunch,,,,

But before I go , I need to remind you that my boss lady is on our screens again today...

HOCHANDA TV....11am ......3pm....and 5pm......

Here is a sneaky peek at some of my samples....

I thought I might give you a bit of a puzzle....

I have set my recorder....

Have a wonderful day and call back soon,

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

Wednesday 24 February 2016

Spotlight technique.

Good morning all and thanks for popping in, I do hope your Wednesday has started well. I am just about ready to leave for our Hazel Grove workshops...I always look forward to crafting with these two wonderful groups of ladies..and believe you me we do laugh....

Just before I go I am going to chat to you about the Spotlight technique...

My interpretation of it is that it is to ' highlight ' an area or areas on a card.

Now this can be done by decoupage, adding colour, taking colour out, using triple embossing etc. And using whatever shape or shapes you decide..

Here is a card that I did using the Wee Houses ....

After stamping the row of houses , I drew a circle, added colour inside it and then triple embossed with clear embossing powder.

The next part is for our lovely friend and follower Donna, who asked how this next card had been achieved...

It was one of our Clarity Cumbria makes.

I started with a piece of white Gelli card , cut to size

As the poppies are going to be the focal point, I stamped them first

Then added the rest of the meadow

Next I had a die just the right size , and ran it through my eBosser machine.

Is it just me...or does this remind you of making mince pies????

Next a light dusting of sky using a stencil brush,

Then I added some colour to the poppies, do remember to leave some area white, also dark brown is a great way to add shade to the poppies.

I added some black card underneath the stamped card and mounted that onto my card blank

Then all I had to do was to add the cut out part using foam pads to give extra depth.

This is such a great technique and there are so many different stamps, and stencils that can be used. Why not have a go...I would love to know how you get on, and if you send me a photo via email I will put it on my blog so that we can all see...

Better get on,, Karl is away again so I am on dog duty, Mummy duty, and everything else duty!!!!

Better not keep the ladies waiting,

Bye for now

Much love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

Sunday 21 February 2016

Clarity Cumbria

Good afternoon all and thanks for looking in this Sunday. How has your day gone, ? I have been busy making samples ready to get in the post tomorrow for Barbara , as she is back on HOCHANDA TV this Thursday....the fabulous new stamps were waiting for me when I got back from Clarity Cumbria yesterday....and oh...something else new....something that I love .....and so will you...shhhh I can't say anymore....!!!!!

So back to yesterday....it was so good to be back with the ladies and gentleman....and as usual there was quite a lot of banter....and laughter....we used the wonderful new poppy and meadow grass stamps...you know how much I love these.

Our first card involved blending inks...

Look at these fabulous cards....I am so proud of each and every one...

Our second card was a bit of a homage to the very talented Eileen Godwin,,,as I got the inspiration for it from her wonderful blog....where she had done a very informative video on her Master Board technique...( she is such a lovely lady too...)

Check it out here....http://eileenscraftyzone.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/my-take-on-master-board-technique-part_24.html

I do hope that you approve Eileen, we had such fun making them and here are the results

( You know if it is one thing that I have learnt about the craft industry that there are two types of designers...those who credit others and those who don't....thank goodness that I am not the latter....as I do like to sleep at night...)

After lunch we did a bit of spotlighting...

And then after tea and Sheila's cakes...oh and my special chocolate cake,,,,( thanks ladies ) we created a background with Inka Gold paints and water,..these really did sparkle ....

All the stamps are from Claritystamp...and can be found on the website...

One of our lovely ladies Barbara brought this canvas to show us...and it is just stunning...so I had to take a photo and share it with you all..

It is fantastic Barbara...

I am seeing some of the ladies again on Thursday when I am doing a day class at Grosvenor house , papers in Kendal...( .they will be sick of me )

I am off now to walk the dogs , then after some food and a shower...I really need to sit down and put my feet up...

Enjoy your evening all, and thanks for your kind words about my parents,..they are getting there...slowly..

Much love and hugs.

Jo. xxx

 

Thursday 18 February 2016

Thanks ladies.

Good evening all and thanks for popping in. Sorry I haven't been around much this week but I have had lots of prepping to do...I have such a busy couple of weeks ahead....but busy is good.

On Wednesday I went along to a lovely craft group to demonstrate some Pyrography. I have already been to this well run and very friendly group a couple of times and it was great to return...wow the numbers have grown...which is testament to Jackie and Sue who run it.

I did intend to take some photos but once I started talking ( yes I was know as chatterbox when I was little ) the time just flew.

So I will share some of my samples with you ...

We could play a game...

Do you recognise the Clarity stamps...?

Can you name the ones that I have used?

This is one of my all time favourite stamps....and yes I do know that I have quite a few...

How about this one ?

And

Also

I did manage one photo, right at the end..

I must thank the lovely lady who helped me and packed my bags....I think I need you to come home with me...

This is the gorgeous Thank You card that Jacki made for me...I love it ...

I just need to add some information here for a couple of the ladies....the Pyrography machine that I was telling you about is the Peter Child one and can be found here .....http://www.pyrography.co.uk

I am off now as Karl has just arrived home...so I had better get his meal on the table...and the craft stash off...

It is Clarity Cumbria on Saturday and I am so looking forward to seeing our lovely crafters again...it seems ages since we last met up.

I am travelling up tomorrow as I want to go and spend some time with my parents , they were involved in a car accident last week . Luckily they were not badly injured , the same can not be said about the car , but it is things like this that just shake you up a bit...

So I will wish you all a lovely weekend, stay safe ...and tell someone special that you love them....

It works for me...

Love and hugs

Jo. xxx

 

Tuesday 16 February 2016

What a weekend,

Good morning everyone, thanks for popping in and good to have you visit once again.

Hope you had a good weekend, thanks for all your lovely comments, and I will share a few photos with you later, we had the most fantastic time...

First I have been asked to share a tutorial with you , it is one of my recent samples...

I just love this picture framer stencil, and my first instinct was daffodils , yellows., oranges and Spring colours. Which I obviously played around with . Then I had to get my Clarity DT creative head on....and find a way of showing the all year round versatility of it.

I started with both pieces of the stencil and some low tack tape.

Out the the Clarity Stencil brushes and some blue ink.

Then in the opposite corner some pink ink, and a lovely blend of purple where they meet.

It is always good to add some shade in the centre of the flowers to add depth.

Next I removed the inner stencil and lightly added some colour with a brush .

This is what I had.

Just perfect for Grace.

I added some colour with Spectrum Noir pencils

Some shading with Charcoal pencils, it really does make such a difference.

Grace needed a border , so out with a black fine liner pen and some leaves were in order...

Then out with a craft knife and some careful cutting. I was given a great tip a few years ago by the lovely Paul Church...and that was to always use a glass mat when cutting...and yes it really does help. Thanks Paul...

Once I had done some matting and layering I used 3D glue gel to keep the petals proud, and some glossy accents in the centre...

There are so many other beautiful Clarity stamps that would fit inside this stencil , I feel more designs coming on...bet you have got some ideas too...

Just before I go , I promised some photos. Now as it was a hen weekend....I have had to censor these...!!!

We started on Friday evening with a meal at Gusto Restaurant in Didsbury,

This is my lovely niece, Rachel...( the bride to be )

I do love the table...the staff were amazing and looked after us really well,

It was so good to spend so much time with my sister..

Now Saturday was a pole dancing lesson....I watched !!!! Followed with a Champagne afternoon tea, then back to apartments where some of the girls got stuck in the lift....( they blamed the other guests!!!) after about 15mins they did manage to get the doors open but the lift was stuck between floors so they all had to be helped to climb out .........

The evening entertainment of games and a club , was highlighted by the arrival of a ' waiter in the buff '

And yes he knew how to make a cocktail....

On that note.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had better get on .

Today I need to get ready for tomorrow's Pyrography demonstration...I am really looking forward to it.

Hope you have a good day...catch you soon.

Love and hugs.

Jo. xxx